What do Coca Cola, SuperValu and Prophit Marketing have in common? They have all been selected at some point to receive the prestigious honor of being named Festival Foods Business Partner of the Year! On Monday night while attending Festival’s annual three-day Festival College, I watched Mark Skogen, President and CEO, walk to the podium to announce the award, just as he does every year. Only this year, for the first time ever, he announced our name. Wow, it was like winning an Oscar. For the first time in my life, I was struggling for what to say. My body was trembling as I approached the stage to accept this wonderful acknowledgement.
I did feel awkward accepting the award because every Prophiteer contributed in bringing me up on stage that night. It was the wonderful and talented group I am privileged to work with who serve the Festival organization with pride and excellence every day. I was on cloud nine Monday night and it reminded me how wonderful it feels to be recognized. We get so busy day to day that we sometimes don’t see the individual efforts by so many that lead to an excellent product or service. I like to think I properly recognize people but I know I too get “caught up” and have work to do in this area.
I’ve heard it said that your paycheck is your right but praise is a gift. For those of you who have been reading Wisdom On Wednesday for the past year, you know that I’ve committed the last three years of my life to research the root of a person’s happiness. I’m proud to say that on April 27th at 3 p.m. at the Meyer Theater in downtown Green Bay will be the About Me Card World Premiere (info@aboutmecard.com). Will you come and join us for this major event? Let us save a spot for you! Imagine knowing how to communicate effectively with someone with a click of the mouse! It’s here and we’re going to show you how it works.
Mother Theresa said, “People crave appreciation (and respect) more than food.” A pretty good authority wouldn’t you say? Make it your personal journey to enrich another person’s life by appreciating and respecting them. The journey will be your reward.
Joe Kiedinger
ACTION PLAN: Sign up for our free event as we introduce to you the most powerful respect tool every created… The About Me Card!
Yesterday I had the privilege of spending the day with Viterbo University professors Thomas Thibodeau and Richard Kyte. Tom is the director of the Servant Leadership Masters program and Rick is the head of the Ethics Program. They shared with me the exciting and inspirational stories of companies that truly care about the individuals in their care. Together we dreamed of creating a Servant Leadership consciousness that permeates local government, education and business. Can you imagine? Every person out to serve the legitimate needs of those around them?
Thibodeau and Kyte shared with me a couple dozen stories of business leaders wanting to make a positive impact in the lives of their employees. It was truly an inspiring conversation. We are bombarded with the media telling us how bad education is, how bad health care is and how we should be angry with government. At the end of the day, most of us can only truly rely on one thing and that is how are WE doing in serving others? How are WE making a positive impact in the lives of those around us?
Recently I wrote about the power of Buckers. These are people who were given a poor parenting model by their fathers growing up. However, they made the decision to not accept this poor model and to create their own which leads to a better life. I am now asking all of you who read this to Buck the media programming that has been so draining on public morale. I know times are tough now for so many, but what can you do right now to make another’s life better? Do not accept how BAD things are—instead focus on the GOOD that is happening in the world. I want to thank Tom and Rick for recharging my batteries of hope. I was reminded that I am not alone on this journey. Others are riding the same bus!
“That’s life, that’s what all the people say. You’re riding high in April shot down in May…” Ah yes, the immortal words of the legendary Frank Sinatra. I don’t know about you but sometimes I can feel defeated and sorry for myself. And then, like some imaginary friend, good news finds its way to me and I’m high on life! I’ve grown to truly appreciate my down times and high times. Many people like to live somewhere in the middle. I’m not one to celebrate extreme highs or extreme lows; however, how cool does it feel when things are really cranking!
How does it feel to you when things are really heading south? I find that the greatest joys and accomplishments come out of these low points when you challenge yourself to figure out a way to take a perceived negative situation and turn it into a positive outcome. I mean, what glory is there in muddling along through life in the middle? No real highs and no real lows? It’s numbing is what it is.
Celebrate your victories and your defeats for it’s out of the latter that the former are so much sweeter!
Joe Kiedinger
ACTION PLAN: If you’re on a low, figure it out. If you’re on a high, enjoy it while it lasts! It’s a fun ride… WEEEE!
Over the holiday, my family went skiing at our favorite Midwest ski destination. I grew up in a family of seven and skiing two weekends a month was the norm. My children run the gamut between experienced and beginners. Alex can snowboard with the best of them while my little girls are becoming masters of the bunny hill.
While my wife was manning the bunny hill, Alex and I decided to head for the summit. Our favorite ski hill has our favorite chairlift: a six-passenger, high-speed chairlift that gets us up lickety split! Because the hill was crowded that day, there was a “helper” attendant who counted off parties of six so the chair was always at full capacity. He would point to people and give them a number, “1-2-3-4-5-6… GO!”
Our first ride up had us positioned on the end (seats 5 and 6), and we didn’t know the attendant was there organizing the lines. We prematurely approached the loading corral before he yelled “go” and as a result we were not properly counted. By the time we realized what had happened, we had managed to back up the line a bit. Crabby (that’s what Alex and I now call him) approached us and said, “I get paid to work here and I don’t like coming out here and counting these lines!”
Alex looked at me and asked, “What does that mean?” Crabby was obviously trying to reprimand us but didn’t know how to articulate his chastising clearly. I told Alex, “I think it means he doesn’t like his job.”
Are you the crabby chairlift attendant where you work? Do you dread going to work? Do you let everyone know it? Believe me when I tell you that you’re not doing anyone any favors by bringing your negativity to work every day—especially yourself!
When you enjoy what you do, you never work another day in your life. I’ve learned that your attitude brings true joy to any job. In my life I’ve been employed as a city lawn maintenance worker, school bus driver, beverage sampler at grocery stores, gymnastics and choir instructor to little kids, and as a dinner theater director and performer. I enjoyed all of these jobs and dedicated myself to being the best employee and contributor that I could at each one.
I know what it’s like to have jobs that you know are not going to be your life’s calling. However, whether you signed up to be a bus driver or a marketing director, you’ve committed yourself to do your best and along with giving your best is bringing a positive attitude to work each day. I applaud all of you who have a positive attitude at work and who focus on your jobs with maximal energy and commitment. I believe it’s the key to a life of happiness and fulfillment.
Joe Kiedinger
ACTION PLAN: Find your purpose today in what you’re doing.
I think assumptions are used by people to create excuses. It makes me sad to think about the number of brilliant people with brilliant ideas who simply dream and then go to sleep with their ideas. I hear all kinds of excuses using antiquated assumptions. Statements like: I’m too young. I’m too old. No one will like this. I’m too busy. I don’t have the money to make it happen… blah, blah, blah.
I just read in our local paper about a 13-year-old girl who raised $5,000 in a few weeks. Her cause was to help families build farms overseas. Amazing! If you haven’t heard about Johnny the Bagger… Google him. You will discover a young man with Down syndrome who transformed the experience at a grocery store.
Men and women, young and old, are doing exceptional things in ordinary ways. They simply take action and do something small each day to reach their goal. They do it with a shoestring budget, they do it with kids at home, they do it in retirement – they do it, they do it, and they do it! See a theme here?
So what idea or dream do you have? I learned a healthy exercise from a colleague of mine: Create an Action Plan and start by making a list. On the top I want you to put your idea or dream. Then I want you to list all the excuses and assumptions that you have told yourself as to why you can’t begin working on it today. When your list is complete, find the nearest shredder and SHRED IT! Then create a new list with a timeline of what you CAN do today to push your ideas forward.
There is no adventure in waiting. Do it now and let the adventure begin!
If you’ve been following my philosophies for a while, you know I’m on a crusade to drive tension out of the workplace. All of us Prophiteers work very hard to maintain a healthy corporate culture. I’ve been training companies on Servant Leadership for about five years now, but I must admit that I recently had an eye-opening experience that has fully changed the way I explain the benefits of such a program within an organization.
I recently had an opportunity to interview Bob Chapman, who is CEO of Barry-Wehmiller, a holding company for a variety of successful companies, mostly manufacturing. Bob and his team have created an empowered, purpose-driven culture for all who are employed in their care.
Before this interview, I would tell business owners that companies with a strong corporate culture always outperform their non-culture rich competitors. I would tell them they should engage because not only will their people be more efficient but as companies they’ll make more money! Mr. Chapman, however, put me in my place. He shook my tree!
Bob explained to me that many leaders have visited their company to find the solution. Barry-Wehmiller practices an approach called Lean. Bob told me he always asks his visitors why they are interested in creating this type of culture. He said, “If they tell me it’s to make more money, they will surely fail.” He further explained, “Executives who are successful launching Lean do so because they feel a moral obligation to enrich the lives of all associates.”
I was blown away. He began telling me stories of how proud their associates are to work there. I certainly believe that taking a sincere interest in others is key to being a great leader, but I’ve just realized it’s the key to a great life.
I believe there are few things more satisfying in life than when you support self-motivated individuals who contribute ideas and processes of improvement that focus on a single goal. That’s often called “purpose.” What’s your purpose in life? Is what you do fulfilling?
Bob told me that Newsweek did a poll on employment pride in the workplace and only 10% of American workers are proud of where they work. Can you imagine! It’s time to begin a movement of engagement and enlightenment in the workplace. Will you join me?
Joe Kiedinger
ACTION PLAN: Are you enriching other people’s lives?
My family just returned from a week at Walt Disney World. I am always amazed at the experience the Disney brand delivers. While visiting Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM), I visited a pavilion sharing the history of Walt Disney which included a documentary with Disney himself telling his story.
Amazing! Walt failed a lot as a young entrepreneur. He believed it’s a good thing for a young person to experience failure. It’s a character thing. His first cartoon character was Waldo the Rabbit. Through a patent loophole, he lost the rights to his own character. His sales manager sold it to a competing firm along with all the artists. Walt was in New York when he found this out. He returned to L.A. without a product or artists. His studio was empty.
His wife Lillian was with him for this historic train ride back to L.A., and it was on this ride that Walt drew the first Mickey Mouse. He decided that Mickey would be the first cartoon character to have real emotion and personality.
One thing Walt never sacrificed was quality. With all the cartoons he created, he insisted that his artists spend extra time with details. His brother Roy challenged him often about the expense of such detail. Walt ignored him in this regard, insisting on quality.
While sitting and watching the film, it was humorous for me to watch the 50-something Disney say, “Once we became successful, they finally believed that my ideas were right.”
Disney certainly achieved success—but only by finding the will to persevere through 30 years of on-and-off-again failures.
Do you have the guts it takes to believe in something so strongly that you drive your belief through negative feedback and criticism? Not too many people have this type of passion. As his company grew, Walt Disney was reported to have said to his staff, “Just remember, it all started with a mouse.”
Michael Eisner, former CEO of Disney, is quoted as saying, “No, it started with a man.”
What will be your legacy?
Joe Kiedinger
ACTION PLAN: Time to start putting your dreams in motion. Make small efforts everyday to build your legacy. Whatever that means to you!
I had the honor of speaking at a United Way kickoff breakfast earlier this week. I was asked to “inspire the crowdâ€. I opened up the 70-minute event, of which I took up 30 minutes, and then sat down feeling pretty good. However, it was the second half of the event that was truly inspiring.
No less than eight companies were asked to come up to the front to present their 2008 donations (which were raised by their employees). These companies are called “pacesetters†and together raised over $300,000! Amazing! It wasn’t just from people contributing a little from their paychecks each month, but it also included stories of employee fundraising events like car washes and bake sales.
What’s better yet, the donations raised exceeded the previous year’s figures! During a time of massive layoffs, these companies raised even more money! That is what’s truly inspiring. The United Way really does touch so many people’s lives. I was honored to be a part of this event.
It really goes to show that great things can happen when people LIVE UNITED!
Joe Kiedinger
ACTION PLAN: It’s important to support a cause. Do you have one? Please, if you currently do not have a cause… find one.
Those of you who know me know I love live theater. I just returned home from seeing the Tony Award winning musical, Avenue Q. It’s like dirty Sesame Street. They use puppets with very adult themes. It was hysterical! It’s amazing what you can get away with then packaged together with catchy music and an adequate story line.
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Towards the end of the show a couple characters are at a very low point in their lives: out of work with no direction. These characters decide to focus on the dream of one of their friends and as they focus on this charitable work they discover success and life purpose.
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It’s a tongue-in-cheek quirky musical, but it’s a lot of fun and the lesson of ‘getting out of you for a while’ really hit home. Especially during these economic times it’s easy to blame and point fingers. This only leads to self-pity, which is never healthy to indulge in. This kind of focus only points us down a path of self-destruction. If you ever get to this point you’ll know it’s time to get out of you.
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Direct your focus on helping others. Your personal situation will improve. It’s proven that when we reach out to help others our own situation is put in a different light and optimism presents itself.
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Get out of you and really start living!
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Joe Kiedinger
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ACTION PLAN: So, where will you be volunteering? Whose life will you impact?
For the next two Wednesdays I am going to share with you recent quotes we have collected and how these powerful reminders help in personal growth.
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Over the holiday, I enjoyed a few days of doing absolutely nothing. As a matter of fact, the week of New Year’s, except for a few isolated conversations with colleagues, I just stayed home, read fiction and played with the kids. Now we all need time to decompress while we strive for greatness, but on Saturday, I felt like time was lost and perhaps I should have spent a small amount of this time at home working on future plans.
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I then saw this quote hit my e-mail box Monday morning:
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“Shun idleness. It is the rust that attaches itself to the most brilliant metals.†— Voltaire
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This quote drove me to make Monday one of the most productive days in my career. Matter of fact, I accomplished so much, I discovered a new way to manage my day. I began by listing all the calls I needed to make that would help to accomplish my major goals. Once those calls for the future were made, I focused on calls for the present. By 11:00 a.m. both sets of calls were accomplished. I did NOT turn on my computer until all my calls are made. I then answered my e-mails and went out to lunch with a business prospect. By 2:00 p.m. I felt I accomplished as much as I normally accomplish in a week! This new way of working was inspired by receiving the simple Voltaire quote.
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Now, on a different subject, let’s talk about worry and stress:
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           “Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow.†— Swedish proverb
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I’ve learned to manage my stress very well. When a conflict emerges I address it immediately. Also, through the years, I’ve learned something about stress: the only things I worried about were either in the past (things I could no longer control) or in the future (things that were unclear to me). I was rarely ever worried about the present. Interesting…
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And finally, for all you perfectionists out there, here is some wisdom from Albert Einstein:
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           “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.â€
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I love it! If you’re like me and look for inspiration, I invite you to sign up for my Daily Cup of Joe, the vehicle that sends a powerful quote of wisdom from the ages to your e-mail box each Monday through Friday. Sign up free now through February. If you like it, you can continue for just $3.95/month. No credit card info needed, just a simple invite to receive a cup of inspirational coffee each morning.
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I’ve become addicted…
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–Joe Kiedinger–
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ACTION PLAN: Do something each day, no matter how small, that focuses on your ultimate goal.
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“Succeed with patience and stress will never find you.†– Joe Kiedinger
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