appreciate

Your best resource

You never know just how much you rely on something until it’s gone. You know what I mean, like the time your computer crashed and all your contact information and files were suddenly inaccessible. Or the time your power went out and you couldn’t answer the phones on a business day. Or the time you had an incredibly important meeting just an hour away and the printer decided to go kaput. We’ve all been there.

Besides all these technological tools, what about the people we rely on so much? What if we didn’t have the team that makes the gears of our businesses turn? Sometimes we take these people for granted and don’t appreciate just how much they do for us and our companies. Imagine walking into work one morning and finding out each and every one of your associates was out sick. To me, that would be tough!

Joe Kiedinger

Action Plan: So, this week, observe just how well your team keeps the ball rolling. Notice how they all play an integral role in the success of the company. And then thank them for it! Our people are our very best resources!

The Power of Words

Monday we held our Servant Leaders of Wisconsin (Fox Valley Group) quarterly meeting. Our guest speaker was Tom Thibodeau from Viterbo University in La Crosse. Tom is the Director of the Masters in Servant Leadership Program at Viterbo. He spoke for about an hour and part of his focus was helping us realize the power of words. He explained that when you say something to another person you feel that those words are dead. They are out of your mouth and they are dead. However, to another person they become alive. If your words are kind, they hold on to that person like a best friend. If your words are harmful, they remain with the person like a bad nightmare.

 The words you use define you. Do you appreciate and compliment the people in your life that you come across every day? Such as the paper carrier, mail carrier, hair dresser or parking lot attendant? I’m certainly not perfect but I’m getting better. While driving to Disney with my family, I decided to compliment and thank every toll booth attendant in the state of Florida. I thanked each one for coming to work and gave each a sincere compliment of what I observed in the 20 seconds or so that we were together. I gave compliments like: “I love your hairdo,” “Great shirt or tie,” or “Wow, you have a wonderful smile.”

 Guess what? They all smiled and the words I planted began to grow within them. I felt great and so did they. Begin planting some words this week that help you build up and appreciate others. You‘ll be amazed at how it will make you feel!

 Joe Kiedinger

 ACTION PLAN: You know what to do!

Daddy Day Camp – Creating a Memory

I have become more and more aware of how people are feeling as I continue on the journey of Servant Leadership. A couple of weeks ago, my girls got up early all excited to go to their first day of Day Camp. The bus picks them up at 7:45 a.m., and then they head off into the wilderness and return home by five. Their hair was braided back, their backpacks and lunch boxes were ready, and then came the call. I answered it and was told, “Due to the storm last night, camp is closed for cleanup and will resume tomorrow.”

 My girls were devastated. As is the routine every morning, I grabbed Maggie, our dog, and set off for her morning walk. Usually on my walk, I think about the meetings I have scheduled and everything that I wish to accomplish for the day. I decided to think about my girls and wondered, “How can I serve them and create something they’ll never forget?” I started planning a new itinerary and began to giggle inside.

 I walked into the house and announced, “Girls, grab your lunches and all your stuff. Today is Daddy Day Camp!” Danica looked at me with a curious grin. “Really?” she said. I nodded and said, “Girls, today we will begin with a pancake breakfast followed by crafts at the office for one hour (I had an hour meeting). We will then have a short music session (I let them play on the piano in my office during a short second meeting). After music it’s off to Festival where you will practice Servant Leadership by writing a letter to your mom on the three ways you appreciate her (during my last meeting of the morning). We will then head off to the public swimming pool and water slides for the afternoon where we will also have a picnic lunch. I will then bring you home for tennis lessons (I then headed out for my last meeting of the day).”

 Daddy Day Camp was a HUGE success. I’ll never forget it and neither will they. Always find a way to serve. It will do more for you than it will for them!

 Joe Kiedinger

 ACTION PLAN: Be Creative! There’s always a way!