Stepping Up for Success

Did you know that there are people who have the job of checking buildings and bridges and other key structures in our infrastructure and making sure that they’re up to code? When they’re done inspecting they typically go back to their office and write up a report on issues that are present and the level of concern they have and how immediately it needs to be addressed. Occasionally they do the inspection and slap a physical or virtual red sticker on it and close it down or restrict access until things are addressed. But most of the time it’s a case of inspection followed by a write up and it may or may not move up the list of importance depending on what the inspection finds.

You probably saw the news about the ship that hit the Baltimore, Maryland bridge at the end of March. If you followed the story they talked about how the bridge hadn’t been updated or retrofitted for 2024 and the big boats on the river today. Structurally it was sound and that wasn’t a concern, but there are things that could have been added or addressed to give it a better chance should there be an issue with a ship as happened.

How frustrating must it be to go around to all these structures and tell people each time that there are issues and to not have them follow up until things are critical or beyond because of either laziness or budgeting? I understand that it isn’t always possible to fix everything at once, and yes, it’s better to fix things when they’re code red than waiting for them to completely fail, but why would you want to take the chance when like the bridge you could do some things that might make disasters a lot less destructive before you get to that point? And why wouldn’t you try to invest a little each year into repairs and upkeep so that you don’t even get to ‘code red’ in the first place?

My point is that there are many ways to get to success. Some people tend to work by the seat of their pants and usually skate through OK, but my experience in those situations is that it’s stressful and usually more costly than it needs to be. Being early and under budget for everything is also another path people take to success and it sometimes comes with stress too if you’re working faster than you should safely and it may also motivate you to cut corners, or it may mean that you consistently give yourself too much cushion and that can tie up resources too. Typically our path to success has parts that run behind and over budget, parts that don’t take as long or cost as much and parts that go exactly as expected. If you anticipate that there will be parts that run behind and over budget, or maybe even that you might miss something and need a little ‘hail Mary’ to make it through, wouldn’t you want to do whatever you can to protect yourself and your resources (and everyone else who will be affected by it)? And why wouldn’t you take advantage of retrofit type advantages when they come your way to further bolster your success? Maybe the biggest lesson of all in it is one that we know well: step up and take care of and maintain the things that you’re responsible for. Do you need to step up to reach your best success?

Holiday Plans and Magic

I love the holiday season. This year there seems to be a little extra magic in the air. Hopefully it will last through the new year. As we get into the heart of the Christmas season I wanted to raise the idea of going wherever and doing whatever the magic leads. The holidays bring with them so many awesome opportunities, many that we don’t have during the year, and if we’re willing and able to be a little more flexible with our lives, hours, commitments and bed times, we can have a ton of fun both as a couple and as a family.

That said, one of the keys to that being something that works out and is as much fun as it could be, is the importance of planning ahead and having the basics squared away. Plan a crock pot or instant pot meal for at least one day of the week, or several if you’re making something larger that will feed you more than once. Have assigned laundry and cleaning duties so that everyone contributes to keeping the house running but no one is overwhelmed with chores. Talk with the kids about homework, project and studying responsibilities and make sure you’re all on the same page about what’s coming up in the weeks before winter break. And finally, hopefully you’ve done most of your holiday shopping already, but if not, try to get it all done as soon as possible, or at least have a list of what you plan to purchase for everyone.

Being committed to following the holiday magic as it leads and planning ahead can help you and your family have a fun and less-stressed holiday season. What plans are you making this holiday season?

The Right People, the Right Team for Success

This past week has reminded me that as great as any plan is, it’s just as crucial to have the right and sufficient people to execute it. I worked on a project that reminded me that I’m not 20 anymore and I can’t do the things I used to do then and get up the next day like nothing happened. You may be familiar with that feeling! I was still working to get back to normal days later.

In my years of working in different industries and with many different people from the very old to the very young, I’ve learned that some people are great thinkers, some people you want at your back when the going gets tough, some people are organized, some are always willing to lend a hand or ear, and some people have the best heart. If the person with a great heart is your support for something that really requires an organized person or someone with a strong back, you may leave with a smile on your face, but it’s not the person who you really needed to work with.

This is another reason why it’s good to be friendly and get to know people, because you want to know who you can depend on for different situations, and if you’ve only got 2 friends, chances are good they’re not going to be available all the time or they’re not necessarily going to be the right person for what you need support for.

As we get deeper into the holiday season, we’re actually provided with lots of great opportunities to get to know new people or get to know people we already know better and build on those relationships so that we can call on them in times of need, and they can do the same with us. With Thanksgiving less than a week away, it’s also a good time to thank the people in your life who have helped you and who make your life better. Who are your go-to people?

The Choice of Celebrating

Today a good portion of the world has celebrated Easter. It’s not quite as universal as Christmas is, with more people celebrating the non-religious aspects of Christmas than people do with Easter, but many people still use this day as an opportunity to gather together with family and friends and celebrate being alive and having each other in our lives. The celebration of Holy Week and Easter coincided with the celebration of Passover as well this year (as it does many years), so even more people are gathering together and celebrating all that they have to be thankful for.

Whenever events like this come around there’s always some stress involved whether it’s the stress of who will be attending and how everyone will or won’t be behaving, or the challenge of planning how to feed all those people and making sure that everything gets to the table at the appropriate temperature, or even just the idea of what you might forget and end up trying to figure out an alternative or decide if it’s worth it to go out to the store and get what you’re missing or not. But in conversations with family, friends and even clients over the past week what I really heard over and over from people for this holiday was that they were more focused on celebrating and the people they were going to be with and less on going the extra mile like they sometimes do for holiday gatherings. I totally agreed because I decided to go the guaranteed cooking route of the crock pot with a turkey breast instead of getting a big turkey and doing the oven baked routine that’s always more work and stress and less predictable.

Thinking about this over the past week and during the celebrations today it’s been a bit of a revelation to experience just how prepared some people were for this holiday and how nice it was to really have all the “ducks” lined up in ways that they haven’t always been in past years, ways that greatly reduced stress and made for a much more enjoyable experience. I’m not saying that the hard work isn’t worth it or that being prepared isn’t hard work, because it often is, but that maybe in this new world that we’re working into it’s OK to take the easier route from time to time, especially if we know it will give us a “good enough” result and give us the opportunity to be more relaxed and better able to spend time with people we love, which is really where our focus should be and not on perfection of food, decoration or experience. So whether you’re tidying up after a gathering or preparing for the week ahead, I encourage you to think about what really matters, what the best way is to do the things you have coming up this week, and maybe most important of all to take a moment before you jump back into the thick of things and appreciate and celebrate all the good things you’ve had work out for you recently. What are you celebrating today?

Planning for Business Success

Are you following along with Lent in preparation for Easter coming up or preparing for Passover celebrations? We haven’t talked about it on this blog at all yet this year but as we get much closer to both celebrations (Holy Week begins on Sunday for Christians/Catholics and Passover begins Wednesday), preparations are really kicking into high gear for many people. While not everyone does it, I do follow along with some practices and opportunities of Lent, so for the past 6 weeks I’ve been contemplating the events that happened historically next week and giving extra consideration to my faith as a whole. I’ve had some Lenten practices for quite a few years now, yet for some reason despite how busy and tiring this Lent season has been in my overall life, I’m feeling surprisingly at peace and ready to honor Holy Week and Easter.

What does this have to do with business? Yes, both of these holidays are huge business: you can’t miss the Easter candy in stores, can’t miss signs for egg hunts with many local groups, there are big signs outside churches sharing about their upcoming services, and every grocery store you go to has a section dedicated to foods for Passover. But what has stuck with me more this year is about the season of preparation I’ve been working through. Most business owners don’t wake up one day and buy a storefront or throw up a shingle sharing about their services or buy a whole bunch of stuff and start trying to sell it. No, most business owners think about it for weeks if not years and do research into what’s working and resources they need to be successful. And while there are some things you just can’t prepare for (a recession or global virus for example) the more prepared you can be both generally and daily, the more likely you will be successful.

So what does that look like? It could include having a clear to-do list with priorities for the next day that you write up at the end of the day. It could include dedicating time at the end of your day to send off emails with questions and things you need answered or done for things you will be doing tomorrow. It could include cleaning up, restocking shelves and reordering items before you close for the day. It could be having a weekly schedule for different tasks you do different days of the week to help your business run smoothly including specific people you touch base with each day or specific days each week. It could having a monthly plan and outline for your marketing so that you’re set up to go all month long instead of putting it off because you don’t know what to market.

Why is planning so important? Because it helps you be more aware of what’s going on, it helps you be on the same page as the rest of your team, it helps your team be in the loop with what’s going on in the business, it gives you an amount of peace with knowing that things should mostly run smoothly and you’ll have fewer fires to put out, it gives you the ability to plan for the future instead of just focusing on the present, and planning helps you meet and even exceed customer expectations because you’ll be able to deliver on time, as expected, consistently, and/or even early. So as we finish out another month I encourage you to incorporate more planning into your business so that you can have more peace and freedom and greater success as well.

Lessons in Leadership: Santa

For our last leader of the year I thought we’d take a seasonally appropriate look one of the men of the Christmas season: Santa. The fact that a fictional character could even be considered as a leader worth profiling gives a clue to not only how recognizable he is but also the enduring impact of his legacy for hundreds of years now (all the way back to Saint Nick in the 4th century!). Let’s talk about what we can learn from him as a leader and some things we can apply to the new year that’s just around the corner.

First: Santa knows all about planning. Yes, leaders know how to act on their feet based on rapidly changing information, but there should be a lot less of that because they did a really good job planning ahead. There are multiple important aspects to the plan that makes Santa a great leader. First, there’s a specific timeline: 364 days of gift creating and sled packing and 1 day of delivery. We’ll allow for the holiday magic that makes that one day possible, and focus on the 364 days of creating and packing because that’s what’s really important here. He doesn’t make them get it all done on different schedules, or some years shorter than others, it’s always the same so both he and the elves know how much time they have for planning and strategizing and learning how to create new toys before they have to get to creating. And he knows if he has more gifts to create and there need to be new elves hired, there needs to be different technology implemented, or other changes made, everyone understands the timeline they have to work with and how long it will be before they’re behind based on past experience.

Second: Santa’s got a great story. Every leader knows how to weave a story that touches on the emotions not only on their customers but also on the team that’s supporting the leader. If Santa hadn’t come up with such a touching story and plan to impact billions of kids’ lives, it would be a lot harder to want to work that hard 364 days of the year for the elves. And Santa wouldn’t be a household name that has been around for hundreds of years if the people of the world didn’t believe in the magic this time of year and that there’s someone as generous, kind and community-minded as him who will consistently show up every December 25 with presents for good girls and boys.

Third: Santa has a specialized team. While I’ve never met an elf, I have to believe that they’re an incredibly specialized team of individuals. I don’t think Santa would put up a post on any of the popular job sites to do interviews with anyone who loves the holidays, he only works with the best who have specific skills and a heart for the work. I’m sure that makes it hard for him to find enough elves each year to keep up with demand, but considering that his reputation and that of his team hasn’t tarnished, clearly he’s still going the distance to make sure that the elves he hires are not only a good fit with the company, but also good at what they do.

Finally: Santa understands legacy. Not every organization or company will have a long term impact of hundreds of years, most exist for a season and then they’re not necessary or they’re demand has changed. Santa managed to create a service that will always be in demand, will always have a place and purpose (unless everyone in the world becomes independently wealthy and there’s world peace), and doesn’t have to change the core of who and what they are to connect with each new generation. There’s nothing wrong with having a seasonal (pun intended) business, a legacy business is not necessary or right for most businesses. But if you do decide to build a legacy business you have to consistently provide the quality service and quality product that you started with and understand the responsibility you have to not only all your people, but also to the story that is beloved by generations that got you started and has helped you thrive this long.

What could you learn about being a leader from this legendary figure?

Plan Less

One of the biggest casualties of the pandemic is the absolute inability to plan for the future to the degree that we used to. We used to have 5 and 10 year plans for our businesses and our lives, and now we can barely go a few weeks or months if we’re lucky before something has to shift. This week a rather scary idea was introduced to me, and that’s the idea of planning less. Is it a very scary idea considering how most of us appreciate being able to know the general direction of where our lives are headed or what the future holds? Yes, absolutely, but given the uncertainty in many aspects of our lives and the rapid change that is part of the world we live in, shouldn’t we have backed away from long-term planning a long time ago?

The organizer in me absolutely cringes at this idea, but at the same time I’m equally tired and frustrated of things being cancelled, postponed and changed that I’m open to it. This isn’t a suggestion to skip holidays and birthdays or to not plan for them, or to not have dreams of and for the future that you’re working towards. All of those things should remain important parts of our lives. However I am suggesting that we not be so focused on or committed to detailing our our lives and success journeys to such a degree as we used to. In fact, many of us could really benefit from not being so focused on the detailed plans we created before we started our success journey, and instead were more open to learning, growing, exploring and acting as we went along.

So how do we find the balance between planning and the lack thereof? As we always have we start with goals and knowing where we want to end up. Then we do the research we usually would do to understand some of the options we have for getting there. Next would be the first change: a tentative plan for how we’re going to get from where we are to where we’re hoping to end up, instead of a committed outline. The biggest changes are next: first would be to only plan specific actions for the next day to month depending on what you’re working on and how likely your goal is to be impacted by changes in the world and life. And second, adding more research and continuing to gather information as you move towards your goal, instead of assuming you’ve gathered all the information before you started. The final point is the hard one, and that’s being flexible for changes and delays, as well as the increased possibility that you won’t accomplish success if you’re working on a success journey that you believe will take years, or that success will look very different from what you believe it would be when you started.

So this week I encourage you to give it a trial run: by being a little more flexible in your life and planning, and requiring definitive plans and commitments a little less. And you can’t forget the opportunity that arises when your success journey change or is delayed: you’ve got the opportunity to work on other things that are on your to-do list, or to have a moment of peace to reflect on where you’re at and what needs to be done still today. How has your planning capabilities changed over the past few years?

Prepared for Life and Adventures

The other day I was reading emails and had a TV show on in the background featuring paramedics working in the world doing what they do best: helping people who have medical emergencies. Often the story progresses that they have to put that person needing medical care into their ambulance and take them to the hospital for further treatment. Why? Because they can only do so much with their equipment on the “scene” as they call it and they’re really there to keep someone alive until they can get to the hospital for more complete medical care. But in several of the situations on that particular episode one thing caught my attention: the paramedic in the back with the patient was talking with them about what would happen when they got to the hospital. Why does this matter? Because as much as the paramedic is there to give medical care to get them ready for the hospital (and is absolutely well trained in all things medical), one of the best things they can do is have the patient as calm and well prepared mentally as possible for what will happen when they get to the hospital.

This is exactly why we read the recipe before we go to the food store. Or why teachers send a supply list to kids before school starts. Or we have syllabus for classes. Or we read the reviews before we buy a product or hire a company. Or we plan ahead on some possible and desired destinations for our vacations. Or we write a job description that accurately describes the open position with details (or at least companies should write them this way). Or we date someone for months if not years before getting married or committing to a long term relationship. It’s why we read the back cover (description) of every book before choosing to read it. It’s why we have caller ID so that we know who is calling. Why? All so we can be prepared for what comes next and with the next steps.

Don’t get me wrong, I love an adventure as much as the next person, but, to use our first example, it’s a whole lot easier to get through a difficult and possibly scary situation that you can’t control if you know what’s going to happen. This is why it’s so important to teach kids the skill of research and the fine art of asking questions. The better they do at their research and the better they are at asking questions, the easier it will be for them to be as prepared as they can be for the parts of the future that are unknown and even unexpected. Being prepared means that you’ll make fewer mistakes, have to go back for stuff fewer times, be in relationships with people who are a good match for you, and ultimately have the freedom to have some adventures in life knowing that they’ve prepared as well as they could to this point. How do you teach your kids to be prepared for navigating the world in the future when they’re on they’re own?

Planning for Success Again

The past two years have been hard on those of us who like structured, planned and regular successes. The way things have gone, we’ve been working to get our successes anywhere and anytime we can, and thinking less about making plans or really committing to a timeline on our success paths. And in general I think we should be proud of all we’ve accomplished over the last two years, however large or small those successes were, and regardless of how long it took you to accomplish them (even if it was much longer than it used to take). But as we’ve entered this new year I’m cautiously optimistic and I think to an extent we can start planning our successes, at least on a small scale. Because even if restrictions and health-related uncertainty still continue to be a significant part of our lives, I think we’ve gotten enough experience and knowledge after these two years of working the pandemic that we know what plans we can make, what timeline we have to work with (i.e. days/weeks instead of months), and what plans need to be more tentative, adjustable or fluid (like in person/virtual).

Yes, I think we can get out our planners and to-do lists and calendars and start dreaming again, start making plans again, start putting our lives in a semblance of order again. But the best thing we can do for ourselves and the increased likelihood of success of our plans is to start slow and small. Maybe that’s scheduling one thing each day to get done. Maybe that’s committing to exercise of some form (other than walking between the couch, your bed, your desk and the kitchen) at least 5 days each week. Maybe it’s scheduling one date night out of the house each month. Maybe it’s scheduling one activity or alone time with each of your kids each month. Maybe it’s planning the month ahead on your content calendar. Maybe it’s just resuming some of your pre-pandemic activities while still consistently keeping up with the exercise and email reading habits that you started during the pandemic.

As excited as I am about being able to get back to some structure, I also think we should keep some of the lessons we’ve had to apply over the past two years with us as we work on making success plans again, like being patient and creative and giving ourselves buffer space and time to get stuff done. I think if we pair those lessons in creativity and flexibility with the commitment to work and success that we’ve had in the past, not only will we create stronger successes, I think we’ll have healthier relationships of all kinds as well (which can lead to different, better, more or easier successes too!). What are you excited about or planning for in the world of success this year?

Begin as You Mean to Go On

Ah, the annual day of setting resolutions. I think what frustrates me most about resolutions is that we resolve to do something for one year and have no idea what will be thrown at us in that year or how the world will change and impact any plans we had made (i.e. 2020). But there are some good insights in the ideas of resolutions that I think we can learn from and maybe even apply to this new year we’ve just been given.

First, a resolution is a choice. It’s what you decide you want in the new year. Sure, you may have asked others what they think would be good ideas for resolutions, or even stolen some ideas from others, but ultimately, it’s your choice as to what you’re going to do or try to do.

Second, while making a resolution is only the first step, it’s an important one. A resolution indicates that you know something needs changing, or is ready for growth, or no longer serves you in the way that it used to. People around the world deny their issues every day, so to choose to recognize that something can or needs to be done, is very important and shows courage and emotional maturity.

Third, I think it’s better to set resolutions and fail at them than not bother setting any or not making any evaluations on your life at all. Maybe this time around you won’t get much further on your resolutions than you have in previous years, but then again, maybe this year you’ll have a breakthrough and you will accomplish things you’ve put on your resolutions list this year. The one thing I know is that it’s rare to make changes unless you choose to and take actions to make them happen.

Finally, maybe you’re thinking too big. That’s right: instead of setting resolutions for the year, set a resolution or two for January and see how it goes. A month is a much more realistic time frame to work with and plan for, so when you see the progress you’ve made at the end of the month it can encourage you to set a new resolution for February or continue on for another month with this resolution.

Don’t discourage your kids, partner, friend, family or others from making resolutions just because they haven’t worked for you in the past. Instead, you’ve got three options: one, try resolutions again for yourself. Two, let them know that you’re there to support them if they are interested. And three, make a resolution with someone so that you’ve got the support and so do they. Do you set resolutions and what have you learned from resolutions you’ve set in the past?