SOLVING THE REAL PROBLEM

The underperforming saleswoman-

did you know her husband has been out of work

for 3 years?

 

The designer who just missed a deadline -

did you know his daughter was diagnosed

with cancer?

 

The team that cannot seem to get it together -

did you know one of them is toxic

to your culture?

 

Most often,

people’s performance problems

are unrelated to their

gifts,

skills,

or

training.

 

Yet, most businesses continue

to spend lots of cash

on short-term

seminars,

talks,

binders,

and

little to nothing

on

long-term

support,

development,

coaching.

 

When you care

about an employee’s entire world

(not just their numbers)

and provide

long-term

tools,

strategy,

and

accountability

to address what is

really holding them back,

you’ve not only

solved your business problems,

you’ve begun

a revolution.

EDISON’S LESSON

In that famous story

of when the lightbulb stayed on,

there were many times

Edison seemed

finished,

foiled,

a failure,

but had only just begun.

 

For that one invention,

of many he created,

he found 10,000 ways

not to get it right,

until he found the one

that lit up the night.

 

So whatever you’re working on

to better the world,

learn Edison’s lesson,

every failed attempt

is just more data

leading you in the right direction.

BREAK YOUR BOX

We trap ourselves in little boxes

of

words,

thoughts,

and emotions.

 

“I can’t do that.”

“What would they think?”

“He/She wouldn’t like it.”

“It will never work.”

 

We allow these to define the

scope of our existence.

 

We think these boxes keep us safe

from

hurt,

disappointment,

failure.

 

But if we stay in these little boxes

too long,

we soon find ourselves

in a big box,

being lowered into the ground,

never having lived.   

 

Break your little boxes.

CONTAGIOUS FACTS

Cold and flu season make it clear.

We infect those to whom we come near.

 

But why don’t we realize

that this also

applies

to fear and anger?

 

When we are diseased with these emotions,

they catch on and everyone feels in danger.

 

And while this contagious fact can make us feel bad,

there is no reason to be sad,

for just as germs and anger spread,

we can be contagious with

hope,

understanding,

compassion,

and love

instead.

 

Every. Single. Day.

UNKNOWN UNCLE

I used to look out the window

waiting for the mail to arrive,

hoping that today

some forgotten Uncle

would have sent me

my unknown inheritance.

 

I kept looking outside

waiting for something

more exciting,

more intriguing,

more glamorous

to find me.

 

And then I realized,

exciting, intriguing, and glamorous

weren’t looking.

 

They were

waiting

for me

to uncover them

right

where

I

was.

 

Quit looking outside of yourself,

stop expecting someone else

to deliver your hopes and dreams,

everything you need

is already available.

 

No unknown Uncle needed.

WHAT THE WORLD IS WAITING FOR

Here’s the

funny,

frustrating,

fascinating,

fact

about

what

others perceive

as our best qualities:

we think they are of little worth

because they come so naturally to us.

 

When we deny their worth,

we deny ourselves,

we deny joy,

we deny growth,

we deny fulfillment,

we deny our contribution to the world.

 

And our

joy,

growth,

fulfillment,

contribution

is what the world is waiting for.

OF HURRICANES AND EARTHQUAKES

A moment,

a few minutes,

a matter of hours

can change your life,

forever.

 

This is the horrible promise

of natural (and other) disasters.

 

Afterwards,

the damage assessment,

the clean up,

and

life rebuilding

must begin.

It’s easier with help from

a friend.

 

Seems like a metaphor for life in general.

 

(If you’d like a way to help hurricane and earthquake survivors,

there are many. Here is one that has been prepared and is already

on the scene.  https://pda.pcusa.org/)