Biz - Life Blog

                I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “The only constant is change!” It sure is true. Yet, paradoxically, most of us resist change with almost every fiber of our being. No wonder there are so many worried, discontented people in the world. They’re always watching out for and fighting change!
                What brought this to mind was a photo I saw on the Internet and an object I have laying on my desk. The photo on the computer is a picture of one of the Phoenix Landers feet on the surface of Mars. The object I have on my desk is a piece of rigging I have from a tall ship. This piece of rigging came off the tall ship in the late 1700’s. The difference between these two items is truly mind boggling. One is wood and metal and its only form of propulsion was the wind. The other is a part of inter planetary space travel! Think about it, mankind has gone from its only long distance form of transportation being wind driven wooden ships to interplanetary vehicles in less than 200 years… remember the Mars Viking Landers in the 1970’s? That is a lot of change in a short period of time!
                Since most people are resistant to change, it is amazing we as a species have come so far. So, how did we come so far in the last two hundred years? Well, the answer is simple, a very small number of odd balls; outcasts, who were ridiculed for their ideas. Odd balls like the Montgolfier brothers with their hot air balloon in 1783, Fulton with his steam engine in 1803,  the Wright Brothers in 1903 and other odd balls, outcasts who were ridiculed for their ideas. For example, Fulton’s steam engine was called by the majority of the press as “Fulton’s Folly”. Yet his steam engine changed the world of travel.
                Fortunately for all of us, there are odd balls in the world that are willing to embrace change and actively look to change the status quo.
                Growing up, I never wandered more than 100 miles from Philadelphia. I left for college from the same house that my parents brought me to after I was born. I went to college only 83 miles from Philadelphia. I thought I would spend the rest of my life in the comfortable little radius from the New Jersey shore to the Pocono Mountains. But an event in my life led me to make the CHOICE to embrace change and actively pursue change.
That event is a topic for another positing but suffice it to say that I became a change junkie. I’ve always had my eye on where I want to go, so I didn’t change just for the sake of change itself, but changed to gain the skills and experience to get to where I wanted to go. The amount of change my wife and I were willing to accept, I have to admit, maybe a bit over the top. We’ve moved 13 times, including various different countries. I’ve worked for four different companies before embarking out on my own.
One of my weaknesses that I have to be careful to temper is that I can become impatient with those who seem unwilling to change. In order to help effect change, it is best to communicate, communicate, and communicate some more.
I received an email yesterday from a very bright young guy who is president of a company that is embarking on a lot of change. I’m not sure who said or wrote the quote, but it is a good one:
                “Change is hard because people overestimate the value of what they have—and underestimate the value of what they may gain by giving that up.”
 

I saw the new Indiana Jones movie this weekend and there was a great line that really struck a chord with me: “So much of human life is wasted in waiting.”
            The reference was not about having to wait in line or wait in traffic but about how too often we are wasting our valuable days waiting for the right time, the right situation, or other such excuses. That’s right, excuses.
If you are waiting before acting take a good hard honest look at your reasons for waiting. Are those reasons just excuses because of fear, laziness or whatever illegitimate reason is holding you back from taking action now?
Don’t wait for life, it doesn’t wait for anyone. Take action today, any action no matter how small, on those things you’ve been waiting for, because the wait is over and it is in your hands to accomplish!
By the way, the wait was over a long time ago. Our goals, dreams, ambitions, whatever they may be, are always in our hands and dependent upon us to do something about them or just let them wither away into the oblivion of what could have been.

When I was with Dietrich Metal Framing, Ed Ponko the former president came up with the following rules of engagement. They are a great guide to creating a winning culture in any enterprise.

They are:

1)      Follow the Golden Rule (Do unto others as you would have them do unto you)

2)      Always look to improve quality in product and service. Add value to our customers’ business
3)      Always do your best each day… and then do a bit more. Push yourself
4)      Be beyond reproach with your deeds and actions
5)      Take responsibility. Have a sense of urgency. Get things done… show results
6)      Always set goals and work to attain them, otherwise they are just dreams
7)      Accept change and take risks. If you’re not changing, you’re not leading the race
8)      Nurture others so that they can replace you. Only then can you move forward
9)      Foster teamwork, it achieves more than you can do individually
10)    Be a good listener
11)    Avoid/discourage trifling with gossip and rumor. No good ever comes of it. Seek and deal in truths.
12)    Allow an argument/debate its due process. Bad decisions come from bad information. End with all on the same page but remember consensus on the decision is not required. This is when leaders have to lead and team players have to act like team players.
13)    PLAY TO WIN!
 

For any reader in a leadership position, remember, you too have to embody these principles if you want them integrated into the culture of your organizations. I had witnessed an organization where, in my opinion, the shareholders refused to practice rules 1, 4, 9 and 12 while the president was trying to practice all 13. As a result, the efforts were only moderately successful in changing the culture and led to much conflict. This is why I caution anyone in a leadership position to assure that they are walking the talk.

I am in the process of becoming a significant shareholder and principle of Drexel Metals Corporation, I’m about to begin rolling out these rules of engagement. Fortunately, the other shareholders are 100% in support of these principles and already are walking the talk.

I can’t say that any one of these rules is more important than another, taken as a whole; they create a force multiplier that not just leads to success, but also satisfaction in being a member of this kind of team and motivation to keep moving despite obstacles and challenges.

Sergeant Edward Benton served in the military during a particularly tumultuous time. The country had grown very war weary. So weary that the majority of the country just wanted it over with, thought we spent far too much money on it and the cost in lives was getting too great. No one could see an end in sight. Even the soldiers were getting weary of the whole thing. The calls from some members of Congress for an immediate withdrawal of troops were getting louder every day.

Can you tell which theater of combat Sergeant Benton was fighting in? Afghanistan? Iraq? Maybe Vietnam? Nope, all of those guesses would be wrong.

Sergeant Edward Benton served during the Revolutionary War!

I have sitting on my desk Sergeant Benton’s last pay voucher dated February 2, 1786… 222 years ago!

Anytime I need inspiration to persevere in pursuing my goals, I look at Sergeant Benton’s pay voucher and experience a number of emotions. The first is awe, the second is thankfulness and the third emotion is humility.

I truly admire men and women who have the bravery to serve our country. They serve today in an all volunteer military and during the Revolutionary war, they served in an all volunteer army as well. I’m thankful because the freedoms we enjoy and the economy we enjoy (even today’s economy) would not be possible without Sergeant Edward Benton’s commitment and millions like him. I’m humbled because whenever I think I’ve got it tough or my work is hard, it pales in comparison… and my life isn’t on the line either.

I think it is also important to point out two unique things about many Revolutionary War soldiers. First is that even when injured, they served. Congress had formed the Invalid Corps to serve as guards in various towns vulnerable to attack or to protect food supplies, etc. On April 7, 1781 Edward Benton was assigned to the Invalid Corps due to his injuries. He never recovered from his injuries and was disabled for the rest of his life. The second interesting thing about the commitment of these soldiers, when it was so easy to desert and blend back into society, was that most went without pay for years.

The pay voucher that I have was paid in 1786 AFTER the war was over for pay granted in January 1783 when he was discharged. From his enlistment in 1777 until 1786, almost nine years, Edward Benton served with no pay.

One would think that these soldiers would have been bitter at having to serve injured and/or serve for year after year for no pay (because the country had no money). Most were not because they understood the price of freedom.

Edward Benton was not. How do I know? I have the voter register of Hartford, Connecticut for the 1789 elections… the year George Washington was elected President. Despite his injuries and despite the lack of pay, Edward Benton exercised the freedom he fought for to help elect the first President of the United States. And as they say, the rest is history.

I don’t know about you, but I get older every year. I try to stop the earth from going around the sun, but I can’t. With each trip I make around the sun my waist seems to get a little bigger, my endurance a little shorter and my strength a little weaker. Crap, I’m middle-aged!

While I’m in ok shape for a 46 year old, I know I could be in better shape. At one point in my early twenties I ran three marathons, good luck to me trying to run 5 miles twenty some years later. So, I finally got the ambition fired up to eat better and exercise more. It actually has stuck for just about 12 weeks. That, I am told, is a sign that I have accepted the habit… and I’m ten pounds lighter to boot!

For us folks approaching the geezer years, it is important to truly understand the basics of our physiology and how to exercise and eat in order to live well. I did some digging in the book store, looking for a little inspiration and came across a book that I have now bought 30 copies of and handed out. The title of the book is, “Younger Next Year”. What I really like about it is the authors do not pitch any gimmicks, new age stuff nor sell supplements. I found it to be a great guide.

Now, those of you who have followed this blog for a while know, I do not sell things via my blog. This time I am going to make an exception. I have added a page www.robwaite.com/Younger_Next_Year to my site so that you can the book from Amazon.com. You don’t pay more and I get an affiliate commission. Hey, it takes money to keep this site up and running, so every now and again I will make my exception. What I promise is that I will always disclose it if I am selling something.

Even if you don’t buy it through my Amazon.com link, I would encourage you to buy it, read it, digest it and DO IT!

Here’s to you being younger next year!

Have you ever been shocked, hurt and disappointed because you learned about a competitor, former employer or colleague who unfairly trashed you? If you haven’t, then you’re a rare exception! 

How do you respond? Why do people do this? Let’s start with the latter. People who actively engage in trash talk actually are afraid of what you are able to accomplish. They are afraid that you’ll succeed. So start by taking it as a compliment! Also people who engage in trash talk are adding no value to their customer or their employer. It is political, mean spirited and the trash talker desires to hurt you, not help their customer or employer. 

So, how do you respond? 99.9% do not respond at all. Trash talking almost always back fires on the trash talker. They look petty and small in the eyes of the person they are spouting off to. That person doesn’t have a dog in the fight and doesn’t really want to be involved. I’ve seen this again and again, yet trash talkers rarely learn this lesson. Therefore, just let it go. It can be emotionally hard to do, but 99.9% of the time, that is the smart move. If someone approaches you and says that so and so said this and that about you, simply respond with, “It’s unfortunate to see someone behave that way; we had a legitimate difference of opinion and nothing more than that.” Then redirect the conversation and move on. 

What about the 0.1% of the time? This occurs when the trash talker crosses the legal line and defames and slanders you by spreading verifiable lies. A person’s negative opinion of you or difference of opinion on a business decision, even if wholly wrong, does not cross the legal line. Only provable lies do. In that case you need to consider if you should either simply provide the correct information to the recipient in a professional, calm manner or if you should involve an attorney. I suggest only involving an attorney if the liable/slander will have a material impact on your business, earnings, career or reputation in the community. Involving an attorney because the only damage done is your hurt feelings is a waste of money and risks escalating the situation. 

I recently had the unfortunate experience where a competitor was trash talking me. At first, I was offend, upset, hurt, angry and confused as to why they would spin such ridiculous story. It was very hard, but I heeded my own advice and just let it go. I kept a watch from a distance to assure things didn’t cross the legal line, but held my tongue and ignored it. I debated with myself every day for a week whether I should do something about it. I’m glad I didn’t. In this case both a supplier and a customer who heard the disparaging information came back and expressed extreme reservations about the trash talker and how it made them not trust the trash talker. All I had to say was, “I really appreciate doing business with people like you.”  In the final analysis, the trash talkers achieve the exact opposite of what they set out to achieve. Always take the high road. It isn’t just smart business; it will make you a happier person too. 

Ebenezer Scrooge: “But you were always a good man of business, Jacob.”

Marley’s Ghost: “BUSINESS! Mankind was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance and benevolence were all my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!”

These few lines from Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol” always affected me. It was a reminder that our work is not all that there is to our lives. And it also makes me think about how I go about my work.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not advocating that a business has to be a give away charity or “nanny state” to its employees. The employee/employer relationship has to be a two-way relationship. After all, if business goes too long without having a positive cash flow and profitable sales, it will fail and be of no service to its employees, customers or suppliers.

What I am advocating is to think about how we go about developing that cash flow and earning our profits. Are we going to do it in a way that pushes people down or in a way that lifts people up?