To Serve well

Serving with Excellence for a Life of Excellence

Inspiration

What pressing problem can I help solve?

This lady had some BRAVADO: Word on the street (and in the magazines) is that Lori Goler, Facebook’s human resources chief, got the job basically by cold-calling Sheryl Sandberg.

The question in the title of today’s blog is what she asked that triggered Sandberg to respond.

“We need help recruiting.” Here’s the thing: All leaders have problems to solve. That is the entire reason they (and we) are hired in the first place. On any given day, I assure you a leader would love if you come to the office with this question on your mind. How can I solve problems? How can I best serve today? What issue, if we address it right, will make us achieve our goals, improve employee satisfaction, make our customer experience the best it can be…? You get the point.

I think this question is golden at home as well as in the community – and even in places you wouldn’t think. My mom lives in a retirement community and I know that if she asked this question, they would have a response. Whether it’s providing useful feedback or diving in to fix issues, the “sha-bang” problems exist all around and are looking for people that are ready to rise to the occasion and help to solve.

*Side note: Huge shout out to the kids in Florida who are championing the effort to solve our country’s enormous problem with school shootings. They are jumping in and using their voice. I have no idea where it will go, but I applaud them! Any collective effort we can make to solve problems, both big and small, are key to our ongoing growth and success.

Black History Month series: If you still don’t understand

Here’s the story of Mae Berther Carter, who raised a young family in 1965

That really isn’t that long ago, if you ask me! I think it’s important to put things into perspective.

During 1965, Ms. Carter enrolled 7 of her 13 children (boy, she had to have been busy!) in public schools that were previously reserved only for white students.

Despite people firing bullets into her home, she persisted. Despite being evicted from her home, she persisted. (Does “Nevertheless, she persisted” conversation from last year resonate with anyone else here?)

In 1969, Ms. Carter and her husband won a lawsuit challenging the “freedom of choice” laws. That same year, a court order ended the segregation system in the Drew School District. All 7 of those children later graduated from that school. (No clue what happened to the other six…) It is hard to fathom a school — and for that matter, public or private spaces — being reserved only for certain people. To think that inequality like this ever existed is far from the teaching of most value systems, spiritual and not. (Side note: There is inequality still today in so many areas, which is in a large part what the #MeToo movement is about. I am not so sure our country has advanced as much as it could have.)

At any rate, these stories compel me, as they shrink the topic to a level I can consume.

My mom was 22 years old then, and although she’s aging now, it’s hard to think she walked through this world at the same age my boys are now. That brings it close to home for me. As I shared Tuesday, science shows through epigenetics that those harsh realities impact the generations that followed, including those alive today.

That means someone you sit next to at work or church; someone you watch on television or perhaps in one of the Oscar-nominated films — they’re affected. You see, we all have our story. We all have backgrounds that shape us. I think all of us need to go into conversations throughout life with a greater understanding that everyone has a journey and the best thing we can do is listen, seek to understand and, of course, serve others freakishly good and always be kind.

I hope you and your family are taking some time this month to learn more stories like Mae’s. Consider checking out The King Center, which showcases some terrific information.

Team USA: The power of unity

I am a huge fan of the Olympics! (I favor the Winter Olympics, but it’s all awesome!)

When the 2010 Winter Olympics were in nearby Vancouver, Canada, my sister, boys and I hopped over and attended a few events. The feeling of a world unified by something is so powerful. Let me tell you, you felt that love. It makes me wish there were Olympic games annually.

The kick off of the 2018 Winter Games tonight has me considering the whole concept of unity and being a team. What creates the movement where a team becomes unified? What drives them to pull together to win?

If you are a Kansas Citian, you know the feeling from our hometown team, the Royals. When they came together to win the World Series, it was palpable around town. There was no denying the unity of the team, and as a result, the town. (Unity is contagious… what we call good energy!) We saw the same thing Sunday night when the power of team and focus came through during post-game interviews with the Philadelphia Eagles. (Did anyone else catch the local shout out to the Blue Valley Tigers that won the Kansas state title this fall? Another example of unity! I attended a preseason golf tournament and you could feel it even then. I believe that team unity doesn’t happen over night. I had nothing to do really with this team, but still felt their energy and excitement. That’s the power of unity.)

When the athletes take the field tonight, I hope that you notice that unity is alive and well, and has been since the beginning of the modern day games in 1896. (Fun fact: They first started as a pagan religious festival in 776 in Greece, but after a 393 hiatus, regrouped to what we know today as the Olympic games.)

The Olympics as a movement has three main parts, according to reference.com. They include the International Olympic Committee, The International Federations and the National Olympic Committees. The three work together to:

  • PROMOTE PEACE
  • ENCOURAGE PEACE AMONG YOUNG ATHLETES

Sports help athletes engage on the field without discrimination, the reference goes on to say. Forming friendships and practicing fair play are the cornerstones of the events. I love all of that, don’t you?

As we go into the next few weeks watching the big events, I hope this resonates with you and you think about how we should all strive for this type of effort. As the athletes showcase, it takes work, discipline and often a mind-over-matter approach to the sport or, in this case, the game of life.

We can be unified as a country. We can reveal friendships. We can become a strong, cohesive unit. As a family, a community and a country. I believe in TEAM USA!

Family: Your first team

Family connections run deep.

No matter what your family looks like or how dysfunctional they may be, family creates a bond like no other.

Family sees us at our worst and our best: tears of joy and pain. It’s raw, but a good raw.

Family is vulnerability.

They have seen the real us and vice versa, and they stick around regardless of whether they like what they see.

Even if we step away or create a distance, we are drawn back because, well, family is family.

Like many of you, over the years I went to extended family reunions as a child and thought it was fun, but totally missed the meaning. I watched my boys and was surprised that they seem to realize and honor the depth of family at a young age, and valued its importance.

That has me thinking: We all could use a reminder to really invest in this area. It’s easy to put family on the back burner unless, like children, they need us for survival. Family will be there and we know it.

For that very reason, we should make a concentrated effort to invest and honor them every chance we get. Say thank you, show appreciation, lift them up… We do this in the work place and we do it with our friends, but do we tell our favorite uncle that he really means a lot to us? What about telling him that his service to our country brings you so much pride and gratitude? I don’t do this enough.

Let’s pay attention and make some investments in those who are our greatest cheerleaders. Who’s with me?

(Rewind: This is a revamped post from 2017, because it rings true now and always.)

Simple Thoughts Sunday: Playing to win

I am a fan of daily devotions. A good friend got me the ‘Awaken’ devotional book from Priscilla Shirer for this year, and I am really liking it. I love practice examples and she offers plenty. In this verse, she focused on the “in such a way,” part: “Read this again and see: the winning is not just in the running. It’s in the WAY the RACE IS RUN.”

It’s Superbowl Sunday and the Winter Olympics launch on Thursday. A huge week for sports fan and I am indeed among them. Serious athletes and all of us who strive for excellence in our own “race” must run with endurance and have the discipline needed to anchor our souls and lives to a plan that will help us to do so in the best possible way.

Shirer suggests that we do this by listening and submitting in obedience to God’s word. In other words, to actually seek out his voice through scripture reading and any other way that you can soak it in with today’s many resources.

For this “Simple Thoughts Sunday” I am all in on following his plan to achieve the life of excellence I desire. I hope you will have some time to truly enjoy the big game today and will celebrate the athletes who have indeed put in the effort to WIN later this week with the rest of the world.

I can’t wait to spend some time this week diving into the insights of Olympics past and present. It will be FUN!

Lessons from the Market

Who is ready for the farmer’s market to come back? You might recognize the famous sign above, from a year-round market that keeps going no matter how low the temperatures fall.

That is, of course, the Pike Place original farmer’s market, established in 1907 in Seattle.

I read about another famous market — the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo — where they sell millions of dollars in frozen fish. So many untold stories of success.

Here’s the thing, that and many farmer’s markets operate still without technology, relying on basic math, receipt scraps and a handshake. I think that is why I love farmer’s markets: the simplicity and pureness in the exchange. From the ground to the pick up truck; from the market to our homes. The fewer steps the better, and the experience lends itself to authenticity and a feeling that you are part of something powerful in the community.

Long ago are the days that we exchanged goods with a simple handshake. To me, a good solid handshake still inspires trust and the hope for a relationship that will be mutually beneficial. A neuroscience study by the Beckman Institute confirms that in fact the basic handshake, “not only increases the positive effect toward a favorable interaction, but is also diminishes the impact of a negative impression.” It quite literally “lights up the brain” in MRI studies. That’s not surprising to me, but it should make us all remember that when developing a trusting relationship, we must realize that the warmth of a firm handshake creates an impression that is proven to make a positive difference.

As we think today about the “market” — defining this as a place to purchase goods from an actual person who likely played a part in their existence at the market — I want you to think about the following (in addition to dreaming of walks and fresh produce in warmer weather!):

  1. Simplifying life is good. Out with the multi-step program, processed food, processed information — in with the basics. (Remember our talks about minimalism from earlier this month?)
  2. Relationships are built on trust. I would add that this starts in community. A business mastermind, in your neighborhood, a small group at church….
  3. There is power in your approach. Your handshake, smile, willingness to ask thoughtful, empathetic questions, showing interest… it’s all important. Communities have thrived for years based on these simple lessons learned in the marketplace exchange.

Accelerating growth: The value of strong teachers & mentors

This is a topic I could stay on forever. There are so many great aspects of GROWTH that it could genuinely fill our days.

The good news is that we no longer have the one-room schoolhouse with a small selection of books and references. We literally have more information to consume than we ever could ever reasonably take in.

On Tuesday, I framed up the idea of just getting started on growth. We did this through a conversation on development silly, “stupid” mini-habits. To me, the next part of this discussion is surrounding yourself with wise counsel. As in teachers, mentors, coaches, etc. So to summarize:

  1. Set a Goal
  2. Break that down into small steps so it’s doable and you set yourself up for success.
  3. Seek out the right people to help you WIN!

This may be the most important part because we were designed to be in community. We simply cannot go as far on our own. It took me a long time to realize this in the health/fitness world. I have had a trainer (shout out to the most amazing, encouraging and smart trainer there is)  for almost three years. I am highly disciplined with most things when I put my mind to it (i.e. making a decision), but I just won’t push myself during a workout without someone guiding me. It’s partly because I don’t understand the process of building and maintaining muscle, but it’s also that I just don’t like to be in pain. I’m sure many of you get it.

That’s just one pretty straightforward example. Since I was young, the teachers and coaches were the people who helped me GROW. They are so critical to all areas of our development. I would submit that they still are, but it may look a little different.

Who do you seek out for growth? If you want to be the best in your industry, have you sought out the best to help you? In my assessment, good teachers, coaches, mentors do the following:

  • Champion your success;
  • clear the path if needed (open doors to both knowledge and people that can help you); and
  • yes, hold you accountable to goal achievement.

I also think it’s pretty important that you hold the same value system and enjoy each other’s company. (It’s always best if you have fun in the process.)

Today and this weekend it would be great if you gave some real thought to this. What area(s) in your life are you trying to grow in? (Spiritual, financial, relational, career, physical, etc.) Do you have good teachers or mentors to help you? If not, develop a strategy to seek it out!

Feel free to reach out to me if you’d like to talk further on the subject. It’s a hot topic for me personally!

Today I will do one push up.

(Photo creds: Canva)

Our own personal growth happens over time, whether or not we’re aware of it. Growth can be real growth, as in getting stronger. But it can also be more meaningful or purposeful.

We can stunt our growth with our habits we’re unwilling to confront head on. One of my habits is hitting the snooze button daily, and oftentimes more than once. I recently decided it was time to stop the silliness and get the heck up. It’s still January – and anything could change – but for now, I am putting in place a firm call to action to get up at the sound of the first alarm.

We all know that growth is achieved by making consistent healthy decisions over time… an apple a day-type thinking. In his book, “Mini Habits,” Sam Davis lays out that the foundation in establishing habits. He explains that we should put in place “stupid-small” steps to help us move toward success. (Hence, the example in the title of this blog.) It gives you the notion that you are creating steps that set you up for “too small to fail.” In other words, you’re set up to succeed. Even if your goal is to do 25 push ups a day. By the end of the day, you’re not going to let the hurdle of doing one stop you from achieving your goal. (Thank you Levi Lusko for the example.) Here are some others:

Goal: To eat more greens each day.

Stupid Small Step: To eat one piece of lettuce a day.

Goal: To walk two miles, or 30 minutes, every day.

Stupid Small Step: To walk to the end of the driveway and back each day.

Goal: To develop a habit of sending three thank you notes out each week.

Stupid Small Step: To send one thank you text in a week.

I think you get the concept here. Small steps repeated over time equal new habits that create GROWTH. If you stay focused, they will produce MASSIVE GROWTH! I like that idea a lot!

Where do you need to start today?

Happy New Year to the BEST! I am so thankful for my readers!

I thought today for “Simple Thoughts Sunday” it would be good to share a practice that I feel is very helpful in processing your year. Tsh Oxenreider, author and founder of The Art of Simple crafted 20 questions that will help you think through the nitty gritty of the past year.

The process should help you set your focus and intentions on what you hope to achieve during this next trip around the sun. Here you go…

What was the single best thing that happened this year?

What was the single most challenging thing that happened?

What was an unexpected joy this past year?

What was an unexpected obstacle?

Pick three words to describe this past year.

Pick three words your partner, best friends or family, would use to describe your year- don’t ask them; guess based on how you think they see you.

Pick three words for them based on their year, again, without asking.

What were the best books books you read this year?

Who were your most valuable relationships with?

What was your biggest personal challenge from January-December?

In what ways did you grow emotionally?

In what ways did you grow spiritually?

In what ways did you grow physically?

In what ways did you grow in your relationships with others?

What was the most enjoyable part of your work, both professionally and at home?

What was the most challenging part of the same?

What was your single biggest time waster?

What was the best way you used your time?

What was the biggest thing you learned?

Create a phrase or statement that describes this past year for you.

(By the way, this is really hard for me this year… It’s been a “gritty” year and sometimes it seems like I haven’t made a lot of progress. I’m praying God reveals more to me over the next few days because one thing I have learned, is that progress isn’t always apparent at first!)

I hope you have a wonderful celebration today. I am excited to see what 2018 brings and believe fully that God will show up BIG in every single detail.

Time to DOWN SHIFT!

It’s that time of year when work winds down and we shift — as in “DOWN SHIFT” — our FOCUS to our friends and family. (Thank you Mic Johnson, @mictastic, for the term.) 

I know many of you are still working through this week, and I hope you are able to take some time off during these next couple of weeks. We are in a society of constant connectedness, and our brains need to be able to shut down & reboot so that we can CREATE MAGIC IN 2018!

Whether your thing is taking in the new Star Wars movie, doing absolutely nothing and sitting by the fire, binging on your latest Netflix fav, getting a pedicure with your girls or reading some great books, do whatever fulfills you! Research shows that our brains need a break!

“Push yourself through too many hours or days of work and your brain starts to push back. Ideas that once flowed easily dry up, and tasks that you should be able to perform quickly become excruciatingly difficult,” according to Scientific American.

I personally don’t need too much convincing. My mind and body begs for me to take a break! I will be taking off Sunday and Tuesday from the blog, but please know I wish you the very best and am praying for each of you to be filled with the all the peace and joy the season can offer!