Fits like a...sock?

Did you ever get new socks for Christmas?

I did this year.

They were dress socks...so I wore them to work on Wednesday and I thought to myself how good they felt.

They had more than enough cushion and support and when I compared them to my old dress socks...they were hands down...the winner.

They were new...but really comfortable.

So I started thinking about how we typically look at those two choices as either/or's. We usually have to sacrifice one for the other. I am comfortable here...but over there is something new...that actually may be better...but I really don't want to take that chance.

Comfortable v New.

Nope...not going to fall into that trap.

Don't think you have to lose one for the other. Make it work for both. Stay in your comfort zone...but bring a new element into it. Challenge the comfort zone without breaking it. Stretch it..without ripping it.

Comfortable and new. It does work...and it feels pretty good.

Remember Mikey? He tried new things...and always liked it. What was the name of that cereal again? Oh yeah...Life. That's it.

Writer's note; Did you know the Life cereal campaign was one of the longest running consistent commercial themes in the history of television. They were on to something. But...I digress...

Shaken...not stirred

You've all done it...

You've made it snow inside a snow globe.

You shake it vigorously and the snow flakes explode and create a virtual whiteout of the scene inside the globe.

Then what happens?

The flakes settle...and the scene is even more beautiful than before.




More often than not...that summarizes our life. Every once in a while, the flakes explode all around us. Creating confusion and apparent disarray. But eventually, the flakes settle...the picture becomes clear again...and you see the scene for what it really is. But...probably even more beautiful than before because you appreciate it more.

Don't be afraid of the whiteout...embrace it because what follows is actually quite nice.

Your steps

Writer's note: Today...my "little girl" graduates from college. This post is dedicated to her.



I remember the first steps you took when you were just a babe.
Exploring. You were alive. They were tiny steps but you went so far.
So careful, so trusting, so new.


I remember the first steps you took when you chose to run.
You had a goal, a dream to chase. They were bigger steps, but not large.
So focused, so determined, so you.

I remember the first steps you took when you danced to a song..
They were synchronized steps, but not planned.
So delicate, so beautiful, so blue.

I remember the first steps you took when you started to learn.
Yearning. Growing. Knowing. They were scary steps, but good.
So brave, so noble, so do.

I remember the first steps you took in the fields of play.
Not winning, not a care.. They were awkward steps, but forward.
So striving, so reaching, so few.

Today, you reach and take another step. There will be more. I promise.
Some good, bad. Some small, not all.
Some with promise and some nay. Some to move to and some fro.
But, the one thing to count on,
I will take these steps too as I have for all of the past.
To catch the tears and share the laughs.
To open your doors and to close your wounds.
I will be there too.

With every step,
I look back and forward and can’t help but smile with pride.

Every step you wish can be yours.
I am so proud of you.

Are you Painting in Color or B&W

Writer's note; Huge movie buff...so every once in awhile I am going to reference movies or lines from movies that I feel have made or continue to make a difference.

Writer's note #2; You ever read or hear something where you just say...WOW...that really speaks to me...I wish I would've created that.

Think about this...

We all paint our own surroundings so use the brightest, boldest, biggest colors you can find. Fill the canvas. Make it scream and yell.

That's what this is all about...

What really counts?

OK...I am going to sound like a scrooge on this but really am not...

At this time of year...we hear this phrase a lot; "It's the thought that counts."

WRONG!

It's NOT the thought that counts.

Let me repeat it if you didn't catch that.

It's NOT the thought that counts.

It's the DO that counts.

We have a lot of people who have great intentions and thoughts...but not a lot of people who put those thoughts into action.

"I'd like to do this but..."

"We could accomplish this but..."

The next time you have the thought...make it real.

Give it life. Get it done.

The more things change...

We talk more and more about how technology is changing the way we live our lives.

I disagree.




When you really look at it...technology changes how we do things in our lives...not why we do things.

We used to call people on the phone or write them letters so we can stay connected.

We now text, poke, post, tweet, update...so we can stay connected.

We used to read to be entertained, informed and educated.

Now we not only read...but we contribute so we can be entertained, informed and educated and entertain, inform and educate.

We used to build relationships with our neighbors so we can grow our trust network.

We now build relationships with our communities...so we can grow our trust network.

We used to go door to door before we buy something so we don't make a bad purchase.

We now go site to site before we buy something...so we don't make a bad purchase.

Tradition and technology.

It's not reinventing the wheel...it's just replacing a spoke.

That kid has some talent...

Our start up company is in full swing right now...and so far the results are outstanding! The human puzzle pieces have fit together perfectly.



I was sitting down talking with one of my key people on the team last week and I was talking about the individual talents that we have assembled. The collective heads, hearts and souls of the team are incredibly impressive. It's one of those cases where the sum of the individuals is equal to the sum of the whole.

Do you have someone in your organization who is really good at collecting talent and putting the pieces of the human puzzle together? If you do...you are already half way there to success. If you don't...find someone quickly who can.

Collect talent. Always. Everywhere. It can't be looked at as a hobby or part time thing...it's a passion and it has be a full time focus.

Look at the Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers. Their General Manager Ted Thompson did a masterful job of collecting talent. He took a lot of heat on some of his decisions but he stayed the course with his plan to collect talent...and look at the end result.

What's the measurement of success for you? Whatever it is...it starts with your talent collection. Envision the goal...and then find the people who can achieve it. Everything else...will take care of itself.