Decision Making

Not All People Are Created Equal!

This great Wisdom on Wednesday comes from Vince Lombardi, who once said, “Not all people are created equal. Some have abundant talents and some have few. It’s not about the talents you were born with. It’s what you do with the talents you’ve been given that matters.” Have you ever heard of someone who has a beautiful voice but has no desire to sing? Or someone who is great at math but has no desire to be a mathematician? There is no mystery as to why these people are often frustrated: They can’t find their purpose in life.

Your purpose in life is directly tied to your God-given talents along with a current and relevant need. That need usually has a little pain inside you that you use to comfort those in need. We all have a purpose inside us. Find that purpose and learn what it is to be free!

Joe Kiedinger

ACTION PLAN: Take the time to reflect on your life talents and purpose!

Are you appreciating your kids?

I had a powerful conversation with my 14-year-old teenager last night. He was clearly frustrated with mom and I, so I asked him, “What are three things we can do to be better parents?” He had a few more than three. Danica and I feel we always encourage our kids to be their best. We feel like we recognize each of our unique children’s achievements and help raise them up. Using our words and our optimistic style, we do encourage. However, Alex doesn’t like the way we praise him. He feels it’s insincere and not honest. Using his About Me Card, he was able to express how he interprets our praise in the manner that we choose to express it. He prefers us not to be overly enthusiastic when he’s having a bad day. It shuts him down and gets him upset.

While the details of this conversation are between our teenager and us, the lesson is clear. Many times you think you are showing appreciation when in fact you are doing the opposite. We all interpret words and actions differently. It’s important to have a sit down with your kids and at least ask the question: What are three things I can do differently to be a better parent? If they‘re not ready to provide that answer right away, ask them to think about it and get back to you.

Communication is never easy. However, by understanding what motivates your children, you can learn how to build them up and coach them to be better citizens in the future. How would you like to understand your teenager in 60 seconds for less than $15? Contact me and I’ll show you how!

Joe Kiedinger

ACTION PLAN: Ask the question!

Right Place at the Right Time

I get a kick out of the saying, “I was at the right place at the right time!” It’s spot on accurate, but I find that the people who make this claim tend to be at all places all the time. They are always making an effort to be in the right place at the right time. You see, 90% of success is just showing up. Do you realize only a small percentage of people have the guts to show up in the first place? Why the intimidation? Don’t get me wrong … I’ve had my moments of being intimidated by being in the presence of potential clients.

Are you tired of being intimidated? We are all human. Be yourself and make the call. Reach out to those people who could change your life forever and just be yourself. Share your beliefs and your product with them. Give them a chance to say no! The time is now to make new friends. Stop lollygagging!

Joe Kiedinger

ACTION PLAN: Pick up that 100-pound phone and call your next best friend!

You ARE in control!

I’ve realized that when you surrender to events and situations that are not necessarily in your control it actually puts you in control. The feeling of control is simply a control of your emotions. When you get frustrated, you feel out of control. When you feel relaxed and focused, you feel in control. It is strange that by surrendering to situations you actually feel more in control about them.

Let’s try something. Find a sheet of paper. On the left side, write five disappointments that you had in 2010. Then write down some of the achievements that you experienced on the right side. Take a look at each group and draw a line or connect the disappointments to the achievements. You should see direct correlations. For example, you may have noted something like “I’m disappointed that I was ignored for that home mortgage.” However, a positive was finding a gain in the market with the money you were going to use as a down payment for the home.

Write these down and see how your disappointments actually are a part of the journey for your successes.

Joe Kiedinger

ACTION PLAN: Pull out the paper!

Spread Your Wings and Fly

I am going to share with you my thoughts on young adults (18-22). I must admit that I have not yet experienced this age group. However, I do have some wisdom that I will be living by that perhaps will speak to your heart. I have been on a very intense and adventurous journey on discovering happiness, and I have come to some realizations that I think are accurate. I’m sure I’ll hear from those of you who think I’m a little wacky here. Oh well, here goes …

I think we parents have preconceived notions of the perfect child before even starting a family. Once in awhile, especially if you have multiple children, you get lucky and the perfect kid is born. What I’ve realized, though, is that these kids are who they are! Leave them alone! I say this in the context of children who are not involved in drugs or alcohol. I’m talking about the typical young adult. In raising these children, you did your work and you shared your values. Now it’s up to them to live their lives. The programming will kick in eventually!

Let them make their mistakes. Let them make their choices. The only way we learn is through our mistakes. We forget what it was like when we were 20. After college I drove a school bus, was a professional gymnast (even though I couldn’t do a good cartwheel and never took a class in my life), performed on a cruise ship and co-started a dinner theater. My parents thought I was nuts (especially the tumbling thing). It’s been a great adventure. Let them go. Support, encourage and then go out to dinner with a friend and forget it. There’s nothing you can do anyhow. It’s not your place anymore.

That’s my plan anyway. We’ll see how it goes for me when the time comes. It’s five short years away. Yikes!

Joe Kiedinger

ACTION PLAN: Have a meaningful conversation with a child today. Don’t ask about grades or what they’re doing. Ask them open-ended questions on their thoughts on stuff. Watch them open up.

Making Announcements Is NOT Training!

Today’s Wisdom on Wednesday comes from a longtime subscriber, Mike Bober of Oshkosh, Wis.

“I have noticed a mental mistake in our company recently. We think that announcing a change that management wants to make constitutes making the change. We expect office staff, technicians and others to just change their habits because we told them to do it. I have been challenging our system here with ‘Announcing is not TRAINING.’ If we expect others to change their behavior, we need to train them by giving information and then following up with practical support, enforcement, reinforcement and rewards. Merely announcing a change does not change anyone’s behavior. I’ll bet we are not the only management team around that has been mistaking announcements for effective training.”

Thank you, Mike! Wonderful insight here. I agree that management teams all over the globe mistake announcing a change to being effectively trained. It’s like telling someone, “You need to learn to swim.” A person needs to take lessons. They need to get in the water and practice. It helps to start with a float on your back. Tell me all you want but if you don’t teach me and show me, how am I to learn?

Thanks again, Mike, for allowing me to share your wisdom with our readers. You need to have systems and processes in place in order to produce change. It doesn’t happen overnight. Remember, no matter what change you’re starting, 10% will start rowing the boat right away, 80% will look around to see if anyone else is rowing and the remaining 10% will try drilling holes in the boat. There’s nothing you can do about it except to start rowing!

Joe Kiedinger

ACTION PLAN: Change something today! Start simple: Rearrange the stuff on your desk, rearrange the furniture in your living room, or introduce a new meal at dinner that has never been tried. You can do it!

Introducing CHANGE!

This week I had the humbling task of strengthening understanding among nine men in a leadership team in Austin, Texas. These guys were just like you and me. They were trying to “figure it out” so to speak. Figure out business growth, both strategically and tactically, as well as better understand one another. I am always slightly nervous when entering into an About Me Card session with any group. I don’t know why, as it always ends up being enlightening for most everyone there. What I have realized, though, is how the initiation of change works with this program and any program that is newly introduced.

Imagine there is a big gutted-out wooden boat with many oars lying on the floor. When change like a new program is introduced, everyone is asked to step inside the boat. The boat is the meeting room or that presentation they’re “forced” to attend. Once the information is delivered, what usually happens is this: 10% of the crowd loves it and wants to get started right away. They pick up some oars off the floor and start rowing. They practice what was asked in the meeting, and it really connects with them. They see it working in their lives.

 Another 80% sit in the boat and look around to see who else is picking up oars. They are wondering, and some may be hoping, that this will go away. No big deal, they can just step out of the boat. Then there is the remaining 10% who sneak in a drill and try desperately to make holes in the boat. “Let’s sink this idea!” It’s always the same in every group. You can tell by how people talk. When I do this with a 10-person group, one of them will come back all fired up after doing the exercises. Eight will sit there and give some feedback. Some a little positive, perhaps, some a little negative, but nothing too far to the right or left. Then there is always one person who sends the message, “This is clearly a waste of time” or “It doesn’t work.”

 It’s this 10% who are the most adamantly opposed to ANY change. Remember this as you go out to change the world with something you may discover or feel is better than what already exists. Stay true to your beliefs and eventually you will experience breakthrough! When it comes to the About Me Program, have we broken through? Not quite yet, but the wall of resistance is sure starting to crumble!

 Joe Kiedinger

The Growing Bamboo

Someone told me about the Bamboo Tree and how it grows, and I felt it was a great metaphor for business. Apparently, the Bamboo Tree when first planted takes a long time to start growing. What happens are the roots are the first to grow into the soil. They grow to establish a healthy foundation to support this slim tall plant. When the roots are ready, the Bamboo Tree begins to grow at an alarming rate. I did some online research and this is what I found:

“Bamboo has an amazing growth rate. It is much like a telescope in its growth habit as it emerges. Its growth has been measured at almost four feet in a 24-hour period during the spring shooting period.”

If you’re in business for yourself or if you’re an innovator where you work, hang in there! When it comes to announcing a new brand within a brand, I tell my clients that all campaigns go through three phases. The first phase is creating overall awareness. The second phase is people starting to talk about it. The third is action. Hang in there. Not everyone is going to embrace or accept your idea. You must prove yourself. You will have early adopters who will get it and see your vision. Spend your time with these people. They will help spread the word to others. Go where the water is flowing. When you hit a rock (a “no” person), flow around it.

Be patient and you‘ll find your roots holding fast—and your Bamboo Tree beginning to grow at an alarming rate. I’m still growing my roots, but my plant is starting to sprout!

Joe

ACTION PLAN: Find three people of support this week!

Napoleon Hill, what a guy!

Napoleon Hill is an old business success author who wrote the book, Think and Grow Rich. He is the first to be quoted as saying, “What the human mind can see and believe, the human mind can achieve.” Walt Disney also believed in this way of thinking. I love dreaming up an idea and then taking small steps every day developing and nurturing it and sharing the idea with others.

Sometimes, though, I notice that when I meet people with great ideas they are afraid to share them with me. I find that these people never see their dreams or ideas take root because they are scared to plant the seeds. They think, “You’re going to steal my idea if I share it with you.” Hey, if you’re not going to share or implement your own ideas, what makes you think another person would? I find these people stifling their own ambition. Furthermore, I see people with great ideas who give up on them too soon. They think the first time they tell people about the idea it’s going to shoot off like a cannon. It doesn’t work that way. People need to hear an idea several times.

My suggestion to you is this: To know if your idea is solid, begin by explaining it to friends and family to see what they think. Then start sharing it with business associates and colleagues. What do they think? If a large number support your idea, then find opportunities to share with others you don’t know. By now you should have enough feedback to determine whether your idea could be marketed and sold. Next, begin sharing your idea with potential buyers. Spend time with those who resonate with it right away. Also, hear out those who disagree but don’t waste energy trying to convince them. Move on to those who give you a “yes”!

Every great idea has its day, but that day needs years of teaching and preaching before “the” day of breakthrough can happen. It’s your day … have at it!

Joe Kiedinger

ACTION PLAN: Are you up for being great?

Life Is Amazing

It’s amazing the roller coaster ride this thing called Life is. Frank Sinatra had it right with his song, That’s Life … “You’re riding high in April, shot down in May. But I know I’m gonna change that tune, when I’m back on top in June.” In his book, Good to Great, Jim Collins talks about the flywheel. It’s the idea that we need to relentlessly push this big heavy flywheel over and over again until the momentum of our efforts gets that sucker to spin on its own. And when it starts spinning fast enough, you can’t stop it!

I’m sure you have feelings now and then about what you do and where your life is heading when you think, “I’m never getting ahead!” You just have to figure it out. We all have doubts once in awhile … but you know what, I find the thing that picks me up is when I spend time with people who support what I’m doing. That gets me refueled to go out and keep at it. I’m always reminded that today is rarely what confuses us. It’s the past, trying to change things we cannot; and the future, trying to predict what’s coming.

There is not greatness in not ever overcoming adversity. Seek and you shall find—and remember: The harder you work, the luckier you’ll get!

Joe Kiedinger

ACTION PLAN: Seek and you shall find. Ask and you will receive.