Problem Solving

Education is the food for success!

I just finished reading Rascal: Being a Person of Unique Character. The book describes “a rascal” as a trend setter, movement starter and decision maker who makes decisions based on the big picture and all available information, not public opinion. Near the end of the book, there is a Rascal Quiz. The quiz asks something like 135 questions. With each question, you rate yourself from “Never me” to “Always me” to “Discover your Rascal Score.” Through these questions, you are led to experiencing self-education.

Are you thirsty for knowledge? Do you crave it? Having an open and courageous mind can free you from life’s troubles that come your way. Self-taught people have the amazing ability to create, because they take the best and discard the worst of everything they read. It’s OK to begin a book, skim a few chapters and discard it if its contents are not relevant to you right now. We can’t learn unless we are ready, and sometimes we are seeking certain types of information. In these instances, it’s OK to set books aside while in search of specific content you are needing right now. Never throw a book away because you may need it later as your journey grows.

If you are on a journey of wanting to better understand your co-workers, boss or teenagers, keep reading. If this is not your journey at this time, my wisdom ends here. Bottom line is this: You are in control of your own destiny and the quickest way to grow is the old-fashioned way—slowly and deliberately through self-education and focus.

Joe

ACTION PLAN: Next week we have openings on March 21st (5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.) for Teen Bootcamp! Adults only. Get to know your teen all over again. The mind of a teenager is revealed and how to tap into it. March 24th – an Introduction to the About Me Card System for Business (7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.). These are short, free seminars on 21st century communications based on Servant Leadership. Click here to hold your spot!  Click here!

Stress-free Parents of Teens!

Do you believe it’s possible to be stress-free while living with teenagers? The title of this Wisdom seems a little like an oxymoron. I don’t know about you, but don’t you get a little frustrated when you come across a family filled with teens and everyone seems to be getting along just fine?! It’s through my journey with my own teenager as well as the self-education I’ve done along the way that I’ve discovered something. You see, teens take a secret oath when they turn 13: “What I say I don’t mean, and what I mean I won’t say.”

Want to understand your teenager? I am holding a small group huddle-up here at my office on Broadway. We are taking the first 12 people who respond. We are looking at having a Stress-free Parents of Teens Bootcamp. Don’t bother bringing your teen. They probably won’t want to come. We are looking for stories of how our About Me Teen program brings parents and teens together to create understanding and harmony.

The New Age of communication has arrived and I will share it with you. The session will be in March and those who respond to this Wisdom on Wednesday will be notified first.

Yes, there is hope! I’m realizing it with my teen and you can do the same with yours.

Joe Kiedinger

ACTION PLAN: Respond back today to joek@prophitmarketing.com . Information to follow!

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!

Breaking the mold!

Being an innovator and inventor, I find it exhilarating to go from the extreme of a person not understanding your new idea to the opposite which is completely embracing and even endorsing it. This has become my journey with The About Me Card program. This process for me has taken more than three years. Most people get frustrated and give up. They have a product or process that they know will be successful but when they are met with resistance they say, “Forget it!” I am not a patient person by nature. I am often antsy and uncomfortable when things are not moving fast enough. Then I realized, “Hey, I’m a human being! I can choose to be patient if I want to be.”

I know it seems impossible for some to be patient. I had to learn to be when it comes to others embracing a new concept or change. I’ve learned that the first meeting when presenting a new idea has the same weight as the last meeting, as this is when people decide to accept your idea because they fully understand it. If there were 100 meetings between them, they would all carry equal weight. People need to be reminded. You must not steal that process from them. Or more accurately, you can’t take it from them. It is what it is.

We all must learn on our own terms and for the “new idea person” that means patience and perseverance … That’s all! Hang in there long enough and you’ll be a star!

Joe Kiedinger

Action Plan:  Practice patience this week. Perhaps with just one person or one project. It’s necessary for success!

Good-to-Great leaders understand three simple truths!

Today’s wisdom comes from Jim Collins and his book, Good to Great. You’ve heard me talk about Servant Leaders. The fact is Jim Collins was close to using that term and instead went with Level 5 Leaders. I agree that for the masses that was the right decision. Collins felt people would misinterpret the term as fluffy or weak. Servant leadership is anything but that. It’s tough but fair to say the least.

The three simple truths of Good to Great leaders as pointed out on page seven in his book:

First, if you begin with who rather than what, you can more easily adapt to a changing world. If people join the bus primarily because of where it is going, what happens if you get 10 miles down the road and you need to change direction? You have a problem.

Second, if you have the right people on the bus, the problem of how to motivate and manage people largely goes away. The right people don’t need to be tightly managed or fired up.

Third, if you have the wrong people, it doesn’t matter whether you discover the right direction. You still won’t have a great company. Great vision without great people is irrelevant.

Making bad hiring decisions can cost a company a lot of stress and money. I know, I’ve picked people who were talented but not the right fit. A fit in culture is more important than a fit in knowledge. People can learn the information that they need. Take your time and hire wisely.

Joe Kiedinger

ACTION PLAN: If you would like help in hiring, e-mail me. I’ve learned much that will help you make better decisions.

You’re invited this Tuesday!

Thank you for bearing with me. This past month I’ve been tying in my Wisdoms to the new About Me Card system we’ve invented. Well, the world premiere is this Tuesday, April 27th, at 3:00 p.m. at the Meyer Theater. It’s free and I hope you can make it. I received a real compliment from my wife today and I need to tell you about it! My parents just arrived home from Florida. When they left, we had just purchased a building to house About Me International and Prophit Marketing. They were anxious to see the remodeling and everything that went on while they were gone.

The old Joe would have met them at the building and showed off all the hard work. However, I remembered Danica’s About Me Card. On it she states, “Let’s enjoy this together.” I told my folks it would need to wait a day so Danica could join us. They called her to set the time, and when I got home from work she thanked me for that! Hey, I don’t know about you guys but these “points” are what I live for with my wife. Her About Me Card taught me how to respect her the way she wants to be respected. I love these little cards.

Please join us this Tuesday to witness the world premiere of this beautiful program.

Joe Kiedinger

ACTION PLAN:  Join us!  Learn more at www.aboutmecard.com

We are all fundamentally the same!

Across this great country and around the world, human beings are fundamentally the same. Obviously our physical make-up is the same but our mental wiring is similar as well. Mother Theresa has said, “Human beings crave appreciation more than food.” Appreciation is a major driver for satisfaction. Show me you appreciate me. I want to feel respected and I want to be a contributor. I just received an e-mail today from China. Below is a first response to the About Me Card Program with a group of Chinese students written to Chris Elliott, Managing Director:

Chris,
We used the About Me Card Program with two teams today.  It was awesome and received great reviews!  We should be able to get a video clip of Bonita talking, as we have some quotes from some students.  I will use the program with two more teams on Thursday.

More to come soon!
Angela Owen | President
TBL Leadership Partners

I want to personally thank Angela and Bonita who are advancing our About Me movement around the world! Would you like to be able to show your spouse, adult child or co-worker that you appreciate and understand them? The About Me Card Program World Première (www.aboutmecard.com) is only two weeks away! Meet Angela from TBL Leadership, Dan Swift of Dahl Automotive, Tom Thibodeau from Viterbo University, Mark Skogen of Festival Foods, and others who have experienced this program and its success.

The World Premiere is April 27th at 3:00 p.m. at the Meyer Theater in Green Bay. It’s FREE so bring anyone you know who would like to connect with someone in 60 seconds. RSVP is appreciated. Help us change the way people communicate!

Joe

ACTION PLAN: Mark your calendar and join us! More information at www.aboutmecard.com

How I Offended My Wife!

It’s been a year of adventure and excitement at Prophit Marketing and About Me International. One reason for the excitement is the new building that Danica and I purchased to create a new home for all of our Prophiteers! We stripped out the old space and rebuilt it from scratch. Very exciting times indeed. One day I came home excited because of what happened at work. I explained to Danica that I brought one of our graphic artists, Sue, over to see the new space and to ask her opinion on space layout. Sue felt special that I took the time to give her a private showing.

Danica became upset as I told the story. I thought she would be excited at how inspiring my story was. For several hours she gave me the cold shoulder. I could not figure out why she was responding this way. Once the kids went to bed we talked about it. It turned out that I violated one of her driving forces on her About Me Card. One of her key motivations for happiness is “enjoying things together.” Sue was not the first Prophiteer I had a special one-on-one showing with and Danica was feeling disappointed that she wasn’t there to share it with me. She loves enjoying things together so I should have waited until she could join us. That way, Sue feels special and important, Danica’s motivations are met and my need to inspire would also be satisfied.

I love these little cards. My relationship with my wife has grown so much stronger. I still make mistakes and so does she, but now we have a way of communicating disappointments that happen from time to time by using our cards. I hope you can join us April 27th at the Meyer Theater in Green Bay at 3:00 p.m. for the World Premiere of this amazing new communication tool! Click here (WWW.ABOUTMECARD.COM) to learn more. When someone becomes short with you, it’s not because of what you did—it’s because of how you did it and how you made them feel. As we go through life, we all have certain expectations that we would like people to respect. This tool connects you to another person in 60 seconds!

Joe Kiedinger

ACTION PLAN: R.S.V.P. For the World Premiere at INFO@ABOUTMECARD.COM! You’ll be entertained and you’ll learn a few things, too!

Words empower great leaders!

I think we would all agree that what you do is your character. You can tell your kids not to smoke, but if they see you smoking everyday guess what they may be doing later in life? What you do is your character; however, how you say things is key to becoming a great leader. What starts wars … words! Are you in the race to become a great leader? Great leaders have the ability to communicate uniquely to each unique individual in their care. We are all wired differently and like to be communicated to differently. Some folks are detailed-oriented while others only want the big picture. Some folks may want you to lighten up while others may prefer you to be more serious. What kind of leader are you?

I’m not suggesting you change who you are. That would not be authentic. However, when communicating one-on-one with an associate it’s important that you respect the way this individual would like to be approached. Don’t you wish there was a magic wand that you could wave over a person and have their rules for engagement suddenly appear! Well, there is! OK, it’s not a wand. It’s an automated web-based software I invented called the About Me Card program. The World Premiere will be held April 27th right here in Green Bay. The event will be like an Apple IPad introduction. There will be a live band, performers, and most importantly the people who are using the program and seeing great results.

You will witness how with the touch of a button you will get the words a person needs to hear to connect with you. You will learn how to connect with someone in 60 seconds, resolve conflict and reduce tension in the workplace. You will also see the future of the About Me Card with About Me TEEN and About Me Kids. Imagine knowing the motivations of your seven-year-old—knowing how they like to be treated and how you can support these motivations. Even more amazing … connecting with a teenager! I just had a “WOW” moment with my 14-year-old son this weekend based on his About Me Card.

You don’t want to miss the introduction of this groundbreaking technology that has taken three years to develop and automate!

Joe Kiedinger

Uncharted Waters

Why didn’t I take it slow the second time? Alex, my 13 year-old, just received his boating license this summer. Over the 4th of July holiday he was with his buddy on our 18-foot runabout when the propeller hit a rock. Luckily he was going very slow so there was no damage done to the propeller and the engine. Alex warned me of the spot and pointed it out.

Later, and pulling a water-skier, I headed right into that rock at 35 mph. Guess what? Damage! And lots of it! $1,600 later I had my beautiful boat back. Fast forward to our trip up north this last Labor Day weekend…we decided to navigate the Wisconsin River. This water we have never navigated. Alex wanted to go skiing and so I pulled him on a stretch of water that was calm and had no traffic.

I learned why that was…BAM! Up went my motor again. I immediately stopped the boat and looked back. There was a large tree trunk that floated to the surface, tumbled a bit, and sank. Whew, luckily there was no damage! Apparently soggy, floating wood is more forgiving than rocks. How could I make that same mistake twice?

We do this in business as well. The water looks safe so we dive in and get to it. Then, BAM, we hit a rock, that unforeseen but predictable hazard that, in hindsight, could have been avoided had we done a little research and navigated more slowly.

I do believe there are times when you need to jump in, do it, and then fix it. However, there are times when slowing down and taking your time is a good thing. Stop banging your engine (and your resources) around. Be wise: navigate and chart your destiny!

Joe Kiedinger

ACTION PLAN: Slow down, think, and evaluate.