A while back, in doing some reading for a prior blog, I came across Mary Parker Follett, the early 20th-century management pioneer, called the “Mother of Modern Management.” I had never heard of her, but realized I follow many of her teachings. She defined management as “the art of getting things done through people.” Instead […]
People not Policies or Procedures Read More »
We must work through our problems, not around them. Through is a process, around is avoidance. The path through is always harder and possibly longer. It requires patience, self-control, as well as accountability. Working through problems is ‘pain with a purpose.’ Working around problems is a sign of immaturity or possibly lacking necessary life experiences,
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In my world if I want something to happen, it must be put on the calendar. I am either a calendar fanatic, enthusiast, or addict – not so sure which is better. If it is not on my calendar, it is not going to happen. This mindset grew out of three highly active children and
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I have been blessed with several great mentors in my life. Obviously, by reading this blog you know of my love for my Dad and the role he played as a mentor is ever present. Some of my mentors have been for just brief periods of time, others in a small but long-term role, and
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This blog’s inspiration was the poem ‘I Wish You Enough’ that I have had in my files for over a dozen years. I believe I first read it in Chicken Soup for the Soul. I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright. I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more. I
Whether we are calling someone forth or calling them out, the content is remarkably similar. However, the messaging and tone are quite different. We might get a cheap thrill when calling people out. It can feel like winning a game of Gotcha. Especially when we feel the call-out is uniquely insightful. It can also be
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There are majestic and mature fruit trees all over the United States. Many are not producing as much fruit as they could. Fruit trees that have been neglected can make a comeback and be more productive with careful pruning. Cutting branches back is a way of favoring what is left. Pruning helps the tree flourish
It has always been perfectly ok to not be “fine.” In these times, even more so. This whole pandemic thing can make one sad and even create the occasional meltdown. It’s called “being human” and welcome to the club, there’s seven billion of us – most of which are going through some level of anxiety.
“I will” speaks of the future. “I will” speaks of action, speaks of decisiveness, speaks of understanding the situation and knowing what to do next. There is power in making a commitment of what we “will do” — it creates a mission statement, of sorts. One of the major tenets that I adhere to is
When I played baseball, I was taught to wait on the fastball and then adjust to the curveball. If we are expecting a fastball, there will be time to adjust to a curveball. However, if we’re waiting for a curveball and the pitch is a fastball, there’s no way we can adjust. It comes down
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