Finding Tutoring Partners

With 25 of my own students and having given nearly a dozen more to my partner Shellie, it is getting to be time to expand Bloomington-Normal Math Tutoring's network to additional tutors. This morning I'm meeting with two ISU actuarial students who have expressed interest. What will our customers be expecting?

THE JOB

The position is a tutor in network (as opposed to employment, independent contractor, or any legal partnership) with Bloomington-Normal Math Tutoring.

Most tutoring relationships are for one hour a week, unless the student is unusually far behind.

Students will bring questions with them. These may be in the form of class notes to be clarified, past tests/quizzes to be reviewed, exam preview packets to be studied, or (most commonly) homework.

The first session is free of charge; after that the typical rate is between $20 and $50 an hour. The tutor sets the rate, as well as any cancellation policy. No payment is made to Bloomington-Normal Math Tutoring; no legal obligation is express or implied.

EXPECTATIONS

Communication must be available by phone, text, and e-mail; must be timely and with acceptable grammar.

Tutoring relationships are vulnerable situations for most students. Ideal tutors are optimistic, show an interest in the personal well-being of others, handle adversity with patience and persistence, and are humble.

It is acceptable to attempt to tutor subjects of lesser familiarity, considering a possible adjustment in rates, and also acknowledging this up front with the student.

It is natural not to occasionally know the answer to a question; for this reason it is advantageous but not required to being a laptop in case some research is needed.

TRAINING AND EVALUATION

There will be an observation period prior to being paid. The tutor may either choose to observe me in action with a student on one or more occasions, or choose to provide observed tutoring in one or more sessions. In the meantime, questions about the tutoring process are welcome and encouraged.

In the case of any students referred by Bloomington-Normal Math Tutoring, the parent or student may be given a courtesy call after a few sessions for feedback.

The More We Dance, The Less We Fear

"Successful people aren't without fear; everyone has fear at some point. The difference is in what you do with that fear." - Carly Florina, former CEO of Hewlett-Packard

Tonight I'm learning a new dance routine, less than two weeks until opening night for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. It will be tough to find rehearsal time with a partner between now and then. But it's at least worth a try.

Leadership McLean County Alumni Spotlight

Regular readers know of my long-time involvement with the Leadership McLean County program for developing leaders. Recently I was approached to be highlighted in their alumni newsletter, with some guiding questions, the first of which was the intriguing "Who is Joe?" Here's what I put.

In 2013 I followed my natural passion for teaching and personal motto "Life's short, have fun," and founded Bloomington-Normal Math Tutoring. The business served over 100 junior high, high school and college students in the last year and has grown to the point that I'm recruiting assistant tutors. Besides the adventure and flexibility of being self-employed, I love that every hour I spend working has a positive and productive outcome, and indirectly gives me a chance to be a positive role model for others. I still serve on LMC's Steering Committee but have other hobbies like blogging, fantasy sports, raising our kitten Cupcake with Dena, and singing in a church band. Most people may not know that I'll be playing a lead role in Community Players Theatre's musical comedy Dirty Rotten Scoundrels during the last three weekends of March. The most impactful book I've ever read was as a teen, Norman Vincent Peale's "Power of Positive Thinking" taught me how happiness is a choice and not a circumstance. The movie "Mr. Holland's Opus" reminds me what a far-reaching influence a teacher can have (and the ending is a joyful tear-jerker). A couple things stand out about my LMC experience. First, that the executive-level access to cutting-edge news is unlike any other opportunity in the county. Second, that some of my richest personal benefits have come after graduation, by volunteering alongside LMC alumni and meeting over 100 graduates. I've said often that LMC makes me a better person by surrounding me with better people, and look forward to that continuing.

Rose's Woes Continue

Chicago Bulls' star point guard Derrick Rose, the #1 overall draft pick a few years ago whose knees have ruptured three times in the last three years, endured more hardship at his mansion Wednesday evening when a black cat tipped an iPhone charger into his whirlpool and induced a series of eleven consecutive Biblical-grade seizures via electrocution.

Rose, the victim of a limousine crash while en route to the hospital after his latest meniscus tear, was diplomatic and philosophical.

"At this rate, I may not be able to walk to, see, hear, smell or remember my children's graduation," the bachelor said through software that converts his typing into spoken words in a pitch resembling an English woman on fire.

Coach Tom Thibodeau remained optimistic. "Derrick is a key part of what we're trying to do here. If he can be with us in the playoffs, with or without the help of a drool towel, then he makes us better."

Rose's condition was complicated by a clerical error that admitted him to Lord Have Mercy Sinai Medical Center as a surgical amputation patient.

"I can still be the player I was, even with half the arms," Rose typed extremely slowly with his weak hand, squinting badly with the eye that was not obliterated by the meteor that crashed through his bedroom roof.

Twitter response from Chicago fans was swift and derisive.

"You got to look up man! meteors are evrywhere! #droseweak" - mancandy85

"take our money and then u don't play, thats bull" - jfkisntdead

"just give me a million, ill suck but at least ill play" - louthehobo

Rose's replacement in the starting lineup will be Tony Snell, whose hobbies include stock car racing and wrestling cougars.

Joe & Dena's 20th Meetiversary

20 years ago tonight I went to dinner at the ISU Baptist Student Union's annual fund raiser with my friends Rosann Emerson and John Diedrich, according to their plan to match me up with their friend Dena Freidinger on a not-so-blind date.

We had a dinner filled with laughs and spaghetti.

Three months later we were dating.

Three years later we were married.

Twenty years later we're still having Italian food together on dinner dates!

Happy meetiversary Dena!

Joe Maddon Era Begins In Cubville

MESA, Ariz. -- With Jimi Hendrix blaring in the background as the Chicago Cubs went through their warm-up drills, the Joe Maddon era began in earnest with the team’s first full-squad workout on Wednesday. 

“I wanted to have the stretch louder,” Maddon said after the day was over. “Get the blood going. And it seems to have helped.” 

Maddon kept up a “personal” tradition of talking to his team on Day 1 on the field and not in the locker room. The players had already sat through speeches from owner Tom Ricketts and President Theo Epstein, but Maddon brought them outside with one overriding message from their new skipper. 

“I want them to be themselves,” Maddon said. “I don’t want them to feel inhibited when they play. Don’t worry about making mistakes.” 

Pitcher Jason Hammel heard the speech for the first time in six years, as he played for Maddon in Tampa Bay from 2006 to 2008. He says it hasn’t changed. 

“You can make a mistake and go in there and have him pat you on the back,” Hammel said. “He loves aggressiveness. He promotes being yourself. 

“You really do feel with Joe that the ‘open door policy’ is real. He levels with the players.” 

It’s one reason the Cubs front office believes Maddon works well with young players: He allows them to make mistakes. Sure, he’d like to cut down on the mental ones, but he expects there will be physical miscues -- even more so when guys move around the diamond as much as Maddon likes them to. And he knows it takes time to bring out the best in a player. Failing is part of the process. 

“You may have seen the body for a couple years, but the brain hasn’t arrived yet,” Maddon explained. “When a guy totally feels liberated in a baseball sense, then you find out what a guy can do.” 

Maddon often says he’s a product of the '60s and '70s, so this free spirit thing is right up his alley. Maybe you would be surprised that winning didn’t come up in the opening meeting early Wednesday, not by Maddon nor by ownership -- though afterwards Ricketts finally sounded sane when predicting good things for his team in Year 6 of his stewardship. 

“We all believe this year’s team has what it takes to win the division and go to the playoffs,” he said. “Now it’s just about getting on the field and getting it started.” 

The leader of the group is, unquestionably, first baseman Anthony Rizzo. He’s the one who predicted greatness in 2015 long before anyone else jumped on board. In fact, he started the conversation on the final day of last season and only upped the ante throughout the winter. But Wednesday was about spring training -- not October. 

“Look down and we’ll look up when we need to,” Rizzo said. 

He means this isn’t the time to get ahead of themselves. Far from it. This is the time to put the work in to get better. One day at a time. 

So just how different will a Maddon camp look? 

He plans on using a pitching machine that uses smaller sized baseballs, and he wants his hitters to use heavier bats. 

“Thirty five, 36 ounces, 34/35 inches long,” he said. “Promotes utilizing the hands and not so much the arms.” 

And there will be some different baserunning drills as well. Everything Maddon does has a psychological aspect to it. He wants the players to feel in charge while they ready themselves for the long season. 

“At this time of year, first and foremost is health,” Hammel said. “It’s making sure you’re ready for the grind. And it starts today.” 

Rizzo was asked what’s stopping the Cubs from greatness this season. 

“The only thing is ourselves,” he responded. 

The Cubs have the manager and might have the talent; experience will be needed as well. Maddon is the link to bring it all together -- different than the rest, but just as effective. It’s time to get to work. 

“They’re totally involved, totally into it,” Maddon said of his team on Day 1. “The energy felt great.” 

And we’re off.

Hidden Blog Reaches 200,000 Pageviews

According to Blogger.com's web site statistics, Hidden Blog passed its 200,000th page view mark last evening. That would mean that on average, each post has been viewed about 40 times, enough to fill a small church or a large prison pod. Whatever your reason for stopping by, thanks for visiting, please come again, and God bless!

Healthy Business Partnerships Part 2: 6 Tips

Why smart businesses fail

Sometimes early on, the priority start ups place on functional areas steals the focus from the overall health of the group.

Many times, one person believes they are doing more than others. So he or she thinks they deserve more of the company.

Over time, the partners become more focused on equity position than on the company itself.

I can’t tell you how often I hear about this situation in the businesses I talk with. Often, even organizations with very well established names often find themselves at risk of going under – just because the partnership has become essentially non-functional.

It begs the question, if your leadership team wasn’t focused on interpersonal conflict, how much more could your organization be accomplishing?

Bottom line, it’s always true that a well functioning team can perform better and come up with better solutions than a group of persons focused on individual objectives.

6 ways to create a healthy business partnership

1. Unwavering focus on the greater good, not the personal gain — Early on, you must establish that the success of the team or the collective vision is the most important thing to that group of entrepreneurs. Everyone must demonstrate that they will sacrifice individual gains as they look toward making the team successful.
2. Establish the purpose — Be clear about your purpose and why you exist. Sometimes partnerships fail because each partner has a little bit different version of what the goal really is. How can the team stay together if everybody’s working toward something different? Put thought into your purpose as a company and commit to that.
3. It’s all about behaviors — Behaviors are really based on a set of values that absolutely must be in alignment with every person on the team. Answering the question of what those values and behaviors are (and are not) will serve you well every day.
4. Communicate, communicate, communicate – The most important thing to real estate is location. The most important thing for a successful partnership is communication. It must be clear, healthy, and genuine. Each partner in the company has to communicate in a healthy way to prevent the cracks that can ultimately doom an organization.
5. Commitment to the business purpose and behaviors is imperative — If one partner in the group lacks commitment to those critical items, they will continuously create unhealthy conflict and strife for the group. Ultimately, it’s not a question of if, but when the relationships will sever if a consensus cannot be maintained on what the business is and how it behaves.
6. Build maximum levels of trust early on – Each partner must be able to engage in critical conversations that address why high levels of trust may not be developed or established. Each person must be able to ask, “Is there any reason we may not trust each other?” If there is no trust, there’s no solid partnership. Laying a solid foundation for trust is really important to avoid the dysfunctions that cause business failures.

Building A Healthy Partnership, Part 1

This week I met with another self-employed tutor and discussed some exciting possibilities of teaming up. I also stumbled upon this article by Erik Barnlund of Mavidea:

Sometimes entrepreneurship can be a lonely road. The vision you have and the ideas you create make total sense to you. But sometimes they don’t quite connect with other people.

You’re on fire with possibilities. You tell yourself, “I want to do this.”

But some people you talk to seem to think you’re nuts! You hear, “That won’t work.” They shake their heads and say, “We don’t see it.”

So when you finally do find someone who gets it — and gets it enough that they want to help you make it happen — it can be really exciting.

Often, this is how partnerships begin in a startup business.

Healthy partnership vs. smart partnership

One of the most common mistakes that startup businesses make is to make a poor selection of partners.

The problem is, most businesses start with the goal of creating a smart partnership. The new founders try to select partners that cover every essential skill set needed to run the business.

Smart businesses make sense on paper. They are rooted in research, facts and the highest levels of intelligence and skills.

By comparison, healthy businesses focus on being clear and tackling difficult issues with confidence. They organize in a way that supports communication. This moves the organization forward faster.

Very little stands in the way of a healthy organization because they are more agile in tackling issues they encounter. And this is how, ultimately, healthy businesses beat out smart companies.

Healthy business vs. smart business

A healthy business is built on trust. By making trust the central factor, a healthy business avoids the problems that absence of trust can create, no matter how smart the business.

Smart partnerships might seem to make sense because of the shared risk — and because they divide up responsibility for critical tasks.

The excitement of shared interest fuels initial progress. But cracks often start to show when communication fails.

Smart partnerships often lack the ability to work productively through conflict. Eventually, focus on the collective vision is lost because frustrating interpersonal issues begin to trump the mission at hand.

In a healthy partnership, each partner shares a selfless desire to make the team successful. A healthy partnership faces issues and moves past them quickly. Trust is unwavering at the highest levels.

In a smart business, trust isn’t the focus. It’s all about numbers and details and less about making sure the organization itself is functional.

That’s why a smart partnership has a much greater risk of failing.

Cubs Preview: The Bullpen

MESA, Ariz. -- Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon got one thing out of the way after morning workouts Saturday at spring training: Hector Rondon will be his closer. 

That’s hardly a surprise, as Rondon saved 29 of 33 games the past season, while his best competition for the job -- newcomer Jason Motte -- is still working his way back from Tommy John surgery. 

As much as Maddon likes to mix and match, he’s not going to mess with a good thing in the ninth inning. With innings six through eight, however, it's a different story. 

“You saw what Kansas City did last year,” Maddon pointed out. “You did not want a deficit in the sixth inning. They could cover six through nine. That’s ridiculous.” 

It’s not just the Royals who are relying on middle men as much as the closer; that has become the norm in baseball. Starters are coming out earlier in games, while managers are making multiple pitching changes to get through those late innings. 

The Cubs' bullpen “came together after June 1 last year,” as pitching coach Chris Bosio said Saturday. Now, guys such as Neil Ramirez want to take the next step. 

“We know that is an important piece, nowadays,” Ramirez said. “They’re relying on those late guys more. We take pride in that.” 

[+] Enlarge

AP Photo/Nam Y. HuhNeil Ramirez ranked eighth among all MLB relievers with a 1.44 ERA in 2014. Now he's hoping to be an anchor of the Cubs' bullpen.

Ramirez came on strong after joining the team through a 2013 trade with the Texas Rangers. There are more than 200 relievers in the league, and Ramirez ranked in the top 40 in all meaningful categories last year, including eighth in relievers’ ERA, with a sparkling 1.44. He might not be known outside Chicago, but that doesn’t mean he’s not extremely important. 

“I told those guys [in the front office], 'I don’t want to have to be a guy that’s babied,'” Ramirez said. “Every time my name is called, I want to be ready to go.” 

That could be the difference between last year and this one, in terms of the bullpen. The Cubs were careful with all their young arms, especially Ramirez. It’s why they employed 13 pitchers instead of the normal 12 and why Ramirez was sent to the minors for a while in late July to rest his arm. The Cubs were willing to sacrifice games by being a bench player short in order for then-manager Rick Renteria to not overuse his relief staff. 

Now, the Cubs are all about winning, and Ramirez has some of the nastiest stuff on the team. His fastball and slider are great complements to each other. 

“I’m more concerned with just getting the job done,” Ramirez said. “If my stuff is nasty, it is; if not, that’s OK, as long as we get it done. The atmosphere we’ve built is the next guy passes it to the next guy.” 

Ramirez, Justin Grimm, Pedro Strop and Rondon have developed that internal competition, in which one guy wants to show the others how to shut the door on the opposition. One key is their ability to get both right-handers and left-handers out. The Cubs don’t have a proven lefty specialist on the team right now, so they might turn to what they have from the right side. 

“Today’s game presents a lot of reverse split pitchers,” Maddon said. “Or neutral guys. Neutral guys are the best. Guys that can get out righties and lefties consistently.” 

Ramirez might be that guy. His batting average against left-handers last year was .200. Against righties, it was just .173. The Cubs will find a lefty -- they have several in camp with some experience -- but they won’t be afraid to use their right-handers. Maddon and Bosio like that flexibility and won’t mind being second-guessed. 

“We weren’t afraid to throw any of those guys in that spot,” Bosio said. 

So who comes in to face Joey Votto with the game on the line in the seventh or eighth inning? It’s yet to be determined, but it won’t necessarily be a left-hander. Ramirez thinks he can be that guy, especially having a full camp knowing his job. 

“Knowing that it’s a role I’m going to be in, I’m working on it,” Ramirez said. “Using that slider in all situations." 

The Cubs have a manager who wants flexibility in his bullpen, and they have a group of relievers who have proved they have that kind of ability. 

“I’m really into the reverse split guys,” Maddon said. “Those guys can be really dangerous.” 

Can it all come together for a winning season? They’ll be put to the test soon enough.

Breaking Madden: The Footage

Breaking Madden: The Super Bowl

It tugs at the heart strings of all Madden gamers:

http://www.sbnation.com/2015/1/27/7916937/breaking-madden-super-bowl-2015-seahawks-patriots

Cure For The Morning Crazies

Some mornings, the right move seems to be staying in bed.

Yesterday I woke up with a cloud in my head. I could've said fog, which would've been a fair description, but this was more like a multi-hour thundershower of inner grumpiness.

The previous day had ended with a setback, after missing a meal. Plus I'd gotten some criticism without constructive feedback for correction, and uncertainty is great food for fuming.

In that mood, you feel like climbing out onto the deck of the ship and throwing things at the hurricane. The idea feels so good, that it's almost as if the half of the brain which would point out how useless, silly and weak that would be has swelled shut.

Fortunately years of setbacks have trained me to reduce the swelling.

1. It will pass. The world is simply too good for anger to survive for long.

2. Tired + underfed = weaker. Having a solid breakfast and chugging water builds up strength.

3. When your race is going nowhere... take a simple step. Few things fuel an emotional recovery like doing positive, little things. This morning, it was a workout, a trip to the bank, and a haircut. Even though intellectually you know you have worth, the physical act of accomplishment helps sweep away the last meaningful, futile act of the previous day. Lying in bed does nothing for that.

4. Do some dreaming, step out of today, brighten the horizon. I literally stood in front of a window, facing nature, and conjured up the most exciting things on the road ahead, as well as picturing summer and vacations. I think this qualifies as "meditating," an ideal kind for checklist-makers like me.

Even when I got to the salon and learned that I would have to wait for an hour, I resisted the urge to walk away in frustration. I sat down in the waiting area, closed my eyes, and did some more meditation. It was in the midst of that, that my energy finally surged. I even found myself reciting lines from the musical for practice.

The crazies were cured. And when next they return, in a day or a year, they'll be cured again.

Preview: Cubs' Relief Pitching

Hector Rondon

Pedro Strop

Neil Ramirez

Justin Grimm

Jason Motte

The Cubs quietly discovered bullpen gold during the 2014 season. Rondon, Strop, and Ramirez all demonstrated the tools of the closer trade. Chicago's depth in the back end of the bullpen could be reinforced by leftover starters.

Rondon remains the top dog after an effective debut season. The righty lost most of his 2010 through 2012 seasons to injuries. He was mediocre in 2013. A healthy offseason led to an additional two mph on his fastball and better control.

A 96 mph heater, effective slider, and occasional cutter allowed him to strike out a batter per inning with just 2.13 BB/9. His 2.42 ERA was in line with advanced metrics. A better Cubs team should only help Rondon.

Should anything happen to Rondon, the club has two excellent substitutes in Strop and Ramirez. Strop features a potent sinker-slider mix. Improvements to his walk and whiff rates led to a 2.21 ERA. Advanced statistics largely support the excellent run prevention. Strop has a long history of suspect command, so it's unclear he can maintain his career best 3.69 BB/9.

Ramirez offers a completely different look. The righty was acquired as part of the Matt Garza trade. He features a rising fastball similar to that of Sean Doolittle. He encourages weak contact including an infield fly rate of over 11 percent. Infield flies are basically the same as strikeouts. In 43.2 innings, he posted a 1.44 ERA, 10.92 K/9, and 3.50 BB/9. Be careful using him when the wind is blowing out at Wrigley.

Grimm was also included in the Garza trade. On most teams, the 26-year-old would be a setup candidate. The Cubs bullpen depth will allow them to use Grimm in the middle innings. The right-hander experienced a surge in velocity during his first season as a reliever. A 94 mph fastball along with a slider and curve resulted in more strikeouts. After posting 9.13 K/9 and 3.52 BB/9, there is reason to expect some improvement to his 3.78 ERA.

The picture becomes murkier after Grimm. One of the bullpen jobs is probably Motte's to lose. You may recall Motte from his Cardinals heyday in 2012. Back then, he featured a 97 mph fastball and a cutter. Last season, the 94 mph version of his fastball led to an ugly 4.68 ERA. Advanced stats agreed with the lousy ERA. Motte's job may depend upon recapturing some of his lost velocity.

The Cubs bullpen is very right-handed. Another northpaw, Blake Parker, was in the mix to close last spring. The fly ball pitcher struggled with results (5.14 ERA), but there is no arguing with his peripherals. Over 21 innings, he posted 10.29 K/9 and 1.71 BB/9. With a 90 mph fastball and ground ball rate around 30 percent, the Cubs may be hesitant to hand him innings. He may compete with Motte.

A lack of left-handers could open the door for Zac Rosscup. The southpaw is another fly ball pitcher. He's struggled with command and control including 8.10 BB/9 in a 13 inning audition last season. Over his brief major league career, he's demonstrated large platoon splits. If the Cubs limit him to LOOGY work, they may be pleased with the results.

A few lefty starters could creep into the picture. Travis Wood, Tsuyoshi Wada, and Felix Doubront are battling for either one or two spots in the rotation. Of those, Doubront looks the part of reliever. He's shown some promise in the starting rotation but has never thrived. Wood and Wada are probably trade candidates if they fail to win a rotation job. They could be used in long relief too.

Last, and possibly least, are Edwin Jackson and Jacob Turner. They'll compete with the above lefties and Kyle Hendricks for rotation jobs. Either could feature as the primary long reliever. Jackson always seems to underperform his peripherals. It feels like Turner has been around forever, but he's only 24. His raw skill set still holds promise.

Carmelo Anthony's Season-Ending Knee Surgery

As Hidden Bloggers already know... I didn't think the Bulls should get this guy last summer!

GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) -- Carmelo Anthony will have season-ending surgery on his left knee.

The New York Knicks announced the decision Wednesday.

President of Basketball Operations Phil Jackson said a timetable for Anthony's recovery couldn't completely be determined until after the surgery, but early indications were that he could be back on the court in four to six months, which would have him ready for training camp.

Jackson said he anticipated the procedure, which will include a left knee patella tendon debridement and repair, would be performed this week.

''It's obvious that he physically can't do the things that he's capable of doing, so this is a necessary step for him to take, I think, in order for him to get to the level that he's capable of getting to,'' coach Derek Fisher said.

Anthony has had pain for most of the season but continued to play despite the Knicks' league-worst 10-43 record. He was able to start in Sunday night in the All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden but appeared to be struggling, scoring 14 points on 6-of-20 shooting.

Jackson said he talked to Anthony last month, after he had missed six straight games, about scheduling the surgery - though said the Knicks were comfortable with Anthony taking part in the All-Star Game.

''I had a meeting with him when we were in London and we discussed this process of having the surgery sooner than later,'' Jackson said, ''because we know that the process can take some time for rehab and getting back on the court and we wanted him to be able to make a full recovery and be ready for this coming season.''

Anthony did not speak to reporters Wednesday.

He finished his 12th NBA season averaging 24.2 points and 6.6 rebounds in 40 games. The two-time Olympian turned 30 in May, two months before signing a five-year, $124 million contract in July, but Jackson said he was confident the former scoring champion would make a full recovery.

''We anticipate that as a scorer that's been prolific in his career, he'll continue to be so,'' Jackson said.

The decision on Anthony comes two days after the Knicks waived Amare Stoudemire following a contract buyout and leaves them severely undermanned for the final 29 games. Fisher believes Anthony may have kept playing this long because of the team's difficulties.

''He struggled with, I think, letting his teammates down and feeling like he wanted to be out there but knew some nights he shouldn't have been,'' Fisher said.

Fantastic Hoops Finishes: New Rochelle Vs. Mt. Vernon

Fantastic Hoops Finishes: St. Mark's Vs. William Penn

Fantastic Hoops Finishes: Barton Vs. Winona State

Alabama Football Posts $53 Million Surplus

Alabama’s athletic programs bring in a lot of money for the university, much of which comes from the football program. The 2013-14 fiscal year was no different.

According to Al.com, Alabama football had “a $53.3 million surplus with revenues of $95.3 million.” That’s a lot of dough and is $6.1 million more than the $47,136,001 it brought in in 2012-13. With football clearly being its biggest contributor, Alabama athletics as a whole generated a surplus of just over $33 million -- $33,050,145 to be exact. The athletics department then “transferred $9.1 million back to the university.” How generous.

Much of the revenue the football program reports comes from ticket sales ($34.9 million) and “contributions” ($20.7 million), but the program also saw gains in broadcast/television/radio/Internet rights (from $7.2 million to $9.1 million) and royalties, licensing and ads ($1.3 million to $4.5 million).

Other small forms of revenue included $730,580 from “sports camps” and a whopping $58,622 from concession stand sales.

Meanwhile, the program spent $41,993,027 on its overall operating expenses with its top expense going toward coach salaries ($12.8 million). Additionally, the program spent $4.2 million on fundraising and marketing, $3.8 million on athletic student aid, $2.7 million on game expenses, $2.7 million on facilities maintenance, $2.6 million on university support staff, $2.5 million on team travel, $1.6 million on equipment and supplies and $1.2 million on recruiting, among a bevy of other expenses.

By comparison, per Al.com, Auburn football had a surplus of $33.2 million while the Auburn athletic department as a whole “operated at a $13.6 million deficit.”

So it's happy times for all in Tuscaloosa. Oh, and just to show how feasible it is for certain schools to pay its players; if Alabama hypothetically paid its scholarship football players $3,000 each from its $53,269,715 surplus, the program would have still brought in $53,014,715 in the 2013-14 fiscal year. 

Of course, it's more complicated than that. The athletic department would have to pay all scholarship athletes, not just football players, and most athletic departments don't pull in anywhere near the amount of money that Alabama does. Still, when you break down the numbers, it really seems like a no-brainer.

Differences Between Relational and Task Oriented Leaders

Different businesses operate under different theories and practices in the hopes of encouraging the greatest level of productivity. Leadership styles in particular differ from business to business, but two leadership theories remain prominent: task-oriented leadership and relational-oriented leadership, also called relationship-oriented leadership and people-oriented leadership. Each theory has its pros and cons.

Task-Oriented Leaders

A task-oriented leader is one who focuses on the task or series of tasks at hand, as well as all procedures necessary to achieve the task. A task-oriented leader is less concerned with the idea of catering to employees, and more concerned with finding technical, step-by-step solutions for meeting specific goals. In other words, a task-oriented leader might ask "What steps can we take to meet our quarterly financial goals?" as opposed to asking "How can we build the kind of employee productivity that brings about success within the company?"

Task-Oriented Leadership Benefits

A task-oriented leader is highly logical and analytical, and has a strong understanding of how to get the job done by focusing on the necessary workplace procedures. A task-oriented leader understands that a major task can involve numerous smaller tasks and can delegate work accordingly in order to ensure that everything gets done in a timely and productive manner.

Relational-Oriented Leaders

A relational-oriented leader understands the importance of tasks, but also places a tremendous amount of time and focus on meeting the needs of everyone involved in the assignment. This may involve offering incentives like bonuses, providing mediation to deal with workplace or classroom conflicts, spending individual time with employees to learn their strengths and weaknesses, offering above-average financial compensation, or just leading in a personable or encouraging manner.

Relational-Oriented Leadership Benefits

The relational-oriented leader understands that productivity is paramount in meeting goals and succeeding, whether in a business environment or otherwise. Likewise, the relational-oriented leader understands that building positive productivity requires a positive environment where individuals feel driven. Personal conflicts, dissatisfaction with a job, resentment and even boredom can severely drive down productivity, so the relational-oriented leader puts people first to ensure that such problems stay at a minimum.

Task Vs. Relationship Leadership Theories

Small-business owners looking to improve their leadership ability will find many different leadership theories espoused by authors, psychologists, educators and businesspeople. However, many of these theories fall into the umbrella categories of task-oriented and relationship-oriented theories. While some businesspeople advocate that one of these theories is superior to the other, many argue that components of both are needed to be an effective leader.

Task-Oriented Leadership Theory

Task-oriented leadership theory describes a leader that is motivated by accomplishing tasks and concerned with the delineating roles and specific tasks for employees. The task-oriented leader creates policies and procedures, informs subordinates of these procedures and develops criteria for evaluating successful employee performance. Task-oriented leaders may organize their time around a schedule of events that must be completed for each day.

Relationship-Oriented Leadership Theory

Relationship-oriented leadership theory describes a leader who is primarily motivated by and concerned with her interactions with people. Relationship-oriented leaders often act as mentors to their subordinates. They schedule time to talk with employees and incorporate their feedback into decisions. They also often try to make the work experience enjoyable and attempt to foster a positive work environment or group dynamic.

Superiority

Two studies in the "International Journal of Nursing Studies" in 2007 and 2009 found that leaders operating in a manner consistent with the relationship-oriented theory of leadership to be more effective than their task-oriented counterparts. However, the research also indicated that leaders who practiced elements of both theories were the most effective. According to the University of Central Michigan, "there is growing evidence that BOTH initiating structure and consideration are important for successfully leading teams."

Benefits of Combined Approach

A leadership style that incorporates elements from both theories can help leaders lead productive, efficient teams. By setting tasks for themselves and their employees, leaders can ensure the project stays on schedule and everyone is clear about their roles. By fostering relationships with their employees, on the other hand, leaders can motivate them and create a work environment in which all feel encouraged to contribute and ask questions.

Preview: Cubs Infield

It’s finally here. The most anticipated spring training for the Chicago Cubs since Theo Epstein took over as team president. All week we’ll preview the team heading into the start of camp, which begins on Thursday when catchers and pitchers report. Some spring decisions have been made while others will play out on the field. First up is a look at the infield. 

Holdovers: Anthony Rizzo, Starlin Castro, Javier Baez, Mike Olt, Arismendy Alcantara, Chris Valaika
Newcomers: Tommy La Stella, Jonathan Herrera (non-roster invitee)
Moved on: Luis Valbuena
On the Cusp: Kris Bryant 

First base and shortstop

First and short are set as Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo are coming off stellar years. Castro missed much of spring training last season but went on to make the All-Star team as did Rizzo, who improved against lefties. Rizzo's success started in the spring as former manager Rick Renteria made sure his lefty hitters saw left-handed pitching during Cactus League play. 

A healthy Castro in February and March might propel him to an even better year -- especially if he can improve off a career high in home runs last year -- while Rizzo just needs to pick up where he left off. He was at his best last season when he stood close to the plate and took left-handers to the opposite field. Don’t discount a wrinkle or two to combat the shift for Rizzo as well -- last year he bunted successfully three times in five attempts. Spring is for these two mainstays to sharpen their game before leading the offense come April. 

Second base

Second base is where the action should go down this spring as Arismendy Alcantara is back in the mix there. The acquisition of Dexter Fowler to play center field makes Alcantara a man without a position. The Cubs say he’ll move around the diamond this spring, but would anyone be shocked if he was the Opening Day second baseman? Right now that’s Javier Baez's job but new skipper Joe Maddon has already declared there is no “entitlement program” with him in charge. Baez will have to earn it. 

Other than his slimmer physique, we may not really see the adjustments Baez has made until late in the spring or even into the regular season. We know he can hit average Cactus League pitching as he hammered balls all last March. But when the major leaguers start to fine tune their game, is Baez going to lay off the fastballs at his eyes or some breaking pitches outside the zone? Mechanically, we should have an early view to his changes as hitting coach John Mallee already got to him this offseason. 

And don’t forget newcomer Tommy La Stella. Acquired from the Atlanta Braves this winter, he got on-base nearly 41 percent of the time in his minor league career. He had a near 1-to-1 walk to strikeout ratio last season, his first in the majors. Also of note, the “loser” in the second base competition could potentially start the season at third base. 

Third base

Before we break down the hot corner, let’s review the rise of the future of that position: Kris Bryant. Golden Spikes winner as best amateur in 2013, Arizona Fall League MVP months later, Double-A home run derby winner in 2014 and then Minor League Player of the Year after combining for a .325 batting average, 43 home runs and 110 RBIs split between Double and Triple-A. That’s a heck of a run for the Cubs' No. 1 pick from two summers ago. If you haven’t heard by now, the Cubs can get an extra year out of Bryant before he hits free agency if he isn’t in the majors this season for more than 171 days. It equates to being in the minors for a little while this April as the major league season is about 183 days total. 

So who starts at third base come April if not Bryant? 

La Stella hasn’t played third as a professional, while Alcantara appeared there in 31 games of 534 he played in the minors, but none since 2012. He could probably handle it, but the Cubs should have one more opening on their roster with Bryant starting the year in the minors. That could go to Mike Olt, who struggled mightily in 2014. According to ESPN Stats and Information, among hitters with at least 250 plate appearances, Olt had the lowest batting average (.160) with the highest strikeout percentage (38.8). People may be wondering where he fits in after a season like that and the answer right now is he doesn’t -- unless he proves otherwise. If he does take third base until Bryant arrives then he’ll need to prove himself too valuable in a short period of time to avoid being sent down or let go. Simply put, whatever small chance Olt gets, he has to take advantage of it as he’s no longer the next man up among the young players. 

Non-roster invitee Jonathan Herrera also can play some third base as can holdover Chris Valaika. Both Olt and Valaika have the ability to back up Rizzo at first as well. The Cubs also hinted Baez could see some time at third, but they might be hesitant to move him to another position with his focus being his changes at the plate. Whoever starts at third base won’t be long for the job with Bryant waiting in the wings. 

Catcher

Behind the plate the spring will be used for newcomers Miguel Montero and David Ross to get used to their new surroundings, and more importantly, a new pitching staff. Yes, Ross will catch Jon Lester but don’t expect that to be a one-and-only situation. Both catchers will undoubtedly be behind the plate for any and all pitchers this spring. Come April, the Cubs may not want to give up the offense Montero can bring by sitting him against a right-handed pitcher -- say Adam Wainwright on opening night -- just because Lester is on the mound. 

Remember, Ross and Montero -- at least on paper -- have similar receiving skills. Both are at the top of the league in pitch framing and both are experienced enough to handle young or veteran hurlers. Welington Castillo is the odd man out; the only question is when he’s moved. The Cubs may wait it out until other teams find a more desperate need for a catcher during the spring or they may pull the trigger by this Thursday. Who needs that distraction? The Cubs haven’t hinted when a deal would be done but don’t expect to see three catchers on the roster come April 5.