This post is dedicated to the army of Americans who spend an hour pricing $50 worth of goods.
From this web site: www.yardsalequeen.com/customers.htm
My best friend and I have a yardsale every year and have had some real winners for customers:
- like the group of women who ripped every tag off the clothing trying to trick us in letting them pay less, little did they know they were all priced the same
- one woman who became angry when we wouldn't lower the price of an antique bowl and threw it on the concrete
- one woman who stepped into the backyard to try on a blouse she wanted to buy and when she laid her own blouse down, the dog ran away with it
and my least favorite customer of all is a tv and radio repairman who wants to haggle over every electrical appliance until all you want him to do is get out of the yard!
Friday, May 30, 2008
Credit Course
"Cooperation is a priority of good leadership. The only thing that's not shared is blame. A strong leader accepts blame and gives credit." -- John Wooden
My caveat would be that the blame and credit should be accurate. Taking blame when you were not at fault reduces your credibility, as well as the accountability of others who may not otherwise learn it. The key might be to be avoiding public blaming of others, no matter how "justified" it seems.
My caveat would be that the blame and credit should be accurate. Taking blame when you were not at fault reduces your credibility, as well as the accountability of others who may not otherwise learn it. The key might be to be avoiding public blaming of others, no matter how "justified" it seems.
The Naked Truth
"Why is it so difficult and uncomfortable to be naked? It's because when you have clothes on, you can always make those little adjustments that people love to do. Hitching, straightening, adjusting. You know, you feel like you're getting it together. 'Yeah, pretty good. Feeling good, feeling pretty good.' But when you're naked, it's so final. You're just, 'Well, this is it. There's nothing else I can do.' That's why I like to wear a belt when I'm naked. I feel it gives me something. I'd like to get pockets to hand off the belt. Wouldn't that be the ultimate thing? Picture that. To be naked and still be able to put your hands in your pockets. I think that would really help a lot." -- Jerry Seinfeld
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Assistant Coach
Well what do you know? I have a volunteer to be my assistant basketball coach at the YMCA next fall!
I often mention to people that I'd been in the market for someone to join me. A lot of things have to intersect in order to find the right person, though:
1. Likes kids enough to coach them.
2. Does not have kids of his own, i.e. actually has free time.
3. Confident enough to coach.
4. Willing to assist, rather than to be "in charge."
5. Humble enough to work with me, rather than competing with me.
I was visiting with a co-worker who's a young employee in the Actuarial Department. Without prompting, he offered his services. I think we have potential to work really well together. Plus, he actually played forward in school, and those are the skills that I'm least familiar with.
Through the years I've learned to appreciate the gradual march to success through a series of small, significant steps. This could be one!
I often mention to people that I'd been in the market for someone to join me. A lot of things have to intersect in order to find the right person, though:
1. Likes kids enough to coach them.
2. Does not have kids of his own, i.e. actually has free time.
3. Confident enough to coach.
4. Willing to assist, rather than to be "in charge."
5. Humble enough to work with me, rather than competing with me.
I was visiting with a co-worker who's a young employee in the Actuarial Department. Without prompting, he offered his services. I think we have potential to work really well together. Plus, he actually played forward in school, and those are the skills that I'm least familiar with.
Through the years I've learned to appreciate the gradual march to success through a series of small, significant steps. This could be one!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Deer to be Different
There's a scheduling conflict for Leadership McLean County. The Friday session entitled "The Prairie on the Other Side," which studies law enforcement, lands on November 21 -- the first day of deer hunting season. Brandi, the chair of that session, is married to a police officer, and unfortunately he and some co-workers will be out there shooting, which ties up people who'd otherwise be able to present.
Time to think outside the box. Some alternatives:
1. Nov. 21 - "Assassination on the Prairie" - The day will be spent hunting deer with members of our local police departments, discussing (very quietly) leadership themes such as aiming for goals, focusing on the task at hand, patience and watching your back.
2. Nov. 21 - "Crime on the Prairie" - Since most of the police departments will be hunting deer, the morning will be spent planning a crime, and the afternoon committing it. Leadership themes such as strategy and execution (the non-homicidal type) will be discussed. Depending on the day's success, the group may be visited by the McLean County Coroner.
Time to think outside the box. Some alternatives:
1. Nov. 21 - "Assassination on the Prairie" - The day will be spent hunting deer with members of our local police departments, discussing (very quietly) leadership themes such as aiming for goals, focusing on the task at hand, patience and watching your back.
2. Nov. 21 - "Crime on the Prairie" - Since most of the police departments will be hunting deer, the morning will be spent planning a crime, and the afternoon committing it. Leadership themes such as strategy and execution (the non-homicidal type) will be discussed. Depending on the day's success, the group may be visited by the McLean County Coroner.
What's Right is What's Right
"As a leader you must be sincerely committed to what's right, rather than who's right." -- John Wooden
I once had a boss who e-mailed to me that rumors were circulating based on my actions, and asked me to change my behavior in response. My human instinct was to prove my innocence, and it took a few minutes to settle down and think more clearly. In the big picture did it really matter whether or not I was right (who started the rumor, what actions were referred to, etc.)? What was more important was right action going forward. During my next scheduled meeting with the boss, I laid out a handful of actions I'd done which might have started the rumor (one of which involved placing a photo of Dena and me on my desk!). To me, each was clearly not an improper move, but I didn't give my opinion -- I just waited for his response.
Had I defended my actions and set a negative tone, perhaps he'd have felt compelled to defend his source. Perhaps he'd have come up with other actions that I'd overlooked, causing more face to be lost.
What happened was that he took my side, revealing his source and the report he received in detail!
The more I try to practice the art of neutrality, of just sticking to the facts and focusing on the greater good, the more sunny results continue to happen.
I once had a boss who e-mailed to me that rumors were circulating based on my actions, and asked me to change my behavior in response. My human instinct was to prove my innocence, and it took a few minutes to settle down and think more clearly. In the big picture did it really matter whether or not I was right (who started the rumor, what actions were referred to, etc.)? What was more important was right action going forward. During my next scheduled meeting with the boss, I laid out a handful of actions I'd done which might have started the rumor (one of which involved placing a photo of Dena and me on my desk!). To me, each was clearly not an improper move, but I didn't give my opinion -- I just waited for his response.
Had I defended my actions and set a negative tone, perhaps he'd have felt compelled to defend his source. Perhaps he'd have come up with other actions that I'd overlooked, causing more face to be lost.
What happened was that he took my side, revealing his source and the report he received in detail!
The more I try to practice the art of neutrality, of just sticking to the facts and focusing on the greater good, the more sunny results continue to happen.
Gaining Loyalty
"Loyalty comes when those you lead see and experience that your concern for their interests and welfare goes beyond simply calculating what they can do for you." -- John Wooden
That's why it's such a blessing to be a person who better giving than receiving. Some people find greatest pleasure in bringing smiles to others' faces. The irony is that these people who earn loyalty most easily, are also the ones who demand it the least.
The easiest gift in the world to give, besides a smile, is a parking spot. You know, when you're about to leave a crowded lot with no spaces, and someone's circling desperately. You wave to catch their attention, then march like a pied piper to your car and drive away as their happy-meter hits the top of the scale.
That's why it's such a blessing to be a person who better giving than receiving. Some people find greatest pleasure in bringing smiles to others' faces. The irony is that these people who earn loyalty most easily, are also the ones who demand it the least.
The easiest gift in the world to give, besides a smile, is a parking spot. You know, when you're about to leave a crowded lot with no spaces, and someone's circling desperately. You wave to catch their attention, then march like a pied piper to your car and drive away as their happy-meter hits the top of the scale.
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