Leadership – Page 13 – Fast:Forward Farther

February 25, 2017February 25, 2017

Mystery Theatre

Eight years ago – when the economy was at its nadir and on the last day of 2Q09 – I visited a Houston area Honda dealership and made a lowball offer on a fully equipped Honda Accord. They accepted.

My new V6 came with three months of free satellite radio. Six weeks later an offer arrived in the mail… something to the tune of: “Your complimentary subscription is expiring soon. You may continue receiving all the benefits of XM Radio by signing up for a one-year subscription at $10 per month. However, for a limited time, we are offering a lifetime, fully transferrable membership for $500, payable in three installments.”

The risks seemed to be limited to two things: XM Radio goes out of business, and, at $120 per year, I’d be paying upfront for four years of service without knowing how much I would use it. In hindsight, choosing ‘Yes’ turned out to be one of my best business decisions as XM merged with Sirius and it’s usually on whenever I’m in the car.

The channels I listen to most often are E Street Radio (Bruce Springsteen 24/7), ESPN Radio (Mike and Mike in the Morning) and RadioClassics (vintage transcriptions from the days before TV). Goodies from old-time mysteries, like Suspense and Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, are my favorite driving pastimes. This week I heard a World War II era episode of Lux Radio Theatre.

An adaptation of a spy novel, the intermission included the host – legendary film director Cecil B. DeMille – interviewing a retired military general about life as a spy. When DeMille asked what characteristics make the best spy, the guest replied there are three: great skills of observation; keen ability to recall details; and, talent to describe.

Those are excellent qualities for leaders, too. Stay at a high level and notice what’s happening around you. Remember and process all the data you take in. Craft a compelling story that motivates others to follow your vision.

“To spy on a man, introduce him to a beautiful woman,” said the general. “To spy on a woman, all you have to do is make her jealous.” That’s a rather dated point of view these 75 years later… and sounds like the plot of a James Bond movie. Well… Ian Fleming – creator of 007 – was, in fact, a spy during the Second World War.

January 1, 2017November 30, 2016

Lessons Learned – #1

And here’s the most important thing I learned during 2017:

Gift Giving – At this time of year, contributing to a charitable organization is not just about getting a tax break – it’s about sharing your blessings. If you’re seeking a worthy cause, here is a nonprofit where 87% of donations go directly to helping children:

Samaritan’s Feet – Did you know 1.5 billion people suffer from parasitic foot diseases picked up through contaminated soil? This group’s mission is to “serve and inspire hope and opportunity among the world’s most impoverished children, by washing their feet, providing a new pair of shoes, and encouraging them to pursue their dreams.” A $20 contribution buys shoes for a barefoot child and moves the charity closer to its goal to give 10 million pairs to 10 million children in 10 years.

December 31, 2016November 30, 2016

Lessons Learned – #2

What’s the second most important thing I learned this year?

Heartfelt Gratitude – Marshall Goldsmith is the gold standard among executive coaches. This year he wrote about becoming “a connoisseur of gratitude, a virtuoso of thanking” people. I’m a big believer in sending handwritten notes to those I meet in business settings – and suggest clients do the same. “Writing a thank you note,” opined Goldsmith, “forces you to confront the humbling fact that you have not achieved your success alone. You had a lot of help along the way.” Inspired… one of my 1Q17 goals is to create a list of the people who helped me most during these first 35 years of my career and write each one a note to show my appreciation.

December 30, 2016November 30, 2016

Lessons Learned – #3

We’ve made it to the Top 3 of the most important things I learned this year:

Ongoing Legacy – When a lifelong friend’s boys were beginning 7th and 9th grades, he wrote each a ‘life’ letter – and continued penning those words of wisdom from a loving father every fall until they married. Lee told me that Matthew and Bryan – soon to be 28 and 30 – occasionally bring up those many guidance lessons. He became a grandfather in July… and is looking forward to continuing the tradition with the next generation.

December 29, 2016November 30, 2016

Lessons Learned – #4

Here is the fourth most important thing I learned this year:

Everybody Helps – When I went to Ft. McMurray, Alberta, in October the visible devastation from May’s wildfire amazed me. My host told me that in three days they safely evacuated 90,000 people from the Oil Sands. (There is one road and you either drive north 30 miles to work camps or south 300 miles to the nearest city.) The oil companies placed tanker trucks along the route to provide free gas fill-ups, food and water – and housed displaced families in previously shuttered camps. Three Canadian airlines worked together to fly evacuees to Calgary and Edmonton. “Everyone was calm and focused on a safe departure,” he said. It’s often in the worst of times that folks show their best. Imagine if we did that every day.