A Million Lives

Serving those who serve our Country

Yesterday, I had the honor of awarding a $3,000 grant to  Operation Gratitude on behalf of our Company.  The charity annually sends over 100,000 care packages addressed to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed in hostile regions, to their children left behind and to Veterans, First Responders, Wounded Warriors and their Care Givers.  While I had heard of the non-profit before, the time I spent onsite was eye-opening.

The operation was truly impressive.   It’s summer time here in the Valley, which means it is brutally hot.  The warehouse we walked into was equally as blistering, but you would never have known it from the smiles on everyone’s faces and the amazing energy they had as they packed box after box for our troops overseas.  I got in line to help, and packed items in tight: sunscreen, Girl Scout cookies, toothpaste and handwritten letters of love and support.  And as I filled boxes with care, I learned the story behind it all.

After 9/11, the founder – a woman who was only a few years older in 2001 than I am today – wanted to do something to help our Country.  She tried to enlist in the armed services and was told she didn’t qualify, but that was not going to stop her from showing how much she cared.  It started in her living room when she filled four small boxes with items to send to some of her friends’ relatives overseas.  Today, Operation Gratitude is approaching the 1,000,000^th package sent.  Wow.

Even more “wow” is the statement this makes about how much one person can change the world.  So often, we go to work or go through the motions in a day.  We may feel small, unappreciated or like we don’t matter.  We may feel lost or useless and wonder why we are here.  But every life has meaning to someone.  Your life has meaning to someone.  Your life has meaning to many, actually.  You can put a smile on someone’s face, bring lightness to their heart and give them strength in a time of weakness.  You are powerful beyond measure, if you choose to believe in yourself and to take action.

Believe that you can change the world and you will.

How will you change the world today?

The Dog Ate My Business Plan

Whether you’re leading an organization or are part of a cross-functional team, working with people is like riding a rollercoaster.  Sometimes, you’re climbing in unison together, full of nervous energy as you anticipate the thrill of cresting that hill.  Other times, everything goes willy-nilly.  Some folks love the ride and want to go again.  Some are scared but heading in the same direction.  Others just want off the ride as soon as possible.  They may say that they didn’t want to go on the ride in the first place… that someone else “made them do it.”

It reminds me of the old “dog ate my homework” excuse.  At some point, I’m sure almost everyone has dropped the ball on something.  We’re all human, after all.  No one is perfect.  But here, people diverge.  Some people own up to the mistake, take responsibility and let you know how they will to do better next time.  They have a plan and a direction. 

Others take a different approach.  It’s painful to admit you made a mistake or let someone down.  So instead, they take the path of least pain.  They come up with an excuse. 

“The e-mail didn’t make it through… darn internet!” 

“The cell phone doesn’t get good reception, and I missed the call.  Darn phone company!”

“Traffic was awful , and it made me late.  Darn 405 freeway!”

“The dog ate my business plan!”

Maybe the e-mail or call really didn’t make it through.   Maybe traffic was a beast.  Maybe the dog has an affinity for paper products.  So what?  Your client doesn’t care.  It isn’t their problem.  It’s yours.

People make excuses for so many reasons.  They may want to let someone down easy or don’t want to let anyone down at all.  They don’t want to get in trouble or may want to save face.  Maybe the excuses are true.  Ultimately, it doesn’t matter.

Making excuses is the path of least pain.  It’s the easy way.  But how are you ever going to win trust, build real relationships or achieve great success if you are always taking the easy way out?  It takes a lot more determination and bravery of heart, soul and spirit to choose the harder path.  On that road, there are no excuses, just accountability.  There is no hiding, but instead you’re taking the lead.  You own your mistakes and also your future success. 

The happiest and most successful people in the world have no need for excuses.  If they mess up, they own it, apologize and do it better next time and again and again… until there is no need for excuses.   Until they win.  Until they’re celebrating the thrill of the ride.

Under Your Skin

I had an unusual meeting last week.  One of our clients has assigned a new point person to our relationship, so we met to lay the foundation for the future.  We also met to reconnect on the past, as Kevin was our point person about 6 or 7 years ago when we first forged the partnership.  Years pass quickly at times, so I was happy to be working with him again and looking forward to catching up.

Our meeting started out on business, but as we got further into it, we found ourselves talking about the ups and downs of life.  Now, this is not the first time that I've had a conversation like this while on the road.  This felt different though.  As we talked about the vagaries of life, some of the lightness made way for a more direct connection.  And the question arose... Are you happy in your own skin?

When your career is new, that question is easier to answer.  You feel that you know who you are and where you are going.  Here, in the mid-section of life, it gets a little harder to find that answer.  It doesn’t matter how happy you are with who you are or how you’re rising in your job or responsibilities.  You’re in the middle – somewhere between here and there – and cresting a hill.  The end of your career is a little closer than your beginning.  You may be looking back at the dreams or desires you had way back when, and wondering what you did with them.  Did you take a detour?  Did you achieve those young dreams and are now looking for a new one?  Maybe you’re feeling restless, bored or stifled and don’t know what to make of it.

It’s tempting to lean towards frustration if you’re drifting a little, to feel uncomfortable in your own skin as you’re searching for the next step in the evolution of you.  But don’t question who you are just because you may be questioning where you’re going or your circumstances.  Now more than ever, you should accept yourself.  Heck, celebrate it!  It’s okay to be frustrated, uncomfortable or searching.  In fact, it’s great.  It means you’re not settling for something.  Instead, you’re expanding, learning, growing and becoming something more.   Being uncomfortable is a good thing.  Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.  The nerves, the hunger, the yearning…. It drives you forward.

Yes, Kevin.  I’m nervous, excited, frustrated, searching and perfectly happy in my own skin, in my own discomfort.  In fact, I love it.  I’m on a journey.  How about you?

Expect the Unexpected

It's a common saying, and we've all heard it.  Expect the unexpected.  Be prepared.  I'm getting a vivid illustration of the importance of this phrase today.  

I'm stranded with thousands of my friends at the Portland International Airport.  Somehow, the planes have no fuel.  Whether it's due to a power outage from last night's rain or not, every plane is stranded - along with thousands of people here in the terminal and hundreds stuck on planes on the tarmac.  The machine that supplies the fuel for all of the airlines is out.  The Starbucks line is almost a hundred deep, and I am laying on the floor and pondering business.

I don't really think this is a failure of technology.  Instead, it is a human failure.    Yes, it may be hard to predict that this exact situation could have happened, but that's a part of leadership.  It's not only about looking future forward, but also about planning thoroughly for today.  Goals and aspirations are great, but if something unexpected happens that closes your business or worse, you aren't going to achieve that goal.

You cannot predict what each day will bring.  What you can do is take a look at the critical dependencies in your business - employees, capital, market conditions, fuel for airplanes - and plan around protecting those.

That didn't happen for the Portland Airport.  This is a failure of leadership, not technology.  Don't let it happen to your business.

P.S.  Also, for the one flight that did make it out this morning... Always best not to announce that they are going to send you out to Oakland and "hope" that there is enough fuel to make it.  Another failure of leadership.  Leaders need to instill confidence in those they want to lead - not "hope" to lead.  Funny day!

Looking for More

This morning, my son graduated from Pre-K.  I wasn’t sure what to expect.  After all, they’re not taking the AP test, moving to another state or something as exciting (or gut wrenching) as that.  I knew it would be cute.  I didn’t know how deeply it would affect me though.

So, there we all were: parents, grandparents and friends – crowded into a small classroom, sitting on kiddie chairs that strained themselves to support us, smart phones ready to snap a cherished memory.  Out march all of the little ones in matching school pride shirts, wearing crowns that they colored before we got there.  The music comes on, and they mime their way through the beginning of a song looking mildly dazed.  Then, their teacher smiles and asks them to sing.  My son – never one to be shy – starts belting out the tune at the top of his lungs.  Evan joins in.  Then Paige.  Then 22 little voices raise together, singing:

“I don’t want this day to end.  We will be happy together tomorrow.  Together tomorrow, my friend.  Tonight when I’m sleeping, I’ll dream of us being together tomorrow, my friend.”

Certificates, ribbons and photos of a year gone by too soon were given to each little one as they smiled for a hundred pictures, their eyes beaming with pride.  Then, they ran off for a few hours of fun, splashing and cupcakes.

Who knew that a Pre-K graduation could mean so much?

While many of these kids will be together in the Fall, some friends are moving on to new schools and new experiences.  That moment – that magic – will never BE again.  Instead, there will be new moments and new magic.  Today will be forgotten by all of the children.  They’ll look at the pictures and the video, and marvel at how little they were.  They may forget their friends’ names, no matter how much they love them today.  How many of your friends do you still have from pre-school, after all?

But the parents will remember.  We will never forget.  The joy on my son’s face, the innocence of those voices.  It’s burned through my skin and onto my heart.  I am teary-eyed thinking of it now.  It is a visceral thing, much deeper than the personal accomplishments I may have achieved in my life. 

It’s a funny thing too.  When you do something big or achieve something yourself, you feel excited, proud and fulfilled.  It’s awesome.  When your child or someone you have mentored with your heart and soul achieves a milestone, it’s something more.  I don’t have a word that captures the feeling I have inside.  It’s just more.  And the kids are right.  I don't want this day to end either.

Whether it’s your child, your friend, your spouse, your team member or your employees that you are mentoring, keep going.  More is great.  More is awesome. It’s better than awesome.  It’s bigger.  More is just…. MORE.