Smallest actions = Grand Consequences

Posted on January 11, 2011 by David

Took centuries to build. Image courtesy of Wikipedia.

“Never should we think our smallest actions
are not capable of grand consequences.”

Friend and fellow blogger, Patty Hebert, left that little nugget on Saturday’s post. We were discussing the merits of many people making small contributions so that the sum total is greater than the individual efforts.

The Great Wall of China was not built in a day nor was it built by one person. Your business will not be a success in one day. But laying a foundation one customer at a time, day after day, can lead to grand consequences.

Posted in Purpose | Tagged , | 7 Comments

What is your purpose?

Posted on January 10, 2011 by David

No business going on here

I mean this from a business standpoint. Why are you in business? I’m going to be asking a lot of questions but I’ll make it an open book quiz. 🙂

I’m sure you can probably quote your company’s mission statement.

“Here at blah blah, we strive to offer the best blah blah in an atmosphere where our employees can blah blah while giving our customers blah blah blah.”

Sound familiar? I wonder how many of you are looking up your mission statement. Is it buried under a stack of papers? Is it in a company handbook collecting dust?

OR

Is it alive? Do you live it? Does your company affirm it by their actions? Or does it just sit there lifeless as the paper it’s printed on?

It’s up to you.

Posted in Purpose | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

1/2 of 1 percent

Posted on January 8, 2011 by David

For you math geeks out there, the actual number is 0.56994%.

That number represents our contribution to this year’s Thanks and Giving Campaign for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The combined total of all locations in our company that were participating this time around amounted to $224, 758.

Photo Courtesy St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Alone, our contribution may not be much. But when you combine the efforts of many working toward the same goal, much can be accomplished.

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“Pick up trash, make people happy, do your job”

Posted on January 7, 2011 by David

Can it really be this simple?

My buddy Jeff Noel made a comment on Wednesday’s post on “Motivating the Unmotivateable.”

“Pick up trash, make people happy, do your job.”

So if you are leading by example and they are copying your lead, should you be looking for new employees if they are still under performing?  Maybe it’s time to rethink your example.

Like our kids, employees watch everything you do. If you are a manager, VP or CEO, the example you set can spell success or disaster.

Posted in Leadership | 4 Comments

Motivate the unmotivateable

Posted on January 5, 2011 by David

Unmotivateable. I looked it up. There’s no such word. But you know it when you see it.

The lazy student in Math class that refuses to do the work, or the shop worker that likes to take a lot of breaks and talks instead of doing work. Or how about the person that is upset that he can’t get a job becuase all the jobs out there are beneath him.

What do you say to these types? How can you, the leader, the innovator, the motivator, turn the unmotivateable worker into a productive, goal-driven, team asset instead of a liability?

I’ve spoken of this before here. What if you saw the head of the company picking up trash? How motivated would you be?

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