*** Reader's Poll Favorite***
His name was Vince. I met him one day at the Burger King while eating lunch.
Vince approached me and asked, “Excuse me, are you the Store Manager of the new Giant Eagle over there?”
I then introduced myself and Vince went on to tell me his story.
“So are you guys hiring?...I need a job. I am a retired executive from US Steel, my wife passed away about two years ago and my kids are spread across the country.
I fly out every weekend to visit them, so I can work Monday through Friday.
You know I miss working. A man can only play so much golf, I am really getting bored, …I need a reason to wake up in the morning.”
Vince was a tall man, wearing a wrinkled non-matching jogging suit and sporting a 3-day beard. I felt sorry for him, he really looked like he needed a job and the story he told me, well that really seemed a bit far-fetched, so I hired him.
Vince came on board and worked Monday through Friday 7:00 to 11:00am pushing carts and greeting people as they entered the store. He really loved his job; smiling and saying thank you, talking to customers, keeping the place clean, and I felt good because I gave this guy a job.
About 6 months later Cindi, my office manager, came to me, “Bob, the Payroll dept. called and said they need Vince to cash his paychecks.” Well I was really surprised, Vince?...the guy who needed a job so bad, not cashing his paychecks?!
“How many paychecks hasn't he cashed”? I asked Cindi.
Cindi looked right at me and said, “Bob, Vince has not cashed a paycheck since he started 6 months ago!”
I pulled Vince aside and inquired about the paychecks. Vince politely replied, "I'm sorry Bob, did I get you in trouble? I will put them in the bank tomorrow, thank you."
At that moment I realized, I did not give Vince a job, he gave me a life lesson.
"We all need a reason to wake up in the morning"... thank you Vince P.
Friday, April 18, 2014
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Handling Personal Problems on the Job
All of us come to work some days with a personal problem or concern on our minds. When my father was dying of heart disease, I was challenged to focus. We wouldn't be human if we could completely "turn-off" our personal lives the moment we started work each morning.
How can we separate our personal lives so we can carry on effectively at work with the assignments at hand?
Start by asking yourself, "Is there anything I can do right now to correct this personal problem?" Sometimes there is.
When you've determined that nothing can be done to solve a personal dilemma at work, try plunging into the task you are doing. For many people the greatest temporary relief is to get their minds as far from the problem as possible...at least until that time when something can be done.
The problem will still be there later...and the time away from it may help you gain perspective you need to deal with it later.
"I have found that the best way to handle personal problems is to look them right in the eye, and also to make sure I have my reading glasses on first." --- Anonymous
--------------------------------------------------------
How can we separate our personal lives so we can carry on effectively at work with the assignments at hand?
Start by asking yourself, "Is there anything I can do right now to correct this personal problem?" Sometimes there is.
When you've determined that nothing can be done to solve a personal dilemma at work, try plunging into the task you are doing. For many people the greatest temporary relief is to get their minds as far from the problem as possible...at least until that time when something can be done.
The problem will still be there later...and the time away from it may help you gain perspective you need to deal with it later.
"I have found that the best way to handle personal problems is to look them right in the eye, and also to make sure I have my reading glasses on first." --- Anonymous
--------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Pessimistic People
Pessimistic people always see the downside.
The other day a good friend of mine shared a story:
Seems there was this duck hunter who needed a new bird dog, so he found a dog that could actually walk on water to retrieve the duck.
Shocked by his find, he was sure none of his friends would ever believe him.
He decided to try to break the news to a friend of his, a true pessimist, and invited him to hunt with him and his new dog.
As they waited by the shore, a flock of ducks flew by. They fired, and a duck fell. The dog responded and jumped into the water.
The dog, however, did not sink but instead walked across the water to retrieve the bird, never getting more than his paws wet.
The friend saw everything but didn’t say a single word.
On the drive home the hunter asked his friend, “Did you notice anything funny about my new dog?”
“I sure did,” responded his friend. “He can’t swim!”
True pessimists never change, it is founded into his or her culture. No matter what strategy you may use to bring out the "optimist" in them, its never works. "Culture eats strategy for breakfast"- Ivan Misner
Leaders recognize this pessimistic culture, accept it, and move on...sometimes using it to his or her advantage.
The other day a good friend of mine shared a story:
Seems there was this duck hunter who needed a new bird dog, so he found a dog that could actually walk on water to retrieve the duck.
Shocked by his find, he was sure none of his friends would ever believe him.
He decided to try to break the news to a friend of his, a true pessimist, and invited him to hunt with him and his new dog.
As they waited by the shore, a flock of ducks flew by. They fired, and a duck fell. The dog responded and jumped into the water.
The dog, however, did not sink but instead walked across the water to retrieve the bird, never getting more than his paws wet.
The friend saw everything but didn’t say a single word.
On the drive home the hunter asked his friend, “Did you notice anything funny about my new dog?”
“I sure did,” responded his friend. “He can’t swim!”
True pessimists never change, it is founded into his or her culture. No matter what strategy you may use to bring out the "optimist" in them, its never works. "Culture eats strategy for breakfast"- Ivan Misner
Leaders recognize this pessimistic culture, accept it, and move on...sometimes using it to his or her advantage.
-------------------------------------------------
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Champion Communications - Part Deux
Managing Differences*
Do you every find yourself in a conversation and you feel that it is not going the way you want it to?
I know I do...try this:
When you think a difference exists, then...
How do you handle it? Define the difference:
---State what is important to you, and why.
---Clarify/confirm what is important to the other person, and why.
Next...
When you are willing and able to consider alternatives,
How do you make that happen? Discuss the differences:
---Explore ideas to find acceptable solutions.
However...
When you are unwilling or unable to consider alternatives, or you are unable to reach a mutually acceptable decision,
How do you handle that? Terminate the discussion:
---Acknowledge the others person's right to differ.
---Explain what you have decided, and why.
"You can please some of the people some of the time, all of the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time, but you can never please all of the people all of the time." - Abraham Lincoln
*Learning International
---------------------------------------------------------
Do you every find yourself in a conversation and you feel that it is not going the way you want it to?
I know I do...try this:
When you think a difference exists, then...
How do you handle it? Define the difference:
---State what is important to you, and why.
---Clarify/confirm what is important to the other person, and why.
Next...
When you are willing and able to consider alternatives,
How do you make that happen? Discuss the differences:
---Explore ideas to find acceptable solutions.
However...
When you are unwilling or unable to consider alternatives, or you are unable to reach a mutually acceptable decision,
How do you handle that? Terminate the discussion:
---Acknowledge the others person's right to differ.
---Explain what you have decided, and why.
"You can please some of the people some of the time, all of the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time, but you can never please all of the people all of the time." - Abraham Lincoln
*Learning International
---------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Champion Communications
Part I
Did you ever walk away from an important business conversation and felt that you weren't really understood and /or you really were not sure what the other person was saying?
Try this: Clarifying and Confirming*
WHEN you will make a decision or take action based on the information, opinion, or suggestion offered. Or your immediate impulse is to reject, ignore, or disagree with what you are hearing, you need to CLARIFY.
HOW? Clarify by seeking additional information about:
--- what has been said and/or why ("...what else can you tell about this?")
Next...
CONFIRM By stating your understanding of:
--- what has been said and why ("... so what your saying is...")
This technique will dramatically decrease your frustration and enhance your credibility with business associates, because they know you have listened to what they have said.
* IMS / Learning International
---------------------------------------------------------
Did you ever walk away from an important business conversation and felt that you weren't really understood and /or you really were not sure what the other person was saying?
Try this: Clarifying and Confirming*
WHEN you will make a decision or take action based on the information, opinion, or suggestion offered. Or your immediate impulse is to reject, ignore, or disagree with what you are hearing, you need to CLARIFY.
HOW? Clarify by seeking additional information about:
--- what has been said and/or why ("...what else can you tell about this?")
Next...
CONFIRM By stating your understanding of:
--- what has been said and why ("... so what your saying is...")
This technique will dramatically decrease your frustration and enhance your credibility with business associates, because they know you have listened to what they have said.
* IMS / Learning International
---------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, February 15, 2014
"It’s Not What Life Makes of You, It's What You Make of Life."
---Some of my favorites "Life" quotes---
"There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle."
Albert Einstein
"Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry."
Mark Twain
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."
Mohandas Gandhi
"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools."
Martin Luther King, Jr.
"Work as if you were to live a hundred years. Pray as if you were to die tomorrow."
Benjamin Franklin
"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."
John F. Kennedy
"It’s not what life makes of you; it's what you make of life."
Unknown
Read more "Pecans of Wisdom" from Bob Gambone in his book:
PECAN PIE!-Click here for a preview!
"The Secret to Success...It's in the Recipe!
----------------------------------------------------------
Monday, February 10, 2014
Everyone Falls, Not Everyone Fails
You know the cliche'... "What's old, is new again."
In a recent Success Magazine CD I heard something that reminded me of some heartfelt words, shared with me years ago, by John Susan.
John was a mentor of mine for many years.
...After struggling through a terrible year in one particular store, I was demoted and put on probation.
John shared with me these inspiring words:
"Bob, in business there is a difference between falling and failing...just like the stock market, all businesses fall. Its takes passionate leadership to prevent the failure."
A few weeks later he sent me a note with this quote...
"Nobody trips over mountains. It is the small pebble that causes you to stumble. Pass all the pebbles in your path and you will find you have crossed the mountain." ~Author Unknown
John died of pancreatic cancer in his mid 50's.
In my book Pecan Pie, I credit John for my leadership growth.
Memory Eternal - John Susan
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In a recent Success Magazine CD I heard something that reminded me of some heartfelt words, shared with me years ago, by John Susan.
John was a mentor of mine for many years.
...After struggling through a terrible year in one particular store, I was demoted and put on probation.
John shared with me these inspiring words:
"Bob, in business there is a difference between falling and failing...just like the stock market, all businesses fall. Its takes passionate leadership to prevent the failure."
A few weeks later he sent me a note with this quote...
"Nobody trips over mountains. It is the small pebble that causes you to stumble. Pass all the pebbles in your path and you will find you have crossed the mountain." ~Author Unknown
John died of pancreatic cancer in his mid 50's.
In my book Pecan Pie, I credit John for my leadership growth.
Memory Eternal - John Susan
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
