The Connor's Courageous Kids book fair begins tomorrow. It is being held at:
Bethlehem Church
758 Route 10
Randolph, NJ 07869
The fair will be open the following hours:
Sunday March 1: 9-1 and 4-9
Monday March 2: 9-7
Tuesday March 3: 9-7
The fair is being sponsored by Connor's House and all the proceeds are used to provide resources for children with complex health care needs.
The Power of Vision
When an individual, team or entire organization truly catches the vision of what you are trying to achieve they will commit to more than you are willing to ask them for.
The problem with vision is that over time it can become blurry. It is like a pair of glasses or the windshield of your car. If you don't routinely clean them they become dirty and you can't clearly see where you are going. If you are lucky you will still get to your destination but you won't enjoy all the beautiful sights. If you aren't so lucky you will get lost or into an accident. As a leader your job is to keep the windshield clean so all the people in your organization can always clearly see where you are going and avoid the hazards along the way.
The problem with vision is that over time it can become blurry. It is like a pair of glasses or the windshield of your car. If you don't routinely clean them they become dirty and you can't clearly see where you are going. If you are lucky you will still get to your destination but you won't enjoy all the beautiful sights. If you aren't so lucky you will get lost or into an accident. As a leader your job is to keep the windshield clean so all the people in your organization can always clearly see where you are going and avoid the hazards along the way.
Just because you are right....
If you want to be listened to and respected, given the opportunity to help change an organization or the great privilege to make a real difference in peoples lives; always remember that just because you are right does not give you permission to be mean.
Reading
I really like to read. Unfortunately, I am a slow reader, I have a lot of diverse things I want to read and I don't have as much time to read as I would like. That combination means I have a big stack of books that are waiting to be read and new ones that get added to it all the time.
I've been reviewing an information package on someone I am going to interview tomorrow to potentially be my new boss (I know it is sort of a strange). In his profile he made two really interesting comments about reading that I think are worth taking note of:
1. Reading is not life. Just because you read something does not mean you lived it.
2. Reading does not make us mature. Information is not equal to transformation. What a person has read (and not read) gives us and idea about what matters to them, but it is not a measure of their heart and soul.
I've been reviewing an information package on someone I am going to interview tomorrow to potentially be my new boss (I know it is sort of a strange). In his profile he made two really interesting comments about reading that I think are worth taking note of:
1. Reading is not life. Just because you read something does not mean you lived it.
2. Reading does not make us mature. Information is not equal to transformation. What a person has read (and not read) gives us and idea about what matters to them, but it is not a measure of their heart and soul.
Connor's House Awareness Bracelets
The Connor's House awareness bracelets are now available. They are available in 3 sizes: small, medium and large. You can order them online here.
A Good Way to Wake Up
This was the view out the window when I woke up this morning. I can't think of a much better way to start the day.The Week in Review
- We had a good Connor's House planning meeting this past Tuesday. I'm really excited about the group of people that are working on this project. We are making steady progress towards incorporation and are starting sub-committees to begin working on service development and setting up the capital campaign for the house. If you are interested in either please contact us at info@connorshouse.org
- Finished my sixth full week of training for the Ocean Drive 10 Miler and the Long Branch Half Marathon. This is the half way point of training for the Ocean Drive 10 Miler. I completed my first 10 mile training run this week so I now have the confidence that I will finish the race.
- Finished reading The Shack. Very interesting, I will likely be posting my thoughts regarding some of the ideas in the book over the next couple weeks.
- The Second Connor's Courageous Kids book fair is just two weeks away, March 1st - 3rd. Whether you are close by or far away, click the link and find out how you can be involved in providing resources for children with complex health care needs.
- Had a great valentines day with the most wonderful wife in the world (lucky for me she's my wife). I am blessed by her in more ways than words can fully describe.
- Happy Birthday to my brother.
Happy Birthday Abraham Lincoln
On this the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln, instead of speaking about him, let's allow him to once more speak to us:
"I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day."
"Public sentiment is everything. With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it nothing can succeed."
"The probability that we may fall in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just."
"What is conservatism? Is it not adherence to the old and tried, against the new and untried?"
"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing."
"I will prepare and some day my chance will come."
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.
Whatever you are, be a good one. You may deceive all the people part of the time, and part of the people all the time, but not all the people all the time."
"You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today."
"I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day."
"Public sentiment is everything. With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it nothing can succeed."
"The probability that we may fall in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just."
"What is conservatism? Is it not adherence to the old and tried, against the new and untried?"
"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing."
"I will prepare and some day my chance will come."
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.
Whatever you are, be a good one. You may deceive all the people part of the time, and part of the people all the time, but not all the people all the time."
"You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today."
Collaboration vs. Compromise
Collaboration works to the best solution, recognizing that the goal is excellence. Compromise works towards appeasing differing viewpoints and ends in mediocrity. Which best describes how your team or organization functions?
Working Overseas
IBM has been getting some bad press over the past week for their plan to help redundant US employees relocate to developing markets where the company has openings. According to Information Week, under a program called Project Match, IBM will help workers laid off from domestic sites obtain travel and visa assistance for countries in which Big Blue has openings. Mostly that's developing markets like India, China, and Brazil. Internal memos indicate that workers will be paid according to prevailing norms in the countries to which they relocate. In many cases, that could be substantially less than what they earned in North America.
I think this is a fantastic, creative idea that IBM should be applauded for. It obviously provides a benefit to the company (all good business decisions should) but it also provides a benefit to the employees that will far outlast their next work assignment. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity several years ago to spend 5 months working in London with an international team from across the globe. I can say without a doubt that this was one of the most formative experiences of both my career and my life (other than getting married to Deb and having Connor). It forever changed my perspective on both America and the world. Is it inconvenient to move across the globe, leave family and friends behind, adapt to a new culture, etc...of course it is. But I can almost guarantee that the benefits will outweigh the inconveniences for anyone who chooses to enter the program. During my 11 years working for an international services company I knew many people who had the opportunity to work overseas. Not one of them regretted it and all of them would do it again, myself included.
I think anyone who is criticizing IBM for this policy has never been fortunate enough to work overseas. And on the pay issue, which seems to be one of the critics biggest complaints, when I worked in London the exchange rate was $1.86 per British Pound and the local pay scales were 40-60% higher because of that cost differential. However, my company continued paying me my US Salary in US Dollars. I think it would have been much more fair if I had been paid in local currency based on the local pay scales and I bet the critics of IBM would agree with me. You can't have it both ways folks.
I think this is a fantastic, creative idea that IBM should be applauded for. It obviously provides a benefit to the company (all good business decisions should) but it also provides a benefit to the employees that will far outlast their next work assignment. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity several years ago to spend 5 months working in London with an international team from across the globe. I can say without a doubt that this was one of the most formative experiences of both my career and my life (other than getting married to Deb and having Connor). It forever changed my perspective on both America and the world. Is it inconvenient to move across the globe, leave family and friends behind, adapt to a new culture, etc...of course it is. But I can almost guarantee that the benefits will outweigh the inconveniences for anyone who chooses to enter the program. During my 11 years working for an international services company I knew many people who had the opportunity to work overseas. Not one of them regretted it and all of them would do it again, myself included.
I think anyone who is criticizing IBM for this policy has never been fortunate enough to work overseas. And on the pay issue, which seems to be one of the critics biggest complaints, when I worked in London the exchange rate was $1.86 per British Pound and the local pay scales were 40-60% higher because of that cost differential. However, my company continued paying me my US Salary in US Dollars. I think it would have been much more fair if I had been paid in local currency based on the local pay scales and I bet the critics of IBM would agree with me. You can't have it both ways folks.
The Week in Review
- Working on getting things ready for the next Connor's House planning meeting this coming Tuesday.
- Three more people committed to supporting Connor's House on a monthly basis. I am so thankful for each one of them. Seeing people catch the vision for this work is so encouraging to me.
- Finished my fifth full week of training for the Ocean Drive 10 Miler and the Long Branch Half Marathon.
- Finished reading Run Less Run Faster. I highly recommend it for any runner, or would be runner. It suggests a training philosophy that is very different from most conventional running plans but it makes a lot of sense to me.
- Still reading The Shack. Very interesting.
- Things are coming together for the Second Connor's Courageous Kids book fair being held March 1st - 3rd. Whether you are close by or far away, click the link and find out how you can be involved in providing resources for children with complex health care needs.
- Had a really good time with my brother on Friday night. I always appreciate his perspective and insight (and yes I'm assuming you will read this...thanks!).
A Good Perspective
So many people are focused on what they don't have instead of what they do have. Focused on what they want instead of what others need. Today I share with you a perspective on life from my brother. His perspective encourages me and humbles me. If more people had this type of perspective it would be a better world to live in.
"I feel very blessed by my life. The reality is that by some good fortune I was born in a country where we enjoy advantages that most only dream about, and I have had opportunities that many never do. Each day I try and give back out of appreciation for all that has been given to me. If you are not involved in charitable work, I encourage you to find an opportunity to serve in your local community. You will be richly rewarded in many non-tangible ways." -Keith Millard
Failure
Failure is an essential component of success. If you are not failing you are not trying hard enough. If your culture punishes failure you will fail. Instead of wasting precious time and resources creating the perfect plan, start with an experiment and be willing to pull the plug quickly when you discover it is not working. Here is a suggested recipe for success: Try, Fail, Learn, Adjust, Repeat.
The Week in Review
- I finished my fourth full week of training for the Ocean Drive 10 Miler and the Long Branch Half Marathon.
- Still reading The Shack and Run Less Run Faster.
- I attended my first meeting of the New Jersey Statewide Pediatric Palliative Care Committee, representing Connor's House.
- I took fourth place in a Wii bowling tournament at our church. One spot off the podium but last year I was knocked out in the first round so I think I was the most improved.
- Planning for the Second Connor's Courageous Kids book fair being held March 1st - 3rd is in full swing. Whether you are close or far away, click the link and find out how you can be involved.
- Deb and I have been doing a lot of research for a new project we are thinking about (sorry it is too premature to discuss publicly) which has me both excited and terrified.
Super Bowl Predictions
I have a prediction that I am absolutely positive will come true in tonight's Super Bowl. Not a single point will be scored, pass caught or tackle made by somebody who is not on the field. The only way to make a difference is to get in the game. This is true in sports and in life. If you want to make a difference you have to get in the game, and to get in the game you have hard work to do. Almost every overnight success is preceded by years of hard work, sleepless nights and failures. Are you in the game and involved in making a difference in the world around you?
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
Posts
