Trip or vacation?

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Good morning, Team!  It’s Friday!
Faithful readers, Thank You for your patience while I took time to gather thoughts and prepare to navigate my future.
Technical innovator K.P. Reddy recently said he took a year off and recommended it to everyone in the Dallas audience.  Obviously, we cannot all afford to do that.  I took a month to see beautiful parts of the country and several friends, family and industry colleagues I hoped to reconnect with, all in an effort to better understand what the next step in my life looked like while taking a deep, cleansing breath.
This time away held many experiences but left the question, was this a trip or a vacation?  Secondarily, was it about the journey or the destination(s)?
I see a trip as simply logistics and vacation as holding joy both initially and upon reflection.  Each leg of the 29 days away was different.  Some about the journey, some about the destination and some days a mixture.
Now that I’m back and ready to turn the page to the next chapter, I evaluate each opportunity with journey or destination type criteria.
-Will this simply be a way to meet my financial obligations?
-Will I be able to use my experience in a meaningful way to help others and make a significant difference?
-Will I be able to find life/work harmony with this opportunity?
During the time away, I was contacted by a number of people and rather than posting an “out of office” message on my email, I read them as travel allowed and responded when I was able.  One particular message was from a colleague who recently had a loved one suffer tremendous medical trauma including a heart attack and a stroke after being admitted to the hospital for an entirely different reason.  The patient is recovering at home but the situation gave tremendous pause for my former coworker and he sought advice as to what his next steps should be.  I encouraged him to build his own list of journey/destination clarifying questions.
I think there is a lesson in here for each of us as we evaluate daily challenges as well as life milestones.
-how does this affect my journey or destination?
-is this [fill in the blank with your issue] worth my time to ponder or is it simply a logistical issue I need to decide on and move on? (Important versus urgent)
-what is of primary importance to me and am I living in support of that?
Whether consciously or subconsciously, we all seek to add value in a way that maximizes our experience and potential.  When we encounter life issues that force us off track, it helps to get in touch with our guiding principles before deciding our next step.
I encourage you to seek clarity on what’s important to you before the inevitable life interruptions.  Enjoy your journey, take vacations (not trips) of whatever length but do take them, separate the important from the urgent…and have a blessed weekend!

Un(der)appreciated

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Good morning, Team!  It’s Friday!!

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Have you ever experienced a time in your life when your efforts, your skills, your experience, your logic or your abilities were either under appreciated or simply unappreciated?
And did the attempt(s) to demonstrate the connection between your efforts, skills, experience, logic, or abilities… and proven results…make things better or worse?
Did it test your confidence?
Did it upset you to the point your vocabulary grew?
Did it make you sulk in a corner or did it motivate you to do better?
Over this past holiday weekend, I had the opportunity to visit with a large number of people from different walks of life where the oh-so-common topic of “What do you do?” or “Where do you work?” comes up.  It is part of who we are as human beings.  Some identify closely with work and some recognize it is a way to fund a lifestyle where we can enjoy our loved ones.  I’ve been in both camps and today am somewhere in between.
So I’m left to wonder, if you can’t describe your worth in 50 words or less, does that mean you’re worthless?
[This is a rhetorical question]
Perhaps, if you feel under or un appreciated, you are campaigning to the wrong crowd.
We all fit somewhere.  Some are fortunate to be highly flexible and can fit almost anywhere.  Others are less flexible but feel constrained by other factors that require they compromise.  Others still, refuse to compromise their thoughts, feelings or beliefs so they need more time to find a best fit where they aren’t taken advantage of, misdirected or miscommunicated to.  They feel appreciated for their efforts but aren’t comfortable having those efforts stolen or assigned to the wrong party.
“Assume noble intent” has been the single most blog reviewed on this site, bar none.  It stands as stated and is highly recommended for regular review.  With that said, no one should be taken advantage of, no matter the amount of nobility they exhibit.
What does this have to do with leadership?
Everything.
Leaders model the way.
When leaders show appreciation, others witness, emulate and reciprocate.
Have a blessed weekend!…and thank someone sincerely with a specific example of what they did, how it helped and why you noticed and encourage more of it…before you walk out of your business today.

The fourth

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Good morning, Team!  It’s Friday!

The “reason for the season” is a reference often used for Christmas to remind those of us who get caught up in all of the festivities as to why we are celebrating in the first place.
As we enjoy a long weekend based on when Independence Day falls in 2019, it seems appropriate to raise a reminder of what we are celebrating with parades and fireworks and potato salad.
I went to “the lake” yesterday, I caught up with relatives, I rode my motorcycle and watched fireworks at the end of a long and glorious day.  My route was unencumbered, no one asked me who I was going to see, no one told me what kind of motorcycle I could ride or how far I could go and I didn’t have to buy fireworks in order to enjoy a local municipal display.  I thoroughly enjoyed the holiday.  We even sang a verse of God Bless America after saying grace before the lunchtime fare.
I only saw and heard hints of military reference among the sea of red, white and blue flags.
•Someone in the boat parade with a sign on the side reflecting on Iwo Jima with a few in camouflage acting out the iconic scene.
•Someone else at the fireworks display last evening dressed in a unique clothing, presumably to draw attention, with a megaphone and expressing their right to free speech berating the US armed forces.
So many hard fought battles took place to attain, retain and maintain independence as a country so that we might enjoy a boat parade, a motorcycle ride, a fireworks display or a prayer before a meal…with family and friends.
We are a young country by most standards.  We don’t always understand or respect the sacrifices made in order to live the life we are so blessed to live.  Our democracy has incredible freedoms built into it and those freedoms continue to expand.
No matter how you celebrate Independence Day this long weekend, my wish is that you enjoy your time with family and friends to the fullest.  Remember that the freedoms we enjoy today, not simply the birth of the country that we toast each Summer but the lifestyle we have been afforded cane to us through so many brave souls who fought in wars they may or may not have understood or agreed with including many who made the ultimate sacrifice.
God bless America!
God bless America,
Land that I love,
Stand beside her and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above;
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans white with foam,
God bless America,
My home, sweet home.
God bless America,
My home, sweet home.
Have a blessed weekend!

Detail-oriented versus precision too

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Good morning, Team!  It’s Friday!
•The total number of professional athletes in the world is approximately 5,000.  Forbes, 2012
•Bigger! Stronger! Faster!
Walter Bond, former NBA player and motivational speaker said the pressure to get better (bigger…yada, yada) every year as a professional athlete was incredible.
•According to a 2009 Sports Illustrated article, 78% of National Football League (NFL) players are either bankrupt or are under financial stress within two years of retirement and an estimated 60% of National Basketball Association (NBA) players go bankrupt within five years after leaving their sport.
Take aways:
1. It is hard to reach a level of excellence where you can derive a living from participating in professional athletics.
2. It’s harder to hang on to the funds generated by this unusual way of making a living.
3. The pressure to perform is daunting.
With that groundwork laid, I met a professional trainer (of sorts) yesterday on my business flight to Chicago.  He was anxious to talk and share and I was less cooperative (to begin with).  I was doing research, forming questions and preparing for my meeting but like a curious five year old, his glare was undeniable so I made (side) eye contact and he started firing off questions.
Where do YOU live?
What do YOU do?
Business or pleasure trip?
OK, I’ll bite.
Hi, I’m Eric.
[open the flood gates]
The readers digest version is that this gentleman works with professional athletes and leverages technology to a level most would fail to understand.
It’s BIG business, as we all understand based on salaries commanded by the most successful, gifted and awarded pros.
Have you ever wondered how pros maintain an edge, avoid getting hurt, perform at an unbelievable level consistency?  It’s detail orientation.
A few examples I heard today include
•Breathing from your belly, not your chest (this dropping blood pressure as much as 30 points)
•Tweaking your body chemistry to fend off illness and injury
•Paying hyper close attention to nutrition, sleep, and hydration understanding that herein lies the secret to excellence.
As we watch supreme athletes compete and wonder quietly to ourselves how they do it or what makes them tick, the insight I just gained tells me that their discipline toward their bodies is far beyond what most could imagine.  The detail required to garner the precision that makes the highlight reel of [pick your favorite sports channel] makes us scream with glee if it’s OUR team or yell in disgust if it’s the OTHER team.
What does this have to do with leadership?
Business is often looked at as a game.  Leadership in business requires that we operate at a higher level (the Pros).  Discipline in what we read, say or don’t say, do or don’t do, all matters because, like professional athletes, we are being watched at all times and our performance is on stage 24/7.
Have a blessed weekend!

Detail-oriented vs precision

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Good morning, Team!  It’s Friday!…and the first day of Summer!
During a recent debate with close friends, the topic came up about detail-oriented people compared to precision-minded people.  I felt they were interrelated while my counterpart saw things differently.  Since we were short on time, we carried the debate one small step forward but didn’t finish, a little like a chess game that sits idle for days while two players contemplate their next move.
I thought the topic made for good subject matter today, so…
EnGuarde!
If you are, have or will be looking for a job, you’ve probably seen the term “detail-oriented” in the desired skill list of a posting.  Defined by Quora as:
A detail oriented person is someone who pays attention to the details and can make a conscious effort to understand causes instead of just the effects, and that does this in a second nature type of way. It shouldn’t be something that the person has to work at.
Synonyms for “detail-oriented” can include: “meticulous, punctilious, conscientious, careful, diligent, attentive, ultra-careful, scrupulous, painstaking, exact, precise, accurate, correct, thorough, studious, exhaustive, mathematical, detailed, perfectionist, methodical, particular, religious, and strict.”
Oxford English Dictionary
Precision definition: the quality, condition, or fact of being exact and accurate.
Exact and accurate seem to show up in third party descriptions so I think they are interrelated through definition.  When it comes to practice, I maintain detail-oriented skill is foundational in order to achieve precision.
Perhaps the real difference, no matter how subtle, is that one can appreciate precision without wanting to be detail-obliged.  Like admiring a fine automobile styling, handling and performance without having to build it.
How does this relate to leadership?  From my perspective, leaders are expected to generate excellence in their products and services (which always tracks back to people).  If a detail-oriented leader can’t let go of their tendencies, they quickly become micro-managers and no one likes working for a micro-manager.
Leaders should have an appreciation for precision AND detail-oriented skills but should keep their fingers out of the details.
Have a blessed weekend!

Skip a beat, enjoy the view

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Good Morning, Team!  It’s Friday!

I’m late.

I’m unprepared to share a valuable leadership lesson.

I’m OK with that.

I’m scratching together new material for the weeks ahead, taking some time to smell the roses.  (Pictured here are a few shots from my recent trip to Portland, OR.)

May your Father’s Day weekend be filled with hugs and smiles and memories and joy.

In my father’s memory, I choose to remember fishing on a pontoon at Murphin’s resort when Dad wore his “fun” shirts instead of the blue Dickies let’s-get-some-work-done clothes.

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(Still fishing and thinking of Dad)

if your Dad is still with us, I hope you build some new memories.  If he’s gone, I hope you have a favorite memory you’ll cherish and recall.

Have a blessed weekend!

 

Build

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Good morning, Team!  It’s Friday!
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In the Architectural, Engineering and Construction (A/E/C) industry, the essence of what we do becomes obvious at the building phase.  Suffice it to say, there is a whole lot of work that goes into any effort well before the general public sees the first yard of dirt moved, the first traffic cone or the first road closed sign.
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I took the afternoon for inspiration and went for a spin.  The weather was easy to enjoy but I couldn’t stop … seeing … bridges.  They reminded me of two things;
• a primary infrastructure component that the AEC industry does so well, specifically defined as
Bridge
 
noun
  1. 1.
    a structure carrying a road, path, railroad, or canal across a river, ravine, road, railroad, or other obstacle.
and
• leadership.
My good friend, Mel Nelson, wrote a book on leadership using bridges as a complex metaphor.  “Building Bridges; Today’s decisions-Gateway to your future.”  I can’t look at a bridge the same today as his linkage between leadership principles and bridge elements tie the two very well.  You’ll have to read the book to know what I mean … but it’s worth the purchase and the time.
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I’ve been made aware that my random conclusions don’t always make sense and today is no exception.  However, I’d like to connect the dots or…bridge the gap, as it were.
We are facing an infrastructure need in this country that should transcend politics.  Check out ASCE’s latest report card on US infrastructure.
The $1 Trillion infrastructure bill still doesn’t scratch the surface.  In my home community, we had a bridge collapse a number of years ago where innocent people died because of a failing bridge.
We (you and me) need to do our part to build bridges of the human kind to build a conversational and diplomatic path from where we are to where we need to be.  What if you were the parent of a school-aged child and they brought home a D+ , would you turn a blind eye or a deaf ear?
Challenge: Contact your political representatives to get the current $1 Trillion bill passed before October, 2020 (my personal guess due to the politicizing of a human safety need) and get on with the remainder of work necessary to improve our aging and failing infrastructure.
Have a blessed weekend!

Friend of a friend

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Good Morning, Team!  It’s Friday!

Who dare challenge the power of relationships?
I once had a leader who was convinced that relationships played second fiddle to competence and capabilities.
I know another leader who is so good at creating, fostering and promoting relationships that he changed his title, removing President thus hiring someone in that role and directed his focus to develop stronger relationships inside and outside the organization and less on day-to-day operations.
This could be about personalities and preferences but since this blog is supposed to be about leadership, I’ll stay on topic.
You’ve seen me quote “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”  Attributed to Maya Angelou but others before her captured the same sentiment.  This isn’t about who said it first but that many great leaders acknowledged how critical it is to have a strong relationship above all else.
In the professional setting, relationships are labeled connections/part of your network.  When someone thinks two company representatives might benefit from knowing each other, they would refer one to the other.  I just made one of those virtual introductions last evening with the sincere desire for the relational value to be accretive.
In a personal setting, relationships are typically considered to be friends.  When someone thinks two people would benefit from knowing each other, they play matchmaker.  Friends helping friends.
In each case, the risk is high because if the referred relationship doesn’t materialize, it may backfire on the original relationship.  Tricky business.  Worth the risk.
Your mission, if you choose to accept it, would be to make at least one new friend today.  Smile, shake a hand, show some genuine interest and invest in humanity today.  Lather, rinse, repeat.
Have a blessed weekend!

Farr from Dallas

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Good morning, Team!  It’s Friday!

Greetings from Irving, TX where I attended the latest industry conference bringing an interesting mix of economists, private equity, venture capital, insurance, accounting, legal, HR, and governance experts and business partners along with buyers and sellers and of course valuation and deal facilitators.  This is the business of architecture and engineering.  Most of it occurring off-site on the golf course, at the Tex-Mex restaurant or in the bar or patio when the wait staff has punched out for the night/morning and the only lights left are from the fireplace and the stars.
This year we heard from multiple keynote speakers that:
•the economy is OK
•hard lessons are still being learned when growth exceeds practicality … and someone has to clean up the stadium after the big game (metaphor for aggressive growth and a “business as usual” message meets with the reality that multiple acquisitions leads to  a fractured culture, disparate systems and an integration nightmare).
•the second futurist in 3 weeks of travel was almost more than I could endure.  We heard from the high-priced “meteorologist” who could be dead wrong and no one would be able to find him to call bullshit on his observations/nebulous predictions.  Watch out!  The future will be here before you know it and everything we saw on the 1962 Hannah-Barbera Jetson’s cartoon has come true.  (I guess that’s why we call our Roomba by her stage name, Rosie.)
•venture capital will likely be the gas behind disrupting the AEC (architecture/engineering/construction) space as we get better at genuine innovation.
Michael Farr, regular financial cable TV contributor, kicked things off and was his regular, solid, practical self with a no politics message and an easy path to understanding of what we do and how we might consider strategic and tactical steps in the next year.  China is no longer the force it was at and the US is still the best place to invest.  If the infrastructure spend happens, as it should, we should see another decade of good investment.  If you can get a 5-7% return on your money in the next few years…be happy with that.
What can you take away from this as a leader?
Investments, regardless of the nature, are a critical part of a thriving economy and should continue.  Not always following the pack but always following a well-formed thesis.
Innovation, nicely described as the invented ladder to pick all the apples on the tree rather than the few you can reach from the ground, is a key to future prosperity.
Intuition, where experience rests in your gut, cannot be dismissed but should be open to challenge.  Things are changing … and becoming complacent will be the death of you and your business.
Have a blessed weekend!