Good morning, Team! It’s Friday!

The concept of Rocks has been around for decades. Sermons, Stephen Covey, Gino Wickman have all made the concept more prevalent. Namely, How do I prioritize my life; work, family, personal…and all of the subsets of issues underneath?

In Stephen Covey’s framework, “Rocks” represent the most important priorities or goals — the key tasks that truly matter in achieving long-term success and alignment with your values. Covey illustrates that if you fill your schedule (the “jar”) with small, less meaningful activities first (“sand” or “pebbles”), there’s no room left for the “big rocks.” By focusing on Rocks first — the vital, high-impact activities — you ensure that what matters most gets done, and everything else fits around it or falls away.

Sometimes we learn more from what not to do. Here’s my story:

I lived in a small community for 16 years where my children’s mother was raised, we raised our children there and her parents lived there as well. Tragedy struck … we learned that my mother-in-law’s beloved brother was brutally murdered in Montana. She called early one morning, after she heard from the investigating Sheriff, and I answered. It was heartbreaking. 

That same morning I was supposed to meet a significant client at a predetermined location to ride together for an electric cooperative meeting in St Cloud, Minnesota. Neither of us had a cell phone and he was assuredly on the road by the time I got the call from my distraught mother-in-law. 

You see where this going?

I should have stayed home and consoled my wife at the time, my mother-in-law, my children and demonstrated concern with my actions, not just empathic words. This was a huge Rock and I was not prepared for it.

Instead, I drove to the meet-up site, a little late, and focused on work on a day that family was clearly the priority.

Identify and prioritize rocks at home, at work, for yourself. It’s the best way to find balance, be successful and live with less regret.

Have a blessed weekend!

Eric

Good morning, Team! It’s Friday!

Excerpt from a new TV series I started watching, two tough guys meet three new tough guys and while they are all standing around sizing up their perceived competition, an even tougher gal walks by and says …”Don’t worry, boys, you’re all equally pretty”

I laughed out loud!

None of those boys were pretty. Literal interpretation aside, the wisdom came from the passerby unloading the sprinter van with a meaning behind the comment, something like…”You all have talents. This ain’t no beauty pageant, we have work to do so stop wasting your time gawking at each other.” 

Straight and to the point. I like it.

Everyone is born with talents and everyone, with very few exceptions, wants to do a good job, make their family proud, and feel good about their contributions…equally pretty.

I believe it is a leader’s job to help others reach their potential. Placing focus on what they are good at rather than spending an inordinate amount of time on their areas of improvement, previously known as weaknesses.

A leader has the job of helping those they are responsible for, to identify the nexus of their talents and their interests, then shape and hone and test and teach until the student grasps the vision of what could be … and self-perpetuates.

No one is identical, but that doesn’t mean that everyone is without the potential to be great at something.

Have a blessed weekend!

Eric

Good morning, Team! It’s Friday!

I was fortunate to spend some time with family in the LA area recently. One of our stops was to grab a bite while grandson was at a friend’s birthday party. We visited a restaurant in a very nice resort. On our way out of the resort we took a moonlit path back to the car. When I looked back on our light source…I saw this.

My travels took part of a day Friday to get there and I worked on the plane. I left Monday and went straight to the city I was visiting that week. While I missed spending time with Anne who couldn’t join, I did not regret the time away in order to see family. It had been over a year since I spent time with them in their home. Calls, texts, emails and FaceTime may help bridge the gaps but they don’t replace the hugs or the one-on-one conversations during a grocery run or a stop on a bike ride or over a meal by the ocean.

I have not been as good at prioritizing family as I should. I love them all and care for them deeply. My focus and prioritization from a very early age was spent on being a provider. Dad and the family business needed me to be a steady hand, always on call, like a fireman. That mode of operation easily transitioned to a young family while going through college. Once graduated, starting the new job…and so on. I had been categorically programmed to be a provider first, and hope that family understood my absenteeism from sports and other social events was ultimately for them. 

What an elaborate story I had authored, maybe inspired by Dad’s prompting of what was most important. He had it wrong. He did the best he could with what he knew at the time, no doubt. But there were other ways to grow up, to be raised, to learn by example how to raise the next generation.

What is the leadership lesson this week, extracted from an old cats-in-the-cradle cliche’? 

You have the ability to change things at any point in your life. The single biggest barrier to change is the story you tell yourself; the justification, the excuses. Instead, you could spend some time reflecting, reprogramming and reclaiming the life you’ve sacrificed. It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.

Make the call

Plan the trip

Take the time

Train your successors so you can step away without affecting the business’ success.

Have a blessed weekend!

Eric

Good morning, Team! It’s Friday!

I was walking through the Denver airport earlier this week and saw a t-shirt that read Lions not lambs.

It caught my eye.

I didn’t stop the traveler to get his opinion, for all I know he got the shirt as a gift, but the statement infers:

• Bold, not passive or silent
• Courage, not cowardice
• Standing firm instead of being easily misled or deceived
• Leading with strength, not just following blindly

The part that gives me pause is this one-sided argument might be enticing to some but it doesn’t read quite right.

It should be Lions and Lambs. Not as provocative, but certainly more practical.

If we view things from a leadership perspective, a biblical perspective or from a sustainability perspective, you can’t be highly effective most of the time if you lean to one strength in every situation. A one trick pony is rather … predictable … and therefore easy to manipulate.

• Shouldn’t we blend courage with compassion?
• What of humility?

A good leader can toggle and a great leader transitions in a genuine and earnest way.  A leader’s leader can do both at the same time. Most people, regardless of age or degree of success, like to search out and push boundaries. You must demonstrate what those are. Then, when the boundaries are known to be firm, the testing slows and an expectation of kindness and benevolence emerges. Once you exhibit both Lion and Lamb, the relationship can and often does mature.

If you don’t have both tools on the belt, get cracking. You’ll need them both, and once familiar, you’ll be able to transition between them with ease or exercise them simultaneously without losing credibility.

Have a blessed weekend!

Eric

Good morning, Team! It’s Friday 

I was having a conversation this morning with Anne about the little things; getting up early, squeezing in a small workout as compared to skipping it altogether, carving out a few minutes to enjoy the pool and hot tub before it closes for the season. She used the term “butterfly effect” and while I’d heard it, I had to google it to make sure I knew what it meant.

Then my brain went to, how does that impact things in the workplace, for leaders, for commerce, for … whatever?

Have you ever noticed how some days everything is a little bit off? You got to bed late, hit the snooze in the morning, spill your coffee, only half a bowl of cereal left and no time for eggs and toast…you get the gist. It trickles to work-you miss a meeting, piss off your boss, drop your computer and think to yourself, I should have stayed in bed today.

Now let’s look at the positive side. You take the time to greet a coworker, show genuine interest, share a story or a recipe or a book you just read. You make a small investment in someone and demonstrate you care. They in turn share the story, make the dish, or read the book and increase their knowledge, their circle of trusted friends or their joy. Lather, rinse, repeat. Every day just a little bit better.

You have the power to influence positive outcomes. No matter how insignificant it seems at the time, it does make a difference.

Have a blessed weekend!

Eric

Good morning, Team! It’s Friday!

Last Saturday, Anne had a bridal shower to attend. I had a free afternoon and was encouraged to do something for myself. I could golf, I could take a spin on the motorcycle, get a workout in or just hang out on the patio. Instead, I sent a text to my youngest to ask if he needed a hand with anything.

We agreed on a time and I buzzed over to help him assemble a she shed for his older daughter. We made it to step 21 of 83 in the time allotted. Instead of pushing for a couple more steps, Zach had the maturity to say, “Let’s put down the tools and go spend some time with the family.” Every parent hopes their kid ends up better than they were. I am fortunate to say I have three, and they all get it way better than the old man could have dreamed of or hoped for.

We headed inside, beckoned the dog who was sun bathing while we were assembling, closed the garage door and paid attention to the reason behind the effort. Youngest just woke up from a nap and I got to read a few different stories as she helped me turn pages, 14 at a time. It was glorious.

Shortly after, we toured the patio project with older daughter, checked out the volunteer squash plant and made our way to the neighbors swing set. Also glorious.

I chose to be a reader, not a golfer, not a biker, not a muscle head and not a bum. I chose to be a builder of things, a listener to my son’s challenges and aspirations, thinly veiled by assembling the most complicated project imaginable. I chose to be Dad and Pa Pa. 

I’ve been a striver for 60 years and my latest lesson came from one of my children whose time together I sacrificed far too often for a project, a client, a work trip or conference.

This is not a note of regret or I was such a dumbass story. It’s a never too late to choose a better path story. Success is fleeting and an angry task master that will leave you burned out and bitter. 

Have a blessed weekend and make time for your loved ones the entire journey, not just at the end.

Eric

Good morning, Team! It’s Friday!

I’m not talking about horse poop today, but I was encouraged by others to use better visual aids, so here you go.

We often hear the phrase when something bad or unexpected happens.

•Not too many years ago, the exclamation came from a source who typically didn’t swear or get excited about … anything. Unfortunately, the person Bob intended as his replacement had been heavily recruited, well compensated and groomed, just resigned … and those were the only words he could muster in the moment.

•I just learned of a close neighbor whose husband has been in the practice of saving lives through surgery his entire career and she was diagnosed with breast cancer. The mammogram showing no issues was completed two months ago. Victoria has a PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scan scheduled this week to get a better idea of how fast and far it has spread and they are in good spirits, considering the shitty news.

•I joined a reunion last week with a group of men whose leader is retiring after impacting others for decades. We shared stories of how Fred had given time, attention, patience and encouragement. We were all thankful to know him and disappointed to learn he was becoming inactive.

I make a concerted effort to avoid Awwwww shit moments., like most of us do.

I am planful, most every day.

I am deliberate, in my choices, words and actions.

I am humbled, by the stories and experiences that reaffirm we are definitely not in charge.

We don’t always get it right when we choose our successor. We don’t always avoid health problems, no matter the effort to live our best life. We don’t get to choose how long someone might be in our lives. We don’t chart our own course, no matter the amount of effort we spend navigating.

OK Lord. What’s next?

Have a blessed weekend!

Stay nimble. Keep the faith!

Eric

Good morning, Team! It’s Friday!

Remember when?

•Kids played outside until the house light came on (by a switch that your Mom or Dad flipped) indicating it was time to come in? 

*I saw a couple at the fair last weekend with two kids, both had leashes.

•Pop was a dime? It came in 10oz refillable glass bottles.

*Now there are so many beverage choices, they sell water with strange names like Liquid Death and it costs $2!

•You met your sweetheart at a dance or at church? 

*I think online dating apps are still prominent but they are starting to become old news.

•Your boss used to yell at people out in the open and if he didn’t like you, you’d be fired … because he could…then turn around and fire someone else standing close to the last guy that got fired because they talked too much.

*I read a quick article this week about how AI is starting to impact college grad hiring rates. (We still struggle placing full value on people.)

•Retirement meant you were done working at 65 and you looked forward to the social security check and your pension so you could relax and enjoy yourself after working for 43 years or more?

*Today, pensions are scarce, social security will change significantly in the next 5-7 years and many people are working into their seventies.

So much has changed in the last six decades and it is sure to change dramatically in the next 10, 20 and 30 years from now.

How will you handle change?

Embrace it or argue and wrestle with it?

If and when you are fortunate to have children and grandchildren, are you telling them to duplicate your life or don’t you want them to thrive in their environment, whatever that might be?

I remember when I played outside until dark with no supervision, drank pop down at Bjornson Oil. Met my first girlfriend at the school dance. Heard of the founder at my first professional job who fired two people, one right after the other, in an open floor environment…because he could. And I know many people who retired by 65 and lived very comfortably on the retirement funds made available to them until they passed away from old age.

Life is different today. We enjoy many wonderful things due to advancements in research and technology. We have evolved as a society. We work fewer hours, charge more for those hours worked and rely on computers more every day. We have only one real choice, embrace change like a loved one. Reminisce, smile, and catch up. Or don’t…and miss out.

Have a blessed weekend!

Eric

Good morning, Team! It’s Friday!

If you’ve read leadership books, you’ve heard how Jim Collins popularized what he called the Stockdale paradox. Frankly, I didn’t pay much attention to this story until recently.

Stockdale is Admiral James Stockdale. He was a prisoner of war at the Hanoi Hilton for 7 1/2 years, much of it in isolation. The prisoner of war camp with the sarcastic label was built by the French in the 19th century to house Vietnamese political prisoners. During the Vietnam war, they used it to detain U.S. pilots and servicemen. Conditions were miserable, with reports of torture, starvation, isolation and lack of medical care.

Collins portrays the Stockdale paradox like this:

“You must maintain unwavering faith that you can and will prevail in the end, regardless of the difficulties AND at the same time have the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever that might be.”

Faith and discipline. That simple and that difficult.

I’ve been fortunate to be involved in a few business performance turnarounds in my career. A company, a division or a department wasn’t performing anywhere close to their potential. The reasons for lack of performance were numerous and the effects were disastrous. I had one industry pundit tell me once, “Sometimes, you just have to let businesses fail.” That seemed irresponsible to me.

When faced with difficult situations, you can cower or you can rise to the occasion. I choose to rise. Stockdale chose to rise, to endure, to believe in himself and his future. We have all faced adversity of some kind but few have ever faced what Stockdale did…7 1/2 years in a POW camp!

No matter what, things could be worse and you can make things better. Grow your top line, identify and shrink your waste and grow your bottom line. Bring crystal clear solutions to the problems at hand. Be positive. Make hard choices quickly. Move forward and make good progress. Have faith in yourself and the people around you. Exercise discipline by showing up and standing tall every single day.

Have a blessed weekend!

Eric

Good morning, Team! It’s Friday! (and time to go to the great Minnesota get together!!)

After 60+ years on this spinning rock and countless reminders of what I need to improve upon, I found a piece of the puzzle.  Pictured above is my “Lake” in a can.

When Jack Palance, playing the part of Curly, imparts wisdom in the movie, City Slickers, with a self-rolled cigarette dangling from his crusty, old, pursed lips, he dresses more than half the country down when he says, 

”You city folk, you worry about a lot of shit.”

“You all come up [insert metaphor] about the same age. You spend 50 weeks a year getting knots in your rope and you think 2 weeks [insert same metaphor] will untie ‘em for ya.”

“Do you know what the secret of life is?”

“One thing. You stick to that and everything else don’t mean shiiiit”

[Dramatic pause]

The question to be solved is down to, what is your “one thing”?

Even when we figure it out, we need reminders. I get distracted with a lot of things and I make my way back to sanity by lowering my blood pressure and untying my knots.

In addition to a regular bubble bath with my fancy new soap, an occasional trip to the lake, some golf, and a chance to visit with family and friends, I come to my senses.

*I used to think pursuing a pile of money was my one thing.

*Then, I used to think my one thing was solving problems no one else felt they could.

*I finally figured out, to love someone and to be loved by that person, is my one thing. 

+It’s not writing a blog

+It’s not riding a motorcycle

+It’s not turning around a business

{I enjoy all of those immensely but it’s not my one thing.}

Good luck figuring out how to untie your knots so you can deliberate what your one thing actually is. Bubble bath, Lake, deep tissue massage…yes, please. Then, with a clear head and minimal distractions, identify your one thing and try not to forget it.

Have a blessed weekend!

Eric