Category Archives: Storytelling

Is it Too Late to Become a Comedian?

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My first work related leadership lesson happened 25 years ago.  I was fresh out of college working in a corporate office high above San Francisco’s financial district.   Life was good, until one day my boss said to me, “You should quit and become a comedian.”

Well, I got to be me.  I knew I was funny and irreverent at times.  I also knew I was very good at my job and a natural at leading others to perform.  My boss really did not want me to leave. She recognized something about my personality and style that was unique to me and she wanted me to know it.   “Keep it up Michael. You make a difference.”

There is the leadership lesson for the day – be true to self and your unique expression of personality and self-expression.  This authentic nature will serve you well as you connect with others as it has served me over the past 25 years.

This week I reach my 25 year mark with my company.   I know some folks with similar tenure but in general the average company tenure for someone my age is less than 10 years in the United States.  These days people move from job to job and fill up their Resumes with several companies by the time they reach my age.

Not me – on my Resume there is one company.  For the past several years I thought I made a mistake and should have moved on and on to fill up my Resume.  Who stays with one organization that long?  He must not be ambitious.  He can not be an “A” player.

Recently though I came to realize that I will wear this badge of 25 years with one company proudly.  Few people accomplish this and under closer inspection, there is no negative I can not overcome.

Why did I stay?  The people, the culture, the challenges, the learning, and overall making a difference.   I have seen it all and done it all.  I had no reason to leave.  We went public, we grew into new markets, we experienced the highs of business success.  We also experienced the floor falling out below our feet and the mad charge to save our company.  Yes, for a leader it has been a great and challenging place to work.

So 25 years and counting (well, at least a bit longer).   I had two distinct careers with my company.  The first was Human Resources where I grew into my training and OD expertise.   My second career is in Operations where I get to roll up my sleeves and practice real-world HR and OD and produce tangible product.

There is a third career ahead for me.  Do I go back to career one in HR and OD?  My experience in operations will serve me well in that world.  Do I stay with Operations and work with a great team to produce consistent and excellent work product?

Or do I create an entirely new career?  Who knows maybe my first boss was right all along.

stand-up

The Goldilocks Zone

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I have a coworker in search of the perfect chair.  With the state of my organization these days, there are plenty of chairs to choose from.  Recently I watched him roll chairs by my office, one-by-one in his search. Each chair got an audition and an eventually rejection.

As of today he is back to his old chair.  One that is not too hard or too soft.  A chair that fits just right.

As I watched the chairs wheel by I thought of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.  You know the fairy tale … Goldilocks visits the empty house of the three bears.  She first tries their porridge and rejects one as too hot and another as too cold.  One bowl of porridge is just right and she eats it.  The same for three chairs. Only one is just right.   In need of a nap, Goldilocks tries the three available beds and picks the one just right for her, neither too hard or too soft.

My coworker, a Goldilocks of sorts, was that girl looking for the perfect chair. 

Recently I heard the term, Goldilocks Zone, while listening to commentary on the Kepler Space Telescope.  This device allows Astronomers to search for planets orbiting distant stars.  They search especially for those planets that sit in the so-called Goldilocks Zone, not too hot and not too cold orbiting their own Sun.  A perfect place for life to exist.

Hum … love this term.  How can I apply it to my writing on leadership observations?  There has to be more than searching for the perfect chair.

exoplanets 1As the Astronomers are doing, we in leadership roles are looking for that “habitual zone” in our organizations.  We strive to create a culture and environment that thrives, as a planet would in that perfect orbit. 

That space outside of the habitual zone should also be our concern as leaders.  If our environment is too hot or too cold we all suffer.  On a more personal level, we know it is an issue is we lead with a hot or cold approach.  In fact I remember using those words to describe previous bosses.  We all know it is not a good place when you boss runs hot or cold.

Along with hot and cold we get soft and hard as further problem areas for a leader.  A soft, pushover leader is ineffective.  A hard and overly demanding leader is out of touch and will never get the best from his or her employees.

Just some musing today.  While I look up to the heavens and dream of far away planets existing in that Goldilocks Zone, I remember where I stand.  As leaders let’s create and nurture that space … not too hot or cold, not too soft or hard.

I Imagined My Muse to be Better Looking

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The universe speaks to each of us every day.  It is up to us to hear her call.  Signposts are posted for one who sees.  Voices are there for one who listens.

Last week I had one of those moments where I thought I heard the universe speaking to me.  To be sure I heard the message, the messenger repeated the message several times.  Actually he said the words over and over during the meeting we both attended.

I know the message.  I have heard it before.  Sometimes though one must hear the message over and over in a short period of time so there is no mistake.  

There was no mistake this time.  My Muse was speaking to me and wanted no doubt that I would hear the message this day.

Funny though, my Muse was a middle-aged man.  Kinda short and jolly sort of fellow.  He is a far cry from what I expect from my Muse.  You know what I mean – I am talking Greek Goddess stuff here, my guiding spirit and inspiration. 

Yet there he was repeating the words - in context of the meeting to be sure – but still I may have heard the words 20 times in 60 minutes.  Somewhere near the 20th time I uttered the words under my breath, “I hear you, oh Muse of mine.”

And what did my Muse say? 

“Michael is a writer.”  It is time.

writing

Thursday Thought – Something That I Want

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Note: Each Thursday I will post a little something to inspire us to finish the week strong. These Thursday Thoughts will be a quote, piece of music, artwork, or inspirational video.  Congratulations, you made it over the hump and let’s finish the week together.

My daughter pointed this video out to me recently.  She posted it to her new and under development blog, artfullynerdy.  She is on her way down the same rabbit hole many of us crawled into with our blogs.   I tried to warn her …

Anyhow, the video is from Disney Animation Studios and from the look of it includes every employee in this fun video performance.  I want to see this in my organization and yours as well.  This level of fun and whimsy can only strengthen an organization.  There is time to be serious and there is time to build community.

Play Hard, Work Hard.  Enjoy the video.

Thanksgiving Far From Home

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Here we are, Thanksgiving Day is here in America.    Time for family, football and turkey.  

As I think back on my memory of this holiday, I remember once when I celebrated Thanksgiving far from home.  I was on an extended trip through Egypt after graduating college.  On the day of Thanksgiving back home I would be on a train leaving Cairo heading to Luxor.  

I did not expect to have a Thanksgiving meal at all.   I would be served dinner in my cabin, dining alone.  So no family, football or turkey.   I was content though as this trip was wonderous.  For me Egypt was mesmerizing with its warm and welcoming  people and truly spectacular sites. 

Yet, this meal far from home turned out to be a wonderful story of Thanksgiving.  

When my meal arrived I was surprised to see turkey and various side dishes.    I asked and was told that the meal choice was just chance.  Maybe no family or football, but turkey made it Thanksgiving for me.  I was thousands of miles from home and I would have my own private Thanksgiving.

Yet, I knew Turkey alone would not be enough to make this a special meal.   I thought of the other folks I met on my trip and remembered an older gentleman who was also traveling to Luxor on the same train.  I knew he was travelling alone, so I grabbed my tray and went in search of his cabin. 

I found him and asked if he wanted a dinner partner, a fellow American far from home.   He was enthusiastic and invited me to join him.   I was still young and had few stories to tell.  He though had a lifetime of stories.  He lost his wife a year before and he was traveling the world experiencing all her wonders.  

I was a California boy and he was from Minnesota.  I found myself as amazed by his stories growing up in Minnesota as I was experiencing in Egypt.   His travel stories were full of color and spirit.  We talked for hours.

Today, I look back on that night and the wonderful Thanksgiving meal.   I was not with family, just another person travelling through life.   He inspired me to hold my sense of wonder. 

Thinking back on that Thanksgiving night so many years ago, I am thankful that I still have a sense of wonder of the world we all share.   We are travellers together, you and me. 

Let’s tell each other our stories. 

Indeed WeMoveTogether.

Living in a Vision

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While planning to post on one topic yesterday I heard an amazing speech given by Chuck Pagano to his team after a victory in the NFL (American Professional Football).  As such I lost my momentum for one topic and found a new topic to ponder.

I know many people follow sports and many do not.  I love sports of all kinds.   Over time I realized that sport, for me, is storytelling.  There is drama, heroes, and moments that stand alone and change the outcome.   All of it leads to a conclusion … and end of our story.   As always with a good story, there are lessons for those willing to listen.

So I listen to the story of Chuck Pagano. 

So who is Chuck Pagano?  He is the first year coach of the Indianapolis Colts.   Last year they were the worst team in the league.   His job is to turn it around. 

Ah, our story unfolds.  Coach Pagano was diagnosed before the season with Leukemia and must undergo full-time treatment.  No football coaching allowed.  Time to focus on health.  His coaches take over while he watches from afar.   No doubt he remains involved though. 

His team is inspired by their coach and his fight.  So far this season the team is playing well and they may make the playoffs.   Of course many experts thought the team would still struggle and remain at the bottom.   The groundwork for a powerful story indeed. 

Yesterday was the first day the coach was able to remain at the stadium for the full game (watching from the owner’s box).  He spoke briefly to the team before the game and then in more detail after the game.  The team won in an inspired fashion. 

Below is both the video and the transcript of what coach Pagano said to his team.  This will stick with me for a long time just like any great story. 

His words, as with a great story, paint a picture and show how a leader can truly move people to reach goals that some think unattainable.  As the coach says, “Live in a vision … refuse to live in circumstances.”   

This story is not over.  I will continue to turn the pages and see how our hero works through the challenges set forth before him.  Like any story I want a happy ending – indeed for Coach Pagano, good health and a speedy recovery.  The world of sport and society in general need leaders like you.

“I mentioned before the game that you guys were living in a vision and you weren’t living in circumstances. Because you know where they had us in the beginning. Every last one of them. But you refused to live in circumstances and you decided consciously, as a team, and as a family, to live in a vision. And that’s why you bring things home like you brought home today. That’s why you’re already champions, and well on your way. I got circumstances. You guys understand it. I understand it. It’s already beat. It’s already beat. My vision that I’m living, see two more daughters getting married, dancing at their weddings, and then hoisting that Lombardi several times and watch that confetti fall on this fucking group right here. Several times, we’re going to hoist that baby. I’m dancing at two more weddings. And we’re hoisting that trophy together man. Congratulations.”

Raised By Wolves

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 In my last post I looked at the full cosmos to focus and gain perspective.  One can not observe space and the cosmos without thinking about time.  To look at the stars is to be a time traveler.  Thousands of years ago light from a distant star pointed toward Earth and reached out to me as I look to the sky.

Today I am thinking about my own life and origin.  We all have an origin story, unique and ours.

A bit of inward time travel if you will - how I was raised and the influences in my life.  As I focus on leadership I can not forget the influence of my origin story on my unique brand of leadership.  We work to create models, best practices and programs that show us the way of the effective leader.  While all this is important, let us not forget the unique expression each of us brings to our leadership.

The title of this post, Raised By Wolves, refers to my upbringing where I was heavily influences by my father and his coworkers.   My father was a Police Officer (now happily retired) and those he worked with were more than coworkers … they were brothers, they were family.   As a young kid, teenager, and early in my work career I was nearly always around my father’s extended family in the police department.

There were gatherings, celebrations, difficult times, and simple days when I just hung out with these men.   As I got older I worked at an Athletic and Social Club for Police Officers that my father founded.   I witnessed first hand how these men and women interacted and lead their lives.   Over time it became clear that I would not grow up to be one of them.  My path involved college and eventually a business career.  Nonetheless, my white-color bleeds blue and I am grateful for the way I was raised and the Police Officers who shaped me.

Here are some items I learned from my “family of wolves” that has influenced me as a leader:

  • Family and Community - Police Officers act as family and maintain a strong community.   I had many favorite uncles, none of whom were related to me.  Why not the same for our work environments – a stronger sense of community and yes, even family.
  • History and Stories – With Police Officers there is a strong sense of history and the generations who came before.  They want to remember and pass on hard learned lessons to the next generation.  A Police Officer has a difficult job these days which is often thankless.  They learn from each other and through their stories, they understand how to do their job and carry on the history.  I talked about it before – the importance of story, legacy and history for our leadership practice.
  • Be Prepared and Ready to React -  Police officers are not proactive beings.  Nonetheless, they are ready.  They practice often for many scenarios.  They go to work each day ready to react to the circumstances they face.  Yes, sometimes they make poor decisions, but far more often they make important and correct decisions under difficult circumstances.   In business we focus on being proactive.  Alas, this ideal does not always work out and at times we need to react to a situation.  A true leader while focused on the proactive, will be ready to react as necessary.  In fact it is how we are ultimately judged.  Yes, he was a strong proactive leader, but when needed he also reacted quickly, with authority and saved the day.
  • Take Corners Wide – This tip has always stuck with me.  When chasing a bad guy down the street always take the corner wide when turning as he may be waiting right around the corner to ambush you.    In business we have our own versions of the ambush – unknown and difficult issues right around the corner.   With confidence we do our own version of charging around the blind corner.  Remember to take it wide and be ready for anything.

That is my story.  As you read this think of your own story.  Be a time traveler and go back to check your influences.   Let us not forget how each of us is unique as a person, as a leader.

Children of the Earth and the Sky

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A day for perspective.   Words from the late Carl Sagan.  A reminder that indeed, We Move Together.

As the ancient myth makers knew, we are children equally of the earth and the sky. In our tenure on this planet we’ve accumulated dangerous evolutionary baggage — propensities for aggression and ritual, submission to leaders, hostility to outsiders — all of which puts our survival in some doubt.

But we’ve also acquired compassion for others, love for our children and desire to learn from history and experience, and a great soaring passionate intelligence — the clear tools for our continued survival and prosperity.

Which aspects of our nature will prevail is uncertain, particularly when our visions and prospects are bound to one small part of the small planet Earth.

But up there in the immensity of the Cosmos, an inescapable perspective awaits us. There are not yet any obvious signs of extraterrestrial intelligence and this makes us wonder whether civilizations like ours always rush implacably, headlong, toward self-destruction.

National boundaries are not evident when we view the Earth from space. Fanatical ethnic or religious or national chauvinism are a little difficult to maintain when we see our planet as a fragile blue crescent fading to become an inconspicuous point of light against the bastion and citadel of the stars. Travel is broadening.

An astrophysicist and a poet … Carl Sagan.  As time allows I invite you to watch the video below as a further reminder, The Pale Blue Dot.

Do Not Surrender Fierceness

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I am reading a John Steinbeck book called, Travels with Charley, In Search of America.   The book chronicles a journey John Steinbeck took across America in the early 1960′s.  He was older and thought he lost his connection to people.  Born and raised in the fertile agricultural area of California, he wrote amazing tales of common folk born from his deep connection to people.  Think “Of Mice and Men” or “Grapes of Wrath” or “East of Eden”.

John decided to hit the road to reconnect with people and himself.  He bought a custom pickup with camper shell.  With this truck he could go anywhere, sleep anywhere and just be anywhere.   His companion was only his faithful dog named Charlie.

I am working my way through this book.  The writing from John Steinbeck is amazing and I can not wait to finish the story.  Just today, my blogger friend David posted on his site Lead.Learn.Live a wonderful piece on “where do sentences come from”.  As I read it I thought of my current reading … this novel by John Steinbeck.  Without doubt John Steinbeck can write a sentence and another sentence and so on to fill a novel and create a compelling story.

Here is a short piece from Travels with Charley.  It reminds me that each of us need to hold our passion throughout our full lives.  Do not ever give up.  We are told that life is a journey.  John Steinbeck drove off one day to continue his journey and rediscover himself in the process.

Each of us need to decide when we may need to drive off for ourselves and rediscover.  Yes, life is a journey and while we may think we are alone, we are not.  John Steinbeck discovered he was not alone and we are not alone either.  Indeed, we move together.

I did not want to surrender fierceness for a small gain in yardage.  My wife married a man; I saw no reason why she should inherit a baby.  I knew that ten or twelve thousand miles driving a truck, alone and unattended, over every kind of road, would be hard work, but to me it represented the antidote for the poison of the professional sick man.  And in my own life I am not willing to trade quality for quantity.  If this projected journey should prove too much then it was time to go anyway.  I see too many men delay their exits with a sickly, slow reluctance to leave the stage.  It’s bad theater as well as bad living.

 

When A Nation Stands As One

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The Irish love stories and this is one hell of a story.  It is the Olympics and the Irish need a winner.  The rescission has hit Ireland hard and the people need a reason to believe.  Their girl … their daughter … their friend became their hero as she won the gold medal at the Olympics in the first showing for women’s boxing.

She fought for Ireland, and a country stopped to watch.     Her name is Katie Taylor and she will be forever a legend in Ireland.

Dan Wetzel, a sports writer from Yahoo Sports wrote a touching and telling article about the incredible Katie Taylor and her impact on a nation.  Ireland stands on her shoulders.  I do invite you to read the full article yourself (read here).

They came because of Katie. In a nation of writers, they couldn’t dream her up. Every possible positive attribute the Irish want to see in themselves, she delivered. “Talented, modest, unaffected, lovely,” the Irish Times wrote. Throw in tough, religious, hard-working, humble, and loyal. “Warrior Hero,” the Irish Independent dubbed her.

I am proud of Katie as well and find her story amazing.  As an American I have heritage in several countries, but my Irish is strongest from my name to my love of a great story.

Congrats Katie Taylor.  For you and Ireland … WeMoveTogether.