Deciding is half done

(continued from Volunteering’s Ripple Effect Volume XVIII Issue 916 March 14h, 2023 …)

No one knew about the decision-making grid I’d created in the middle of the night six months earlier. In the privacy of a small cold hotel bedroom, I created a graph to evaluate the desirability of all territories I thought might be opening over the next three years. They included Boston, MA, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, CA, Kansas City, MO, and Portland, OR. These were territories where the owners were getting older and would be retiring, or there were rumored problems.

I weighed all the territories against these criteria, on a one to ten scale:

• Warmer climate than Detroit and Rockford
• Good place to raise our three sons
• State’s capital inside the territory
• A good price

After running all these territories through my decision-making grid, Portland, OR came out on top.

Mr. Crom didn’t want me to tell anyone about my impending move. I told him I had to tell the chairman of the Winnebago County Republican Party. They needed to choose another candidate to run in my place for county board in the November general election. I’d just spent several thousand dollars on advanced promotion expenses for our Rockford fall classes. I made the unusual request to own and operate both territories for four months. He agreed for me to tell the Chairman of the Republican Party about my move, own, and operate both territories until my fall classes in Rockford were successfully underway.

The next few weeks flew by quickly, selling the territory, selling our house, one of our cars, organizing the Rockford classes, assigning instructors, and selling the territory. On Friday of the Labor Day weekend, we loaded our U-Haul truck, and hooked up our Ford Econoline. We had a sign on the back of the camper that said, “Oregon or Bust!” and off we went.

The lesson I learned from this experience is the power of setting specific goals with crystalized clarity.

As you plan for the second half of 2023, redouble your commitment to excellence in what you are doing today, and don’t be surprised when your future dreams come true sooner than expected.

“Secret of long-term success: commitment to excellence in what you are doing today.”

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Cody, Commercial Sales Manager for Gill’s Point S Tire & Auto, one of the leading tire and service provider shops based out of Salem, OR told Session 8B of the Leadership Development Lab:

“Three weeks ago I was in the back shop making my morning rounds saying ‘Hi!’ to all my guys when I was blindsided by my mechanic tech. He was complaining, ‘This is broken!, This is wrong!, This sucks!’ The griping went on and on.

“Before he could go on any further, I had to stop him as I noticed the other employees around him. I said, ‘Hey! We aren’t going to continue to have this conversation, if you want to talk about this later and in private, we can do so.’ He was upset.

“An hour or so later, I pulled him aside and explained that we can’t talk like that in front of the other guys as it could discredit both of us and our entire shop. He said he understood, he saw the harm he was doing by acting so irate, and agreed he wouldn’t do it again.

“The lesson I learned from this experience is taking a stand helps those around me open their eyes. I can teach my team the lessons I’ve been taught in the LDL.

“The action I call you to take is to free yourself of the fear of confrontation. Don’t be afraid to go into action. When standards are violated, the right thing needs to be done.

“The benefit you will gain is improved morale. Your team will look forward to coming to work and performance will continually improve.”

I love this short story because it is real world. It would have been so easy for Cody to lash out and his behavior would have been just as unacceptable as the behavior of the complaining tech.

You as the leader have the responsibility to set the standards both by what you say and what you do. You must call your team to the high ground by leading from high ideals (Leadership Principle #1). When you lead from high ideals you then earn the right to appeal to “their noble motives,” (Leadership Principle #15) “talking like this in front of the other guy, brings discredit on both of us.” So today, to “be the best me in 2023“, be professional in all your interactions. Set professional behavior as the standard for your team.

You help others when you help them
STOP criticizing and complaining.

Emily, Project Manager for 3 Kings Environmental, an excavation demolition solutions company based in Vancouver, WA told Session 7A of the Leadership Development Lab (LDL):

“We had not been paid for a project we’d completed. When you include the change orders, the job was in excess of one million dollars. Our substantial completion date had been changed, pushed back twice, and required two change orders for the contract extension. We had been waiting for over two months for the final approval of several hundred thousand dollars in change orders. We, of course, had already incurred all the equipment use, permitting, labor, and material costs.

“I was frustrated, feeling the pressure to close out the job. Our relationship with this million-dollar client was at the point where it might begin to deteriorate when we finally received the approved change order. “When I reviewed the change order approval email for accuracy, there was a big mistake. I noticed documentation and emails from another contractor embedded in the change order. Rather than replying to everyone on the email and identifying the client’s mistake in a public forum, I responded to just the project manager to have him review the document and correct it for accuracy. The issue was addressed at their end, and they resent the revised change order. They apologized for the oversite and thanked me for being thorough.

“The lesson I learned from this experience is the importance of being accurate, and that it’s just as important to be professional in my deportment, even if I might have justification for trying to get even.

“The action I call you to take is always remember to praise in public, and when needed, correct in private. Never put critical feedback in a public email.

“The benefit you will gain is people will respect you for your professionalism and your willingness to exhibit discretion.”

Remarkable story! Don’t overlook the context. Emily had the “right” to be a little upset with the client who was behind – way behind – on their remittances. In her position she is responsible to her owner to receive timely payment for work performed. She could’ve been snooty and let everyone on the email chain see the mistake within the email. Instead, she took the high road, she led from high ideals (Leadership Principle #1). This makes her a winner. She didn’t look like a snot-nosed beginner. Today, be sure you are leading from high ideals. You will be respected and admired.

Emails have a second life.
Be sure yours are ones you can be proud of.

Available in Ebook

What happened to the signers of the Declaration of Independence?

Five signers were captured by the British, held as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.

Two lost their sons in the Revolutionary Army. One of the signers had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died of wounds or the hardships of the Revolutionary War. Seventeen lost everything they owned.

What kind of leaders boldly wrote their names to the Declaration that lit the fires of liberty in souls throughout the world?

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners –well educated men of means.

Their security, their incomes, their worldly possessions made them substantially well off. But they signed the Declaration of Independence, knowing that the penalty would be death on the gallows if they were captured.

They signed, pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and his properties to pay his debt, and died in rags. Thomas McKean was so hounded by the enemy British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers or both looted the properties of Ellery, Clymer, Hall, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Rutledge, and Middleton. At the Battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson Jr. noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. The owner quietly urged General George Washington to open fire, which was done. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months. John Hart was driven from his wife’s bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and grist mill were laid waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home after the war to find his wife dead; his children had vanished. A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a broken heart. Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates.

Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. These were soft-spoken men of means, wealth and education! They had security, but they valued liberty more.

Standing tall, straight, and unwavering, they pledged: “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”

We know what resulted from the selfless dedication of these leaders of faith and courage. They met the challenge of their day, and gave us a precious heritage of freedom.

“Is life so dear, or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but, as for me, give me liberty or give me death.”
Patrick Henry

Diane, Project Manager for MEI Group, one of the largest excavation and heavy civil contractors in the Portland Area, told Session 2A of the Leadership Development Lab (LDL):

“On July 6th, 2021, I sent a Facebook message to my niece’s mother, who I refer to as my ‘sister.’ We had not spoken in a few years. She had been struggling with a 10-year meth addiction and was living on the streets of Kansas with her boyfriend and 11-year-old son. In short, the message entailed that I thought about her all the time, and I really wanted to help.

“I told her I would move she and her son from Kansas to Oregon to live with me, and that I would take care of her son while she went to treatment. I said I would pay for the whole thing, and that all she had to do was say the word ‘go’. She said ‘GO!’

“Going’ wasn’t as simple as I had hoped. Imagine how difficult it was to establish plans of a cross country move for someone who is high all the time. Her phone wasn’t connected with a service provider, and she could only message me if she was near a business with free Wi-Fi. Days went by between our communications and planning kept getting delayed. I clearly needed to get someone in Kansas to help me.

“After a lot of hesitation, I got her older sister on board. I sent a phone to eliminate the delays in communication, mailed a few other things, and then bought the tickets!

“During the weeks leading up to their flight, I spoke with many people about my plan. NOBODY thought this was a good idea. Her older sister told me she had been done with her for a long time and she worried I might regret it. My mother warned me she might rob me. My brother (they share a child) told me he felt betrayed by my helping her and told me she was going to destroy my entire livelihood like she does everything! My friends couldn’t understand why I thought it was a good idea to bring a drug addict into the home I share with my five children. Some friends explained that it was a terrible idea to bring someone with a meth addiction to “the meth capital”, Oregon. Most were anticipating my plan would fail.

“My ‘sister’ has not touched meth since she landed in Oregon on July 20^th, 2021. She went into intensive inpatient treatment within a few weeks of arriving and graduated. She is now working full time and is in school full time. She and her son are healthy, thriving, and keep growing. My scary plan to help my “sister” seemed far-fetched, even destined to fail. I was bombarded by every fear people could think of when I told them about my plans. I didn’t let their fears stop me.

“The lesson I learned from this experience is that I should never be afraid to invest in people. Because plans can work out better than we ever imagined.

“The action I call you to take is to invest lives. Be the one who gives others a second chance.”

Never underestimate the power
of belief, trust and love.

Available in Ebook

September 3, 2022: Day three of our eastbound 2021 Cross Country Adventure. As we drove west from Winchester Bay, OR and crossed the Coastal Mountain Range we began to see haze. By the time we arrived at the campground in Roseburg, OR we realized the veil was coming in from south of us. Though it wasn’t heavy, it was pervasive. It was smoke! Two days later, we were rubbing our eyes as we headed south toward Yreka, CA. The smoke was so heavy, we could even taste it.

Now, we realized we were experiencing the emissions of the 2.6-million-acre forest fire in Northern California. This was the second largest fire and the largest single source wildfire in California’s history. The fire began in Butte County in July 2021 when a tree fell on a power line. The flames spread over 5 counties, killing one firefighter, reduced 1,329 structures to smoldering ash and did $1.15 billion in damages. Over 963,000 acres were on fire in northern California, costing the state $637.4 million to fight it. The world’s largest tree, the prized General Sherman Redwood, was wrapped in a protective fire-retardant blanket. Could this fire have been prevented? Yes & No.

Summer of 2021 was hot and dry, but not the hottest or driest on record. Every summer in northern California is hot and dry. In 2019, the entire city of Paradise, CA was devastated. One of Turbo’s clients, Collins Pine, had their lumber yard destroyed by wildfires.

Nothing can stop the lightning strikes that start forest fires. They are as predictable as sun, rain, snow, all the other natural forces of nature. That’s the “no part.”

The “yes part” is improved forest management practices to reduce the devastation of forest fires. In fact, forests that are privately owned have far less damage than publicly owned property. Privately owned foresters work hard to ensure there are enough fire breaks, adequate harvesting of seasoned trees, and they do a much better job of clearing the forest floor of dead limbs and brush. Private property owners know it is only a matter of time before lightning starts another fire in their forest, so they wisely prepare for the inevitable.

These are only a few of the external and internal threats every organization must consider when doing strategic planning. Remember hope is not a strategy.

Pay as much attention to the inevitable changes coming your way (as the private forest owners) to protect their standing timber assets.

Information In Formation: How to Gain the 71% Advantage

equips your team with the same advantage a flock of geese takes for granted. By following the tested guidelines outlined in this authentic resource book, your organization will fly farther, faster, and with no additional effort keeping you out in front.

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About a month ago, I bought a 2020 certified luxury used car from a dealership in Huntsville Alabama. Huntsville is almost 250 miles from our home in Loganville, GA. Before I made the trip, I talked with the dealer several times.

We worked out the price. This model car is no longer being manufactured. It has features you can’t get in any new car. I test drove this model way back in 2016 when they were first introduced and have wanted one ever since. When I arrived at the dealer, the salesman assured me that everything was in shipshape, only has 22,000 miles, and of course is certified – basically a new car.

It was freezing cold out. I’m not sure I even walked around the car. I made, what I realize now, was a big mistake. I trusted, fully trusted, the dealership to deliver me the equivalent of a new car.

I loved driving the car home. It has more luxury features than I’d even realized. I enjoyed the back massage and other features. I didn’t know I would enjoy them as much!

A couple of days after I got home, I had my professional detailer come over to apply a ceramic coating. As we looked the car over, we discovered, to my amazement, body damage on the quarter panel just behind the right rear door.

We sent a picture to the dealership in Alabama, called the salesman who said,

“Well, take it to a local dealer, have it repaired and send us the bill.” The local dealer’s body shop found considerably more small areas of damage. They all added up to several thousand dollars.

I called Alabama again, sent them all the pictures and the estimate. As we talked, it became clear the only way they could understand the extent of the damage was for me to make another “7:00AM – 7:00PM” round trip back to Huntsville.

Our son and my wife really didn’t want me to make the trip, “forget about it,“ there is nothing you can do about it,” “Really dad? You can hardly see it.”

When I arrived, the second-generation owner of the fifty-year-old dealership and his general manager looked the car over carefully.

“You are right, Mr. Dennis. This is not acceptable. What do you want us to do?”

My response: “Just make it right.”

We worked out the details.

As I left, I said, “Thank you for being so professional, standing behind your sale, keeping your word. I’ve tried to behave myself too.”

The lesson I learned from this experience is the importance of professionally standing my ground, expecting the best of others.

The action I want you to take is to expect others to live up to their word, keep their promise and when needed stand firm. There should be no need to shout.

The benefit you will gain is living in a world where people earn the trust you place in them.

To the Class of 2023:

Where do I go from here?
What will my life amount to?
Will I make a difference?
Will the world be better because I lived in it?
Will I amount to something?
Will I matter?

These were some of the questions I was asking when I graduated high school over 65 years ago. The world has changed a lot since then. A lot! And still these are the questions the class of 1958 was asking, and I know some of these questions are on your mind.
The answer then and the answer now is still the same.

It depends.

Depends on what?

Well, it sure doesn’t depend on me.
It depends on thee!

It doesn’t depend on the graduation gifts you receive, their size.
It depends on what you prize.

It doesn’t depend on your friends, relatives, or roots.
It depends on how you put on your boots.

It doesn’t depend on the graduation line front or back, where you start.
It depends on where you place your heart.

No one can decide for you what to do.
Here’s the answer! Make big commitments and see them through.

I don’t know
What your destiny
Will be.
But one thing I know:
The only ones among you
Who will really be happy
Are those who have
Sought and found
How to serve.

Dr. Albert Schweitzer, Medical Missionary

Eric, Safety Director at MEI Group, one of the largest excavation and heavy civil contractors in the Portland area, told Session 3B of the Leadership Development Lab:

“In the winter of 2015, I was only a few months into my new job with a local shoring, trench, and safety equipment rental company. My boss asked me to cover his territory while he was on vacation. It was your typical Oregon winter day: cold, wet, and muddy . . . Did I mention wet?

“I spent the day in the Salem area visiting customer’s offices and project sites. I had the mud on my boots to prove it. Overall, it was a successful day. The time had come, and I was ready to hit the freeway back north to Portland. My route took me by one last Salem contractor’s office. I considered stopping, but didn’t because I remembered my boss telling me, ‘Don’t bother with them, we will never get their business.’ Initially I listened.

“Then I thought, ‘Heck with it,’ made a U-turn, went back, and pulled into their parking lot. My timing couldn’t have been more perfect, their top decision maker happened to be in the office. I introduced myself. When he told me his name, it sounded familiar, but I’d never met him before. I said, ‘I have a really good friend with the same last name as yours.’

It turned out he was the brother of one of my closest friends! I made the connection, and we had a quick conversation. I left my card and in the coming weeks, I managed to turn 100% of their business away from our competition and over to us.

“The lesson I learned from this experience is not to be too comfortable when I have every excuse to take the path of least resistance.

“The action I call you to take is embrace one more time the last-minute risk. Knock on the door and ask one more time.

“The benefit you will gain is your own personal growth that taking risks brings. Doors will swing open wide and you will win.”

Can you think of a time in your life when you didn’t ask, didn’t “knock on one more door” because someone had told you, “That’s hopeless, don’t bother?” Truth be told, most of us have passed by countless doors to opportunity because someone told us it couldn’t be done. Today is your day to make a U-turn, knock on one more door. Ask once again. Be curious and persistent in your pursuit of better ways to be of service.

There are always plenty of excuses for failure.
The secret to success is knock on one more door.

Bjorn, Sales Manager for Carpet USA, a family-owned service provider for residential and commercial flooring, countertops, flooring repairs and design consultation based in Vancouver, WA told Session 8B of the Leadership Development Lab (LDL):

“A few months ago, my co-worker, Jenna, got married. Jenna had been a reliable employee. She worked hard and expected those around her to work hard, be as engaged as she was. After she got married, she started showing up to work late on a regular basis. I let it go the first few times. I had a hard time knowing how to handle the situation. At Session 5 of the LDL, I learned how to correct team members when they violate our standards, correct someone who’s behavior is in clear violation of company standards.

“On the Friday following the Tuesday night’s lesson, Jenna showed up late again. Following the DARE+ approach, I pulled her aside, then said, ‘I noticed you were late this morning, what happened?’

“She explained that since she got married, her usual routine had changed. She was really struggling to balance her home life and work life. After carefully listening, I reminded her of our “on-time” standard at Carpet USA, and why it was important that she shows up on time as scheduled. I told her she was admired by our crew who wanted to emulate her and how much I counted on her. Then I asked her to agree to come up with a routine that would allow her to get back on track. She agreed, and over the past five weeks she has been on time every day. She is an effective, reliable employee once again.

“The lesson I learned from this experience is I can effectively call our team to the higher ground and uphold our company standards by following Turbo Leadership Systems’ DARE+ approach.

“The action I call you to take is whenever you see a coworker/team member doing a sub-standard job, don’t wait for things to change, hope they will change, or lose your temper. Instead follow the DARE + approach, start by saying, ‘what happened?” Then listen intently before you remind them of the standard, ask for their agreement and end with encouragement.

“The benefit you will gain is a higher standard of performance, exceptional teamwork, and the respect of everyone on your team. Morale and performance will improve.”

Entropy causes things to naturally run down. People cut corners. If left to nature, things continue to run down. It’s the leader’s role to call the team to the higher ground everyone can take pride in.

Don’t be late in asking your team to be on time.