9 Tips on How to Be One of the Best in the World

August 6, 2015 by 1 Comment
9 Tips on How to Be One of the Best in the World

Jean Reynolds tees off at the PHC Classic, July 31, 2015 in Milwaukee, WI.

This past weekend I spent two days at Brown Deer Golf Course watching 144 professional golfers on the Symetra Tour battle it out in the PHC Classic. The Symetra Tour is the step before advancing to the LPGA and the top 10 finishers on the Symtra Tour at the end of the year will earn their way onto the LPGA Tour.

These players are among the top 400 women golfers in the world. I was surprised at the low attendance. Although it was the inaugural tournament, I expected more people. After all, these are some of the best golfers in the world. Who doesn’t want to watch the best?
The crowd demographic leaned towards the older spectator. There should have been more young people there. Every high school and college golf coach in Southeastern Wisconsin should have had their teams out there to watch how professionals play the game. They missed a special treat.
Watching how these women approach golf was an education. There were lessons that I can apply on the golf course, but they can also be applied in every day life.
Here are 9 tips on how to be one of the best in the world:
1) Devote time to practice. The driving range and practice green were packed. Each golfer started their practice session about two hours before their round. Then they went out and played for five hours in the hot, humid conditions. Instead of going in and calling it a day, many of them went back to practice some more; fine tuning their swing or working on their putting.
How often do we fine tune our skills? Do we take the time to get better? Do we go back over that thing that wasn’t quite right just to see if we can improve?
2) Learn from your mistakes and your successes. Players on the course take notes while they play. In their notebook, they’ll jot down what club they hit, where the ball went, what the conditions were so when they play that same hole again they’ll have an idea of how to approach things. They’ll know what’s worked for them or what hasn’t. They play from a position of strength and leave guesswork or chance out of the equation.
Keep notes of short cuts or tips that you can use later. When I was a team leader at AT&T I would keep a copy of every unique situation I ran into and what action I took to fix the problem. After time, I had built up a mini-encyclopedia. My peers and managers would send complex or weird situations my way because they knew I knew how to fix them.
3) Practice consistency. Every time the golfers step up to the ball, whether that’s on the tee box, in the fairway, or on the green, each golfer goes through their own unique routine. When they hit the ball they weren’t far off their target. And there wasn’t one miss-hit. Watching them was like observing the mechanism inside a pocket watch.
That level of consistency is hard to find. When you’re in that rhythm or groove it’s an amazing feeling. The goal is to get to that state as often as we can. Consistency can lead to good results.
4) Act like a professional. Golf is a game of tradition. These golfers respect the game, the players, the course, the volunteers, and the spectators. They play the game how it should be played. The golfers have confidence in their abilities but they didn’t show an ego.
Etiquette is another important component. There was no goofing around, foul language, temper tantrums, or loud talking. The don’t show up their opponent. They extend courtesy to the other players.
Do we act like professionals or amateurs? Do we understand the rules, the history, and the inner workings of the industry we work in? Does our ego get the best of us?
5) Know when to ask for help. Each golfer can only rely on their abilities on the course. It’s ultimately up to the golfer what shot to hit and to execute on it. At the end of the day it’s their name on the leaderboard.
Behind every golfer is a team, some on the course and some behind the scenes. 90% of the women had a caddie with them. They’d ask the caddie the distance to the hole, what club to hit, and how to read the green; getting the perspective from another set of eyes.
A friend caddied during the tournament. Because the golfer he caddied for was nursing an injury she did not play any practice rounds, so the first time she played the course was during the opening round of the tournament. My friend knew the course and he helped her when needed. She could take the information to make a better decision on what to do next.
If a caddie or coach is good enough for a professional it should just as good for us. Good advice from a trusted friend can be invaluable.
6) Play your game. 144 women competed in the tournament. Every one of them had a different swing and a different approach to the game, although there were many similarities. Some of the women could just crush the ball, others couldn’t. It didn’t matter. They played to their strengths.
We often see others accomplish something and we try to copy what they do. Copying can be good in some regards, it can give us a blue print to success but we won’t be our best until we start to consistently do things in our own unique way. We need to ignore the competition and be true to ourselves.
7) Take calculated risks. Most times playing conservative golf is the way to go, but if you play aggressively at the right time it can pay off. The question is when is the right time to take a chance?
The golfers played their game and waited until a situation presented itself where it would be okay to be aggressive. When the downside wasn’t that bad and the upside was good, the golfers took chances. They were strategic in their decision making. They may be presented with an opportunity like that a few times a round. They waited for those moments.
You won’t always guess right when taking chances, but taking them when you know your success rate is higher than normal is a good time to attempt it. Don’t force it. Wait for the opportunity to come to you.
8) Focus on what’s in front of you. Golf is the ultimate game of living in the moment. You need to have laser-like focus on the shot at hand and only that shot. You can’t jump ahead and you can’t think about the past.
The golfers took their time and studied each shot for a long time before addressing the ball. Sometimes they’d step back and reconsider the shot again.
I’m like many of you. I’ve got so many thoughts running through my head and so many things competing for my time that I am easily distracted. When I’m focused I can churn out work without even feeling time pass. I need to get to that state more often.
9) Play with the big picture in mind. The PHC Classic was a three day event. Sometimes tournaments are four days. Golfers know that one bad shot isn’t going to ruin their round. They deal with what’s in front of them and move on to the next shot.
We think one mis-step is going to doom our project or ruin our career. A golfer doesn’t think like that. For the entire three days of the tournament there were sustained winds of 20-30 miles per hour. It was windy but the golfers didn’t give up. They got on with the task at hand and dealt with the situation. We need to utilize the same mentality. We need long-term thinking.
The 9 tips on how to be one of the best in the world can help you on the course, in the office, or at home. Next time you’ve got some of the best in the world in your town, go check them out. You’ll never know what you’ll  learn. What tips have you picked up watching the best do their thing?
Filed Under: Inspiration, Life Lessons Tagged With: , , , ,

4 Reasons Why Brett Favre Earned Our Respect

July 23, 2015 by Leave a Comment

4 Reasons Why Brett Favre Earned Our Respect

Brett Favre was honored by the Green Bay Packers over the weekend. The team inducted him into their Hall of Fame and retired his #4 jersey. It was a homecoming that was long overdue.

The years after Favre’s departure from the Packers have been difficult to stomach and the episode left a bitter taste in even the staunchest Packer fans’ mouth, so it was good to see him back in Green Bay where he belongs.
67,000 fans turned out at Lambeau Field to see Brett Favre talk for 20 minutes. They gave him a four minute standing ovation as he entered the stadium. He was brought to tears. In that moment the painful past vanished and the happy memories returned.
In the Atrium for the formal part of the ceremony, former General Manager Ron Wolf, the man who made the trade that brought Brett Favre to Green Bay, former head coach Mike Holmgren, who coached Green Bay to a Super Bowl victory, and former teammate Frank Winters shared their memories of Brett Favre. They were personal stories that touched at your heart, but also your funny bone.
In the audience were former coaches, teammates, Packers staff, and the Favre family. Why would so many people show up to an event in Green Bay to honor one person? It’s because Brett Favre earned our respect.
Here are four reasons why Brett Favre earned our respect:
Brett Favre had fun playing. It’s hard to imagine anyone playing the game which as much enthusiasm as Favre. In his younger days he would run off the field with a wide grin – his helmet in his hand pumping in the air. Sometimes he’d jump on his teammates, often times tackling them he was so excited about scoring a touchdown. He enjoyed his teammates, his opponents, the referees, and the media. We had fun watching him have fun. We fed off his energy.
Brett Favre played his heart out. Favre played the game like we want our heroes to play it. He gave it his best shot every Sunday. He gave everything he had  when he stepped onto that field. He played with integrity, with sportsmanship. He played hurt. He played when others wouldn’t or couldn’t play. We can never forget the game he played against the Oakland Raiders the day after his father passed away. He gave the best performance of his career. We admire people who can fight through adversity and perform at the highest level. We also marvel his 297 consecutive NFL starts – a record that will probably never be broken.
Brett Favre understood the history of the game and of the Packers. As a kid, he was a fan of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach and dreamed of playing for the Cowboys. As a Packer, he grew especially close to Bart Starr, the former Packers quarterback who took the team to five NFL titles including the first two Super Bowls, and other members of those great Vince Lombardi teams. We respect him for respecting the game and the players who came before him.
Brett Favre cared for everyone in the Packers organization. During his acceptance speech the first person Favre thanked was Lee Remmel, the former Packers press agent and team historian. Remmel’s history with the team goes back to the days of Curly Lambeau. Remmel passed away earlier this year. Favre went on to thank former coaches, teammates, front office personnel, strength coaches, equipment managers, security staff, anyone who was a part of the Packers organization – at least 50 in all. It should be noted that Favre mentioned them all by name.
It says something when someone of his caliber acknowledges those in the background that never get recognition. His appreciation of them was genuine.
If there’s anything we can take away from Brett Favre’s career it’s this: in order to have a lasting impact on people you have to have fun at what you’re doing, give it your all, understand your chosen field and its history, and care about those you work with. You may not be inducted into the Hall of Fame, but you’ll leave a legacy that no one can deny.

 

Filed Under: Inspiration, Life Lessons Tagged With: , ,

What Does Your Dream Job Look Like?

June 9, 2015 by 1 Comment
What Does Your Dream Job Look Like?
I read a book last year called The Longest Cocktail Party written by Richard DiLello. He’s a former employee of The Beatles, who worked at Apple from 1968 to 1970. The great thing about this book is that it was first published in 1972; shortly after The Beatles breakup. That means it was written while the memories and stories were still fresh and DiLello wasn’t influenced by time or outside sources (like his former employers).
The Longest Cocktail Party has been out of circulation for years, but was recently reprinted in 2014 with a new forward written by DiLello. If you’re a fan of The Beatles, or interested in seeing what it’s like working for superstars, I recommend picking up a copy. It’s an eye-opening read.
The Beatles have been a tremendous influence on me and I was eager to read this insider’s account. I always thought that working for The Beatles at Apple during the time that this book takes place would have been a dream job. The most innovative band in the world trying to create a business utopia – what could be better than that?
It turns out the Beatles had no clue how to run a business. That’s why Apple, the company, never achieved the success that Apple, the dream, envisioned. The Beatles envisioned a company where artists were in charge. Apple wanted to take power away from giant corporations and remove the barriers to market entry, basically remove the gatekeepers. Sounds like how the internet has shaped things, doesn’t it?
To kick things off at Apple, the Beatles placed full page ads in the New Musical Express and Rolling Stone announcing their idea and solicited unsigned signers, songwriters, artists, playwrights, and inventors to send in their work. They received thousands of song demos, scripts, books, plays and other manuscripts. People showed up daily at the Apple offices demanding time and money from the Beatles.
Apple though didn’t have the manpower to go through everything that was sent in. Artists that were signed to Apple were brought in by insiders or were pet projects of the Beatles themselves. No one was discovered from the piles of material sent in.
It was extremely clear from reading The Longest Cocktail Party that you were working for the Beatles, not with them. Only their most trusted advisers worked with them, and even then the influence they had was limited. The Beatles did what they wanted to do regardless of what anyone told them. And it was never a good idea to tell the Beatles no.
Those employees lower on the totem pole would rarely see them, and then when they did it was to fill an urgent personal request. You were to speak to them only if spoken to. They didn’t want to be bothered with with underlings.  It was considered a privilege to work for them, so they could justify paying a low wage.
The list of problems at Apple was long – everything from a lack of leadership and accountability to people being threatened by the Hell’s Angels, who had taken occupancy at Apple. It was a complete madhouse and even George Harrison commented that they had “every freak in the world” showing up at Apple.
Apple lost a lot of money on everything other than record releases and they eventually shut everything down except the record label.
After reading this account, I realize I wouldn’t have enjoyed working at Apple for The Beatles and it certainly wasn’t the dream job I thought it was. Even the best ideas (companies) get bogged down by people; even talented people with good intentions.
What does your dream job look like? Do you like the job itself or the idea of what that job represents? Are you drawn to the job title, what the work is, that you’ll be working for a cause, or because of who you think you’ll be working with? Are you missing out on a great job now thinking about greener pastures?
It’s okay to dream, I’d say it’s even essential. We all need something to look towards. Don’t be disappointed when your dream job doesn’t turn out exactly how you thought it would be. If you approach it as an opportunity to gain a unique experience you’ll enjoy the experience a lot more, and who knows, maybe one day you’ll write a book about it.

 

Filed Under: Books, Life Lessons Tagged With: ,

Thank you, David Letterman!

May 19, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Thank You David Letterman

I’ve been a fan of David Letterman ever since I watched his morning show. Yes, you read that right – his morning show. It was 1980 and I was on summer vacation and about to enter the sixth grade. Geez, that was a long time ago! I somehow stumbled across it one morning. It must have been raining or something. Thank God for that!

Once I saw his show, I immediately fell in love. His sense of humor, quick wit, and sharp mind struck a chord with me. He reminded me of my dad. It must be a Midwestern thing. I think there really is a sense of humor that we have here that’s a little different than anywhere else. It’s a little self deprecating, a bit zany, but it’s dry. David exuded all of that 100%.

It was fun watching him that summer and I was bummed when school started. I’d watch anytime I had a day off. I remember catching the final episode with the theme song “I Love New York” playing as he went off the air. I wondered what idiot would cancel his show? Couldn’t they see this guy was a genius?
It was canceled because it wasn’t the right audience. Luckily, Dave found his audience on late night television and he’s been entertaining us for the past 33 years there.
He was an influence and I always wanted to be on his show. I even wrote a Top Ten list – Top Ten reasons why you should listen to Volume One (my band back in college). Whenever I completed a project like recording music or writing I would imagine being discovered by one of Dave’s producers who would ask me to be on the show because Dave liked my stuff. Of course, I never did get on his show, but the dream was always there.
At one point I was going to start a campaign for David Letterman for President. There isn’t anyone on the planet more honest than a comedian, and Dave is a great example of that. It was perfect, other than the fact that it was dumb. Dave served us much better on his show.
There also isn’t anyone with a bigger heart than Dave. Whenever someone who influenced him passed away he always dedicated time on the show to honor them. When he was touched, so was I.
Dave was also a huge supporter of our men and women in the military. In 2014, Medal of Honor recipient Ryan Pitts was given a brief mention on the ABC Nightly News. Pitts wasn’t interviewed or even given a sound bite. After the clip of Pitts, ABC showed an interview with “Weird Al” Yankovic. I was embarrassed. I knew Dave would come through and a few days later he did when Ryan Pitts was a guest on Dave’s show. Dave gave Pitts the respect and platform he deserved. I knew I could count on Dave to make things right.
Dave showed that even with all the craziness in this world that things were okay and there was always a reason to laugh. No one will come close to Dave – ever. I’m grateful that I’ve been able to enjoy him for all these years. He’s made me laugh and made me think. And I’ll miss him immensely.
Thank you, David Letterman!
Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: ,

Three Resume Tips You Need To Use

May 13, 2015 by 1 Comment

Three Resume Tips You Need To Use

Any job hunter will tell you that their resume needs updating. I’m no different. I don’t think I’ve ever been happy with it. One issue I have with my resume is that it doesn’t seem to represent who I am. It doesn’t sound like me or have my personality and it often ends up looking like a job description. I am more than a list of job responsibilities.

Since I’m on the job hunt again I’ve been looking through Wayne Breitbarth‘s insightful book, “The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success.” Be sure you check out his book. I’ve also gone through some notes I took when I saw Joe Konop of One Great Resume last year. If you’re looking for someone who knows how to present yourself in the best light, contact Joe.

Here are a three resume tips you need to use to show off your true self.
1) You need to market yourself. Joe’s had a 20 year career in marketing, so when he mentioned that you need to market yourself like a product, it made a lot of sense to me, being a marketer myself. You need to show why you are the best product (person) on the market. You need to show what you’ve done before, but more importantly, what you can do for a new employer. The potential employer needs to feel like they’re making a great decision to bring you on board. You need to quickly and accurately tell people who you are, what you’ve done, and what you can do for them. Think of preparing a tagline. What would your tagline be?
2) Showcase your strengths. Tell the story and give context around what you are really good at. Don’t downplay or diminish your talents. Joe explained that if you say, “I wrote the newsletter” that doesn’t convey as much information as “I wrote a weekly newsletter that was 14-15 pages of original content that talked about new initiatives, company news, and new products, which was distributed to 20,000 people.” See how different those two descriptions are? Think of yourself in broader terms. What is the full scope of your strengths? Because you perform a job so often, you often forget how interesting, complex, and important the work you do is. What was the impact and reach of your work?
3) Talk about what makes you unique. Joe talked about a client who said they were fluent in Chinese but they didn’t list it anywhere on their resume. That’s a unique selling proposition. Flaunt it, use it to tell the world that you are unique!
What seems odd or different to you could be exactly what somebody else thinks is special. It reminded me of a time when I submitted a job application and filled out the “Hobbies” section by writing that I liked “collecting Beatles records, and watching the Simpsons.” When I went in for an interview the manager said, “Right off the bat, I have to say you scored points with me because I love watching the Simpsons too.” You never know what will make you stand out from the crowd.
These three resume tips have made me see myself differently. I need to make sure my resume matches who I am, what I’ve done at my previous jobs, and what I can do for other organizations. If I can do that, I’ll be able to market myself more effectively.
Constantly keep track of your work. Write down what you did, why you did it, and what impact it had. It’s so much easier to go through your notes than it is to try and remember what you did when you need to look for that new job. Facts become fuzzy and you may forget important details. Keep working on that resume, even if you’re happy with your current job. It might just be the factor in getting a raise or a promotion. As long as we keep working a resume is never done.
Do these tips make you think differently about yourself? How do you present your true self?
Filed Under: Life Lessons, Marketing Tagged With: ,

15 Ideas on Finding Time to Think

April 14, 2015 by Leave a Comment

15 Ideas on Finding Time to Think

It seems there is never enough time for anything these days. There are so many tasks we need to get done, so many things we need to do in order to maintain some sort of pace in order to avoid getting buried by life. But, this leaves little time for contemplation. There’s just no time to think. The kind of thinking where you can get rid of distractions and do away with that little voice in your head reminding you of everything that needs to get done.

When I was a kid, and I would include my years in college, I had time to think and talk about stuff with my friends; important stuff, meaningful stuff. We would discuss life’s big questions – what do we want to do when we grow up?, who is up there in space looking back down at us?, why can’t people get along?, what are the best albums ever made?, what makes great artists so good?, how can we make the world a better place, do you think she likes me?

Even with classes and homework there was plenty of free time. And back then I didn’t waste it on TV. I watched Monty Python and the Packers games with my friends, but not much else. There also wasn’t the distraction of social media.

There are ways to get back our time. Instead of sitting in front of the TV all night and making status updates I’ve come up with some alternatives. All of these ideas I did at some point years ago. I thought if it worked so successfully back then why not go back to basics.

Here are 15 ideas on finding time to think:

Playing catch: There’s something relaxing about throwing a baseball around. Once you get into a rhythm it can be a kind of meditation.
Fishing: There’s nothing better to slow things down. It’s just you, a friend or two, a fishing pole, and the water. Most times I never even caught fish, but the conversations were great.
Riding a bike: Good exercise and you get to see things from a different perspective. As a kid I biked everywhere. It’s the only way I got anywhere sometimes. The sound of the rubber on the road can be hypnotizing.
Going for a walk: More good exercise. I don’t walk as much as I used to. In college it was the only mode of transportation I had. It makes your senses perk up.
Shooting hoops: More good exercise that forces you to concentrate and think about your shot. It’s good for focus.
Exploring/hiking: Is there anything better than getting away from it all and communing with nature? Listening to the wind blow through the trees or birds singing is calming. Add the sound of water running over rocks or a waterfall and you’ve got yourself the perfect place to stop and take a meditation break.
Building models: I loved to build model tanks and airplanes. It takes focus and discipline. When you start, it sometimes feels like it’s an impossible task because there’s so many pieces and it’s going to take forever to complete it. You can’t rush through it and it’s a good way to slow things down.
Drawing: I always loved drawing, like most kids. I took drawing and painting in college and it opened my eyes to look at things in a different way. Take an art class – it’ll get you thinking with a different part of your brain.
Looking out the window: I don’t know if anything beats daydreaming. There’s so much going on outside that you can’t help but reflect on what’s going on inside. Clouds, trees, insects, animals, and people can trigger so many thoughts.
Staring at the stars: This gets you thinking about life’s big questions. You can’t help it. It puts life into perspective looking up at the universe and looking at light that’s just getting here that might be hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of years old. You realize you are a speck yet full of possibilities.
Gardening/yard work: Getting your hands dirty reconnects you to the earth. It’s as if a chisel cracks away the shell of modern society and you and mother nature are reunited.
Planting a tree: There’s something sacred about planting a tree. Maybe because it’s going to be there for years; possibly longer than we are. It’s majestic, mighty, and unwavering.
Listening to music: I love this one. I get lost in music a lot. It’s where I go to feel like I’m alive. Music stimulates the creative side of my brain.
Road trips: This is where you can really get to know someone and know yourself a little bit better. It’s a great way to strip away the layers and be honest. It might be because you need to travel light and it gets you back to the essentials – food, shelter, sleep, and companionship.
Reading: Pick something that makes you ponder life like poetry, philosophy, mythology, or some sacred text (whatever that means to you). It elevates your thoughts.

I think this list gives us a way to get unstuck and think our way into a more positive existence. If we believe things will never change, we’re trapped. We need time to think and re-group. School has semester breaks, in football you have halftime; take time for yourself to re-think your game plan.

When do you find time for yourself? How are you able to think clearly with distractions? What are your results, or what do you hope the results will be?

Filed Under: Inspiration, Life Lessons Tagged With: ,

The 5 Most Underrated Songs by the Beatles

April 7, 2015 by 3 Comments

The 5 Most Underrated Songs by the Beatles

The amount of songs written and recorded by the Beatles is staggering. With a recording career that spanned just over 7 years they released 13 albums and 22 singles (enough to fill 2 more albums known as Past Masters Vol. 1 & 2).

We know the melodies to most of their songs as if they are a part of our DNA. But, even with such a vast catalog there are some hidden gems – songs that don’t get the attention they deserve.

I’d like to call attention to the 5 most underrated songs by the Beatles.

1) I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party – This gem is from the album Beatles for Sale. All the elements of a great Beatles song are here. Starting with the opening guitar lick, it dives right into a strong melody with tight harmonies that border on the sublime. Listening to Paul harmonize with John is a true joy. I don’t know if there’s anything better than listening to John and Paul sing together and you’d be hard pressed to find singers more attuned to each other. Only the the Everly Brothers and the Bee Gees are their equals.
A very thoughtful and crisp guitar solo from George pours out of his Gretsch that shines with the spirit of Chet Atkins and Carl Perkins, yet it is pure George. This is one of those songs you can listen to 10 times in a row and it’s a pleasure each time.
2) If I Needed Someone – For my money, this is one of the best songs George Harrison ever wrote. George shows off his Rickenbacker 12-string to great delight on this track from Rubber Soul. It stars just as much as George’s vocal. Paul and John provide harmonies to lift the song to another level.
This songs has the distinction of being the only song composed by George that was played live by the Beatles; having performed it on their 1966 tour. George also pulled it out for his 1991 tour of Japan.
3) Hey Bulldog – This lively track was recorded in February 1968 right before the Beatles left for India to learn Transcendental Meditation with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, though the song wouldn’t be released until January 1969 when the Yellow Submarine soundtrack was issued.
The song starts with a moving and catchy opening riff on piano, played by John, then builds as George and Ringo join in, followed by Paul. It features one of Paul’s bass masterpieces as well as a blistering guitar solo by George.
It’s impossible to not get drawn in by the energy this song gives off. And hearing John and Paul interact with each other on the fade out just makes you smile, which is exactly what the Fab Four do – make you smile.
4) Octopus’s Garden – This song by Ringo Starr gets lost in the Beatles canon and that’s a shame. It’s a playful track and you can feel the love the group had for Ringo as they do their best to let him shine on Abbey Road. And shine he does as he provides one of his most solid vocal efforts.
The song bounces along and you can’t help but tap along and move your head from side to side as it plays. Paul lays down a steady bassline and augments the song with some honky-tonk piano in the pre-chours and chorus. The highlight to me, is listening to Paul and George harmonize together. It is truly blissful.
George’s guitar solo is perfect cherry on top of this slice of Beatles wonderfulness. The track is fun to listen to, what else can you say.
5) You Know My Name (Look Up the Number) – The Beatles’ sense of humor shines through in this interesting piece. The comedy is woven into a nice little jazzy number. The Beatles were a tight band, no matter what style of music they attempted.
The interplay between John and Paul is delightful and listening to John at the end of the song sounds a bit like Monty Python. If you don’t get a laugh out of this there’s something seriously wrong with you. It also features a sax solo by Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones.
There you have it; the 5 most underrated songs by the Beatles. Like their more popular songs, each one offers a different bit of creativity. They may not stand out to the masses, but these five songs truly represent who the Beatles are. For the Beatles, and for all artists, there is no such thing as lesser works.
Anything you think should have been on the list? What would you have left off?
Filed Under: Creativity, Inspiration Tagged With: , ,

How To Remain Calm When Your Toaster (Or Anything Else) Is On Fire

March 31, 2015 by 6 Comments

How To Remain Calm When Your Toaster (Or Anything Else) Is On Fire

My work colleague bumped into another person at work when she was leaving the office we share and screamed when they collided. When my colleague came back she mentioned how when things startle her it makes her feel better to make a loud noise. She then reminded me of the story I told her about the fire extinguisher.

A number of years ago my sister was selling her house and stayed with my wife and me for a while. One day my wife and I were watching TV when my sister stepped into the living room and casually asked, “Where do you keep your fire extinguisher? Your toaster is on fire.”
I said, “I think it’s under the sink.” I got up, with no urgency, and walked to the kitchen, opened the cabinet underneath the sink and found it. I took it out and started reading the instructions. When I figured out how it worked I pointed it at the toaster and the flames jumping from it that were almost to the cabinets above it. I pulled the nozzle and the fire retardant foam quickly put out the fire.
People I share this story with are amazed at how casually my sister and I reacted. We were both cool and calm under what most people would assume to be a frightening moment.
I have always reacted to such things in an unemotional way. It’s a part of my nature, as it is my sister’s, but how did we get this way?
Here are four lessons on how to remain calm when your toaster (or anything else) is on fire:
1) Get the facts – It’s difficult to make a decision or react to what the real issue is if it’s clouded in emotion or judgments. You can’t fix things without knowing what the facts are, without the added flowery interpretation.
When I worked at AT&T I’d often get customers calling in to complain about something with their service, like the phone isn’t working, or their bill is screwed up. I would ask for specifics about what the issue was. This leads to lesson number two.
2) Ask Questions – The more questions you ask the closer you can get to pinpointing the issue. Most people tend to give you what they want to tell you. What’s important to them and how they feel. But, how they feel doesn’t affect how you need to approach things. Going back to my AT&T days a customer saying they don’t have dial tone on the phone in 2nd floor office is different than my phone doesn’t work.
3) Remain Objective – People have a tendency to exaggerate things. They bring their biases and past history into situations and give you their version of things. You can listen to what they say, but you need to strip away everything but the key details in order to get to the truth.
You need to remain non-judgmental. Once you label something, you approach in an entirely different way.
4) Don’t Get Emotionally Attached – We want to empathize with others, but we can’t get upset with them or excited. We need to help them, by taking a step back. When you are emotional you don’t think clearly. When you are faced with a crisis or conflict you need to be able to think clearly.
Think about it as if you’re an outside observer. If you look at it as though you have nothing to gain or lose you won’t be attached to it.
Is there something you do to keep yourself calm when chaos or conflict rears its ugly head? Share your comments and let’s help each other remain calm the next time we face it.
Filed Under: Life Lessons Tagged With: , ,

Innovators Think Completely Differently

January 20, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Innovators Think Completely Differently

Innovators think completely differently. I read a story about two doctors at the Texas Heart Institute who saved a man’s life by completely removing his heart and replacing it with a pump they devised. The man has no heartbeat and no pulse. The pump sends blood through the body with a constant flow, like a garden hose. Read more about this amazing story and watch the incredible video.

This story shows that to make giant leaps of progress you need to totally look at the problem completely differently. Instead of looking at ways to fix a damaged heart, the doctors looked at ways to take the heart out of the equation. All innovators think like this. They see the world differently and behave in ways that are contrary to so called normal constraints.
I took a drawing class in college in which the instructor had us draw an image from a photograph, but with an interesting twist. Before we began drawing the instructor had us turn the photograph upside down. It was a great lesson in looking at things differently. Upside down the photograph had shapes, shadows, and colors I didn’t see when looking at it right side up. I know my drawing turned out differently because of this exercise, and I would go so far as to say it was better than if I had drawn it using the photo right side up.
Our mind often sets about fixing problems before even fully realizing what the problem is. We assume we know what the issue is and we go to work on it. Instead, we should take a step back and try to study the problem more closely before trying to come up with a solution.
Is there something you are working on that needs a different way of looking at it? What if you look at it upside down? Inside out? Not look at it at all? The possibilities are almost endless.
Doesn’t that make the problem more fun to solve now? Let me know what you come up with. Here’s to innovation!
Filed Under: Creativity, Inspiration Tagged With:

My 3 Words for 2015

January 6, 2015 by Leave a Comment

My 3 Words for 2015Last year I started an exercise made famous by Chris Brogan – write down three words that will become the theme for the year. This replaces the traditional new year’s resolutions. I believe I had some good results with my three words for 2014, although the words took on different meanings throughout the year, which is absolutely fine. It was interesting to see how the words manifested themselves into the course of the year.

Here are my three words for 2015:

Treasure – I want to treasure the moments I have with family and friends. 2014 presented some challenges (my mom almost dying of pneumonia and losing my job). With those challenges behind me, I want to go forward appreciating the wonders of life. And in most ways I already have. 2014 taught me to realize that our time here is limited and I need to embrace the people I cherish while there’s time; while they are alive or while we are working together. Maybe I’ll have a lot of time with people, but as life teaches us, we don’t know. Don’t wait until it’s too late.
Map – In my new position as Marketing Director I am the only marketing person. There’s so much to do. I’ve been writing things down on a sort of mind map. It’s an interesting and complex chart of everything I want to accomplish with my marketing efforts. I need to remind myself, that when I get overwhelmed I need to look at my map. It will guide me in the right direction. I don’t need to second guess myself. At times it’s difficult because I’m used to being part of a larger team where I could ask my colleagues for help or advice. They’re still only a call, email, or text away, but I need to be strong enough to know that what I’ve charted is the way to go.
Replenish – 2014 wiped me out physically, mentally, and spiritually. I need to work on restoring my body function, my mental health, and my spirit. I need to think more consciously about what I’m doing. Does my action replenish me or does it drain me? I need to look for those people, places, and things that replenish me. I need to make time for them and incorporate them into my life. I need more “me” time in 2015. Maybe I’ll look at it in terms of sabbaticals for myself. Whether that’s some point during the day, or a designated amount of time somewhere.
What are your three words for 2015?
I’m interested to see how this plays out this year. Here’s to 2015!
Filed Under: Inspiration, Motivation Tagged With: ,
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