Pissing In The Wind

I hate when I’m asked my opinion on a subject knowing darn well I’m pissing in the wind in giving it. In simpler words, it’s like trying to do something when there is no hope of succeeding. What makes it worse is when the person asking agrees with you and knows themselves the battle is lost. The question posed towards me was “how do companies retain their current staff leaders and also get others to move up the ladder?” I replied I could offer suggestions and talk for hours on this question. And then I said, but who really cares what I have to say and we both know it will make no difference what so ever. I did offer a small opinion ( couldn’t help myself ) by saying ” when an army can no longer move forward due to it’s leaders resigning in droves and it reserves depleted, it might be time to rethink ones strategy.” One thing I do know for sure, the days of threats and intimidation are over with as a tool to motivate people. Desertion can get ugly within an army that’s trying to move forward.

Pride………………

The bible describes pride the best in my opinion. Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction!

Webster’s definition- a reasonable or justifiable sense of one’s worth or importance.

Then you have some related words- ego, pridefullness, self-esteem, self-regard, self-respect,assurance, confidence, self-assurance, self-assuredness, self-confidence, self-pride, self-trust, self-worth; dignity, face, honor, prestige.

I bring this up because I work with a GREAT young man. I see him as a future manager, something worth investing in. But like so many other people over my career, we could lose him before we really get him. You see, this generation of young people want more. They don’t mind working for it, but not at $10.00 a hour over the next three years waiting for it. So, they look to see what else is out there and what is offered. I bring all of this up because I almost lost this young man to a competitor. I spent sometime talking to him about patience, faith and his future in trying to keep him. Then, one of my supervisors, even though IMPRESSED by the man said ” let him leave. ” The problem with this is we let our pride effect our business decisions. We simply cut off our nose in spite of our face. We continue to think we are such a great company we can pick and choose who we want and they must yield to our time lines. This from a company who is turning over more managers and associates compared to any other time in their eighty years of existence. And for such an old company, 70% of our people have little or no experience. But, maybe I’m wrong, maybe we should let them go. Then again the bible does hit self-pride on the head, ” Pride goes before destruction.”

The Story Behind Why I Blog

When I was transferred a few years ago after spending 16 years at one location, I openly admit I was a little sad. To help me through those tough days my family called a meeting. The outcome was simple………….
1.) My wife bought me a phone, I never had or wanted one before that moment. I have few on my phone list and call seldom, but I do stay in touch…..This is a BIG step for me.
2.) My daughter signed me into facebook, I love it…It’s the easiest way to stay in touch with people. I have only EVER requested 1 friend , I just didn’t want to bother people. I have over 300 friends today:)
3.) My son set me up with a wordpress blog. It is byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy far my favorite hobby. I asked my son at the time how many readers could I expect? His reply was simple and honest by saying ” Dad, no one really knows you and you have little to say.” He then said I might get 1 reader a week, it’s been almost 3 years and I have over 7500 readers. I hope you all continue to check in on me no matter the source:)

People Skills In The Workplace Is A Must

Some people have people skills, most don’t. There’s an old saying ” people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” And if your a leader, you have to learn how to merchandise people. Simply put, putting the best people around you in the right positions to help them, you and the company look their best. But, do you really appreciate your people? I can’t name any one BIG company that really cares for their people. Companies become so BIG, people become nothing more then a number. If most leaders would only listen, I believe they would hear of the dissatisfaction and even resentment present amongst so many employees. Employees for the most part are hungry for something new: like workplaces that are more respectful, cooperative, appreciative, challenging and caring. You MAY NOT be able to help the WHOLE company, but you can help yourself and your own environment as a leader if you manage your people skills.
As a leader- When did you LAST encourage an employee? Have you given them any feedback on how well they are doing or where they need improve? When did you last send a card in the mail thanking them for anything? EMPLOYEES want and seek recognition from leaders.
Be patient- You should never be patient with poor performance, but be patient how you react to it. You can get your point across without tearing down a person
Trust people-Let people make decisions, DON’T MIRO manage them. Let them do the job you hired them to do.
Be unselfish- PLEASE, just think of yourself less, put others first. Sometimes, employees just need someone to talk to or have some idea to better the company. Are you approachable?
Be truthful- Don’t lie……….I rather be hit in the face instead of being stabbed in the back.
It all comes down with appreciating your employees. The more they like working for you the less turn over you will experience. It is a FACT, look up the numbers, employees are waiting to cut and run from their current companies. In a time when older companies are trying to protect their cultures, they simply have to look at how they are treating their people.

The Key To Happiness, Is In A Poem

This is a poem and at the end is my closing remarks. I have given framed copies of it away for over twenty-four years to people that I have worked with and have made a difference in my life….

The Man In The Glass
Peter Dale Wimbrow Sr.

When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day
Just go to the mirror and look at yourself
And see what that man has to say.

For it isn’t your father, or mother, or wife
Whose judgment upon you must pass
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass.

He’s the fellow to please – never mind all the rest
For he’s with you, clear to the end
And you’ve passed your most difficult, dangerous test
If the man in the glass is your friend.

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years
And get pats on the back as you pass
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
If you’ve cheated the man in the glass.

* I have kept this poem with me for years. The meaning to me is that we must make the best of the ability God has given us. We have to do the things that are right rather than those that make us look good, or make us popular. When all is said and done, each day we put our head on the pillow, it’s just us and God, and we can’t fool either one.

My Top 10 Things That SHOCKED Me At Disney With People!

I recently returned from taking my granddaughter to Disney world. Overall it was a great trip. Not so much because of anything Disney had done but it was the looks on my granddaughters face that made the trip priceless. What shocked me was the manners and standards of so many people visiting parks. With that being said I thought I would list the top 10 things that left me talking to myself.

1.) How people TRASHED Disney after the electric light parade with garbage left all over as soon as the parade ended. My question is does it really take an effort to put your waste in trash cans?

2.) If I had a dollar for every person running into me while TEXTING on their phone I’d be rich today! Let me understand this. You just paid $80 to get into Disney and your on the phone, REALLY?

3.) What ever happened to people not cutting in front of others while ahead of them in line.

4.) So someone at the park is speaking to everyone in line and giving directions. YOU CAN’T HEAR ANYTHING DUE TO EVERYONE TALKING!

5.) While I was eating. Parents were taking pictures of their kids climbing on restaurant retaining walls and displays posted ” please stay off.”

6.) Having to give people directions, up to 4 times in a row that had to do with safety.

7.) Parents leaving their small children unattended to just wonder off.

8.) Get offffffffffffffffffffffffffff your phone! I wasn’t on my once, people lived on theirs. If your constantly on the phone, your missing the moments.

9.) I know it’s warm, but it’s a family park, not a strip club. Dress for the occasion.

0.) And last but not least……That no Disney associate shot and killed any of these @%#holes, because the good lord knows I wanted to. I saw many associates roll their eyes and they even seemed on the brink of anger at times. It all makes you wonder, does anyone have any basic common sense anymore?

The Willow Tree

When I was a boy and growing up in the projects we had only one tree in the neighborhood. The homes themselves were nothing more then a cluster type barrack made out of concrete blocks. The homes had small streets between them with no trees. All the trees were in the woods and fields that surrounded the entire property. But on my small street, we had the one tree, a willow tree. I wish I could tell you of some great memories of that tree, but the memories are not good ones. My memories are of when my dad would send me to the willow tree to fetch my own switch. Now, let me tell you something, you haven’t had a whipping until you have been “hit” by a switch. The best way to describe how a willow branch feels and the marks it leaves on your back is for one to picture what they know about a leather whip used on a person. The limb gives as it sways back and forth, but it has a bite to it that is everlasting on ones mind. But I have taken the willow tree mentality into how I manage people today. I describe managers and how they handle people as one of three kinds of plant life.

The Cactus-Hard, firm , stands straight up and seems to not give. Covering the entire outside of the cactus are razor-sharp needles, mostly used for defense.
The Cactus Manager is the same. Gives little, comes off hard and people approach them with caution for they are afraid of the sting.

The ( Callery ) Pear tree- They seem like any other tree, strong and firm. But they fall over in stormy weather, they are a weak tree…
The Pear Manager- Though they come off with a good presence, they cave in to others when challenged. They do bend, but break easily.

The Willow tree- It can come off weak by it’s looks, but blows freely in the wind. The roots are remarkable for their toughness, size, and tenacity to life, and roots readily grow from aerial parts of the plant.
The Willow Manager-Firm, strong, but bends without breaking. You look like a weak tree, but remember the branch can be made into a switch. And a switch can beat the hell out of you if need be.