On this Independence Day, not only do we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence, but it also marks the anniversary of the passing of President John Adams and President Thomas Jefferson. They died within five hours of each other on this date in 1826, the 50thyear of the country they helped to found.
Adams and Jefferson were key patriots in the revolutionary effort and both contributed immensely to establish the democracy we have today. But after years of collaboration, the two differed significantly on how to run the country and they became bitter adversaries…
…until they chose to focus more on their commonalities than disagreements. Soon after Jefferson’s presidency, the two rekindled their friendship and became regular correspondents for the 14 years until their death.
I’m sure it was difficult for Adams to pen the initial letter to Jefferson offering an olive branch of reconciliation, but both men benefitted because he did. This Fourth of July, take a lesson from two of our country’s Founding Fathers and take the first step to find the higher ground in one of your relationships.
In a college bookstore, they had a shelf of mugs emblazoned with the school name and “Mom” or “Dad” or “Grandparent.” I’ll bet they have been selling this same style of mugs since the ivy first started growing on the side of the building.
Mom/Dad/Grandparent mugs are vestiges of a traditional school environment that is disappearing. Where are the mugs that say: Daughter, Step-Mom, Aunt or Husband in recognition of the non-traditional family and growing adult/graduate enrollment? Why isn’t the school courting Sister or Brother as a way to fuel their pipeline for future student populations? What about the mugs that use colloquial references to parents: Pops, Gramps, Nana or Momma? Or in languages that represent a large portion of their student body: Padre, Madre, Mare, Papi, Maman, Baba?
Today as we celebrate Father’s Day, think of all the dads who should be recognized, and also the other members of the family who support you. There may not be a mug for Step-Dad or Uncle, but for many people, those relationships have been invaluable. Raise whatever glass you have in a toast to them.
This is the first Mother’s Day that I am without my mom and while I’m sure it’s not a new phenomenon for many, it is hard for me.
When I think about the mother/daughter relationship, not only do I think about my Mom, I think about the pseudo-mom role that I have played for the last decade. When I was working in St. Louis, I took a student from Georgia under my wing. Due to the distance, her parents were unable to regularly watch her play basketball in person, so I was that fan in the stands. If she needed someone as a guest for a banquet or awards ceremony, she called on me. For over a decade, to her, I am still “Momma T” even though this year she is a mom herself.
On Mother’s Day, think of mother as a verb and not a noun. How can you nurture someone who needs a little extra attention? Can you care for and protect someone who is vulnerable? In what ways can you build someone’s esteem and help them grow?
Whether you are male or female, use this holiday to mother someone in the best sense of the word. And if your Mom is still with you, be sure to give her a call and a big hug. Believe me, you’ll be thankful that you could.
The commercial side of Easter highlights bunnies, colored eggs, baskets and candy. What an odd combination. If you were starting out from scratch, you would not put bunnies and eggs together. You would not have a rabbit deliver chocolate versions of its likeness to be devoured by children. You would not add dyes to a natural food and hide them outside. None of it makes logical sense and sounds more like an April Fool’s joke than a widely-accepted practice.
And yet, in homes across the country today, there is a prevalence of chocolate rabbits, egg hunts and baskets of candy allegedly delivered by bunnies that walk on their hind legs.
It reminds me of a creative thinking exercise that asks participants to pair unlikely items together and see what new combination they form. Teams draw from a stack of index cards with adjectives and a stack of cards with nouns and see what ideas the pairing stimulates. What does a Happy Toaster look like? How about a Clean Chair? Or what about an Eccentric Shoe?
Try it for yourself and see if you stumble upon a winning combination like Chocolate-filled Rabbits or Multi-colored eggs!
Happy Easter!
Happy International Women’s Day!
This holiday has been designated for many years, but it seems to be receiving much more attention this year in the midst of #MeToo, women’s marches, Time’s Up, and a general mobilization of female activism.
To celebrate this year, McDonald’s has flipped its arches for the first time in history and will be featuring upside-down arches (to form a W instead of an M) on all of its digital platforms. While it is sure to garner media attention, it seems a bit off-brand to me. McDonald’s isn’t a particularly female-oriented business and it seems a stretch to make such a statement about one segment of the population.
Mattel, on the other hand, tied into International Women’s Day to launch a new line of diverse Barbie dolls representing 11 countries. This is far more aligned with the holiday and their customer base and, in my opinion, was a fitting release date.
Other businesses are just trying to capitalize on the momentum around the day and the women’s movement by offering an array of “women-themed” products. This, too, seems to be commercially motivated rather than genuinely relevant to the event.
There are literally holidays for every day of the year and a plethora of causes that could link to your marketing efforts. Think carefully before you jump on the "brand-wagon" and alter your products or messaging because of them. Authenticity drives revenue in the long term.
Happy Chinese New Year! Many in the U.S. might be oblivious to this date, but the Chinese New Year is one of the most celebrated holidays in the world.
As with any custom, there are numerous rituals, foods, songs and colors associated with the festivities, but the one that resonated with me was the idea of cleaning your house. Legend has it that you need to have your house clean when the new year begins, and by doing so, you sweep away the bad luck and make it ready for good luck to appear. Many families go beyond cleaning to redecorate or add a fresh new coat of paint.
Much of the country is now entering the doldrums of winter. Skies are gray, snow is plentiful and temperatures are low. What better time than using the Chinese New Year to begin anew and prepare your home for the coming of spring. You could do the same in your office: brushing away the winter blues by adding your own artificial brightness in anticipation for the change of seasons.
Use today as a second chance to make a fresh start in 2018.
Learn more about the Chinese customs here.
There is a fine line between convenience and lazy and the distinction is getting more blurry by the day.
First, there was Amazon Prime, but now two-day delivery seems ordinary so they have introduced Prime Now that delivers to many places within the hour. Amazon offers Dash Buttons that allow you to re-order a product with just a touch instead of having to do all that work of looking up the item again.
It wasn’t enough that Siri could send texts or make calls for you; now Echo, Google Home and Alexa can turn on music, adjust temperatures, and look up information at the sound of your voice. Reading email on your smartphone has gone from cutting edge to cumbersome, so it is now available on your smartwatch. Your voicemails are converted to texts so you can access them more quickly.
I wonder what people are doing with all the time that they have saved.
Apparently not going to Ash Wednesday services. A church in St. Louis is acknowledging the desire of some people to do things more quickly by offering a “drive-thru ashing” today. Instead of needing to attend a regular Ash Wednesday service in a church, Manchester United Methodist is reaching out to those on the go by providing ashes in a highly visible lot along a major road. Priests will be available throughout the day to administer ashes to people without them having to leave their car.
Whether you applaud all these conveniences or lament the growing prevalence of shortcuts, “now” has become the new reality. You would be wise to embrace it now rather than later.
Thanks, Lynn!
Many schools and organizations celebrate Black History Month with traditional programs such as speakers or dramatic events. Here is a new way for anyone to become engaged in learning about the history of our country: transcribing anti-slavery manuscripts.
The Boston Public Library is looking for volunteers to read the handwritten text and transcribe it by typing it out as a way to preserve the documents and make their contents more widely accessible. Anyone who has a computer can volunteer!
Instead of passively commemorating this month, take an active role to both learn about history and help share it.
Thanks, Meg!
During the holiday season, many people are feeling generous and are inclined to contribute to a charity, but organizations must think creatively to make an appeal that stands out from all the other requests. Rush Copley Hospital has done that with their Giving Wreaths.
Employees or departments at the hospital choose to decorate a wreath. The wreaths are first displayed along the glass windows in the main entranceway, making for festive décor, and then anyone can purchase a raffle ticket for $2 and indicate which wreath they would like to win.
The Giving Wreaths have become a competition of pride among the participants and you can tell that much time and love went into making them. Wreaths each have a theme: Christmas on the Beach, Making Spirits Bright (with alcohol bottles), or Sugar Plum Fairy (with candy and sweets).
Think of how you can make your holiday donation drive serve multiple purposes: engaging employees, decorating your space, entertaining visitors and raising money. The wreaths accomplish all these things and may be
an idea to adapt for your elves next year.
One of the nicest traditions of December is the Help-Portrait project, where those with talents in photography, hair or makeup provide photographs for anyone in need. The goal is to create a smile and a memory for those who could not otherwise afford to have their picture taken.
I learned of this project through a colleague whose campus sponsors a Help-Portrait session every December. It is one of the most rewarding programs they host, as families are given a gift that will last for generations.
My childhood home was lined with portraits: each of us at 3 months, 6 months and every year thereafter through high school. Multiply that by five kids and there was a rotating art gallery of favorites. I think of the families who are not fortunate enough to capture these memories, or even to afford school pictures each year. The Help-Portrait meets that need for them.
We normally think of taking pictures, but these are the portraits that give. You don’t have to be a professional or create an elaborate event to give the gift of photography to another this holiday season. Consider organizing a Help-Portrait event instead of another holiday party and provide a memorable evening for all.
Thanks, Dave!
I heard a heartwarming story that encapsulates the spirit of Christmas, and it seems appropriate to share on this Feast of St. Nicholas.
A mother suspected that her young son was becoming suspicious about the real Santa Claus, so she took him out for “coffee” and a serious talk. “When you know who Santa is,” she said, “it is time to BECOME Santa. You do this by providing a gift or an act of kindness without someone else knowing who did it.”
The son apparently took the message to heart and stealthily dropped off slippers on the doorstep for a neighbor who went to the mailbox without them, with the note simply saying that they were from Santa.
Whether you have known about Santa for days or decades, it is never too late to share his spirit and to become Santa this holiday season. The world needs such kindness now more than ever.
It seems like Thanksgiving is gaining respect as a holiday instead of being lost in the pre-Christmas frenzy:
- I received Thanksgiving cards in the mail from my insurance agent, financial planner and Hallmark.
- Yesterday my email inbox was filled with notes of gratitude from everyone from my credit union to Joe Biden!
- Stores are selling collections of Thanksgiving clothing for kids.
- A previous dot highlighted how Target was consciously reducing the Christmas Creep.
Maybe Thanksgiving is making a resurgence because people are feeling the need to find good things to celebrate. Maybe people are recognizing the important role gratitude can play in their lives. Or maybe it is just seen as another marketing opportunity.
Whatever the reasons, include Thanksgiving in your organization’s planning for next year. It’s always the right time to be grateful for clients and vendors who make your work possible.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving and thank you for reading leadership dots!
Halloween is over, and so for most retailers, it means shifting into full Christmas mode. Not so this year with Target. According to their spokesperson, customers are not happy that stores skip over Thanksgiving, so Target has pledged to avoid the “Christmas creep.” The chain will focus more on Thanksgiving and the Fall season before a full-fledged push for the December holidays.
I wasn’t sure that I believed it, but then I received the following flyer in the mail. No jingle bells or mention of Santa, so maybe they really are serious!
Think about the messages you send on behalf of your organization. Can you extend the Thanksgiving season for all of November and express gratitude to your employees, customers, vendors and donors? Is there a way for you to appreciate all the gifts your organization has and share your bounty with others?
Make your November the month of thanksgiving (lower case).
It used to be that every house on the block offered candy to trick-or-treaters, but then allergies and health consciousness kicked in and the candy bars were no longer standard. I am all for offering a variety of Halloween treats to avoid overloading children with excess sugar, and for offering non-candy treats as an option. (See the dot from last year about the teal pumpkin project)
But Dole has taken the healthy-holiday idea too far by offering mini-salads as an option for those who come to your door. I doubt that most would see it as a trick instead of a treat!
What’s next? Pumpkin Spice Lettuce? There is a limit to how much nutrition you should promote on a holiday centered around sweetness.
Keep the context and your audience in mind when planning advertising or product launches. You don’t need to insert yourself into every holiday or fad.
Thanks, Meg!
When did our focus become more on States rather than on the United? As we prepare to celebrate Constitution Day this weekend, I wonder whether we could have even gotten the constitution passed in this modern era. I’m afraid not.
It causes me to think about what principles should be for all, rather than to be left up to the states. Nevada was once the lone bastion of legalized gambling. Oregon began the assisted suicide movement. Colorado has its marijuana. Few states acknowledged same sex marriage before it became universal. Are we heading toward a sub-divided country where you choose a state because of the freedoms it gives you rather than enjoying those privileges country-wide?
And this is to say nothing of the politics that divide us even within states. Will the dissidence move us to even smaller increments of freedom: legalizing practices by county or city rather than trying to get an entire state to agree on something?
There has been much focus on our differences lately, and it all revolves around what questions are asked. This commercial for a Denmark television station highlights that we have more in common than we think if we frame the question differently. I recommend that you watch and consider the message behind it.
The Constitution begins with: We the people of the United States…. Not we the Democrats or we the white folks or we the good souls of Iowa…we the people. Focus on that one word to help us form a more perfect Union going forward.
Q: What is the most requested clothing item at homeless shelters?
A: Socks
Q: What did author Brene' Brown use her influence to request as donations to Hurricane Harvey victims?
A: Underwear
Most people reading this dot are fortunate enough as to not think about socks or underwear. They come from the drawer in our bedrooms and are an invisible, utility item. But for those who are permanently or temporarily homeless, these basic garments can provide dignity, a feeling of being clean, and a moment of normality.
As a result of Brene’s social media pleas, the Undies for Everyone organization received 177,882 pairs of underwear (and $658,750 in donations that will buy 775,000 additional pairs), helping not only the flood victims, but also those who were in need in Houston before Harvey ever made landfall. The Bombas Company has donated 4 million pairs of socks to homeless shelters, and continues to contribute through its buy one/donate one policy.
People are eager to help after a disaster like Hurricanes Harvey or Irma – or how they felt on this date in 2001. But keep in mind that there are those who need help every day.
Love isn’t lofty. Commemorate Patriot Day today, and also be a patriot on October 11 and November 11 and every month thereafter, by contributing the non-sexy basics that help others to have what you take for granted.
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Marshall Goldsmith, the father of 360 degree feedback, shared some of his thoughts on a recent LeadStar podcast. He encouraged people to ask themselves: “Who are your heroes? – and then to consider how you can be more like them.”
He gave the personal example of one of his heroes who was very generous with his time and mentored Goldsmith when he was a novice. Goldsmith always admired that, and now is leading an extensive mentoring program where he is “teaching everything he knows” to 100 people chosen for his program. He offers this without cost, rather a promise that the participants pay by teaching others in this way when they are older.
As we reflect on Labor Day and all the heroes among us – those that have advanced labor and prosperity in the country, served in the military, volunteered, been a first responder or provided heroic acts in any way – think about who you would like to emulate and why. Then make your labor for today taking the first step toward that behavior.
Source; Marshall Goldsmith on LeadStar podcast episode #24, August 24, 2017
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It seems that the Fourth of July has taken on a life of its own and become a major commercial holiday. Since Easter, aisles have been filled with red, white and blue paraphernalia, featuring everything from themed bubbles to cups to yard decorations. The selection of patriotic attire has burgeoned too, and now you'll be in the minority if you're not wearing a Fourth of July t-shirt or jewelry today.
While I applaud the celebration, I think it has gone too far. There is one thing I definitely won't be wearing today: red, white and blue eyelashes. They seem more like a Halloween accessory instead of a patriotic one!
What will you be doing today to pay tribute to this great land? I hope that whether it is through something from a store or just from your heart that you find a way to show your love of our country. Be safe celebrating the independence that came at such great sacrifice.
