leadership dot #1801: not forever

It was the city-wide garage sale this weekend and, of course, I made the rounds looking for treasures (aka buttons for my collection). I did not find too many of those, but what I did see for sale was Christmas trees. In my unscientific survey, artificial Christmas trees were the number one item being discarded this season. Truly, it was rare when a sale did not feature a box stuffed with the fake evergreen.

When I started asking about this, I learned that many people "just didn't have time" to put up a tree the past few years. How sad that our lives have become so busy that a centuries-old tradition is being put to the curb (literally). If it's not fast and pre-packaged, it seems to be relegated to the wayside.

Think about the traditions you wish to preserve in your organization or your family. You may find it hard to believe that future groups won't cherish and maintain that function forever, but if the iconic Christmas tree can be sold for a few bucks, it seems that nothing should be taken for granted. Even ever-green doesn't mean forever.

leadership dot #1800: information

At a recent garage sale, I saw a box of encyclopedias available for the taking. Back in the day, the good 'ole Brittanica was the font of all knowledge: everything you needed to know all bound in ten intimidating volumes. Since then, we have moved to the internet, of course, and Wikipedia can tell you more that the encyclopedia ever did.

A new iteration general-information-all-in-one-place is now in development. Blippar is a software working to add visuals to the vast array of knowledge that is already gathered. You will be able to use your camera to access layers and layers and layers of information about the picture you have taken. An example was shared in Inc. magazine showing how it migrates from discovery to selection to information and then even to augmentation of data. I see vast amounts of time being expended as people surf deeper and deeper into a topic!

As you teach students, your staff or your children the skills of life, one of the pressing needs is going to be how to prioritize and assess the limitless amount of information that they will encounter. It's no longer enough to learn how to spell C-A-T or to even identify one; now people need to know when enough is enough on any given topic. Tomorrow is going to make the encyclopedia look like Cliff Notes.

Inc. March 2017

leadership dots #1799: fry day

It's the first Friday in May -- and for many parts of the country it marks the beginning of the "sun season" where warmth is gratefully here to stay. There is great temptation to go outside and soak in all of the rays, but today is a reminder to avoid the serious downside of unprotected sunning.

The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention (NCSCP) has designated a "Don't Fry Day" to encourage campuses, educators and parents to proactively create awareness about the hazards of sun exposure. Don't Fry Day encourages people not only to take preventative steps to guard against UV rays, but educates them on how to respond should a melanoma be detected. A host of free resources are available here.

The NCSCP estimates that two million new cases of skin cancer will be detected this year. It is one of the most pervasive -- and one of the most preventable -- cancers in the United States. The official "Don't Fry Day" is May 26, but why wait until then to start habits that can last through the summer? 

leadership dot #1798: happy place

A recent ad for Carnival Cruise Lines touted: "Your Happy Place will be Jealous!"  It got me thinking about where my Happy Place would be and what characteristics earned that distinction.

My answer is the same as I gave to the question that was asked as part of the Earth Day celebration in church: "tell us the body of water that is closest to your heart." For me, my Happy Place and water are often linked!

I conjured up several images of Happy Places in my life: on the shores of Lake Michigan, in a hammock in my back yard reading a book or cozy on the couch with my dogs. Just articulating them made me more committed to intentionally include them in my life this summer.

Think about what makes a place happy for you. Make a commitment to mark out time on your calendar so you are able to revel in the nourishment that it brings you. 

leadership dot #1797: yours

As I was running into Macy’s to do a return, I was stunned to see the overflowing trash bin just outside the main door. I felt like I was going into an alley rather than a department store. And with so much garbage there already, I either had to carry the cup I was going to dispose, spend time smashing it into the receptacle or set it next to the can on the ground. None were appealing options.

I suspect that responsibility for trash pick up falls with the owners of the mall rather than with Macy’s itself, but it makes no difference. In my mind, it was MACY’S that failed to provide the service and it is the entrance to their store that was off-putting.

Think of any parallels in your organization. Do you serve terrible food at your function and blame the caterer? If your payments arrive late, do you blame the processor? Is your sidewalk a hazard but you claim it is the responsibility of the landlord?

At the end of the day, your organization is YOUR responsibility, not the building manager’s or the contractor’s. It doesn’t matter who should be doing it; it matters that you ensure it is done. YOUR name is on the door.

leadership dot #1796: doggone good idea

The word "free" is a powerful motivator, so when I heard that a local photographer was offering free sittings for pet photos if you made a $20 donation to the local pet rescue shelter, I jumped on the opportunity to get pictures. I was hoping I would like one of the shots. Instead, I had a hard time deciding which of the many excellent photographs to buy!

I spent a lot more than "free" on this project, and 10% of my print ordering also went to the rescue shelter, someplace that I had never donated to in the past. In addition, the best shot from each of the animals (as determined by Facebook voting, of course) will be featured on a calendar and sold to benefit the shelter.

This was a win-win partnership all around. I got awesome photos of my girls. The photographer made money on my print order, got her name out widely through the Facebook campaign and had people bragging about her photos. The rescue facility received awareness and a substantial donation through the multiple means of directing funding to them -- and without doing any of the work!

How can you emulate this collaboration in a fund raising or community project of your own? Note that there are many roles people can play in the process -- the purchaser, the one who donates and the recipient. Even if your organization doesn't receive donations, perhaps you can be the one to give them or to buy from someone who is.


Vote for these beautiful dogs here.

Abigail & Iris

Abigail & Iris

Iris

Abigail

leadership dot #1795: sitting

A teleclass I attended featured a speaker from New Zealand. Before she began about her topic, she shared some of the pride she has for her homeland, including their love of sport. The tidbit that was most fascinating to me was that the New Zealanders intentionally chose sports where the athlete was sitting down -- and found that they had the most success in them!

The country's great athletes have come in kayaking, crew, equestrian and sailing...all "sitting" sports.

I have never classified sports in that way, but someone somewhere in New Zealand decided that this small country could not be great at everything, so they had to find a niche -- or more accurately, create one -- then pursue excellence in their narrowly chosen piece of the athletic pie.

Consider the arena in which you play. Can you rethink the whole to claim a new piece for yourself? Is there a way for you to focus on one small specialty rather than being a generalist? (like the photographer in tomorrow's dot!) Or is it a matter of reframing what you are already doing to highlight the niche you have chosen?

Use today's dot as motivation to find your equivalent of pursuing only "sitting" sports with zeal.

Extreme You teleclass by Sarah Robb O'Hagan. Massachusetts Conference for Women, April 25, 2017