#1033 simple

I recently had two occasions where I became frustrated because something didn't work. 

My Fitbit battery was low so I replaced it, only to have the entire device go black.  I thought I had a bad battery, so I made another trip to Target and purchased a new one.  The same thing happened -- zip on my Zip.  I had my mechanically-inclined friend try to fix it.  Nothing.  

So I emailed Fitbit customer support.  Two days later I received instructions on how to make sure the "silver battery tab is flush with the outline in the tracker housing."  I moved the piece of metal that is about the size of an earring post a distance about the width of an eyelash.  It worked beautifully.  

Then I wasted another 15 minutes of my life trying to get my phone to sync with the wireless speaker.  I tried every button and gizmo to get music to play, but silence.  Until I realized that the volume on my phone was on zero.  Oops.  One swipe of the finger and The Boss was in my office.

Sometimes it is the simple things that trip us up.  We tend to look for complicated solutions to problems or overlook the obvious.  The next time you are faced with a problem, be it mechanical or cultural, take a moment to try the easy solution first.  It may just do the trick!

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#1032 misperception

At the closing of my house in West Virginia, the young mother who was buying it seemed very anxious.  I tried to reassure her and reiterated that the house had great charm.  "Oh, it's not the house," she said.  "Your dogs were home when we viewed it and my young son thinks that they will still be there," she said.  "He can't wait to move in and play with the puppies!"

While we may think we are more rational than a small lad, we often make assumptions in the same way.  We transfer traits from one product to another or assume that characteristics associated with a purchase will continue:  buying a certain brand of clothing will make us seem fashionable.  A cowboy hat will instill us with Southern magnetism.  A certain car will help us be perceived as young and cool.  A select address will infer success.

The puppies don't always come with the house.  Keep that in mind as you evaluate what you are really buying.

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#1031 H2O

To the eye, water is water is water; it all looks the same.  But if you add a story to it, the liquid becomes far more valuable.

My sister sent me a postcard from the Fountain of Youth in St. Augustine Florida.  The Spanish explorer Ponce deLeon was searching for the mythical waters in 1513 when he landed in Florida.  Today it serves as a tourist attraction and Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, where visitors can drink the water from the Spring of Eternal Hope.  I don't believe in the de-aging powers of the water, but in case you do, you can buy some online at fountainofyouthgiftshop.com (for far more than a bottle of Aquafina!)

I also just saw an entrepreneurial use of water in a lokai bracelet.  These look like plastic bracelets children would wear, but they cost $17.99 because they contain water from Mount Everest (the highest spot on Earth) and mud from the Dead Sea (the lowest point on the planet).  If you believe the source, you may pay the premium price to "find your balance, whether you're on top of the world or down on your luck."

Water from many other sources is sold for far more than the nourishment that comes out of your tap.  Think about the narrative that you can add to the service you provide that will allow you to add value to what you deliver.

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#1030 expert

We had a professional photographer on campus this week to take some pictures for our admissions publications.  One of our staff said that they would like to consult with him about what camera to buy.

"I get asked that kind of question all the time, especially around Christmastime," he said.  "But I tell people that unless you want a camera that costs over $3,000, I don't know anything more about them than you do.  You can use your iPhone!"

At first it seemed odd that a professional wouldn't know anything about something in his field, until you realize that "his field" has nothing to do with amateur picture taking and YouTube quality videos.  He operates out of an entirely different realm, and is an expert in that sphere, but our world of photography and his don't intersect, let alone overlap.

Think about how you define your circle of knowledge.  Have you defined an expertise in a very narrow band or are you a generalist in a broad category?  Do you specialize in an area that some may find limiting, but in which you are able to be at the top of your field?  Would you rather be sought after by a few in a niche or by many in a mass market?

Different lenses yield different shots.  Knowing more about a very little may be the angle that captures it for you.

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

Quote from Dan McClanahan

#1029 shades

I wear transition lenses that change from clear to dark depending on the light.  I still don't understand why, but I can't tell at all that the lenses are changing.  I walk in from the daylight only to be startled by my reflection and seeing that I am essentially wearing sunglasses when I did not even notice them turning darker.  Nor do I notice them fading back to clear; they truly are seamless in their transition.

I think about this as a metaphor for other changes that occur.  Those who are experiencing the change may not even notice that differences are occurring.  You are gaining weight.  The sick person is becoming weaker.  Your automatic savings is growing.  The paint on your walls is fading.  The car is deteriorating.  The tree has grown taller than your house.

These changes are all noticeable to those who only see them occasionally. They may, in fact, be startling to others who haven't see the differences evolve.

Is your change happening all at once -- like putting on sunglasses -- or is it more akin to transition lenses where the change process is less pronounced?  Each type requires a different method of preparing for it, recording it and managing the process.  Think about what type of sunglasses will make your future look brightest.

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#1028 the same

Continuing yesterday's theme of what our infrastructure has in common, it reminded me of an icebreaker a student did in the teams class I am teaching.

She timed groups of students for five minutes and asked them to make a list of all they had in common.  They came up with some very creative things, but failed to list most of the obvious traits:  they were all human, all had 2 hands, 2 eyes, 2 feet; all were able to see, everyone could speak English, all had hair, all were wearing clothes, all were from the U.S., etc.  If they just listed in-common body parts it would have easily taken the allotted time.

Most groups also focused on tangible things, and neglected to list the intangibles that they had in common: they were happy, tired, sad, friendly, honest, loyal, kind, etc.  This, too, could have generated another long list.

This exercise is a good introduction to a group who is prone to overlooking the obvious or who needs to see things from a different perspective.  Sometimes things seem harder than they really are because we fail to see what is right in front of us.  Things that are pervasive tend to fade into the background and become invisible.

Whether it is the lowly 2x4 or the fact your fellow travelers are all wearing shoes, focus today on things that you otherwise would not see and challenge yourself to make new connections out of the commonalities.

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#1027 in common

As I have written in previous blogs, the options to personalize and customize abound.  Almost everything today comes with options, choices and ways to make it your own...

...unless you look closely.

Our infrastructure is remarkably standardized.  Houses are built on a 2x4 platform with uniform sized drywall sheets and rolls of insulation.  Electricity in the U.S. comes out of same-size outlets through AC 110 circuits.  Residential plumbing has standardized pipe sizes.  Cabinets come in uniform size increments so they can be mixed and matched.

Computers run on very similar operating systems to allow sharing of information.  There are a limited number of gasoline choices for our vehicles, which fit into standard size garages and parking spots.  Coins are the same across the country so they work in vending machines and meters.  Telephones can call other telephones and radio plays on all radios thanks to airwave standards.  

Our Christmas lights and hair dryers will work in any home in America and my butcher will give us the same pound of meat as yours will.  Calendars, clocks and cups all measure the same increments.  

Instead of focusing on all that is different or celebrating the choices we have, take a moment and pay attention to what is the same.  How is your workplace the same as another across the country?  What does your school teach that others do as well?  How is your organization like several others?  

Just like the basic 2x4, a common platform can be the basis for building greatness.

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#1026 so close, yet...

A friend shared a customer service experience from his dentist, who sent an email reminder that it was time to schedule his next appointment.  Points for being helpful and convenient.

Only the reminder came on a Friday -- the day that the office is closed.  

It resulted in a wasted phone call, an annoyed client, and an email that has to remain in the inbox as a reminder to do it again on Monday...Goodbye good feelings.

There are many little ways that this could have been a better experience:
> Set the reminders to only go out on Mondays or days the office is open
> Include office hours in the reminder so at least those who read it don't waste their time
> Have an after-hours scheduling option so you could click on a link to select an open appointment
> Text people only when someone is there to answer an instant text reply

I wonder if the office even knows this is happening. I suspect they purchased the reminder system, thought it was much more convenient than the previous postcard mailings (it is) and didn't give it much more consideration.  The originators are not the end users, and so would not experience the frustrations that the receivers have.

What system do you have out there that may be annoying your customers without you even knowing it?  Are you creating barriers that hinder those who want to act on your request?  Have you asked for feedback on your forms and functions?  Have you signed yourself up to receive your automated services so you know what is sent?  Can you take a lesson from this experience and make some tweaks of your own?

Your automated service becomes YOU to your clients.  Don't let a robot harm your brand.

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

Thanks for sharing Brian -- and tell Herb I miss him!

#1025 when

I am often reminded about the importance of timing when trying to impact change.

In class last week, we entertained the idea of rearranging our schedule.  We had a very good discussion about options, challenges and compromises, but in the end we couldn't get the agreement we needed to change.  I believe this was because the change was too soon -- if we had held the same discussion at the beginning of the semester about rearranging one date, people would have had the time necessary to make adjustments and accommodations.  But the week before put too much pressure on the timing.

The same is true when giving input into a project.  If you wait until something is published or posted before asking questions, feedback is different than if the same query was posed in the draft stages.  Earlier is productive whereas later is often ineffectual.

Think about the when of your efforts.  More time allows for more options, and a focus on the idea itself instead of just the timing of it. 

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#1024 undesirable

What are you doing this weekend?  If you are like many dog owners, you'll spend a portion of the weekend cleaning your yard of the "deposits" your pooch has made.

But not if you hire "Tri-State Poop Pickers"!  This is a bona fide business that has capitalized on the fact that the least desirable part of dog ownership is the clean-up portion.  Why not offer a service to do it for you?

Think about the things that people don't want to do: Set up tents and haul camping gear (see yesterday's blog).  Run errands.  Do laundry.  Wrap presents.  Hang Christmas lights on the house.  Bake cupcakes.  Calculate tax returns.  Clean duct work.  Detail cars.  Trim toenails.  Iron shirts.

There are tasks you don't mind doing that others hate to do.  The trick is matching the two.  Think about what you personally or your organization has to offer that may be necessary but undesirable for others.  Can you install software as a side business?  Scan documents?    Pet sit?  Haul cargo?  Tutor kids?  Handle registrations?  Rake leaves?  File FAFSAs?

Follow the motto of the Poop Pickers and "take crap from anyone!"

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

Thanks to Amy for sharing!

#1023 creativity

There are those that love camping and those who think "roughing it" is sleeping in the Motel 6 instead of a Westin.  But the smart folks in Forest City, Iowa have come up with a whole new category of housing: Glamping.  

Glamping is glamorous camping -- an ingenious way to multiply the housing options in the tiny town and accommodate visitors during the Tree Town Music Festival.  You can reserve "furnished" tents, all set up for you, that include duvets, mini-fridges, foot baths, WiFi, outlets, smoke detectors, decorative pillows and beds with memory foam mattresses.  You live in "Glamping Village" with all the social amenities of a hotel.  It is brilliant.

I can picture the meeting where this idea evolved: where could we house double our population for two nights?  People could camp on lawns, but they don't want to haul all that stuff to a music festival.  Well, what if we provided it for them....

Glamping is not cheap ($975 for a queen tent for the weekend), but for the novelty, convenience and camaraderie it provides, I suspect it will be worth it for many people.  

How can you emulate Forest City's glamping and create something totally new to solve a problem your organization has?  Think outside the tent and be crazy creative!

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

See: http://treetownfestival.com/glamping/

Thanks to Megan for sharing!

#1022 pilgrimage

Earlier this week, I attended a lecture by a faculty member who told stories about the two pilgrimages he took to reflect on his life and discover his faith more deeply.  "Most people are not intentional about discovering our vision," he said.  I have been pondering his thoughts for days.

He is right.  Many people "fall into" a career or a job, rather than intentionally seeking out the vocational path that they are traveling.  We leap from one transition to the next -- high school to college to job to family to retirement -- without taking substantial time to reflect on the journey itself or which route to take.

Dean said that on a pilgrimage, "paying attention to where we are at the time is just as important as the end of the journey."  I think that concept is often lost on people; we focus so much on graduating that we don't savor the time in school or we worry about getting the promotion rather than relishing the steps along the way.

Whether through a formal multi-week, multi-month or multi-mile sojourn like Dean experienced or through a mini-escape of your own, I think we would all be well-served to find a place to "disarm" ourselves for a period.  This can be through immersion, fasting, journaling, wandering, reflection, asking good questions, being alone in nature, prayer, yoga or just being silent. 

Take steps and seek to find, as David Whyte writes in House of Belonging, a "small, bright, indescribable wedge of freedom" where your true self may lie.

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

Source:  Searching Faith: Catching Fire by Dean Manternach, Mackin-Mailander Lecture Series, March 17, 2015.

#1021 desperate

A few decades ago, my sister and I plopped our lily-white bodies on a Florida beach -- without sunscreen -- for several hours.  We were at the end of our vacation, and felt like we did not get enough color.  

By the time we left, we would have paid $100 for a bottle of aloe to soothe the ruby-red that was undoubtedly one step away from sun poisoning.  Twenty years later, the mere mention of Ron Jon Surf Shop evokes memories of our desperation, and willingness to eagerly pay the inflated price for their sunburn relief.

I thought of this recently when a friend had an emergency root canal.  Same idea (only not brought on by her own doing) -- but she, too, willingly paid the hefty fee for immediate remedy to her pain.

The value you place on something is determined in great measure to your need of it.  Water at a ballpark or Disney World is inflated from what you would pay at the quick mart.  Gas along a tollway costs more than at stations on a crowded intersection.  Food at an airport is a bargain if you are starving.

Think about what your organization offers and the availability of it to others.  Is there something where you can alter the timing or convenience of your delivery to charge a premium price?  Can you make your services available at "off-hours" and avoid direct competition?  Or what about finding a way to give people what they need, precisely when they need it, so they are willing to do/pay whatever it takes to receive your service?

You don't have to be an emergency room, but maybe you can use that as a metaphor for how to structure a sub-set of your services.

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#1020 solar

Recently someone asked me my opinion on whether or not I thought a plot of solar panels would be ugly.  He described how these panels would be located along a hillside at the end of a subdivision and would generate the energy to power city facilities.

My reply was that he was asking the wrong question.

If we judged all of our necessary infrastructure on aesthetics, we would not have the equipment to function as we do.  If someone asked: "Do you think power poles or water towers are ugly?" the answer would unequivocally be "yes."  But they are essential, so we have them, and for the most part, they blend into the background and we don't even notice them.

The same could be said for fire hydrants, electric boxes, dumpsters, sewer drains, telephone lines and more. The question isn't about beauty; it is about functionality and efficiency.  If solar is the best way to power the buildings, then the panels should be installed.  "Ugly" will be forgotten soon enough and the panels will become invisible to the conscious eye.

How you frame your question will determine the answer you receive.  As we learned from yesterday's blog, ask the right question to receive a more powerful answer.

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#1019 provocation

The creative agency called "Box of Crayons" offers a daily provocation to stimulate your thinking every morning.  One of their latest was a video of people answering this question:
"What is the most powerful question you know?"

It is a fascinating question, and I was intrigued with the host of answers that were shared.  Examples included:
> How do you want to be? (the response is never tired, frustrated, distracted, etc.)

> What if failure is not a deal breaker?

> What has to be true for success to happen?

> How can I help (a "learning and serving" question)

> What's at the heart of this?

> What is calling you that you need to embrace and do today even though it may feel overwhelming?

Box of Crayons has a whole video series of people answering this question and explaining why they chose it.  (They are worth a listen at http://www.boxofcrayons.biz/category/best-question/)

I think if they asked me, my most powerful question is "what isn't?"  People often become focused on what is that they overlook what is not being said/done/thought about.  

What is your One Best Question?  Maybe it will provide the answer you need to be successful today.

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#1018 listen

I like to listen to non-fiction audio books in my car as I travel back and forth to work.  My latest selection was The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey.  This is an oldie but goodie, and may have been my first self-help read when it came out in 1990.

One of the points Covey makes really resonated with me this time around.  He said: "the biggest communication problem is that we do not listen to understand, but we listen to reply."* 

How often is that the case for you?  I know there are times for me when I am formulating my response rather than truly listening to what is being said.  Or I can hear the words, but not fully understand what the speaker is trying to communicate.

Covey's comment has raised consciousness with me to elevate my listening.  I hope you, too, will be more intentional in trying to understand the message before automatically trying to reply to it.

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

*I may have the exact quote slightly off since I wisely did not take notes while driving!

#1017 vibrancy

If you walked into most appliance stores today, you'd find the refrigerators, washers and stoves primarily in three colors:  white, black and chrome.  Avocado and harvest gold had their day, but mostly appliances have remained in the neutral palette.

Not anymore!

Designer kitchens have taken on a life of their own and they feature color-a-plenty.  BlueStar cooking out of New York offers 750 (!!) color and finish selections for appliances.  These aren't your grandmother's refrigerators!

Think of the possibilities when being able to customize your kitchen with almost any color you can imagine.  I wrote yesterday about the growing importance of design in packaging; think of the opportunities in home decor.  More than ever, people will want experts to help them make informed choices and to narrow down the combination of options.

What impact does the color explosion have on you?  If you're like Henry Ford and only offer your product in black, you may be left behind by consumers who want more vibrancy in their choice.  Think about ways you can add options, preferably in colors that pop.

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

Source:  A purple stove? by Elaine Markoutsas for the Chicago Tribune in the Telegraph Herald, March 1, 2015, p. 1E

Stove picture from bluestarcooking.com -- in Radiant Orchid, Pantone 2014 Color of the Year

#1016 design

I went to a wine superstore when I was in Minneapolis and it was all but overwhelming.  There were aisles of each type of wine, making it almost impossible to make a rational choice.  Even if you were "into" wine, it would be hard to know about all of the options in a full aisle of Merlot.

So how did my sister make her buying decisions:
> Some were repeat choices that had served her well in the past
> One she bought because the bottle was square and stood out
> Others were purchased because the label was appealing and "sounded good"
> And other became the default because they fit into a desired price range -- not too expensive, but not too cheap either

I think about the hundreds of other decisions that we make that have emotional or unscientific basis for the choice.  It highlights for me the growing importance of design in our world -- a way for products or services to stand out among the myriad of choice that we face.

You can spend a lot of time developing a great product, but unless you also devote attention to marketing it, your initial work may be for naught.  Don't just think about offering a great service; spend time planning how you will design the story that goes with it.

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#1015 tenacity

I was involved in interviews of candidates running for officer positions on our association's board of directors.  One candidate spoke of the importance of continuity in retaining her position on the board and her desire to utilize her experience to realize new heights.

She quoted a former supervisor who summed it up this way:

The first year in a new position you spend figuring it out.

The second year is spent trying to make things the new norm.

But the third year is where the magic happens.

Think about what you are involved in that requires a multi-year commitment before you can achieve the "magic" stage.  Which project requires the most persistence from you?  Have you stuck with things long enough to know enough to create something new?

Don't give up too easily.  Magic awaits for those who are tenacious.

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#1014 author

We often think of life as a book with different chapters, but I think it is actually a series of different books.  

Some are comedies, some are mysteries and others are drama.  Like a series by the same author, the books have much in common and a similar thread through them, but they all have different themes and scenarios.

We are the authors of our own books.  We can write what happens, or, if something happens to us, we still have the ability to write how we respond to it.  We have a lot more control over what is written on the page than it may feel like on some days, but we do.

Think about the story you want your life to be about and then proactively set about to write it.  You are the author, not the reader, when it comes to your life.

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#1013 I'm sorry

Yesterday I learned that one of my recent blogs offended some of my colleagues.  I truly did not mean for it to demoralize anyone or to minimize the efforts they put into a new operation.  I support the change and the intent behind it; I was using just the implementation process as an example and should have chosen a different illustration.  I sincerely do apologize.

The prayer at the beginning of the meeting where I heard about this was about taking risks.  As the blogging guru Seth Godin writes, it takes a lot of risk to put your writing (i.e.: yourself) out there in the world.  I have written 1000+ of these "dots" over the course of almost three years, and there are many nights when it would be easier to say nothing.  But I've heard many examples of how people have learned from thoughts that I have shared, and hope that the good outweighs the bad.

I write because I learn from it too. I learned in this case -- to be more attuned to how things can be perceived and to be more sensitive to the examples I use to illustrate my messages.  It's a peril of one-way communication; hard to know the writer's intent or receiver's interpretation.

So, again, to all my colleagues working hard to make changes, please trust that my observations as an author won't impede my support of the implementation.  Sorry if the two seemed intertwined.

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#1012 incremental

When we are around something every day, we don't notice the small changes.  But those who step in and see something after a gap of time tend to see the change more easily.

An example of this happened recently with my friend's puppy.  I met her on January 31 when she was about this size:

I received a new photo about a month later.  I was immediately struck by the difference but my friend hadn't really noticed how much she had grown until I pointed it out.

What can you do to become more aware of changes in your world?  Can you record benchmarks so you can review progress over time?  How do you build reflection into your routine to allow you to view changes in perspective?  

I think it is especially important to document the start of any new project (i.e.: raising a puppy, a home remodel, a new job, a weight loss plan) so you can later see the changes that will occur invisibly to you over time.

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#1011 inflate

I think that an employee's confidence at work is somewhat like a balloon.

It is the supervisor's job to continually help inflate the balloon or it will wither.  Adding compliments, coaching moments, or even just noticing the employee/their work is like adding air into the balloon.

If the supervisor makes a negative comment about the employee/their work, it acts like a pin prick into the balloon.  It only takes a tiny pin hole of doubt for the employee to second guess and have their confidence start to leak way.

If an employee gets too much air (ie: cocky) the balloon will burst, but more latex withers out than pops.  The same is true in the work world.

Pay attention to how you are helping inflate your employee's confidence instead of deflating it.  It takes a lot of air continuously put in to compensate for even a pin hole of letting it out.

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#1010 sunny side up

When life gives you an unpleasant situation, you have two ways to deal with it:  embrace it or let the situation cast a cloud upon you.  When it comes to winter, I fall into the latter camp.  Try as I might, there is just nothing about the cold weather and snow that appeals to me.

Fortunately, others do not share my sentiment.  One family in town provided enjoyment for many by sculpting a giant Olaf snowman in their front yard.  It was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise gloomy season.

What can you do to make the best of things?  Is there something that can only be done during extenuating circumstances (e.g.: a foot of snow) that can't be done otherwise?  Can you come together and actually enjoy things that others disdain?  How could you leverage a seasonal phenomenon to your advantage?

"Do you want to build a snowman?" asks the Frozen song.  No, but I'm glad this family did!

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#1009 empty

I wonder how "they" came up with the formula to determine the number of handicapped parking spaces that are required in a lot.  In my able-bodied experience, it seems to be a bit excessive.

I recently was trying to park and the front half of the lot was full, except for the aisle of reserved spaces.  That was empty.  

I am in full support of designated spots for those who need them.  This, of course, would include handicapped people, but it seems that there are more spots than are utilized.  In other words, I never see the spots full.

Instead of changing the formula, can't we expand the use of the reserved spots?  We could allow expectant mothers to have a permit, and it could be valid for several months beyond birth to allow parents with a baby in tow to park close to the entrance.  Those who have difficulty walking or navigating in/out of vehicles could get a pass.  A doctor could give a one-day pass to an ill patient who needs to run into to the pharmacy, and so on...

There are many things in life that follow the "use 'em or lose 'em" philosophy.  I think the handicapped parking formula should be one of them.

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#1008 abundance

I recently watched a speech on "Transforming Education" by Will Richardson.  He spoke of how drastically the entire learning environment has been impacted by the abundance of technology and cited these examples:

> 5 billion app downloads
> 2.5 billion people
> 2 trillion webpages
> 5 years of YouTube video per minute
> 1 billion photos uploaded each day in 2014 (estimated)
> 5 years of all IP video per second
> 100,000 Tweets per minute
> 12 billion Internet connected devices by 2015 (remember: for 2.5 billion people)

Because of this, he believes that schools need to become "different, not better" because better does not acknowledge the monumental shift in the way children access and process information.

He makes compelling argument in his 20 minutes, and no matter your field, I would encourage you to face his sobering perspective at: http://youtu.be/7TZfWqao6uA

How is your organization acknowledging the seismic shift and the instantaneous availability of vast sums of knowledge?  What are you personally doing to capitalize on the multitude of ways to connect and learn from strangers?  Are you creating a presence in this new reality?

The content in digits and bytes can quickly become overwhelming.  Spend some time thinking about how you, and how you can help others, make meaning out of the abundance.

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

Thanks to Mike for sharing.