Marty's Minute

In today’s competitive world, you must invest in yourself if you want to get ahead, if you want to get a better job, or a promotion.

I constantly see people struggle because they know where they want to go, what they want their new software to do, or new processes they would like implemented, but they don’t know how to get there. Wouldn’t it be great if we just put in all our coordinates and a road map came out? Yes, it would. But unlike GPS, there is just so much more to life that needs to be taken into account.

While fear can be real, we typically use it as a defense mechanism to protect us from failure. Fear can never go away, but we can learn to dance with it.

What would a younger you say to an older you? What would 22- year-old Marty say to a 57-year-old Marty?

So many people are afraid to make mistakes, to try something new and give it a shot! But doing this adds to your story. It makes you more interesting.

Without answering the "so what" an idea is just that, an idea without a purpose.

See if this is a leader you want to follow: Leadership is patient, leadership is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Leadership does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Leadership never fails.

Everything we do, everything we make, involves people.

When you start to write, you will find that new ideas will emerge. These ideas will surprise you and uncover feelings and thoughts you did not know existed. Writing can bring clarity to a situation and lets you make sense of what is happening around you.

Have you ever heard someone say, “If I was in control I would do it this way”? Well I hate to break the bad news to you, but unless you are a dictator or a supreme overlord you will never have total control. The good news is that leadership is not about control, and it’s not about having authority.

To be a great leader, you have to lead your people and inspire them, but the bigger challenge we face as leaders is to Lead Up!

The Excellence Reflex is exactly what it sounds like: a reflex to do the right thing without thinking about it.

"...in our lives, there are some moments we will remember for decades, and others that expire almost as quickly as they occur. Moments are not created equal."

I was visiting a friend in the hospital and as we sat around talking, we took advantage of the snack closet. We grabbed some saltines and graham crackers to settle our hunger pains. You can image that after hours of eating these crumbly snacks we made quite a mess. When the cleaning lady came in to clean the room, we were embarrassed by the mess and apologized profusely for the untidy state of the floor around us. I will never forget her reply. “No problem. It’s my job and if you didn’t need me, I wouldn’t have this job that I love.”

I was talking to a young adult about how she was doing and how her job was going. She said she loved the work she was doing and the people she worked with were great. But I could tell there was something wrong. She did not have that twinkle in her eye or that excitement in her voice as she talked about her situation.

This past year I have spent a lot of time traveling to New York to work with the MTA on their journey to a more reliable operation. Like most New Yorkers, I ride the train to get to work when I am there. The other day as I was looking out the window of the train I was reminded of a poem I read back in college that I would like to share with you. Let me know what you think.

I laughed with my wife the other day as we discussed gift giving. I was giving her a hard time because she is the best gift giver, but the worst gift receiver. I’m sure you know people like this. I think this gift analogy applies to life. Every day is a gift that contains something special if we are willing to accept it.

The other day I was talking to a client about their current EAM project. During that conversation the client said, “I really hope our project goes well.” Now I’m sure you have said something like that before. But when you think about the word hope, it sounds like the outcome is out of your control and you have no say in the matter.

029 | If You Don't Have A Plan, Stay In The Car by Marty Osborn

We tend to think that more options present more possibility. We think that having more options seems like the smart thing to do, but more options can really keep you from getting started. In many cases, having more options paralyzes your team over the fear of walking away from a potentially better choice.

Have you ever been in a situation where you did not agree with a decision made by a superior? We’ve all been in this situation and if you haven’t, are you sure you live on this planet? One of the toughest things we face each and every day is how to challenge a decision we do not agree with. How do we challenge it without getting in trouble or appearing to not be a team player?

The other day someone asked me a question about leadership, “What characteristics make a great leader?”

Have you ever been asked this question? There are no right or wrong answers but how can we possibly see out 5 years when we don’t know what is going to happen to us tomorrow?

A true leader never says, “take one for the team.” A true leader always accepts responsibility for his or her own actions in addition to the actions of their team.

“Most people have been trained to come to work in search of familiarity and competence. To work with familiar people, doing familiar tasks, getting familiar feedback from a familiar boss. Competence is rewarded.” But what happens when we change things? What occurs when we roll out a new process or a new software? People rebel. I’m sure you’ve heard things like “this will never work” or “this is going to take twice as long as what we have been doing.”

Have you ever been in a meeting and you were asked questions that you didn’t know the answer to?

Every year Advoco has a fitness challenge to promote good health and raise money for charity. Each day we earn points by going out and exercising. Whether it’s walking, running, a fitness class, or some other workout, the goal is to just be active. For these challenges, the first step is always the hardest part for me. Every day I battle with myself to go out and, as Nike says, “Just do it.”

I was watching a movie recently called The Renaissance Man. In the movie, Danny DeVito gets a gig teaching English at an army base. His character is tasked with teaching a group of underachieving students from poor backgrounds who seem apathetic about their education. He becomes frustrated but finally turns the class around when he begins discussing Hamlet. The students learn a valuable lesson on achievement surrounding the phrase, “To thine own self be true,” and it made me think about what this means for us.

I might be showing my age, but one of my favorite bands is Fleetwood Mac. They’ve had some amazing hits over the years, and my wife and I even had the once in a lifetime opportunity to meet them in person after a concert. When I talk to people about my Fleetwood Mac experience, they always ask me what my favorite song is. It’s hard to say which is my favorite, but there is one song that stands out in my mind as a song of hope, about pushing forward, and not letting the past define you.

So how do you lead your people then? How do you get them to do what you want if you are not “ordering them around?” The answer is simple, if you have enough guts to try it. Give your people intent and let them make the decisions. Point them in the direction you want them to go and let them decide the best way to get there. Intent, not orders.

This morning, like many mornings, I was rushing through a crowded airport trying to catch my connecting flight. As I got off my first flight I frantically searched for the departure board so I could see the status of my next flight. I needed to know what time the plane was leaving, if it was on time, and most importantly, what gate it was leaving from. Can you image getting around an airport without departure and arrival boards?

Every day I am impressed and amazed at the number of really cool signs and statements I see displayed on the side of commercial vehicles. This week I saw a sign that proclaimed, "Give them something to remember.” And it made me think, what I am doing to give something to remember me by? Do my actions speak louder than my words? Did I do something that would inspire a person to be better? Did I do something that would have lasting value?

I grew up in Rochester, NY as the son of lifelong employee of Eastman Kodak Company. As you can imagine, photography has been a staple in my life since I was born. Photography captures moments that will last a lifetime. Cameras can be tricky when you are trying to get everything just right – the settings, lighting, focus, etc. Once you do get it right, something special occurs. The other day I was in a friend’s house and saw the best sign on the wall. It said: “Life is like a camera: Focus - on what is important Capture - the good times Develop - from the negatives And if things don’t work out - take another shot.”

Do you want to do something fun? Try giving a gift to a random person. Yes, you read that right. Give a gift to a person who doesn’t expect it with no expectations of receiving anything in return. You will be amazed how good it feels and the effect it will have on you. My guess is that the person on the other end of the gift will feel obligated to do something in return. It's called reciprocity, the need to return a favor.

Have you ever noticed that when you are getting ready to buy something, you suddenly notice that thing everywhere? It’s as if everyone has that thing now. This happens to me all the time. I recently bought my first pickup truck. When I started looking at them, all of a sudden, I saw them everywhere.

Recently I was on a flight home from a business trip, and the ladies next to me were chatting. I heard one say to the other, “Life is too short. We should have done that.” It got me thinking. Life is too short.

Chris Oakley is a business coach who travels the world working with companies on leadership and productivity. He focuses on helping companies scale their organizations and develop their leadership teams. Chris has amassed insight from his broad range of experiences spanning from tour management for celebrities to building businesses from scratch. Most recently, he was an executive coach for Dave Ramsey’s EntreLeadership business coaching program. It’s a counterintuitive thought. With limited time and resources, how can we do less but do it better? Chris has found that the companies that succeed have one thing in common, they have an undeniable ability to execute on a plan in the midst of the whirlwind of distractions. In this conversation with Marty, Chris highlights what it means to “do less, better” and how important it is to practice this strategy.

Can two words give you the power to change your life? As simple as it sounds, I believe they can.

I believe the most important person you need to talk to every day is yourself. I don’t mean this in an odd way, but what you say to yourself can have a dramatic effect on how you see the world. What discussions are you having with yourself? Is your inner dialogue positive and building you up? Or is it negative, pointing out flaws and missteps?

We live in a high-speed world where change happens at a break-neck pace we’ve never seen before. I know when you hear the word change, you probably cringe. But I truly think that if you embrace change it can be used to your advantage. Change can help you look at your processes and procedures in a different way. Change can help you fix what you know is broken. Change can bring a new perspective to a project that’s gotten stuck in a rut. Next time you are faced with change remember that it’s not your enemy, it's your next opportunity.

How many times have you heard people say "nothing personal, it's just business"? It’s almost as if by saying this, it helps them to justify their actions.

The greatest compliment we can receive at Advoco is for our clients refer to us as their "Trusted Advisor." We work hard to earn that title, and as you may guess, it does not come easy.

One of the fears I have as a leader is that if I delegate my work maybe, just maybe, I won't be needed anymore. Is this a fear you have? To be honest, I'm slightly embarrassed that I feel this way. Is it self-righteous to think that I am the only person who can do that task correctly? Will whoever I delegate to really not complete the task as well as I would have? Or is the real fear that if I delegate my work, then I won't be needed?

One of the challenges of being a leader is getting the most out of your people. As the pressure mounts to maximize productivity, we have to be careful how we accomplish this goal. Through the years, I have observed a number of leaders and bosses that manage their people in a variety of ways. The one thing that has stuck out to me is the difference between a true leader and a boss. The distinct difference is the way they treat their people.

Think about it: all interactions with people, good or bad, will shape the way we think, the way we act, and the people we become. As I think back on my career, some of the people who shaped me the most were the ones I knew I never wanted to be like. The ones who interacted with peers and clients like they were objects and not people. The ones who did not adhere to the Golden Rule, "Treat others as you'd want to be treated." The ones who were only out for themselves.

Have we gone too far in the automation of our systems? Have we taken service out of customer service? Have we become a society where we trust no one, not even our front-line agents to help our customers? Charles Krulak, one of the great marine generals of our time, has a theory he developed, Krulak’s Law. Krulak's Law is around giving responsibility and autonomy to those on the front-line. Because after all, those employees that are face to face with the actual customers have a great deal of power over the brand.

“Are you in the arena?” Teddy Roosevelt wrote this in a speech he gave in 1910 and it is still incredibly relevant. I keep asking myself, where are the great leaders today? Ask yourself: are you a critic or a person in the arena? I’m willing to bet that your answer to this will reveal some interesting things about yourself. I hope you will strive to be a person in the arena.