Global Leadership Summit 2011 – Session 3b Seth Godin “Poke the Box”

Global Leadership Summit 2011 – Session 3b Seth Godin “Poke the Box”

Sethgodin.com and squido.com

Someone watching this today is going to change everything and do something that matters: not because their boss says so, not because it's their job, but because they want to and it's important.

Seth talks about the founder of ASPCA, Nathan Winograd. He was one guy.

This is the opposite of Betty Crocker, a ficticous person. They went on the radio and had many people signing her name to letters. The ledend is faded. They were promoting from a position of power, that is the notion that we are based on the concept of “more.”

Seth mentions someone in Kenya who is a millionaire: she owns land and animals. She found the resources she needed and moved ahead.

The TV-Industrial complex is a model: buy ads, sell products, buy ads: Products that appeals to the masses: average products, mass marketed so they appeal to everyone by definition. The record industry, the newspaper industry, the book industry: all going away.

30,000 items in most supermarkets, look in the phone book at churches: many choices.

Revolutions destroy the perfect and allow the impossible.

The death of the industrial age. It is being replaced by different people wanting different things: tribes. People who want different things and share a common bond.

Experiment: Clap your hands slowly and in unison. The crowd was able to do this. That is what a tribe is: people in sync with each other.

People want us to show up and get us in sync. Some tribes are invented: like Nike. Others, like the Beatles, didn't create teens, they already existed.

The Laptop lets you connect around the world, let's you order, give, help. It is the new tool. It's up to us how we use it. A long time ago, it was hunting, then it was farming, then in the industrial revolutions people could get a job. Now, we have an economic crisis. There is something after the job, Seth calls it “Being an Artist.”

Art is a risky human act of doing something you haven't done before with someone and for someone. Experiment: Raise your hand as high as you can, now raise it a little higher. The reason is that we have to hold back when serving our boss because they will ask for more. Henry Ford changed the economy by putting the assembly line together so people can be most productive: the factory. Managers just try to get everyone to do the same thing. But faster. Not just interchangable parts, but interchangable people. People need to fit in, because that's what makes the factory work: compliance. We do that in churches and in schools. If you can write it down, then anyone can do it.

Free hugs movement (see youtube) is undercutting the people who are charging high prices for hubs. If all you can offer is that you're the local church, it's the same as saying you're cheap. It's like bottled water, if it's all the same, we just buy the cheapest. Everyone has seen the brown cows, so they won't talk about them. People talk about the purple cow though.

We can find answers on the internet, what we need is for people to solve interesing problems. We need people to find better answers. Don't wait to be picked, pick yourself. The internet is giving you the way: there is a microphone, there is you tube, there are blogs so you can write. You can pull people together for a goal. You will do art and you will fail, but that's what makes it art. The blackberry is there so we can just keep checking to make sure everything is alright.

Lizard Brain: We have a part of our brain that protects us in dangerous situations. It has a good use, but it also stops us from going forward sometimes.

You need to go something worth talking about. You give gifts, hoping that someone will spread it. It's like the carrots at the end of the day of the farmer's market. If you don't give them away, they will rot. Many people are walking around with the carrots and they're rotting.

We are constantly looking for a reason not to do our art, to blame it on someone else. How many people want your seat, for your platform, for your place to influence people.

Go. Make something happen.

If it's worth doing, what are you waiting for.

Inside the box, it's too dark to do anything. Outside the box, nothing to lean on.

On the edges of the box, there is a place to a place to dance, connect and lead.

A six word invitation: What the world is saying, what they're begging for is that they need you to lead them.

(note: Seth had some rather entertaining slides in his presentation, one of the last one's was a team of firefighters posing in a group photo with a building on fire in the background. Also, there was a photo of a seagull on top of a sign that was a seagull with a cirle and line drawn through it. He said he has the worlds largest collection on photos of cafeteria ladies and showed some. There was also an early one of a boy crying next to a tombstone with Santa Claus on it. So, if you can find the video someplace, you may find it worth the time to see them)

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For more information on the Leadership Summit and Ocean Grove (“God's Square Mile on the Jersey Shore”) where their mission of Spiritual Birth, Growth and Renewal is lived out in community, visit my earlier post:

http://henrywill4.blogspot.com/2011/08/info-on-leadership-summit-im-attending.html

You'll also find links there to other great bloggers and tweeters on the conference.

Global Leadership Summit 2011 Session 3A Courageous Leadership for Catalytic Times

Global Leadership Summit 2011 Session 3A Courageous Leadership for Catalytic Times

Rev. Brenda Salter McNeil

Chuck Yaeger was the pilot that broke through the comfort zone and into space.

Acts 1:8 You will receive power... you will be witnesses

The mandate is to take the message to others: the whole human race.

Jerusalem is symbolic of our home turf, where we're comfortable, our place of connection: the place where people are most like us. We need to witness to the good news there.

Judea – this is where we look alike, but there are divisions and differences. It is where people are all from the same place, but people don't understand each other. But, there is a church in NJ where an elderly woman had been a victim of predatory lending and the church bought her home and sold it back to her for one dollar.

Samaria – these are the neighborhoods where we drive through and lock our doors. It's a prison, places of the poor, sex trafficing, child soldiers, corporate greed, drug dealers, poor. This is also were we need to witness. There are stories of christians helping in these places. We need to be witnesses of the Good News in these places.

The church needs a catalytic event to push them beyond their “sound barrier.” In Acts 2:1-11. They were in the prayer meeting and they caught on they caught on fire!

Maybe the economic crisis is God's way of bringing us together. Maybe he's bringing together people who wouldn't work together to partner together.

So, the questions is: are you ready to break through your sound barier.

1. Pray for a divine mandate

2. Ask God what things have my name on it? What is it our organization should be doing?

3. Name your catalytic events

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For more information on the Leadership Summit and Ocean Grove (“God's Square Mile on the Jersey Shore”) where their mission of Spiritual Birth, Growth and Renewal is lived out in community, visit my earlier post:

http://henrywill4.blogspot.com/2011/08/info-on-leadership-summit-im-attending.html

You'll also find links there to other great bloggers and tweeters on the conference.

Global Leadership Summit 2011 Session 2B – Corey Booker “Stand Up”

Global Leadership Summit 2011 Session 2B – Corey Booker “Stand Up”

Mayor of Newark NJ

Every life has the ability to gift to you life and understanding. He is a learner.

He didn't learn it from Yale or Harvard, he learned it from his parents. The value of parents is that you can see the lessons are the same and so are the stories over and over again. The stories change over the years and become better and better.

His father tells the story about what it means to “stand up” for something. He was in class at the first day of school. Teacher asked people who thought they were dumb or stupid to stand up. Finally his dad stood up. He said “shucks ma'am, I don't think I'm stupid, but I didn't want you to be the only one standing.”

You will always face terrible adversaries. Things will happen to you, but regardless of the storm, you must be willing to stand. You were born as a grand experience of love. Freedom, liberty and opportunity come to you from your ancestors. Will you grow drunk on the wine of the benefits given you from others, or will us them to stand up and more forward. Love in action, unyielding faith and fearless hope came together in order for Corey to live in this world. His father tells him about envelopes of 5 and 10 dollar bills that came so he could go to college.

People stormed beaches in Normandy for you. People cleaned bathrooms and prayed for you. And, what will you do. Forces will try to crush you and move you into mediocrity. Lincoln: people are born unique, but die a copy.

Don't let the world tell you who you are. Rise!

As a teen, he was working in a summer program with children. He pulled out $5 and said it would go to the one who raises their hand the highest. Then he looked and the youngest of all the children was next to him. He wanted to instill him that he could compete and survive. When he went over him, he ran to the door. The boy said, “let me go, I know a way to get to the roof.”

We are here because of people with extraordinary vision and stood up to do something about it. Corey is still learning from the people of his city. He moved onto Martin Luther King Boulevard when he moved in Newark. It was full of violence, drug dealing, and adiction.

He went to see the person who was the tenant president of the projects there, Miss Jones. He remembered his parents saying he could learn more from someone in charge of the projects than from professors at law school. She asked him what he saw. He described graffiti, drug dealers, and such. She said that what you see in the world is a reflection of what you have inside. When you start to have the hope of God in you, you will see hope in the world.

We can talk about the climate and point blame, but in truth it's all just spitting in the wind. The only way to make change, it has to start with ourselves. If it's to be, it's up to me. He sees people with faith in God and the nation's ideals. The believe if we live our ideals we can achieve the impossible.

Instead of preaching and teaching, show it by how you live and spend. It's about your thoughts you put into action. There are so many distractions from living God's will. His father would say “Right now, in this moment, you can change this world.”

In every situation, we can accept circumstances as they are or work for a better change.

Some stars, when we look at them, have already burned out, but their light is still reaching us. We need to transform doubt into faith, obstacles into opportunities.

He tells about how, he didn't know what to do. In this great country of freedom, how could we allow parents to be imprisoned in their own homes, in fear for the lives of their children. He asked Miss Jones (of the project). She said you have to do something. He read in Matthew about having faith as a mustard seed. He decided to fast and pray in a tent. Others started to stand up and be with him. They stood together. People of all faiths came together to pray in all languages. After 10 days of not eating he felt the strongest power he ever felt.

E Pluribus Unum – United we stand.

“Liberty and Justice for all” must be a passion. If we stand like this, we'll find a way to get to the roof!

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For more information on the Leadership Summit and Ocean Grove (“God's Square Mile on the Jersey Shore”) where their mission of Spiritual Birth, Growth and Renewal is lived out in community, visit my earlier post:

http://henrywill4.blogspot.com/2011/08/info-on-leadership-summit-im-attending.html

You'll also find links there to other great bloggers and tweeters on the conference.

Global Leadership Summit 2011 – Session 2A -Len Schlesinger “Action Trumps Everything”

Global Leadership Summit 2011 – Session 2A -Len Schlesinger “Action Trumps Everything”

It can be simplified:

1.Find out your customers

2.Find out what they want

3.Give it to them

We are currently “Here” and need to get “There.”

The Martin Luther King “I have a Dream Speech” is a vision that people watch to see how they can have a vision just as compelling and articulate. But, MLK spent 3 to 4 years before that working on that vision.

You can't get “there,” without being clear about aspects of “Here” that are unacceptable.

There are lots of issues “Here”: Unemployment, poverty, unequal education, malnutrition in the world, violence and destruction, inadequate political answers to the issues at hand. What am I going to do about it?

Believe in the future by creating it first.

Entrepreneurship goes a long way to get there.

Trying to predict the future isn't something easy to do. Many entrepreneurs don't do anything too risky or the big idea that nobody else knows. Many times they are decisive, egotistical at times. It is lots more than technology based startups.

Generations: first creates, second enjoys, third destroys

How do we overcome that generational approach. The half life of the fortune 25 is only a few years. In order to stay vital, business models need to change. You need to reinvent yourself 3 to 5 years in your career.

Peter Drucker says “most of what you hear about entrepreneurship is all wrong, it's not in the genes, it can be learned.”

Quote (Missed the owner): We are all entrepreneurs, only too few of us get to practice it.

Don't look at your limitations, just realize that serial entrepreneurs are successful and you can be too. Just realize that everything you learned was based on cause and effect and predictability. This works well when we can extrapolate the past to predict the future. What do they say at the end of financial vehicles “Historical results don't predict the future.” Well, we're in a new world. Change is the new norm.

We start to become paralyzed. In 1921 Univesity Frank Knight talked about risk which could be objectively managed contrasted and the unpredictible future. So, since you can't predict, what is available to you? Act! Yes, do something.

Example: You're Indiana Jones. You're stuck in a hole in the dark and need to get out. Thinking about it doesn't get you out, you need to act.

1. Take Small steps with what you have at hand

2. Limit Risk

3. Build off what you find from taking that step

4. Have some friends and resources standing by to help

So, what do you care about. Then, looking at your ability to accept risk, what is the first step?

Instead, usually what we do is to look at what others are doing and do what they are doing.

Once you're taken the step, look to see where you're at. The bankers look at risk, but since we're in a world of an unknown future, we realize that we just count what we spent to get here as lost cost. Now, look around and enroll people to help know what you've done and where you are. What have you learned.

What prevents us from doing this? Two things:

1. We get caught up in worrying about “what do I want to do.” Stop worrying about what you want to do and start working on what to do next.

2. We are also concerned about failure. What do we do with people who fail? They disappear. We need to look at failure as a learning experience. The failure rate is around 60% in the business world. Failure doesn't mean “Game over,” it means “try again with experience.” You probably learned something that nobody else knows.

Each steps results in learning, experience with others.

1. Know what you want

2. Stop obsessing about what you need, start what you have

3. Build with what you have

4. Take steps with what you have to play with

Small wins are how we solve problems

Bring others with you, remain flexible in what you want and how you do it.

Keep trying over and over. With action trumping everything, you get more “at bats” which increases chances of success.

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For more information on the Leadership Summit and Ocean Grove (“God's Square Mile on the Jersey Shore”) where their mission of Spiritual Birth, Growth and Renewal is lived out in community, visit my earlier post:

http://henrywill4.blogspot.com/2011/08/info-on-leadership-summit-im-attending.html

You'll also find links there to other great bloggers and tweeters on the conference

The Global Leadership Summit Kicks off!

The Global Leadership Summit Kicks off!

August 11, 2011 Ocean Grove NJ -- The Satellite simulcast of the Global Leadership Summit kicked off this morning here with a bang! It started with announcements about the mission and programs of The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting (OGCMA) and a powerful prayer by Scott Hoffman. Then the simulcast started with a video and a picture of the moon. The script included “... it's always darkest before the dawn....” Could this statement be an indication of a theme of the conference?

Exuberant singing erupted. People were on their feet clapping! And, the leadership speakers hadn't even begun yet. Songs included “We Love you Lord” and “Praise To The Lord, The Almighty.”

Bill Hybels Kicked off the speaking

Introduction to the Summit:

• This conference is unapologetically Christian, but also agnostic as to who we invite to speak

• Here, leaders humble themselves to learn from each other

• Please respect our beliefs, we promise not to engage in weird religious behavior

• Leadership really matters across all disciplines

• When people are better leaders, everyone wins: followers, causes and all

5 Critical Questions

1. What is your current challenge level at work?

On a continuum, where would you place yourself?

A. Appropriately challenged – “to do” list at begin of day, can say you completed things at end of day

B. Under-challenged: shop on internet, do crossword puzzles, don't fill fulfilled at work

C. Dangerously Over-challenged: get up, look at list and say “OMG!” At work, the list gets longer, you get a stomach ache mid-day, but not because you're hungry. You're not present with your family, because you're focused on work.

When are you at your absolute best on this scale?

Research shows that the best place is a bit above Appropriately Challenged. You need to stretch. Just like muscles, they need a little challenge.

You need a challenge, but not to be overly-challenged. If you're overwhelmed, you need to ask for help.

If you are a leader that is putting everyone in a over-challenged environment, you're not being

your most efficient as a team. You can't stay in the dangerously over-challenged environment for long. You need to replenish.

People need to be appropriately challenged and stretched a bit: not under-challenged, not over-challenged.

2. What is your plan for dealing with challenging people in your organization?

They use the “line exercise.”

If revenue dropped 50%, what programs and people would you need to get rid of?

Are these people under-performing, not challenged, or not in tune with the values or mission?

Team Poison: How long will you let them be a poison for your team. You need to talk to them and give them a deadline to improve.

Under-performers: We start a performance improvement plan and the team works together to improve things.

Values Violations: This usually results in an immediate firing.

If you leave this challenged people without being checked, it drags down the great people on your team!

3. Are you naming and facing the problems that exist in your organization?

In the Bible, Acts Chapter 6, they addressed the problem, then the Church grew rapidly.

Every program has a lifecycle. Nothing “rocks” forever. Just like Ecclesiastes, everything has a season.

We need to arrest tired ideas on the downward curve and regenerate them.

4. When was the last time you reexamined the core of what your organization is all about?

Have you re-examined your goals and values?

The best leaders do this often. Is your message clear? Can you put it on a t-shirt? Do people know what it is?

Churches are in the people transformation business. There is only one power on this planet that is able to do this: the Gospel (The good news of Christianity). We all know what that Gospel is, don't we? Well, sometimes we are “fuzzy” about it.

Take time to define the message. Draw a circle in a meeting. Ask them to come up with 5 words to summarize the central message of Christianity (no “God words”). For business leaders, this would be the 5 words that best describe your organization goals. This exercise can cause lots of disagreements, it's not as easy as it seems.

Bill puts these 5 words in the circle: Love (Christianity is the one global religion that is driven by Love: John 3:16), Evil (because of the atrocities in history and in our world today), Rescue, Choice (Salvation is a gift, by we have to choose to take it), restore. Example: he tells people to fight for their marriage, but God loves you, there is evil, but there's also rescue and restoration that's available. God has the power to do it!

5. Have you had your leadership “bell” rung recently?

Has any book, speech, or discussion inspired you. You need the refreshing challenge every now and then.

After he spoke in Thailand, another speaker got up and set a challenge to lead people to Christ and laid out a plan.

Summary:

How you finish is how you'll be remembered. Don't end it with a whimper. Do you want the next 5 years to be the best 5? We call leaders to decisions! It's time to pray and make a commitment.

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For more information on the Leadership Summit and Ocean Grove (“God's Square Mile on the Jersey Shore”) where their mission of Spiritual Birth, Growth and Renewal is lived out in community, visit my earlier post:

http://henrywill4.blogspot.com/2011/08/info-on-leadership-summit-im-attending.html

You'll also find links there to other great bloggers and tweeters on the conference.

Info on Leadership Summit I'm attending today

I took 2 vacation days today and tomorrow to attend the Global Leadership Summit and will be blogging here (henrywill4.com) and tweeting on Twitter (twitter.com/henrywill). You don't need an account to follow either one of these.

I have attended the past few years (and will be attending again this year) at one of the many satellite locations: the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association in Ocean Grove NJ. More than 300 people are registered at this location.

About the Global Leadership Summit (GLS)

• The GLS is an annual event started in 1995 and is produced by the Willow Creek Association - more about Willow Creek and GLS
  
• According to the Wikipedia entry, alumni speakers have been Bono (U2), Ken Blanchard ("One Minute Manager"), Marcus Buckingham ("StrengthFinders"), Jim Collins ("Good to Great" and "Built to Last"), Mike Singletary (NFL Hall of Fame linebacker for the Chicago Bears). Also, Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter as well as Karen Hughes, Special Advisor to President George W. Bush and and former United States Secretary of State, Colin Powell have spoken. Other speakers: Texas pastor Bishop T.D. Jakes, University of Southern California president Steven Sample, Tim Sanders (Yahoo), Rick Warren (pastor Saddleback Church, author: "The Purpose Driven Life")
  
• Downloadable notebook of the formatted program. http://bit.ly/qVQcsy

About The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association (OGCMA)

• The town that the OGCMA is in is Ocean Grove New Jersey USA
• The OGCMA was founded in 1869. That year, a charter was obtained from the New Jersey State Legislature that set the land aside as a place for the perpetual worship of Jesus Christ
  
• Ocean Grove NJ is also known as "God's Square Mile at the Jersey Shore"
  
• The mission of the OGCMA is to provide opportunities for spiritual birth, growth, and renewal... (read the full mission statement here)
• More history of Ocean Grove at this link
  
• OGCMA website

You can also follow news about the GLS at these other places:

• Up to date Twitter posts from everyone about GLS
  
• Willow Creek Twitter Posts (you don't need an account to follow this)
  
• Follow the WCA Blog
  
• You will also find some great notes from the Leadership Summit at http://www.timschraeder.com or follow Tim on twitter at http://twitter.com/timschraeder
• Other blogs from these twitter users: @JustinWise @JenniCatron @tonymorganlive @mattperman & @AdamJeske
• This Willow Creek's blog post has comments left by bloggers
  
• And, here's a post of the "Ultimate list of GLS Tweeters"

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I hope you'll take a look at some of the items I'll be posting over these two days and comment on them!

Harmonica Resources

Ok, I've posted Ukulele and Guitar resources, it's about time I gave the Harmonica some equal

Lessons

• Jon Gindick's site for lots of harmonica learning: http://www.gindick.com/
• Free Video Harmonica Lessons http://freeharmonicalessons.com
• Jack's Harmonica Songbook - lessons and songs
• ExpertVillage Video lessons on Youtube
  
• Youtube lessons: 12gagedan
  
• Harmonica Lesson Podcast
  
• DVDs of Lessons
  

Music to print out for playing:

• Praiseharp songs
• Harpin' an' a Whinin' songs
• Glory Harp - songs, prayer list, links
• 
  

Miscellaneous

• Harmonica reference: songs, articles, about harmonicas, more
  
• Pat Missin - Virtual garage sale, articles, audio files, old harmonicas, links
• Harmonica Club - Forums, Songs, more

Please add comments if you know of others!

Prostate Cancer Information

People have asked me about Prostate Cancer, so I am posting this information.

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness month. So, "Man up" and get your PSA screening and blood test every time you have your physical. It's easy to include the PSA as a part of your blood test! Here's a video that tells about Prostate Cancer, awareness month, and shows the robot used in robotic surgery (it's from a news show, so no blood is shown).

I'll be adding information here as time goes by.

First of all, if you have any questions, please contact me directly. I would be happy to talk to you on the phone. Issues with Prostate Cancer can be very personal, so I have found it best to talk directly one-on-one.

Frequently asked Questions and Answers (FAQs, Q&A) :

• Question: People ask "How does someone feel if they have it?" or "How do you know if you have prostate cancer?"
  
• Answer: You don't "feel" anything. There is no difference in how you feel. Cancer is usually found through a routine annual physical, especially by a PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test. The PSA is an additional test that can be ordered when your blood is drawn for other tests at the time of your physical.

Making the decision on treatment options:

• There are many options available for treatment. The options available are based on a patient's stage of the cancer, health, and age.

Support:

• MeToo support groups

Aspects of having Prostate Cancer:

• Physical
• Emotional
• Spiritual: There can be lots of encounters with mortality. Your faith can be challenged and strengthened. The Bible talks a lot about our human condition and the hope of salvation in Christ.
  

Books:

• Dr. Patrick Walsh's Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer, Second Edition

Websites of interest:

• American Cancer Society
  
• This website is very helpful: davinciprostatectomy.com (especially the overview of treatment options, the patient seminar, and the videos of daVinci system)
• Zero - Zero tolerance for prostate cancer

Ukulele Praise and Worship sites

I had a post a few months ago with Ukulele (Uke) website Resources: lessons, chords, etc.

Since then, I've been looking for websites for playing Ukulele Christian Praise and Worship music. They are very difficult to find.

Here's what I've found so far:

• http://www.praiseuke.com/blog/ - Resources Tab has lots of good info (Info on playing a Uke in a worship team, reverse chord finder, worship chord charts in keys, information about "sus" and "2" used in worship, and more)
  
• This is a guitar Praise and Worship Chord site, but you can play the chords on a Uke: http://www.worshiparchive.com/
• This is a really good find that I stumbled on, again for guitar, but many songs: http://www.tabsforworship.com/
  
• http://www.sacreduke.com/ uke praise chords for just a few songs (and some original songs he wrote)
  
• These two require a free account to access (I haven't looked at them yet) http://www.ukuleleunderground.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15726&highlight=worship or http://www.ukuleleunderground.com/forum/showthread.php?15726-praise-worship-and-sunday-school!&highlight=worship
  
• http://letsplayukulele.com/ukulele/tabs/genre/praise%20and%20worship/ - has the chords for some popular Praise and Worship songs, but seemingly only the chords

Videos:

• On YouTube Medley with Uke Chords: What a Friend we Have in Jesus, Lily of the Valley, Amazing Grace, Give me Oil
• Here a Uke Tutorial on "Our God" by Chris Tomlin and the full song Chords: Em/ C / G/ D ...Am Tabs
• This is the Stuff (Frencesca Battistelli) Tutorial
• Add2 Chords - example in Key of C
• Lord I lift your name on high (G,C,D,C,G most of way through song). See how he plays the C and D (use pause). Here is the sheet music (for guitar, so ignore the chord charts)
• Hosanna (Hillsong) and here are the chords (use the "Transpose" to bring it up 5 half steps to the key of C)
• Be Still My Soul (Finlandia) using picking that sounds like 4,2,3,2,1,2,3,2. Here are chords in key of D and Chords you can change to any key you like
• 
  

Books:

• Jumpin' Jim's Ukulele Spirit Book
• 
  

If you know of any other Ukulele websites that have Christian Praise and worship music, please let me know (add a comment below).

Skipping!

So, three days in a row I've seen different children skipping.

The first time was a child skipping alone. Last night a father and daughter locked arms and skipped across the parking lot. Today it was a mom and her daughter coming down the street here. The daughter was skipping along with her.

That's interesting because I don't see children too often, let alone children skipping.

So, I decided I should try.

It's been so long, I had to remember how.

It was FUN! And, it made my wife laugh!

When was the last time you skipped?

Ukulele Uke resources

I started learning the Ukulele in the summer 2010 after having started to learn guitar in July 2008. The Uke certainly is a lot of fun.

If you want to purchase one, or if you have one already, here are some great links below.
(note: I also have another post about Ukulele Worship resources)

Purchasing a Uke and strings:

• First, buy a Uke!
• June 2011 Update: We bought our son a Concert size Makala Uke kit that included the gig bag and the great Kala tuner for just under $80 from Ukesonline.com. This is a new website launched by George's Music (see below), but this one has FREE SHIPPING! Note: Uke sizes are, from smallest to largest: Soprano, Concert, Tenor, Baritone. The Baritone standard tuning is different than the others
• I have the Tenor Ukulele Starter Pack from George's Music (comes with Uke, Tuner, and a bag). It's a good starter recommendation from my friend who suggested the Uke to me. Later, if you want a more expensive Uke, my friend also said he purchased a Kala Ukulele from MusicGuyMic.
• Note: www.southernukulelestore.co.uk  (twitter @SUS_UKE) has provided a discount code for all my followers of this blog. If you find something you're interested in there, use discount code SUS2014 which will entitle you to 10% off all items on their site!
• Strings: And Aquila strings are said to be the best strings. My friend said he orders from JustStrings.com, so I got some from there.
• Stringing the Ukulele: You can find video's on youtube about how to string the Uke. Here's a good one and here's one where he mentions it's good to restring every so often (and you can use nail clippers to cut the ends off the strings). This video has an enlarged version of how the knot is done at the bridge. This video has information on the various forms of ukulele string tie downs (some are just knots, others are knots around the bridge and others go through the body of the uke).
• Even if you don't buy from George's music, you might like to sign up for George's Music Uke Club newsletter

Lessons:

• Some of the best Uke lessons online are by Ukulele Mike. His lessons are videos on youtube and some have links to the music sheets. They change often so check back every now and then. I particularly enjoyed the lessons on blues because they were easy to learn and he has a little jam session at the end. Mike recently (2011) offered two DVDs of lessons.
• Here's a good page with a link to a few pages of great beginner's lessons
• When you want to understand and learn more about Music Theory, take a look at this site by my friend (the same one who suggested the Uke to me) http://chordmaps.com/
• Ukulele Underground - has forums, lessons, and lots of good info
• Ukuleletricks
• http://hawaiimusicsupply.com/lessons.php
• http://www.ukeschool.com/instruction.html
• Uke Barre chords:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CO7zryA668
• Ukulele Chord tips:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJme1gtN1SM

Techniques:

• Struming
• Power Chord (5 chord)
• Palm Muting (noted as P.M. in music)
• Left hand Muting
• Trill (noted as tr over 16th notes)
• Raking (noted as X's)
• Clawhamer (like a Banjo): lesson 2, 3,

Music for the Uke:

• Dr. Uke has more than 500 songs to print and play
• Jazz Uke: http://www.jazzyukulele.com/
• Brook Adams has more on strum patterns and songs too http://www.brookadams.com/charts_uke.html
• Richard G's Songbook has many songs
• 2011-06-27 Found this blog post with tons of free Uke song books: http://ukuleleguy.com/ukulele-books/london-uke-festival-songbook-free/499
• Seattle Ukulele Song book
• Christmas Carols
• Uke Land: blog with Uke into and ukecast (podcast of players, tips, beginners info, etc.)
  http://www.ukeland.com/
• Mele Kalikimaka (Tab) is a Christmas song I remember from my childhood. The music is available on Ukulele Hunt:
  http://ukulelehunt.com/2007/12/23/christmas-ukulele-mele-kalikimaka/
• Uke BLog
  http://www.dominator.ukeland.com/
• Ukelele Beatles fun: - shows a graphic with playing the song:
  http://beatlesite.info/
• Song Tabs (has some bluegrass and contemporary) http://kenmiddleton.co.uk/freedownloads.aspx
• Ukulele Songs (tells about Ukes and has lots of popular songs in links on left) http://www.ukulelesongs.com/
• Tabs:
  http://chordie.com/chord.pere/flarere.free.fr/Autres/Beatles/12/OCTOPU~11.txt?=&1944-06-06=always&transpose=&tuning=GCEA
• PDF Tab sheets:
  http://www.muffin.net.nz/muffin/Pdf_Tablature.html
• Alligator Boogaloo Ukulele Boogaloo song book

Uke Chords:

• Chord finder (online) http://www.ukulele.nl/chordfinder.php
• Chord Chart - enter a chord to get possible fingerings
• Chord Chart pdf file you can print
• Chordette allows you to print chords for printing out music
• Reverse Chord Finder (you set the strings held down and it tells you what the chord is): http://www.praiseuke.com/blog/?page_id=43

Other Uke info:

• Did you know that if you capo a guitar on the 5th fret, it will have the same tuning as a Uke (except one string is an octave different, but that's ok) as shown in this video (note: here's an extra bonus humorous look at this phenomenon)
• Here's a April 2011 New York Times article about Uke's
• It's so easy, even a Chimp can do it! Here's a story in NY Times of a Chimp who played the Uke
• Ukulele Kit (build your own): http://www.findgift.com/gift-ideas/pid-159889/ (Thanks to Jillian for this link)
• Top 50 Uke sites: http://www.boatpaddleukuleles.com/top50/
• Free George's Music Uke Club newsletter
• Ukulele History: http://www.nalu-music.com/how-i-learned-to-play-the-ukulele/

Enjoy! And, please leave a comment here on my blog about your Uke playing or your questions!

IBMs Computer "Watson" to Play Jeopardy In February 2011

IBM will have it's computer named "Watson" play in Jeopardy in February 2011.

The games will be televised on Feb. 14, 15 and 16, 2011.

These shows will be definitely worth watching!
I'm really looking forward to this since I worked with Alex Trebec in Los Angeles back about 1992 while working in a different company on a Jeopardy Video game! He's a great person!
Here are several articles on Watson (several have links to videos within them)

• Jeopardy! Viewing Party kit to print: http://www.scribd.com/full/48164541?access_key=key-gd7zfdyguhb4pu76xxq
• When Jeopardy! is being televised: http://www.jeopardy.com/showguide/whentowatch/ (note: it says there are no stations for New Jersey, but I know that channel 7 WABC from New York televises it)
  
• You can watch blog postings live during the show on PBS here: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tech/smartest-machine-on-earth.html
• You can also watch live twitter posts (even if you don't have a twitter account) here: http://twitter.com/#search?q=%23watson
  
• PBS’s ‘Nova’ Aired a documentary on IBM Computer’s Quest to Win on ‘Jeopardy’ Feb. 9, 2011 (replay available online) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tech/smartest-machine-on-earth.html and http://t.co/NkA85lZ
• If "Watson" wins, The winnings will be donated to World Vision and World Community Grid http://www.jeopardy.com/news/watsoncharities.php
  
• IBM's webpage about Watson: http://www-03.ibm.com/innovation/us/watson/
  
• 2010-01-13: Here's a link I found in an email addressed to me. It is a 6 minute overview of the project from it's start in 2007 and shows early trials: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1c7s7-3fXI
• Introduction of the IBM Teams: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/16/building-watson-meet-the-_n_797998.html
• Interview with IBM's Watson Research Manager Eric Brown, http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-20025829-52.html
• Overview of the matchup in February and how Watson was designed: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/wins+spot+Jeopardy/4000024/story.html
• What is Watson? IBM Research information on Watson: http://www.research.ibm.com/deepqa/
• http://www.dvrplayground.com/blog/entry/22301/Your-TV-Tech-Fix-IBM-s-Watson-is-a-JEOPARDY-Playing-Machine...-Literally./ Overview of the winnings at stake: http://seerpress.com/jeopardy-champs-to-go-up-against-ibm-super-computer-in-2011/17658/
• Youtube video of Alex Trebec (Jeopardy host) and IBM discussion of Watson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isteKNpv_nM
• w3 news release (you can comment too) http://w3.ibm.com/news/w3news/top_stories/2010/12/chq_watson_jeopardy.html
• Note: I had an opportunity to meet Alex Trebec when I worked for a past employer and were were doing a video game of Jeopardy!
• Social Discussion on Watson: http://www-949.ibm.com/social/watson/
• IBM's press release (ibm.com) http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/33233.wss
• Follow Watson on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/ibmwatson
• Play Jeopardy against Watson online: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/06/16/magazine/watson-trivia-game.html?ref=magazine
• For more information, please visit www.ibmwatson.com

How2 Motivate A Team

How do you motivate the team?
Someone recently asked me for information about information for motivating team members. So, here is a post with some links.

But, first my thoughts:

• Be a leader: be a pacesetter and show them by example
• Relate to the people you work with
• Let people know you care about them
• Build trust
• Make your goals clear
• Let people know that their work matters
  

Here are the links:

• Here is a TED talk by Daniel Pink (author of "Driven") on Motivation http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation.html
• Here is a set of links from the Harvard Business Review on Motivation http://www.businessweek.com/managing/team/motivation/
• Wikipedia "Theory X and Y of management" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_X_and_theory_Y
• McKinsey "Motivating people: Getting beyond money " http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/Motivating_people_Getting_beyond_money_2460
• Wikipedia "Maslow's hierarchy of needs" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy
• John Maxwell's blog on leadership has many thoughts on motivation. He has several books related to this subject, i.e. "Everyone Communicates, Few Connect: What the Most Effective People Do Differently" http://johnmaxwellonleadership.com/

My contact info: My Blog: http://henrywill4.com
My external PM Group: PMlessonsLearned.com
twitter: @henrywill and @pmlessons

How to Decide When to Delegate

As Project Managers and operational managers, we often wonder when it is best to delegate work.

Sometimes there are benefits and drawbacks that lie below the surface when making decisions to delegate.

The main points to consider are:
1. The trade off of training, managing, and validating the other persons work Vs. doing it yourself
2. The Trust factors: Your trust of the person and their perception of how you trust them
3. Cross-training: Is there value in someone else knowing how to do this?
4. Management visibility: How visible is the result of this activity to upper management (or the client)

Perhaps answering these questions may help you to know when to delegate:

• Will it take you longer to explain it to the person and train them so they can do it than for you to just do the work?
• Do you have a trust issue? Do you feel that the worker is not trustworthy? Maybe there is a larger issue requiring discussion?
• Do you have an issue with trusting someone else to do this work?
• Is this person the type that needs lots of interaction? Will they require you to be involved heavily?
• Would this task take lots of time for you (or someone) to validate it was done correctly?
• How will the results reflect on your performance? If this is a highly visible activity, perhaps you want to do it yourself?
• Or, perhaps would delegating it to show your ability to delegate?
• Will delegating the task to someone show your trust in them? Will it generate a positive response in your person because they see you trusting them?
• Will the training yield other benefits? Will they learn more about your group?
• Are there cross-training benefits to them learning?
• Will this allow them to cover for you if you're not available?
• What are the implications if the task/activity is done correctly? Really well? Or, not correctly?
  
• How long would it take for me to do the work compared to how long it would take for me to train the new person and then for that person to do this work (and for me to check the end product)?
• Is this work something that will have to be done again? I.e. is it repeatable/repetitious?

I hope this helps. I would like to hear your input/comments on questions you ask yourself and ways you determine when it's best to delegate.

Sometimes we Need to Create Some Urgency (and How to Deal With Impossible Deadlines)

What does preparing for a vacation have anything to do with project management? Read on and you'll see...

Some friends of ours had plans to drive to Florida from here in New Jersey on the Monday after Christmas. Christmas came on Saturday this year and a blizzard snow storm was predicted for the day after Christmas (on Sunday).

On Christmas day, my friend and I exchanged some Christmas greetings via text messages. He mentioned that maybe they would have to leave earlier for their trip to get past the impending storm.

Later Christmas day I texted him, after hearing the forecast, and said that he may have to seriously consider leaving early. Just after midnight, they texted me and said they were leaving right then.

Well, they had some slow going as they ran right into the snow storm through the night, but they made it through safely and passed into the warmer south where it was rain. I talked to them on the phone and mentioned it must have been a flurry (no pun intended) of activity at his house late on Christmas day as they had to pack so quickly and get driving. He said that not only did they need to pack, but they also had to prepare for the coming blizzard. They took down the nativity and Christmas lights because of the predicted high winds. All the children were busy working so they could leave.

I mentioned how my dad would use the days just prior to vacations to get us children working. He'd say we could go if some project got done. I remember how he once got us all excited about the battle recreations that would be held at Gettysburg PA around Independence day. We were so excited about it as the time drew near. Then came the back porch project. Dad said we needed to get the old concrete patio broken up before we could go to Gettysburg. Well, that was all the motivation we needed! My brother and I would go straight to the sledgehammers every day after school to get that old porch all broken up before Independence day came around. We worked long and hard in anticipation of the mock battles we would soon see. Every pound of the sledgehammer probably brought anticipation of hearing a cannon blast or a musket firing. We got the project done on time and went on a memorable vacation!

Back to my friend driving to Florida and him relating how fast and hard they worked to leave early before the storm came... Since we both work in project environments, he mentioned how sometimes a sense of urgency needs to be provided when things are stalled. He related a story of how one of the "higher ups" at his place added a sense of urgency to get a project out of its stalled state. I started wondering if this isn't the reason why executives sometimes set the unrealistic deadlines that us project managers find so frustrating, especially when they are artificial deadlines not based on any real need.

It was a good point my friend was making, sometimes as project managers we do need to set deadlines to create a sense of urgency. I'm reminded of a quote I've heard before: if it weren't for deadlines, nothing would get done around here.

I have a colleague that lead a team that just completed a major deadline after having gone through a few years of impossible business deadlines. The team morale is one of total burn out and has been for quite some time. At this point, they are so numb that many of them can't believe they actually completed something that went into production! You would think they are going through the Kübler-Ross model of the 5 stages of grief!

here are a few good articles if you're going through some impossible or tight deadlines

• What to do when impossible project deadlines are common procedure - http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10878_11-1049773.html
• 10 tips for meeting IT project deadlines - http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/10things/?p=264
• Project Deadlines and Target Dates:
  5 Guidelines for Avoiding Disaster - http://www.idinews.com/deadline.html - This article makes a good point of distinguishing between deadlines" (which represent an end date that, if missed, would cause the project to no longer be viable) and target dates.

I hope some of this helps you in the projects you manage whether it be at work or at home.
Please comment! Please use the box on this page to provide your email address to get emails of my blog posts!

Ocean Grove NJ 2011 Season - Advance Announcements (Highlights)

Mark your 2011 Calendars!

Here are some events that have been announced in advance of the 2011 season! These can change and I'm sure more events will be added! Keep checking back at the website at oceangrove.org

Music highlights: http://oceangrove.livesitehost.com/pages/Special_Music_Events11

June 18 - 7:00pm - Ocean Grove Hymn Sing with Lew and Faith Daniels Bishop Janes Tabernacle

July 10 - 7:30pm - 57th Annual Choir Festival - over 1,000 singers, exciting guest conductors, brass, and our magnificent Hope-Jones organ

Christian Concerts and Events highlights: http://oceangrove.livesitehost.com/pages/christianconcerts2011
May 20, 21, 22 2011 - JERSEY SHORE WILL GRAHAM CELEBRATION
Speaker: Will Graham (Grandson of Evangelist Billy Graham)
With Top Christian Artists - to be determined
www.jerseyshorecelebration.org

June 24,2011 BRIDGE WORSHIP EVENT
Bridgefest 2011 dates are set!
We have exciting plans for 2011 and we look forward to sharing more in coming months.
www.bridgefest.org
Stay tuned!


Camp Meeting Week Highlights: http://oceangrove.livesitehost.com/pages/camp_meeting_week_2011

Saturday, July 30th 9:00am Bible Hour: Lloyd Pulley
10:30am New Beginnings Show (AUD) 11:00am WMCA Beach Festival (NE Beach)
8:00pm Camp Meeting Worship Event: An Evening with The David Crowder Band in the Great Auditorium

Thursday, August 4th
10:30am Walk Thru The Bible Old Testament (TAB)
7:30pm Teen Show (YT)

Friday, August 5th
10:30am Walk Thru The Bible New Testament (TAB)
7:30pm Teen Show: (YT)

Growth and Renewal Highlights: http://oceangrove.livesitehost.com/pages/Growth___Renewal_2011

Youth Worker University
2011 includes the following programs:
* June: 3 Story Evangelism
* August 3: Parent & Teen Seminar
* October: Multiplying Student Leaders

The Forge Conference...September 29-October 1
Worship Arts Technology Summit

Global Leadership Summit
Annual two-day world-class leadership training event
August 11 & 12, 2011 in the Youth Temple
Summit Speakers to be announced on March 31, 2011

Missions Training
Missions 101 totally sold out for both session in 2010, registration for 2011 opens in February 2011
Expanded the program with a "missions" focused event as part of the regular youth program...reaching out to the Asbury UMC Food Bank as well as other hands-on experiences.
Developing a winter break program entitled: Missions 202, a conference on evangelism to take Missions 101 graduates to a new level. This will be held on January 14-16 at Grove Hall

Sunday Worship highlights: http://oceangrove.livesitehost.com/pages/SUNDY_WORSHIP2011
June 19 - 10:30am & 7:30pm Rev. Dr. DeFOREST BUSTER SOARIES
July 3 - 10:30am ANNE GRAHAM LOTZ
July 3 - 7:30pm SHANE CLAIBORNE Founding partner of The Simple Way
August 21 - 10:30am & 7:30pm Pastor ALISTAIR BEGG

Bible Hour highlights: http://oceangrove.livesitehost.com/pages/BIBLE_HOUR_2011
June 27-July 2 Pastor GAYLE ERWIN Founder of Servant Quarters Cathedral City, CA
July 4-9 Pastor ROB CRUVER Senior Pastor Zarephath Christian Church Zarephath, NJ
July 25-30 Pastor LLOYD PULLEY Senior Pastor Calvary Chapel Old Bridge Old Bridge, NJ

All of this and more on the website at oceangrove.org
You may find the calendar here (http://oceangrove.livesitehost.com/pages/Calendar_08) helpful too.

Is Christmas Over?

Merry Christmas to all of you and a Happy New Year to all!

Yesterday as I was shoveling out from the blizzard snow storm we had here, I was trying to find places to throw the snow. Things are pretty tight by the driveway near the garage and about the only place to throw the snow was on top of the already covered nativity scene. The snow drifts were already covering the characters up to their heads anyway.

While I was shoveling, I got to thinking about how it seems Christmas is over already. The gifts have mostly all been exchanged. We are moving on with getting back to matters at hand (like shoveling snow). I thought about Christmas day. Had I been thinking about what Christmas was truly about on Christmas day or was I just caught up in the festivities and time together with others? And now, even the christian radio station has stopped playing Christmas songs.

Then I got back to thinking about how I was covering the nativity with snow. Am I being too quick to cover over Christmas and move on? Do we all try to "cover over" Christmas and move on too quickly?

I thought back to years ago when we had a pastor who always emphasized how Advent was the time leading up to Christmas and then when the Christmas season came on Christmas day it would last for a while. In recent years, especially with commercialism, Christmas is pushed to start before thanksgiving and ends about noon on Christmas day!

I remember how our mom and dad would take us around to visit relatives in the time after Christmas day. We would spend time with cousins, Aunts, and Uncles. Christmas lasted for days.

Some would say that Christmas should be in our hearts all year long. That's a good thought. So, let's not be so quick to move on. Let's take time to languish in the moment. I just watched a video about Mary, Joseph and the baby that a friend posted on facebook. After Jesus is born, the shepherds and wise men visit. And then, they just stay. They stay in quietness and spend time in the presence of the baby.

Christmas isn't over, let's remain here a bit.

Are you still celebrating Christmas? Please comment!

And, please subscribe here on this website page to get updates emailed to you (and invite others to do the same)

Thankful Day 381

Thank you Lord, for helping me to be more thankful!

In early November 2009, a friend of mine posted a challenge on his facebook wall. He challenged people to post something that they are thankful for each day. He challenged everyone to do this every day until Thanksgiving. I took that challenge. Then, I continued it. I'm now up to 381 days.

It's now time for me to pass the baton. It's time for someone else to step up and take the challenge and post a thankful thought each day. No need to be concerned, I'll keep on being thankful to God, you just won't see it on facebook every day.

What have I learned from 381 posts about being thankful?
I've learned over the last year that there is always something to be thankful to the Lord for. And, I learned that no matter what the circumstances, we can find something to be thankful for. God has done so much for us. We have lots to be thankful for if we just take a little time to look around us. Yes, we need to take time to be thankful.

I've had days when I didn't feel too thankful, but became thankful because I knew I had to post something to be thankful about. It's improved my thankfulness quotient! So, I suggest it to you, even if you don't want to post on facebook! You can thank God in prayer, or write things down on paper.

So, my suggestion to you is to be thankful!

The Bible has lots to say about being thankful. Here are a few:

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:9-13 (NIV)

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:19b - 20

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

What do you have to be thankful about? Please post a comment!

Selling Your Vision and Obtaining Buy-in

I've collected the following links recently about selling your vision and obtaining buy-in. Hopefully these will be helpful to you.

3 Tips to Re-Focus Your Team on the New Strategy
http://web.hbr.org/email/archive/managementtip.php?date=101510

Know Your Enemy: The People Who Block Buy-in by John Kotter:
http://blogs.hbr.org/kotter/2010/09/know-your-enemy-the-people-who.html

"Four Ways to Kill a Good Idea" by John Kotter
http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/6471.html

Buy-In by John Kotter and Lorne A. Whitehead
http://www.kotterinternational.com/kotterprinciples/BuyIn.aspx

Selling Your Vision:
http://www.inc.com/magazine/20101001/john-kotter-on-selling-your-vision.html

Involve Frontline Employees in Creating Strategy:
http://web.hbr.org/email/archive/managementtip.php?date=100110

Other Leadership and Management tips:
http://twitter.com/managementtip

Protect Your Good Idea
http://s.hbr.org/9wHQa5

What are your thoughts? Please comment!

Discussion points for the first mentoring meeting

Someone recently asked me to mentor them.

From past experience and looking around, I found this list to be a good starting point for our first meeting. I asked them to schedule the first meeting and I suggested that we would start with discussing the following points:

1. Introductions and experience background of each of us (let's please exchange resumes and/or brief autobiographies before the first meeting)
2. Goals? (for both of us)
3. Constraints, issues, boundaries, and considerations
3.1. Confidentiality
3.2. Duration, frequency, and Length of meetings (How long of a commitment will this be for? How often will we meet? How long will we meet each time?)
3.3. Checkpoints to assess the mentoring status and/or if we should continue
3.4. Considerations of environment: such as lack of confidence, new to position, etc.
3.5. How will we consider that we're reached the goal
3.6. Can we contact each other ad-hoc? Under what conditions and how?
4. Agenda for our meetings?
5. Who will take notes (i.e. action items, learnings, agenda for next meeting) and how will these notes be shared?

Big consideration for the first meeting: Is there any way that we can meet in person? Even if our periodic meetings must be on the phone, can we at least meet in person for the first meeting?


A few reference articles for mentoring:

• http://www.mentors.ca/mentorpartnertips.html
• http://www.rad.washington.edu/academics/mentor/pdf-forms/Mentors%20Checklist%20-%202%20-%201st%20mtg.pdf/view
• http://deptmed.med.som.jhmi.edu/faculty/body7.html
  

I'm open to suggestions for improving this list. Please leave a comment!

Listening to People's Stories

A few stories I heard today:

Connor's House (connorshouse.org)
Today I went to donate blood at a nearby church where my brother (and his wife) used to attend worship. It was interesting that I gave blood on the same day I took communion. Think about it.

The person organizing the drive told me about her son who had died at 8 years old (in 2007) and so she started a ministry called connorshouse.org - They have these blood drives and also have a book sale to raise funds for books at hospitals so that children have books to read. It was a sad story about her son and all the time he spent in the hospital and all the care he needed at home, but I could see how God is using the family to help others. She told me she has a dream to have a house where these families can have a respite.

World War Two Veteran
The other story is one about our neighbor. He is an elderly Jewish man who has lived with his wife in this neighborhood for 50+ years. We neighbors around help them out with work around the yard and with shoveling snow in the winter and such. He stops over from time to time to talk. We were talking today while Ruth and I were cleaning the cars. He's been sick lately. He's loosing weight and the doctors are trying to find out why. His adult son is very ill and not able to care for himself. I listened to his story and offered to pray for him. We stopped and I prayed. After we were done, he said "Thanks. The last time someone personally prayed for me was in the war." He reminded me of the story of how his B-24 crew flew one weekend and it was the first time of all their missions that he did not fly with them. On Saturday night while returning to base from town he said there was a somber mood. He found out that 11 planes were lost that day and one was his crew. Then there was the part of the story I hadn't heard before. He told how he had to gather their belongings and pack them. He related how the feelings of guilt were a heavy load. It was around that time that Passover was occurring which he observed. The day after Passover that year was Easter. He said that a man brought him into the chapel and asked him to sit in the back and told him he didn't have to do anything, they would take care of it. That man then went to the front and prayed for him and the others.

It makes you wonder, doesn't it?
How many people just need to tell us their stories? How many people need us to just listen? How many people just need us to take the time to stop and pray with them right then and there?

What are your thoughts? Do you have a story to share? Please leave a comment. And, feel free to click on the link on my website to subscribe to email updates from my blog.

I was recently talking to the people I manage about how they need to help their project manager to keep the "Monkeys" of his back.

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Help get the Monkeys Off your manager's back
This idea of "monkeys on the manager's back" comes from an article published by Harvard Business Review. It is one of their most requested reprints.
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The article talks about tasks as "monkeys." The manager is trying to get the Monkeys off his back and onto the backs of those who work for him. Some people who work for him might try to get him involved again (like by asking him to review their work, or asking him for guidance) which puts the monkey back on the manager's back.

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Here's the link to the article: http://hbr.org/product/management-time-who-s-got-the-monkey/an/99609-PDF-ENG

A helpful worker will try to keep the monkeys off of the manager's back.

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The GROW Model:
We have this GROW Model of Coaching that stands for "Goal, Reality, Options, What Will you do." The GROW Model says we can tackle issues by first looking at the Goal, then looking at reality (what are the issues?), then listing the Options (what different things could be done to tackle this issue?), and then deciding What Will I do (which option is the one I propose to take). I've used a similar technique for years to encourage people who report to me to provide me with solutions (rather than problems) and their recommended path to solve the issues. If you put yourself in the position of your manger, wouldn't you want people to come to you with solution options and a recommended path?
Links:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GROW_model
• http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_89.htm
  

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The Freedom Ladder:
We also have this concept of the Freedom Ladder. The idea is that you need to take on more responsibility to get tasks done and be more independent. At the bottom of the ladder we have a worker who waits for instructions. The next "rung" of the ladder is a worker who asks for work. Then we progress to the next level where we have a worker who Recommends a solution and then acts on it (see the GROW Model above). The next level on the ladder is a worker who acts (does the work) and then advises the manager what was done. The top level is someone who just acts! Put yourself in your manager's "shoes" and think about which type of worker you would want working for you.
Link: http://www.chriscrofttraining.co.uk/pdf/leadership/thefre_1.pdf

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It applies to email too!

I explained to this person I was coaching how these concepts also apply to email. Some people copy their manager just to show that they're getting work done, or to give the manager a FYI (For Your Information). But, managers already get so much email. One idea that I use is to think about what it's like to be my manager getting copied on my email. Does he want to receive email about this now, or would he rather that I wait until it's resolved and then get a copy of the last email in the thread so he can see the solution and closure? Or, does he need to even see this at all?

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Another help for my manager: spreading around my questions
I learned a few years ago that I don't always have to go to my manager for help. I can ask others to help. By spreading around my questions, I am able to interrupt my manager less often. It also helps to make sure that my manager is not a "bottle neck" where everything needs to go through him.

But, keep in mind "balance" in all things
We also have to remember that all these things are not "hard and fast" rules that must be followed all the time. Sometimes it makes sense for all involved to ask the manager for assistance. A good example is an issue the manager can solve in 5 minutes, but if you were to go to others, or figure it out on your own, it might take hours of your time and the time of others. Clearly, in this case, it would be best to just ask your manager.

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What have you found to help your manager?
Please comment or recommend this article to others. I'd like to hear how you've found ways to help your manager.

The Why of Work : Book discussion with author Robert Ulrich

I was just listening in to a Book discussion on "The Why of Work" with author Robert Ulrich today. Here are my notes:

Team Work is more important than having star players
In research done by the authors, it was found that for all Academy of the Arts best movies, only 15% of the time were the actors/actresses in those movies also awarded best actor/actress for the same movie. The same is true for sports teams: It was found that teams that won the ultimate season game(s) only in 15% of the cases did they have the best players.
So, team work is very important!

High Performing Teams focus on these aspects

1) Clear and Common purpose/objectives
Call it vision, goals, purpose, objectives, or whatever, but it must be clear and common.

Exercise:
Ask your team members to jot down the answer to "What are we trying to accomplish" and see if you have agreement. If not, clarify it!

2) Governance
How well do we work together? Are people on time to meetings? Are people "present" (or distracted)? Do we make good decisions? Is everyone involved/engaged?

Exercises:
Discuss issues with the above questions.
Discuss if it people are "present" or distracted? Does it matter? Why is it happening? How can we improve?
Ask a question at the beginning of the meeting: e.g. everyone jot down 2 things we've been successful at (or to answer some question/issue). Call on a random first person to speak, then when that person is done, they choose the next person.

3) Relationship
Do we care about each other? We don't need to be best friends, but there should be some caring. There should be some knowledge of people's personal lives. Face conflict. The discussion "in the room" should be the same as "out of the room." Acknowledge people's worth.

Exercises:
Ask team members to write down the strengths of each of the other team members, then pass the answers around.
Everyone share a success
Everyone share a failure
Have team members share what hobby they have and how it relates to the way they like to work (e.g. I am detail oriented, I like to interject humor...)
Team leader can tell each team member why they were brought onto the team
Perform a physical task that is unrelated to the work (e.g. Habitat for Humanity on a Saturday)

4) Learning
Teams increase their effectiveness by learning and developing

Exercises:
Ask what has worked well and not well in past 30 days
After Action Review: Conduct a "lessons learned" to see what was done well (or not so well) and how it can be improved on

Movies we've enjoyed watching

I was thinking the other day that I should post on my blog about the movies we've watched that we've enjoyed. Today at the prayer breakfast, somehow we got on the topic of good movies. So, maybe it's time to post now.

Keep in mind that we're not into watching violence or such, so these will be pretty tame movies by most people's standards. I don't think you'll see any "R" rated movies on my list (expect maybe the "Passion of the Christ," but even that's a tough one).

I'll start with a few recent ones we've watched and revisit this topic later.

• "Second Chances" 1998 rated "G" : A story about a 10 year old girl who with the help of a horse is able to have a second chance. Reviews: Christian Cinema and Internet Movie Database
  
• "Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story" 2005 rated "PG" Plugged in Movie Review
  
• "Because of Winn-Dixie" rated "PG" Plugged in Movie Review
• "Saving Sarah Cain" PG Christian Cimema Review, Christian Answers Review, Christian Movie News Review
  
• "The Blind Side" PG-13 (Christian Movie review) (plugged-in) (Christian Cinema has mixed comments)
  
• Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian - PG (plugged-in) (Christian Cinema) (Christian Answers)
  
• "Sweet Home Alabama" PG-13 - not well rated in christian reviews: (plugged-in) (Christian Answers) (Christian Cinema)
  
• "Though None Go With Me" Not Rated (well liked in reviews by customers at Christian Cinema)
  
• "The Ultimate Gift" PG (Christian Cinema) (plugged-in) (Christian Answers)
  
• "Night at the Museum" PG (Christian Answers) (Plugged-in) (Christian Cinema)
  
• "The Astronaut Farmer" PG (Christian Answers) (Plugged-in) (Christian Cinema - not well liked)
• "The Worlds Fastest Indian" - PG-13 A story of a elderly man with an old motorcycle trying to set a land-speed record (Christian Answers.net review)
  
• "Kung Fu Panda" PG (Plugged in online review) (Christianity Today) (Christian Answers) (Christian Cinema)
  

We hope you'll find this list helpful.
Please post a comment to let us know about movies you've enjoyed.