Showing posts with label Motivation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Motivation. Show all posts
October 6, 2023
September 10, 2023
November 14, 2022
Donut Monday
February 9, 2021
Heart Over Head
While many people may occasionally feel head over heels for something or someone, I liked this saying by Miska Ben-David:
The head will make its plans, but the heart will choose its own path.
In other words, we are often driven by our hearts over our heads!
Passion is a powerful motivator, indeed.
When passion calls, do you go running too?
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
June 2, 2020
You've Got To Do It
December 15, 2019
The Best Jobs 2020 and Beyond
They are not the ones that just pay the most!
Here are the three criteria to look for in your next dream job (aside from the money):
1) Autonomy - Work that is self-directed provides satisfaction that jobs that are closely or micro-managed do not.
2) Mastery - Jobs that allow you get better at them over time (technical proficiency) provide a sense of mastery and self-respect.
3) Purpose - When you have a deep sense of purpose and meaning from your work there is simply no greater motivator and satisfier than this.
I'd also add that the best places to work are the ones with:
- The best bosses and the nicest people
- A solid balance for work and life
Overall, if we can reconnect the profit motive with the purpose motive then we have truly have the best jobs out there. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
July 30, 2019
Win Rocky Win
And it arrived, all wrapped up nicely, in the mail yesterday.
Rocky working out and training.
His shirt says:
Win Rocky Win
I posed him with his arms up in the air like after a fight in the ring.
Love his fighting spirit, determination, and integrity.
Overcoming against all odds.
Great inspiration.
Some say we actually look alike. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
November 27, 2017
Motivation, Hard Work, and Blessings
So I am incredibly impressed at how talented so many people are.
And I'll tell you, people are motivated to get ahead and they are working hard to do it.
I took Lyft to a couple of destinations down here in Florida.
Two drivers that I had just yesterday were both from relatively poor backgrounds in Jamaica.
And both were incredible in what they've been able to accomplish for themselves.
One was a senior communications technologist with a large cable company.
Another was a pretty impressive and successful Reggae music star.
Both had come to this country and made amazing lives for themselves.
In meeting these incredible people, I learned that everyone is driving Uber and Lyft now-a-days. :)
Both were driving as they told me just to keep busy on their days off--because they "hate being bored!"
More importantly, I learned that despite whatever background, hardships, or adversity you come from or have experienced, you can make it in your own way!
Motivation and hard work coupled with mercy and blessings from, and faith in the Almighty Above are an incredible combination that can propel people towards incredible levels of success in life that maybe many would've never even really dreamed of.
There is no easy road--just one filled with trying your best, plenty of obstacles, stumbles, and falls, and then picking yourself up and trying again and again until hopefully and with G-d's help you break the bonds and chains keeping you from your amazing levels of potential and contribution to this world. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
July 20, 2017
I Got The Call
But not the one that I always wanted, which is to serve at the very highest echelons of government or/and industry for those values and things which I so hold dear.
No, instead I got the call that my professor in college warned me about.
He said:
"You will get a call one day from someone asking for a lot of cash--no questions asked! At that time, you will know who you're real friends are."
So I actually got this call (for real) and in the middle of my work day.
This person who contacts me is considered quite affluent and with an extensive network, and I know him/her for only a relatively short time.
Person:
"You know you're like family to me Andy...I need $2,000--in cash--by 7 pm. I'll pay you back $500 on Friday and the rest by Monday."
Me (Stunned):
"What--is this a joke or something?"
Person:
{Repeats again the request}
Me:
"OMG. What's wrong--is everyone okay? Are you in any trouble?"
Person:
"Uh, everyone's fine...don't ask me any questions--there's no time for this now."
Me {Reaching for some humor in this bizarre situation}:
"Oh, only $2,000--I thought maybe you needed $2 million--that's no problem, of course."
Person:
"Please don't make jokes now Andy--this isn't funny!"
Me {Trying once again to get some more--any--information}:
"Can you just explain to me what's going on--I really want to understand, so I can help you."
Person:
"Do you have the cash or not?"
Me:
"To be frank no. I don't keep any cash around. {Inquiring to learn more...} Could you take a check or something else?"
Person:
"No. Listen, can you go to the ATM now?"
Me {frustrated by the abruptness, lack of sensical communication, and pushiness, as well as more than a little suspicious at how this is all going down}:
"Well the ATMs have a cash limit. Also, I would really need to check with my {lovely} wife first,"
Person {seeing they weren't getting what they wanted when they wanted it}:
"Okay, well if you can't help, I'll just call someone else--thanks {hanging up on me}!"
WOW!
Despite having trusted this person and feeling very hurt by all this, I still called the person back later that evening to follow up and because I truly cared, and they were still not any more forthcoming with me, and in fact, were quite attacking that they were sorry to have called me.
But I wasn't sorry...my college professor was right on, thank G-d--I do know who my friends are!
Whether its a lunch date, LinkedIn/Facebook contact, or social invitation, be discerning about the motives of people--outside of any sane and normal context--that are seeking to "friend" you. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 10, 2017
Overcoming Resistance To Change
20% of the people are open and friendly to change--they are your early adopters.
50% are fence sitters--and they hold a wait and see attitude.
30% are resisters--these are the people that will be the roadblocks to change.
_____
Total 100%
Some will resist openly and loudly. Other will disguise their resistance in a politically correct way. And finally some may work subversively to block change.
The keys to overcoming the resistance is by working through the head, heart, and hands model, helping people to understand the following:
Head (Intellectual) - What is changing.
Heart (Emotional) - Why it's changing (and what's in it for me--WIIFM).
Hands (Behavioral) - How is it changing.
This means changing the mindset, motivating people, and shaping behavior to effect change.
Change and resistance to change are facts of life, but how we approach it can either mean failure or amazing transformation. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
August 30, 2016
(Not) Too Hard!
They are what we call "good people."
But like all of us, have challenges and difficulties in life.
Maybe their load is heavier and more taxing.
But it is what G-d has given them to bear and to work with.
In talking with this person, at one point, they said, "It's too hard!"
And I think we all feel that way sometimes.
Bret Stephens quoted Bernard Lewis in the Wall Street Journal today, that in trying times, some ask, "Who did this to us?" While others ask, "What did we do wrong?"
Maybe the question should be, "What can we do now?"
While some throw in the towel and can't go on or go on in a bad way, others may get angry and bitter at their lot in life.
But yet like my inspiration, Rocky, some get up and fight for what they want.
The down is only a temporary down, but not a knockout.
The pain stings and hurts and leaves us blurry-eyed and dizzy, but our desire to succeed pushes the adrenaline through our coursing veins, and we get up again with even a greater determination.
"The eye of the tiger, the thrill of the fight, rising up to the challenges of our rivals..."
I take responsibility. I take accountability. I want to overcome.
I shall prevail in life and even ultimately in death, my life will mean something to somebody.
The end is the beginning again. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
April 10, 2016
Success Is Not A Silver Spoon
It is by Christopher Chabris and Joshua Hart in "How Not To Explain Success."
They attempt to dispel the explanation of 2 Yale law professors Amy Chua and Jed Rubenfeld that various ethnic and religious minorities (e.g. Cubans, Jews, Indians, etc.) "had achieved disproportionate success in America" because of three things:
1) "A belief that their group was inherently superior to others"
2) "A sense of personal insecurity"
3) "A high degree of impulse control"
But Chabris and Hart claim this is falsehood and instead attribute the success to the people's innate higher intelligence and superior socioeconomic background.
In other words, Chabris and Hart would have us believe that the ethnic and religious minorities they speak of were somehow "born with a silver spoon in their mouths"-- which is complete NONSENSE.
While Chabris and Hart (of Union College) themselves claim vastly superior empirical evidence from their survey of a whopping 1,258 adults, they dismiss others' arguments such as Yale University professors, Chua and Rubenfeld, as mere "circumstantial evidence."
Well I and many of my family and friends that I grew up with must be part of that silly circumstantial evidence, called PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
You see, we are part of the generation of Holocaust Survivors and Children Of Holocaust Survivors, who came to America, as my grandmother said "without a chair to sit on" or a dime in their pockets.
My father worked long, hard hours in a factory eventually becoming its manager and he and my mom provided for our family. Both my parents lost most of their education due to the War and the need to "go out and earn a living."
Similarly, one of my best friends grew up also the child of survivors. His father came from the Holocaust and ended up working blue collar work as an electrician, eventually owning his business.
Neither family started with much--I ended up managing technology in some awesome agencies for the Federal government and my friend as an executive in the cruise industry.
Virtually, the entire generation of Jews who fled to America as refugees from the Holocaust came with nothing...yet the people and their children worked hard, very hard, and they were blessed, and become successful.
So, I have no surveys to back me up, but I do have my life and that of almost an entire generation of real life facts from people's lives--not made up of speculative survey questions and their interpretation of results.
So from my perspective, it is Chabris and Hart that are 100% WRONG!
You see they don't know from where we came and under what horrible conditions and how we arrived here as immigrants with nothing but our faith in G-d Almighty and the love of our families and community.
And for the record, Chua and Rubenfeld are right:
Point #1, we were clearly taught a sense of superiority--but not what people mistakenly think--it is not based on intelligence, looks, or on physical strength, but rather based on that we were Biblically expected to behave differently as Jews and live more stringently.
And that goes clearly to point #3, which is impulse control...the Jewish religion is based on 613 commandments--we are expected to eat a certain way, dress a certain way, keep Shabbat and holidays a certain way, raise a family a certain way...there is a huge amount of impulse control involved and in fact, not all of us are successful meeting all those stringent requirements--but it is a precondition upon which many of us grow up.
Finally, in terms of point #2--personal insecurity, I am not sure how much more insecure you can be when your people just got slaughtered in the Holocaust, the world's worst genocide ever known, and you are one of the survivors who has to rebuild--Yes, that is an incredible motivator!
If Chabris and Hart believe that we made it here based on pure intellect or positive socioeconomic factors--they are either complete idiots or sickly delusional.
While people's personal success is highly subjective for them, as a whole group though, I most certainly believe that G-d blessed the Jewish people after the horrors and unbelievable suffering of the Holocaust.
No level of intelligence or falsely perceived socioeconomics can explain what only G-d's infinite mercy can endow. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
March 1, 2016
Work For It
"The dictionary is the only place where success comes before work."
It reminded me of what my dad used to tell me that:
"Nothing, in life, is easy."
Or as my mother-in-law says:
"The world owes you nothing!"
Basically, the messages are similar that we have to work hard for what we want in life.
You have to believe in your goals and your mission.
And follow through with rock solid determination and perserverance.
It seems in life that almost as soon as one challenge is over the next is ready to begin.
Got to have faith, pray for G-d's guidance, and be strong. ;-)
(Source Photo: Dannielle Blumenthal)
December 21, 2015
Heads Down December
The guy in the center seems to be listening to some music, but everyone else is nodding off and has their heads down.
End of the year, right before the holidays maybe people are a little burnt out and need to refresh their motivational juices.
Anyway, this is not good for the "see something, say something" culture in the age of terrorism that we are living in--these folks are not seeing anything in this groggy state.
To a heads up and brighter new year. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
December 8, 2015
If Terror Fits
I know everyone has their personal filters through which they see the world--many of these come from family, friends, community, teachers, religion, personal experiences, or even innate personality.
One thing that I think many people are struggling with these days with politics is what possible filters are guiding many concerning policies of our country resulting in:
- The tepid response to terror attacks on this country as well as in Paris, London, and Jerusalem.
- The clamping down on free speech in the wake of terror.
- The lax immigration checks on refugees.
- The dangerous spread of ISIS after the withdrawal from Iraq.
- The disappearing red line in Syria.
- The emboldening Iranian nuke deal.
- The bias perceived against friend and ally, Israel.
- The unbriddled Russian resurgence.
- The lumbering pivot to address Chinese militarization.
We are living in chaotic world times, and we need strong hands on the rudder to safeguard the people and future of the country--for that we need to understand where politics and politicians are coming from that may be leading to either sound or compromised decisions and the resulting return and risk to the fate of us all. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 16, 2015
How To Give Employee Feedback
The Wall Street Journal reports that in the past employees could expect that "we would bring them in and beat them down a bit."
But now, managers are expected to "scrap the negative feedback" and "extol staffers strengths" (accentuate the positives).
Companies are realizing that negative feedback does "more harm than good."
- You tick off the employee and ruin any positive relationship and trust.
- The employee feels unappreciated, hurt, and in jeopardy.
- Employees project their hurt feelings and accuse you of being the problem.
- The deteriorating state makes them fear that you are working against them and they become unmotivated to try to do better.
- Instead, they spend their time working against you (and the company), and looking for another job.
There is an old saying that you don't sh*t where you eat, and so it is with employee performance evaluations.
In over 25 years, I have never seen negative employees reviews produce positive results!
However, I have seen that sincerely praising everyones' best efforts, leveraging their strengths, and being thankful for what each person contributes makes a high performing team where people are loyal, want to work, and contribute their best.
Everyone has weaknesses and problems, and frankly most people when they are being honest with themselves, know what their issues are. Pointing their face in it, doesn't help. (Have you ever told a fat person that they need to lose a few pounds?)
One idea that I did like from the Journal is called "feedforward," where you ask "employees to suggest ideas for their own improvement for the future."
This way each person can be introspective and growth as they mature and are ready, but not under threat, rather with support and encouragement. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
December 15, 2014
Motivate, BAM!
It has "motivate" embossed under the lady with the sparring gloves.
They have similar hangings for swimming, weightlifting, cycling, and more around the fitness center.
I like them--they are motivational.
Would be nice if the place also had some big windows, but this ain't bad to keep it fresh.
BAM! Exercise. BAM! Stay healthy and fit. BAM! ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
March 11, 2014
Be, Be Yourself
"Be Yourself. Everyone else is already taken."
Why they put this up in a supermarket, I don't really know.
Anyway, gotta hate phonies, kiss-ups, and B.S. artists--in the store or out.
My wife's grandfather used to say, "What comes from the heart, goes to the heart"--I really like that!
An ounce of sincerity is worth more than a ton of faking it--even if you're a good fake. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 8, 2014
Take Your Advice And Shove It
This was a funny article about how most advice comes not from the wise, but from the idiots trying to push their own agendas, make a buck off you, or bud into your business.
When people try to tell you what to do, "the subtext is 'You're an idiot for not already doing it."
But who wants to do what someone else tells them to do--unless you a robotic, brainless, loser!
Every manager should already know that everyone hates a control freak micromanager--and that they suck the creative lifeblood out of the organization.
The flip side is when you give people the freedom to express their talents and take charge of their work activities, you motivate them to "own it!"
Real meaning from work comes from actually having some responsibility for something where the results matter and not just marching to the tune of a different drummer.
The best leaders guide the organization and their people towards a great vision, but don't choke off innovation and creativity and sticking their fat fingers in people's eyes.
The flip side of advice not getting hammered on you, is when you have the opportunity to request it.
People who aren't narcissistic, control freaks seek out other people's opinions on how to approach a problem and to evaluate the best solutions.
This doesn't mean that they aren't smart and capable people in and of themselves, but rather that they are actually smarter and more capable because they augment their experience and thinking with that of others--vetting a solution until they find one that really rocks!
While decision making by committee can lead to analysis paralysis or a cover your a*s (CYA) culture, the real point to good governance is to look at problems and solutions from diverse perspectives and all angles before jumping head first into what is really a pile of rocks under the surface.
Does vetting always get you the right or best decision?
Of course not, because people hijack the process with the biggest mouth blowing the hottest stream.
But if you can offset the power jocks and jerky personalities out there, then you really have an opportunity to benefit from how others look at things.
While the collective wisdom can be helpful, in the end, all real grown ups show personal independence, self-sufficiency, and a mind of their own, and take responsibility for their decisions and actions.
We can learn from others, but we learn best from our own mistakes...no pain, no gain. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
January 19, 2014
Gaming to Get More Bricks and Mortar
In office gamification, employees are treated like gamers--they are measured, given points, and recognized/rewarded for meeting objectives as if you are playing an arcade game or Angry Birds.
The problem is that this is really nothing new and also not very motivating to the workforce.
Already in the Bible the Egyptians oppressed the Israelites by giving them ever crushing quotas for gathering straw and building the great pyramids.
And if they didn't measure up, the Bible tells us that, "They made their lives bitter with harsh labor...the Egyptians worked them ruthlessly."(Deut. 1:14)
You see while measuring performance is a good and important part to managing and maturing processes and the workforce, tracking people in real life with plus ups for every good thing and minuses for every mistake or failure treats this whole thing as one big game, but it's not.
A mature adult workforce doesn't need points and bonus time for doing their jobs, and shouldn't be made to fear losing their jobs for not meeting their daily numbers.
Even Manjoo admits that he dreads working in a work environment where everything is measured and monitored to the nth-degree.
He says that even in a field like Journalism, he feels undue pressure to produce and that "every time I write a story that doesn't make the paper's most-popular list, I consider it a tiny failure. If I do that too many times in a row, I begin to wonder if I should look for a new line of work."
Now perhaps, many of you are saying, that if you can't perform at expectations, maybe you should be looking for another job, but the point is that performance measurement should be humane--working toward the long-term benefit of the company and the development of the employees--and not one miss and it's "Game Over!"
Gamification software, like Badgeville, that gives points for everything from creating a sales lead to responding to a lead and converting a lead to sales opportunities is nothing short of childish micromanagement.
Employees shouldn't treated like children working for points and prizes and titles like "Super Converter" or "Super Dealer" (like in the demo video), but rather should be treated as professionals, who work for the mission and based on an ethos of excellence, where they are committed to doing their best for the organization, and the organization is committed to developing them and making them a ever better and satisfied workforce--not making them feel like they are coming to a surveillance, tracking, and fear-inspired workplace.
Can gamification have a place in creating some healthy workplace competition and fun? Sure, but when it's masquerading as a serious tool to engineer people to do their jobs and have a meaningful career, then someone in the C-suite has been playing Farmville a little too long.
My father used to tell me, "You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar," and employees will be far more motivated if they know you are working with them as a team to "get to the next level" rather than infantilizing and prodding them with ridiculous amounts of workplace surveillance to force them to collect more straw and build more pyramids. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
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