Category: millennial

Chief of Police William Bratton has produced extraordinary results in New York and Los Angeles. One of his successful strategies is the “Broken Windows” program. Here is a summary of the theory:

“Consider a building with a few broken windows. If the windows are not repaired, the tendency is for vandals to break a few more windows.
Eventually, they may even break into the building, and if it’s unoccupied, perhaps become squatters or light fires inside.

Or consider a sidewalk. Some litter accumulates. Soon, more litter accumulates. Eventually, people even start leaving bags of trash from take-out restaurants there or breaking into cars.”

The theory thus makes two major claims: that further petty crime and low-level anti-social behavior will be deterred, and that major crime will, as a result, be prevented.

What if we applied this theory to being professional?
This is what it would look like:

1) Pay Attention to the Little Details.
* Proofread your e-mails before sending
* Be punctual to meetings
* Dress to impress

2) Little Changes Produce Big Results.
* Communication is clear and concise
* People feel respected
* Great first impressions are made

Minor fixes cultivate major advances. People observe what we do more than they listen to what we say. Start today by paying special attention to the small things that make a big impression! Being professional means taking pride in the small things that make a big difference!

Last week I was in Vegas with my wife celebrating our anniversary. Once we got settled, I suggested we walk the entire strip. 4 hours and 7 miles later, I realized the hotels are so massive that even though they look close, they are actually quite far apart. A thought ran through my head…

“That’s just like BIG GOALS!”

We should all DREAM BIG. Don’t sell yourself short by setting goals that can be easily obtained. Where’s the FUN in that?

Along the way, there were times I wanted to quit, but my will wouldn’t let me. I kept my eyes on the prize. Sure, it took longer than I thought, but we PERSEVERED and eventually reached our destination.

I remember looking at our map at different hotels to get a sense of how much PROGRESS we were making. This helped us realize we were moving forward towards our goal.

After we got back to our hotel, we were tired. Was it smart to walk? No. Was the journey worth it? Yes. How else would we have known how long it was?

This journey is similar to our lives:
1) We all have BIG DREAMS
2) It takes TIME and PERSEVERANCE to accomplish them
3) It helps to chart our PROGRESS along the way
4) The FUN is in the journey

Just so you know we drove to every location after that, because we LEARNED from our mistakes!

We read about great leaders, but rarely do we get the chance to work alongside of them. Recently, I’ve had the pleasure of being able to experience two leaders up close whom I admire and respect.

Today I’d like to spotlight: John Dunn & Teresa Roberson.

John Dunn is the owner of Coast Produce.

Teresa Roberson is the Head of School at Calvary Christian School.

Here are just 3 traits that make them “great” at what they do:

Character: John and Teresa let their core values shine through them. They are more interested in developing their character, before their leadership abilities. They live what they say. When they speak, people believe them.

Relational: I watch the way John and Teresa treat and interact with others. They put people before tasks. They care about their workers and value each person’s well-being before their performance. They treat everyone with respect.

Humble: John and Teresa see the bigger picture. They do not think of themselves bigger than the organizations that they lead. They have their ego’s in check. They are grateful for the positions they are in and serve others accordingly.

Witnessing great leaders in person is rare. I am blessed to have worked under these two. Don’t try to emulate other leaders, instead learn from their example. Great examples of leadership inspire us to get better. Leadership is a process and we can gain much from observing those who are more experienced than we are. Who are you watching?

Do you believe the media reports that the economy is improving? Regardless what you think, let’s talk about what YOU can do about it. Picture yourself as a sprinter at the starting blocks…

Ready!
What is your personal vision? How innovative is it? You can’t be successful if you have no destination in mind. Start brainstorming a 1-year vision for yourself NOW and be specific! Think ambitious. Go for what you want. Remember, “without a vision, people perish.”

Set!
In order to reach your vision you must set goals. Not just any goals, but measurable ones. That means your goals must be quantifiable and attached to a timeframe. Think of your vision as the second floor of a house. In order to make it to the next level, you have to climb the steps. Those steps are the goals you set. Goals help break your vision into achievable steps (it also helps you chart progress made).

Go!
Most plans fail at the implementation stage, not the vision stage. That means you can have lofty dreams, but if you don’t put in the hard work – you go nowhere. At this stage, accountability is a must. We accomplish greater feats when more people are involved. Stop complaining and start doing!

Ready, Set, Go is about being proactive. We cannot control the economy, but we can do something about it. Winners have a tenacious will to succeed and a plan to achieve. Your biggest obstacle to success is YOU. Stop observing on the sidelines and start playing the game!

In his book “Outliers”, Malcolm Gladwell defines entitlement as asserting yourself with people in authority. His statement forces us to take a deeper look into the stereotype of Gen Y Workers feeling entitled at work. Let’s look at the positive side of entitlement:

Being entitled means you have self-respect. If you don’t respect yourself, how can you expect others to respect you? When you have self-respect, others can sense it. Being treated with respect starts with how you treat yourself.

Being entitled means you view yourself as special. Gen Y is motivated to make a difference in the world. The United States is also the most individualistic-driven country. Each person has unique talents that are waiting to be maximized. The key to increasing productivity is finding where each worker “fits” within the organization. Think: the right strength in the right place at the right time.

Being entitled means you are worthy of attention/interest from others. Part of succeeding in the corporate world is being “noticed” for the right reasons. If you don’t do something “extraordinary” to stand out from the crowd, don’t expect to ever be promoted. As an employee, give management a reason to look. It you believe you are deserving of your supervisor’s favor, back it up with results and you will position yourself to be an irreplaceable asset to the company.

Entitlement at work can be a good thing.
Gen Y Workers: Expect great things and perform accordingly!
Managers: Challenge your workers to higher levels of performance!