I was delighted to write the forward to the book above for a dear friend whose insights and BLOG have blessed my life.  The book is called “Learn and Grow Daily” and today’s T4D is written by the author.  Sanford Berenberg

We all know life is full of changes:

• Technology Changes

• Rules Change

• Work Changes

• People Change

• Economies Change

• Change changes

  • No WiFi

  • No World Wide Web

  • No Cell phones (smaller than footballs)

  • No PDFs (from Adobe anyway)

  • No Flat Screen TV’s, much less computer monitors (plenty of green CRTs though)

  • No Online anything except proprietary and closed networks (BitNet, DunsNet, Military, etc)

  • 20 Meg Hard Drives (if you were lucky enough to have a hard drive)

  • Commodore 64 was still king!

  25 years before that (1959)

  • No personal computers (Certainly nothing you would want to put on your lap)

  • No Digital, and possibly limited transistor technology

  • No cordless anything electronic (I may be wrong on this one)

  • No Visa or MasterCard, but Amex cards were a full 1 year old!!

  • No VCR, much less DVD, CDs, or cassettes. And get this, no 8 Track Tapes either (they were 6 years away from entering the scene), but you could get Reel to Reel tapes!

  • There is TV, but I am certain you would not like to watch the Sunday games on it (http://www.feedblitz.com/t.asp?/496058/3241693/http://www.tvhistory.tv/pre-1935.htm).

  • You get the point.

For the folks who are innately afraid of change, I imagine it is a pretty scary world out there. Seldom in all history has there been a time where what we do, how we do it and with what tools we do it with may be obsolete within 25 years. Seems like a long time, 25 years. 25 years ago things were a bit different (1984):

25 years before that (1934)

It is almost frightening to think what life would be like without all that we have grown accustomed to in our lives. Going back to 1934 would be very difficult for some. This same fear also faces us with the increasing speed of change coming at us in the days ahead!

With speed of change increasing, it gets harder to plan for the future.

So what can we do?

One bit of advice comes from some 1,800 years ago from our friend Marcus Aurelius who says:

“Consider whence each thing is come, and of what it consists, and into what it changes, and what kind of thing it will be when it has changed, and then it will sustain no harm.”

The Roman Emperor is suggesting that we embrace change by understanding change better. That by looking deep into that which is changing and seeing what it was prior to the change and what it is changing into, we can better understand what it means and how to better prepare for and embrace it.

Part of this embracing change is also not holding onto what we will lose (what is changing), rather what we will gain. Often we see change and fail to look deeper than the superficial change and nothing more. Kind of like judging a book by its cover, but instead of a book, it is change.

Seeing deeper into something that is changing will help us understand it better and take the fangs out of the change. We may not like what is changing, and how it means to our lives, but at least we understand it better and can plan for how to face it.

Enjoy!

Sanford Berenberg  -  Sanford@berenberg.net

www.berenberg.net/   

 Click here to order: “Learn And Grow Daily!” 

http://sanfordberenberg.blogspot.com/

 

Isn’t there a song that goes something like,  “Baby Don’t Hertz Me - No More” ? 

My Hertz-ful post a couple days ago was a real comment grabber as many of you shared your own painful customer service experiences with Hertz.  Well a couple days ago I got the bill from that Hertz Phoenix Rental…here it is.

Double the HERTZ !   Hey, I understand that their are taxes and fees associated with car rentals.  But check this out!  My bill went from $57.20 to $117.92  - That’s DOUBLE!!  Not too mention that I had refueled the car less than a mile from the airport and noted it clearly on my statement.

HERTZing on Hold - When I called in to get the fuel charge removed - the IVR informed me that the hold times for billing inquiries was over 30 minutes !   Not surprisingly the hold times for making a reservation were nil.  Hmmn, do they like Hertzing people?  I am thinking their theme song could be, “You Make It Hurtz So Good”.

But the song this customer wants to hear is, “Baby don’t hurtz me, no more.”

There is a saying that I have modified just slightly.

Hertz me once, shame on you.  Hertz me twice…shame on me.  Hertz me a third time….  it ain’t gonna happen. 

Thank you all for your comments.  If you want to read them or the previous Hertz Blog.  Click Here

Kirk out

Every bit of research I’ve ever read about personal or professional happiness, motivation, engagement, culture, and healthy relationships emphasizes the importance of personal growth and development.   Yesterday someone told me that they try to learn something new everyday in a very deliberate way.  That got me thinking about “what I’ve learned” over the course of my life, and that got me thinking about some of the fun “I’ve learned” lists that seem to be everywhere on the internet. 

Over the years I’m sure we’ve all read many lists of “Things I’ve Learned” sent in many versions and formats. I have kept nearly everyone I’ve ever read… I think they are great, and I also think that I too often and too easily tend to forget the “things I’ve learned” so then I end up needing to re-learn them! Sometimes the painfulness of re-learning makes me wonder why I don’t work harder to remember and internalize the learning in the first place. Hmmn, I’ll have to ponder that… in the meantime here is another list of things someone has learned and written down. I hope you enjoy it, and if you feel inclined to share some of the things you have learned with me… I’d love to receive them and pass them along.
So below this picture is one of my collected lists.

Things I’ve Learned

I’ve learned….
That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

I’ve learned….
That we should be glad God doesn’t give us everything we ask for.

I’ve learned….
That money doesn’t buy class.

I’ve learned….
That it’s those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I’ve learned….
That under everyone’s hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

I’ve learned….
That the Lord didn’t do it all in one day. What makes me think I can?

I’ve learned….
That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I’ve learned….
That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

I’ve learned….
That love, not time, heals all wounds.

I’ve learned….
That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with good people.

I’ve learned….
That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

I’ve learned….
That there’s nothing sweeter than sleeping with your babies and feeling their breath on your cheeks.

I’ve learned….
That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.

I’ve learned….
That life is tough, but I’m tougher.

I’ve learned….
That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.

I’ve learned….
That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

I’ve learned….
That I wish I could have told my Dad that I love him one more time before he passed away.

I’ve learned….
That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.

I’ve learned….
That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

I’ve learned….
That I can choose how I feel, and I can choose what I do about it.

I’ve learned….
That when your newly born child holds your little finger in his little fist, that you’re hooked for life.

I’ve learned….
That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you’re climbing it.

I’ve learned….
That it is best to give advice in only two circumstances; when it is requested and when it is a life threatening situation.

I’ve learned….
That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.
Make it a great day, it’s your choice!

Kirk Out

“I do not have superior intelligence or faultless looks. I do not captivate a room or run a mile under six minutes. I only succeeded because I was still working after everyone else went to sleep.”   ~  Greg Evans  Novelist

Today this could read a bit differently….  “I do not have superior intelligence or faultless looks. I do not captivate a room or run a mile under six minutes. I only succeeded because I was still working while everyone else is facebooking, X-Boxing, Twittering, You Tubing, Instant Messaging, and playing “Sheep Stacker or Doodle Jump on their iPhones.  

I love Sheep Stacker by the way.

…and I know we need to play,

but stacking them can waste a day.

Kirk 

Listening to a speaker (right now) who just said,

“A great leader is not one who does great things.  A great leader is one who gets the people around them to do great things.”  I’m not sure who he was quoting (Reagan, I think) - but the speakers name is Steve Studdert

He went on to offer a few more quotes….

“Optimism is a force multiplier”  General Colin Powell

Ronald Reagan had a plaque on his desk that said, “There is no limit to what a man can do or where he or she can go if he or she doesn’t mind who gets the credit.”  But the interesting thing is that Reagan had the plaque facing himself.

Expressing confidence in people’s ability is one of the most empowering actions a leader can take. 

He’s still talking but I’m going to send this off and wish each of you an AWESOME and ACCOMPLISHED DAY.

Kirk

Interesting that yesterday mornings  ”Thought for the Day” post was about being upset by small things and yesterday evening I was!  Those who follow me on Twitter know this all happened after 10pm … at a deserted Car Rental Terminal in Phoenix AZ.  Present were 3 Hertzful Agents and me the soon to be Hurtzing Gold Customer.

OW!  That Hertz!   -Sparing you most of the tragically familiar play by play details of being treated rudely … I do want to share a bit of the conclusion of very Hertzful interaction.  After I concluded the Hertzful Agent was much more interested in continuing her conversation with her co-worker than actually getting up to help me - I pointed out that I was not being served and that she was not responding to my requests or my needs.  Being reminded of her basic duties to serve a customer seemed too much for her to handle… she told me I would need to call back in the morning to close my account - there was nothing she or her 2 sitting co-workers could or would do for me tonight.  I pointed out that we were all here doing nothing - so why not now?  NO GO!

Hertz Like HELL - Taking Condescension to the Dark Side.

As I walked away she said, “Have a nice evening.”  choosing the right words so as to cover herself and sound like she was taking the higher ground.  The problem was her words were delivered on a tone of such false sincerity & sarcasm combined masterfully with a bit of superiority & condescension so as to communicate a triumphant, ”Ha, I got you”. It was almost evil.  (I suspect a Sith Lord in the Hertz Hiarchy)

It was such an accomplished bit of disrespect that I suspect she has taken advanced classes in how to be rude.

Hertz Takes a Hitz  -  To be fair to Hertz - I have done business with them many times before and never had an experience like this.  But then that’s kind of the point isn’t it?  One Hertzful experience like I received was enough to erase any previous positive ones and to leave such an awful taste in my mouth that Hertz immediately moved to the “Last Resort” Rental Car company at the absolute bottom of my list, easily replacing the company who previously occupied that spot.  A company whose offense at this moment looks much less National in scope and appears to be a far more Thrifty option for future rentals than Hertz does.

It Could Hertz Worse -  It only takes one bad experience to Hertz your reputation.  And in a bad economy, with so many other options…. we not only should know better…. weneed to do better.  Or your already Hertzing business may Hertz even worse.

Make it a Great Weekend… and Not one that Hertz! 

“Often we allow ourselves to be upset by small things we should despise and forget. We lose many irreplaceable hours brooding over grievances that, in a year’s time, will be forgotten by us and by everybody. No, let us devote our life to worthwhile actions and feelings, to great thoughts, real affections and enduring undertakings.”  ~Andre Maurois
1885-1967, Writer

Keep Perspective…be devoted to the worthwhile, the great, and the enduring things….like relationships.

Kirk Out

“Don’t dress up your opinions as facts. Take responsibility for the subjective nature of your conclusions and make room for other points of view.“  ~-Ron McMillan, coauthor of Crucial Conversations

Love the Crucial Conversations material from “Vital Smarts”.  There newsletter is pretty great too.  Click here to seen an online version of it.  Look at the Q&A for today focused on “Are you facing a potential layoff?”

I pulled this nuggest on “Natural Consequences from the left hand column.  It’s an approach I have been using successfully or over 10 years.  I gained clarity on it while listening to some material from Stephen Covey and used it initially with at risk teenagers. 

Using Natural Consequences to Motivate

One of the best ways to motivate others is to help them see the natural consequences their actions (or inaction) may lead to. Here are tips for effectively exploring consequences with others:

Know when to back off. As you’re explaining the impact on stakeholders, the other person is often explaining his or her reasons for not complying. As the other person talks, if it becomes clear that the cost is truly too great, back off. Your goal is to do what’s right, not to win.

Know when to stop. If you’ve explained the consequences and the other person agrees to comply, don’t continue. If you do, it can feel like you’re piling it on.

Know how to finish. After the other person has agreed to comply, finish by clarifying what you will do, what the other person will do, and set clear deadlines and follow-up times. Then follow up.

It’s still OK to dress up for work… just not your opinions as facts. 
Kirk Out

  Sometimes in life you know exactly who to thank… and sometimes you don’t have a clue.  It seems interesting to me that in either case the feelings and reflections of the grattitude you desire to express can be equally sweet.  Rebecca is fond of a quote that says “A joyful spirit is evidence of a grateful heart.” 

I wanted to express my grattitude to each of you who were interested and supportive of me and more especially of my wife Rebecca as she participated in the Mrs Georgia International Pageant in Chicago this last weekend.  So how did she do?  Well, she wasn’t selected by the 5 judges as the overall winner…. BUT, she did win the “online voting” catergory a.k.a. “The People’s Choice” award.  http://www.mrsinternational.com/vcontestantdetails.php?id=321

How many votes she recieved and from who we may never know…but here is what I do know.  I know that many of you pulled for her, prayed for her, and cast online votes for her.  I know that through the power of your support Rebecca recieved this special recognition.  I also know she was very surprised… very very surprised.  (Considering the nearly unlimited resources of some of the other participants I was too. )

Rebecca said that later that night as she was changing she had a chance to reflect on her surprising win and had a tender moment of tears as she concluded that the only way this could have happened …” is because of Kirk’s friends on the T4D”.

A great number of these women sought me out to share with me there feelings of what a remarkable and beautiful woman Rebecca was.  It made me even more grateful for her….and grateful that they were able to discern her genuine nature and joyful spirit.  I think she may have recieved many votes from her competition as well.  Fully 25% of them shared with me that they had her picked to win the whole thing.  I know why they loved her… it is why I love her. 

So I thank you … all of you. For allowing me to share this with you… and for you support.  If you want to see some pictures of this event on Rebecca’s website …. you may click HERE. There is a link there that will also take you to a FLIKR page of some more photos.   If you just want to see me standing next to Mrs Georgia Intl with a deer in the headlights look….scroll down.

Kirk out

http://www.mrsinternational.com/vcontestantdetails.php?id=321

The most successful people are those who are good at Plan B. 

There is so much obvious wisdom in having more than one idea, more than one approach, more than one option.  People that don’t seem to have a “plan B” and have hung it all on some limited definition of what success is, or what will make them happy are much more likely to be disappointed, discouraged and depressed.  

So have a plan A and a plan B.    Go for Plan A with all of your might, focus, talent and passion!  And at the same time keep your options open…because the rules, and the game, and life will keep changing.  So stay FLEXIBLE….like GUMBY.   Have a most Flexcellent Weekend!  Kirk Out

Follow my on Twitter…  http://twitter.com/kirkweisler