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Calm Down. It is only a bad day.

Personal Growth

Sometimes I use this blog to journal and put challenging days into perspective. The following is an example from a couple months ago.

Yesterday was a doozy. It felt like one of those days where everyone pointed out everything wrong with Hoffer Plastics, without offering much in terms of solutions. To be fair, I write these words at the end of February after countless days of cold and clouds. While that shouldn’t play into people’s moods, I have come to discover that it does.

More importantly, people are working hard here. Effort is not, and has never been, the issue. In fact, I think one of the reasons people are frustrated is because they recently tasted success with one of the largest revenue months in the history of the company. The feeling since, however, can be characterized by a cloudy February day in Chicago: While it beats a snow storm, enough cloudy days together tempts one to wonder whether the sun and warmth are ever going to return.

As I drove home, my head pounded. I wasn’t scheduled to workout but I probably should have as I use physical exercise as an outlet. It dawned on me that I should have prayed during the day. I write posts about prayer after all. But in the dudgeon of my self-centeredness, praying was not what came to mind. Sulking was.

After mumbling how bad the day was to Sarah, I went upstairs to my closet to change out of my work clothes. Inside our walk-in closet is the chair where I do my morning Bible reading. Seeing it convicted me, and reminded me that I needed to pray.

I think the prayer began something like this: “Lord, I don’t know what I am doing. I feel like a terrible leader. Our team cares deeply, but we are bickering. I pray for your wisdom. Guide me, and the company, in the direction we should go. Help us seek YOUR will, not our own. Help me seek Your will, not my own. And help us be more graceful to one another.”

As I have shared before, prayer is not about getting the words right. It is about being real, surrendering to God, and seeking His will and ways above your own. As John Ortberg says, “prayer is more about changing you than it is about changing your circumstances.”

This prayer reminded me to text my accountability partner, John. I owned up to all the emotions, my negative self-talk, and the frustrations of the day. I then asked for his prayers too. He immediately responded, “I’m on it!” This reminded me that I am not alone in my struggles.

Then, and only then, was I ready to go downstairs and transition into husband/dad Alex. Sadie knew what to do. She immediately made me laugh by saying my name in a way that only two-and-a-half-year-old little girl can do. If there is any better sound, I have not heard it!

Meanwhile, the boys were being their playful selves. All they cared was getting dinner over so we could move to the basement and play hockey. Yet to be sure, playing hockey, or playing ANYTHING with them, always helps improve my spirits because recreation always re-creates.

And then there is Sarah. She was her usual, delightful, tender-hearted, self. I suspect she will just roll her eyes when she edits this, but her ability to give me space, and let me process the day’s events, always brings me back to reality faster than having to explain why I am not in the best of moods. In this regard she has wisdom that I aim to model with direct-reports. For sometimes it is better to just let people have their space.

I once heard Colin Powell say during a Global Leadership Summit speech that “everything looks different in the morning.” And to be sure, by the following morning things looked different back at Hoffer Plastics. But it was nothing I did. Rather, it was the answer to prayers prayed, support from a friend, and the reminder of the blessings of family coupled with their support.

The next time things are spinning out of control for you, calm down. Remember your blessings. It is only one bad day.

Calm Down. It is only a bad day. Read More »

worn leather catching mitt

4 Spring Sports Rules for the Field…and the Office

Personal Growth

This winter, Will’s baseball coach held extra indoor hitting practices to get the team prepared for spring ball. Admittedly, I was always a little skittish for him to be practicing in the winter. But he was having fun and demanding to go.

But at the last session a few weeks ago, Will was struggling. He was taking what looked like half-swings. His coach noticed, too, and asked me if he was playing golf.

“I wish,” was my response. But even as the words came out of my mouth, I realized what was going on. Will, Ben, and I had played countless hours of hockey in our basement all through the fall and winter, and now Will was swinging the baseball bat like a hockey stick. So, desiring to be the next hitting coach for the Chicago Cubs AND an “all-star dad,” I informed Will why he was struggling on our drive home from practice.

At the time, I didn’t think much of it. But I soon realized my parenting misstep.

Being the parent-pleaser he is, that very night, instead of asking to play hockey as had been our daily tradition for months, Will asked to hit nerf baseballs in the basement to get “ready for the season” (Alex Jr. in training). Fast forward three weeks later, and we still haven’t played a hockey game. While discussing the upcoming NHL playoffs one morning as I was on my way off to work, I asked Will why we weren’t playing hockey anymore? “Because I don’t want to ruin my baseball swing,” he said.

This crushed me.

I wish the Chicago Cubs took baseball this seriously.

These kinds of situations take precedence over work, so I put my bag down and sat at the kitchen table with the boys. I then proceeded to explain to them the 3 Spring Sports Rules for the Hoffer house:

Have Fun. Stay Safe. Try your best.

Will added a 4th: To have good sportsmanship. All right then. 4 Spring Sports Rules.

I reminded Will that I don’t care how well he hits the ball so long as he is having fun, staying safe, and trying his best. Further, if he is smart enough to explain the difference between a hockey and baseball swing – and he is –I don’t think he has anything to worry about with regards to playing floor hockey! To this, he smiled and said, “thanks dad.”

Our 1980s sitcom moment aside, as I transitioned from my role as dad to my bald in business personae on my commute to Hoffer Plastics, I quickly realized that those rules–have fun, stay safe, and try your best–are directly applicable to what I do every day at work. Throw in Will’s fourth rule, good sportsmanship, and you’re on your way from “Good to Great.” After all, you cannot be a level 5 leader without being someone others respect, and who respects a bad sport?

I share this little story to encourage you to simplify your approach to life and leadership. Yes, we need to “confront the brutal facts,” “put in our 10,000 hours,” and do whatever the current business book advice of the day is.

But we also need to have fun, stay safe, and do our best.

As Ben reminded me as I gathered my work bag that morning, “you cannot make it a great day unless you try your best, dad.”

4 Spring Sports Rules for the Field…and the Office Read More »

man jumping in front of picturesque gorge

You can’t simulate real-life experience

Leadership

When I was playing competitive golf in high school, my dad would advise that I needed to get off the practice tee and play. While “practicing” had its place, his view was that playing was what mattered most.

You can’t simulate real-life experience.

I have thought about that lesson a lot so far this year. In a business sense, there are ample opportunities to “practice:” Books, seminars, conferences, podcasts, classes, etc. While I participate in many of these, and while I would never steer someone away from such activities; the fact remains that leadership happens when you actually lead other people.

This means you stop reading the book, and start walking the floor.

This means you turn the podcast off, and call a team member to talk (remember when we talked?).

This means you stop writing the blog, and pay attention to the sales person that just walked into your office (hello, Tammy).

You can’t simulate real-life experience.

Lead now.

You can’t simulate real-life experience Read More »

cruise ship against beautiful sunset sky

Everything Can Go Wrong. You Can Still be Thankful!

Faith

I suppose the breaking point could have been when the TSA agent pulled Sarah out of line and required additional information to prove she wasn’t taking a child on a plane against their will, which apparently is standard policy whenever they see a “child in distress.” Indeed, Sadie was pitching quite a fit, protesting the stroller straps that kept her from running freely all over the airport. The TSA agent had no idea. It had been a week. Sadie was done, and so were we. But that’s not where things began.

My week “off” started with a 6 a.m. workout prior to going to the airport. Once there, I met a man while waiting in line for food at Frontera. A quick chit-chat led him crying as he informed me his 53-year-old brother was in a coma, and most likely would die by day’s end. I asked if I could pray for him, then staying bold, I put a hand on his shoulder and prayed out loud for him in the middle of Frontera.

I have never done that before. But the experience was something I pondered during the week to come.

San Diego began incredibly. The zoo, some good meals, and before we knew it, we were on the Disney Cruise. “Let the Magic begin,” we were told.

Did it ever!

Ben began puking early Tuesday morning. The nights blend into one, so Sarah will have to verify the chronological order of what I am about to share, but I can assure its accuracy. The puking was followed by stomach issues too vile to describe. So as the ship bounced around the bumpy Pacific – a factor we only thought of too late – Ben became “made new.”

The following night began with Ben getting sick again, this time all over the room. “All over” included his sister Sadie sleeping in the pack-and-play. So, we cycled kids through the shower around 1130 p.m. To up the level of parenting difficulty, the toilet clogged. So, enter the repair man into the dungeon of doom.

It wouldn’t be his last visit…

By morning, Will joined the party. Rinse and repeat. Literally. As the ship bounced through the Pacific, I had that feeling you get when you know the doctor is going to ask you to do something you know is going to be painful. It was only a matter of time until Sadie would get sick.

Needing perspective, I asked the family to pray. So, we did. We thanked God for the problems we had, which in retrospect might be a little selfish to thank God we only have “these problems” and not the ones we really don’t want, but it was perspective we needed. These were #firstworldproblems! We closed by asking God to heal, and keep the rest of us healthy.

Thanks be to God, He did.

Will puked all over the place Wednesday afternoon, and by Thursday Ben was still having stomach issues – as I write these words in the United Club Friday afternoon, he is STILL having stomach issues! –but, we survived. Of course, the cleaning people on the Disney Cruise might think otherwise given the number of sheets they changed, and as I mentioned earlier, there was another repair man visit when the toilet stopped working at 3 a.m. Friday morning.

But we made it.

We made it!

Walking down the ramp I was as happy as I was that morning in Paris when I heard Pat Hughes say that the Chicago Cubs were World Champions. Okay, that’s an exaggeration, but I was still pretty darn happy to leave the dungeon of doom behind.

“That was SO much fun,” Ben told us as we drove away. Channeling my inner Clark W. Griswold, I looked at him like he was possessed by the devil. Fun?

But you know what? He was right. Interspersed in all the fireworks were moments of fun with my sisters, their husbands, and our nieces. All of these were times to cherish! Plus, our kids never had a frown – seriously, this is something they inherited from Sarah – and I could not be prouder of their attitudes.

As we left, and as I quickly transition back to bald in business – a trip to Vienna is no less than 48 hours away – I leave with new perspective. I often hear people say that God doesn’t give you more than you can handle. Gag me. Of course, he does. But when life happens – and it will keep happening until He fixes this broken world forever –dealing with more than you can handle is prime time for looking up to Him. With His help, you can handle anything.

For, He is good all the time.

And thank God for dry ground, an amazing wife, and clean home!

Everything Can Go Wrong. You Can Still be Thankful! Read More »

man holding globe

Waiting on the World to Change?

Leadership

I have noticed an alarming trend in society, and even in our business, that can be summed up by what a recent retiree said to me in their exit interview: “It seems like a lot people are waiting for everyone else to do THEIR job.”

I can relate to this comment, and unfortunately at times in my life, I also have given into the temptation to voice all the problems I see in the world without putting in much effort into fixing them.

It is easier being the expert without absorbing the blows of leadership. For instance, it is easier pointing out all the things your favorite team’s general manager should be doing differently than actually being the one making the calls. Or, it is easier to point to all the things your local church should be doing differently, than serving and being part of that change.

And in the context of business, it is easier pointing out all the things the company should be doing differently rather than leading that change yourself.

Leaders always fix problems. They may get it wrong, they may screw things up even more, but they do SOMETHING.

Waiting on the world to change?

Change it then.

Otherwise, stop whining about it.

Waiting on the World to Change? Read More »

vintage clock

Why it is important to show up!

Personal Growth

I begin this post with the reality that I haven’t felt well the last few days. Multiple canker sores, a cold, and sinus issues had me tempted to rest and “work from home” today. But we had a 30th anniversary for one of our Plant Managers, so this was not really an option.

I decided to show up.

Here is what I discovered:

While I don’t want to bash “working from home,” its benefits are limited. Of course, you can get various tasks completed from home. Some argue that they are even more “productive” working from home. I think task-wise this is absolutely true, unless like me, you have a cute 2.5-year-old interrupting you!

Leading from home is a different story however.

Leadership is still about influence. Influence is earned face-to-face, listening, caring, and showing-up! Sending in a congratulatory email to our Plant Manager today would have sufficed if I had the Flu. But, when you have a cold, and some annoying oral pain, it is best to show up!

Showing up also leads to unexpected moments. Today, for instance, I found myself in the office of another Plant Manager shortly after the anniversary party. My role in this situation was to listen to some of the issues he was facing. We touched on various topics: scheduling, mold-changes, short-runs, etc., and I gained insight from our 30-minute conversation. This knowledge will help me become better at my job overseeing operations. In fact, I have actionable items from our time spent together.

This would not be so if I had been home today.

So, I am thankful I showed up today.

Grandpa would not have let a few minor health issues keep him from coming-in. So, neither should I.

Leaders, we need to suck-it-up and show up when we don’t feel well (unless we are really sick, and we all know the difference).

It is our job to set the example!

Why it is important to show up! Read More »

open bible

#TheoThursday – The Mission Statement

Faith

Much has been written about an organization’s need for a well-written mission statement. It should not only provide clarity on the driving force behind the work the organization does, but its contents should be easily digestible to everyone in the organization, as well as everyone the organization attempts to serve. Simply stated, it should simply state what the organization is all about.

This is easier said than done. Most organizations, Hoffer Plastics presently included, have mission statements containing phrases not easily understood. Phrases like “value-added services,” “increased efficiency,” and the like, might have good intentions behind them, but often fail to provide the clarity that a good mission statement provides.

At the end of Jesus’ time on earth, he provided one of the simplest, easiest, and arguably best, mission statement of all time. The Great Commission, as it has come to be known, is easily digestible. Let’s look at how simple Matthew 28:19-20 is:

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20

If this was a corporate organization, Jesus just outlined that our business’ default action is to “go,” our market is “all nations,” and our value-proposition is in “teaching the nations to obey everything he commanded.” This is worth it because it leads to life in the full (John 10:10).

There is nothing murky about this. Not only are these words easy to understand, they leave little room for debate.

How clear is the mission statement at your organization? I admitted above that ours isn’t as clear as it needs to be, something my sisters and I are committed to addressing. In the meantime, we are working with our team to clarify what our true mission is. The conversations are energizing.

I challenge you to clarify your mission statement. A clear mission statement does not solve all issues. You see, no matter where you work, if you are a Christ follower, Jesus’ command is your personal mission statement. This is what it’s all about. Nothing else you do in your day matters in light of eternity so much as this. Yet many western Christ followers fail to live up to the directive. That doesn’t mean the mission is any less clear; it just means there is a lack of obedience to the mission – but that’s a topic for another time.

Clarify the mission your organization is on. Make it easy for all to understand. And remind yourself of your ultimate personal mission as well.

Then go!

#TheoThursday – The Mission Statement Read More »

step ladder in library stack

The Power of Story

Leadership

Earlier this year, I was afforded the opportunity to hear filmmaker Jon Erwin talk about storytelling. His discussion of a concept I had never heard of before, called “emotional jamming,” is what stood out the most. “Emotional jamming,” as Erwin defined it, is how a narrative creates disorientation between one’s heart and head. This disorientation opens up the possibility for one to change their mind about a particular topic.

Shawshank Redemption is arguably my favorite movie of all-time. It is filled with “emotional jamming,” as the audience is forced to reconsider their views on such topics as prison reform, the abuse of power, and even biracial friendship. For instance, whatever one’s prior views towards incarceration may be, the film’s story creates disorientation on this topic: Andy Dufresne may be at Shawshank unjustly, but what about the gang that tortures Andy at the beginning of the film? Or, what are we to make about Red’s (Morgan Freeman) admission to guilt, and eventual release from prison after serving 40 years of a life service? Not to mention his, or Brooks Hatlen’s, lonely and challenging life on the outside after being released, or Red’s commentary on “rehabilitation.”

The power of Shawshank Redemption, or any film, lies in its ability to change the way we feel. As Erwin reminded the audience in his talk, people tend to make decisions emotionally, and then back up those decisions rationally. Thus, the true power of story is in its ability to tug on our emotions, and open us up to change. Shawshank Redemption is memorable for its ability to do this. And if you have seen the film, I suspect you can remember certain emotions you had watching the film just by remembering some of the scenes in the paragraph above.

As you probably have guessed already, I believe story-telling to be an absolutely critical aspect of leadership. The temptation for the leader, especially in vision-casting, is to begin by sharing all the facts about why whatever needs to change needs to change. If people tend to make decisions emotionally, shouldn’t we lead rather with storytelling and let the facts follow after? Please hear me, this doesn’t mean that the facts do not matter. They always do! But the power of facts is limited until people’s emotions have allowed them to be considered.

The power of story is in its ability to create the disorientation between the head and heart that is necessary for change to occur.

Therefore, as leaders we would be wise to use its power!

The Power of Story Read More »

man holding book next to leather briefcase

The Rat Race is a Journey to Fool’s Gold

Faith

For the last ten years, I defined my strongest ability as my willingness to hustle. I answered emails immediately, even around the clock when I could. I returned phone calls from customers within minutes. And I always pursued “inbox zero,” the holy-grail of Outlook and email productivity.

It didn’t stop with work. In addition to reading close to 40 books per year, there were magazines like HBR, more podcasts than I can mention, and always an inkling for more inputs.

Whatever would make me “better.”

Perhaps most telling, and easily most embarrassing in retrospect, I created a self-bio that stated what I was most excited about was whatever came NEXT!

But, no “NEXT” was ever enough.

And while I haven’t missed any big family events, or milestones for the kids, my bodily presence did not always mean that I was fully present.

I now realize that I have become an adrenaline junkie to a certain extent. One who, at least metaphorically speaking, realizes they are in need of rehabilitation. For continuing to take hits of adrenaline, continuing to hustle past God’s limits for me, will only end in regret.

Of course, a voice always whispers that hustling won’t cost anything visible to others. Maybe it will just be something internal…

But aren’t concessions like these exactly what put me in this condition in the first place?

Only the fool thinks internal costs are free! Not only do these costs carry external interest, their payments are spread to those who love me most.

What I have come to realize is this:

The rat race is a journey to fool’s gold.

Of course, we call it something more acceptable. Maybe “climbing the ladder,” or “career development.”

There are many nice phrases.

But we all know what it is.

The simple reality is that no “next thing” will ever be enough.

Whether you are a Christ follower or not, I imagine you’ve felt this, too. The truth is, we were all created with a void in our hearts that can only be filled with Christ. This void is what makes us seek Him. We were never meant to find our identity outside of Him. We were never meant to do life in our own strength. In fact, Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians that God’s “power is made perfect in weakness.”

The question is, when we face our weaknesses and insecurities, do we look for the “next thing” to provide a sense of fulfillment or a quick fix, or do we turn to the Creator? Do we pray when we need wisdom or competence or strength, or expect another podcast to deliver? Do we allow Him to remind us who we are, or rely on our own accomplishments to bring fulfillment?

I have found again and again that the rat race is a journey to fool’s gold.

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