Personal Growth

A leader worth following is a lifelong learner. Constant personal reflection is one way to engage this pursuit. Any event can be a learning event if you keep your eyes, and brain, open to what is happening. There are always lessons to be learned.

Three days ago I completed our Country Club’s “Invitational” tournament, a 2-day member-guest match play tournament with various flights of handicaps. My partner — a BIB subscriber! — and I were in the second flight, which featured our current Club Champion, and a former Club Champion. This post is about the lessons I learned the last few days. I am sharing these lessons to not only model the reflective behavior I described above, but also because the lessons are worth sharing. They are listed in no particular order of importance:

Golf is best played with the target in mind. The more my mind shifts to the fundamentals of the golf swing, the higher my score becomes. I have found this applicable to business as well. Keeping focused on the end goal helps us more easily navigate the complexities of getting there.

I told my partner we would hit bad shots along the way —and we surely did—but our goal was to stay positive and hit a good recovery shot when we did.

Disappointment is toxic. I could not help but be disappointed when I chunked a chip just off the green Saturday morning and gift-wrapped the hole for our competitors. Nor, could I help being disappointed when I missed a 2.5-foot putt to tie the match on the last hole. But, I did not stay disappointed. I persevered by telling my partner our best golf was yet to come, and immediately hitting the practice green in-between matches. As fate would have it, later in the day I needed to make a similar putt on the same hole. Thankfully, I did the second time.

We should have lost our final match given how awful we played at the start. But we persevered and hung around long enough to give ourselves a chance to play better. And we did down the stretch, good enough to win 2 up. I have seen this same scenario in business — one more sales call, one more tweak to the design, one more…you just don’t know when it is going to “take.” Keep going.

Without my dad’s help, I would not have had the good swing thought I had, nor been able to make a ridiculous putt on the 15th hole Friday afternoon, or seen where I had to land the flop shot behind the 18th green —the shot that ended up hitting the flag stick and clinching our flight. I have learned in business, golf, and life, that he knows what he’s doing. Following his lead is not a bad play. Thus, I told him “thank you” on Monday morning.

Speaking of that flop shot, thanks to John Esposito for teaching me how to hit that shot. Nothing in life is solo. Thanks Espo!

Speaking of that putt on 15, Joe Renzi calmly got up afterwards and knocked down a 10 footer to tie the hole. I cheered loudly when he did because it was SO clutch. Yes, my partner and I were rooting for our competition to do well. Joe and his dad went on to beat us in the match, largely due to his amazing play. Cheering on others gives you a mindset that not only models the sportsmanship that makes golf great, but also frees the soul to be, and perform, at its best. There simply aren’t any studies showing that a vindictive and negative spirit outperforms a generous and positive one.

Finally, life is so much more than golf, work, or hobbies. As my partner and I gathered with our wives to go over for the closing dinner, we paused, and I prayed for the events that day in El Paso. To be someone worth following, you have to maintain perspective. No golf match is worth throwing clubs over. No business pursuit is worth losing a family over. Some things —faith, family, and life —simply matter more. Besides, doing well in the Invitational, as fun as it was, was only temporary. As I learned the following Monday at the office, life goes on….

I will close by saying this. I would not choose another person in the field to be my partner. Your friendship means the world, JK.

I can’t wait to do it again next year!

“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” is one of those statements we’ve heard so much that it just rolls right off the tongue. I must admit it is something I have said about others, and even myself. I guess when you are bald, and in business, you have become an “old dog” at some point along the journey.

The problem with this statement, however, is that research proves that it’s simply not true.

In their riveting book The MVP Machine, authors Ben Lindberg and Travis Sawchik talk about how professional baseball is embracing technology to increase player development. The authors credit Carol Dweck throughout the book, so I feel like I should mention her here as well. Her 2006 book entitled Mindset falls in my recommended “must reads” for all leaders.

The MVP Machine talks about several Major League baseball players throughout the book, but the section on Justin Verlander caught my attention. I was reading the book during the 2019 season which has been has arguably been one of his best. He has always been great. What did he need to improve? I wondered. Verlander’s statistics seem to prove that you can, indeed, teach an old dog new tricks.

A quick disclaimer: I know the mention of baseball statistics may send some of you running, but hang with me. You don’t need to fully understand these statistics to see the point I am getting at. All you need to know about Verlander is that he has been one of baseball’s best pitchers since the early 2000s. That being so, he was still traded from one organization — the Detroit Tigers — to the Houston Astros, with the latter being on the forefront of embracing the use of technology (cameras, trackman, etc.) to improve and develop the performance of their players. That’s when things really got fun.

Prior to being traded to the Astros, Justin Verlander threw fastballs 57% of the time and sliders (think a pitch with horizontal movement) 18% of the time, according to the baseball website Fangraphs. The MVP Machine describes his experience coming on board the Houston Astros and being subject to their performance improvement technology. First off, their video analysis suggested that his “2-seam fastball” wasn’t nearly as effective as his “4-seam fastball” (the general difference being in how one grips the baseball). In essence, they informed Verlander that while his “4-seam” was one of the best in the league, his “2-seam” was average at best. Why not ditch that pitch and throw all “4-seam” fastballs, they asked? Furthermore, they believed the data indicated he could be a more effective pitcher by throwing more sliders because the movement was harder for hitters to hit. Why not throw more of them as well? You can judge for yourself if Verlander heeded their advice:

2017: Fastballs 57%, Sliders 18%
2019: Fastballs 51%, Sliders 27.5%

I didn’t mention Curveballs (vertical and horizontal movement of the ball) above, but even they rose from 15.9 to 17.3%! Thus, presently 44.8% of Verlander’s pitches are either sliders or curves. This might not seem like much, but it keeps hitters from knowing what is coming. This all leads to the most important question: Did it work? Let’s look at Verlander’s contact percentage–the total percentage of contact made when hitters swing at pitches thrown–to examine.

2017: Contact percentage 77.8%
2019: Contact percentage 69.8%

While this is only one metric (and you can surf Fangraphs for all of them if you would like), it is clear that Justin Verlander is having more success getting balls past opposing batters post trade.

Would you take an 8% improvement from your team today?

Hopefully, you get the point I am trying to make. By using the resources available, and believing he could still —closer to the end than the beginning of his career —get better, Justin Verlander has once again become an elite pitcher.

It turns out you can teach old dogs new tricks.

Embrace this reality because it means that everyone on your team, including you, can still get better.

This is the last post for the month of June, which means the next time I post we will be in to the second half of 2019. So, as I am accustomed to reflecting at the mid-year and year-end, what follows is an assortment of reflections based on the first six months of the year. They are in no particular order and span a range of topics. Feel free to add yours on social media or in the comment section.

-Trust > Performance. (Credit: Simon Sinek)

-Forget all the fancy definitions of leadership. A leader is being someone others want to follow. If you look back and no one is following, you aren’t a leader (at least yet).

-I have spent the majority of my time off social media the last sixty days and do not miss it. I share because I have found value in using that time doing other things: reading, stretching, playing with the kids, etc.

-You have time to do what you are not doing. Time isn’t the problem, prioritization is.

-The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Taking 24 hours off work (specifically work- related email, thinking about work, etc.,) has renewed my energy for productive weeks.

-When the leader is not healthy (physically, spiritually, emotionally) everyone suffers (I highly recommend The Emotionally Healthy Leader by Peter Scazzero).

-The above statement is not fair, but there are higher standards for leaders. And this should be so.

-I am prioritizing communication skills (one-on-one), humility, and ability to relate with other people on the team, when interviewing potential new team members. I would much rather have a connected, well-oiled team, than one with a bunch of gifted a-holes.

-One of the harder aspects of leadership is having more facts about a team-member, or situation, than the person complaining to you about that person or situation. Be sure to listen to the feedback, but process it with the person in question, not with the person giving it.

– “Just so you know” statements should always be followed with “and what are you doing about what you just informed me.” Don’t let others drop responsibility on your desk.

-As I have learned coaching Will in baseball, a dad’s words (or leader’s) carry extra weight. Use them cautiously.

-The greatest gift you can give your team, spouse, and family, is a well-rested, positive, you.

-A fair reading of most biographies should lead one to a greater sense of grace towards public figures. For, we all are fallen.

-Speaking of grace towards public figures, I continue to be amazed at how much energy people are using towards politics. While I cannot (honestly) claim that I am above the fray, I have discovered this year that the more I stay out of it, the more joyful I am.

-To be clear, however, I read my chosen newspaper (Wall Street Journal) just about every day to stay informed. Leaders don’t have the luxury of being ill-informed. I just work (it is not easy) to read with grace.

-Last one here, yes, I read a NEWSPAPER. Besides the book recommendation above, every leader should read Cal Newport’s Digital Minimalism. Of the many excellent points in the book, Newport strongly encourages readers to adopt “slow media” like newspapers instead of “scanning” news on unedited social media sites. I concur.

-Life goes by faster with each year. Given this certainty, complaining about the weather, or other things you cannot control, is a complete waste of energy.

Some quotes to ponder given the amount of anger in our society today:

“Losing your temper is a sign of weakness.” Jocko Willink

“It was the weakest form of leadership to win an argument through rank or position.” Leif Babin

“The one who wins the argument is usually the one who acts less like Christ.” Francis Chan

“The greatest remedy for anger is delay.” Thomas Paine

And to close, a few more comments for those of us in manufacturing to ponder:

“If the order is wrong, execute the order we should have given.” General Stanley McCrystal

“When you challenge what is, others perceive that as a criticism of who was.” Clay Scroggins

“You can have control, or growth, but you cannot have both.” Craig Groeschel

“I do not understand people who pee in their cereal and gripe because it tastes bad.” Dr. Henry Cloud on gossip in the workplace.

I’ll be back in a few weeks. Until then, make it a great start to the summer.

I learned that you can’t practice enough, especially in preparation for a talk. Repetition is key.

I learned that it is better to be bold – be the real you – than to be someone else.

I learned that visiting customers in person is THE work of business development. The skill for the twenty-first century sales person is cutting through the noise and landing the face-to-face appointment.

I learned that relationships out pace products.

I learned that products can, and always should, be made better. Keep making them better…Keep making them better!

I witnessed that business pressure can physically bring people to their knees. I learned, therefore, that my role as a leader is to push to the limits of safety, but never past those limits.

I learned that anyone can do business with anyone. Business relationships can build bridges that political policy does not.

I learned that managing my energy, getting the appropriate amount of sleep – no matter the social pressure to “stay out” – has a multiplying effect on my performance, attitude, focus, and creativity. Sleep is both a powerful weapon and shield.

I learned that diet and exercise are never to be forgotten on the road. For it takes fuel, and drive, to take more ground.

I learned that some people blame, and others offer solutions. The pathfinder offers the latter, and ignores the former. Choose your future wisely.

I learned that life is abrupt. One minute you are here, the next you aren’t.

I learned that mourning hits you like an unexpected gut punch. But instead of pushing it aside, you should dance with the emotions it brings. Even if dancing means finding an airplane bathroom on the flight home from Europe.

I learned that the difference between the boomer generation and millennial generation may best be entitled “Flax and Kale.” (This is an inside-joke that only the team-members traveling with me last week will get. But, I do recommend the restaurant the next time you are in Spain).

I learned that not everyone understands the accountability I have in my life. But checking in with three people back home, sharing prayer requests, and giving an “account” of my daily behavior, keeps me on the narrow path. I’m incredibly grateful for those guys. As I know they’ll read this, thank you guys.

I learned that home is better than any other place on the planet. Distance does make the heart grow fonder, while also putting everything into perspective.

I learned that just about nothing is better than a hug from a two-year old girl after she gets the chocolate she was promised upon my return.

I have been thinking a lot about my grandfather as the clock clicks towards Father’s Day. Here is a collection of his of his traits that I want to emulate:

I want to emulate my grandfather’s ability to not bring work home. I’d imagine that he did. No person in human history has not, to some extent, brought some of work’s challenges home. That said, my grandfather was always “on” with his grandchildren, and I don’t ever recall him being stressed about work (I’m sure my Aunt, Uncle, and Dad would have examples to the contrary). But my grandfather was present when it mattered to me, and the rest of the grandkids.

I want to emulate my grandfather’s energy to walk the floor at Hoffer Plastics and care for the people on our team. Yes, he pushed. The stories are legendary. But everyone knew he cared.

I want to emulate my grandfather’s love for my grandmother. He unapologetically left the office in time to be home for 5:30 p.m. dinner, and the company didn’t suffer for it. My last coherent conversation with him, December 24th 2006, he challenged me to bring my grandmother flowers while lying in his nursing home bed.

I want to emulate my grandfather’s love for plastics. His face would light up with the possibility around plastics. My cousin Betsy recalls Grandpa predicting the smartphone years before we were carrying one, and we can all recount his enthusiasm towards countless projects at “the plant.” I often get that same excitement today with our flexible packaging business because the future is so exciting.

I want to emulate my grandfather’s love of Purdue University. Because his father taught at Purdue, Grandpa grew up in West Lafayette. So, while I am appreciative of other schools (The University of Illinois and Miami of Ohio in particular), Purdue, for me, has always been home. And I miss it because being there reconnects me to my past.

I want to emulate Grandpa’s non-work hobbies. He worked his yard and garden relentlessly and meticulously. For many years he could be found with his running group. Not to mention that he played college golf at Purdue, and still played well into his 80s. And I would be remiss not to mention that I hope and pray that my kids get many of the same Elgin Country Club experiences with my dad as I had with Grandpa.

I want to emulate Grandpa’s generosity. Camp Edwards, various city of Elgin charities, Judson University (I miss the baseball team!), and his local church—he made time for these pursuits, and that deeply challenges me in this day and age of busyness.

Above all, I want to continue to emulate my grandfather’s devotion to his Creator and Savior. For in the end, I will go the way he went, and the point of this recollection is intentionally emulating someone worth following.

My grandfather was such.

Recently, a direct report confronted me on items pertaining to my leadership since the beginning of the year. Ending 2018 with a 360 review of myself, and sort of the same thing for the company in general, I began 2019 with increased intensity.

“You are not being yourself,” this person said. They went on to say that while they appreciated me holding others more accountable, at times I was being too stern. “You’re being too much like me,” they went on. “Stop trying to please others, even family members, and just be your natural self. Be encouraging, complimentary, and continue to hold people accountable, just in a gentler way than I do.”

I thanked this person for having the courage to give me this feedback. What a blessing! I also love that our sales team is experienced and talented. Some of them have led companies before, so I probably learn more from them than the other way around. And this example is another one of those occurrences.

In digesting this feedback, I realized that this individual was 100 percent correct in their analysis. While ramping up the accountability was a good addition to my leadership repertoire, I was doing it in a way that was unnatural. In essence, I was “over-correcting” my weakness by trying to be somebody I am not. I’m better at building coalitions, encouraging team members, and leading with positivity than I am being the hard boss. So, I need to be myself rather than being someone I read about in a book, or even like the individual who gave me this feedback. While it is tempting to emulate styles that are effective, doing so, as I have discovered, comes at a detriment to my own effectiveness.

In retrospect, my intentions were good. I simply allowed my lack of confidence in myself, coupled with the stress of implementing all the suggestions the outside consulting firm made for our organization, to make me someone I am not. Fear (stress is always fear) has a way of doing that.

I now feel free, even energized, as someone I deeply respect is inviting me to simply be myself. I don’t have to pretend, which may have never been my intent, but it is apparently what I was unconsciously doing. I can now simply be me. To be sure, this doesn’t mean I will avoid difficult conversations. It just means I will be myself when I do, looking for the good in the situation, and encouraging people along the way.

As this situation demonstrates, I am thankful to be part of a team that is easy to encourage!