Calm Down. It is only a bad day.
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 […]
4 Spring Sports Rules for the Field…and the Office
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 […]
You can’t simulate real-life experience
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. […]
Everything Can Go Wrong. You Can Still be Thankful!
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 […]
Waiting on the World to Change?
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 […]
Why it is important to show up!
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 […]
#TheoThursday – The Mission Statement
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 […]
The Power of Story
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 […]
The Rat Race is a Journey to Fool’s Gold
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 […]