Tag Archives: success

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Ambition – Friend or Foe?

It’s a new year! For so many of us this means evaluating what we accomplished last year and setting new goals for this year. In contrast, I do know some people who staunchly refuse to make any resolutions because “No one ever sticks with them anyway.” I believe that, new year or not, goals are very important. Goals allow us to be intentional about growth and, if we’re not growing, we’re dying.

God has given us the skills and desires to be ambitious and to achieve. He gave Adam a job even before he gave him a mate. (Genesis 2:15)  Jesus celebrated the servants who invested and multiplied their bags of gold. (Matthew 25:14-30) All through the bible, God uses those who are good workers. Healthy ambition allows us to improve and achieve for ourselves, our families, our church and our communities.  In contrast, lack of ambition/laziness does not honor God, fulfill our familial obligations or help advance our communities.

Any talk of achievement begs the question: Where does healthy ambition end and unhealthy ambition/selfishness begin? Ecclesiastes chapter 7 warns against extremes. Jamie Allen, senior pastor of Central Christian Church in Mt. Vernon, IL gives two “guardrails” against uncontrolled ambition.

  • Ambition must be controlled by love for your family. This guardrail has to do with time. Family must always take priority over money, career, status and material things. Most of us who work outside the home spend more waking hours at work than at home most days. If you can’t have quantity, make sure you have quality. Maximize the time you have with your family. Make sure the people at home know they are more important than the people at work. If your family relationships are suffering because of your goals you are probably slipping into unhealthy ambition.
  • Ambition must be controlled by your love for God. This guardrail has to do with integrity. A Christian’s ambition has to be controlled by integrity. Others aren’t always aware of your motives but your motives will be brought out into the light eventually. Nothing is important enough to violate what God commands. If you find yourself willing to tell “a little white lie,” change the date on that document or take advantage of someone (even if it’s legal) to achieve your goals you are traveling down the road of selfish ambition.

Don’t be afraid to be ambitious, set some goals and work to achieve them. There is honor in that success. You can bless others with that kind of success. Just make sure you don’t let selfishness overtake healthy ambition.

**I highly recommend watching the lesson that inspired this post. Go to http://www.thenewcentral.com/ondemand and choose “First-2.”

 

 

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Children and Parents and Spouses…Oh My!

Learn to help people with more than just their jobs. Help them with their lives. – Jim Rohn

No one lives in a vacuum. We don’t work in one, either. My team has lives and marriages and kids and parents. We’ve gone through cancer, surgeries, tragic death of loved ones, divorce, problems with kids, chronic illness of parents, job loss of spouses…the list goes on and on… As a leader I can’t focus on their work-life and job performance without taking home-life into consideration. I am human, so sometimes I’ve handled these situations better than others, but I always try to err on the side of grace.

My goal is to serve my patients and my team. My team is my most valuable resource and is indispensable in the success of my practice. That means I need to make their lives better with the resources I have and genuinely care about their well-being. If I haven’t improved the lives of the families represented on my team I have failed, regardless of what the report from my accountant says.

It goes without saying that hourly wages should be fair. Bonus/incentive programs, insurance and retirement plans are always welcome. The problem with ending here? These things are the expected minimum. They are necessary but don’t actively “pour into” the lives of your team members. Here are just a few things I’ve found that seem to improve the life and well-being of my team:

  • onsite chair massage
  • back-to-school gift cards/supplies
  • seminars/certification/continuing education
  • flexible days off
  • including family in events
  • FOOD!

Maybe your team and workplace look very different from mine. Maybe you can offer working from home or in-office daycare. Maybe you’re just starting out and have ZERO extra funds to allocate. The important thing is to be observant and sensitive to the needs of your team and be creative in improving their lives at work and at home.

  • As a business owner or leader what are some creative ways you (could) invest in the lives of your team?
  • As an employee what would make a difference for you in your workplace?
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Catfish to Corneas

It happened again today. Today, it was because I was having lunch with a friend in our old hometown at a restaurant where we used to work. My family was the original owners and I worked there for many years. It happens every few months at other places, though. Sometimes I am overcome by the overwhelming feeling that no matter how successful a doctor or business owner I am, a part of me will always, ALWAYS miss waitressing. Now, don’t get me wrong, I am thankful that I don’t have to depend on waiting tables to make a living, but I really did love it that much.

More than once, while interviewing a potential employee for my optometric practice, I’ve asked them about a restaurant job on their resume. More than once, the candidate has looked a little embarrassed and said something like “Oh. I was just a waitress.” and I will almost shout “No! Don’t EVER say you were just a waitress.” (unless, of course, you were just a really really bad one!)

I spent four years in optometry school learning to be a doctor, but what I learned as a teenager and young adult working in a busy, very casual, restaurant and a busy, slightly upscale, retail shop has helped me be successful in more ways than I could probably even list. I couldn’t have imagined at the time, but looking back I can see how my spiritual gift of hospitality and secondary love language “acts of service” were in play throughout my entire life.

Having a servant’s heart is a blessing and a benefit, but did you realize you can build your serving skill set? That’s what those of us with a history in the restaurant or retail industry were doing, even at a young age. It’s important to recognize and hone those serving skills. Don’t ever think anything is too insignificant.  If serving fried catfish to boaters straight off the river or motorcyclists fresh off the road can help me be a better doctor, your past service experiences can serve you, too.

To be competitive in any business today, service is the key. If you are looking to better your career situation, and you have experience in the service industry, perfect those skills and market them! If you are an employer interviewing job candidates don’t forget how seemingly unrelated jobs (waiting tables, retail, etc) can give great experience for other life-long careers in business. And always remember: that friendly server at your favorite restaurant? She could be your eye doctor one day!

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Leaving a Legacy

Memorial day has come and gone. Graduation ceremonies abound. It’s a perfect time to think of the potential that is within all of us and the legacy we will leave behind. Do you ever think about the legacy you will leave? Psalm 112:1-3 says:

1 Praise the Lord! How joyful are those who fear the Lord
    and delight in obeying his commands.
2 Their children will be successful everywhere;
    an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.
3 They themselves will be wealthy,
    and their good deeds will last forever.

Their children will be successful EVERYWHERE. An ENTIRE generation will be blessed. Their good deeds will last FOREVER. Now that is a legacy! Our good decisions can bless an entire generation and our good deeds can last forever. Conversely, our poor decisions can become our legacy and influence generations to come. The decisions you make in business and in life have eternal consequences. What a privilege and responsibility!

Even if we don’t have children of our own or a protege training directly under us, we all have successors. Any child near you is watching everything you do (much more than they are listening to what you say.) You have teams at work and church. Maybe you lead a class or hold a political office. I have nieces and patients and young church friends and members of my community who are watching the decisions I make and how I handle myself.

Who is YOUR “next generation?”

What legacy do you want to leave? What are you doing to cultivate your legacy?

 

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Night is Coming

I can’t believe we only have 2/3 of 2015 left! I’m still making plans of what I think I’ll do this year. I’m still in analysis paralysis mode. That happens to me a lot. I’m pretty good at making plans, but I’m not always good at executing them. “As soon as things slow down…” “later.” “When I have more time…” are things I tell myself when I have a good idea. I love the word “intentional” but I am not as intentional with my time as I should be. I tend to go through life subconsciously feeling like I have all the time in the world. Jesus warns us against that.

In John 9:14 (NIV) He says “As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.” Jesus is telling his followers that a time is coming when they won’t be able to work, so they must do all they can while they can.

It’s important to live with a sense of urgency. Not panic or sheer busyness but intentional urgency. We only have so much time to accomplish what God would have us do. Thinking we have all the time in the world to accomplish our purpose is the worst kind of procrastination. We have lives to enhance, people to serve and children to teach. We have prayers that need to be placed at the throne and praises that need to be lifted to heaven.

We all have goals and dreams that have been placed in our heart for a purpose. There are things on Earth that you were put here to accomplish and no one is exactly equipped like you. Night is coming. It always gets here quicker than you ever think it will. Search your heart. Make your plan. Most importantly, take action before it’s too late.

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Intrapreneur???

Hopefully you read the previous post “Every Walt Needs a Roy.” If you haven’t read it yet, just go ahead and click on it over there on the right —> and read it now.

Every Walt needs a Roy and intrapreneurs are an important asset to a business of almost any size. Intrapreneur is a term that you might not be familiar with. It has been coined just in the past 30 years or so. Intrapreneur describes a person within an organization who is given the resources and freedom to make things happen but doesn’t take on the risks and responsibilities of the entrepreneur. They are often responsible for turning an idea into a finished product.

We’ve all heard and read about the importance of delegation. We can’t be everywhere and do everything. As a business owner, the risk and responsibility ultimately ends up on our desk. Some very talented people don’t have the desire to take up that role but can still take “ownership” over some of the operations. If you can give some resources and freedom to a trusted team member you might be surprised at how much more can be accomplished within your organization. Give someone the opportunity to grow and surprise you. Show appreciation when they do.

If you are in an organization where you are not the owner don’t ever underestimate what you can bring to your employer. Taking ownership of a project or some area of operation is a great way to expand your skill set and increase your team’s confidence in your abilities. Think of yourself as being in business for yourself. Your product is you! You can package, market and sell your benefits to your employer and everyone wins.

If you are an entrepreneur, recognize a good intrapreneur when you see one. If you are an employee, don’t be afraid to step up and be that team member who makes things happen.

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Every Walt Needs a Roy

Unless you’ve been living in a cave for the last 75 years (and if that’s the case you’re most likely not reading this) you know of Walt Disney. Have you ever heard of Roy O. Disney? Roy was Walt’s older brother and an integral part of the success of the Disney companies. While Walt was the dreamer, Roy was often the doer. And the voice of reason.

“Every Walt needs a Roy and every Roy needs a Walt. Every dreamer needs a doer. Every starter needs a finisher. Every entrepreneur needs an administrator…If you want to achieve great things, then find the person who supplies what you lack and who lacks what you supply.” Pat Williams How to Be Like Walt: Capturing the Disney Magic Every Day of Your Life (CHI 2004)

We all have certain strengths and weaknesses. It is sometimes good to work to improve upon your weaknesses so they aren’t a hindrance, but it’s always more efficient (and usually more fun) to play to your strengths. Ideally, you find someone who complements you. Someone who is strong where you lack. A Roy to your Walt. When you have people on your team who complement you, far more can be achieved than going it alone.

Some of you are reading this and immediately know “I’m a Walt!” or “Yup. I’m always the Roy.” But don’t worry if it doesn’t seem that simple. Some of us can be either depending on the season of our life or the situation/relationship we are in. For example: I think I’m a pretty good leader most of the time. However, I’m NOT a good administrator. I like to identify potential problems and come up with creative ways to solve them but lack the patience it takes to completely carry out the plan (and heaven forbid I have to make phone calls!) However, at other times in my life I have been the voice of reason and the one who says “That sounds like a good idea, but let’s think about this for a minute. You need a plan!”

“Intrapreneur” is an interesting term that’s been coined fairly recently. I’ll be addressing that in the next post.  In the meantime, if you are a Walt make sure you have a Roy by your side and that you respect and appreciate them. If you are a Roy know that you play a very important role even if it is often “unsung.”  So, at this time in your life, are you a Walt or a Roy?

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No Free Pizza!

“Real friends don’t ask friends for free pizza!” Have you ever heard that famous quote? No? It was posted by my friend Kris who owns a (fabulous) local pizza place. I think he was a little frustrated at the time.

If you own a business or are in a leadership position you’ve probably noticed a certain phenomenon. People you are really close to seldom ask for favors or free stuff. People you are “kind of” close to seem to have no problem thinking you can just “do them a little favor.” Has something like that ever happened to you? Frustrating, isn’t it? Sometimes it makes you want to not do business with anyone you know. Don’t let it make you feel that way. An ever-increasing circle of friends can be a great asset to a business. You don’t make friends to expand your business – that’s artificial. You get to know people and naturally expand your network – that’s relational.

In his book Thou Shall Prosper (Wiley, 2010) Rabbi Daniel Lapin says “Make lots of new friends, try to help them, and make sure they all know how you could help them and that you are eager to do so.” Supporting your friends, especially in a small community, church community or social network is vital to the success and culture of your community. Small business (and franchisees of national brands count here) can and should thrive in our communities.

Rational friends will not expect you to give away your products or services. Since they are going to be spending money anyway, they should want to spend it with you! And you with them, when the opportunity arises. In a perfect “give and take” relationship, all parties support the businesses of the other parties. I buy pizza from Kris, he buys eyewear from me, we both take that money and spend it in locally owned salons, bookstores, etc, etc. Can we sometimes get a product cheaper at a big retailer? Probably. Does that invest much capital back into our community? No. Is it worth the extra expense to support our friends in local business? Absolutely.

I hope you don’t have friends asking for free pizza. More importantly – don’t be one of those friends! How can you support your friends in local business?

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They’re Watching!

“Hi Dr. Bass! I thought that was you!” said a patient as she stopped by our table at Applebee’s. I was eating lunch with my husband before we went grocery shopping after church one Sunday. I had been fighting a sinus infection, had only felt like eating half of my lunch and the last thing I wanted to do was carry on a conversation with someone but, of course, I smiled and asked her how she was and said that it was nice to see her and I hoped she had a great afternoon. Afterwards, at the grocery store, I think I saw another three patients or so.

Living, working and going to church in the same town means we see a lot of people we know. That’s ok. In fact, most of the time I like it. I dreamed of being a doctor most of my childhood and being recognized as the friendly neighborhood optometrist always went right along with that. (My sister will tell you I’ve always wanted to be famous!) I once sat with a group of young doctors at a luncheon while they discussed how terrible it would be to live in the same town where they worked. One actually said “I can’t imagine having to see my patients at the grocery store! The last thing I want to do is talk to them after hours!” While I understand and agree that we all need a time to turn off, if you are a doctor, teacher, business owner or church leader that is just not going to be an option for you a lot of the time. Is it fair? No. Is it what you signed up for? Yes.

For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.  Luke 12:48b

To be respected as the professional you are, you have to act respectable no matter where you are.

I can’t tell you what is appropriate for you or what you can or cannot do. (Trust me, I would often like to, but it’s really not my place.) While we are far from perfect, my husband (who is on stage a lot at our church) and I really try to be careful about what we say and do in public and what we post on social media. We do not want to represent ourselves, my practice or our church poorly. Is it fair that we should have to worry about how others interpret our actions? No. Is it what we signed up for? Yes.

You have the right to do whatever you want to do. Unfortunately you do not have the power to keep your actions from reflecting on you and your organization. If you want to be a success and have a positive influence on your community you have to be conscious of this fact.  Everything speaks and those around you are listening. Make sure you are telling the story you want them to hear.

 

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Tough Decisions

I had to call a snow day today. Now, as when I was a kid, I really like a snow day. But, I HATE having the responsibility of making the decision. It’s harder than you might think. And you’re always going to make someone unhappy. I guarantee it.

Let me give a brief synopsis of what calling a snow day at my optometric practice means. It means everyone gets to stay home BUT the office goes without revenue for a day and several families go without a day’s pay. It means we don’t have to worry about patients falling in the parking lot BUT some of these patients have waited a long time to get in for their exam and now they will have to take another time off of work to reschedule. There is ALWAYS someone who is very unhappy and is convinced that conditions “weren’t that bad” so we should have been open. Today in particular between two doctors we had thirty-five patients who had to be called (if we had their correct phone number.) That will be thirty-five patients to find another spot for in the next couple of weeks. We don’t have any free spots in the next couple of weeks.

I give you this glimpse of my world to say this: If you are a business owner (or any type of leader for that matter) you have to make some tough decisions. When I write about business I’m assuming three things. 1) You love what you do. 2) You love your team 3) You genuinely care about your clients/customers/patients and want to serve them. Even with these best of intentions, others won’t always understand your decisions and someone isn’t going to like your decisions. I promise. There are three specific groups of people who will have an opinion about your decisions. We all (business owner or not) fall into at least a couple of these categories ourselves.

  1. Family and Close Friends: It is so important to have a good support system. They mean well, but often can’t understand your unique decision-making issues. You’ll hear a lot of “Don’t worry about it” and “Who cares what people think” and “They’ll get over it.” Sometimes, this is good advice, but often we DO have to care what others think because it has lasting impact to our business and people are depending on us. It’s also difficult when those close to you think your ideas are just plain kooky (and let’s face it – sometimes they are) because entrepreneurial types just think differently.
  2. Team/Staff: This very important group of people often have inside knowledge of your business but don’t see the big picture like you do. They often see the money coming in but don’t have a real grasp of the cost of running a business. They see how business decisions relate to them, but don’t have all of the information to see how it relates to all the other interlocking parts. They may feel your decisions “aren’t fair” when you’re really doing the best you can.
  3. Clients/Customers/Patients: As consumers it’s all about “me.” We all do it. Your clients evaluate your decisions on how it affects them. They don’t know and often don’t care about taxes, insurance, regulations, operating costs or the other clients you are trying to serve. It’s wonderful when they DO take these things into account, and it does happen, but it’s not their job.

Do what you can to gently educate those you interact with on why you make the decisions you make. Sometimes they are judging based on mis-information or non-information. Make the best decisions you can to serve your business, your team and your clientele. Possibly the best thing you can do is find support in those who are dealing with the same things you are. Not to complain or have a gripe session but to find genuine camaraderie in others who are in the trenches just like you are.