When people miss the mark, screw up, under perform or just seem to not get it, it’s good to keep in mind:
They may be looking at a different target – My idea of “clean” is probably not the same as your idea of “clean.”
It may be the system – There may be things outside of their control that introduces variation in results, i.e. change in wind speed, different equipment, poor communication…
It could be the consequences – Very often the best employees get “stuck” doing what no one else will and their reward for doing their best is actually a punishment.
Solutions?
Start at home first – It’s our job as leaders to do everything we can to help them do the best job they can. Make sure you are doing that and…
“Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming.” – John Wooden
Peace on the inside…brings peace on the outside
Discipline, effort, choice…to find balance, self-worth, value
Haven’t run in 2 weeks…been resting the knee which I tweaked 6 weeks ago at the Oil Creek 100 and then ran 2 more marathons over the next 30 days…yep, crazy idiot stuff which qualifies me for the IRC, Idiot Running Club, (a real club…thinking of joining)… but it was for a fundraiser, $4500, to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and cancer research…worth every mile!
So, the last 2 weeks with no miles…yesterday tried a couple of miles walk/jog…did ok but not great, so maybe another week…but what’s weird is that I feel strangely ok with not running…
Part of it may be that I:
logged nearly 1700 miles to get ready for the races…might have overdone it
am finally getting out of Marathon Brain – kind of like when you hit the wall but carried over to real life…you can’t do the math, can’t remember where you were going…very embarrasing
am finally catching up on 6 months of procrastination…more like 8
am eating cookies again…and pizza…and Ketchup! :-)
Found this quote…only logged a couple of 100 mile weeks…but it seemed appropriate:
“If you run 100 miles a week, you can eat anything you want — Why? Because (a) you’ll burn all the calories you consume, (b) you deserve it, and (c) you’ll be injured soon and back on a restricted diet anyway.” –Don Kardong
Working on next year’s training schedule… I think I hear a cheese burger calling my name! :-)
Did a presentation yesterday afternoon…65 staff and managers…they had a long morning covering their business agenda, just finished lunch, small room, too warm, a captive audience for the most part…
Topic was emotional intelligence and personal accountability…it was looking to be a tough afternoon…and it was…but we pressed on. Had good interaction, a few laughs, a few light bulbs during the exercises…it was good.
There was one that did not say much…the quiet one…but I could tell he was listening…he did the exercises, wrote while others around him laughed off theirs…he wrote carefully…kept it to himself.
Near the end, volunteers around the room shared their takeaways for self-improvement, for change…they were good…lose weight, stop smoking, be kind, help others…all good things, challenging, admirable.
I risked it…asked him to share…he looked down as he spoke…the room went quiet as he courageously admitted many faults….seeing himself being distant, angry, frustrated, impatient, the yelling and screaming, so hard to be home, so much sadness…but owning his behavior, his part in their pain…his plan to be a better man…to let go his anger, be more attentative, be more patient, respectful, bring his family to a better place…all with a deep sincerity you could feel in your heart…
Silence…I looked up…tears all around the room…they hadn’t known…then the applause…for the one.
“Change your thoughts and you change your world.”
– Norman Vincent Peale