This month we are masterminding through The Men Who Built America, a DVD produced by the History Channel along with Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill to compliment the mini-series built around some of the great early leaders and entrepreneurs that help build the United States into a world power at the end of the 19th Century.

If you don’t know the back story on how these two connect together, Napoleon Hill was commissioned by Andrew Carnegie to study the most successful people and find out what resulted in their success.  The men who built America were among many of the 20,000+ that Hill interviewed over the twenty year period it took him to write the book.

This month we are going take a look at Andrew Carnegie, Thomas Edison, JP Morgan and Henry Ford.  In this, the final of four posts, we will take a look at Henry Ford.

Ford set himself apart from the other men who built America buy focusing his efforts on the people.  He paid twice the average wage and wanted the average working man to be able to afford an automobile.  Amazed at how machines worked, Ford used his vision to transform the auto industry.

So how did a man that began his business career under the challenges of poverty, illiteracy, and ignorance become “one of the men who built America?”

I Think I Can, I Think I Can, I Think I Can

AUTOSUGGESTION

“If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right!” – Henry Ford

Ford Motor Company was actually Ford’s third automobile venture.  The first two failed miserably yet Ford refused to give up.  He continued to believe that he could successfully manufacture automobiles at a profit and at the same time, do what no one else had done, make them affordable.  His vision was strong enough to become reality.  He refused to give in to negative talk and literally convinced himself that it could be done through the power of autosuggestion.

1+1=3 … Sometimes More

POWER OF THE MASTERMIND

“If there is any one secret of success, it lies in the ability to get the other person’s point of view and see things from that person’s angle as well as from your own.” – Henry Ford

Ford’s most outstanding achievements began when he formed acquaintances with Harvey Firestone, John Burroughs, and Luther Burbank, well known thought leaders at that time.  Ford realized that not only could he gain knowledge from spending time with big thinkers but the interaction in itself, was increasing his ability to retain information and think better himself.

If Only I Would Have Known Before It Was Too Late!

SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE

“Coming together is the beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.” – Henry Ford

Ford had great vision but lacked the knowledge, in multiple areas, to make his vision a reality.  What Ford did know, was that by surrounding himself with the right people – the people that had that knowledge, he could achieve anything he wanted.  He continued to do this throughout his career and when faced with the issue of not knowing, simply found someone who had the specialized knowledge he was looking for and added them to his team.

Napoleon Hill said; “Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle.” (Tweet This / Share on Facebook / Post to LinkedIn)

Hill was right, our success will come from continuous effort and struggle.  The difference comes in how we take on the struggle.  Ford found ways to reduce the struggle by bringing those to his team that could provide the “right” kind of effort.

Here is an important question:  Are you trying to do it all on your own or are you enlisting the help of others through collaborative relationships?  The answer might just predict your success or failure in that endeavor.  Who can you add to your team that will take you to the next level?

• Click here to read Part 1 on Andrew Carnegie
• Click here to read Part 2 on Thomas Edison
• Click here to read Part 3 on JP Morgan

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Join me on the STOP CHALLENGE CHOOSE 12 week health transformation

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Barry Smith  1/29/14   photo courtesy of Amazon   © Building What Matters 2014

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“The graveyard is the richest place on earth, because it is here that you will find all the hopes and dreams that were never fulfilled, the books that were never written, the songs that were never sung, the inventions that were never shared, the cures that were never discovered, all because someone was too afraid to take that first step, keep with the problem, or determined to carry out their dream.”  

So how about it?  If the bell rang for you tomorrow, what would you take with you? Seriously – does this hit home for you at all? Back in February of 2012, I was at a John Maxwell event and John introduced his father Melvin to the stage and said this; “I want to introduce you to the most important man to me here on earth, some time ago my father decided he was going to live until he died.”

I’m Gonna Live Until I Die

Well at 80+ years of age, Melvin Maxwell showed us what it meant to live as he ignited the crowd of over 500 with the energy and enthusiasm rarely displayed by men half his age.  That experience challenged me to take a hard look at what I was doing in my own life.

I can honestly say that at the time, I was not living, I was merely existing.  Can anyone relate to that?  I changed a lot of things in my life after that day.  I was determined that I would live until I died.  I was no longer going to let life happen to me, I was going to start to happen to life.

I made the decision to start chasing after my dreams.  To believe that I could accomplish things that I had never done before – many that I had not even thought about trying.  A new identity built around who I was instead of what I did.  A new job that got me up in the morning instead of keeping me up at night.  I was achieving my dreams!

Defining Moment In A Foreign Country

Last June, I was part of a team that impacted the Country of Guatemala.  I found out what it’s like to feel like you’ve never felt before, doing something you’ve never done before, in a place you’ve never been before, with people you’ve never met before. The three greatest defining moments in my life were the day I said “I do” and the two times I heard “It’s a boy.”  The fourth came in Guatemala City on June 15th, 2013, when I discovered my purpose and clarified my mission to leave nothing behind.

I have an author page on Amazon and later this spring I will publish my first book.  I collaborate everyday with like-minded leaders all over the world.  I am making a difference in the lives of others that want to achieve the same thing.  This is the 250th blog post by someone who barely made it out of English class.

Getting Outside My Comfort Zone

I don’t say any of these things to impress you.  Trust me, I had many people pushing and pulling me along the way.  I do say them to impress upon you that there is no reason you can’t do the same.  I would not been able to achieve any of these things if I was not willing to stretch outside my comfort zone and do what I never thought possible, heck, I didn’t even think about them period!

So that is my challenge for you today.  Start removing the limits you have put on yourself.  Start believing that the impossible is possible and that the only thing holding you back is the fear of taking that first step – just like Les said.

Whoever said “You can’t take it with you” was wrong. (Tweet This / Share on Facebook / Post to LinkedIn)

There are all kinds of things you can take with you – the question is WILL YOU?

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If that’s not enough, check out this thought provoking video ==>

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Barry Smith    1/17/14   photo by author   © Building What Matters 2014

The post The Wealthiest Place on Earth – The Graveyard appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

Some of you probably recognize Burg as the co-author of The Go-Giver, but this one is all his and according to the author, his finest work – the book he was meant to write.

Burg starts out by introducing us to the idea of Ultimate Influence ==>the ability to get the results you want from others while making them feel genuinely good about themselves, about the process, and about you.

Burg suggests that Ultimate Influence is based on five key principles that occur on an ongoing basis.  In this post, the third of four, we will take a deeper look into the third and fourth principles (3) Acknowledge Their Ego and (4) Set The Proper Frame.  Take a look at these and see if any of them might apply to your life.

3. Acknowledge Their Ego

• Don’t Shame or Embarrass – Never criticize or condemn publicly.  Always seek to build up and encourage!  Ultimate Influencers build trust and empower others.
• Be a Judge, Not a Lawyer 
• The Principle of Agreement – Avoid using the word “but” because in most cases, it eliminates what you just agreed to.
• Ego Repair
• The Power of Handwritten Notes – Remember the wisdom of John Maxwell; “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” What are you doing to tell others that you care?
• Edification – a Powerful Key To Influence
• Do You Look for Disagreement? – Respond before you react.  Set yourself up for success and find the things you can agree on before the things you can’t.
• Compliment the Uncomplimented
• Caught in the Act! … of Doing Something Right – This is one of my favorites. How often do you catch someone in the act of doing something right – and then recognize them for it?
• “I Appreciate Ya” – When was the last time someone told you they appreciated you?  When was the last time you told someone else?

4. Set The Proper Frame

• Positive Expectation Works, but Not Why You Think It Does – Simply stated, you get what you expect.  No it doesn’t always work but when you believe in a positive outcome instead of a negative one, you will be much more successful.
• Framing Your Influence in Your First Conversation – First impressions, right? Simply make the conversation revolve around the other person and you set the tone for everything that follows.
• Sometimes’ It’s Good to Let ‘Em See You Sweat
• The Ransburger Pivot
• The Value of the Correct Phrase
• “What Can I do to Help?”
• Win by Making the Other’s Case First – Understanding and accepting the fact the the other person has their own thoughts and ideas, and believes them to be true, puts you in the position to control the outcome.
• Help Them to Live in the Solution – The best way to create an alliance is to bring a solution.  Wanting to solve the problem indicates your attitude of working towards a solution – no matter who comes up with it.
• Avoid Negative Framing
• Don’t Fall Victim to the Either/Or
• Persuasion Secrets of a Ten-Year-Old
• Change Your Frame, Change Your Life – Want allies?  Turn negatives into positives.  No it’s not easy, but staying in the negative will never solve anything.

Well, there is a taste of the thoughts and ideas found within this book.  I encourage you to pick up a copy and fill in the stuff I left blank on your own.  Some of the chapter headings listed above don’t make a lot of sense until you listen to Burg’s wisdom.  Now is your chance!

We certainly have much more to look at in Adversaries Into Allies but understand that people generally believe they are right because their beliefs are based on the experiences they have had.  Right or wrong, until you recognize that they believe what they believe, you will find it difficult to persuade them otherwise.  So ask yourself this question – Is it really worth the fight or is working together going to provide a better outcome?”  Win-Win outcomes are OK!

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Barry Smith   1/3/14   photo courtesy of burg.com   © Building What Matters 2014

The post Adversaries Into Allies – Part 3; Motivation and Outcome appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

Since his release from prison in 1990, Mandela’s name has stayed prominent among most circles involving leadership.  If there was ever a man who understood the power of influence, it was Mandela.

If you have run in any of John Maxwell’s circles, you no doubt know that meeting Mandela is now one thing John had on his bucket list he will never fulfill.  He got close a time or two but it just never worked out.  I have heard John talk about Mandela numerous times and it always impressed me how well thought of Mandela was in John’s eyes.  No doubt Maxwell is a Leadership Icon himself, but for him to think so highly of another leader clearly indicates how highly respected Mandela was.

I am always impressed listening to leaders speak of other leaders.  There is just something special about the acknowledgement of greatness between peers.  I can’t honestly say that I have studied the life and times of Nelson Mandela, nor could I tell you that much about his political views, but I do know he had incredible influence.

I don’t think I can really add to the mass amount of information currently being posted about Mandela’s life but there is one thing that I have been thinking about.  Mandela was loved by millions.  He was someone that so many respected and adored.  So the question that comes to mind to me is “Am I the type of person that people will look up to and appreciate?”  “Am I on anyone’s bucket list?”

I don’t know if I am or not but it does make me think.  What do you need to do to be on someone’s bucket list.  What is the one thing that could make the difference?  I think it is integrity.

Think about someone you look up to.  Someone you would like to spend time with. Why?  For me, it would be because they are real.  They do the right thing for the right reasons.  Integrity represents something you can believe in.  We all have to make choices and I realize nobody makes the right choice every time.  It’s just that some do it much more than others.

I think this quote by Mandela sums it up for me; “If I had my time over I would do the same again. So would any man who dares call himself a man.”

I think that describes integrity to a certain extent.  People of integrity don’t play the do-over card.  [Tweet Now] They own their mistakes and learn from them.  If I dig a little deeper into this quote with my personal take, I hear this;

“I do what I do because I believe in it.  I know I will make mistakes but that is the nature of man, and I would not do over what I felt was the right decision even if the outcome was not exactly what I desired.  Why?  Because without mistakes there is no learning and with no learning there is no progress.”

I am not making a statement regarding Mandela’s beliefs or actions, but I make a bold statement that he believed in what he was doing and stood by it, even risked his life for those beliefs.  How many people can you say that about?

A short question for you today, but I believe a powerful one; “Who’s bucket list are you on?”  RIP Nelson Mandela

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Click here to get a copy of my Kindle Book “The Manifesto Of An Influential Leader”

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Barry Smith   12/6/13   photo courtesy of free images   © Building What Matters 2013

The post Nelson Mandela – A Lesson In Influence And Integrity appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

Some of you probably recognize Burg as the co-author of The Go-Giver, but this one is all his and according to the author, his finest work – the book he was meant to write.

Burg starts out by introducing us to the idea of Ultimate Influence ==> the ability to get the results you want from others while making them feel genuinely good about themselves, about the process, and about you.  You get that little piece of wisdom on the first page of the introduction.  So far, it only get’s better from there.

Burg suggests that Ultimate Influence is based on five key principles that occur on an ongoing basis.  Over the next three weeks I will break these down further but here is the list to get you thinking in the right direction.

1.  Control Your Own Emotions

I have been reading a lot about “control” recently and I have to agree with Burg on this. Staying in control will always yield better and more lasting results.  Our emotions push us to reacting instead of responding.  Who would you rather have creating your future – you or the other person?  Want results?  Take control!

2.  Understand the Clash of Belief Systems

As the author puts it; “Each one of us sees the world in a unique way based on a combination of upbringing, environment, schooling, popular media, and the people with whom we associate.”  I love this idea.  One of my mentors tells me all the time; “Hang around people that believe what you believe, but think different thoughts.”  I think Burg is adding clarity to that statement.  It’s not only the idea that people think differently, it’s also about how to process those differences in a productive “collaborative” way.

3.  Acknowledge their Ego

This is good stuff.  At the end of the day, no matter how much we are willing to give of ourselves and serve others, we still feel good one when someone acknowledges what we have done.  It’s simply human nature.  Unfortunately, some place too much focus on it.  But Burg’s point is clear – if you want to persuade someone to your way of thinking, part of your plan better include some type of positive recognition of the way they are thinking.

4.  Set the Proper Frame

Why is it that we choose to set ourselves up for failure when is most cases, with the right choices, we can set ourselves up for success?  Burg suggests that we have the power to set the proper frame.  It doesn’t matter if we moved first or the other person did.  What matters is our last move.  Why?  Because that is what sets the frame for the next move.  You are always one move away from success or one away from failure.  [Tweet Now]

5.  Communicate with Tact and Empathy

Burg makes the observation that; “Communicating tactfully displays a genuine regard for the other person, which will open the door to making him your ally.” Do first impressions matter?  Hello!  Think about the last time someone approached you and let’s just say “lacked a little tact” in the way they communicated.  How did that make you feel? Look, people want to feel valued and they want to matter.  Words matter and they matter a lot.  Use them wisely.  You never know when you might need an ally.

It’s hard to beat Burg’s take that pretty much frames out the rest of this series … “You’ll see that when you begin to control your emotions, consider others’ points of view and ego, create a positive atmosphere, and communicate tactfully and with empathy, you will get what you want in your personal interactions and relationships.”

We certainly have much more to look at in Adversaries Into Allies but let me leave you with this question today; “Which provides a better outcome – when they’re with you or when they’re against you?”

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Click here to get a copy of my Kindle Book “The Manifesto Of An Influential Leader”

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Barry Smith   12/4/13   photo courtesy of burg.com   © Building What Matters 2013

The post Adversaries Into Allies – Part 1; Ultimate Influence appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

The reason I don’t care for the word magic is because to some, it represents some type of special power to make things disappear or transform from one thing to another.  In reality, magic is the perfection of one of the oldest professions on the planet.  Slight of hand, misdirection and so on.  Few talents impress me more than a magician who has mastered their craft.

I now have a new appreciation for the word.  I recently read “Real Magic – Breaking Through the Illusion of Success” by Nana Danso.  Danso, as a magician and motivational speaker,  spins a whole new perspective on magic, and this magic has nothing to do with tricks or illusions.  This magic is real.

The keys to Danso’s Magic Formula are simple and if followed, will help you to break through the Illusion of Success.  Here are the five keys to living a MAGIC life.

MOTIVATION

We all perform better when we are motivated but motivation is a short term condition.  There has to be a driving force behind that motivation, something that drives you, something simply described as your “why.”  As Les Brown says; “You’ve got to be hungry!”  Your why will provide the motivation to continue to achieve over the long run.  Your why connects you to your purpose and your purpose is what you have been created to fulfill.

ASPIRATIONS

Can you answer the questions; What do you want?  or What do you aspire to do or be?  What are your goals?  As a coach, it amazes me how many people lack clarity on what they really want.  I think this is the reason that so many people feel “stuck.”  Danso provides a great question in this chapter.  Do you know what the richest place in the world is?  Answer – the graveyard.  Why?  Because this is where are the unfulfilled goals, dream and songs that never happened have been laid to rest.

GIFTS

Danso makes a great observation here.  He suggests that if three people tell you that you are good at something, that you have a gift.  It is an indication that there is really something there.  I can totally relate to this.  I never pictured myself as a writer, but when several people took notice of the message in my words, I realized that just maybe there was something there.  Now, several thousands words leave my keyboard each week.

INSPIRATION

I could not agree with the author more when he makes the following statement; “The most rewarding part of life is helping others achieve their goals.  This begins with believing in people.”  Danso is right.  When you believe is someone and let them know that you do, not only do you inspire them, but you empower them to do and be more.

CONFIDENCE

Danso points out that when we expect a positive outcome then the outcome will be positive. This only comes when we have the self-confidence to move out of our comfort zone and go places we have not been before.  It is really that simple – confidence is the catalyst to achievement.  When we believe in ourselves, we can accomplish whatever we set our intentions on accomplishing.

Danso sums it up well with this statement; “Creating magic requires deliberate practice, effort, and dedication, but most importantly, it requires that you believe in yourself.”

A couple of questions for you today:  Is your life full of tricks and illusions?  Do other people see something that is not real when they look at you?  If you want to put some magic back in your life, check out Real Magic and find out how to break through the illusions holding you back.

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Click here to listen to the encore presentation as John Maxwell shares how to “Influence through Connecting”

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Barry Smith    10/31/13   photo courtesy of Amazon   © Building What Matters 2013

The post Real Magic – Breaking Through The Illusion Of Success appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

As he described the results we get when choosing one over the other, I found myself wondering how often I choose to wait for the door to open instead of using the “action” option and reach down, turn the handle and open the door.

It’s sort of funny – walking through doors – when you know what’s on the other side, you throw that thing open and walk right in.  But what happens when you don’t know what’s on the other side?  If you can muster up enough courage to open the door, you turn the handle slowly so you don’t draw attention to yourself and open the door trying to get a quick peak, just in case you’re not supposed to be in there.

Why shouldn’t you be on there?  There must have been some reason you wanted to open the door.  I think the reason we hesitate to open the door is that we are simply unsure of what’s on the other side.  It’s not something we are familiar with.  It’s outside of our comfort zone.

So let’s look at the options.  Well, I guess there are only two – open it or don’t.  How much of our lives are spent “not opening doors?”  If we desire to grow, we need to open doors.  We need to be willing to do what we have not done before.  We need to be willing to go places we have not been before.

I love it when John Maxwell tells the story of the man who said to him; “I want to do what you do.”  In classic “John Maxwell” form, he responds; “But are you willing to do what I’ve done?”  I love that!  Growth, in any area, is a journey.  That journey is going to require opening doors – lots of doors.

Here’s the deal.  You have got to take action.  If you spend your life waiting for doors to open for you, I hope there is a comfortable chair in the waiting room.  I look back at my life and can only imagine what was behind the doors I never opened.  But hey, no looking back – right!

Now I embrace the idea of opening doors, especially the ones that I have no idea what’s behind them.  Why?  For one reason, because I know there is much more to life that I ever imagined and I know, from lessons learned, that no one else is going to open them for me.

Now I must clarify – I believe there is a time when someone will open a door for you. But that only comes when they know that you would be willing to open it yourself.  We can’t make it in life by ourselves.  We need people to open doors for us.  But if you are not willing to walk through, you might as well stay in the comfy chair.

Here’s the point.  Don’t let your default be inaction.  Make your default doing that thing you haven’t done before or going to that place you’ve never been before.  That is where growth happens.  Not sitting in the chair.

My challenge to you today is to identify just one door that you have been afraid to open … and OPEN IT!  You won’t know what’s on the other side until you do.

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Barry Smith    10/21/13   photo by author   © Building What Matters 2013

The post Eliminating The Default Response To Personal Growth appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

The main premise of John’s 74th book is that we don’t have to lose.  Rather, we can learn from our failures and mistakes.  John shares some of his greatest blunders and simply stated, he kept a positive attitude when it could have been just as easy to give in or give up.

I’ll admit that I used to be that way when things went wrong.  Blame it on the circumstances or possibly even on someone else just so I wouldn’t look bad.  I am over that mindset now.  Now I realize that failure is actually part of success.  When we understand this, we are able to maintain a positive attitude which allows us to remain focused on the original goal or objective we set out to achieve.

I want to discuss four ways that our “attitude” impacts our life.  These are not just opinions, these are thoughts based on my own failure and success.  I used to try and hide my failures and losses from others.  Now I wear them like battle scars and love to share with others, what I learned from the experience.

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS

This could be your spouse, significant other, or even one of your kids.  If there is a problem in the relationship, I promise you that it has something to do with the attitude of one, or both of you.  My advice, remember this is based on experience, own your behavior and act in a way focuses on a solution.  A positive attitude can make all the difference in the world and may be your only hope to finding resolution.

BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS

I have watched it over and over, attitudes are contagious.  Much of the success we have in the business world relates in one way or another to teamwork.  When you are part of a team, you have a responsibility to your teammates to be an addition to the team.  This never happens with a negative attitude.  One single bad attitude can divide an entire team.  That being said, one positive attitude can be the catalyst to team success.

HEALTH

We all know that stress is bad for us, and on many different levels.  I am not breaking any ground here by telling you that your attitude will determine your stress level.  Notice that I didn’t say your stress will determine your attitude, even though it might, but here is the deal. When we have a positive attitude, we reduce stress.  A negative attitude creates stress.  Our attitude is our choice – something we have control over.  Stress is the result of our choosing to have a poor attitude or by allowing others to control our decisions.

SUCCESS

Here is the important piece to all of this.  What if you never lost?  What if everything you did was a win or a learn?  How would that impact your attitude?  Look, I get it, sometimes there is so much stacked against and we feel so overwhelmed that it is nearly impossible to maintain a positive attitude.  But this is what happens when we have that “positive attitude” mindset – we look at things differently and some of the things that used to get us down, now get us excited.  Excited to learn and apply that lesson to do or get better.  That is how we succeed.

So a challenge for you today.  Identify something in your life, right now, that has you frustrated or even angry.  Take a moment to reflect on what it is and what you can learn from going through this experience.  As John says in his new book; “Success lies not in eliminating our troubles and mistakes but in growing through and with them.”  

We all will experience difficulties in our life.  I believe our attitudes will make the difference between winning and losing.  So no more losing, only learning!

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You can still see the encore presentation of the Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Learn webcast by clicking here.

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Barry Smith    10/12/13   photo courtesy of Amazon   © Building What Matters 2013

The post Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Learn – It’s About Attitude appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

I believe it goes hand in hand with the statement that I have heard over and over from my mentors; “People do business with those that they know, like and trust.”

I remember when I was back in High School and making $4.17 and hour at a local grocery store bagging groceries.  I think I was a pretty typical kid at the time.  I wasn’t too concerned about saving money but wanted to get the most for what I spent it on. The cheaper the price, the more I would get for my dollar, right?

Somewhere between then and now I learned that this is not always right and the older I get, the more I understand that quality is what you are really paying for, not how big or fancy the box is.

So what is quality?  Is it determined by how long something lasts?  Or maybe, but how good it makes you look?  I think when it really comes down to it, quality is defined by how that product or service makes you feel.

There are basically two different types of things we purchase with our money.  Products and services.  So see if you follow my logic here.

If you buy, for an example, a new vehicle.  Sure you want it to look good and run good but what will really define the quality of that vehicle?  I will suggest that the real lasting impression of the quality of that car will be how it made you feel.

Did it make you feel safe?  Did it make you feel like you made a good investment?  Did you feel like you could depend on that vehicle to get you around no matter what the conditions were?

I remember when our oldest son bought his first car.  It was a used 4-door Mercedes Benz.  Of course he thought it was cool because it was a black Mercedes and made him look like some type of intimidating mafia dude.

But Dad liked the car because it was safe.  It drove really nice and was built with the safety of the passengers in mind.  That car made me feel secure when the kids were out driving it.  That was the quality as I saw it.

I think quality is a little more difficult to define when it comes to services.  I love asking the question; “What do you want?”  It amazes me how many people really don’t know.  They think they know, but when you get the heart of it, they don’t.

Many times it starts with possessions, a new car, a bigger house and so on.  But when you go a little deeper, it becomes about security and quality of life.  A lot of people I have worked with start of believing that stuff is what will make them happy.

Sure, it might help, but it really comes down to finding that quality of life that most never find.  To wake up in the morning and be excited about what will happen next, even if you don’t know what it is.  To be able to do the things you want to do and not be consumed by the things that you have to do.

So what is quality?  It will be different for everyone, but I challenge anyone to tell me that things will ever mean more that the experiences that came along with them.  I believe quality is defined not by what you received but by who you became doing it or using it.

Stuff doesn’t make you feel good.  What you do with it is what leave the lasting impression.  So a question for you to ponder today to see if you can determine the quality of some of your most prized possessions.  “What is the greatest memory you have from your most expensive possession?  Whatever that memory is will determine the real quality of that possession.

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Barry Smith    8/26/13   photo by author   © Building What Matters 2013

The post Quality: It’s How You Make Them Feel That Counts! appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

What I would like to focus on in this post is a little more specific.  What happens when you work with someone who doesn’t love what they do?  And even more to the point, the person who makes it clear that they don’t even enjoy sharing your work space with you.

I am a firm believer that attitudes are contagious and that there is a lot of truth to the idea that it only takes one apple to spoil the entire box.

“Happy employees are more for quality and outcome. They create an atmosphere that reduces conflict and turnover, which makes customers satisfied and happy.”  –  Abe Bakhsheshy, Director of Customer Service, University of Utah Hospital

I have posted several times on the concept of how our environment impacts our world. I suggest that company morale is no different.  So there are two sides of the coin here – one, you can have a strong enough environment that will squeeze out that bad apple or two, that bad apple will ruin the entire box.

Now I often preach that you should not show up with a problem without a solution.  So here it is … if you can’t save the rest of the box, you better eliminate the rotten apple before they all go bad.

I know that sounds a little harsh, but sometimes there is simply no saving the apple. That being said, there are many times when you can.  I know this is pretty simplistic, but think about the “rotten” apples you have seen in your life.  Some are only bad in one area and even though we could cut the bad part out and save most of it, we (at least some of us – my wife is the master of saving every last bit of any fruit or vegetable for the juicer) throw the whole thing away.

So can it be saved?  That’s the question that has to be asked.  Sometimes all you need to do is remove a little bit and the rest of the box is saved.  The challenge is how much has to be removed to get rid of the bad part and will there be enough left to make it worth keeping.

OK, enough about apples.  The bottom line is that it only takes a little bit of negativity to bring down the whole team and someone has to decide when the overall morale of the organization is being impacted by the actions of one or a few people.

There is a lot to be said about chemistry and the working dynamic of any group of people.  I mentioned earlier that I believe that attitudes are contagious.  This works both ways.  I have often been accused (and rightfully so) of seeing the good in someone as a reason to overlook some of the bad.  Sometimes the negative is simply too much to overcome.

I believe that any team holds the power to influence their environment and can steer negativity in a more positive direction.  The one thing that has to be present for this to work is the willingness for the negative person to change.  A team is as strong as it’s weakest link – right?

Well, the fact is that no matter how strong your chain is, there will always be a “weakest link.”  Your job as a member of that team is to keep your link strong and you do this by maintaining a good attitude and doing your part to keep morale high.

My encouragement to you today is to identify that weak link, if you don’t already know what it is, and rather that try and replace it, figure our how to make it stronger.

Very rarely does the entire chain get replace so your team will only be as strong as you collectively make it.  I guess I do have a question … “How strong is your chain?”
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Barry Smith    7/22/13   photo by author   © Building What Matters 2013

The post Company Morale – Every Chain Has A Weak Link. appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.