Month: December 2014

#933 dated

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I was at a mall over the weekend and while many stores were bustling, there was one that looked bare.  That store was Radio Shack.  It seemed odd to me, given the proliferation of electronic goods and their desirability as a holiday gift, but Radio Shack was not the beneficiary of this coalescence.


I wonder if it is because of its name.  “Radio” is about as dated as they come.  

I think about all the businesses that have had to officially change their name to remain relevant.  Blockbuster Video dropped the “video” part.  Apple Computer became Apple, Inc.  Standard Oil Company became Exxon.  International Business Machines became IBM.  New York and New England Telephone became Verizon.  State teachers colleges became universities.

Is your name limiting your scope or holding you back from the market you want to serve today?  Is it time for a rebranding to allow you to remain current going forward?  Good or bad, your name communicates a lot about you.  Take care to ensure that your message is still relevant.

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com



#932 merge

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At a stoplight near my home, two lanes merge into one shortly after cars pass through the intersection.  The left lane becomes the thoroughfare and the right lane ends after 300 feet.

Oftentimes, I go through the intersection in the right lane and merge into the left.  It seems the efficient method of traffic flow, to alternate drivers and to fill in gaps in traffic.  But from some of the drivers in the left lane, I get the evil eye as if I am doing something wrong.

I got in the practice of doing this when I lived in another city that was experiencing congestion.  Their DOT actually had signs to encourage people to use the merge lane and alternate traffic.  It made perfect sense.

My question: if the traffic gods here did not want cars in the right lane — to do exactly as I am doing — why is that lane there?  If, before the intersection, everyone is expected to be only in the left lane, why did they pay thousands to install an “extra” lane? (There is already a right and left turn lane as well.)

Do you have the equivalent of an extra lane in your organization?  Is there a policy or practice that you have on the books, but don’t want people to use — or few people are using?  Is there something that exists already in your organization that could be promoted — expanding your capacity at little expense?  

Take a new look at your resources and see if you can’t pave the way to greater efficiency in their use.

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com



#931 leave it alone

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Yesterday we had the staff holiday potluck.  Usually people sign up to bring a certain item, but this year they left it open ended.  No signups.  No elaborate distribution of what to bring.  No assignments of any kind, just “come with a dish to share.”

And come they did!  We had approximately 50 dishes of wonderful food — and a great balance of choices.  There were decadent desserts and quasi-healthy ones.  Salads, dips, hot sides and veggie trays.  From shrimp to hummus to an authentic Mexican cookie dessert, we had all the variety and excess that you could hope for in a potluck.

Even the ever-popular cheesy potatoes, of which we had several, all had their own recipe nuances and did not seem like direct duplications.  Cheese lovers tried multiple versions and seemed to enjoy.

For years, I have been hosting potlucks and never do I worry about who brings what.  It always works out in the end.  

On most occasions, it is important to pay attention to details.  But not with potlucks.  Let the inherent balance of the universe work its magic instead of wasting your time on orchestrating the logistics.  Trust me: it will turn out ok without your intervention.

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#930 hidden

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When all the leaves fall from the trees, I am fascinated at the big squirrel nests that remain. I think of what was involved in making the shelter as it is usually in the highest part of the branches.  I think about the babies that lived there and wonder why I have never seen a truly tiny little squirrel: do they have to be big just to get down from the nest?  I wonder how many squirrels lived there and where they go when the leaves disappear.


But mostly I am struck by how something so large was totally hidden from my view until the seasons changed.  

I wonder what else I pass every day without seeing it.  Are there good deeds occurring that I don’t notice?  Is someone lonely and I can’t tell that they are hurting?  Is someone in need but pretending that everything is fine?  Or maybe someone is interested in another, but hasn’t shown it.

We don’t have the luxury of seasons in relationships where things that were hidden become obvious.  During this hectic holiday season, make some time to go beyond the small talk.  Pull back the leaves and see if there is a nest in your family tree or among your friends.  

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com



#929 killing time

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One only has to spend a little bit of time in an airport to realize the impact of time.  Some people are sprinting to their connection — imitating the famous Hertz commercial with OJ Simpson leaping over suitcases as he ran through the terminal.  Others are lamenting that they have several hours “to kill” as if time were something that could be altered.

It strikes me as such an odd thought to want to kill something as valuable as time.  We kill unwanted things:  weeds, rats, viruses and infections.  We should embrace the extra free minutes, no matter where we find them.  Take a moment to do nothing.  To people watch.  To savor a book or magazine.  To write a letter and make someone’s day.  To get in your 10,000 steps before lunch.

I wonder how the world would be different if we could share units of time, such as: “I’ll give you an hour so you have less rush and I have less wait.”  Would we share?  Would we give an extra hour of sleep to a new mother and take away an hour of our day?  Maybe, if the hour was while we were waiting, but probably not if it meant time way from work or play. 

If time is that precious, take steps to use it wisely — even in an airport.
— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#928 recognition

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Shazam is one of my favorite applications on the web.  For those of you that are unfamiliar with this gem, you can “Shazam” any music you hear playing, and the app will instantly identify the song, the artist and often the lyrics and other helpful information.  I have used it at concerts, on my car radio, for background music at restaurants or stores, and during basketball game introductions.  It is amazing.

But what I really need is an app that allows me to stealthily point my phone at a face and have it identify who the person is — and my connection to them.  Wouldn’t it be great to have a method to instantaneously know — that’s who the person is.  I could use it to link the face and name of a parent from a visit day long ago; know the person in line ahead of me is my vet’s receptionist, or be able to act as if I remember the friend of a friend I met once.  Wa-la! No more racking my brain as to how I know someone.

I know that such a personalized database is next to impossible, but I can continue to hope. Many technological advances that seemed like dreams are now a reality.  Maybe a “Wa-la” is in my future.  Until then, forgive me if I ask: “Do I know you from somewhere?”
— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#927 congruence

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I recently was out of town and stayed at a new hotel.  I was surprised at the attention (to say nothing of the expense) that went into designing the room to provide elements of privacy.

The desk was separated from the sleeping area by a sliding glass partition — you could open up the room or work late and keep the bed isolated from the light.  The toilet and a mini-sink were located in an entirely separate room from the shower and another sink.  You could easily have three people in the non-suite space without seeing each other…

…and yet, there was a king sized bed.  How many people did they anticipate would be sleeping there?  I wonder why the room was designed to accommodate multiples on one dimension and not on others. 

If you spend the time and money to create three private spaces, make it in a space that may actually need it.  If you spend resources on special touches, ensure they are noticeable enough to have an impact. 
Take a lesson from this hotel design and provide congruence in your planning.

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#926 lucky

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As I was going to get on an elevator, I felt the hard candy in my mouth get stuck in my throat.  Just as I was ready to panic, the elevator car arrived and I got in — along with the five other men who were waiting.  I figured that if I starting choking or, worse yet, needed the Heimlich, I wouldn’t be alone.

As the car ascended, two things happened.  One, the candy came unstuck and I was fine without incident.  Two, I read the nametags of the men in the elevator with me.  All of them were attending a medical training and had M.D. after their names!

Sometimes, luck turns out to be on your side, even if you don’t need it.  Appreciate those moments as a sign that the universe really is on your side.
— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#925 text me

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We all know that different cultures celebrate the holidays in different ways.  It turns out that different generations have their own ways of commemorating as well.

A fun music video shares the song: Text Me Merry Christmas.  I am surprised that it took so long for contemporary lingo to make its way into the yuletide carols.  Think of all the possibilities that exist:  Snapchat Santa, Hashtag Hanukkah, FaLaLaLa Facebook, etc.  There is a whole new genre waiting to be developed!

Keep your whole audience in mind when communicating your message. Using language that parallels the spoken word is one way to enhance the chance of connection with a different demographic.

Consider who you are trying to reach with your messages.  If you’re talking to younger people, maybe there is a way you can update some traditions to become more responsive to modern culture.

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

Thanks to Tracy for sharing the video.

To watch Text Me Merry Christmas:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmhfdQlOiy0

#924 stuck

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Sometimes it seems that we get so engrained in our own routines and mindset that we take the way things are as truth and don’t question whether they could be another way.

This video (2:03) is an example of that in the extreme:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXCuGvsThEw 

Are there situations where you are acting like you are stuck on the escalator, even though you really do have other choices?  Do you become paralyzed with inaction rather than generating options?

The absurdity of this video is apparent, yet I think at times we all act that way in different settings.  The next time you feel stuck, think about the escalator and ask yourself if there isn’t another way to ascend the stairs.

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com