Living Today!!

"Yesterday is Gone. Tomorrow Has Not yet Come. We Have Only Today. Let Us Begin." - Mother Theresa
What a wonderful sentiment and a great truth about how we should live our lives. We as Americans spend way too much time thinking about the things that are past, yesterday IS gone. We can never change what is past. We often defeat ourselves with past failures or lull ourselves into inactivity with past successes.

The value of our yesterdays is to apply the lessons learned and move forward successfully and to recall and remember those people and events helping us to become the person we are. We can make the mistake of overvaluing our past and trying to focus on what was or at least what our perception of what was.

We also spend a great deal of time worrying about what is coming in the days ahead. I read a study once that stated that forty-four percent of our concerns are things that never happen and only nine percent of the things we worry about come about exactly as we worried about them. Or as the gospel writer Matthew stated,

“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Matthew 6:34.

Many times when we plan we put too much into tomorrow. In truth tomorrow never comes, we are always waiting for it. When our next day comes there is a new tomorrow. The tomorrow attitude is one of the reasons we often procrastinate. We fall into the “why do today what you can put off until tomorrow” mentality. While we don’t want to minimize the importance of goals and planning for execution of the goals and plans we only have today!

Today is the most important day of our lives. It is the only time we can work with, what we have right now. This morning I played golf and that experience ifs forever behind me. Last Friday I met with four old friends and had a great visit that is forever behind me. We may meet again but not in the same way.


Right now we have a chance to accomplish something that in a short while will be frozen in the past. Let us begin so that we will use today wisely. Let us begin so that we will not look back with regret or worse still not have anything to show for the time we spent. Let us begin!!

Valuing Diversity!

I grew up in the 60’s. It was a difficult time with cultural, social and economic upheaval. The Wichita business community of the time was white, 35, with dark blue suits and a conservative style. Working and getting along were relatively easy because the players were similar with similar ideas and values. Things would change in a short time and undergo constant change for many years.

At about the same time the Wichita Police Department experimented with a fundamental operational change. At that time a male and female were placed as partners in a patrol car for the first time. Reaction was mixed and a lot of concerns were expressed. Today the same practice is routine and nearly unquestioned. Victims and perpetrators alike were better served with the new practice.

In the ensuing years the value of a diverse workforce has been recognized and appreciated. The diversity comes in many areas: gender, age, race, culture, religion, disability. Over the years the diversity has been resisted, accepted and finally endorsed. The transition has not been without pain. It was much easier in the days when we were all “alike”. Difference has made us work to understand each other. But the resulting benefits have been enormous.

In my classes I’ve often used my marriage as an example of diversity. Any time more than one tries to do something adjustment must be made, After nearly forty-nine years together I must confess I don’t always understand my wife. She would say the same about me. If two people spending that much time together still have adjustment to make think how much more work must be done to understand those differing from us at work, or church, or school.

Working and learning to work with those different from us is hard work. There are many frustrations, starts, and restarts along the way. Casualties happen because some aren’t pliable or flexible enough to make the adjustments. Yet when we work to understand each other our organizations become much stronger. Instead of a restricted, similar view we get views from many backgrounds and perspectives. Our decision processes have more alternatives and our solutions more creative. Each of us draws from our own set of experiences and viewpoints and the organization ultimately becomes the winner.

Understanding the value and importance of diversity is a key quality of diversity. Leadership must take their diverse staffs and mold them together into an effective team. Only then can the organization performance thrive and reach optimum output.
Contact Chuck at: chuck.wright@sckans.edu

Commencement!!

One of the rites of passage in Spring are commencement ceremonies. We have them for high school, college, grad school, and probably others I’m not even aware of. The word itself intrigued me because when I graduated I thought that was the end and yet one of the dictionary definitions of commencement is, “a beginning or start.”

After more thought I realized the title was a proper one no matter what the level of achievement. Graduation requirements represent the fulfillment of a set of requirements, while the services signal the start toward the next stage of life, the next set of learning activities. Everyone is required to commence or to ultimately stagnate at some level of attainment!

The high school grad has several potential avenues of commencement. They can go into the work world, go to trade school, or continue on to the collegiate level. Each has its own opportunities and possibilities. One is not better than another, just different. Trade schools offer great possibilities since skilled craftsmen are a much needed quantity in our society. Work offers income and a place to grow while deciding the course for “the rest of a life.” College is most beneficial for the person focused on what they want to pursue as a career.

The baccalaureate graduate also has some hard choices. The decision to enter the work world might be impeded by a scarce present supply of jobs in his or her chosen field. Grad school is another choice. I’ve often told my MBA candidates they differentiate themselves by spending that one more year on campus. Only about one third as many have an advanced degree as those with an undergraduate degree.

When the graduate students have their ceremony it can be a scary finality to it and yet it still a commencement. They must now enter the “real world” and put all those years of formal learning to work in a practical way. They must also learn that real learning has not ended but is just beginning. Their ability to apply their knowledge will determine long term success in their chosen field.

Even those of us who have long since stopped learning in a formal environment must always be open to changes and new ideas. I remember in 1986 when I bought my first computer, I thought it would be my last. Ten machines and many other devices later new knowledge and learning continue. As we get the chance to celebrate the commencements this year let’s remember we have only begun life.

Being Tough!

Several years ago a friend told me that I probably thought Attila the Hun was a weak manager. While I question the extreme comment, I do believe that a successful manager or leader has to exhibit several characteristics of being tough. These characteristics are used operationally but not necessarily in personal relationships.

Being tough can be thought of as callous, guarded, or even putting fences up with others. These are not the characteristics of toughness for success. The outcomes of positive toughness are resiliency, a don’t-quit attitude, and a continuous practice of stretching and growing. I once heard a man say he was never down. He was always up, or getting up. That’s an example of positive toughness.

First, the leader must exhibit toughness in planning. Getting a vision for the task, setting the plans, and beginning to execute the plan require toughness. Many have made a plan but lacked the toughness to get started. As a wise man once told me, “plan your work and work your plan.” Failing to both plan and work the plan results in at best wasted time and often failure of the project.

Next, the leader must be tough minded. Everything won’t always just fall into place. Many times adjustments must be made. A good basic plan often needs some fine tuning to gain the final results desired. Not changing the plan too quickly is also important. The key is to stay with the plan until it has a real chance to prove workable. If the plan was worth starting it’s worth working to completion.

Finally, the leader must be tough skinned. People just won’t necessarily fall into line and enlist in the plan. Leaders have to be willing to take opposition and turn it to support. It is easy for a leader to get down as a result of opposition. I have told my students that through the years I have developed a 40% rule. 40% of the people will oppose even the best of plans. Being tough skinned helps carry the plan through.

Being a leader is a tough task. The leader must use all his or her skills in achieving success. Using toughness in planning, being tough minded, and being tough skinned put a leader in the best position for success.

Take the Opportunity!!

The first six weeks of 2014 have been tough for me personally and for my family. Our family lost my last Aunt and last Uncle on my Mother’s side of the family. In addition one of my best friends of my Prudential years passed away. These events turned my thoughts to opportunity and how we take advantage or sometimes waste them. As author John Maxwell says, “Time lost is time lost!” Let’s discuss the importance of opportunity and taking the opportunity!

Life presents us with many opportunities. Some are small others are great. At times we can think about the possibilities and others present themselves quickly and are soon gone by. Sometimes we have control and sometimes things are out of our control. In mid-January I had made a decision to attend my aunt’s funeral in Louisiana. Two hundred miles down the road I hit a deer and limped home disappointed, but relieved that only the car and the deer had been damaged. An opportunity lost, but out of my control.

The great basketball coach John Wooden was quoted as saying, “When opportunity comes it is too late to prepare for it.” We need to make sure to prepare so that when opportunity comes we can take advantage of it. Wooden’s thought was close to a statement made by my original manager Paul Hutsey, who told me, “being ready for a promotion and an opening for promotion don’t always come at the same time, so make sure you are ready when the opening does occur.”

The preparation time is a chance to improve our self and even to develop the skill for improving others. When opportunity does present itself we have a greater possibility of taking advantage of the situation and having a successful venture. Lack of use of the preparation time could cause us to have to pass on an opportunity that may never present itself again. We must be in the position to seize the opportunity or risk regretting the lost chance far into our future.

Often some of our great opportunities present themselves as problems occurring in our personal or business lives. A friend of mine once described what he called a “problor-tunity,” the fact that a problem is simply an opportunity for us to show our problem solving ability. Without problems, and ultimately their solution, our skills might not be necessary. Taking the opportunity and solving problems sets us apart from those unable or unwilling to take the opportunity.

Choices! Choices! Choices!

Every day we have choices to make in our life. Some are important ones and others are just routine and thus easy. On many occasions I have heard my wife, Sharon, counsel our Grandchildren “Make good choices!” What an important piece of advice this is! Hopefully they will keep her advice in the back of their mind to draw upon when needed.

With my wife’s advice in mind let’s talk about some important principles to keep in mind concerning choices. First, we’ll all make good and bad choices so how do we deal with them? When bad choices happen learn from them or adjust them and move forward. Benefit from some of my Dad’s sage advice, “This too will pass.” When good choices happen enjoy them and understand that they won’t last forever! The twists and turns of life will take us in another direction and call for another choice.

Next, learn to take responsibility for bad choices. Too much time is spent on “the blame game”, trying to transfer fault for our poor choices to someone else. Several years ago at a seminar I attended a speaker said “you’re your only problem baby: and you’re the only solution.” On the other side of the coin when you’ve made a good choice that has good results don’t forget to give credit to those helping your success.

Additionally, seek advice when making important choices. There are people who have walked the same road before you, benefit from their experience. Wise King Solomon said “there is nothing new under the sun.” Realize that we don’t have to “reinvent the wheel” every time we make a choice. In the long run we can learn from others and ultimately from our own experiences.

Finally, it is our choices that determine our level of success in life. Each good choice we make takes us to a new level of maturity. When we make a bad choice we need to “get up, dust ourselves off, and start all over again.” Basketball coaching legend John Wooden once said “There are choices in life in nearly everything you do, so keep in mind the choices that you make makes you!”

Are You Listening?

We have more communications methods today than ever before. We have smart phones, dumb phones, Facebook, Twitter, and on and on. Yet with all the technology we really don’t communicate well. The great missing element is our lack of the ability to listen. Listening personalizes what is a very impersonal communication world.

It’s really no mystery why we aren’t good at listening. In school we spend hours and hours learning to read, write, and even a good amount of time in speaking. Yet little time on the art of listening. In my own experience I have nearly 300 hours of college preparation that includes one, yes ONE hour devoted to listening. Most of us learned how to listen by trial and error.
So what’s the big deal? Why should we be concerned about becoming a good listener. It’s more fun to talk and let others be impressed with what we know. What are the benefits we gain from listening? I’m glad you asked! Let’s consider just four really large benefits of listening.

First, when we listen we build trust. Someone told me once “people don’t really care how much you know until they know how much you care.” When we listen we convey that we care and our caring builds the start of a level of trust. Trust is foundation of building upon a strong relationship. Solomon wrote that “for a man to have friends he must show himself friendly.” Listening is a great way to show ourselves friendly.

Next, listening enables learning. When we are talking we learn little, but listening helps us learn what others know and thus expand our information. By listening and asking questions we can learn great amounts. If we actually get into a conversation with two people listening the learning possibilities are endless. Sharing our knowledge expands both parties involved.

Third, listening facilitates understanding. Many of the current communication devices cause misunderstanding. Emails or texts often leave a false impression. You can’t tell if they’re smiling, scowling, or possibly upset. Listening enhances feedback and thus strengthens understanding. We have a better understanding of the message being conveyed when effective listening is practiced. When we understand each other our communications become more meaningful.

Finally, listening creates a connection. In the current world of virtual connection, we actually have little real connection. Listening creates a bond that connects us in a meaningful way into the future. Listening is the key to building a network that enhances both our personal and business relationships. When lasting connections are made everyone benefits. Are you listening?