Dan Cumberland never quite felt like he fit while growing up. Dan’s strengths and passions differed from that of his family and he spent many years trying to discover how his gifts could be married to work that would provide both income and meaning. This conversation will challenge you to rethink your ideas about whether we should be looking for … Read More
Heath Padgett lives in a van down by the river
Heath Padgett does not, in fact, live in a van down by the river, but he does live in an RV. Fearing he would get stuck in a state of comfort and a year-long trip across the country – a bucket list item he and his wife shared – might never happen if they waited, Heath quit his job and … Read More
The best compliment you will ever receive
People may salute your skills, praise your progress, evangelize your effectiveness, or laud your leadership, but nothing compares to someone touting your trustworthiness. Without a doubt, “I trust you,” is the best compliment you will ever receive.
Relationships don’t get better on accident
Every relationship that has ever worked has worked because at least one participant decided to make sure it worked.
The most difficult person you will ever have to manage
There is a box in a cabinet in my office that is full of medication. Every time I get a card or an e-mail from someone that has been positively impacted by my work I drop it in the box so that I have concrete proof that I’m making a difference in the lives of the people around me on … Read More
What a Grammy nominated songwriter taught me about customer service
I was introduced to the amazing work of singer/songwriter Natalie Hemby* during the 2010 holiday season when Target used her song “Perfect Gift” in one of their commercials. I was hooked. I immediately went to google to find out who she was and where I could find more of her music. The who was pretty simple but the where proved … Read More
Your legacy will not be about what you did for yourself
Your legacy will not be about what you did for yourself. It just won’t. How might that knowledge influence the choices you make and the actions you take this week? (I was influenced to make a giant sign for my office to remind me of this every single day.)
What if you chose something better?
Last night my beloved Yankees were eliminated from the playoffs by the Houston Astros…and I guess I’m okay with that. A few years ago I would have been really upset, but today I have a somewhat healthier perspective. Would I have preferred to watch the Yankees win and advance? Absolutely, but the days of my emotions being influenced by a … Read More
Are you afraid of dying?
My friend is afraid of dying. The fear of dying is probably not altogether rare, but the conversation I shared with my friend this week got me thinking. Fearing death seems like a bad thing because it often causes us to freeze, to play it safe, and to focus on scarcity. But there is also a lot of value in … Read More
This is business (and it’s incredibly personal)
There is no such thing as “just business” because the way we go about our business – and the way we take care of the people we serve – says a lot about who we are as people.
To attempt to excuse our actions toward other humans because it’s “just business” is simply inexcusable.
The thing Willie Nelson taught me about customer service
It was just me, a pen, and a pad of paper, sitting quietly a dimly-lit hotel room. It was a couple hours before I would be facilitating a customer service session with leaders from a major medical facility in Anchorage and I was struggling to find the missing ingredient that would tie everything together. Ugh. I was frustrated. I felt … Read More
Who is in charge of you?
There are a million things you can’t control. The way you choose to react is not one of them.
Thanks, Fairbanks. (We should hang out)
I am about to get on an airplane for the last bit of travel I currently have scheduled for 2015. Finally.
The problem with perfect
Taking unusually good care of people is a commitment to do the messy, unpredictable, and deeply personal work of engaging your humanity to help someone else.
What was I thinking?!
You are not alone. Most people are doing something that terrifies them, or are avoiding doing something that terrifies them, every single day. The fear is a constant, but maybe knowing that everyone is dealing with it will help you do your meaningful work in spite of the fear.