The piano at my house had a bad note. One of the pins that held one of the strings kept slipping in its hole, and the string could not stay in tune. The result was truly obnoxious. . When I sat at the piano I found myself expending energy to avoid the note, modifying my playing to stay away Continue reading “One Bad Note”
Author: johnny88keys
Optimistic idea enabler mindfully seeking rapture
Accepting Max
I have a love-hate relationship with my dog. We adopted Max about a year and a half ago through Summit Dog Rescue. (A great organization, very thorough, laser focused on making great matches.) Max came to us all the way from central America – he was a street dog in Cancun, Mexico. At 2 or 3 years of age before he was rescued by some ex-pats, he developed several deeply-ingrained street survival Continue reading “Accepting Max”
The Absolute Best Way To Get Better At Something 100% Proven to Work
Practice!
I know that sounds tongue-in-cheek. But it’s a topic I find myself reinforcing with my kids all the time. And it’s just as true for adults, Continue reading “The Absolute Best Way To Get Better At Something 100% Proven to Work”
Unrealized Gifts
Such a simple thing. A few years ago my mom bought me a mop and some cleaning solution for hardwood floors. I used them once or twice, but then set them in a closet where they sat, forgotten, for more than 3 years. This weekend I stumbled across them in a moment that I also happened to be Continue reading “Unrealized Gifts”
Finding Purchase
One of my favorite words to use, when it can actually be used in context, is ‘purchase.’ Not as in making a purchase at a store; as in finding that sweet spot when you finally get a foothold or handhold.
“She was in a precarious unbalanced position when her ice axe finally found Continue reading “Finding Purchase”
Learning vs. Development
Here are 3 premises that I believe are true about organizations and their leaders:
1. The organization that the develops the fastest, wins.
2. No one develops faster or further than the leader.
3. People, including leaders, will do anything to avoid significant development.
Learning is easy. Development sucks. Learning changes what I know, but Continue reading “Learning vs. Development”
The Scarcest Resource
The scarcest resource in any organization is the attention of the leader. How much time does the leader spend on WHAT versus HOW versus WHY. For most leaders, most of their time is spent on WHAT and HOW. Yet executives are the ones who should be thinking about WHY.
Do Business With Nice People
My former boss, mentor, and friend, Keith Dietzen, once shared with me a nugget he learned from his mentor, Tom Fitzmyers, now-retired CEO of the profitable publicly traded company Simpson Strong-tie. “What’s your secret to running such a successful business for so long, Tom?” Keith asked. Tom’s response: “Do business with nice people.”
Judgment is a Killer
Judgment is a killer. I know judging others is horribly destructive, yet I often can’t stop myself: the idiot driver on his phone who misses the green turn arrow; the helicopter parent that steals time from devoted teachers; the cat fighting in local politics.
It’s difficult to let go of judgment because it feels like I am condoning the Continue reading “Judgment is a Killer”
The Puzzling Resistance to Goal-Setting and High Achievement
High achievement isn’t based on talent, at least not talent alone. (This is good news for us mortals who may possess some skills, but by no means in copious amounts.) No, the highest achievers are great at execution and improving their skills through practice; they excel at stretching Continue reading “The Puzzling Resistance to Goal-Setting and High Achievement”
Once Bitten Twice Shy
Trail running has its minor risks, and I’ve seen my share of sprained ankles, skinned hands from tripping, and bug bites. But that’s usually about it. Aside from the wear and tear on these aging knees and hips and the occasional lung burn that inevitably accompanies an uphill run at altitude, Continue reading “Once Bitten Twice Shy”
Diamonds Toward You and Rubies Away
I used to keep a notebook in high school filled with ideas for song lyrics and poems. None of them were very good. I think many of us had such a notebook, either in the back of our trapper keepers or tucked away under our mattresses. While I didn’t hold my writing in high regard I do remember Continue reading “Diamonds Toward You and Rubies Away”
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