In Commencement

To The Class of 2014 -
A page has been turned, maybe ripped or possibly burned. Either way, the slate is clean and possibility is afoot. With possibility comes fear, but fear is overcome by preparation and action. If something is keeping you up at night, sometimes you have to bounce out of bed and fix it. The unknown is not solvable. Action is our lives most important virtue.

Young people are often criticised for having great ideas but an inability to act upon their dreams. My experience has taught me otherwise. It is important, however, to note that experience is the greatest medicine for that which we may hold in pre-judgement.

What does your dream look like? You may want to start a company, work for a corporation, bring water to desolate areas, teach, perform, or play. In any event, the abilities to dissect, quantify, qualify and plan are essential. Indeed, what you learned in science, math and history will not stay in your under-compensated returned books.

Consider this: Books are not worth reading if you don't take time to digest what you have read. People are not worth talking to if you do not listen to their advice. Technology is not worth investing in if you cannot socialize the system.

The system by which we read may change, we may lose friends, and apps are ever-evolving. The one constant we all face is that we cannot progress without other people. Your core knowledge may help you pass a test, your resume bullet points may get you an interview, and your social network may provide introductions; but if you cannot relate to people no degree can save you!

Revisit what you genuinely believe in and build a foundation for decision making. Our destiny is driven by our decisions. Ignore that which has been taught to you if you do not agree with the intent. There is no reason to dedicate yourself to something that does not ignite your interest. Recreate yourself every day. When you embrace change you fail more often than if you do not. If you do not embrace change you fail permanently.

Find someone to love, a soundtrack for your life, a team to follow, and an artistic outlet.

Be yourself.

Allow no one to put a finger in your face.

Be humble in victory and accountable it defeat.

Allow yourself to cry but make sure you laugh more often.

Call your Mom on Mother's Day!

Eat and Drink what you want but be willing to work it off.

Treat the wait staff the same way you would the CEO.

Give people the benefit of the doubt.

With every ounce of knowledge you acquire make an effort to consider the alternative side of the argument.

Know that YOU are the judge & jury of your own destiny. No one's opinion matters more than your own. No one spends more time with you than you! Set expectations for yourself higher than those of others and over-perform!

Most importantly....

Be willing to start at the bottom and work harder than anyone else. This is the only method for success that cannot be refuted.

Now is the time to dream big. Regrets dwell within the mansions of those who never tried to do what they genuinely enjoy. There is only one word to characterize success:

Happiness!

Leave the door open on your way out.....

Don't Forget to Remember!

Dave    

The New War Over Talent: SHRM vs. HRCI

It's official, the Society of Human Resource Management is in the certification business. The recent announcement has sent shock waves through the Human Resources community. HR Professionals are in equal parts confused and excited over what was and what will be their future employment qualifiers.

Hank Jackson has delivered a bold message:
Certification should amplify an applicable professional skill set. It should not include memorization and regurgitation for the sake of qualification.

Here are 2 very-well written blogs to inform the subject:
SHRM Certification, It's Personal to Me by Bette Francis, SPHR

Crocodile Tears for all the Certified HR Folks Out There by Lance Haun

It appears as though the long-term affiliation between SHRM and HRCI has ended with a challenge of epic proportions. The two associations will lock horns to determine the preferred education track for our organizational educators. I am not interested in obtaining certification at this point so I don't have a dog in this fight. I have, however, never been shy to offer a perspective from the fringe.

Are We Proving Stereotypes?
HR has long been classified as risk adverse. If the profession is pushing back on SHRM's entree into the world of certification are we validating the aforementioned stereotype? HRCI has enjoyed a spacious lane on the unoccupied highway of HR Certification. Does SHRM's toe dipping ripple uncharted waters?

Confusion over which organization to trust to qualify your occupational destiny may be a troubling matter. The unsettling nature that comes along with choice may indeed make the tidy house of HR a little messy. The whole thing smells of Capitalism. If you are willing to admit that uncertainty freaks you out, are you casting yourself away to the sea of the less-ambitious?

The Potential Impact 
For years we have been arguing that HR needs a seat at the proverbial table. Now, SHRM is putting their money (and yours) where their mouth is. We asked for bold leadership and we got it. We asked for more opportunity and we got it. Our feedback has been collected and analyzed... and (believe it or not) action has been taken....!

Now What?

Much like the reality of one achieving a job promotion; the process is over and it's time to put the work in.

Think More Like a Sales Person
Each day I face the unenviable reality of my job being one part Human Resources and one part Business Development. These competing ideologies that exist within me require two core skills :
1. Flexibility.
2. The ever-present need to consider the other side of the argument.

As a sales person, I achieved my greatest success when I stopped listening to my peers and started listening to my customers. I was threw going to sales training events so I started attending HR events. I wanted to sit with the people to whom I was providing a service. I've identified my life's mission:
Make the world a better place by building companies that love their employees  

Sales Professionals should listen to their customers (not always agree with their peers). HR Professionals should follow suit. The ability to think more like a revenue producer will be of maximum benefit to HR Professionals (because you are revenue producers).

The SHRM Certification Competency Model focuses on the following:
* Relationship Management
* Ethical Practice
* HR Expertise
* Business Acumen
* Critical Evaluation
* Global & Cultural Effectiveness
* Leadership & Navigation
* Consultation
* Communication

Are You Ready to Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is?

As we gear up for #SHRM14 you can bet there will be heated debate over the future of the HR profession. It's going to be fun to watch... from the fringe!

Don't Forget to Remember!

Dave

Growing Up Oberst

I remember where I was when I first heard Bright Eyes. This was a musical collective from Omaha who blended folk and electronic music. Intriguing in the Pearl Jam afterlife. Their front man was articulate, energetic and incredibly young. It was seemingly the first time I was looking up to someone younger than I. I enjoyed that feeling.

In the years gone by Conor Oberst has released impossibly emotional acoustic music, performed with big bands, made country rock records, and played in hard rock bands. He is a young man of many attributes. Someone younger than I who has taught me a lot.

On May 20th Upside Down Mountain by Conor Oberst will be released. This musical masterpiece comes with my highest recommendation. Here are a few lyrical snippets and how they relate to our work lives.

Though so far I have cheated death, I know some day I'll get caught
This record takes a forlorn look back. Do you remember your crazy years? Did you have any? God knows I did. It seems divine intervention has been my friend over the years, I'm not sure why I've been so lucky, but I'll take it. I obeyed my parents authority to the letter of the law, had I known they were scared shitless I may have pushed the envelope.

When we reflect on this life will we remember the test we failed or the girl we kissed on the swing? With this in mind, why do we stress over the unknown instead of marveling at the wonderment of uncertainty.

I used to think time was of the essence, now I just wish I could get some sleep

"There are hundreds of ways to get through the day" - an excerpt from Hundreds of Ways

In your 20's you seek freedom, in your 30's your spirit has greater purpose, when you turn 40 you just want to find some peace.

When I was a young man I was all action and no strategy. I worked really hard but wasted a lot of time doing unnecessary things. I have found success at every stage of my life mostly because I've been willing to work really hard. The one great truth I have discovered is that if you are willing to put in more effort than anyone else you will ultimately achieve any goal set before you.

Your silly dreams aren't worth a mention but they keep collecting in my brain
"When I break my heart I know that yours get broken, I just wish that kept me in line" - an excerpt from Night At Lake Unknown

Any headshrinker worth their salt will tell you that your desire to succeed relates back to your need to make your parents proud. Last week, we examined Kevin Durant's need to feel validated as a son to single-parent. We've seen those who replicate their parents occupation, politics, and dating habits. There are those who do exactly the opposite of their parent's intention.

Generational stereotypes have never been so prominent in the workplace. The kids are taking over without any respect for their elders and the old fogies just want to know that they are still relevant.

Have we forgotten the dreams we share? Regardless of your age there are people who you intend to make proud.... be they your sons and daughters or moms and dads. The intention of our actions is not to dispel the credibility of those of a different generation but rather to make them proud!

"So just go out with a bang like Hemingway. Some will say you're brave, some will say you ain't" - an excerpt from Common Knowledge

In the final stanza of this great record, Conor Oberst looks at the romance of reckless living and shakes his head. Having lived and learned he understands that only the things that engage our divine intention exist in longevity. Our lives are a collection of fits and starts.

Remember the times you have cried: the girl who broke up with you, the baseball that hit you in the face, the deal you didn't close. None of it left a but a smooth scar.

It's better to remember how to laugh...!

Don't Forget to Remember!

Dave

Learning to Scale Excellence

I was in a bar full or weary travelers a few weeks back. We sipped our beverages with our eyes on the floor dreading the journey ahead. It was a somber scene. Just then, an extremely odd and slightly inebriated young lady burst into the bar. Within minutes she had introduced herself to everyone in the place. The collective was initially annoyed by this young lady's disruptive exuberance but she eventually won us all over. What was a pity party turned into a celebration of our good fortune because someone dared to add a spark to the room. How quickly our misery can turn to jubilation.

In business we are constantly judging others. Is that guy worthy of his position? Is that lady deserving of her book of business? He's only successful because he takes credit for the work of others. She is disorganized. He is ruining the customer's confidence. We sure do know how to beat up on one another.

There is a reason why there are 10 people on the court and 20,000 in the stands. We judge and criticize because we either do not possess the skill or we don't have the courage to try. The hardest thing to do is to pull up your bootstraps and risk failure. It's far easier to pretend you were great once and to tell such tails from a lonely bar stool.

Each person has a unique set of skills that has its divine place in our collective success. Sometimes we fail to give people the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes people fail to see their own excellence.

We need to see the greatness in everyone and to help them see it in themselves. Yes, it will be hard!

Why So Serious..?
You don't need to talk to me. Is what I said to the bubbly drunk girl who lit up the bar with her spirit in that lonely airport. "I know" she said and kept smiling at me. I quickly forgot why I was acting like such an asshole.

Our perception and attitude steer each day. We face unfair circumstances, the incompetence of others, and conclusions that are beyond our control. Our time with our peers is spent complaining...what a waste of precious time.

The Weight We Carry
Kevin Durant recently gave glory to god and credit to his family and teammates as he was rewarded for his individual outstanding achievement. Some thought his tears in the moment were a sign of weakness, in reality he had offloaded the weight of expectations. As a son to a single mother, Kevin Durant lived with a sense of abandonment that made him continually question his greatness. Now he had been validated and could sleep soundly at night.

The expectations we put upon ourselves are always greater than those of others. We put things off for fear of confrontation and they snowball. Avoiding discomfort turns mistakes into catastrophe. If we put things off long enough we become obsolete. Then we find ourselves on the corner stool, remembering when we failed to try.

Simplicity Overlooked  
You may be exceptional at your job but possess no personal excellence. You may have an abundant social life that effects your true potential on the job. Everyone has pliable skills that make them magnificent. We need to allow for them to shine.

Patience is a virtue. People will screw up and let you down and make poor choices and act out of character. You'll meet a person who allows their ego to punish their charm. You will meet smart people who are inarticulate.

We need to learn to give people a break, to accept faults in others, to remember we are imperfect, and to move through this life in discovery of what is genuinely important.

Don't Forget to Remember!

Dave

How To Get Rich!

Many people of great fiscal wealth have made life changing decisions recently. This begs the question:

What Makes One Rich?

Traditionally, we define riches in accordance with financial gain. In business (especially in sales), revenue is judge, jury and executioner. The unfortunate reality is that padding one's bank account is not a sustainable strategy. There are those who will say money is the only thing that matters in business, these people ultimately end up acting out of character. So ask yourself this:

How Much Would It Take To Forfeit Your Integrity?

Each massively successful person faces a #careercurveball - The fork in the road takes one of two directions:
1. Make Bad Choices to Keep Up with The Jones'
2. Give Back

Those who consider cash to be the definition of their success may think empathy a weakness. They put their sights on the weaknesses of others and seek to exploit them. The conclusion of this strategy is alienation of one's co-workers..short term gain for long term oblivion..burnt bridges....it always catches up with them.

Don't believe me? Ask a retiring CEO his/her greatest career regret. It is never losing a deal or falling short of a certain financial milestone. When our career has ended we will regret the times we acted out of character, the person we fired to preserve our personal climb, or the dance recital missed to sit in a boardroom across the country.

On your death bed, do you want to be holding onto your child's hand or a bag full of money?

Then there are those who, at said fork in the road, make a choice to prioritize others over themselves. There are personal sacrifices involved, hard decisions have to be made, and trust that will be betrayed. Regardless of our professional road map we all face that fork in the road. It comes at different times for different people. Some face the truth after losing a job, others take a stand against injustice, and there are those who get sick of living with themselves.

Don't waste your life trying to be someone you are not. Don't allow that to which you are morally opposed to guide your decisions. Don't try to be like people you dislike.

Don't Forget to Remember!

Dave 

How I Learned To Advise Others

Every extraordinary person I know has had an exceptional mentor. Be they a coach, manager, priest or bartender; those who are excellent at what they do have found someone who saw their hidden greatness. I've been extremely fortunate to have a ton of amazing unofficial advisors along the way. Let me tell you why this is important.

The reason I never rested on my laurels is because I had no idea they existed. I lead a life as a youngster that Daniel Plainview would be proud of. My dad made sure I was part of his life...during professional time. I loved it!!!! I have met people who have prioritized my human progression over their own. All of my great achievements have begun with people who were willing to take a chance on me.

Here's How to Help People Take a Chance on You:

Know Your Purpose
I have had several meetings with well-intended young people. More often than not, the determination of these young people is more abundant than their defined path. There are people who want to do something...they just don't know what that something might be. I also meet people who have grandiose dreams without applicable credentials.

Two Things:
1. Relate Your Passion To Your Career Choice.
2. Be Willing to Start at the Bottom.  

Be Passionate, Not Desperate

There are people I know who have created their dream job. They learned a profession, acquired the necessary certification, slept in their car to get an internship, elevated to an entry level position, and climbed the ladder (one rung at a time). Exhausting....! Success takes a dare to dream, the brains to make it happen, and a whole lotta hard work. Oh, and you have to learn to ignore the word, "NO"!

It takes very little time to detect a person who has a goal but is unwilling to achieve it.

Cardinal Rule:
* Don't ask for advice only to proclaim that you have already thought of that.

Deliver 
There is nothing more telling than a real-life example. Your chances of being a Sales Superstar are drastically increased if you have displayed excellence in sales that the hiring manager has witnessed directly.

Any hiring manager with 15 resumes on his/her desk will always go with the safe bet. It makes the learning curve less-drastic and if a qualified candidate fails there is proof behind the hiring decision. It is far more difficult to pass-up the qualified industry veteran for a new kid with a whole bunch of ideas.

Why Not Make a Deal?    

The industry veteran will not start at the bottom and they will bolt when a better offer comes along. If you are willing to take an entry-level position, perform well, and apply your results to your plan for the future... you will win.

We fear success because we are unwilling to work hard or we are afraid that our world-changing idea will be challenged.

Don't Forget to Remember!

Dave

Why People Dislike You (unbeknownst to you)

I believe it is the first amendment that allows us to say whatever might be on our mind. The one thing human beings do exceptionally well is abuse our free will. A right, law, and/or rule does not trump commonsense. Herein lies our problem: a system cannot function without human interaction and humans are complex beyond comprehension.

You won't be stricken down if you pretend your suit affords you a skill you do not possess, if you talk loud on your cell phone in a public place, or if you cough all over your co-workers. You should, however, know better...and you do! We also assume that for us to win another must lose. We level-set our relationships and find a way to pay it backward.

Here's how to submit yourself to obscurity (while assuming you are progressing):

Wear A Suit
I heard an interesting interview in which a man wore a suit to a meeting with best intentions. He quickly found out that the least dressed person in the meeting was the most important. It was further discovered that the need to "dress-up" is merely an admission of lack of belonging in any professional situation.

I've been in sales for many years. There are 2 things that sales people assume a definition of success:
1. Sales people learn from sales people.
2. Dress defines success.

Dum Dums! In reality, if a sales person were to learn a trade their finest teachers are those from whom they buy. Showing up in a fancy suit and a shiny tie now indicates one screaming innuendo:
I have no idea what I'm doing, but if I look this way, you may be too-intimidated to ask me any questions that would require any brains.

Abuse The Social Space
You are on your cell phone in a public place. You throw your voice across the room so people know you are involved in large business transactions, that the ladies love you, and/or that you indeed have tickets to the big events tonight. People look up sheepishly from their lap top, not because they are intimidated by your aura of Awesome, but because they are subtly praying the the repose of your soul.

What ever happened to manners? Why are we so lonely that we have to pretend to have a conversation so that others can raise eyebrows toward our pretend success? Why can we not sit in silence for 7 minutes over coffee in mental preparation for our day?

These are sad times!

Pretend
Your hair looks nice, you talked to yourself in the mirror while you put on your tie, and 12 people on facebook have complimented your weekend photos. So, you trot down the street pointing at people saying, "hey guy".... that man has a name and he thinks you are a tool.

Today's buyer knows about your products and services because they can read (see the Internet). They only ask you questions to measure your degree of honesty. The more you talk, the less-credible you appear.

Be yourself! Listen to the problem and offer a solution.... wearing a tie does not afford you the super-power of fitting a square peg into a triangular hole.

Don't Forget to Remember!

Dave

Consider The Alternative

I take my profession seriously. This, because, I am in the business of Human Relations. Somehow, some way, I lucked out and found the best job in the world. I am able to help people do their job better, to assist them in finding what is genuinely important, to help share their success, and to attach business results to all of it. Pats on the back with a purpose. It's a pretty great life!

I get to interact with people of all ages at every rung of the organizational chart. A young person with whom I recently conversed told me she was distraught by her place in the world. She wasn't having any fun at work and it was affecting her personal life. She had read a blog I had written regarding the fact that we are all individually accountable for our lot in life. She felt helpless.

We all want to be happy and if we spend most of our waking hours at work, our professional lives become personal. Telling people they are great is great, helping them prove it is better.

No one reserves the right to put a finger in the face of another human being, our jobs are far less important than we pretend, and those who abuse their authority will never be happy.

For the benefit of those who love what they do and those who have lost their way alike... let us ponder the following:

You Should Hate People Who Hate Their Jobs
The profound misunderstanding in our workforce is that bad apples spoil the bunch... you underestimate your workforce! People are always willing to be empathetic to their peers but bitching has a shelf life. After a while the bad apple falls off the tree and there are no branches left to break the fall.

Money Doesn't Matter
I don't remember the amount of the largest commission check I have ever received. My best work can be characterized by giving a co-worker a hug when they really needed it.

You may make a lot of money but at what expense? You can always make more money but it won't be worth it.

Practice Your Retirement Speech
You should start building your legacy the moment you start your career. There is nothing more important than developing the capabilities of those who have come after you. If you guard your knowledge it will catch up with you. It is in the process of teaching that we learn the most.

Picture yourself in a room at the conclusion of your professional life:
How many people are in attendance?
Who would you mention to carry your legacy?
Will they be cheering when you go or crying for what you have left with them?

Don't Forget to Remember!

Dave

NCAA Basketball & Business: A Relative Paradox

Here goes Dave again, using a current event to draw up a business comparison. I am so predictable!

At the conclusion of each College Basketball season, teams enter a single-elimination tournament. The goal: win six straight games and be crowned champion. After a long season the scoreboard is reset and any of the 68 teams in the bracket have an opportunity to raise the trophy. Winning the aforementioned tournament is one of the more difficult tasks in sports.

I won't wax poetic like a talk show host or quote statistics like a nerd. What I would like to do is point out a few critical elements of the NCAA tournament that parallel winning in business.

Good Guard Play
Every play is driven and developed by the smaller more agile dudes on the floor: the guards. Guards mirror sales people. Love them or hate them, your business cannot exist without your sales folk. Great guards are strategic in their aggression, uncompromising in their drive, and have the ability to read their competition.

Are your sales people knowledgeable of what your customers need?
Do your sales people talk about what they need or achieve based on what they have?
Do your sales people know how to read the defense?

Sales is no longer a slick talkers game...buyers are too smart for that. No one is impressed by fancy dress and well-groomed hair. People have unmet needs and/or business problems that require solutions. If your sales people are able to articulate what you have and why people need it (without a smoke screen), your business will thrive!

Make Free Throws
Dr. James Naismith created the game of basketball as a skill sport. The initial object of basketball was to shoot a ball from a substantial distance into a wicker basket. The easiest way to lose a basketball game is to neglect it's foundation. Teams who cannot make free throws... lose!

Do you understand the fundamentals of what differentiates your business from any other?
Are your employees aligned by a genuine purpose?

You cannot compete in business by playing into your competitors strengths. You have to be better by being different. Ingenuity has never been more important! There is a need to create something totally original, to exemplify why it matters, and to re-create it... every day.

Fundamentals matter: core strategy, a functional game plan, and the ability to predict the results you will produce. Mission, Vision and Values matter as well. A company whose every employee is unflappable in their commitment to their purpose will always win admiration.

One Man Does Not a Team Make
A man I used to work for once told me, "everyone is important, no one is irreplaceable". At the time, I resented the quote but he was right. No individual is bigger than the collective. One cannot implement ideas without support. Opinions must be challenged to become better formed. People are often astonished how quickly their organization forgets them when they leave.

If you have a defensible strategy, impassioned employees, great leaders and amazing products/services; every day will be a step into the future. It takes a village!

How do you cut down the nets?
1. Hire elite sales people.
2. Develop and instill a meaningful mission and supporting values.
3. Ensure the collective is bigger than the sum of it's parts.

Don't Forget to Remember!

Coach Dave    

It's Your Fault

What Makes You Unhappy?

You dislike your job, your boss is disconnected, your spouse is a pain in the ass, your children misbehave, you have that friend who is a hot mess, your customers are too demanding, you and Jesus don't talk no more, people get in the way... it's all pretty messy. There are plenty of things about which to complain.

You have to pick your battles wisely and certain things are out of your control.

Beware: the things that you complain about are a result of your own choices. You chose the job you have, you chose your spouse, you chose to live where you do and the friends who you keep. There are things that have been put upon you... the boss you hate who took over for the boss you loved, the spouse who you used to love who became miserable to be around, the kids who used to think you were Superman who now think you are The Joker.

We complain because life is unfair. We humans are complex little things and we cannot avoid one another.

Are there really certain things we cannot control? Do we have to avoid confronting that which we feel to be a waste of our precious time?

Our life's conclusions are the result of the choices we make.

While I always encourage people not to be too hard on themselves, it is only YOU who can be blamed or rewarded for your current lot in life.

It's Your Fault
There was a time in my life when I was a miserable person. I complained all day long. I thought I was a charming narcissist, but I was a hopeless defeatist. Somehow I became self-aware enough to make a change.

Still to this day, I have a tendency to become that miserable person I used to be. Often, people will tell me I'm being an ass. Mostly, these are people who love me. There are thousands of people who do not voice their discontent with our negativity... they walk off in the other direction and we never see them again. We lose opportunities for business partnerships, professional advancement, and even love. Lost opportunities are the result of our self-defeating actions.

Do Something About It
A common practice I implement in training courses is to list all of the things that suck about our work. We build a list and then determine what we can do about it. I have never found a complaint that could not be turned into an action item (and ultimately fixed).

Complaining is an act of cowardice. We look at our poor choices in hindsight, regret them, and look for someone upon whom to pass the blame.

Stop Putting Off Change
You hate your job...quit! You hate your husband...divorce him! You hate your friends...unfriend them! How much time and opportunity do we waste putting off taking ownership of our lives? Change takes energy and may not yield results. Change is also a voluntary act.

I can provide this reassurance: If something is keeping you up at night, wake up and take action. Even if you do not come up with a solution, trying to fix things is an astoundingly reassuring act of building self confidence.

...I can also assure you that complaining has never solved a problem...

Don't Forget to Remember!

Dave