Lighthouses

As far back as I can remember (over 50 years) I have been fascinated with lighthouses.  The first lighthouse I saw “up close and personal” was in Cape Hatteras, NC when my family vacationed in Nags Head.


There is something intriguing about lighthouses…..their shape, the color scheme, their height in wide open areas, and their positioning on islands, inlets and shorelines.Each lighthouse along the eastern coastline of America blinks a different signal.
Their purpose is to guide ships to the shore during times of fog, stormy seas and at night.


A friend of mine, Paul Davis, has shared his fascination with lighthouses while growing up as a boy along England’s coast.  Paul shares that nearly every young lad has dreams of being a boatman.  A boatman in England can be likened to a fireman here in the U.S.  But, a boatman is a volunteer in the coastal town who, when the horn sounds, springs in to action.  You see, a boatman must run to the shore, get it the boat with other boatmen and head out to sea in all sorts of challenging weather to find a lost or stranded ship.  The job is extremely risky, but is never lacking in adventure.


Lighthouses, with their brightly lit lamp – shine the way to safely navigate rocky coastlines, shallow water, and challenging situations for seafarers.


So what does this all have to do with business?


One could ask oneself if they are a beacon of light in their work place?  Do you do your best to provide a positive atmosphere with those around you?  Does the office get brighter or darker when you walk in the room?


Do you help steer in the lost and wayward ships at your work?  Do you offer to help those drowning in work?  Do you offer a life preserver to those who are out bobbing alone in the sea of a new project?


Do you offer a calmness when the atmosphere at work is stormy?


Is your cubicle a safe harbor for those who are struggling to stay afloat?


Simply put – are you a lighthouse where you work?
Have a great week……………….


Ron Orendi  

Farming

As I drive around central PA, I have the luxury of passing many farms.  There is a calming effect to seeing a farm – the fields, the silo, the barn, and the farmers working in their fields.


I find the farm and the farming industry as a whole, to be invaluable as to what it can teach those in the business community.


Earlier in the year, farmers could be seen planting seeds.  The farmer knows that he must put forth lots of effort in the beginning before he can see the results of his labor.


The farmer also knows that it takes much more than his efforts to make a productive crop.  Farmers rely on fertilizer, rain, and sunshine in order to have a healthy crop.


It amazes me how farmers can know this key to success – and yet a person in sales does not get the point.  Often salespeople (and many people in other lines of work) want the heat from the fireplace before putting in the wood.


One must spend time putting forth the effort, learning their product line or learning their craft before they can hit their sales goals or climb the corporate ladder.


Just like in farming, it takes more than YOU to complete the transaction.  In sales that means, good customer service from the ordering, logistical and shipping areas.  A salesman can lose a customer quickly if there is poor inventory control or challenges in the shipping department.


If you are in the service industry YOU will need to rely on the people handing phone calls, scheduling appointments, making follow up calls and the administrative staff doing the invoicing.


The whole point here is that it takes more than YOU.  That is why we hear stories of quarterbacks taking their offensive line out to dinner at the end of a season.  Often it is the linemen in the trenches who enable the quarterback to make the big plays – to look good. 


We also can learn from farmers that there are seasons for planting and seasons for harvesting.  If your sales numbers look flat – go back 6 months and look at what you were doing to cultivate the prospect / soil.


Farmers also spend time fertilizing the soil in preparation for next year’s crops.  Ask yourself these questions…  Are you doing anything to strengthen your business relationships?  Are you doing anything to ensure your clients will buy from you again?  Small gifts are nice. Hand written note cards are a huge difference maker.  Referral business for your client is also a good way to strengthen that relationship.  The key point is RELATIONSHIP.


Farmers also use the days they cannot be out in the field to repair and maintain equipment.  We should all ask ourselves if we are maintaining our equipment…..  If you are in sales - that translates into spending time learning more about your product, what sets you apart, what makes your product more efficient.  If you are in a service oriented business, you should be looking for ways to improve your service, streamline things, and / or become more efficient.


And, lastly – take a lesson from the old show Green Acres – many times Mr. Douglass would consult with Hank Kimble, the agriculture specialist to learn about new and improved products, methods, etc.


Have a great week………


Ron Orendi

Temper

There are so many issues that cause us to live life at near boiling point.  It seems both men and women battle a balancing act of job, family, personal me along with children’s activities. 

This week, I would like to look at TEMPER.


Anger is the most volatile of all emotions.  It’s the emotion that can cause a minor issue to escalate into a full blown war.  Sadly, it’s also the emotion that can turn an issue that can be easily resolved into an item on the nightly local news.


In order to understand and hopefully curb our temper flare ups and lashing out – we MUST understand what makes us angry.  These are the “final straw” issues that can make things get ugly in a hurry.


Often when we do not get what we want, we feel slighted, cheated, or left out.


We also tend to have anger flare ups when we have unresolved issues from our past.  You know what I am talking about - stuff that we just buried under the carpet, things that we stored back in our mental closets, or things that for whatever reason we just never dealt with.


There are times we lash out when all of a sudden the reality of where we are in life hits us.  We find ourselves asking questions like, “How did I get to this point?  Is this all there is in life?  I should have been a ______ . “


We also feel the need to explode when we feel we’ve been wronged by someone.  Whether we truly were treated unjustly, or we just perceive it that way – the fact is – the emotions run rampant.


There is something in the way some people are wired that irks them when they think someone doesn’t get what they deserve.  i.e when they don’t get blamed or punished for something they did.


Conversely, the same holds true when we see someone getting what we feel they don’t deserve……an advancement, a raise, recognition.


Often we find ourselves getting upset over a situation, person or something happens – when we do not have ALL the information.  We lack the complete knowledge of the issue.  I have said over and over – it’s that ONE piece of info you do not have that can change your response to something 180 degrees.


People also allow their anger to flare up when they have bitterness, jealousy, greed or some other negative feeling dominating their thoughts and their thought processes.


And, of course – rage flares up when we are in a situation in which we have no control of whatsoever.  We are left feeling both powerless and helpless.  We absolutely MUST accept what is thrown our way.


So, we have looked at what causes us to act out with our emotions – now let’s talk about taming that BEAST.


First and foremost, admit it when you are wrong.  It’s okay.  If you struggle with that – surprise – you ARE NOT perfect.  The whole world knew it – they were just waiting for you to catch up.


Secondly, listen to all parties involved or to each side of the situation.


Thirdly, approach that listening with empathy – put yourself in the other person’s shoes.  Most likely, you will understand why they made the decision they do or acted the way they did.


Practice self control.  Often if your focus is on hearing the other person out and do not speak until they finish – you will find yourself well on your way to self control.


If you have baggage you are carrying around from past issues, circumstances, arguments – take time to deal with those things – process through them.


Asking forgiveness can be a wonderful bridge builder.  It can patch a pot hole in any road to success.


Lastly, if you are allergic to hot peppers, what do you do?


Exactly – don’t eat them.


So if you are struggling with having a bad temper – stay away from hot tempered people.  When a hot tempered person is around another hot tempered person – it only takes a small lit match to start an inferno.


I wish you the best in dealing with your temper.


Feel free to post a though on my web site


OR


If it’s a personal matter – you can e-mail me privately.


Lastly, don’t forget to suggest my web site to friends, family and coworkers.


Ron Orendi


717-802-0483


ron@ronorendi.com

Expiriation Date

You have seen them stamped on items at grocery stores.  They seem to be everywhere.  Just about everything we purchase or use has an expiration date.


Years ago comedian Steven Wright jokes that his Birth Certificate had an expiration date on it.


That’s a funny concept – but people DO have expiration dates.


I am not talking about death here.  I am referring to the time when one no longer is effective in their position on a committee, at a task, or at their job.


We all have expiration dates.


My cardiologist, now that he is in his 60’s has taken a step away from full time medicine.  This month he begins a new chapter in his career where he will be teaching (as he calls it) the next generation of cardiologists.


Years ago, Jerry Seinfeld announced the end of his popular tv show.  His thinking was very smart.  In show business, you are always taught to leave the audience always wanting more.  Go out on a high – was a popular phrase among the inner circle of comics.


The key is to know when you have reached your apex.  And, know where the next chapter of YOU is going.


The worst thing a person can do for themselves, their career, the organization they served or even their employer – is to stay beyond when you are welcome.  Think of the friend or relative who came to visit and stayed past their time.  How did you feel?  At some point, you start just wishing they would leave.  The visit has gone past the subtle hints.  It’s gone past the hint of yawning – or pointing your foot toward the door.


How do you know when it’s time to step away?


First – ask yourself if your passion has gone out of fashion.  Do you no longer have the zip and zeal for the cause?  Do you no longer feel the hunger for the project?


Second – check your forward motion.  Are you just spinning your tires?  Do you feel as though you are on a fast train to nowhere?


Third – Have you transitioned to having a passion for another phase of the project?  Perhaps age has played a role and your body can no longer carry the labor load – but your knowledge of “how to” is valuable.  Maybe your skills or strengths can be used in a more effective manner in another part of the team, project or organization.


Fourth – is the writing on the wall that you have overstayed your welcome?


Keep in mind, NONE of these questions mean in any way that you are a failure.  What it DOES mean is that you have the wisdom to know when enough is enough.  And, that you do not want your waning to hold the sled team back from it’s mission.


As I said, don’t be foolish and just walk away – have a plan B.  Have a new plan of attack for the next chapter, phase or journey of your life.


Years ago people received a 25 year watch for service with one company.  Although that was admirable and does deserve recognition – its becoming a piece of Americana.  The average person today changes jobs and careers multiple times.


Nowadays companies actually do not expect an employee to last more than 5 years or so.


If you feel you’ve been riding the bronco too long and the bucking is getting to you……consider another field.  All too often people get sore from riding the Ajax Company’s bull – so they go to work riding the Acme Company’s bull?  What really changed?  Just the scenery!  Ya still have the same bucking bull and the same pains as before.


Challenge yourself.  Go for training in another arena.  Gain some knowledge in a different field.


Ron