Flickr photo by Jan Tik

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If you are going to tell someone “this is the best we can do.“ Make sure it’s the truth!

This weekend I had to pick up a tux for a family member from a nation wide chain store that specializes in men’s suits, tuxes, and accessories.   When I arrived there was one salesman working with a customer and two gals who were sitting behind a desk, both completing a phone call.    The gals acknowledged I was waiting and let me know it would just be a minute.

A moment later the salesman came over and and asked how he could help me.   I told him why I was there and he proceeded to walk over to a rack, grab the bag with the tux, and bring it over to me.   As he was handing me the bag he noticed the zipper was broken from the top to the bottom of the bag . . . He says to me
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“the zipper is broken, but this is the best we can do.”

Just as he said that one of the gals who was now  finished with her phone call grabbed the bag from his hand and walked over to the rack and put the tux I was picking up in another bag with a zipper that worked.

Really . . . that’s the best they can do?  That’s a pretty bold statement for such a lazy display of service.   It doesn’t make me want to ever go there again.
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Perhaps this salesman wasn’t feeling well or maybe he was out late the night before or maybe he is really just that disengaged in his job.  Whatever the case I’m pretty sure that if George A. Zimmer had witnessed this service he would have given a few coaching pointers and taken his employee back to customer service 101.  This certainly isn’t good for an organization . . . see “The Cost of Average”

It’s important for each of us to take a moment and ask ourselves:

“Am I doing the best I can?”

And if not:

• Is this acceptable? (for you or those depending on you)
  
• If you continue, will we reach our goals? (do you even have goals? do you know what your best is?)
  
• What needs to change for you to take a new approach?
  

The challenge that each of us are faced with is we don’t take the time to ask “Am I doing the best I can?” Take the time and ask!  Your life will change.  Your business will change.  The impact you have on the world around you will change!

How different would our country be if everyone asked this of themselves?

Jason Kiesau Business Leadership, Random Experiences

I came across some interesting statistics regarding employee performance.  Take a look at the information below, as well an example below that.
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The concept of employee engagement is so intangible it is hard to put into numbers and measure.   This information does that and really shines a light on the importance that organizations become more and more intentional with their people strategies.

1. Hire people who are the best fit for your company and open position.
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2. Develop people based on their needs, rather than a one size fits all leadership approach.
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3. Promote based on job match, rather than tactical success.
   

Take a look at this:

Unskilled / Semi-skilled Workers*

• Average workers output = 19% more than Non-producers
• Superior workers output = 19% more than Average
• Superior workers output = 38% more than Non-producers

Skilled Workers*

• Average workers output = 32% more than Non-producers
• Superior workers output = 32% more than Average
• Superior workers output = 64% more than Non-producers

Management / Professional Workers*

• Average workers output = 48% more than Non-producers
• Superior workers output = 48% more than Average
• Superior workers output = 96% more than Non-producers

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What if this were your organization? -

• 50 Unskilled/Semiskilled Workers who are Average Performers
  • Average Salary of $20,000 per year = $1,000,000
    • $1,000,000 x 19% = $190,000 in lost production -
• 25 Skilled Workers who are Average Performers
  • Average Salary 0f $40,000 per year = $1,000,000
    • $1,000,000 x 32% = $320,000 in lost production -
• 10 Management/Professional Workers who are Average Performers
  • Average Salary of $60,000 per year = $600,000
    • $600,000 x 48% = $280,000 in lost production-
• Total Loss in production of $790,000

It doesn’t pay to settle for average!
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Jason Kiesau Business Leadership, Employee Engagement

In your lifetime how many times have you heard the following statements?

• Follow the Rules
• Do What You Are Told
• Read the Directions

This is how we grow up . . . following the rules, doing what we’re told, and reading the directions. We learn very quickly that it is much easier for us to abide by the rules, than go against them.  Those that don’t are frowned upon and may face undesirable consequences.

We grow up in this system with these rules and we are allowed to be ourselves AS LONG as we act with in the boundaries. Most of us play the game and eventually we graduate high school and are thrown into a world with few rules, few boundaries, and no instructions. Our whole life we have been told to use our head, but never really taught how to think for ourselves, so we continue to seek instruction and direction. We get messages from ALL over the place: significant others, family, friends, advisers, teachers, newspapers, books, magazines, television, radio, internet . . . the list goes on and on.  We listen and listen and listen and we end up making choices that will affect us the rest of our lives based on all this information coming at us.

There is ONE MAJOR PROBLEM!

We haven’t taken the time to understand who we are, what we really want out of life, and how to best use the information coming at us.  Why would we do this? We certinaly aren’t taught to do this.  How many times have you been asked by people “What do YOU really want?” It doesn’t happen, because we aren’t taught to dig deep and think about our passions and goals . . . we’re taught to follow the rules.  For years we have been sold this dream based on this “plan”. Just follow the rules . . . go to college, get a job, work hard, get married, have children, buy a house, save for retirement etc.

What Happens?

We follow ‘societies plan’ and somewhere between age 23 – 30 we find that life is very different than the picture EVERYONE painted for us. We start to question what we’re doing and we become disengaged. We start to feel like we are missing something and we know there is something more to us, but we’re not quite sure. Most of us just continue on the path as it is all we know, but we hope things will change and become better. All of a sudden we’re 35, 40, 50 . . . and the only thing that has really changed is that we are older, more stuck in our ways, and have less time on this earth.

Consider this:

• Ages 13-20
  We are building our foundation for the rest of our lives. We just need to learn enough to get through high school and contribute to society without screwing up too bad that we limit our opportunities.
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• Ages 21-29
  This period of time sets the tone for the rest of our lives.  We need to learn as much as we can about who we are and the world around us.  There is a certain amount of slack that is given to us by the “real world” and the closer we come to age 30 the less slack we are allowed. If we are going to make serious changes in our lives this is the time we want to make them as expectations are lower and responsibilities are less. During this time period we can fall down and get back up a few times before our options become limited.
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• Age 30+
  When we turn 30 it’s GAME TIME. If we aren’t stable, focused, and serious in our lives and careers by now the ‘real world’ starts to lose confidence in us and as a result may limit our opportunities UNTIL we are able to show stability and focus.  By the time most people have turned 30 they have created a life with such responsibility and obligation that major life changes become unrealistic due to the responsibilities and the fear of judgment from others.

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What Do We DO?

Take control of your life and future RIGHT NOW!

Jason Kiesau Business Leadership, Personal Leadership

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Typically, people start a business for one of two reasons:

1. They are working for a company and they are really good at what they do.  One day something happens and they ask themselves:
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   “Why am I working for someone when I could be doing this for myself?”
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   Then they start thinking about the financial opportunity, the flexible schedule, and how they can do everything their own way. So they do it!
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2. They are very passionate about something, an opportunity presents itself, and they go for it.–
   

In both scenarios the business takes off and is starts to grow because the new business owner is passionate and they are pretty good at what they do, but their business is 100% dependent on them.  Goodbye to the flexible schedule . . . they have work to do.  Goodbye to doing things their way . . . their customers are calling the shots.  Sure, the money is coming in, but who has time to enjoy it.  They just signed themselves up for a full-time job that doesn’t offer vacation, they can’t quit, and overtime is mandatory.

Most businesses are started by people who are passionate and good at a skill, but they know very little about running a business.  They don’t truly understand leadership, strategy, and building a business that works for them, not because of them.

That’s where I come in!

I help you see your life and business through the eyes of the leader you never knew you were, but your business desperately needs.  I help you create a business that serves your life versus you serving the business, through the development of processes and systems designed to get you results.

Your world will change!

The question is: How long are you going to keep doing what you are doing?

I’m sure you’ve heard the quote about “Insanity” by Einstein right?

Jason Kiesau Business Leadership, Personal Leadership

My most recent REALIZATION:

Last week I had an appointment 45 minutes north of my office.  Before I left I Google Mapped my destination, as well I downloaded the Google Map app on my BlackBerry. Both resources gave me information that would lead me to my desired destination. In fact, the app on my phone showed me my exact location as I was driving in relation to where I needed to go.  As I was driving I was was thinking how neat this GPS technology is.  I mean, there are technologies available to that gives us a detailed process to achieve our desired results.   I’ll never get lost again!

That got me thinking about what I do for my clients and how cool it would be to have a GPS system for people and their lives, but then I realized that would NEVER work because GPS is useless if you don’t know where you are going . . . and most people have no clue.  How depressing.

The mission of my business is:  To help businesses get the most out of their people.  To help people get the most out of themselves.

My REALIZTION is that I am GPS to my clients and my goal is to help them be their own GPS.

So my challenge to you is . . . GPS Your Life.

Five Steps To GPS YourLife:

1.    Know Who You Are

Really think about what is important to you in life.  What your really passionate about.  What things do you want in your life.  What things don’t you want in your life.  What excites you? What scares you?

2.    Know Where You Want To Go

Let your answers from the previous question influence your answer to this question.  After all, if where you want to go isn’t in alignment with who you are, you are wasting your valuable time and energy.  Think about five or 10 years from now.  Based on what is really important to you, what does the perfect life look like?  Think about your health, your finances, your relationships, and your career.  Don’t be afraid to get excited and dream.

3.    Understand What Needs to Change and/or Happen For You to Reach Your Goal

Look at your life right now in comparison with what your perfect life looks like.  What is the gap?  What needs to change and/or happen for you to achieve this ideal life? Is it worth it?

4.    Create Your Plan

You know who you are, where you want to go, and what needs to change and/or happen for you to get there.  Now it’s time for you to put a serious plan together.

5.     Follow Your Plan, and Make It Happen!

This is the most important step the process.  Either you’re going to make it happen . . . or you’re going to take the chance that in 5, 10, or 20 years from now you are going to look back on your life and play the “coulda, woulda, shoulda” game.

Your Choice!

Jason Kiesau Business Leadership, Personal Leadership