Last night my wife and I had another couple over for dinner . . . we were going to grill out.

After realizing we were out of propane my buddy and I went to our local convenient store to exchange our empty tank for a new one.   We returned and fired it up.   The grill was full with a New York Strip, Cheddarwursts, hamburgers, and salmon.    Soon after we started I realized the Cheddarwurst were done . . . almost burnt so I quickly removed them from the fire.   Next my wife told me that I needed to put the salmon in tin foil . . . never grilling salmon before this was news to me.  I went back out, put the two pieces of salmon in the tin foil and placed them back on the grill.

As time went on the fire continued to get bigger and bigger.  We were doing our best to move the meat around, flip it, and move it the higher rack to distance it from the fire.   Thankfully there were only a few casualties in this process.   The food was removed from the grill and the grill was turned of . . . the only problem was the fire was still blazing.   We figured it would just go down and eventually out, but it did just the opposite, it kept growing.    We then noticed the fire had spread under the grill and the hose that connected the grill to the propane take was now on fire and burning like a wick.

THIS IS NOT GOOD!

I instantly go in to fight or flight . . . I chose fight.   I ran in side and grabbed my cup of water.   As I am running out . . . THANKFULLY my wife and buddy are like “NO . . . water . . . grease”  having a “duh” moment right there I turned back around and grabbed the baking soda out of the freezer.  I dumped what was left in the box on the fire and it didn’t phase it.  Umm . . . plan B!   We knew we needed a fire extinguisher and I started looking for one, but I had no clue where it was . . . AHH.   One of our guest suggested throwing flour on the fire.  I grabbed the flour and started dumping it on the fire . . . it seemed to be making it worse.  OH ****!    I look at the grill and it is still in flames, the entire under-surface is burning, and by now the fire burned through the the hose.

Picture this . . .

One part of the hose is hanging from the grill and is burning like a wick and the other part of the hose is hanging from the propane tank and burning like a wick.   I wasn’t sure what was going to happen if the fire made it to the propane tank . . . and I didn’t want to find out.  FINALLY we remembered we had a fire extinguisher in our camper.   I sprint out to the camper and grab it.  On my way there all I can think about is that I am going to hear an explosion.  THANKFULLY that didn’t happen.   By the time I made it back to the grill my wife had found another box of baking soda and got most of the fire on the grill out.   Using the extinguisher I was able to put the rest of that fire out, as well the fire that was just a an inch or two away from the propane tank.   Again, I don’t know what would have happened if the fire reached the tank.  I don’t know if there are safety measure put in place where the tank is protected from fire OR if the tank would have just exploded.  Had this happened our house would have been toast and people at minimum would have gotten hurt.   Thankfully that didn’t happen.

This all happened in a span of three of four minutes.   The fire was burning at an emergency pace, we knew what result we wanted, but we soon realized that our failure to create a plan and prepare a head of time held us back from putting the fire out in the first minute.

• We had never talked about the “what if” a fire like that happened.
• We didn’t have fire extinguisher in place to handle it if it did.
• Because we didn’t have plan “A” we didn’t have plan “B” in place in case the fire extinguisher wasn’t working.
  
• Because we weren’t prepared I reacted with emotion and instinct . . . I grabbed water which could have made the fire worse.

What I experienced in four minutes last night is what people and businesses deal with every single day.   The difference is the fires of a small business can burn for weeks, months, and years before they are ever noticed . . . some never get noticed until one day it is an emergency.

Take some time to sit back and think about your life or business.

• What fires are burning right now?
  
• What fires are burning that you aren’t paying attention to because they don’t appear to be big?
  
• Really, what are you risking by ignoring these issues?
  
• What needs to happen for these fires to be put out?
• What needs to happen so fires can be anticipated and strategies can be put in place to A) Avoid them or B) Handle them in an effiecient manner.

There are many talented people and wonderful businesses in this world who will never reach their potential because of a failure to prepare for fires.   This is what I do with my clients:

• leadership
• strategy
• process management
  

These three things will help you be prepared, proactive, and profitable . . . and most importantly, you won’t get burnt or burnt out!

Jason Kiesau Business Leadership

Where do you live?

We live in such a fast paced world where information is coming at us none stop.   We as a society are arguably out of control.   We are struggling in each major area of life. (Health, Finances, Relationship, & Careers).

What are you doing to gain control?

• Mentally
• Emotionally
• Physically

Control just doesn’t happen.  It’s something that each of have the ability to create for ourselves, but very few people know how . . . because we haven’t been taught.   We’ve always been told what to do, but few people have been taught how to think.

I try to simplify this never ending battle with two words.   Chaos and Control.

Chaos is defined as:

• Insecurity
• Instability
• Confused
• Fear
• Lack of confidence
• Frustration
• Anger
• Emergency
• Now Focused
• Selfish

Control is:

• Confident
• Organized (Physically, Mentally, Emotionally)
• Calm
• Strategic
• Aware
• Future Focused

Take a minute to think about yourself.   Think about the people around.   Think about the children in your life.

Do you see chaos or control?

I see a few people who understand control.  I see more that don’t.

Control is simply our management of emotions.   It’s about having awareness and recognizing when we are feeling different, disconnected, insecure, or stressed in ANY situation we face.

When we experience chaos we are not capable at functioning at our highest levels . . . Chaos is like poison in our system and until we remove the feeling, it will continue to hold us back.   Also . . . chaos does not mean life altering disaster . . . chaos is anything that takes us out of our game.

Chaos is everywhere:

• Homes
• Schools
• Businesses

When parents are living in chaos they aren’t able to give their children 100% on a consistent bases.   When teachers are living in chaos they ability to reach our children are limited.  When children live in chaos they aren’t able to focus on school and achievement.  When we experience chaos in our work place, we aren’t able to be 100% engaged in our work.  We aren’t able to be the leaders the people counting on us deserve.

Chaos is something that is internal and just appears . . . the only way we can fight it and eliminate it is to take a stand . . . it doesn’t “JUST HAPPEN”.

People who understand this are more effective and productive in life . . . they live more fulfilled.  People who understand this recognize the benefits and are able to help others gain greater control as well.  They are difference makers!

So .  .  . I’ll ask you again.

Where do you live?

If you would like to discuss ways you can gain greater control and reduce or eliminate chaos feel free to contact me.   The first consultation is always free.

Jason Kiesau Business Leadership, Personal Leadership

Thank you for visiting my blog!  I’ll apologize a head of time . . . I have a feeling this could be a long one!

Have you ever heard the quote:

“It’s hard to see the forest when you’re standing in front of a tree.”

Over the last year the town of Parkersburg, Iowa has been rebuilding after a tornado ripped it apart.   This morning the town suffered another tragedy as Ed Thomas, a well known Iowa high school football coach and teacher was shot multiple times in the school’s weight room.  There were approximately 30 witnesses, but none were threatened and/or injured.   You can read more about this by clicking on the links at the bottom of the page.   The shooter is a 24 year old male who was a former student and player for Coach Thomas.

When I hear stories like this I of course feel bad and have great sympathy for the people a tragedy like this effects.   The sad thing is this is just “another story”.   It’s just another story of some young man who can’t manage his emotions and chooses to harm others and or himself.

This is the story this week and there will a new one next week!

• Why does this keep happening?
• What are we not seeing?
• What are we missing?
• What social conditions have we created is leading to this issue time after time after time.

Today the tragedy is in Parkersburg, Iowa.   Last year at South East Polk  High School near Des Moines they had three suicides in a span of five months.  All teen boys.

Scan the following bullet points:

• February 2, 1996 – Moses Lake, Washington
  Two students and one teacher killed, one other wounded when 14-year-old Barry Loukaitis opened fire on his algebra class.
• Feb. 19, 1997 – Bethel, Alaska
  Principal and one student killed, two others wounded by Evan Ramsey, 16.
• Oct. 1, 1997 – Pearl, Mississippi
  Two students killed and seven wounded by Luke Woodham, 16, who was also accused of killing his mother.
• Dec. 1, 1997 – West Paducah, Kentucky
  Three students killed, five wounded by Michael Carneal, 14, as they participated in a prayer circle at Heath High School.
• Dec. 15, 1997 – Stamps, Ark.
  Two students wounded. Colt Todd, 14, was hiding in the woods when he shot the students as they stood in the parking lot.
• March 24, 1998 – Jonesboro, Ark.
  Four students and one teacher killed, ten others wounded outside as Westside Middle School emptied during a false fire alarm. Mitchell Johnson, 13, and Andrew Golden, 11, shot at their classmates and teachers from the woods.
• April 24, 1998 – Edinboro, Pa.
  One teacher, John Gillette, killed, two students wounded at a dance at James W. Parker Middle School. Andrew Wurst, 14, was charged.
• May 19, 1998 – Fayetteville, Tenn. One student killed in the parking lot at Lincoln County High School three days before he was to graduate. The victim was dating the ex-girlfriend of his killer, 18-year-old honor student Jacob Davis.
• May 21, 1998 – Springfield, Oregon
  Two students killed, 22 others wounded in the cafeteria at Thurston High School by 15-year-old Kip Kinkel. Kinkel had been arrested and released a day earlier for bringing a gun to school. His parents were later found dead at home.
• June 15, 1998 – Richmond, Va.
  One teacher and one guidance counselor wounded by a 14-year-old boy in the school hallway.
• April 20, 1999 – Littleton, Colo.
  14 students (including killers) and one teacher killed, 23 others wounded at Columbine High School in the nation’s deadliest school shooting. Eric Harris, 18, and Dylan Klebold, 17, had plotted for a year to kill at least 500 and blow up their school. At the end of their hour-long rampage, they turned their guns on themselves.
• May 20, 1999 – Conyers, Georgia
  Six students injured at Heritage High School by Thomas Solomon, 15, who was reportedly depressed after breaking up with his girlfriend.
• Nov. 19, 1999 – Deming, New Mexico
  Victor Cordova Jr., 12, shot and killed Araceli Tena, 13, in the lobby of Deming Middle School.
• Dec. 6, 1999 – Fort Gibson, Oklahoma
  Four students wounded as Seth Trickey, 13, opened fire with a 9mm semiautomatic handgun at Fort Gibson Middle School.
• Feb. 29, 2000 – Mount Morris Township, Michigan
  Six-year-old Kayla Rolland shot dead at Buell Elementary School near Flint, Mich. The assailant was identified as a six-year-old boy with a .32-caliber handgun.
• March 10, 2000 – Savannah, Georgia
  Two students killed by Darrell Ingram, 19, while leaving a dance sponsored by Beach High School.
• May 26, 2000 – Lake Worth, Florida
  One teacher, Barry Grunow, shot and killed at Lake Worth Middle School by Nate Brazill, 13, with .25-caliber semiautomatic pistol on the last day of classes.
• March 5, 2001  – Santee, California
  Two killed and 13 wounded by Charles Andrew Williams, 15, firing from a bathroom at Santana High School.
• March 22, 2001 – Granite Hills, California
  One teacher and three students wounded by Jason Hoffman, 18, at Granite Hills High School. A policeman shot and wounded Hoffman.
• March 30, 2001 – Gary, Indiana
  One student killed by Donald R. Burt, Jr., a 17-year-old student who had been expelled from Lew Wallace High School.
• Nov. 12, 2001 – Caro, Michigan
  Chris Buschbacher, 17, took two hostages at the Caro Learning Center before killing himself.
• October 28, 2002 – Tucson, Arizona
  Robert S. Flores Jr., 41, a student at the nursing school at the University of Arizona, shot and killed three female professors and then himself.
• April 24, 2003 – Red Lion, Pa.
  James Sheets, 14, killed principal Eugene Segro of Red Lion Area Junior High School before killing himself.
• Sept. 24, 2003 – Cold Spring, Minnesota
  Two students are killed at Rocori High School by John Jason McLaughlin, 15.
• March 21, 2005 – Red Lake, Minnesota
  Jeff Weise, 16, killed grandfather and companion, then arrived at school where he killed a teacher, a security guard, 5 students, and finally himself, leaving a total of 10 dead.
• Aug. 24, 2006 – Essex, Vermont
  Christopher Williams, 27, looking for his ex-girlfriend at Essex Elementary School, shot two teachers, killing one and wounding another. Before going to the school, he had killed the ex-girlfriend’s mother.
• Sept. 27, 2006 – Bailey, Colorado
  Adult male held six students hostage at Platte Canyon High School and then shot and killed Emily Keyes, 16, and himself.
• Oct. 3, 2006 – Nickel Mines, Pennsyvania
  32-year-old Carl Charles Roberts IV entered the one-room West Nickel Mines Amish School and shot 10 schoolgirls, ranging in age from 6 to 13 years old, and then himself. Five of the girls and Roberts died.
• Jan. 3, 2007 - Tacoma, Washington
  Douglas Chanthabouly, 18, shot fellow student Samnang Kok, 17, in the hallway of Henry Foss High School.
  
• April 16, 2007 – Blacksburg, Virginia
  A 23-year-old Virginia Tech student, Cho Seung-Hui, killed two in a dorm, then killed 30 more 2 hours later in a classroom building. His suicide brought the death toll to 33, making the shooting rampage the most deadly in U.S. history. Fifteen others were wounded.
• Sept. 21, 2007 – Dover, Deleware
  A Delaware State Univesity Freshman, Loyer D. Brandon, shot and wounded two other Freshman students on the University campus. Brandon is being charged with attempted murder, assault, reckless engagement, as well as a gun charge.
• Oct. 10, 2007 – Cleveland, Ohio
  14-year-old student at a Cleveland high school, Asa H. Coon, shot and injured two students and two teachers before he shot and killed himself. The victims’ injuries were not life-threatening.
• Feb. 11, 2008 – Memphis, Tennessee
  A 17-year-old student at Mitchell High School shot and wounded a classmate in gym class.
• Feb. 12, 2008 - Oxnard, California
  A 14-year-old boy shot a student at E.O. Green Junior High School causing the 15-year-old victim to be brain dead.
• Feb. 14, 2008 – DeKalb, Illinois
  Gunman killed five students and then himself, and wounded 17 more when he opened fire on a classroom at Northern Illinois University. The gunman, Stephen P. Kazmierczak, was identified as a former graduate student at the university in 2007.
• June 24, 2009 – Parkersburg, Iowa

Did you notice any consistencies throughout each bullet point?

ALL BOYS

Check out these stats from www.FBI.gov

In 2006 . . .

• 76% of all arrests are males
• 89% of all murder and non negligent manslaughter are committed by males
• 98% of all forcible rape are committed by males
• 89% of all robberies are committed by males
• 78% of aggravated assaults are committed by males
• 85% of all burglaries are committed by males

If you visit the FBI website you will see a much longer list of crimes that are also dominated by males.   I am focusing on males in this blog because the majority of events like the one today are committed by young males.  In fact, the majority of major crimes are committed by males.   When you mix that with statistics of young boys without male leadership and the statics that show how boys are falling behind educationally . . . I think it’s something we should focus on!

What is my point with all this?

My point is WE AS A SOCIETY ARE MISSING SOMETHING!

We are struggling in each area of life:

• Health
• Finances
• Relationships
• Careers

Adults are having a hard time managing their lives . . . how they hell are we supposed to expect children to figure it out?   How are we supposed to expect children to grow up to be responsible contributors to society when we aren’t doing it.

SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE!

• In our homes
• In our schools
• In our businesses
  
• In our churches
• In our communities
• In this country

Clearly what we are doing now IS NOT WORKING!   And if it is . . . we wouldn’t be in the messes we are in.   We wouldn’t have so many people wandering around trying to ‘figure it out’.   We wouldn’t have good, bright, and talented children running around trying to figure things out and deal with the craziness of the world on their own.

Today in Parkersburg was a tragedy.   This 24 year old kid has forever changed the world for himself and many others.  We’ll talk about the situation for a few months . . . we’ll talk about him and wonder why for a few months . . . and then we’ll forget about him until the next time this happens . . . and we’ll do it all over again.

How bad does it need to get before we wake up?  What can you do to help?

Jason Kiesau Personal Leadership, Relationships, What's Your Opinion?, Youth Leadership

I just got out of a great meeting with two coaches and HR professionals; Tim Bianchi with Trilogy Solutions and Jean Baker with Red Lantern Group, LLC.

We talked about a number of things, but one area that each of us are passionate about is human resources.   When I think of a human resource department within a company I think of:

• Hiring
• Benefits
• Rules and Laws

We continued to talk about different types of human resource departments.   Big companies have HR departments with specialist in each area. Many times small businesses have a single HR person who also wheres many hats.    We concluded that in businesses . . . regardless of size don’t see there HR department as a profit center.    The question is why not when there are statics ‘out there’ that say otherwise.

• A gallop poll shows that 56% of the US Workforce are disengaged in the jobs and another 17% are actively disengaged.
• SHRM says that for every $8.00 an organization loses it costs in the area of $3,500.00 to replace them.
• Findings from the Psychological Bulletin (September 1998) show a significant difference in performance between superior and average workers.   See ‘Cost of Average‘ for Breakdown

Each of areas directly impact an organization’s bottom line.   What are organizations doing to combat these stats and improve them in their organization?  The three areas above can be a result of a breakdown in one or more of the areas below:

• Recruiting
• Hiring
• Training
• Management
• Leadership

Which of these areas are responsible for improving the stats above?  Is it not HR?   The statistics clearly show that when there is a breakdown it has measurable financial impacts on an organization.   Couldn’t the same be said that if an HR department is doing the best job it can it would become a profit center for an organization?

Here are four ways an organization’s HR department can be a profit center.

1. Know Your Employees
2. Give Your People What They Need to Be Successful in Your Company
3. Give Your Management and Leadership What They Need to Be Successful with Their People
4. Promote Based on Successful Management & Leadership Competencies rather than Tactical Success

Now, I’m not going to go in to detail in this posting with how to do these four things.   I will write post of each point in the near future.

The bottom-line is this:  Right now companies are spending millions of dollars and a great deal of time understanding their target market, as in their ideal customers.   The people in charge know and if they understand how their customers think, behave, and motivations they will be able to be more intentional with their marketing, lead generation, and sales efforts.   They know that understanding their customer gives them the greatest chance of success.

• What would happen if only 27% of your customers liked your product or service?
• What would happen if your client retention was poor and it costs you $3,500 to replace a customer?
• What would happen if the customers you do have weren’t consistent?

The reality is you would probably go out of business.  You know:

No Customers = No Business

We’ll guess what: 

No Employees = No Business

Jason Kiesau Uncategorized

There are a few great books out there that talk about the way people will need to think in the future.   One I’ve read recently is “Five Minds for the Future” from Howard Gardner.

All this information is great, but it still comes down to parents and educators laying the foundation for the children.   It takes everyone involved teaching kids how to think proactively and productively.   Right now we are in an information war and we aren’t winning.   From the time we wake up in the morning to the time we go to bed at night every single one of us are getting hammered with different messages . . . so are our children.   If we don’t teach them how to receive information, ignore the bad, keep the good, and most importantly use it productively how are we preparing them for the real world?

Over the past couple of weeks I had heard an advertisement on the radio for a website that provides resources to help parents, grandparents, and caregivers create different learning situations for their children at home.

THIS IS WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT!!!

The website is BornLearning.org.  Their website states: Born Learning is designed as a tool for long-lasting community change that supports young children. It has three cornerstones:

1. Awareness
   Providing important information about how young children learn.
2. Education
   Providing easy, fun action steps that parents, grandparents and caregivers can use every day.
3. Action
   Providing a visible platform for public policy and action.

Their goal is to inspire everyone who impacts young children to make the best possible decisions to boost school readiness. And they aim to give each of them the tools to make long-lasting community change.

If you have kids or know people who have kids this site provides some great information!

Enjoy!

Jason Kiesau Personal Leadership, Youth Leadership

As it is extremely important to pay attention to all the great things small business owners do that lead them to success, I feel it can be equally beneficial to understand the reasons businesses fail.

I came across a piece by Patricia Schaefer on the website BusinessKnowHow.com that gives 7 reasons businesses fail.

1. You Start Your Business for the Wrong Reasons
2. Poor Management
3. Insufficient Capital
4. Location, Location, Location
5. Lack of Planning
6. Over Expansion
7. No Website

In a world where we can get pulled in hundreds of different directions, it’s important to know how we can fail as much as it is to know how we can succeed.

To read the entire article with in depth explanation of all seven reasons click here!

-

Jason Kiesau Business Leadership Add new tag

I’ve casually started flipping through a book that was given to me last year titled “Your Body’s Many Cries for Water” by F. Batmanghelidij, M.D.

This book talks about how many of the health issues we deal with today are a result of lack of water.  The back cover says:

” . . . lack of water in the body — chronic dehydration—is the root cause of many painful degenerative diseases, asthma, allergies, hypertension, excess body weight, and some emotional problems including depression.”

I have been in a never ending battle with water consumption for years . . . it just doesn’t taste that great all the time . . . especially when you compare it to everything else available.   When I was completing my undergrad I almost conditioned myself to zone in on my assignement only if I had a Diet Mt. Dew in hand.  No kidding . . . when I sit down to study or do homework I instantly feel this type of anxiety and thirst that water just hasn’t been able to fulfill, however I will admit . . . I could probably try harder.

So, what if this is the case with water?  What if our lack of water consumption are one of the root cause of all major things wrong with our health?   With out getting too far into the book, my first reaction is that it makes perfect sense to me.   If you look at Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs the number one most basic needs are physiological . . . air, water, food, sleep etc.    We all know what happens when people don’t get enough sleep.   They become grumpy, irritable, and sometimes difficult to be around and this can lead to stress and depression.    How many people do you know that continue to push themselves to the limit and not get enough sleep.   How is water any different?

As I am thinking about water I am telling myself . . . it’s so basic . . . it’s so easy . . . why do we struggle?  WHY DO I STRUGGLE?   Then I start thinking about the business world and water.   I ask myself:

“If water . . . the most basic substance we can put in our bodies could be the key to living healthier lives . . . is there something super basic that we forget about in our professional lives as well?”

In a world that is so fast paced as the one we live in it is very easy to get distracted and focus on other things.  Other things that are appealing and make us feel good, but really don’t help us reach our goals.    Maybe in sales its moving all the other stuff out of the way, picking up the phone and talking to people.   As a manager maybe it’s getting to know your people better.

Some of us do a wonderful job of muddying perfectly clear, pure, and basic water.    What if we didn’t?

What is the water of your business and why aren’t you drinking it?

Jason Kiesau Business Leadership, Personal Leadership

Flickr Photo by Mr. T in DC

There are a large number of people “out there” who are looking for a job!

Whether they have a job or not, millions of people are doing the same thing everyone else is doing; going on the internet, posting their resume on the job sites, and applying for jobs.    If they’re lucky their resume will WOW who ever is reviewing them and they will get moved on to the next round in the process, typically a phone or face to face interview.

If you are doing things like everyone else, what are you doing to be different or separate yourself from everyone else out there?

A few years ago I submitted my resume to a fairly large organization that posted their opening on the internet.   At the top of my cover letter and resume I put a quote that an industrial psychologist had said about me a few years before when I interviewed for a copier sales position

Her quote was:

“He is the type who manages to see the bright side of challenging situations.  If anything, he may underestimate the level of difficulty a situation might be.”

When I received the call from the regional manager he said he received hundreds of resumes and mine was the only one to catch his eye right away.   Eventually he offered me the position.

My point is . . . DON’T BE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE!

Starting with your cover letter & resume and all the way through your interview process, I believe there are three things you HAVE got to communicate if you are going to have any shot and landing a position.

1. You Are Focused

   If you are applying for a sales position in a technology company you better be able to articulate your focus in that area.   We have a million distractions on a daily basis . . . that is one complaint about the younger generations.   Distractions ARE NOT profitable and if they sense you are not focused you will not be considered.

2. You Are Stable

   This means both physically, mentally, and emotionally.   You have got to be able to communicate that you are at a stable place in your life ESPECIALLY in times like this.  Today people are applying for jobs out of reaction and fear and when they are talking to a potential employer they are showing instability and fear.   These are not good qualities . . . and certainly not ones that an employer are going to invest money in.   It doesn’t matter your past.  It doesn’t matter your current situation.   If you give any indication of instability that will not be looked at favorably and could cost you that opportunity.

3. You Are Profitable

   Bottom-line . . . if you can’t make the company money they aren’t going to hire you.   If you do get hired and you aren’t making the company money . . . you aren’t going to be around long.   Anyone who is applying for a position needs to understand how the company makes their money and most importantly how you can help them do that.   If you can communicate that during an interview you will have the person eating out of your hands.   The bottom-line is the businesses bottom-line . . . it’s about making money.

I remember when I was 21 and I got my first job out of college as a graphic designer at a growing advertising agency.   The Creative Director I interviewed with was so impressed with my portfolio and professionalism he created a position and hired me.  I only worked there for one year.   Looking back I know I was focused and stable, but I didn’t know how to be profitable for them.  After the first year I thought I deserved a raise simply because I showed up everyday.   It was a painful, but great learning experience.

Whether you are unemployed or just seeking other opportunities, your ability show that you are focused, stable, and profitable can be the difference between landing the ideal position or having to keep on looking.

Be different!

Jason Kiesau Uncategorized

Recently I read a book by Marshall Goldsmith titled – “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There!

The book is about 20 habits that can lead to great success, but in the end can prevent us from ultimate success and fulfillment.    When I first read the book I believe I was just relating the information to business.  After reviewing the list again, these are great principals for life.

Enjoy!

20.  An Excessive need to be yourself.

19.  Passing the Buck

18.  Punishing the Messenger

17.  Failure to Express Gratitude

16.  Not Listening

15.  Refusing to Express Regret

14.  Playing Favorites

13.  Clinging to the Past

12.  Making Excuses

11.  Claiming Credit We Don’t Deserve

10.  Failing to Give Proper Recognition

9.  Withholding of Information

8.  Negativity 0r – “Let Me Explain Why That Won’t Work”

7.  Speaking When Angry

6.  Telling the World How Smart We Are

5.  Starting with “No”, “But, or “However”

4.  Making Destructive Comments

3.  Passing Judgement

2.  Adding Too Much Value

1.  Winning Too Much

There you have it.   Don’t do any of these things and chances are you will experience an amazing amount of success!

You can purchase this book right now at Amazon.com by clicking here.

Jason Kiesau Business Leadership, Careers, Personal Leadership, Relationships

This morning when was at the gym and I was watching one of the national news programs and they had on Archie Manning on.  Archie is a former Quarterback of the New Orleans Saints and father of Peyton Manning and Eli Manning; both Peyton and Eli are Super Bowl winning quarterbacks and Super Bowl MVP’s.

I was particularly interested in this because I have often wondered what life was like in the Manning household and how much Archie pressured Peyton and Eli to play sports.   One of the first questions that Archie responded to was just that.   Archie said:

“We didn’t push them to play sports, we were just trying to raise good kids.”

A few minutes later they surprised Archie with a phone call from Eli Manning and they asked Eli a similar question.  Eli said that they were never pressured in to playing sports.   He said no matter what they wanted to do their parents were there to support them, however whatever they did they were expected to give it their all.

They then asked Eli about their dad the football player and what kind of role model he was.  Eli said he never paid much attention to it, but growing up his dad was always a great role model and kind to his fans.  He said he would put in the extra time to sign autographs etc.  As a result Eli notices that he does the same thing.   He said

“I just do it . . . it’s all I’ve ever known.”

That is pretty powerful right there.   “I just do it . . . it’s all I’ve ever known.” I don’t care who you are or what situation you are in . . . this is a great example of the power of parenting.    It is a reminder to all parents that our children are the product of the environment we create for them and the experiences we give them.    We need to ask ourselves:

• What if this is all they remember?
• How are we preparing them for the world ahead?
• Will they look back and be proud?
• Are we doing everything we can?

Now, initially I questioned whether I wanted to use the examples of the Manning family because I know there will be people that are going to make excuses for their good luck . . . celebrity . . . money . . . race.   And to that I say BULL SHIT!

The message is universal:   Not only do we need to love our children, but we must understand they are products of our parenting.   If we care and try . . . they are more likely to care and try.  If we sit on our asses and make excuses . . . they are more likely to sit their asses and make excuses.

We all need to set the example!   Are you?

Jason Kiesau Personal Leadership, Relationships