Rick's Business of Audiology Blog

Crisis and Planning

Lack of planning on your part does not create a crisis on my part.

There was a time when I worked with a lot of very talented computer people; programmers, network administrators, project managers, and a bunch of other people capable of things far beyond my abilities.

I think this comment about planning was their favorite line. Lack of planning on your part does not create a crisis on my part.

I completely understood their situation and the line was perfect. If you aren't capable of keeping your life together I am not going to let you mess up mine also. I think this attitude, even though not always appreciated, was necessary for them to continue to work while retaining their sanity. In reality there are lots of people that never develop the habit of plotting their trail and then moving along it.

Often the marketing and product people would dilly dally around prior to making a decision, without coordination with the computer people, and then sort of launch the need into the room like a rocket. It often came with a comment that there wasn't time to talk about it now. There is a deadline. It just needs to be done!

This same flow of events happens to a lot of business decision makers.

Some vendor, or employee, or whomever, all of a sudden needs something done now!

As caring people our first response is typically to try to do it. For example if someone's spouse was involved in a serious auto accident this AM and they need something we almost always will gladly drop everything and help immediately. But if they make the same request to attend a friend's wedding they knew about long in advance we will not be so happy to do so.

So how to make it different?

1. Never surprise anyone with a request that doesn't fit into their work flow timing.
2. Develop working relationships before the need. If they like you they will be more accommodating.
3. Know the because: Why it is important and why wasn't it possible to plan ahead.
4. Never overuse their graciousness or take it for granted.
5. Always ask extra nice, listen to their reasons, and be accommodating.

 

Bob Hope Hearing Humor

Bob Hope at the Doctor's:

Bob: "Doc, there's something wrong with my hearing. I cannot hear them laugh."

Doc: "There is nothing wrong with your hearing, you need to work on your act!"

 

Sunny days, rainy days, and lightening bolts.

We all have them.

Sunny days when the warm wind is at our back and it seems everything is grand. The tropical island beach feeling.

Rainy days when the wind driven rain is in our face and it seems everything is harder than it needs to be.

Lightning bolts: Experiences that zap us at seemingly random moments and change our lives forever.

What I find is:

We typically accept the sunny days as things we deserve, when often it is just luck.

We typically feel we don't deserve the rainy days, when often they are the logical result of our own actions.

Lightning bolts can strike at any time, like a heart attack, car accident, or the sudden realization that something dear is lost. They aren't always bad, just sudden and unpredictable. Like getting surprise financing for a long awaited first business, or the unexpected realization you will be a parent; even having the light bulb of learning a new life changing concept suddenly appear.

Rainy days are rarely as bad as they seem, and sunny days rarely as grand as we feel them to be, and lightning bolts … well they are always out there somewhere.

 

 

 

Are you wealthy?

In America people can appear to be rich by historic and world standards, and still be poor because of their thought process. If your parents talked more about the cars they buy than the companies they own then you are probably poor. If you think of the home you live in as an asset then you are probably poor. If the talk around the family gatherings is when can people retire they you are probably with a poor family.

Wealthy families acquire assets; poor families accumulate things.

Wealthy people always want to be productive and useful; poor people want to retire, quit.

Wealthy people think of living off their income. Poor people think they need a job to have income.

Wealthy families pass on opportunity to their children; poor families don't pass on opportunity to their children but burden them with college debt.

Wealthy people want a land of opportunity for all; poor people want the government to take care of them.

Wealthy people create job opportunities for others; poor people want someone to create a job for them.

Wealthy people want to create value and income; poor people are trying to pay off their debt.

Wealthy people want to improve the lives of others, poor people want to quit and live off their children's future.

Wealthy people realize the house they live in is an expense, not an asset. Poor people talk as if the house they live in is an investment.

Wealthy people want to government to provide a place where they can create value; poor people want the government to pay them for living.

This is why every country has wealthy people and poor people. Wealthy people think differently.

Professional vs. Amateur

Amateur's practice until they get it right. Professionals practice until they cannot get it wrong.

 

Leaders and the Gift of Purpose

Leaders give people the gift of purpose.

Leaders do this by:

1. Knowing their purpose and communicating it in a clear and noble manner.
2. Clearly communicating how they want others to help and asking for that help.
3. Inspiring confidence by saying what they are going to do and then doing what they say.
4. Demonstrating passion by clear scorekeeping.
5. Supporting those on the team with words and deeds.
6. Sharing success with appropriate praise.
7. Cherishing the contributions of those that are helping.

Rick

Answers

I asked my son. "If the price of tea in England is 5, what is the price of tea in China?"

His answer: "I don't know." Then without missing a beat he focused on something significant to him.

He provides such a simple example of an often overlooked reality.

If the question makes no sense, then the best answer typically is I don't know.

He didn't question where England was or where was China or what is tea or how much tea was involved or waste any time or brain power. He didn't try to point out to me it was a poorly worded question or a completely irrelevant thought.

He accepted it at face value and moved on.

Rick

 

Social Networking: Know Your Message

Why spend time on social networking?

Know your audience, and know the message you want to send to them.

If Facebook, or Twitter, or Myspace, or whatever works for you then use it. If not then don't use it.

I encourage you not to feel you "should" be there just because someone says so.

But 10 minutes once a day on Facebook might just change your life for the better. It did mine.