This week’s article about business will be in three sections.
The first will be about a reader making me feel “warm inside” during this cold winter. This reader asked me a question. He asked, “are you the person that was turned down seven times from college?” When he asked me, he told me he was a regular reader. Gosh, that makes me feel real good. The answer is yes. That was me who was turned down seven times from different colleges. I even have the rejection letters. The message here is very direct, “in this world, no one is exempt from rejection.” The real question is, “what do you do after the rejection?” Obviously, I never gave up. Never giving up paid dividends. Thank you for taking the time to read this column. I even have a Ph.D., as a sign of never giving up.
The second section is an example, again about me. Most of you know that I am a volunteer with SHIIP here in Muscatine. I had just finished with some clients, when I walked them to the elevator. For some reason, I like to do that. I guess one of my weird quirkiness traits. The clients asked me about Senior Resources. I answered what I knew about the group, what they did, their role in the community. I finished with a personal insight that during one of my client contacts, the seniors were patrolling the halls singing carols. I thought the caroling was pretty neat!
Little did I know that someone overheard me. Later, I was getting ready to leave, and saw a light on in an office. I then decided to poke my head in. After a greeting, they smiled and told me that I had done, and said the right things about Senior Resources. This was a major leadership kudo for them. I have told my leadership classes before, “catch someone doing something good.” Too much in today’s world we hear the negatives. Well, I got caught doing something good. The leader told me so. If you are in business, or a consumer, find someone doing something good, and then tell them about it! Makes the receiver feel pretty good inside.
I search for inspiration to share here in this column. I found the third perspective in an unusual place. Ernie Johnson is a “talking head” on a network for a national basketball pre and post-game show. I found out he was asked to talk to the Alabama football team. I watched his talk. I was moved.
His message was, “get to versus got to.” His role on the television program is to help others look good. One wonderful aspect of “get to” is the true enjoyment, the pleasure and satisfaction of “getting to work” in that area. “Got to” implies one going through the motions, less of a caring, excited approach. Just look at your role, your business, your job. Do you view your role as: a “get to or got to?” For those in business, you and your customers would be much better served if your mindset was: “get to.”
For me, I get to come to you every two weeks. I now get to serve as a SHIIP counselor. I am thankful for both.
