Character

Since it’s easier to train a person of good character to do a job well than to develop character in a skilled but unprincipled employee, if you have to choose, hire for character and train for skills.

Below are some thoughts from Michael Josephson regarding character.  I think it’s important to always be “sharpening the saw” regarding character.  At the end of the day, that’s all we really have.

 

What Is Character?

Character is the sum total of our dispositions, attitudes, and habits. Everyone has a character. But not everyone has character.

Good character is ethics in action; it’s the ability to summon the moral strength to do the right thing even when it may cost more than we want to pay.

People of character do the right thing even if no one is looking; they live up to their values even when there is no advantage to do so.

No one is born with good character. It’s something we all have to build and protect day by day, decision by decision.

 

The Nature of Character

Abraham Lincoln was very concerned with character, but he also was aware of the importance of having a good reputation. He explained the difference this way: “Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” Put another way, your reputation is what people think of you, and your character is what you actually are.

In a world preoccupied with image, it’s easy to worry too much about our reputation and too little about our character. Building a reputation is largely a public relations project; building character requires us to focus on our values and actions. Noble rhetoric and good intentions aren’t enough.

What we’re looking for is moral strength based on ethical principles. Character is revealed by actions, not words — especially when there’s a gap between what we want to do and what we should do, and when doing the right thing costs more than we want to pay.

Our character is revealed by how we deal with pressures and temptations. But it’s also disclosed by everyday actions, including what we say and do when we think no one is looking and we assume we won’t get caught. The way we treat people we think can’t help or hurt us, like housekeepers, waiters, and secretaries, tells more about our character than how we treat people we think are important. People who are honest, kind, and fair only when there is something to gain shouldn’t be confused with people of real character who demonstrate these qualities habitually, under all circumstances.

Character is not a fancy coat we put on for show; it’s who we really are.

 

Character Is An Essential Competence

If you were hiring a new CEO, what are the most important qualities you’d look for? Surely you’d want a high level of demonstrated competence – knowledge, experience, intelligence, vision, communication, relationship skills, and the ability to motivate, manage, and solve problems. But what about qualities such as honesty, moral courage, accountability, and fairness?

Despite bold rhetoric about the indispensability of good character, many hard-driving organizations are willing to be flexible on character to get an exceptionally competent person.

Thus, many current scandals – in business, the church, and sports – have occurred because organizations compromised their principles by recruiting, retaining, or tolerating leaders with serious character flaws who generated costly accusations of wrongdoing and undermined trust, morale, teamwork, and loyalty.

Long ago, Samuel Johnson said, “Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, but knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.”

Warren Buffet updated that notion: “In looking for people to hire, look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. But if they don’t have the first, the other two will kill you.”

Are We Ready for the New Year?

Goals … Commitments … Habits

Why should we set goals? Why should we walk in to the new year with a game plan? (Whether it’s a 90 day game plan or a 2012 game plan)
Simply put: Having specific, measurable goals with game plans increases our odds of success. If we had to place a bet on 2 different drivers racing across the country (Driver A has a map; Driver B does not have a map), who would we put your money on? Well defined goals do not guarantee success; they simply increase the probability of success.

Ok – so we buy in to having goals. Now the question is:  What can we do to make sure that our goals become reality?

Here’s my answer:
Turn goals in to commitments. Turn commitments in to habits.

Here’s an interesting way to look at commitments.
I wonder how many more of our Leaders would become Owners if they had to invest $100,000 in to their businesses on their starting dates (as Entry Level Reps)? Imagine if the $100k investment was lost if the Leader did not finish the race and become an Owner.  Most entrepreneurs have to raise capital and/or borrow money before they start. They take risks and are highly committed.
Obviously if people made that level of commitment, the follow through would be there for all of our people.
Success follows committed people. We see this in sports, business, music, parenting, marriages, etc. The big “C” word can be scary – but let it be told:  Commitment is a completely necessary ingredient in the formula for success.
Commit to your goals. Time is too valuable to waste.

Goals become commitments.  Now commitments need to be transformed in to great habits.

A habit is defined as “an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary.” Making or changing a habit can be a difficult undertaking. There are several key habits that are necessary to be successful.  A few of the non-negotiables are:

• Having a positive attitude regardless of the circumstance
• Having an impeccable work ethic
• Underpromise and overdeliver
• Our word is our bond
• Following through on the things we start

Here are some things to keep in mind about forming a habit:

1. We must earnestly want to do it. We must have purpose in our hearts to make something habitual.
2. Find out how. We must invest time with mentors and people that are in the positions that we are seeking.
3. Surround ourselves with reminders. Put post-it notes on our fridges, mirrors, alarm clocks, cars. Set reminders on our smart phones.
4. Tell others about our intentions. Having our goals out in the open keeps us more accountable and makes our resolve feel more real.
5. Repetition is essential. Twice in a row does not make a habit. Habits are formed slowly, over long periods of time, through constant repetition, so don’t expect change overnight. Take it one day at a time. It has been said that it takes repeating an action 28 times for it to become a habit.
6. A failure is not an excuse to give up. If you fail along the way, you will be tempted to quit. Winston Churchill said it best: “Success is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.”

I’ll close this blog with one of my favorite quotes:
“I am your constant companion. I am your greatest helper or heaviest burden. I will push you onward or drag you down to failure. I am completely at your command. Half the things you do you might just as well turn over to me, and I will be able to do them quickly, correctly. I am easily managed; you must merely be firm with me. Show me exactly how you want something done, and after a few lessons I will do it automatically. I am the servant of all great people; and alas, of all failures as well. Those who are failures, I have made failures. I am not a machine, though I work with all the precision of a machine plus the intelligence of a human being. You may run me for a profit or turn me for ruin; it makes no difference to me. Take me, train me, be firm with me, and I will place the world at your feet. Be easy with me and I will destroy you. Who am I? I am habit.” – Anonymous

All the best to our team in 2012!

Things That Make You Go Hmmm

Things That Make You Go Hmmmm….

 

Here are some great questions to ponder!  There are some great ones.  Enjoy!

Can you cry under water? 

How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered? 

Why do you have to ‘put your two cents in’… but it’s only a ‘penny for your thoughts’? Where’s that extra penny going to? 

Once you’re in heaven, do you get stuck wearing the clothes you were buried in for eternity? 

Why does a round pizza come in a square box? 

What disease did cured ham actually have? 

How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage? 

Why is it that people say they ‘slept like a baby’ when babies wake up like every two hours? 

If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing? 

Why are you IN a movie, but you’re ON TV? 

Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground? 

Why do doctors leave the room while you change?   They’re going to see you naked anyway. 

Why is ‘bra’ singular and ‘panties’ plural? 

If the professor on Gilligan’s Islandcan make a radio out of a coconut, why can’t he fix a hole in a boat? 

If Wile E. Coyote had enough money to buy all that ACME crap, why didn’t he just buy dinner? 

If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, what is baby oil made from? 

If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons? 

Do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same tune? 

Why did you just try singing the two songs above? 

Why do they call it an asteroid when it’s outside the hemisphere, but call it a hemorrhoid when it’s in your butt? 

Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog’s face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him for a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?  

Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are getting dead? Yeah, how come?

Why do banks charge a fee on ‘insufficient funds’ when they know there is not enough money? 

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet? 

Why do they use sterilized needles for death by lethal injection? 

Why doesn’t Tarzan have a beard? 

Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him? Many of you won’t even know what they are talking about!

Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets? 

Whose idea was it to put an ‘S’ in the word ‘lisp’? 

If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes? 

Why is it that no matter what color bubble bath you use the bubbles are always white? 

Is there ever a day that mattresses are not on sale? 

Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized? 

Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance? 

Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the end on your first try? 

How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures? 

When we are in the supermarket and someone rams our ankle with a shopping cart then apologizes for doing so, why do we say, ‘It’s all right?’ Well, it isn’t all right, so why don’t we say, ‘That really hurt, why don’t you watch where you’re going?’ 

Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch something that’s falling off the table you always manage to knock something else over? 
In winter why do we try to keep the house as warm as it was in summer when we complained about the heat? 

How come you never hear father-in-law jokes? 

And…… 
The statistics on sanity is that one out of every four persons are suffering from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best friends – if they’re okay, then it’s you. 

Thanksgiving – Serving With The Stars

We have a great tradition at the Boys & Girls Club every year.  On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, we turn the gymnasium at the Club in to a “restaurant”.  We try to reach as many local families as possible.

In 2008, we were joined by several Los Angeles superstars:  Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol, and a few others that make our team looking pretty tiny.

The food was great, the families loved it, and we had a great time.  Local TV stations show up with their cameras and news people.  As I saw the kids lining up to talk to Pau, it dawned on me that might have possibly missed the purpose of what we were really trying to accomplish:  serve the people and make the celebration all about them and the blessings in their lives.

This year we experienced something really special.  On Tuesday (11.22.2011), we celebrated another B&G Club Thanksgiving Dinner.  Over 300 local family members enjoyed the awesome food and fun times.  To our surprise, as we were running around grabbing food and drinks for everyone, we saw Colin Farrell there doing the same thing.

There were no cameras.  There was no paparazzi.  Colin was sincerely there to serve, enjoy his time with the families, and do his part to make the evening a success.  Of course the moms and dads knew who he was, but the kids didn’t know.  It was funny to see little kids going up to him demanding a slice of pumpkin pie.  Colin seemed very happy to oblige.  Kudos to Colin Farrell.

It was great to see our group running around like always.  I can’t tell you how proud I am of the people that work with Team TAG.

Here are a few bullet points that make the group a very special team:

• Servants’ Hearts
• Adaptable
• Impeccable Work Ethics
• Amiable 
• Always Smiling
• Others First

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!  Thank you for your dedication and support.

Proclamation of Thanksgiving

This is my favorite time of year.  The weather turns cool (in California), Starbucks brings out the red, holiday cups, 103.5 FM plays nothing but Christmas songs, commercials are loaded with gift ideas, and there’s hustle bustle everywhere.

In 2011, we’ve witnessed “Occupy Wall Street” protests all throughout the country.  We’ve seen plenty of signs where the 99% are “calling out” the 1%.

Here’s another way to think about our country:  the US population is around 300,000,000.  The world population just surpassed 7,000,000,000.  That means that the US makes up for around 4% of the total world population.  In the grand scheme of things, I think it’s fair to say that almost everyone living in the United States is the 1% compared to the other 99% of the global population.

We have a lot to be thankful for.  People complain a lot about the US, our economy, and our politics – but let me ask you a question.  What other country would you rather live in?  We have the best of the best here, and we should all consider ourselves VERY LUCKY and grateful – regardless of our circumstances and situations.

Let’s reflect and be thankful this holiday season.

 

 

This is the proclamation which set the precedent for America’s national day of Thanksgiving.

Washington, D.C.
October 3, 1863

Proclamation of Thanksgiving

by the President of the United States of America

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

Penn State and Joe Paterno – What’s your opinion?

We’re all disgusted with Jerry Sandusky – former defensive coordinator for the Penn State football team.   I am so sorry for those poor kids that were victimized by this pedophile.  I hope and pray that these young adults recover and live good, productive lives.

The big debate is how people feel about Joe Paterno.  He is a legendary football coach.  He was the head coach of Penn State from 1966 – 2011.  He holds the record for the most victories by an FBS football coach with 409 and is the only FBS coach to reach 400 victories.  He coached five undefeated teams that won major bowl games and, in 2007, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach.

How will Joe’s legacy be remembered?  Will he be a legend for his football coaching?  Or will he be remembered for his lack of leadership and responsibility to do the right thing?  (like contact the authorities when he heard of Jerry’s conduct)

My friend, Michael Josephson wrote 2 blogs.  I think he captured the hearts and thoughts of most people that I talk to about this.

One was written on November 9th.  The other was written on November 10th.  Check it out.

What’s your opinion?

November 9, 2011

“Say it ain’t so, Joe”

These words, directed at Shoeless Joe Jackson as he emerged from a courthouse where he and seven other White Sox players were accused of taking bribes to manipulate games, expressed the profound sense of betrayal and disappointment suffered when an idol falls from grace.  Though Jackson, one of the finest players of his era, claimed his innocence and was acquitted in court, he was banned from baseball and became a symbol of a disgraced hero.

Will a similar fate befallPennState’s legendary football coach Joe Paterno?

Along with only a handful of truly great coaches, including John Wooden, Alonzo Stagg and Tom Landry, Joe Pa (as he is lovingly called atPennState) has been a living embodiment of what is good about sports. A fierce competitor and master motivator, strategist, and teacher, Coach Paterno taught the young men who played for him and all those who watched and rooted for the Nitanny Lions how to pursue victory with honor.

His teams always have one of the highest graduation rates, he has personally given tens of millions of dollars to the university, and his example has inspired an unknowable number of coaches to take the high road.

John Feinstein, a sports columnist for the Washington Post, said, “The one thing that set Paterno apart from other coaches was that he so clearly understood that his responsibility to his players went well beyond making them better on the field.” Paterno approached his job as a parent and a teacher. “Every kid we recruit is someone’s child or grandchild,” he said. “They give us responsibility for something — someone — they treasure. It’s our responsibility to give them back a better person than when they came here.”

So, why is this 84-year-old icon running the gauntlet of criticism and condemnation? Although the facts are sparse, lots of people think he had a moral responsibility to go to the police, not merely to his superiors at the university, with information about Jerry Sandusky’s criminal behavior. What a sad confirmation of the insight that we may judge ourselves by our best and most noble actions, but we will be judged by others by our last worst act.

Eventually we will hear Coach Paterno’s story. When we do, I hope we will be more generous than judgmental. I think he’s earned that.

__

Since I wrote and recorded this commentary, it was announced that Coach Paterno will resign at the end of the year. It was probably a time for that in any event, but it is a pity that this incident will detract from his tremendous contributions as a genuine teacher-coach.

He said: ‎”This is a tragedy. It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more.” What more can he say? I believe he is deeply aggrieved and regretful. This was a mistake, not a character flaw, and in my book deserves the benefit of the doubt. He deserves to retire with honor and be ensconced in the pantheon of truly great teacher-coaches with my friend John Wooden.

November 10, 2011

Sorry, Joe, You Have to Go

At the risk of losing my credibility, I have to retract my previous commentary, “Say It Ain’t So, Joe,” in which I urged readers to be generous in assessing the moral culpability of Penn State Coach Joe Paterno in relation to an undeniably horrendous situation involving the sexual abuse of children by former coach Jerry Sandusky.

This change of position does not come easily or without a sense of embarrassment, but after reading the Grand Jury’s 23-page Findings of Facts and having a passionate discussion with my wife, I’ve concluded that I allowed my admiration of Coach Paterno’s philosophy and character to blur my vision.

I hate throwingCoachPa’s legacy on the bonfire of public outrage, but I am now convinced thatPennState’s Board of Trustees did the right thing in firing Coach Paterno and President Spanier.

The Board undoubtedly considered the additional damage to the university’s reputation that would have resulted from a new firestorm of criticism had Coach Paterno been permitted to take the field representing Penn State on the national stage of this Saturday’s game, but I can’t justify diminishing the legacy of a great coach and a fundamentally good man for public relations reasons alone.

The more important consideration for me is the need to send a powerful, unequivocal message that everyone who has an opportunity to protect children has an obligation to muster the fortitude and moral courage to do so. Looking the other way, taking half measures, or attempting to defer the responsibility to others is simply not acceptable.

We know that a molester doesn’t just molest one child. We know the enormous lasting damage caused by such despicable behavior. We also know that responsible people must make every effort to prevent the the infliction of this harm, to vindicate the victims, and to bring criminals to justice. In hindsight, there can be no doubt that Coach Paterno and many of his colleagues failed to do that.

I’m truly sorry Joe, but you have to go.

Managing Yourself

Are you in control of your life?  Are you making good decisions?

Here’s something to think about…

7 areas that we must properly manage in our lives to be successful:

• Our emotions
• Our time
• Our priorities
• Our energy
• Our thinking
• Our words
• Our personal lives

There are plenty of things outside of our control.  That’s where faith in God and His plans for us really kick in.  If we properly manage the things that we do have in our control, chances are that we will make good decisions and reap the benefits of those choices.

I sort of look at things in the following mathematical formula:
Good Management = Good Decisions = Reap Benefits
Poor Management = Poor Decisions = Pay the Consequences

 

Who’s managing your life?

Get Motivated People!

A few of our leaders got a special treat on Halloween and represented Team TAG at the annual Get Motivated Seminar.  Our group of 9 joined 17,000 others at Staples Center in Downtown LA to listen to famous speakers such as Rudy Giuliani, Joe Montana, Lou Holtz, Laura Bush, Krishna Dhanam, and Bill Cosby.

The Get Motivated Seminar is one of the largest and long lasting business seminars in North America.  The purpose of the seminar is not only to motivate and educate, but to challenge and inspire action amongst the audience.

One of the most memorable speakers included Krish Dhanam, a top sales training expert who was personally mentored by Zig Ziglar.  His charisma captivated the audience and had all our leaders writing down his mantra:

“Plan with attitude, prepare with aptitude, participate with servitude, receive with gratitude, and this should be enough to separate you from the multitudes.”

“I really enjoyed hearing what Colin Powell and Krish Dhanam were talking about; Krish focusing on selflessness.  They really honed in on the little qualities that differentiate a person who wants people to lead and a person who wanted people to be successful with them.” – Donielle Kalachi

Another anticipated speaker was Lou Holtz, the only college football coach to lead six different programs to bowl games.  Holtz shared with the audience the things he believes and practices which included having a passion and focusing on your purpose.  Intertwined in his speech were humorous anecdotes about his coaching experiences and personal life.

“I appreciated Lou Holtz speech because it was applicable to being a leader in any kind of situation.  Whether someone was leading a team in sports, military, government, or business, it is important to have solid values, a great attitude, and a goal to strive for.” – Manilynn Disuanco

In addition to listening to the motivational speakers our team got the chance to network with other professionals, received workbooks filled with valuable information to share with the rest of the office, and participated in raffles and contests.

The task at hand now is to transfer the knowledge and motivation to the rest of the office.

“Coming to this event was truly an amazing opportunity to hear from the fearless leaders of our country.  No matter what arena each leader associated with, each shared great nuggets of wisdom that can transcend to all aspects of life. Specifically I enjoyed how each speaker emphasized similar attributes of success: working hard, a great attitude, embrace change, and the importance of spiritual success.” – Ellesse Wong

We can’t wait to see what kind of motivation these leaders bring to our team!

Why Are Young Adults Today Having So Many Economic Issues?

I’ve heard this a few times now from several economics experts:  This is the first time in history where today’s youth will have a lower net worth than the previous generation.

Some people say that today’s young adults are lazier than the previous generation.  I find this statement rather comical.  Every generation says that about the next generation.  Growing up as a Gen X, I heard the same thing from teachers and my elders.  There is an obvious rebuttal for young people today:  How hard did you have to work when you were in school?  Today’s youth have an insane amount of homework and extracurricular activities.  Also, school has become much more competitive in every grade.  I think young people today are coming out of school much more prepared with a better work ethic than the previous generation.

It seems like today’s young adults have a few more financial obstacles to overcome that the previous generation did not have:  out-of-control cost of college tuition, unemployment, and a poor housing market.

I came across an article below written by Annalyn Censky.  She captured some very interesting stats that explains this economic situation.

 

One of the most basic tenets of the American Dream is being called into question by recent economic data. Can each new generation do better than the one before it?

So far, today’s young people aren’t off to an encouraging start.

According to analysis by the Pew Research Center released Monday, younger Americans have been left behind as the oldest generation has seen wealth surge since the mid-1980s.

While it’s typical for older generations to hold more wealth than younger ones who’ve had less time to save, the gap between the two age groups has widened rapidly.

In 1984, households headed by people age 65 and older were worth just 10 times the median net worth of households headed by people 35 and younger.

But now that gap has widened to 47-to-one, marking the largest wealth gap ever recorded between the two age groups.

“We don’t know how the story ends, but we know how the story is beginning,” said Paul Taylor, executive vice president of thePewResearchCenter. “At the beginning, today’s young people are not doing better than yesterday’s young adults.”

Households headed by adults ages 35 and younger had a median net worth of $3,662 in 2009. That marks a 68% decline in wealth, compared to that same age group 25 years earlier.

Over the same time frame, households headed by adults ages 65 years and older, have seen just the opposite. Their wealth rose 42%, to a median of $170,494.

So why the growing chasm?

Whether by choice or due to the weak economy, today’s young people are getting their independent lives started later in nearly all respects, taking out more debt, living with parents longer and putting off key milestones like employment, marriage and home ownership longer.

Some of those trends come hand in hand with more young people attending college, which can be a double-edged sword.

While those college credentials could lead to income gains for many young people down the road, surging tuition costs are also leaving them burdened by more student loans than prior generations.

Overall, 37% of the young households held zero or negative net worth in 2009, up from 19% in 1984.

Perhaps the biggest factor leading to the wealth gap between the ages though, is the housing market, the Pew Center said.

While rising home equity helped drive wealth gains for the older generation over the long-term, younger people had less time to ride out the housing market’s volatility — especially its most recent boom and bust.

“Most of today’s older homeowners got into the housing market long ago, at ‘pre-bubble’ prices,” the report said. “Along with everyone else, they’ve been hurt by the housing market collapse of recent years, but over the long haul, most have seen their home equities rise.”

“For young adults who are in the beginning stages of wealth accumulation, there has been no such luck, at least so far.”

Net worth includes the sum of a household’s assets (like equity in a home, car and savings and retirement accounts) minus its debts (like mortgage, car and student loans and credit card debt). 

We need solutions for our young people.  Robert Kiyosaki believes that the answer lies in financial education.  It is not the only solution out there, but I feel he is certainly on the right track.  If young people are aware of what “the real world” looks like, maybe they’ll make good decisions and put themselves in a stronger economic positions?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good and Great. What’s the difference?

On October 20, 2011, I was asked to speak at a board meeting for the Boys & Girls Club of America.  Our local Club (Venice) has been on the radar screen as a pace setter for attracting and involving local companies to participate in serving and donating to our 4000 kids.

Team TAG has been a leader in this department.  Team TAG opened it’s doors on November 2nd, 1998.  The staff consisted of 5 people – of which I was the ring leader.  We had no money, no track record, and no draw for sharp, ambitious people to join our firm other than the big talk and dreaming that one day we would be living great lives because of our hard work.

I was at a seminar in my younger years of business when I had an opportunity to listen to Jim Collins speak (author of “Good to Great”).  The premise of his book was to explore the differences between successful companies and not-so-successful companies.  Collins asked,  ”Why does one restaurant open up in San Bernardino in 1940 (McDonald’s) and go on to become the largest restaurant chain in the world, and another restaurant opens the same year on the same street and goes out of business?  Why does one discount retailer open up in Rogers, Arkansas in 1962 (Walmart) and go on to become the largest retailer in the world, and another discount retailer opens the same year right down the street and goes out of of business?”  Collins completely peaked my interest and my passion to learn the difference between good and great was on its way.

Stephen Covey is another one of my favorite authors.  The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People had a tremendous amount of influence on me.  I became more efficient with my time, I worked very hard at listening, I focused on sharpening my personal saw, etc.  Around two years after reading the 7 Habits, I decided to read Covey’s follow up book:  The 8th Habit – Effectiveness to Greatness.  Covey made a pretty bold statement in that book.  In a nutshell, he stated that he best companies in the 21st century will be those that create a whole person in a whole position.  In other words, companies that enhance the well being of their employees, and develop all 4 major human needs, will be the most sought after companies in the world.  Sharp people will want to work with these companies and customers will want to do business with these companies.  Stephen Covey says that every person has 4 human needs:

• To live (physical needs)
• To learn (mental needs)
• To love (social and emotional needs)
• To leave a legacy (spiritual needs)

Here are a few companies in my mind that do a great job of trying to create a whole person in a whole position:

• Patagonia – They donate 1% of their gross earnings to cleaning up the environment.  I have to believe that the employees in that firm feel some kind of spiritual need being met
• Google – They have vending machines on their campus that give you free celery, apples, etc, but if you want a chocolate bar, it’ll cost you $5.  They make a statement to their people that their physical health is important to the company.
• Zappos – In the lobby of their head office in Henderson, NV they have a “Dance, Dance Revolution” machine.  They are telling their employees that you can have a lot of fun at what would normally be a boring call center job.  Their people are getting their social/emotional needs met.

Team TAG does an excellent job creating a whole person in a whole position.  We promote eating healthy and working out (basketball every Tuesday as an office).  We promote great relationships inside and outside of the office (Team Night every Wednesday).  We promote stretching your mind (Book Club reading all kinds of great literature).  And lastly, we want spiritually healthy people.  This is where service kicks in.  Over the years, over 300 employees of Team TAG have participated in serving the community.  Some of our most memorable events have been:

• Serving hundreds of families for Thanksgiving Dinners
• Magic Mountain roller coasters
• High Ropes Challenge
• Bowling competitions
• Resume building
• Ice skating
• Tour of fire department
• Team TAG Super Sales
• Silent Auctions
• Dodgeball tournaments
• 3-on-3 basketball tournaments

The board meeting that I attended on October 20th had some heavyweights in the room.  CEO’s and top executives from companies like Oracle, Skype, Wells Fargo, Taco Bell, Toyota Financial Services,and  Morgan Stanley were in attendance.  Also, the president and CEO of The Boys & Girls Club of America was in attendance.  I was very impressed with the genuine hearts of these highly influential people.  There are over 4 million kids involved with the Boys & Girls Club of America.  These youngsters are given a safe place to learn, grow, and get mentored after school.  No question in my mind, the board is contributing to society and making this country a better place because of their interest and work serving kids.

I hope they enjoyed my presentation – “Why do companies need to serve their communities?  What ‘best practices’ can Clubs follow for corporate engagement.”

Team TAG is an established company today (unlike the day we opened our doors in 1998), and we are recognized as one of the best places for young professionals to work in Los Angeles.  I think our commitment to creating a whole person in a whole position has been one of the key factors for our success.  Every person that works with our firm experiences personal and professional development.