I read some years ago that the happiest people say that they are working on leaving a legacy. Ever since I read that I have wanted ILS to have a foundation that would outlive me. I am happy to report that as of today we have a foundation. We gave a gift of $10,000 to the Columbus Foundation. We will have our own foundation within the Columbus Foundation that will be focused on giving to three areas:
1) To promote world peace
2) To protect the environment, and
3) To help the needy
I want to thank all of our clients who have allowed us to create this foundation by doing business with us. I want you to know that every year we plan to give 5% of our profits to this foundation. We will then dispense 1/2 of that amount. That way the amount in the foundation will continue to grow and help people long after we stop giving.
I can tell you that writing that check yesterday was one of the happiest moments I have ever had. Maybe that research on happiness was right; helping others feels good!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Being vs. Appearance by M.J. Clark
In the book The Shack by William Paul Young, there is a passage I find very instructive. It says: “It is quite simple really. Being always transcends appearance – that which only seems to be. Once you begin to know the being behind the very pretty or very ugly face, as determined by your bias, the surface appearances fade away until they simply no longer matter.”
How many times do we, as leaders, allow appearances to get in the way? Are we role models to each person on our team, or do we choose favorites? If we interviewed potential employees with a blindfold over our eyes, would we choose the same people? If you have a story to share of a time when you let appearances get in the way of your leadership, I encourage you to share it.
How many times do we, as leaders, allow appearances to get in the way? Are we role models to each person on our team, or do we choose favorites? If we interviewed potential employees with a blindfold over our eyes, would we choose the same people? If you have a story to share of a time when you let appearances get in the way of your leadership, I encourage you to share it.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Don't Criticize by Steve Anderson
According to research by John Gottman, in the happiest marriages there are roughly four compliments to every criticism. I don’t think many of us can say that we treat our spouses that well. Also, my Uncle Dick used to tell me that it takes 100 engineers and 1000 skilled laborers to build a building and an idiot to tear it down.
It takes no courage to criticize someone else. It takes leadership to build other people up. I realize that sometimes it is necessary to criticize others, but we should be very cautious as to whether or not to do it and how to say it. For example, after the Battle of Gettysburg, General Meade had the opportunity to crush the Rebel army and end the war two years before it actually ended. Lincoln was very upset with Meade about his decision not to pursue the Army of Virginia, so he wrote a letter criticizing Meade. How do you think Meade reacted when he received this letter? We’ll never know, because that letter was found in Lincoln’s desk drawer two years later after he had been assassinated.
I would bet that Lincoln sat down and put himself in Meade’s shoes before he mailed the letter. Lincoln knew that there were 50,000 casualties at the three-day Battle of Gettysburg. Many of those men had died in hand to hand combat. He probably reasoned that it would have been inhumane for Meade to ask his men to pursue the Southern Army under such circumstances.
So the next time you are upset with someone else, stop and think before you act. Follow Lincoln’s example. Put yourself in the other person’s shoes before you criticize, and then act accordingly.
It takes no courage to criticize someone else. It takes leadership to build other people up. I realize that sometimes it is necessary to criticize others, but we should be very cautious as to whether or not to do it and how to say it. For example, after the Battle of Gettysburg, General Meade had the opportunity to crush the Rebel army and end the war two years before it actually ended. Lincoln was very upset with Meade about his decision not to pursue the Army of Virginia, so he wrote a letter criticizing Meade. How do you think Meade reacted when he received this letter? We’ll never know, because that letter was found in Lincoln’s desk drawer two years later after he had been assassinated.
I would bet that Lincoln sat down and put himself in Meade’s shoes before he mailed the letter. Lincoln knew that there were 50,000 casualties at the three-day Battle of Gettysburg. Many of those men had died in hand to hand combat. He probably reasoned that it would have been inhumane for Meade to ask his men to pursue the Southern Army under such circumstances.
So the next time you are upset with someone else, stop and think before you act. Follow Lincoln’s example. Put yourself in the other person’s shoes before you criticize, and then act accordingly.
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