Oil well? Rig? Pump? Big machine that goes up and down?!?
Whatever it’s called, this thing has sat on the Colorado prairie a third of a mile east of that blue house off in the distance—aka the Miller home—since we moved here over 16 years ago.
Watching it from our back porch for a decade and a half, here’s what I’ve observed:
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I only have one famous friend—his name is Dave Ramsey—and I will forever be in his debt.
Which is a funny statement, actually, since Dave is all about … getting out of debt!
Truly, though, I’m thankful we found each other.
Dave tells the story of how he stumbled across us at QBQ, Inc. whenever I’m on his radio program (recent interview here). He was wandering an airport when he found QBQ! The Question Behind the Question. Like many do, he stood in the book store reading. After getting through most of QBQ!—a one hour read—he “felt so guilty” he decided to buy it.
That began our friendship.
But why did the QBQ! book intrigue him so much? Well, because Dave knows this:
Continue ReadingIf so, let’s explore the “6 C’s of Change.” Every change process in every organization contains these components. It’s good to name them so we know where we are at any given time.
Then we’ll share the secret to change. (Hint: It isn’t plastering slogans on cubicle and cafeteria walls.)
Okay, here we go …
Continue ReadingWow, did someone in the public eye really just buck current societal norms by drawing a line in the sand??? Now that’s leadership. Read on …
There is an NCAA coach who—while seeking victories—finds victory in teaching discipline, respect for others, and self-control to his players. His name is …
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“Young man, please step away from the wall!”
The college-age employee turned, looked at me, and then—beaming slightly—stepped back from his work.
Aiming my iPhone camera, I asked …
Continue ReadingA quick story, often attributed to Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892):
A duke boarded a galley ship and went below to talk to the convicts manning the oars. When he asked what their crimes were, almost every man claimed that he was innocent, blaming someone else or accusing the judge of taking a bribe.
There was one, though, who said …
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Yep, that’s me achieving a rare victory on the wrestling mat in 1974 as a 10th grader. My dad, Jimmy Miller, may have been Cornell’s head coach, but I lacked his natural talent, not to mention his physical strength acquired by milking cows by hand in the 1930s! 🙂
However, the sport of “grappling” did teach me one key thing about successful living:
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If you’re a fan of the QBQ! book and follow us on social media, then you know this: We are really big proponents of PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY (PA).
We write about PA, train on PA, give keynote presentations about PA. And, like you—work hard to practice PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY at work and home.
My wife, Karen, and I even wrote a whole book on the power of accountable parenting!
But … why?
Continue Reading“Organizations that put polices before people fail everyone.” Outstanding!
Have you taken the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)? The Millers have, and doing so has enabled us to better understand and relate to each other. Kristin is even certified to teach MBTI because there’s nothing more powerful than our QBQ! content on personal accountability combined with MBTI material in the same workshop.
Anyway, if you do know Myers-Briggs, then you will know me without meeting me when I tell you my “type.” I’m an “ESTJ.” If you aren’t familiar with MBTI, stay with me here. You see ….
Continue ReadingWe recommend that you forward this piece to your colleagues and boss to create meaningful dialogue.
Question: Does “free speech” exist in our organization?
Resting in a Colorado field, these bales of straw possess a beauty that stems from their “alikeness.”
The characteristic of “alikeness” can be of great value when the market wants and expects consistency. McDonalds comes to mind. Buy a Big Mac in Sochi, Russia at the Olympics and it tastes exactly like the one you consumed a few days earlier in Paterson, New Jersey.
But what can be positive about alikeness in straw bales or the food we purchase, can be very negative in our organizational cultures.
In Toronto to speak on “Personal Accountability and the QBQ!” I got out for a long walk and passed by this building with its profound proclamation:
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