QBQ!

Cynicism Is a Choice: Take The High Road Instead

When we at QBQ, Inc. work with client teams, we help them understand the danger of possessing a cynical attitude. What is cynicism?

Cynicism: Doubting the intentions, motives, and sincerity of others.

Thinking the worst of people—coworkers, management, neighbors, friends, family—is an awful way to work and live. It’s something I have to be careful to avoid. When I fall prey to cynicism, I play the victim asking Incorrect Questions (IQs) like, “Why is life so unfair?” “Who’s doing this to me?” and “When will people treat me right?”

Bad questions, for sure. (For more on IQs vs. accountable QBQs, click here)

The Millers Are Black and White

Crystal Clear Picture of “Employee Engagement”

GIVEAWAY!!! Leave a comment on this blog and we’ll enter your name into our April 24, 2018, drawing for an autographed hardcover 5th edition QBQ! book!

Is your organization striving for high-level “employee engagement”?

If so, here’s a story from Anna, a superintendent of schools in Virginia, presenting a crystal clear picture of an engaged team member. Good stuff. Enjoy and … share on!

Anna’s Story Is Howard’s Story

John, I’ve listened to “QBQ!,” “Flipping the Switch,” and “Outstanding!” several times on audio. I love how such practical content can change a life so much and make my world a happier place. I now look for examples to share. Here’s one …

4 Customer Service Lessons From … An Airline?!

When it comes to the airline industry, there is so much negative stuff. How ’bout we share a positive airline piece on customer service and commitment? 😎

Enjoy this outstanding customer service story from QBQ! reader, Spencer Werness, of the Twin Cities, Minnesota airport …

Spencer Is All About The Customer

Harmony Happens With Personal Accountability

Spencer Werness of Delta Airlines—you won the “stash” of 6 FREE QBQ! books! Congratulations!

News Flash #1: Relationships Can Be Healthy

The Miller marriage is healthy—and I have proof!

We cleaned our garage over the weekend with NO disagreements over when to do it, how to do it, and where stuff should go.

No tension, no arguing, no fighting. We were not the Bickersons on Saturday, but rather the harmonious Millers.

Miraculous.

For many years our 7 children wanted to “run for the hills” whenever Mom and Dad said, “Kids, we’ll be cleaning the garage today.”

Not anymore, though. And … I feel I need to add this clarification:

Outstanding Customer Service Is ALWAYS Fun

GIVEAWAY!!! Comment to possibly win 6 (yes, six!) FREE QBQ! books!

There are many terrific aspects of being an author/speaker. One is when people have an outstanding experience, they think of your message. Honoring!

In this case, it’s about QBQ!-esque customer service. Enjoy this story from Travis, a true believer in the QBQ! book and its message of Personal Accountability.

Family Breakdown: 12 Mistakes to Avoid

It is often said our world’s woes can be traced to a “breakdown of the family.” So I got thinking, What exactly breaks a family down? What damages relationships, drives people apart, and creates estrangement?

I believe exploring what we might do wrong is as healthy a learning process as studying the right things to do. So let’s look at one dozen mistakes that when made truly hurt families.

12 Attitudes, Approaches, and Actions That Damage Family Relationships

Teamwork: No Cool Kids, Every Player Counts

I’ve always loved this question: “What’s the most important leg of a 3-legged stool?” The answer is, of course, obvious.

How about this question, though: “Who’s the most important member of a team?” Isn’t the answer also—all of them?

I’ve had some Big Bad Voodoo Daddy music for years and often jump right into it when exercising. Today, though, I decided to watch this terrific group here:

Playing the Victim: Why Go There?

In our blog, The Solution Is Right In Front of Me, I stated, “My life can and will be better when I choose to make it better. Anything else is blame, whining, procrastination, and victim thinking.”

Many Amen!-type comments arrived, but Alicia objected by email:

“John, self-effort will get a person off the couch and can improve a life (compared to being a slug), but self-effort alone is not the determining factor in achieving success. There are many other factors. To believe that is not ‘victim thinking.’”

That’s okay. Nice people can disagree nicely.

But then Lori sent a comment. Well, more of a story that we’ll share now.

The Lori Story

The Solution Is Right In Front of Me!

Leave a comment on this blog and your name will be entered into our drawing for a signed Raising Accountable Kids book. So, jump right in!

On our QBQ! Facebook page, I posted, “My success begins and ends with my choices.” Many folks said, “Amen!”

Except for one guy. He wrote …

“How luck and random events play into the affairs of humankind must be considered. It’s surely fortunate to be born in the U.S., have the name of Trump, be healthy, and so on—but making good choices isn’t easy when the options are opaque, incomprehensible, or too numerous to master.”

Huh?

To be honest, this type of “rationale” exhausts me. Call me simple-minded, but I believe this:

3 Ways To Grate On Others: COMPLAIN! COMPLAIN! COMPLAIN!

Comment on this post and be entered into our drawing* to win an autographed set of QBQ! and Flipping the Switch books!

As Karen and I dined at a Denver-based restaurant chain, the manager, Nate, stopped by our table to see how we were doing. One thing led to another, and—as is my wont—I mentioned the QBQ! book to him and gave my usual 15-second book summary. It goes like this: