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We’ve had the game of Boggle in the Miller home since 1982. Fun, competitive, and challenging—and great for kids as it helps grow their “vocab.”
Here’s what always amazes me when I play:
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I’ve been to a bunch of corporate conferences in my 20 years of keynote speaking on “Personal Accountability and the QBQ!” Usually, I can be found standing in the back of the ballroom waiting to present.
So I’ve heard lots of executives talk. Mostly, it’s industry and company specific info and technical in nature. READ: Dry and dull.
Or it is “‘rah rah’ you can succeed!!!” stuff. READ: Waste of time.
But once in a while, while admittedly half-listening, an alarm goes off in my brain.
Like yesterday.
I was waiting to deliver my accountability message to 600 Walmart managers in Arkansas when one of the execs quoted the CEO of Walmart U.S.—Greg Foran—who has said:
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The King performing “Put the Blame On Me”
You’re probably thinking, No way, John! No blame at all? It’ll never happen!
You could be right. I mean, just watch the news, see what’s trending on social media, and listen to what is espoused daily by our political “leaders” …
What are we witnessing?
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Click below to enjoy a QBQ! interview on “The Mandy Connell Show” on 850KOA
For me, it’s often a small thing that speaks this big message:
BE THANKFUL!
Karen and I, along with two daughters, loitered at the mall recently, spending money on ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ANYONE NEEDED.
Back-to-school clothes for teens. Walking shoes for me. Fall decorations for Mom. A couple Frisbees, just for fun. Starbucks and “Doc” popcorn for all.
Like I said, nothing we had to have. Important question:
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Sears has a problem: A completely non-consumer-friendly “appliance repair” system.
Systems aren’t perfect—we all know that. In the QBQ! book, we teach this idea:
Don’t ask the lousy question, “When are we going to get better systems?”
Instead, ask “The Question Behind the Question” (QBQ), “What can I do to succeed with the systems I have?”
Now, back to Sears …
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Fine. I’ll admit it here publicly:
When I walk 3+ miles each day, I often take Kelly Clarkson along. I’ve aways enjoyed her energetic and creatively written 2004 album “Breakaway.”
And every time I hear her belt out the song “I Hate Myself For Losing You,” I wonder, What would our world look like if we all lived like that?
Here are her challenging, accountability-themed words that could’ve come straight from the QBQ! book on PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY …
Have you witnessed a “Random Act of QBQ!” recently? My brother-in-law, Tom, ran across this one. Enjoy!
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John, I have a QBQ! story for you!
While at a conference in Chicago, my laptop mouse died. I wasn’t sure if it was broken or just needed a new battery.
So I went to the Candlewood Suites store in the lobby, but they didn’t have any “mice” or the battery I needed.
At the front desk, I asked Julie if they possibly had a spare mouse that another guest had left behind. She looked in their little “lost and found” cardboard box, but there weren’t any.
I thanked Julie and headed out to the conference center next door.
Continue ReadingIf you grew up in snow country like I did, you were told that when driving on snow and ice, never turn away from the skid, run from the skid, or ignore the skid. Rather, we were taught to confront a skid aggressively with swift action.
If your vehicle’s back-end is skidding in the snow to the right, turn the steering wheel hard to the right. If it slides to the left, turn hard left.
When we confront the skid or slide directly like this, we kill our vehicle’s momentum and win back control.
Otherwise, we end up in the ditch.
This safe driving maneuver is an apt picture for those frustrated by what might be seen as a slide in our world’s values.
Possibly, each of us could directly confront the “skid” we see taking place—not by lecturing, shaming and criticizing others—but through our own actions.
Our own choices.
In other words, through personal accountability …
Continue ReadingNew Facebook page here! Give it a “Like” and Be Outstanding!
Got clarity?
If you don’t use those little round “blind spot” mirrors on your vehicle’s side mirrors, you should. They work. (see photo)
It struck me as I added them to a new Miller car, that in an instant I did what accountable people do in life:
Continue ReadingSee that face? It’s not just the face of a Millennial, it’s the face of our future. Ally and I had a LinkedIn (link with me here) chat the other day, and at least three messages came from it: The foundation of success is personal accountability. Outstanding organizations hire character over credentials. The “older” generation must…
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