I just finished a novel where a rookie cop was the heroine. Throughout the book, as scary people tried to do her harm, she kept herself going by repeating a phrase she’d learned as a child:
No medals for quitters!
Quitter. Ouch. Who wants to be called one of … those!? Doesn’t “quitter” just drip with negativity?
Lazy! Unreliable! Untrustworthy! Bum! Sloth!
Are these people bums and sloths?
Continue ReadingAs lunch ended, the HR executive of a well-known, Denver-based “fast casual” restaurant chain looked me dead in the eye and said, “John, I promise to read QBQ! and call you in two weeks.”
He didn’t.
Didn’t read the book, or make the call.
So I followed up. It’s what salespeople do—and I’ve done it since 1986.
Continue ReadingDuring the process of hiring me to speak at his banking institution’s August event in Minneapolis, my client shared this:
“John, I know your QBQ! message of personal accountability is perfect for our organization because so much comes down to one’s personal brand.”
When I asked Pat (an executive who saw me speak in 2012) to expand, he offered this scenario:
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I learned this in my Cornell psychology class: A child’s play is her work.
So 11-month-old granddaughter, McKenna, is hard at work above.
Curious, when you are at work, do you “play”?
Outstanding people have careers not “jobs” because they find joy in work. They feel happiness as they toil. They don’t …
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“Hello, how are ‘ya?”
“Good to see you!”
“Hey, it’s been a while.”
That’s how lunch went in the dining establishment that was so fancy, so ritzy, that even the napkins were flecked with gold.
As I dined with the top officer of a blue chip insurance firm you would surely know by name (um, if you’re curious, they’re “on your side”), it seemed everyone around us knew him.
We were chatting about the “Personal Accountability and the QBQ!” presentation I’d just completed, and where to take the message of the QBQ! book next inside the organization.
When it was time to leave, we stood, turned toward the front door, stepped slightly to the right, and ….
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Organizations that don’t eliminate blame right now are burning money!
That’s my conclusion from working with a bunch of organizations since 1986. In fact, The Question Behind the Question (QBQ!)—a tool for practicing PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY—was born as an antidote to blame. Only when individuals engage in accountability, responsibility, and on-the-job ownership will the very real dragons of finger-pointing, culprit-seeking, and blame be slain.
This is when organizations become … outstanding.
But why bother? Does it really matter, this blame thing?
Well, you decide after exploring our itemized list titled …
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Inspired by last week’s Ansel @ Alamo piece, Dan of Hubbard Family Swim shares this story about two Millennials, Erin and Erin: John, I witnessed a QBQ! moment at our swim school … Our child check-in system—an important tool that enables us to deliver swim lessons in a safe, non-chaotic environment—sometimes fails due to internet or software…
Continue ReadingThe day after a three-day weekend can be tough. It’s easy to feel, you know, not real peppy.
Possibly I’m not peppy because I’m pooped.
Did you build a deck, cut down trees, plant rose bushes, clean your house top to bottom, entertain? If so, nothing wrong with being tired today.
But maybe the lack of pep is really those I-don’t-love-what-I-do blues. Been there—in a past life.
Now I do love what I do—speaking, training, selling, helping people—but I can still feel that, Ugh, not sure I can get going on this day after a long weekend! feeling.
But then I remember:
#PERSPECTIVE
I wrote this blog on PERSPECTIVE when beautiful Becca “Boo” was born to daughter, Kristin, in September 2012. We sure were scared there for a few days, but she’s perfect. If you missed it or need some PERSPECTIVE again, read it here.
PERSPECTIVE is a critical thing, and often needed the morning after a holiday weekend. So here’s a dose … for me:
Continue ReadingMichael Pemberton is president of UNIQUE Paving Materials. UNIQUE employs 40+ people and has been adding value to our economy since I was a one-year-old. That’s 55 years!
Like others who carry his title, Mike has spent a night or two worrying about the success or failure of the organization. He knows that if UNIQUE goes under, not only would it be a disservice to its paying customers, but more than 40 people would be unable to feed their kids, pay their bills, and build their life savings.
So when a guy like Mike sends us a story about serving customers that’s meaningful to him, we think it can be meaningful to all. Enjoy!
Continue ReadingThis training inquiry made me chuckle—and wince: “We have 200 employees, but just one who needs QBQ! training.” One person blames, complains, procrastinates, plays victim, and has become entitled. One individual lacks accountability. One employee is the problem. Funny and sad—but not new … In 1989 an executive bought management training from me for thirty…
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