QBQ! – Page 2 of 37 – Be Outstanding Through Personal Accountability

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On Independence Day, in the Land Of The Free,” I woke up asking, “What could possibly keep me un-free?”

Don’t Let Thinking Hold You Back

I noticed our Shiba Inu, Mabel, standing in her kennel. She was waiting to be let out. I then saw the door was not latched — but she believed it was. That is, if pups possess beliefs. 😉

Her errant thinking prevented her from “being free.” It held her back.

What Bad Thinking Sounds Like

Relationships: The Power of Neutral

Join us today in our new QBQ! Facebook Discussion Group here!

In 1969, I did my big 6th-grade project on Switzerland. Little did I know, more than 50 years later, I’d be saying this:

Sometimes, ‘ya just gotta be Switzerland, the country whose official position in wartime is … neutrality.

Do We Need Gun Control?

Do you carry a “Should Gun”? You know, that weapon we fire when telling people they should do this or that?

10 Characteristics of Successful People

Succeeding is the simplest thing we can do. Unless we’ve made it complicated.

What does it take to be successful? Nothing new here —

10 Characteristics of Successful People

Accountable

Committed

Diligent

Curious

Tenacious

Hard-working

Humble

Punctual (yes, this matters!)

Skillful

Service-minded

There you go, 10 traits of those who succeed.

Wait, here’s one more:

Learners Don’t Ask This Question

When I found this measuring tape from my early 1980s Montana assignment with Cargill that Karen and I experienced, I had two thoughts:

1. Wow, that is so old!

2. An inch is still an inch, and a foot is still 12 inches.

My four-decades-old measuring tool is as true now as a new one bought and used today. Some things never change with the passage of time. Which makes them …

Leadership: 6 Reasons We Say Too Much

Early in the COVID-19 days, my wise wife, Karen, said this could really hurt our son’s business. Michael and his wife, Casey, perform wedding videography and photography.

Have you heard the trendy phrase “gig economy”? Well, Sun Prairie Films of Colorado couldn’t be more closely tied to the world of gigs. All revenue comes from events, group celebrations, and gatherings of lots of people.

I feared Karen was right, but I responded, “Probably, but let’s not say that to them now. It won’t help to predict doom and gloom when we don’t know.” Karen agreed.

Sadly, she was spot on—Sun Prairie Films revenue eventually shut off like a faucet.

Leadership Lesson Learned

The Time To Be Outstanding Is NOW!

As our heavily damaged economy slowly comes back to life, I can’t imagine a more critical time to stand out.

Said differently, it’s time to … be outstanding.

Is your organization there? If not, what needs to change?

Bottom line, success will be driven by where paying customers choose to spend their money. As in pre-Coronavirus days, they will vote with their dollars — and feet.

We must be as excellent as we can possibly be. No organization can afford to lose cash-carrying customers. Of course, it will happen since our organizations are made up of humans and humans make mistakes.

Don’t Make These Mistakes

Personal Accountability Means Saying, “I did it!”

CRACK!!!

When my wife heard the loud, sharp ear-piercing noise, she immediately turned and said, “What was that!?”

Answering Karen literally, I responded, “A plate broke.”

The moment those words exited my mouth, I remembered what she and I teach in our Raising Accountable Kids book. An excerpt for your reading pleasure:

Management Accountability: The Proverbial “Buck” Stops Here

What’s really behind a lousy customer service moment? Let’s find out …

The Story

A consumer told us of her experience with a popular quick-serve chicken place. Here’s the phone call:

Customer: “I ordered a $13 meal online yesterday, but when I arrived at 8 pm, your lights were off and there was no one there.”

Popeyes: “We don’t do returns.”

Customer: “Returns? No, I’d like a refund.”

Popeyes: “When was this?”

Customer: “Last night.”

Popeyes: “We were open till 11.”

Customer: “Your store was dark and deserted. I was there.”

Popeyes: “Bring in your receipt today for your meal.”

Customer: “No, thanks. I’d like my refund.”

Popeyes: “We don’t do returns.”

Customer: “I will contact my bank and reverse the credit card charge.”

Popeyes: “Okay.”
————-

The Cost

So, this paying patron has told some friends about her experience—and now you know about it. All for …

Your Career: Having Fun Yet?

Yep, that’s me in the old photo, on stage early in my “speaker” career, sharing “Personal Accountability and the QBQ!” with the Jostens’ management team in 1997. Mustache and all. Being verbal; having fun!

What Seemed to Be My Weakness

During these COVID-19 days, my wife and I have been doing what many have been doing: cleaning, sorting, and remembering the past.

Browsing my 7th-grade yearbook from Dewitt Junior High in Ithaca, NY, we re-discovered something about me:

I’m not only extremely verbal now …

Personal Accountability: No Throwing Stones!

There’s a ton of COVID-19 angst and anger in the world today, for sure. Being home together 24/7, my wife, Karen, and I have lots of time to discuss what’s going on. You probably do, too.

Interestingly, somehow, we’ve learned even more about each other than we knew before. Even though we began dating … in 1976 and married in 1980!

Last evening, as we talked about the finger-pointing and blame we’re witnessing — not to mention incessant recrimination and hind-sighting — Karen shared a short story I’d not heard before …