Just an Update…

There’s an obvious gap in time since the last time I posted here!  I’m sorry about the break in the schedule.  I’ve been spending more time with my mom as she recuperates from two serious heart procedures.  Loved our time together while decreasing the hours I spent on other things.  Now she’s back on track and feeling great!

I am just lovin’ Caribou’s new look.  You may have seen the changes in this very popular coffee shop’s redesign.  They’ve changed the graphics, deepened their colors, and have created a much more contemporary and trendy feel to the place.  Walking in to get my iced chai tea latte becomes an experience – I feel energized, inspired, and hopeful.  Yeah, I know.  It’s only a coffee shop.  But it creates a moment for me.

Their slogan is the same: “Life is short. Stay awake for it.”  And now they’ve added ‘bouisms to their cups and napkins.  Short words or phrases that remind us that today matters—let’s get the most out of it.  “Stay awake for maxing out your passport.”  “Life’s too short for grudges.”

Don’t you just love being around people who bring their own positive “bouisms” with them?  People who show up and bring energy and passion to the conversation.  It’s more than an exchange of information.  It’s an experience.  A moment.  

Lately I’ve been inspired by the ‘bouisms I receive from my network of job seekers.

I’m thinking of my new friend, George.  He speaks so fondly and with such gratitude about the people he’s crossed paths with over the years.   “I’ve worked with some amazing people!” (What a treat to be part of his network!)  And my friend, Maureen.  She’s got a message to share that will change the way we think about people with mental illness.  Her eyes light up as she talks about hope.  “I’m going to help change the face of mental health.”  And my conversations with Mary are just so enjoyable.  She passionately looks for ways to share her expertise and never, ever complains about the tight job market.  “I’m so fortunate.”

How are you showing up today?  What words or phrases are showing up in your conversations?  They’ll change the world around you, you know. 

Don’t miss a day of living.  Life is short.

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Whether you keep the computers running, manage people or projects, process paperwork, or lead an organization, it’s always about people.

Think about this for a moment. How different would our interactions be if we consistently treated the other person as an individual with worth? A person of significance? What if our actions demonstrated that we truly valued the other person, even if we had a difference of opinion?

It is easy for work relationships to focus only on results, job responsibilities, and performance. I suggest we change that. We can begin by focusing on the individual, rather than the process. We can share the journey, rather than work in silos. We can look beyond the performance, and see the person.

In an organization where we truly value each other and our unique gifts and abilities, we will treat each other as individuals with hearts, minds, emotions, and spirits.

It’s not just about goals and outcomes.

It’s about people.

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My friend, Gina, lost a good friend during high school. At 16 years of age, Jay decided he couldn’t live with the pain of feeling alone and worthless any longer. So he ended his own life. At his funeral, hundreds of people celebrated his life and mourned his death. Gina said later, “What a profound sight to see so many people who cared about this boy who thought he had no one.”

 People all around us have hurts and anxieties that are hidden from daily office routines. We hide our own heartaches and fears in order to keep our work and personal life separate.  We don’t want people to know about our personal hurts and struggles.  So we mask, pretend, or cover-up.

 You may not know that the woman who is taking more than her fair share of free granola bars in the break room hasn’t had a good meal in three days—she’s making sure her kids get fed.  The annoying guy down the hall with the mindless chatter is trying to cover up the pain from his recent divorce.  And the girl who “knows it all” is running away from her own insecurities.

 You know, it’s not always about us and our needs.  Working together requires us to consider and respect the strengths and weaknesses of those we work with.   

 Listen for your co-worker’s unspoken requests for patience and understanding.  Reach out and ask for help when daily responsibilities are a little overwhelming.

 We’re all in this together.

 It’s about people.

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