Swings

Swings

Something great happens.  We ride high, on the ever-euphoric feelings of achievement, triumph, happiness, and contentment. 

Then…

Something bad happens.  We feel hurt, as we work through the disappointment, frustration, sadness, and discontentment. 

Those are the swings…the unpredictable, uncontrollable swings of life.  We all face them.  We all experience them.  We all must endure them.  We all must react to them. 

OneMoreStep thoughts for the “swings of life…”

When things are going well - Keep Swinging. 

In good times, it’s easy to get satisfied and rest on our laurels.  It’s during these moments that if we’re not careful, we become complacent and we lose our edge, we lose our lead, and we just may fall from the peak we’ve worked so hard to achieve. 

Keep swinging…even in good times.  We should do more of what got us there…but we should do it better than we’ve ever done it.  Play to win, rather than play not to lose…Keep Swinging…

When things aren’t going so well, and when times are tough – Swing!

With every peak, we often experience a valley of some sort.  It’s never always sunny.  Things aren’t always perfect; even if they are for a period of time, odds are they won’t stay that way.  When we’re down, we have two choices – 1) Lay down and quit…or 2) Get up Swinging! 

When times are tough, we should heed Henry Ford’s famous quote, for advice – “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t…you’re right.” 

Think OneMoreStep thoughts: We can.  We will.  But we must get up the nerve to Swing, even when we’re feeling down.  So perhaps even in the down times more than any other, we should Swing…and take some shots and take some risks. 

When uncertainty sets in, and we’re not really sure what to do - Go Down Swing’n.

With uncertainty…who knows?  Exactly.  Nobody does, hence the very meaning of the word, uncertainty.  My take…if we don’t know and they don’t know the right answer, then why not ask ourselves what we really want, listen to our hearts and intuition, and take a chance…The odds may or may not be in our favor; but why not give it our best shot...so at least we'll always know that we did our best.

When we don’t really know the right answer or what we’re supposed to do…we should go OneMoreStep, and GO DOWN SWING’N…

If we don’t…we’ll never know.  And that would be worse than knowing the right answer and not doing anything about it, whatever it is.  What do we have to lose?

I don’t know about you, but I’m go’n down swing’n. 

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretsky

Have a great day.

Taylor

FRED Friday on Memorial Day...a Thank You

FRED Friday on Memorial Day…a Thank You

If you’ve read Mark Sanborn’s book, The Fred Factor, you know what it means to be a Fred.  If you haven’t read it, perhaps you’ve read some of the Fred Friday posts on this blog, in the past 14 months…

What makes a Fred a FRED?  At the core, it’s the passion, creativity, and commitment with which they approach their everyday routines that literally transform the ordinary into the extraordinary…

This weekend you and I are able to celebrate Memorial Day.  We enjoy times like these with our family, our friends, and our loved ones.  We’re afforded the right to wake up each morning with the opportunity to capitalize on whatever opportunities the day presents…we get to work, play, rest, shop, dine, and experience anything and everything we desire. 

The opportunities are more like privileges, when we really stop and think about it.  You and I are free.  We live in a free country.  Relative to the rest of the world, we truly are the LUCKY ONES… 

We are free…but the blessings and the privileges you and I realize are not free…

Our service men and women, overseas and on American soil, in every branch of the United States armed forces…past, present, & future…sacrifice their own lives, time, energy, and livelihood…for you, me, and the United States of America. 

Their commitment makes this the home of the brave, and it’s that same commitment that makes this the land of the free.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to the service men and women – past, present, and future – as well as their families, whose passion, commitment, and sacrifice to this country allow all of us to reap the benefits of living in this great country…

One for the road…

This morning in church they asked all current members or veterans of the United States armed forces to stand and be recognized.  As we all gave them a heartfelt round of applause, the gentleman seated next to me stood up to be recognized.  He stood up…tall, proud, and he gave a fistpump to the air above his right shoulder as the entire congregation applauded. 

I watched as the men and women standing throughout the auditorium looked around at one another.  They gave each other quick, yet meaningful looks…I watched several make eye contact, and I wondered what must have been going through their minds.  As my new friend next to me sat back down, I couldn’t help but extend my arm out to him for a handshake.  We made eye contact, he smiled, I smiled, and all I could muster was, “…thank you…”. 

He immediately shook my hand firmly, and replied, “my pleasure, sir…”

For the rest of the service and every minute since, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about that moment.  Our service men and women sacrifice so much, yet all I could say was a mere, ‘thank you’.  Was that enough?  I want to tell him again…and again…

Please forward this post on to the service men and women you know in your lives.  Spread it.  Share it.  Email it.  Tweet it.  Facebook it.  I hope this makes its way all around the world and back…so that our soldiers and veterans hear a Thank You loud and clear, from the OneMoreStepRevolution Team & Community.

They are the ultimate Freds…ordinary men and women, just like you and I…yet they lay it all on the line, and devote their time, energy, passion, and commitment for people they don’t even know…so that the United States of America can remain the extraordinary land of the free…

That, my friends, is service…an ultimate OneMoreStep.

“What makes any act extraordinary is doing it with heart.  What makes any life extraordinary is living it with love.” – Mark Sanborn, The Fred Factor, page 108

Thank you, soldiers & veterans, on this Memorial Day Weekend…

Taylor

"Man of the House" - Chuck Wicks

http://www.chuckwicks.com/ 

We're the Lucky Ones

We’re the Lucky Ones

It’s easy to dwell on everything else…the things we wish we had in our lives.  Sometimes we catch ourselves focusing on how great everyone else has it.   

We daydream about the next job, making more money, and finally being able to afford the new car, new toys, and/or maybe even the dream home. 

By the same token, when things don’t go exactly the way we envisioned, of course those not-so-magical emotions creep in.  We’re disappointed.  We’re sad.  We’re frustrated.  We’re mad.  We’re heartbroken.  We’re discouraged. 

OneMoreStep Thought: When things don’t go our way…or when we find ourselves feeling those not-so-magical emotions, if we actively think about what we DO have rather than what we DON’T…we just may realize how lucky we really are.

Maybe it’s obvious.  Perhaps it’s not even worth writing or talking about.  Then again, maybe not…maybe positive, happy thoughts are just what we need more often.

If you’re reading this blog post you have the means to do so.  You and I may not have the dream job right now.  We may not make the money we know we can or that we deserve, but we can afford the smart phone, laptop, or computer we’re using right now because of the job we currently have.  What if we didn’t have this job…where would we be?

We may be upset, frustrated, or angry with a friend today.  If we reflect on it long enough, we realize that it’s just a bump in the road as we navigate the relationship.  They may not be perfect in every situation, and sure we have our differences.  What if we didn’t have any friends at all…how sad would that be?

The apartment is a bit small.  It’s in an okay part of town, but not great.  We sure would like more…something a bit bigger, and perhaps either less expensive or at least more bang for our buck.  What if we didn’t have a home or could no longer afford to live in our current residence…wouldn’t that be worse?

If we stop and truly reflect on our “have’s” versus our “have-nots”, more often than not…we realize that we truly are the lucky ones. 

People to our left and right…our neighbors…our co-workers…our friends…our customers…our Guests…our students…our clients…and perhaps even our family members…they may not be as lucky.  Who knows what they’re navigating in their lives – family illness, debt, trouble with the law, sickness of their own, or financial woes…

Realizing that we’re the lucky ones…then going OneMoreStep, showing our compassion for people who may not be as lucky could very well make someone’s day…their week…their month…or their year. 

The ironic thing is…all of that sadness, frustration, anger, heartbreak, & discouragement…it quickly gives way to satisfaction, fulfillment, happiness, and feelings of love when we go that simple, yet often skipped OneMoreStep.

Have a great day.

Taylor

One for the road…

One of my best friends, Chuck Wicks, whose music we’ve featured on the OneMoreStepRevolution blog a couple times before, wrote a song that many of you may have seen him perform in the past 12 months.  His song entitled, "Lucky Ones" speaks to this very topic.  It’s about growing up in a small town…and while on the surface…as the song goes – “may look like we ain’t got much…but we’re the lucky ones…” because of all of the little things that mean so much to us…

“Lucky Ones” is one of my favorite songs Chuck has written…so thanks, again, Chuck, for the reminder that when we focus on what we do have vs. what we don't have, we realize that we really are the lucky ones.  When we realize that, it’s easier to help someone else that may not be so lucky. 

Enjoy – “Lucky Ones”, by my pal Chuck Wicks…

The Opportunity of Clear Expectations

The Opportunity of Clear Expectations

The difference between Expectations and Reality often leaves us with an array of emotions, ranging from stress, anxiety, anger, fear, sadness, disappointment, and not the least of which is misery. 

I tend to be a bit anxious and just a touch too emotional in some…well most situations.  So for folks with similar tendencies, perhaps we are more sensitive to the Expectations vs. Reality discrepancy…

However regardless of sensitivity level, most of us can agree that we would rather NOT be miserable…we would rather NOT have undue stress, anxiety, anger, fear, sadness, and/or disappointment.  So it stands to reason that most other people that we work with or live with feel the same.

While the solution may not be 100% solvable, a OneMoreStep opportunity presents itself here…

OneMoreStep OPPORTUNITY: Giving people clear expectations can prevent unnecessary stress and anxieties from creeping into their already stressful day…we can protect them from being miserable.  So if we really put our minds to it, we have the opportunity to REDUCE MISERY in the world, OneMoreStep at a time.  Great opportunity to make magic…

My favorite author/speaker on leadership principles, MarkSanborn, writes and speaks about the concept that “truth is transferable”.  The idea that ‘what is true at work is also true at home’ certainly applies to clear expectations…

Whether we’re leading teams, teaching students, coaching athletes, giving legal advice, working with people, serving people, selling to people, or navigating budding friendships and/or relationships in our personal lives, we all have a OneMoreStep opportunity right at our fingertips.

When it’s easier to skim over it.  When we’re not really feeling up to it.  When our calendar is full, and we would rather not “go into it”…or when the easy thing to do is to steer clear of the tough conversation:   what if we went OneMoreStep...

What if we - clearly articulate exactly what we feel, what we expect, and how we propose to get there…together (wherever “there” may be)…

When and if we give clear expectations in any situation, at home, at work, with our friends, or with our loved ones, we answer questions for people before they have to ask them.  We save them the awkward ‘in-between, not sure what he or she really thinks’ feeling.  Everybody has stuff. So people already have enough to worry about.  Heaven only knows what they’re navigating in their lives.  The least we can do is offer up some clear expectations so they know where we stand…ultimately one less worry for them.

We can save friends, family, coworkers, and the loved ones in our lives from undue stress, anxiety, frustration, and misery…when and if we go OneMoreStep, taking the extra time and effort to make things clear.  That very well could be the magic “they” need to make their bad days BETTER DAYS…

Go OneMoreStep…communicate and clearly articulate expectations…we’ll not only make a difference, we’ll capitalize on an opportunity to be the difference.

One for the road…

This OneMoreStep opportunity assumes that “we”…you and I…see value in truly saving people from having that one extra thing to worry about, preventing them from experiencing stress, anxiety, and misery.  This one, as with most OneMoreStep opportunities assumes that we ‘feel good when we do good’.

Or else…why do it?  Why go OneMoreStep to capitalize on the opportunity to reduce anxiety and misery for other people?

Consider for a minute the anxiety, stress, frustration, hurt, disappointment, and/or misery in your life…past or present.  What if someone saved you from it?  What if someone took a quick five minutes to make sure you DIDN’T have to go through that?

That’s usually enough motivation for us all to go OneMoreStep ourselves…

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you…”

– Matthew 7:12

When we go OneMoreStep after OneMoreStep…adding little elements of magic to others’ lives, soon others will begin going OneMoreStep as well.

That’s the revolution we’re looking for…a OneMoreStepRevolution.

Have a great day.

Taylor

Make Believe

Make Believe

We all love a good fairy tale, an enchanting story, and/or a feel good movie, with a happy, Hollywood ending; at least I do…for sure.  We also find ourselves daydreaming, fantasizing, or making believe things are different than our everyday reality. 

We pretend…and we dream about things like - the job we would rather have some day, the life we would ‘rather have’, the fairy tale love story everybody else has but us, or sometimes we simply make believe…just for fun.  Maybe it’s just me?  (Hope not, or this is really embarrassing.)

OneMoreStep thought: Turn make believe on its head.  Make believing the priority.

Make believe is fun, and it often is a source inspiration for us.  I’m certainly an advocate of the fantasy is real and reality is fantastic sentiment we’re sprinkled with at the Mothership, from fairy tales and that which we see in the movies.  I’ll probably always play make believe to some extent no matter what; although a fine line exists.  Too much time spent playing Make Believe can become non-productive.

What if we balanced our moments of make believe, and we made BELIEVING our priority.  We should believe in ourselves, each other, and most importantly, in a higher power that we can, we will, and that we do have the potential to make even our wildest dreams come true.

You and I may serve and believe in the same God…we may not.  Either way, believing in a higher power or at least a purpose beyond our own needs and desires can often take the pressure off and lessen the burden we put on ourselves. 

When we first believe and have faith in that higher power, we then experience a certain level of peace.  That peace is what allows us to become content in enjoying the journey, and it softens the blow as harsh realities set in between our moments of make believe.

Two for the road…

Lead With Love

One of my favorite and most powerful concepts is to lead with LOVE; in all that we do – every conversation, action, reaction, or otherwise – I love it. (no pun)  When we do that, we simply have better days…and so do the people with whom we live and work.  1 John 4:8 says “…God is love”.  So therefore we can make a case that leading with love is essentially leading with God.

A cool, relevant OneMoreStep suggestive thought to this topic:

Leading with LOVE is one thing…but perhaps we should let God lead.  Let go and let God…

“If God is for us, who can be against us…” – Romans 8:31

Believe

Just before this past holiday season, the OneMoreStepRevolution team (so what...I like to play make believe) published a blog post entitled BELIEVE.  It fits perfectly well right here:

Be thankful for what you have instead of dwelling on what you don’t have

Embrace diversity…respect differences in opinions and perspectives; it makes us all smarter

Lead with LOVE...with every conversation, action, or reaction, lead with love 

Invest the time and energy necessary to resolve conflict; everyone will be happier

Extend a helping hand to those you know may need it but will be too shy to ask for it

Value meaningful relationships with friends and family, and let them know you do

Encourage people that need encouragement; they’re hoping you’ll be the one to lift their spirits

Here’s to dreaming and playing make believe early and often…because let’s face it…it’s fun.  Make believing a priority to balance it out. If and when we believe in a higher power, bad days become better days filled with even more fun, enjoyment, and contentment. 

“No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing, the dreams that you wish will come true…”

Have a great day.

Taylor

FRED Friday...Meet Boston

FRED Friday…Meet Boston

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas has a LIVE theatrical performance, but no resident show, in a typical Las Vegas showroom…at least not just yet.

The LIVE performance isn’t made up of an entire cast and crew.  It has no Cirque du Soleil acrobatics, nor does it involve any headlining comedic celebrities or anyone famous from the music industry.

Performing LIVE, daily…dark for his two days off…is Boston, a pre-opening construction worker turned Doorman.  He is, in many, many ways…a Fred.

Boston was a leader among the various construction teams that built The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.  When the owners and developers would give tours of the development project, they enlisted Boston’s expertise and assistance to deliver them.  Later, when the actual senior management team of the resort came on board, Boston still gave the tours.

His passion and creativity (ala Fred the Postman) in delivering the tours, with reasons behind the construction/development strategy, led to a job offer.  As the project went from a construction zone to game-changing Las Vegas resort, hotel, & casino, Boston was asked to take his talents, creativity, passion, and commitment to the front drive…to be a Doorman.

Luckily for The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Boston accepted the position. 

You see Doormen in the hospitality and hotel/resort industry are supposed to greet and welcome Guests arriving by taxi, shuttle, limo, or their own vehicles.  The expectation is that they open car doors, assist with luggage, and open the front door leading the Guest into the lobby of the hotel.

Boston goes OneMoreStep after OneMoreStep…beyond belief.  He starts his day very early in the morning with a caffeinated beverage, and once he hits the front drive…he’s ON STAGE…LIVE…the performance begins.

He’s full of energy and enthusiasm, as he borderline jogs/trots to each and every vehicle that pulls through, making sure he is there to open the door for arriving Guests.  He practices what Mark Sanborn (author of the Fred Factor) calls personality power…he makes it about each individual, making them feel welcome, comfortable, and so very important in those crucial first impression moments between the car and the lobby, as their Las Vegas experience begins.

He not only assists with luggage, opens car doors, and gives directions…he also turns his ordinary job into a true art form.  His passion for making people smile and making people happy is infectious and contagioius among his peers in Bell Services, with taxi drivers, and especially our Guests. 

He attracts through artistry…and as Mark Sanborn points out in the book, The Fred Factor, Freds know how to add value, without spending a penny.  

Whether it’s by offering his personal cell phone to a Guest that desperately needed to get in touch with a family member in Canada (true story…saw it with my own eyes…) or literally “performing” as he offers to take pictures for Bachelorette parties upon arrival…Boston consistently practices Fred Principle #3 – as he continually creates value for others.

He reminds us that nobody or no seemingly ordinary “job” can keep us from being extraordinary.  The ability to continually create new value for people we live with and work with through passion and creativity, ala Boston’s daily performances on the front drive, is what the Fred Factor is all about…

Attract through artistry:

 “What are you doing to add an artistic flourish to your products or services? It can be as simple as a unique signature or as significant as a major improvement in packaging or design.  We are drawn to attractiveness not only in people but in goods, services, architecture, and all avenues of design.”

 - Mark Sanborn…The Fred Factor, page 53

One for the road…

FRED 2.0 COMING SOON - Got a great Fred Factor story? Share it! Mark Sanborn is working on Fred 2.0 and would love to see your story or ideas. Submit at http://bit.ly/JC1XgO

If you have a Fred story of your own, you can also Facebook me, Tweet me, email me, or call me…I would love to hear it and share it.

Have a great day.

Taylor

Lessons From Mom - 2.0

Lessons From Mom – 2.012

A year ago, I wrote a post – Lessons From Mom – as a tribute to my wonderful, loving, supporting, and encouraging Mom…for Mother’s Day 2011. 

The team at OneMoreStepRevolution went OneMoreStep for Mothers Day 2012…

Here’s Lessons From Mom – 2.012

Ask Yourself – What am I going to do about “it”?

The unexpected often happens, preventing the perfect situation or the perfect outcome…and we usually become frustrated…and we often complain about it to our friends, coworkers, bosses, or family…

In my case, I usually call my Mom.  She undoubtedly has 87 other things she’d rather talk about than listen to my bellyaching.  However, she listens first, lets me get it all out, and then she asks me, “Okay…what are you going to do about it?”

Mom teaches and has taught so many over the years that we always have two choices – 1) Be miserable or 2) Take a more positive, productive approach and make the best of any situation. 

I’ve learned after many attempts of choosing #1, there’s little future in it…#2 usually makes for better days…

Use “We” MORE than “I”…

I hate to do this to you (because it may very well ruin your ability to keep a straight face), but I’ll tell you a fun game to play at work…listen carefully in meetings or conversations among coworkers and leaders…pay attention to how often people say “I think…this” or “I think…that”.  Listen and pay attention to how seldom people say “We”…anything. 

“We” is collaborative…it says TEAM, “we’re in this thing together”, “we’re equals…”, “I’m in the boat with you”. 

On the contrary, always using “I think…this or that” says – “I’m just a wee bit smarter than you”, “I’m just a touch more important than you”, and “I’m basically awesome…so everyone should listen to me.”

Mom always points out to me – “which is more welcoming and more inviting…someone who uses “We” or someone who always says “I…I…I think…I did…I’m awesome…”, etc ?

We all tend to fall in the “I” Trap…it’s totally human and normal.  Recognizing it, guarding against it, and using “We” MORE than “I” is a OneMoreStep and lesson from Mom worth following.

Many kinds of successes…

2009 and 2010 were trying years for me, several of my closest friends, and many Americans, as we found ourselves out of work.  I had moved from Vegas to Miami for a job that simply didn’t work out as planned.  I later not only lost my job, but I couldn’t seem to find a new job…anywhere.

Mom wrote me an encouraging card, as only she could write.  She found a way to lift my spirits at a time when I had very little to be proud of, happy about, or look forward to…or did I…

Mom’s note in December of 2009 reminded me to:

“…always remember that every single day of our lives offers possibilities, and it’s often in some of the quiet, slow days that the best of lessons show themselves…if we only take the time to notice…always be aware that there are so many kinds of success…watch for them all, and strive to enjoy…”

Two and half years later, I find myself back in Las Vegas, striving for success at work and in life.  Many days I feel unsuccessful at both…perhaps you do to…

Look UP…join me in taking this lesson from my Mom…if we slow down, peel the layers back, and truly take the time to notice, we just may find many, many successes for which to be thankful and enjoy…

Thanks, Mom, for the encouragement, love, and support for 32+ years…I love you.

I can honestly say that I really don’t know where I would be today without the many Lessons from my Mom…

Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms…

Have a great day.

Taylor

RELATED POSTS:

Lessons From Mom - 2011

I Wanted to be Like Him 

Commencement & Moments in Time

Commencement & Moments in Time

‘Tis the season…graduation season.  Over the next several weeks Kindergarten, high school, college, graduate school, and PHD students will celebrate their graduation.  They will all walk across the stage in their commencement ceremonies. 

Commencement means the beginning or the start of something. 

OneMoreStep thought for the week:  During this, the season of graduation, with commencement ceremonies scheduled to take place for our relatives, loved ones, friends, and/or sons or daughters of people in our lives…we can all take this opportunity to start something, or we can choose to begin that new project, new outlook, or new approach…We should Commence & take advantage of each precious moment in time.

We all have that one thing we’re planning to do.  We have those people we’ll get around to calling or meeting with “one of these days.”  We often know what we should be doing, how we should do it, and why it’s important…but for any one of a myriad of reasons…we don’t. 

We put things off.  We conveniently steer clear of those people at work or in life with whom tough, critical conversations are necessary…and we procrastinate initiating contact, because it’s easier that way. 

Everyone puts things off…we all do it…which is why this is a OneMoreStep opportunity.  When everyone else is thinking about putting it off, or when they’re also feeling nervous about having the tough conversation…what if we were the ones to commence, begin, or start the project, conversation, or new approach.

Sometimes all we need is a push from someone or something to get us going, get us off the couch, or to inspire us to have those tough conversations we know will heal a broken relationship or mend hurt feelings.  You and I have the opportunity to be that inspiration, for others.  We can motivate others to start, or begin…when we simply begin ourselves.  When we go OneMoreStep…others will soon follow and go OneMoreStep themselves.  (what a cool revolution that would be…)

We should ask ourselves what or how we can start, begin, or commence today…this week…this month…or by the end of the year that will move the needle, add value, or inspire others to do the same. 

We can be the spark…and we should be…we will be, when we go OneMoreStep…

One for the road…

I was texting with my Dad a couple days ago.  Dad sent me a very nice, uplifting text message, reminiscing about this time of year, 15 years ago…when I graduated from High School.  He told me in his text that he was so proud of me then, and he’s still proud of me today…a very nice text from Dad, which is always encouraging.

I thought about just how much has changed in my life in these past 15 years.  It’s crazy, having grown up in Grayson, KY that I now live and work in Las Vegas, NV.  You may be thinking the same about the past fifteen years of your life; all of the changes, for better or worse.

You and I probably aren’t too different, in that we’re thrilled with the progress we’ve made professionally and/or personally in life, yet we can’t help but feel sad about the losses, missed opportunities, or the relationships that have faded over the years.  The friends or family members we once spoke to or spent quality time with every single day just a few years ago may not be around anymore, for whatever reason. 

Things change, and the beat goes on…all the more reason to, as my Dad told me earlier this week, “just really, really enjoy each moment in time...” 

There’s no better way to enjoy each moment than to get started…begin…commence…today.

Congratulations to all of this year’s graduates…this is just the beginning…

“The quickest way to get started is to stop talking and begin doing…”

 - Walt Disney

Have a great day.

Taylor