Leaders Elevate...

Leaders Elevate…

Tom Brady elevates performance...

‘Tis the season for football’s biggest game…we’re all excited for Super Bowl Sunday.  Amidst all the hoopla, I took something away from last weekend’s Ravens/Patriots game. 

Tom Brady is the Patriots’ leader…everyone knows it.  However, in last week’s game Brady put up the worst postseason performance of his career; just 239 yards, on 22 completions, NO TOUCHDOWNS, and he threw TWO interceptions.  They still won the game. 

The Patriots are still going to the Super Bowl, thanks to Rob Gronkowski’s very clutch - 5 catches and 87 yards on the day. 

It wasn’t about Tom Brady…it was about Tom Brady elevating everyone else’s performance.

OneMoreStep Thought for SUPER BOWL WEEK: Effective leaders always bring their “A” Game, making contributions of their own…but the great ones ELEVATE EVERYONE AROUND THEM, making others better.  Leaders Elevate.

Rob Gronkowski is a good football player at 6 foot 6 inches tall, 265 pounds…he also runs about a 4.65 second 40-yard dash.  At the University of Arizona he was named an Associated Press Third-Team All American, and was selected in the second round – 42^nd overall – of the 2010 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots.  Modest stats.

Tom Brady makes him a GREAT football player. 

Per Wikipedia:

Gronkowski owns a number of NFL tight end scoring and receiving records, including the single-season records for tight ends for most receiving touchdowns (17), most total touchdowns (18), and most receiving yards (1,327), all set in 2011.

Would Rob Gronkowski be a decent NFL player on another team?  No question.  He’s a very talented and physically gifted athlete.  Would he be breaking NFL records in just his second year as a pro without Tom Brady as his quarterback?  Doubt it. 

Tom Brady elevates Gronkowski’s potential and performance every single week.

I looked up synonyms for the word – Elevate – on Microsoft Word.  Here’s what I found:

RAISE…LIFT UP…LIFT…MAKE HIGHER…PUT ON A PEDESTAL…BUMP UP…BRING TO FORE…PROMOTE…ADVANCE…FURTHER

OneMoreStep application…

As leaders, it’s not always about our own stats. 

It’s less about what we do:

·      The idea we come up with and present

·      What we say in a meeting

·      How well we dazzle the team or audience with our analysis

·      The points we make while dominating a conversation

It’s ALL about how well we’re able to ELEVATE those around us:

·      Whose performance can we lift up by putting them on a pedestal?

·      Who, on our team, can we promote to help advance their career?

·      Rather than dominate, can we facilitate conversations to further progress?

·      How can we lift spirits with our positivity rather than feeding negativity?

If you want to make an impact that matters…be a true leader…ELEVATE.

Have a great day.

Taylor

Dream Diligently...

Dream DILIGENTLY…

What better time than Martin Luther King Day for a quick thought on DREAMS…

Dr. King had a dream…a dream that he so diligently shared through his passionate sermons, lectures, speeches, books, and nonviolent protests that his very dreams, in fact, changed the landscape of American society; and in many ways, the world.

OneMoreStep Thought for the week:

Everybody dreams…but those who dream DILIGENTLY not only achieve their own dreams, but they also become an inspiration to others.

The word – diligent – fires me up.  I looked it up on Dictionary.com, just to see how it is defined…loved the definition:

DILIGENT:

1.    Constant in effort to achieve something; attentive & persistent in doing anything

2.    Done or pursued with preserving attention

I don’t know about you, but anybody that’s “constant in effort to achieve something”, “persistent in doing anything” with “preserving attention” – I want them on my team. 

Some dream…but some dream diligently…like Dr. Martin Luther King. 

After earning his undergraduate and post graduate degrees from Morehouse College, Crozer Theological Seminary, and Boston University in the 50’s, he returned to the south.  Becoming pastor of a church in Alabama may have been his occupation, but his dream to put an end to racial discrimination in this country was his passion.

Dr. King, over an eleven-year period, traveled over six million miles and spoke over twenty-five hundred times, appearing wherever there was injustice, protest, and action.  He wrote five books as well as numerous articles. He led nonviolent protests in Alabama so that African Americans could vote.  He directed the peaceful march on Washington, D.C., of 250,000 people to whom he delivered his memorable "l Have a Dream" speech in August of 1963. (Nobelprize.org)

By all accounts, he truly was constant in his effort to inspire change.  What would have happened in the 60’s if he didn’t so diligently dream?  Would others have been inspired to put an end to the racial discrimination that kept so many people from living and experiencing the American Dream? 

It was Dr. King’s dream that gave hundreds of thousands of people hope, but it was his diligence that inspired radical change. 

“Whites Only” signs gave way to an overwhelming sentiment that “all men are created equal”…just like he dreamed. 

“Sons of former slaves and sons of former slave owners soon sat at the table of brotherhood”…just like he dreamed.

“Even the sate of Mississippi” was soon “transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice”…just like he dreamed.

His “four little children,” eventually thrived in a nation “where they weren’t judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character”…just like he dreamed.

Whatever you aspire to be, whatever you desire for others…rather than just “dream”, go OneMoreStep…DREAM DILIGENTLY.  That’s when dreams not only come true...they become a true inspiration to everyone around us.

Happy Martin Luther King Day…

Taylor

FRED Friday...Meet Marcos

FRED Friday…Meet Marcos

This week has been a busy one.  Several deadlines approaching, multiple projects for which I’m responsible gaining visibility by the minute, and I’m beginning to feel the pressure…mostly because I just want to make sure I do a great job.

Yesterday I had a conversation with Marcos from our Public Areas Department.  His job is to ensure our public areas – bathrooms, breezeways, lobby areas, corridors, etc are kept up, tidy, clean, and sparkling for all our Guests in the hotel. 

I walked into the men’s room just off the casino floor for a quick pit stop early in the morning.  My day was about to take off shortly thereafter with meetings, initiatives, and ‘the race to deadlines’.  It was one of those moments when a million things were running through my mind, and I was making mental lists, planning out my attack for the day, and battling my nerves…all at once.

Then…I ran into Marcos…

He was mopping the bathroom floor.  I walked in, said ‘good morning’ to him, and as if he entered from stage left in a Broadway show or in a Disney parade, Marcos said with his usual smile from ear to ear, “Hello, sir…how are you today?!?!?” 

I replied with the normal, ‘just fine…how are you?’

He said, with conviction in his voice, “I…am…great!”

I always notice Marcos, working diligently, every single day keeping our hotel looking brand new and clean.  I was taken aback with his ever-positive attitude.  It never fails…every time I see him, he’s smiling, and almost bounding from pillar to post, working, cleaning, and being of service to anyone in his presence.

I said to him, “Man…you’re always happy…”

He said, with a smile, “…I know…”

When I asked him why, he simply looked up at me, stopped mopping the floor, smiled, and said, “It’s just my way…to be HAPPY…God is good…I have a great family – 5 kids and one grandchild…I’m from the Dominican Republic…and we’re laid back, happy people.”

I stuck around, in the hallway leading into the men’s room off the casino floor just chatting with Marcos.  I asked him about his story.  He moved to NYC from the Dominican Republic when he was young.  He was the top sales person for a clothing company, a role in which he travelled all over the country selling…ultimately becoming the number one salesperson in the company with over $1 Million in sales. 

Through conversation we discovered common ground in that a few years ago he worked at the Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Spa in Aventura, Florida.  A couple of years ago, I lived about two miles from that property and drove by it every single day, going to and from my office in Aventura, FL.  It's a small world, after all.

For the rest of the day, after my conversation with Marcos, I was a little less stressed…I felt a little less pressure…and all of a sudden my nerves settled a bit.  Everybody matters…Everybody makes a difference….and in this case, Marcos makes a true difference that matters for me. 

If he can have such a positive attitude toward doing his job everyday, then why can’t you and I?

Thanks, Marcos, for showing others and me “your way”…to just BE HAPPY.

“It’s harder to be miserable, negative, and insincere than it is to be happy, positive, and genuine.” – Mark Sanborn, The Fred Factor…page 30.

Have a great day.

Taylor

What is FRED Friday?

In my favorite book, The Fred Factor, Mark Sanborn tells an inspiring story of how a man named Fred goes OneMoreStep after OneMoreStep in his role as a Postman for the United States Postal Service.  I love this book.  Since my mom sent it to me in 2004, I've purchased the book for friends, coworkers, and girlfriends...I've even purchased and hand delivered copies of the book to several executives at both Wynn Las Vegas and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. 

Fred Friday is a series in which the OneMoreStepRevolution blog will showcase a real life "Fred" on select Fridays.   Reading The Fred Factor definitely leaves us with a desire to to be more Fred-like ourselves, but I also love looking for Freds.  Freds are everywhere. I love it when I experience a real life Fred.  I'm inspired just as I am every time I re-read the book.  I thought it would be fun to spread the magic of Fred to our OneMoreStepRevolution community.

Sometimes...

Sometimes

Last week a friend of mine was having a tough week.  I sent her some encouraging words, and I gave her an inspirational book that I read a couple of years ago.  She was grateful, it lifted her spirits, and she thanked me.

She’s a good friend, and sent me a text message (somewhat as a joke), “T. Scott, sometimes you’re a really nice guy…” We had a nice laugh about it, and on we went with our daily routines. 

Then it hit me...this is a OneMoreStep opportunity...

OneMoreStep thought for this week: We should make our “sometimes”…ALL THE TIME.

Sometimes we’re nice to people even when we’re having a bad day.

Sometimes we make others feel special.

Sometimes we put in the extra effort at work.

Sometimes we concentrate on  doing the little things others will appreciate.

Sometimes we make sure to listen to others instead of dominating conversations.

Sometimes we lend a hand without being asked to do so.

Sometimes we stay positive…PMA-ing the day (Positive Mental Attitude)

Sometimes we smile & laugh, and we inspire others to do the same.

Sometimes we say, “Thank You”

Sometimes we say, “Please”

Sometimes we take the focus off of ourselves and we make it “about them”.

Sometimes we let go of what we can’t control, and we have faith in a higher power.

What if we did these things ALL THE TIME?  How much of an impact would we make?  How much more magic could we make for friends, family, loved ones, and coworkers?  How much happier would we be as a result?

Go OneMoreStep in 2012…Make your SOMETIMES…ALL THE TIME…

Have a great day.

Taylor

Believe

Believe

This holiday season…believe in yourself, believe in others, believe in a higher power, and believe in the true meaning of the season.  Whatever your religion…whatever your current stage in life…BELIEVE.

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

Happy Holidays...


Taylor

Content is King...with a twist

Content is King...with a twist

I spent a few years in online marketing roles earlier in my career.  In 2009 at a Hospitality e-Commerce Summit in San Diego, I attended a seminar where the speaker was adamant that “Content is King”. 

She made great points on the topic, explaining that success for websites like Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, etc certainly depends on the quality of their “content”.  If e-commerce websites have great content, end users, consumers like you and me, will not only visit the websites, but they will also return, recommend to others, and most importantly buy.

What makes content great?  E-Commerce & online marketing gurus say things like:

·      Relevant information

·      Visitor/User friendliness

·      Quality control

·      Something that others would recommend

·      Supplies the searcher’s needs

This holiday season I found myself doing most of my shopping online.  As I clicked through, jumping from site to site, I heard echoes of some of the seminars, classes, and conversations I had years ago around the whole “content is king” concept…it’s so true.

I picked up some great items from a few websites for friends and family members, but I found myself returning to Amazon.com where I purchased several items this year.  Why?  Other than the fact that Jeff Bezos is a genius, the experience at Amazon.com is just so easy and convenient…and I trust them.  

Amazon.com:

·      Has dynamic content that completely customizes the experience for us.  Their “related items”, “featured items”, “suggested items”, and “recommended items based on prior activity” features make it about us.  Our information – shipping info, purchase info, etc is all saved for us when we log in, saving us time.  Who doesn’t like that?

·      Tells us why we should buy from them.  Their content offers subtle reminders that comfort us, such as the strike through of the Manufacture Suggested Retail Price and the highlighted in red Amazon.com price.  Customer Reviews and the “Look Inside” feature for books suggest even more “why’s” for buying their products. 

·      Uses a pull rather than push approach.  Their content reminds us multiple times throughout our shopping experience that “you can review this order before it’s final.”, as if to say…”we’re not forcing you to do anything…”  That makes us comfortable, keeps us engaged, and fortunately for Amazon.com results in increased revenues.

Content really is king…so couldn’t we all take some of these same concepts and apply them to our lives?  I think we can...and should.  Amazon’s “content” has to do with framing, displaying, explaining, and providing products in such a way that makes it easy and convenient for consumers to purchase them online.  That’s their goal and mission in life. 

What about us?  Whether we’re doctors, lawyers, schoolteachers, sales people, leaders, coaches, teammates, friends, and/or loving family members…we all have our own “content”.  Our content gets published by way of the conversations we have with others, the emails we send to our teams and leaders in the organization, the lessons we prepare for and ultimately deliver to our classes, the service we provide to our Guests, and the proposals we pitch to our clients. 

I like this definition of content from dictionary.com:

Content – something that is to be expressed through some medium, as speech, writing, or any of various arts.

We all “express something through some medium” in one way or another every day.  Sometimes we reach others with our content, and other times it goes in one ear and out the other.  If you’re running into roadblocks or having trouble getting through to them, remember that content is king…

We should ask ourselves if our “content” makes it relevant to them.  Do we make it easy or difficult for people to work with us?  Do we save them time and make it convenient?  Is our work or our leadership something others would recommend?  Do we dynamically cater to others’ needs, making it about them?  Do we give them the “why’s” behind decisions we make or views we have?  Do we meet them where they are…and pull rather than push?

Content is King…go OneMoreStep and make your content something others will want to recommend and you just might make a difference while you’re at it.

Have a great day.

Taylor

Be Curious...

Be Curious…

Curious George...he was on to something

Bored?  Is MONOTONOUS becoming the universal adjective that can be applied to every aspect of your life – career, relationships, family dynamics, and/or social life?  It happens…it’s ok.  We’re all in the same boat.

OneMoreStep Thought for this week: When things get monotonous and boring…or better yet, before things even get to that point – be curious. 

Ask. Understand. Learn. Improve. REPEAT.

Ask questions…who, what, when, why, how…

If we focus all our attention on the person staring back at us in the mirror, we run the risk of getting bored very quickly.  However, when we focus on asking questions of those around us – family, friends, coworkers, staff, leaders, Guests, customers – we add to everyone’s experience.  All of a sudden we have dialogue rather than a monotonous monologue that can tend to be all about us…too much of that is boring for them and for us.

Understand…"seek first to understand, then to be understood” – Stephen Covey

When we’re inquisitive with sincere, genuine intentions the most amazing thing happens…we begin to understand.  When it comes to the people in our lives, we understand why they said what they said, why they felt they way they felt, what really motivates them, when they prefer to do what they like to do, how they like to be treated, and who they really want to be.  When it comes to other areas of our lives like our jobs or our goals, we understand just what skills will get us to the next level.  We understand more of the why’s behind the decisions our leaders make and the direction our organizations are going.

Learn…"the moment you stop learning, you stop leading.” – Rick Warren

If we ask questions with every intention to truly understand…we’ll absolutely, positively learn new things.  If we’re constantly learning new things, won’t we be sharper, smarter, more knowledgeable, and in turn, more impactful?  We should also ask ourselves – what can we read, with whom can we speak, and what can we do to constantly learn new ways to do things…new ways to make an impact…new ways to become the leaders we all strive to be.

Improve…"excellent firms don’t believe in excellence…only in constant improvement and constant change” – Tom Peters

Learning combined with action yields improvements.  Constant, steady improvements, by definition, make things better.  We rarely hear folks say, “I’m so tired of things getting better…” So why not take what we learn and put it into action?  With the right frame of mind, we can actively seek out ways to improve our relationships, our finances (both personal and at work), our health, our quality of life, and the coolest part – in doing so we just might improve someone else’s life along the way.

Be curious…Ask.  Understand.  Learn.  Improve.  At the very least…you won’t be bored!

“When you’re curious, you find lots of interesting things to do.  And one thing it takes to accomplish something is courage.” – Walt Disney

Have a great day.

Taylor