In Loveland w/ some cold & windy weather, but the mountains remain awesome as always ...thinking of all the GOOD and beauty God has created.

With our Struggles comes Learning!?!

So much I like about this-reading this morning and thought I would share! To me it gives peace DURING our ups AND downs!

Joy in Trials JAMES 1:2 My brothers and sisters, 4 consider it nothing but joy 5 when you fall into all sorts of trials, 1:3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 1:4 And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything. 1:5 But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him. 1:6 But he must ask in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed around by the wind. 1:7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, 1:8 since he is a double-minded individual, 6 unstable in all his ways.

1:9 Now the believer 7 of humble means 8 should take pride 9 in his high position........

May your struggles be few, but when they occur, let learning happen!!!

Are you the CALL CENTER management world? Meeting of AssociationCCP.org this Thurs: http://ping.fm/vZ1qX

Visiting Loveland Colorado coming week!

DIS-TRUST BOXES

Suggestion boxes on walls of a business indicates a lack of leadership, trust, upward comm, etc! I call them DISTRUST BOXES, think about it! They say, sure we want your input and realize you can not funnel it thru your leader, so scratch it out on a note and go STICK IT in that box on the wall.

I am just sayin....!

Suggestion boxes on walls of a business indicates a lack of leadership, trust, upward comm, etc! I call them DISTRUST BOXES, think about it!

Being a NON-MicroManager!?!

The concept of DELEGATION is a great way for a leader to begin breaking away from being a micro-manager. Delegation develops two-way trust (that you trusted me to do this and that I know you can be trusted to get the job done). Delegation develops people to be better prepared to do higher-level work. It develops thinking skills, problem solving abilities, initiative, confidence, and self-esteem. It also allows you to discover strengths and weaknesses of your people. Consider this scenario…by delegating, I am developing that person to take on more responsibility and allowing me time to practice leadership in other areas. If I take advantage of this opportunity, I can also become a better coach to those that I have delegated to, since I will have to do some coaching along the way. The challenge is not to do too much and get in the way…after all, too much coaching can signal a lack of trust. When you delegate, keep these factors in mind; be available, since there may be questions and issues that come up. Also, remember to give the authority necessary to do the job…nothing is more frustrating than to be given the assignment but not the authority to get it done.

And here’s a HUGE, BIG, VERY IMPORTANT point! Regardless of the outcome, the responsibility of the delegated action remains with you! …If it goes well, the person who did the work gets the credit; if it doesn’t go so well—guess who gets the blame?…that’s right, Mr/Mrs. LEADER, You! This piece is crucial to your ability to gain buy-in to the whole idea of delegation. What I mean here is that one of the killers to delegating is the ‘risk’ aspect. You must take the risk out of the equation for them - the only real risk here is the one that you are taking, by delegating. Tip: It is a good idea to bring your own boss into the thought-process when delegating…so he/she realizes and buys into the idea of taking this risk with your people. You also may discover that this particular action or project is one that the boss does not want you to risk. Hence, that was a good idea to involve the boss, huh?

Bottom line?...by practicing real delegation, in the process you have learned more about delegation, coaching, relationship-building, developing people, identified strengths, utilized resources effectively, support, praise and on and on and on…as well as improved trust. And who knows, with enough of this, properly done, you may actually get a day off sometime soon!?!

Concept addressed within the Great 8 Leadership Principles/my book, The Conference for Leaders...

Fixing Micro-managers

Is your boss a micro-manager? The way to FIX him/her is to begin feeding them upward, lots! Keep them overly-informed until they begin telling YOU to go away!

As I finalize my book, would u share link here w/(3) people u know? Mgrs, CEO types, HR, Sales, Preachers, Leaders, Teachers? http://ping.fm/o0Q4q

Received this from (3) sources/friends over last two days; sharing with you: http://ping.fm/Pcpjc

Hope you & yours have a great Easter & we will remember HE died on the cross for us! Song 4 u: http://ping.fm/NCxGc

UTOPIA, FRIENDS, THANK YOU, HOPE U R THERE

UTOPIA is a concept I used to ponder now and then; these days it has a whole new meaning and picture in my mind. I am sure that it is Heaven, and it will be much more utopian than imagineable.

Anyway, I was thinking of how I used to think of the Utopia concept – more than anything, it was a place where all friends, family and good relationships from our lives would all come together again. Would that not be cool, all those, just the ones you/we/I want there of course, all together for always. Not just them from the past but obviously those right here in our present, like my wife, kids, parents, family, etc…you get it huh?
Social Networking has brought a whole new meaning to all this as wel, now that I think about it. It has been great re-connecting, reaching out and discovering many. The frustrating thing is that I am not much closer to that utopian mindset/concept because even though they/you may be a friend on some network, I still do not experience them, see them, have coffee with you or have you around!
This has been a bit of a frustration in recent years, as I am sure it is with anyone as you/we age! So many friends from high school, college, military days, teachers known, students taught, consulting associates and clients, etc…. Man so many quality people I miss seeing routinely.
Without rambling any more just now, but no promise that I will not do some more later, I am just saying here that in this present world, I strive to and want to re-connect, rebuild, develop and/or stay in touch with friends, like you, past relationships in life. If you do also, let me hear from you and lets do…
On another level, this whole thing again got me thinking of how Heaven will be, and I am sure I have no clue – it will undoubtedly be much more than any of us can fathom. Regardless, two thoughts: 1) that you and all those treasured friends and relations will have found the path, discovered Him and actually BE THERE, and 2) that in some mystical spiritual way, we will have some form of capability of merging with, connecting with, being with, communicating with ALL at once. The quantity, volume and numbers challenge of too many FRIENDS to keep up with, will not even exist, we will just all be together….again, I do not know how, but I am sure I do not know how HE does any/all that HE does. And that makes sense, since HE is HE and I am just one of us; how could I possibly understand all that is.
Just one more thing, if you have not already stopped reading. This all reminds me of maybe my first favorite Christian song, Thank You by Ray Boltz ( it is on my MP3 that I listen to as I ride my bike out on the roads). It was a song before I became new. Any way it is a great song, and all about the people we have touched in our lives, on many levels. Go take a listen, I know I am right now, so must go!
Well okay, I will stop. Have a great day, a blessed one, one where you had something good happen and you helped someone get something; and lets stay in touch my friend.

Servant Leadership - lets see, that is: helping, giving, teaching, caring for, supporting, growing, guiding, serving the needs of, ...?

Next book is in editor's hands! Meeting w/ some good friends & associates today in KC. Smiles!..& remember how blessed you/we really are.

Who u r speaks so loudly I cannot hear what you r saying, by RalphWaldoEmerson. Connects w/ another favorite-YOU CANNOT NOT LEAD BY EXAMPLE!

Leaders create culture, not the other way around. Leaderless cultures however can not create leaders. When leaders change, so does culture.

Sharing blog: Uncaring Employees caused by Un-knowing Managers- http://ping.fm/ku3G5

It is so good the Peace He brings us during tough, challenging times. Faith & Hope to you. Happy HE IS RISEN week!!!!

Open minded thinker to do some telephone work. Few hours/week, cheap hourly, but good commissions! doug@bookertraining.com

manufacturing jobs - seek individuals w/ background in Mfg HR support, labor relations, perf mgmt. In Middletown, OH and West Monroe, LA.

To God, my wife (YOU & maybe your world at some point?)

On recent trip to visit kids, now grown and living south of here, I heard an old favorite country song. It is about feelings/emotions, which I am always good for...!

http://ping.fm/lqLs8 (click link and once begins, minimize and read on here…good tune regardless)

Anyway it had me hooked thinking on life, my wife, for sure my God, my kids, family, etc.

On the surface it may be/seem like a past, sad even, memory song; but for me it is a happy NOW & FUTURE song. A bit mushy maybe, but I have been compelled to write about this for a few weeks now.
Maybe there is something here you will resemble and connect with as well.

The song? In case you did not open the link but are still reading is: LOOKING FOR LOVE IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES. A great tune; here are the lyrics. My thoughts added are in (parenthesis)! Some lines mean little, but others, oh yeah…

I spent a lifetime lookin for you (my GOD, found HIM when I was 45!)
Single bars and good time lovers were never true
Playin a fool's game hopin to win
And tellin those sweet lies and losin again (More than once, yep)

I was lookin for love in all the wrong places (until I bottomed out, & there HE was; thanks Ronnie for leading me there)
Lookin for love in too many faces
Searchin her eyes, lookin for traces of what I'm dreamin of (Sydney was that one, that dream)

Hopin to find a friend and a lover (both are so critical; found both of in HIM and my wife Sydney)
I will bless the day I discover another heart
Lookin for love

I was alone then, no love in sight (for sure, unlove-able it seemed, worthless, and then…)
I did everything I could to get me through the night (then The WORD was there for comfort, peace and solace. Still my human side struggled until she showed up)
Don't know where it started or where it might end ( I do now)
I would turn to a stranger just like a friend

I was lookin for love in all the wrong places ( I did not know it but I was for sure)
Lookin for love in too many faces
Searchin her eyes, lookin for traces of what I'm dreamin of
Hopin to find a friend and a lover
I will bless the day I discover another heart
Lookin :for love (finally the Lord a decade ago in pastor/friend’s home office / Sydney: April 6th)

You came knockin at my hearts door (HE did just that, guessing HE had been knocking all along; I was the one knocking Sydneys door down)
You're everything I've been lookin for (THANK YOU God, and thank you Sydney)

No more lookin for love in all the wrong places (absolutely NO MORE)
Lookin for love in too many faces
Searchin your eyes, lookin for traces of what I am dreamin of

Now that I found a friend and a lover (my God)
I will bless the day I discover you, oh you (my wife)

Lookin for love
In all the wrong the places
Lookin for love in too many faces
Searchin your eyes, lookin for traces of what I'm dreamin of
Now that I found a friend and a lover
I will bless the day I discover you, oh you
Lookin for love

In all the wrong places
In too many faces...

(I think besides the human love aspect that so connects here for my wife and I; I believe the BIGGER message here is hope that you will or have already found in HIM …to be that face for YOU)

As good as it gets right now, so enjoy it

Doing some thinking on planning, learning, visioning, trust, taking, risk, predestination, etc. Do you realize that right now, in the present, in this very moment, it is as good as it gets?

It does not get any better than that/this! It might later, but for right now, no, this is what it is.

We all struggle with this at least now & then, but LIVING in the present is critical. To do this likely requires that we accept and trust that HE created it, this moment.

Along with all the human factors you did to impact this moment right now, well IT IS JUST AS IT WAS PLANNED. SMILE, enjoy, do not fret; go improve something, relax, relate, learn, and well grasp the moment you are in!

Whether you believe in God or not, this is all still true, right? Whether you created it, or HE did (which HE did :), enjoy your moments, your life, right now, today, ...and those around us.

Gods best to you, now and in your future moments!

Just thinking and sharing. Have a great Saturday morning and weekend my friend, DOUG...

*There is some leadership learning there as well. Leaders need to teach, preach and walk this thinking huh?

Need leadership, team, staff dev? Do it now on the golf course! http://ping.fm/on8qo

Current UPS commercial: employee does not care about flat rate savings to the co. until manager is watching. Leaders create loyalty(or not)!

Royals Wed 1pm. May have an extra ticket if interested in joining me, let me know quick!

Gods best to you this week; hope we act & react in Godly ways; & are led to someone to bless or help. 1Corinthians1:18 had me thinking today

In my work I find myself debating w/ mgrs on taking time to CARE FOR, EVALUATE, DEVELOP RELATIONS w/their people-as if it is not their JOB!?!

Royals win w/homer in 13th inning-Could this be the year winning begins? GO ROYALS! May get out to Wed afternoon game this week. Wanna go?

Our KC Royals, first WIN of the year...GO ROYALS in 2011! Walk off homer in bottom of ninth. Hardly gets any better than that :)