I know you have heard many times that we need to do things the ''right way''. Look after the client, look after the company, follow the process, do the dishes, mow the grass and so on. How is it that we learn what is that right way? Many times it's from someone telling you what to do or giving you a manual to read or allowing you to mess up and yelling at you.
Our newest intern at the office, Ryan, reminded me today that some of our learning comes from seeing others do things and then repeating what you saw. Today Ryan made a cup of coffee, some strange concoction of coffee, ice, sugar and creamer. He stirred it with a spoon and then laid the spoon in the sink and walked away.
I walked to the sink to wash my plate and fork and chuckled to myself when I saw his dirty spoon lying there. I thought to myself, ahh you silly college kids leaving your dirty dishes for someone else to do. After I washed my dishes and his spoon I went to his desk. I asked him in a joking manner, how he thought that spoon was going to get washed. He said he saw someone else do that (just leave dirty dishes in the sink) and he wasn't sure if we had a dishwasher or if someone else did that. He apologized and said he would get it right away. I thanked him and let him know I had already taken care of it.
That simple answer, "I saw someone else do that" really got me to thinking about how we do things as we go through life. We have rules and regs and procedures and blueprints and such to help us be more efficient and communicate better and not get in trouble with mom or dad. But how many times do we do things because that's the way we saw it done before or that's just the way it's always been done without asking, is this right? Or is this the best way? Or will this confuse someone later?
I would encourage and challenge everyone reading this to not be the one that leads by a bad example, no matter how small. Take the extra step, go the extra mile, follow the procedure completely and not just for the client at the office but for your fellow coworkers and your family members that rely on you each and every day. Leading by a bad example shows a lack of respect to those around you and sets others, if not everyone, up for failure down the road.
Funny how something so small as a spoon in a sink can make you think. Thanks Ryan for that lesson today.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
Definition of a workout
What's your definition of a workout? This person obviously has a different definition than mine. Enjoy!!
Step 1: Warm up
STRETCH your upper body and neck by reaching to the top shelf of the pantry for the candy stash you hid from your family.
STRETCH your lower body and hamstrings by bending down to pick up the candy bag you dropped because it is so heavily laden with delicious booty.
Step 2: Strength training
LIFT the candy bag and carry it to the coffee table.
SQUAT and sit down on the couch to sort through mass quantities of candy looking forone ten all of the M&Ms.
FEEL THE BURN when you discover that the little traitor you gave birth to traded with her friends most of the M&Ms for Reese's.
Step 3: Cardio
RUN to the computer to tweet the following message: Why do these candies say "fun size"? The big package should be labeled "fun size" and the small should be labeled "not as fun size."
RUN back to the couch for more candy.
RUN to the trashcan tohide the wrappers inside of an empty yogurt container throw away the wrappers.
RUN back to the couch with an increased heart rate from thesugar and chemical rush cardio portion of your workout.
Step 4: Cool down
RECLINE on the couch.
STRETCH and reach for your iPhone to send a text message to your friend about M&Ms.
STRETCH and reach for your iPhone to read a text message from your friend about Reese’s.
TAKE DEEP BREATHS upon learning that there is such a thing as dark chocolate Reese’s.
Advanced Program: Circuit training
JUMP off of the couch.
RUN to the pantry.
STRETCH while reaching for the candy bag on top shelf.
SQUAT down and sit on the pantry floor.
LIFT the candy bag, sort through its contents, find no dark chocolate Reese’s, and curse.
WALK back to the couch feeling sad.
RECLINE and pout.
The Halloween Candy Workout: A Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Warm up
STRETCH your upper body and neck by reaching to the top shelf of the pantry for the candy stash you hid from your family.
STRETCH your lower body and hamstrings by bending down to pick up the candy bag you dropped because it is so heavily laden with delicious booty.
Step 2: Strength training
LIFT the candy bag and carry it to the coffee table.
SQUAT and sit down on the couch to sort through mass quantities of candy looking for
FEEL THE BURN when you discover that the little traitor you gave birth to traded with her friends most of the M&Ms for Reese's.
Step 3: Cardio
RUN to the computer to tweet the following message: Why do these candies say "fun size"? The big package should be labeled "fun size" and the small should be labeled "not as fun size."
RUN back to the couch for more candy.
RUN to the trashcan to
RUN back to the couch with an increased heart rate from the
Step 4: Cool down
RECLINE on the couch.
STRETCH and reach for your iPhone to send a text message to your friend about M&Ms.
STRETCH and reach for your iPhone to read a text message from your friend about Reese’s.
TAKE DEEP BREATHS upon learning that there is such a thing as dark chocolate Reese’s.
Advanced Program: Circuit training
JUMP off of the couch.
RUN to the pantry.
STRETCH while reaching for the candy bag on top shelf.
SQUAT down and sit on the pantry floor.
LIFT the candy bag, sort through its contents, find no dark chocolate Reese’s, and curse.
WALK back to the couch feeling sad.
RECLINE and pout.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
