Saying thank you goes back to our earliest memories. It’s the universal language mothers coach us in when trying to teach bigger lessons about appreciation, gratitude and sacrifice. As we grow older and learn to not only give but also receive thank yous, we start to discover that the simple words actually convey a lot [...]]]>

Saying thank you goes back to our earliest memories. It’s the universal language mothers coach us in when trying to teach bigger lessons about appreciation, gratitude and sacrifice. As we grow older and learn to not only give but also receive thank yous, we start to discover that the simple words actually convey a lot of meaning that wasn’t necessarily caught when we first learned to use them.

In the corporate world, using “thank you” is a powerful demotivator when used incorrectly, and by the same token, a powerful motivator when used the correct way. What do your thanks sound like to your employees?

Wrong: Thank you as a dismissal

Think about the times you’re in a conversation or meeting that you’re ready to close. Suddenly, you turn all attention to your email or work on your desk and say, “Well, uhhh……… thank you.” Your attention gone. Meeting done.

What just happened here?  A careless use of important words has left the other person surprised, possibly vaguely unsettled, and almost slinking from your office.

Right: A better conversation closer could go something like this: With your full attention (this means eye contact) say, “We’ve had a great meeting and covered everything I needed to talk about. We’ve outlined our action items. I’m looking forward to our next discussion on Friday.” Then add the important words — “thanks for your time; thanks for coming so prepared; thanks for your research…”

The result: Your employee knows you’re still focused on him. You’re summarizing how far you’ve come together. And, you’ve given a definite closing to the conversation. He won’t walk away remembering a mumbled thanks while your head was down concentrating on something else. He’ll be even more motivated to come prepared for the next meeting. He’ll also know exactly when it’s over and time to move on.

Wrong: Thank you as a blanket statement

An employee has a good, productive day. She’s even gone above and beyond in a few areas. You notice, and without thinking throw out a “Thanks for everything!” She walks away more confused than pleased. What is “everything”? Is it possible to repeat the actions that brought this thanks? If she doesn’t repeat those actions, will she still get thanked?

What message are you conveying? There isn’t one. Again, a careless use of important words that instead of rewarding, shows employees your in-attention.

Right: Let’s start over. If it’s important enough to say thank you, then it’s important enough to be specific about why you’re thankful. Your conversation can be full of definitive reminders about what your employee has done, “You discovered the accounting error no one else could.” “You did such a great job on the research for this project that I was able to explain it easily and get buy-in from the client.” “I know you had to work extra hours to complete this task, but I can always count on you to finish a job.” THEN use the important words, “Thank you!”

The result: Your employee is motivated to repeat the action you appreciated her for. This is what is meant by rewarding the right things. Not only that, simply focusing on specific actions of those around you can lead to employee contentment and better retention. Who doesn’t want happy employees who stick around and do more great things!

Thank You

Waste of words? Demotivator for employees? Or, a powerful way to show appreciation and gratitude. A boost to morale, retention, and a reward for the right things. Think about it the next time you open your mouth to say “thanks!”

Cue the library-sponsored jingle. As early as junior high school, my English teacher impressed upon me how important reading was for continual development, both in education and in life. Honestly, I never enjoyed reading until I wasn’t required to do it. Maybe that’s the contrarian, anti-establishment blood that runs in my veins (and arteries as [...]]]>

Cue the library-sponsored jingle.

As early as junior high school, my English teacher impressed upon me how important reading was for continual development, both in education and in life.

Honestly, I never enjoyed reading until I wasn’t required to do it. Maybe that’s the contrarian, anti-establishment blood that runs in my veins (and arteries as well, I guess).

The aspect of reading that has made me grow to love and enjoy it so much is the opportunity for one-way communication with those smarter/more experienced than myself.  In other words, I have to listen without talking in response. It’s hard to argue with someone who isn’t in your presence, or in some cases, may no longer even be alive.

If it’s true that (to some degree) you become like those you hang around most, whom and what are you reading?

What I Read

Here are some categories I’ve developed that help me stay well-rounded in my reading, providing opportunities to be challenged and grow in areas where maybe I’m not as strong. (This list is not exhaustive.)

Fun – Read for enjoyment, or pick up a new hobby. Kick back with a novel one sunny afternoon.

Personal Growth — Call the category what you will, but it’s important to personally work on improving some aspect of living life with other people on this planet.

Business — Whether you’re mastering your own craft in your industry or reading a business profile book, be in a ‘one-way conversation’ with successful people, however you define success.

Inspiration — This category often gets either overlooked. You may choose to read a story of dramatic recovery or maybe an entrepreneurial success. It’s important to be inspired by something. Don’t let that flame be snuffed out.

Philosophical — This may range from historical philosophy to theological works. It’s good for you to work through some more weighty material at times to keep your logic on its ‘A’ game. Don’t always settle for the easy reads.

What are you reading? Maybe you could share it with us?

Look around you. Do you see anything that makes you smile? Is there something you experienced today that encouraged you or motivated you? Those things didn’t just happen. If you recall, there was an action that brought you to that moment. Here at Web for Good, we have enjoyed the opportunity to see a lot [...]]]>

Look around you. Do you see anything that makes you
smile? Is there something you experienced today that encouraged you or motivated you? Those things didn’t just happen. If you recall, there was an action that brought you to that moment.

Here at Web for Good, we have enjoyed the opportunity to see a lot of good being done by multiple organizations across the country. These groups have seen a need in their communities and have acted. Now the time is near for us to help one of them better utilize the Web to carry out their mission.

We have narrowed the choices down to the following organizations:

A Child’s Haven: Offers therapy and prevention counseling for developmentally delayed, abused, and neglected young children and their families.

Prevention and Protection of Abused Children, Inc.: Provides quality family programming as well as child maltreatment prevention services to families, fulfilling its mission to “assure that every family member be provided the opportunity to experience healthy, nurturing relationships and be treated with dignity and respect.”

Spanish Colonial Arts Society: Promotes and preserves the living heritage of the traditional Spanish arts through education and outreach, collection and exhibition, and the development of economic opportunity through a world-renowned Spanish Market.

Up Next

It was a hard choice to narrow our options down to these three. Some of the other organizations who applied had very similar missions. All of them were people seeing a need and seeking to do good. We want to see all of them succeed.

We will be taking a few more days to consider these finalists before we choose our first ever Web for Good project. We will announce that choice on May 4, 2011. The team is excited to get started doing our own bit of good.

Good things don’t just happen. It takes a labor of love to make changes for the better. At Web for Good, we’re ready to get started.

I recently read an article titled “Your emails are too long.” My first reaction was “Woah, whoever wrote this knows I write long emails, but I have to. Otherwise I won’t be giving enough information.” I made a list of  justifications in my head until I realized I was defensive because it was true. Eek. [...]]]>

Are you putting your reader to sleep? (HT: Aaron Jacobs)

I recently read an article titled “Your emails are too long.” My first reaction was “Woah, whoever wrote this knows I write long emails, but I have to. Otherwise I won’t be giving enough information.” I made a list of  justifications in my head until I realized I was defensive because it was true. Eek. My emails are long — too long. And so are yours. Admit it.
Whoever wrote “If I had more time I would have written you a shorter letter” summed it up pretty well. I know that I write my longest emails when I’m tired and rambling on — especially if that’s during business correspondence.

If you have a chance, read the article mentioned above. I think the author makes some good points. There are few times when you actually need to send an email with more than five sentences. It’s a pretty good rule to stick to — but difficult. Some of my favorite points in the article, if you don’t have time to read it:

• Fast Response: When someone sees a short email in their inbox, it typically gets responded to much more quickly.
• Too Many Questions: No one wants to receive an email with a long list of questions (or ten emails in a row with different questions) — it just feels overwhelming. So just ask the biggest question.
• Concise: Stick to one main point in your email.
• Link Elsewhere: If you have to post a long document or need to reference something else, include a link to a document online or attach one. Don’t include it in the email as an additional 12 paragraphs.

Do any of you out there already do this? Or conversely, do you actually like to read long emails when you get them in your inbox?

America’s Next Great Restaurant While I haven’t gotten into any food/cooking contest shows that have been sprouting up in recent years, NBC’s America’s Next Great Restaurant grabbed my attention. Maybe because of the Chipotle presence. Maybe because of the focus on the branding aspect of the food/restaurant. The early favorite was Eric Powell with his [...]]]>

America’s Next Great Restaurant

While I haven’t gotten into any food/cooking contest shows that have been sprouting up in recent years, NBC’s America’s Next Great Restaurant grabbed my attention. Maybe because of the Chipotle presence. Maybe because of the focus on the branding aspect of the food/restaurant.

The early favorite was Eric Powell with his 3-year-in-the-making Artisan Grilled Cheese concept called Meltworks, set in an urban loft-style environment.

He came into the show with his brand image, a restaurant design concept, and most of his menu developed. He was miles ahead of the competition in terms of preparedness.

Surprise! He was the most recent contestant to be eliminated from the competition.

What Went Wrong?

This is a classic case of greatest strength becoming greatest weakness.

In this case, Eric’s greatest strength appeared to be his preparedness, namely, that he had already done many of the tasks the show required. He was seemingly ahead of the game.

What developed throughout the show, however, was that Eric’s preparedness also made him very hesitant to adapt and evolve his concept further. It’s like his prior progress inhibited his present and future growth, since, at least in his mind, his concept was matured and ready for funding.

Note: Just because an ANGR contestant is eliminated from the show doesn’t mean their concept is good or that it can’t be successful. It’s simply an investment decision by the host panel.

Business Application

Any chance that you or your business are like Eric and his concept, where, in your mind, you’ve thought through the situation, developed your material, and closed the issue as being solved?

If you aren’t ready, willing, and able to change, there is no guarantee that you will be successful going forward. Much more, the data is actually against you and your business if you are either unwilling to evolve or too lethargic in adapting to business climate, market trends, customer base, etc.

Signs that you’ve “plateaued”

The criticism of Eric Powell on the show was that his concept had plateaued. I don’t think the investors meant it couldn’t grow or advance. I think they meant that Eric himself had plateaued his concept, mainly by being obstinate and unwilling to accept criticism and consultation.

Have you plateaued your business development (or your personal development)? Here are some signs:

• The decision is final! — There are certain business issues or topics about which you refuse to entertain questions or discussion.
• I’m the boss! — You appeal to your authority or org chart position to defend your decisions and rationale, rather than analyzing fair criticism and questions from those “under” you.
• That won’t work! — Is there anything you defiantly refuse to try?
• Are there obstacles in your job that keep you from being able to change? It may be an excuse, or it could mean you need to eliminate the obstacle in view.

While there are many more signs, if these are true of you personally or your company culture, you are dangerously close to plateauing with no sign of growth on the horizon.

Be Ready. Willing. Able. Seize the day!

We launched Web for Good almost two months ago and it’s already a tremendous success. Since then, you’ve been hard at work telling people about the program and submitting applications. We’ve been humbled by the response and thrilled to see the applications pour in. Here’s where things stand: Quick Facts Web for Good helps good [...]]]>

Web for Good is officially in our first review period. We’ll select our first client during the next several weeks.

We launched Web for Good almost two months ago and it’s already a tremendous success. Since then, you’ve been hard at work telling people about the program and submitting applications. We’ve been humbled by the response and thrilled to see the applications pour in. Here’s where things stand:

Quick Facts

• Web for Good helps good causes harness the power of the web. For free.
• We will start by adopting one truly special non-profit and completing a large, mission-critical web project completely free of charge.
• We began taking applications in February 2011.
• Since then, we’ve received 25 applications from 13 states and hundreds of Twitter and Facebook posts spreading the word!

Next Steps

We’ve stopped taking applications for our first project and plan to announce our winner in the next few weeks. We have a lot of work to do between now and then. The entire team will vote to narrow the field to four finalists. We’re assembling a decision-making team of five Worthwhile team members that will request additional information and/or interview the finalists. Once the decision has been made and the winner has been informed, we will announce the winner right here on our blog.

Stay tuned.

If you missed the deadline, you can submit an application anytime. We will award a new winner sometime later this year.

These two commercials from Delta are so fun to watch. Wouldn’t it have been cool to be part of the creative process of building these? I think that, and then I realize that commercials that are this intriguing and fun take a lot of work to look so effortless. As part of a creative organization, [...]]]>

These two commercials from Delta are so fun to watch. Wouldn’t it have been cool to be part of the creative process of building these? I think that, and then I realize that commercials that are this intriguing and fun take a lot of work to look so effortless. As part of a creative organization, I’ve come to realize that things always take longer than you planned, but the results are most often worth it.

Check the videos out if you have a minute.

I’m thrilled to announce the most ambitious and exciting thing we’ve done in our 17 year history. Welcome to Web for Good, The Worthwhile Company’s non-profit foundation. We have always placed special emphasis on our relationship with ministries and non-profits. Providing our work virtually at-cost to dozens of organizations making a difference in our world [...]]]>

I’m thrilled to announce the most ambitious and exciting thing we’ve done in our 17 year history. Welcome to Web for Good, The Worthwhile Company’s non-profit foundation.

We have always placed special emphasis on our relationship with ministries and non-profits. Providing our work virtually at-cost to dozens of organizations making a difference in our world has led to some amazing relationships. In the process, we have contributed well over $500,000 in the last few years. We’d love to keep that kind of service as Worthwhile grows. In fact, we want to organize and expand it.

Offering our work at a heavy discount to non-profits has allowed us to embark on some extraordinary partnerships — even friendships. Still, it hasn’t allowed us to work with some of the organizations that need us the most.

Enter Web for Good — A Foundation of The Worthwhile Company. Web for Good started as an idea about 6 months ago. Since then, the Greatest Team in the World has embraced it. Now it is a reality.

Why We Do What We Do (an excerpt from webforgood.org)

It’s because of our passion. We want to serve those who are serving others, and help them to serve even better.

It’s because of our compassion. Helping those in need is worth our while, no matter how much it might cost.

It’s because this is worship. Since God has revealed himself as someone committed to helping those in need, we give back as a way to express His worth.

It Begins Today

We will start by adopting one truly special non-profit and completing a large, mission critical web project completely free of charge. We start taking applications today through  March 22. Soon after that, we will make a selection and get started.

Our goal is to see Web for Good grow enormously over the years. In fact, we hope that one day it might even eclipse Worthwhile in its influence around the world. Today, we turn up the volume on our philanthropic efforts to 11.

Know of a worthy non-profit that needs our help? Recommend them here.

Have a non-profit that wants to get good? Start an application here.

Sometimes reality is only possible through dreaming. A long-term goal isn’t good enough until it feels uncomfortable, like when you start to think it may be impossible, or to the point where you may not be sure where to start. A Man Named Howard You may not know the name Howard Schultz. You surely recognize [...]]]>

Sometimes reality is only possible through dreaming.

A long-term goal isn’t good enough until it feels uncomfortable, like when you start to think it may be impossible, or to the point where you may not be sure where to start.

A Man Named Howard

You may not know the name Howard Schultz. You surely recognize the brand Starbucks. Howard is the CEO and Chairman at Starbucks. He’s been there for nearly 30 years.

This was his long-term goal:

[I want to] create a chain of coffeehouses that would become America’s “third place.”

What’s “third place”? Schultz went on to explain:

At the time, most Americans had two places in their lives – home and work. But I believed that people needed another place, a place where they could go to relax and enjoy others, or just be by themselves. I envisioned a place that would be separate from home or work, a place that would mean different things to different people” [1]

When I worked part-time for Starbucks right out of college, I remember hearing this vision enunciated at a training session. I’ve never forgotten that principle.

From Dream to Reality

Fast forward to 2011. Using Gowalla, a location-services application, I recently viewed my “Top Places” list from the last 90 days or so. Well, check it out for yourself. (Note: I don’t check-in at my house, so my “first place” isn’t on this list.)

Howard did it! Well, at least he “got” me. Data shows that Starbucks is my “third place,” or my place between home and work.

So today, how about dreaming a little? Maybe even add a shot of espresso while you’re at it!
—–
[1] Quote taken from http://www.franklincollege.edu/pwp/BOdom/        SampleWorkStarbucks.pdf

Yesterday, I was driving in the Publix parking lot, and instead of quickly zooming into a spot, I slowed and let a young woman cross in front of me and into the spot. We made eye contact. I smiled. She…well, she didn’t do anything. No friendly hand wave, no return smile. Nothing. The day before [...]]]>

Yesterday, I was driving in the Publix parking lot, and instead of quickly zooming into a spot, I slowed and let a young woman cross in front of me and into the spot. We made eye contact. I smiled. She…well, she didn’t do anything. No friendly hand wave, no return smile. Nothing.

The day before yesterday I gave something to someone–something that had taken me some time to make. The recipient of the gift said “Oh, okay.” No “thank you” or smile.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t do nice things for other people if they don’t acknowledge what you did–that’s not the point of kindness. We do for others for the sake of doing something out of care for another, to show respect or concern.

My small point is this: say “Thank You” to someone today. It might be just the encouragement they needed to hear.