AchieveMax® Blog

Author John Gardner once said: “Most ailing organizations have developed a functional blindness to their own defects.” We seem to have more ailing organizations today than at any time in our recordable history. Today, there are a multitude of businesses who are involved with a merger, acquisition, bankruptcy, or simply going out of business.

“Functional blindness” appropriately describes many of today’s company policies. Some are so antiquated it causes one to pause and wonder if anyone ever reads the manual any longer. Where did these ludicrous thoughts, posing as policy, originate?

The National Association of Human Resource Absurdities conducted extensive research in the 50s in hopes of answering that very question. Their findings were both revealing and authenticated via multiple experiments and findings. However, they chose to conceal their findings for the simple reason that they felt society was not ready for such a revelation.

Fifty plus years later they have apparently decided that the business world has matured to the level that the truth can and must finally be accepted. For those of you who may doubt the authenticity of the research results, please feel free to conduct your own experiment. It’s actually very simple.

Begin with a cage containing five monkeys.

Inside the cage, hang a banana on a string and place a set of stairs under it.

Before long, a monkey will go to the stairs and start to climb towards the banana.

As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all of the other monkeys with cold water. After a while, another monkey makes an attempt with the same result, and all the other monkeys are sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon the monkeys will try to prevent it.
 
Now, put away the cold water. Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new monkey sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs. To his surprise and horror, all of the other monkeys attack him. After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will be assaulted.

Next, remove another of the original five monkeys and replace it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm! Likewise, replace a third original monkey with a new one, then a fourth, then the fifth.

Every time the newest monkey takes to the stairs, he is attacked. Most of the monkeys that are beating him have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs or why they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey. After replacing all the original monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys have ever been sprayed with cold water. Nevertheless, no monkey ever again approaches the stairs to try for the banana. Why not? Because as far as they know that’s the way it’s always been done around here. 

Harry K. Jones is a professional speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

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The majority of the Generational Gems we’ve shared with you thus far were revealed to me in my late 20s and early 30s. I firmly believe that had I been exposed to this wisdom a mere decade earlier, it would have altered my career path in a much more productive way.

That’s why we’ve decided to share these gems with you … in the hopes that you may find them educational, entertaining, humorous and worthy of being passed on to younger generations. Maybe, just maybe, exposure to one of these gems might just cause someone to pause, consider other options, re-frame their thinking or simply be a little more open-minded to a different approach.

Today’s gem is another that has been passed down from generation to generation and happens to be created by my favorite author … “Anonymous.” It has certainly stood the test of time because of its simplicity and the vivid images it thrusts upon every reader.

There is a legend of three horsemen crossing the desert in the middle of the night. Suddenly, out of the darkness came a thunderous voice commanding them to dismount and fill their pockets with pebbles. After they had obeyed and remounted, the voice declared, “Tomorrow at sun-up you will be both glad and sad.”

When dawn came, each of the three horsemen reached into their pockets and discovered not pebbles, but diamonds. Then they were both glad and sad — glad they had taken as many as they had, sad that they had not taken even more!

And so it is with opportunities! Life presents us with many possibilities. We sacrifice far too many for reasons we no longer remember … fear, uncertainty, timing, lack of education or experience, possibility of failure and the list goes on. You can change that pattern TODAY.

Take a calculated risk! ACT outside that proverbial box! Expand your current comfort zone. Try something new! Find a mentor. Ask questions. Do research. Take a class. Benchmark. Read. Observe. Listen. In short … take action! Although each of these activities appear simplistic in nature, their value as critical strategies cannot be denied.

To avoid the regrets of the three horsemen who missed an opportunity, consider adapting the above strategies in your search and recognition of the many opportunities which await all of us. Hopefully you’ll never have to utter those sad words: “If I had it to do over.”

Harry K. Jones is a professional speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Can you imagine being born in a major league baseball city and years later actually playing pro ball for your home town? That alone would be a great achievement, and that’s exactly what happened to Pete Rose. However, “Charlie Hustle” didn’t stop there.

Pete went on to become the all-time Major League leader in hits (4,256), games played (3,562) and at bats (14,053). He won three World Series rings, three batting titles, two gold gloves, one Most Valuable Player award, the Rookie of the Year Award, and made 17 All-Star appearances at an unequaled five different positions (2B, LF, RF, 3B & 1B). Pete earned his nickname of “Charlie Hustle” in every game he played. He’s the only player I ever saw who would sprint to first base even when being walked and his signature move was his thrilling headfirst slide into a base. In short, Pete Rose, was an inspiration to fans both young and old. He went on to manage the Cincinnati Reds for six years after retiring as an active player.

Like so many of today’s great athletes, Pete’s career will forever be viewed under a cloud of accusations. Rose agreed to permanent ineligibility from baseball after being accused of gambling on baseball games while playing for and managing the Reds.

This issue will be debated as long as fans discuss the sport. However, what can never be argued is this man’s ability, accomplishments, tenacity, discipline, determination, personal drive, and hustle. Here’s an example which we should be able to adopt to our personal and business endeavors.

Pete was being interviewed in spring training the year he was about to break Ty Cobb’s all time record. One of the many reporters in attendance asked: “Pete, you’re only 78 hits away from breaking the record. How many at-bats do you think you’ll need to get 78 hits?” Without hesitation, Pete stared at the reporter and very matter-of-factly said, “78.” The reporter laughed and quickly replied, “Ah, come on, Pete, you don’t really expect to get 78 hits at 78 at-bats do you?”

At that point, Pete calmly shared his philosophy with the group of reporters who were anxiously awaiting his reply to this seemingly boastful claim. “Every time I step into that batter’s box, I expect to get a hit! If I don’t expect to get a hit, I have no right to step up to the plate in the first place!”

“If I go up to bat hoping to get a hit,” he went on, “then I probably don’t have a prayer of getting a hit. It’s my positive expectations that has gotten me all of the hits I’ve gotten so far. Without it, I may as well stay in the clubhouse!”

Pete expected no less from all of those he managed later in his career. This is certainly a message we should take to heart ourselves while making certain we pass it on to future generations. It is truly a philosophy of a champion!

Harry K. Jones is a professional speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

This enduring narrative was written in 1934 by Dale Wimbrow, an author, songwriter, artist, writer, singer, and painter. He left this world at the very young age of 58 in 1954. In honor of their love and respect for their father, his son and daughter have given permission to any and all to share this particular poem as long as it’s duplicated precisely as it was written and their father is credited.

Over the years, many thought the last word in the first line was a typo and therefore simply changed it from “pelf” to “self,” which appeared to be the obvious replacement. The author actually meant to use the word “pelf,” which means money, wealth, or riches … and that word obviously makes sense. The author’s offspring also points out that, over the years, many people have renamed the poem “The Man in the Glass” but go on to point out that their father’s original title utilized the term “Guy” rather “Man.”

After what seems like an eternity of exposure to our current Presidential candidates, I can’t help but wonder how each of them might respond to this classic poem. I can easily surmise how they might verbally comment to potential voters, but it would be interesting to know how each would truly respond to this powerful challenge. What do you think?

And how about you?

The Guy in the Glass
When you get what you want in your struggle for pelf,
And the world makes you King for a day,
Then go to the mirror and look at yourself,
And see what that guy has to say.
For it isn’t your Father or Mother or Wife,
Who judgement upon you must pass.
The feller whose verdict counts most in your life            
Is the guy staring back from the glass.
He’s the feller to please, never mind all the rest,
For he’s with you clear up to the end,
And you’ve passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the guy in the glass is your friend.
You may be like Jack Horner and “chisel” a plum,
And think you’re a wonderful guy,
But the man in the glass says you’re only a bum
If you can’t look him straight in the eye.
You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years,    
And get pats on the back as you pass,
But your final reward will be heartaches and tears
If you’ve cheated the guy in the glass!

Harry K. Jones is a professional speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

Here’s a generational gem that I first heard from one of my high school coaches. It’s been updated over the years, but that’s only made it even more powerful. I’m very fortunate to have been able to work with high school and college students for decades now, and I must admit that I’m a bit dismayed that this particular gem has not been shared more than it has. I think it’s a message that needs to be revealed, especially today, to both students and adults alike. There are far too many reasons for people to say it can’t be done, the odds are against us, no one’s ever done it, etc. More than ever before, this country needs many more possibility thinkers than we see at the moment. Maybe reviving this particular generational gem may help us move in that direction!

Prior to 1954, the thought of a human running a mile in less than four minutes was considered impossible to the majority of those in the medical and sports fields. It had never been done before this time and experts stood firm in their belief that this was a plateau that the human body simply wasn’t capable of attaining. Now or ever.

For Roger Bannister, a young English athlete from Oxford, this proclamation became a battle cry, an ultimate goal he was determined to reach. Roger was a goal setter … a possibility thinker. He always had been. Regardless of what experts may have thought, Roger set his sights to be the first man to run a mile in under four minutes. What historians seldom share is the number of times Roger failed in his attempt to reach this lofty goal. No one wants to hear that because that was exactly what everyone expected would happen.

Then, on May 6th, 1954, during a meet between British AAA and Oxford University at Iffley Road Track in Oxford, Roger Bannister achieved his goal. This historic event was witnessed by about 3,000 spectators. Just prior to the event, winds were recorded at close to 25 miles per hour, and Roger considered waiting for better conditions to attempt this ambitious feat. However, the winds died down and Roger ran the mile in 3 minutes and 59.4 seconds! He went on to become a distinguished neurologist and Master of Pembroke College, Oxford, before retiring in 2001. While this is a great story illustrating the importance of possibility thinking, goal setting and determination, there’s an even greater lesson to be learned here.

Once Roger proved to all “impossibility thinkers” that this inconceivable goal could be achieved,  it changed the nature of the thinking about the four-minute mile from negative — it can’t be done — to positive — I can do it.

Within seven weeks, Australian John Landy became the second man to achieve a sub- 4 minute mile, recording a world record time of 3.57.9. In 1964, Jim Ryun became the first high school runner to break four minutes, running 3:55.3 as a junior in Kansas. In the next 15 years, Bannister’s record was broken 260 times by men in 177 races!

Over the years, I’ve had occasion to work with many “impossibility thinkers.” It’s difficult. They take the path of least resistance. They take great pride in the fact that they can provide you with a thousand reasons why something won’t work. They thrive in negativity. They dwell in the majority. They’ll drag you down if you let them. Possibility thinkers set goals, focus, train, continue to learn, practice, take action and never give up. At this point in time, the world needs more possibility thinkers. Is that you?

Harry K. Jones is a professional speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

If you are interested in goal setting, you might also enjoy ...

• Goal Setting Training Seminar: On Your Mark, Get Set, Goal!
• Goal Setting Keynote: On Your Mark, Get Set, Goal!
• Goal Setting Speakers and Goal Setting Training
• Top Goal Setting Books
• Words of Wisdom on Goal Setting
• Goal Setting Posters
• Do Goals Really Matter?
• Possibility Thinking!

While vacationing in northern Michigan, a management consultant decided to spend a week on the legendary Mackinac Island between the state’s upper and lower peninsulas. The rather small historic island covers a mere 3.8 square miles and is home to a population of just 523 residents. However, it plays host to as many as 15,000 tourists a day during summer prime time.

Motorized vehicles are prohibited on the island so travel is either by foot, bicycle, horse-drawn carriage, roller blades or saddle horses.

While hiking along the uninhabited shoreline, the consultant came across a lone, elderly fisherman who was obviously not one of the many tourists visiting the scenic island. Noting the quality of the catch (whitefish, lake trout and other native species), he asked the fisherman how long it had taken to catch them.

“Not too long,” answered the quiet fisherman.

“Then why don’t you stay here longer and catch even more?” asked the consultant.

The fisherman explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family.

The consultant then asked, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”

“I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, walk and talk with my wife, take a nap in my hammock, and simply enjoy my life on the island. In the evenings, I watch the sun set and the lights on the ‘Big Mac’ bridge begin to twinkle against the night sky. I walk into town and have a beer with my friends, chat with tourists, and watch the ferry boats come in from the mainland. In short, I have a great life,” replied the fisherman.

The consultant shook his head and offered: “I have an MBA from the University of Michigan, and I can change your life. All you have to do is start fishing longer every day and start selling the extra fish you catch. With that additional income, you can soon buy yourself a real, fully equipped fishing boat. Using that bigger boat, you’ll soon have even more money to invest allowing you to add a second boat, then a third and so on until you have a large fleet. Instead of selling your catch to neighbors and tourists, you can negotiate directly with processing plants and maybe even open your own plant some day. You can then leave this small island and move to a large city where you can then direct the empire which you have created.”

“How long do you think that would take?” inquired the fisherman.

“Oh, probably no longer than 15 or 20 years,” replied the consultant.

“And then what?” asked the fisherman.

“That’s the beauty of this entire strategy,” said the consultant smiling broadly. “When your business reaches its pinnacle, you can start selling shares in your company and make millions of dollars!”

“No kidding, millions? Really? And then what?” pressed the fisherman.

“Then you reap the benefits of all your hard work. You can retire back here on the island, sleep late, fish a little, play with your children, walk and talk with your wife, take a nap in your hammock, and really enjoy your life on your island. In the evenings, you can watch the sun set and the lights on the ‘Big Mac’ bridge begin to twinkle against the night sky. You can walk into town and have a beer with your friends, chat with tourists, and watch the ferry boats come in from the mainland. In short, you’ll have a great life,” said the consultant.

HELLO?

Harry K. Jones is a professional speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

This story has been around for a very long time and really proves a point in a very humorous but realistic way. After a great deal of research, it was revealed that the story is not actually true. Nevertheless, it’s a great story, creates a fantastic punch-line visual, and makes a very important point.
 
It consists of an “alleged” transcript of an actual radio conversation between a U.S. naval ship and Canadian maritime contact off the coast of Newfoundland in October 1995.
 
Americans: “Please divert your course 15 degrees North to avoid a collision.”

Canadians: “Recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees South to avoid collision.”

Americans: “This is the captain of a U.S. navy ship; I say again divert your course.”

Canadians: “No. I say again, you divert YOUR course.”

Americans: “THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS LINCOLN, THE SECOND LARGEST SHIP IN THE UNITED STATES’ ATLANTIC FLEET. WE ARE ACCOMPANIED BY THREE DESTROYERS, THREE CRUISERS AND NUMEROUS SUPPORT VESSELS. I DEMAND THAT YOU CHANGE YOUR COURSE 15 DEGREES NORTH, THAT’S ONE FIVE DEGREES NORTH, OR COUNTER-MEASURES WILL BE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THIS SHIP.”

Canadians: “We are a lighthouse; your call.”

Harry K. Jones is a professional speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

The majority of the requests we receive for our goal-setting program, “On Your Mark, Get Set, Goal!“ seems to come to us from high school and/or college audiences. Personally, I think that’s terrific because this is a critical subject area for young people who have their entire careers ahead of them. Goal setting abilities are crucial at this point and studies have shown that they certainly pay off in a very big way.

What amazes me is the fact that so many adults in today’s workplace have not been exposed to the goal setting process and therefore are not benefiting from this practice. Oh, we talk mission, vision, goals, targets, etc., but it seems to stop at talking. If more adults were familiar with a goal-setting strategy and actually practicing this powerful procedure, it’s somewhat certain that we wouldn’t see as many organizations falling short of their short- and long-range aspirations.

Some people today actually doubt the power of goal setting. Read today’s generational gem and see what you think.

The Catalina Island is 21 miles away from the coast of California, and many people have taken the challenge to swim across it. On July 4, 1952, Florence Chadwick stepped into the water off Catalina Island to swim across to the California coast. She started well and on course, but later fatigue set in, and the weather became cold. She persisted, but fifteen hours later, numb and cold, she asked to be taken out of the water.

After she recovered, she was told that she had been pulled out only half a mile away from the coast. She commented that she could have made it, if the fog had not affected her vision and she would have just seen the land. She promised that this would be the only time that she would ever quit.

She went back to her rigorous training. And two months later she swam that same channel. The same thing happened. The fatigue set in, and the fog obscured her view, but this time she swam with faith and vision of the land in her mind. She knew that somewhere behind the fog was land. She succeeded and became the first woman to swim the Catalina Channel. She even broke the men’s record by two hours. When you set your goal, keep pressing on even when you are tired, physically and mentally, and even though there are many challenges ahead. Keep the vision of your goal crystal clear before you and never, never, never give up!

See the vision, commit to it, and you will surely see your goal realized!

Harry K. Jones is a professional speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

If you are interested in goal setting, you might also enjoy ...

• Goal Setting Training Seminar: On Your Mark, Get Set, Goal!
• Goal Setting Keynote: On Your Mark, Get Set, Goal!
• Goal Setting Speakers and Goal Setting Training
• Top Goal Setting Books
• Words of Wisdom on Goal Setting
• Goal Setting Posters
• Do Goals Really Matter?
• Possibility Thinking!

Very seldom does this subject not come up at some point during our “I Hate Time Management” or “Stress: The Ultimate Paradox” seminars. Someone in the audience always seems to experience that epiphany that seems to stop us in our tracks and causes us to ask: “Why am I working so many hours?” or “Why am I away from home so much?” or “Why am I focusing only on earning money for a family I never see?” Kind of ironic, isn’t it? We get so caught up in striving for a better life that we miss much of the life we have in the process.

Sometimes we merely need to pause for a moment to enjoy the more simplistic but rewarding moments in life. The benefits can’t be measured. They shouldn’t be. They should be enjoyed and treasured. That thought brings us to our next generational gem.

Magic Marbles

I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas. I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I couldn’t help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.

“Hello Barry, how are you today?”

“H’lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus’ admirin’ them peas. They sure look good.”

“They are good, Barry. How’s your Ma?”

“Fine. Gittin’ stronger alla’ time.”

“Good. Anything I can help you with?”

“No, Sir. Jus’ admirin’ them peas.”

“Would you like to take some home?” asked Mr. Miller.

“No, Sir. Got nuthin’ to pay for ‘em with.”

“Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?”

“All I got’s my prize marble here.”

“Is that right? Let me see it” said Miller.

“Here ’tis. She’s a dandy.”

“I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?” the store owner asked.

“Not zackley but almost.”

“Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble,” Mr. Miller told the boy.

“Sure will. Thanks, Mr. Miller.”

Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, “There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn’t like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.” I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man.

A short time later I moved to Colorado, but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles. Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community, and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them.

Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could. Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts … all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband’s casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.

Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband’s bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket. “Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim ‘traded’ them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size … they came to pay their debt.”

“We’ve never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,” she confided, “but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho.” With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three equisitely shined red marbles.

The Moral: We will not be remembered by our words but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.

Harry K. Jones is a professional speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.

I think I’ve lost track of the number of organizations that have made the claim that their people are their greatest asset. That sounds noble. It could possibly be a monumental strategy. It has the potential for striking great pride into the hearts of every employee. It offers the probability of enhanced productivity. Of course, all of these benefits evolve only if the organization “walks their talk.” Sadly, for a variety of obvious reasons, far two few companies invest the time and effort to properly do so.

If you truly believe your employees are an asset, it’s best to treat them as though they are exactly that. Coach, mentor, train and develop them to their fullest potential. Sometimes that will mean allowing them to experiment, struggle and even fail to a certain extent. Those elements are critical to the evolution of a productive staff. This process is exemplified by today’s generational gem.

A man found a butterfly’s cocoon. He observed it regularly and one day noticed the appearance of a small opening. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through the little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared stuck. 
 
The kind man decided to help the butterfly by cutting open the cocoon with a pair of scissors. The butterfly then emerged easily. However, something seemed strange. The butterfly had a swollen body and shriveled wings. The man watched the butterfly expecting it to take on its correct proportions. Unfortunately, nothing changed.

The butterfly stayed the same. It was never able to fly. In his kindness and haste the man did not realize that the butterfly’s struggle to get through the small opening of the cocoon is nature’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight. Like the sapling which grows strong from being buffeted by the wind, in life we all need to struggle sometimes to make us strong. When we coach and teach others, be it children or employees, it is helpful to recognize that people sometimes need to do things for themselves.

Harry K. Jones is a professional speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.