First of all, this isn't a pat myself on the back posting to tell all my readers what a great guy I am, and get a bunch of replies telling me so...well not entirely anyways, and remember, flattery will get you everywhere...But I did want to take a few minutes to tell you about something that happened to me this morning...Like many people I know, I always make sure I give to Goodfellows as soon as I see one of their representatives, usually wearing nice warm "I'm ready to go fight a fire" apparel...I hand them whatever loose change I have, loonies, twoonies...hopefully totalling around $5 so I can feel like I really gave this year. Then I put the Goodfellows newspaper on the dash to proudly display that Yes, I, Jeff Wilder, did my part this year to help those less fortunate than myself. Or this is what I tell myself. Truth be told, I display the newspaper for the same reason most people do. To avoid having to give again. Now don't feel bad if you do that too...I mean at least you gave once right? Some people don't give at all...and we know who you are by the glaring absence of the newspaper on your dash. Yes the newspaper...oh how proud I am to display it...just to show others how decent a human being I am...so here I am, this morning sitting at Tim Hortons, in the drive through, my paper visible upside down in the reflection of the wind shield, when I spotted the following headline...
"Without Local Charity, There Could Be No Christmas"
How sad I thought to myself. No Christmas? Are people in that dire straits that Christmas might be canceled? That is when it hit me, and I am a little ashamed to admit it. I have been so caught up lately in my own trials and tribulations that I forgot just how bad of shape the city of Windsor is in. Numbers for October came in at 9%, the 2nd highest unemployment rate in the country. And with the recent announcement of Heinz closing next year, the jobless rate in Essex County and Windsor will go even higher...No Christmas? Well its great to see an organization such as Goodfellows, and all of these amazing volunteers, doing what they do for the city of Windsor and Essex County.
They say charity begins at home, and even though there are a great many less fortunate that need our help overseas, the Philippines for example, we should not forget our neighbors, friends and other members of our very own community. So what do you ask did I do about it? Well I did two things. First I removed the newspaper from my smug dashboard, so that I may be greeted by more Goodfellows Volunteers...then a few minutes later, I found one..."pssst...they're everywhere!"...and gave him some actual paper money...and then when he offered me a paper in return, I declined, saying I already have one...His reply "Well you should put it in on your dash so we stop bothering you!" You aren't bothering me my friend...and thank you for what you are doing for the city!!
Saturday, 23 November 2013
Friday, 22 November 2013
Running THROUGH The Finish Line
Recently I was in British Columbia, hiking up a mountain, carrying a huge jug of water and backpack full of bricks, with a partner who was doing the same. It was a test of strength and will, one in which I am proud to say I dug deep and surpassed my own expectations. It wasn't easy, but I wouldn't accept failure as an option. As I saw the finish line about 200 meters ahead, it would have been easy for me to put it on coast and cruise through, people cheering me on for having accomplished my goal. My partner was sure to be happy with that plan. What I did instead, with my legs burning, my back killing me and my feet full of blisters, was begin to run. "What the heck are you doing?" asked my partner. "Lets go man, we only have a little way left, lets sprint through the finish" I looked as my partner started to pick up the pace...the pain was excruciating, but suddenly it didn't matter, as the only thing I cared about was getting to the finish line as quickly as possible. Surprisingly I started to pick up speed, and it seemed the closer I got to the finish line the faster I ran, with my partner right by my side (OK maybe I was a little ahead of him)...The last 10 steps are etched into my memory. The faster I ran, the louder the cheers got...our efforts had worked the crowd into a frenzy. They were screaming "Go...Go...Go...Go..." and as we lunged through the finish line with every ounce of energy remaining in our bodies, the crowd went ballistic. It was one of the proudest moments in my life, and one that I was only able to experience because I chose to, instead of jogging the last 200 meters and coasting to the finish line, to sprint and run through it as fast as I could. And as I crossed, with absolutely nothing left in the tank, my legs feeling like rubber, the backpack feeling like it weighed 500 lbs, a wonderful thing happened. My fellow competitors ran over to me and helped me to stand. They removed the backpack. They didn't allow me sit down, instead encouraging me to stand tall and put my hands up above my head to help the oxygen into my lungs. They essentially caught me as I fell.
I have since thought back to that moment many times, and asked myself just how many times in my life had I slowed down when I saw the finish line. How many times had I coasted through, admiring my accomplishments, chit chatting with coworkers as deadlines passed. Truth is the answer is too many. Too often had I in life accomplished something great, only to then coast for a bit admiring myself and what I had done. Too often had I closed a big account, only to high five my coworkers and head home early for the day or to the bar to have a drink for a job well done, instead of picking up the phone and closing another big account, or planting more seeds to be harvested the next day.
Maybe its human nature to sit back on our laurels and pat ourselves on the back, but since that day, I have instead chosen to run THROUGH the finish line instead of TO it, and this has made huge differences in my life. Friday afternoons are no longer my day to kick back and relax after a hard days work, they are used as an opportunity to further my business by getting a jump start on Monday.
The Olympics are fast approaching, and I am looking forward to watching athletes who have trained for years compete in their respective arenas where 1/100 of a second is the difference between being a champion or a runner up. The difference between the cover of Sports Illustrated or a small picture on page 26. You can bet at this level, none of these elite athletes will see the finish line and shift down and coast...instead, they will kick it into the highest gear they have, dig deep for that last amount of fuel in the tank, lean forward and use every last bit of willpower to burst THROUGH the finish line. Isn't this the level you want to play at in your life?
I have since thought back to that moment many times, and asked myself just how many times in my life had I slowed down when I saw the finish line. How many times had I coasted through, admiring my accomplishments, chit chatting with coworkers as deadlines passed. Truth is the answer is too many. Too often had I in life accomplished something great, only to then coast for a bit admiring myself and what I had done. Too often had I closed a big account, only to high five my coworkers and head home early for the day or to the bar to have a drink for a job well done, instead of picking up the phone and closing another big account, or planting more seeds to be harvested the next day.
Maybe its human nature to sit back on our laurels and pat ourselves on the back, but since that day, I have instead chosen to run THROUGH the finish line instead of TO it, and this has made huge differences in my life. Friday afternoons are no longer my day to kick back and relax after a hard days work, they are used as an opportunity to further my business by getting a jump start on Monday.
The Olympics are fast approaching, and I am looking forward to watching athletes who have trained for years compete in their respective arenas where 1/100 of a second is the difference between being a champion or a runner up. The difference between the cover of Sports Illustrated or a small picture on page 26. You can bet at this level, none of these elite athletes will see the finish line and shift down and coast...instead, they will kick it into the highest gear they have, dig deep for that last amount of fuel in the tank, lean forward and use every last bit of willpower to burst THROUGH the finish line. Isn't this the level you want to play at in your life?
Thursday, 14 November 2013
New job? Follow these tips
In these ever changing markets, it seems the days of getting a job, working for the same employer for 25 or 30 years, retiring with a cushy pension and riding into the sunset happily ever after, are over, at least for most of us. Therefor, many people in the workforce, will be faced, either today or soon, with starting a new job. Whether the time is now, or if you are considering a change in career paths in the near future, there are a few things you need to know, or should know, to make the transition as smooth and fruitful as possible.
1/ Shhhhhhhhhhh...
There is a saying that goes something like this - "They thought I was a (insert colorful pronoun here) until I opened my mouth and proved it to be true." Look, as charming, funny and entertaining as you might be or believe yourself to be, coming on too strong your first few days/weeks/months in a new job is a sure fire way to alienate yourself amongst your new peers. Odds are that you will soon find yourself the fodder of many of the conversations around the water cooler, and they won't be about how charming and funny you are. Truth is that this backfires in many ways, and many people try too hard to make impressions too quickly. Allow your actions to speak for you, as you show that you are a valuable member of this new team. Don't risk offending people you barely know with a sense of humor that may not go over so well. Instead, use the time in a new job, to quietly observe others. Learn the landscape. Don't steal the spotlights from others. Don't "one up" others stories. Show genuine interest in what your new co-workers have to say. Ask questions and learn from the answers. All of that being said, don't be afraid to contribute to the work talk with your innovative ideas and suggestions.
2/ Serve First
I recently started a new position, a part time job, that to be honest, wasn't really something that excited me, but it fit my needs in terms of time frames between contracts, and it beat laying around the house collecting unemployment. My first day on the job, I started walking up to people asking if there was anything I could do to help them. It was amazing the response that I got. First I was greeted with a smile, and either a polite "No I'm good, but thank you." or "Sure I could use a hand with this or that". Either way, word got out quickly how nice a guy I was, and it spread all over the company, including up into management. Soon everybody was noticing that I was helping others in the company whenever I had a free minute from my own duties. You see, I served first. I put the needs of others in front of my own, and it paid off. Serve first, and you will see it pay off in spades.
3/ Avoid the Gossip
It is inevitable, in any job, that you will be approached usually sooner than later, by one or more of the resident gossipers. They are everywhere. And all they want to do is engage you in the story of the day about so and so and what they are up to. Here is where you have options. Option #1 would be to engage with that person, thinking that they want to be your new friend. After all, who doesn't want a new friend at a new job. But beware the wolf in sheep's clothing because the one who gossips to you will inevitably gossip about you. Option #2 would be to just ignore it, smile, nod your head and keep your mouth shut. This way you don't get dragged in, but you also won't make an enemy. #3 would be to let the person know you are not one to gossip and have them move along, which will likely put you his or her crosshairs and make you the target of further gossiping. If that happens, shrug it off and ignore it. Really, who cares what the gossipers say about you. This crowd isn't happy unless they are talking about someone, so don't let it get to you.
So here it is, a few tips that will help you settling into your new work place. Basically, avoid the negative energy. It's a virus, and if you catch it, you will spread it. Stay positive, smile, do your job, and over time, your will find a social circle of like minded coworkers, who will trust you and like you for who you are.
1/ Shhhhhhhhhhh...
There is a saying that goes something like this - "They thought I was a (insert colorful pronoun here) until I opened my mouth and proved it to be true." Look, as charming, funny and entertaining as you might be or believe yourself to be, coming on too strong your first few days/weeks/months in a new job is a sure fire way to alienate yourself amongst your new peers. Odds are that you will soon find yourself the fodder of many of the conversations around the water cooler, and they won't be about how charming and funny you are. Truth is that this backfires in many ways, and many people try too hard to make impressions too quickly. Allow your actions to speak for you, as you show that you are a valuable member of this new team. Don't risk offending people you barely know with a sense of humor that may not go over so well. Instead, use the time in a new job, to quietly observe others. Learn the landscape. Don't steal the spotlights from others. Don't "one up" others stories. Show genuine interest in what your new co-workers have to say. Ask questions and learn from the answers. All of that being said, don't be afraid to contribute to the work talk with your innovative ideas and suggestions.
2/ Serve First
I recently started a new position, a part time job, that to be honest, wasn't really something that excited me, but it fit my needs in terms of time frames between contracts, and it beat laying around the house collecting unemployment. My first day on the job, I started walking up to people asking if there was anything I could do to help them. It was amazing the response that I got. First I was greeted with a smile, and either a polite "No I'm good, but thank you." or "Sure I could use a hand with this or that". Either way, word got out quickly how nice a guy I was, and it spread all over the company, including up into management. Soon everybody was noticing that I was helping others in the company whenever I had a free minute from my own duties. You see, I served first. I put the needs of others in front of my own, and it paid off. Serve first, and you will see it pay off in spades.
3/ Avoid the Gossip
It is inevitable, in any job, that you will be approached usually sooner than later, by one or more of the resident gossipers. They are everywhere. And all they want to do is engage you in the story of the day about so and so and what they are up to. Here is where you have options. Option #1 would be to engage with that person, thinking that they want to be your new friend. After all, who doesn't want a new friend at a new job. But beware the wolf in sheep's clothing because the one who gossips to you will inevitably gossip about you. Option #2 would be to just ignore it, smile, nod your head and keep your mouth shut. This way you don't get dragged in, but you also won't make an enemy. #3 would be to let the person know you are not one to gossip and have them move along, which will likely put you his or her crosshairs and make you the target of further gossiping. If that happens, shrug it off and ignore it. Really, who cares what the gossipers say about you. This crowd isn't happy unless they are talking about someone, so don't let it get to you.
So here it is, a few tips that will help you settling into your new work place. Basically, avoid the negative energy. It's a virus, and if you catch it, you will spread it. Stay positive, smile, do your job, and over time, your will find a social circle of like minded coworkers, who will trust you and like you for who you are.
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