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Issue # 25 May 2007 |
Welcome to the GOOBERS Nation!
Our numbers and enthusiasm are growing each and every day that we choose to Get Out of Bed and Go to Work! This Newsletter is written with you in mind. If there is anything we can do to improve upon this experience, please do not hesitate to contact us.
In order to mirror a recent program I put in place for a client I will be inviting all members of the GOOBERS (Get Out Of Bed, Everybody, Rise and Shine!) Nation to participate in the “Humpday Dumpday” program. If interested please send an email to: HumpdayDumpday@LonKieffer.com
For a complimentary discussion with Lon call and say; “Humpday Dumpday, sat down to call!” Call: (888) GOO-BERZ; (for those number crunchers that’s (888) 466-2379
Win a T-shirt by recommending someone to sign-up for the newsletter. Just call the GOOBERZ Hotline above, or send an email to Lon@LonKieffer.com and give me the name of someone you referred to the newsletter. If they sign up you will be eligible for a drawing for a T-shirt. We will be giving away a shirt for every ten new sign ups (so sign up ten and I will send you a shirt).
For the Traveling GOOBERZ of the World! More tricks and tips with Cell Phones: The viral email touting that a cell phone can open a locked car is true! Recently, I was golfing (despite the fact that I actually do not enjoy golfing) with a colleague. We both arrived late for the tournament (a fund raiser, thus I was doing something I don’t enjoy; but hey, its not like it was torture). In his haste to make the shotgun start he mistakenly locked his keys, his cell phone and his clubs in his car just as I drove up. I remembered this trick I’d read in a chain email and we tried it: We used my cell phone to call his wife at home where they had a spare “keyless” entry system. We put my cell phone on speaker and held it near the lock mechanism and his wife pressed the “unlock” key while holding it near the cell phone. IT WORKED! If I had not seen it myself I never would have believed it. So… If you lock your keys in the car; DON’T LOCK YOUR CELL PHONE IN THE CAR WITH THEM!
“When Generations Collide, Feelings Get Hurt"
… I never figured myself as the home-wrecker type, but sometimes we just don’t know our own impact and potential. A well-used quote from an unknown source is that; “a lot of people have gone further than they thought they could because someone else thought they could (see: “Famous Quotes” for other thoughts on “Mentoring”).” Boy did I learn this lesson recently when someone I was, uhmm, mentoring managed to go a lot farther than my wildest dreams ever could have imagined. Before I explain about how I am a home-wrecker allow me to introduce you to Carol (not her real name). Carol and I have worked together for over ten years and in many ways “Carol” is an amalgamation of all the persons and personalities that personified and helped me see the “Get Out of Bed and Go to Work!” way of life. Carol is the one person I could always turn to when I needed to find a mentor for someone new to the role of “Caregiver.” She is one of those rare folks who can combine years of experience with a youthful enthusiasm and outlook for her profession. Carol's one insecurity in life was her complete phobia with regards to utilizing a computer. When we made the decision to implement a paper-less medical record system she became overly anxious and almost panicked at the thought of interacting with a computer. But alas, the goodwill Carol had achieved through mentoring close to 100 “Generation Y and Millenial” (1980 – 2002) co-workers over the past 10 years served as a sort of “airbag” in the vehicle of life. (Remember: use all resources in your organization including the talents of every member of your organization; we all can lead if we all are willing also to follow). From every corner of the organization volunteers stepped up to lend her a hand-on-top-of-hand guide to manipulate the mouse; offer a kick-start to her efforts to “reboot” the computer; stand behind and rub her tense shoulders as she peered nervously into the flat panel monitor screen; etc…. Carol allowed me to feel a part of the colossal success and rallying of the troops by teaching her how to re-organize the contents of her “inbox” and referred to me as a “genius” in the process. This was typical of Carol; always gracious and humble; always giving more than she gets even when she is “getting” something that you are trying to give. If you try to do something nice and supportive for Carol it is as if she were a living, breathing schoolyard taunt…. “I’m rubber and you are glue. Whatever you say (nice) to me bounces off and sticks to you.” In no time Carol was an expert on the computer and once again a rallying point for the entire workforce. So… on to my home wrecking ways….. Feeling confident in our newfound relationship Carol later approached me to discuss a “personal problem.” She asked if I could take her car and fill up the gas tank. Of course I was more than glad to provide such a simple service following a simple request. How hard is it to get gas for someone? But then it struck me; was there something more that I could do to help? It occurred to me that such a simple request so easily granted could not possibly accrue to being a true service to someone. Why would they not just do it themselves and save their “chips” for a bigger more beneficial favor? So I asked her why she wanted me to fill her gas tank and this is what she said, “Roy (her husband) got laid off about six months ago and he finally found a new job. They (his new employer) sent him away for training and this week is the first time in 35 years of marriage that we have not slept in the same bed. Roy has always insisted on filling up my gas tank for me. He considered it a “man’s responsibility” to take care of the car. He was so stressed out about getting ready for his trip that he forgot to check my tank. He’s gone and I am out of gas.” This was typical of Carol to go through such a huge change and challenge in her life without one peep of complaint. No one knew Roy had been laid off or that he was away on a trip for the first time. I said, “well Carol, certainly you don’t want me to fill in for Roy in any way do you? Why don’t you just put gas in your car yourself?” She said, “I don’t know how to! I haven’t done it since I was sixteen years old and those new machines are just so intimidating. I don’t think I could do it.” I assured her that she would do just fine and that given her recent success with the computer system the gas pump would be a piece of cake. The next day she came into work and I asked her, “So…. How did you make out at the gas station?” Carol told me that she had gone to the gas station and watched other people pump gas for a few minutes and realized that the station was so busy and everyone was in such a rush she did not want the pressure of pumping gas in a hurry. So she crossed herself with a little silent prayer that she would have enough gas to get home and back to work again (notice that work and home were her most comfortable and safe places to be and that without the relationships she earned and developed she did not feel secure) and drove off feeling like a failure. Lon she said, “can you please go get me gas?” Reluctantly I agreed. On my way to the gas station I remembered the parable; “if you give a man a fish he will eat for a day… If you teach a man to fish he will…. sit in a boat and drink beer all day…. But alas, he will also eat for a lifetime.” So I pulled a U-turn and went back to work and walked directly up to Carol and said, “let’s go… you are coming with me.” She objected of course saying she was too busy and asking, “where are we going?” My response: “we are going fishing.” Carol and I then proceeded to the gas station and in one simple lesson I “taught” her how to pump gas. She took to it very naturally and took on a self-satisfied glow as quickly as her old Dodge Charger took on gas. The next day she Carol came into work and resigned her position! I was shocked and stunned. Exasperated I asked; “Carol, what happened?” And Carol said, “Lon… thank you so much! You have changed my life. I’ve wanted to leave Roy for over 30 years but I knew I couldn’t get any further than West Virginia on only one tank of gas. Now, thanks to you, I can get all the way to California before Roy gets back from his business trip. Thank you Lon, you changed my life!” This ending, starting with Carol’s resignation, is of course, a joke up until her comment that I changed her life. I (or at least, the demands of her position) did indeed change Carol’s life. She didn’t leave Roy but she did go much further than any of us ever expected her to go. Once tackling the computer and the gas station all in one week she then took on a new hobby and is now starting a private consulting business helping other Baby Boomers and Traditionalists handle some of the “sandwich” generation stresses involved with caring for aging parents. She has all the knowledge and experience in the world and now, she can go anywhere she needs to offer her services; even West of West Virginia! --Lon Kieffer Recently I was working with a client on some team building with his young management team (roughly 10 people; only one woman). My client explained to me that each of his managers’ was dedicated, hard working, and overachieving; but not all of his employees were necessarily similarly motivated. As a result his organization achieved great things but had “blow ups” that took a great deal of time and effort to put things “back together again” (his exact words).
I said, “you mean like Humpty Dumpty?” You know the nursery rhyme: “Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall; Humpty Dumpty had a great fall; All the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put Humpty together again.”
His response: “exactly! If we could just avoid the fall…” He went on to say, “what we do is not life and death. If they could just slow down and think; get some guidance... things can wait to get some advice or direction.”
Solution: we did some team building exercises utilizing Robert Fulghum’s bestseller “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” to embrace the simplicity of the issues (and added the necessity to be nice) in all phases of our work-a-day world. And, we established a group support program of Wednesday (Humpday) morning breakfast meetings where we could purge our souls (Dumpday) and get advice. Each team member had a partner to call in crisis and one 15-minute “Time Out” (kindergarten style) per week where they could call me if they needed to “get away” from the stimulation at work or couldn’t wait until Humpday Dumpday on Wednesday.
So… I make this offer to you no matter the day of the week; for a fr*ee 15-minute consultation on either personal or professional matters call (888) 466-2379.
Lon Kieffer is a nationally known speaker, trainer and Consultant of Common Sense. As an expert in Workplace Culture Change and Generational Conflict he works with leaders who want to improve their workplace environment and create an atmosphere of team membership.
Lon is also a highly coveted “EnterTrainer” coupling his 20-year background in HealthCare management with his talents as a successful professional comedian to deliver CEU qualified ~~ Entertainment quality programs.
To book Lon for your convention, sales meeting, retreat, employee appreciation event or other important program please contact him personally at: Telephone: (302) 462-6748 cell Email: Lon@LonKieffer.com Website: www.LonKieffer.com |
Lon Kieffer,
RN, BSN, MBA, NHA
Speaker, Author, Consultant |
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In This Issue |
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Messages from You:
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“Lon Kieffer is truly a gift to the Human Spirit!" ~~ Judith Ramirez Social Worker Tunnell Cancer Center
“What fun!? He [Lon] was like a cross between Dr. Phil and Larry the Cable-guy. Sensitive and thought provoking but raw enough to make you want to listen.” ~~ James Buckley Constellation Energy Group
“You (Lon) are like the anecdote to blackberry’s!! No one was checking email or texting while you were talking….” ~~ Recent comment from an un-named participant of Hillsborough County (Florida) Health Department, “All Staff Day” Event
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Message From Lon: |
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Thank you all so much for bearing with me through the transition to the new format for this newsletter. I have already gotten feedback that it is much easier to read and I agree.
I’d like to thank my new virtual assistant, Debbie Lonergan for her efforts and help in this transition.
We managed to lose some of our members in the transition so I wanted to invite you all to help me rebuild… see FR*EE STUFF for details.
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Famous Quotes:
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“To the world, you may just be somebody. But to somebody, you may just be the world.” ~~ Unknown (which means up for grabs; get known; use it and claim it; get involved!) “The more you loose yourself in something bigger than yourself, the more energy you will have.” ~~ Norman Vincent Peale, Christian Preacher and Author of “The Power of Positive Thinking” (1898 – 1993) “Be the change you want to see in the world.” ~~ Ghandi, Political and Spiritual Leader of India (1869 – 1948) "One of the things I keep learning is that the secret of being happy is doing things for other people.” ~~ Dick Gregory, Comedian and Social Activist (1932 - ) “Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.” ~~ Mother Teresa, Roman Catholic Nun, winner of Nobel Pease Prize in 1979 (1910 – 1997) “I think, therefore I am.” ~~ Rene Descartes, French Philosopher and founder of modern day philosophy (1596 – 1650) |
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Lon Clip:
Click to hear an excerpt from one of Lon's Speaking Engagements |
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R & R (Everyone can use a few Reading Recommendations!)
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Soon-to-be- Famous Quote:
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“Mentoring is a relationship where no one can determine, and only time can tell, who was the true giver and who was the receiver.” ~~Lon Kieffer, proud father and sometimes frustrated Leader 1962 –
“I laugh; therefore I are.” ~~ Lon Kieffer, wannabe Philosopher (according to William Horrace, PhD)
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The Three Keys to Change at Work and in Life by Alan Deutschman |
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The Get Out of Bed and Go to Work! Nugget of the Month: |
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You are only responsible for what you show people…not what they choose to see… you cannot allow your ACTIONS to be based on their PERCEPTIONS. |
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Culture Change:
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Culture Change is absolutely the buzzword in HealthCare today. Another term for it is; “Resident Centered Care.” What many of the “experts” in this industry fail to realize is the huge impact this trend in HealthCare can have on those in the service industry trying to maintain personal and professional stability in this changing environment.
Lon is an expert and consultant on Workplace Culture Change and Generational Issues in the Workplace; Lon shares some of his core values and strategies in live and written “Get Out of Bed and Go to Work!” programs.
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Slide Excerpt: From a Live! Kieffer-the-Speaker presentation: |
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"Comedy is simply a funny way of being serious." Peter Ustinov Academy Award Winning British Actor
(1921 - 2004) |
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