Trust

TRUST is defined by Wikipedia as the trait of believing in the honesty and reliability of others. Usually trust is gained over time. As you develop a relationship with others, if the relationship is important to us, we will invest the time and effort to ensure that the other person begins to understand our intent and even when bad outcomes happen, we will be given the benefit of the doubt.

If you find yourself in a relationship with a boss, subordinate or peer that does not yield the benefit of the doubt then you can be assured that TRUST is not operative in the relationship. It may be beneficial at that point to address this issue head on with the person you need a relationship with. Understand, like a forest, TRUST takes many years to build and grow and can be destroyed in a matter of minutes through carelessness or reckless abandon. Protect your integrity and the TRUST others have given you on a daily basis.

Networking

CONNECTIONS! NETWORKING! INFLUENCING! The most often used mechanism by every successful person to get a head is “networking”. Whether you are trying to get a promotion, a new position, close a business deal or get people to assist you in a project—YOU HAVE TO NETWORK! Very seldom do any of us get a head because of our skills—to use your skills you HAVE TO GET IN THE DOOR. The door opens because you have INFLUENCE with a network. Connections are absolutely critical if you want to influence people. Before you can get any one to go on a JOURNEY WITH YOU have to find out where they are on the continuum you find yourself on and then make it their business to join you there.

I can categorically tell you that they will never be on your path if you are negative or berate them. All of us need others to project our interests forward and to promote our positions (a rising tide lifts all boats), so why do we turn off the very people we need to assist us? Don’t be a turtle and hide in your shell, only to let catastrophe happen. The excuse that “you told everyone that bad things would happen if you were not listened to” is not an EXCUSE FOR INACTION! Get out of your shell and make positive things happen by being a positive person that can network and influence others.

Have a GREAT NETWORKING DAY!

When Independence Becomes Individualism

If team members are willing to give of themselves generously to the team, then it is being set up to succeed. In America, independence and individualism is highly valued because it is seen as a sign of innovation, hard work and a willingness to be pioneers. I too embrace those qualities. However, I have learned over time that independence taken too far is a characteristic of SELFISHNESS, a need to emphasize the “I” in independence. Too much independence focused on self will begin to harm or hinder others. Here’s a barometer. If you find yourself in conversations, criticizing the efforts of others when they fall short of the mark or even if not in conversation, thinking the same thoughts, then you have gone past the point of independence and are in the lonely country of individualism. We all fall short from time to time and an investment in others will ensure that even if you stumble you will never hit the ground. In the words of Mr. Spock of STAR TREK, “The needs of the many, always outweigh the needs of the few, the needs of the one!

Williams Sisters 2

By now you should know that Venus and Serena Williams played for the title at Wimbledon and that Venus won! It was a blessing to see these two women vie for the championship of a game that traditionally does not attract African Americans. They were also the last two Americans to represent our country at this British tennis match. Another 1st also occurred at Wimbledon with Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer for the championship at Wimbledon. Since Nadal also won the French Open he accomplished something that has been accomplished in 28 years – some one to win both the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year.

All these athletes embody the characteristics of winners that even in the face of at time insurmountable odds they persist to go that extra mile. Whether your extra mile is to put an extra our in to study or put the effort in to lose the last 10 pounds or to grit your teeth when one of our customers is less that polite, you are Winners each day you put that extra mile in.

Williams Sisters

I am actually writing this message on Wednesday July 2, 2008 because I was listening to the radio and was overwhelmed at how much progress we have made ad a country. The news article centered around the fact that THE ONLY AMERICANS LEFT TO REPRESENT OUR COUNTRY AT THE WIMBLETON TENNIS TOURNAMENT IN THE UK ARE TWO AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN WITH THE LAST NAME OF WILLIAMS!

What struck me was the announcer’s ease of indicating that the two remaining AMERICANS were the Williams sisters, who happened to be African American. I can remember when the only African American that had graced Wimbledon was Althea Gibson and then after her Arthur Ashe.

In a year where a major Presidential candidate is African American, I think it is appropriate to celebrate the independence of our generation from the bondage of racism and oppression. We have all come a long way and I am proud to be an American! Truly we are living history and living in an age that Martin Luther King dreamed—that we would all be evaluated and appreciated for the CONTENT OF OUR CHARACTER AND NOT THE COLOR OF OUR SKIN!

As an immigree to these shores, I am proud to be part of the good ole US of A! Have a celebratory 4th of July and stay safe!

Cast Your Net Where You Have Never Cast

I recently heard a very interesting story. It was about some fishermen who had returned from fishing and HAD NO FISH. When this prophet walked by their boats, he noticed that they had no fish and were washing their nets. Apparently, fishermen wash their nets when they are ready to call it a day. The prophet inquired why they were putting their nets away as they had caught no fish and therefore would not have any income for the day and would not eat.

The responses ranged from:

we’re tired of going out with our boats every morning and coming back without any fish;
the gas prices are too high to keep taking our boats out and not being guaranteed a catch;
its hot in the boats;
what’s the use of trying, we’re just going to come back without any fish.

So the prophet remarked; “you will be assured of no fish if you don’t go back out and you are assured of catching fish if you cast your net often enough as fish only live in water. If you cast you net long enough, often enough and in areas you have never cast your net before, you will catch fish.”

One of the fishermen heard the message and decided to take his boat out and this time he took his boat to an area of the sea he had never fished before. As soon as he cast his net, it was over filled with fish. When he returned to the shore, those fishermen who did not go back out to sea were envious and criticized the successful fisherman for not sharing his catch.

Which boat are you in when faced with challenges and disappointment. One thing is sure—when you give up you will reap what you sow—nothing!