Lessons From My Father

My Dad was very much a believer in using professional resources when needed. Whether the resource was to learn how to drive, ride, or teach your dog. When I was a teenager we had two half-Mastiff/half-Great Dane littermates. When they were six months old we took them to obedience classes.

When I was 5 or 6 years old I insisted on taking the family poodle to obedience school. Some of you have heard me refer to training as “owner obedience school” because it is truly the owner that it is trained or re-trained.

Since May I have been through two different canine instructors. I am starting with my third. The first two wanted me to reward Tevye for bad behavior (my perspective). I tried. I told myself this is 2023, things change, and training evolves. I tried.

I happened to be at the veterinarian a few days before instructor #3. I shared my frustration with my MBA/DVM. She said clearly and succinctly, don’t use this instructor if she rewards bad behavior.

THANK YOU. It’s hard to know when to evolve one’s thinking and when the old way is the effective way. I found it confirming and freeing for my Gen X vet to believe in the “old fashioned” methods.

When do we literally or figuratively read the book in book form, read the newspaper NOT online, or go in person rather than text? When do we evolve?

In 59 seconds former NBA star Alan Iverson iconicized the word PRACTICE. As you will read further down in this newsletter, there have been 3 times in just seven days in Akron, Oh where the lack of PRACTICE resulted in almost catastrophic consequences.

PRACTICE for you may mean by yourself, out loud, in the clothes you will be wearing for the big event, at the same time of day or PRACTICE may mean for everyone involved to rehearse their parts in real-time in the actual venue.

1. The Limitations of Knowledge



Recently I found myself at the Akron Art Museum. I was happy to be invited to this preview. I am not the most cultured person in the world, but I attend most everything to which I am invited. Amongst many things I couldn’t really relate to I found one curated piece that inspired me to take a photo.

Lesson Learned:  The saying struck a chord for me. Maybe it will strike a chord for you too. “Understanding begins when we no longer believe that knowledge is the only answer." The author is Curlee Raven Holten who uses his knowledge of Buddhism to spiritually inform his work. What besides knowledge can be an answer for you?

2. The Value of Prepared Remarks

Recently I attended an event where the speech was pretty much the highlight of the event. I got there early to get a seat close to the podium. This assured me that I would see if the speaker used a teleprompter or notes. He seemed to speak “off the cuff’. Audiences seem to think it is cool to speak without notes. I am not in that contingent.

Lesson Learned: The speaker said something that reverberated around big circles of influence. I don’t know how well thought out the comments were – I do know there was a price to pay for what seemed like unprepared remarks. Actions have consequences. Are you prepared to pay the consequences of remarks not well thought out?

3. No Such Thing as Little Things

At some of the events I attended recently there were some interesting “missteps:" as one of the speakers descended the dais, the step collapsed under her 4” heels. At another event as the portrait was unveiled, it fell and shattered in pieces. At yet another the gift to be bestowed almost fell to the ground – each one big or little?

Lesson Learned: Whether you are the pilot or the guy who packs the parachute, your job is important. Whether it’s a nail or practicing an unveiling, if you embrace the concept that all things have the potential to be BIG, you may look at things differently. Is there one thing you can move from the little to the big category?

I started out one morning to walk Benji & Tevi before I left them at home. I barely got out of the garage when I noticed Benji was limping. So I turned around and put him in the car while I walked Tevi.

When I let Benji out of the car he was still pathetic. The last time he was this sad Moshe texted me a photo: he put an ice pack on Benji’s paw and Benji just sat there looking, you guessed it, pathetic. I couldn’t see or feel any reason for his lameness. I left him with a treat and figured it would either get worse or it would get better.

I came back a few hours later and poof, he was fine. Sometimes we need to let things take their own course and sometimes we need to intervene. The challenge is to correctly identify when we “neglect” and when we “micro manage."

This is a huge and frequent challenge for today’s leaders. When do they delegate and when do they get involved? When do they literally come down from their strategic perch and how long do they stay?

Video and Vino

December 6, 5pm - 7pm

Give the best holiday gift ever! Give the gift of an experience to someone else or give the gift to yourself!

We would be excited to have you join us at Video & Vino. Each of you will be taped for 2 -3 minutes. We play it back, make suggestions, and then we will tape you again. You will see immediate improvement!

You learn by doing and by observing the other participants, you could call them your new BFF's. And guess what? You have fun in the process!

·      Attend for $36

·      Participants limited to 6 for seating and coaching

·      Bring a friend or co-worker as your holiday gift to them!

*This session will prepare you to be ready for your time in the spotlight whether it is in person, on TV, a podcast, Tik-Tok, YouTube or Zoom.

Ask me about my 10 in 10!