Earning Thanks

Finish the turkey, stuffing and desserts? (My guess: There are still leftovers from the meal, but the pies and cakes are long gone. Go ahead, admit it. It's okay. We know.) Ready to put Thanksgiving behind you, determined to lose somehow the weight you gained over the weekend? Eager to begin the Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Al-Hijira/Ashura holiday season?

Not so fast. There's still an important Thanksgiving question to consider.

Last week, true to the spirit of Thanksgiving, we considered those to whom we owe thanks. This week we ask a far more personal question:

What have you done this past year to have earned the true, heartfelt thanks of others?

A sobering question, no? The 50 people I asked that very question to over the last couple of weeks certainly thought so. Indeed, most were taken aback by the question, needing a few moments just to get their mind around the concept that they might have done something worthy of heartfelt thanks. Typically after a long pause, the responses I received were astonishing:

• The vast majority (88%) thought that they were a good partner to another, but that being thanked for this wasn't appropriate or required
  

• A large majority (85%) thought that they were a good parent -- and wished to be thanked -- but never thought they'd live long enough to hear true heartfelt thanks from their offspring
  

• Most (80%) consider themselves to be good employees, but few thought that they'd ever be thanked for the work they do or the sacrifices they make at work (with 65% absolutely confident that few at work even knew of their sacrifices)
  

• Most (78%) reported that they spend insufficient time volunteering in non-profit/community organizations or agencies, and, therefore, are not owed thanks; and, very sadly
  

• Nearly all (90%) said that they had not received a heartfelt 'thank you' from anyone in months, some in years.
  

What made these responses that much more surprising was the fact that these people were, indeed, highly worthy of gratitude. Wonderful partners, fabulous parents, terrific workers. Most were involved in their community, many giving freely to charities. And yet very few received heartfelt thanks (or thanks they believed to be heartfelt) or even considered their actions to be worthy of gratitude.

What's up with that? Are we becoming -- or have we become -- a society where giving thanks is a lost art? Where providing a warm, sincere, deeply felt 'thank you' is an endangered specie? Where we take each others' dedication, commitment and giving for granted? Based on the responses of the 50 people I surveyed, you certainly might think so.

Let's change this. Let's revive the beauty of giving thanks to those who deserve it. Let's also become worthy of the thanks of others.

Beginning now, I urge you to join me in this thanks giving and thanks earning crusade by:

1. Going out of our way to thank those who are closest to us for all they do to make our lives rich. Parents, partners, children, family. Co-workers, direct reports, leadership, others at work. People with whom you share religious beliefs. People who share your passions. People who serve you. People who support you.

2. Doing things worthy of heartfelt thanks. Not so much for the thanks. Instead, for the knowledge that you're making other lives rich.

And, for once, I'll start. Jorge, Sole y la familia magnifica (pictured above), muchas, muchas gracias para hiciendo mi vida tan rica. Espero saben que tienen un lugar muy especial en mi corazon.

That felt good. Try it for yourself. Especially during this holiday season. It's a wonderful gift to give. And it's more powerful and less expensive than an iPod.

Thanks Giving

Welcome to the week of Thanksgiving. Our designated day for giving thanks for all we have. It's also the day before Christmas, if you know what I mean and I'm sure you do. (Actually, it used to be the day before Christmas. Now it seems that Halloween serves that purpose.) Regardless, it's a quintessential American holiday, one we should take better advantage of. More about that in a minute.

Thanks to the many readers who appreciated the iPhone apps suggestions offered last week. While I'm still awaiting that call from Steve Jobs (must have been a busy week for him), your cards and letters were terrific. Several of you forwarded ideas about the need for an app for bad drivers. Not to disappoint, I present to you:

• It's the FAST Lane, Idiot! (Icon: Cha Sa-Soon, above, the 68-year-old South Korean woman who passed her country's written driver's-license exam on her 950th attempt) App allows user to photograph the license plate of any car impeding user's progress. Using the iPhone's GPS, app calculates speed and location of targeted car. If below the legal speed limit, app automatically sends license plate photo to local Highway Patrol office which, in turn, forwards a citation to car's owner. Version 2.0 (expected late 2010) will inform user's auto insurance company of user's concern for safety, resulting in an immediate lowering of user's premiums.

That was a bit wordy, but you get the point. And, hey, who wouldn't want that app?

Speaking of Cha Sa-Soon, she finally scored the 60% required after taking the exam nearly every day since April 2005. You might call that persistence. I call that lunacy! It took 950 tries to get 60% right? (Of course this made me wonder how often someone can take the exam to become a licensed surgeon, but let's not go there.) And they gave her a license to drive a car? On public streets? You say that she lives in South Korea, but think of her the next time you're in this. You know there's someone up ahead driving too slowly in the fast lane. Gotta develop that app. And soon.

In the meantime, let's consider the true purpose of Thanksgiving. A day to give thanks, to take a slow, soothing breath, taking in the joy of family and friends. It's also a day to appreciate the many things that make life grand. So, as a public service, I offer the following partial list of just some of the people and things that deserve our thanks:

• Those who are finally getting our attention about the urgency of global warming

• All who are working to feed the underfed here and abroad

• The possibility that everyone in this country will have access to health care

• The freedom to debate (Republican Party, take note: Holding formal discussions on a particular topic in a public meeting or legislative assembly, in which opposing arguments are put forward, is a basic tenet of democracy. You might inform Rush, Bill and Glenn and their Fox News colleagues. They appear to have forgotten.)

• Any teacher who inspires even one child to dream

• Our willingness to give beyond our means in times of natural disaster (This does not include George W and his administration's criminal unresponsiveness to the victims of Katrina.)

• The technology that allows us to stay close to family and friends wherever they live on this ever-shrinking (and ever-warming) planet
  

• Authors, playwrights, screenplay writers who make us consider new alternatives

• Investigative journalists, a quickly dying breed, who reveal truth (check out one of my favorites: Matt Taibbi of Rolling Stone)

• Anyone who creates music and other forms of art

• Researchers working namelessly in search of cures for disease

• All whose primary job duty is to keep us safe
  

• And, of course, those who take the time to read these rants
  

Like I said, it's only a partial list. But it's a start. Add yours below or forward them to me. I love hearing from you.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. And, please, do take the time to give thanks.

There's (Not) An App for That (Yet)

In a surprise only to my mother -- who thinks I should have won the award and has canceled her subscription as a result -- Steve Jobs was named 'CEO of the Decade' by Fortune Magazine this week.

Who better to honor, I wonder, as my iPod plays, my iPhone recharges (damn short battery, that), and I type this blog on a MacBook? And just because I touted Apple's use of its standard-setting vision statement to help the company outperform Microsoft in last week's blog doesn't mean in the least that I'm not impartial.

Actually, I'm not, but this isn't Fox News where you expect impartiality. This is my blog.

As I consider, as does Fortune, how Apple has changed how we listen to music, what we consider a 'telephone', and, most importantly, how we interact with technology, let's also give Apple credit for adding a new, useful expression to our language. Say it with me:

There's an app for that!

And app(lication)s there are! At last count, there were over 85,000 apps available for download. For those of you who are familiar with the amazing array of possibilities, you know that there are apps for just about everything -- each more mind-boggling than the next. Don't know the name of a song or who sang it? Don't know where you parked your car? Don't know the 3rd line in Act II of Othello? Don't know how to make the perfect margarita? Don't want to have to type (how terribly last century!) someone's contact info from their iPhone? Don't know who gives AAA discounts in this neighborhood? Don't know how to calculate a 15% tip? (Hey, you know who you are.)

Not to mention the games, the business apps, music apps, networking apps, news apps, cooking apps, language apps. And then there are apps that aren't free.

Check it out sometime. It's astounding.

But for all of the brilliance of the tens of thousands of apps, there's an important void in Apple's offerings. I feel it my duty to outline for you now how Apple's app development efforts are failing us, and failing us badly.

So, Mr. CEO of the Decade, consider dedicating some energy to these suggestions for new apps. If you really want to change the world, here's how to do it.

• Not Again, You Fool! (Icon: Mother-type wagging a finger) So as to prevent embarrassment, app warns you verbally -- 'Don't do it again, you fool!' -- when you're about to repeat a bone-headed, idiotic thing you've done before. Ignoring the warning leads app to scream 'You idiot! Didn't I tell you not to do that?'
  

• I Can't Believe I Just Said That (Icon: Glenn Beck) App provides small electric shock to user when a truly stupid, insensitive, and/or inflammatory thing is said in public. (Warning: For some, app may cause rapid decline in iPhone's battery life.)

• Furlough Calculator (Icon: Coins falling through fingers) App calculates personal impact on weekly, monthly and annual salary of having to take furlough days. Advanced version calculates impact on retirement benefits.
  

• Corporate-speak (Icon: Man laughing hard) App translates memos and other corporate communication pieces into English. An initiative is underway to explore the potential efficiency gains of a shared services model. becomes You and your job are toast. (Non-English versions soon to be available.)

• Tell The Truth (Icon: Unidentifiable person holding mirror up to user) While holding iPhone, app provides mild vibration when a full truth is not being communicated. Text of 'the truth' is shown on screen. Vibrations turn to electric shocks if text on screen is not read aloud. Example: "Your performance at work this last year has been good." will, when appropriate, become "I'm a wimp and haven't told you the truth about your work. It sucks." Federal approval for use in relationships is pending.

• You Call That Service? (Icon: Woman being ignored while seated at table) App provides a dozen choice expressions in English, French, Spanish and an array of Asian languages for use when appropriate service is not rendered. User selects desired expression and language and taps screen. Expression is played sufficiently loud for target individual to hear. User makes point but is not identified as speaker. Additional expressions available for download, though proof of age is required. Particularly useful on airplanes and at just about any cafe in Paris.

• I Was Listening! (Icon: Man facing woman, her hands on hips) App assists user in recalling what was said in a previous conversation. Appropriate detail is shown on screen. App particularly useful in assisting in the recall of dates, times, names, clothing worn, and upcoming appointments. App not yet able to determine answers if discussion never occurred, despite absolute conviction of other party.

• You're Okay, You Really Are (Icon: Stuart Smalley) App provides verbal uplifting reminders to user that "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and, doggonit, people like me." Frequency of reminders determined by user. App intended for those in the throes of a difficult job search.

Have any suggestions for apps you'd like to see? Take your best shot in the comments section below.

So, get to it, Steve. Time's awastin'.

Winning Isn't Easy

Winning isn't easy. Winning consistently is even harder.

Just ask the Philadelphia Phillies who almost became the first National League team since the 1976 Cincinnati Reds to repeat as champions. Just ask the New York Yankees who did win the World Series last week, but hadn't for nine years. Nine years.

For them, that's a drought of biblical proportions. It's just one of the reasons they had a $201.5 million payroll this year. (That's base comp, by the way.) And spent another $1.2 billion on a new stadium.

As a passionate fan of the San Francisco Giants -- a team that hasn't won the World Series since 1954 (that's 55 years and counting) and never in San Francisco -- I often wonder what separates winning teams from the pretenders.

On a related note, I also often wonder why most of us can't change our sports allegiances to other, more successful teams. Why expend such emotion on an also-ran when there are winners to support? Why not, say, trade in the black and orange for pinstripes? A nine-year drought should be easy to endure, especially when compared to one that's 55 years long and will likely continue until dinosaurs again roam the Earth. Or later. But most of us can't. Love, I guess, will keep us together, to quote Captain and Tennille, which I can't believe I just did. (Admit it: You're humming it now, aren't you? You know you are. Nothing to be ashamed of. It's a catchy tune. Just don't start singing, okay?)

Back to the topic at hand. As a student of the wild, wacky world of business, I'm frequently asked what it takes to forge a contender and, hopefully, an organization that consistently outperforms the competition. Asked in non-Corporate speak: What's it take to win?

And while there's no absolute formula, there are some things that all marketplace winners have. These include:

• A terrific vision. Something that captures the heart, creates exciting possibilities and, in the process, attracts top talent. Let's take the visions of two fierce competitors. Which one of the following better achieves the objectives of a terrific vision?
  

To help people and businesses realize their full potential




To change the world

• Leadership. The kind that sets a compelling agenda, outlines how the agenda will be accomplished, enlists and entrusts many to help achieve the agenda and is not satisfied until the agenda is accomplished.
  

• Talent. Rock-star quality if you can find it but, for sure, solid talent up and down the organization. Here's where the vision can be huge. On Microsoft's Jobs page, they ask:

  "How do you see the future?"

  Nice. But then check out Apple's Jobs page:

  "Part career, part revolution." "License to change the world." "Less a job, more a calling."

  If you could choose, in which company would you rather work? (Any wonder that Apple produced the iPod and iPhone while Microsoft couldn't quite get Windows 7 launched?)

• A set of strategic initiatives. Objectives that, if achieved, will help achieve the vision and, in the process, lead to consistent wins in the market. Objectives, by the way, that everyone in the company knows, believes in, and fights to achieve.

• A culture of winning. Some would dismiss this as an 'intangible', the 'soft' part of business. Fine. Those that do probably aren't winning, for this is one of the most critical requirements for consistent success in the market. Such an environment attracts the best, motivates people to perform at a superior level, creates the need for outstanding teams, drives productivity, inspires service and, critically, establishes that elusive 'winning tradition' that so many sports coaches seek. Customers know which companies have it and which don't. Plain and simple, it's the difference between the winners and the pretenders, the difference between the Yankees and the Giants.

And from these things come wonderful products, great service and profitability. Consistently.

One last point on baseball. Now that the Series is over, there are a little more than 100 days until pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training. Maybe the Giants' drought will end in 2010. (Seen any very large reptiles in your neighborhood? If so, bet the farm on the Giants!)

Have fun this week.

Trick Or Treat?

Happy Halloween! A wonderful holiday, no? A chance to knock on a stranger's door in pursuit of sweets. A day of parties. And, maybe most importantly, an opportunity, at least for a day, to dress up as who we'd really like to be.

Indeed, there's something special about the license to release one's inhibitions that brings out the best in many. Especially since most of us live our lives, likely our work lives, unable to speak with complete freedom and true expression. Unable to be who we'd really like to be. Too bad there aren't more Halloweens during the year. We certainly could use them.

Just ask the newest super hero: Sh- Sh- Shower Man.

Speaking of kids who don't know what to do when someone answers "Trick or treat?" with "Trick!", I offer a number of ruminations on the state of things:

• Who are these people who insist that everyone in this country must speak English? I have my theories about such people (starts with 'r' and rhymes with 'a cyst'), but I'll leave that for another day. Instead, I suggest that we demand that everyone in this country speak at least two languages with some fluency by the end of 2010 and three by the end of 2011. Maybe then we'll be able to connect with more people in this country and with those around the world. (And, no, slang does not count as a language, unless that slang is in one of your non-primary tongues.)

• People who can touch their elbows to the steering wheel while driving should be asked politely to take mass transit. Forever. A hypothesis: The speed that a car is driven on the open road is directly proportional to the distance the driver sits from the steering wheel. Just another reason to revoke the licenses of those who drive while resting their chin on the wheel. They're the ones going 45 mph in the fast lane.
  

• A terrific example of the brilliance of Rupert Murdoch: Naming his network Fox News. Is it any wonder then why people who watch Fox News actually believe that everything they see and hear on that network is, indeed, news? Of course these people also think that Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck speak the truth. I guess Rupert knew that with just enough scrolling text, flashing lights and nice colors, he could fool a large segment of the population. I bet his pets are also amazingly well-trained.
  

• Why aren't rank-and-file employees given the chance to participate more in decisions their companies make about efficiency, productivity, and customer service? Is it as one CEO once told me, "Why involve our customer service reps in improving the customer experience? They're just hourly workers."? Or, just possibly, might it be that those closest to the problem, those closest to customers, know best? Really. Why not opt for the Toyota model where factory line workers are asked regularly to find ways to improve efficiency? There, those who do the job are considered experts. For many companies in this country, that's a novel -- possibly a radical -- concept. One that could pay huge dividends (read: cost-savings, performance gains, customer service improvement and so much more) if operationalized.

• Company 'visions' are significantly under-utilized, under-communicated, and under-valued. And many fall short of serving their purpose: Galvanizing a workforce in the pursuit of a compelling dream. Those who think that the game of business is best played without emotion don't believe Jack Welch and scores of others who have written eloquently on the topic. They also overlook the obvious fact that people, those emotional life forms, do your work, serve your customers, and help you win in the marketplace. Why not tap into that vast emotional reservoir, ignite passion, instill pride and create an urgency that together may, if done well, help your organization achieve ever-greater performance? Why not, indeed.

• Why do many executives elect not to use specific metrics to track the success of their organization? Think fear has something to do with it? Are these the same people who took all of their college classes Pass/Not Pass? Want to motivate people to perform better? Set high goals (enough with 'stretch goals' already!), establish simple metrics to measure those goals and track your progress regularly. Here's a little secret to success: Let your people define the appropriate metrics. Without metrics, how else will your staff know if your company is winning? And know this: They want to know because winning is very important to them.

Enough ruminating. Remind me to eat less chocolate next year.

Enjoy the rest of your Halloween candy. But, please, don't put that costume too far away. You might try wearing it again soon. Your friends will get a kick out of it and you'll feel good. Sh- Sh- Shower Man knows these things.

See you next week.