April 2015 – Grandpa Bob Encouraging Leadership

Years of Experience

The school of hard knocks never issues a diploma, but it does yield a lifetime of experience…

“I’ve been with this company for 35 years.”

“I’ve been in this industry since it started.”

“I remember when we used typewriters to fill out those forms.”

“I’ve forgotten more about this, than that new guy will ever know.”

“I’m not sure how things are supposed to work. I just started a couple of years ago.”

“I hope they give me a raise soon. I’m the only person who knows how to process all the claim types.”

“There’s no way someone will ever figure out how to replace me. I wouldn’t even remember all the steps if I had to tell someone. It’s automatic for me.”

Experience counts. There’s no replacement for the lessons learned by doing, succeeding, failing, recovering, making it up as you go, reinventing, punting, switching directions, and trying again.

There’s no shortcut to learning how a business or industry ebbs and flows throughout a year, or through the ups and downs of the economic cycle. A business that’s a no-brainer during the up-cycle can, and will, turn into a nightmare in a down-cycle. A person who can lead a business through an entire up and down cycle can’t help but learn all the ins and outs of that business (and its industry).

But, what’s the true value of all that experience? Nope, that’s not it…

The real value comes when you teach and mentor others. It’s relatively easy to master something for yourself. The real challenge, and deepest learning, is in teaching others. Not just the raw facts and steps to something, but connecting and passing on the passion that you have and watching your “student” define their own passion about the topic.

Consider your years of experience doing something. Maybe you’ve been in a particular job for twenty years. Can you honestly say that you’ve had twenty real years of experience, or twenty one-year experiences?

What’s the difference?

The difference is whether you’ve merely stacked the same one-year experiences on top of one another, or built and connected a compounding level of expertise in your twenty years. It means looking back at the (hopefully) countless people you’ve helped along the way to become the best versions of themselves. It means that you’ve found ways to multiply yourself and your impact by working with, and teaching, others.

The school of hard knocks never issues a diploma, but it does yield a lifetime of experience. That experience only counts if you take the time to pass it on to someone else.

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The Most Powerful Feature on Your Phone

Smart phones have unbelievable power. I recently read that the Apollo 11 spacecraft that landed on the moon had…

Smart phones have unbelievable power. I recently read that the Apollo 11 spacecraft that landed on the moon had 1,300 times less computing power than an iPhone. And, I bet the iPhone takes better pictures than most of Apollo 11’s cameras.

Continuous connectivity, access to all the information the internet has to offer, games, and the ability to talk to family and friends from almost anywhere (it is a phone after all). All great features. But there’s an even more powerful feature.

Airplane mode.

It’s not just for flying.

Next time you’re asked to silence your cell phone, try airplane mode instead.

Going for a run, bike ride, or a workout at the gym? Airplane mode. Your music will play just fine. Better yet, how about listening to the rhythm of your own thoughts?

Having dinner? Airplane mode. Enjoy the sanctity of good food and good company (that would be the people at the dinner table with you).

Watching your kid’s game? Airplane mode. Try out the video capture capabilities of your phone without being interrupted by some alert.

Playing Risk with your kids? Airplane mode. Worldwide domination demands your undivided attention.

Walking on the beach with someone you love. Airplane mode. Hold their hand instead of your phone.

Continuous connectivity is amazing.

Airplane mode controls the very definition of “continuous.” That’s real power.

Use it wisely and enjoy being present.

The End of the Beginning

I should mention one detail: I wasn’t Catholic…

There I was, about to enjoy my Chipotle for lunch, listening to some financial news, when the commercial came on. The Catholic Channel was covering the papal election over on channel 129.

That’s right, I thought. They’re electing a new Pope today. Funny, we had just visited Vatican City a few months before Pope Benedict announced his retirement. What a beautiful place! It was huge. Michelangelo’s paintings in the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel were breathtaking. The views of Rome from the top of the dome in St. Peter’s were spectacular.

What do they talk about on that channel when there isn’t a papal election, I wondered. I switched over to 129. My timing wasn’t bad. The two hosts were all fired up. A new Pope had been elected! Their excitement was overwhelming. “We have a new Vicar of Christ, and he’s about to make his first appearance,” one of them said. They were waiting for him to come out and make his first appearance in the window above St. Peter’s Square.

As I sat there, listening to them talk about this new Vicar, I realized I had tears running down my face. Tears of happiness. “We” had a new Pope! A new Holy Father to shepherd us in the Way of Christ.

I should mention one detail: I wasn’t Catholic.

Why was I so excited about this new Pope? Why was my heart filled with new joy and warmth at the thought of this new Pope and the energy he’d be bringing to the Church?

I drove back to work, wondering for a minute what this all meant. I quickly turned my thoughts to something else. I switched my radio over to The Blend, and acted like nothing had happened.

As I drove home from work later that day, I switched back to 129 to hear more about the new Pope.

I let almost a year go by without taking any action, or telling anyone about my new-found favorite station.

It’s not like the news that I had suddenly felt a spiritual (religious?) connection to the Catholic Church would be unwelcome in my family. My wife and daughters are Catholic. My daughters both graduated college with theology and philosophy degrees. My in-laws are Catholic. Many of our friends are Catholic. I’ve been an active volunteer at our Church for years. I had always been connected to the Catholic Church, but never had a spiritual connection. I never truly believed.

Now, for the first time in my life, I believed. An emptiness I didn’t know I had was suddenly filled.

I remember going to a weekend camp when I was about eight years old. Big David (who was a few years older than Little David, who also lived on our street) invited me to attend his camp in the mountains. That sounded pretty great to me, and I’m sure my parents were happy to have a weekend break from one of their rambunctious sons.

I didn’t know it at the time, but it was a Bible camp. This would be my first introduction to anything religious, since my family wasn’t religious. We arrived and were assigned to our cabins and counselors. I don’t remember my counselor’s name, but I do remember one of the first questions he asked me. “Bobby, have you accepted Jesus into your heart?”

Who was Jesus? What does he mean to accept Him? Why was I the only one he asked? What is this place? I spent an awkward weekend, being a volunteer kitchen helper (each cabin was in charge of service for one meal), listening to lectures from the Bible, and being asked at least once a day if I was ready to accept Jesus into my heart. Needless to say, my first introduction to Jesus didn’t go well.

I had a few more introductions over the years, and finally was introduced more formally by my (soon-to-be, at the time) wife, Janet. I learned a lot about the Catholic Church as I prepared to be married in one. And yet, I still didn’t know who Jesus was. I kept having the same questions I had when I was eight. Besides, I had things pretty well figured out, and going to church was a lot of commitment.

It’s interesting to me that the number forty comes up a lot in the Bible. Jesus spent forty days in the desert, fasting, and praying (and being tempted by Satan) after he was baptized. Only then was he fully ready to begin his public ministry. The Israelites spent forty years in the desert before they could return home. Noah’s Ark was put to use after it rained for forty days and nights. Moses spent forty days and forty nights on the mountain with God. Jesus was with his disciples for forty days after his resurrection.

From my first (messy) introduction to Jesus until this past weekend when I was baptized into the Catholic Church, I count forty years, almost to the day. I’m sure it’s a coincidence. Just like my random decision to switch over to channel 129 that day. Or, the way my daughter added some Christian music to my iPod. Those songs kept coming up over and over each time I went for a run. I got to know those songs pretty well. So well that I actually started thinking about their meaning, even before that day our new Pope was elected.

My baptism, confirmation, and first communion last Saturday night were the culmination of an almost year-long preparation process. The process included classes every Sunday, after Mass. It also included a ton of reading that I assigned to myself. Books about the Rosary, the Saints, Saint Paul the Apostle (the Saint I chose as my Confirmation Saint), and the Holy Land. I also did lots of reading from the Bible itself, as well as the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Funny thing is that throughout this process, I couldn’t wait for each Sunday to come. I couldn’t wait to learn more about my faith, my Church’s history, and the love that Jesus has for each of us. What was an unreasonable commitment to my younger self has become an integral part of who I am today.

After forty years, I’m coming to the end of the beginning of my relationship with God.

Looking back, I can see so many places where God was with me, even as I ignored Him, or spoke against Him. He was patient. He knew I’d eventually find Him right where He’s always been…beside me.