ESPN 360
By Ron | January 2, 2009
First it was CBS with March Madness and now ESPN follows. What are they doing? They are doing what the web is supposed to do–make everything more accessible. In 2006, CBS began with offering live coverage of your favorite team. The Washington Post carried a story entitled, “Companies Fear Spread of March Madness.” The estimate in 2006 was a loss of 3.8 Billion dollars in productivity. This was a big number before all the bailout numbers we are barraged with today. Now ESPN launches their new online access to almost any sporting event they carry from your computer. They actually advertise with the big mouth Billy Mays yelling to watch it from work and they say now your job is no longer boring! This crosses the line by suggesting employees compromise their ethics.
When thinking about the bailout, some feel the taxpayers should not be on the hook for companies’ business failures and blame CEO’s along with faulty business strategies. Is flying in private jets or giving money to failing organizations more egregious than Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Leadership, Leadership on TV Commercials | 4 Comments »
What business does for its customers
By Ron | December 26, 2008
Steve Jobs knows how to wow people with the most practical intuitive computers and gadgets. Take a look at the whole the line in one snap shot. He has always been willing to step out and try new technology–the Newton was an early PDA before people really understood them. While it flopped not many of the apple and “i” line have.
My first real computer was the Mac Plus 1986, which I got after selling my heavy weight desk model, a Tandy 1000. I decided that reading manuals was for people with white tape on the bridge of their glasses. I later owned a more versatile computer in the Mac DUO, the first dockable Mac, making it both a portable laptop and a desktop. It slid into the large slot and at a push of a button it ejected and you were on the go again.
What has made Apple a company with practical pop-cultural relevance? They have created a following of loyal customers and have grown that group. They keep enhancing what they do with what customers want. Other companies who have done this well include Volvo, USAA Insurance, Brooks Brothers, Starbucks, and Hertz. Each of these have done what Seth Godin calls create a tribe of people who are yours . . . you might want to look at Seth’s latest book called Tribes.
At Randall House we have a tribe and we Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Leadership, Randall House Talk | No Comments »
Thoughtful Gift
By Ron | December 23, 2008
We played our annual Dirty Santa game at work. With our team members, that game has become a marathon of scouting, stealing and opening gifts. The rules committee is commonly called the gift Nazis and yet we enjoy their bias rulings. This ritual of buying “$10” goofy gifts and gift cards has become a tradition that brings out the “best” in people. Plenty of thought goes into the gifts but the real thought is the strategy of swapping to end up with the desired gift. The way some people strategize during Dirty Santa, their minds should be in charge of our company’s negotiations.
We began a new family tradition in our home this year that involves $10 gifts as well. It is the opposite of Dirty Santa. Here’s how it goes. Each person in our family buys the rest of the family a ten-dollar gift each. The trick is to put some sincere thought into this gift giving it real value to for the recipient. The value of the gift is measured not in cost but in the connection of the giver to the recipient. Considering my kids do not read my blog and my wife reads occasionally, I think I can get away with Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: D6, Miscellaneous, Randall House Talk | 2 Comments »
Randall House “new releases”
By Ron | December 17, 2008
My teammate Eric Puschmann has written a blog post that pulls back the curtains to reveal a small portion of the creativity that thrives inside Randall House. At our end of the year Christmas luncheon, we find out about the “next year’s” book releases and all of them are spoofs of something we published this year or characterizing something funny that a team member did this year. They get up and share the title, who it is for, and even have a book cover to place on the easel as they present. One example is to the left and looks a lot like my book on the right column.
It is all in good fun and no one is off limits. That includes me as I seem to give them plenty of material to work with each year. You will see that we have fun. What he has posted is just a small part of the fun we shared this week. Take a look at Eric’s post.
Topics: Leadership | 2 Comments »
Board Meeting Dec 2008
By Ron | December 12, 2008
We are privileged to have a board whose views reflect the entire group we serve. No matter the view or philosophy from right to left and most who are in the middle, the members of the board represent each group. Those who serve have high integrity and the very best interest of our organization in mind as they volunteer their time and do their homework on the issues.
Some of the items that were discussed by the board included The D6 Conference, speakers for the conference, new programming for our National Youth Conference, financial report, software for our digital curriculum, 2009 curriculum enhancements, policy on employees/board members publishing, and dress attire for the workplace. Our board worked through each of these topics with diligence and interaction with various leaders within the organization. They are most impressed with what our team accomplishes, the consistent leadership development of our directors and managers, and the stability that we have experienced so far through these unusual economic times.
The D6 Conference continues to add new speakers to the main platform and the pre-labs. We unveiled Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Randall House Talk | 4 Comments »
Finished!
By Ron | December 7, 2008
It is now 3:30 AM Saturday night (Sunday morning) and I have just turned in my last assignment for my Master’s program. I successfully defended my thesis this week and now all the details are done. I still have to wait until the 17th for final grades but based on my GPA in the other class I have - not making it is not a real possibility.
My blog has frequency has suffered this year even though my readers have remained very strong. I am still amazed at the numbers of unique hits every month. I am sharing this victory with all of you.
What is my degree? MPA - Masters in Public Administration from the University of Colorado. They are ranked 32 in the country for this degree by US News and World Report. The rank is equal to Johns Hopkins University MPA program. UC catalogue states the following as a description for the non profit concentration and this is what they say about the MPA.
“Public administrators effect changes for the public good at the local, state & federal levels by enhancing the management of public and nonprofit entities. Students are equipped with essential management skills, including leadership, ethical judgment, organizational management, public finance, research methods, administrative law, public policy and governance, applicable to a variety of professional sectors.”
I often say that this is the practical MBA. It is less about accounting and more about leadership. It has a focus on people and policy. The big picture leadership that prepares one to lead non-profits, become city managers, consultants to government, and executives of public and non-profit organizations.
Right now, I am prepared to go to bed! Good night!
Topics: Leadership, Randall House Talk | 5 Comments »
What parents do for our kids
By Ron | November 28, 2008
The morning after Thanksgiving causes me to continue to feel a strong sense of gratitude for my family. It is most difficult to explain the love and bond between a parent and child. Parents commonly sacrifice to give their child any advantage; driving them to soccer practice, providing private pitching lessons, hiring tutors and sending them to certain schools. Dads and moms typically try providing more for their child than they may have received as a child,
Most parents accomplish this through purchase power. They remember what they did not have growing up and secretly vow their child will not do without but not spoil them. Others try to accomplish this by selecting the right neighborhoods, schools, teams, and church.
The right environment is more than an address or a school choice. It is a parent investing time (not money) in their son or daughter. Time to connect and playing catch, working on homework, and talking. Talking to teens is harder than ever because they are finding their own identity. Even really solid kids are supposed to be coming into their own identity and own place in the world.
These changes can be hard on both parent and child because Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: D6, Miscellaneous | No Comments »
Thanksgiving Ideas
By Ron | November 26, 2008
Holidays bring potentially more interaction with our family members. Is there more to Thanksgiving than ballgames and doing the dishes? I think so. Moving away from the video games, computer screens and other isolating digital worlds. Families can find more to life that brings life. Families can connect around a game board, on a hike in local parks or greenway, visit a nursing home, serve in a soup kitchen, bake together or do a craft project. These may sound a little corny until you get the family out there doing one of these. Here are some more websites to get your mind thinking about what is right for your family this Thanksgiving. Randall House and the team here want your family to connect with each other and make the upcoming holidays more memorable than ever.
Topics: Christian Education, Miscellaneous | No Comments »
ReThink Your Life
By Ron | November 21, 2008
ReThink Your Life – A Unique Diet to Renew Your Mind by Stan Toler just released and each of you need to take a look at what this book can do for your mind’s health. We look in the mirror each day before going outside to ensure that our colors match, our hair is in place or appropriately out of place, and our general appearance is presentable. We also look at our proportions and wish for some pounds to be removed preferably on their own without our help. Rarely have I met people who, when blatantly honest, would not like to change one or more characteristics about their physical body.
When thinking about improving ourselves, changing the physical body seems to garner all of our mental energy. Have we given consideration to putting our mind on a diet? My friend and best selling author Stan Toler suggests we give our minds more attention than we do our bodies. He sets out a four-phase plan to cultivate a strong and healthy mind. The book gives four phases to accomplish this, detoxification, realignment, reinforcement, and perseverance. He even places some practical extra helps at the back of the book. This 250-page book is a simple read but could get you thinking or rethinking about what you feed your mind.
Topics: Book Reviews | 1 Comment »
Thanksgiving Wall
By Ron | November 20, 2008
Yesterday, we had all employees (team members as I like to call them) together for our annual Thanksgiving luncheon. It is a great potluck feast where Randall House provides the meat (turkey and ham) and each department brings a certain type of dish such as desserts, salads, vegetables, etc. What a feast! We are just not very good after eating this meal. Seeing everyone engage and have fun talking among their tables is very rewarding as it reflects camaraderie and affection.
We did something new this year. My administrative assistant, Calisse, who runs my professional life and makes me look far better than I deserve, came up with a new twist for this year. Here is how it unfolded. Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Miscellaneous, Randall House Talk | 3 Comments »
