Solving Problems and Improving Bottom Lines

Bruce Lee said, “Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle, and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot; it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow, or it can crash. Be water, my friend.” I pondered on this quote and its applicability to both our personal and business lives. I have had a brilliant plan set up for this summer. I was going to work on home renovation projects, building my brand, and my fitness. Reality had other ideas. My brother passed away suddenly, and my 88 yr old dad needed my help. All my plans went out the window. I am trying to get back on track with my plan when this quote from Bruce Lee popped into my mind. I was swimming against the stream of my reality and struggling…hard!! I think we all do this. We believe our plans are somehow set in stone and work ourselves to the ground forcing a game plan against the reality we are facing. It is exhausting and counterproductive. Our plans need to be fluid like water. We need to use the currents of our present reality to our advantage rather than seeing it as an obstacle or a negative. I see this in business far too often. A plan is set, goals are set, and reality is ignored, frustrating everyone involved. Improvise, adapt, overcome. #bottomlinebc #business #adaptiveplanning https://www.instagram.com/p/CRhE-4Pj7hB/?utm_medium=tumblr

Let go of the non-essential, self-created busy work. I was pondering this thought Sunday afternoon as I started to feel guilty about my absence from Linked In. I haven’t posted anything in months, and I believed I was leaving something unfinished. Why have I been absent? Let’s see: 1. I have started creating a second income stream via investing. 2. I started a small business with my wife. 3. I redesigned my office. 4. I have clients that require my undivided attention. 5. My family time is precious . In short, my plate is full, so I stepped back a little from Linked In. I am writing this as a cautionary tale about the addictive nature of busy work that, in reality, is unproductive. For me, it was getting likes and comments on Linked In. I convinced myself it was essential to my business; it wasn’t. I have witnessed many fall into this trap. The quality of work decreases while working far more hours than necessary. I made progress on my goals, maintained my business, and spent quality time with my family by shedding the non-essential stuff. It was far more relaxing too!! More hours does not equal more production. More tasks does not equal more accomplished. And that’s the Bottom Line. #bottomlinebc #efficiency #busywork https://www.instagram.com/p/CNkrg5DAVkn/?igshid=1mdw3vgrgii20

I am in a meditative state of mind thinking quite a bit about my children and the lessons I have learned from them. On two occasions in Amanda’s (my youngest daughter) high school basketball career, she taught me a precious lesson. In a tournament during her junior year, there were 30 seconds left to play. Her team was losing, she fell and was so exhausted that she could barely get up. The coach pulls her. Amanda breaks down in tears. Why? Not because they lost, but because finishing the game was every bit as important as winning. That same year, her HS team made it to the state final four. On the last play of the first half, she was fouled hard. She comes out of the locker for the second half with her leg heavily bandaged and unable to move at full speed. Sadly, they lost, but Amanda finished the game. Life and business will kick you in the teeth. You can be prepared, have a plan, and a great team and still not fully achieve your goals. Completing a job, task, or assignment is a state of mind, an essential attitude to succeeding. Win or lose; achieve or fail. The failures of life are the building blocks of success. No matter how hard, frustrating, and impossible things may seem, never quit!! And that’s the Bottom Line! #bottomlinebc #problemsolving #leadership https://www.instagram.com/p/CLUh5oJgeRV/?igshid=pcrgfsx9h2wk

I want to share a personal story about perseverance. A key ingredient we all need to have if we are going to get anywhere in life; without perseverance, we become a bunch of quitters, and I know, I was one of those quitters. In her junior year of college, my oldest daughter called us distraught, crying, and hating life. She was going through a very rough patch and didn't think she could take it anymore. Dad went into instant SWAT mode and wanted her to come home. I didn't care what it cost. Long story short, my daughter decides to stick it out. She persevered. Three years later: My daughter graduated on time Got married Bought her first home with her husband She not only persevered but thrived, and in the process, inspired me. These dark times are not easy, and they are not meant to be. We are tested, molded to become something better. The more challenging and vigorous you train, the stronger your muscles become. The more we can accomplish. The business world is no different. To go after our dreams, do what we've never done before requires perseverance. We push forward and go for our goals, or we quit. We can make the world a better place if we persevere. And that's the bottom line #bottomlinebc #experience #motivation https://www.instagram.com/p/CLGD5HWAwXC/?igshid=15qzoacokd5y6

Have you ever been in a meeting or discussion where things are going wrong, and people are looking for ideas? Have you ever come up with a wild idea that you know will work and is ridiculed? Have you ever been afraid to speak up because of this ridicule, and someone else mentions the same thing? I have been there many times. Office and group dynamics are such that there is a genuine fear of speaking up and being mocked. The flip side is that you fail to speak up, and you had the right idea all along. Sometimes the correct strategy is complicated and obscured by a bias towards traditional methods or “best practices.” You come up with something bold and new, but it is not well received or accepted. You tend to become gunshy after an experience like that. Well, I am here to tell you NEVER to stop speaking out. NEVER let your ideas be drowned out or dismissed. If you believe in your path, fight for it, argue for it, be emotional but factual, intelligent but passionate. NEVER be afraid to be the smartest person in the room ( at least once). Everyone in an organization has an idea to contribute. Leaders, don’t dismiss people because of a bias you may have towards a method or plan. Listen, learn, and grow. And that’s the Bottom Line!! #bottomlinebc #leadership #problemsolving https://www.instagram.com/p/CKzlZwZgGWn/?igshid=1ruqpjvcwtser

The "Rey"s of Light are starting back of for 2021. I was on a Zoom call with some dear friends, and we were speaking about current events. There were three distinct views/opinions on all the hoopla going on. We had a fun, respectful, and enjoyable conversation where we all learned something from each other and found a middle ground. The most disturbing trend I am watching is the inability of people to have a conversation and attempt to understand one another. Life and business are fluid; we have to make adjustments as we go along. It is ok for a person to have a firm stance; it is not ok for that stance to be a matter of life and death. We are not at war. We are in an argument with raw feelings. We need to learn to listen to and respect one another. We need to know to have those difficult conversations in a way that doesn't bring about violence or bloodshed. It's a lost art that we need to rediscover. I will leave you with this Stephen Hopkins quote from the movie 1776. "Well, in all my years I ain't never heard, seen nor smelled an issue that was so dangerous it couldn't be talked about." A free society allows for the discussion of any topic regardless of how uncomfortable it makes us. And That's the Bottom Line. #solofhumanity #bottomlinebc #respectforall https://www.instagram.com/p/CKU5XAxgGcj/?igshid=1ts9deevppdcc

Three qualities essential to a consultant and his client: 1. Lack of Ego – we don’t know everything, so we should not come in an air of arrogance. Every issue and client is unique; respect that. 2. An Attentive Ear – we need to listen to all stakeholders to understand what the real issue is. You are hired for one thing, but the real problem is something else. You discover this by listening and observing. 3. Have An Open Mind – solutions can come from the most unexpected places and, many times, it is not the boss. Listen and evaluate every suggestion. The advantage of a consultant is a lack of recognition regarding the pecking order or social dominance in a company. We don’t care about it. What drives us are the results needed to improve or solve a situation. And that’s the Bottom Line. #bottomlinebc #bestadvice #business https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ7aRLBg2Yn/?igshid=1o81ckbkmey46

I am done with resolutions!!! It's the same restart every year and the same failure rate every year. New Year's resolutions simply don't work. Instead, I will use the tools that have served me well in business and adapt them to life. 1. Set a Plan 2. Measure Progress 3. Evaluate what works and doesn't 4. Make adjustments to stay on track It's not rocket science, it's discipline. And that's the Bottom Line. #bottomlinebc #problemsolving #experience #motivation https://www.instagram.com/p/CJo5h_SAAR5/?igshid=1dt9cknngzkw4

When the wife steps it up a notch in making a Christmas snack tray!! Merry Christmas!! https://www.instagram.com/p/CJO1rwfAjom/?igshid=19qvu30mn5soo

A very warm, heartfelt Merry Christmas to my friends. 2020 has been a very interesting year with many lessons learned. Let's take a step back to reflect that we have a roof over our heads, food on our tables, and loved ones to share the joy of Christmas with. #bottomlinebc #merrychristmas https://www.instagram.com/p/CJJZ210AL5Q/?igshid=14m6yqeymcqnr

Bottom Line Holiday Decorating Tip I used to struggle hanging lights in my house both inside and out. I would try to find screws, hooks, nails, and other hardware spending a lot of time drilling and putting holes in the house. I stumbled upon an easy, inexpensive solution to this problem that I wanted to share - Glue Gun and plastic hooks. I apply the hot glue to the back of the hook and it sticks to literally anything. I have successfully glued hooks on brick, stone, wood, siding, and drywall. Clean up is easy, the hold is very strong, and no marks are left behind. You can buy a glue gun for about $10 - $20 on Amazon and a pack of hooks runs about the same. Also, the hooks are reuseable once you clean the glue off. The best, most effective, and inexpensive solution I have found for hanging Christmas lights and ornaments in my house. And that's the Bottom Line!!! #bottomlinebc #problemsolving #merrychristmas https://www.instagram.com/p/CIrBV3agHNk/?igshid=kz37f9x2qmhi

I was an Electronics Tech in the US Navy and worked on Radars and other electronic equipment. We were taught that the first step in troubleshooting equipment was to check the ON/OFF switch. Is the thing turned on? Simple, right? You would be shocked at how many people forgot this step and wasted a lot of time diagnosing the wrong problem. Life and business can present the same issues. Sometimes we overcomplicate the solution and go down a rabbit hole that yields low or negative results. We need to get into the habit of taking a step back and checking our own ON/OFF switch in our life. Whether health, wealth, business, or mindset, take that step back to reset and think through what you need to do to succeed or overcome. You may be surprised that you can make improvements by merely flipping a switch. And that’s the Bottom Line!! #bottomlinebc #problemsolving #solofhumanity #experience https://www.instagram.com/p/CIltKx0g5xg/?igshid=yeysvy84swma

A tradition, cutting our own Christmas tree. https://www.instagram.com/p/CIbhVgfAWd_/?igshid=1fxiswazl3cuc

A little less then my usual operation Griswold but happy with the way it turned out. Considering a phase 2 tomorrow. https://www.instagram.com/p/CIRpIzZgEZV/?igshid=qgidhd36r3nk

Always Do Your Best There are moments when we get involved in work, tasks, projects, goals – you name it – that frustrate and overwhelm us. There is a continual black cloud, and nothing you do seems to help. What I do when I reach this point is elementary. Do my best. Whatever I am capable of doing, just give it all I have. Win or lose. Succeed or fail. I can always say I did my best. That is how I run my business and life. And that’s the Bottom Line. #bottomlinebc #nevergiveup #alwaysmovingforward https://www.instagram.com/p/CIO7MVVAXrP/?igshid=1nu7r44sx0s8h

Progress Takes Time Rome was not built in a day, and no one becomes a success overnight. We tend to look at the finished work and fantasize about the what-ifs. What if that was me? What if I had that talent? What if I was that brave? What if, what if, what if!! We don’t see the blood, sweat, tears, and pains that it took to achieve that final product we so admire. In every endeavor, progress is a journey that takes time to complete. Be patient with your journey; enjoy it when you can and grind through it when you must. Just keep moving forward. Remember, no great thing was created suddenly, and strive for progress, not perfection. And that’s the Bottom Line. #bottomlinebc #solofhumanity #progress #journey https://www.instagram.com/p/CG5_K7PgfZk/?igshid=1jakfugb2xqdp