Champions of "why"...Hospital for Special Care

When a company knows its WHY, you can feel it. I did last summer when visiting the Hospital for Special Care in New Britain, Connecticut. My mom was recovering from cancer surgery and needed to have extensive rehabilitation. It was good fortune that allowed her to be referred to such an outstanding facility.

When I made my first visit, my mom's room was filled with her doctor, nurse, physical therapist and social worker. One by one she introduced me to her new "friends". My mom is a relationship person...but I didn't hear her use that word at the hospital where the surgery was performed.

I observed the behavior of her friends and it was astonishing. This collective group of caregivers were in lock step with making certain my mother had every thing she needed. It almost reached the point of me asking; "what are you guys drinking?"

Scarcity creates value, and this behavior is scarce in service businesses. It wasn't long before I was on a first name basis with a dozen members of their staff. I envied the sense of purpose that these professionals showed each and every day. I'm sure they had bad days, but they were not questioning their mission in life.

Not surprisingly, here's their Vision Statement taken from their website: "Center of Special Care will always be the community's answer for people who have special health needs." That's why they exist and they live it every day. 


They were the answer for my mom...for which we have much gratitude!

Do you hire for skills...or attitude?

Interesting question, regardless of the industry.

Hiring for attitude is a worthwhile pursuit with two conditions:

• Does the HR department and/or hiring manager have the ability/interest to see the value of an applicant's attitude? 
• Does the company clearly display their workplace values and culture in a way that would attract individuals with aligned values and attitude? 

The resume is still the predominant factor in determining who gets in and who doesn't in the interviewing process. Unfortunately this process discriminates against the individual who has a clear sense of why they would fit well within a company but may not have the appropriate credentials. 

This blog focuses on the importance of knowing why you do what you do. When you become clear on your "why" you should find ways to tell stories about how your sense of purpose and attitude would be beneficial to an employer. Your stories can become viral by using a blog and other social media options. 

The goal: Harmony, passion, purpose and success in the workforce, for the employee and employer. 

Thoughts? 

Champions of "why"...Wounded Warrior Project

"People don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it." - Simon Sinek

In the case of the Wounded Warrior Project their mission statement summarizes their "why":

"To foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded service members in our nation's history."

On the heels of the Vietnam War era it's understandable why an organization would have this mission. 

I selected the Wounded Warrior Project as the first of many organizations I will feature who have a clear sense of why they do what they do. The goal of most organizations is to be successful, and sustain for the long term. Wounded Warrior Project didn't want to be "just another charity asking for money." Have you heard that sentiment before? 

Never underestimate the importance of having clarity about why you do what you do. "Why" separates you from the pack. It attracts people who believe what you believe. The veterans, WWP staff, donors, volunteers and corporate sponsors are crystal clear on why they work together. 

My goal for this blog is to initiate a conversation about the importance of "why" and how it can inspire us to take action. 

Do you want to find inspiration and happiness in work and in life?

Can I hear a resounding Hallelujah from the congregation?

Reality check: Are you inspired and happy now?

I'm not a psychologist. I'm a realist and very passionate about inspiring others whenever I can. When I am honest about my career I can say that I had many interesting jobs, some with prestigious companies. Feeling inspired on the other hand was in short supply. My career managed me, not the other way around.

I'm on a mission to impact as many people as I can about the importance of being inspired and happy in your lives. Understanding WHY you do what you do is at the core of this process. I don't appreciate the idea of being a robot on Monday morning going to a "job" to waste the next 8-12 hours of my day...to collect the paycheck. Is that all there is to life?

Here's my belief about finding your WHY. When you understand why you do what you do you can begin to take control of your career and personal life. It's not an overnight sensation, it is a self discovery process to connect with your purpose, beliefs and values.

This blog focuses on three areas:

1. Breaking down and understanding how to find your WHY. 
2. Showcasing businesses who have a clear WHY, and how it impacts culture, hiring and success. 
3. Highlighting individuals who live with a clear sense of WHY and their impact on the world. 

Thank you for your time. Your comments are appreciated. Inspiring stories are cherished. 

I laugh when I think of how I met Simon

I was involved in an email volley with my friend Chris Thompson back in January. The email topics ranged from taxes to wealth. Out of nowhere he sends a link to a YouTube video that he had recently seen at a seminar. He thought it was worth 18 minutes of my time.

He was right.

Life has defining moments of varying degrees. This was one of them. Simon Sinek was making a presentation in this video about the concept of "starting with Why". Since then I have looked at the world, and my life quite differently.

The hook in his presentation has to do with the manner in which some of us communicate versus others. He focused on Apple Inc., the Wright Brothers and Martin Luther King and their unique style of communication. He explained why they have been successful in their respective missions. If you watch the video you will agree that it makes sense. The part that intrigues me most is that so few people have the insight and discipline to communicate in this manner.

In the future this blog will delve into the deep mysteries of "why". I will share inspiring stories. Other posts will relate to business and personal successes tied to the why. Why do we choose the careers we are in? Why are our favorite hobbies what they are?

I'm convinced the world will be a better place if we care to understand this phenomenon. I hope that you agree.

A blog with impact

You never have to figure out Southwest Airlines' mission. It is integrated into almost everything they do. Look at their blog for further evidence. 

"Making a Difference in the Lives of Families Facing Serious Illness One Ticket At A Time"

Here's a brilliant example of how Southwest reinforces their company mission, while using social media and their blog to build a strong public relations brand.

"People don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it" - Simon Sinek.

Southwest is more than an airline. In this instance they choose to embrace the idea of helping others who are experiencing adversity in their lives. Not only is it noble, it serves as a way to unite their employees, vendors and customers around goals and objectives of the company. Did you notice I didn't say profit or shareholder value?

Once again, Southwest Airlines shows you what they do well, and reminds you of the importance of demonstrating why you are in business.

Email marketing...a thing of the past?

How will we communicate 6 months from now? Who knows. It wasn't long ago that email was believed to be one of the world's greatest communication inventions.

Today, email is being scrutinized as a marketing platform. With the ongoing evolution of social media as a marketing tool email has become another form of "interruption" marketing. We use TiVo and subscribe to HBO to avoid commercials on TV. Sirius and the iPod are alternatives to the frequent interruptions of commercial radio. Email marketing is slowly falling into that trap. I follow my favorite brands on Twitter and Facebook. Do I need the daily prodding through email to remind me where I can find coupons and other promotions?

By no means is this a blanket suggestion that everyone abandon email marketing. It's simply another example of why we need to be conscious of where our customer wants to hear from us. Are you tracking the "unsubscribes" from your campaigns? Is your email marketing generating the ROI you expected?

This aspect of Twitter surprised me

Athletes tweet. The President tweets. Your friend Sally tweets from Starbucks as she sips her mocha latte. Sally kept me from joining Twitter because it appeared to be one big mosh pit of irrelevant information.

I was WRONG.

After reading a few books and dipping my big toe in the water I saw the light as it relates to the value of Twitter. Twitter became a place to research my favorite topics and engage with experts. Marketing, social media, leadership. You name it...it's there. Twitter for me is a place to become educated.

Twitter is better than your best class in college. You learn from people just like you. They share, inspire and give you a unique perspective. You are welcome to do the same. If you want to jump in and get started I will be happy to assist.

Ten years ago I wouldn't eat sushi...because it was gross! Ironically sushi and Twitter are now two of my favorite addictions.

$64,000,000 question follow up

Two weeks ago I asked you why you do the work you do? Tepid response...most likely because no one has ever asked. (Favor: Ask yourself that question everyday).

Today's question: Did you ever have a job where you went to work inspired everyday because of the purpose, cause or beliefs of the company?

How did that work out? Please share!

Local TV, please embrace the internet and social media

This week's one inch snowfall triggered the usual panic in local media. Frustrated by the lack of opportunities to strike fear in us because of an abnormally mild winter, local TV reverted to their worst, outdated tricks once again.

Local stations could not resist filling 30% of the television screen with their logo, "Storm Center" sponsors name and a scroll of yoga studios, driving schools and bingo halls that were closed due to the inclement weather. 1970's habits die hard. Here's the why: In spite of having highly functional web sites to publish the "closings", they are unwilling to acknowledge where people go to access this information. I rarely watch network television. Witnessing this charade turned the experience of watching their prime time programming into a test of endurance.

If you remember Blockbuster Video, the record store at the mall and the Yellow Pages you realize that life changes in amazing ways. Add to the list the manner in which we watch TV. The changes are starting to occur and soon there will be little need to watch the weather follies.

TV viewers want to watch TV. Someone who is hysterical about whether Chuck E. Cheese is open can either call the business, or check online. No need to interrupt...or distract. Just ask your customers, they will tell you.