Wow! That Takes Guts!

When a teacher gets revenge against a bunch of practical-joke-playing students, he deserves the Wow! That Takes Guts Award!

High school teacher Mr. Joel Branstrom got the best revenge when students played a practical joke on him Friday--and it backfired.

Students told the Olathe Northwest science teacher and basketball coach he would win tickets to the NCAA Final Four game if he made a basket from half-court while blindfolded. What they didn't tell their teacher was the whole school was ready to cheer as if he made the shot, which would be impossible to make. Their cheers would lead him to believe he made the shot, only to find out it was all a joke played on their beloved teacher.

But, the joke was on the students instead!

Mr. Branstrom made the half-court shot blindfolded! Check out the video!





Mr. Branstrom's humility and love of basketball have earned him offers of tickets to the Final Four, which would be a terrific outcome for the teacher who was set up for a joke.

While making the impossible shot was stunning, Mr. Branstrom really gets the Wow! award for his humility during interviews after the event. He spoke of more important things going on in the world, while saying it's nice to have something to smile about. He did not jump around, point to himself, seek extra attention--like touchdown-scoring professional football players often do. He has been humble while enjoying his moment in the spotlight.

For turning a joke around on the students but especially for being fun, appreciative, and humble, Mr. Branstrom is this week's Wow! That Takes Guts! winner.

Does Relate-ability Lead to Ratings?

Have you been there? Have you been in Conan O'Brien's shoes? Minus the $40 million payout for leaving, can you relate to what's happened to him the last two weeks?

After seven months as the host of The Tonight Show, Conan was asked to give up his dream job so Jay Leno, who held it before him and performed very well, could have it back. 

Has something like that happened to you?

Have you ever been passed up for a promotion, even though you were the most qualified? Have you ever felt like your boss set you up to fail instead of succeed? Have you ever felt unappreciated or embarrassed by your organization?

I suspect many people can relate to Conan's situation and have tuned in to see how he'd handle it.

Since he's been expressing his dismay at the situation, people continue to tune in to his show. Just last Friday night, his ratings were 50% higher than a typical Friday and near the level of his biggest competitor, David Letterman. His ratings are up 80% in the highly desired young adult category.

Conan's ratings are soaring.

Is there a correlation between Conan's relate-ability and his show's ratings? Is there a correlation between how people feel about Leno and his show's performance? (I wonder why the network didn't realize a main reason Leno was successful at 10:30pm was because of convenience v. relate-ability, but that's a different article.) 

There is probably a correlation between relate-ability and performance in your office.

Keep your promises and set your people up for success, and you'll meet the minimum standard of relate-ability.

Are you a James Cameron or a Leonardo Dicaprio?

The Golden Globe Awards concluded last night with James Cameron's acceptance of the award for Best Picture of the Year. It also included Leonardo DiCaprio's reaction to the speech.

During his speech, Cameron told the Hollywood stars to give themselves a round of applause for having the greatest jobs in the world. Then, he told them to applaud themselves a second time for entertaining the world.

As if the awards shows are not self-aggrandizing enough, the award-winning director told everyone to applaud themselves even more!

During the brief speech, cameras turned to Leonardo DiCaprio, who put his hands down and did not applaud. The look of disbelief on his face was priceless, as if he were telling Cameron to get over himself.

Cameron seemed surprised at the lack of applause his instructions to applaud received. Very few people applauded either time.

Hollywood's in-crowd gets it. Nearly everyone else in the room understood how arrogant and untimely it was for Cameron to pat himself on the back and ask the same of Hollywood's elite.

Not all industries have awards like Hollywood does, but all have a few leaders with attitudes like Cameron's.  Unfortunately, the Camerons of the world don't recognize themselves. But, the people around them do.

Ponder for a moment: are you are more like Cameron or DiCaprio?

Think about how others respond to you. Make sure you're not the Cameron in your office. Make sure others are not thinking you need to get over yourself, the way Leonardo DiCaprio seemed to be thinking of Cameron last night.

Leaders Help Others. Period.

As many of you know, I have been a career transition coach for more than twenty years. Revenue for my business is generated elsewhere, as career coaching is something done on the side.

Last year, the tool I've used when coaching was made available using the "pay it forward" model. The tool, the Targeting & Tracking System (TTS), is free if you need it to be, but if you have $40 for drinks with your buddies, paying for the TTS is an option. Or, you could buy it for someone else and have it sent to them. All three options are cheerfully explained on the web site (http://bit.ly/5dyixj).

Last week, someone asked me about the pay it forward model. They could not believe the tool would be given away free to just anyone. There just had to be a catch, in her eyes.

"In today's economy, why would someone give away something so valuable?" she repeatedly asked.

A few reasons...

First, people have shared valuable tools with me over the years. They inspire me to want to do the same for others.

Second, helping those in need is what leaders do.

Leaders seek ways to help others be their best. Let's face it, being out of a job limits one's chances for performing at one's best. Leaders seek ways to share their expertise with people who need it. Leaders are not always selfishly out for a buck.

Leaders know when they can help, and they do it.

Here are a few more examples of top-notch leaders helping others:

1. A home builder in New York, John Doyle with Alure Homes, helped build several houses for ABC's Extreme Home Makeover. Sure, it's good promotion for the company, but it's also hours and materials given with a generous, kind intent for the new homeowners. Alure Homes recently was awarded 2009 Angies List "Super Customer Service Award" for the third straight year. You can't fake that kind of service.

2. Marian Madonia, an employee engagement expert, often consults briefly with people who heard her speak at conferences. She answers questions without telling them they have to contact her at the office, which implies they should expect an invoice. She helps because she can and they need it. Of course, if the matter is extensive, the client expects to pay and arrangements are made. But, she helps without asking about that first.

3. A successful KC realtor, Michael Maher with Realty Executives, gives away real estate buying and selling tips--even to other realtors. Free. He helps people because he is a leader and he can!

4. Chip Lewis, an Indiana attorney, answers legal questions without turning on a meter. He's not out to gouge people. He's out to help people.

There are examples of people helping others out of genuine kindness all over the place.

If you haven't done so lately, identify a skill you could share with those in need and how you could do it wisely (without risk to your current job). Leaders help people because they can. Leaders constantly seek ways to bring out the best in others.That's what they do. Period.

The New-Car Scent of a New Year

Ah, the fresh scent of a new year...sort of has the new-car smell, don't you think?

When we get a new car, we make promises like, "No one will ever eat in here." Or, "I will wash it every week." Or, "I will get all regular maintenance on time at exactly 2500 miles."

How long before jam-packed schedules require grabbing lunch while driving between appointments? How long before daily activities prevent weekly washings? How soon does that 2500 miles creep up each month or quarter?

While we love our new car upon its purchase, and continue to appreciate it while it serves us well, the initial promises most often get forgotten within a few months.

Is each new year like that too?

Do you make promises at the beginning of the year, only to have them forgotten by Valentine's Day? Why do we do that? Why are so many people hopeful January 1st and mad at themselves by March 1st?

Let's not do that in 2010. Let's do these 3 things instead:

1. Let's take each day at a time. Keep your promises today. When you awake tomorrow, ponder your promises for 3 minutes and decide to keep them tomorrow. Take each day one at a time. Doing so will build momentum which will make it easier and easier to keep your promises every day.

2. Let's also acknowledge the good things in our lives, just as we do when trading in our old car. We liked many things about that old car--the radio stations were set, the seat position was perfect, the "check engine" lights worked. We don't always hate the old car; we simply know it's time for a new one. Think of a new year like that: we don't have to hate the past year, just be ready to move on to the new one. Even with tough times faced in 2009, life was good. Make a list and bring the good into 2010.

3. Let's set ourselves up for success in 2010. When I bought a new car a few years ago, I liked the fresh scent, so I keep air fresheners in the glove compartment. Every few months, a new Christmas Cookie freshener hangs from one of the arms off the steering wheel (I'm not a big fan of things hanging from the rear-view mirror), so the fresh scent reminds me to keep the promises made when the car was new. What can you do today to make keeping your 2010 promises likely? There may be simple things to bring success closer. Look for them.

The new-car smell fades within a month or two, as does the excitement of a new year. Taking each day at a time, pondering the good, and setting yourself up for success will enable you to keep the new year hope and excitement going all year long. I promise.