Happy 231st Anniversary, America!

Today we celebrate the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This day means different things to different people. To some, it’s an opportunity to think about the freedoms they enjoy. To others, it’s an opportunity to show appreciation to the men and women who have fought (and are fighting) for our very freedoms. To others, it’s an opportunity to take a day off and hang out with friends and family.

I think about many different things on July 4th. The leadership consultant in me thinks about the 56 men who risked their lives by signing a piece of paper so they could live in a free society. I appreciate the freedoms we enjoy. I appreciate beyond measure the men and women who have defended this country to ensure our freedom. I appreciate the opportunity to take a day off and hang out with friends and family. And on this day, I appreciate the courage and conviction of those 56 men who showed true leadership by risking their lives for what we enjoy today … freedom.

Eat some hot dogs, enjoy some watermelon, and dive head first into a big bowl of ice cream as you celebrate today. But most importantly, stop sometime today and think about what independence truly means to you.

May God bless the men and women who defend our country, and may He bless each and every one of you this July 4th!

Lack of Personal Accountability

Last month, a member of the St. Louis Cardinals was killed in a tragic automobile accident. I certainly mourn for the family and friends of Josh Hancock, a young man with a bright future. Apparently the Cardinals relief pitcher spent 3 ½ hours at a restaurant in the early morning hours of the 29th of April. After leaving, he struck a flatbed tow truck as it was attempting to assist another motorist whose car had stalled. No doubt a tragic loss.

Today, the father of Josh Hancock filed a lawsuit claiming the restaurant provided drinks to his son even though he was already intoxicated. In addition to the restaurant, he has filed suit against the manager of the restaurant, as well. Wait, that’s not all. He has also sued the towing company whose flatbed tow truck was struck by his son’s sport-utility vehicle, as well as the driver of the tow truck. But wait, that’s not all. He’s also suing the driver whose stalled car was being assisted by the tow truck.

Some of the fault for Josh Hancock’s untimely death may lie with some of the defendants. However, authorities have indicated he had a blood content of nearly twice the legal limit for alcohol in his system when he crashed into the back of the tow truck. He was also speeding, using a cellphone and wasn't wearing a seat belt. Marijuana also was found in the SUV.

Maybe the restaurant was at fault for serving the 29-year-old pitcher after he was already intoxicated, but at what point does personal accountability get taken into account? He wasn’t a 19-year-old kid involved in underage drinking. He was a 29-year-old adult man who played professional baseball! He was responsible enough to sign a multi-million dollar contract … he should have been responsible enough to push back from the bar. Millions of people make that responsible decision every day. If he wasn’t responsible enough to make that decision, that’s not the bar manager’s fault. That’s Josh Hancock’s fault.

Another Stamp Increase

The Postal Service has announced another annoying price increase this May. The reason I find it annoying is not that I have to find two cent stamps to use until all my old stamps are gone. I find it annoying any time I have to experience a price increase without added value.

I have no problem with price increases when I'm getting added value. I'm not that old, but I remember when sending a letter was just a matter of a few cents. Back then, the service was good and it was just about the only option. Now, the service is less, and there are many more options. Only the government can operate that way. Any business would be closing its doors.

At a time when service levels are significantly lower (I have to drive to a community mailbox in my neighborhood so the mailperson can deliver all the mail at once, and the lines at the post office seem to be longer and longer), it seems the decision to raise the price of postage just provides more incentive for people to send more email and pay more bills online (which ultimately reduces the demand for stamps, and leads to more increases). While I'm sure the increase is an effort to cover the higher gas prices and health insurance costs, at some point they'll drive everyone to find other alternatives.

Lesser of Two Evils?

Unlike some people, I look forward to the opportunity to vote. When I look around the world and see how some governments operate, it makes me appreciate living in a democratic society. I appreciate having the right to vote, and I look forward to exercising that vote (although I could do without the barrage of political ads this time of year).

Since I travel quite often, I happen to be out of town on election day this year. As a result, I took advantage of the early-voting process yesterday. This morning I was sitting next to a lady on a flight to West Virginia, and we started talking about the upcoming election. I asked her if she had voted, and she said she didn't plan to vote. "It seems like I have to pick the lesser of two evils in every race," she said. "I don't like either candidate running for congress, so I'm not going to vote for either of them."

I wasn't going to debate her issue of the "lesser of two evils", but I did question her decision to not vote. "You do realize that one of them is going to get elected, don't you?" I asked.

As election day approaches, I hope each and every one of you votes for somebody. I certainly have my political preferences, but that's not what this message is about. It concerns me when I hear people say they aren't going to vote at all because they don't like either candidate. Someone is going to get elected, and we all should be exercising our right to vote, even if we carry the cynical view of picking the "lesser of two evils".

Regardless of your political preference, get out and vote on election day. If you don't, you have forfeited your right to complain!

The Gift of Leadership

We continue to read reports pertaining to the recovery efforts in New Orleans. We see the devastation, and hear statistics that indicate little progress has been made. And in the middle of it all, we see the indecisive leader of New Orleans, Mayor Ray Nagin.

The ability of New Orleans to recover is tied directly to the leadership of that community. For that reason, the recovery of New Orleans will continue to be a mess. I’m certain Mayor Nagin is working hard, but hard work isn’t going to fix their problems. Many people in New Orleans lost everything they have, and they need strong leadership right now. Instead, they have someone who is easily swayed by public opinion, who comes across as unsure of himself in an interview, and who allows his arrogance to dominate any discussion he has on television. Furthermore, his oft-made claims that the city is ahead of the recovery schedule are preposterous to the residents of New Orleans. The reality on the ground simply doesn’t prove it.

Last week I spoke in New Orleans. After my event, my client had arranged for a car service to take me back to the airport. Jerry, a lifelong resident of New Orleans and driver for the company, shared with me his front-row view of the recovery in New Orleans. Jerry is not running for re-election. Jerry doesn’t work for a major media outlet trying to sell the sensationalism of the tragedy in New Orleans. Jerry is a full-time resident who drove me through some of the devastated areas on the way to the airport. During the ride, he shared with me his disappointment with the leadership from the city. He said what we all know is true … that the recovery is hard. And he said the one thing they really need right now is a mayor who comes across as strong, not one who continues to pass the blame for a lack of recovery effort to anyone he can find.

This past May he ran for re-election, and won a second four-year term. He commented at the time, “Thank you for the gift of leadership.” He was absolutely right that leadership is a gift. The people of New Orleans want (and deserve) to have a leader that does something with it. Mr. Mayor, I think Jerry is a great voice for many in New Orleans. They want real leadership. Step up and provide it.

"The Apprentice" - Not a Great Example of Leadership

I'm not a huge fan of watching television. There are a few shows I watch for pure entertainment, and a few others I watch for educational purposes. In fact, our television spends more time on TLC and The Food Network than any other channel.

One of the shows I watch for entertainment is "The Apprentice". I started watching it because it was promoted as this hugely successful businessman looking for someone he could mentor to be a great leader. I thought it would fall in that "educational" category. I still watch the show, but it certainly isn't because of the educational value it brings. The show is pure entertainment.

I enjoy watching the show, and encourage other people to watch it. But as a leadership consultant, I can tell you it is not teaching leadership. I believe this for several reasons:

First, it is obvious the shows producers "cut and paste" the scenes to create the most drama possible. This makes it impossible to see the true dynamic of leadership taking place.

Second, many of the characters who are "fired" by The Donald are sent packing not because of their leadership ability, but their ability to complete a specific function (like marketing, sales, creative design, etc.) My guess is that Donald Trump hasn't even come close to creating a marketing campaign, or a sales strategy, or a creative design project in decades. Why? Because he's surrounded himself with people who are much more qualified to do them. This is good leadership, but that fact seldom enters the boardroom.

Third, the "followers" of the team leader have an interest in watching the leader fail. In most organizations, it may be a challenge to get employees to follow, but they seldom have a motivation to cause the leader to fail.

I enjoy watching the show, and I encourage you to watch it, too. Just keep in mind that if you're looking for a lesson in leadership, you will probably find more examples of how "not to do it". Enjoy the show, but do it for entertainment purposes!