April 2006

Free Pictures with the Easter Bunny                                       April 2006

Have you ever agreed to do something you knew immediately you would regret? A voice inside your head warns you to decline the opportunity because it will bring you extreme embarrassment, but you agree anyway? I experienced exactly that this past weekend.

Our neighborhood was having an Easter Egg Hunt, and my wife asked me to be the Easter Bunny. While the creative part of my brain considered how much fun it would be and agreed to the job, the logical part of my brain considered how hot it would be and pointed out that only an idiot would climb inside a wooly costume in the middle of a 96 degree Texas afternoon.

If I thought the bunny suit and giant feet were hot, I had no idea what was coming when I lifted this bunny head the size of a large ottoman onto my shoulders. Within five minutes, I knew exactly what I had gotten myself into. I experienced moderate discomfort during the first minute. I found myself gasping for fresh air by the end of the second minute. I began sweatin’ like a beer bottle at a picnic by the end of the third minute. I was certain the heat was so bad I wasn’t getting enough oxygen to my brain by the end of the fourth minute. And by the time I had spent five minutes in this costume, I had a pretty good idea of the internal temperature of a Hot Pocket the moment it comes out of a microwave. And I hadn’t even gone outside yet!

Being the eternal optimist, I tried to ignore the fact I was about to spend forty-five minutes in this costume and was already losing sight in my right eye. Instead, once I got outside I used my one good eye to see the smiles on the faces of the kids who lit up when they saw the Easter Bunny. As I saw these kids running toward me with their arms out for a hug, my mind shifted to the positive impact of what I was doing. Throughout the experience, I learned a few lessons I would like to share:

Remind yourself why you’re doing a good thing!

There were many times in that costume I could have stayed focused on my own discomfort. By reminding myself why I was in the position in the first place, it made it all worthwhile. In fact, the time went by rather quickly when my mind shifted to the good thing I was doing for many children who would have these memories for a lifetime. Too often I see people volunteer to coordinate a project for all the right reasons, but manage to complain throughout the entire process. Whatever challenges come your way when you’re planning a worthwhile endeavor, stay focused on the reason you got involved in the first place.

Smile through it all!

Every time I posed for a picture with a child, I found myself smiling. I suddenly realized that no one could see my face! I could have been frowning or sticking my tongue out at the camera, and no one would have known. Life would certainly be different if we had the luxury of wearing a costume with a permanent smile on the outside. We could live in our misery while putting on a smile to everyone around us. Since we can’t do that, we need to smile through it all.

Do what your wife tells you to do!

It may have been hot in that bunny suit, but it simply could not compare with the grief that could have come from refusing to do it. I have the greatest wife in the world, and the thought of disappointing her was unacceptable. So, I agreed to it. And as you can see in the picture above, we both have on a big smile (in case you didn't know, that's her on the right, and me in the embarrassing costume on the left). If you’ve ever heard me speak, then you know my philosophy: you can be right, or you can be happy! I choose happy. I hope you do, too.

Enthusiastically, 

Clint Swindall - President & CEO

*Book Review

How Full Is Your Bucket?, by Tom Rath and Donald Clifton

As promised, I will share with you each month a book I've read lately that I think can enhance the way you lead yourself and those around you.

This month I would like to share with you a book written by Tom Rath and Donald Clifton. In their book, How Full Is Your Bucket?, the authors share with readers their thoughts on the result of each human interaction. They recognize that one of two things happen each and every time you interact with someone: you either make someone feel positive by "filling their bucket", or you leave them more negative by "dipping from their bucket". The authors believe you can increase the positive moments (and reduce the negative moments) in your work and home life by focusing on this simple metaphor about a dipper and a bucket.

As some of you know by now, I'm a big believer in the simplicity of success. As some of you also know, I avoid negativity like the plague. Since we're surrounded by it, we must be proactive in determining ways to enhance our contact with others through positive interactions. While we may have to deal with the negativity of others, we certainly can make the world a little more positive by filling someone else's bucket. This book serves as a great reminder of how to do that.

* E-Newsletter Registration

Be an Inspiration to Others

We started this e-newsletter earlier this year as a result of a client asking for a regular dose of inspiration. He said he enjoyed a speech I gave to his company, and wanted some ways to enhance the way he leads himself and those around him. We thought we would reach out to a small handful of people, and grow the subscriber list a little at a time.

The response to Everday Leadership has been incredible. In three short months, our distribution list has grown to nearly 1,500 subscribers. Our system indicates that last month's newsletter was forwarded several hundred times. While we are thrilled with the acceptance of the message, we want to ensure you get the newsletter each month.

*Quotes

Inspirational thoughts

"Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all.”
- Sam Ewing

"When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt."
- Henry Kaiser"It use to be said 'It's who you know', but today it is more about who knows you, and that is based upon what you have done."
- David Hartz

*Question to Ponder

Some time to think

I had just spoken for a client in Indianapolis, and was standing in the Atlanta airport during a layover on my return trip to San Antonio. I was at my gate, waiting to board the plane.

A business man dressed in a suit approached the ticket counter, handed his ticket to the gate agent and asked, "Can you see if I've been cleared for an upgrade to first class?"

After a few moments, the gate agent printed a new boarding pass, handed it to the man and said, "Here you go, sir. Enjoy your flight!"

I watched as the man walked away from the ticket counter and approached a young man standing about ten feet from me. The young man was dressed in military fatigues. As the business man approached him, the young man nodded respectfully.

"Where are you headed?", the business man asked.

"I'm heading home," the young man replied. "I've been serving in Iraq, and I'm going home to San Antonio."

The business man reached into the pocket of his suit coat and took out his boarding pass. He looked at the young man and said, "Son, I appreciate what you're doing for our country. I would like you to have my first-class seat. If you will agree, I'll take your seat in coach class, and you can have my seat in the first-class cabin."

I looked around and noticed that no one else had witnessed this conversation. This business man didn't offer his kindness in hopes of recognition or praise. He did it because in his heart it was the right thing to do.