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Four Life Lessons I Learned From Little League Baseball

I am Seth’s little league baseball team’s coach this spring…well, actually I am the assistant-to-the-assistant coach! When we signed up to play, I told my friend who is the head coach that IF our sons were on the same team; and IF he was asked to coach; and IF he needed help coaching, I would help him coach. Later, when he called me to help coach, I couldn’t help but laugh because my baseball career ended in the 2nd grade. I didn’t enjoy the sport, and I especially didn’t enjoy playing the game. My teammates always played the positions I wanted. And, the 20 extra coaches in the stands telling me what to do when I thought I only had two coaches on the field drove me crazy! I felt like I was in a pressure cooker with everyone staring and yelling at me – “Swing the bat (why would I NOT swing the bat?)! ”Watch the ball (what else would I look at?)! “Throw the ball in (where else would I throw it?)!” So, I traded in my bat and glove for a tennis racquet and didn’t look back. No teammates. No obnoxious fans. And, the point of the game is easy, right? Be the last person to hit the ball into the court?!

After serving as the assistant-to-the-assistant little league baseball coach for most of one season, I can honestly say I love this sport! Seth has a blast, and I have a blast. Here are four life lessons I have learned that changed my opinion of little league baseball:

  1. Coaches can make a positive influence in a child’s life. Heck, they can change a kid’s life! I’ve seen this through my friend as he builds self-confidence into each player.
  2. Coaches have a unique opportunity to serve each family that no one else on or off the field can do. If you serve my child, you have my attention. I’ve seen my friend serve an entire family by helping meet the need of one player.
  3. Seth is learning about humility by sitting out of the game so that others can also play. I remember riding the bench as a kid, and I hated it. I thought it was like being sent to timeout for a crime I didn’t even know about! We’ve been talking about humility at church this month and defined it as “putting others first by giving up what you think you deserve.” Humility is a tough virtue to learn early in life, but it is critically needed as leader later in life.
  4. Seth is also learning to see the big picture beyond his chance at bat. We play some talented teams who can field the ball really well. If he hits a ground ball to the infield, he is most likely thrown out at first base. But, many times he advances a runner one base…possibly even driving home a runner. So, while Seth doesn’t always get on base, he helps his team score. Getting thrown out at first is no fun, but helping win the game makes a bigger difference.

I am still a tennis player at heart. I don’t own a pair of cleats. I had to borrow a glove. But, I treasure the times spent throwing with and pitching to Seth and his friends. I also enjoy watching him play and enjoy life. I also love learning life lessons along the way with him. Maybe these lessons can help you the next time you are on a team. And, if you have the chance to help coach a little league team, do it! This assistant-to-the-assistant coach sure is glad he signed up to help!

Question: What have you learned from little league sports? I look forward to hearing from you!

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Why and How I Hire Rock Stars

Ever seen a rock star at work? We’ve all seen a rock star on stage and on TV. I’m not talking about that kind of rock star. I’m talking about those folks who are ready to step up and do what it takes to finish a job. They are friendly with customers and coworkers. They do work that matters.

I have to brag just a little… I have an entire company full of rock stars! Here’s why and how I found them.

Several years ago Matt suggested I read John Maxwell’s book, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. This book changed my life, and it changed my approach to leadership. The entire book is a must-read, and it shook me up starting with the first law shook. See what you think:

The Law of the Lid – Leadership Ability Determines a Person’s (and I add, Organization’s) Level of Effectiveness.

When I read this book, MPC was in a bad financial situation. We recently lost one line of business, and I was scrambling to replace it.We were working with some new customers who were demanding lots of attention. I felt dumped on and helpless.

This first Law was the swift kick in the pants that I needed. I set the lid for my personal effectiveness. And, as the CEO of MPC, I was the determining factor in my company’s effectiveness. I devoured this book, and I kept reading in order to keep growing & pushing my Lid.

I later read Good to Great by Jim Collins… also at Matt’s suggestion! This book drove home the point that placing the right people in the right seats in an organization makes the difference. Vision, systems, and remarkable products are a must. But, having the right people in the right places comes first. People, after all, help fulfill the vision, systems, and products.

Then, I read Michael Hyatt’s blog post, “What Should You Look for in the People You Hire?” He lists four virtues that I have since adopted as our own. His claim, and now my experience, is that if you look for these virtues as you recruit and bring on new team mates, you will start to build your own team of rock stars.

Here are the qualities I look for:
1. Humility: An humble person says, “I am not the center of the universe. What can I do to help?” An humble person accepts correction and realizes that no job is beneath him.
2. Honesty: An honest person says, “Here’s the good, the bad, and ugly truth.” You can bank on the fact that he will do what he said. Honest people help build trust within the organization, which helps everything go further, faster while lowering costs.
3. Hungry: A hungry person says, “What’s next?!” She is intelectually curious. She is prepared to win. She makes me run faster and continue growing. She pushes the Lid.
4. Smart: A smart person says, “Here is the problem and solution.” He knows what to do when he walks in the room…which might also include asking a question. He is book-smart and street-smart. He knows what he knows. He knows what he doesn’t know. And, he realizes there are things in this world that he doesn’t know that he doesn’t know.

In summary, people make the difference. Borrowing from Michael Hyatt again…. If building a great team is like a scavengar hunt, you need a list in order to find the treasure. Hiring people who are Humble, Honest, Hungry, and Smart is helping me find the rock stars and build a great and enduring organization.

Question: How would you describe your ideal candidate or coworker? I look foward to hearing from you in the comments below!

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5 Ways to Stop Babysitting at Work

Do you ever have trouble getting the people who work for you to do what they are suppose to do? Do you ever find yourself needing to just do things yourself since everyone around you can’t get the job done? Do you ever stay late at work doing the work others didn’t do for you? Do you feel like a baby sitter for adults?

I did at one time, but now I don’t.

Here’s why.

I know that I won’t do this forever. I will retire. I will die. Someone else will do my job, and I want them happy to come in after me.

For everyone’s sake, please do this:
1. Focus your time where are most Compentent because the less you do, the more you accomplish.
2. Show Courage because courage establishes leadership.
3. Be Clear when you speak and send that email because uncertainty demands clarity.
4. Coach those around you because coaching enables a leader to go farther, faster.
5. Live with the purest Character because character determines your legacy.

I didn’t make up this list. I am borrowing it from Andy Stanley’s book, Next Generation Leader. If you want the people you spend 40+ hours per week to accomplish more AND be happier you are at work than not, please get a copy now and become a Next Generation Leader.

PS – This is one of the best leadership books I’ve ever read and is my manual in leading MPC.

Question: Have you ever worked for a controlling leader? What lessons did you learn?

I look forward to hearing from you!

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My New Job

When I was in school, I thought I knew what I wanted to do when I grew up. I knew that I wanted to design and build things. I wanted to be an engineer. I didn’t want to teach. I didn’t want to work in the medical field. And, I definitely didn’t want to sell things for a living. When I thought of the sales business, I pictured a slick salesman in a suit offering something I didn’t really need for a price that sounded too good to be true.

Fast forward 13 years since Georgia Tech, and what do I do? I am in the business of sales!

In his latest book, To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others, Dan Pink defines sales as the act of “moving others to give up what they have for what you have.” When we think of sales in this light, I agree with Pink that most of us are involved in the sales business. We are just in the business of non-sales selling.

As I lead my company in processesing regionally grown fruit products for people around the world desiring a healthy, natural life, I must sell our vision and goals to my teammates.

When I go home, I need to sell vegetables at dinner and a regular bed time to our boys.

Chances are, you are probably in the sales business, too. If you ever need to convince co-workers of an idea, you are in the sales business. If you are teaching students how to diagram a sentence, you are in the sales business. Or, if you farm, you are in the sales business.

Because of the variety of situations where I need someone to give up something they value for something I have, To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others is my new sales handbook. I know the new ABCs of sales:
– Be in Attunement
– Be Bouyant
– Be Clear

And, I also know what to do when selling:
– Pitch
– Improvise
– Serve

So, as it turns out, I don’t mind the sales business after all. I actually enjoy it…especially since I don’t have to wear a suit to work every day!

I have a question.

Does your work involve convincing or persuading people to give up something they value for something you have? If so, you might want to pick up a copy of To Sell Is Human and get into the new sales business.

I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

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How I Wake Up at 5am Every Morning

I woke up this morning at 5am to exercise, read, and pray. This is my morning habit…except this morning was only the 2nd time in a week that I’ve woken up on time. Not much of a habit, huh?

I was first inspired to wake up early with purpose in 2012 after reading [Michael Hyatt’s blog post ]http://michaelhyatt.com/slay-your-dragons-before-breakfast.html)about his morning routine. During that summer, I started getting up early with some friends to workout. A couple of the guys had gained a little weight, and I wanted to help. I bought the Insanity workout DVD set, a workout mat, and offered a section of the warehouse for us to shape up together at 5:05 every weekday morning. All was well until the summer ended. The school year started back, our routines changed, and we all went our separate ways. I took the DVDs home and decided to go at it alone. Who needs someone else to help you get out of bed anyway? I am a grown man…can’t I wake up by myself?

Well, after almost two years, I am here to tell you that waking up early by yourself is tough…really tough. I have the most intense motivation at night. But, when the alarm clock sounds the next morning, I can’t seem to get out of bed. I place my alarm clock in another room. I lay out my clothes the night before. I get 7 hours sleep. I have tried every trick in the book…and I have read several books on this topic! But, I can’t get up early every single morning.

This morning I realized I had two benefits in the beginning that I don’t have right now:

  1. Accountability – I knew that my friends would be looking for me. Not only was I the one with the key to the building, I knew that they were expecting me to work out with them. I wanted them to show up, so I needed to do my part and show up, too.
  2. A sense of urgency – I knew that my friends were going to arrive every morning at 5:05am. Waking up at 6:30 was too late.

The most useful thing about these two benefits is that they can be applied to other aspects of life. I can think of a few home improvement projects I put off until the day before guests visited. I accomplish the most in areas of my life where I have strong accountability to myself or a friend. And, I am the most intense with tasks that are due soon. The secret is to self-impose accountability and a sense of urgency to tasks that are important but not urgent.

I hope these two factors can also help you accomplish a goal or form a new habit. Now, I just need to find someone to look for me at 5am!

Question: What have accountability and a sense of urgency helped you accomplish?

I look forward to hearing from you!

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Have I Lost My Mind?

Monday, I did something for the first time. I qualified as a candidate for the position of an Irwin County Commissioner. I have grown up around local politics as my dad, Gary, serves as an Irwin County Board of Education Member. And, my father-in-law, Billy Zorn, serves as a County Commissioner in Irwin County’s First District.

In 2002, Jorjanne and I moved home to start my family’s processing business, Muscadine Products Corporation (MPC). After our move from Atlanta, I commented that one day maybe I would have the opportunity to serve as a Commissioner and redeem my Georgia Tech Civil Engineering degree. Civil Engineering is essentially solving the problems of society – providing clean water for a region; designing safe roads and bridges for a community; or, constructing hospitals and industrial parks. Except for a few years serving on Ocilla-Irwin County’s Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Irwin County’s Industrial Authority, I have focused my entire professional attention on building my company. MPC produces regionally grown fruit products for people around the world desiring a healthy, natural life. Now, when I think about it, my responsibilities as a civil engineer and President of MPC are similar – to solve problems, improving life for others.

When I arrived at the Courthouse on Monday to complete my application, I realized I was the first person to sign up. All eyes were on me. That was a little awkward. And, then when I arrived at my Ocilla Rotary Club’s meeting three hours later, everyone knew that I qualified. (Who needs social media when there is an election in a small town?) Everyone congratulated me on qualifying…except one good friend. He frankly asked, “Have you lost your mind?!”

I haven’t lost my mind. I am just doing what I have learned to do. God has blessed MPC beyond my wildest dreams, and now I realize I have an opportunity to help solve problems, improving life for my neighbors.

Question: Have you ever volunteered to serve and someone asked if you lost your mind? What was that like?

I look forward to hearing from you!

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Why I Can’t Sit Down

During the spring of 2012 I started working out regularly. I love the morning routine of exercising, listening to books on Audbile, and thinking about the day ahead. A friend introduced me to the Insanity workout early on and I was hooked. If you aren’t familiar with this workout, think intense cardio plus strength training for 45 minutes. I’ve completed this 60-day program several times. I run on the weekends, but I keep coming back to Insanity during the week. I just love the mix of cardio with strenth training.

Insanity seemed like the perfect at-home workout…until last Wednesday. I was in the middle of my workout when I quickly stood up and sprained my Sacroiliac (SI) Joint. In just a few seconds I went from running a 22 minute 5K and doing 100 pushups with ease to struggling to dress myself in the mornings…frustrating to say the least. I don’t think I have ever experienced pain like this! WOW! My lower back is uncomfortable when I stand up. My lower back and left hip experience severe pain when I sit down. Oh, and I can hardly bend over.

Fortunately, I remembered Michael Hyatt’s post entitled “A Question That Changes Everything.” In this post, Michael experiences a health setback and asks himself “What does this experience make possible?”

I am very grateful for his blog, and especially this question. I have been tempted to ask myself several questions over the past several days:
Why did this happen now?
What did I do to deserve this?
Why did I not bend my knees more instead of stooping over?

But, the question “What does this experience make possible?” shifts my thinking in a couple of ways.

First, I acknowledge that I am not in total control. God is in control, and I am not. He has a great plan for my life, and I don’t want to miss it by being angry at Him and myself for my current condition.

Second, this question shifts my thinking from the past to the future. I hope this experience makes me a better planner, better leader, better delegator, and better writer since I can’t physically accomplish all I have been doing. I am reminded of one of my favorite quotes by Elanor Roosevelt: “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.”

The bottom line is this: Bad things happen, and you are not in total control. But, you can control your response to negative situations when they do happen. Asking yourself the right question can help direct your response.

So, think about a negative situation in your life. Ask yourself, “What does this experience make possible?” I would love your comments.

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How Would You Like It?

I was recently invited to visit someone I have always wanted to meet. I’ve heard about the host for years, read articles about him, admired his work, and frankly, been in awe of his scale of operation. He invited a group of people to visit his office; and by association, I then received an invitation to also attend. This was a very exciting opportunity. I immediately had visions of visiting Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory and the Grand Canyon at the same time…pure excitement, joy, wonder, and awe!

The only problem is that I didn’t receive my invitation directly from the host. In fact, the host doesn’t know I exist. He only knows my friends who invited me. They knew I would enjoy the trip, so they invited me. I really appreciated the invitation.

But, I want to do many things the host also does. I plan on setting up a shop like his. I want to make more products like him. I want to know more about him so I can learn and grow my business.

But, if I’m going to learn from this host, I want him to offer the assistance. I want him to invite me, host me, and coach me. I can’t visit his shop under false pretences.

But, this is the opportunity of a life time!

And, in the middle of this delima, I was listening to North Point Community Church’s series Right in the Eye, and Andy encouraged everyone to memorize Psalm 119:35-37 – “Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.”

How timely!

So, I’m not making this trip to visit. God wants me to treat others the way I want to be treated. He wants me to make wise choices and trust him. This is only one trip. I shouldn’t do what is right in my eyes for the sake of selfish gain and forget the One who has richly provided more than I could ever imagine. I am very grateful for reminders that my desire to do what is right in my own eyes has major consequences for me, the people who care about me, and for those coming after me.

The bottom line is this: God wants great things for you, and you find the most freedom under God’s authority.

So, tell me… Consider a once in a lifetime opportunity. Ask, “What are the consequences if I do what is right in my eyes? What story do I want told later?” Please leave a comment.

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Relaunch Introduction

I have relaunched my blog. A year, or so, ago I started a blog called Southern Superfruit. This blog was originally launched to help tell stories about muscadines and my experiences leading a company that processes my family’s fruit. But, one thing led to another, and now I haven’t blogged in almost 9 months! So, I am relaunching my blog as my name. This name change will allow the blog to grow and develop as my life grows and develops. I am writing about organizational leadership, personal development, productivity, relationships, and muscadines. I have been reminded lately that life takes exciting twists and turns, and I want my blog to allow for these changes.
Thanks for joining me.