by Shawn | Apr 29, 2021 | Podcast
“Be a disruptor. Step on some toes. Shake things up.”
That’s what my boss told me when I started at one of my jobs.
Right off the bat he made that clear. He already had seen that in me from my interviews and he wanted me to turn over those stones, to be curious, to question and disrupt.
And, honestly, I did in a lot of ways.
What was so helpful was that he empowered me to do that from the beginning.
He wanted to see how we could grow and break some old thinking or systems and take the next step.
And that was how I was naturally thinking, but without his blessing and charge to do that, as the new guy I think I would have been a lot more reserved in that. I would have tended to just keep some thoughts or ideas to myself because no one was asking for anything to be different or improved.
His words from the get go (that were also backed up by frequent conversations we’d have affirming that), made such a huge difference.
And so I wonder a few things for you as a business leader.
First, do you want people who will disrupt, ask questions, bring about change?
If the answer to the first question is no, then I believe you might be missing out on a big potential for growth in your processes, communication and more in your organization.
But if the answer is yes, my second question would be this: are you communicating this to your people and empowering them to be that in your business?
Do they have your backing to question long held procedures, thinking or ways of doing things? Or are they afraid of what would happen if they stepped out of line or went against the flow?
Take some time to think about that today.
Think about some specific people in your organization. Maybe you have some who have some new ideas, who are willing to question and challenge and grow. And maybe they are quietly (or more vocally) frustrated because they’ve been instructed to just do as they’re told.
Unfortunately, it’s those kinds of people who will often leave to go somewhere else where they can make a bigger impact and use those skills if they’re not allowed to do that where they are.
So, remember that our words are powerful and empowering and inviting our people to do something carries a lot of weight.
Be willing to make that shift and see what happens.
Thanks for listening to today’s episode. It would help a ton if you’d be willing to leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts
I’d love to connect: website / LinkedIn / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter
by Shawn | Apr 28, 2021 | Podcast
If life is like a box of chocolates, then my head is often like a lottery ball hopper. You know that hopper with all the 42 balls or whatever and they’re all bouncing around in there. And then, suddenly, one of them finds its way to the magical exit tube and floats up and then out the chute.
That’s kind of like ideas for me.
I never know when an idea is going to float up out of the tube and into my brain.
And if I don’t have a good way to grab a hold of it then it might just drop back down into the hopper.
If you’re like me at all, sometimes one of the biggest challenges is not necessarily coming up with an idea, but capturing ideas and being able to actually do something with them.
So I thought I’d at least share some of the ways I’ve done that… and it is always evolving, but I thought maybe some of these might be helpful. And I’d love to hear what you do as well. I know a lot of you have some great thoughts on this.
Here goes. And a quick note. This system goes for new ideas that pop up as well as reminders and notes I need to remember through the day.
So, I kind of look at my idea retention system like some kind of fleet where there is a mother ship and then reconnaissance ships.
My mother ship is my laptop or desktop. That is where I both process information from the reconnaissance ships as well as enter some information straight up as well.
My reconnaissance ships on the other hand take many forms.
– My phone
– A notepad
– A sticky note (I love these — check out episode 11 to find out why).
– Even writing on my hand in a pinch.
The purpose of the reconnaissance ships is to gather the information, capture the ideas and thoughts and bring them back to the mother ship to be processed.
Let’s talk about each of these.
My phone, as you’d imagine is used in a few different ways.
The nature of my job in manufacturing is that I’m often on our plant floor looking at a machine or troubleshooting and investigating a quality concern.
More often than not, I’ll take a picture to capture some of these things since… you know… a picture is worth… I think it used to be a thousand words but I’m not sure how inflation has affected that over the years. Just to say, a picture fills in a lot of gaps that words can leave behind.
I love that I can grab whatever detail I want with my phone’s camera, including slow motion video or whatever will help capture that thought or idea. When I get back to my desk, I’ll connect up my phone to my computer to put those pictures in a folder or at least log the notes or ideas in my log. I’ve also sometimes just synced my photos over as well.
I also use my phone to capture ideas via Evernote or Trello. Check out episodes 23 and 33 for more on those. Trello is probably my go-to here for quick ideas where Evernote I might use to dictate a longer note.
I also carry a notepad around. I may use it for notes but sometimes more to sketch out ideas on paper that would be harder for me to verbalize.
Same thing. When I get back to my desk I’ll transfer those into action in some way.
Sticky notes are similar. If someone stops by or I get a phone call I may just use the sticky note as an intermediate way to grab that idea or note and then
And then if I have to I’ve even written notes on my hand.
Then, when it comes to an organization system for processing the ideas and notes, I have a master Excel file with both a log tab and an interactive To Do tab. I use the log tab to enter notes, decisions, and general things I might want to search for later.
The To Do tab is my place for putting specific items that I want to knock out or address later. It has a lot of functionality that you’d find on some apps (due dates, assigning hours, etc), but I like it because I have total control over how it functions and can adapt it as my needs change.
For some things, I’ll also keep a Trello board going as well. I have one for general household things I know need to get done or remembered as well as a few other simple ones with ideas for podcast episode topics or resources.
So, there you have it. Like I said, though it’s always evolving the one main thing is that I’m one way or another able to capture that idea or thought that pops up before it vanishes forever into the depths of my brain.
Thanks for listening to today’s episode. You can shoot me an email at shawn@shawnwashburn.com.
I’d love to connect: website / LinkedIn / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter
by Shawn | Apr 27, 2021 | Podcast
Today is a special day. It’s my birthday. I guess it fits since life is a process and full of relationships with people.
Either way, I wanted to take a few minutes to just share some thoughts on this day. 48 thoughts to be exact. One for every year of life. Enjoy.
48 Thoughts About Life From 48 Years of Living
1 Don’t be afraid to change. You never know what can happen on the other side of fear.
2 Don’t waste your life trying to like kale chips. Spoiler alert: you never will.
3 Enjoy beating your boys in basketball when they’re little. Once they’re bigger than you, it won’t happen very often… but it will still happen
4 Take time to do the things you enjoy. It will energize you in ways you didn’t anticipate and fill your tank.
5 Friends are a gift. Find ones that value you and build into those relationships.
6 Listening is a skill. It’s not about just hearing words, it’s about caring about the one who is sharing them.
7 Eating green beans as a kid won’t keep you from going bald. And sometimes bald grandpas lie to their grandsons. Just saying. #baldisbeautiful
8 Rainbows are like a glimpse into an alternate universe.
9 I’ll always be amazed by how a newborn comes out and can put a death grip on your finger without even trying.
10 Laughter truly is the best medicine. Next time you’re down, watch a movie or youtube clip that will make you laugh until you cry.
11 No matter how you’ve screwed up today, tomorrow is always a new day with new opportunities to make things right.
12 Question the status quo. Be willing to step on toes when they need it. This is where breakthroughs happen.
13 Learn about the Five Love Languages and how you’re wired. It will help you understand so much of life and relationships.
14 Don’t let the fact that “someone is already doing it” keep you from trying something new. If ten different pizza places can coexist in a small city, then there’s room for your take on your idea.
15 Being a dad can be hard and you may not know if you’re doing it right. Just pray, love well, be there, encourage and know that those seeds will grow.
16 Always believe that there are things you can learn. From any situation. From anyone. At any time.
17 You were created for a reason. You were God’s idea and your value comes from Him. No one can take that from you.
18 When you feel like giving up, don’t… yet. Pray first. Seek wise counsel. Sometimes we need to end things. Other times we need to push through.
19 I believe in Heaven, all food will be fried but will also be good for you. It just makes sense.
20 I think parts of Heaven will look familiar. I believe that the best things about Earth will be in Heaven. Just without all the junk.
21 When this world fails to satisfy us, disappoints us, lets us down… as C.S. Lewis puts it, “the most probably explanation is that we were made for another world.
22 Always be curious. Never stop asking why. Turn over the rocks in life and see what is underneath them. Find out what makes the world tick.
23 Encouragement is one of the greatest forces we possess. You never know the power of your words to change the course of someone’s day… or even their life.
24 Be a reader. Learn from your peers, from those who have gone before, from those who think differently than you. Be willing to be challenged.
25 If you’re feeling stuck, try a new perspective. Go take a hike, go for a drive, take a walk. Spend some time away. Then approach with new eyes.
26 Marriage is a blessing. And marriage can be tough. Give the benefit of the doubt. Love well. Always put your spouse first. Don’t hold grudges.
27 None of those things are easy. But worth it. Even if you feel like the only one fighting for your marriage, don’t give up. Keep loving and trusting.
28 Make plans. But make them subject to change. Don’t miss the journey on the way to your original destination.
29 Sometimes this world won’t make sense. Remember that it is a broken world and not how it was designed to be.
30 Bacon is amazing. That’s it.
31 I’m a few years past 45, but Five for Fighting was right that I often feel like I’m “chasing the years of my life” (from their song 100 Years)
32 When I feel lost in life, God always brings me back to the Bible. Everything I need to hear is there if I’ll listen.
33 Music has a way to move us that few other things can. Let it move you.
34 We were made to create by a Creator. It’s in our DNA. Whatever that is for you, get busy and do your thing. Share your gift with the world.
35 Forty eight thoughts is a lot. I thought I’d be done by now, but I’ve still got thirteen more. So here goes…
36 If you love someone, don’t waste an opportunity to let them know. You don’t know which time might be your last.
37 Never forget your firsts. They hold a special place in your life. First car. First job. First love. First time eating bacon (which might have been your first love).
38 Don’t be selfish with what you’ve learned. Find people coming behind you to build into. Teach, encourage and inspire.
39 Look for opportunities to serve. And then do so without expecting anything in return.
40 Take risks. Try something new. Push your boundaries. Mental and physical.
41 Take time to rest. Take a nap. Sleep longer. Don’t over commit. Unwind.
42 No one will understand you like Jesus. No one will give as much for you as He already has. No decision will be as important as following Him.
43 Begin each day by surrendering your plans and asking God what’s next. You never know how He’ll impact your life or others in the hours that follow.
44 Treasure your kids. Find out what makes them unique. Love them where they are, unconditionally. Be there for them. Have fun with them. Listen to them. Laugh with them. Trust them. Lead them.
45 Life is happening all around us. Slow down or you’ll miss it.
46 Make a difference in life. Leave a lasting imprint in the lives you encounter.
47 Trust God
48 Also, trust yourself. More often than not, your gut feeling is the right one. Go with it.
Thanks for listening to today’s episode. You can shoot me an email at shawn@shawnwashburn.com.
I’d love to connect: website / LinkedIn / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter
by Shawn | Apr 26, 2021 | Podcast
I recently got to know two great guys by connecting on LinkedIn. They have roots from Cleveland and we met up via zoom and instantly hit it off.
They are twins Don and Bill Tomoff and they are finance executives who have a broad background in the business world as well as bringing a ton of value everyday through their twinztalk posts on LinkedIn. If you search the hashtag #twinztalk (with a z) you can learn a little bit every day about everything from productivity, tech, working with people, making a difference and more.
And, honestly, they’re just real down-to-earth guys as well who like to have fun too.
I reached out to them to get their thoughts on how to really show your people that you care for them. I loved their responses. And here they are (just a side note, they are twins and so you may not be able to tell who’s talking… you know since this is just audio, but you can be sure it is either Bill or Don ;):
[Bill and Don’s answer here]
I really appreciated Bill and Don’s insights here about caring for your people. I think each of those is solid and I especially resonate with #3 about being human and being willing to admit mistakes. It’s a little ironic because it seems like you’re not actively doing anything to care for them, but in reality you are doing a ton to connect, be relatable and let them know that it’s OK to make mistakes.
If you’re on LinkedIn, you owe it to yourself to check out their #twinztalk posts. They have been at this for quite a while and there is a whole breadth of insight and knowledge there to learn from.
Thanks Don and Bill!
Thanks for listening to today’s episode. You can shoot me an email at shawn@shawnwashburn.com.
I’d love to connect: website / LinkedIn / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter
by Shawn | Apr 23, 2021 | Podcast
On today’s Fun Friday episode, we continue our Ode to the Office series with an old school shout-out… Ode to White Out.
White out was friend for many years, helping me overcome misspellings and other mistakes to produce intelligible works.
I still see White Out every now and then, like that kid from high school that you lost track of but see on Facebook a few times a year. I hope you’re doing well White Out. We had a lot of good memories together.
And now, Ode to White Out
Ode to White Out
Mistakes will be made and you’re there at the ready
To blot out the words that are wrong
With a dab of your brush from a hand that is steady
You give us the chance to move on.
Like sins on our page in grammatical form
Our errors seemed destined to doom us
But then you came along and began to transform
The page and breathed new life into us
A letter magician, so skilled at your craft
We can’t believe what we are seeing
As you carefully use your white bristles and staff
To disappear what’s disagreeing
So thank you my friend, you’ve been so good to me
And our secrets are just ours to share
Especially each time that I failed to see
The difference between they’re and there
Check out previous Odes:
Thanks for listening to today’s episode. If you’ve got an idea for a future Ode to the Office episode, shoot me an email at shawn@shawnwashburn.com. I’d love to connect: website / LinkedIn / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter
by Shawn | Apr 22, 2021 | Podcast
I hesitate to take myself back to this memory because I’m afraid I’ll start to smell the smell all over again.
Several months ago, I came downstairs to one of the most horrific odors I’d ever smelled in our house. I honestly thought something had died somewhere. I began searching in our basement and then inside cupboards and all over.
I didn’t find anything so I started to try to see where the smell was strongest. Amazingly, it wasn’t in the basement. It filled most of our main floor, but seemed to be concentrated in the kitchen.
Now, we’ve had four kids who have all gone through nasty poop diaper stages. And I’ve personally had my daughter throw up on me when she was sick one time. Both just disgusting smells.
But this one. This one was at least on par with those.
And I couldn’t believe that I wasn’t able to find the source.
So I kept searching.
Eventually, I decided to… unfortunately… look in the dishwasher.
Bingo!
Just opening the dishwasher door unleashed a deadly waft of unholy air into my nostrils.
“What in the world could possibly be doing this?” I wondered.
I scanned the few items inside and finally found the culprit.
It was a visually innocent looking lid to a tupperware container. No visible residue but a smell that could drive back a small army.
But why in the world did it reek so badly?
Well, eventually the story came out. One of our sons had found it under his bed. Who knows what had been in there but it had been there… for months. Amazing chemistry experiment to be sure.
And we tried and tried to wash that thing in any way imaginable and just couldn’t get rid of the smell. So, it had to go bye bye.
In short, it failed the smell test.
You know the smell test. We use it for milk to make sure it’s not going to kill us even though it’s passed it’s best by date.
Best by dates are good. They give us a ballpark of how long we should expect that certain food product to be good for.
That said, they are also merely a guard rail for us.
It’s still up to us to employ the smell test to see if they are still usable or not.
And today, I want to propose that your processes in your organization are the same way.
Our processes should all have best by dates of some sort. Something put in place that tells us, “hey, when this date comes up, do a smell check on this process to see if it’s still good.”
Unfortunately, most processes I’ve seen (and many that I’ve personally put in place) are put out into our organizations as a permanent instruction or guide, never to be challenged or reviewed again. Destined to live happily ever after in the land of business make believe.
But that won’t happen without a best by date. Things change. Technology advances. People come and go. New ideas and philosophies come along. And if we’re not willing to do a smell test now and then, our processes will grow stale and stanky, like that tupperware lid.
And then one day, you’ll open up that proverbial dishwasher door and realize that your processes are outdated, inefficient, and need to be either tossed or refreshed.
But just like in my situation, you’ll need to be brave to do your process smell check. Especially if you are the one that created the process in the first place.
In the long run, though, it will be worth it and keep your organization fresh and productive.
So take some time this week to review some of your processes and do your own smell check. It can’t be worse than what I found on that fateful day… dang, I can still smell it!
Thanks for listening to today’s episode. You can shoot me an email at shawn@shawnwashburn.com.
I’d love to connect: website / LinkedIn / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter
