Feel Their Pain. It can be the mother of invention. Published in Daily Journal January 25, 2012

Note: This week I’m pleased to have a guest co-author, Mr. Jay Flaherty from the Quad Cities.

Feel their pain. It can be the mother of invention.

Build a better mouse trap and the world will beat a path to your door. A tired-out, hackneyed cliché or a timeless truth? Just when you think every service or product has been invented along comes a better idea or innovation. Take for example Steve Jobs with the iPhone, or Mark Zuckerberg‘s creation of Facebook, and Larry Page’s and Sergey Brin’s Google. Even though these are extraordinary examples, each of us in business and our personal lives can solve a problem in a new way, fill an unmet need, or bring a new concept into our organizations and to our customers.

A few weeks ago the Chicago Tribune sponsored an innovation workshop that I was able to attend on the UIC campus in Chicago. The eminent panel included Linda Darragh, Director of Entrepreneurship programs at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business; J.B. Pritzker, co-founder of The Pritzker Group; Amy Francetic, Executive Director of the Clean Energy Trust; and Tom Kuczmarski, co-founder of the Chicago Innovation Awards. They shared their insights about innovation, entrepreneurship, and new ventures. The panel was very optimistic about the future of innovation in Illinois and in Chicago in particular. Most of us have heard that new opportunity is commonly based on problems or unmet needs. But no one we have ever heard puts it better than J.B. Pritzker, the noted Chicago venture capitalist and philanthropist. Mr. Pritzker said it all comes down to “solving someone’s pain. And the deeper the pain the more opportunity.” Wow—that is a unique way of putting it! In this context, the “pain” J.B. refers to is very broad—unmet needs, poor customer service, needing something that doesn’t exist yet. You might recall that President Clinton convinced millions of voters that not only did he feel their pain, but he could do something about it! For Mr. Pritzker, as a venture capitalist, his words are more than mere musings. He is talking about real money, real risks, many losses, and hopefully a few big hits.

While most of us will not create the next Facebook or seek venture capital funding, the idea of finding a solution to a problem, a frustration, an unmet need, or a pain provides immense opportunities. Let’s illustrate this with a two real world examples from our personal experiences. I’ll turn it over to Jay at this point.

After working in the Marketing Department for IBM in Milwaukee for a number of years, I decided I wanted to return to the Quad Cities where I had grown up. Having been involved in technology for a number of years, when the opportunity to open up an Entre Computer franchise in Davenport, Iowa came up I pledged my reputation and fortune to it. While the Quad Cities is home to many major companies including Alcoa, Deere & Company, the Rock Island Arsenal and others, it was not easy to sell to large companies since they in general had direct sales agreements with large suppliers.

We were doing well with the retail customers and had put together a major training agreement with the Eastern Iowa Community College District (EICCD). That is where I first met Don. He was an Assistant Director of Community Education at the time. We solved each other’s mutual problem and were able to build a better mouse trap. EICCD had lots of potential clients, skilled instructors, and a sterling reputation. We had lots of computer resources, a training facility, first rate technical and sales staff, but we lacked enough clients to fill our training facilities. Consequently, as partners we provided the training facility, the computers, and software, and EICCD provided marketing, instructors, and curriculum. It was so successful that EICCD was hailed by the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges (AACJC) in the mid-1980s as the number one community college business/industry computer training program in the United States!

Training was important, but our survival and growth also depended on selling to the major companies. I faithfully made ongoing sales calls to Deere and Company and other large area employers. With Deere we had very little success since they were able to purchase directly from IBM, Apple, Digital, and others. But all that changed one day when I was visiting the office of a middle manager at Deere. Even though we had not done much business the very fact that we were persistent meant that I was there to feel this manager’s “pain.” And did he ever have a problem! It seems that he had ordered 15 computer monitors directly from one of those well- known large computer companies. Unfortunately he had ordered the wrong ones! He was so frustrated because he had spent hour after hour and phone call after phone call trying to get the company to exchange them. He was having little success. Chances are this mistake on his part would be an embarrassment to him internally if he could not find a solution. This was not in any way our problem or pain. However, I told him even though I had not sold him the monitors that I would buy them back and deliver the proper ones to him within a day. This was possible because we also handled the particular brand. This was not a short-term profitable move for us. But this distressed manager simply could not believe we were willing to do this.

Based on that one experience, word spread and Deere became a major client not only for computers but also for services when we migrated into that arena a few years later. We not only felt his pain but took it away, and that became the basis for a twenty year relationship with this Fortune 50 company

Regardless of the terminology, when you see the frustration or pain of an employee, customer, or even your boss, do more than just advise them to take two aspirin. Human pain relievers that solve real problems will always be in high demand. This pain can provide innovation opportunities galore.

Dr. Don Daake, is Professor of Business at Olivet and Director of the Donald H. Weber Leadership. He teaches management, marketing, entrepreneurship and advanced applied statistics. ddaake@olivet.edu

Mr. Jay Flaherty, is a long term entrepreneur based in the Quad Cities. He worked for many years in IBM’s Marketing Department in Milwaukee, owned a successful Entre Computer Franchise in Davenport, and has started and been involved in numerous other startup ventures.

Do an intentional act of kindness

Main Street Business: Do an intentional act of kindness
Originally Published in the Kankakee Daily Journal  Oct. 26, 2011

Yesterday I was out on a beautiful afternoon walk. As I often do, I was listening to my radio to make the walk more enjoyable. But there was a bit of a problem. I’m staying in a relatively remote Oklahoma city that doesn’t have the dozens of high-powered stations we have in Chicagoland. Despite all the hissing and popping of the weak signal from the local country music FM station, I caught the words of a remarkable song. It certainly is not a new song but I had not heard it before. Clay Walker in “Chain of Love” tells a moving story. The singer comes upon an older lady on a cold, snowy night who has a flat tire on her car. Hundreds of cars pass her by, but he stops and changes the tire. She is so grateful for saving her in a life-threatening situation that she offers to pay him. But in the song he says “You don’t owe me a thing. I’ve been there too. Someone once helped me out just the way I’m helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here’s what you do, don’t let the chain of love end with you.” The elderly lady is so appreciative and impressed by his words that when she stops at a small remote restaurant just down the road she has the opportunity to pass the kindness on. She is served by a struggling, tired, eight-month pregnant waitress. When the older women receives her check, she gives the waitress a $100 bill and deliberately leaves without waiting for the change. On a napkin she writes a note. The song goes on …”There were tears in the waitress’ eyes, when she read what she wrote, you don’t owe me a thing. I’ve been there, too. Someone once helped me out, just the way I’m helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here’s what you do, don’t let the chain of love end with you.” The waitress goes home and continues on the story of selfless expressions of love to her discouraged husband. The song reminded me of the popular movement of a few years ago — random acts of kindness. Even though we don’t hear as much about it as we once did, obviously many of you continue the “chain of love” on a regular basis. But rather than calling upon you to commit a random act of kindness this next week, we would like for you to be more intentional about it. Think about someone in your business, circle of friends, family, or maybe even a stranger and do a deliberate act of kindness. Why deliberate? Because you are not just waiting for a chance occurrence, it will happen because you purposely plan on doing it. The range of intended acts is endless — helping an overwhelmed co-worker on a big project; mowing the lawn for an elderly neighbor; allowing another driver the right of way when it really belongs to you; encouraging someone with a visit or buying them lunch. There is even a website, http://www.helpothers.org, that might stir your imagination. There is a paradoxical side of doing favors for others though. Many of us are so use to doing things for others that we have a very difficult time letting others reciprocate. When someone offers help or a kindness, we brush it off and in the process the person wanting to help feels diminished or de-valued. One of the things I learned as a professor, and as someone involved in the business community, is that it is possible to do someone a favor by having them do a favor for you. For example, our students really appreciate it when we bring in businessmen and women to the classroom to relate their stories and experiences. Many of our guests speakers you may recognize. Professionals such as Lisa Sanford, Michael Mills, Larry Linman, Jeff Bennett, Mike Wright, Time Milner, Lee Hill, Ken Munjoy, Denise Renckens, Neil Shannon, Mark Argyelan, Mark Steffen, Matt Nafziger and many others (who I will mention in another upcoming column) give our students concrete and inspiring advice. Invariably, though, they actually thank me more vigorously than I thank them for the opportunity to come to Olivet Nazarene University. So to all of you kind, generous people, who give so much to others, be open to the idea of doing someone else a big favor by allowing them to do something for you. Each week thousands of people read The Daily Journal. Can you imagine what would happen if even 10 percent of the readers of this column “commit” an intentional act of kindness this week? The week of Oct. 19 to 25 will be different in Kankakee County. And if they keep doing even one act a week, and, as a result, others start passing it on, our businesses, schools, nonprofit organizations, churches and roadways will be better for it. My days in Oklahoma are soon coming to a close, but before I leave town I think I may take another listen to that country music station. There may be some more inspirational ideas just waiting to be gleaned from those remote Oklahoma airwaves.

Cyber Gold is Everywhere -Published in Kankakee Daily Journal Jan 11, 2012

Cyber gold is everywhere: Go exploring this week!

Google your way to fame, riches, and becoming an expert on almost anything.  Think I’m overstating it?  By now I suspect at least 95% of the country at least knows what “Googling” is and a large portion of the population are Googlers.  Pardon me for a moment and I will go Google this question to find out.  Ok, I’m back.  In a fraction of a second I found an answer at Answers.com.  They say there are about 2 billion Google searches a day and they estimate 300 million people use Google each day.

As a computer user for almost 40 years, I have come to realize how easy it is for us to fall into technological ruts.  We are initially dazzled by our software.  But for the most part we only take advantage of about 10-15% of the features.  Take Microsoft Word, for example.  People who have used it year after year tend to miss powerful applications. Every once in a while I just go exploring and discover “diamonds” and “gold” everywhere inside my programs.

Now back to Google.  As far as websites go, Google is deceptively simple (or so it seems).  Matter-of-fact, when Sergey Brin and Larry Page first launched Google, they found that users  would just sit there and wait. Compared to the clutter of most websites and search engines in those days, it seemed like something more should happen.  To this day, Google has absolutely maintained their clean look.  But that creates a big problem. There are so many additional powerful tools beyond the typical search most of us use. They are hidden just below the surface. I want to feature just four of the many options to illustrate the point.  When you click on “More” at the top of the Google page you can get instant access to them. And I’ll wager a wooden nickel that many of you (like me) have never really seen these let alone tried them.  Even as I’m writing this I am seeing things I have overlooked for years!

Google Scholar-not just for the student or professor. One of the blessings and curses of the Internet is anyone can generate content-experts and shysters alike. Over time, most of us are getting better at sorting out the grain from the chaff.  Google Scholar offers “hits” that are much more reliable than general searches. Many of the articles are from peer-reviewed fully vetted articles.  You could spend days and weeks searching the University of Illinois libraries to get these sources. In many cases full text articles are available for free or in some cases for a fee or free through a library consortium. But if reliable, trusted sources are a must, try Scholar.  Just for fun try doing a general search in Google and then one in Scholar- you will note a remarkable difference.

Google Translate–now you can go from language to language.  If you have never tried this feature, it is amazing.  It is the first option when you select the “More” tab from the opening Google page. While not a perfect translator (in other words the United Nations will not likely offer you a job) it does a remarkable job.  The other day my brother sent me a German website on the Duesenberg brothers and their 1930’s luxury cars.  We have a personal interest since my grandfather was a first cousin to Fred and August and worked for them in their early years in Rockford, Iowa.  Anyway, I was able to cut and paste several pages written in German and instantly (like less than a second) get a fairly good English rendition.  As a further test, I took one of my former columns and translated it from English to German; then from German to Spanish and finally from Spanish back into English and I would say it was about 85-90% accurate in words and meaning. So whether you use it for business or personal use the Google translator is quite extraordinary.

Google YouTube is not only fun–but a magnificent source of education, entertainment, and even marketing opportunities. Google gives you a direct link to YouTube. Google had the insight to buy YouTube for a mere $1.65 billion in stock back in 2006.  YouTube, while often the source of clever tricks, spoofs, stupid pet tricks and silly entertainment has grown up. All the good fun stuff is still there but so much more has been added. Hundreds of hours of video is added every day.  There are tutorials on everything from fixing your kitchen to mastering statistics.  Smart businesses are increasingly using YouTube videos as a potent advertising and marketing tool. While most of us try and avoid as many commercials as we can, YouTube has turned the tables. Viewers are actually coming to see commercials because they want to.

If you can get your YouTube video to go “viral” (a chain reaction process where friends tell friends who tell friends) you can get unbelievable exposure at a very low cost.  Who can forget the launch of British singer Susan Boyle’s career with a YouTube video?  It went viral and was viewed by millions and millions of people from around the world. A rather extraordinary YouTube video  by T Mobile called “Home for the Holidays” has recently  gone viral and is one of the most innovative “ads” I’ve seen in the last year.  In this case we have an example of a “flash mob video.”  The venue may look familiar since it was filmed up at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg on December 1st.  Simply Google it or search in YouTube- you won’t be disappointed! As of this writing the cumulative viewership is adding at a rate of over 200,000 people a day.

Google Earth allows you to fly around the world without ever boarding a plane! This outstanding product has been around a few years.  But if you have never downloaded it you find it to be an incredible experience. It allows you to be transported to virtually any place in the world and even fly in 3D space.  Thought you would never be able to go to the Eiffel Tower, the British Parliament Building or the Taj Mahal? You can now!  Download the free Google add-in software and fly around the world in 8 or 80 minutes.

Whether it is your word processor, spreadsheet, photo editor or Google, committing just 5-10 minutes a week to go exploring can make you feel like a California gold explorer who has hit the mother lode!

 

Dr Daake holds a B.S. from Kansas State University, an MBA from the University of Iowa and Ph.D. from the Florida State University.  He is a professor and a consultant to many organizations.  ddaake@olivet.edu

The Power of Repetition!

Mainstreet Business: Please repeat that Published in The Daily Journal print edition Dec. 14, 2011

“That bears repeating.”

Speakers, preachers, and teachers have been using that phrase since the beginning of recorded history, and with good reason. It draws your attention and focuses your thinking. This simple principle can be very useful to you. Napoleon Hill, author of the classic motivation book “Think and Grow Rich,” puts it this way: “Any idea, plan, or purpose may be placed in the mind through repetition of thought.” So repetition, whether it be said out loud or repeated in the mind, has a profound impact. There is power in repetition.

Most of what we hear and “learn” is soon lost from our available memory. As a professor I sometimes squirm when I consider what percentage of all the tests I have taken in my life (no doubt well over a thousand) could I pass today? Please don’t tell my students, but I think I could barely answer only 20 to 30 percent of the questions. Of course, education and understanding are more than just recalling information, but all of us have certain things we should or must remember. Whether it’s clients’ names, a musical selection, or key concepts of our profession, by and large those things we do remember are based on the power of repetition.

Like many of you, having been raised in a church environment and having attended church for most of our lives, we have been inspired, instructed, and at times corrected by those thousands of sermons we have heard. But most of us will likely have trouble remembering the sermon of a month ago, let alone even last Sunday. Again, like education, the long-term impact is not measured by just what we can recall but, still, recollection is important. In recent years many pastors have taken mercy on us, use visual aids and even provide outlines to help us. But where I first really learned about the power of repetition goes back to a sermon I heard from the Rev. Raymond Blair in Tallahassee, Fla., more than 20 years ago. In fact, it is the ONLY sermon I can honestly say I remember to this day in more than 55 years of hearing thousands of sermons. One Sunday evening, the Rev. Blair was talking about the value of not giving up and quitting. He talked about a fellow in the New Testament named Demus. Throughout the sermon Blair used the phrase “and Demus quit” at least 50 times. As commentator Robert Collier has stated, “Constant repetition carries conviction.” Across the years when I have been tempted to give up on something, Blair’s lesson of ol’ Demus has stuck with me and the last thing I want to be known for is “Daake quit!”

The power of repetition is very important in business. Advertising experts tell us that a customer may only notice a new product or service if the message is repeated a minimum of seven times. Of course for some advertisers, it’s more like 70 times seven. Take for example one of the most successful advertising campaigns of all time — Geico. The brilliance of the campaign is the variety of their ads that range from the Gecko to the Caveman, and yet they always end with their famous tag line, “Geico — 15 minutes could save you 15 percent or more.” They have mastered the power of repetition with a dazzling array of different ads that keep our interest. AFLAC, another exceptional campaign, works with the repetition of the duck quacking “AFLAC” rather than sophisticated words outlining all the benefits. As a business person or an individual trying to sell a product, service, or even yourself, use the power of repetition — but use it wisely.

Below are three guidelines that will help you to tap into this powerful concept. First, keep your message as simple as possible. What you are selling, whether it be a product or yourself, is often very complex. But with short attention spans people will only pay attention to a simple powerful message. Across the years McDonald’s has mastered this concept. Who can forget the campaign “You deserve a break today”? Steady, simple and repeated thousands of times.

Second, make sure your message is truthful. Unfortunately, some people will believe almost anything if it is repeated enough times. That is the philosophy behind “The Big Lie” approach. But nowadays, because of instantaneous communications, the widespread use of the Internet as a verification tool, and social networking, your simple powerful message better be truthful. If not, the same power of repetition that can work in your favor can be used as a weapon against you, and repeated thousands of times electronically.

Third, make your simple, truthful, message consistent. Most of us want to complicate our message and make multiple claims. That is OK once we have established a relationship and have more time to explain the fine points. We may have the best product with 18 outstanding features and so we are tempted to list 18 different features in 18 different ways — that makes our message confusing. Who can forget one of the best and longest-running advertising campaigns of all time — the Chevy pickup truck ads “Like a Rock.” Rather than pitching the truck’s many notable features, they simply and consistently used Bob Seger’s theme song to carry the message of durability and Americana. The power of repetition is magnified with a consistent message or theme. So there it is — the power of repetition.

What do you think? Chances are you will remember this article not for its brilliance but because, if you go back and count, I used the phrase “power of repetition” in one form or another more than nine times. Point made?

Great Life Lessons from my DOG- the Late Great Precious

Great Life Lessons from my DOG- the Late Great Precious

I want to share lessons from Precious Daake, a Master Management Theorists! No doubt, most of you have read the poem “Everything I ever needed to know I learned in Kindergarten.  In that spirit, I want to add, “Everything we ever needed to know about managing or being managed we can learn from our dogs.  Sooner or later every pet owner faces the difficult decision to put a pet to sleep.  Well, we had the inevitable task of making that decision about our beloved dachshund, Precious.

Looking back at Precious our dog I realized that a good share of management theory could be taught by “Professor” Precious.  While the lessons are many, I will limit this entry to three.

Precious’s Profound Teachings

Even though Precious’s master (me) was warned repeatedly about feeding her table food, the advice was ignored. As it turns out, the all-to-premature death of Precious had nothing to do with steak, eggs, butter, and forbid, an occasional piece of chocolate.  Precious had a good life and because of plentiful table food, died with a smile on her face and sweet memories of goodies across the years.  The management lesson you ask?  While discipline and healthy habits are important, so is the occasional sweet pleasure and smelling the steaks along the way.

Lesson two also has to do with food.  Precious was an incredible health-o-meter!  The more vigorously she gobbled down the food, the less healthy it was for humans.  Every manger needs to have the equivalent of a taster (like the kings of old.)  Precious many times reminded us to eat those rich foods in moderation.  We are not advocating unhealthy life styles or overly risky behavior, but those managers and employees who are willing to go out and test the waters, taste the exotic foods, take the risks, and forewarn of potential problems are incredibly valuable.

Before, you think we were terrible “pet parents”, admit you aren’t that perfect either.  One house rule was: Precious was not allowed to hop up onto MOST of the furniture.  But there was a chair or two that we allowed or at least tolerated her sleeping on at night.  And yet when I would come out in the morning ready for my coffee, Precious would jump off the chair and make room for me.  (Unlike CLEO the cat which has to be-shall we say-forcibly removed.)  So often after I got my coffee, though, Precious would be invited up onto my lap, as the featured guest.  Precious knew her proper role and because of that received special attention and favors.  Again loyalty played a part.  In the end, I’m not sure who was the master and who was the subject.  It seems like Precious mastered the art of managing her master pretty well.

As it turns out, not only are dogs man’s best friend, they are superb management professors and consultants as well.

Take a few minutes and share some life lessons from you pet in the comments section below!

Think on these things!

Published originally in The Kankakee Daily Journal Main Street- November 2, 2011

Think On These Things

One of the very first articles I wrote two and half years ago was based on a Zig Ziglar Story, “We live in a ‘cat kicking’ world.” Zig relates how a chain of events unfolds with disastrous results at each step of the way.  A real curmudgeon of a businessman fully intends to reform and become more positive with his employees.  But on his first day as a “changed man” fate deals his resolve a serious blow. He starts off his day being a “victim” of a small mistake made by someone else. He then passes the misery on to someone else, who passes it on to someone else until at the end of the day a little boy takes out his frustration by kicking his poor innocent cat.  Zig with his humorous, albeit sarcastic, wit asks the question “Wouldn’t it have been better if the angry businessman had gone directly over to the small boy’s house and kicked the cat himself?”

The point is, we do live in a fairly negative world, and it is easy to get caught up in it.  I’m not suggesting that we ignore reality and live in some imaginary “be happy don’t worry” world as the popular song suggests.  And yet here is what I have found and I think you will agree: the attitude people have towards life and their outlook is often independent of their circumstances.

There is no better example of this than the eminent Ben Carson, the famous neurosurgeon and the Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, who was a speaker at Olivet in September. Dr. Carson told his amazing story to an audience of about 400-500 people. He grew up in extreme poverty. His mother could not even read (which Ben and his brother did not know until much later in life.) She relentlessly encouraged and required her sons to read and provide her with book reports. She would “read” the reports, make marks on them, and essentially fake her critiques. Ben’s knowledge and wisdom increased and he started excelling in school like never before. Ben, despite being reviled by other kids, prevailed.  He related a story about how one time a gang member was making fun of him.  Ben simply asked the distracter, “Where do you think you will be and where do you think I will be 20 years from now?”  Dr. Carson to this day is one of the most positive can-do persons I’ve ever heard.  He is a testimony to the fact that how and what we think about is more powerful than current circumstances.  Dr. Carson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush in 2008.  It is the highest civilian award in the United States.

In business, whether you are an employee or the boss, how you think is very important. Employer after employer has told us and our students how important attitude is. Mom and Dad were right! Of course there is a connection between what we think and our attitude. But the link is bi-directional.  Our attitude can set our agenda of thinking. So what should we think about? Most of you are familiar with the writings of the Apostle Paul.  Many times in life during discouraging events, I have thought about Philippians 4:8. Paul writes “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (New International Version).

A few weeks ago in this column I wrote that for most of us the glass is not just half full but about 90-95% full.  When we realize analyze our situation we have a lot to be thankful for! One of the paradoxes of positive thinking (even when things are not so rosy) is that you are much better able to stay engaged, and have the energy and will to face the negative things in life.  So it is not naïve or unrealistic to think about the pure, noble, right, and lovely even in a sometimes difficult world.  Positive attitudes draw other positive people and solutions.  A negative attitude draws people too, but not the ones who will help you unless you are planning a pity-party.

Many of the most successful sales people in the world understand the power of affirmations and post phrases, sayings, and wisdom in clear sight around the office.  Last year I wrote about the power of forming a new habit by doing it for thirty days—the Ben Franklin system.  So I am now posting Philippians 4:8 above my desk at work and home, in my car, and other places I will see for at least thirty days.  I would encourage you to do the same.  It does not have to be this verse, necessarily. It can be any positive affirmation from a variety of sources including sacred writings, a favorite author, hymn, a poem or whatever has special meaning for you.

Ben Carson in one of his books, “Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story,” reminds us that “success is determined not by whether or not you face obstacles, but by your reaction to them. And if you look at these obstacles as a containing fence, they become your excuse for failure. If you look at them as a hurdle, each one strengthens you for the next.”

You know, most of our reactions are really just between our two ears. Practicing the habit of pure and lovely thinking rather than stinkin’ thinkin’ will pay dividends not only for you, but also for those who come in contact with you on a daily basis.  And there is one final immeasurable benefit.  The cats of the world will feel just a little bit safer.

Daily Journal Article November 16 2011

Daily Journal Article November 16 2011

Published in the Kankakee Daily Journal Wednesday November 16

Thanks for the “common” people

Thanksgiving is only a week from tomorrow!  Permit me to depart from the normal business of Main Street this week and offer a little bit of Thanksgiving counsel. We will soon gather around the tables of plenty to give thanks for the blessings we all enjoy.  One of the most remarkable things about Thanksgiving is it  is the least commercialized holiday of the year, especially since the next day is the number one shopping day—“Black Friday.”

Besides the turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pies, a tradition that many families follow is to go around the table and say one thing they are the most thankful for.  It may be for their home, job, health, and especially for the blessing of family and friends. This is only proper, but I suggest you stretch the boundaries a little bit this year and offer personal thanks to a wider circle of people in your life, especially those who influenced you in your childhood.

We should continue to express to those around the table our profound thanks for what they have meant to us, but at this time of year our thoughts should also turn to others—a favorite coach, teacher, mentor, or a first boss that gave us an opportunity.  Back then we could not imagine them not being here forever. But time moves on. Chances are if you are over 50 many of those influential people are no longer here. In those cases, though, we can share with their families or others who knew them stories of inspiration about them. If you are under 50 you may still have the opportunity to write a thank you card or better yet tell those people in person how much they have meant to you. During the holidays, many of us “go back home” or people come and visit us. I’m urging you to take this opportunity to express with words what you have felt for years.

We live in a celebrity culture and I suppose all of us like to hear and maybe even meet and greet famous people. In the last two months I’ve had the chance to either hear and/or meet some fairly famous people including Mike Walsh the CEO of Union Pacific Railroad; Stephen Moore, the Senior Economics writer for the Wall Street Journal; David Rae, former President of Apple Computers of Canada; Dr. Fred Luthans, a worldwide renowned expert in Organizational Development; Tim Goeglein former top White- House Aid to President Bush; and Ben Carson, the famous surgeon from John Hopkins.  I don’t mention these people to impress you or “name drop.” Rather I want to put all those famous people into the proper perspective. As much as I admire these people, the really big influences in my life (other than my parents) were rather ordinary people I knew when I was a kid. They are named Lane, Minnie, Richard, and Harry and a dozen more if I had the space.  Since they are all gone now, I can honor them by telling you very briefly a little about each of them.  By the world’s standards they might be defined as the “little people”’ or the common people.  But as Abraham Lincoln once said “The Lord must love common people because he made so many of them.” Chances are, though, for most of us it was (or is) the influence of these average everyday common people that made the biggest differences in our lives.

Growing up in northern Iowa in the 1950s and 1960s, our family’s life was centered around our church, and so all four of these local heroes were family friends. Lane was a factory inspector at the White/Oliver Tractor Corporation, but he also was my Sunday school teacher. I don’t know how any man has the patience to deal with pre-teen boys, but Lane did. He, at his own expense, took us camping and gave us an appreciation for the outdoors. And Lane had a pilot’s license and took us up for a view of our community- what a thrill!  But beyond doing things for us, it was his constant faithfulness and commitment to his church, his family, and his job that really influenced us. A few weeks ago I had the opportunity of sharing with one his daughters, Diane who now lives in  Arizona, how much Lane had meant to me and my brothers. I know it meant a lot to her. So often children don’t realize how much their parents meant to other people- take this as a hint this holiday season.

Minnie was another of my Sunday school teachers. Minnie was a single mother raising two boys and yet she had time to teach Sunday school. It was a tough job considering she had to corral 7-10 kids from 6-8 years old. I remember Minnie for a number of reasons, not the least of which, she drove a unique car- a blue Rambler. For a family like mine, that was dyed-in-the-wool Chevy aficionados, a Rambler seemed exotic.  But most of all I remember Minnie as a person who knew how to pray.  I also remember her having a savings jar in the simple Sunday school room of the “old” church. We were all encouraged to bring our pennies, dimes, and nickels to fill the jar to support the building fund for the new church.  (I think a quarter in those days was probably reserved for the rich kids, of which we had none of in that class.) The beautiful new church was completed in 1960 for an immense and unheard of sum $70,000. To this day, I feel I had a part in building of that church due to the opportunity Minnie provided us.

Richard was a master mechanic and appliance genius. Richard was one of about three people in this world (up to his death a few years ago) that I allowed to still call me “Donnie”. Richard did not have an easy life, having lost his first wife to cancer, and yet I never remember Richard not smiling. He was always upbeat, encouraging, and interested in others.  Again the words faithful and consistent come up.

Finally there was Harry. By all measures Harry was a bit of a wild man. It was he (much to the chagrin of my parents) that first confirmed to me and my brothers the ecstasy of going a 100 miles per hour.  I suppose the statue of limitations is 5-7 years so telling you this 50 years later is safe.  But he also was a cheerful, hard-working, prosperous farmer with a great sense of humor that gave us some of our first opportunities to develop a work ethic. I can tell you this–once you have worked in a barn stacking hay at 110 degrees no job will ever seem that difficult.

Of course I could write a book on each of these people. That is not the point. But as you are saying your thanks and celebrating the holiday season, take the time to reflect, tell the stories, and thank these really “big” common people in your life. If they have passed on then speak the stories to their children and grandchildren.