It’s Christmas time. I am traveling for work this week and have come across many people that have wished me a Merry Christmas. Some say it to me first and at other times it is me that first uses the term Merry Christmas.
Christmas means many different things to people. Those differing views fall along a wide spectrum that has two extremes.
As the name implies Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Everybody at my house (including me) professes that Jesus is our Lord and Savior.
For many Christmas is a gift giving extravaganza. Commercialism runs high this time of the year. Stores are packed and people are celebrating the Holiday Season by spending like crazy and giving very little regard to the birth of our Savior.
Some people are offended when Christians interject religion into the Holiday Season. Many go to court just to keep others from offending them with their religious greetings and celebrations.
On the other extreme, many Christians are offended by the commercialization of Christmas.
So what is a guy to do? I do both. We give gifts, send out cards with Christian greetings and don't feel the least bit conflicted.
Why? How could I?
To me it is simple. I think Jesus should be celebrated every day. I am one person and don't believe that I should compartmentalize my life. So everything I do should involve my faith. But I also like to give gifts and enjoy time with family, so I also do the commercial parts of Christmas too.
None of it makes me feel like I have sold out my faith because from Dec 26, 2013 until Dec 24, 2014 I will still be celebrating the fact that Jesus came to earth in human form to die on a cross at Easter as payment for my sins only to rise from the dead three days later and after an additional 40 days he ascended back to Heaven.
Hopefully you will be celebrating our Savor with me 365 days of the year.
Merry Christmas and be happy all year long.
Friday, December 20, 2013
Monday, December 16, 2013
Lasting Memory
How long is your memory?
How long of an impression do my actions last for?
Last week I can across three incidents that give us the answer to these questions.
The first incident happened in Fairmont, NE. I was in this small town to watch my son play basketball. He is on the boys JV team and that means from time to time they play at a site away from the regular school. That day’s opponent was Fillmore Central. Their high school is in Geneva, NE but this game was in the neighboring town of Fairmont.
Fairmont used to have a high school of its own. But like many small towns in the Midwest it has been consolidated into a larger district with other small towns. Now it only has a middle school and a rack of pictures of people that went to Fairmont High. (These people all looked silly since the last class was in the early 90s. Lots of big hair and some mullets.)
When the game was over and we waited in the hallway to exit the building I noticed a plaque on the wall and went over to read it. The plaque talked about the 1981 addition and on it was a
list of contractors that did the work. Under electrical contractor was Willmar Electric.
I pointed it out to my wife and she said “aren’t you glad you didn’t make fun of the lighting.”
Other parents asked if I remembered the project. I had to tell them “no, in 1981 I was 12 and I didn’t know which projects Willmar Electric was doing, I was just glad my dad had work!”
The next day I interviewed a guy that wanted to come to work at Willmar Electric. 22 years ago he worked at Quantum Electric. We found 3 of his former co-workers and asked them what they thought of this guy. They all said he was a good worker and that we should interview him. They also relayed an embarrassing story about him from a Christmas Party over 23 years before.
That same afternoon Cory Lownsbury and I went to Kearney, NE to meet with a project owner that wanted to hire us to design and build a project with them. The representative of the owner had worked with us over 16 years ago on a project in Willmar, MN and wanted to work with us again.
They liked our work from 16 years ago, nearly 500 miles away and wanted to work with us.
Seems that what happened 16, 23 and 32 years ago can leave an impact on today.
Seems it is important that we live up to the core value of meeting the customers’ needs and treating others the way they want to be treated if we want to have future success.
How long of an impression do my actions last for?
Last week I can across three incidents that give us the answer to these questions.
The first incident happened in Fairmont, NE. I was in this small town to watch my son play basketball. He is on the boys JV team and that means from time to time they play at a site away from the regular school. That day’s opponent was Fillmore Central. Their high school is in Geneva, NE but this game was in the neighboring town of Fairmont.
Fairmont used to have a high school of its own. But like many small towns in the Midwest it has been consolidated into a larger district with other small towns. Now it only has a middle school and a rack of pictures of people that went to Fairmont High. (These people all looked silly since the last class was in the early 90s. Lots of big hair and some mullets.)
When the game was over and we waited in the hallway to exit the building I noticed a plaque on the wall and went over to read it. The plaque talked about the 1981 addition and on it was a
list of contractors that did the work. Under electrical contractor was Willmar Electric.
I pointed it out to my wife and she said “aren’t you glad you didn’t make fun of the lighting.”
Other parents asked if I remembered the project. I had to tell them “no, in 1981 I was 12 and I didn’t know which projects Willmar Electric was doing, I was just glad my dad had work!”
The next day I interviewed a guy that wanted to come to work at Willmar Electric. 22 years ago he worked at Quantum Electric. We found 3 of his former co-workers and asked them what they thought of this guy. They all said he was a good worker and that we should interview him. They also relayed an embarrassing story about him from a Christmas Party over 23 years before.
That same afternoon Cory Lownsbury and I went to Kearney, NE to meet with a project owner that wanted to hire us to design and build a project with them. The representative of the owner had worked with us over 16 years ago on a project in Willmar, MN and wanted to work with us again.
They liked our work from 16 years ago, nearly 500 miles away and wanted to work with us.
Seems that what happened 16, 23 and 32 years ago can leave an impact on today.
Seems it is important that we live up to the core value of meeting the customers’ needs and treating others the way they want to be treated if we want to have future success.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Goodbye Metrodome
This past weekend I had the chance to go to a Viking’s game with my father-in-law, my three children and my daughter’s boyfriend. The Vikings are having a lousy season and we live 7 hours away from the stadium but we wanted to go and see one last game inside the Metrodome before it gets torn down. (The Vikings are moving to new domed stadium in 2 years. In order to make room for the new dome the old one needs to torn down and the Vikings will play at the U of Minnesota the next two years.)
We have been season ticket holders for the Vikings for nearly 30 years. During that time we went to countless games and formed many memories. Like most things in life some of the memories are glorious, such as playoff wins and others heartbreaking, such as playoff loses. As we walked into the Dome and sat down I reflected on a lot of those memories. As the game went on I continued to reflect. It seems quite sappy but events from this Sunday’s games continually brought me to past memories.
When the Bears kicker lined up to kick a field goal I thought about Gary Andersen’s big miss against the Falcons. When a Bears defender got called for a horse collar tackle I recalled how on that exact spot Joey Browner broke the leg of a Bronco Running Back with the same type of tackle before horse collar tackles were illegal.
The Metrodome was built in the early 1980’s opening for the Twins in April of 1982. The cost of the project was $55 million. The Viking’s new home is set to cost $975 million (associated infrastructure cost will push the cost over $1 billion). The Metrodome is paid for.
Debt free.
I don’t intend to make this blog a debate on whether or not the Metrodome should be replaced or not. The Metrodome has it flaws and the Vikings think they either need a new home or they need to move to a new city. The votes have been cast and as of today the construction is underway on the new stadium.
The ship has sailed.
But one thing we can say looking back is that the Metrodome, at least by stadium standards, has served us well and has been a bargain. Hopefully in 30 years we can says the same thing about the new stadium.
To be thrifty is to use resources wisely. Looking back I think nearly everybody will agree that the Metrodome is a great example of thriftiness. It was used constantly for thousands of events throughout its history and serve long after it was paid for.
Goodbye Metrodome. Thanks for the memories.
We have been season ticket holders for the Vikings for nearly 30 years. During that time we went to countless games and formed many memories. Like most things in life some of the memories are glorious, such as playoff wins and others heartbreaking, such as playoff loses. As we walked into the Dome and sat down I reflected on a lot of those memories. As the game went on I continued to reflect. It seems quite sappy but events from this Sunday’s games continually brought me to past memories.
When the Bears kicker lined up to kick a field goal I thought about Gary Andersen’s big miss against the Falcons. When a Bears defender got called for a horse collar tackle I recalled how on that exact spot Joey Browner broke the leg of a Bronco Running Back with the same type of tackle before horse collar tackles were illegal.
The Metrodome was built in the early 1980’s opening for the Twins in April of 1982. The cost of the project was $55 million. The Viking’s new home is set to cost $975 million (associated infrastructure cost will push the cost over $1 billion). The Metrodome is paid for.
Debt free.
I don’t intend to make this blog a debate on whether or not the Metrodome should be replaced or not. The Metrodome has it flaws and the Vikings think they either need a new home or they need to move to a new city. The votes have been cast and as of today the construction is underway on the new stadium.
The ship has sailed.
But one thing we can say looking back is that the Metrodome, at least by stadium standards, has served us well and has been a bargain. Hopefully in 30 years we can says the same thing about the new stadium.
To be thrifty is to use resources wisely. Looking back I think nearly everybody will agree that the Metrodome is a great example of thriftiness. It was used constantly for thousands of events throughout its history and serve long after it was paid for.
Goodbye Metrodome. Thanks for the memories.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Why did I go to the Garage?
Four weeks ago our neighborhood was rocked with a suicide attempt. The family in the house located in our backyard has three sons. The youngest son is the same age as my son Mike and he tried to take his own life. Although the two families aren’t very close we did know the young man fairly well because he was over to visit and play sports with Mike on many occasions as they grew up next to each other.
We live on a cul-de-sac and all the families on the cul-de-sac are very close. We don’t know the other families within the neighborhood nearly as well. Since this family lived on the street behind us we knew the kids but not the parents. It is a sad fact that we now regret.
That is the background that you need to understand before I tell you the rest of the story.
Last Saturday I went to work out and when I came home the cul-de-sac was empty. I went in my house and turned on the TV. Well I stood watching football in my sweaty clothes and holding my shoes I thought to myself there was something I needed to get from car in the garage.
So in my socks I went to the garage to get it.
When I got to the garage and opened my car door I looked in my car and wondered why I had come outside. Do you ever have that experience? It happens to me quite often. Many people attribute it to old age but my teenaged kids admit that it happens to them as well.
So there I was wondering why I was looking into my car. I noticed that Ben Petersen, a high school student that lives two doors down the street, had come outside to clean out his car.
All the information that we had received about the young man that had tried to take his own life and was now in a coma had come from Ben. You see Ben had gone to visit the young man in the hospital every day. Every day!!! I was impressed how Ben was handling the situation. I thought somebody should let Ben know.
But for now I was standing in the garage trying to remember why I had come outside in the first place. As I looked in the car and moved everything trying to trigger my memory I wasn’t getting anywhere. No matter how hard I looked I couldn’t figure out why I had come to the garage.
Several times I looked at Ben as he cleaned out his car. (He seemed to know what he was doing and why he was there!)
Finally I decided to go over to Ben and get an update on my backyard neighbor. As I feared the young man was expected to die in the very near future. As of Thursday he was taken off life support and had no brain activity but was breathing on his own.
It was a tragedy to say the least. But even through the awful ordeal Ben had faithfully gone to the hospital every day. I ended our conversation by telling Ben how impressed I was with his visiting the hospital and telling him how commendable I thought he had been.
Then still in socks and stinky workout clothes I walked back to my garage. Stopped at my car one last time to try to remember why I had gone outside in the first place. But nothing came to my mind.
Now I am not a complete idiot. I have figured out why I went outside. (To talk to Ben.) But I never did discover the actual earthly reason.
The Lord works in mysterious ways.
I am not suggesting that every time I go someplace and wonder why I am there it is a divinely inspired event but I know that last Saturday it was.
Praise the Lord.
***I would like to close the blog by letting you know that yesterday our neighbor died and would like to ask that you keep the family in your prayers. They have suffered a great loss that as going to be a long struggle. ***
We live on a cul-de-sac and all the families on the cul-de-sac are very close. We don’t know the other families within the neighborhood nearly as well. Since this family lived on the street behind us we knew the kids but not the parents. It is a sad fact that we now regret.
That is the background that you need to understand before I tell you the rest of the story.
Last Saturday I went to work out and when I came home the cul-de-sac was empty. I went in my house and turned on the TV. Well I stood watching football in my sweaty clothes and holding my shoes I thought to myself there was something I needed to get from car in the garage.
So in my socks I went to the garage to get it.
When I got to the garage and opened my car door I looked in my car and wondered why I had come outside. Do you ever have that experience? It happens to me quite often. Many people attribute it to old age but my teenaged kids admit that it happens to them as well.
So there I was wondering why I was looking into my car. I noticed that Ben Petersen, a high school student that lives two doors down the street, had come outside to clean out his car.
All the information that we had received about the young man that had tried to take his own life and was now in a coma had come from Ben. You see Ben had gone to visit the young man in the hospital every day. Every day!!! I was impressed how Ben was handling the situation. I thought somebody should let Ben know.
But for now I was standing in the garage trying to remember why I had come outside in the first place. As I looked in the car and moved everything trying to trigger my memory I wasn’t getting anywhere. No matter how hard I looked I couldn’t figure out why I had come to the garage.
Several times I looked at Ben as he cleaned out his car. (He seemed to know what he was doing and why he was there!)
Finally I decided to go over to Ben and get an update on my backyard neighbor. As I feared the young man was expected to die in the very near future. As of Thursday he was taken off life support and had no brain activity but was breathing on his own.
It was a tragedy to say the least. But even through the awful ordeal Ben had faithfully gone to the hospital every day. I ended our conversation by telling Ben how impressed I was with his visiting the hospital and telling him how commendable I thought he had been.
Then still in socks and stinky workout clothes I walked back to my garage. Stopped at my car one last time to try to remember why I had gone outside in the first place. But nothing came to my mind.
Now I am not a complete idiot. I have figured out why I went outside. (To talk to Ben.) But I never did discover the actual earthly reason.
The Lord works in mysterious ways.
I am not suggesting that every time I go someplace and wonder why I am there it is a divinely inspired event but I know that last Saturday it was.
Praise the Lord.
***I would like to close the blog by letting you know that yesterday our neighbor died and would like to ask that you keep the family in your prayers. They have suffered a great loss that as going to be a long struggle. ***
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Enjoy the Journey
Recently several things have happened in my life that brings to mind the following advice.
Enjoy the journey because you don’t always reach the destination.
First let’s talk football. My son’s football team has been highly rated all season. They only lost once during the regular season. The playoffs started with 2 relatively easy wins and the team that had beaten them during the regular season got upset and they remained as the highest seated team left in the field.
In Nebraska football is King and my son, his friends and all us fans where only 2 games removed from reaching the finals. In Nebraska we play the finals at Memorial stadium. The object is of course to win it all but just making the finals means playing at the home of the Huskers. Playing at Memorial Stadium is a childhood dream of most people in Nebraska. Just the thought of playing on that historic field puts a smile on the face of nearly every player. (And to be honest I think most parents dreamed of having their son play at Memorial Stadium.)
On Tuesday they lost. The team that beat them was a very good team that had also only lost once on the season but we were the higher seed. It was an upset. It was upsetting. Our dreams were over. For many on the team it would be the last time they ever played an organized football game. Combining all those elements made the moment very emotional.
I hope all the players (and fans) enjoyed the journey because if they didn’t enjoy the journey what is the point, you often don’t end up where you thought you end.
Life is just going to be full of disappoint if you need to see all your dreams come true in order to be happy.
And if you give up on hoping and dreaming you end up with an extremely sad life. Things don’t always work out.
Enjoy the journey because you don’t always reach the destination.
Even something as trivial as purchasing a lottery ticket is about the journey. I seldom buy lottery tickets. I understand that my chances of winning are lower than getting hit by lightning twice and completely out of my control. (Except for the getting hit by lightning part, there are things I can do to increase my chances to get hit by lightning. Things like sitting outside in storms or climbing to the top of tall things and grasping metal during storms. The lottery has none of those types’ things.)
But when the jackpot hits $250 million dollars nearly everybody enjoys thinking about what they would do with the money if they won. In fact it is hard not to come upon a conversation about that exact subject when the jackpots get near record levels.
Enjoy the journey because you don’t always reach the destination.
Life is full of other examples. I am sure you can come up with your own.
Another place to apply the “enjoy the journey” advice is at work.
As we go about our days at work we are looking for continuous improvement in all we do. It is how we stay competitive. In order to be successful in business it is important to have good systems in place for how we do things.
Once you find an efficient method you need to use that method. The Japanize word for continuous improvement is Kaizen and it is the key to staying on the cutting edge. Because once you think have perfected something it is important that are open to more improvements. Technology, tools, the people involved and many other factors mean that what works best today is likely to be improved upon in the very near future.
At work we are on a continuous path (journey) toward finding a better way. We never reach the finish line.
That means to keep from going crazy we need to celebrate our victories and successes along the way but we can ever think we have perfected something. If we do we will be passed by our competition. We can’t afford to let our competition pass us by because that will put us out of business. (In our home lives it is no big deal.)
Enjoy the journey because you don’t always reach the destination.
It is a hard concept to explain in a blog. If you would like more information I would strongly suggest reading Jason Jennings “The Reinventors.” In the book he outlines “how extraordinary companies pursue radical continuous change.”
Enjoy the journey because you don’t always reach the destination.
First let’s talk football. My son’s football team has been highly rated all season. They only lost once during the regular season. The playoffs started with 2 relatively easy wins and the team that had beaten them during the regular season got upset and they remained as the highest seated team left in the field.
In Nebraska football is King and my son, his friends and all us fans where only 2 games removed from reaching the finals. In Nebraska we play the finals at Memorial stadium. The object is of course to win it all but just making the finals means playing at the home of the Huskers. Playing at Memorial Stadium is a childhood dream of most people in Nebraska. Just the thought of playing on that historic field puts a smile on the face of nearly every player. (And to be honest I think most parents dreamed of having their son play at Memorial Stadium.)
On Tuesday they lost. The team that beat them was a very good team that had also only lost once on the season but we were the higher seed. It was an upset. It was upsetting. Our dreams were over. For many on the team it would be the last time they ever played an organized football game. Combining all those elements made the moment very emotional.
I hope all the players (and fans) enjoyed the journey because if they didn’t enjoy the journey what is the point, you often don’t end up where you thought you end.
Life is just going to be full of disappoint if you need to see all your dreams come true in order to be happy.
And if you give up on hoping and dreaming you end up with an extremely sad life. Things don’t always work out.
Enjoy the journey because you don’t always reach the destination.
Even something as trivial as purchasing a lottery ticket is about the journey. I seldom buy lottery tickets. I understand that my chances of winning are lower than getting hit by lightning twice and completely out of my control. (Except for the getting hit by lightning part, there are things I can do to increase my chances to get hit by lightning. Things like sitting outside in storms or climbing to the top of tall things and grasping metal during storms. The lottery has none of those types’ things.)
But when the jackpot hits $250 million dollars nearly everybody enjoys thinking about what they would do with the money if they won. In fact it is hard not to come upon a conversation about that exact subject when the jackpots get near record levels.
Enjoy the journey because you don’t always reach the destination.
Life is full of other examples. I am sure you can come up with your own.
Another place to apply the “enjoy the journey” advice is at work.
As we go about our days at work we are looking for continuous improvement in all we do. It is how we stay competitive. In order to be successful in business it is important to have good systems in place for how we do things.
Once you find an efficient method you need to use that method. The Japanize word for continuous improvement is Kaizen and it is the key to staying on the cutting edge. Because once you think have perfected something it is important that are open to more improvements. Technology, tools, the people involved and many other factors mean that what works best today is likely to be improved upon in the very near future.
At work we are on a continuous path (journey) toward finding a better way. We never reach the finish line.
That means to keep from going crazy we need to celebrate our victories and successes along the way but we can ever think we have perfected something. If we do we will be passed by our competition. We can’t afford to let our competition pass us by because that will put us out of business. (In our home lives it is no big deal.)
Enjoy the journey because you don’t always reach the destination.
It is a hard concept to explain in a blog. If you would like more information I would strongly suggest reading Jason Jennings “The Reinventors.” In the book he outlines “how extraordinary companies pursue radical continuous change.”
Friday, November 1, 2013
Red Sox, Willmar Office and Lincoln Christian All Win
My Brother Justin is a Cardinal fan and I am a Red Sox fan. So the people at work convinced us to place a wager on the World Series.
Now the World Series is over and I couldn’t be happier. My Red Sox won. The Chapin house is a joyful place!!!
The Willmar office donated more in the charity give away than the Lincoln office so the Willmar Office will be having a Jakes pizza party. Larry Marcus can start dreaming about what flavor he wants on his pizza. (I am tempted to force a Valentino’s party on the Lincoln office for losing.)
Thank you Steve Gardner for the great idea of using the Mustache Bet as a way to raise money for a good cause. Justin and I weren’t interested in growing a stache for fun but raising it for good cause was an easy risk to take. It appears that the total donations are going to be over $800. Without Steve’s idea we won’t have the chance to see Justin grow a cookie duster.
Well done and thank you to everybody that contributed.
When the Red Sox won that meant my charity won. The charity that I selected is Lincoln Christian School. So the money will go to its Family Education Grant (FEG). FEG is a fund that LCS uses to help offset tuition expenses for families that can’t afford to pay full tuition. During the month of October LCS is running a fundraising campaign that matches all contributions. That means that this contest will raise over $1,600 for LCS.
Isn’t that awesome!!! If you gave $10 it was matched by Justin or I to total $20 and that $20 was match again to total $40!
Plus we all get to enjoy seeing Justin with a soup strainer. (I doubt Dianna shares this view.)
Now the World Series is over and I couldn’t be happier. My Red Sox won. The Chapin house is a joyful place!!!
The Willmar office donated more in the charity give away than the Lincoln office so the Willmar Office will be having a Jakes pizza party. Larry Marcus can start dreaming about what flavor he wants on his pizza. (I am tempted to force a Valentino’s party on the Lincoln office for losing.)
Thank you Steve Gardner for the great idea of using the Mustache Bet as a way to raise money for a good cause. Justin and I weren’t interested in growing a stache for fun but raising it for good cause was an easy risk to take. It appears that the total donations are going to be over $800. Without Steve’s idea we won’t have the chance to see Justin grow a cookie duster.
Well done and thank you to everybody that contributed.
When the Red Sox won that meant my charity won. The charity that I selected is Lincoln Christian School. So the money will go to its Family Education Grant (FEG). FEG is a fund that LCS uses to help offset tuition expenses for families that can’t afford to pay full tuition. During the month of October LCS is running a fundraising campaign that matches all contributions. That means that this contest will raise over $1,600 for LCS.
Isn’t that awesome!!! If you gave $10 it was matched by Justin or I to total $20 and that $20 was match again to total $40!
Plus we all get to enjoy seeing Justin with a soup strainer. (I doubt Dianna shares this view.)
Friday, October 25, 2013
Second Choice
Margie Larson has been at Willmar Electric for over 20 years. She has held several positions and is currently working in our accounting department focusing most of her time on payroll. She has been a great asset to Willmar Electric.
But when Margie first interviewed at Willmar Electric we decided not to hire her. We hired another person but shortly after that decision we realized we had made a mistake by not hiring Margie and went back to her and offered her a job. Fortunately Margie didn’t hold it against us and she came to work alongside us.
I can’t even tell you the name of the person that was our first choice. I don’t need to because we have Margie now and that is what matter to us.
Every time I have ever been part of a hiring decision and it comes down to two people I wonder “which one of these two people is ‘Margie?’” I don’t want the best candidate to come in second.
At Willmar Electric we are currently under taking an initiative to reduce the time it takes to install conduit on our projects. It is the focus of everything we do. If we are successful we will be a much more competitive contractor and in turn we will get more work. The process is very exciting to think about.
Margie does payroll and you are likely what our Payroll Clerk has to do with reducing conduit installation time. As you might have guessed, Margie doesn’t install conduit. She doesn’t order conduit. She doesn’t estimate our projects or how long it will take to install conduit.
So what is the point of this blog? Why am I writing this blog that highlights two completely different subject matters (Margie Larson and conduit installations)?
Because first thing this morning I got an e-mail from Margie that gave a super suggestion on how we can make our conduit installations not only more productive but higher quality.
Thank you Margie.
It was a great example of what a great teammate she is. Margie is looking out for the interest of the entire company. She wants to see her co-workers reach their goals.
Looking for cost saving ideas in all areas is modeling Thrifty. One of our four core values. Today and everyday Margie is a great model of that core value. Margie is thrifty.
(In the interest of full disclosure I must tell you that time some of Margie’s coworkers can become very annoyed with her. Margie loves to snowmobile and that means that starting about this time of year and running until April she “thinks snow.” She is cheering for snow all fall, winter and spring. We tend to overlook this flaw because otherwise she is awesome. And she signs our pay checks!!!)
But when Margie first interviewed at Willmar Electric we decided not to hire her. We hired another person but shortly after that decision we realized we had made a mistake by not hiring Margie and went back to her and offered her a job. Fortunately Margie didn’t hold it against us and she came to work alongside us.
I can’t even tell you the name of the person that was our first choice. I don’t need to because we have Margie now and that is what matter to us.
Every time I have ever been part of a hiring decision and it comes down to two people I wonder “which one of these two people is ‘Margie?’” I don’t want the best candidate to come in second.
At Willmar Electric we are currently under taking an initiative to reduce the time it takes to install conduit on our projects. It is the focus of everything we do. If we are successful we will be a much more competitive contractor and in turn we will get more work. The process is very exciting to think about.
Margie does payroll and you are likely what our Payroll Clerk has to do with reducing conduit installation time. As you might have guessed, Margie doesn’t install conduit. She doesn’t order conduit. She doesn’t estimate our projects or how long it will take to install conduit.
So what is the point of this blog? Why am I writing this blog that highlights two completely different subject matters (Margie Larson and conduit installations)?
Because first thing this morning I got an e-mail from Margie that gave a super suggestion on how we can make our conduit installations not only more productive but higher quality.
Thank you Margie.
It was a great example of what a great teammate she is. Margie is looking out for the interest of the entire company. She wants to see her co-workers reach their goals.
Looking for cost saving ideas in all areas is modeling Thrifty. One of our four core values. Today and everyday Margie is a great model of that core value. Margie is thrifty.
(In the interest of full disclosure I must tell you that time some of Margie’s coworkers can become very annoyed with her. Margie loves to snowmobile and that means that starting about this time of year and running until April she “thinks snow.” She is cheering for snow all fall, winter and spring. We tend to overlook this flaw because otherwise she is awesome. And she signs our pay checks!!!)
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Who is Beth Moore?
In Christian circles the Beth Moore is a big deal. She has written many books and speaks to large crowds across the nation. Just the mention of the name Beth Moore draws attention.
At Willmar Electric Beth Moore means something else. She is our Controller. She hasn’t written a book but we would take her over the other Beth Moore any day. (Our Beth Moore is also a wonderful and Godly person.)
Our Beth Moore is unique. (In a good way.) She has told me on many occasions that one of her favorite parts of her job is collections. You read that correctly, Beth claims to love making collection calls. As a company this is a very important role and it is extremely valuable to have people that are willing and able to handle the task.
The last time she gave me an update on collections and a reminder of how much she enjoys the task I couldn’t help but think of the “Parable of the Talents.”
The story commonly called the “Parable of the Talents” appears twice in the Bible both the Book of Matthew (Chapter 25:14-30) and the Book of Luke (19:12-28). The story appears in Matthew as follows.
14 “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 To one he gave five [a]talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16 Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17 In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18 But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his [b]master’s money.
19 “Now after a long time the master of those slaves *came and *settled accounts with them. 20 The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your [c]master.’
22 “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
24 “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’
26 “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. 27 Then you ought to have put my money [d]in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28 Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’
29 “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30 Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
I am not going to go into a long sermon or explanation of the story for you. But what I can tell you is that Our Beth Moore is an example of somebody that takes what she is given in both talents and tasks and multiplies them both at work and away from the office.
She is a great example of our core value of being thrifty and I have always considered the parable above to be the perfect example of being thrifty.
(The parable may also relate to the other Beth Moore but I have never met her. For all I know she is just as wonderful as Ours.)
At Willmar Electric Beth Moore means something else. She is our Controller. She hasn’t written a book but we would take her over the other Beth Moore any day. (Our Beth Moore is also a wonderful and Godly person.)
Our Beth Moore is unique. (In a good way.) She has told me on many occasions that one of her favorite parts of her job is collections. You read that correctly, Beth claims to love making collection calls. As a company this is a very important role and it is extremely valuable to have people that are willing and able to handle the task.
The last time she gave me an update on collections and a reminder of how much she enjoys the task I couldn’t help but think of the “Parable of the Talents.”
The story commonly called the “Parable of the Talents” appears twice in the Bible both the Book of Matthew (Chapter 25:14-30) and the Book of Luke (19:12-28). The story appears in Matthew as follows.
14 “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 To one he gave five [a]talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16 Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17 In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18 But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his [b]master’s money.
19 “Now after a long time the master of those slaves *came and *settled accounts with them. 20 The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your [c]master.’
22 “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
24 “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’
26 “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. 27 Then you ought to have put my money [d]in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28 Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’
29 “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30 Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
I am not going to go into a long sermon or explanation of the story for you. But what I can tell you is that Our Beth Moore is an example of somebody that takes what she is given in both talents and tasks and multiplies them both at work and away from the office.
She is a great example of our core value of being thrifty and I have always considered the parable above to be the perfect example of being thrifty.
(The parable may also relate to the other Beth Moore but I have never met her. For all I know she is just as wonderful as Ours.)
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Skippity Do Da
I few days ago I heard the song “The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A.” by Donna Fargo. Unlike most country music songs it paints a very happy picture of life in general and marriage in particular. The subject of the song (I will call her Mrs. Fargo) is so happy she enjoys making her husband’s lunch while at the same time he is making hers.
It seems like every day in their lives is a “skippity do da day!” Clearly they “love waking up next to each other.” “She makes the coffee, he makes the bed.”
As Phil Robertson would say, they seem truly “happy, happy, happy.”
But Mr. and Mrs. Fargo don’t get this way by accident. The song clearly paints a picture of a couple that puts the other persons wants and desires (happiness) ahead of their own wants and desires.
At Willmar Electric we would call it Meeting the Customer Needs and Treating Others the Way We want to be Treated. The Fargos are getting their happiness in part from making others happy.
Skippity do da indeed.
It seems like every day in their lives is a “skippity do da day!” Clearly they “love waking up next to each other.” “She makes the coffee, he makes the bed.”
As Phil Robertson would say, they seem truly “happy, happy, happy.”
But Mr. and Mrs. Fargo don’t get this way by accident. The song clearly paints a picture of a couple that puts the other persons wants and desires (happiness) ahead of their own wants and desires.
At Willmar Electric we would call it Meeting the Customer Needs and Treating Others the Way We want to be Treated. The Fargos are getting their happiness in part from making others happy.
Skippity do da indeed.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Excellence in Meeting People Needs
Today is the Margie Larson’s birthday. Margie is a great co-worker and fun to work and talk with. Margie sends out our paychecks. Everybody loves Margie.
But Margie’s birthday also symbolizes something else that is important in our company’s history. Margie often pointed out to me that Bob Hookom was hired on her birthday.
And we are the company that we are today because Elmo and Frank gave a job to my favorite Norwegian-American.
Bob started as an apprentice electrician at Willmar Electric in the 1960’s. From there Bob worked his way up and around the leadership of Willmar Electric. When Bob’s career ended at Willmar Electric in 2005 he was what we called our Designer. From a practical sense that meant that Bob did the designing work on the projects where we were a Design-Build contractor. Bob never got an engineering degree but his work was beyond what nearly all engineers do today. Because he had come up through the ranks at Willmar Electric his understanding was superior to many of the people that managed to get a bunch of letters to put after their names.
Bob was very good at what he did. Bob was a great coworker. (If I had a dollar for every time somebody like Dave Sherod told me about how great Bob was and how much they looked up to him I would retire.)
There are no limits to the amount of time people like My Dad and Larry Marcus could spend telling you stories about working with Bob. Any long time coworker of Bob would be able to speak to his excellence. If you had a question about a certain application of electrical work or about the National Electric Code, Bob was your help desk at Willmar Electric. He was an endless resource.
I think that Bob is model for, at least, one of our core values. Meeting our customer’s needs.
Bob had what was described as a photographic memory. If Bob read, saw or heard something he remember it forever. He would file all those memories away and bring them back when the application for that specific memory came back into play. Bob wanted to make sure every customer got exactly what they needed. Like our current designs, Bob’s designs where based on customer needs. Bob set up the model for meeting our customer needs that we continue to promote at Willmar Electric. He didn’t want the customer to get something that they didn’t need nor did he want a customer to have a solution that came up short. (I will admit that I have never asked LaVonne if Bob truly never forgot anything.)
I have no idea who first said it but I am sure that you have heard the phrase “anything worth doing is worth doing right.” Bob Hookom lived his life with that thought in mind. He was never lazy nor did he take short cuts that might leave a customer short changed.
Excellence is the best word I could use to describe Bob. (Although he would likely prefer that I used Norwegian-American.)
Bob did things with excellence and I often recall memories of him when I am doing things and wonder if my actions are to his standard of excellence.
Bob passed away a few years ago and what follows is a tribute to Bob Hookom written by my brother Justin at that time.
A Tribute
Robert (Bob) Hookom began working for Willmar Electric Service on September 24, 1962. On that day Bob, an apprentice electrician, joined Elmo and Frank Chapin as one of the first employees of WES. He was hired because Frank had heard from John Haines he was smart and would make a good electrician. During the month between when he gave his notice to his previous employer and when he started at WES, Frank gave him a few books to read to get him started. Frank anticipated the reading would last at least a few weeks, but Bob finished the books in just a few days. Needless to say, the reports they had heard about Bob’s skills were proved correct time after time.
Bob had an outstanding memory, and this combined with his common sense, helped him to quickly advance in the electrical industry. He first earned is Minnesota Journeyman’s electrical license and then his Master’s electrical license. By the end of his career, he had acquired licenses in over 30 states, an amazing fact given the autonomy of electrical licensing in the United States. As WES grew and clients brought the company to new locations, licenses were never a difficult hurdle. Bob was asked to take the exam and qualify the license and with only one exception he obtained the license; on the ill-fated occasion, the exam was designed so that no one would be able to pass - the local officials did not want outside contractors to come into their area.
Bob was a recognized leader at WES. In the industry he was highly respected in the areas of the National Electric Code (NEC) and electrical contracting. If you needed help understanding code requirements, you only needed to go to Bob to get the accurate interpretation. When a large general contractor needed a class on electrical estimating and construction, Bob was the natural teacher. As apprentices were being trained at WES, the person to do the code instruction was always Bob. Bob’s understanding of electrical construction was amazing!
The NEC was not the only interest in his life. The Norwegian heritage in his family was not something you had to pry out of him; it was very much a part of who he was. The love of his heritage was easily seen in his priorities. Numerous trips to Norway to spend time with family and friends living there, dedication to Sons of Norway and other Norwegian groups were passions in his life. It was always fun to listen to the connections he made while gathering with these friends.
Bob was passionate about music and if you had an office near him you were often reminded of his love of music. He also sang in the church choir at Calvary Lutheran Church for many years. He was passionate about time with family and often was going to events with and for his grandchildren. Bob was passionate about people.
Bob leaves a legacy of lives that he invested in. He will be remembered fondly by Willmar Electric Service and its employees. He was an incredible friend to so many. It is hard to imagine WES without Bob Hookom. He retired in 2001, but continued to work on special projects through the end of 2005.
Willmar Electric has been giving a scholarship to Willmar Senior High graduates that are intending to pursue careers in construction for a number of years. In Bob’s honor we are going to change the name from the Willmar Electric Scholarship to the Bob Hookom Memorial Scholarship. In this small way, we would like to honor Bob’s memory, his dedication to construction, and life-long learning.
Bob Hookom was a wonderful man. Willmar Electric Service counts it a privilege and honor to have had him a member of our team. He will be dearly missed.
But Margie’s birthday also symbolizes something else that is important in our company’s history. Margie often pointed out to me that Bob Hookom was hired on her birthday.
And we are the company that we are today because Elmo and Frank gave a job to my favorite Norwegian-American.
Bob started as an apprentice electrician at Willmar Electric in the 1960’s. From there Bob worked his way up and around the leadership of Willmar Electric. When Bob’s career ended at Willmar Electric in 2005 he was what we called our Designer. From a practical sense that meant that Bob did the designing work on the projects where we were a Design-Build contractor. Bob never got an engineering degree but his work was beyond what nearly all engineers do today. Because he had come up through the ranks at Willmar Electric his understanding was superior to many of the people that managed to get a bunch of letters to put after their names.
Bob was very good at what he did. Bob was a great coworker. (If I had a dollar for every time somebody like Dave Sherod told me about how great Bob was and how much they looked up to him I would retire.)
There are no limits to the amount of time people like My Dad and Larry Marcus could spend telling you stories about working with Bob. Any long time coworker of Bob would be able to speak to his excellence. If you had a question about a certain application of electrical work or about the National Electric Code, Bob was your help desk at Willmar Electric. He was an endless resource.
I think that Bob is model for, at least, one of our core values. Meeting our customer’s needs.
Bob had what was described as a photographic memory. If Bob read, saw or heard something he remember it forever. He would file all those memories away and bring them back when the application for that specific memory came back into play. Bob wanted to make sure every customer got exactly what they needed. Like our current designs, Bob’s designs where based on customer needs. Bob set up the model for meeting our customer needs that we continue to promote at Willmar Electric. He didn’t want the customer to get something that they didn’t need nor did he want a customer to have a solution that came up short. (I will admit that I have never asked LaVonne if Bob truly never forgot anything.)
I have no idea who first said it but I am sure that you have heard the phrase “anything worth doing is worth doing right.” Bob Hookom lived his life with that thought in mind. He was never lazy nor did he take short cuts that might leave a customer short changed.
Excellence is the best word I could use to describe Bob. (Although he would likely prefer that I used Norwegian-American.)
Bob did things with excellence and I often recall memories of him when I am doing things and wonder if my actions are to his standard of excellence.
Bob passed away a few years ago and what follows is a tribute to Bob Hookom written by my brother Justin at that time.
A Tribute
Robert (Bob) Hookom began working for Willmar Electric Service on September 24, 1962. On that day Bob, an apprentice electrician, joined Elmo and Frank Chapin as one of the first employees of WES. He was hired because Frank had heard from John Haines he was smart and would make a good electrician. During the month between when he gave his notice to his previous employer and when he started at WES, Frank gave him a few books to read to get him started. Frank anticipated the reading would last at least a few weeks, but Bob finished the books in just a few days. Needless to say, the reports they had heard about Bob’s skills were proved correct time after time.
Bob had an outstanding memory, and this combined with his common sense, helped him to quickly advance in the electrical industry. He first earned is Minnesota Journeyman’s electrical license and then his Master’s electrical license. By the end of his career, he had acquired licenses in over 30 states, an amazing fact given the autonomy of electrical licensing in the United States. As WES grew and clients brought the company to new locations, licenses were never a difficult hurdle. Bob was asked to take the exam and qualify the license and with only one exception he obtained the license; on the ill-fated occasion, the exam was designed so that no one would be able to pass - the local officials did not want outside contractors to come into their area.
Bob was a recognized leader at WES. In the industry he was highly respected in the areas of the National Electric Code (NEC) and electrical contracting. If you needed help understanding code requirements, you only needed to go to Bob to get the accurate interpretation. When a large general contractor needed a class on electrical estimating and construction, Bob was the natural teacher. As apprentices were being trained at WES, the person to do the code instruction was always Bob. Bob’s understanding of electrical construction was amazing!
The NEC was not the only interest in his life. The Norwegian heritage in his family was not something you had to pry out of him; it was very much a part of who he was. The love of his heritage was easily seen in his priorities. Numerous trips to Norway to spend time with family and friends living there, dedication to Sons of Norway and other Norwegian groups were passions in his life. It was always fun to listen to the connections he made while gathering with these friends.
Bob was passionate about music and if you had an office near him you were often reminded of his love of music. He also sang in the church choir at Calvary Lutheran Church for many years. He was passionate about time with family and often was going to events with and for his grandchildren. Bob was passionate about people.
Bob leaves a legacy of lives that he invested in. He will be remembered fondly by Willmar Electric Service and its employees. He was an incredible friend to so many. It is hard to imagine WES without Bob Hookom. He retired in 2001, but continued to work on special projects through the end of 2005.
Willmar Electric has been giving a scholarship to Willmar Senior High graduates that are intending to pursue careers in construction for a number of years. In Bob’s honor we are going to change the name from the Willmar Electric Scholarship to the Bob Hookom Memorial Scholarship. In this small way, we would like to honor Bob’s memory, his dedication to construction, and life-long learning.
Bob Hookom was a wonderful man. Willmar Electric Service counts it a privilege and honor to have had him a member of our team. He will be dearly missed.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Luke is the Future
The following link is to another blog written by Donna Puglisi.
Donna spent a week in Nebraska and during that time see ran into one of our Project Foreman. What follows is a very good interview about what is good about our industry and opportunities provided to people like Luke Fosket. Luke is actively engaged in his future and because of that his future is very bright.
If I could have 150 Luke Foskets I would only need 120!!!
http://workforceunderconstruction.com/featured/advice-from-a-foreman-qa-with-luke-fosket/
Check out workforceunderconstuction.com to see wonderful blogs from Donna and other dedicated to advancing the construction industry and promoting opportunities within the industry.
Donna spent a week in Nebraska and during that time see ran into one of our Project Foreman. What follows is a very good interview about what is good about our industry and opportunities provided to people like Luke Fosket. Luke is actively engaged in his future and because of that his future is very bright.
If I could have 150 Luke Foskets I would only need 120!!!
http://workforceunderconstruction.com/featured/advice-from-a-foreman-qa-with-luke-fosket/
Check out workforceunderconstuction.com to see wonderful blogs from Donna and other dedicated to advancing the construction industry and promoting opportunities within the industry.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Time to Read
My oldest child has gone off to college and that seems to mean that I have more time in my life. Not sure why it isn't like Anne was taking up very much of my time. She was able to drive herself to all her events. So except playing card games in the dining room and talking about life with Anne I am not sure where all the free time came from.
But I have been using that time to read more. It made me reflect on the best books I have ever read. (I am not going to include the Bible on my list. It is the best book I have ever read but it belongs on in a separate class.)
Top 10 in no particular order.
I feel guilty not making a longer list but I have to stop somewhere.
I might start rereading them all this winter.
But I have been using that time to read more. It made me reflect on the best books I have ever read. (I am not going to include the Bible on my list. It is the best book I have ever read but it belongs on in a separate class.)
Top 10 in no particular order.
- Raise and Fall of the Third Reich By William L Shirer
- Good to Great by Jim Collins
- The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni
- Born Again by Chuck Colson
- Making it all Work by David Allen
- Faithful by Stephen King
- Cruse of the Bambino by Dan Shaughnessy
- Battle Cry Freedom by James M McPherson
- A Son of Thunder: Patrick Henry and the American Republic by Henry Mayer
- Business by the Book by Larry Burkett
I feel guilty not making a longer list but I have to stop somewhere.
I might start rereading them all this winter.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
A Pauses that Shows Love
A few days ago my wife, two oldest children and I were sitting around discussing our day. As the conversation progressed my wife asked me a question. I can’t even remember what the exact topic was we were discussing or my wife’s exact question but what I do remember was that it was a very silly question.
I know that we all have been told there are no stupid questions and I am not saying that my wife’s question was stupid but I do remember that it was a sign she hadn’t been paying close attention to our conversation.
As soon as the question left her lips I paused because my first reaction was to mock the question that I was being asked. In fact I paused just long enough for my children to demonstrate that they had less restraint then me.
My children made fun of their loving mother because she had asked a silly question.
So I quickly jumped in and pointed out to my children that they shouldn’t treat their mother like that.
Score two for Dave!!! My children had pointed out the error in my wife’s ways (so I didn’t have to) and I was able to empress her by coming to her defense (because husbands should defend their wives).
But the truth is that nobody really needed to mock Sue. Regardless of who we are talking to, especially our spouses or parents we should treat others with respect at all times and making fun of people for what they have said typically doesn’t convey respect.
Our company is based on treating people the way we want to be treated. It is one of our core values.
On the day in the living room with my wife and children I paused before I spoke and lucky for me it gave me a chance to learn from my inaction for once. I got to see how important it is that we think before we speak. That paused allowed me to treat somebody I loved with respect rather than judgment.
Treating others the way you want to be treated sometimes involves not doing or saying something you are tempted to do.
I know that we all have been told there are no stupid questions and I am not saying that my wife’s question was stupid but I do remember that it was a sign she hadn’t been paying close attention to our conversation.
As soon as the question left her lips I paused because my first reaction was to mock the question that I was being asked. In fact I paused just long enough for my children to demonstrate that they had less restraint then me.
My children made fun of their loving mother because she had asked a silly question.
So I quickly jumped in and pointed out to my children that they shouldn’t treat their mother like that.
Score two for Dave!!! My children had pointed out the error in my wife’s ways (so I didn’t have to) and I was able to empress her by coming to her defense (because husbands should defend their wives).
But the truth is that nobody really needed to mock Sue. Regardless of who we are talking to, especially our spouses or parents we should treat others with respect at all times and making fun of people for what they have said typically doesn’t convey respect.
Our company is based on treating people the way we want to be treated. It is one of our core values.
On the day in the living room with my wife and children I paused before I spoke and lucky for me it gave me a chance to learn from my inaction for once. I got to see how important it is that we think before we speak. That paused allowed me to treat somebody I loved with respect rather than judgment.
Treating others the way you want to be treated sometimes involves not doing or saying something you are tempted to do.
Monday, August 19, 2013
Be a Genius not an Idiot
The book "Sparks" by Randy Goruk has a line that says “You are always on stage, so be authentic, but as you are being yourself, remember to always be professional and mature. Don’t put yourself in a position of bad mouthing others or yelling at someone. Be authentic, but don’t be an idiot.”
I send out tips from Sparks every week to key management personal at Willmar Electric. When I sent out the tip above I was blessed to receive the following addition from our Human Resource Director, Jay Tornquist.
"In some ways it is the ultimate vanity, if a person thinks that “being themselves” is the best way to be. That means we are stating that we are the best….perfect.
I believe that we need to be who we are, authentic, with the knowledge that we are led by a sinful nature (which, if not checked, demands we put ourselves first).
By treating others the way we want to be treated and by being People making a difference for People, it encourages us to put others first, giving us an opportunity to improve as a person, thereby increasing our professionalism, maturity, and sincerity.
People want to be led by (or be part of a group where) individuals that are confident in themselves but respect other opinions and are confident enough in themselves to listen and learn.
Some “leaders” have a need to knock others down to appear as though they are better- this is an Idiotic method.
Great leaders rise naturally and bring others up with them, which many times brings success and great accomplishments….this is Genius!"
Jay offers some awesome advice and at the same time he reinforces one of Willmar Electric’s core values.
Treat others the way you want to be treated.
I send out tips from Sparks every week to key management personal at Willmar Electric. When I sent out the tip above I was blessed to receive the following addition from our Human Resource Director, Jay Tornquist.
"In some ways it is the ultimate vanity, if a person thinks that “being themselves” is the best way to be. That means we are stating that we are the best….perfect.
I believe that we need to be who we are, authentic, with the knowledge that we are led by a sinful nature (which, if not checked, demands we put ourselves first).
By treating others the way we want to be treated and by being People making a difference for People, it encourages us to put others first, giving us an opportunity to improve as a person, thereby increasing our professionalism, maturity, and sincerity.
People want to be led by (or be part of a group where) individuals that are confident in themselves but respect other opinions and are confident enough in themselves to listen and learn.
Some “leaders” have a need to knock others down to appear as though they are better- this is an Idiotic method.
Great leaders rise naturally and bring others up with them, which many times brings success and great accomplishments….this is Genius!"
Jay offers some awesome advice and at the same time he reinforces one of Willmar Electric’s core values.
Treat others the way you want to be treated.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Hard Work Doesn't Always Pay Off in the End.
A few weeks ago while hauling a high school friend of my sons to a sporting event we were talking about his potential college choices and I made that off handed comment that "even if he ended up in the NBA I would always think of him as the dork that shot baskets during every break in his little sisters basketball games."
Recently that same family friend was offered a scholarship to play basketball at large school on the west coast. It was exciting news for the young man and everybody that knows him. When I heard the news I thought to myself all that shooting really paid off.
But then I remembered another friend of my sons that also shot baskets during the breaks of his older sister’s games. That friend was done playing basketball by the time he was in 8th grade. Don't get me wrong this young man is also a good athlete. He was in last year’s state tennis meet!!! But in the end basketball didn't work out for him.
It was the same thing for both young man. As soon as the whistle blew and the team headed to the bench for a timeout or a quarter break the brother would grab his ball and start shooting until the referee shoed them off the court so that the game could resume.
In one case he result was a college scholarship (and maybe more) but in the other case the brother was done playing basketball by the time he was in 8th grade.
Why the difference? Why did one young man excel while the other young man was passed by all his peers?
Gifts and talents. One had desire and work hard and when it was combined with the body, gifts and talents God had blessed him with I reach high levels. But in the other case hard work and desire weren't enough. He lacked the body, gifts and talent to excel at basketball.
What's my point? Hard work and desire are key ingredients for success in what we do in life. We need to study our craft and continuously improve but we are all made with unique gifts and talents. We each need to find what our gifts and talents are and make the most of those gifts and talents.
Continuing to pursuit things that we aren't gifted in is a waste of resources. In one case it was basketball and that friend is making the most of it. In the other case it wasn't basketball and that friend realized it. So he went out and found other places that he was gifted in.
The bottom line is hard Work doesn't always pay off in the end. Hard work can just be wasted energy if we spend that energy on the wrong things. I understand that shooting baskets during a break isn't necessarily waste energy. It is fun to shot hoops even if big time basketball isn't in your future. But in the larger picture of life how many of us know people that continue to work at a job that they are ill-suited for or know people that continue to expand energy in directions that they aren't gifted at?
It can be the same feeling that we get when we work hard on something, even putting in overtime only to find out we didn’t do the project correctly or forgot to get a part so the task can’t be finished.
Wasting resources isn't thrifty. Regardless if that resource is time, money or talent. It is important that we are always thrifty with what God has entrusted us with.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Accountablity
Today I had a lunch meeting. A co-worker and I went to Applebee's and had a long talk about a lot of different things. After being served our food the waiter brought us our bill and send they would take care of it whenever we where ready.
A short time later an acquaintance of mine came into the restaurant and sat at the table next to us.
We continued to talk for quite a while and as we started to run out of time the two of us gathered our things and left the restaurant.
When I returned to my desk I decided it was a good time to file my expense reports. As I gather up the receipts from the last month's worth of expenses I noticed that I was missing a receipt. Then it occurred to me. I had just left Applebee's without paying the bill. I had just skipped out on the bill. Dined and dashed!!
I was at a crossroads. Two of our core values coming in conflict with each other.
On one hand I could follow the honest path and "treat others how I wanted to be treated," go back to Applebee's and pay the bill. That would be honest. I had eaten the food and owed the money.
On the other hand I could select another of our core values and choose to be "Thrifty." After all I had already left the restaurant and nobody was going to come after me and try to get my money.
"Treating others the way I wanted to be treated" or "Thrifty."
After having a very good laugh (at my expense) with my co-workers I drove back to Applebee's to pay the bill. It really wasn't that hard of the decision. I although I let the thought "well thrifty is a core value and not paying the bill would be thrifty," I do know right from wrong and I knew I had to do the right thing.
When I got to Applebee's on my return trip the place was still packed, so I had to wait for somebody to come to the hostess station so I could settle up. While I waited I noticed my friend was still sitting at his table.
He motioned me over to his table and asked if I had forgotten to pay my bill. (As he sat there reading his Bible!) I confused that was my reason for returning to the restaurant and he relied to me that when the wait staff went to clear the table they noticed that neither my table mate or I had paid our bill. My friend said that he informed the Applebee's staff that it was out of character for me to not pay my debts. He told that I would in fact be paying the bill at some point (when I remembered that I had forgotten).
I considered it high praise that my friend had that much confidence in my character. I would have gone back to pay me bill regardless of the fact that an acquaintance had seen me at Applebee's but if he hadn't been their I would never have received the compliment he paid me nor would I have been convicted that people notice your character even when you don't expect it.
(I left the names blank because I don't want you to judge my co-worker because he also skipped out the bill. The acquaintance/friend and I work at the scorers table for high school basketball games together. So our interaction is limited to breaks in the action but during those brief moments of time during the last basketball season I left him with a standard of how I conduct my life and to be honest I would expect the same thing of Herb Schrader.)
A short time later an acquaintance of mine came into the restaurant and sat at the table next to us.
We continued to talk for quite a while and as we started to run out of time the two of us gathered our things and left the restaurant.
When I returned to my desk I decided it was a good time to file my expense reports. As I gather up the receipts from the last month's worth of expenses I noticed that I was missing a receipt. Then it occurred to me. I had just left Applebee's without paying the bill. I had just skipped out on the bill. Dined and dashed!!
I was at a crossroads. Two of our core values coming in conflict with each other.
On one hand I could follow the honest path and "treat others how I wanted to be treated," go back to Applebee's and pay the bill. That would be honest. I had eaten the food and owed the money.
On the other hand I could select another of our core values and choose to be "Thrifty." After all I had already left the restaurant and nobody was going to come after me and try to get my money.
"Treating others the way I wanted to be treated" or "Thrifty."
After having a very good laugh (at my expense) with my co-workers I drove back to Applebee's to pay the bill. It really wasn't that hard of the decision. I although I let the thought "well thrifty is a core value and not paying the bill would be thrifty," I do know right from wrong and I knew I had to do the right thing.
When I got to Applebee's on my return trip the place was still packed, so I had to wait for somebody to come to the hostess station so I could settle up. While I waited I noticed my friend was still sitting at his table.
He motioned me over to his table and asked if I had forgotten to pay my bill. (As he sat there reading his Bible!) I confused that was my reason for returning to the restaurant and he relied to me that when the wait staff went to clear the table they noticed that neither my table mate or I had paid our bill. My friend said that he informed the Applebee's staff that it was out of character for me to not pay my debts. He told that I would in fact be paying the bill at some point (when I remembered that I had forgotten).
I considered it high praise that my friend had that much confidence in my character. I would have gone back to pay me bill regardless of the fact that an acquaintance had seen me at Applebee's but if he hadn't been their I would never have received the compliment he paid me nor would I have been convicted that people notice your character even when you don't expect it.
(I left the names blank because I don't want you to judge my co-worker because he also skipped out the bill. The acquaintance/friend and I work at the scorers table for high school basketball games together. So our interaction is limited to breaks in the action but during those brief moments of time during the last basketball season I left him with a standard of how I conduct my life and to be honest I would expect the same thing of Herb Schrader.)
Monday, June 24, 2013
Billy Ball
Back in the early 80's Billy Martin was the manager of the Oakland A's. His team played a unique style of baseball that involved over using starting pitchers and speedy players at nearly every position in the field. The media dubbed it Billy Ball.
I think Billy Martin is an idiot and his type of baseball didn't last very long. But the phrase makes a very good title.
My son Mike is nicknamed Billy and he loves to play baseball. This story is about him and not about a drunk ex-Yankee that made it possible to sympathize with George Stienbrenner. (the origins of the nickname are to long to get into but I can tell you it story of inspiration about a kid that pushed through a tough time and a wonderful coach that help Billy believe he could succeed.)
Recently the Junior Legion Baseball team that I coach hosted a weekend tournament and although it meant spending 32 hours at the baseball field it was a good time. Like every thing in life it had its high points and its low spots.
Removing the unruly McCook parent from the stands wasn't fun. Losing twice to Pleasant Dale including a 11-1 pasting that involved only 3 hits but 9 errors by our team was frustrating.
Those moments where out weight by several other positive moments. Taylor Hanson's 3 hit game. Josh Dilley's 2 hit 2 RBI game. Good pitching in a losing effort by Phil Grothaus.
We had a great time off the field as well. Working together with the players and fellow coaches, serving the other teams was a good team building exercise. Watching the Bond family spent all Father's Day working at baseball with their dad was fun to watch. I am grateful to the Power sisters, Dilleys, Schafers, Jones and Terry Pieloch for selling tickets. The Hoffamans and Vanis families worked together for hours on end and other people pitched in to help with tickets, fields and scorekeepping all helped to make the tournament possible.
Each player wrote a Father's Day tribute to their dad. I know I enjoyed not only receiving a tribute from my son but also having the chance to give a tribute to my Dad. The two coaches had our Dad's throw out the first pitch and everybody seemed to enjoy the moment.
But wins and loses aside there is no doubt the high point of my Father's Day happened at the very end of the day. I was finally able to make it home around 8:30 on Sunday evening. My wife and kids had gotten me several gifts. I loved each one.
But the highlight for me was the hand written notes from my kids. Each of them took the time to write me a personal note. The last line of my Mike's card thanked me for running the tournament. It made me cry. My reason for running the tournament was to raise money of the team. The reason I coach the team is so my son can have a place to continue to play baseball because our high school doesn't have a team. The side benefit is spending time with a great bunch of guys. Any success on or off the field brings joy to my heart.
Not having a spring teams means Legion baseball is this great group of boys only avenue for baseball. The parents of the players have chosen to send their kids to a christian school. That means the parents are making sacrifices to make sure their son is getting a Christian education. Those sacrifices come in many forms. For some families it means paying tuition even though a free education is available through the public school system. In some cases it can mean taking a second job, traveling for work to make extra money, or teaching at the school and receiving lower pay in exchange for a christian education for their sons.
Our school's lack of baseball is small in comparison to the sacrifices I listed above. But it is still there and in the past a few families have considered it to big of a sacrifice and pulled their children so they can play baseball (or other sports) at other schools.
(On a side note I can tell you that it isn't worth it to pull your children from a Christian school so they can play sports at another school. This years senior class has 5 scholarship baseball players and at least 3 of the underclass we get scholarship offers!!!)
In the case of some the players, including my son, they are making a sacrifice by not playing spring baseball for a school team. They take what they get and make the most of it.
Thankfully Mike took the time to write me a note that I will never throw away. It makes everything I have done with him in baseball worth it. Playing catch in the backyard for hours, driving him to select games, and coaching a legion team are all worth the payoff.
Mike is a very good baseball player. Where his talents take him is hard to know right now. But as his father it brings joy to my heart knowing he is making the most of his talent and more importantly he is grateful for the opportunity he has.
Another lesson taught to me through the actions of my child. When he was born we named him Michael but on the baseball field I call him Billy and I likely always will. (Thank you Bob Petit)
I think Billy Martin is an idiot and his type of baseball didn't last very long. But the phrase makes a very good title.
My son Mike is nicknamed Billy and he loves to play baseball. This story is about him and not about a drunk ex-Yankee that made it possible to sympathize with George Stienbrenner. (the origins of the nickname are to long to get into but I can tell you it story of inspiration about a kid that pushed through a tough time and a wonderful coach that help Billy believe he could succeed.)
Recently the Junior Legion Baseball team that I coach hosted a weekend tournament and although it meant spending 32 hours at the baseball field it was a good time. Like every thing in life it had its high points and its low spots.
Removing the unruly McCook parent from the stands wasn't fun. Losing twice to Pleasant Dale including a 11-1 pasting that involved only 3 hits but 9 errors by our team was frustrating.
Those moments where out weight by several other positive moments. Taylor Hanson's 3 hit game. Josh Dilley's 2 hit 2 RBI game. Good pitching in a losing effort by Phil Grothaus.
We had a great time off the field as well. Working together with the players and fellow coaches, serving the other teams was a good team building exercise. Watching the Bond family spent all Father's Day working at baseball with their dad was fun to watch. I am grateful to the Power sisters, Dilleys, Schafers, Jones and Terry Pieloch for selling tickets. The Hoffamans and Vanis families worked together for hours on end and other people pitched in to help with tickets, fields and scorekeepping all helped to make the tournament possible.
Each player wrote a Father's Day tribute to their dad. I know I enjoyed not only receiving a tribute from my son but also having the chance to give a tribute to my Dad. The two coaches had our Dad's throw out the first pitch and everybody seemed to enjoy the moment.
But wins and loses aside there is no doubt the high point of my Father's Day happened at the very end of the day. I was finally able to make it home around 8:30 on Sunday evening. My wife and kids had gotten me several gifts. I loved each one.
But the highlight for me was the hand written notes from my kids. Each of them took the time to write me a personal note. The last line of my Mike's card thanked me for running the tournament. It made me cry. My reason for running the tournament was to raise money of the team. The reason I coach the team is so my son can have a place to continue to play baseball because our high school doesn't have a team. The side benefit is spending time with a great bunch of guys. Any success on or off the field brings joy to my heart.
Not having a spring teams means Legion baseball is this great group of boys only avenue for baseball. The parents of the players have chosen to send their kids to a christian school. That means the parents are making sacrifices to make sure their son is getting a Christian education. Those sacrifices come in many forms. For some families it means paying tuition even though a free education is available through the public school system. In some cases it can mean taking a second job, traveling for work to make extra money, or teaching at the school and receiving lower pay in exchange for a christian education for their sons.
Our school's lack of baseball is small in comparison to the sacrifices I listed above. But it is still there and in the past a few families have considered it to big of a sacrifice and pulled their children so they can play baseball (or other sports) at other schools.
(On a side note I can tell you that it isn't worth it to pull your children from a Christian school so they can play sports at another school. This years senior class has 5 scholarship baseball players and at least 3 of the underclass we get scholarship offers!!!)
In the case of some the players, including my son, they are making a sacrifice by not playing spring baseball for a school team. They take what they get and make the most of it.
Thankfully Mike took the time to write me a note that I will never throw away. It makes everything I have done with him in baseball worth it. Playing catch in the backyard for hours, driving him to select games, and coaching a legion team are all worth the payoff.
Mike is a very good baseball player. Where his talents take him is hard to know right now. But as his father it brings joy to my heart knowing he is making the most of his talent and more importantly he is grateful for the opportunity he has.
Another lesson taught to me through the actions of my child. When he was born we named him Michael but on the baseball field I call him Billy and I likely always will. (Thank you Bob Petit)
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Honey, I Cleaned the Garage.
I recently have been part of family’s struggle to maintain an organized garage. In order to protect the guilty I will change the name of people in my story. But those of you familiar with the story will likely see through the hidden names.
You see at some people’s house the husband and the wife have different views of what is garbage and what isn't. The exact place where this battle takes place within the house can change from home to home but it seems to happen to some degree within most every house I know of. For some the battleground is the closet of the master bed room or the basement. But for the couple in my story it was the garage.
The husband, Donny, likes to save things. Until this weekend the place he kept these valuables was the family’s garage. The wife, Marie, thought that her car should go into the garage. But alas Donny and Marie's garage was too full to fit any cars.
Although the things in the garage didn't make Donny happy they did make Marie sad. She wondered why he can’t throw away those things. They are trash and they are in the way. He is never going to us them.
Donny couldn’t bear to get rid of these valuable. He looked at the items and thought “someday I can use that for something special.” To him they were worth something because potentially the items in his garage had a future use. Donny thought “if we save it we won't need to buy it later.”
Donny also looked at some of the things with a sentimental eye. The items brought back happy memories. (That reminds me of a different couple that has a Porsche that hasn't run since before they were married over 15 years and 2 houses ago. He won't get rid of it and she says it reminded her of his old girlfriend!!! But that is another story.)
This weekend Donny decided to clean out the garage and make room for Marie's car. It didn't take long and soon enough the garage was clean and everybody was happy.
I asked Donny what he did with the old stuff expecting to hear about a sale and how much money he made. Instead Donny said that it all went in the trash. (So much for the items being worth something.)
Marie is quite happy with Donny now. Instead of holding on to these items Donny decided to make Marie happy.
So what is the point of this story beyond being a good spouse that wants to please the other spouse?
Donny is also happy. He wasn't forced to clean his garage. Marie had let it be in the current condition for years. But now the garage is clean an organized.
That doesn't mean that you have to throw everything out to be organized. I am sure that if something truly still had value Donny found it an organized place with their garage. But if an item had lost its usefulness it was discarded.
It is Donny's organizational skills that make him such a valuable team member and co-worker at Willmar Electric. Willmar Electric promises our customers that we will be on-time, organized and approachable. It was has bringing that skill home that made his garage clean and his wife happy.
You see at some people’s house the husband and the wife have different views of what is garbage and what isn't. The exact place where this battle takes place within the house can change from home to home but it seems to happen to some degree within most every house I know of. For some the battleground is the closet of the master bed room or the basement. But for the couple in my story it was the garage.
The husband, Donny, likes to save things. Until this weekend the place he kept these valuables was the family’s garage. The wife, Marie, thought that her car should go into the garage. But alas Donny and Marie's garage was too full to fit any cars.
Although the things in the garage didn't make Donny happy they did make Marie sad. She wondered why he can’t throw away those things. They are trash and they are in the way. He is never going to us them.
Donny couldn’t bear to get rid of these valuable. He looked at the items and thought “someday I can use that for something special.” To him they were worth something because potentially the items in his garage had a future use. Donny thought “if we save it we won't need to buy it later.”
Donny also looked at some of the things with a sentimental eye. The items brought back happy memories. (That reminds me of a different couple that has a Porsche that hasn't run since before they were married over 15 years and 2 houses ago. He won't get rid of it and she says it reminded her of his old girlfriend!!! But that is another story.)
This weekend Donny decided to clean out the garage and make room for Marie's car. It didn't take long and soon enough the garage was clean and everybody was happy.
I asked Donny what he did with the old stuff expecting to hear about a sale and how much money he made. Instead Donny said that it all went in the trash. (So much for the items being worth something.)
Marie is quite happy with Donny now. Instead of holding on to these items Donny decided to make Marie happy.
So what is the point of this story beyond being a good spouse that wants to please the other spouse?
Donny is also happy. He wasn't forced to clean his garage. Marie had let it be in the current condition for years. But now the garage is clean an organized.
That doesn't mean that you have to throw everything out to be organized. I am sure that if something truly still had value Donny found it an organized place with their garage. But if an item had lost its usefulness it was discarded.
It is Donny's organizational skills that make him such a valuable team member and co-worker at Willmar Electric. Willmar Electric promises our customers that we will be on-time, organized and approachable. It was has bringing that skill home that made his garage clean and his wife happy.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
No Need to be Afraid
My oldest daughter has a pet turtle. The turtle stated as her accounting class's pet before to came to live with the Chapins. They named the turtle Petty Cash. We call him PC (To be honest it could be a her, it's a turtle so we aren't sure of the gender).
Inside PC's tank he has a few trinkets and things to climb on top of. If he makes it all the way to the top of the tank there is a platform that is out of the water and close to the heating lamp. He like to "sun" himself there. If you walk up the stairs at our house and look into Anne's room you can catch the sight of him sunning himself but once you move closer to PC he scurries away by diving in the water and swimming to the furthest corner of the tank.
PC isn't very approachable. Like I said PC is a turtle. They tend at pull away or get into their shell at the slightest sign that they might be attacked or in danger.
I don't live or work in a tank. (I'll be honest and tell you that I am frighten by things that are 200 times my size.)
Instead I work at Willmar Electric.
What do Turtles have to do with Willlmar Electric?
Approachability.
As far as I know all tturtles are like PC. They all lack approachability.
At Willmar Electric one of our brand promises is to be approachable. We want our customers to see us as approachable and open to getting input from others. We seek to be a place that when a conflict arises on a project others feel safe approaching us with the issue so that we can be part of the solution.
We want our customers to include us in the process of coming up with solutions on how to accomplish what is best for them and their project. If the plumber or HVAC contractor has conflict with where a pipe or duct is potentially going to go on a project we want them to feel that Willmar Electric is approachable and hopefully we can reach a resolution before a problem develops. Approachability is an important part of those things.
It means we can't be defensive (hide in our shells) or hard to contact (run away at the first sign of trouble). Being approachable isn't hard work and doesn't really take a lot of effort. Even in the case of the turtle all they would have to do stay right where they already are. In our case as humans it means we have to trust others and be willing to be vulnerable.
It is hard to arrogant and approachable.
I hope others see Willmar Electric as approachable. I am going to try to continue to get the message out that we seek to be approachable and hopefully anybody that doesn't see us as approachable takes what they might consider as a risk and approaches us and let us know what they are thinking. At that point it is up to us to respond to them in a way that shows we are approachable.
I don't think PC will ever be approachable but Willmar Electric will continue to seek ways to become more and more approachable.
Inside PC's tank he has a few trinkets and things to climb on top of. If he makes it all the way to the top of the tank there is a platform that is out of the water and close to the heating lamp. He like to "sun" himself there. If you walk up the stairs at our house and look into Anne's room you can catch the sight of him sunning himself but once you move closer to PC he scurries away by diving in the water and swimming to the furthest corner of the tank.
PC isn't very approachable. Like I said PC is a turtle. They tend at pull away or get into their shell at the slightest sign that they might be attacked or in danger.
I don't live or work in a tank. (I'll be honest and tell you that I am frighten by things that are 200 times my size.)
Instead I work at Willmar Electric.
What do Turtles have to do with Willlmar Electric?
Approachability.
As far as I know all tturtles are like PC. They all lack approachability.
At Willmar Electric one of our brand promises is to be approachable. We want our customers to see us as approachable and open to getting input from others. We seek to be a place that when a conflict arises on a project others feel safe approaching us with the issue so that we can be part of the solution.
We want our customers to include us in the process of coming up with solutions on how to accomplish what is best for them and their project. If the plumber or HVAC contractor has conflict with where a pipe or duct is potentially going to go on a project we want them to feel that Willmar Electric is approachable and hopefully we can reach a resolution before a problem develops. Approachability is an important part of those things.
It means we can't be defensive (hide in our shells) or hard to contact (run away at the first sign of trouble). Being approachable isn't hard work and doesn't really take a lot of effort. Even in the case of the turtle all they would have to do stay right where they already are. In our case as humans it means we have to trust others and be willing to be vulnerable.
It is hard to arrogant and approachable.
I hope others see Willmar Electric as approachable. I am going to try to continue to get the message out that we seek to be approachable and hopefully anybody that doesn't see us as approachable takes what they might consider as a risk and approaches us and let us know what they are thinking. At that point it is up to us to respond to them in a way that shows we are approachable.
I don't think PC will ever be approachable but Willmar Electric will continue to seek ways to become more and more approachable.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
What is the deal with "Merit Shop?"
One of the core values of Willmar Electric Service has always been what we today call Merit Shop. The term “Merit Shop” didn’t come along until the start of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) in 1950. So the first generations of Willmar Electric Service didn’t refer to Merit Shop, but they did live the philosophy.
Before I give you a long history of what the Merit Shop philosophy is let me tell you what it isn’t. Merit Shop isn’t just another way to say Open Shop. It also isn’t anti-Union.
The Merit Shop philosophy in its simplest terms is really equal to free enterprise. Under the Merit Shop philosophy companies and people are judged based on their abilities and not on their union or non-union status. If we have two qualified contractors going after the same project, we disregard the fact that one of the two contractors may or may not be union or non-union. The same would apply to individuals. As an individual you are evaluated based on you performance not you affiliations.
In practical terms it means that not every single employee is paid the exact same rate. What people get paid is determined by several factors like longevity, willingness to travel, knowledge, and willingness to get along with co-workers, past performance, local market rates, education, role, and level of responsibility.
In practical terms Merit Shop means we are willing to work for either union or non-union contractors and we hire and subcontract work to both union and non-union contractors. You may have seen Willmar Electric Service either work for union contractors or hire union contractors and wondered why, or thought working for and with the unions is contradictory to our philosophy. It isn’t. Since 1920 Willmar Electric has operated under the idea that the “best man should get the job.” Anything else would be un-American!
In the mid 1970’s Willmar Electric Service was a founding member of the Minnesota Chapter of ABC. Frank Chapin was the local Chapter’s first Treasurer. John Chapin served as ABC national Chairman in 1990. John Chapin also served ABC in many other roles including as the Minnesota Chapter Chairman. Steve Bowen has served the Cornhusker Chapter as Chairman and several other roles in addition to his current role as a member of the National ABC’s Business Development Committee. Al Hamilton served the Rocky Mountain Chapter as Chairman and several roles. I (David Chapin) served as Minnesota and Cornhusker Chapter Chairman, a national board member, been a part of the national Political Action Committee and I am currently the Vice-Chairman of the Midwest Region. Dave Jung, Larry Davis and Jay Tornquist have served on various boards and committees for ABC in the past.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Ouch!
Over the weekend I watch a lot of college basketball. Like most of the people that saw Sunday's game between Louisville and Duke I will never forget the sight of seeing Louisville's Kevin Ware brake his leg. It was gross. One of things that you are sorry you had to see.
It makes my leg hurt to think about it.
After it happened I went in the bathroom and when I came out my kids wondered if I went in there to throw up. I didn't but sight of Kevin Ware's leg was that gross. So gross my kids thought it reasonable for somebody to throw up after watching it.
The announcers talked about felling sorry for the young man and his family. People speculated that he would never be the same.
I agree. It was a very sad event that may have a lasting impact on the life of a man in his early 20's.
It also drove home a point with me about safety.
Willmar Electric as a company wants to make sure our employees don't have to suffer any injuries. We want to make sure that everybody we work with goes home in the same condition they arrive in.
Yesterday I read an article in this month's Construction Executive magazine that highlighted a company that has gone over 4 million hours since there last injury. In the article the owner of the company credited the company's culture for achieving such a high level of safety. He sited many examples of how at their firm unsafe behavior isn't tolerated and the health of every co-worker is valued at all times.
That is my message for Willmar Electric. No injuries. Ever.
One step is always to be on the look out of potential injury causing situations.
If you are on a Willmar Electric project site I challenge you to look around you project site and identify when the next injury is likely to occur and eliminate that risk. (Bonus points to do the same thing around your home.)
The goal is no injuries, ever, anywhere!
It makes my leg hurt to think about it.
After it happened I went in the bathroom and when I came out my kids wondered if I went in there to throw up. I didn't but sight of Kevin Ware's leg was that gross. So gross my kids thought it reasonable for somebody to throw up after watching it.
The announcers talked about felling sorry for the young man and his family. People speculated that he would never be the same.
I agree. It was a very sad event that may have a lasting impact on the life of a man in his early 20's.
It also drove home a point with me about safety.
Willmar Electric as a company wants to make sure our employees don't have to suffer any injuries. We want to make sure that everybody we work with goes home in the same condition they arrive in.
Yesterday I read an article in this month's Construction Executive magazine that highlighted a company that has gone over 4 million hours since there last injury. In the article the owner of the company credited the company's culture for achieving such a high level of safety. He sited many examples of how at their firm unsafe behavior isn't tolerated and the health of every co-worker is valued at all times.
That is my message for Willmar Electric. No injuries. Ever.
One step is always to be on the look out of potential injury causing situations.
If you are on a Willmar Electric project site I challenge you to look around you project site and identify when the next injury is likely to occur and eliminate that risk. (Bonus points to do the same thing around your home.)
The goal is no injuries, ever, anywhere!
Monday, March 18, 2013
Keeping up with the Times
Last Friday was a busy day in the Lincoln office.
I understand that what we do at Willmar Electric is install and maintain the electrical systems within large buildings. That is what "pays the bills" so to speak. Friday however we were busy in the Lincoln office updating some systems that allow our support staff to better help our projects get their work done better.
The first item that took place was iPad training for several Foreman.
Currently we have 4 Foreman, 4 Project Leaders and 3 support staff people that are equipped with iPads. On Friday we added 4 Foreman and another Project Leader. With two more Willmar based Foreman set to join the iPad generation in the next couple of weeks we will have over half of our Project Leaders and Foreman using iPads to manage Willmar Electric's projects and keeping them more organized.
You might be asking how does that help us with our core business of "wiring big building?" That is a good question. The current iPad users say that using an iPad save them up to half of their "paperwork" time. That means they have more time to be in the field helping the craft worker with planning work and lining up the resources it takes to work in a high productive, quality and safety manner. (Helping projects Meet the Customers Needs.)
The Foremen in the test group of iPad users also reported several other benefits including:
There is no question that it is fun to have something like an iPad to use on a daily basis but it is also a huge productivity gain and stress reliever to have the iPad on site. To us providing iPad is Thrifty/Financially Prudent!
The second item is a new phone system that we had installed within the office. The Kearney, Willmar and Oklahoma offices are also getting the same phones in the very near future.
The new phones have several new features on them, those features and some new habits are going to allow for the support staff to spend a little less time on answering the phones and contacting each other. The new phones are going to make the support staff easier to get ahold of.
The new phone system and new habits will make us more effective because field personal should be able to get ahold of support staff quicker, more often and more reliably. All of that helps them focus more on the task at hand, which is also the task that we get paid for.
It will allow for support staff and Project Leaders, who are also really support staff, to have more time to be supportive of the field.
The more we can streamline our support staff's functions the more work we can support.
Doing more work for the same overhead. Sounds like a great plan. Sounds like a win for everybody at Willmar Electric, even if you aren't one of the people that got a new phone for your desk. Sounds we are being both Thrifty/Financially Prudent!
I understand that what we do at Willmar Electric is install and maintain the electrical systems within large buildings. That is what "pays the bills" so to speak. Friday however we were busy in the Lincoln office updating some systems that allow our support staff to better help our projects get their work done better.
The first item that took place was iPad training for several Foreman.
Currently we have 4 Foreman, 4 Project Leaders and 3 support staff people that are equipped with iPads. On Friday we added 4 Foreman and another Project Leader. With two more Willmar based Foreman set to join the iPad generation in the next couple of weeks we will have over half of our Project Leaders and Foreman using iPads to manage Willmar Electric's projects and keeping them more organized.
You might be asking how does that help us with our core business of "wiring big building?" That is a good question. The current iPad users say that using an iPad save them up to half of their "paperwork" time. That means they have more time to be in the field helping the craft worker with planning work and lining up the resources it takes to work in a high productive, quality and safety manner. (Helping projects Meet the Customers Needs.)
The Foremen in the test group of iPad users also reported several other benefits including:
- The ability to efficiently take p[roject's drawings into the field by carrying the iPad with them. It is my understanding that Luke Fosket was never far from the Super Saver drawings because he had the iPad with him at all times.
- The ability to work on an as-built drawings as the project moves along. Chris Mohr was able to discuss the plans with Design professionals right at the point of installation.
- The ability for crew members to use Facetime from their cell phones to connect with the Foreman to literally show a foreman remotely what situation he was faced with. Lucas Jung reported how an a day when he was off site he received a Facetime call from a craft worker that showed him live video of a problem we were facing.
There is no question that it is fun to have something like an iPad to use on a daily basis but it is also a huge productivity gain and stress reliever to have the iPad on site. To us providing iPad is Thrifty/Financially Prudent!
The second item is a new phone system that we had installed within the office. The Kearney, Willmar and Oklahoma offices are also getting the same phones in the very near future.
The new phones have several new features on them, those features and some new habits are going to allow for the support staff to spend a little less time on answering the phones and contacting each other. The new phones are going to make the support staff easier to get ahold of.
The new phone system and new habits will make us more effective because field personal should be able to get ahold of support staff quicker, more often and more reliably. All of that helps them focus more on the task at hand, which is also the task that we get paid for.
It will allow for support staff and Project Leaders, who are also really support staff, to have more time to be supportive of the field.
The more we can streamline our support staff's functions the more work we can support.
Doing more work for the same overhead. Sounds like a great plan. Sounds like a win for everybody at Willmar Electric, even if you aren't one of the people that got a new phone for your desk. Sounds we are being both Thrifty/Financially Prudent!
Monday, February 25, 2013
Third Time Around
I spent last week in Florida at various meetings for the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC).
I serve on both the board of directors and the executive committee of the national organization and they each met last week. ABC also hosted its annual Bizcon meeting last week. Bizcon is a conference to brings in several authors, speakers and other experts that help a business person like myself understand upcoming trends within the contraction industry and also provides education on best practices within the industry. It is an excellent conference and well worth my time.
I had the chance to have long personal conversations with people such as Karl Rove and Patrick Lencioni. Both of whom are famous and well respected within their fields of expertise. I also got to meet and talk with high level construction industry people like Carl Crowe, Wal*Mart VP of Construction, and Greg Stein, Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) VP of Construction, just to name a few.
I mention all of this not to give you some huge name drop but rather as an introduction to the topic of why does Dave Chapin spend so much time at ABC meetings. It takes a lot of time away for both my home and Willmar Electric. That means a sacrifice for both the people I live with and the people I work with.
(I understand that some of you that know me well are questioning whether or not having me be gone is a sacrifice for the people in my life. I have been told that having a break from me can be more of a reward for others then a sacrifice but for the purposes of this blog we are going to assume that my family misses me when I am gone and that my co-worker are forced to do more work because I am not at the office.)
At least that is how I would like to think that it is.
The more time I spend with ABC the more people come to think that like my father before me I might become ABC's national Chairman. That would make Dad and I the first father/son combination to serve is such a role for the association.
I would guess that during my week in Florida last week I was introduced to a stranger with the opening line that went something like "if Dave becomes the National Chair the Chapins will be the first father/son combination to serve as Chairs." It is a nice sentiment and compliment. I know my Dad joins me in thinking it is an honor. As of today I told the others on the executive committee I would like to serve as the 2016 Chair.
Many people suggest that I am a second generation ABCer. That simply isn't the case.
Justin and I (plus the entire organization) are third generation ABCers. Our Dad's uncle Frank was the Treasurer for the Minnesota Chapter of ABC in it's very first years. Willmar Electric was a founding member of the chapter. Willmar Electric's first ABC leader was in fact uncle Frank!
And if you truly know Frank it should come as no surprise. ABC's core philosophy is the Merit Shop and the Merit Shop philosophy does a perfect job of describing Frank and explaining why I spend so much time with ABC.
The official definition ABC give for the phrase Merit Shop is:
That phrase sums up how Frank thought business should be done and how Willmar Electric should be run. Frank wasn't in the room when that statement was written up but for those of us that know him we know that is how Frank operates. Allow people that freedom to work and reward high achievement regardless of labor affiliation sums it up.
It explain why Willmar Electric joined ABC and why Frank was willing to serve as it Treasurer in its early days.
It is what I spend my time working and fighting for when I am away from home at ABC meetings. It is what Willmar Electric has been based on for 93 years.
The Merit Shop. It is still one of our core values today.
Willmar Electric's core values are;
I serve on both the board of directors and the executive committee of the national organization and they each met last week. ABC also hosted its annual Bizcon meeting last week. Bizcon is a conference to brings in several authors, speakers and other experts that help a business person like myself understand upcoming trends within the contraction industry and also provides education on best practices within the industry. It is an excellent conference and well worth my time.
I had the chance to have long personal conversations with people such as Karl Rove and Patrick Lencioni. Both of whom are famous and well respected within their fields of expertise. I also got to meet and talk with high level construction industry people like Carl Crowe, Wal*Mart VP of Construction, and Greg Stein, Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) VP of Construction, just to name a few.
I mention all of this not to give you some huge name drop but rather as an introduction to the topic of why does Dave Chapin spend so much time at ABC meetings. It takes a lot of time away for both my home and Willmar Electric. That means a sacrifice for both the people I live with and the people I work with.
(I understand that some of you that know me well are questioning whether or not having me be gone is a sacrifice for the people in my life. I have been told that having a break from me can be more of a reward for others then a sacrifice but for the purposes of this blog we are going to assume that my family misses me when I am gone and that my co-worker are forced to do more work because I am not at the office.)
At least that is how I would like to think that it is.
The more time I spend with ABC the more people come to think that like my father before me I might become ABC's national Chairman. That would make Dad and I the first father/son combination to serve is such a role for the association.
I would guess that during my week in Florida last week I was introduced to a stranger with the opening line that went something like "if Dave becomes the National Chair the Chapins will be the first father/son combination to serve as Chairs." It is a nice sentiment and compliment. I know my Dad joins me in thinking it is an honor. As of today I told the others on the executive committee I would like to serve as the 2016 Chair.
Many people suggest that I am a second generation ABCer. That simply isn't the case.
Justin and I (plus the entire organization) are third generation ABCers. Our Dad's uncle Frank was the Treasurer for the Minnesota Chapter of ABC in it's very first years. Willmar Electric was a founding member of the chapter. Willmar Electric's first ABC leader was in fact uncle Frank!
And if you truly know Frank it should come as no surprise. ABC's core philosophy is the Merit Shop and the Merit Shop philosophy does a perfect job of describing Frank and explaining why I spend so much time with ABC.
The official definition ABC give for the phrase Merit Shop is:
Merit Shop is a way of doing business in which contractors reward
employees based on performance and encourage them to reach their
highest level of achievement, and in which contractors are awarded
business based on quality, safety, and cost effectiveness regardless
of labor affiliation.
It explain why Willmar Electric joined ABC and why Frank was willing to serve as it Treasurer in its early days.
It is what I spend my time working and fighting for when I am away from home at ABC meetings. It is what Willmar Electric has been based on for 93 years.
The Merit Shop. It is still one of our core values today.
Willmar Electric's core values are;
- Treating others the way you want to be treated
- Merit Shop
- Thrifty
- Meet Customer Needs.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Going Green
My brother Justin has 4 young children. His youngest son, Max, is 2 1/2 years old and like most kids that age not everything he says comes out perfectly clear. He is a very bright young yet but from time to time what he says makes very little sense to people besides his mother.
While to be exact I think that at time his mother, Dianna, can understand Max's words but not the meaning while at other times she can understand the meaning but not the words. If you have ever lived with a 2 1/2 year old this makes perfect sense. If you have never lived with a 2 1/2 year old your missing out on a lot of fun (and frustration)!
And trust me talking to Max can be both (mostly fun).
At Christmas time the entire Chapin clan got together to celebrate. Although we aren't a huge number of the people, the 20 of us can't all sit at one table. This year found Max as the only kid at a table full of my siblings and our spouses. In fact Max, my sister Nancy, Dianna and I all sat at the same end of the table.
It was at the table that my 2 1/2 year old nephew decided to model a great life lesson.
As we sat eating Max noticed that Nancy had taken a green Marciano cherry off of her dinner roll and decided not to eat it. A wise health choice because I am fairly sure that although edible a green Marciano cherries aren't really food.
After minutes of making noises and sounds that I am sure at times were intended to be words Max clear as Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg, Max decides to speak up and say "are you going to eat that." As he point to Nancy's unwanted cherry. Nancy responded by quickly giving this young man a chance at pure sugar before his parents even realized what was going on. (Hey, she is the aunt. She wants to be loved by her nephew and Max is going home with Justin and Dianna.)
Max chewed the cherry for awhile. Actually he chewed it for quite sometime. But in the end he found out why Nancy didn't want the cherry for herself.
That was brunch.
At dinner a few hours later we found ourselves all sitting in the same spots and again Max noticed that Nancy wasn't polishing off everything on her plate. So again as clear as Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg, Max decides to speak up and say "are you going to eat that." This time referring to the lime jello on Nancy's plate. Again as the aunt Nancy gave the sugar to the 2 1/2. (Well done, sis.)
Max's second food request had us wondering if he was fixated with green foods, although it should be pointed out that Max didn't ask about anybody's uneaten salads.
When something was just outside of Max's reach that he wanted he went for it in the only way he could. He ask for the item. Over the next few week I notice several times that things people requested for gifts weren't measuring up exactly how they thought they would. Nobody was ungrateful but the delivery was less then the desire.
I often hear people say that a tool they thought would be super slick to a particular job wasn't quite as handy as they imagined that would be and our house has many dusty items that didn't hit reach the expectations of the recipient. I am sure that you have had similar experiences.
Isn't that how life often goes for us.
Just like Max's food requests, the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Sometimes even if the grass is greener we find out that greener grass isn't what we really wanted after all.
Brings me back to concept of being thrifty. Getting more things doesn't typically bring us the satisfaction we seek but at the same time hoarding doesn't either. Wisely using or spending our resources on things that are tested and proven over time often does leave us satisfied.
While to be exact I think that at time his mother, Dianna, can understand Max's words but not the meaning while at other times she can understand the meaning but not the words. If you have ever lived with a 2 1/2 year old this makes perfect sense. If you have never lived with a 2 1/2 year old your missing out on a lot of fun (and frustration)!
And trust me talking to Max can be both (mostly fun).
At Christmas time the entire Chapin clan got together to celebrate. Although we aren't a huge number of the people, the 20 of us can't all sit at one table. This year found Max as the only kid at a table full of my siblings and our spouses. In fact Max, my sister Nancy, Dianna and I all sat at the same end of the table.
It was at the table that my 2 1/2 year old nephew decided to model a great life lesson.
As we sat eating Max noticed that Nancy had taken a green Marciano cherry off of her dinner roll and decided not to eat it. A wise health choice because I am fairly sure that although edible a green Marciano cherries aren't really food.
After minutes of making noises and sounds that I am sure at times were intended to be words Max clear as Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg, Max decides to speak up and say "are you going to eat that." As he point to Nancy's unwanted cherry. Nancy responded by quickly giving this young man a chance at pure sugar before his parents even realized what was going on. (Hey, she is the aunt. She wants to be loved by her nephew and Max is going home with Justin and Dianna.)
Max chewed the cherry for awhile. Actually he chewed it for quite sometime. But in the end he found out why Nancy didn't want the cherry for herself.
That was brunch.
At dinner a few hours later we found ourselves all sitting in the same spots and again Max noticed that Nancy wasn't polishing off everything on her plate. So again as clear as Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg, Max decides to speak up and say "are you going to eat that." This time referring to the lime jello on Nancy's plate. Again as the aunt Nancy gave the sugar to the 2 1/2. (Well done, sis.)
Max's second food request had us wondering if he was fixated with green foods, although it should be pointed out that Max didn't ask about anybody's uneaten salads.
When something was just outside of Max's reach that he wanted he went for it in the only way he could. He ask for the item. Over the next few week I notice several times that things people requested for gifts weren't measuring up exactly how they thought they would. Nobody was ungrateful but the delivery was less then the desire.
I often hear people say that a tool they thought would be super slick to a particular job wasn't quite as handy as they imagined that would be and our house has many dusty items that didn't hit reach the expectations of the recipient. I am sure that you have had similar experiences.
Isn't that how life often goes for us.
Just like Max's food requests, the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Sometimes even if the grass is greener we find out that greener grass isn't what we really wanted after all.
Brings me back to concept of being thrifty. Getting more things doesn't typically bring us the satisfaction we seek but at the same time hoarding doesn't either. Wisely using or spending our resources on things that are tested and proven over time often does leave us satisfied.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Bogus Impression
While driving my car today a song came on the radio by Suzy Bogguss. Every time I hear Suzy sing I laugh just a little. If you have no idea who she is please don't mistake her for "Weird" Al Yankovic. She isn't trying to make me laugh. No, the reason I laugh is because of my friend Kenny King.
You see a few years ago Kenny and his wife, Kirsten, convinced Sue and I that we should go to "The Great Minnesota Get Together" (state fair). We went the same day as the Mary Chapin-Carpenter concert. My wife Sue and Kirsten thought it was a good idea. I am still not sure what my role was in any of this, I didn't want to do either of the two activities. But few people consider me a friend and only Sue would be married to me so I willing went on this journey, if only to be a good friend and husband.
The opening act for Mary Chapin-Carpenter was Suzy Boggass. Except Kenny had a mental block and every time he went to say Suzy Bogguss the name came out as Kathy Bogus. After hearing Kenny call her Kathy Bogus several times the name stuck. To me her name changed. If I ever meet Suzy Bogguss I am sure I will call her Kathy.
In grade school a new kid moved to town. Matt Dawson thought he looked like a bird. Nearly everybody called him Bird until we were out of high school. His real name is Bryan Halgremson.
In college I made several new friends. One of them was Jon Willis. He called himself J Dubbs and like Matt Dawson he was excellent at giving out nicknames. The tall skinny kid down the hall became Lanky and it takes me a minute to remember him as Todd Woolf.
It is ever harder to remember the name Tim Anderson. Why because he was from Walnut Grove and that meant we all called him Wally.
During my son Mike's select baseball days he was called "Billy" and we had to warn family when we went to games that when people talked about Billy they were talking about Mike. (That story is too long for me to cover here. It has to do with Caddyshack, his bat and the personality of Bob Pettit.)
From history we have the legend of Thomas Jackson a man born on January 21, 1824 and lived with that plain name for over 37 years. Then at what us Yankees call the First Battle of Bull Run he was nicknamed Stonewall for his bold leadership. He lived for another 2 years as the famous Confederate General Stonewall Jackson before dying at the battle of Chancellorsville. Stonewall Jackson is a legend and nearly everybody is familiar with that name. Monuments have been erected and schools have been name after the Confederate General across the south. It's Stonewall (2 years) not Thomas (37 years) to everybody!!!
It is more than names however. Actions tend to stick as well.
At work we have odd or funny stories about people that stick in our minds and form our impressions of certain people. Often even though we have known somebody for years we still go back in time to a particular incident that is less then flattering to define them in our minds.
Growing up we can remember people labeled for deeds or actions that happened while we were all in grade school. A kid wets his pants in school and he gets labeled. A girls makes one bad choice and everybody labels her.
Maybe the first time you met somebody they said something that cemented your opinion about them.
I have been told that some people think am a witty and clever. Many others think that I am a jerk and find me quite obnoxious. Sometime that is a matter of taste but it also has to the do with the timing of what I said or did. (I need to work on that.)
But my point isn't about making sure that you make a good impression although that is important. My point is about treating people the way you want to be treated.
Before you rush to judgement or lock into what you think of somebody I encourage you to make sure you really know the person. Sometimes that can mean giving people several chances. None of us likes to be labeled. With that in mind I would encourage you to give somebody a second chance. Don't rush to judgement.
Isn't that what we want for ourselves?
You see a few years ago Kenny and his wife, Kirsten, convinced Sue and I that we should go to "The Great Minnesota Get Together" (state fair). We went the same day as the Mary Chapin-Carpenter concert. My wife Sue and Kirsten thought it was a good idea. I am still not sure what my role was in any of this, I didn't want to do either of the two activities. But few people consider me a friend and only Sue would be married to me so I willing went on this journey, if only to be a good friend and husband.
The opening act for Mary Chapin-Carpenter was Suzy Boggass. Except Kenny had a mental block and every time he went to say Suzy Bogguss the name came out as Kathy Bogus. After hearing Kenny call her Kathy Bogus several times the name stuck. To me her name changed. If I ever meet Suzy Bogguss I am sure I will call her Kathy.
In grade school a new kid moved to town. Matt Dawson thought he looked like a bird. Nearly everybody called him Bird until we were out of high school. His real name is Bryan Halgremson.
In college I made several new friends. One of them was Jon Willis. He called himself J Dubbs and like Matt Dawson he was excellent at giving out nicknames. The tall skinny kid down the hall became Lanky and it takes me a minute to remember him as Todd Woolf.
It is ever harder to remember the name Tim Anderson. Why because he was from Walnut Grove and that meant we all called him Wally.
During my son Mike's select baseball days he was called "Billy" and we had to warn family when we went to games that when people talked about Billy they were talking about Mike. (That story is too long for me to cover here. It has to do with Caddyshack, his bat and the personality of Bob Pettit.)
From history we have the legend of Thomas Jackson a man born on January 21, 1824 and lived with that plain name for over 37 years. Then at what us Yankees call the First Battle of Bull Run he was nicknamed Stonewall for his bold leadership. He lived for another 2 years as the famous Confederate General Stonewall Jackson before dying at the battle of Chancellorsville. Stonewall Jackson is a legend and nearly everybody is familiar with that name. Monuments have been erected and schools have been name after the Confederate General across the south. It's Stonewall (2 years) not Thomas (37 years) to everybody!!!
It is more than names however. Actions tend to stick as well.
At work we have odd or funny stories about people that stick in our minds and form our impressions of certain people. Often even though we have known somebody for years we still go back in time to a particular incident that is less then flattering to define them in our minds.
Growing up we can remember people labeled for deeds or actions that happened while we were all in grade school. A kid wets his pants in school and he gets labeled. A girls makes one bad choice and everybody labels her.
Maybe the first time you met somebody they said something that cemented your opinion about them.
I have been told that some people think am a witty and clever. Many others think that I am a jerk and find me quite obnoxious. Sometime that is a matter of taste but it also has to the do with the timing of what I said or did. (I need to work on that.)
But my point isn't about making sure that you make a good impression although that is important. My point is about treating people the way you want to be treated.
Before you rush to judgement or lock into what you think of somebody I encourage you to make sure you really know the person. Sometimes that can mean giving people several chances. None of us likes to be labeled. With that in mind I would encourage you to give somebody a second chance. Don't rush to judgement.
Isn't that what we want for ourselves?
Monday, January 7, 2013
It's Elmo Chapin Day
Yesterday would have been my Grandpa’s 91st birthday. Every year I send out a tribute to him and encourage others to consider leaving their world better than they found it in honor of him. I call it Elmo Chapin day.
I am sending the note on a Monday because this year his birthday, January 6th, landed on the weekend. An encouraging sign in my life was that my children remembered the point of Elmo Chapin day. Hallelujah, they are listening!!
Here is how my Grandpa worked. He was a servant. He thought that you should always leave a room or any other place in better shape than you found it.
So if he saw a piece of garbage on the floor he didn’t wonder who put it there. He picked it up and threw it away. If he was leaving a room he turned off the lights when he left the room.
He wasn’t perfect.
At times he left you wondering how a person could so easily notice and take care of three scraps of paper in a public restroom but was unable to clean the stacks of useless piles of paper out of his own office. The temptation to ask him how a 6 year old magazine on a subject he could care less about wasn’t garbage just like the paper towel you picked up off the floor ten minutes ago came to me quite often. His office was always beyond a mess.
My Grandpa not only used this concept on the small level I have suggested above but he carried it out to a much larger level. Thing that he worked on in his life like give to and supporting missionaries at church, starting the alarm division at Willmar Electric, and helping widows or the underprivileged are larger examples of his wanting to make the world a better place. Giving people a hand up in the world made his day.
Finding a job or a place to live for somebody down on their luck was typical of Elmo Chapin.
Over the past few years of my declaring an Elmo Chapin day I have received several warm responses from people about how much they appreciated and loved my Grandpa. They are always fun to receive. I have also seen countless examples of people being like Elmo Chapin. That is even more fun. (Even when it was Dan Williams shutting off the lights on a room full of people leaving us in complete blackness as he left the room. He laughed and we reminded him that shutting off the lights when you leave a room applies only if you are the last to leave!)
But his concern for his fellow man and the world around us was something we all need to try to emulate.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Better than a Can Opener
We just received a nice thank you note from my wife, Sue's Dad. The note included the usually thank yous for gifts given and kinds words of good times spent together over the holidays that most thank you notes tend to include. It also included a line from my father-in-law, Chuck, that many readers would have ignored or failed to catch.
Chuck included a line that said "so glad you got home safe and sound."
You are likely thinking so what, Dave, of course he is glad his family got home safe and sound!
I agree but most people don't include a line like that in their thank you notes. Most thank you notes say things like, "Grandma, Thank you for the video games, I will play with them until my eyes go blind or my thumbs are numb" or "Mom, Thank you for the book. I will use it to become a better person." Maybe something like "Honey, Thank you for all six sweaters, I didn't realize my entire wardrobe needed replacing" even "Glad you got me an electric can opener because I was starting to reach my breaking point."
O.K. those were exaggerations but I enjoyed writing them.
However if you know Chuck Stern you know he never fails to mention safety. He always has a heart felt warning about some potential danger in life. It is part of who he is. The value of safety is never lost on him. So his thankfulness of his daughter and her family's need to be expressed. It is an expression of love. He loves his family and wants them to be safe. What an honor.
He doesn't us take it for granted.
That is the mentality I want everybody at Willmar Electric to have for each other. We should never take each other for granted and we should never take the safety and well being of each other for granted.
I am very grateful that my father-in-law gives our family such a wonderful example and couldn't resist sharing it with everybody.
Let's face it being safe and sound is better then all the video games, books, sweaters and can openers we could possibly have anyways.
Chuck included a line that said "so glad you got home safe and sound."
You are likely thinking so what, Dave, of course he is glad his family got home safe and sound!
I agree but most people don't include a line like that in their thank you notes. Most thank you notes say things like, "Grandma, Thank you for the video games, I will play with them until my eyes go blind or my thumbs are numb" or "Mom, Thank you for the book. I will use it to become a better person." Maybe something like "Honey, Thank you for all six sweaters, I didn't realize my entire wardrobe needed replacing" even "Glad you got me an electric can opener because I was starting to reach my breaking point."
O.K. those were exaggerations but I enjoyed writing them.
However if you know Chuck Stern you know he never fails to mention safety. He always has a heart felt warning about some potential danger in life. It is part of who he is. The value of safety is never lost on him. So his thankfulness of his daughter and her family's need to be expressed. It is an expression of love. He loves his family and wants them to be safe. What an honor.
He doesn't us take it for granted.
That is the mentality I want everybody at Willmar Electric to have for each other. We should never take each other for granted and we should never take the safety and well being of each other for granted.
I am very grateful that my father-in-law gives our family such a wonderful example and couldn't resist sharing it with everybody.
Let's face it being safe and sound is better then all the video games, books, sweaters and can openers we could possibly have anyways.
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