It’s easy being average

Last month Kim and I traveled to Florida to take in one of the three remaining shuttle launches. The trip almost got extended by a day when we got to the airport minutes before our return flight was set to depart. We’ll skip the part where I thought our flight left 30 minutes later than it actually did to the part of the story worth sharing. We checked in online but failed to print our boarding passes. The kiosk at the airport could not find our reservation, so we went to the service counter (still oblivious to our real departure time). As we approached the next open agent, we hear the announcement. You know…the announcement you never want to hear from outside security, “this will serve as our final boarding call for JetBlue flight 259 to Long Beach. All passengers should be at the boarding gate immediately.”

At this point it would have been extremely easy, and quite honestly expected, for the agent to apologize and let us know we were going to miss our flight. However, that didn’t happen. In super-star fashion, she notified the gate of our late arrival and then proceeded to whisk us off to security. We quickly became “those people” as we bypassed the line and chased our agent through the terminal and to our gate.

As I sit here at 32,000 feet typing, I cannot help to think how easy it would have been for her to have just been average and not done anything for us. I’m pretty sure her job description doesn’t say, “sprint through security and down the hall so that passengers who screw up their departure time can make their flight.” I’m not saying other agents wouldn’t make the effort, but let’s be real, she stepped it up when we needed help the most. This is what it takes to be great.

The same is true of our space program. When JFK made his famed speech at Rice University he didn’t say, “let’s get to space.” He said, “let’s get to the moon” and took the bold step of telling us to move swiftly in doing it. That’s the beauty of being great – your legacy can become enduring.

If we want to be outstanding leaders, we must realize that being average won’t cut it. We must challenge ourselves. When setting out on our mission, whether it be in customer service, leading a group, parenting a child, etc., we must focus on what being extraordinary can produce. Do you have an example where you avoided being average and in turn produced a great result?

Entitlement – The Right to be Happy

Alice: Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?
Cheshire Cat: That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.
Alice: I don't much care where.
Cheshire Cat: Then it doesn't much matter which way you go.
Alice: …so long as I get somewhere.
Cheshire Cat: Oh, you're sure to do that, if only you walk long enough.

Yes, you are entitled to be happy at home and at work. Unfortunately, the framers of our constitution didn’t tell us that the pursuit of happiness won't be easy. Bad things will happen along the way and I hope me sharing my stories help you understand that you're not alone and how you too can overcome those events. There will also be times you’ll be hit with the unexpected. The unexpected won't always be bad things, just things you didn’t plan for. Through it all, you're entitled to be happy. If you aren't then I hope I can at least try to get you moving in that direction, but you need to decide where you're going.

Last month I got to watch my grandmother celebrate her 90th birthday. She was born the day Babe Ruth got sold to the NY Yankees (sorry Boston fans). In her lifetime the world changed more than I'm sure she ever could have imagined. She lived through the great depression, two world wars, and got to watch her immediate family (kids, grandkids, great grandkids) grow to over 50 of us. If you saw her, you’d never have to ask if she was happy because you could see it on her face. She didn’t speak the best English, but if I learned anything from her, it was you better start living happy if you want to keep living. As amazingly simple as it was, she had focus and she knew what made her happy.

You must focus on what really makes you happy. Figure out your destination. Don’t give the answers other people want, instead focus on the lowest common denominator of all the things you enjoy. I'm willing to bet you’ll find something there.

What are you doing when there's a smile on your face?

What is it that makes you sit up in the chair and lean in with attentiveness?

What is it that you could do day after day and never notice the time on the clock?

If you told me ten years ago, when I was on the verge of graduating college with an Aerospace Engineering degree, that my job title would be a HR Generalist, I would have laughed at you. However, if you told me that I would be doing something I was passionate about and enjoying my work, then I’d say that sounds more like it. My answers to the above questions have changed slightly over the last decade. I've definitely become more dialed in on what really makes me happy. The most amazing part is that I've learned you can be happy and get paid for it. As I said before, it will not be easy, but if you want the advice that follows to be helpful, then start with being honest with yourself. No limitations. Do you know where you're going?

I Want it All and I Want it Now!

“Patience is the ability to count down before you blast off.” ~Author Unknown

As promised last week, I’m following up on your requested dialogue regarding career moves. I’ve been in the workforce full-time for almost a decade now. Of course it scares me a little, but when I sit and reflect I’ve learned some key tactics on changing jobs and careers. I’ve spent the entire time with one company, spanned three careers (Engineering, Management and HR), and ten different positions. If you dig into each position, my work scope changed even more times.

I’ve had highs and lows during the span. There were exciting moments that included two test flights in one day and others that included hiring 30+ in 24 hours just to name a few. Unfortunately, there were other moments involving frustration, disgust and disappointment. I could not have scripted the experiences I’ve had, though I am a believer that chance favors the prepared mind.

Over the next few posts, I’m going to share my approach to developing a plan and executing on it. While others have flown by the seat of their pants and have been successful, I like to be in control and my recommendations are based on what I can tolerate. As you follow along, you’re going to need patience with the process. I realize that many of us have had our patience tested for a while now and I find it healthy to discuss.

What’s frustrating you the most about the job change you’d like to make? How long has your patience been tested?