Mud

Thanks to the Dayton Business Journal for the wonderful article they wrote about the Epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio’s Mudstock 08 Mud Volleyball Tournament.  Like every non profit, we don’t have much budget for advertising - so free publicity is really appreciated.  So again… THANK YOU!  

As is stated in the article, we are anticipating a record turnout this year, and spots are going fast.  If you plan on playing, make sure to get your team together now.  The event is an all day party, filled with fun beyond muddy volleyball players.  There are bands and spectators, food and fun for all.  Even if you don’t want to play, consider coming out to watch and enjoy the experience of it all.  We also need volunteers to help with parking, making mud, and keeping the day on track.  

If you are interested in playing, attending, or volunteering check out www.daytonmud.com - which was put together by Jon Brooks and the crew at Hafenbrack Marketing. (Thanks guys)  I hope you will be able to attend.

This event funds many of the programs put on by the EFWO throughout the year, so know that just by showing up you are helping thousands of people across the Miami Valley who need help dealing with Epilepsy.  Mudstock is the perfect way to have fun and help the community all at once.  Join the fun, and get involved today.

For more information on the Epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio, visit www.ohioepilepsy.org

http://dayton.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2008/06/02/daily18.html?surround=lfn

One Hour with The One Minute Entrepreneur - Ken Blanchard Comes to Dayton

Ken Blanchard is one of the most prominent thinkers in modern business. He has written best selling books like Gung Ho, the One Minute Manager, Raving Fans, Whale Done, Know Can Do, Servant Leader and numerous other titles. (He was also a professor at Ohio University.) He is a firm believer in empowering employees, the power of positive thinking, practicing common sense customer service, and the concept of servant leadership.

Yesterday, in Dayton, Ohio he was the featured speaker at an event put on by the Dayton Business Journal and University of Dayton Center for Leadership & Executive Development. The event attracted what I would guess to be about 500 people, most of whom seemed to enjoy the presentation. I left with several great thoughts jotted down in my Moleskine notebook - some of which I would now like to share with you.

Blanchard’s 4 P’s -
Different from the familiar 4 p’s of marketing (product, price, place, promotion) Blanchard outlined for P’s necessary for running a successful business.

1. Passion - If you don’t love what you do, you will never be the best at it. Find your passion and do what you love.

2. Profit - Passion without profit is a hobby, not a business. Making money is important. In order to do this it is important that the people within an organization have a clear financial picture of the firm. If people know the challenges, and are tasked with creating solutions, time and time again they will succeed. A great quote was that Blanchard believes that “none of us is as smart as all of us.” A great take on the Wisdom of Crowds concept.

3. People - Blanchard suggested that leaders should adopt the motto of “you can do it, we can help.” This led into a lengthy and meaningful discussion on Servant Leadership. He stated that a popular misconception of Servant Leadership is the idea of the inmates running the asylum. In true Servant Leadership this is just not the case. There are 2 distinct parts to Servant Leadership. The Leadership part of Servant Leadership involves setting the direction and vision for an organization. Once this is established, Blanchard recommends flipping the organization pyramid upside down - with leaders constantly working to empower people to succeed in realizing the vision - the Servant part. He also stressed that organizations should encourage people to use their brains instead of relying solely on rules, regulations, and policies for decision making.

4. Priority - “At the end of the game it all goes back in the box.” It is important to keep life in perspective. Things like family, friends, and fulfillment should not be sacrificed for work sake. Blanchard recommended a great technique for helping to prioritize life. When facing decisions about what tasks to do, attach one of the following two labels - Important Forever / Temporary Stuff. Important Forever trumps Temporary Stuff every time.

I thought Dr. Blanchard was fantastic, and I even got a copy of his most recent book The One Minute Entrepreneur. I will let you know what I think of it once I finish it. Not only that, but I ran into an old high school friend from Kenton Ridge that I had not seen for at least 10 years. (Great to see you Rick) Thanks to the DBJ and the CLED for putting this event together, and to Dr. Blanchard for spending some time in Dayton.

The March Madness Myth

I recently read in the Dayton Business Journal that according to a recent study conducted by a Chicago based consulting firm, March Madness costs companies$1.7 Billion. Really? Does anyone really believe this to be the case. I don’t. I suppose if we all still worked on assembly lines, and then spent the day mindlessly consuming basketball instead of building widgets, this would perhaps be accurate. However, the assumption that we are still a mindless drones who would otherwise come to work, not talk about life with co-workers, and otherwise not have fun at work seems dated and flawed to me. Is March Madness a distraction? Potentially. Is it any more of a time waster than the 500 meetings you may have to sit through? Doubtful. Does it give employees something to talk about, share with one another, and potentially connect on level deeper than a shared source for a paycheck. Absolutely. March Madness, Brackets, and the fun that surrounds them are perfect for conversation - not just between employees but with Clients and strangers too. March Madness is an opportunity to connect. I wonder if that study considers just how many sales reps led off appointments this week with the question “how did your brackets hold up the weekend?” That question generally sparks discussion which builds rapport and potentially trust. People buy from people they know, like, and trust. Do the math. Is this part of the non-productive time cited in the study? For 16 days March Madness very effectively replaces discussion of “the weather,” at a time when the weather is actually interesting. Sure, people might be less productive in cranking out widgets while their favorite team or alma matter is on the court, but I want to see the study that shows how much business is helped, not hindered, by March Madness. What do you think? Is March Madness good or bad for businesses?

[poll=5]

March Madness to cost companies $1.7B - Dayton Business Journal: