TIP #43: Give What's Missing

If everyone is shouting, what's missing is quiet reason.
If everyone is pointing fingers, what's missing is accountability.
If everyone is finding fault, what's missing is praise and recognition.
If everyone is in agreement, what's missing is another perspective.
If everyone is focused on short-term gains, what's missing is long term thinking.
If everyone is thinking about their own department, what's missing is thinking about the company.
If everyone is cutting corners, what's missing is quality results.
If everyone is focused on what to do, what's missing is how to do it.
If everyone is afraid to speak up, what's missing is the courage to find your voice.
If everyone is being like everyone, what's missing is being yourself.

People who are winning at working, offer what's missing. They bring balance, perspective and insight to their work.

Make your work - work for you. Get Nan's Winning at Working eColumn in your email every two weeks Subscribe to Nan's Winning at Working bi-weekly column.

Read Nan's current Winning at Working column: The Mirror Test

Check out Nan's life reflections column, In the Scheme of Things.

Posted by Nan Russell at 09:56 PM

Story for the Day

Disclaimers first. I don't know if this story is true or not. It came in an email from a dear friend, making the rounds across the internet with no author or source. So my apologies to the unknown author who wrote this. For me, it's a wonderful story illustrating what winning means.

"At the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash.

At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win. All, that is except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and looked back. Then they all turned around and went back ... every one of them. One girl with Down's Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said, "This will make it better."

Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line. Everyone in the stadium stood, the cheering went on for several minutes. People who were there are still telling the story ... Why? Because deep down we know this one thing: What matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What matters in this life is helping others win, even if it means slowing down and changing our course."

Make your work - work for you. Get Nan's Winning at Working eColumn in your email every two weeks Subscribe to Nan's Winning at Working bi-weekly column.

Read Nan's current Winning at Working column: Lying On a Nail.

Check out Nan's life reflections column, In the Scheme of Things.

Posted by Nan Russell at 09:25 PM