I'm taking a break from blogging until October 1st, 2015.
I need to get some things straightened out with my domain so I can own and control both my website and blog. Blogger and blogspot.com don't have enough control built in.
I'll also be working on some side projects during this time that I have neglected.
If you need to contact me for any reason I'm available by email at austin.w.watts@gmail.com
I don't say it often enough, but thank you for reading. One of the best feelings in the world is to hear that you have read what I wrote, told me about it, and then shared it with a friend.
Thank you. I'll see you in October!
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Monday, July 13, 2015
Pareto Rule
A long time ago I listen to Jim Rohn coach me through his "Challenge to Succeed" CD. Inside one of his teachings he uncovered something for me that I knew in my mind worked, but had not yet applied. Jim showed me the power of a seminar in a sentence. I have a few that I have held onto over the years.
He said, "Look for the few things that make the most difference and then spend most of your time doing those things. If you know a thousand things for your health, you can't do a thousand. You can only do a few. So that's why you should eat an apple a day! You don't say 'In nine days I'll eat ten apples,' NO, that won't work, it's an apple a DAY that keeps the doctor away."
He said that the best kept secret of the rich is time management. He observed that both poor people and rich people had about 24 hours a day. What startling discovery he made for me! Both have equal time and yield different results.
Yesterday I reaffirmed that I love two things: my family and the outdoors.
Now how to I translate that into a wise investment of time?
If the greatest feelings I have derive from time spent in God's creation and with my family, how do I spend more time doing the things that bring me the greatest satisfaction?
Two simple things will have to be true if I am to make that a reality; my calendar and wallet have to reflect my decision.
If I want more time, memories and love to come my way then I need to rip a page out of Jim Rohn's guide: focus on the few things that make the most difference.
This can be applied to any subject and with anybody. What few things make the most difference in your life? Leave a comment below so I can see what resonates with you!
He said, "Look for the few things that make the most difference and then spend most of your time doing those things. If you know a thousand things for your health, you can't do a thousand. You can only do a few. So that's why you should eat an apple a day! You don't say 'In nine days I'll eat ten apples,' NO, that won't work, it's an apple a DAY that keeps the doctor away."
He said that the best kept secret of the rich is time management. He observed that both poor people and rich people had about 24 hours a day. What startling discovery he made for me! Both have equal time and yield different results.
Yesterday I reaffirmed that I love two things: my family and the outdoors.
Now how to I translate that into a wise investment of time?
If the greatest feelings I have derive from time spent in God's creation and with my family, how do I spend more time doing the things that bring me the greatest satisfaction?
Two simple things will have to be true if I am to make that a reality; my calendar and wallet have to reflect my decision.
If I want more time, memories and love to come my way then I need to rip a page out of Jim Rohn's guide: focus on the few things that make the most difference.
This can be applied to any subject and with anybody. What few things make the most difference in your life? Leave a comment below so I can see what resonates with you!
Saturday, July 11, 2015
What are my ears for?
This lesson has been the most challenging to write about so far this year. In part because simple issues in our restaurant are solved by watching a video and taking a five question test. As we develop our problems become less about what to do and more about how to do them. I'm in the middle of several things at the same time (including the solution) and I want my readers and leaders that I know to learn from my mistakes and watch what I'm doing so they can decide for themselves. Should I do what he suggest? Or should I go a different route?
I have a hearing loss that I've had from birth. From those who know me well, when my hearing aids aren't in, the struggle's real. It's hard to communicate when someone can't or won't hear what you're saying. My high school football coach was notorious for this phrase, "Two people I don't want on my team, those who can't and those who won't." I hope that at the end of reading this you can think differently about the way you listen.
Recently my team ask me to do something for them that involved speaking to another team member on behalf of the team. As that was decided I shifted uncomfortably in my chair as I thought to myself, 'This isn't going to be fun." My team was expecting me to pull a proverbial hare out of a hat and I could feel the pressure mounting. I knew if I wanted the meeting to be successful it was imperative that I prepare adequately before beginning. I gathered information from multiple sources prior to having this crucial conversation. I've written about crucial conversations here. There's several lessons learned along the way and I wanted to share them with you, but first let's look at the root of the problem:
We have performance issues that stem from a lack of encouragement and engagement.
As I read those words I think about how hard my team and I strive to make those things nonexistent. It's a challenge that I'm personally walking thru and I know my team spends time thinking about. How do I know this is the case? Take a look at the list of questions and statements below and see if you have asked or said a version of these as some point in your leadership journey.
"Why is he acting like that?"
"Why does she always do that?"
"What are they thinking?"
"I've tried to discuss it with them before, but they just shut down."
"Jabo Greezy is doing it again, do they not know how to do it the right way?"
"Shag McNasty just got back from training, how could he still be bad at it?"
I think the message is becoming more and more clear. A lack of engagement and encouragement can mean disastrous things for you and your business. For you and your family, your goals, and your future.
As I sat down to talk with one of our team members I knew that I had to do one thing really well: Listen.
Listen to what's being said. Listen to what's not being said. Listen to what the body language tells you. Listen to what the body language doesn't tell you. Inflection. Tone. Intonation. Posture. Pauses in conversation. Eye movement. A collective assessment of these factors can lead to a wise conclusion.
I did what I just described to you over the course of about 45 minutes with a one on one with a team member. The results were like I said,
The performance issues were based on a lack of encouragement and engagement.
If you find yourself at a cross road of poor results and strained relationships, start by listening well and making deposits into your team's emotional bank account with encouragement.
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Do y'all have repeat customers?
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| Spirit Night for Hudson High VB Team |
I went to search for a picture in my computer that would help me illustrate my point. It took me about 60 seconds before I found this photo among my personal pictures. Our guest are our friends.
At Chick-fil-A, we love our guest. We appreciate how often they come and what they do when they are there. For us, it's reciprocal. We share with them, they share with us. The special connections come when we connect outside the restaurant. If your Pat Jones or Steven Jones, you get it. If not, come see me at Chick-fil-A at Atlanta Highway and I'll show you what I mean!
After a couple of conversations yesterday a wave of philosophy came over me and I wanted to pass it along.
The multiplier effect helps us see that one guest treated well becomes the lifeblood to our business.
If a guest spends $8 four times a month, 12 months a year, and eats with us for 30 years (all things staying in Athens constant) they will be worth $11,520.
I still have to remind myself of that fact. So how important is it to smile when someone walks in? That's a $11,000 smile!
What daily deposit can you add to your clientele to make them want to come back and spend their money with you? Would love to hear what you had to say about it. The comments section below is primed and ready!
Sunday, July 5, 2015
The folks from church
I got invited to lunch Sunday after church. Of course I accepted, because who doesn't want grandparent figures in their life to pick up the lunch tab?
As we get to chatting about life we get on the topic of Customer Service. They began to explain to me how a recent purchase went.
Jabo Greezy orders a whatchamacallit from a retail outlet online. He changed the name to his wife-Yellow Belly Sap Sucker, so that upon revealing her identity the whatchamacallit would be brought to the counter and given to her instead of him. She was going to be by the outlet and she was just going to pick it up for him.
Well, as Murphy's Law would have it, low and behold, the wrong name exist on the order form. Jabo Greezy's name is on the form and Yellow Belly Sap Sucker is there to retrieve it for him. Little Miss Priss behind the counter informs Yellow Belly Sap Sucker that she cannot give away a whatchamacallit to someone who isn't on the form. Of course she gets on the phone with her husband and explains to him the situation and he isn't happy. He has his name on the order form and she's in person to pick it up. Policy states-I must give whatchamacallit to said person or fraud might occur.
After some tense words and reconciliation by what appears to be a manager of some sort, the whatchamacallit is in hand and out the door the happy go lucky couple go.
At the end of the story, Jabo Greezy pauses and brings the main point to light in a few simple words, "You know what? She wasn't listening to me!"
Without trying to teach me, I learned something at lunch today.
Wind up not listening, and your business may not make it.
Two ears. One mouth. Let's pay attention.
As we get to chatting about life we get on the topic of Customer Service. They began to explain to me how a recent purchase went.
Jabo Greezy orders a whatchamacallit from a retail outlet online. He changed the name to his wife-Yellow Belly Sap Sucker, so that upon revealing her identity the whatchamacallit would be brought to the counter and given to her instead of him. She was going to be by the outlet and she was just going to pick it up for him.
Well, as Murphy's Law would have it, low and behold, the wrong name exist on the order form. Jabo Greezy's name is on the form and Yellow Belly Sap Sucker is there to retrieve it for him. Little Miss Priss behind the counter informs Yellow Belly Sap Sucker that she cannot give away a whatchamacallit to someone who isn't on the form. Of course she gets on the phone with her husband and explains to him the situation and he isn't happy. He has his name on the order form and she's in person to pick it up. Policy states-I must give whatchamacallit to said person or fraud might occur.
After some tense words and reconciliation by what appears to be a manager of some sort, the whatchamacallit is in hand and out the door the happy go lucky couple go.
At the end of the story, Jabo Greezy pauses and brings the main point to light in a few simple words, "You know what? She wasn't listening to me!"
Without trying to teach me, I learned something at lunch today.
Wind up not listening, and your business may not make it.
Two ears. One mouth. Let's pay attention.
Friday, July 3, 2015
The trowel and the sword
For my Lesson Learned from Chick-fil-A toady I want to take a trip to the Old Testament, to the book of Nehemiah.
The book of Nehemiah tells a beautiful story.
Nehemiah finds out that his hometown sits in ruin. He is distressed enough that it affects his work. He isn't just any day laborer. He serves the King his drinks. And the King sees that he is distressed and finds out what troubles him. After hearing the story the King sends Nehemiah with materials and his blessing to repair the walls of Jerusalem.
As Nehemiah begins to repair the wall the domino effect comes into play. One man repairs his house and the portion of the wall near his house, and then the next man does the same. In time, the entire group of men and their families make repairs until the wall is rebuilt up to half it's former height-an incredible feat!
The crux of the story in my opinion is where the laborers have two utensils, one in each hand. They heard a battle was coming, but they knew they needed to keep repairing the wall.
Nehemiah 4:17 (NKJV) "Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon."
That's a powerful story.
Think about what this story tells us in one simple phrase. It tell us BUILD OUR FUTURE and at the same time PROTECT WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE.
Two stories. Two tools. One goal: improvement.
We've got to become good at both defending and building. Defend against the enemy-self doubt, corruption, greed, lust, envy, hate, and fear. Build for prosperity-health, wealth, happiness, self-satisfaction, abundance, joy, and pleasurable activities.
I think about the people we have on our team and what helps and hurts them the most.
More importantly, as I lead I think about what helps and hinders me.
I need to analyze what is helping and what is hurting me. Like the leader Nehemiah, I've got to be prepared to use both sword and trowel at a moments notice.
What does this look like in real time? How does this play out in real life? I live in the large college town of Athens, GA where two sets of people exist: both the productive student and the slacker. Here are some examples of what we should be watching for:
Negative:
The book of Nehemiah tells a beautiful story.
Nehemiah finds out that his hometown sits in ruin. He is distressed enough that it affects his work. He isn't just any day laborer. He serves the King his drinks. And the King sees that he is distressed and finds out what troubles him. After hearing the story the King sends Nehemiah with materials and his blessing to repair the walls of Jerusalem.
As Nehemiah begins to repair the wall the domino effect comes into play. One man repairs his house and the portion of the wall near his house, and then the next man does the same. In time, the entire group of men and their families make repairs until the wall is rebuilt up to half it's former height-an incredible feat!
The crux of the story in my opinion is where the laborers have two utensils, one in each hand. They heard a battle was coming, but they knew they needed to keep repairing the wall.
Nehemiah 4:17 (NKJV) "Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon."
That's a powerful story.
Think about what this story tells us in one simple phrase. It tell us BUILD OUR FUTURE and at the same time PROTECT WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE.
Two stories. Two tools. One goal: improvement.
We've got to become good at both defending and building. Defend against the enemy-self doubt, corruption, greed, lust, envy, hate, and fear. Build for prosperity-health, wealth, happiness, self-satisfaction, abundance, joy, and pleasurable activities.
I think about the people we have on our team and what helps and hurts them the most.
More importantly, as I lead I think about what helps and hinders me.
I need to analyze what is helping and what is hurting me. Like the leader Nehemiah, I've got to be prepared to use both sword and trowel at a moments notice.
What does this look like in real time? How does this play out in real life? I live in the large college town of Athens, GA where two sets of people exist: both the productive student and the slacker. Here are some examples of what we should be watching for:
Negative:
- People who laugh at our ideas
- People who try to take our time with frivolous pursuits
- People who encourage us to have another cookie
- People who ask us to stay up and late and waste time involving a number of activities
- People who criticize
Positive
- People who encourage us to complete the ideas we have
- People who invite us to participate in worth-while and productive activities
- Friends who invite us to exercise or spend time outdoors
- People who tell us that they need to go to bed and that we need to leave and go home so they can get some rest before the next day
- People who inquire
If we had a short blank to the right of each statement I'm sure we can name someone that would fit well. This isn't my point. My aim is to warn you of both. Be aware of both positive and negative influences and like Nehemiah live with both the sword and the trowel in your hands.
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