What To Do With Found $20 Follow-up

Hi all, Meghan here (with Kevin's blessing). I want to give you an update on Kevin's article from June 20th What To Do With a Found $20 Bill?

We had an overwhelming response of comments on Kevin's Blog (http://www.kevburns.com/2007/06/what-to-do-with-found-20-bill.html). There were a ton of ideas from giving to charity to letting Meghan keep the money, from trying to return the money to taking the family to Dairy Queen, from giving it away again to having our readers (you) match dollar for dollar to charity. There were a lot of things to consider and now we have an idea that involves you.

The first thing Kevin did was call the restaurant and then Direct Cash to see if there was any way of tracking down the person before him that used that particular ATM. Finding the rightful owner seemed appropriate. We can all rest easy today knowing that Direct Cash ATMs do not keep any financial records (name, bank name or number) in their machines. In today's world and with privacy concerns, these are for obvious security reasons. So, Kevin and I both sat here for quite a while wondering what to do next. We wanted to include as many of your ideas as possible, but how do we do that with only a $20 bill? One suggestion came in to give the money to me (thank you!) and let me choose where it goes. So we have decided to do just that - and then I decided to incorporate as many of the other ideas as possible all in one (with the exception of the trip to Dairy Queen for ice cream - sorry).

I have been a Foster Parent for some time now for a little boy in Mbulamuti, Uganda. His name is Regan Kiine and he is 2 years old. Regan once suffered from malaria but has received treatment and is now fully recovered. He and his family do not have fresh water or a lot of other things for example. When I received information on him I also received a catalogue of things that I could order for him and his family if I were prepared to top up my monthly contribution from time to time. This isn't any ordinary catalogue. This is a "frills" catalogue for such opulence as fresh water, pigs, cows, health facilities, school supplies, books, HIV and AIDS care kits, and many many more things for your adopted child. You get my sarcasm on the "frills" here I'm sure. (If you want to see what you can buy, you can view the catalogue here:

Now I've always been taught to do due diligence when it comes to making donations. Now I'm not skeptical about the foster parent industry, but if I'm sending my hard earned money, it had better be going to someone who needs it. After a lot of research, I believe very strongly that the Plan International does send the money and catalogue items to the child and his or her family. Hey, I'm Kevin's daughter, I'm no sucker.

So, with that being said, there goes Kevin's $20. He has stepped up and has donated his found $20 to Regan and his family. But now, Kevin and I would like to ask you to help us. On this page, you will see a "Make A Donation" link below. All you have to do to help purchase many useful things for Regan and his family (and the rest of his village if we do this right) is to click the link and donate a buck - $1. One measly dollar - less than a cup of coffee and together we can make a difference. Of course you may donate as much as you like and all you would have to do is change the amount when you click the link, and from the bottom of my heart I would thank you for that. But let's think big!

Click Here To Make A Donation

If every one of the thousands of people who receive Kevin's emails would contribute a buck, how well could we outfit Regan's entire village? Think big. Think "everyone heading in the same direction for the same cause" and watch what happens. Hey, if you even want to involve some of your co-workers and ask them for a buck, how much of a difference could we make together? Look, you already chip into the office pool for 6-49 hoping to make a difference in your own life. How about letting an African Village win the lottery for a change? A buck or two from everyone changes a lot of lives.

(OK, let me digress here for a moment. Here's what I've learned from my Dad: you get what you give. If you want to improve the chances of good fortune coming to you, you give good fortune to someone else. The Karmic wheel spins perfectly every time. Think about it, and then click the link.)

Kevin and I will keep all of you updated on what's being purchased and how much money has been raised. And so I can guilt you into pressing the button, attached is a picture of little Regan. So for all of you that have ever found a dollar (or twenty) on the road, pay it forward. The universe will then re-pay you. So my question now is, what are you going to do to change the world a little today?

Meghan

Jimmy Mac

Last Thursday's news was tough for me: in the paper was a news story of the death of my friend Jimmy Mac. He had died in a car accident Canada Day at the age of 46 - a month and a day older than I. Had I not read the paper I would have completely missed the traditional Irish wake of which 300 others attended that very night. It was a grand affair - and it had "Jimmy" written all over it. Music, drinks, partying and the remembrances of the wee man from Northern Ireland who touched so many of us in such a short time. His wife Barb, his son Simon and daughter Sarah all attended the wake for him as well.

The next day was Jimmy's funeral - in the largest church in Central Alberta. Good thing too as they needed the room. The parade of uniforms of fellow firefighters, the parade of the Royal Canadian Legion Honour Guard and the musical tributes at the funeral were heartwarming and gut-wrenching. We laughed. We cried. We thought and we remembered. The funeral lasted an hour and forty-five minutes and we were all sad to see it end.

Unannounced, Jimmy's father George, who had made the trip from Portadown in Northern Ireland to bury his son, took the stage. George said that he never really knew his son's friends nor did they ever really talk much about them on the phone. But then he said, "As I look over this church here today, I had no idea that this many people loved my son." There was not a dry eye left in the house.

It was a fitting affair for the man who left so many of us with a smile and a place in our hearts. But to try and describe Jimmy in a few words is difficult. Suffice it to say - he will be remembered.

I am proud to have known him. Rest well Jimmy. We'll do our best to live life the way you did - as though it all ends tomorrow.

Sadly, it did for Jimmy.

What To Do With a Found $20 Bill?

My friend Ken and I went for supper last night. As we walked into the restaurant, there was an ATM right by the front door. Now since Ken is 6'9" tall and I am ... well ... not, I am able to see things closer to the ground. Out of the corner of my eye I saw something that caught my attention: a $20 bill in the tray of the ATM.

I picked up the bill, held it up to Ken and the two of us immediately looked around. No one was even near the ATM nor did anyone look like they had visited it recently. What was I to do with the $20 bill. Ken wouldn't even let me buy part of supper with it.

This morning as I awoke, I saw the $20 bill and brought it with me into the office. I asked some of the staff in the office if they knew what to do with a found $20 bill, superstitions or otherwise. No one seemed to have an answer. No let me re-phrase that: many had an answer that simply said, "give it to me" or a variation thereof.

I went on-line looking for the "protocol" of found money. There is nothing on-line. So what I have come up with is to give a portion of it to a charity and spend a portion on a lottery ticket or something like that.

What is your suggestion? I will hang onto the $20 for the time being and wait to hear your suggestions. Spend it as you wish. What should I do?

Click Here To Make Your Comment!

It Just Takes A Little Effort

I have just finished my breakfast at the Halifax Airport. As I stood in front of the trash containers with my leftover garbage, I was met with bins displaying four choices:

Refundables - for those items which can get one a refund (bottles, cans, etc)

Recyclables - for those items which can be recycled but perhaps may not be able to get a refund on a deposit (plastics, cardboard, etc)

Organics - for those items which will break down in the environment (unprocessed foods, paper, etc)

Garbage - for all of the other items which would not fall into any of the other categories.

I really had to think for a moment about which bins I would use. Then I realized the magic of this system: I was forced to think consciously about my trash. There was no choice to act unconsciously.

Congratulations Halifax. You forced me to make a conscious decision on the environment today. Well done.

Now about your harbour...


Kevin Burns - The Chief Instigation Officer of Laugh-Long Learning!

http://www.kevburns.com

1-877-BURNS-11
Read/Comment on Kevin's Blog http://www.kevburns.com/blog.html

Winnipeg Ridiculous

The following is a recollection of events which actually occured last week in my desperate attempt to watch the final game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs as it was being broadcast.
------

As I and a band of hearty Canadians prepared to board a Regina-bound flight out of Winnipeg, we were stunned in silence that the Winnipeg Airport Authority (WAA) refused to broadcast, what turned out to be the last game of the season, the Ottawa Senators-Anaheim Ducks hockey game on the television sets in the boarding area, even after being asked repeatedly by the passengers awaiting their flight.

We asked the security guard to help us out at which point he offered up a phone number to the Data Centre - the obvious only ones working during the game. The Data Centre fed us some cock-and-bull story about the WAA not being in possession of licensing rights to broadcast a transmission from our public broadcaster. However, they are able to provide a scintilating program of political pundits on the future of the Liberal Party in Canada. I'm sure you yourself missed that one as you were likely watching the game.

To make matters worse, the Tim Horton's in the boarding area was closed. I'm sure the staff were home watching the game since they couldn't get the game in the terminal. .

When I attempted to stream the game to my Blackberry from cbc.ca, the message filling my Blackberry screen was, "We are sorry but this game can only be broadcast in Canada."

When did Winnipeg leave Canada? No hockey game? No Tim's? No kidding! How can Winnipeg say it will support another shot in the "Bigs" when you can't watch the game in the airport while having a hot cup of Horton's - the brew of a former NHL'er himself.

Is this stuff for real or did the entire plane full of passengers have a simultaneous bad dream.

How can a bar in the airport broadcast the game to their patrons (the sight of thirty people gathered around a 21 inch screen is something to marvel at - hockey die-hards for sure), yet the airport itself says it can't broadcast the game because it hasn't purchased the rights. The game was being brodcast on our public broadcaster - which just happens to be funded by the same people who wanted to watch the game.

This , by the way is the same airport in which many of those same players will be travelling should Winnipeg ever be granted another NHL franchise. Things will have to change then.
----------

Hmmm, in reading this, I perhaps got caught up in the heat of the moment. Maybe it's a good thing hockey is done for the season. Now I can focus my attention on other issues of importance. Sorry for my ramblings. It's hockey. I'm a man. I am Canadian. 'Nuff said.
Kevin Burns - The Chief Instigation Officer of Laugh-Long Learning!

http://www.kevburns.com

1-877-BURNS-11
Read/Comment on Kevin's Blog http://www.kevburns.com/blog.html

Boss Tip #11 - There's No Such Thing As Teambuilding

OK. So I imagine the headline has piqued your curiosity. So here it comes: there are no such things as teams which means any money you have spent or are spending on teambuilding, teamwork and team-player attitudes is being wasted.

Let me explain. If you, as the boss, were to walk into the office tomorrow and make one announcement to the entire staff, you would see that you really don't have a team. Here's the announcement you would make: "Three people from this department need to go. Three people are being laid off. Which three? You decide. I want your answer by the end of the day."

And now pandemonium ensues.

For all the work you may have put into building a "team" you would have to agree that this announcement would pit one personality against the other. You would have to come to the realization that there really aren't any teams, but there are a bunch of individuals all pointed towards a common goal. That is not a team.

Take a look at any professional sports team and you will see the same thing: there just a bunch of players who have each given a commitment to achieve a common goal. Does that make them a team? No it does not. Because when it comes right down to it, each person is, at the end of the day, looking out for his or her own best interests.

Is that wrong? Of course not. But please understand that in the same way people will compete for a job, compete for a promotion or compete for that corner office, they will also compete to keep their jobs too. If that means pointing out the weaknesses of others, justifying why they should stay or agressively stabbing someone else in the back, they will do it.

I doubt that there are many people who, when faced with the above-noted situation, would say, "I am the weakest link in this department so for the good of the team, I will go."

A good coach understands that in order to get the best performance out of each player, he has got to figure out where the players' "hot-buttons" are and find a way to push them. Each player will respond to different stimuli. A blanket approach to coaching a team can be a lesson in futility. Each players needs to be coached differently. Each player needs to buy into the common goal and each will do so in their own way.

Each player has a different set of values, strengths and attitudes. Therefore each player needs to be coached separately. The same rules apply at work.

If you're the boss, you're the coach. You had better understand that in order to make your department function at peak performance. At no time can you expect everyone to be on the same page, to bring the same skill-sets or contribute equally with the same strengths as the rest of your people. It's not possible.

You don't have a team. You have a group of individuals all pointed in the same direction each with differing talents and each with different roles. Stop training them as all equal and coach their individual strengths instead. Their performance will improve and so will your bottom-line.

As for the trainers who think they offer teambuilding workshops? Think again.

Kevin Burns - The Chief Instigation Officer of Laugh-Long Learning!

http://www.kevburns.com

1-877-BURNS-11

Read/Comment on Kevin's Blog http://www.kevburns.com/blog.html

Employee Tip #5 - Steer Clear Of Cynical Co-workers

Robert is in a management position. As much as I know of him, he seems to have his head and heart in the right place. He just seems to want the best for his people and does his best to get them give their best. That would seem to me to be the "win-win" attitude at work.

"It isn't always easy," he admits. "Sometimes there are one or two who become a little jaded and that can spell trouble for the rest of the staff."

Truer words were never spoken. Once a small group of employees decide that they would rather sit back and be cynical and view the world and their jobs with the "stink-eye," it requires either a firm commitment from the jaded ones to commit to improving themselves and their attitudes or it's up to management to surgically remove the cancer begore it spreads through the rest of the staff. If that happens, rest assured demands of the staff will increase and productivity will plummet.

In the same way that it is your responsibility to stay physically healthy to be able to fulfill your responsibilities, you are just as responsible for keeping mentally healthy and steering clear of the cynics and those with a seriously negative attitude.

The more time you spend around the complainers, the more you will desensitize to their points of view. Your defenses begin to drop in the same way unhealthy eating and lifestyle choices make you more succeptible to colds and flus. Cynicism, suspicion and negativity are as contagious as flu bugs. Just like you can build up defenses to germs, you can build an immunity to cynicism and negativity.

You see, if you only subscribe to a cynical point of view, you will become cynical. If, however, you constantly put yourself on a diet of self-improvement, you will constantly improve and so will your thoughts, your decisions and naturally, your results.

The better you get, the more you begin to see how petty, meaningless and sad a cynic's life really is and how dangerous that attitude is to others. You owe it to yourself to defend yourself from these cancers. Do whatever it takes to make sure cynicism, suspicion and negativity never invade your workplace.

If, however, you are the cynic, prepare yourself. The sooner you're fired, the better it is for company productivity, customer service and for you to finally get the message that we don't want your kind where we work.

Bottom-line: it is your responsibility to not become jaded nor take on the cynicism of others.

Kevin Burns - The Chief Instigation Officer of Laugh-Long Learning!

http://www.kevburns.com

1-877-BURNS-11
Read/Comment on Kevin's Blog http://www.kevburns.com/blog.html

Change Your Mind

Brian approached me after my presentation today. He gently pulled me aside as it looked like he had something important to say.

"I was a police officer for twenty-five years," he began. "Your story about the September 11 Firefighter made me think about something I want to share with you. Maybe you could use it in your presentation."

He paused for a moment.

"Isn't it funny that before September eleventh, police officers were called pigs, and after September eleventh they were heroes?

What an interesting observation. Have you changed your mind about how you percieve those people who choose to make their livings keeping the rest of us safe?

Thanks Brian. It's about time we finally recognized every profession for the good they do and stopped calling names. Change your mind.
Kevin Burns - The Chief Instigation Officer of Laugh-Long Learning!
http://www.kevburns.com
1-877-BURNS-11

Would You Tell The Truth?

I checked into another hotel today. It's something I've done hundreds of times. How many times have I filled in my address, my car make, model and licence plate number?

Chelsey handed me my room key and said, "You can park in front of the hotel and if I were you I'd take that elevator over there to get to your room," as she pointed past the first elevator.

Something seemed strange in the use of the "if I were you" part. I was curious.

"If I were you? What does that mean?" I questioned laughing.

She started giggling. "Well you can take the other elevator but honestly, it's pretty slow and smells funny. But it's up to you."

I don't think I have ever been warned about a hotel elevator while checking into a hotel. This was a new experience and it was nice to be served by someone who cares about the comfort of guests.

Would you offer your customers the truth about your company even if you had to admit your product smelled funny?

Honestly? It's kind of refreshing to be served that way. Think about it.
Kevin Burns - The Chief Instigation Officer of Laugh-Long Learning!

http://www.kevburns.com

1-877-BURNS-11

You're Being Watched

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a column on people who drive company vehicles with advertising splashed all over the vehicle. Some of these people drive like idiots and can ruin a lifetime of goodwill that a company may have established with their customers. I encouraged you to pick up the phone and tell these businesses how their people are doing when it comes to representing their employers. Well wouldn't you know it, this past week, I had to make one of those phone calls.

As I attempted to merge onto a four-lane highway, a large semi-truck pulling two trailers behind it was coming up the left lane. He saw me for a long while as I attempted to ramp up to speed and be able to merge into traffic seamlessly. There was no traffic in the right lane beside the trucker yet he refused to pull over to the left lane - which would have been the courteous thing to do. Instead, he increased his speed to allow himself to cut me off from merging onto the highway and had I not had my wits about me, I would have ended up tangled in the guard rail. Only after forcing me to a near full-stop, did he move over to the left lane.

As I followed a fair distance behind this trucker for several miles, he did not move out of the left lane. As a matter of fact he forced all vehicles behind him to move over to the right lane to pass him. In my mind, his actions were not acceptable.

As I drove past his truck in the right lane, I took note of the name of the trucking company, as well as a phone number, and placed a call to the number on the side of the truck. A woman answered and after I related my story of what just happened, as well as the driver not giving up the left lane, she asked me to hold for a moment. When she came back, she informed me that the actions of the driver were unacceptable. She had informed the driver's dispatcher who was, as we spoke, giving him "what for" on the phone. Just then I looked into my rear view mirror and watched the truck move out of the left lane and into the right lane and severely reduced his speed. Busted - eight hundred kilometers from home.

I believe that no one should even hesitate to correct the actions of idiots especially when personal safety is challenged. You owe it to yourself to be mindful of others. Keep your eyes open and report those things that you know are wrong. People who choose to act like idiots shall be treated in kind.

And also keep in mind that while you're out there driving yourself, remember, you are being watched too.

Employee Tip #4 - Job Satisfaction Isn't The Company's Job

The job will only be as good as the person doing the job. With that said, for there to be a marked improvement in the satisfaction of the job, the person doing the job has to show a marked improvement first.

At some point, you had better come to the realization that the job doesn't get any better, if you don't get any better. Your sales will get better when your sales skills get better. Customer service will get better when you get better at delivering customer service. Your results on the job will get better as you get better.

Every single person in every single job needs to understand that it is not up to the employer to make you better as an employee. Oh no. As a matter of fact, it is your responsibility to improve so that the company can improve. Once the company improves, they are in a better position to pay you more and to reward you more often. But if you’re waiting for the company to fall all over themselves to make you better so you can do a better job for the company, then you have your priorities backwards my friend. You will be sentenced to a lifetime of mediocre and unsatisfying jobs. The performance of an individual on the job is not the responsibility of the organization but in fact is the responsibility of the individual on the job.

The better you get, the better the job gets. It's such a simple philosophy that it escapes most people. You may want to believe that it's harder than that because as long as you believe that it’s harder than that, you have an excuse for not doing any more than you have to. Once you finally understand that it’s up to you to make your job better then you can't complain about it not being your responsibility. It's called being accountable. And my experience is that people just like you don't want to accept the blame (or the responsibility) for their own lousy performance.

But now here’s the real truth: better people offer better service, make better sales, get along better, communicate better, manage better and overall, make your organization better as a whole. But in order for that to happen, you have to be responsible for yourself, your work and the results of your work.

The moment you improve, life (including the job) improves.

When you improve yourself, you improve your thinking, which improves your decision-making, which will improve your choices, which will, by default, improve your results. Once you improve your results consistently you improve your circumstances. Anyone who works this plan at just fifteen minutes a day, one single coffee-break, sees outstanding results at the end of just one year. I guarantee it.

So this doing just enough to not get fired is a no-win plan. As a matter of fact, doing just enough to not get fired is enough in my books to justify getting fired. If you won’t take the initiative to improve yourself and your performance, then why should the company keep you around? You’re a boat-anchor. Think about that as you dust off your résumé.

Boss Tip #10 - Stop Training The Old Way

There's a new breed of worker upon us these days. Colleges and Universities have emptied out for the summer, many of these students have graduated and are about to begin banging on your door looking for work. But there are some things you need to know before you hire them and train them.

The way the new breed of today's workers operate is completely different than from a generation ago. The new generation entering the workforce do not have the same values as the baby-boomer's leaving the workforce. They don't have the same values, appreciation, loyalty, social skills or even work ethic as those who are close to retirement today. So why then, are you using the same training techniques you used years ago?

What worked for the last generation is lost on today's generation. If the new workers aren't even on the same page as the old workers, forget about training them the same way. They don't respond to the same stimuli, the same perks, dress-code or even calling people by Mr. or Mrs. They don't know (or even care about) your last name unless it's written on your office door. They know you by your first name and will call you that. Even Grade 1 students call their friends' parents by their first names. Visit a schoolyard and see what I mean.

Whining about today's generation doesn't fix the difference in the generations. It just makes you look old to the new generation of workers. Training them the same way you trained "lifers" who are retiring now is a complete and utter waste of your money. You don't have that kind of money to throw around.

Today's generation of workers is better-versed in soft-skills training. This is the group of workers whose parents had "Oprah" on in the afternoon and chatted about it over supper. This is the generation of worker who has never seen, let alone can comprehend, corporal punishment in the school system nor will they respond well to threats. This is the same generation who got moved ahead in school for fear that a failing grade might affect their self-esteem. It is a new generation of worker out there. And employers and bosses who want to get the best of the best of this generation better understand what and how they think.

Piercings, tattoos, earings and shaved heads used to be thought of for bikers. But have a look at the colleges and universities these days. This is the new "norm." Today's worker has fewer social skills face-to-face and a greater propensity for using computers, text messaging, cell phones and working alone. Don't even think of trying to appeal to these people with the age-old technical training programs of the past.

The new worker is "self-centered." That is not a bad thing unless you want to count them as nothing more than a number. But if you want the new worker to get you results, you had better be prepared to train them in the soft skills first and let them bring the newly-acquired soft skills across to the technical aspects of work.

For their whole lives, they've been getting things done alone - or at least it seems that way. They know how to use technology at mind-dizzying speeds. This is the video-game playing, MTV-watching, text-messaging, You-Tubing, MSN'ing and skater generation. They bring something to the table you've probably never seen before. Their values are different but their ability is not. They just may do the job differently. Don't try to train them the same way as you've done in past and don't try to make them fit into a tidy little package. They don't work that way.

Respect their talents - because you probably don't have them.

Employee Tip #3 - You'd Better Own The Corporate Values

"How's my driving?"

How many times have you seen a bumper sticker or small sign reading that on the back of a vehicle? You read it but do you ever make a note of the phone number that follows it? I do. And I use those numbers. I tell companies how their drivers are doing - unfortunately most times they're not doing so well.

There are just too many of you in the workforce right now with an "I could care less" attitude. Maybe it's because for your whole life, everything has just been handed to you or you hand it to your kids and expect it should also be handed to you. You think that the company owes you a car, or they owe you for you doing your job or you're entitled to bonuses because you're "special." (Maybe "special" in an Olympic sort of way).

I watch you taking advantage of your employer every day. You sit behind the wheel of a vehicle the company has provided you, you place your materials (brief case, brochures, tools, whatever you got as part of the job) on the seat beside you or on the floor, check the gas gauge of the vehicle to make sure you don't need more (which the company either pays for or reimburses you) then you put the vehicle in "Drive" and drive like an idiot - with the company logo all over everything around you. What's wrong with you? Millions of dollars spent advertising to customers that the company cares about them, and one time being an idiot behind the wheel, one time flipping the bird in traffic, one time making a flippant comment to a customer can undo millions of dollars in advertising and the years of honest and genuine effort from your co-workers.

I sure see more of an "entitlement" mentality today don't you? People think they deserve cars, and to have their expenses paid, and to be catered to and to have everything just handed to them. And when the company hands it all to them to make the job easier for them, they act like a jerk and a prima-donna as though there isn't supposed to be any "work" in going to work. Honestly, most small companies just try to make enough of a buck so they can keep their people around with a job everyday. And then those same people, some of you, go and treat your employers with disrespect because you figure you're owed what you're given. Just because the company gave you something once doesn't mean that they're required to keep giving it to you. Just because someone does something nice for you once doesn't mean you're entitled to have it that way all the time.

Corporations can have values and many do. Most of those values revolve around providing an excellent product at a fair price to solve a problem consumers have and make a profit at the same time. But then there are the jerks that think they are entitled to their jobs and everything that comes with it. It's no longer a privilege to have the job but a right. It's no longer a privilege to serve a customer but instead a customer's privilege to be served by you. It's no longer a privilege to be paid exceptionally well for your work but an expectation. If that's you in any way, then listen up: when the attitude of entitlement runs through the heart of an employee, it's time someone gets a "Gratitude Adjustment."

Gratitude should be not just a personal value, but a corporate value as well. You'd better own that value.

Disney Recycles Part 2

So I spoke with Dave today. Dave is the General Manager of the resort hotel I stayed at in Disneyworld last week. It only took me being on "hold" four times to reach the guy at the very top.

"How can I help you today?" He asked cheerily.

"I stayed at your hotel last week for a whole week. It was my first trip to Disney ever," I started.

"Really! Your first trip? How did we do?" He asked right away.

"Actually, pretty good. As a matter of fact, last Wednesday, we spent the day at Epcot and caught a rather interesting film: The Circle Of Life Eco-film."

"Yes I know the one you mean," he added.

"Well, after the film I noticed all of the recycling bins for bottles and cans at the theme parks, but none at the Disney Resort Hotel. Why is that?" I asked.

"Ahh, well we used to recycle here but it didn't work out real well. People would shove half-eaten burgers, popsicles and even used diapers through the holes meant for bottles and cans, which meant that our staff would have to go through all of the "stuff" to get the recyclables. That was one very messy job and incredibly time-consuming. So we chose to end it."

"So what about small blue or green box bins in the rooms?" I asked. "After all, you deliver USA Today to every room every day. That's a lot of newspapers not being recycled. Bottles, cans and newspapers could go into the bins in the rooms. People like me would bring our recyclables back to the room to be recycled if there weren't bins by the pool for example."

All was quiet for a moment.

Dave spoke again. "You mean put a little plastic tub like those tubs for recycling office paper in offices?"

"Something is better than nothing," I added.

Dave paused, then said, "That's a simple idea that could work. And you're right. We deliver a lot of newspapers everyday."

Before we hung up the phone, Dave committed to making this idea a priority. He took my phone number and vowed to touch base with me in a few days to keep me updated.

Hmm, pretty easy to make a difference when you speak up isn't it?

More as it becomes available.


Kevin Burns - The Chief Instigation Officer of Laugh-Long Learning!

http://www.kevburns.com

1-877-BURNS-11

Not Global Warming - But Still Important

I watched an environmental film this week. It's hard to swing a plastic grocery bag full of used plastic grocery bags these days without hitting onto another film about the environment. But here I was, captured in an audience while a short film played about the hazards of not conserving, the dangers of polluting and the costs of not recycling.

Here's the rub though: the film was made by Disney. Usually that's not a problem. However, after leaving the Disney theme park and returning to the Disney Resort where we were staying, we found absolutely no recycling at the hotel. There was no blue box in the room for newspapers, no plastic/can recycling bins on the grounds and when I asked where I should put the plastic bottle that I was charged a five cent recycling fee, a staffer said, "put it in the garbage."

"You guys don't recycle?" I asked incredulously.

She simply shrugged her shoulders and walked away.

Sorry Disney, but you can't preach to save the planet and then do the opposite. I'll admit that being environmentally conscious is pretty trendy right now. But being "trendy" is not leadership. Leadership is about actions matching words.

I refused to put plastic bottles and aluminum cans in the trash. Instead, I placed them beside trash cans where recycling bins would normally be found. Sorry but it's just not in me to throw recyclables in the trash. I'm not physically (OK maybe mentally) capable of throwing recyclables away.

After I made my protest statement of not using the trash can (it was probably nothing more than a mere annoyance to a staffer to pick up a recyclable and toss it out), I told you and hopefully, together, we can express our desire to make the big players do something so effortless and make their actions match their words.

I will send an email to Disney to express my concerns as soon as I'm back in the office. Feel free to check out your own company's environmental policy and suggest a correction if it falls a little short.

P
Kevin Burns - The Chief Instigation Officer of Laugh-Long Learning!

http://www.kevburns.com

1-877-BURNS-11

Your History Is Up To You

"I am not a crook."

Those are the words made famous by former US President Richard Nixon after being suspected of being involved in the Watergate scandal in United States history. I am told that he made that speech on stage at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

I stood upon that same stage this week addressing a group of association Chapter volunteers. These folks assembled from many different parts of the world in an effort to better thremselves in their volunteer work with their home Chapter organizations.

Now although my words weren't used to claim innocence of a wrongdoing, I did encourage the attendees to continue to better their respective communities through their volunteer work as well as making an commitment to themselves through on-going personal development.

This got me to thinking.

If these people can travel from the four corners of the world in an effort to better themselves personally and professionally, how hard could it possibly be for the rest of us to pick up a book or listen to a learning CD once in a while?

You decide what your history will be by what you do today. Let me know if I'm going too fast here.


Kevin Burns - The Chief Instigation Officer of Laugh-Long Learning!

http://www.kevburns.com

1-877-BURNS-11

Need A Taxi?

I don't know about you, but with as many cities as I travel to in a year, inevitably, I will need a taxi to get to the airport, to rush around in the city on some sort of an errand or perhaps a late-night hunt for a Tim Horton's steeped tea. Well, if you've ever needed a taxi when you're in a strange city, WestJet's "Up!" Magazine features an article this month on one number to remember to get a taxi in any city: 310-TAXI.

That's the number to remember for a taxi anywhere in Canada - oh, except Manitoba where you need to call 1-800-310-TAXI.

I haven't had the opportunity to call the number yet, as I am in the USA as I write this. But as soon as I get home, I'm game for giving it a try.

Taxi!!!

Kevin Burns - The Chief Instigation Officer of Laugh-Long Learning!
http://www.kevburns.com
1-877-BURNS-11

Boss Tip #9 - Recognize Your Stars

It's the easiest job in the world to dump all over your people or simply ignore effort out of the ordinary. Anyone can find the negative. You don't need to be in charge to do that. Want proof? Listen in to what your people are saying about you. See. It's easy to be negative.

The trick is in looking through all of the expectations, all of the process and all of the mundane, ordinary effort to find the gems. Look to see someone who has outperformed his or her co-workers. It's easy to find it. All you have to do is stick your head out of your office on occassion. You just have to go looking for it. The difficulty will always be in summoning up the honesty to say something out loud when you do see it.

I addressed a group of supervisory personel this week. These guys, all guys, have an easy time pointing out the mistakes of others. As I said, anyone can do that. It requires zero skill. I helped them see the real responsibility of their positions: recognizing and encouraging outstanding behaviours and results. I want to now recognize these fellows, they see their responsibility now. Good job to all of you.

If as a boss, you have a difficult time recognizing the positive contributions of your people, let me explain it another way.

Your job, as boss, is that of a team sports coach. (Pick your favourite team sport and substitute with my hockey analogy). At the end of each and every game, there is an announcement of the Three Stars of the game. Even though it is a team sport, and there is a winning team and a losing team, the outstanding contributions of a few individuals are recognized and publicly announced.

It is that simple. Every day on the job is game day. Every day there is a star player. Recognize your stars publicly and in front of the rest of your team. Do it publicly and do it often. Just make sure you look around for the contributions of all of the team. Don't play favourites. That will backfire.

Gretzky wasn't always chosen as a game star. Sometimes the rookies made it to star status. Recognize the efforts of all of your players and watch their contributions change.

Kevin Burns - The Chief Instigation Officer of Laugh-Long Learning!

http://www.kevburns.com

1-877-BURNS-11

Employee Tip #2 - Simple Responsibilities

The way I see it, there only two responsibilities that employees have and everything else is simply an offshoot of either of these responsibilities.

The first responsibility for any employee is to honor your agreements, especially the big one, the one that got you here. Your employer has honestly agreed to pay you for an honest day's work. So as I see it, so long as the company continues to uphold their end of the bargain (think of them giving you a paycheck) then you should be upholding your end of the deal (Hint: That would be the work part).

Stretching breaks and lunches, doing personal stuff on company time and showing up late and checking out early is not upholding your end of the deal. But the company is still expected to uphold theirs aren't they? It just doesn't seem fair that the company must keep their word but you don't have to keep yours, does it?

Perhaps things would be different if it was OK for the company to shave a few dollars here and there from your paycheck whenever they felt like they weren't getting their full value. Things would be different if they could stop paying you every time they caught you not keeping your part of the deal.

The second responsibility you have as an employee is to ensure that you rested, relaxed and ready (100%) to take on the tasks assigned to you. That means not being drunk, hungover, high or otherwise distracted. Hey, if I'm your customer, I want you to be fully present, aware and ready to keep your word let alone remember what you said you would do.

In writing here today, I realized that there is one more responsibility that needs to be mentioned. If there are people on your staff guilty of not keeping either of the first two responsibilities, then it becomes the responsibility of the rest of the staff to address the issue with the offender right away. The offender needs to know that they will not be allowed to abuse the company or impact the workload of the rest of the staff. Trust me on this, if the other staff members confronted the offender en masse, I'll bet it never happens again. If it does, plan to visit the boss and have him surgically remove the cancer from the job.

If someone has already had this discussion with you and you still want to take issue with any or all of these responsibilities, well then you've got a big problem. Good luck with that.

Kevin Burns - The Chief Instigation Officer of Laugh-Long Learning!

http://www.kevburns.com

1-877-BURNS-11

Oh And One More Thing

Meghan, my VP Everything, also figures that I need to come into the new techbology easier and with a little less kicking and screaming. So she convinced me to go Blackberry.

This column is written and uploaded on the new technology. I guess there's no reason to not keep in touch anymore is there?

I'm sure I'll get better at it soon.

Kevin Burns - The Chief Instigation Officer of Laugh-Long Learning!
http://www.kevburns.com
1-877-BURNS-11