Lessons From The Underdog

Unless you've been living under a really big rock, you know that (my hometown) Butler Bulldogs are playing (in my hometown) for the NCAA Championship. Talk about crazy fun! But more than just being an awesome experience for me and my family, Butler University, their fans and the residents of Indianapolis - this is also an awesome learning experience for the proverbial underdog/David versus Goliath morality thing.

For proof, check out this stat: Duke University, who Butler plays tonight for the championship, is the No. 1 in the nation with a basketball budget of almost $14M. Butler is No. 142 at $1.7M. (BTW: Butler's total budget is less than half of what Duke's coach K makes in annual salary; go figure). That statistic alone, is staggering - let alone all of the other empiricals that separate the big dog Blue Devils, from the underdog Bulldogs. And don't forget that before Butler got here - it won 25 games in a row, and beat other big dogs Syracuse, Kansas State and Michigan State.

So just what exactly is it that Butler does, and what do they have, to make itself the underdog that can? Simply put, they have those important "fundamentals" that most people (and businesses) take for granted, like: genuine passion, sincere teamwork, absolute commitment, good manners, calm temperament, exceptional work ethic, positive pragmatism, effective execution, gracious attitudes, forward thinking, mindful preparation, intestinal fortitude, gritty determination, and humble confidence.

Granted, I like my Dawgs. I dig their game, and their style. It's what they call, "The Butler Way." And I'd argue that if more people and companies subscribed to the same fundamentals that make Butler the underdog that can - than more underdog people and companies CAN, and will, succeed as well.

They say luck is when preparation meets opportunity.

You prepared?

Preparation is Good.

(PS: While the above blog was written hours before the championship game, this post script is written the morning after. WOW - what a game. And although Butler came up just short, two points and one possession to be exact, they are winners. In this case, close counts. Big time. Regardless of the score, they taught us some real lessons from the underdog. Thanks Butler.)

If You Think This Sentence is Long ...

Last night, like many nights, after putting the kids to bed, I was mindlessly watching TV, while reading in my head, attention toward the tele, fading in and out, cared some, didn't care more, when the news made a startling, yet matter of fact statement, in that there are over 24 million kids, in the United States of America, living in homes without knowing a dad, which me sad, and mad, and feel really really bad, for the kids who had no dads, couldn't be very glad, for dads are good, at least the dads that are good, so why are there so many bad dads, that wont hang with, let alone ever know, their kids, seems almost criminal, at the very least immoral, inhuman, and unconscionable, because dad-less kids, in a way, serve a very long life sentence, that without any doubt, is a gazillion times longer, and more unfair, and sad, and bad than this pathetic excuse of a long sentence that I wrote here, to try to make a point, that the sentence, don't fit the crime, and we all know, that this written sentence, is almost criminal, so how's that compare, in comparison, to the sentence kids live out, without having a dad, so if you choose to be a father, then be sure to be a dad, because dads are good, if they're good.

Happy Anniversary, Mr. Bubble

Yesterday was the 10th anniversary of the infamous dot-com bubble going pop, boom, bang. And given the fact that I was one of those guys, with one of those high-flying Internet-based companies worth-gazillions-one-day-then-gazillions-less-the-next, I can still hear/feel/taste the reverberation.

In the words of Gilligan (going old-school), it was a real doozy.

But lest you think me sad and sullen, think again.

Actually, that episode made me a better, stronger man: personally and professionally. I learned some truly valuable lessons about work, and life. It also inspired me to write my book, Pocket PorchLights, and pen a chapter about that experience, and how it changed my life, for the better. And the name of that chapter is, "It's Over, And It's Just Begun." (Get it?) (Good!)

As profoundly unprofound as that expression may seem, it really does work - from a perspective, attitude, aptitude, and mindfulness standpoint. It's a yin and yang thing, right! There's good, and there's bad. One thing starts, another thing stops. We move forward, we move back. We win some, we lose some. And that's true for business, and life. No doubt, there are inevitable downsides. But - there's always an upside, and that's called learning.

Learning is Good.

Spiritual Enterprise

Greeting and salutations. And yes - I'm still here, although from the lack of posts, one would think that I've fallen off the face of the earth. (And sadly, many of those close in my life, are wondering about my where-abouts as well; both physically and mentally). But in the endearing words of the Whos, living on the spec of Horton's flower: "I AM HERE; I AM HERE; I AM HERE!!!"

Long story short - business has been craaaazzzzyy! Ahh - the business life of a private equity/venture capital/porchlights guy is not all fun and games. Nope. Frankly - there's lots of work (oh whoa is me, right!), and I spend loads of time just reading, riting and doing rithmitic (you know, the three Rs).

That said, we've been doing lots of work within our firm around the idea, and reality, of blending purpose with business; faith with capitalism; making money with doing good. It's one of our core objectives, and if I may, it's pretty cool, and something that I appreciate, and don't take for granted.

You see, one of our goals is to promote "spiritual enterprises." In other words - we want to fund, develop, and encourage companies that embrace the bottom line (i.e. making money), AND, the faith line (i.e. having a higher purpose than just making money). And lest you think the two don't get along - think again. They get along - like warm cookies and cold milk. True!

So you ask, what do you need to have a "spiritual enterprise?" Well, it takes work, and a lot of genuine commitment. That said, there's a nice book by Theodore Roosevelt Malloch titled, "Spiritual Enterprise: Doing Virtuous Business". In it, he lists some key components that are essential for a spiritual enterprise. They are:

1) Honesty (no duh right; but this one's in too short supply).
2) Gratitude (an appreciation for everything, all the time).
3) Perseverance (times can be tuff; but we have to hang in there).
4) Compassion (kinda soft to most execs; but empathy matters).
5) Forgiveness (mistakes happen: onward/upward).
6) Patience (not one of my virtues, but a virtue of big significance).
7) Humility (yes, we can be humble, and still have confidence).
8) Courage (we can't deliver, if we can't get started).
9) Respect (the right respect, for the right reasons).
10) Generosity (to give is better than to receive; give it up!).
11) Discipline (just doing is not good enough; purpose is required).
12) Chastity (this isn't just a sexual thing; its a mind thing too).
13) Thrift (applies to money, and lots of other possible excesses).

No doubt - that's a big list, and a lot of stuff. And yea, it might be hard to fully grasp, let alone embrace, and achieve. But its a good list, and something to think about, and work from.

After all, business just tastes better, when it tastes better.

Spiritual Enterprises Are Good.

To Think or To Feel: That is The Question

Recently, I did the Meyers Briggs and DISC assessments tests. Long explanation short, both tests are designed to help (unemotionally) establish our preferential behaviors when it comes to how we think, act and process: at work, relationships and life.

Now, while some may challenge the validity of these "tests," and have a hard time accepting their "designations," - I for one, dig 'em. I really do. (And not just because they don't require me to drop my drawers, or get stuck with a needle; although I never did get a lollipop!?). Simply put, I like them because they help to analytically establish a proactive appreciation for our own, and others, "processing temperament." More better - they help us establish an empathy that we can use with ourselves (i.e. how and/or how not to react to others treatment/style), as well as an understanding when it comes to others style and/or preferences re: style and preferences.

Make sense? Kinda sorta? Just a little!!?

Here's one great upside from these tests (and frankly, the biggest, most usable take away from what I'm trying to say). And it's all about appreciating the difference between saying "I feel," versus "I think," when starting to explain something to someone.

Check it out: when we're trying to make a point or persuade someone to see something our way, we start with either "I think we should .......," or we start with "I feel we should ...." The fact that we choose one over the other has to do with how we prefer to process input/output: as thinkers or feelers. Get it?

If you do, than ask yourself, which one do you prefer? More importantly, ask yourself which one the other person prefers? Why? Because it matters. If you really want to get someone to see it your way - start with seeing it their way: Are they a "thinker," or a "feeler?" If they are a "thinker," - than start with "I think ..." If they are a "feeler," than start with "I feel."

As simple as this sounds, it works amazingly well. Really. Try it.

I Think AND I Feel Are Both Good.

Lessons From Logan

Recently, our dog Logan celebrated her 14th birthday. The fact that she is 14 is absolutely totally awesome - as Golden Retrievers have an average life span of about 11 years old. Long live Logie!!!

While her longevity is phenomenal and highly appreciated by family, friends and neighbors alike - I don't think it's a random coincidence or lucky to be alive thing. Nope. I think she is truly blessed (as are we, who love her) because she is who she is.

And who she is can teach a lot of us humans about how to behave, and maybe even how to live longer, happier lives. It's true.

If I were to do a mash-up of Logan's (most) wonderful and endearing qualities that can teach us all a thing or two in terms of how to be better and live better - it would go like this: Attentive, happy, caring, kind, enthusiastic, careful, modest, playful, courteous, tender, fun, compassionate, protective, poised, accepting, unassuming, others-oriented, joyful, and loving. But make no mistake: while Logan would much rather wag her tail, cuddle, lick and be petted - she will growl, bark and bite if the situation (or the person) warrants. She's no fool.

Indeed, she's the complete package: friend, protector, defender, and confidant.

Which leads me to think that if we humans could comport ourselves with half the qualities and characteristics that Logan has as a dog - the world would be a much much better place. Woof!

Lessons From Logan Are Good.

Thumbs-Down!

On the heels of my last blog titled "Thumbs-Up!" - which used the Indianapolis Colts run of perfection as an example of giving dues to that which deserves their dues - it only seems fitting to now do a blog titled "Thumbs-Down!" - which uses the Colts' recent decision (more specifically, the Colts' management), to pull their key players from last week's game, which led to their first lose of the season, and subsequent shot at going undefeated, and making NFL history.

But I'm getting over it. Very slowly.

Here's the deal: while I still stand by my last post, re: the importance of giving kudos, atta-boys, props and congratulations when and where they are due (regardless of team bias) - we can't neglect, dismiss or ignore calling out questionable behavior/judgments/decisions/actions.

Opinions and commentary are a two-way street: we must be able to giveth, and taketh, the positive and the negative. Even if we don't agree either way. Heck, that's the basis of democracy, right? Sure, it's always best to disagree agreeably. But that doesn't change the disagreement. And after all, opinions are like belly buttons: we all have them.

Put another way, the proverbial cup is neither half-full, or half-empty: it's both. Similarly, when it comes to questionable behavior/judgements/decisions/actions that might elicit a thumbs-up or thumbs-down opinion, we have to be prepared and accepting for both. That's only fair.

Fair is Good.