jungle jeff, Vision, Mission, Brand

Vision, Mission, Brand. Corporate speak? Sure. Critical success factors? Absolutely.  Or, just plain old common sense?

How many successful businesses operate without these?  “None“, would probably be pretty accurate. Seriously, how could they?

And if they can’t be successful, how can we? Ever wonder about your personal life – without a personal vision, mission, and brand?

When companies evaluate their employee, customer and financial goals and results, do you think they could save time and money by not laboring over these things?

Of course. But that would be very short-sighted and very foolish.

Is it me, or is it hot in here?

Yesterday’s post inspired this one.  “Without clearly defined…..”

Don’t Get Arrested

Do what you fear, but don’t get arrested.  Sometimes, if not more often, we must do what we fear to overcome it.

This has been challenging, considering  all the places I’ve lived and worked – 35 years in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Idaho, Florida and Washington State.

Bottom line, my thirst for pushing boundaries tends to threaten others. Since turning 50 in June, I have flat out accepted this is who I am – a game changer.  Maybe this will be September’s theme.  Maybe not.

Let’s go back two days to The Ledge, at the western hemisphere’s tallest building:

Went out on The Ledge five times. Would have done it even more, except it was a very busy Friday night in Chicago.

“So what”? Exactly.  So what!  I’ve never been more impatient with the status quo.

Turbulent times call for unprecedented creative efforts.  In order to teach our son patience, I constantly remind myself to relax and be patient.  One day soon, some one will ask, “Will you share your vision with us”?

While I went to The Ledge five times that night, Walt Disney lived his whole life on The Ledge.  Wonder if we’re related. Carpe diem, jungle jeff 🙂

The Wow Factor Works Like This

The wow factor.  Most have heard of it.  Many, even, have written about it.

Walt Disney perfected it, and made it “business as usual”, while others are still trying to comprehend how to do it consistently.

So how is it instilled in every employee of an organization?  That’s the vision isn’t it?  That all your employees, at every level, embrace the consistent, surprising and delighting, of all your customers.

And by the way, I’ve always said, “Consistency is the hallmark of Quality Service”.

Anyway, back to my original point.  I’m checking my gate number on the monitor and hear, “Over here”!

Michele, the TSA hostess, calls me over to the expert traveler line.  There is no line.  Sweet!  And I find myself smack on the receiving end of the wow factor – small, seemingly insignificant moments when an employee does something nice for a Customer.

I’ve never been invited through the expert traveller line.  She told me I could come back the next time I fly.

Thank you Michele.  See you next week.

Carpe diem, jungle jeff 🙂

Does Your Vision Do This?

Does your vision – personal, professional, or both – send a shiver down your spine when you think or talk about it?

What if it did?

What would it take?

As a professional speaker, a wise person once told me, “Jeff, if you look out at your audience, and they look bored, you’re boring them”.

To me, this means if I’m  bored with my thinking, and not motivated, excited or inspired enough, it’s my responsibility to take action.

There are many ways to figure this out.  It happened to me and I’m applying my best efforts to, as Gandhi said, “You must become the change you wish to see in the world”.

What about you?

Thank goodness it’s Monday.  Bring it on.  Carpe diem, jungle jeff 🙂

jungle jeff’s Top Ten List

jungle jeff’s top ten list:

Today, my personal Leadership recipe:

  1. Vision – number one, it must be compelling, and impossible
  2. Passion – passion is unlike yeast, we need a ton of passion
  3. Communicationmore is better; daily
  4. Confidence – people love someone who believes “all the way”
  5. Structure – how great work gets done effectively, and quickly
  6. Teamworktogether, everyone achieves more
  7. Innovation –  fancy word for creativity; implementing creative ideas
  8. Measurement – you can’t improve what you don’t measure
  9. Results – this is why we are in business
  10. Fun – do what you love

Mix with courage, or, an indomitable will, and you have the opportunity to achieve what others say can’t be done.

Carpe diem, jungle jeff  🙂