Be Your Best

A Lesson Learned in the Parking Lot at Walmart

I picked up a very good lesson recently from a smart guy named Jack Canfield which I will describe below.  But the bigger learning I had recently came out of the parking lot at Walmart, of all places.  I was listening to an interview with Jack Canfield, co-author of the very successful “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series of books.  He described a ‘formula’ that he learned for high performance and success:  E + R = O.  Events + Response = Outcomes.  This simple but powerful formula is something that he learned many years ago from a mentor of his.  Seems pretty basic, but has profound capability to change your performance and outcomes, and that of your team’s results.  Most people either partially or fully blame outcomes on events that are out of their control (the weather, the economy, this person did this wrong, etc…) …and “events” are largely or are fully out of our control.  The key is that Outcomes are not just a result of Events, but rather how we Respond to those Events plus the Event itself.  When you look at it as: Outcomes = Events + Response, it puts all the control of Outcomes in our hands and makes all the difference for high performance and success.  An excellent principle to live and work by.

The bigger learning for me came as I was in the middle of a Walmart parking lot the other day.  I swung into Walmart to pick up some last minute school supplies for Lauren, our 6th grader, and Megan, our 2nd grader.  Of course, I was wanting to get home for dinner with the family, and running a little late — so I was in a bit of a rush.  Finishing up through the checkout line and getting in my car, I proceeded to work my way out of the maze of the huge Walmart parking lot.  I turned down one of the parking aisles to begin to exit, and there were two ladies walking very slowly right down the middle of the road, blocking all traffic.  They were oblivious to all the cars, apparently talking to each other, taking their time, etc…  At first I thought they were just not paying attention, but then one of them looked back at me and all the other cars piling up behind me and kept right on.  I was getting a little frustrated since I was running late and now getting later.  Of course, their car was to be the last one in a very long parking aisle a hundred yards from the store, so this process of moving at 20 feet per minute was taking a while.  This whole time all I could focus on was why these people were being so rude, inconsiderate, and uncaring.  Finally, the two ladies moved towards their car and allowed the long line-up of cars (by now jammed up and down multiple parking aisles in multiple directions) to move through.  As I started to move by them, I began to roll my window down to possibly make a comment.  And just as I was next to them, I could see that one woman was ‘signing’ to the other, and the deaf individual was clearly mentally handicapped.  At that moment, I went instantly from anger to feeling very badly for being angry and impatient.  Things were not as they seemed.  I had made false assumptions that were guiding my actions.  I was ‘responding’ to ‘events’ out of my control and creating a poor ‘outcome’.  This happens a lot in business, at work, and outside of work.  It was a big wake-up call and really affected me.  Give benefit of the doubt.  There is usually a logical reason for things being the way they are.  E + R = O.

Take Care, Todd  (tgifford@dee-inc.com)

President
DEE

Todd Gifford, President of DEE (left), with Dennis Albaugh (Right)

I had the opportunity recently to spend some time with Billionaire businessman Dennis Albaugh, also known as the ‘Prince of Pesticides’. Dennis is ranked the 105th Richest person in America by Forbes Magazine, and is a multi-billionaire, with a “B”. Dennis is a very smart man who founded Albaugh, Inc. in the late 1970’s, and has amassed his fortune through the development and manufacture of pesticides. So why was I hanging out with Dennis? We share a passion for old cars. Everyone’s got their hobbies and passion interests, and one of mine is old cars. I have always loved everything about old cars — their history, their stories, bringing them back to life through restoration, etc… Anyway, Dennis Albaugh happens to have created one of the nicest and largest collection of old Chevrolet Cars and Corvettes in the country. It is a private museum level collection not open to the public, but Dennis allowed me and some other car club guys to hang out at his place. I had a chance to spend a little time one on one with Dennis to talk cars, but also talked to him a little about business and life as well. One big thing I took away was ‘good guys don’t always finish last.’ When you think of what one of the Richest people in America is going to be like, you get a pretty clear and stereotypical picture and perception in your mind. Well, Dennis is not like what I expected at all. Just a super nice guy, down to earth, and very quiet and reserved — a wonderful listener as well. He is someone that you would never know that he is as rich and famous as he is if you walked right by him in the super market.  Pre-washed jean shorts, sweat shirt and ball cap on when I was with him!

The big thing I could see and feel with Dennis is that he is very passionate about a lot of things.  When you have passion, you get focused on those things you are passionate about.  And when you get focused, you get results and you achieve a lot of satisfaction and enjoyment.  Dennis and I are both passionate about old cars.  Now, he is obviously on a whole ‘nother level in this passion than I am (or make that many many levels higher), but yet he and I can connect, identify, and learn at a common level about the topic in which we are both passionate about.  He was asking me for my opinions and knowledge just as I was asking him for his.  Passion leads to focus, which leads to enjoyment.  Find and exploit all your passions!

Take Care, Todd

Todd Gifford
President
DEE Electronics