Imagine being one of ten kids living in a small home outside of Boston. Do you get forgotten? Do you do as you wish? Are you always mad because you don't have your own things such as a room, closet or bathroom? For Dan La Perriere, none of the above are feeling he had or has. In fact, the lessons he learned from his parents are with him today as he's well entrenched in his second career as a consultant and coach.
I met Dan about six years ago at a quarterly meeting with our supplier Resource Associates. He is a quiet, easy going sort who at the time was in business with his wife Lee, and friend Kathy Bowman Atkins. Lee has since gone out on her own. Dan and Kathy have built a successful consulting business in and around Greensboro, NC. They met at General Dynamics and decided to go out on their own. It's proven to be a very successful partnership.
Dan's parents were hard working folks living in New Bedford, MA. Dan's father recently passed away, but lived a good life based on hard work, commitment and love for his family. All lessons passed down to his kids. Dan was the third of 10. He remembers vividly the organization involved in getting ready for Church, folding clothes and bringing in groceries. Dan's father was in the Marines during WWII. As you might expect, they had weekly inspections focused on keeping their rooms, closets and bathrooms clean.
Dan married his high school sweetheart on his birthday, the day after Lee graduated from college in 1973. They have three wonderful children and just welcomed their first grand child into the world. Dan. like his siblings, has had a wonderful career at AT & T and General Dynamics before founding (with Kathy) The Lattitude Group. His demeanor, patience and listening abilities have served him well throughout his career and with his family. He has been a great coach to me over the past two years and has helped Joan and I with our annual strategic plan.
I am pleased and blessed to call Dan a friend and know he would do anything for me. Can't ask for much more in life. I never met Dan's family, but see how he has incorporated the lessons well. It shows in his words and actions. Lessons abound for all of us, but it's the few who utilize them on a daily basis. Happy Birthday and Anniversary. Continued success for many more!
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Foul!
Back in October, I wrote a blog entitled, "Knowing Your Role." It talked about the positive impact back up players had in the Phillies championship run. Today, its just the opposite. On Wednesday, umpire Joe West, in his 34th season as an umpire, called two balks on Chicago White Sox pitcher, Mark Buehrle. The balk is at best a confusing play in baseball. A pitcher is not allowed to deceive the runner at first and therefore must abide by several rules to avoid the call and keep a runner at first. Left handed pitchers have always had an advantage as they're facing the runner and need only to stride toward first. There is an imaginary 45 degree line running from the pitcher's mound to the first base line. If you're foot lands on the home plate side-it's a balk. It is the least called rule in baseball. On Wednesday, Joe West called it on Buehrle in two successive innings. The last call, in the third inning, resulted in Buehrle being thrown out of the ballgame. His manager, Ozzie Guillen, was thrown out after the first call in the second inning. The last time Mark Buehrle was thrown out of a game was in 2005.
Who do we pay to watch? Is the umpires? No. Is is the manager and coaches? No. Final guess-is it the players? Absolutely! I saw a reply and saw a close play that is almost never called-certainly not twice in a ballgame. To make matters worse, West waved Guillen away before he could ask what Buehrle did. Unfortunately, Mr. West has a history of turning the spotlight on himself and making him the issue. A great umpire is seen and not heard. He is the one who keeps calm while all the emotion swirls about him. He doesn't or shouldn't create the issue-he should subdue it. Not so on Wednesday and not so in recent history.
Do you see this happen at work? Are there folks in your organization whose chant is "Me,me,me,me...? " How do you help them realize they are negatively impacting the organization? For many organizations, nothing is done. In most cases, it's not unlike a child seeking attention. For successful organizations, individuals are coached on their positive and negative actions on a routine (weekly or bi-monthly) basis. Without this constant correction and input, a culture starts to get corrupted and it spreads. Building a good team takes time, patience and perseverance. It also involves a lot of spade work to get it just right. Perhaps Major League Baseball needs to prune some of its own and make sure everyone knows their role.
Who do we pay to watch? Is the umpires? No. Is is the manager and coaches? No. Final guess-is it the players? Absolutely! I saw a reply and saw a close play that is almost never called-certainly not twice in a ballgame. To make matters worse, West waved Guillen away before he could ask what Buehrle did. Unfortunately, Mr. West has a history of turning the spotlight on himself and making him the issue. A great umpire is seen and not heard. He is the one who keeps calm while all the emotion swirls about him. He doesn't or shouldn't create the issue-he should subdue it. Not so on Wednesday and not so in recent history.
Do you see this happen at work? Are there folks in your organization whose chant is "Me,me,me,me...? " How do you help them realize they are negatively impacting the organization? For many organizations, nothing is done. In most cases, it's not unlike a child seeking attention. For successful organizations, individuals are coached on their positive and negative actions on a routine (weekly or bi-monthly) basis. Without this constant correction and input, a culture starts to get corrupted and it spreads. Building a good team takes time, patience and perseverance. It also involves a lot of spade work to get it just right. Perhaps Major League Baseball needs to prune some of its own and make sure everyone knows their role.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Grinders
In the last 24 hours, I've witnessed two events that celebrate the fortitude of the human spirit and how sheer willpower can help us achieve our goals. I don't watch much hockey and like most sports I believe the season is too long. Last night, however, was a remarkable game and feat by the Philadelphia Flyers. In the Eastern Conference semi-finals (2nd round of the playoffs), the Flyers found themselves down three games to none in the best of seven series. In other words, they were one game away from elimination. The Flyers fought back to tie the series and traveled to Boston for the final game. Ironically found themselves down 3 -0 after 15 minutes. As many of you know, the Flyers came back with four answered goals to win the game and the series. How improbable is that you ask? In the history of all major league sports, baseball, football, hockey, basketball, it has been done exactly three times prior to last night. The last time was in 2004 when the Red Sox came back to beat the Yankees.
This morning, I volunteered at the local Kennett Square (PA) Run. It's an annual event with nearly 3,000 runners and walkers participating. My job was to make sure cars didn't leave a neighborhood on the route. Often, it's a dangerous job, but I'm happy to report no incidents! My post was just short of the four mile mark at the top of a long incline. This was a 10K or 6.2 mile race. The first runners appeared to hardly exert an effort, though their pace was lower than 5 minutes/mile. The rest of the field was an assortment of athletes of all shapes and sizes-literally. I'm not sure the body is made to run like some of the folks did. Bottom line, they all made it up the hill and persevered. They may not have been going fast, but they were going. For many, it was a very difficult challenge. I saw a lot of grit and determination. As the last two persons jockeyed for the last spot, I wasn't sure if they appreciated their effort or were embarrassed to be at the end of the race followed by a police car. I hope they appreciated their effort.
In both cases, the effort to meet the goal was a circuitous one. Flyers coach Peter Laviolette summed up their journey by saying "It's not the ideal path, but its our path." No one wants to lose the first three games, but sometimes it happens. You can't always control events, but you can control your reaction to them. How hard are you willing to work to reach your goal? What happens if unanticipated obstacles get in your way? Do you grind through it or give up? Many of us give up just before we succeed. Perhaps the runners in Kennett Square and the Flyers can show us how to grind it out.
This morning, I volunteered at the local Kennett Square (PA) Run. It's an annual event with nearly 3,000 runners and walkers participating. My job was to make sure cars didn't leave a neighborhood on the route. Often, it's a dangerous job, but I'm happy to report no incidents! My post was just short of the four mile mark at the top of a long incline. This was a 10K or 6.2 mile race. The first runners appeared to hardly exert an effort, though their pace was lower than 5 minutes/mile. The rest of the field was an assortment of athletes of all shapes and sizes-literally. I'm not sure the body is made to run like some of the folks did. Bottom line, they all made it up the hill and persevered. They may not have been going fast, but they were going. For many, it was a very difficult challenge. I saw a lot of grit and determination. As the last two persons jockeyed for the last spot, I wasn't sure if they appreciated their effort or were embarrassed to be at the end of the race followed by a police car. I hope they appreciated their effort.
In both cases, the effort to meet the goal was a circuitous one. Flyers coach Peter Laviolette summed up their journey by saying "It's not the ideal path, but its our path." No one wants to lose the first three games, but sometimes it happens. You can't always control events, but you can control your reaction to them. How hard are you willing to work to reach your goal? What happens if unanticipated obstacles get in your way? Do you grind through it or give up? Many of us give up just before we succeed. Perhaps the runners in Kennett Square and the Flyers can show us how to grind it out.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Gone But Not Forgotten
Last week, baseball lost one of the good men of the game. Ernie Harwell died at the age of 92. For 42 years, Ernie was the play-by-play announcer for the Detroit Tigers. Coincidentally, his first season in Detroit was my second season of life. For nearly 20 years, he brought the Tigers to me through the radio. He matched the pace of the summer-some highs, some lows, but mostly a nice, relaxed pace. His presence was always assumed. In the past few years, I've seen shows about him or heard clips from games he called. Though everyone calls their announcer the best-Ernie Harwell was.
Last year, Philadelphia lost Harry Kalas and there was deep mourning for a lost friend. I know Detroit is going through the same hurt today. Ernie Harwell was 92 and as he said, worked at something he loved. I was saddened when I heard of his death on Tuesday. Memories of people I've known, neighborhoods, ball games, and high school all came flooding back because of the death of a man I never knew personally, but represents an impressionable part of my life. There is a certain sadness in thinking about all that's behind me. I'm also buoyed by the fact that I remember my family, friends and experiences in Michigan fondly and with clarity. In two years I'll see many of them at our 35th reunion. Until then, there is Facebook.
Most of us would sign up for a good quality of life into the 90's. Ernie Harwell knew he was blessed with a long life doing what he loved. To read the eulogies, the love was mutual. Willie Horton, the Tigers left fielder in the 60's and 70's said it was a blessing to have him in his life. Is that such a bad legacy to leave behind? Ernie Harwell left the world a better place. It's a goal worth living.
Last year, Philadelphia lost Harry Kalas and there was deep mourning for a lost friend. I know Detroit is going through the same hurt today. Ernie Harwell was 92 and as he said, worked at something he loved. I was saddened when I heard of his death on Tuesday. Memories of people I've known, neighborhoods, ball games, and high school all came flooding back because of the death of a man I never knew personally, but represents an impressionable part of my life. There is a certain sadness in thinking about all that's behind me. I'm also buoyed by the fact that I remember my family, friends and experiences in Michigan fondly and with clarity. In two years I'll see many of them at our 35th reunion. Until then, there is Facebook.
Most of us would sign up for a good quality of life into the 90's. Ernie Harwell knew he was blessed with a long life doing what he loved. To read the eulogies, the love was mutual. Willie Horton, the Tigers left fielder in the 60's and 70's said it was a blessing to have him in his life. Is that such a bad legacy to leave behind? Ernie Harwell left the world a better place. It's a goal worth living.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Mr. Bill and Miss Kathy
My biographical series continues with a man I met growing up on the hard streets of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Just kidding, I don't think there's a more bucolic place in the country than Bloomfield Hills. We had lived in our house for a couple of years when a young family moved in across the street. They were young, hip and had a cool yellow Corvette. They had one child at the time. I was nine going on seven. It turns out that my life and Bill and Kathy Sante's lives would intertwine for many years.
As I recall, they were the first adults who treated me as an grown up-or at least a kid with a decent head on his shoulder. I'm sure there were others including my parents, but they don't count. It took a couple of years to get to know them given my busy schedule as a fourth grader. Soon though, I was doing odd jobs and babysitting on weekends. Bill has a great sense of humor and often used it to pass on a life lesson. He was excellent at helping me manage up the chain of command at our house while not taking sides. I helped him paint one summer and enjoyed his witticism and war stories-all appropriate for a young teen.
In 1978, while I was at college, Bill took a job with Rockwell International and moved the family to Pittsburgh. A year later, Bill was diagnosed with Hodgkin's and went through an aggressive radiation therapy. He survived and continued to be a mentor. As luck would have it, my first job took me to Pittsburgh. Bill and Kathy opened their home and took me under their wing. I know they appreciated my roommate and I cooking at 2:00 in the morning. It was during that visit that Bill got concerned about our choice of an apartment and shared his reservations with my dad. Good call-though I didn't see it that way at the time. I saw them frequently and Bill continued to give good career advice.
I left Pittsburgh in 1984 only to return again with a family in 1995. Bill and Kathy were wonderful and enjoyed the turnaround as I tried to manage two boys under the age of 5. They lived a couple of miles away and were frequent visitors. They also enlisted their oldest daughter Jennifer to help out. They have been great friends for us-always there when we needed them. The circle of life plays out in our relationship as they watched our boys while we attended my father-in-laws funeral and I have given their son Bill some career advice.
We saw Bill and Kathy a couple of years ago when we were looking at colleges for the boys. They are in great shape and have several grandchildren in the area to dote over. I have been blessed to have them in my life and appreciate all the love, support and advice over the years. One never knows what lessons will be learned drinking a Coke in the shade during a break.
As I recall, they were the first adults who treated me as an grown up-or at least a kid with a decent head on his shoulder. I'm sure there were others including my parents, but they don't count. It took a couple of years to get to know them given my busy schedule as a fourth grader. Soon though, I was doing odd jobs and babysitting on weekends. Bill has a great sense of humor and often used it to pass on a life lesson. He was excellent at helping me manage up the chain of command at our house while not taking sides. I helped him paint one summer and enjoyed his witticism and war stories-all appropriate for a young teen.
In 1978, while I was at college, Bill took a job with Rockwell International and moved the family to Pittsburgh. A year later, Bill was diagnosed with Hodgkin's and went through an aggressive radiation therapy. He survived and continued to be a mentor. As luck would have it, my first job took me to Pittsburgh. Bill and Kathy opened their home and took me under their wing. I know they appreciated my roommate and I cooking at 2:00 in the morning. It was during that visit that Bill got concerned about our choice of an apartment and shared his reservations with my dad. Good call-though I didn't see it that way at the time. I saw them frequently and Bill continued to give good career advice.
I left Pittsburgh in 1984 only to return again with a family in 1995. Bill and Kathy were wonderful and enjoyed the turnaround as I tried to manage two boys under the age of 5. They lived a couple of miles away and were frequent visitors. They also enlisted their oldest daughter Jennifer to help out. They have been great friends for us-always there when we needed them. The circle of life plays out in our relationship as they watched our boys while we attended my father-in-laws funeral and I have given their son Bill some career advice.
We saw Bill and Kathy a couple of years ago when we were looking at colleges for the boys. They are in great shape and have several grandchildren in the area to dote over. I have been blessed to have them in my life and appreciate all the love, support and advice over the years. One never knows what lessons will be learned drinking a Coke in the shade during a break.
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