This past weekend was a cold reminder that the warm summer days are over. And, in the spirit of preparing for the cooler fall temperatures, we decided to fire up the furnace to ensure everything was in proper working condition. If you live in a four seasons part of the country, you no doubt are familiar with the unpleasant smell that comes along with the process, which is why my wife made certain that all of the windows in the house were open. It took about an hour for the smell of burnt dust to disappear before we were able to shut the windows so that the house could warm up.
Earlier in the week, I received an email reminder on The Extra Degree® (212°) philosophy. It was a timely reminder to ensure that I was keeping the heat turned up in other areas of my life as well.
If you are not familiar with the 212° philosophy, it goes something like this:
At 211 degrees, water is hot.
At 212 degrees, it boils.
And with boiling water, comes steam
And with steam you can power a train.
The point: One degree makes all the difference.
THE CHALLENGE
The 212° philosophy has become more than an interesting observation. For some, it has become a way of doing business and a way of living life.
This week pick one day and resolve to turn the heat up to 212° in everything you do. This includes work, family life, friendships, your spiritual journey, and your diet and exercise. If you like the way things go, build off the momentum and keep the fire burning bright.
American author H. Jackson Brown Jr. said,
Be willing to give that extra effort that separates the winner from the one in second place.”
Will you give what it takes?
THE REFLECTION
1. In what areas of your life do you find it most difficult to give the extra degree of effort?
2. Do you feel that extra effort gets rewarded in life?
3. Did you share the 212° philosophy with anyone else? What did they think?
4. What did you learn about yourself as a result of turn the heat up to 212°?
5. How would continual practice of this challenge change your life?
All around the world every boy, every girl’s, got one shot to prove what they’re all about.”
That’s a verse from the Newsboys song, “One Shot.” I first heard the song a couple of weeks ago, and since then I have been meditating on the blatant reality of those lyrics.
After sharing those lyrics with a good friend of mine, he sent me a link to a blogpost written by Michael Hyatt, What Will They Say When You Are Dead? The post contained a “write your own eulogy” type of exercise. While it might sound morbid, eulogy-type exercises are popular tools that some life coaches use to help clients put things in perspective and to help identify areas and relationships that require attention. For some people, the excercise can be a powerful, and sometimes sobering, wake up call.
The fact of the matter is, someday we are going to die. There will be a funeral. People will share their thoughts. We will leave an impression. That impression will largely depend on the impact we have on other people, the example we set for others, and the accomplishments we leave behind. It will be heavily influenced by how closely our walk matches our talk–and our values for that matter.
Someone who wants to be remembered for being a giver cannot live life as a taker. Someone who wants to be known as a reliable friend, won’t be if he or she is constantly breaking promises. Someone who wants to be known as a “family man” has to invest the time and energy doing “family man” activities. You get the picture.
THE CHALLENGE
Set aside an hour this week to look at your life through the eyes of at least two of the following people:
Parent
Spouse
Sibling
Child
Friend
Coworker
Then, take out a piece of paper and write an answer to Hyatt’s question: What will they say when you are dead?
To help get the ball rolling, reflect on these four probing questions:
Remember, you only get one shot to prove what you’re all about!
THE REFLECTION
1. What did you learn about yourself this week as a result of completing this challenge?
2. How can you continue to benefit from this challenge in the future?
3. What was your biggest takeaway?
4. What positive changes could you make going forward in order to maximize the benefit of this challenge?
A collector mentor reader who is new to the industry recently sent an email asking for tips on keeping healthy while spending 40 hours a week sitting at a desk. It seems that the transition from being on her feet all day in retail to sitting all day at a desk was causing a few concerns. So, in the July/August issue we responded with a few suggestions, one of which was to incorporate some type of regular physical activity into her routine.
In June, CNN ran a story titled, “Is your desk job bad for your health?” The article states, “The hazards of sitting all day long–whether you’re staring at a computer screen at work or watching TV on the couch at home–are better understood now than ever. In recent years, researchers have linked too much sitting to back pain, repetitive stress injuries, obesity, and even an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease.”
On September 17, 2010 the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) will sponsor the 5th Annual Run@Work Day to “promote and provide the opportunity for individuals to incorporate at least 30-minutes of exercise, in accordance with the National Physical Activity Guidelines, into their daily routine either before work, during lunch, or immediately following work.”
Promotional material for the event further states that, “The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) estimates that 64% of US adults are either overweight (33%) or obese (31%), meaning they have an excess weight of 30 lbs or more. For over 20 years, the CDC has been tracking obesity trends, and they have reported that the rate of overweight adults in the US has increase by 18% in those 20 years. The causes of overweight and obesity can be complex. However simply put, overweight and obesity results from an energy imbalance. Eating more calories and not getting enough exercise or physical activity results in the energy imbalance that causes obesity. The rise of overweight and obesity and the resulting health conditions has a dramatic effect on health insurance costs around the US. It is estimated that overweight and obesity health related medical
costs have reached an all time high of $75.8 billion per year (www.cdc.gov).
THE CHALLENGE
This week commit to exercising for at least 30 minutes in support of Run@Work Day.
Walking during break/lunch with coworkers or biking to work is a great starting point for people who don’t have an existing exercise routine established. If you enjoy your 30 minutes and want to make exercise an ongoing part of your life, be sure to check out the Mayo Clinic’s article “Fitness programs: 5 steps to getting started.”
However, if exercise is already a regular part of your weekly routine, you might consider inviting a friend or family member to join you on your next trip to the gym.
Attention Employers: Free Resources!
Looking for information to boost your wellness program? Check out WellnessProposal’s online information library of more than 10,000 FREE handouts, posters, guides, and other resource materials that you can use in your employee wellness program.
THE REFLECTION
1. What tips do you have for staying fit while spending 40 hours a week at a desk?
2. What does your company do to promote wellness?
3. What are the biggest challenges you face in exercising regularly?
On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. and shared his dream regarding civil rights equality with an estimated crowd of 250,000 people. This past weekend marked the 47th anniversary of that occasion.
Over the years, Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech has earned a reputation for being one of the greatest speeches in human history. In 1999, for example, more than 130 leading scholars were asked to share their opinions on the Top 100 speeches of the century. Dr. King’s speech took top honors.
Since it had been several years since I last read the full text of the legendary speech, I decided it was time to give it another read. Although the speech represents Dr. King’s vision for civil rights equality, re-reading the speech did not cause me to think about civil rights this time around. Instead, I found myself thinking about dreams. Not the middle of the night “falling off a cliff” type of dreams, but the instinctive dreams that we have for our lives. What we want to do. What we want to accomplish. What we want to leave behind. Those types of dreams.
Dr. King clearly had a passion for his dream. This is evident by the immense amount of time and energy he spent pursuing it. In fact, Dr. King received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his efforts.
He graduated high school at the age of 15, received a B.A. degree at the age of 19, and received a doctorate degree at the age of 26.
Between 1957 and 1968, he traveled over six million miles and spoke over twenty-five hundred times.
He wrote five books and authored numerous articles.
He conferred with President Kennedy and campaigned for President Johnson.
He was arrested more than twenty times and assaulted at least four times.
He was awarded five honorary degrees.
When notified of the Nobel award, King announced that he donate the money–$54,123–to the furtherance of his dream.
Do the math and you realize that Dr. King was 35 years old when he won the Nobel Peace Prize, and that he was only 34 years of age when he delivered that remarkable speech.
Thirty-four years old. Think about that.
Let it set in.
Now ask yourself, “Have I been putting in the type of hard work and dedication needed to achieve my dreams?”
Three-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Gail Devers, reminds us to,
Keep your dreams alive. Understand that to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.”
This week spend some time reflecting on the dreams that you have for your life, your career, and the industry. Do you believe in yourself, and are you putting in the hard work and dedication needed to see those dreams come true? If so, bravo! However, if you’re not, consider using the next few days to piece together a plan to help you close the gap between where you are and where you want to be.
THE REFLECTION
1. What big dreams do you have for the industry?
2. Why do you think some people fail to achieve their dreams?
3. What do you do when someone tells you that your dream is too big?
4. What steps do you take to achieve your dreams?
5. What are the biggest challenges you face when working towards your dreams?
The Better Business Bureau issued a bulletin Friday warning about phony debt collection callers who claim to be from the Kentucky-based payday loan company U.S. Cash Advance.”
This appeal concerns an award of attorneys’ fees under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”), 15 U.S.C. § 1692 etseq. After a one-day bench trial before a magistrate judge, Defendant J.C. Christensen and Associates, Inc. (“Christensen”), was found to have committed two violations of the FDCPA. The magistrate judge awarded Plaintiff Ahmet Hepsen (“Hepsen”) $500 in statutory damages. Having prevailed in his FDCPA action, Hepsen filed a motion for an award of attorneys’ fees under the FDCPA. At the time the magistrate judge ruled on the motion, Hepsen sought $54,273.50 in attorneys’ fees. Hepsen did not receive the requested $54,273.50..”
A Lancaster man imprisoned on a parole violation has been accused by Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo of illegally operating his Buffalo debt collection agency from federal prison.
Hoboken Assemblyman Ruben Ramos Jr. will introduce legislation that would require health care providers to notify patients with outstanding debt before reporting them to a private collection agency or consumer reporting agency.”
The number of collection agencies and creditors sued between August 1-15 totaled 426, down from 488 sued in the July 16-31 period, but up from 389 in the first half of July, according to data from U.S. District Courts.”
An increase in placements and portfolio supply has prompted collection agencies and debt buyers to hire people recently. Meanwhile, the performance outlook for the ARM industry remains strained.”
I love the summer. Who doesn’t? It is a great time to be with your family and friends and to be outside if it is not 100 degrees and humid, like it has been in the Philadelphia area recently! It is also a good time to reflect on how the year has been going with your debt collection agency, and to figure out your “plan of attack” for the remainder of the year and 2011.”
The rules of the game governing credit cards are changing yet again, as the final provisions of federal legislation involving credit card interest rates and fees went into effect yesterday. The big buzz this is creating is centered on credit card interest rates reaching a nine-year high, expected to go up even further in light of these new restrictions.”
(American Bankruptcy Institute press release, 08/17/10)
The total number of U.S. bankruptcies filed during the first six months of 2010 increased 14 percent over the same six-month period in 2009, according to data released today by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Total filings reached 810,209 during the first half of the calendar year of 2010 (January 1-June 30), compared to 711,550 cases filed over the same period in 2009. The totals represent the highest number of filings for the first six months of a calendar year since 2005, when the Bankruptcy Code was amended.”
This week’s challenge is inspired by legendary college football coach Lou Holtz:
“All winning teams are goal-oriented. Teams like these win consistently because everyone connected with them concentrates on specific objectives. They go about their business with blinders on; nothing will distract them from achieving their aims.”
Holtz was passionate about teamwork and goal setting. When he took over the reins of the Notre Dame program in 1986 he had the names removed from the players’ jerseys to emphasize teamwork. Although the team ended the season with a 5-6 record that year, they went 8-4 the following year, and in 1988 the Fighting Irish went undefeated and ended the season with a Fiesta Bowl victory, thereby claiming the NCAA Division I National Championship. When it was all said and done, Holtz ended his 11 year Notre Dame career with a 100 wins and 30 losses, including five bowl championships.
For additional insight I encourage you to invest three minutes of your time watching Holtz discuss the importance of goal setting:
THE CHALLENGE
The challenge this week is to work together as a team to identify one specific goal (preferably a stretch goal) to focus on in the month of August.
Here are some ideas:
Perfect attendance.
Score 100% for quality assurance monitoring.
Set a new record for wrap time.
Recover more money than any other month so far this year.
End the month with zero customer complaints.
You’re going to need a positive attitude, put forth sincere commitment, and sharpen your focus to accomplish your mission, but don’t forget Holtz also reminds you that
No one has ever drowned in sweat.”
THE REFLECTION
What did you learn about your teammates this week as you worked together to set your team goal?
How can your team continue to benefit from setting team goals in the future?
Was your team able to proactively identify potential roadblocks and devise work-arounds?
What positive changes could your team make going forward in order to maximize the benefit of this challenge?
How would continual practice of this challenge change your team?
