HR Lessons from Star Wars: Let the Wookie Win

Several weeks ago we visited with my father who is slowly clearing out our family home as he begins construction on a new house.  I spent several hours going through closets, cabinets, and storage spaces uncovering many things I had either forgotten about or didn’t even know existed.  When we came across the box of the old Star Wars figures that my brother and I spent hours and hours playing with as kids, my children thought we hit the Mother Lode.

The SWU invaded the MetroPark Zoo in 2008

So the Star Wars figures have been at our home every day since.  I must admit there is a fun sense of nostalgia watching my kids play with the toys and action figures I had when I was there age.

In honor of rediscovering the Star Wars of my youth, I thought I’d point out a key lesson learned from the canon of The Original Trilogy:  Let the Wookie Win.

For those unfamiliar or who need a slight refresher, as C-3PO and R2-D2 are engaging in a futuristic chess game with Chewbacca, R2 makes a fair move to take out one of Chewie’s pieces.  As the wookie expresses his unhappiness with the move, Han Solo points out wookies have not been known as good losers and can become violent, thus prompting 3PO to recommend a new game strategy:  Let the Wookie Win.

I found this clip on You Tube if you need a reminder of the scene and no, this was not something I made with the newly discovered action figures!

Back to it after a rainy (and still raining) spring...

Well, again the best-laid plans can sometimes get waylaid.  Many greater men than I have probably said that over the years; I’m not the first and certainly won’t be the last.

So, flashback to Winter 2011.  Steelers are in the Super Bowl, I was flying high with some good family news, things at work were cruising along, and the Blog Spot to be known as CaritasHR was on the way to be a blog sensation.

At least we got the Mirrorball!

Oh, how things can change.  Overall, life continues to be great and I am thankful every day for the many blessings I see.  But I have heard it said that in life there are four big changes you can go through unlike any other:  getting married, buying a house, having children, and changing jobs.  (I would also add that as a Steeler fan losing the Super Bowl cause a change in your viewpoint for a while, but I digress…).

So no new kids, house, or marriages to report, but I did make a big change in role.  Starting a few weeks ago I accepted and started a new position with a great local organization, Invacare, where I’ll be overseeing the North American HR function with some work in OD that will also involve global work.  For me at this stage it is a great and exciting opportunity and a new challenge I am ready to face.

The KIVA story

I was introduced to KIVA several years ago through a gift from a colleague. KIVA is a great example of how a simple idea and a tremendous amount of passion can truly change the world.

If you aren't familiar with KIVA it is an organization that through donations by individuals (average of around $25 per donation) they provide microloans to "entrepreneurs" in countries throughout the world. These small loans help provide aspiring business owners capital they can use to make an impact in their businesses.

It is an inspiring story of how a person's vision and passion can help ignite a movement of giving back in the new virtual world. Here is a clip featuring the co-founder, Jessica Jackley, telling about KIVA's start and the success story they have achieved.

Jessica Jackley: Poverty, money -- and love Video on TED.com

Is it my Favorite Movie (?)

No, but for me Almost Famous is certainly up there with the best.  Whenever I get into that conversation of "favorite movie" I almost always overlook this film, but when I am reminded of it I remember it is one of the best you will find from start to finish.

Generally I don't like movies that are set in real-life; I prefer my movies big, loud, and want them to transport me away to a different time and place.  Real life has enough challenges and I don't like to be reminded of them in my viewing time.  Almost Famous is one of my exceptions; you get a sense this movie is heavily grounded by its characters and the life of its director/writer, Cameron Crowe.  There's no spaceships, time machines, or medieval warfare here, just a fantastic movie about a group of people and the bonds they build.

The characters are all memorable, the story is tight, and for me there is probably not a movie that makes a better use of it's rock soundtrack.  Each song ties into the emotions of the moment and the music becomes a character itself.  No scene sums it up better than the this one, which reintroduced the world to "Tiny Dancer."

I "had a busy day today" this week and when I stumbled across this video on YouTube this weekend it helped lift a few troubles.

I've not sat through the movie more than a handful of times and it is not one I could easily jump into if I stumble across it while channel surfing on a Sunday, however if you want to get lost in the bygone rock'n'roll era of the '70's and watch a movie that will bring a smile to your face, Almost Famous can fit the bill.

What is your Brand?

I picked up a Tweet today that I thought was a pretty insightful:  Brand is what you say about yourself; reputation is what others say about you (thanks, Bob Aber, for the RT).  It got me thinking about how organizations and individuals both spend large investments to build their “brand” and how significant the acts and words behind it must be to maintain a reputation.  Brands can take years to build, but reputations can be made or broken in a single act.  It seems like a simple enough balance but I’m amazed at how often teams and organizations can miss how the individual acts determine this much more than dollars invested in branding.

For most of my career I’ve worked in two organizations that have been the pretty low on the public expectations:  rental cars and cable.  Going to social functions and mentioning you work in either of these industries can open up a fascinating stream of discussion.  With rental cars I’d hear the horror stories of long lines, questionable vehicles, reservations that went unfilled, and occasionally a reference to OJ Simpson (for those who remember the Juice) running through an airport.  And cable, need I say more.  Cable and telecommunications providers generally rank the lowest in overall service across industries (here’s a sample ranking) so it has been many a dinner I’ve had to discuss the service issues that friends and colleagues have experienced (which I hope generally I can resolve).  If you haven't seen it, check out this Conan O'Brien clip from his "Day in Cable."  Not a typical day but certainly an entertaining look.

The Cavs-An Eyewitness Account of the End of the Streak

Last night we attended one of the greatest games in Cleveland pro sports history.

Nope, not an AFC championship game…

No, not a World Series match up…

We didn’t even witness the return of the Cleveland Force…

This game topped them all.

Cavaliers are also not very wise on their mascot choices

Only in Cleveland can the crowd get jazzed like we just won a championship when we stop a 26 game losing streak.  Yes, we can breathe again…the Cavs are now 1-26 over their last 27 games.

Now Cleveland is still considered by Laura and I to be the “adopted” home; however, we are quickly creeping up to that age in life where we have lived in Cleveland longer than we have lived in what we will always call home, Pittsburgh.  There are still very distinct lines drawn when it comes to football, but in basketball and baseball we always hope to see the Cavs and Indians do well.

Measuring what makes life worthwhile | Video on TED.com

Chip Conley is the CEO of hotel chain Joie de Vivre as well as an author and speaker.  This video is a little longer (20 min) but if you stick with it he's got a good message about helping inspire all of your employees to achieve a point in their development where they are helping transform the organization. He shares some interesting statistics on the service industry in the world, too. I found those parts of his speech fascinating.

Chip Conley Speech: Measure What Makes Things Worthwhile

Key takeaways for me:

• Organizations that can find ways to measure the "intangible" measure of success are more likely to achieve their long term goals
• It is important as leaders for us to inspire our teams so that every individual finds a point in the organization where they feel they are "transformational"
• There is a need for change in how we measure personal and business success in the 21st century, and organizations that find different ways to inspire and measure that success will be better positioned in the future, service-orientated economy

There are some interesting views expressed in the post's comments on his political views which to some viewers may take away from the overall impact of his message.  That aside, taking his key points for what they are I found it definitely to be a good message reinforcing the importance of every member of the team understanding the significance of what they do.  Those are the organizations that have the cultures that help breed success.

My Super Bowl Memories

Ah, Super Bowl Weekend.

For anyone from the Steeler Nation there is nothing more enjoyable than getting to this time of year and knowing there will be Black and Gold colors all over the television.  All seems right with the world when we know the Terrible Towels will be waving over Dallas Stadium.

What have I gotten myself into?

I would argue that for anyone growing up in Western PA during the 70’s there were not too many greater cultural influences than football, specifically Steeler Football.  Families huddled around televisions every Sunday to catch the games.  Playing in the backyard we fought over who would get to be Terry Bradshaw, Franco, Mean Joe, or Jack Lambert.  The kid in the Coke commercial was the luckiest kid in the world and the most famous child celebrity in our neighborhoods right ahead of Mikey (“He likes it! He likes it!”) and the kid whose stomach blew up from having too many Pop Rocks and drinking Pepsi.  One of the greatest days in elementary school was when Rocky Bleier came to speak to us.  We really didn’t understand what his Fighting Back message was all about back then, but we knew we were seeing a real live Steeler in our auditorium.

Best (recent) Super Bowl commercial...EVER!

It definitely appeals to the geek in me.  This may just edge out the e-Trade babies!

Darth Vader v. the Volkswagon

HR Dad Lesson #1: Your Children, like your Team, are always watching You!

My son is four and I have no doubt he will try to be an X-Games athlete.  We have our hands full.

My daughter spoiled us when she was his age.  As is true with most daughters, mine was and continues to be the living picture of a Disney Princess.  Of course I’m speaking as a Dad who still melts every time she busts out the smile and wants a big Daddy hug.  When we ask her to put her toys away, they get put away and are ordered and alphabetized based on color, toy maker, size, and the genus and species of the animal they are modeled after.  Pink ponies on one shelf, Pet Shop toys in descending order of size on shelf two, etc.  All of this is of course followed by an “I love you, Daddy.”  What Dad doesn’t crumble with hearing that from his little girl?  I know, the teenage years are right around the corner, so let me enjoy every moment I can right now.

Dad and Tyler when the Cavs used to win!

My son on the other has figured out that by stacking several kitchen pots, an upside down garbage can from the bathroom, and two living room pillows onto a kitchen chair he can essentially quadruple his reach to just above the refrigerator.  This used to be the hiding spot of all things Mom needed to keep from him.  I’ve seen his designs first hand, and although I don’t think I have a future architect on my hands I do give him credit for his ingenuity and the structural integrity he is able to achieve through odds and ends that have no right doing what he does with them.  When I admire his handiwork, though, somehow I still seem to catch Mom’s ire about letting him do things that during her watch he’s never allowed to do (this will be a future Life Lesson of the HR Dad subject:  How to follow Mom’s rules when you don’t even know what they are).

As a result of the Mad Architect, we have proceeded to move things further out of his reach in our home.  Consequently he has to launch more elaborate plans to achieve his goals.  The most recent object of his attention is to get into our basement storage room that is kept locked for all of the above reasons.  You see, he has learned this room contains all the spare toys which become much more exciting when he doesn’t see them every day.  For him, this room has become his Well of the Souls, and like Indiana Jones he going to break in so he can get the Ark.

The Three A's of Awesome!

I came across this clip last week but didn't get a chance to watch it until today.  Ironically I viewed it after having "one of those days" and boy, was it uplifting.  Every once and a while we need messages like this to help us put things in perspective.  I know that as rough as times can get in our lives there are always things around us that should have us take pause and enjoy the moment.  Neil's blog, 1000 Awesome Things, has certainly jumped onto my watch list.

Meet a friend who is living his dream

I'm inspired by Dave when I see what he's accomplished.  Not only is he living out a dream of running a comic store, he's done so by overcoming personal adversity.  Dave is someone I'm glad I've gotten to know in life, and if you are in the Sewickly, PA area make sure to stop in and buy from Big Bang Comics!

Dave Bishop-Newsmaker you should know from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette