Friday Five

Sports Talk Edition:

1. The Red Wings sure don’t look as good as they did the first two games. It sure would be nice if they could make it out of the first round this year, or Detroit won’t be called Hockey Town too much longer.

2. The Lions are sitting on the #2 pick in next Saturday’s Draft, and there is no correct pick. There is talk of them drafting another WR, a can’t miss prospect named Calvin Johnson, but I don’t think the fan base can handle another WR first pick. Another option is QB Brady Quinn, who could be a solid guy to build on for the future. The problem is, we need more line help and defense. Our best bet is to trade down for more picks.

3. The NBA season begins tomorrow! I haven’t watched a single game this season, but I’ll hardly miss a single playoff game this month. I love the NBA playoffs. There’s an outside chance I’ll be able to hit a second round Dallas home game too.

4. Ponder on this a minute. If you pitch a perfect game you will have faced the minimum number of batters—27. This past Wednesday, Mark Buehrle pitched a no-hitter and faced only 26 official at-bats. Crazy.

5. A-Rod. I’ve been rooting for him forever. My good friend—and Yankee Apologist—Jason slammed him all year last year, despite Alex hitting .290 with 35 HR, 121 RBI and 113 Runs. He is forbidden from riding the A-Rod bandwagon this year. Snooze you loose brother.

Filed under: Friday Five, Sports

Friday Seven

Old School Edition: Seven songs that shaped my adolescence.

1. Going Back To Cali – LL Cool J

2. Rock Me Amadeus – Falco

3. Freakazoid – Midnight Star

4. Too Hype – Kid n’ Play

5. Poison Ivy – Young & Restless

6. Rumors – Timex Social Club

7. My Hooptie – Sir Mix-A-Lot

That’s right. I was very deep in the streets folks. I’ve chronicled my roots on this blog before (here and here).

Filed under: Friday Five, Music, Old School

Friday Five

Can’t Wait To See Movie Edition

1. Oceans 13 (NR) – June 8

2. Bourne Ultimatum (PG-13) – July 23

3. Astronaut Farmer (PG) Already Released (February 23)

4. Live Free or Die Hard (NR) June 29

5. Balls of Fury (PG-13) – September 14

Filed under: Friday Five, Movies

Friday Five Six

Success In A Nutshell Edition
Here are the next five of the many ‘Success In A Nutshell’ tidbits littered throughout a book called Nuts! Southwest Airlines’ Crazy Recipe for Business and Personal Success. It’s a book I had to read in Business School, and I would recommend this book to anyone who likes reading success stories, or stories about how to treat people better, or how to love, or humor, or the simple joy of a bag of peanuts.

1. Do what you ask others to do.

2. Inform your people. It teaches them to care.

3. Make living legends out of your service heroes. Real examples inspire others to offer legendary service too.

4. Show people what legendary service looks like, then trust them to do the right thing.

5. Publish stories of extraordinary service in your newsletter. If you don’t have one, write them up in a letter to employees.

6. Make it a practice to give everyone-customers, coworkers, friends, family-more than they expect.

This completes the tidbits. I hope you enjoyed them! To see them all again click here

Filed under: Books, Friday Five, Nuts!

Friday Five

Success In A Nutshell Edition
Here are the next five of the many ‘Success In A Nutshell’ tidbits littered throughout a book called Nuts! Southwest Airlines’ Crazy Recipe for Business and Personal Success. It’s a book I had to read in Business School, and I would recommend this book to anyone who likes reading success stories, or stories about how to treat people better, or how to love, or humor, or the simple joy of a bag of peanuts.

1. Make service a way of life, not just a business technique.

2. Give people the flexibility to transcend rules and regulations to better serve the customer.

3. Ask yourself, “Whom can I serve today?” Then do it.

4. When it comes to serving others, make sure that “good enough” is never good enough.

5. Treat your friends & family like your most valued customers.

(FYI – This will be a running feature until I get through all of the tidbits)

Filed under: Books, Friday Five, Nuts!

Friday Five

Success In A Nutshell Edition
Here are the next five of the many ‘Success In A Nutshell’ tidbits littered throughout a book called Nuts! Southwest Airlines’ Crazy Recipe for Business and Personal Success. It’s a book I had to read in Business School, and I would recommend this book to anyone who likes reading success stories, or stories about how to treat people better, or how to love, or humor, or the simple joy of a bag of peanuts.

1. Collaborate with others in creating your story.

2. Use your story as a way to build spirit, service, and performance.

3. Have everyone play a part in keeping your company’s advertising and marketing promises.

4. Find ways to tell your own story. Use it to further your personal and professional success.

5. Defend your people. The customer may not be right all the time!

(FYI – This will be a running feature until I get through all of the tidbits)

Filed under: Books, Friday Five, Nuts!

Friday Five

Success In A Nutshell Edition
Here are the next five of the many ‘Success In A Nutshell’ tidbits littered throughout a book called Nuts! Southwest Airlines’ Crazy Recipe for Business and Personal Success. It’s a book I had to read in Business School, and I would recommend this book to anyone who likes reading success stories, or stories about how to treat people better, or how to love, or humor, or the simple joy of a bag of peanuts.

1. Love not to get, but to give. Let love be the motivator.

2. Volunteer for the greater good and become better for it.

3. Market to employees, not just the customers.

4. Promote your culture as well as your product.

5. Look for creative, unusual ways to tell your story.

(FYI – This will be a running feature until I get through all of the tidbits)

Filed under: Books, Friday Five, Nuts!

Friday Five

Success In A Nutshell Edition
Here are the next five of the many ‘Success In A Nutshell’ tidbits littered throughout a book called Nuts! Southwest Airlines’ Crazy Recipe for Business and Personal Success. It’s a book I had to read in Business School, and I would recommend this book to anyone who likes reading success stories, or stories about how to treat people better, or how to love, or humor, or the simple joy of a bag of peanuts.

1. Be gracious. Polish your politeness.

2. Don’t withhold love when you disapprove of others. Don’t view others’ disapproval as holding back love.

3. Show your gratitude to the community for supporting your success.

4. Give more than your money. Give your time, heart, soul.

5. Make serving the community a team-building event for your employees.

(FYI – This will be a running feature until I get through all of the tidbits)

Filed under: Books, Friday Five, Nuts!

Friday Five

Success In A Nutshell Edition
Here are the next five of the many ‘Success In A Nutshell’ tidbits littered throughout a book called Nuts! Southwest Airlines’ Crazy Recipe for Business and Personal Success. It’s a book I had to read in Business School, and I would recommend this book to anyone who likes reading success stories, or stories about how to treat people better, or how to love, or humor, or the simple joy of a bag of peanuts.

1. Make love a decision, not just a feeling; then stick to it.

2. Recognize other people’s need for love—and your own.

3. Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable and express your needs. Love often insists on vulnerability.

4. Life is short: Forgive & Forget!

5. Love people by speaking the truth in loving ways.

(FYI – This will be a running feature until I get through all of the tidbits)

Filed under: Books, Friday Five, Nuts!

Friday Five

Success In A Nutshell Edition
Here are the next five of the many ‘Success In A Nutshell’ tidbits littered throughout a book called Nuts! Southwest Airlines’ Crazy Recipe for Business and Personal Success. It’s a book I had to read in Business School, and I would recommend this book to anyone who likes reading success stories, or stories about how to treat people better, or how to love, or humor, or the simple joy of a bag of peanuts.

1. Work in play clothes!

2. Be the 1st to find humor in tense moments.

3. Try to make someone smile or laugh every morning & every night.

4. Laugh at yourself at least once a day!

5. Show love more often.

(FYI – This will be a running feature until I get through all of the tidbits)

Filed under: Books, Friday Five, Nuts!