Monthly Archives: December 2018

TGIM- RANDOM THOUGHTS

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TGIM!  RANDOM THOUGHTS.

THIS IS GONNA BE EPICALLY LONG.  Eat at once sitting and fill your soul and belly, or take little nibbles to chew on for days!

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I won’t even try to be formal so bear with this.  It’s RANDOM!

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Where have the TGIMs been, it’s been like a month?

Easy.  And maybe you can learn from this.  TIME.  It is my #1 form of currency.  Yes much more than money.   T I M E.   A new truss company, an emerging empire in Columbus, #Pauls, and SO MUCH FRIGGING MORE.   Joel how do you do it?   Oh, I am currently coaching 5 days a week, basketball is life baby!

T I M E.  F O C U S.  and O R G A N I Z E D.

Hey you with your messy desk and email full…  T I M E.

Also dump all the shit that is important but not necessary.  Like my TGIM.  I dumped them for a reason.  I simply couldn’t prioritize it.  I keep voracious notes.   I do.  So it’s not like it’s spinning in my mind.  The notes O R G A N I Z E my life.  Currently I have notes from Google for general Drexel stuff.  A personal pad of notes (to do list if you will) a dedicated #PAULS to do list and a Truss Systems to do list.

Also my calendar is very organized.

Is yours, or are you a train wreck?  GIVE ME 5 MINUTES AND I CAN TELL YOU WHERE YOU ARE AT!

Also, I have an account manager asking me to schedule a meeting with a builder.  No agenda.  Just a meet and greet.  That’s fine, but with no real agenda, I don’t PRIORITIZE IT.  You know what I mean?

So yeah, the TGIM is on hold, but we got a TON DONE in other areas far more important.

Cabinets is short handed in Columbus.  So Beth doesn’t help out a little.  She cancels EVERYTHING and is WORKING THERE FOCUSED EVERY DAY.  PRIORITIES.  GET YOUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT.  DON’T BOUNCE FROM PLACE TO PLACE.  BOOM.

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GRONK, AKA, MATT KAVETCHSCKYINGISKLZZZLY, store leader Brookfield, gave us at State of Happiness:

FEET WHERE YOU ARE AT!

BOOM.  I hope we all learn from that.  I know some folks that are NEVER ANYWHERE!  EVER!

I call that focus.  Intentionally listening.  Whatever that is for you…. do it.

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Speaking of that,

CULTURE CLUB IN 2019 is done with rainbows, cotton candy, and walks on the beach.  The fun little stuff, which is needed in life and work of course, but they are going to focus on a bigger purpose.

MAKING YOUR JOB BETTER!

They are asking all of you…how can we do this EASIER!  Or why are we doing it this way… is there a better way?

Some of us would call this a lean strategy.

Instead of the supreme focus on HAVE FUN core value they are going to focus on 3 others.

development

Learn from each other. Teach, Coach & Listen. Create an environment where everyone can be a star.

team work

Value different viewpoints. Carry out the agreed upon plans. Together we achieve more. Go Blue!

change

Accept it. Embrace It. Initiate It. Do everything every day better, faster, & cheaper.

By focusing on that….

if we do our jobs better, faster, and cheaper everyday…

OUR STRESS WILL GO DOWN, OUR ANXIETY WILL DECREASE, OUR PROCESSES WILL BE BETTER….

YOU WILL BE HAPPIER.

OUR CLIENTS AND CONTRACTORS WILL NOTICE AND LOVE US MORE AND GIVE US MORE BUSINESS!

EASY.

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JOY.

Father Strand at his Sunday mass spoke of JOY vs Happy.  Happy = short term.  Joy= a deeper meaning.  long term.  inner soul stuff.

Christmas = happy.  open presents.  feel good for a minute.  Then eat food.  Tons.  Feel good for a minute.  Then chase drinking.  Feel good for a minute.   Then watch a movie.  Chase fun for 90 minutes.

Then hug your family…  and go home.

You leave I bet a little unfulfilled, am I right?

Christmas = joy.  give a few hand written letters.  Or a song.  Or a deep conversation.  JOY.  Nibble on food as you ask Grandpa Joe what is new, and instead of saying, we should see you more, get out your phone and schedule it.  JOY.  Have a drink, JOY.  JUST SAYIN’.  Instead of a movie, play a game with the kids.  LEARN ABOUT THEM.   Ask questions.  Laugh with your heart JOY.

on the way, hug em like they might die on the car ride home.  hug em all.

Now that car ride home is a bit different ain’t it?

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MY MAILBAG …. QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ASKED ME TO ANSWER… ANSWERS IN CAPS.

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If God Sneezes, What should you say?  YO, GRAB A KLEENEX.

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My Question:
Do you see the 2019 tariffs, that Congress is predicted to pass, having a minor or large impact on our company as a whole?
-Sally in Arkansas
DEAR SALLY, NO IMPACT.  OUR PRODUCT COST ARE REALLY SIMPLY PASSED ON TO OUR CLIENTS AND CONTRACTORS.  ALSO OUR COMPETITION PAYS THE SAME COST (HOPEFULLY A BIT MORE, THANKS TO OUR MERCHANTS.)  SO THE GAME REGARDLESS OF PRICE, NEVER CHANGES.
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How often do people tell you dirty “wood” jokes?!

HONESTLY, LESS THAN YOU THINK THANKFULLY.  BALD JOKES, FOR SURE. BUT NOT SO MUCH DIRTY WOOD JOKES…

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Good Morning Joel –

I pondered over the weekend for the “BEST” question to ask you.  The one that came to me multiple times is most likely not a unique request but I find it relevant considering we’re always growing and the recent addition of Truss Systems to our Drexel Family.
What is your vision for Drexel in the next 3-5 years?
I look forward to reading your response.
IT’S HARD TO READ A BOOK WHERE THE PAGES HAVEN’T BEEN WRITTEN YET.  I DO KNOW WE ARE JUST GETTING STARTED AND ALL OF YOU HAVE TAKEN US BEYOND OUR WILDEST DREAMS.  AM I RIGHT?  LOVE. SERVE. CARE.  WE CAN DO MORE THAN WE EVER THOUGHT.  I HOPE WE ARE DOING MORE, BUT HAVING EVEN MORE JOY EACH DAY.  MAKING A BIGGER IMPACT.  #PAULS WILL BE A BIG PART, BUT SO WILL EVERY OTHER DEPARTMENT.   MAYBE A NEW LOCATION OR TWO, MAYBE A NEW CATEGORY EVEN, BUT HONESTLY, JUST GETTING BETTER.  WE ARE JUST GETTING STARTED!!!!   TECHNOLOGY WISE… I THINK THAT WILL BE HUGE FOR US.   PERSONALLY, I HOPE TO HAVE LESS CONTROL, BUT INFLUENCE MORE.  🙂
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My question for you, Why do you Give back so much? Why Do Profit Sharing? Why do Charity Match? Why the Scholarship Program? Why do Family First? Why run Blue Door as Non-Profit? What was it that made you decide to give back so much? I think its awesome! But was there a defining moment in your life that made you decide to give back more than 99% of humans on earth? With the holidays coming up everyone is in the spirit of giving, but not Joel, Joel gives 120% EVERY.DAY. and then still gives back to those around him and those that work for him. I am so grateful to be part of such an awesome team, so I guess my question is, what drives you to be SO great?

OH BOY.  THIS ONE MADE ME SIT DOWN.  OR STAND UP.  LIKE ROCKED MY SOUL.  UM, I’M JUST A REGULAR DUDE FIRST.  SO THAT EMAIL IS PRETTY HUMBLING.     TO GIVE BACK MORE….WHAT MADE ME DECIDE THAT, OR THE EFFORT TO BE GREAT?

I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS LITTLE, WALKING A CEMETARY, THINKING NOBODY KNOWS THESE PEOPLE, WHEN I DIE, I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHO I WAS.  I THOUGHT THAT MEANT THE NBA, I REALLY DID.  I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE DIFFERENT.  I DON’T KNOW… I JUST WANTED TO BE DIFFERENT.  ANYWAYS…  SPEED AHEAD…

MY SISTER DIED IN A CAR ACCIDENT WHEN SHE WAS IN HER EARLY 20S.  THEN HER FIANCE DIED 2 YEARS LATER… AS MANY OF YOU KNOW.  WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU MAKES YOU STRONGER RIGHT? YES.  INDEED.  THROTTLE DOWN…AS IN GO FASTER!

ALSO, ODDLY AS RAINA TOLD ME.  “NO ONE CARES LESS, BUT NO ONE CARES MORE.”  I DON’T REALLY FEAR FAILURE.   I MEAN WHATEVER.  LIFE IS SHORT.  TRY SHIT.  FALL 7, RISE 8.

ALSO, AS FAR AS THE MONEY.  I KIND OF LOATHE MOST POSSESSIONS.  MORE WORK MORE STRESS.  ODD I KNOW.  MORE MONEY.  MORE PROBLEMS.

AND MONEY.  IT’S NOT MY MONEY. GOD MADE EVERYTHING.  SO IT’S HIS MONEY TOO… WE JUST LIKE HAVE IT FOR A SHORT TIME.

ALSO…MONEY… THE MORE YOU GIVE THE MORE YOU GET.  I PROMISE YOU THAT. 

MONEY.  I NEVER GAVE SO MUCH THAT I HAD TO SACRIFICE ANYTHING.  SO REALLY, HAVE I EVEN GIVEN AT ALL?   THAT’S A FAIR QUESTION RIGHT… IF WE DON’T SACRIFICE WHEN WE GIVE… IT IS EVEN WORTHY?

I’V READ LIKE 100,000 HELP BOOKS/ARTICLES/AND STUFF.  SO THAT HELPED ME BE ME.

ALSO, YOU ALL FUEL ME TO BE BETTER.  YOU KNOW HOW GREAT YOU ALL ARE?  AND I WORK WITH YOU… WELL I BETTER BRING IT TOO!

#DRAMAFREE.  MY FAMILY, PAM MY WIFE, MY KIDS… I’VE BEEN BLESSED TO ABLE TO FOCUS AT WORK.

WATCHING MY DAD… AND LEARNING FROM HIM.  EVERY MOMENT, I MEAN EVERYONE/EVERYTHING IS A SALES EQUATION TO MY DAD.  HE WAS ALWAYS BUYING AND SELLING SOMETHING.  ALWAYS.  YES.  ALWAYS.  I PROMISE YOU.. YOU GIVE ME A SCENARIO… MY DAD WAS SELLING, BUYING, OR TEACHING ME!  LIKE LEARNING FOOTBALL FROM VINCE LOMBARDI.  DAILY.

I TRY TO PRAY DAILY… FRAMED IN MY BATHROOM, RIGHT WHERE I CAN SEE IT IS A PRAYER I TRY TO PRAY EACH MORNING… PART OF IT IS “PLEASE KEEP ME STRONG, SO I CAN HELP THE WEAK.” — AMEN

I DON’T KNOW IF I ANSWERED THAT WELL… BUT I HAD TO ANSWER… YOU ASKED…

LASTLY, I LIKE TO THINK, AND IT IS TRUE… CUSTOMERS DON’T COME FIRST… THEY ARE A VERY VERY CLOSE SECOND TO THE TEAM.  A HAPPY AND ENGAGED TEAM WILL  ALWAYS LEAD YOUR CUSTOMERS TO GREATNESS!   OH… AND I GET IDEAS FROM EVERYTHING… I WAS BORN THAT WAY… THIS CAME FROM RICHARD BRANSON…

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MERRY CHRISTMAS.

SAY  MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE STARTING TODAY FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS.  PEOPLE APPRECIATE IT.  YOU DON’T GET TO SAY IT OFTEN SO SAY IT NOW…AND ALL THE GOOD THAT COMES FROM THAT.

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STATE OF HAPPINESS WAS INCREDIBLE THIS YEAR.  I’M STILL GLOWING FROM THAT!

— PEACE AND GRACE,

JOEL