MODELING DEATHS

CDC just came out with their new death forecasts.  Boy that is pretty dark stuff.  But people die every day.  We always forget that.  17 die a day from Abortion.  Several die a day from car accidents.  And old people in homes over 85… yeah about 10% of them die every year with or without the “help” of Covid.  Truly morbid stuff.

Anyways, here are weekly models.  If they hold true the odds of you dieing are MUCH higher from something else than COVID.  That is not SCIENCE, those are the NUMBERS that science use.

When looking at the graphs, please not 40 a week might seem high to you…any death sucks, however 80% will be very sick and old people (not culling the herd, but they weren’t’ getting healthy anytime soon).  So 8 will die a week that aren’t in this category out of 5.8 million.  Holy crap that is  A LOW NUMBER.  It looks that in the first year of COVID if these numbers hold we would be about 2,000 deaths, 80% from those old and vulnerable…

SO 400 DEATHS IN WISCONSIN IN YEAR 1 FROM COVID.

THIS IS FROM THE CDC’S OWN WEBSITE.

Click to access Consolidated-Forecasts-Incident-Cumulative-Deaths-2020-09-21.pdf

WOW.

Saint Padre Pio…

suffered a ton in his life, like a crazy struggle…yet he said…

PRAY, HOPE, NO WORRY.

I like that a lot.

Empathy, patience… realizing God has a bigger plan.

Do we challenge authority? Jesus of course says YES.  But at times we must SERVE as well…

which is right?  which is wrong?

Prayer.  Hope.  Don’t Worry.

I think that helps a bit.

**********

Serious, serious question….do you… do your kids…. do those around you…?

LAUGH MORE

LAUGH THE SAME

LAUGH LESS

then we did before the March Pandemic.

I’m not a mask wearer… do you have belly laughs in masks, AGAIN SERIOUS QUESTION?

I would rather DIE then not laugh… I am dead serious.

Even I would have to admit I think I laugh less… what a FU***NG SHAME.

****

OK.. COVID NEWS.

MAN CHARTS CAN BE MISLEADING.  HERE’S THE POSITIVE… DEATHS ARE WAY DOWN.  What I don’t like is HOSPITALS ARE UP.

Now I don’t use the words way up… check out the chart… THEY LOOK WAY UP.  As a percentage is way up…

but let’s imagine if the chart was at 5,800,00 at the top of the chart.  These numbers wouldn’t even appear at the bottom they would be so low… The top of the chart is the highest number so it looks huge!

If I make a chart from 1-10… you will see wild swings from 3-7.  Now what if that chart was 100, 1000, 1 million?  See… what wild things numbers can do…and charts…

SMILE.  LAUGH.

FACIL,

Joe

TGIM!

Yep.  We are bleeding from the inside — a harsh truth for me as the current leader.

Our meetings are bad and I am certain our internal e-mail usage is worse.

Don’t worry I doubt our competition is any better, but in our effort to supply happiness and be a world-class company, this is a huge flaw.

Surely a weakness of mine, a blindspot I wasn’t ready to admit.

It didn’t even really hit me until I saw our top workplace survey.  Universally you stated in the survey we suck at meetings.

Then over the last two weeks, I observed them.  Yep …they stink.  I mean we used to NOT have them and I guess that was worse.  But I have been in some real stinkers.  Just ask Ross Harter and Jason Blenker (pictured in a google meet video conference recently.)

And if the ones I attend stink I am sure yours do too.  Amherst does them totally different and yeah, they are just ok.

“But Joel, every company’s stink, meetings just suck, maybe don’t even have them… ”

Not true.  Some have figured it out.  And I know we will too!

Meetings are where all the magic happens.  The NOW, THE CHANGE, THE FUTURE…EVERYTHING!  They should be engaging in every department!   Every time!  For leaders the majority of our day are meetings, we must realize that and embrace them much better with a much better format… a routine.   We don’t pull the loads, make the trusses, install the floors, pay the bills or anything.  CRAZY TO THINK, WE EXIST FOR COMMUNICATION AND GULP, MEETINGS.

I have just this weekend read 3 books on meetings.  Very good ones by the way!

We will GET THIS FIXED!   I am going to start working with the team immediately Monday.  Which is cool.  We have a good plan.

*****

Drexel’s E-mails are bad too.  I’ve seen…    “Hey everyone the toilet doesn’t work.”   Ok.  Or…  An open-ended e-mail with no real reason but to brain dump.  Ok.  COACHES AND CAPTAINS, LEADING FROM THEIR EMAIL.  OUCH.   Customers and our QBs having almost an entire relationship via email.  OOF.

Here’s the real truth.  You can’t get the EMOTIONS out in an email.  It all can be taken wrong.

EMAILS ARE CONSTANTLY INTERPRETED WRONG.

Take for instance the line

I DIDN’T SAY YOU WERE BEAUTIFUL.

You can interpret this six ways depending on which word you emphasize:

• “I didn’t say you were beautiful.”
• “I didn’t say you were beautiful.”
• “I didn’t say you were beautiful.”
• “I didn’t say you were beautiful.”
• “I didn’t say you were beautiful.”
• “I didn’t say you were beautiful.”

Six words, six different meanings — imagine if this had more complexity than 6 words.

WOW.

So what are we gonna do about it?  I am going to insert myself into EVERY email group.  And coach up when it’s used too much and horribly ineffectively.  Yep.

That’s my job.  For real.

******

Here’s my 3rd point..

Being a leader at Drexel is MY RESPONSIBILITY not a REWARD.

I take my job very seriously.

And I expect that from my team.  By that I don’t mean we can’t have fun, duh, I love to goof off at work.  It does mean we have to sacrifice, hold others accountable, weed out or train the weak constantly and fix shit.  Literally, DO THE HARD STUFF NO ONE ELSE WANTS TO DO.

We also have to have better meetings where we all learn what we are doing and why and fixing our big problems BEFORE they happen.

Leadership is lonely and thankless – if you are DOING IT RIGHT.

You see most “leaders” at other companies I know always ask me to go golfing, or Cabo (CABO!), or “network” around the country, OR VEGAS!, or fishing, or VIP their customers.  And their meetings float around as they pick and choose what parts of the company they enjoy.  They feel “making it to leadership” is a reward.  I busted my butt for 25 years… I finally made it.  Or, we are now a 250 million revenue company, we deserve to have offsite retreats that just really getting drunk on the company dime.   VIPing customers is really an excuse to live the life of luxury on the company dime and on company time.   I hate that crap, I know that is really just saying, we are the bosses, let’s goof off for the day… not thank you.  I was called “steadfast” last week.  Yes, sir, I am addicted to the grind.

Or some leaders like to do what they are good at or is fun for them.  Taking care of accounts themselves.   Diving into things they like instead of things needed.

Not for me or our leaders.  We have to work to define the kinks in the hose and then fight like hell to fix it.  And communicate the hell out of it all- BETTER MEETINGS.

RESPONSIBILITY NOT REWARD.

****

Getting better at Drexel isn’t easy.  But it’s totally worth it.  Better meetings and better emails will help EVERY individual at Drexel and EVERY customer.  I can’t wait to get started.  I LOVE HARD PARTS!  THAT’S THE GRIND BABY!

****

LASTLY, I AM TALKING TO YOU OVER ACHIEVERS THAT ARE ALREADY TAKING NOTES ON WHERE YOU PERSONALLY WENT WRONG AND HOW YOU WILL PERSONALLY FIX IT.  I HAVE A PLAN.  I WILL WORK WITH YOU ALL ON IT.  OUR MEETINGS WILL BE AWESOME.  IT’S MY MONKEY.  PLEASE WAIT FOR THE FIRST MOVE FROM ME BEFORE YOU GET STARTED!  DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME AND CONFUSE YOUR TEAM!  STAY WITH YOUR FORMATS FOR NOW!!!!

Facil,

Joel

DEATH.

Why are we so obsessed with COVID?  99.6% of us won’t die from it…  and we all know that FACT, yet here we are.

I think it is because COVID forced us, made us, convinced us that DEATH IS REAL.

So we as 2020 humans think WE CAN CONTROL THE STOPPAGE OF DEATH.

Shut down businesses, schools, wear masks, social distance.

SHUT DOWN DEATH.

Yet death exists all around us.  Always has, always will.

We have to learn to

LOVE when we are here.

Truly ATTACK each day with enthusiasm.

We all waste hours, days, weeks, thinking we will live forever…there will be time down the road…but really all we have is this moment.

Quit wasting those moments.

AND HAVE FAITH

That GOD IS IN CONTROL AND NOT US.

WE CAN’T STOP DEATH.

I think our culture thinks we can somehow… and that is our stress point… thinking us humans are in fact in control.

I am not saying throw damn caution to the wind, and not wear a seatbelt (or a mask) or a life jacket…

but I think this is our anxiety, our confusion, our stress….

the world stopped and said, LOOK AT DEATH, LOOK HOW VULNERABLE US INCREDIBLE HUMANS ARE…

SILLY.

GOD’S PLAN.  NOT OURS.

and WHEN (not if) we DO DIE, that we will be saved by our faith and GO TO HEAVEN TO LIVE FOREVER!

JOEL

LITTLE HINGES SWING BIG DOORS – W. CLEMENT STONE

This quote hit me like a Mack Truck!

It’s so true.

We can’t lose weight: if we eat that donut.

We can’t have an amazing family if we don’t take time to have a meal together.

We can’t have a wonderful relationship if you don’t stop and ask, “no really, how are you doing!”

We want to do PAULS, total offsite construction, and be the industry leader.  We can’t do PAULS t if we can’t land a simple panelized job and build it well…

It’s the littlest things that end up being the biggest impact.

Making my bed in the morning is a little hinge…

If you want more…here’s a great 5-minute video.

TGIM

Craziest thing!

In 1973 a study was done, where adult students were told to prepare a project on the Good Samaritan.  It was all rigged.

HERE’S A GOOD SUMMARY OF IT:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/darwins-subterranean-world/201703/my-favorite-psychology-study

You see on the day of their presentation 1/3 were set up to arrive early, a 1/3 on time…and a 1/3 were DESTINED TO BE LATE…

And then they set up the scam…

They literally had a person that needed help in their path…

You know what happened?  ONLY 10% OF THOSE LATE HELPED!  SOME STEPPED RIGHT OVER THE PERSON.  60% HELPED IF THEY WERE EARLY!

(I know 40% never even helped…but that discussion is for another time.)

So basically if you are STRESSED TO THE HELL OUT, OR BUSY, BUSY, BUSY… ALL THE TIME… even if you are currently studying on how to be a good Samaritan, you won’t do the right thing!

It makes sense if you are “self-preserving” your own body, or mental health you are the one that needs help, so your mind protects you… but if you think you are always helping… you probably aren’t really helping anyone… because your mind is so busy self-preserving…

How true it is… a stressed out person can’t even help themselves…. how can they help you!?!?!

YOU WILL NOT

“WOW” A CUSTOMER….

TAKE TIME TO ASK SOMEONE HOW THEIR DAY IS GOING…

SIT AND BREAK BREAD WITH SOMEONE…

COME UP WITH GOOD IDEAS… 

You are just in survival mode…

SO…

FOCUS ON ONE THING AT A TIME… TO GET AHEAD.

AND IF YOU NEED HELP WITH THAT… LET ME KNOW… TIME MANAGEMENT IS CRITICAL IN ALL THE WORK WE DO!

BE ORGANIZED ON OUR CUSTOMERS BEHALF THIS WEEK PEOPLE!

TGIM!

JOEL

STRESS.

It’s June 22, often in our industry, this is peak STRESS.

In 1996, we worked 60 plus hours a week.  STRESS.

In 2002, the same, 60 hours a week.  STRESS.

In 2017, 45-50 hour a week. STRESS.

IN 2020… STRESS… 40 hours.

For systems, it’s ALL-NEW, OR A LOT OF IT… STRESS.  When it was “the old company” I hear many STRESS STORIES AS WELL…STRESS!

So TO REVIEW:

It’s not how many hours you work.

And it’s not what organization you are in.  STRESS IS REAL.

BUT IT IS ALSO MANAGEABLE:

QUICK. IMPORTANT.  IMPACTFUL TIPS.  I HAVE LEARNED.

1.  STOP.  Regroup.  Take a timeout.  Literally for 5 minutes, just take a deep breath.

2. PRIORITIZE AND EXECUTE.  What are the 3 things you must get done?  Write those down.  Focus on them.  Repeat.

3. LOOK FOR HELP!  SCREAM FOR HELP!  You are not ALONE.  Stress comes from working only by yourself.  You haven’t asked for help.  You haven’t reached out.  And if you have it went unnoticed.  Ask again.  Or think.  Who could help me?  What’s my hang-up?  What’s my kink in the hose?  Who here can be of assistance to help me prioritize and execute what I need to get done?  550 people here are willing to HELP YOU AND YOUR TEAM, YOU JUST NEED TO ASK.

LASTLY, you SIMPLY CAN NOT BE BLESSED AND STRESSED.

Start a gratitude walk.  Write down each morning or night 3-10 things you are grateful for.  It’s impossible & proven, you can be blessed and stressed.

GO!

Joel

P.S.  Growth is SUPPOSED to feel uncomfortable.  It’s ok, live in it.  Laugh about it.  It’s going to be just fine!  Better than fine, it’s gonna be awesome.  God promises!

TEAM,

Are you scared of failing?  Scared your team might find out, or even, OMG Joel will find out?

I heard about such a story this week.  A QB didn’t want to “do the right thing” and move trusses back in the schedule, because Joel might find out.  So instead we impacted the BUILDER in a negative way.  OH NO!

I am sorry, we have perhaps created a mini surge of “we are Drexel, we don’t screw up!”

HOW WRONG THAT IS!

WE ARE DREXEL WE WILL SCREW UP.  I PROMISE YOU THAT.  PROMISE THAT TO YOUR BUILDER TOO.  WE WILL SCREW UP!  BUT WHEN WE SCREW UP, WE WILL PASSIONATELY FIX IT TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY AND COMPASSION UNHEARD OF IN THE INDUSTRY!

FALL 7, RISE 8 is one of my favorite sayings as a youth coach.

That simply means… it’s not how you fall, or if you fall, it’s HOW YOU GET UP!  THE MORE YOU GET KNOCKED DOWN, THE MORE YOU GET UP!

MY DAD HAS SAID THIS OFTEN, “SHIT HAPPENS THAT IS WHY GOD MAKES BOOTS!”

YOUR CUSTOMERS WANT TO HEAR, “NO PROBLEMS, ONLY SOLUTIONS.”

LET’S OWN THIS.  LET’S TELL EACH OTHER.  I F**ED UP BAD.  BAD.  I AM SORRY, BUT I AM ON IT.

LET’S BE HUMBLE ENOUGH TO KNOW, WE ARE ALL FAILURES.  WE ALL SUCK.  BUT WE TRY HARDER THAN ANYONE!

FAIL.  LEARN.  GROW.  IMPROVE.

CELEBRATE THE LOSSES THIS WEEK!

JOEL

Team,

SUPPLYING HAPPINESS IS SAYING YES A LOT.  BUT IT’S ALSO SAYING NO.

I’m so sorry, but we don’t offer this service, but let me help you out, maybe contact this person for your BEST HELP.

Don’t “over try”.  Stay in what you are good at.  Find someone on our team better suited or think before you do….is this something we should be doing.

Do it with empathy.  Do it with sincerity.  Do it with clarity.

TRUST EACH OTHER.

TAKE CARE THE 1 OR 2 OR 3 THINGS WE EMPHASIZE ON YOUR JOB.

DO YOUR JOB was a New England Patriot slogan.  That doesn’t mean to not help out a teammate or contractor.. but it does mean, don’t do someone else’s job.  Then your job will not be done… Each person, know your role, and do it extremely well.  100% of the time… that is most productive for ALL OF US!

TGIM!

Win Today!  Don’t worry about what is out of your control, the future.  JUST WIN TODAY!

****

“Impact Winning”  is perhaps the greatest skill we can have!  How can you impact winning today?

****

A long and sometimes complicated article I hope you take time to read.  We at Drexel want a GROWTH CULTURE versus a  HIGH-PERFORMANCE Culture.  This explains in great detail what that means.

CLICK HERE.

*****

Why YOU should do our book club (E-mail Jenna.Lee@drexelteam.com for more details.):

It improves you and inspires others!  Here is a well written and inspiring review on one of the ten Books: RAVING FAN.  Clint Patton is one of Drexel’s most effective quarterbacks.

He Impacts WINNING as much as anyone on the team!  By the numbers year to date, he is Number 2 overall quarterback for NET PROFIT.  And he’s improving himself too. 

Here’s his report.

Below is my review of “Raving Fans”  by Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles

Generally speaking, this book is about an Area Manager that meets his Fairy Godmother “Charlie”….  Through a series of events, Charlie teaches the Area Manager the importance of creating Raving Fans using his 3 step sales process.  During each step of the process, Charlie takes the Area Manager to a different business that illustrates the point he is trying to make.  At the end of the book Charlie explains how each step ties together to create Raving Fans.  As we dig deeper into Charlie’s sales process, you will begin to see how it fits with what we do at Drexel.

Step 1 – Decide What You Want… Charlie explained this in the book as, creating the perfect vision of your business or sales process centered around the customer experience. This vision will become the foundation of your business and help define the parameters for which you will operate. It also allows you to determine which customers fit your criteria.

Step 2 – Decide What the Customer Wants…  What is the customer’s vision of, “the perfect experience”?  If you don’t know what the customer wants, you will never know if you can align their vision with yours.  How do we figure out what the customer wants?  We ask questions, dig deeper, and LISTEN…, to find out what is important to them.  Keep in mind that the customer is not always going to be completely transparent, we must learn what the key indicators/responses are and what they mean.  Interestingly enough, not all businesses and customers’ visions are compatible… which is OK.  If their vision is drastically different from ours, we will never be able to consistently deliver on their expectations.

Step 3 – Deliver Plus One… This is the process of setting expectations and being consistent.  DON’T over-promise!!!  You have to meet the customer’s expectations before you can exceed them.  Once you have determined that your vision and the customer’s vision align, DELIVER on your promises consistently and get 1% better every day.

For us at Drexel, this process is at work every day and constantly evolving.  Our perfect vision changes just a little bit with every step forward and so do the customers.  It is our job to stay ahead of an ever-changing industry/society and deliver what we promise. We must never stop improving!… Understanding that and embracing it is the key!!

My Top 4 Quotes From the Book!!

“Success comes to those, and only those, who are obsessed with looking after customers.”

“Goods aren’t sold, product and services are bought.”

“If you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you’ll rarely disappoint yourself.”

“Don’t be a duck. Be an eagle. Ducks quack and complain.  Eagles soar above the crowd.”

Thanks,

Clint Patton

Drexel Building Supply|Berlin

Quarterback

****

GO!

JOEL

BONUS CONTENT:

You want videos or podcasts?

My two favorites this week:

This one has vulgar language, it’s a podcast (you listen to this):

IT’S YOU: ANDY FRISELLA

This one is God-driven: