TGIM! 

And what a Thank God It’s Monday it is!

This is what I GET TO DO, not HAVE TO DO!  Thank you.

Friday, former Culture Club leader Jon Lehman and Happy People Department leader Caitlin Stoll and I went to the Top Workplace Award Breakfast for the fifth  year in a row!

This year was special, we were awarded the “Direction Award” that was given to us based on our standout score in this specific part of the survey.   We took #1 from 2,198 companies that were invited to take the survey in Wisconsin.

We ranked #1 when asked:

“I believe the company is going in the right direction.”

Overall we ranked #6 for mid-size companies.  While being in the top 10 the last three years is very impressive- we simply are not satisfied until we are #1 year after year after year.  We aren’t there yet!  One thing we are going to do is have focus groups at each location to review the survey and make action plans to GET BETTER; TO BECOME A BETTER PLACE TO WORK.  Store leaders will attend… but have no ability to talk!  It’s about YOU!  Please consider being on these groups; Caitlin and Chelsea will be focusing on this in the coming months.

Interesting tidbits from our breakfast:

Senator Ron Johnson spoke and was incredible motivating.  He talked about the “let’s roll” team from United 93 and how they are American heroes.  He also mentioned how we will make America great again.  I wonder where he got that line from… hello Mr. Trump!

Also Kwik Trip, a gas station, definitely not known for it’s glorious career choices won AGAIN as the large company topworkplace.  They gave the keynote presentation and definitely we can use some things they are doing to MAKE A DIFFERENCE!  Personally, I don’t shop at Kwik Trip for their bananas or coffee, I shop there because their people are happy.  Sound familiar? 

*******

From over 69,000 surveys completed…they were able to to accumulate some great information:

They asked and over 69,000 people responded.

WHAT DO WORKERS CARE ABOUT THE MOST:

#1.   I believe this company is going in the right direction. (OH MY GOODNESS, WE WON THIS AWARD PEOPLE!)

#2.  I have confidence in the leader of this company.  (I am trying to get better to lead you every day!)

#3.   This company operates on strong values and ethics.  (I’d like to think we are very strong at this, however, there is always room for improvement.)

WHAT DO WORKERS CARE ABOUT THE LEAST:

#1.  My benefits package is good compared with others in the industry.

#2.  My pay is fair for the work I do.

My friends, this is amazing isn’t iT?.  This isn’t a book, this isn’t what Joel believes, this is the FACTS.  Perks are LOW on people’s list (yes still important but it ranks the lowest) and serving (1), loving (2), and caring (3) are the MOST IMPORTANT.   Culture club and team, we know what’s important now!

LOVE IT!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU.

– Joel Fleischman.  Joel is Head Coach of the solution providers for Drexel Building Supply.  (drexelteam).   You can follow him on twitter:  @JoelmFleischman.   Our mission is to be a supplier of others happiness.  I hope this little post did just that.

TGIM!

The quality of a team member’s character is what they do when no one is watching.

Over the weekend this person took the time to go to our website and write the following…

At first I wanted to reward this person and really hunt them out.  Instead I’d like to think of it sort of like the unknown soldier.  I’d like to think this could of been ANY OF US… just the Drexel way.

Each time we supply happiness we make a difference in the world.  When we do it with our “blues on” we do it together.

***************************

From: Carleen Widder <wXXXX@gmail.com>
Date: April 15, 2016 at 3:36:05 PM CDT
To: Service@DrexelTeam.com
Subject: Quality staff

Hello,

Yesterday I stopped to my cottage at Crystal Lake to pick something up that was needed for the weekend.
The entrance to the private road was blocked by one of your trucks due to low clearance and a narrow pathway.  You have a young man working for you that immediately asked if me if he should move the truck off to the side to allow me to access the road.  I was only there for a short time, so it was no problem for me to walk the short distance to the cottage but I might ask his help if my item was too heavy for me to carry. He stated that that wouldn’t be a problem.
In fact, as he saw me carrying the item later he asked if he could help carry or even open my trunk for me.

I write this quick note to tell you how impressed I was with the quality manners of that young man.  “Yes ma’am” and “thank you ma’am”.  Wow!

Just wanted to let you know what a wonderful representative he is of your company! What a great impression he has made.

I do not know this young man’s name, but it is a great lesson for all employees.
If you know who I am talking about, please let him know what a great job he is doing!

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,
Carleen Widder

*********************

At first I wanted to reward this team member and really hunt them out; what a fantastic gesture!  Instead I’d like to think of it sort of like the unknown soldier.  I’d like to think this could of been ANY OF US… just the Drexel way.   It’s just who we are!

Each time we supply happiness we make a difference in the world.  When we do it with our “blues on” we do it together.  It’s our mission and our purpose.

– Joel Fleischman.  Joel is Head Coach of the solution providers for Drexel Building Supply.  (drexelteam).   You can follow him on twitter:  @JoelmFleischman.   Our mission is to be a supplier of others happiness.  I hope this little post did just that.

TGIM!

Some random things to share this week.

****************

Thought for the Week: Success favors the bold. Similarity, commonality, generality, replicas, regularity and normalcy don’t.  –
Alan Stein

****************

If you are working today.  If you are reading this….most likely you are extremely lucky and blessed.  You are not bedridden.  You are at work.  You can swallow on your own.  You can walk.  You can breathe on your own.  You are not grieving at someone’s bedside.  You have enough money to eat tonight.  You are not planning a funeral.

Millions of people on the planet RIGHT NOW…  CAN NOT DO WHAT YOU CAN TODAY.  YOU ARE BLESSED.

Mondays are a reminder of things YOU GET TO DO, not HAVE TO DO.

Thank your customers EVERY TIME.  Every minute, every chance you get…without them… you don’t work here.

If you count your blessings, your stress will go down.  YOU CAN’T BE BLESSED AND STRESSED.

*****************

Are you an expert in filling out forms, wearing your sealtbelt on the forklift, doubling checking your work and acknowledgements, are you the best at doing it right the first time… every time?  If you ARE NOT, you can probably get away with it now…but in 30 days we will be about 42% busier (see my last post)…and then you won’t have time to fix all your mistakes…

And then a shit storm will brew as you can’t control the chaos… because you are not organized.  You don’t have time to change your disorganized ways…?  Fine…but be warned… a shit storm is coming to you…and you will have created it.

p.s.  I can’t work out right now, I still have an injured back, it sometimes hurt, sometimes it’s just annoying.  But I CAN walk my dog.  I CAN enjoy the morning before the sun comes out.   I CAN READ more than usual.   I CAN.  I CAN. I CAN.

p.s.s.  A few of our team members are dealing with personal and family issues RIGHT NOW.  PRAY FOR THEM.  THEY NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

– Joel Fleischman.  Joel is Head Coach of the solution providers for Drexel Building Supply.  (drexelteam).   You can follow him on twitter:  @JoelmFleischman.   Our mission is to be a supplier of others happiness.  I hope this little post did just that.

TGI- APRIL 1!

Team,

Our FRUIT STAND OPENS TODAY!

What does that mean?

We often forget we are a seasonal company, much like a fruit stand.

When a fruit stand opens, that farmer has one concern, selling the product they have for that season!  All of their hard work in the off season, the weeding, fertilizing, planting and picking is now over.  It’s time to sell what you got!  If you don’t focus on that your farm will close.

It’s NOT the time to say, boy we should be out fertilizing, cutting hedges, looking at new kinds of crops or fixing the tractor.  The farmer realizes what is the most important is selling the crops.

Joel… but there is never a good time to “plant and fix the tractor… we should just keeping working on projects year round, I mean we are busy selling in winter too.”

Actually the numbers back me up here.

If we look at our “off season months, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, March, April vs. our OPEN STAND season May, June, July, August, September, October… the difference on average for these months since 2012

is

42%

Team, we must start wrapping up projects or putting them on hold until November 2016.  The produce stand opens today!  I will be working with many coaches and helping them wrap up or put a pause on their projects.  I call it “killing dreams” as many projects are going to be great once executed, but often it takes timing, reflection and manpower to make it happen.  And that can’t happen when we are out selling our produce!

No worries, we got SO MUCH accomplished planting and grooming our fields this off season, we have the best produce we have ever had to sell!  Fresh, Ripe, and Tasty!

*** Sidenote: Speaking of numbers, In the last 4 years Drexel has grown 83%.  Talk about change, growth, and development.  What a testimony to you and your team!  We expect a 15-20% growth this year and that is exactly where we are in first quarter 2016!  As Craig Johnson told me this week, “I can’t wait to see where this company is at in 10 years.”  I can’t either, I just know YOU will be a big part of it.

– Joel Fleischman.  Joel is Head Coach of the solution providers for Drexel Building Supply.  (drexelteam).   You can follow him on twitter:  @JoelmFleischman.   Our mission is to be a supplier of others happiness.  I hope this little post did just that.

TGIM!

Team… the more we give the more we get!  I was reminded of that last week at a Dale Carnegie Graduation for some of our teammates, Keith Miller, Brad Groebner, and Alicia Scheiss.  (Scott Hodgen and Dave Nanna recently graduated as well.)  Congrats to all taking the class and our recent graduates.  GAME CHANGING!

Anyways, they always sincerely thank the guest for coming.  I feel guilty.  I get WAY MORE out of the class then the credit they give me for attending.

Here are a few of my random notes from the lessons I learned there:

• Coaching is turning on the light, NOT turning up the heat.
• Don’t criticize, condemn, or complain.
• Create a nightly to do list to sleep better, stay focused, and get things done!
• Celebrate the wins.
• Customers don’t want to be SOLD TO, they want to buy from you.  Business partners.
• Has anyone ever liked a negative person?
• Do the best you can.  If you do that- what is there to worry about?
• Give stress a value and don’t give it any more than it is warranted.
• Leave work at work.
• Create an eager want in people.
• Give sincere appreciation often.
• Appeal to ulterior motives.
• The above three help to get things done with a team.
• Bill Gates:  Greatest strength is character.  What we do when no one is watching.
• Setting a high reputation for others to live up to.
• Bet a team player to lead a team.
• You don’t take the Dale Carnegie course, you live it.
• You earn the right to talk about your subject.  If you do the work your stress on the subject will turn into excitement to talk!
• Admit your mistakes before you try to coach someone else.
• Don’t stress about things you can’t control.
• The best problems solvers use their creativity.
• Don’t imitate other people- Be YOU!
• The little known secret of success- if two people are equal the person with ENTHUSIASM will get it!
•  Great leaders have confidence.  Great leaders earn confidence from others, because THEY SIMPLY GET THINGS DONE!

– Joel Fleischman.  Joel is Head Coach of the solution providers for Drexel Building Supply.  (drexelteam).   You can follow him on twitter:  @JoelmFleischman.   Our mission is to be a supplier of others happiness.  I hope this little post did just that.

by Steve Herriges

Just like the rest of you, I love experiences with companies that appear to be of the same blood type as ours.  I’m assuming some of you have been to a Chic-Fil-A before. This past week in Florida I had my first experience.  (twice).  I was expecting another fast food joint. Like Waffle House or McDonalds, but they are much better than that. Like Culvers but with much more passion and customer care.

Signage supports their mission. “Welcome, It’s our pleasure to serve you.”  I overhead the drive-through lady,  “Hello, how can we serve you today?”  The Surprise it forward idea’s on their bag (pic attached.  Closed on Sundays. Books available for kids under 3.  A spotless interior, hand sanitizer available, the nice ketchup packets, etc etc.

The first time we went through the drive-through and the lady was standing out there taking orders on an iPad and very enthusiastic. Neat touch.

Oh, and the chicken was great.  More expensive than your average fast food but I would choose them over another any time I have the opportunity.  Just because of the inviting culture and customer-first mindset.

I just thought that was interesting. I recommend you check one out if you get a chance.

http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Company/Responsibility-Overview

They found a way to stand out in the fast-food world. And it’s pretty much the same way we found a way to stand out in the building supply world.

And a good reminder that it works.

TGIM!

TEAM,

When you  put on “your blues” each morning…

think about how we are teaching our industry to have fun.

how OUR mission is to supply happiness.

how we give back to the communities we are in.

how we care for each other.

how we make others feel when they deal with us.

how we change the world.

Putting on the blues is for me is indeed a responsibility and an honor I don’t take lightly.   I know I have to GRIND TODAY.   I owe it to you to not take any day for granted.  Each day is a gift, a day to get 1% better.   If you see me not helping you, how can you help others?

It’s actually why we fire people maybe more than at other companies.   I don’t enjoy firing people, but I understand it is part of my duty here.  The blues are not for everyone.

I say this sincerely.  It’s a privilege for me to put on the blues.

I wear it with pride, not because I own the joint, but because of who we are, because I work with you.

Remember who and want the blue stand for everyday.  All 10 core values.

Your team is watching you, counting on you…

TGIM!

This one is going to be crazy and all over the board.   IT’S HOW MY BRAIN WORKS!

You might want to eat it in nibbles and come back often to read more.

Or Just browse it

Or digest like a med-rare prime rib, cut it into bites and eat it slowly over a great cocktail…

You see team, really for the last 3 weeks I’ve been in a smaller world a bit than usual.

We had Expo week, followed by a trip to New Orleans to learn at the ProSales100 user conference where Doug Carlson sat on a panel of the top 4 people under 40 in our industry.

Then last week Sunday I got a severe pinch nerve in my back.  I was in pretty good pain and didn’t work in the office all week.

Going even further back, this our season where we prepare for the Farmer’s Market season that is rapidly approaching.  Strategic and operational planning.  Meaning I was at “the zoo” most days and not at your location.  I will get back to seeing you at your locations VERY SHORTLY.   I love being with you guys and will “be back” (although I’m not really gone) soon.

So over these 3 weeks, since often I was a bit disconnected from the day to day of Drexel, I was able to read, reflect and warm my inner soul.  Here’s the randomness of what I wanted to share based on my experiences and reading.  No particular order, just random.

Holler if you want more information on any of this.

*

Don’t forget about our 1% improvement margin goal this year!  What a difference it will make.  Here are ways to do just that.   Bill Lee On Margin

*

William James said, ‘We don’t laugh because we are happy. We are happy because we laugh.’ So start your day on a delightful footing. Laugh, play and give thanks for all you have. Every day will be an exquisitely rewarding one.”

*

“I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet.”
—Ghandi

*

We laughed so hard.  For so long.  Good times with Andy and Doug in New Orleans.  We also made incredible connections with peers and vendors around the country.  (Seriously).  No seriosly, we learned a lot.  Ok, it was a bit foggy sometimes but we really did learn a lot!

*

Usually I don’t get too jacked about new products in our industry.  This article shows “drywall with biceps” and perhaps a “better solution” then cement board.  Some of your builders are yearning for you to be the supplier of choice… so make them smarter, share your smarts… (Simply send them a nice email with links to new products is a good way).

New Products Article

*

In the next few years we will be really focusing on being the premier leader of technology.  We have always believed in being proactive and not reactive on technology… until “The Great Recession” hit.  Now we are just “ok”.   That will change.  Change is good.  Change is great!   Change is SCARY!  (HA)  I just read “The Story Of Us: How the Culture at U.S. LBM is Changing the Distribution Industry” by L.T. Gibson.  It’s basically a long promotional piece put into book form (think advertising article combined with their playbook made up of 200 plus pages) and that is what it is.  US LBM is a billion dollar company that owns Wisconsin Building Supply and Lamperts and many more.  They are really rolling with their builder app, where they track invoices, loads and moer.  We will not only keep up but pass them.  It’s a nuclear  technology race!  Nathan Grinwald, Emily Bestul and Andy Rettler and many more will build and lead a great tech team!

*

THE POWER OF THE GNOME.

Time.  It is our most important resource.  You control it.  The Gnome IS YOUR BEST FRIEND!  Think about it friends.  If you just had a few hours each day with no distractions what you could get done.  Then gnome is your hero!  That’s why he exists.  We can even take that to the yard level.  If you are pulling a load or falling behind, just let your teammates know, so you can stay focused on that task.

If you or your department or your location is not using gnomes regularly, you are wasting your life away with needless tasks, I promise you that!
***

It’s about YOU.   When I had my pinched nerve and sitting at home.  I TRIED to BE POSITIVE.  I TRIED TO make a difference to those around me, but it was near impossible.  When you are in pain… you are not yourself.  My take away from this is two fold.

1. If you are dealing with someone that simply is not pleasant, don’t judge them.  You don’t know what baggage they are carrying.
2. Get your ass in shape!  If you are out of shape… you are not the best person you can be.  It’s that simple.

*

If you really knew you were dying soon.  What would you do TODAY?  I encourage you to feel like death is in your near future.  That mindset changes EVERYTHING.  Pesty problems seem smaller than ants.  Priorities become top of mind.

Starting today, learn more, laugh more and do what you truly love to do. Do not be denied your destiny.*

*

““To serve, of course. No matter how big a house you have or how slick a car you drive, the only thing you can take with you at the end of your life is your conscience. Listen to your conscience. Let it guide you. It knows what is right. It will tell you that your calling in life is ultimately selfless service to others in some form or another.” ***

*

“the quality of your life will come down to the quality of your contribution.” ***  How are you helping others?  At the end of the day you will be happy if you have helped others, first yourself in mind, body, and soul…and then leave the rest to simply helping others.  But Joel, what should you do?  That is up to you, but I promise if you take time to listen to your soul, you will find it.

*  Ron Neitzel came into my office with some wise advice.  It was along the lines of this, “Joel I heard about us (Drexel) promoting how much we give back to the communities in a big way.  Consider instead to serve humbly.”  Wise words by Ron.  Thank you.

*  When we are born, we are crying while the world rejoices. Live in such a way that when we die, the world cries while we are rejoicing.

*  I don’t watch the news.  Gave that up a few years ago.  I did while my nerves were being pinched and sleep was a struggle.  Gosh, what horribleness they preach for ratings.  If you watch the news, stop.  Just stop.  Trust me all you are doing is convincing yourself the world is a horrible pace on it’s way to anarchy or worse.  Oh and Donald Trump is orange.  So weird!

* FILL ONLY YOUR MIND WITH GOOD.  You have a friend on facebook, instagram, or a bartender you see that is always negative?  Well take them out of your life!

*  Happyness is a journey, not the destination.    If you say, when I have this, when I do this, when I get here…then I will… you are doing it all wrong.  Instead say today I HAVE THE OPPPORTUNITY to.   Stop putting off your happiness for the sake of achievement. Instead, why not enjoy the process?”

*  You are a way bigger deal than you think you are.  God doesn’t make average people to do average things.

*  I loved the Expo.  Here are a few of my favorite pics.  Expo and Vendor Summit Pics

About my little “speech” at the expo.  I only practiced it once with the Culture Club a few hours prior to giving it.  I never wrote down any notes.  I prepared enough to have a vision of what I said, but not plan.  Follow the path.  For all of you that public speak that is the best way.   Be prepared, but not over prepared.  You lose yourself otherwise…and it becomes stiff.  Also AND MORE IMPORTANTLY…THIS HAPPENED.  In my room at say 5pm knowing I had to talk in front of 700 people I got a little anxiety and started to get nervous.  This lasted about an hour, and the nerves started to escalate.  I decided to take a quick cat nap.  When I awoke just a few minutes later, I was still nervous.  At that moment, I was like you know what, I forgot to pray on it.  I said some along the lines of,  “Holy Spirit this speech is for you.  And you are in charge of me.  I trust in You that it will go well.  Please help me.”  Something along those lines and instantly, I mean instantly I was no longer nervous.  The power of prayer.  Oh, the 6 drinks before didn’t hurt either!

*  Work on tomorrow and this week today.  Take time to get a plan for your day, either as soon as you arise, which means waking up earlier or plan on Sunday night.  Each day my midday I start planning my week.  Each Sunday night I plan my week.  Really helps control the chaos.

*  Congratulations you are in the top 10% if you are still reading this.  I am proud of you.

*   I sent this to some people last week, I also wanted to include this on the blog.

We went to New Orleans. Here is a little recap.

Andy Doug and I went to the Prosales100conference. Doug was a on a key panel of 4 under 40.

Economic outlook is bright. One person said “our industry is finally sexy. It’s a good time for all of us.”

New orleans recap, we made good connections, learned a lot about what spruce can do, which is a ton.

We are making connections from other parts of the country with similar businesses and culture as ours (and some quite different) each experience molds our vision. It’s good to have friends in the industry.

We learned that we need to sort data and reduce noise. Read the key data.

W learned our CULTURE AND GROWTH makes DREXEL a stand out in the nation. We INSPIRE others.
We are KNOWN nationally.

We learned this a big game we play… WITH A HIGHER PURPOSE.

The key man in the moneyball book and movie spoke to us. I was bored to death with all the data. It is Andy’s (our d coordinator) hero, CRAZY. love having Andy on the team! Brings another perspective and diversity to us.

Doug did an amazing job on the 4 under 40 panel. Extremely proud to count him on our team. Much smarter than me and much tougher as he had a real hip problem but fought through it.

This gave us a focus and vision even more so than we had.  We are on the right path, just now need to GRIND.

New Orleans was a cool place, I’d recommend a visit. Lots of history, music, great food and drinks.

*

You can’t get to the next level if you are the same person. Nothing changes if nothing changes.  You can’t change a person that doesn’t want to change.  So change we must.

*

Dear young people, do not bury your talents, the gifts that God has given you! Do not be afraid to dream of great things! -Pope Francis

*

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. (NLT)

Colossians 3:23

In concept we know we are working for the Lord wherever God has placed us. But are you really? Do you go the extra mile to make a difference for the Lord, even if you don’t get the extra buck? This is never the easy route, but Jesus never said it would be. Remember to go the extra mile willingly today for the Lord.

*

A must read for anyone that coaches or is involved in youth sports.  Dear Coach, written by an 11 year old

*

Visionaries, optimists and believers don’t listen to what others say is impossible. They see what’s possible and they make it so!  – Jon Gordon

*** Excerpts from the book,

PHEW…THAT’S ENOUGH FOR TODAY’S TGIM, SEE YA SOON!  THANKS FOR READING!

Before we serve, direct people, work together or help a customer…

get to KNOW THEM…

Thanks Clarence.

– Joel Fleischman.  Joel is Head Coach of the solution providers for Drexel Building Supply.  (drexelteam).   You can follow him on twitter:  @JoelmFleischman.   Our mission is to be a supplier of others happiness.  I hope this little post did just that.

There is an old story of a man watching three masons at work and noticing a difference in their performance.

He was curious to know why they all worked at the same job so differently and approached each individually to ask, “What is it you’re working at here?”

The first responded, “I’m laying bricks, waiting for Friday to come.”

The second said, “I’m doing my best for the team to get this wall plumb.”

The last mason looked up to the questioner and smiled. He wiped his shirt sleeve across his brow to clear perspiration, stepped back to admire his work and then said, “I’m working on the entrance to this building. In a few months, people will walk right through a door where you’re standing to worship in a church of God. Life can’t get any better for me than it is at this moment.”

The first worker had a job. The second was working at his career. The third had found a calling. All were performing the same task.

There is not one person on this earth that God made on accident.  Not one.  Follow your calling. 

The gratification in your work is influenced most by how you choose to feel about your work.

Thank you to Rick Davis for allowing me to share this inspiring story.

– Joel Fleischman.  Joel is Head Coach of the solution providers for Drexel Building Supply.  (drexelteam).   You can follow him on twitter:  @JoelmFleischman.   Our mission is to be a supplier of others happiness.  I hope this little post did just that.