Thursday, June 29, 2017

Examples

What examples are we setting for our kids?
Think about it..in your house who do you talk highly about and hold as your heros? Your favorite sports team or athlete? A actor or actress ?
How many talk shows are devoted to talk about how many millions these athletes and entertainers make ?
Yet we tell our children that teaching is important and education and being a policeman or fireman is very honorable along with serving our country.
We say one thing but we show them something else.
Our idols and who we pay What for has completely gone out of whack.
Athletes and entertainers making 52 million dollars or more...crazy.
Why?
What exactly do they do? They just entertain.
We need to prioritize what and who are the real heros in our country.
Can we ever get the train back on track ?

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

It is the HARD that separates you

When things get really tough and you feel totally stressed that is when you need to kick it in.
It is the HARD that separates the good , the bad and the ugly.
Take charge , take breath and dive in. If it is something that you know is going to be difficult and you know there will opposition all the more reason to not delay- DO NOT put it off - run to it.
You will have time to bitch and complain later for now work the problem.
And stay cool , do not let them see you sweat.
I use to have a dispatcher that worked for me and you never knew when he was on the phone if there was a problem, he stayed calm and quiet and worked the problem as opposed to others who would get louder to let everyone else know there were issues.
Stay calm and carry on.

Monday, June 26, 2017

Prepare- Executive- Follow up

Want to succeed?

PREPARE
EXECUTIVE
FOLLOW UP

Think ahead, prepare !- think of all the " what if's" , have a plan A and a plan B and in the very busy season think of a plan C - being ahead of things does not mean a day ahead. You should be looking a week ahead and when you are 72 hours in front of the day you are preparing for you should have everything set because in the busy season even if you are set 72 hours ahead chances are something will still happen to throw a wrench in the operation.

Once you prepare and the day comes- execute- be sure to stay focused on the day and DO YOUR JOB ! Take responsibility and always do your very best and just the great olympians - smile - people are watching and perception is reality.

Follow up after your work day to be sure everyone is satisfied and be thankful. Build your base and your alliances- every day !

Friday, June 23, 2017

Giving back

I help start a 501 c non profit community theatre in West Warwick RI a few years ago and watching it  grow and seeing the smiles on people's faces on play night have been well worth the time and effort.
Sometimes you just have to just have faith in what you believe in and go for it.
You may not know the complete path or have all the answers but you soon realize neither does anyone else so you might as well follow your heart and trust your gut.
Our goal was to help revitalize a small town that was once vibrant and back in the 50's and 60's was the place to shop and go to for your entertainment. Since then mills closed and malls opened and the town fell on hard times but it is fighting back.
We wanted to be a part of that and to give the people in the community an affordable place to go to see live entertainment, to push away from their computer and walk away from their TV to get out and to do it without having to take out a second mortgage.
We also wanted to give people who want to work their craft in acting, singing, directing, play writes and musicians a place to go and so began a Playhouse family.
Believe!

Below is an article in our local paper about The Arctic Playhouse..


http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20170621/former-west-warwick-department-store-to-take-on-new-role-as-theater

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Look Up

Now especially with our cell phones and electronics it is more important then ever to look up !
But even in the course of our busy day..look up..look people in the eye..say hi and see them.
Toward the last 10 years or so of my management when I interviewed people in the late teens or early 20's most of them never looked me in the eye, they seem to have very little human contact.
We probably need a course now in high school to teach people how to interact with human beings.
Now it is not just the younger generation that suffers from this , older adults get so wrapped up in their busy day that most never take the time to stop and look up.
Breathe...stop...look up..and appreciate everything around you and for goodness sake stop thinking the world revolves you.
Enjoy the day  and the goodness around you.

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Do the right thing

You know what the right thing is.. it's that voice in your right ear on your shoulder..listen to it.
You may think you are doing the wrong thing for good reasons but trust me wrong is wrong.
This is where karma comes in.
It will always catch up to you .. you are always better taking the right road even if the almighty dollar is calling you , money is definitely the root of ALL evil.
Resist.
In the end it is not the money that will save you or hug you or give you your true reward.
Do the right thing !


Monday, June 19, 2017

Remembering Paul Arpin

Remembering Paul Arpin who passed away June 12th, 2010

In February 2011, the Moving & Storage Institute presented its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for Distinguished Service posthumously to Paul G. Arpin, Sr., former chairman of the Arpin Group, Inc. The award was accepted by Mr. Arpin’s son David, president and CEO of Arpin Group and current AMSA board chair.

Born and raised in Rhode Island, Paul began working in the family business at a young age under the tutelage of his parents and grandparents. Upon returning home from WWII, Paul, a D-Day survivor, began working at the company full-time and succeeded his grandfather as president in 1945.
Throughout his career, Paul’s goal was not to build the biggest moving company, but to build the best. His inspiration to grow the company so the customer received the most value for every dollar spent was paramount. Through his compassion and tenacity, and by combining the best people in the industry for one goal — to provide superior customer service — he knew that he would develop a loyal customer base that would span generations. Today, adults whose parents relocated the family using the Arpin Group are turning to the company again to help move. It is a testimony to Paul’s leadership that the business, originally established in 1900 by his grandparents, continues to Create Customers for Life.

 Paul understood the need to invest in his company. Although he was an "old school" businessman, he hired people to develop the company’s infrastructure to better serve customers, agents and drivers, and to remain competitive. Paul also recognized that drivers are the lifeblood of the industry, and he was always concerned for them and their families. He helped many establish themselves as Arpin agents.

 In addition to the success of Arpin Group under his leadership, Paul’s legacy is tied to his many charitable pursuits. He is remembered for his spirit of giving — through countless donations of transportation services and manpower to help facilitate community projects, environmental initiatives to re-duce the company’s carbon footprint, and matching employee contributions to help support a range of meaningful causes.

 "May the work I do speak for me" was a deeply felt commitment that was expressed by many who spoke of him at his funeral and wake, following his death in June 2010.

 Paul Arpin, Sr.’s legacy and vision continue to live on through the fourth generation of Arpin family members to operate the privately owned company, sons David (Arpin president & CEO) and Peter (executive vice president). These men, along with their father and members of Arpin’s agency family, helped to transform the company into the nation’s fourth-largest household goods carrier group, with strategic service centers located throughout the world.
from Direction magazine

Friday, June 16, 2017

Brothers

I hear people throw the term " brother " around a lot but I am old school and hold that term closely and use it spareingly and when I say it to someone it means something.
I have been very blessed to have had many friends and even more blessed to be able to call some my brother. A brother is someone who has your back no matter what and you have his. A brother is someone who tells you the truth even when you disagree. A brother is someone who will always be there. That is what this road we travel on is all about- making friends and bonds and if we are lucky creating brothers for life. Make it your goal to reach out, be there for that friend, listen and help where you can- there you will find your true reward.
Be a brother .

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Loyalty

Loyalty  is  earned.

You can't demand loyalty , either people respect you or they don't, if they respect you and trust you loyalty will follow.

Do not mistake loyalty for fear, many times in our work place we need the job so we are more likely to go along but do not lose your moral compass. Do what you have to do to put food on your table, do not intentionally hurt anyone but keep your eyes open.
By all means do not do anything you think may be illegal or morally wrong because you fear losing your job, choose your time and make the correct choice.

It's about how to lead your life. If you lead your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself.

Monday, June 12, 2017

Isolation

The more we use technology around us the more isolated we can become.
I saw it evolve from when the home computer became popular with my son, he was around 12 or 13 and rather than go down the street and hang with his friends after school he would run home and go to the computer room and instant message them. That was back in the middle 90's now it has grown technically has grown so much more, people barely look up, they are either on their phone or in Facebook or they have their headphones on.
Don't get me wrong I am guilty of using all of that and probably do way more than I should. Certainly you have to use all of the social media to promote your work in some cases but most of us get sucked in even more. I do not think the answer is to totally ignore it but the biggest challenge is to harness it and to take the time to look up.
Do not allow technology to isolate you and please do not believe all the postings on how beautiful everyone's life is , we are all battling something in our lives. Unfortunately a lot of people find the need to try to keep up with the Jones's - and think they are missing out.

People need interaction- live interaction!
People need to enjoy all of this wonderful world around us not just on the computer in front of you.

Friday, June 9, 2017

I'm Alive

Stressing out ?
Tired or Angry ??

It's ok, it is all part of the ride but celebrate the day ...you are alive !!

Lyrics by Kenny Chesney ..



So damn easy to say that life's so hard
Everybody's got their share of battle scars
As for me, I'd like to thank my lucky stars that I'm alive and well...
It'd be easy to add up all the pain
And all the dreams you sat and watched go up in flames
Dwell on the wreckage as it smolders in the rain
But not me...I'm alive


And today you know that's good enough for me
Breathin' in and out's a blessing can't you see
Today's the first day of the rest of my life and I'm alive
And well...I'm alive and well


The stars are dancin' on the water here tonight
It's good for the soul when there's not a soul in sight
This boat has caught its wind and brought me back to life now I'm alive and well

https://youtu.be/B56UjiLuWkk

Thursday, June 8, 2017

Common sense

The most important gene have is the common sense gene.

Our kids have more technology at their fingertips then any other generation in history and they are learning how to use it at a early age and from that they will have the ability to do some great things.

The thing I see missing more and more is plain old common sense, the ability to see and listen and to make common sense assessments and decisions. I also see missing is the ability to speak up, ask questions, people seem ok with just doing their little part of whatever they are assigned and content with staying within those lines.

Having good common sense and the curiosity to ask questions and learn are absolutely vital to growth, both for the individual and for whatever company or business that the individual works for.
You can be the most brilliant person on the books but if you cannot access the people and the situation around you properly you will always struggle.

 That is why I always say look up and listen and rather then judge others try to learn from them and if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck it it most likely a duck.

 Don't make things more difficult then they really are...use the good old common sense gene that the good Lord gave all of us.






Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Free

Live simple...live free.

Easier said then done.. t really shouldn't be..we complicate life. We complicate life mostly because of stuff, we have to work harder, run faster and stress out so we can afford more stuff.
Try to male it a goal to work hard but try to lose more stuff..live simple..live free.
You need a roof over your head, food on your table clothes and heat in the winter - those are your needs- the rest are your wants- distinguish between the two - wants and needs.

Try to be more conscious of asking yourself  if you would rather have more stuff or more time to be free. For those with young families I understand the responsibility and your needs are broader but for those of us who's families are more grown up it is time to wind it down and free yourself.

Live simple..live free...enjoy life ..we are all just visiting.

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Look ahead

It never ceases to amaze me how many people do not look ahead or plan.

The same people that do not look ahead or plan always end up chasing their tail and are in a Chinese fire drill all day.

The real shame of it is they never learn, they actually do the opposite - they get frustrated with the crazy around them so they slow down or say F it and rather then learn from it and start getting ahead of things they end up getting run over.

Stop the madness .. start looking ahead and pre- plan !

Think out all the "what if's" in your head, write it down , have plan "B" ready just in case ( actually have plan "B" and "C" ready) Yes it will take more of your time on the front end but I promise you that it will save you three times that time on the back end and you will lessen your stress.

It is the " pay me now or pay me later " principle- you either invest your time on the front side or pay for it on the back end- - don't wait till the day of - be out in front - not a day before or two days before but weeks ! If you are a manager or you are responsible for others then your job is to educate and help the people you are responsible for- if they fail or their day becomes helter shelter then you have to ask yourself what could you have to better prepare THEM - did YOU think ahead?

We are all in this together- look ahead- plan- pre-plan - invest your time on the front end !

Monday, June 5, 2017

Relationships

Life is ALL about relationships.

Rather in business or in your personal life making relationships and friends and allies is what it is ALL about !

If you want to learn and grow and succeed you will need to slow the heck down and build relationships. Those that think they know everything and can roll over people will ALLWAYS fail..trust me. Their house is a house of cards, it may look as if they are succeeding and in the very short term they may even rise to power but like any house of cards they will ultimately fail.

You never stop learning, Muhammad Ali said any man that looks at life the same way at 50 as when he was 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.
Lord knows that I am still learning and I feel that at 60 I am just starting to see more and understand more, not only about business but life in general.

I have succeeded in life but I am still learning..every day !
 My biggest success comes in knowing that I may have played a role in helping others, even in a small way.

Slow down, smile, learn and sincerely CARE about those around you.

If you think that you are so smart that you can go it alone..that is exactly where you will end up..alone.

Friday, June 2, 2017

Challenge

I love a challenge!

I challenge myself every day !

Ever feel like telling some people to F off ? I sure do but when those moments arise or when I foresee  where they may arise I challenge myself- I challenge myself to smile and not let it get to me. I tell myself that if I do that then I allow them to win and more than likely it will carry over to the rest of my day in a negative way and effect what I can do.

Years ago I was over weight, I was up to 215 lbs. and I am only 5'7" , my doctor was ready to put me on pills to lower my cholesterol, I dislike taking any pills so I challenged myself and started a strict workout routine and started watching what I ate and how much I ate and dropped my weight to 175 Lbs. - no cholesterol problem anymore and no pills.

As a child growing up I grew up with my dad being an alcoholic and I vowed that would never be me, I would not allow alcohol to be a crutch, I challenged myself and to this day if I have a stressed day I will not allow myself to have alcohol because that would using it for the wrong reasons.
And thank God the alcoholic bug did not get me.

In whatever job I held I always challenged myself to do better, to learn and to try to find a better way.
I started my working life washing dishes and I wanted to be the best dishwasher, I then stocked shelves and worked my way up to manage the same store I stocked shelves at, then dispatched and worked my way up to Vice President..it did not matter what the job was I just wanted to do my best.
I challenged myself to always be the best I could be, and to learn from everyone around me and to help others wherever I can.

Robert Kennedy said " Some people see things as they are and ask why, I see things as they should be and ask why not" .
I heard that quote as a very young boy and loved it and I try to live it every day.

Challenge yourself



Thursday, June 1, 2017

Good workers and good managers

Good workers do not always make good managers or leaders.
Managing people can take an entirely different set of skills from knowing your product.
To effectively manage people you certainly need to know the process and what you are asking them to do so working your way up is certainly essential to your success, that said if promoted or if you want to take more on you then have to put yourself in the other person's mind set and skills.
You need to access everyone's positives and work with that, you can not just bark out orders or assume they know what you are asking, it is up to you to explain what you want and why.
The why is crusial for growth, as a leader or manager you have to be a good teacher and most of all you have to care, care about the success of others.
In order to be the best boss, manager and/or teacher you must watch, listen, observe and help.