It is really interesting to be back interviewing for a job after eight years of being a CEO of an international, privately held, profitable company.  I am, by business card criteria, very accomplished. I have CEO and president in my title, three times. COO once, and VP three times. I also have the titles of “founder” and “partner.” I might as well have the title of “Supreme Intergalactic Commander.” The reality is that people who are interviewing me only care a little about those titles. However, they are laser fixed on my ability to demonstrate how I solved problems and achieved results. And they are very sophisticated in separating wheat from chaff.

 Character Move:

1.  Wherever you are in your career/ job, document problems solved and results achieved. Do it as you go, not after you have left.
2. Develop a “value offered card” more than a “business title card.” Be great at a few things… Benchmark to be the very best. Practice, practice, practice, and ten years later, few will have your results and skill. This will hopefully allow you to monetize the equity you have built in yourself. (Think ahead… Is anyone going to care about what core skills you currently have a few years from now?)
3. Most of us are NOT great at everything. Be honest about areas that are not strengths. However, let’s commit to being THE best at what we’re good at and like to do.
4. Someone out there likely needs what you are good at and like to do. That value, in the western capitalistic society we live in, usually is expressed in monetary terms. For example, the value we bring to the largest group who needs/wants what we have to offer, usually results in the biggest monetary pay out.
5. Build a value card more than a business card.

Value card in the Triangle,

- Lorne

Accountability Resolution: Begin each problem solving meeting in the New Year by describing the issue you want to address for improvement. Start the dialogue by specifically and meaningfully defining FIRST what YOU personally could do to contribute to a resolution. Propose specific ways of how you would go about doing so. THEN ask your teammate(s) to follow suit by having them outline their personal recommendations. Discuss, amend and conclude by connecting each self accountable approach into a joint plan of improvement action.

Respect Resolution: Learn how to use and apply one of the most practical and easy to use listening/problem solving tools and methods. It is called S (situation) T (target) P (proposal): STP. I have had executives tell me years after they have started using it that it remains their most useful tool. Go to my web site www.lornerubis.com and check out the resource section for a quick video tutorial and a PDF explaining how to use it. Or, check out the appendix in “The Character Triangle.” Using STP and the Respect value is reinforced through better listening, dialogue and less negative conflict. Practice the STP until it becomes second nature.

Abundance Resolution: On 30 consecutive working days write a personal note of “thank you” to one person in the company. Be very specific in what behavior you want to say thank you for. Describe what their action meant to others, the company and you in your role. Be timely and spread this across all levels of the company. Schedule this commitment onto your calendar so that you treat this “thank you” activity as a very important meeting.

Commit to the above three actions purposefully and I promise you will see real and measurable positive outcomes.

Three New Year’s Resolutions in the Triangle,

Lorne

Character Move:

1. Give your own Daruma a black eye.
2. Then give it a second black eye.
3. Always connect the painting of the second eye with celebration and gratitude.

Gratitude in the Triangle,

Lorne

My website host has been rock solid for all the time my website has been up (since April 2010). My team did extensive planning to make sure we had a smooth book launch. Yesterday after my blog was posted, and after I sent an extensive email announcement that my book was available for purchase, it came to my attention that my site was down! (Since 7:00 am PDT no less.) The hosting company, which has been very reliable to date, had network issues and a number of other back-up challenges. I wish I could tell you it was because my book went viral and overloaded the servers, but I don’t think that was the root cause. Ha-ha.

Anyway, by 3:00 pm PDT yesterday, the site was up and running again but I know a lot of customers were bounced… …darn. I apologize if that happened to you. It is so enticing to want to blame someone and feel victimized, etc. But instead, if I take a deep breath, I realize this gives me an opportunity to contact you again about the book, and practice the principles I write about. Now I don’t say in the book that it is always easy or even enjoyable to live in the Triangle. If I want to live the principles, it doesn’t mean just doing so when all is groovy.

Also, based on the feedback we’ve received you can now click on the image of my book and go directly to the order page. But, if you are NOT on my site and reading this as a subscription e-mail, please go http://www.lornerubis.com to order the book.

Character Move:

1. Enjoy the irony and breath deeply.
2. View challenges as poignant opportunity to practice the CT principles.
3. Find the underlying benefit when %^$# happens, and leverage if possible.

Re-launching in the Triangle,

Lorne

To order my book, please click on the “book” tab (above; on the navigation bar at the top of my home page). You can buy the book in any format AND receive a 25% discount by applying the following friends and family discount code - “LRCT”. Please feel free to share this code with anyone who you think might enjoy the book.

What I most care about is that readers apply concepts taken from the book, and as a result improve the well being of themselves and others. I know practicing the Character Triangle as a system WILL build character, have an impact, and inspire others. And that defines success in a very personal and unique way.

Character Move:

1. Buy and read the Character Triangle.
2. Practice the principles daily.
3. Share it with people you care about.

Thank you for celebrating with me. Reading and making the book come alive completes the book. THANK YOU!

Celebrating in the Triangle,

Lorne

How Will You Measure Your Life? The Character Triangle will help you get there.

What’s the Difference Between Being Clever and Being Kind?

$#&% Happens. Is it Good or Bad?

Ordinary Man Lives Extraordinarily …Thanks Dad

Thank you for giving your most precious commodity of time in helping develop the Character Triangle.

Wishing you a wonderful 2011 in the Triangle,

Lorne

Why would someone walk barefoot over broken glass? Of course we don’t know unless we asked that person what they were trying to achieve or accomplish and why it is important to them.  Listening with understanding is vital to having respect. People come in all shapes and sizes. That is the beauty of diversity. It is important not to assume or judge without really understanding first.

The video below discusses the difference between the standardization on the values of the Character Triangle, while appreciating the uniqueness of individuals.

Venice Beach is a poignant reminder of the richness of diversity living side by side with the standardization of the values of the Character Triangle.  Diversity and standardization can co exist.

Live the Triangle,

Lorne

“Who is responsible for making the first move to clear up a miscommunication?” Peter’s response, “Whoever sees it first.” I couldn’t agree more. It is not about who is right or wrong or who makes the first move.  It is about clearing up the misunderstanding. And as I stress so often, it’s the self accountable thing to do.

“How do we know that there is something deeper going on in a communication process?”  Peter’s view is that “tone” is a clue. When the tone of the discussion has an edge to it  there is probably something not right. That may seem so obvious but how many times do we just run by that signal? My view is that this is a good time to really be present and try to take in those vibrations Evelyn talks about.

If the other person’s response or view does not seem reasonable, especially when that person is normally reasonable, this is an alarm bell that something deeper is driving the response. Bregman’s advice: “Don’t slam the other person for being unreasonable. And don’t make the mistake of telling that person what they’re really trying to say. Instead, even if you think you know what’s going on, ask a question.” Holy cow… I couldn’t agree more. And don’t ask a patronizing or loaded question. First ask yourself what’s going on and then ask the other person genuinely what is going on; you need to understand their feelings at a much deeper level.

The Respect value of the Character Triangle is based on listening and understanding. At work we come from such different angles and today much of our contact is remote.  Fighting for understanding is the best for our team mates and the best for us too. It is however, hard work. It may be easier at the outset to ignore the miscommunication but it has a negative cumulative effect on our relationship. Be self accountable; take the action to address it. Respect means asking a lot of questions for understanding. Bregman gives us a few good practical guides.

with Character,

Lorne

I want to invite you to “ride along” with me as I work as a CEO. Let me know how you feel about my observations and beliefs. Become a “Character” by contributing and refining what I call the ” Character Triangle”.

The Character Triangle (CT) connects what I believe are the three key values and drivers of Character: Accountability, Respect and Abundance. Thanks for joining me on the ride.

with Character,

Lorne