Football, Change and BHAGs

School started this week in Atlanta which means football season is here.  Changes abound this time of year.  Never mind the August heat and humidity; it’s time for a fresh new start for millions of kids, their families and their teachers.  It’s time to set new goals and rearrange priorities. 

 

I have often thought that one of the most dangerous places to be is between goals.  I compare it to the summer slump – school’s out, I did well and I deserve a break.  It can happen in business - I make the sale, I earned a promotion and now I can coast for a while. What’s the danger?

 

Without a long-term goal or vision, anyone can quickly lose focus.  As one project reaches completion, look ahead, cast a vision, and set a new goal.  Fortunately, I have had good mentors in my career and I benefited personally from their examples.  

 

In business, it is critical to have vision, mission and value statements. The old adage, “If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything”, applies here. Well-thought-out goals and objectives serve as curbs to lead us in the right direction lest we get “off track”.   At Hotel Equities, we ask all team members to carry our vision, mission and value statements, which are included on a tri-folded, pocket-sized, laminated Commitment Card, with them at all times while they are at work.  We then ask our General Managers to review them during their daily team huddle time.

 

Here’s my advice for the fall.  Take an occasional breather, keep dreaming, and take time to review your future focus and plan your next BHAG [Big Hairy Audacious Goal].

Hospitably,

Fred Cerrone

Make Things Happen

 

Every Wednesday, we host a Career Networking Group in our Learning Center (located at Hotel Equities’ corporate headquarters) for those currently unemployed and actively seeking employment.  This networking opportunity is offered in conjunction with our Life Lessons Over Lunch program, an inspirational hour-long video series created by Andy Stanley.  We provide a light lunch for attendees, the meeting space, and a welcome from various members of our Coaching Team.  For our part, this is a small ministry contribution that has had a huge impact on the lives of many involved.  A slice of pizza may not seem like a “big deal”, but to someone who’s been unable to find a job for over two years, it might be one of the best meals they have all week.

 

I received an email today from Kathy, one of the group’s members, expressing her thanks to the entire HE team.  She ended her message saying, “You feed our body, soul and mind and that is something we can’t live without.” When we began this ministry in 2007, I had no idea of the large impact we would have on so many. We merely saw a need and found a way to meet it.  Since we began keeping track in 2010, more than 200 members have reported they’ve found employment. 

 

You won’t need to search far before finding many other examples of the good here, not because it’s listed in any associate’s job description, but because it’s part of the culture upon which we are founded. Zig Ziglar said, “There are three types of people in this world: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened”.

 

I hope each of you experience a “make things happen” kind of day.

 

 

Hospitably,

Fred Cerrone