"All right everyone, line up alphabetically according to your height."
-Casey Stengel

Ole Casey was famous for spouting contradictions that made perfect sense to him, but left everyone else crashing into each other. (Just think of the hapless Mets!) Now is the time for all teams - business, family, organizations - to concentrate on the basics and our duty as leaders to give that direction.

"IF WE ARE FACING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS KEEP ON WALKING."
-Buddhist Saying

Often when I am conducting retreats with organizations I break them into groups, show them an objective, blindfold them with a rope around each group and ask them to reach the objective (with a few disorienting spins). When I group participants by organizational "rank," the "lower" on the totem pole a group of participants are, the quicker they arrive at the objective. Why? The "big-wigs" of the organization will not agree on a leader and a way of operating, so squabble their way to defeat, while the so called "underlings" show that they are at ease with ORDER and reaching their GOAL!

I find that retreats, properly planned and executed, are the most valuable means of keeping an organization together and functioning properly. Whether the unit is a family, business, athletic team, church, or school faculty - retreats are necessary. Not necessarily to CHANGE things, but to make sure we all remember which direction we are facing! Call 615-370-3587 to schedule a retreat for your company or organization!

"IF YOU CHASE TWO RABBITS, BOTH WILL ESCAPE."
-Anonymous

The holiday season has most of us chasing many "RABBITS" (gifts, travel, family arguments, parties, gluttony, old friends, depression, movies, etc.), so your job as a leader is to minimize the options, set priorities and keep all (including yourself) on the course.

"THE MAIN THING IS KEEPING THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING."
- German Proverb

And this doesn't happen naturally - it must be taught and reinforced. (Your job!)

"PRESENCE IS MORE THAN JUST BEING THERE."
- Malcolm S. Forbes

As a leader, you, of course, have the same feelings, desires and concerns as everyone else, but your position demands the will and ability to avoid a letdown, while also looking ahead to the year to come.

"OFTEN HE WHO DOES TOO MUCH DOES TOO LITTLE."
- Italian Proverb

A leader keeps things simple and basic, not demanding the impossible, but requiring the necessary. This is especially important during holiday periods that produce stress and distractions.

"Shoot a few scenes out of focus. I want to win the foreign film award."
- Billy Wilder

This possibly worked for Billy Wilder in the movie industry - however, I doubt it. In fact, the audience would have probably just left the theater. But a sense of humor during difficult times is never out of focus.

"A DOG AT PLAY HAS THE MIND OF A WISE MARTIAL ARTS MASTER - A MIND CAPABLE OF PERFECT FOCUS."

Some people allow the holiday period to dredge up painful memories, or concerns for the future. In fact, the holidays allow us to reintroduce the idea of play and fun in the workplace, while combining this with a sense of discipline and accomplishment.

So while all about you seem to be going in different directions, remember these Loy McGinnis quotes:

"WHEREVER YOU ARE - BE THERE."

And rather than fall prey to anger and old grievances, remember,

"TO HATE IS TO SHOW YOU STILL CARE - WHO NEEDS THAT - FOCUS ON WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT."