Robert Henry is a criminal defense lawyer working on what could be his biggest case ever. He has a son, Scott Henry, who is the star quarter back for the local high school team. Last week, Scott came home from school and found his father home and decided to talk to him about some of the topics that have surfaced within his group of football friends. Recently a couple of the boys have been talking about taking steroids to help them perform better during the last few games of the season. Scott was uneasy about taking the drug and wanted to find out more information on the effects. Robert, like Scott, was the star quarter back for his high school team. Scott felt for sure his father can give him insight on how to deal with this dilemma.

“Dad, do you have a moment,” asked Scott. “Sure, son what’s going on?” “Did you ever take anything to help you perform better during your games?”

As the phone rings Robert replies, “No son, us Henry’s are natural performers.” He points to his son as to hold on a minute and answers the phone. On the other line his secretary tells him that he lost his star witness because the witness no longer wants to testify.

“Son, we are going to have to finish this conversation later. I just lost my star witness and I need to do something to get him back.” He picks up his keys, brief case, and blackberry and walks out the door.

Disappointed, as usual, Scott replies, “Okay dad, we will pick this up later.” As his father walked out the door he was still confused about what to do.

During the Friday night football game, Robert is in his office working as usual, and suddenly remembers the conversation he did not have with his son. ‘Why would Scott ask me that question? He would not be considering taking any drugs, would he?’ he thinks to himself as his cell phone rings. His wife is on the other line crying hysterically. “Scott has clasped on the field. They don’t know what’s wrong with him. He won’t get up. Honey, you need to go to the hospital quick.”

When he gets to the hospital he finds out that Scott had taken steroids and that his body had a negative reaction to the drug. However, the doctors are confident that he will be okay. Robert sits back on the waiting room chair and thinks about the conversation he Scott tried to have with him. How could he forget to get back to him? How could he let his work distract him from his family?

Robert has experienced the devastating power of distractions. Distractions are all around us and as listening leaders we need to understand the devastating impact distractions have on everyone’s life. The call from his secretary diverted Robert from an important conversation that he needed to have with his son. He now understands the importance of listening and minimizing distractions. For the future he has committed to deal with distractions and understand the sources that take him away from what is really important to him. Lastly, he has committed to create and implement a plan to reduce, eliminate, avoid, or listen beyond any distractions. This may be asking his firm not to call him after certain hours or committing to spend more time listening to his family and their needs from him.

Fortunately, for Robert, his son will be okay. However he has learned a valuable listening lesson. Distractions are everywhere and waiting to capture our attention but we all have the power to reduce, eliminate, or listen beyond them and deal with the real issues that matter to us.

About the Author

Dr. Rick Bommelje is an internationally recognized expert in listening and leadership. Dr. Rick will equip your management team with listening skills and leadership strategies to make them more successful leaders and take them to the next level of effective communication.
http://www.listen-coach.com

Long long ago, in the faraway land of Great Britain, lived a boy named Patrick.

When he was 16, Irish raiders invaded his wealthy family’s estate. He was kidnapped and taken to the faraway land called Ireland. He was scared and lonely.

Day after day. Year after year. Time passed slowly.

He turned to religion to get through this time. Then one night, he received a message in a dream. God told him it was time to leave Ireland.

And so he did. He escaped from his captors, left Ireland and returned to Great Britain. Walking all the way home for 200 miles.

After studying religion in Britain for many years, he received another message. This one from an angel – telling him to return to Ireland as a missionary.

And so – he did.

In Ireland, Patrick spoke out for Christianity.
He spoke against slavery.
He spoke in favor of women’s rights.

Patrick had a vision.
He was passionate about it.
He shared it passionately.

He shared it in a way that enabled others to hear the value to them.
He didn’t ask them to adopt his vision and drop theirs.
Instead he wove his and theirs together.

He shared his vision and his passion until the day he died on March 17, 460 A.D.

Whether you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by wearing green, drinking green, sharing limericks, eating shamrock cookies or not at all – St. Patrick is an example of a person with vision and passion –
both of which are needed for business success.

What is it that you want for yourself, for your family, for your business?

Really – what is it you really really really really really want?

For today, tomorrow, this week, this month, this year and the years beyond?

Think you have a clear vision for this?

Why is it you want it?
And why is that?
And why is that?
Why?

Don’t cheat.
Pay attention to all the reallys.
Answer all the whys?

Why?

Because of the legendary leprechaun.

Reportedly, he isn’t very friendly – but he DOES possess a pot of gold. And if you catch him, he must tell you where the treasure is
OR he can trick you and vanish!

Has that ever happen to you?

You chased your dream. Maybe even found a pot of gold. And then -
it vanished.

Maybe you got tricked.

Maybe someone distracted you.

Or maybe you got tired and lonely and stopped caring so much.

Or maybe you never really cared about it anyway.

Or maybe it wasn’t even worth it to begin with.

It’s easy to be tricked.
or even trick yourself.

And that’s why the why is critical.

It will carry you through tricky times – those scary, lonely days and nights when you wonder why it is you are doing what you are doing – this thing you really really really really really want?

And why was that?

Tell others about your vision.
Tell them with passion.
Tell them why you want it.

If you are really lucky – they may want it too.

And then —
Well – you’ve got Patrick on your side.
And that leprechaun doesn’t stand a chance.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day from Business Class.

©2005 – Original Copyright by Jan Bolick, Business Class Inc; revised 2009.

About the Author

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