Rescue Mission Blog

Historical Heroes: Winston Churchill

  

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Over the years I’ve learned many leadership and personal lessons from people I’ve never even met.  Through the reading and study of history it is possible to gather insights and wisdom on decisions you are facing in your everyday life.  I’ve learned things from past Presidents such as Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, George Washington and Abe Lincoln, even though they lived in a time much different from my own.  

It’s not just political leaders, but others as well.  I’ve learned from people like Thomas Watson (IBM), Jack Welch (GE) and Andy Grove (Intel) about business and management even though I’m in a totally different field of endeavor than they excelled in.  

All of these people have done the following: Learned from pressure situations, overcome difficulty, had to make tough decisions that affected others, had to create a vision and a better future, and had to square their actions with their moral compass. None has been more inspirational to me personally than Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of Great Britain during World War II.  

Here are three lessons I learned from Winston that I hope will encourage you in your leadership, management and personal life.

1.  Be yourself.  Even though I’m a student of history, I’ve never known of a more peculiar person to rise to the position of leadership of a major country than Winston  Churchill.  And that’s saying something because generally speaking larger than life political leaders are all different than your typical person.  Even still Winston stood alone.  Known for odd work hours and a taste for the finer things in life, he created a unique environment aroud him that helped him that helped to stoke his greatness and particular gifts.  He was known to work late into the night, often until 2 or 3 in the morning and then sleep in until late in the day.  At which point he would dictate to a group of secretaries from his bed.  On occassion he would even dictate to them from the bathtub.  Strange.  Nevertheless, He was himself.  By focusing on his unique talents and honing his strange work habits he was able to achieve more than most.  In deed, he managed to lead the western world, write a multi-volume history of the war and acheive politcal victories.  Too often people are trying to fit someone else’s mold.  Don’t do it.  You are created unique, with special gifts, talents and abilities.  Focus on those things you do well and love doing.

2.  Be Persistent.  Winston stood virtually alone against Nazi Germany for many years while the rest of the world was distracted by other issues.  Continually he set a determined message before his country and the world, “Nazi Germany is a threat”.  It wasn’t until the Nazi’s were on the march across Europe that he was proven right.  Then he was catapulted from political failure to Prime Minister in short order.  How easily most of us are thrown off of our values and ideas.  The slightest challenge or discouragement and we abandon projects and ideas that we are excited about.  Be persistent in your dreams and in the courage of your convictions.  Don’t let someone else steal the excitement and fun of your vision.

3.  Belief in Destiny.  Winston Churchill believed he was destined for great things.  He believed it all of his life, even when he was unpopular and out of step with the rest of the world.  In the end, he was proven right.  The truth is, God has a plan and a destiny for every single person.  Yet many believe that their life is meaningless and pointless.  Nonsense!  I’ve never met any person who didn’t have gifts and talents within them that were unique and special.  Even at the Mission, where people are often discouraged and hopeless, there is unbounding talent and skill.  It’s just there to be used.  Don’t stop believing God has a plan for you. 

DC

What I’m Learning Right Now

  

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One of the familiar themes of this blog is that with the uncertainty all around us and the ever-changing economic landscape we all need to be life-long learners.  Here is a past blog about What I’m Learning.

Lately I’ve read two great mystery novels A Beautiful Blue Death and The September Society by Charles Finch.  Fiction?!?!  I learned from a professor in college that reading fiction expands your imagination so now whenever I feel like I’m not using my creativity or that I’m getting too bogged down in the everyday challenges I read fiction.  These books would be great for book clubs and reading groups. Also, here’s a blog he wrote on recommendations to people wanting to become authors. Good advice I think.

In addition, I’ve been reading “Made to Stick”.  Why do we remember some slogans, commercials and theme songs for ages  and forget others that we have just seen?  Some things stick in our mind.  They are “sticky”.  This book share how to make sure your message sticks in the mind of your customers.  Must read for communicators and businesses. 

Video:  Successful people are those who love what they do.  We’ve heard this many times.  This video on TED.com is a great illustration of how this works.  How those who are fullfilled and in a ‘flow’ succeed.  Just over 18 min.  but I’d definately recommend you watch it all…interesting.

David

Budget Meetings Recap

  

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The leadership staff and directors of the Tacoma Rescue Mission met all day Wednesday and Thursday of this week to go help shape a budget for the fiscal year that starts July 01, 2009 and runs through June of 2010.  Here’s an earlier blog on some of the issues we took into the meeting.  

Let me begin by saying thank you to Sue Horgen, the Chief Financial Officer of the Tacoma Rescue Mission for all the work she puts into preparing and managing this budget process.  She is truly a gift to this organization and the important work we do to help transform lives of the homeless of Pierce County.  In addition, thanks are in order to the Directors who worked hard to give us an accurate picture of their needs, challenges and dreams for their programs and staff.  Everybody came prepared and that made the process much easier than in years past. 

On the whole, here are some of the major issues which we will be presenting in our budget to the finance committee and board in the the month of June.

1.  We are budgeting create a new pay-band for our shift managers that would bring all staff members who make under $10 an hr. to above $10.  We will do this by adding $1 an hr. to those who fit this description.  This would mean that a shift manager who makes $9.75 an hr. would make $10.75 effectly July 1.  There are several employees who fit this criteria and this will be a large financial committment.

2.  We are committing to incrementally adding staff to our Women and Family Ministries in anticipation of the completion of Adams Sq..  This means that we are budgeting the addition of two positions in this department in the new budget.  

3.  We are creating a new Youth Ministries Dept. in which James Leet will be a Director.  Previously  our Youth Ministries was a subset of Tyler Sq. and the Family Shelter.  There will be increased program and equipment supplies for this new department.

4.  Need a Break Ministries will seek to increase support of Families living on the edge.  We have budgeted these funds so that we can help those families who need car, home repairs but because of the tough financial times could not otherwise do these projects – thus making it even harder them to get to work, interviews etc.  

5.  Benefits to staff are untouched in this budget and remain fully funded.  

6.  Physical improvements to facilities are various.  We have hopes of improving the exercise room in for New Life Program, replacing the playtoy and addition a half court basketball court to Tyler Sq., to name a few of the larger ticket items.  These are things we budget, but only spend once the money has been identified and positive budget trends for the fiscal year are clear. Thanks again for your help in making this happen.  If you have any questions let me know.  

David

Your Weekly Dose of Panic!!!!

  

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As a hard-core information junkie, I read, listen and browse a lot of news throughout my day.  Knowing what is going on is absolutely essential for me as the CEO of the Tacoma Rescue Mission.  What’s happening in the state legislature, economic markets, and larger social trends all affect the work we do here in one way or another.  I read two newspapers a day, The News Tribune and Wall Street Journal, and read numerous other articles on twitter and the internet.  In addition I watch some news programs like Charlie Rose.   

I say all that just to prove that I’m not someone who advocates putting your head in the sand and pretending that nothing is going on in the world around you.  Quite the opposite!  Everyone should make a habit of being connected and interested in the world around you.  Read, watch, and contribute to the daily battle around you. 

But this weeks coverage of the Swing Flu pandemic is yet another example of why you CANNOT allow your emotions to be controlled by media coverage of events.  I’ve seen normally rational people dive head-first into the deep end of the “panic” swimming pool after hearing the accumulative affect of the news media’s coverage of this illness.  

The number 1 product for sale today in the media is PANIC!!!!!  But it’s not just the Swing Flu, it’s the economy, bankers, drugs, crime, pop culture, you name it.  The world at large is driven by sensational stories and media and political leaders in particular seek to break through the clutter of news by whipping up more panic and being the first one to “own” the subject. 

The affect on people is a more pessimistic and negative approach to real problems.  Just when we should be thinking of solutions and possibilities we are knocked one peg lower by more bad news.  

Here’s the solution:  

1.  Be skeptical of “Doomsday” news.  News media sells ad space by leading with “worst ever” and “It’s all over” type stories.  Bad things do happen, but if you critical follow the media for long you’ll notice that “it’s all over” doesn’t mean it’s necessarily “all over”.  Things get better too, that just doesn’t make news.  

2.  Surround yourself with positive people.  It’s hard to have perspective when you are close to a problem so you need people around you who can help you see the upside and potential solutions to your challenges.  It won’t be hard to find negative people…they’re everywhere.  But you’ll have to work to find positive people.  Want a clue where to look?  Go to places where people are in action, doing great things.  Churches, Gyms, Community Centers, libraries, public markets, etc.  That’s why the Tacoma Rescue Mission is such a positive place…we’re actively trying to solve problems that are holding people back.

3.  Always look for the positive.  Guiding the Tacoma Rescue Mission, I see my share of Super-sized problems; homelessness, abuse, drug abuse, abusive parents, prostitution, etc.  Nevertheless, I can tell you that I’ve never seen a problem that could not be solved with faith, effort and the right people working toward a common goal.  Unfortunately, many people never even try to solve their problems, they just complain about them.  

You’ll never know if your problem can be solved if you just throw up your hands and give up.