Have you ever played the domino game 42?
Its a great game. If you like the card games of Spades or Hearts, you would love 42. Its all about bidding, catching tricks, or trying the set the other team's effort to make their bid.
42 is based on one point for every trick you catch (7) + the value of all the multiple of 5 dominoes you catch (3-2, 4-1, 5-0, 6-4, 5-5). If you catch all of those, the points add up to 35. So, 7 + 35 = 42.
In 42 sometimes you draw a hand that is a "lay down" hand. You have all the high trumps and the rest of the hand is doubles. There's no point in playing out the hand because you cannot be set. So, you just lay it down.
Lay down hands have "no offs." Offs are "weak" dominoes that you hope you can walk through on the last hand of the round.
If the logic of 42 escapes you, find one of your Aggie friends. They play 42 at the Dixie Chicken in College Station and keep score with chalk marks on the tables.
If the math of 42 escapes you, you may need remediation because even the Aggies get the math of 42.
I have been thinking for a while about albums in my collection that have no offs. You know how it is - you buy an album (yes an album is the correct term - even if its a CD or MP3 download. I know - I am old school.) You bought the album because there is a really good song or two, but the rest of album isn't so good ... it has lots of offs.
But every once in a while, you get an album that has no offs.
Here's my list of No Off Albums:
Guy Clark, Old Number One
Neil Young, Harvest
Leon Russell, Leon Russell
Elton John, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road actually deserves extra credit. Its a double album with no offs. If Elton was playing 42 with that album he would have bid "two marks" or 84. And he would have made it because Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is a "lay down hand" that has "no offs."
So, what are your no off albums? I'd like to know.
But, there are rules to the game: Live albums and greatest hit compilations are not eligible for the list.
So, review the hand of albums you have and make your bids!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
Bad Leadership - Part 2
In a previous post, I discussed the seven types of Bad Leadership that were identified by Barbara Kellerman.
She points out that in every case of bad leadership, followers played an important role. They either actively supported the leader’s behavior, or passively allowed it … and failed to confront.
There are several explanations for follower compliance in cases of Bad Leadership:
1. The follower’s values may actually be aligned with those of the leader. As with Jim Jones and the People’s Temple, these followers drank the Kool-Aid and cannot see the leader as “bad.” In fact, they become the most ardent supporters of the leader and actively seek to eliminate any who dissent.
2. The follower doesn’t have the courage to speak up. This is often due to having seen others who spoke up being berated or even dismissed. As I write this I am reminded of the quote: “All that is necessary for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing.”
3. The follower actually see’s the leader’s behavior as bad, but cannot afford to lose their position. In spite of the bad leadership, these followers are being compensated – through position, prestige, and income – in a way that they would not be in any other organization. They don’t stay because they want to; they stay because they have to.
I have had the privilege of having had several mentors. Early in my career, the founder and CEO of the company I was working for took me under his wing. One of the many lessons I learned from him was: “Don’t defend a bad job.”
The lesson had to do with defending shabby work – either my own or that of someone who worked for me. The basic lesson was this: own the problem. Don’t deny that it exists. Do whatever you can to fix it.
I think that’s a good lesson for followers: “Don’t defend a bad job.” Don’t deny problems with a leader’s behavior. Do what you can to help the leader.
I realize that this can be difficult. Often when a leader is derailing, he or she is not open to feedback and those who raise questions or attempt to confront the issues, are punished or dismissed.
Yet, to continue to support a derailing leader may require a follower to compromise their own integrity.
It’s a tough call, but: Abandon the mission before you abandon your integrity.
She points out that in every case of bad leadership, followers played an important role. They either actively supported the leader’s behavior, or passively allowed it … and failed to confront.
There are several explanations for follower compliance in cases of Bad Leadership:
1. The follower’s values may actually be aligned with those of the leader. As with Jim Jones and the People’s Temple, these followers drank the Kool-Aid and cannot see the leader as “bad.” In fact, they become the most ardent supporters of the leader and actively seek to eliminate any who dissent.
2. The follower doesn’t have the courage to speak up. This is often due to having seen others who spoke up being berated or even dismissed. As I write this I am reminded of the quote: “All that is necessary for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing.”
3. The follower actually see’s the leader’s behavior as bad, but cannot afford to lose their position. In spite of the bad leadership, these followers are being compensated – through position, prestige, and income – in a way that they would not be in any other organization. They don’t stay because they want to; they stay because they have to.
I have had the privilege of having had several mentors. Early in my career, the founder and CEO of the company I was working for took me under his wing. One of the many lessons I learned from him was: “Don’t defend a bad job.”
The lesson had to do with defending shabby work – either my own or that of someone who worked for me. The basic lesson was this: own the problem. Don’t deny that it exists. Do whatever you can to fix it.
I think that’s a good lesson for followers: “Don’t defend a bad job.” Don’t deny problems with a leader’s behavior. Do what you can to help the leader.
I realize that this can be difficult. Often when a leader is derailing, he or she is not open to feedback and those who raise questions or attempt to confront the issues, are punished or dismissed.
Yet, to continue to support a derailing leader may require a follower to compromise their own integrity.
It’s a tough call, but: Abandon the mission before you abandon your integrity.
Monday, July 5, 2010
The Benefits of Margin - Part 2
These days, the calendar has lots of open space. Scheduled appointments and meetings are few and far between. This works very well for a person who likes to be spontaneous, and having margin means you can respond quickly to opportunities.
Like a couple of weeks ago: My friend Mark emailed me that he was in town that day. The email came in around 9:00 and we had lunch that day.
That was actually the start of a great week. Tuesday I had coffee with an executive I am coaching. Then had lunch with Jon - one of the Sunday Men.
On Wednesday I spent the afternoon with two more executive coaching clients.
I had lunch with Justin on Thursday. That afternoon, I went to see Toy Story 3 with Laura, Jennifer, Shannon, Landrie & Karsyn (5 of the seven significant ladies in my life).
On Friday afternoon, I had another executive coaching session.
When the week began, I only had 2 things planned. By the end of the week, I'd had one of the best - and fullest - weeks I've had in a while.
There's a lesson here:
Margin provides freedom. But with that freedom comes the responsibility to use it wisely and invest in others.
I think I will call that the stewardship of margin.
Like a couple of weeks ago: My friend Mark emailed me that he was in town that day. The email came in around 9:00 and we had lunch that day.
That was actually the start of a great week. Tuesday I had coffee with an executive I am coaching. Then had lunch with Jon - one of the Sunday Men.
On Wednesday I spent the afternoon with two more executive coaching clients.
I had lunch with Justin on Thursday. That afternoon, I went to see Toy Story 3 with Laura, Jennifer, Shannon, Landrie & Karsyn (5 of the seven significant ladies in my life).
On Friday afternoon, I had another executive coaching session.
When the week began, I only had 2 things planned. By the end of the week, I'd had one of the best - and fullest - weeks I've had in a while.
There's a lesson here:
Margin provides freedom. But with that freedom comes the responsibility to use it wisely and invest in others.
I think I will call that the stewardship of margin.
Friday, July 2, 2010
The Benefits of Margin - Part 1
These days I have a lot of margin in my schedule. One of the benefits of this is that I am getting a lot of reading done.
I try to vary the reading so that it is balanced: History, Biography, Leadership, Theology, and some novels. Laura always gets concerned when I read with a pencil in my hand. She knows that it is not "light" reading when I underline and write in the margins.
I have also developed the habit of reading more than one book at a time. I have books I read in the morning during my "quiet time." (By the way - I don't like that phrase. Its way too churchy for me, but I don't know what else to call it. If you have suggestions for an alternate label, please let me know). I just finished another of the John MacArthur Old Testament studies - Losing the Promised Land. I am not sure what I will read next in this slot.
Then I have books I read when I am riding the bike at the gym. Yes, I do that - because I need something to keep my mind occupied for 45-60 minutes. The current gym book is What is God Really Like? It is edited by Craig Groeschel and contains several chapters written by pastors who participate in the One Prayer project.
Then I have books I read at night. I read myself a bedtime story. Right now, I am alternating between a novel: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and a biography: John Adams. These books are competing for my attention; the dragon tattoo has been winning the last few days.
After 25 years of being gainfully overemployed, having so much margin has required some adjustments on my part. I am finding a new normal in a schedule that is not packed wall-to-wall with meetings, presentations, and other events. Actually, this new normal fits my preference for non-structured and spontaneous living very well.
I am blessed to have margin.
I try to vary the reading so that it is balanced: History, Biography, Leadership, Theology, and some novels. Laura always gets concerned when I read with a pencil in my hand. She knows that it is not "light" reading when I underline and write in the margins.
I have also developed the habit of reading more than one book at a time. I have books I read in the morning during my "quiet time." (By the way - I don't like that phrase. Its way too churchy for me, but I don't know what else to call it. If you have suggestions for an alternate label, please let me know). I just finished another of the John MacArthur Old Testament studies - Losing the Promised Land. I am not sure what I will read next in this slot.
Then I have books I read when I am riding the bike at the gym. Yes, I do that - because I need something to keep my mind occupied for 45-60 minutes. The current gym book is What is God Really Like? It is edited by Craig Groeschel and contains several chapters written by pastors who participate in the One Prayer project.
Then I have books I read at night. I read myself a bedtime story. Right now, I am alternating between a novel: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and a biography: John Adams. These books are competing for my attention; the dragon tattoo has been winning the last few days.
After 25 years of being gainfully overemployed, having so much margin has required some adjustments on my part. I am finding a new normal in a schedule that is not packed wall-to-wall with meetings, presentations, and other events. Actually, this new normal fits my preference for non-structured and spontaneous living very well.
I am blessed to have margin.
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