Ho Ho Hello!

It SOUNDS like December out there. How can I tell? Radio stations playing constant Christmas tunes. Retailers shouting out sales. Revelers celebrating with holiday parties. The list goes on and on. This time of year, the noise can be deafening.

When did the holiday season become so hectic and harried? Has it always been this way or am I just more tuned in to all the noise this year? Why are we rushing and racing through this annual celebration? If your life is like mine, December is already becoming a blur of endless “to do” lists, buying to excess and missing entirely the real reason for the season. That said...I have decided that this year I'm making different plans.

This year I intend to seek out a very meaningful present for myself: The gift of quiet. Simple, elegant, and all too elusive quiet and for those of you who know me well I can just imagine your laughter right now because as you know quiet is something I am NOT famous for.

So what do I mean by the gift of quiet?

It means that starting today I am going to do my best to tune out some of December's noise and trade it in for time to reflect, remember, and rejoice. My drive time will be spent driving.....not listening to the radio or talking on the phone. My evenings will be spent without the intrusion of TV and instead, whenever possible, curled up with a good book. Rather than multi-tasking my way through the month, I am going to try and slow down, in order to find some quiet and create new family memories with the three best Christmas presents I could ever ask for: Scott, Chase and Nick.

As December makes its debut today, so do two projects near and dear to my heart: Lunchmeat & Life Lessons: Sharing a Butcher's Wisdom is now available in a collectors hard cover edition AND as a three cd audiobook. CLICK HERE to listen to an excerpt.

I'm grateful that so many of you nudged me in this direction, and I am very proud of the finished product. Please remember this BOOK  as a treasured gift for anyone on your list this year. And for yourself, as you look for something to inspire during YOUR quiet time!

May life’s simplest pleasures bring you abundant joys this season. And my heartfelt thanks for your support.

Mary B. Lucas, B.D.

Happy Thanksgiving!

So many things to be grateful for this holiday season and for me... topping the list... the renewed health and well being of my "baby" boy and the fact that we are HOME for the holidays!

I am sorry that I have been so MIA here on the Butcher Block Exchange of late. It has been a long road to recovery with many bumps along the way and as you can imagine piles upon piles to dig out from under post hospital stay.

That said... I am thrilled to be back here with you today once again sharing some food for thought and inspiration about the attitude of gratitude as we head into the holiday season.

First up from Ralph Waldo Emerson.

For each new morning with its light,


For rest and shelter of the night,


For health and food, for love and friends,


For everything Thy goodness sends.


~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Followed by two thoughts that brought it all home for me today...

We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude. ~Cynthia Ozick

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. ~William Arthur Ward

Last but not least I will close out with a bit of the Butcher's Wisdom and my appreciation to each of YOU for sharing this special space and place with me as we work together to find ways to grace each day with thanks.

This BlogSpot is Dedicated to Nick

I know I have been pretty invisible of late and I wish I could say it has been for reasons that I wanted to share and write about but that is not the case.

My youngest son Nick has been very ill recently and has been in the hospital for the past 10 days now and although his caregivers are great this has NOT been a fun experience and has been pretty rough on all of us.

To be honest over the past few days it has been especially difficult (as a result of some unexpected setbacks keeping us here longer than expected) and we have had to fight to keep our spirits up.

That said... we do realize that we are very lucky compared to many around us because we KNOW that Nick WILL be just fine overtime and stronger on the other side of this and that's what we try our best to focus on.

Reminds me of an old Indian tale my friend Betsy sent me awhile back that I have read and re-read about 1,000 times over the past 10 days.

So the story goes:

An elder Apache was talking to his grandchildren about life.

He told them, "A fight is going on inside me. It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One wolf represents fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, prejudice, lies, false pride, compliance, superiority, and ego."

"The other stands for joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, serenity, humility, kindness, friendship, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith."

He explained this same fight is going on inside of you, and inside every other person.

They thought about it for a minute, and then one child asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?

The wise old grandfather replied, "The one you feed."

Many thanks to Betsy for sharing this story with me, it has been an incredible source of inspiration of late. Whenever one of us starts to head down the pity-party path our new get back on track line of late has been...

"OK... so which wolf are you feeding now?"

In closing... I am asking for your prayers and positive energy again today as we so hope to get out of the hospital in time to "Howl at the Moon" from HOME tonight!

In the meantime sharing this post as my long over due food for thought and inspiration and asking all you readers...

"Which wolf are YOU feeding now?"

Forget the Power of TEN I am declaring today NO TEN TUESDAY!

That said… I do hope you had a Happy 10-10-10 this past Sunday.

Me? Not so much… my memories of 10-10-10 seem to be full of regret. Regret that I missed out on a once in a lifetime opportunity to harness the “Power of TEN”.

I mean how cool would it have been to post a blog spot at 10:10 pm on 10-10-10? Why didn’t I think ahead? Why didn’t l plan for that? Prepare for that? What a colossal miss right?

Another “shoulda, woulda, coulda” moment to add to my Top Ten list. I just can’t ever seem to get it right when it comes to that magic number TEN!

What is it about the number TEN anyway that makes me feel like that? That Bo Derek PERFECT TEN mentality that I can never and will never quite measure up.

I don’t know about you but I somehow always find myself falling short of that PERFECT TEN whenever I allow myself to rate myself. I always seem to focus on my flaws… as confident as I think I am the majority of the time it seems like that “NEVER a TEN” mindset sneaks in to undermine any positive feelings I allow myself to have about myself most of the time.

Well, at 52 and counting today I say NO MORE! Forget the POWER OF TEN… today I say EIGHT IS GREAT and SO IS TWO my new motto is just CELEBRATE THE NUMBER THAT BEST DESCRIBES YOU!

I am declaring TODAY my first ever NO TEN TUESDAY!

TODAY I am NOT going to allow myself the space and place to focus on my flaws… instead I am going to celebrate my STRENGTHS! I am going to “Bring out the Best” as my Dad would say.

Dad would often share his thought that "Being the BEST is all about bringing out the BEST in yourself and others"... the key message here is that it all starts with YOU!

I was reminded of this recently as a result of a homework assignment (I am not sure I have ever shared this with you all before but I am currently working on my Masters in Human and Organizational development at the Fielding School of Graduate Studies).

As part of my Masters program I was asked to take the “VIA Survey of Character Strengths” assessment that "Measures 24 Character Strengths" (it is free and available under "Engagement Questionnaires" at the University of Pennsylvania's Authentic Happiness Website: CLICK HERE and today on NO TEN TUESDAY I am sharing a summary of my TOP FIVE “Signature Strengths” with you.


No surprises here… proof positive for all of you that know me well that I actually AM as FUNNY as I THINK I AM!

So what are YOU BEST at? Need some help reminding yourself?

Go ahead… TAKE THE TEST & CELEBRATE YOUR BEST or just ask your Best Bud what it is they love most about YOU!

No matter what you choose to do I suggest that on this NO TEN TUESDAY… however you define it… that you take some time to CELEBRATE all that is BEST about YOU!

Cheers!

“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts."

- Marcus Aurelius
Roman emperor, best known for his Meditations on Stoic philosophy, AD 121-180

The weather here is starting to change yet the zinnias’ in my garden are still so brilliant with color I just had to share.






As human beings, we exude color each day, too.

We instinctively respond to the colors our eyes -- and mind -- perceive.



You're familiar with people feeling "blue" when they are down. Or they see "red" when they are angry. When the sun never quite shines, we think it's a "gray" day. When someone is jealous, they are "green" with envy.

Color, without our realizing it, can have a profound effect on how we feel both mentally and physically. Here are some examples:

• Blue means peace, tranquility, trust, loyalty.

• Green suggests environment, health, youth, luck.

• Purple represents royalty, spirituality, wisdom... and because I'm a K-State grad, it also means WILDCATS!

• Red is the color we pay most attention to. It is the warmest and most energetic color in the spectrum. Red is love, speed, celebration and strength. Personally… it reminds me of all things that come from the HEART.

Remember, life happens to each of us in color. How we respond to that is the measure of our character.

So with that in mind... what color is your Tuesday?

Monday


Exhausted after a hectic holiday weekend I drive my son Chase back to school and turn around to rush back home.


About an hour and a half outside of Kansas City I find myself too sleepy to drive another minute and check in to the Holiday Inn in Boonville Missouri.

Half hour later I am sound asleep.


Tuesday


After a good night’s sleep and a stolen morning away from everything and everyone but my latest favorite book on tape I arrive home and open my mail only to find a card sent from my sister Jane two days earlier that reads...


It was a moment.


Wednesday


An email shows up in my inbox alerting me to a question posted on the LinkedIn Butcher Block Exchange group.


A member has posed the question:

"My father was a big influence in my early years. What tips do you have about being a modern day father?"

I post the following response...

I have been touched by comments I hear from so many Dad's that I have been privileged to meet as a result of the book I wrote about MY Dad.

The story that came to mind when you asked this question however... was about the Father who came up to me after a speech I did in Vegas about my Dad.

With tears in his eyes he walked up to me and said... "thank you for speaking today... I have to admit however I really didn't listen much at all I was so distracted. You see... this is the first time I've left my 8 week old baby girl and all I could think about as you were speaking was... how can I be the kind of Father to MY Daughter that your Father was for you? I really want my Daughter to love and respect me that much as well... thank you."

I replied... "If that is all you could think about... I don't think you will have any trouble."

It was a moment.

Thursday

I am crazed with work work (paying job -consulting & coaching) and yet the book work (Lunchmeat Legion philanthropy & social media stuff) is consuming me.

On the way to a speaking engagement my friend Betsy calls and reminds me that I have not posted anything on my blog since that last "Jack is Back" message. I tell her that I have not had the time to write anything substantial or meaningful.


She comments that the ..."best blogs are not novelettes... they are bathed in brevity" ... "just write about moments" she suggests.


Now... I have never used the word brevity in a sentence... just for the heck of it I decide to look it up on dictionary.com.

Brevity - the quality of expressing much in few words

I laugh out loud... brevity... there is not a brevity bone in my body... never has been.

In fact... "Mary -one sentence too many- Lucas" is how friends and foe might refer to me... the first lovingly, the second, not so much.


It was a moment.


Friday


I bookmark the to do of writing a brevity based blog post about moments and bury myself in the back log of work work work waiting for me.


Saturday


I blow off writing a brevity based blog post about moments -Day 2 and go back to the "pull over" mental mindset and I play on a gorgeous September Kansas day.


A day filled with moments.


Sunday


I blow off writing my brevity based blog post yet again and finish the book on tape I started on my Monday drive.


Favorite moment in the book?


Antonia says to her Mother... "You are so beautiful" and her Mother replies...


"Life is Beautiful... some people just remind us of that more often than others".


It was a moment.


I am now inspired to write my blog post and share this favorite quote along with my thanks to my sister Jane, the Dad from the speech in Vegas and my friend Betsy for reminding me to "pull over" from time to time and cherish the moments.




Cheers!




P.S. By the way... in case you are wondering I do realize I still have a lot of brevity work to do!

My Boomerang Moment 

You know what they say..."Spring Forward-Fall Back." Well, that’s exactly where I am headed with this Autumn BlogSpot... back.

I thought I would share one of my favorite Lunchmeat moments of late and tell you all about an amazing thing that has happened in my life. Jack is Back!

The back story to what I'm leading up to may ring a bell. It's Chapter Nine -- or the "Jack Story" as so many of my readers call it. In fact, click here to listen to an audio excerpt:

http://maryblucas.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=94&Itemid=81

So, I sent myself flowers -- and sent the bill to Jack -- back in 1989. Over 20 years ago. Flash forward to 2010 and what do I get in an email last month? A message from Jack. Read over my shoulder here......

Mary,


I sat down and read your book in one sitting and I really enjoyed it. You could tell the life lessons came from your heart and the admiration you had for your father was quite clear. Anyone who grew up in a close family could relate to the connection you had with both your Mom and Dad.


I also came away from the book with two really strong feelings. The first is something I know you know but hearing it from a distant contact will reinforce that awareness. You really did live and practice what you write about in the book. When I reflect on how you handled different situations, it is crystal clear that you absolutely "practiced what you preach" so if you ever need a testimonial as to whether “Lunchmeat & Life Lessons” worked for you, I'm your man!


The second feeling that kept coming back to me, mainly because of my personal experiences early in my career, is the power of culture. The strong culture that existed within your family and how those experiences played a role in formulating the culture that you helped create at work permeates the book. It is critical to the success of a company that its culture is endorsed by everyone. Your life lessons were embraced by your team and co-workers, you embraced others philosophies and collectively created the company culture. As I witnessed that collective culture, was a key to the success of the company.


A “Life Lesson” for anyone joining a company, or becoming part of one as the result of an acquisition, is to understand and embrace the existing culture. Even if you have been charged with change, that change has a better chance of being successful if you first appreciate what already exists. I learned that the hard way early in my career. As a result of that life lesson, I devoted an enormous amount of energy to creating a strong positive culture and one that is also receptive to new concepts later in my career. I do not believe I would have ever realized the importance understanding and accepting a culture before trying to change it if it had not been for those earlier years. Your book confirmed those beliefs for me. Great job on the book, congratulations on a wonderful second career.


Sincerely, Jack

You could have knocked me over with a feather! What a gift! I was so grateful for his kind words and thoughtful observations. I even asked him if I could share his message with all of you and his response was an immediate “Yes”. I have to say I was blown away... I hadn’t seen or heard from Jack in almost two decades and frankly, never really thought our paths would cross again. But through the power of this little book, "Lunchmeat & Life Lessons: Sharing a Butcher's Wisdom," Jack has returned like a boomerang and landed right back in my life teaching me another life lesson or two.

So what can this "Boomerang Moment" mean for you? Two words: Lasting Impact.

Think of the impact you have on other people each day. Think of the personal responsibility you have in bringing your very best self to those around you. In the workplace. At home. In school. As neighbors. In your own communities. To those less fortunate. To those who seldom glimpse the goodness in others.

Do you present your values to the world proudly, even memorably? Do your actions inspire others to do the same? Do you bring your A Game of honesty, integrity, kindness and generosity in all you do?

That's lasting impact. And I don’t know about you... but Jack sure reminded me with his message that I still have a lot of work to do. I think maybe after all these years that's really the greatest gift Jack could ever send me.....way better than flowers: A reminder that during our time together I lived and practiced the very special life lessons that my father taught me. Even 20 plus years later, he remembers ... so I'll never forget.

As my Dad always said:

Thanks for reading, and may you welcome your own returning boomerang soon!

Today’s food for thought and inspiration validates the power of having FUN at Work!

This week I picked up the book A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink.

Now I admit I am only on Chapter Six of Nine but I will tell you that Pink “had me at hello” when I read the premise for this work.

In the book Pink details his views that in the future:

There are six essential aptitudes—“the six senses”— on which professional success and personal satisfaction increasingly will depend: Design, Story, Symphony, Empathy, Play and Meaning.

He then goes on to share that:

The capabilities we once disdained or thought frivolous — the “right brain” qualities of inventiveness, empathy, joyfulness and meaning — increasingly will determine who flourishes and who flounders.

For individuals, families and organizations, professional success and personal fulfillment now require a whole new mind.

Hmmm… I thought to myself, as I nodded in agreement while reading on a flight to Atlanta, the capabilities detailed above did not feel all that “new” to me. I reluctantly put the book aside once I landed and went about the business of doing business at my client meetings. All went well as we finished the day and prepared to head to dinner.

Now, I must admit, I had been looking forward to this particular business trip for some time and it wasn’t just because of the project my consulting firm was taking on.

I was also looking forward to reconnecting with a number of my favorite former colleagues from Spherion who all lived in or were visiting the Atlanta area at the same time at both a dinner on Thursday night…


…. as well as a breakfast gathering on Friday morning …


Laughter was abundant during our time together as we told stories and shared memories of all the FUN we all had working together. As I flew home Friday afternoon I found myself laughing at the thought of something someone said or did while we were together and the memories that were still so special and magical for me.

I also couldn’t help but think of all the special friends I worked with and shared a laugh with over the years who were not in attendance and who, I am certain, would have added to the FUN if they HAD been able to attend and then I picked up my book and hit Chapter Three.

In Chapter Three Pink shares thoughts courtesy of Daniel Goleman, the author of the groundbreaking book Emotional Intelligence that:

… more important than a leaders IQ as a determination of his/her success is his/her EQ (Emotional Intelligence) partially defined as “high-touch abilities” like “imagination, joyfulness, and social dexterity”.

In fact Pink goes on to reference a study regarding effective leadership by Goleman and the Hay Group that found that:

… within organizations the most effective leaders were funny (that is funny ha-ha, not funny strange). These leaders had their charges laughing three times more often than their managerial counterparts.

“Nothing NEW about this for me...” I thought to myself as I remembered those I had just left behind as we celebrated the good times we shared together but GREAT validation that one of my favorite bits of Butcher’s Wisdom…


… was as on the money today as it was in those early years of my career.

I do know however that I have my work cut out for me as an Executive Coach and Organizational Development Consultant because I will tell you that leaders who encourage laughter at work are not as abundant as what I had come to know growing up in the staffing industry or “the people business” as my Dad would always call it.

Many thanks to Daniel Pink and his book A Whole New Mind for reminding me that no matter where you lead you are leading people and as a result we are ALL in the people business… and people my friends… love to laugh… I know I sure do.

To all my Spherion friends attending this past weeks gatherings and those who were only there in my heart… looks like we were ahead of our time not only in the way we led… but the way we LAUGHED!

Cheers!

Mary

On this Sunday Eve as so many of us prepare to send our "babies" Back to School I share the following food for thought courtesy of my friend Jane.

Last year just before my first born son Chase went off to college I struggled with finding the words to express all the feelings I had about our "last summer" together and the emotional rollercoaster ride I was on as a result of his eminent College "send off". I honestly had no idea how I would cope after he was gone.

Jane listened to me for a bit nodding knowingly as she had been there two times before me and she assured me that everything was indeed going to be ok. She shared her thoughts that as hard as it was to send her first born son Jack off to USC the son who returned to her that following summer was better for having gone, as was she.

"You will be fine" she said "and more importantly so will he" and when we left each other she gave me a hug and a CD that she said helped her put her feelings at that time into perspective.
I remember driving home from our lunch together listening to the CD thinking that I was not quite sure I would ever be "fine" again as she suggested but I knew that I had found a kindred spirit in Donna the Mother I met that day courtesy of Jane & NPR.

If you too would like to meet her and her son Charlie click on the following link: NPR "Back to School" Radio Program  .

Now... one year later as I prepare to send my oldest off for year two at Mizzou and my baby boy off to his last year in high school I can honestly say she was right.

I know that doesn't make it any easier for all of those I spoke with this week where I played the part of the seasoned survivor to so many of my friends and relatives who shared a tear or two as they prepared themselves for college, high school and even kindergarten "send offs".

I dedicate this "Back to School" Blog Spot to all of you as well as my assurance that eventually you too will be "just fine" and so will your "babies".

The First Day Of School

I

My child and I hold hands on the way to school,

And when I leave him at the first-grade door

He cries a little but is brave; he does

Let go. My selfish tears remind me how

I cried before that door a life ago.

I may have had a hard time letting go.

Each fall the children must endure together

What every child also endures alone:

Learning the alphabet, the integers,

Three dozen bits and pieces of a stuff

So arbitrary, so peremptory,

That worlds invisible and visible

Bow down before it, as in Joseph's dream

The sheaves bowed down and then the stars bowed down

Before the dreaming of a little boy.

That dream got him such hatred of his brothers

As cost the greater part of life to mend,

And yet great kindness came of it in the end.


II

A school is where they grind the grain of thought,

And grind the children who must mind the thought.

It may be those two grindings are but one,

As from the alphabet come Shakespeare's Plays,

As from the integers comes Euler's Law,

As from the whole, inseparably, the lives,

The shrunken lives that have not been set free

By law or by poetic phantasy.

But may they be. My child has disappeared

Behind the schoolroom door. And should I live

To see his coming forth, a life away,

I know my hope, but do not know its form

Nor hope to know it. May the fathers he finds

Among his teachers have a care of him

More than his father could. How that will look

I do not know, I do not need to know.

Even our tears belong to ritual.

But may great kindness come of it in the end.

                                 - by Howard Nemerov

Just got back from a Colorado get away... so BEAUTIFUL and cool compared to KC where from what I understand it has been 100 degrees plus all week. What a great escape!

Scott and I had the BEST time rafting on the Arkansas River with the boys and one of their best pals Jackson...

Nick, Jackson, Me, Scott & Chase

... and then to add to the fun on the way home I did a speech yesterday in Manhattan Kansas at Kansas State University (my under graduate alma mater).

I still can't believe that 30 years after my "graduation" from KSU I was back on campus sharing stories of the type of work ethic and wisdom I learned to appreciate while growing up watching my favorite teacher, my Father the Butcher, and the example he set for our family that ...


After all the headlines this week about what an "inspiration" an unhappy, spoiled, cranky and "overworked" flight attendant has become to many because he blew off his job, his employers and his customers I felt the need to share a story of our new pal Angel (pronounced AHN-hell).

For me... the Butcher's Daughter... Angel is living proof that GREAT people working hard each and every day making positive choices and treating their customers with humor, dignity and respect when they "act out" is where true inspiration comes from.

People often share their thoughts with me that the kind of work ethic and customer service attitude I learned from my Dad is dead... "Those were the good old days" they say. "Not so" I often reply and share stories of workforce heroes I see in action all the time... from David Vogt my trash man and "the happiest man I know" to my Pals at the UPS Store who ship my books out for me at a moment’s notice with no complaints. This ... I think we should all celebrate the REAL WORKFORCE HEROES when we see them.

That is why TODAY I ask you to join me in CELEBRATING Angel for the kind of leadership example he sets each and every day!

We met Angel at breakfast in our hotel the first morning of our get away and his smile and welcoming manner caught my attention straight away. The fact that he responded with concern then laughter after an embarrassed Nick had a bit of a choking episode when his chocolate milk went down the wrong way and Angel ended up sprayed with the brown liquid all over his clothes he sealed the deal that he was one of my new workforce heroes.

Oh but the story does not end there... the following morning when we came down for breakfast he welcomed us back and smiled at Nick while asking "Can I get you a big glass of chocolate milk this morning?" and we all laughed out loud.

BUT the REAL lesson Angel taught us all did not come from our breakfast interactions at our hotel. The real learning came from our chance meeting at dinner our last night in town.

While walking to our table at a beautiful Italian Restaurant in Avon we were all surprised and delighted when Angel walked up to our table and announced himself as our waiter for the evening. We all laughed when he asked for our drink orders and looked straight at Nick.

"What fun that you are here Angel" I commented "but when do you have time for you?" I asked. "You must be very busy working two jobs" I added.

"Oh no maam," he replied "I work THREE jobs... when I leave the hotel I go straight to my job cleaning a dentist's office before I come here to serve the dinner crowd." He then went on to share, "It's expensive living here in this beautiful place and I need to work the three jobs to keep up but I don't mind it's fun meeting people like all of you and I really enjoy the work I do and so appreciate the opportunity to live where I live."


OK... after that last exchange I have to admit I thought that Angel really was an angel sent here to help me teach my boys that the "good old-fashioned work ethic and attitude" that I talk about so often really isn't a thing of the past and that we can all learn from the examples surrounding us each and every day.

So... here's to Angel and David and my UPS Pals THANK YOU all for teaching us by your example and to all of us fortunate enough to come in to contact with these WORKFORCE HEROES let's remember Dad's advice that we should always try to...

Phoebe and Mac and I-Contact?

So... who are Phoebe and Mac you may ask and what do I mean by "I-Contact"?

Phoebe & Mac are both students getting ready to head back to school after working as interns for the "Butcher Block Exchange Social Media Summer Project" and at the age of 18 they have taught me some powerful lessons about myself and how I can and should redefine my personal definition of "I-Contact" in order to stay current in the world I live in and work in today.

Let me explain... In 2007 I wrote the article below that was published in the Kansas City Star business section titled "How to Make I-Contact".

Making Business Personal: How to Make I-Contact

By Mary Bichelmeyer Lucas

Current Day: Companies continue to “drill down” and “defrag” to find business solutions. This is an era where we talk “offline” and dine “al desko” when pressed for time at work. Here’s another overly used, contemporary phrase to sum it all up: Get real already.

1946: The year John Bichelmeyer opened the doors to his Kansas City, KS meat market and began showing the business world how to do things the right way. He never wrote a best seller or earned his MBA, but for the next six decades, this butcher served as a timeless example of what works – and what doesn’t – in business.

His common sense philosophies remain a blueprint for success even in today’s more complex business economy. Though he’s gone now, this man’s simple approach and quietly elegant advice resonates across all segments of industry.

Let’s take stock of what’s really important in business, something John Bichelmeyer understood intuitively:

People do business with people. People do not do business with PCs, phone systems, or email.

Companies are not “things.” Companies are people working toward a shared goal. That my friends makes business very, very personal.

Yet somehow business forgets that critical point when it insists on “streamlining” or “seeking efficiencies” in acquiring more workplace techno-gizmos. Business intentionally places obstacles in the way of engaging one-on-one with other people – with each other in the workplace, and with their next customer! Why?

American business has become a culture of workers hiding behind computer desks and automated telecom attendants. Even the sales function, typified by one-on-one buyer and seller interaction, has morphed the process into the push of a keypad. Cars, books, vacations – you name it. Just click here and the item is added to your computerized shopping cart for checkout.

People frequently speak of “the good old days.” What was so different back then? Chances are, the good old days equates to specific interactions with people. When a handshake was as good as a signed contract. When the milkman came to the back door on Thursdays. When the school bus driver knew your name and that you lived in the blue house second from the corner. When your dad’s boss came home for dinner and your mom pulled out the “good” dishes. When you “charged” something at the local butcher shop, and John Bichelmeyer knew you’d be in to pay the bill at the end of the month.

Where did those frequent human “touch points” go? Why did we stop interacting with each other? Who will lead the parade in the other direction?

Business can -- and should. Here’s how:

Companies must learn to re-engage with people, both their own internal human resources and their external customers. Organizations must learn to balance human processes with technology tools in order to fill the widening chasm of depersonalization. Good old common sense must stand alongside marketplace efficiency tools to create opportunities and resolve problems.

Seldom does a computer report solve an operations problem with quite the sensitivity of a live person. Conversations with a desktop virtual assistant are almost always one-sided. And rarely does a laptop smile and say thank you when wrapping up a good day’s work.

What’s missing, of course, is the human connection. People energy.

John Bichelmeyer, the Kansas City, KS butcher, understood this all along, which is why his butcher shop thrived. Third generation customers still shop there today because he placed high value in other people. His trade was meat cutting, but his real gift was his people skills.

True company assets are human beings. Let’s bring “I-contact” back to the workplace.

 

Note to self: "I need to "Get real already".

Although I still stand firm in my belief that "human connection" and can never be completely replaced by social networking I now realize that there IS a lot of "people energy" created virtually and that the parade IS being lead in a direction where there IS great value and that if I don't join in this parade it may just pass me by!

This summer thanks to Phoebe & Mac I learned a thing or two that helped me combine the old world and the new and answer my own questions... "Where did those frequent human 'touch points' go? Why did we stop interacting with each other? Who will lead the parade in the other direction?"

So... where did those 'touch points' go?

Well, thanks to my brilliant summer interns below are a few of the 'virtual touch points' I am now involved in all focused on showing the world that there are still plenty of people out there that believe in the power of positive messaging.

1. BLOG: The Butcher Block Exchange. This blog is meant to continue the legacy left by my Dad, John Bichelmeyer, the inspiration for Lunchmeat and Life Lessons. Check the blog often at http://thebutcherblockexchange.blogspot.com/ for inspirational and thought-provoking entries and when you do please sign up as a "Follower" on the bottom right!

2. FACEBOOK: If you are into Facebook the page for The Butcher Block Exchange, can found at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/The-Butcher-Block-Exchange/113639718682917?ref=ts A continuation of the blog on Facebook. Please click on "Like" it!

3. LINKED IN: If you are already on LinkedIn look up the Group “The Butcher Block Exchange” http://www.linkedin.com/groups?mostPopular=&gid=3160792 and click on “Join Group” to follow the fun!

When we kicked off this project our collective goal was to have a documented following built at each of these channels by the end of the summer interested in sharing in an exchange of positive “Food for Thought & Inspiration”.

So how did we do?

Well... at the risk of tooting my own horn I’d say that thanks to all of you reading this and most of all to Phoebe & Mac although I am not quite ready to LEAD the social media parade (still not tweeting) I have figured out some ways to virtually bring back the "I-Contact".

Cheers!

P.S. Pheebs & Mac this bit of Butcher’s Wisdom is dedicated to you... once again THANK YOU!

Hi all... Remember me? Well, I am BACK!

I can’t believe it is the FIRST week in August and I have been MIA on all social media since mid July!!

Just when I thought I had the blogging, facing, linking and tweeting down I got thrown a curve ball and I found myself living in a world overtaken by ER, CTI, EKG and ICU type medical abbreviations... far from all the social media fun & frenzy!

All is much better now… diagnosis… my 17 year old 6 foot 5 and growing baby boy experienced a spontaneous pneumothorax (collapsed lung) and I (his mother) experienced an enormous sense of gratitude post healing and hospital stay and now I am finally finding myself ready to get back in to the swing of things.

To be honest I really could of (and should of) been back in the game before now but for some reason (maybe it was my attitude of gratitude) I find myself focusing on everything BUT the blogging, facing, linking and tweeting lately... almost like I have been playing the part of Ferris Bueller in my own life (remember Ferris Bueller?) !

"Bueller?? Bueller?? Anybody... Bueller?? Bueller??"

Well, as my Dad would say when you get off track don't waste time making excuses, best thing you can do to get back on track is to:



So with this posting I am doing just that... I am raising my hand (and my glass since I am of age now) and announcing to all that Bueller might not be back on the block but I sure am and I am looking forward to sharing some more food for thought and inspiration with all of you in the very near future!


Cheers!

Whew… it has been one crazy week!

In fact since this past Monday I feel like my life has been playing out in front of me like a double feature of sorts… Planes Trains and Automobiles meets Four Weddings and a Funeral.

Between travel for speeches & consulting work and happy & sad personal celebrations (weddings & funerals) my recent schedule has been full & frenzied with little free time to fan the flames of Facebook, Blogs, Links or Tweets.

When I finally sat down tonight to do some bookwork and total the donations I had collected for the John & Mary Bichelmeyer Tribute Site this week I realized that while I had been focused on going from moment to moment of late the moments had been adding up to a milestone that is pretty great and frankly worth bragging or at least blogging about!

Drum roll please…… WE DID IT!

We hit the $10K Donation mark at the www.HeartsWeLeaveBehind.com John & Mary Bichelmeyer American Heart Association Tribute Site!!!

We set the goal on the day we launched the site November 9, 2009 (my Mom’s Birthday) and we hit it on the anniversary of my Dad’s Birthday… July 18, 2010!

As tired as I am right now I am not sure what to make of all of this… I just know that I am going to bed tonight bursting with pride and gratitude to all who have helped me keep my parents legacy alive in such a heartfelt and meaningful way.

What a gift!

Once again… THANK YOU to all for visiting this site and Happy Birthday Dad!!

Always the Butcher’s Daughter…

Mary B. Lucas, B.D.

Mid-Week Food for Thought & Inspiration!

While flying Southwest Airlines this afternoon I picked up the July issue of the in-flight magazine Spirit and found a quote in an article that I wanted to share.

In the magazines "Advisory" section "kindred spirit Richard Wiseman" the author of the book 59 Seconds was quoted and credited for "distilling dozens of simple, practical tips that one can apply in a minute or less". These "scientifically proven methods" the article went on to say are "designed to fit anywhere on your calendar".

So on this particular Wednesday aka "Hump Day" I decided to share the following excerpt that made me SMILE and hopefully will have the same effect on you.

"In a classic study, researchers asked one group of people to furrow their brows while another group adopted a slight grin. These simple acts of facial contortion had a surprisingly significant effect on mood. The group that smiled reported feeling happier than the people who frowned. The study proved that people don’t just smile when they feel happy, but also feel happy because they smile".

So there you have it... the thought for the day... Say Cheese Please!



Clipart Courtesy of: clipart-for-free.blogspot.com/2008/08/smiley-...

Don’t Forget the Comeback Sauce!

I got a message from an old friend and colleague yesterday (just to clarify… our friendship is old she is not) sharing a story about a not so great customer service experience she had recently.

In her message she said…

I was thinking of you the other day and wished for a printed recipe card for your "Comeback Sauce".

I was at the tire dealer seeking a tire for our trailer. Side note - we are going to NJ to pick up some of the last items from my Dad's estate and thought a spare would be a good idea. Well one guy behind the counter was helping someone and the other counter person was on the phone looking for tires from another dealer or ??.

No problem they are busy and I am happy to wait. I'm patiently waiting and the phone guy hangs up, but he doesn't acknowledge me and proceeds to make a few more calls. Now I can understand if he said I'll be with you in a moment or how can I help or something before he proceeds to get back on phone.

At that point I felt like I had on my invisible cape, of course borrowed from Harry Potter. After another 5 minutes of being invisible I just left. Needless to say I won't be back at that place of business.

After the wonderful years of working with you, I thought boy they need some Comeback Sauce and wouldn't it be fun to leave them a recipe card!

Those words of wisdom continue ...

Do you think they would get it?

How many times have you wanted to do that?"

Now… I know that I have been adamant about the fact that The Butcher Block Exchange is a place to share inspirational food for thought and you might be asking yourself what is inspirational about sharing a not so great service story like this one?

Well… the inspiration for me came a result of noodling on her experience while drafting a response to her questions.

Below is a copy of my detailed reply for your consideration and consumption.

Hi there…

Hmmm… your message IS interesting Food for Thought!

The first thought I had after reading your post was… my Dad would be so proud that you are quoting him!

Next thought… I am sorry you had such a frustrating service experience… unfortunately these days I am finding that you are not alone and yes I have felt the same way many times.

I actually have had numerous Lunchmeat & Life Lessons readers ask what "a recipe for Comeback Sauce” might look like and as a result I put one together that I often share when speaking about the book.

So… here goes… the recipe for Comeback Sauce is:

Comeback Sauce Recipe

1. One Part Recognition
2. One Part Connection
3. Add a Dose of the Unexpected
4. Pour on Liberally & Often

If you would like to know a few more secrets behind the sauce you can check out the YouTube link below:

http://www.youtube.com/maryblucas#p/u/7/sKOcFOTfJmg

Can you just imagine the difference in the interaction you had if the people you mentioned would have followed the recipe above?

Instead of the frustrating experience you detailed in your message I am thinking your exchange might have played out more like this?

ONE PART RECOGNITION:

You walked in to the dealership and the employee on the phone looks up at you acknowledging that you entered the room and he smiles at you holding up his finger and mouths the words “I will be right with you… hang in there with me ok?” and gestures for you to take a seat.

The other guy helping the customer smiles as well and says “thanks for coming in” and something like “I am with a customer just now so Joe here will be with you shortly”.

ONE PART CONNECTION:

While waiting for the “phone guy” to end his conversation you look around the dealership and you continue to be acknowledged while he is winding up the phone call with eye contact, a nod, a smile and some gesture like “hang in there I am winding up the conversation right now”.

The other guy continues to work with his customer and keeps looking over his shoulder to make sure you are ok. “Phone guy” finishes the call with some comment like… “Thank’s for calling I promise we will take good care of you when you come in so I hope to see you soon” and you get a good feeling about him from the interaction you just over heard. He hangs up the phone stands up and walks over to greet you warmly with another smile and an extended hand and says “Thank you for waiting on me now I can totally focus on YOU. So what brings you to our dealership and how can I help you?”

ADD A DOSE OF THE UNEXPECTED:

You share your concerns about the car with him and during that exchange you mention that you are heading to New Jersey to finish packing up your Father’s estate… he asks about your Father’s passing and expresses his genuine sympathy and concern for your loss. He then proceeds to help you with your spare tire question and the wait is a distant memory as the warmth of the exchange has melted Harry Potter’s invisible cape and the last thing you feel at the moment is invisible.

WHY? Because “phone guy” and “the other guy” already know the recipe for “Comeback Sauce” and have obviously been pouring it on their customers for years! That is why the place is so busy!

Thanks again for sharing your comments and questions. Oh and as far as your last question “Do you think they would get it?”

My answer is NO… I don’t they would and I don’t think I would waste my time giving the recipe out to people like the “phone guy” and his co-worker.

In an example like the one you described I think I would have just walked away as well smiling and waving on my way out mouthing something like… “seems like you are really busy and I am sorry we could not connect... have a great day” and leave it at that.

I have found that the people who don’t have an appetite or aptitude to mix up a batch of Comeback Sauce are pretty easy to spot and I think that handing them a recipe card would just be wasteful. We both know where it would end up.

I do however think that this not so secret recipe should be shared with people that already have an appetite for it and by sharing it with them it may even inspire them to pour on more.

So... here is my inspirational thought for the day… thanks to my friend Roberta's suggestion.

What if we all made up recipe cards and carried them around with us and anytime someone poured Comeback Sauce on us we could leave them a card as a sign of our appreciation? One side of the card could have the recipe printed on it and the other a note reading something like this:

Date: (Fill in)
Location: (Fill in)

Dear --------- (Write in name),

Thanks for treating me so well today, because of you I had a great experience here at -----.

Rest assured I will be back the very next chance I get and I will tell others about how great you are to work with as well!

Again Thank YOU… you are just exceptional at what you do and I thought you should know that!

All the BEST!

Signature (Fill in)

You know... we might just be on to something here... by leaving these Comeback Sauce cards for worthy recipients we would actually be pouring Comeback Sauce on the very people that poured Comeback Sauce on us!

Sweet… Comeback Sauce double dipping!

Friday Afternoon July 9, 2010 My Home Office

Last coaching call for the day complete I prepare to walk out my door when I feel the tug of my inbox begging me to check it once more.

I feel bad when I see all the new messages and realize that I can't possibly provide a timely reply when a new message from my friend Ruth catches my eye...

Ruth McCurdy has left a new comment on your post "You can't Judge a Book by its Cover":

So often, when I find myself judging someone by the way he or she behaves or looks, I am reminded that I've created a story about that person with (as my husband Steve says...) no data!

I think one of the best examples of this is the Susan Boyle story. When she stepped onto the stage on the Britain's Got Talent show the cameras panned the audiences faces. We saw shocked, smug faces turn to awe and delight as she began singing.

What a lesson! Thanks for sharing this story. It really touched my heart.

I am touched by her message and the memory of the YouTube video she describes and I decide in honor of TGIF I will download it again for the 999th time!

I click on the link Britians Got Talent and grab a glass of red wine and I find myself wishing that Susan Boyle's voice was actually mine.

So as I close out this week I share this last thought with all of you... CHEERS Butcher Block Friends... may all of YOUR wishes come true!!!

Scene: Logan International Airport –Boston Mass.

5:15 A.M Announcement: "This flight is oversold we are offering anyone interested in giving up their seat on the 6 A.M flight to Kansas City a $300 voucher and a confirmed seat on the 2 P.M. flight through Newark".

Seasoned traveler that I am I know this drill... I take a quick glance at my boarding pass and breathe a sigh of relief... yes I do have an assigned seat for the flight... whew.

I look around the packed seating area surrounding the gate... no takers and no one seems the slightest bit concerned... except for the baby wailing by the bathroom it is quiet and I assume everyone else around me is still operating in that sleep deprived haze that goes along with a wakeup call at 3 A.M. for a 6 A.M. flight.

5:35 A.M Announcement: "This flight is oversold we are offering anyone interested in giving up their seat on the 6 A.M flight to Kansas City a $350 voucher and a confirmed seat on the 2 P.M. flight through Newark".

Again I look around... no takers and no one seems the slightest bit concerned. And the baby is STILL wailing.

5:45 A.M: While standing in line to board the plane a big bellied bear of a man bullies his way up to the counter and interrupts the gate agent taking the tickets and bellows, I mean BELLOWS out:

"Miss! Miss! I DO NOT HAVE A SEAT ASSIGNMENT ON MY TICKET... it says here 'SEE GATE AGENT.' Does that mean I DO NOT HAVE A SEAT ON THIS FLIGHT?".

Gate Agent response: "Sir could you please wait right over there and I promise that I will be with you in a moment".

Next in line, I hand the gate agent my ticket and give her a sympathetic nod and smile. I quickly make my way to the boarding bridge thinking that once I am on that plane and in my seat I am home free.

And to be brutally honest I am secretly hoping that the big bellied burly brusque Bear of a Bostonian behind me will NOT get a seat on my flight because frankly I would like to get some sleep and he left an impression as the kind of guy I DID NOT want to be near anytime or anywhere much less on a three hour flight at 6 A.M when all I was looking for was some ZZZZZZ's.

5:48 A.M: I turn down the aisle past the first class elite as they give me that knowing "You are not worthy" smile and I glance at my seat location 7A by the window when I notice Wailing Baby (a lap child) is in aisle seat 8B and the deer in the headlights look on window seat 8A's face.

5:50 A.M. Announcement: "This flight is oversold we are offering anyone interested in giving up their seat on the 6 A.M. flight to Kansas City a $400 voucher and a confirmed seat on the 2 P.M. flight through Newark".

5:50 and 1/2 second later A.M.: 8A stands up and raises his hand... "I'll do it!!! I WILL DO IT." he yells. "Where do I sign up?"!

5:51 A.M.: 8A whizzes past Wailing Baby rushing to the airplane door and my mind begins to process what I think is about to happen. "Please No" I silently pray as the baby continues to wail.

5:54 A.M.: My worst nightmare... the big bellied Bear of a bully brushes his way past the flight attendant & the first class elite and heads towards what I assume to be the ONLY open seat on the plane... 8A. Wailing Baby’s mama stands up to let Grizzly Adams in and I watch his face when he realizes he is about to be trapped next to wailing Baby and Mama and that's when I see the transformation... right before my eyes... Grizzly Adams MELTS... his scowl softens and the Burly Bear turned into a Teddy Bear.

5:55 A.M.: Bear settles in to his seat and I can barely hear his voice as says sweetly to wailing baby "there there little one nothing to cry about it's all going to be okay" and believe it or not Wailing Baby stopped wailing! I can't see the faces of Bear, Baby or Baby’s mama and I can't make out exactly what Mama says but I can hear Bear's soft voice respond with... "Nice to meet you both I am so happy to be here seated next to you. I almost didn't get on this flight and I was worried... you see I am going to Kansas City to meet my first grand baby and I can't wait, I hope he is as cute as you are".

6:00 A.M.: The plane is quiet and peaceful, I can't tell for sure but I think Wailing Baby is asleep and Bear is talking softly to Mama about their long journey from India and how tired she and Baby must be. The Flight Attendant announces "Welcome aboard everybody we are about to take off... please make sure your tray tables are in the upright position, your seatbelts are fastened and oh yes... enjoy the ride"!

Thanks to Bear... I did just that!

Today's Food for Thought & Inspiration:

You just Can't Judge a Book (or a Bear) by its Cover!

"Celebrate every chance you get."    -John Bichelmeyer

"The day will be most memorable in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival…It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade… bonfires and illuminations (fireworks) from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore."    -John Adams 

July 3, 1776 this quote was written by John Adams in a letter to his wife after the Continental Congress had decided to proclaim the American colonies independent of England.

"If you don't have a Happy Birthday it's your own damn fault."    -John Bichelmeyer

Wishing all of you visting the Butcher Block Exchange today a safe and Happy 4th of July.

Cheers!





Video Proud to be an American -God Bless the USA!