Hot Seat Question
If you’ve been reading along for a while, you’ll know that one of my favorite “small group” activities is the Hot Seat where you put someone on the spot by asking them any question(s). Here’s one of the questions from my “library” of questions along with my answer. I’d love to hear how you would answer this same question.
Question: If you could have lunch with any three “famous” people living or dead (not a relative and not Jesus) who would they be?
My Answer: First, I’d probably go with Mother Theresa. I’m kind of guessing that we wouldn’t do a whole lot of talking. I would probably be following her around trying to grab some of her wisdom as she continued her non-stop service to others.
Second (I’m kind of cheating on this one), John McCain and Barack Obama at the same time would be an interesting lunch. I would like to listen to what they are going to do to make this country and this world a better place for me, my kids, their kids, etc. I would put them on the hot seat also.
Third (or fourth depending on how you look at it), I have to imagine that eating lunch with Bono from U2 would be amazing. From what I understand, this guy is full of ideas. I’d love to hear some about his experience with his band (one of my favorites). I’d love to know what makes him tick. I’d like to see him in action as he describes his goals for the next ten years of his life.
So, there you have it. Who would you choose? I’d love to hear who and why.
Until the next post…
RV (Part 1)
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkZXAB-RdbI&hl=en]To Be Or To Be In? That is the Question
To Be Blessed or To Be In What God is Blessing?
Friday night before going to bed, I purposefully shut off the alarm on the clock by my bed. I always get up early, so I wanted to give myself a chance to sleep in the next morning. My body woke me up at 5:00AM, so I decided that instead of tossing and turning in bed for the next two or three hours I would get up and go to the men’s breakfast at our church.
It never ceases to amaze me how invigorated I feel after attending one of these breakfasts. Besides breakfast sandwiches, fruit, and doughnuts, the morning consisted of interviews and a video highlighting a recent church sponsored trip to Juarez, Mexico to build two homes in partnership with Casas por Cristo. This was followed up by a video of Rick Warren speaking at the 2007 Catalyst leadership conference. Rick, the author of The Purpose Driven Life, shared many interesting insights using the story of Moses and his staff. I think the thing that challenged me the most was a statement he made about how we should be praying.
He said that we should not be praying that God would bless us. Instead, we should be praying that we would be a part of whatever God is blessing.
This is really a radical way to look at how we pray. I think it’s easy to pray for what we want. I know I want to be in control. I want to be blessed. When we pray the way that Rick Warren is suggesting, we give up the control, and we acknowledge that God is in charge and that He wants us to be on board with Him.
So what is it that God is blessing around your life?
A Spring Recital
If you've been reading along for several months, you may remember that I started playing the saxophone again earlier this year. This has truly been a delight so far (despite the sore bottom lip and frustration over the notes not coming out just right). In a way, it has been like riding a bicycle; although, I still have a ways to go to where I think I was before (and where I'd like to be in the future).
At any rate, as my playing continued, our family thought it would be really cool to have a neighborhood recital in our own house. So… this Saturday, we hosted our first recital. It was a blast! The recital featured seveal budding piano players – including Isaac playing A Short Story, Cindy (with Hannah), and Star Wars (with me). The recital also included a trumpet player and two violin players. Hannah played Cindy (with Isaac) and Ragtime Special. I had the opportunity to "bust it out" on Etude Op. 10, No. 3 by Chopin and Harlem Nocturne by Hagen.
At the end of the recital, there were multiple requested for scheduling the next recital – perhaps in the fall.
Until the next post, I'll be looking for the next piece to play…
Dutch Oven Cooking – Pizza
With the countdown continuing towards my annual pilgrimage to the Poconos, I couldn’t help but get one of my dutch ovens out over the weekend for the test run at a recipe I recently found on Byron’s Dutch Oven Cooking Page website. This weekend I tried pizza in my 14″ dutch oven. Here’s the basic gist of what I tried (since it wasn’t exactly like the recipe that I had found). First, I but a layer of crescent roll dough on the bottom of my greased oven. Next, I evenly coated the dough with pizza sauce. Then, I piled on the toppings: mushrooms, smoked turkey sausage, pepperoni, red onions, parmessan cheese, garlic powder, pepper, italian seasonings, and cheese. Finally, I put coals underneath and on top of the oven and let it cook for about 30 minutes.The results were pretty good, but I did learn a few things for next time. First, my toppings selection made by pizza a little to salty tasting for my liking, so I wouldn’t try it exactly the same next time. Secondly, the bottom of my pizza was a little charred, so I will use less coals on the bottom next time. Finally, I would have liked the crust a little thicker, so I would probably use two containers of roll dough next time. Still, I can’t complain. This recipe was definitely something to try again on a future camping (or backyard) adventure.
Until the next post, the countdown continues…
Celebrating 100 Days!!!
Today is the 100th day of 2008. Did you forget?
As of today, I feel like I have accomplished quite a bit so far this year:
350.6 miles of running
24.6 miles of biking
182 floors of the stair master
5,050 sit-ups
Resumed playing the saxophone
Practiced 37 times (not including my lessons)
Accepted a promotion at work
Helped to lead a marriage small group
Read 3 books (and parts of several more)
Successfully memorized 24 verses relating to Evangelism
Painted a couple of rooms at the house
Planted my "grape vineyard"
….
So far, it's been a great year, and I look forward to many things to come.
One of the things that I am most looking forward to is my annual camping trip with the guys over Memorial Day weekend. That's right in 44 days, I will be camping. I have been part of this event for 18 or 19 straight years (minus one missed year for a family function). This is a weekend that I look forward to every year. Obviously, I look forward to the good times together with great friends. The main reason that I look forward to this weekend is that these are guys who have my back.
One of the verses that I'm memorizing right now is found in Hebrews 10:24-25: "And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching." As the years have passed, we've all experienced various challenges. It is incredible to know that we have this brotherhood and a common bond in Christ that keeps us glued together despite the fact that we all live miles apart and see each other only a few times a year.
Until the next post, I'm looking forward to celebrating the 200th day of 2008…
Meet Elizabeth Rose Stolpe
Here's a message from my brother. They just got Elizabeth from China.
Hello everyone,
It is official. Yesterday we went to the Nanjing center for adoption affairs and we were handed a beautiful Xi Yan Xin,now Elizabeth Rose Stolpe. Today we completed our 24 hour trial period ( I know it sounds wierd) and we decided we would keep her ( Like we would have said no?) and we signed the Chinese adoption papers and now she is officially our daughtert. More paper work to come for travel and immigration into the US. She is beautiful and calm and content and giggles and smiles at daddy and Sam. She calls Rachel mama and loves my beard. She has a cough and an ear infection, made worse by the bad air quality, but we put her on an antibiotic and she already seems to be doing better. Getting back to the clean air of Wisconsin will be good for her. She is really tiny, maybe 17 pounds or so. Eliza is easy going and very fun. She loves to eat though.
It is official. Yesterday we went to the Nanjing center for adoption affairs and we were handed a beautiful Xi Yan Xin,now Elizabeth Rose Stolpe. Today we completed our 24 hour trial period ( I know it sounds wierd) and we decided we would keep her ( Like we would have said no?) and we signed the Chinese adoption papers and now she is officially our daughtert. More paper work to come for travel and immigration into the US. She is beautiful and calm and content and giggles and smiles at daddy and Sam. She calls Rachel mama and loves my beard. She has a cough and an ear infection, made worse by the bad air quality, but we put her on an antibiotic and she already seems to be doing better. Getting back to the clean air of Wisconsin will be good for her. She is really tiny, maybe 17 pounds or so. Eliza is easy going and very fun. She loves to eat though.
We have all had a great time in China, but now that we have elizabeth we just want to come home. But we still have a week and a half before everything is finalized. I will tell you all about it when I am home, or you can check out the blog at stolpeadoption@blogspot.com .
Thank you all,
Dave
2008 – Week 10,11,12 Exercise Review
Okay, I’ve been a little lax on my exercise and my exercise postings; however, I’m still moving forward. Between being extremely busy with some exciting changes in my life, dealing with minor knee tendonitis and IT-band strain, and trying to break in new running shoes, I’ve had to alter my training over the past few weeks. Here’s my mileage, etc…
Week 10:
3/2 – 12.0 miles (flat trail workout)
3/3 – 6.0 miles (treadmill)
3/5 – 6.0 miles (treadmill)
3/7 – 6.0 miles (treadmill – hill interval)
Weekly Total – 30.0 miles
Week 11:
3/10 – 6.0 miles (treadmill)
3/12 – 7.5 miles (treadmill)
3/13 – 11.5 miles on the bike
Weekly Running Total – 13.5 miles
Weekly Biking Total – 11.5 miles
Week 12:
3/16 – 4.1 miles (hilly local course in the fine rain)
3/18 – 4.0 miles (treadmill)
3/19 – 4.0 miles (treadmill), 4.0 miles on the bike
3/20 – 182 floors on the stair machine – now that’s a workout
Weekly Running Total – 8.1 miles
Weekly Biking Total – 4.0 miles
Weekly Stair Total – 182 floors
Here’s a recap for the year so far (not including this week):
305.6 miles of running
15.5 miles of biking
182 floors of stairs
(And 3,828 sit-ups through 3/26. I’ve been trying to do sit-ups everyday since the new year started. I started with 1 sit-up on the first day, 2 on the second day, 3 on the third day, and so forth. So this morning, I did 87 sit-ups. We’ll see how long this thing lasts.)
Until the next post…
Update on Adoption
Here’s the latest picture of Elizabeth. My brother and his family are departing on Easter Sunday from Chicago to travel to China. It should be the adventure of a lifetime for the whole family. They will be in China for 3 weeks until they return with Elizabeth Stolpe. The whole family is excited to finally experience the reality that we’ve all been praying and hoping for over the past few years. Please keep David, Rachel, Sam, Elizabeth, and Rachel’s parents in your prayers as they make this trip.
Until the next post, bon voyage…
Execution – Outline Part III
Here’ are my final notes on Execution by Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan:
III. Part III – The Three Core Processes of Execution
A. Chapter 6 – The People Process: Making the Link with Strategy and Operations
1. “If you don’t get the people process right, you will never fulfill the potential of your business.”
2. “A robust people process does three things…”
a. evaluates individuals accurately and in depth
b. provides a framework for identifying and developing the leadership talent the organization will need to execute its strategies down the road
c. fills the leadership pipeline that’s the basis of a strong succession plan
3. “The first building block of the people process is its linkage to strategic milestones over the near (0-2 years), medium (2-5 years), and long terms, as well as the operating plan targets. The business leaders create this linkage by making sure they have the right kinds and numbers of people to execute the strategy.”
4. “Meeting medium- and long-term milestones greatly depends on having a pipeline of promising and promotable leaders. You need to assess them today, and decide what each leader needs to do to become ready to take on larger responsibilities.”
Jon’s comments: People are key to meeting strategy and operations plans. When we know are strategy and plans, we need to diligently find and develop the right people to meet these short term and long term goals. Strategies and plans without the right people are just a bunch of words on a paper.
B. Chapter 7 – The Strategy Process: Making the Link with People and Operations
1. “The basic goal of any strategy is simple enough: to win the customer’s preference and create a sustainable competitive advantage, while leaving sufficient money on the table for shareholders.”
2. “A good strategic planning process requires the utmost attention to the hows of executing the strategy.”
3. “A contemporary strategic plan must be an action plan that business leaders can rely on to reach their business objectives. Developing such a plan starts with identifying and defining the critical issues behind the strategy.”
4. “The substance of any strategy is summed up by its building blocks: the half-dozen or fewer key concepts and actions that define it.”
5. “If the building blocs are clearly defined, the essence of even the most complex strategy can be expressed on one page.”
6. “To be effective, a strategy has to be constructed and owned by those who will execute it, namely the line people.”
7. “Milestones bring reality to a strategic plan. If the business doesn’t meet milestones as it executes the plan, leaders have to reconsider whether they’ve got the right strategy after all.”
8. “Businesses have to prepare themselves to adapt to an economy of constant change.”
C. Chapter 8 – How to Conduct a Strategy Review
1. “The business unit strategy review is the prime Social Operating Mechanism of the strategy process. It provides the penultimate ground for testing and validating the strategy – the last chance to get things right before the plan faces the ultimate test of the real world. As such, it has to be inclusive and interactive: it must feature a solid debate, conducted in the robust dialogue of the execution culture, with all of the key players present and speaking their minds.”
2. “Asking questions constantly keeps the critical issues in mind.”
3. Follow through is important to solidify and confirm agreements made during the strategy review.
4. “Be sure to communicate your strategic thinking and programs to your entire organization. Their commitment and involvement will drive your success.”
D. Chapter 9 – The Operations Process: Making the Link with Strategy and People
1. “An operating plan includes the programs your business is going to complete within one year to reach the desired levels of such objectives as earnings, sales, margins, and cash flow.”
2. “Synchronization is essential for excellence in execution and for energizing the corporation. Synchronization means that all the moving parts of the organization have common assumptions about the external environment over the operating year and a common understanding. Synchronizing includes matching the goals of the interdependent parts and linking their priorities with other parts of the organization. When conditions change, synchronization realigns the multiple priorities and reallocates resources.”
3. Follow through is important in this process also. Two “parts of follow-through are contingency plans and quarterly reviews.”
E. Conclusion: Letter to a New Leader
1. “Get a good handle early on about the beliefs and behaviors of the people under your direction.”
2. “You need to be certain that appraisals are honest and direct, and that your people get the feedback, coaching, and training they need to grow.”
3. “Make sure you and your people really understand your customers: their needs, their buying behaviors, and the changes in those behaviors.”
4. “Always look for ways to improve you results.”
5. “Maintain and sharpen your intellectual honesty so that you’re always realistic.”
6. “Take care of yourself.”
7. “Consistent behavior is a sign of a contained ego, and inspires confidence in you from those around you.”
Jon’s comments: This short letter at the end of this book is priceless. In my opinion, the notes above provide great advice for any leader. I know this book will help me in the business world, but I also believe it will help me in my community leadership roles as well. If you are a leader, I’d highly recommend reading this book. It could provide the advice you need to take your organization to the next level.
Until the next post…