The Sanford Berenberg Experience

http://learnandgrowdaily.com ß Click here to order: “Learn And Grow Daily!”

502-533-9336

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Message of the Day - Wisdom from Mom

Good Morning,

This has been an exceptionally difficult and challenging week for me. Last year during the July 4^th holiday, I was traveling to Mexico to bring my Mom back to live near the family in Louisville, Kentucky. It was a tough trip, but there were many positive lessons learned along the way.

On Saturday June 27^th, my Mother went into the emergency room. Since this time, her condition deteriorated and on Thursday, July 2, she passed away quietly in her sleep. The following day she was laid to rest in an Orthodox Jewish Cemetery with a full traditional Jewish funeral.

While Mom was in the hospital, my sister and I noticed a journal she had kept since the time she had come to live in Louisville. Neither of us had any idea that she kept such a journal, and with her passing, it becomes that much more of a gem.

At the end of each of her journal entries, Mom added a little inspirational message. It started with one line and then grew a little bit throughout the year, but always saying the same message.

Over the last six months, nearly all of her entries had the mantra below. Her last entry was a few weeks ago, maybe she knew her time was coming.

These bits of wisdom were her mission in life as was seen by the out pouring of love of the people she met and who grew to love her over the last year.

Wisdom from Felicia Odenz, my Mom.

March 19, 1946 – July 2, 2009

Trust and No Fear

Say Little, Do Much

Receive Each Person with a Friendly Face

Love Kindness

Do Justice

Walk Humbly

Each of these pearls is something we can improve upon.

I miss my Mom, but I know she will live on in our memories, and in her wisdom.

Enjoy!

Sanford Berenberg

http://learnandgrowdaily.com ß Click here to order: “Learn And Grow Daily!”

502-533-9336

PS: If you know others who may enjoy this message of the day, please pass this message on or invite them to receive them themselves by signing up.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Message of the Day - "I don't know what it means"

Good Morning,

Saturday morning my mother ended up in the emergency room, and her situation deteriorated through the day and into the evening and was admitted. By 4 AM Sunday morning we received a call that she was moved to the ICU and by 5:30 AM another call informed us that she was being prepared for emergency surgery to save her life. The doctor performing the surgery got on the phone and explained what he was planning on doing and what my Mother was up against.

During the phone call I looked at my wife with fear and confusion. I did not understand what the Doctor said. I did not know the gravity of the words he used to describe my Mother's condition and prognosis. I heard the words, but I did not know what it meant. You know I read a lot and spend a lot of time learning, but with everything I have crammed into my brain had little ability to do anything to help me understand this life or death situation.

I felt helpless.

I asked my wife, Karen, to interpret the medical-eze as she seemed more comfortable with what the Doctor said. She then translated for me. The situation was grim, the surgery was needed to my Mom's life, but they felt good that they could get it done. After understanding what was going on, I authorized the surgery to save my Mom's life.

Over my life I have been in many situations where I did not quite understand what was being said, especially when a lot of jargon was being used. It is almost accepted in our day to day life that something we hear or we read is not completely understood, and for the most part, this is expected. We know enough to get by.

In fact, I have read that most industries or organizations have many of their own words used specifically for them, as many as 800 or more specific words. These words, like 'Grip' in the movie industry for someone who works lighting and sound, can mean many different things depending on who hears the words and in what context. It opens the door for a whole lot of confusion.

With my Mom's condition it caused me fear because while I was aware I did not know everything that was said, I also knew that what I did not know could involve her living or dying. The ante was raised VERY high. My eyes teared and my chest tightened with the confusion as the Doctor spoke.

The use of jargon, these specialized words obviously causes confusion for the uninitiated and even for the experienced if they are unfamiliar with the terms. Overuse of jargon itself has been found to be present in some of the worlds most heinous business snafus. Using jargon too often can obfuscate the truth behind perceived meanings and misdirection. Review of memos from Enron and Worldcom show an inordinate amount of jargon used regularly.

Understanding the words spoken and written to us is very important, and can even mean life and death. Had I not authorized the surgery for my Mother, she would have died.

I sincerely hope that the communications you encounter or create are understood by your audience. Using less jargon can help.

The Doctor did a great job, but Mom is still in grave condition, and your prayers are all welcome.

Enjoy!

Sanford Berenberg

http://learnandgrowdaily.com ß Click here to order: "Learn And Grow Daily!"

502-533-9336

PS: If you know others who may enjoy this message of the day, please pass this message on or invite them to receive them themselves by signing up.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Message of the Day - They Expect You to Fail!!!

Good Morning,

Yesterday morning when talking to my wife, Karen, she told me about a test which is required for people to maintain their positions at their place of employment. This test is very hard, and in fact, the powers that be actually expect that most people taking the certification testing will, in fact, fail on their first attempt at the test. They do, though, have a policy to allow several years and several attempts to pass.

I am all about second chances, but I have a real problem with a bar raised so high that even with ample study and preparation a majority of applicants are EXPECTED to fail.

What does this say about the test and the certification? It is exclusive, sure, but it also puts up barriers to those who may actually do well in that field but due to the high bar are scared away from going into that field.

Having high standards is one thing, but having standards that are so high that they start scaring away potential future stars is a shame. When I originally went to college in the 80’s, I entered the Engineering program in a class of 700 or so students. I was told that after four years of classes that they needed 700 students starting the program for some 150 to graduate with their Bachelors in Engineering. This means they EXPECT 550 of the original 700 to be ‘weeded out’ over the next four years. Pretty steep…

Some organizations have recognized these barriers and have worked to remove them. University of Phoenix, for example, did not ask me to take the GMAT test for enrollment in my MBA. Their studies showed no real correlation between students who scored well on the GMAT and those who did well in their MBA program.

I did well on my MBA, scoring a 3.93 GPA, but that would never had happened if I went to a school which held the barrier to entry of some test, that I may have failed.

This is not to say that tests are bad in and of themselves, but they should be geared toward learning, and helping people succeed and enter the field instead of acting as a wall or bouncer to keep people out.

One organization I encountered had a great idea with their tests. When you took a test on a subject, you still had passing and failing grades like most tests, but they have an added caveat. After you finish your test, any answers that you got wrong were then reviewed with you and you were re-trained on them. You then retook the test questions you missed originally and then were allowed to get a 100 on the test. It may take several attempts, but the end result, so long as the applicant does not quit, is a 100.

This means that everyone who enters comes out with 100% of the knowledge being tested. Sure a 66% score is passing in most schools, but wouldn’t you rather have the knowledge to score 100%?

If you are going to have a high barrier of entry, maybe put along with it a support feature which helps people succeed. Sure more people will pass the entry requirements, but at the same time, you will have more qualified people around.

We can set the bar very high and keep high expectations and still have a lot of successful applicants if we support them in learning what is necessary to reach our standard.

Then we would EXPECT many more people to PASS and then SUCCEED!

Enjoy!

Sanford Berenberg

http://learnandgrowdaily.com ß Click here to order: “Learn And Grow Daily!”

502-533-9336

PS: If you know others who may enjoy this message of the day, please pass this message on or invite them to receive them themselves by signing up.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Message of the Day: It's a Great day to be a Neighbor, won't you be mine?

Good Morning,

My current read is a book by Amy Hollingsworth, “The Simple Faith of Mr. Rogers: Spiritual Insights from the World's Most Beloved Neighbor” (http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Faith-Mr-Rogers-Spiritual/dp/1591452295).

This book brought me back. I am a first generation fan of the Mr. Rogers show. It first aired in 1968, when I was 1. My Mom had me watching that show, along with Sesame Street and the Electric Company among others. During the read I went to YouTube and watched some clips from the shows and also the clip when Fred Rogers spoke to Congress to get $20 Million funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in 1969 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXEuEUQIP3Q).

It is amazing to see that all of his love and desire to help children and adults reached people of all ages. Just as Fred Rogers reached Senator Pastore when speaking to Congress, he reached millions of other people.

His message every day, on every show was that each and every one of us is special; that there is no one else in the entire world that is exactly like us.

While this was a kid’s show, the message is still the same for us adults; that we too are special, in our own ways, and no one is like us.

Take that a bit further and you can easily see that each and every one of us has worth to the rest of the world. As we are unique, we have something to offer that no one else can.

We each can make a difference, and we each have something to pass on as our legacy as we go through our lives. What that difference is, or what the legacy is, is something that we will have to figure out for ourselves, but the important point is that it is there for us.

Just when we may start thinking that we are worthless or have nothing new to offer, we have the kindly reminder from our beloved neighbor, that we do matter and we are each special.

The show seems very plain and somewhat repetitive looking back at it, but in that way it is also a firm foundation that no matter how crazy the changes that go on in our world and in our lives and jobs and family, that there are some things that remain the same.

I would hope that Mr. Rogers would be proud of all of the people who have grown up with him through the years and have found what they are exceptional at and have given that back to their fellow person.

Well, I am going to bring up YouTube and see a few more episodes in The Neighborhood.

Enjoy!

Sanford Berenberg

http://learnandgrowdaily.com ß Click here to order: “Learn And Grow Daily!”

502-533-9336

PS: If you know others who may enjoy this message of the day, please pass this message on or invite them to receive them themselves by signing up.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Message of the Day - Everyone Can Make a Difference

Good Morning,

My current read is “Every Monday Matters: 52 Ways to Make a Difference” by Matthew Emerzian and Kelly Bozza (http://everymondaymatters.com/). Every Monday Matters is published by Simple Truths, another very inspiring company who has created many powerful messages using a combination of amazing photographs and profound thoughts.

This book was a Christmas gift from one my message recipients, Wayne Burgess. Wayne sends out a message every Thursday, called In Living Life - Thursday Thoughts (http://www.WayneBurgess.com). These are very thought provoking and often timely. Check it out!

“Every Monday Matters” has 52 ways to make a difference in the world. These actions, projects or ways of thinking all have a positive impact on our environment, our community and specific people in our world. In addition to each of these actions are facts and figures which are both informinative and at the same time drive home how vital it is to make a difference in our world.

Most of these activities are so very easy to do and it is surprising the impact that they have in making the world a better place. Some of the activities are simply picking up a piece of garbage, or turning off the TV and reading, or thanking a Police Officer, or writing a letter to a Serviceman or Servicewoman.

Many of these activities are things that we do regularly and maybe do not even give a second thought to. It is good to know that we are good people and make a difference in the world, but we need to do more if we want to help the world more.

My plan is to share this book with my family and every week, we will read one of the activities and do it as a family. This was my wife, Karen’s idea and I love it. Spending time bonding as a family and working together to make this world a better place with meaningful activities is something I am very much looking forward to do.

We can make a difference in with even small actions, when we can get many people working together. If we each do one kind act, we can make an impact (hundreds of people all doing a kind act). Imagine the impact of thousands of people working together to make a difference. Tens of Thousands. Millions!

It does not take much to make a positive difference. We each have it within us. Every Monday Matters is a great book to show us the simple way to make that difference.

We can do it, together!

Thanks again Wayne!

Enjoy!

Sanford Berenberg

http://learnandgrowdaily.com ß Click here to order: “Learn And Grow Daily!”

502-533-9336

PS: If you know others who may enjoy this message of the day, please pass this message on or invite them to receive them themselves by signing up.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Message of the Day - Respect Yourself

Good Morning,

Our values are what makes us who we are. Those details in life which we hold dear to ourselves, like honoring our family, being honest, being trustworthy, helping others and all of the others, forges our inner being. As we gain new values, and divest others, we, as people change.

I have seen many people who have gone against their values and beliefs to satisfy others. Be it by doing something for their boss, or for their spouse or for a friend or customer. When we walk away from our values, what we hold to be true above all other things, then we are selling out on ourselves. Taking it a step further, we are being disrespectful to ourselves.

Values are what we hold dear and deep in our hearts. They should be what are truly important to us. Changing our values, when it happens, is not something that should be like the flavor of the month. Rather, it happens after valuable lessons have been learned or some life-changing event has molded your way of living. Those lessons we learn or life-changing events cause change in our lives and those changes cause us to re-evaluate our values.

Should we then do this same re-evaluating of our values when we are asked to do something that we do not agree with? If we believe in honesty, should we steal if we are asked to by someone else? Should we do something that will hurt another when we value love and compassion?

These are all things to consider. And here is the point; our values are our values. Tossing them aside whenever it is convenient or when asked indicates that either they are not really our values or we are disrespecting ourselves.

I am not talking about those tough times when two values come into conflict like stealing food versus letting your family starve to death (and I hope no one has to make that decision).

It can be little things like littering, when we know better. Like when we are ready to throw out some of our garbage and the nearest garbage can is overflowing with garbage onto the ground around the can. Do we join the mess and toss our garbage onto the pile, knowing it will fall to the ground or do we hold onto our garbage until we find the next, less full can.

As we hold onto our values and make tough decisions, we strengthen our character. When we sell out on our values, even on small things, we whittle away at our character.

Over time, these actions mold us. What do you want your mold to look like?

Respect yourself and keep true to your values and you will be better off for it in the long run.

Enjoy!

Sanford Berenberg

http://learnandgrowdaily.com ß Click here to order: “Learn And Grow Daily!”