Chris Mower» Behavior Analysis

Summer Lessons in the Fall

Chris Mower — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 19:46:45 +0000

Tomorrow marks the first day of fall; summer is ending, the leaves are changing color, and playtime is over. Well, really hard playtime is over anyway. For me summer means traveling nearly every weekend, bratwursts, steaks, shorts, watermelon, gaining weight, buying new pants that fit, swimming, more swimming, and lots of unbearable heat.

I grew up in Star Valley, Wyoming—an area of the world where the four seasons are very distinct—and it was the fall that marked a new year: school starts, the harvests end, the holidays begin, and playtime comes screeching to a halt. For me, fall marks a new era where I rededicate myself to my work and goals. I start losing those extra pounds, I eat healthier, and I travel less frequently.

As summer draws to a close, I thought it fitting to relate a few lessons I’ve learned over the past few months.

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Business IS Personal

Chris Mower — Thu, 27 May 2010 23:18:05 +0000

You’re probably familiar with the phrase, “It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there.” I’ve been hearing it for years, and I’ve used it a few times myself. It’s a true phrase. If you’re not careful, once you step foot into the big bad business world, you can get skewered, slathered in BBQ sauce, chewed up, and then spit out. These are reasons that people put up a guard and make business and the ensuing relationships as tough as boot leather.

If you have seen the movie, “You’ve Got Mail” you may recall the line by Joe Fox. In an email to Kathleen Kelly, he says, “It’s not personal, it’s business.” Later in the movie, Kathleen asks Joe, “What’s so wrong with being personal, anyway?” Joe, a little stunned, responds, “Uh, nothing.” Kathleen follows up with, “Whatever else anything is, it ought to begin by being personal.” (I’ll admit that even though I’m a guy and avidly follow and believe in The Art of Manliness, I still enjoy some of these classic ‘chick flicks.’)

I ask that same question today. What’s so wrong with being personal, anyway? Business is a giant web that connects people (not businesses) together; this means that business today is about building relationships and being personal, even in this dog-eat-dog world.

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Post tags: At Work, Leadership, Relationships

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12 Simple Lessons in Leadership for Those Who Want to Make a Difference

Chris Mower — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:25:38 +0000

There are a lot of people I admire out there who have good values, strong morals and contribute to society. Within that group I have personally observed four individuals who stand out as leaders and movers. These are my observations of their leadership behaviors.

Remarkable leaders…

…are not ashamed of their opinions.

The most successful leaders I know are leaders because they have their opinions and values, and they stick to them. It’s these opinions and values that have caused people to follow them, even if their opinions are unpopular.

…are not too proud to change their opinions.

These same leaders have enough humility to recognize a clearer or better path and abandon ideas and efforts that aren’t working. They realize there’s no point in finishing something that doesn’t benefit anybody.

…attract a following without gimmicks.

Leaders create change and influence people, and they do it without smoke and mirrors. They reach out and help others, they inspire and teach, and they contribute to society and groups. They do this not for self glory and praise, but because they genuinely want others to succeed.

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© Chris for Chris Mower, 2010. | Permalink | 8 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Leadership, Motivational, Relationships

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Greater than ‘Me’

Chris Mower — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 20:15:23 +0000

It’s lunch time at work and a gazillion thoughts are crowding my brain. I figured I’d share some with you, although they’re incomplete and a little chaotic.

What’s my motivation?

Is it money — ?

– so I can buy that big house… and that super cool sports car… and then wine and dine with the rich and famous?
– so I can give to charity and help others… and support my family and help other families… and provide opportunities and support for children all over the world… and provide scholarships and education to people who can’t afford it?

Is it love — ?

– so everyone will love and worship me… and I will be famous with adoring fans… and then I can talk about how great I am to others?
– so others can be loved… find love… and know love?

Is it success — ?

– so I can hang my accomplishments on the wall… and have my name and picture on TIME magazine… and be in the history books?
– so I can teach other people… and lift them up… and strengthen my community, my country, my world?

It’s not wrong to want nice things. And it’s not wrong to own or pursue nice things.
But It’s not right to have the power to help and deny it.
…And it’s not right to sit idly and do nothing.
…And pride. Unbridled pride is damaging and wrong.

And in the end, there’s always a greater cause than ‘me.’ It’s what I can do to help others.

So how can I learn to be motivated not by love, money, or success, but what I can create with them?

And now I’m clicking the button to post this… even though my brain is telling me not to… 3… 2… 1…

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Post tags: Philanthropy, Self Improvement, Thoughts

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Why You Should Care about Who You Recommend

Chris Mower — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 22:45:10 +0000

You should care about who you recommend. Everything you do and say reflects on you, and when you recommend somebody, everything they do or say reflects on you too.

When you recommend somebody…

…you’re also recommending their attitude.
If they’re eager to jump in and help, if they’re positive, proactive, encouraging, and happy, that reflects on you.
If they treat their customers or coworkers poorly, if they are mean, or if they are lazy and indifferent, that reflects on you.

…you’re recommending their work.
If their work is stellar, creative, unique and outstanding, that reflects on you.
If their work stinks, it reflects on you.

…you’re recommending their character.
If they’re honest, humble, diligent, and dependable, it reflects on you.
If they are dishonest, backbiting, de-motivating, and callus, that reflects on you too.

…you’re letting others know what ethics, values, and characteristics are important to you.

…you’re letting others know the quality of work you expect from others and give yourself.

…you’re taking a chance. Recommend those who reflect what you believe in and stand for, and you’ll find your recommendation’s worth grow.

Have your say in the comments below.

You Want Me to Change?! Holy Smokes!

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Begin Taking Personal Responsibility

Chris Mower — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:00:17 +0000

Taking personal responsibility is a subject with which I passionately identify. There’s a difference between taking personal responsibility and blaming yourself. Blaming yourself is letting yourself down and telling yourself that you really stunk it up. It’s pessimistic, degrading, demoralizing, and derogatory. It makes you feel like mud on a rock. Taking responsibility is just the opposite. It’s optimistic and positive. It’s motivating, uplifting, satisfying, and empowering. It allows you to think of and create a path ahead. Take personal responsibility and move forward.

Taking personal responsibility shows maturity.

People who take personal responsibility are a more mature and less selfish than finger pointing blamers. Living up to your own actions and not point the scathing finger of blame at others is a sign of mental maturity. This is one thing that separates us from children.

Each time you take personal responsibility, your roots mature and you’re not blown about by the winds of change as easily. You’re able to make decisions and live with the consequences because you’re stable and ready. You’re mentally prepared for the winds. This can take a lot of courage especially when you’re taking responsibility for something over which you don’t have complete control, such as group or outsourced projects. And because it’s easier to be selfish and point fingers, most people will.

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Post tags: At Work, How To, Self Improvement

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The Greenie Principle

Chris Mower — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:18:58 +0000

Greenie is slang for noob, rookie, greenhorn.

Life is filled with greenie moments. They often happen after you’ve become comfortable where you are. Greenie moments invite progress; they provide opportunity to stretch ourselves and extend past our comfort zones.

If you haven’t had a greenie moment in a while, it’s time to find one. Dormancy is the enemy.

Learn something new, raise your job to the next level, find the next challenge.

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Can You Really Choose Your Attitude?

Chris Mower — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 01:57:11 +0000

I’m writing about a subject that I still haven’t formed a solid opinion on yet. Maybe you can help me figure it out. But here are my thoughts on the matter today…

Can you really choose your attitude or mood? Can you really change from sad to happy, just like that? Sure, attitude and mood aren’t exactly the same, but they are closely related, and so for my purposes I’ll treat them equally.

I believe choosing your attitude is a highly misguided principle. It’s advice laced with good intention and it makes sense when dispensed, but when someone gives it to you, it becomes completely irrational and usually stirs up anger. I cut it from my repertoire for that reason. I’ve tried choosing my attitude countless times, especially on mornings when I wake up as Mr. Grumpy Pants, and guess what? It never works. Why? Well, I’m human and prone to emotions and feelings at any given time. And like anybody else, some things really get under my skin. I view advocates of “choosing your attitude” as telling me to forget I’m Chris and instead behave like xCM01-27.cpo, their personal robot who feels like they want me to feel and thinks how they want me to think. Phhhbbbt. I’m sorry, but it doesn’t work. Please let me be angry when I’m angry; let me cry when I’m sad, and let me smile when I’m happy. These same people slather guilt on you for experiencing emotions when they don’t.

If you prefer to be human, please stand up. Stuffing a faux mood into yourself causes emotional constipation, instead choose to exhibit self control and turn your emotions into positive action and words. It’s not wrong to feel anger if someone angers you. It is wrong to fatten their lip and scream explicative words in their face; where’s the decency? Emotions are naturally part of you, but don’t let them rule you. Do you understand? It’s not about choosing your emotions, it’s about choosing your actions and what you say, no matter which emotion you’re feeling.

Do you agree? Do you disagree? Do you have another view on the matter? Let me know in the comments.

You Want Me to Change?! Holy Smokes!

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A Quick Look at Stage Fright

Chris Mower — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 04:11:24 +0000

I’m writing this while slurping down a half-frozen, bottled orange juice which, I admit, is not the most effective use of my time–multitasking is highly overrated. But I want to write about my fear-induced meltdown today while it remains fresh on my mind. This year, this month, this day, this minute is a time to overcome fear. It’s time to break the shell and spread those wings. Surprise yourself; do something that scares you, something you dream of doing. Today I cracked that shell and oh, it felt good.

Last month I tried out for the, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” (YAGMCB) musical and landed the part of Schroeder, the 9-year-old musical genius (hmm, my exact opposite). I knew nearly squat about Peanuts. Was I scared? You betcha’. My knees clattered all the way to try outs and my clammy fingers left sweat on the steering wheel, but I used that nervousness to give me energy. So for the first time, I sang out loud for someone else like I just didn’t care, and I was shocked that I was me.

As we rehearsed through January, I don’t recall ever singing my solos or other songs 100% correct, and I often sang off pitch. It was a nutty cycle. When I concentrated on singing I forgot my choreography or vice versa. By last night’s final rehearsal I felt 85% okay about my music and choreography, but my stomach began knotting up as I envisioned the worst possible scenarios for this morning’s performance.

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And That’s Entropy

Chris Mower — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 07:57:30 +0000

Entropy is an interesting concept that I frequently studied in my college physics and chemistry classes, and I love it. Defying entropy has been a dream of physicists, chemists, and scientists for ages, but so far entropy keeps winning. In a nutshell, entropy is a way to measure spontaneous change in a system, or as some say, the measurement of a system to fall into disorder and eventual chaos. The second definition sounds a lot more dramatic, and I like that. Entropy suggests that as time progresses all things (as long as no external, extra energy is applied) eventually break down and fall apart. I think we can all agree with that, even if you have no clue what entropy is. Just drive down an older town’s streets, and you’ll see entropy at work.

So how does entropy affect you? Let’s compare the brain to a giant road framework. Your brain’s synapses, just like roads fall into disrepair when rarely used, and those that are used more frequently are eventually reinforced and built out, but this requires energy and time. Well guess what? So far, the only way we know how to counteract entropy is by inputing energy into a system over time. And this system is your brain. Do you understand? Use it or lose it.

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