Current News

Last month I blogged about productive confrontation.  I outlined a five-step process needed in any feedback loop. Of course, how you give feedback makes all the difference in the world.  So, I came up with a 5 step process.  I hope I'm not plagiarizing.  But if you...

I recently finished reading "The Art of Neighboring" by Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon.  The book hit home with me on two fronts. I could relate to the book's theme of building genuine relationships right outside my front door.  I also notice how much being a good...

Last week I was tasked with doing training on productive confrontation to our field leaders. So, I researched the topic and reflected on things I had learned about the subject previously.  One of the first places I started was with Kim Scott's book, Radical Candor. In...

I was lucky enough to have the honor to serve as the 2016 National Chair of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC).  When you research ABC on their website, you will notice their mission statement is: ABC will continually strive to be the leading voice...

Yesterday a coworker, Sylvia, asked if I knew what muddy rain was and if I had ever seen it.  I told her I didn't, and I hadn't.  She explained that "muddy rain" is when high winds kick dirt into the air, creating a dust storm aloft, rain passes through the dust...

Last week my daughter, Anne, and son-in-law, Jon, had a daughter.  Her name is Amelia, and she is our first grandchild.  She is a treasure to everybody in the family.  My wife, Sue, and I hustled up from Nebraska to Minnesota to visit her.  Our daughter Sara also...

Gate to gate is an airline term.  It is how they measure on-time arrivals of airplanes.  I have been told airlines typically added 20 minutes to every flight to account for taxiing to and from the runway on takeoffs and landings. Anybody who has flown from Lincoln...

Recent SWOT (Strength/Weakness/Opportunity/Threat) analysis at Willmar Electric told the leaders several things.  Most notably, communication is essential. Not really a news flash.  If you didn’t already know the importance of communication, you likely are part of a...

Merit Shop is one of our core values.  It would be impossible to call ourselves a Merit Shop if we didn’t do individual evaluations. At Willmar Electric, evaluations are a two-part process.  Part one is the performance evaluation.  February is performance evaluation...

A few days ago, while getting ready for work, I noticed something my family members call the "license plate" sunrise. Let me explain. In 2004 our family moved to Nebraska.  It meant getting Nebraska license plates for our cars.  Our children didn't complain at all...