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At Willmar Electric, we take the health of our coworkers seriously. When we focus on safety, it isn’t to save money. It is because the people we work beside are important, and we don’t want them to get hurt. A strong safety program is rooted in injury prevention....

Did you make a New Year’s resolution?  How’s it going? New Year’s resolutions are a hotly debated topic in our culture.  Many find it to be a waste of time and mock the people who make them. Others faithfully make them and set out with good intentions to keep them....

John Chapin Day. This year I’m taking it upon myself to declare that today, January 3rd, is John Chapin Day. It is our Dad’s birthday, and he deserves some special recognition. Our Dad is a very generous person. If you have spent much time with him, you understand and...

Merry Christmas. A simple phrase often said during the holiday season. It is an integral part of my family and my life.  When I say it, I mean it.  I want you to have a Merry Christmas. My intention isn’t to offend anybody with my words.  I’m just being clear about...

I am currently reading a book by Ken Blanchard “Servant Leadership in Action.”  The book is a collection of roughly 15-minute essays by 40 different authors.  I found it gives me a taste of a wide variety of perspectives.  Most of the authors are people I have read...

We buy a lot off Amazon. It's convenient. You look up what you want, read the reviews, and click on buy it now. A few days (or hours) later, the package appears on your door or in your mailbox. But recently, my wife, Sue, and I have tried to move away from our...

I was asked to serve on the Lincoln Fire and Rescue (LFR) stakeholders committee a few months ago. Part of serving involves spending a day riding with one of the companies from LFR. Last week I spent 10 hours with the people who serve at stations 1 and 8. Station 1 is...

A few months ago, I was asked to speak to a group of leaders from another firm. The topic was leadership style. I spoke and answered questions. I mentioned a handful of techniques and tools I use to get through life. Recently the firm’s CEO, Kyle, told me people not...

We just finished going through a book study on “Improvement Starts with I” by Tom Hughes. (Click on the link for more information). The book is based on five words that start with the letter “C.” The words are candor, commitment, coaching, consistency, and continuous...

My daughter, Anne, is an excellent mom. It’s not always easy to be a good mom, but my daughter has several generations of examples to follow. She is lucky enough to have a great mother. Both her parents have great mothers. My daughter was lucky enough to have met and...