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The following story about Doc Lunsford was published on December 23, 1991. It remains one of my favorites. So much so that I decided to make it a tradition and share it with our subscribers each Christmas. At a time when Christmas seems to have lost much of its meaning in our hectic lives, it is my sincere desire that this story about Doc would remind us of what we are truly celebrating. Have a Merry Christmas and a Purposeful 2013.
 
We called him "Doc" - Doc Lunsford. I never knew how he came by the nickname of Doc - his real name was Claude. He never had been a doctor - in fact he didn't even have a grade school education. As a boy Doc had polio and was unable to attend school. He lived with his parents until they passed away.
 
Doc was probably in his fifties when I can first remember him. He wore bib overalls and lace-up Red Wing boots. His bout with polio left one leg shorter than the other so he walked with a limp. Doc was thin and had a perpetual five o'clock shadow because he only shaved every other day.
 
In some ways Doc was totally helpless. He had no car. He walked or had to catch a ride. Sometimes we would visit our grandparents at Christmas who lived some 200 miles away. Doc had a sister who lived in a small town along the way, so we would drop him off on the way down and pick him up after our visit on the way home.
 
I can remember Mom tying Doc's necktie for him because he didn't know how. She taught Doc how to write his own name. He spent a lot of time at our house and would eat with us on several occasions. But Doc was definitely not a taker - he was a giver. If anyone had reason to feel shortchanged in life it was Doc - but he never once showed it. Instead he was positive and upbeat.
 
Doc's house was small and smelled of pipe tobacco. He didn't have indoor plumbing and he would give me a drink from a dipper out of a pail. He always had a bag of "orange slices" - the sugar-coated, orange-flavored candy and he would let me reach in and grab a handful.
 
But what I remember most about Doc was his unconditional acceptance of me as a person. Frail looking as he was, he'd pick me up and hug me while scratching his whiskers against my face - that is so vivid that I can still feel it.
 
Doc could never repay my parents for the kindness they showed him - at least not financially.  But I could never repay Doc for the kindness he showed me. We can't always repay the people who help us in our trip through life - but all of us - no matter what we possess - can pass on the payment.
 
Doc has since passed on. Every year around Christmas he always comes to mind. Maybe it reminds me of our Christmas trips with Doc but maybe it's because Doc is what Christmas is all about - unconditional acceptance and giving what is most difficult to give - ourselves.

 
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In the midst of a recession, employee engagement is critical. Do your staff members know what is expected of them? Do you communicate this to them effectively? Do you have systems in place to align new applicants with the right jobs?

These are important questions to consider as you enter 2013.

Studies show that only 1 in 7 employees are willing to go the “extra mile” for their company. Is this the case in your organization? And if so, what are the current and future implications of that for your business?

With 55% of employees disengaged in the workplace, disengaged workers cost the US economy $350 billion a year. The problem for many employees today is that they simply lack purpose in their life and work, and therefore they lack motivation to perform their job well.

For companies to reach full efficiency and profitability, owners and managers must help their staff members discover their purpose and further develop their unique talents and motivations to achieve overall job satisfaction and engagement.

As you enter 2013, we can help you and your organization accomplish this!

 
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Phrases like “You can be anything you want to be,” or “You can accomplish anything you set your mind to,” get thrown around a lot. I heard them a lot myself growing up from friends, family, and teachers. Now, don’t get me wrong, their intentions were good. I’m all for empowering people and encouraging them to pursue their strengths, but we all have our limitations. Just because a young man practices basketball fundamentals day in and day out for hours and hours, doesn’t mean he will become the next Michael Jordan or Kevin Durant. There has to be a natural set of talents and strengths in place to help someone reach that kind of potential. And it’s no different in the workplace. Employees and managers must focus on the unique strengths and the specific value-adding contributions each can bring to the team.

The problem is too many times we focus entirely too much on improving upon our weaknesses. I was in the corporate sector for nearly a dozen years in management, and every time we gave performance reviews, weaknesses dominated the conversation. Did you know that, as a manager, when you focus on your employees’ strengths, the chance for them to be actively disengaged in the workplace is only about one percent? Consider the potential that one shift in the way you lead your people could improve and impact the bottom-line.

I was recently watching a video, which featured Jay Niblick, author of the book “What’s Your Genius?” In that video, Jay said something that to this day I consider quite profound. He said, “For me to focus on my weaknesses is like me saying God didn’t know what He was doing when He created me. And frankly, I’m not that egotistical.” Well said, Jay. Well said!