Get On My Lawn!
Last week Sammy T (from the MIBE team) and I were venting about some of our frustrations. As we shared gripes about politics, sports, societal issues, the weather, and most notably kids bringing their parents to interviews, (yes it’s a thing) we recognized that we were starting to sound like grumpy old men. We deemed it our “get off my lawn” conversations as a nod to David Letterman’s comedic tagline that he started using in the ‘80s which has gained popularity when referring to older people complaining. We joked that we should start a podcast with that title.
As I thought about it later in the day, the negativity didn’t sit well with me. I don’t like complaining, and the thought of engaging in that on a regular basis didn’t feel right. So I thought about the opposite. What if we engaged in dialogue each day about the awesome things we experienced? We could call it “Get ON My Lawn” conversations to talk about the things we really like or that surprised us in a positive way! Instead of things that “grind our gears” we’d find things that “grease our gears” and instead of people that “ruffle our feathers” we’d talk about people who “smooth our feathers.”
When I started looking for examples, some awesome “Get ON My Lawn” stories came up. April and I were recently at Denver Food and Wine, where a number of high school Pro-Start students were volunteering. On their own, two young ladies came up to us, introduced themselves and engaged in conversation with great eye contact and questions about our business. When all the talk about Gen Z is that they can’t communicate, it was refreshing to see this professionalism at such a young age.
One of our keynote speakers for the MIBE Summit, Brother Luck, recently held his annual “Sober Week” for his team. In a post on instagram, he shared: Kicking off our annual Sober Week by promoting healthier lifestyle choices in the restaurant industry! Today, we started Day 1 with an early morning hike—choosing activities that build community without the late-night scene. It's all about finding balance, supporting each other, and creating positive habits that keep us strong. Let’s keep the momentum going all week long!
And on a big event this past weekend, Elle from the MIBE team shared this story about one of our young chefs. We were on the Elevator obviously sweating but working hard! The Woman taking us to each floor said "I cannot believe that you all had to haul, ALL OF THIS, upstairs just to take it back down!" Sebastian replied without a beat, "It's all about the client experience". What a PERFECT way to put it!
Last week I talked about the importance of optimism and reframing difficult situations. This week I hope you are inspired to take it one step further by seeking out positive things and experiences that bring a smile to your face and restore your hope and optimism in the world. Then instead of venting about the things that bother you, share those awesome stories with those around you to inspire them as well. It may just be what we all need to lighten our day, bring some joy into our life, and give us a little more confidence as we venture ahead on our leadership journey.
Got an awesome “Get ON my lawn story?” We’d love for you to share it with us!
MIBE Awards are open! In addition to Heart Leaders of the Year, Best Employee Recognition Program, and Best Activation of Mission or Core Values - we also have Best Internal Company Event. We want to hear about the awesome events you are putting on for your team, so make sure to gather those photos and submit, you might just be up on stage receiving an award at our annual MIBE Summit in January!
