Last week I was fortunate enough to attend yet another meeting of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel. Not only was the meeting held in an absolutely gorgeous setting in Banff, Alberta, Canada in the Canadian Rockies, but as usual, the quality of the programs and the people both speaking at and attending this conference was outstanding.
One of the non-member speakers that appeared was a speaker by the name of Dr. Dale Henry, who spoke about getting back your 'whack.' He began his talk by commenting about how many people complain about how 'out of whack' they are, but how few people brag about being 'in whack.'
The central message of his talk revolved around what he calls his personal philosophy, which was twofold:
1. Never say "It's not my job";
2. Never say, "I wish I had."
His speech was funny, entertaining, informative, and thought-provoking. But what I'd like to focus on is the first part of his philosophy - never say it's not my job. He had a lot of number and intelligent stories that illustrated his point, but his core message was about being of service to others. Not only is being of service to others good for the soul, but it's good for business, too. Regardless of how smart, knowledgeable or experienced you are, what people really remember is how you treat them. And a service experience that goes above and beyond will be remembered forever. That's gold for your practice. But it doesn't just apply when you're at work - being of service to others in your personal life can reap unanticipated rewards, both personally and professionally.
I challenge you to adopt some of Henry's philosophy and start by refusing to say, "It's not my job." If someone asks for your help, give it. If you're unable to help them directly, then help them find someone else who can. Not only will it help your business, but it will help you get your 'whack' back.
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