Kevin W. McCarthy

What does it take to be a success?

I found this presentation on TED that breaks down some of the key qualities of being on-purpose.   RIchard St. John was asked a simple question by a teenager.   His pursuit of the answer lead to 500 interviews over 7 years with successful people.  In 3 minutes Richard provides great insight in an entertaining manner.  Enjoy!

What's Your Valentines Day Advice?

What's your greatest advice for keeping your marriage together?  Let me hear from you on this one!  With Valentines Day fast approaching, it would be great to gather some insights - serious and humorous alike.

The "best advice" I ever got was from a man married for 39 years.  I was in college at the time and his daughter was a dear friend of mine. As he drank his morning coffee, I asked, "Mr. Collier, to what do you attribute the longevity of your marriage to Mrs. Collier?"

Immediately he answered, "Early in our marriage we came to an agreement that I would make all the big decisions in our marriage and my bride would handle all the small decisions.  Amazingly, in 39 years of marriage there has been nothing but small decisions."

I can remember laughing as he shared that advice.  After over 25 years of marriage to my bride, I fully appreciate his humorous wisdom even more.  If only I had listened better...

Be On-Purpose!
Kevin

PS: Photo is the McCarthy Family:  Charles, Judith, Anne, and Kevin

And the Winner of the Contest Is... Me!

Jeevan Sivasubramaniam of Berrett-Koehler Publishers produces the weekly BK Communique.  An occasional feature is a puzzler.  His final contest of 2009 caught my eye.  Here it is:

Drum roll please, I won the contest.  Here is Jeevan's most recent posting:

"I issued this challenge. Some people came close, but no one answered correctly.  The answer? You should definitely not take my bet -- here's why.

"Kevin McCarthy submitted a response that was just so, um, creative that I had to give him a free book. (And he kindly sent me a copy of his book.) You can read Kevin's response to the challenge here.

Dear Jeevan,

No, I will not accept your bet in A Game of Cards.   Here's why:

After reading the challenge, I easily recognized it as a probability and statistics question.   Upon the thought of engaging in the calculation of the odds of winning versus the payoff, I felt this knot in my stomach – the same one I used to feel in undergraduate and graduate school when I had to take probability and statistics classes.   My mind swirled with permutations, methods, and calculations as to how to attack and solve your challenge.  My competitive juices began to kick in because I had to be the first to solve it in order to win a book and have a shrine in the lobby.  Fortunately, I'm on the East Coast so I have an advantage over those later risers in the Central and Western time zones. 

Recognizing this strange mix of competitiveness and cards, I immediately converted from worshiping in an Episcopal church to an ultra conservative Baptist church with Pentecostal and Charismatic leanings.   This means I can neither play card games nor gamble.  Because I don't smoke, drink, or dance (lack of any sense of rhythm per my wife) anyway, my transition ten minutes ago to my new Thursday morning church is going along fundamentally well.   Never doubt the power and practicality of my conversion and the values of my new denomination.  The knot in my stomach is gone - healed in an instant!  Here is proof of the peace that passes all understanding as it washed through me.  PTL! 

Sure, you were likely expecting some brainiac to give an answer to the challenge using math.  I, however, have claimed the high moral ground in a triumph of faith over math to come to the answer.  Finally, should this be the winning and timely response, then I will accept a book but must decline the shrine in the lobby.  I can have no part in false idols.

Be On-Purpose!

Kevin

Kevin W. McCarthy
CEO, On-Purpose Partners, LLC

Here was Jeevan's notice to me of being the book winner:

"Never has an answer been so blatantly wrong and yet seemed so right.  So, what the hell, for sheer audacity and creativity, you win a book."

Cover via Amazon

Jeevan was true to his word and sent me The New Organizational Wealth, the book of my choice.  He was a good sport so I sent him The On-Purpose Person.

The Benefits of Having My Birthday on Christmas

Most people think having a birthday on Christmas is really awful.  Here are some of the benefits of having my birthday on Christmas:

1. Fewer presents means fewer thank you notes to write.

2. I don't have to work on my birthday. Instead, I get to prepare for days in advance, cook, clean, wash, put away, do it all over and over. Whew! I get to go back to work Monday.

3. God cared enough about me to give me an annual reminder that no matter how important or impressive I think I am - Im not. Then, God allowed me to be married - another reminder where I stand. Then God allowed me to have children - two more reminders. Finally, God allow me to have a dog so at least someone would love, admire, and respect me provided I clean up after he poops.

4. Most people forget it is your birthday which they would probably do anyway so I at least you can blame Christmas on being forgotten.

5. I get to go to parties where everyone is festive and joyful on my birthday and they're not faking it for my birthday. For those of us who tend toward introversion, it gives us relief from having to be the uncomfortable center of attention.

6. My family is always around for my birthday. That's a good thing, right?

7. I get to buy and give presents for other people on my birthday.

8. There is something really special about sharing this special day with Jesus. Hard to describe, but it is humbling.

Be On-Purpose!

Kevin

Do You Have a Funny View On-Purpose?

Purpose statements are challenging to write.  Most who write them are confused about the basic concept and structure so the end product is flawed, often with humorous benefit.  Some are just poking fun. 

In today's On-Purpose^® Minute I've culled from Twitter some "enlightening" points of view about the purpose of life.  I hope you'll find the wit and wisdom refreshingly entertaining.

To follow me on Twitter, I'm @kevinwmccarthy.   For Twitter users, if you want to reference some on-purpose work, then please use: #onpurpose.

In this video I mention my friend, Mark Carbone.   He's a social media mentor.  If your business is ready to leverage social media to build brand, reach, and communications, please connect with Mark at: mc@xecorporation.com. 

Be On-Purpose!

Kevin

Customer Service Laughs

We all have our travel war stories.  I just had to add my most recent experiences to the "I wonder what they are thinking" file.

Wireless Wonders
OK, so I check into the Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale, AZ for a convention. My wife and I just traveled way too many hours thanks to a thunderstorm over the Atlanta airport that had us missing our connecting flight and the next flight because it was already overbooked.  I go to power up my laptop to handle a few items while my wife is taking a bath before we crash for the night.

I'm greeted by a screen that informs me internet connections are $12.95 per 24 hour period or $3.95 per hour.   Let's face it - when Hampton Inn can give you free wireless access, why is a five star resort gouging its patrons by making wireless internet service a profit center?   Frankly, I was ticked off about it.  Here I was stuck for four days at this beautiful resort and I couldn't shake the feeling I was being raked over the coals.  At least they didn't have a meter on the water for the shower and bath tub.

Thinking there might be some sort of group rate or discount available, I called the front desk and asked if there was a group rate for wireless service.  "No," the woman told me.   Admittedly, I vented my frustration when I said, "Gee, Hampton Inn gives you free wireless; you would think the Phoenician would have this service for free."  Her response was priceless:  "Sir, we're a five star resort not a Hampton Inn."

The message I got was if you can't afford the car, then don't complain about the price of gasoline.  So come on Phoenician, get into the 21st Century of basic services for guests. 

Great place to stay otherwise!

Delayed Thinking
So we're heading home from the trip to Phoenix.  Delta Airlines calls my cell phone around noon Eastern time to say our connecting flight from Cincinnati to Orlando is delayed from 8:15 PM to 10:00 PM.  I'm impressed. 

We arrive at Cincinnati to find the 10:00 flight time is still the mark.  About fifteen minutes before boarding we're informed that the flight departure is now delayed to 11:30!  So with a 1 hour and 49 minute flight that puts us home at 1:30 am.  Thankfully, we've adjusted somewhat to the three-hour time difference in Phoenix. 

What few of us in the airport realized was the food court and all shops closed at 9:00 on this Sunday evening.  That meant you had about 200 souls and two vending machines tucked behind the food court half a concourse away.  Now Delta had only about ten hours to make other arrangements for the plane, but they bet they could get this one on the ground fixed.  About 10:30 someone from Delta threw a flat of water and some biscuit cookies and peanuts on the counter and announced, "Come and get it."

Judith and I were fine sitting there.  It was the families with all the little kids heading to Disney World for whom I felt true compassion. 

Fortunately, when we got on the plane, the flight attendant, Peter, had a plan.   A free movie and headsets for everyone. He did a great job of apologizing to the passengers.   The movie was 17 Again.  You aren't going to believe this, but the plane landed just before the movie ended.  So if anyone knows how the movie ended... email me!

It gets funnier...

Bathroom Humor
We land in Orlando just past 1:30 AM.  Judith and I head to the baggage claim to get our bags.   The Orlando airport is empty except for passengers from our flight and another from Atlanta.   They place all of us at carousel 30.   About this time, nature is calling me so I head to the bathroom for an on-purpose pee.  I see it has one of those bright orange cones in front and a cleaning cart.   I walk in and a woman is cleaning the men's room.   She scolds me for coming in and tells me to leave.  I comply. 

I walk half a concourse to another men's room.   It is closed with a barricade.   I walk back up to baggage claim 30 hoping the attendant is finished.   She's standing in front of the entrance blocking people from going in.  Get this... a male attendant is standing in front of the women's bathroom entrance blocking women from going in. Do you think they could have switched?  

So here you have about 400 people all waiting for the bags with the only two bathrooms within 500 yards being blocked by staff of the opposite sex from the bathroom they are cleaning.   Could they have switched bathrooms?  No!  Could they have accommodated the only two flights left to come into the airport at now 2 AM?  No!  My Spanish is not good otherwise I might have argued the point.  What were they thinking?

I just had to laugh... fortunately not hard enough to wet my pants.

Be On-Purpose!

Kevin

Syfy: Why?

The SCI FI Channel has changed its branding.  Check it out with this link.

At On-Purpose Business Advisors we inevitably end up in branding because of our core work on business design and strategy.   Branding is one of the first external expressions and places to create alignment with customers.  

I had to laugh when I saw the new name.   SCI FI says it all.  Syfy - what does that say?  There are some names you just don't need to change.  That said, a logo update would certainly be in order, but to change the name at this point to Syfy is just plain stupid.   Perhaps they have some magic hidden up their sleeve with this new name.  I sense someone got paid a great deal of money to develop a new look and name.  Unfortunately, the emperor's new clothes made it through tight-lipped committee after committee for approval.

The new logo makes me think this is a Styrofoam cup business, a paper company, or a pharmaceutical conglomerate with some made up name due to some chemical compounding.  Certainly not an edgy science fiction television channel.  

The good news is the execution on the web site is stunningly well done in terms of navigation, look, graphics, etc.  They've kept the traditional purple (outer space?) for highlights.  There is a lot there and they manage it nicely.  So kudos to the team that took what was probably given to them and took it boldly where few have gone before.

For now, all I can do is sigh, fyi. 

Be On-Purpose!

Kevin

Pittsburgh Penguins' Stanley Cup Runneth Over

SeaWorld Orlando has Discovery Cove where you can swim with the dolphins and the Penguin Encounter where you can watch penguins frolic and play in a frozen environment.  

Move over Orlando, Pittsburgh has bested SeaWorld with Super Mario's Mansion where the whole family can swim with the Penguins AND the Stanley Cup. 

I grew up in the Pittsburgh, PA area and we Pittsburghers do love our sports.   My brother, Bob, who lives there, keeps me up to date with lots of happenings around town.   Sports are something fun we've shared as kids, especially since we were a family of athletes.  

Mario Lemieux is the owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins.  The team's former star and hockey legend naturally threw a party at his home for the championship team.   My brother has some friends who attended the team party and forwarded these photos.  (Note that the kid in the yellow flotation device is not wearing Red Wings.)

Don't be too alarmed by the scene.   The Stanley Cup is traditionally hoisted and jolted by the winning team.  It is revered enough to fight for; real enough to be enjoyed.  The Stanley Cup adds yet another page to its history of storied adventures.

Let's hope that Cup can swim!

Be On-Purpose!

Kevin

Mario's Mansion outside of Pittsburgh:

The Stanley Cup on display before it takes a dip in the pool.

Amazing Actual Wedding Music Video

With June brides and grooms getting set for the big day... consider the possibilities!  This bride and groom had a ball at their wedding.  FYI - this is an actual wedding video.  You just have to laugh!

Brian & Eileen's Wedding Music Video. from LOCKDOWN projects on Vimeo.

Here is a link to LOCKDown projects, the team that put this video together.

Southwest Airlines: Welcome Aboard

Having flown Southwest Airlines over the years, I have to say that they are what they are.  In addition to being profitable, they are safe... and entertaining. 

Check out this pre-flight announcement.

One of my favorite Southwest announcements was at the end of the flight.   The flight attendant said that if the flight was great to please use their web site www.southwest.com to let them know.   If the flight was bad, we were to use the special complaint web site: www.northwest.com – referring us to their competitor of course. 

Enjoy the link. 

Be On-Purpose!

Kevin