Most mammals react to fear with “Fight or Flight.”

Unfortunately, we humans have a third reaction: PARALYSIS.

Recently, a friend of mine, Anna Birch, offered me the following advice when my team and I were STUCK: “Move your feet, move your mind.”

Often, my instinct when I get overwhelmed is to STOP and take stock. That is when my “To Do List” hits me like a 50 foot wave crashing on my head!

My mind can quickly shift to hopelessness where hours turn into days and days into weeks.

Anna’s advice works, but it means that I often have to give up on the idea of certainty in my next step. (Perhaps “certainty” is a delusion that I too often chase?)

Taking the NEXT STEP allows me two key advantages:

1. I get out of the spot where the piano is about to land on my head!
2. It allows me to see the situation from a different perspective.

Putting one foot in front of the other,

PS: Check out a new iPad magazine “Bar Magazine” that I am writing for… it is AWESOME and I am sure you will love it!
You can get it in the app store here:

http://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/bar-magazine/id514515741?l=sk&ls=1&mt=8

Spring has sprung in Annapolis and (just in time) Angus shares a refreshing cocktail from another bartending legend, Dale DeGroff.

Flavors of grapefruit, honey, and mint are perfect for the season, and are a real crowd-pleaser. Feature it at your bar this month, or serve it to your friends at your next backyard get together.

Salud!

PS: Check the banners at right to see if I’m coming to a city near you.

I grew up playing hockey in Canada and my dad never missed a game.

He is an incredibly bright guy and would offer endless advice on the way to a game, deconstruct everything on the way home, and then add commentary.

He wanted the best for me but the truth is I was unable to absorb much of his advice: too much, too fast.

Now it is my turn…

My son, Rhys, started playing Lacrosse this year in Maryland. He is a big, strong boy with a knack for athletics.

I was on the road last week, so I called him right before practice and asked if he was all set.

He said “Ya, dad, and I promise to work hard on our 3 things:”

1. WATCH and LEARN from the player in front of me.
2. FULL OUT every drill. (Out-hustle everyone!)
3. SERVE YOUR TEAM by helping teammates and be grateful to your coaches.

I must admit, I am in shock, as we had never talked about “Just 3 things.” But something was working!

It caused me to think about how I often fail others by trying to “manage” them, instead of COACHING them. I also have a bad habit of over complicating things, instead of KEEPING IT SIMPLE.

3 really is the “Magic Number!”

PS: Don’t miss Sean at the Manhattan Cocktail Classic, May 13 in New York City, and at Tales of the Cocktail, July 25 in New Orleans.

Click the banners at right for more details.

That is what every Gen Y staff member really wants to ask BEFORE filling out your application. You know you will have this right when you are being BOMBARDED with applications!

As you know, we did our Peer-to-Peer celebration last week. I have always made a point of taking a lot of pictures and now collecting video. I am now committed to being a better storyteller and broadcaster.

I offer you two examples of “Telling your story” and displaying the best of your culture.

Example 1: This year, shot professionally by one of my guys, Jon, and edited back at the office.

Example 2: From last year. We all took pictures, some video on our phones and used ANIMOTO to create a free video: Click here to see it.

Believe me when I tell you that there is someone on your team RIGHT NOW who could pull this off. Your job is to find them and make it happen!

Fired up and ready to go!

PS: Don’t miss Sean at the Manhattan Cocktail Classic, May 13 in New York City, and at Tales of the Cocktail, July 25 in New Orleans.

Click the banners at right for more details.

Last week we celebrated our 2011 Peer-to-Peer Award winners at a cabin on Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia. It is without a doubt the BEST professional activity I do each year.

I have been telling audiences around the world for over a decade that this practice is the most powerful thing you can do to improve your company culture.

BUT, still, so few try it…

Top 3 reasons they tell me why they DON’T:

1. CAN’T AFFORD IT
   Myth Busted: This could be run successfully for $500 per year.
2. DON’T HAVE TIME
   Myth Busted: If you don’t take one day out per year to plan your culture,
   YOU NEED TO START NOW. 

3. DON’T KNOW HOW
   Myth Busted: My whitepaper tells you how, step-by-step.

The Peer-to-Peer program is among the least expensive, highest impact team building activities I have come across, and it can be done in only 8-10 hours of planning and execution. I urge you all to take the following steps and get your award moving TODAY:

1. Set a date for the first celebration (give yourself 6 months)
2. Find a person on your team NOW who will head this up.
3. Print off the whitepaper’s instructions
4. Assign them a budget
5. Have them report to your management team monthly on their progress
6. DO IT!

To your success,

PS: Don’t miss Sean at the Manhattan Cocktail Classic, May 13 in New York City, and at Tales of the Cocktail, July 25 in New Orleans.

Click the banners at right for more details.