Category: life lessons

An open letter to junior employees who want to keep their new jobs.

Hey Junior Employees!*

Congratulations on landing that new job of yours! Finding the job may have seemed like the hard part. It is not. The hard part is not getting left behind.

Now that you have the job it’s frick’n go time! You have to start performing and competing like you did in your classes. Like you did in your athletic competitions or music competitions, or art competitions, or dance competitions or beer chugging competitions, or whatever you once did competitively.

As a new employee, you are a liability. You cost the company more than you make it. Because we have to train you to do your job in a way that adds value. You are not an asset to the company until you have learned enough to create more value than we pay you in salary or wages. For some employees, this never happens. And if it doesn’t happen quickly enough you can’t stay with the company.

Remember the line you heard at the bar at closing time in college:

‘You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.’

The same applies to employees who don’t learn, contribute and start providing value that exceeds their wages.

You need to focus on transforming yourself into an asset employee. That means you should be pushing me, your supervisor, or boss, or business owner for more. For more work, for more opportunities for more access, for more teaching and exposure (work-appropriate exposure only.)

You have got to stand up and demand to be noticed. You’ve got to bring ideas to the table. Or wherever ideas should be brought if you work in a table-less organization.

Take initiative.

Ask questions. As many as you can.

Learn and grow faster than anyone else in the organization.

Soak it all up, like Sheryl Crow. (Ask your parents to explain what that means.)

You are starting at a low point. Growth should be evident quickly.

Create your own fast track to the top by moving fast. By learning fast. By growing fast. Like Luke Combs in that fast car he bought from Tracy Chapman.

Don’t wait for me. I may be too busy to help you move fast unless you are requesting it. Or forcing it.

Don’t allow yourself to be ignored for long stretches. (Think about it like developing real-life Snapstreaks with the senior people at work.)

Create stuff.

Add value in ways we never requested.

Because once you become an Asset Employee everything changes.

And your employer will do all they can to keep you.

That’s the goal.

Key Takeaway

New employees, both junior and senior, begin their jobs as liabilities, costing companies more than they earn. To develop job security you have to produce. That means action, initiative, learning and growth. Master the systems and processes. Bring new ideas. Outpace the expected learning curve. Make yourself indispensable and irreplaceable. This is how you transform yourself from a liability into one of the most profitable assets within your organization. It’s really up to you.

*I learned several years ago that you are supposed to call employees with little to no experience juniors. Not young. Or the old people will want to sue you for age discrimination.

**If you know someone who could benefit from this message, please share it with them.

+For more of the best life lessons I have learned check out my book, What Does Your Fortune Cookie Say? from Ripples Media.

Don’t waste a near-death experience.

By now we have all seen the assassination attempt on Donald Trump. As an optimist, I am hopeful that some very good things will come out of this very bad event. I hope it provides a perspective-altering experience for Trump, for politicians, for speech writers and for the American people.

There are simple facts about divisiveness. If you divide severely, make fun of people, belittle and laugh at people, or treat people as if they are dumb, or incompetent, you will eventually find a breaking point. We saw that clearly in the movie Billy Madison when we discovered that Steve Buscemi’s character Danny, who was bullied by Billy in school, had created a list of people to kill, which included Billy Madison.

Danny (Steve Buscemi) crosses Billy Madison’s name off of his list of people to kill after Billy apologizes for how he treated Danny in school. Then Danny put on some lipstick in a very strange and memorable ending to this scene.

I am hopeful that the assassination attempt has triggered a reset. I hope this serves as a reminder that there are limits to how far we can push. (Unless you are Salt n’ Peppa, who push it real good.) I hope that we start to realize that it is better to share your own positive plans and visions than it is to tear other people, parties and ideologies down.

I hope this serves as a reminder that the most powerful people in the world should be cautious about labeling others as threats to democracy. Because it has a very real chance of inciting others to take up arms to put down that threat in the name of preserving our great democracy.

The Gift of The Close Call

I have had some close calls in my life with what could have been very bad outcomes. We probably all have. For me, each of those situations served as an inflection point. I was different after the experiences than I was before. I had a better sense of the boundaries of safety. I developed a better understanding of cause and effect. I realized how lucky I was to be given more time and more chances to get things right. Which is the basic theme of 50% of country songs.

When you are faced with an abrupt ending, it shines a spotlight on how you want to spend your second chance. It forces you to reevaluate and recalibrate. And it makes you think about your legacy, and what people will say about you after you are gone. Which is the basic storyline of 50% of the movies made in Hollywood. That’s why there is that moment at the end of Home Alone when Buzz tells Kevin, ‘It’s pretty cool that you didn’t burn the place down.’

If someone shot at me it would force some self-reflection. I would question my words and my actions. I would recognize that I may be pushing people too far. And that I may not be exhibiting the kind of empathy and compassion that would have kept me out of the very real crosshairs. I am hopeful that this event has forced some valuable soul-searching, eye-opening, and dare I say, ear-opening that will lead to better actions by everyone involved.

Key Takeaway

Don’t waste a second chance. When you are faced with a premature ending to anything, let it be a positive force in your life that helps you rewrite a better ending. These moments are gifts. But you have to be ready to receive them. If you do, these experiences have the potential to help you change your life for the better, if not the course of history.

*If you know someone who could benefit from this message, please share it with them.

+For more of the best life lessons I have learned check out my book, What Does Your Fortune Cookie Say? from Ripples Media.

The best way to respond to those who are better than you.

There’s a good chance that you are not the best at what you do. At least not the very best in the whole wide world. After all, there are 8 billion people squished on this planet. Which is why the line at the deli sometimes takes so long.

You will often find yourself surrounded by people who are better than you are at all kinds of things. Dancing, basketball, school, entrepreneurship, parenting, juggling, wearing clothes, or wearing no clothes.

When you find yourself surrounded by people who are better than you at something, use it as a source of inspiration, not intimidation.

Recognize how much more potential you have.

Study those who are better than you. They are an excellent resource. They are showing you what is possible. Borrow their approach. Steal their moves. Or be inspired by their originality.

You can be overt or covert in your approach. You can spy on them in secret. Or you can approach them and ask for their advice. Both work. I know. I’ve experimented. But if you get too close, the spying in secret is more likely to end with someone calling the cops. #thingsIlearnedthehardway

It is a gift to be exposed to those better than you. They force you to reevaluate and recalibrate. Allow yourself to be propelled by their positive peer pressure.

But to benefit from exposure to people who are better than you, you have to adopt a growth mindset. You have to believe that you are capable of more and better. When you do, the superior doesn’t make you feel inferior. It expands your mind and helps you see what you are capable of achieving.

Key Takeaway

Seek out other people who are better than you are. Surround yourself with them. They are a gift. They demonstrate what is possible. They provide a model for you to follow. It is your mindset that interprets the greatness in others as inspiration or intimidation. Always choose inspiration. It is the source from which all great improvement flows. Follow its path. And soon you will find others following you.

Writer’s Note:

At the Nike Outdoor National Track & Field Championships 2 weeks ago my daughter Ava threw against some of the best competition in the country. She had her second farthest throw ever in the discus. When I told her how proud I was of how she performed on the big stage she’s said. ‘When you find yourself surrounded by people who are better than you at something you have to use it as a source of inspiration, not intimidation.’ Which was the inspiration for this post.

+ In the cover photo for this post the man to the left of the podium is my legendary college track coach Ed Nuttycombe. It was a great full-circle moment for me to watch Nutty hand my daughter Ava her medal at the Myrhum Invite meet earlier this spring.

*If you know someone who could benefit from this message, please share it with them.

For more of the best life lessons I have learned check out my book, What Does Your Fortune Cookie Say? from Ripples Media.

The nice surprise at the end of my long day of trains, planes and automobiles.

Recently I had a long day of travel to the West Coast. It started with a 1-hour round-trip drive to drop off our Border Collie Lola at her Pet Lodge. Then we had a 1.5-hour drive to Chicago. Followed by a train ride from the remote parking lot to the terminal at O’Hare International Airport.

My family and I arrived 1.5 hours before our flight was scheduled to take off. But then the flight was delayed by 3 hours. Finally, after a 4.5-hour flight, we landed in the Pacific Northwest. (Note how adding the word Northwest dramatically changed the meaning of that last sentence.)

After we landed we proceeded to the rental car counter, picked up our car (not literally), and drove 30 minutes to the hotel. It had been quite a day. When I walked into the hotel I approached the front desk with a big smile and enthusiasm, which is my default mode. Immediately the two staff members at reception lit up and commented on how they loved my energy. Especially since it was well after 10pm.

The person checking me into my room asked to see my ID. I enthusiastically handed him my new license, which I had just renewed the week before. He exclaimed that I really brought the energy in my license photo too. The other person behind the front desk chimed in about it and mentioned that her driver’s license was from Hawaii. Which allowed me to drop some McLovin references. And we all had a SuperGoood laugh.

As we finished the check-in process the clerk handed me my room keys. They were to an upgraded room on the top floor of the hotel. Then he handed me my parking pass and said, ‘No charge for the parking tonight. Thank you for bringing such great energy to our hotel tonight.’

Key Takeaway

Your personal energy is one of the most valuable assets you can share with other people. You don’t have to be a rockstar or a motivational speaker to make people feel good. Just share your energy and your good attitude. It elevates moods. It transforms situations. It reminds us all what life feels like at its best. When you share your energy with the people around you, it helps them do the same. And the ripple effect helps make the world a better place. Heck, you might just get a better room and free parking out of it.

*If you know someone who could benefit from this message, please share it with them.

+For more of the best life lessons I have learned check out my book, What Does Your Fortune Cookie Say? from Ripples Media.

My two-word formula for success at anything.

I have spent my whole life alphabetically advantaged. Adam Albrecht appears near the top of every list whether you decide to organize people by first name, last name, or the more rarely-used, 3rd letter of the first name.

I love my initials. AA. I sign my emails and notes with -AA. It’s symmetrical and primary. It would work well as a name for a ranch. (The kind with cattle, not the kind that Paul Newman makes.)

My favorite batteries are AA. My favorite company swag comes from American Airlines. And if I ever become ambitious enough to start drinking alcohol, and then ambitious enough to stop drinking alcohol, I am going to join AA, and wear all of their swag. I’ll be the most non-anonymous AA member of all time.

But AA is not just my initials. It is also shorthand for my formula for success.

That simple yet powerful formula is Action & Analysis.

To be successful you have to take Action. You have to verb. You have to do. You have to try. Action is the fuel that creates results.

But once you have taken Action, you have to perform an Analysis. You need to study the results. You need to evaluate the outcome. You need to learn what worked and what didn’t. You have to learn which jokes landed, and which ones were only funny in your head. (It was the 3rd- letter-of-the-first-name thing wasn’t it?)

Then you adjust your aim, reload, and fire more action at your target. Then analyze again. And repeat.

Action & Analysis is a simple formula for success. It has been proven in action, and through analysis. And it never fails.

Key Takeaway

To become the best version of yourself you need Action and Analysis. Do what you think you should do. Then analyze the outcome. Adjust according to your learnings. Then take action again. Success leaves clues. Failure steers us. Reflecting on experience leads to wisdom. Repeat the process over and over and over. All the way to success. -AA

*If you know someone who could benefit from this message, please share it with them.

+For more of the best life lessons I have learned check out my book, What Does Your Fortune Cookie Say? from Ripples Media.

Here’s the best way to interpret bad behavior.

I am reading a fascinating book titled Good Inside by Dr. Becky Kennedy.

The basic premise of the book, and the inspiration for the title, is that all of us, kids included, are good inside. Kinda like a Tootsie Pop. Furthermore, it is important to remember that when we make bad decisions or exhibit bad behavior, it is simply a reflection of a strong understandable desire, fear or discomfort that manifests itself in a negative way. (Which reminds me of my friend who got yelled at by a flight attendant when she got up from her airplane seat to run to the bathroom as the plane was taking off. But my friend was quite literally pooping her pants. So, yeah, you go to the bathroom girl.)

Good for parenting. But also good if you are a leader or a human.

The Good Inside assumption is a valuable reminder to us all. We know that we are good people. We know that our kids, coworkers, friends, and neighbors are good inside, with very rare Dahmerish exceptions. When you recognize this, you come to a much better understanding of what is really driving poor behavior.

Kennedy introduces the MGI, short for Most Generous Interpretation. (Not Most Gassy Intestines.) If you believe that we are all good inside, it is valuable to consider the Most Generous Interpretation of any negative or problematic behavior. This means that when someone acts up, melts down, or their behavior is otherwise misaligned with norms and expectations, rather than simply cursing and condemning, we should generously interpret the very normal and understandable feelings that are underlying such behaviors.

This MGI enables you to demonstrate empathy and compassion. It helps you arrive at an understanding, and address the real and relatable issue the person is dealing with, not just the negative expression that leaks out. (Like my friend on that plane.)

Key Takeaway

You make the world a better place when you assume people are good inside, even when they do bad things. The best thing we can do for each other is consider the Most Generous Interpretation of each other’s words and actions. It enables us to understand, address and resolve negative behavioral challenges in the most positive way. And that’s a win for everyone.

*If you know someone who could benefit from this message, please share it with them.

+For more of the best life lessons I have learned check out my book, What Does Your Fortune Cookie Say? from Ripples Media.

Remember that even your small steps move you forward.

There are days when you can put massive effort towards your goals.

You have time.

You have energy.

You have inspiration.

You ate your Wheaties for breakfast.

You’re cranking the Rocky theme song on repeat on your Airpods, headphones or boombox.

Those are days that you feel like you are taking one giant leap forward for you-kind.

But…

On other days you don’t have the same resources.

Your schedule is challenging

Your energy is low.

You can’t find your Airpods. And your boombox is out of batteries.

Your motivation has secretly been replaced with slowtivation or notivation.

On those days, lower the bar.

Do something small.

Invest a few minutes instead of hours.

Move forward a few inches instead of miles.

Read a page, not a book.

Spend a few quality minutes not the full day.

Remember, small steps save the day.

And they set you up for bigger, better steps forward tomorrow.

Key Takeaway

Don’t be an all-or-nothing person. All-or-something keeps you moving forward. Do what you can. Support your habits. Maintain your momentum. Tomorrow, you will be glad you did.


*If you know someone who could benefit from this message, please share it with them.

+For more of the best life lessons I have learned check out my book, What Does Your Fortune Cookie Say? from Ripples Media.

Here’s a great way to give graduates valuable life lessons.

We’re in the thick of graduation season. High school and college seniors are transitioning into a very different phase of their lives. If they were caterpillars, they would be busting out of their cocoons and butterflying away with a diploma in one hand and their parent’s health insurance card in the other.

This graduation season is the most meaningful to me since my own graduation from Hanover High School in Hanover, New Hampshire. Because my daughter Ava is graduating from high school this year. Well, she should be graduating. But I am a little worried that her high school will realize that when I called her out sick saying she had a combination of Scurvy and Malaria, she was really just skipping school to go to Six Flags.

Today, I am thinking about all the important life lessons I would like to share with Ava. Luckily I have been thinking about this for a few years. (Cue the flashback…)

In March of 2020, at the beginning of the COVID lockdown, I suddenly had a lot of time on my hands. Especially the typing part of my hands. So I began writing my book What Does Your Fortune Cookie Say? It’s a collection of 80 of the best life lessons I have learned. I wanted my children to have access to this wisdom and inspiration when they left home. Or when I was no longer alive to share the lessons with them. Whichever came first.

Today, as I am thinking about graduation, I am thankful that I took the time to write this book and share these lessons. Because I did, Ava and other graduates will be able to benefit from my learnings and experiences. These lessons are some of the most valuable gifts I have to offer. And right now I am thinking about lesson 47 on page 152, which says:

Today’s Success Was Born Yesterday.

The relationships you developed yesterday strengthen your support system today, The progress you made yesterday becomes momentum today. The exercise you performed yesterday creates today’s strength, endurance and health. The time you invested yesterday becomes the time you saved today. The reading you did yesterday creates the knowledge you have today. The traveling you did yesterday becomes today’s memories and experiences. The preparation you did yesterday makes you ready for today.

The Special Offer

When I first published What Does Your Fortune Cookie Say? the two most common comments I got from readers were:

  1. I wish had read this when I was younger.
  2. This book makes a great gift for graduates.

I always see a spike in book sales in May at graduation time. And tomorrow, Saturday, May 25th is my birthday. To celebrate, and to help get this book of life lessons into the hands of more people who could really benefit from it, I have reduced the price by 25% on Amazon through midnight on Saturday. Which makes this the best time to buy the book as a graduation gift, or to stock up on copies for other occasions.

Happy My Birthday!

Have a great Memorial Day Weekend!

-AA

Why it is so important to be in the right place at the right time.

I spend a lot of money on gasoline. And airfare. Then there are the trains, subways, ferries, and those incline thingies in Pittsburgh and Chattanooga.

Why do I spend so much on transportation?

Because place matters.

So we pay to be in the place where the thing is happening, Hot Stuff.

We pay to be in the place where people gather.

If you want to be included you have to be in the place.

If you want to be seen you have to be in the place.

If you want to develop or deepen your relationships, you have to be in the place.

If you want to influence the outcome, you have to be the ace in the place, with or without the helpful hardware folks.

Being in the right place at the right time makes magic, Mike.

It unlocks doors. It finishes the job. Or starts the next one.

As Woody Allen said, “80% of success is showing up.”

If you don’t show up your world shrinks. This includes your engagements, relationships, opportunities and learnings. And no one likes shrinkage.

So show up to the places that matter.

Be in the room where it happens.

Put yourself amongst the people.

Be in the human traffic flow.

And good things will happen.

Key Takeaway

Regardless of technological advances that enable you to work from anywhere, physical locations will always be important. Be where the people are. Attend the events. Increase the chances of chance encounters. Increase your familiarity. Be seen and become known. Be missed when you are not there. Better yet, be the reason others show up.

*If you know someone who could benefit from this message, please share it with them.

+For more of the best life lessons I have learned check out my book, What Does Your Fortune Cookie Say? from Ripples Media.

What gets you high?

A couple of months ago I was at the airport in Atlanta, along with a few hundred thousand travel buddies, when one young man’s sweatshirt caught my attention. It was a simple black hoodie. On the front of the shirt, it said:

Music Gets Me High.

I loved the shirt. Not because music gets me high. But because the young man wearing it knew that music gets him high. And while I haven’t consulted with the Food and Drug Administration or Nancy Reagan, I expect that music provides a fairly safe way to get high. And somebody should tell that to Willie Nelson.

The shirt, and the young man wearing it, made me think that everyone should know what gets them high.

So the question of the day is:

What activities make you feel heightened and alive? Or euphoric? Or in flow?

This is a far more valuable question to ask yourself if the answer is not related to drugs or alcohol. In fact, the point of this prompt is to find the activities that make you feel great without the chemicals. This is particularly interesting to me because I have never drank or done drugs. But I engage in activities that make me feel great. But because my activities are positive and healthy, unlike Amy Winehouse, they are not trying to make me go to rehab.

So what gets you high?

Discover your most highly rewarding activities.

Find ways to do them more often.

And you will live a highly enjoyable life.

*If you know someone who could benefit from this message, please share it with them.

+For more of the best life lessons I have learned check out my book, What Does Your Fortune Cookie Say? from Ripples Media.