INTRODUCTION

It’s your way, or the HI way.

I have been a brand solutions adviser for the last thirty-five years. Many of my associates and clients refer to me as an expert[1].

I’m outspoken. I know what I’m doing. I’m convincing and convicted about the kind of solutions it takes to move you and your organization towards a position to succeed.

The #1 piece of advice I can offer you from everything I have experienced and learned from all my mistakes and successes in over three decades, is this: Get out of your own way. That’s the purpose for my writing this book.

If you are ready to admit that your old, tired and ineffective methods aren’t getting the results you once enjoyed, this book is for you. If you and your team do not remember why you got into “this” business, or that moment when the “story” found you, this book is for you. If you have the guts to engage in proven practices that can reshape the mind, heart and body of your business, this book is for you.

More than a book, this is a manuscript; a draft scripted for acting out your story in a more intentional manner. It’s a way to look at business and life that will reveal a rewarding new path accessed through Awakening, Acknowledging, Choosing, Practicing, and Moving.

And, like a hit Broadway show, this higher way requires the right Vision, Talent, Planning and Rehearsal.

How to get the most out of the time you spend reading and practicing the HIway:

1. TAKE THE TIME, IT WON’T BE GIVEN TO YOU: Carve out a minimum of forty-nine minutes each time you sit down to read. Yes, forty-nine minutes is an odd number, and you will be one of the “odd ones” who take the time and benefit most from the doing business and life the HI Way.

2. Practice makes THE imperfect better: Complete the Reflections when they appear throughout the writing. You’ll gain more from trying the practices I suggest than assuming that you “got it” from the reading alone. Reflecting and applying the takeaways to your situation makes all the difference in how you act and how the results play out.

3. this is not a one-MAN OR ONE-WOMAN SHOW: No one of us is or can be better, smarter, brighter or more successful than all of us together. Experience this process with your team or colleagues; after all, collaborating with a troupe brings more rewards than trying to perform it alone.

4. YOU CAN’T GET THERE FROM HERE: There’s a reason why they’re referred to as the practice of medicine, the practice of law and best practice in education. The work is never totally complete or figured out. By the time you figure out the solution to the current dilemma, the next ones surface. Business and life are no different. Enjoy the colorful messiness of finger-painting through trials and successes along the way.

So, join me. Turn the page. It’s HI time we started moving towards your High Impact Solutions.

For emphasis.

(b)

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[1] I have advised companies of all sizes and from most industries; worked with start-ups as well as Fortune 500 companies; advised leaders in real estate, product development, retail, banking, professional service, higher learning, entertainment, faith and non-profits; mentored and coached over fifty corporate executives and leaders; facilitated more than one hundred strategic vision-casting retreats and countless planning sessions; modeled and implemented custom processes for internal corporate marketing teams; directed major renaming and re-branding initiatives for national and international organizations; worked with some of the world’s premier designers and artists in the production of effective brand materials…so much so, that forests tremble at the mention of my name; orchestrated the design and brand systems for the world’s largest chain of independent sock stores; directed the re-branding and brand communications protocols for a fourteen-hundred-church Christian movement and its International Mission, and for more than a decade have been a key brand process adviser to the world’s largest Christian entertainment company…did I mention that I was raised as a nice Jewish boy from Brooklyn?

“Everything is better when you get HI.” It's your way, or the HI way."

Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Now, take one…long…deep breath…and let it out slowly. Believe it or not you have just experienced one of the most important characteristics for fully realizing the benefits of getting HI, High Impact that is; PRESENCE. Now that you are really here with me, I’ll continue.

I admit that I am an addict. I am addicted to the mindset connected with living the HI (High Impact) life. I made this discovery last year. Taking the time to review the story of my career and vocational trajectory I asked myself,

“If I look back at all the situations over my thirty-five years as a brand catalyst, are there similarities in those relationships where I have experienced the bounties of success from my interactions?”

The answer is a resounding “Yes.” And my further evaluation revealed the path I will follow for the balance of my career, vocation and life. I offer it now to you as well:

It’s all about learning, experiencing and living the HI Life.

Through my next column series, I will share with you the essence, characteristics and processes associated with pursuing and experiencing High Impact in your personal, professional and spiritual life. Oops, there’s that God word, “spritual”; but indulge me for a moment, because what I offer works for believers (whatever it is you believe), non-believers (whatever it is you don’t believe), atheists, agnostics, heretics, heathens and the rest of us. What I offer is not religious dogma, a political view, a business management paradigm or how to raise your kids. It is about a way to think, process and act that can and will enable you to see and be the best version of yourself, while helping others to see and be the best version of themselves.

It’s all about High Impact Leadership.
It’s all about High Impact Vision.
It’s all about High Impact Intention.
It’s all about High Impact Practice.
It’s all about High Impact Conduct.

And it all leads to the right solutions; I term them High Impact Solutions.

I hope this will be more for you than the next trendy business management or branding book. Like many of you, I have read all the books: I have recently picked up Steven Covey’s thirty-ninth habit, I’ve become Ken Blanchard’s twenty-seven second manager, the guy who moved Spencer Johnson’s and my cheese is now behind bars and I’ve been on and off Jim Collins’ bus so many times that I am now riding a bicycle. Mind you, these and others are all exceptional in their own right, time and place. My goal in writing High Impact Solutions is to present it to you as a manuscript; handwritten, so that you can read it, mark it up, move things around, argue a point, add to it and come up with the right version for you. I have named the sections “stages,” instead of “chapters.” In live theater performances, actors play out their roles in real time and in front of a live audience; High Impact Solutions are to be acted out in real time, with individual roles, in and on stages in front of your live audiences.

Before the ink of this manuscript fully dries, we can begin writing it again. And then, again.

You see, that’s how my narrative has unfolded, ever since the day the story found me. Coming to know that story has, and continues, to make all the High Impact difference in my world. And if you let it, the story will find you, too. And it can make all the difference in the world.

Here’s what will follow in the coming entries:

INTRODUCTION

Stage 1: Living the HI Life
Stage 2: The HI Way – “The 5 HI Ways”
Stage 3: HI Way 1. High Impact Leadership
Stage 4: HI Way 2. High Impact Vision
Stage 5: HI Way 3. High Impact Intention
Stage 6: HI Way 4. High Impact Practice
Stage 7: HI Way 5. High Impact Conduct
Stage 8: How High Impact Teams Play, Win and Celebrate HI Times
Stage 9: How to stay HI
Stage 10: How to get HI with other High Impact Leaders, Teams and Organizations

CONCLUSION

MY CHALLENGE TO YOU: This is your time and chance to respond to what you read; good, bad, perplexed, inspired and everything in between. Business and life will not change unless we are ready and willing to change the dialogue. Keeping your thoughts to yourself changes nothing. But together, we can change everything…for good.

I look forward to sharing my ink, thoughts and road to the HI way.

For emphasis.
(b)

“I had a good Isaac this morning.”

When was the last time you had a really good laugh; we’re talking the uncontrollable type that brings you to tears, lost breath, coughing, bladder issues and sore ribs? Not the sissy “oh my gosh! I don’t want people to hear me or see me out of control” type of suppressed laughing that’s probably the leading contributor to indigestion, constipation and hemorrhoids.

So where did laughter come from, anyway?

“HA” Genesis #1: If you run with the scientific pack or wear a “Chuck Rocks” Darwin t-shirt, there are studies suggesting that laughter might have started from bonobos, aka pygmy chimpanzees, suggesting that their special sounds and body gestures pre-date human evolution and is formed in the first year of their life: ttp://dsc.discovery.com/news/afp/20031006/laughter.html.

“HA” Genesis #2: If you run with the faith and/or Judeo-Christian pack or wear an “Abe, the Ham” t-shirt, there is that great comedic scene in Genesis 21:1-7 where after Sarah “laughs” at the idea of her having a child at her and Abraham’s old age…”Ta da! Heeeeeeeeeeeere’s Isaac!” The translation of the name, Isaac, is “he laughs.”

Smiling and laughter is infectious. They’re far more contagious than any cough, sniffle, or sneeze. When you laugh with other people, it binds you together and increases joy, intimacy and increases hope. In addition to the domino effect of delight and glee, laughing also triggers physical changes in the body that are good for you. Humor, smiling and laughter fortify your immune system, increase your energy, lessen pain and defend you against the nasty effects of worry and stress. And get this… this priceless medicine is easy to use, it’s fun and it’s free.

So what? Do yourself, and everyone around you, a favor today:

Chuckle

Giggle

Chortle

Laugh

Snort

Hoot

And if you dare, let loose a big guffaw.

It is a laughing matter.

For emphasis.

(b)

“Lessen Plan: Their real value is lessoning.”

It is perverse, disgusting, obscene, unfair, unconscionable and ludicrous how unfairly teachers are paid. There, I’ve said it.

What lesson are we teaching as we systematically lessen the value of teachers and holistic education across the board: removal of teachers, removal of music programs, removal of art programs, removal of adequate and competitive salaries to attract the best, brightest and most passionate talent?

All the politically motivated agendas are nonsense; it crisscrosses across all party lines. And please spare me from more of those austere (bored) board executives bemoaning “the fiscal challenges we face” rhetoric, while increasing dollars for sports facilities and larger parking lots. And I wonder if our resources are best spent on trying to keep prayer in schools, instead of maybe praying that our schools can ignite and release their God-given sense of curiosity and wonder. Besides, the Latin translation of the word, educate, is to “draw out”…not to “cram in.”

The bigger question: What value do we really assign to the gifts of illumination, commitment and sacrifice that teachers bring to school every day? I could offer a number of arguments supporting my opinion, but the following email says it best. My dearest friend is a third-grade teacher at a “progressive” private school in Nashville where she has taught for the last fourteen years. I go out of my way to extol and praise her exhaustive efforts, particularly after a patience-challenging day of her attempting to nurture, love and cultivate the lives of these (energetic) eight-year-olds.

January 6, 2010
To: Brian
Subject: Why I do what I do.

This is why I do what I do...and to be able to say, "I really do make a difference." Thank you, God, for this gifting and these moments.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Helen Date: Tue, Jan 5, 2010 at 9:06 PM
Subject: this afternoon
To: Lynn

Ok, so I'll try to get the exact conversation: After we saw you in the 21st Ave parking lot:

Isla: I love Ms. McKay. She's the best teacher I've ever had.

H: That's great...It's funny because my friend, Elaine, from Atlanta who I went to high school and college with called me today, and she asked about you, and I was telling her that you are someone who is both my friend and probably the best teacher I've known....
But…why do you say you love her?

I: Because she just tells you...this is how it's going to be, and there is nothing to worry about. She just tells you what you're going to learn and you don't have to worry about whether it's right or wrong.

H: So, the way she teaches is very confident?

I: Yeah. And also, she seems to know how to teach you things like she would want them to be taught...like if she was learning them herself, that's how she would want them taught...She kind of talks you through how she might think about figuring things out....(silent pause)...."meanwhile" she seems to know that kids learn things in different ways, so she'll give a couple of different examples so everybody can understand..."

H: That is so cool, Isla. I'm so glad you feel that way..."

___________________________________

....Lynn, to hear that from not only my daughter, but also to get to hear that view of any student in your class is truly awesome!!!! I hope you can fully appreciate it. You are absolutely an exceptional teacher. Thank you for teaching me so much when I was teaching and for teaching my daughter.

I'm glad she gets it.... Helen
Lesson earned.
Lesson learned?
For emphasis.
(b)

"Orna-mental."

The wrapping: gone.
The tree: gone.
The decorations: gone.
The gift boxes: gone.
The cards: gone.
The leftovers: gone.
The present: remains.

The sprint from Thanksgiving to New Years is complete. We’ve exhausted the shopping, wrapping, eating, driving, flying, mailing, caroling, visiting, preparing, surprising, giving, receiving. But it was not until I went to my local COSTCO yesterday to buy my favorite socks in the world (Russell Athletic white crew socks – 12 pair for $11.99…cheap!) that the gift of this past holiday hit home. It occurred to me when I saw the serpent-winding line of people returning and exchanging gift items; it stretched out the front door and deep into the 25° Tennessee chill.

We put a lot into considering the perfect gifts to give the people on our holiday gift lists. We work with lists and budgets, strategize the “day after” shopping Thanksgiving invasion, search the wilds of the Amazon and are certain that we’ve found the gift that’s just right. Right?

Or maybe we’ve get to the point where we recycle those gifts we received over the last few years; you know, the ones where you say things like “What the heck is this used for?” or “You’ve got to be kidding” or “What were they thinking?” Then we redeem our callous response, reminding ourselves, “it’s the thought that counts.” Right?

So, when I saw the people on that line returning items to exchange, for store credit or a cash refund I remembered the following email I received from my daughter, Victoria, who lives with her husband (Rick) and newborn son (Utah) in Oregon.
"Ok, this is going to get a little long, but I think it might be worth the read if you choose to take the time. So, I got a little choked up last night looking at our Christmas tree which is bare, with the exception of Utah's first and only Christmas ornament that his great grandma June gave him. We couldn't find any of our old strands of lights and we were so exhausted and out of energy that we just left it bare…. I was flooded with the memories of all of my past family Christmases. Being young and excited. Watching my mother lay on her back under the tree to make sure EVERY branch had a strand of twinkly lights on it. Tearing into my gifts with sweet anticipation of what it may be. Tears. Sticky buns for breakfast. Laughs. Usually the Amy Grant Christmas album playing in the background. So many ornaments shining and weighing down the branches that it is easy to forget there is a tree under there. My big brother. My dogs partaking in the excitement. The ensuing nap that inevitably would follow all the excitement, that I always took on the living room floor right next to the tree (I did this until I was probably 16 or 17 years old).

As I was thinking all these things and crying (mostly from exhaustion of the past few months of my life) I realized how beautiful it was to have that naked tree there in front of me, making me visualize all these past things as opposed to being it's own decorated tree and clouding my mind with what is, instead of what was. I am so thankful for the blessings in my life. My heart is so full of love and joy. I just wanted to share that with you all and say thanks...To each and every one of you... For being a part of my life. I am a blessed girl. Thank you Lord. Thanks to those of you that have taken the time to read this and had a peek into my life. I love you ALL!"


A truth about life's blessings: I do not remember most of the gifts I’ve been given this many years later. I remember, as if it were today, the images of a family being a family and sharing the wonder of believing.

And now we are separated by time, miles and life. We are alone and with our new families with new pictures taken and pasted neatly in the scrapbook.

Different. Priceless. Treasured.

I am so thankful for the gift of family, for the rich joys received each day when I get to unwrap an old or new “present.” I’d never exchange or return a single one.

You, too, have a precious chance right now to unwrap and open the present. It’s a package deal; you only have to be willing to buy it.

"Notice that the more you become a connoisseur
Of gratitude, the less you are the victim
Of resentment, depression, and despair.
Gratitude will act as an elixir that will
Gradually dissolve the hard shell of your ego-
Your need to possess and control – and transform you into a generous being.
The sense of gratitude produces true spiritual
alchemy, makes us magnanimous – large souled."
Sam Keen

Happy New Thanksgiving Year.

For emphasis.
(b)