ph1llipd, Author at Chris Burkhard

Thank you to the year 2020

Only in 2020 would we run out of Christmas trees! Yes, 12 foot pines are going for more than a grand if you can find one. We are all so desperate for some normalcy many started bringing in the holiday cheer a little early this year. We are all looking to lift our spirits, have a break from the realities of our times, and find the good in the holiday season. As we wind down the year, I wanted to wish every member of the Outside Insights and Placers community a warm season’s greetings. We are very proud as an organization to have helped so many people find work this year, to help them with their job search, and to assist many organizations find and manage talent in a roller coaster year. My goal with Outside Insights has been to produce articles, posts and podcasts to help people who are ready to make steps towards living their best life. To close their gap between where you are and where you want to be in all facets of life, family, work and community. Sometimes, it’s the inspiration of hearing how someone else overcame a challenge that helps people find their own spark. One thing we can all agree is that this year probably did not go as planned. The great unknown became the great reset, as fear was replaced with understanding and acceptance. And now great uncertainty is being replaced again – with hope. Followed by the dreamy notion of the roaring twenties. Will history repeat itself? Even as I can’t wait for the door to hit 2020 on the way out, some trends and ideas from this year are probably worth saying thank you and heck yes to.

This is the year of the dog. Ziggy and Gracie, my two Aussie Pups think this is the greatest year ever. Many fur babies have gotten used to walks and conference calls or to joining the Zoom call for a chat. And the good news is that many, many dogs have been adopted this year and now have homes.
This is the year to help others. I find sometimes the only way I have felt ok this year is when I am helping someone else in need. If you need a refresher on where to begin check this blog out.
This is the year where diversity, inclusion and equity have finally taken center stage in this country. And I for one have been on quite a journey of knowledge as we help Placers strengthen our culture and commitment to inclusion with the right plans.
This is the year to find some chill, peace and stillness. Whether you downloaded your calm app for meditation, or took up yoga, or figured out how to work out online. I am thankful for my new routines and I hope you stick with yours!
This is the year of remote everything. Some good, some bad, and some ugly. The word asynchronous conjures up thoughts of anger and frustration to the parents or caregivers of remote learning children. Let’s face it now we know why the experts say multitasking does not work, now we know its difficult to be the best parent, teacher, leader and employee at the same scheduled time. That’s the bad of course. The good news is that many of us have been able to spend more time with family- more intentional video calls, kids home more, less busy for rubber chicken dinner and work travel. Planes and trains have been replaced with puzzles and backyard fire pits and s’mores!
2020 is also the year the unsung heroes who provide essential services were recognized for all that they do. Teachers, grocery store workers, healthcare, clinical and logistics and delivery drivers I salute you. We have proven we can survive squirreled away in our home offices, but only because of all of you.

Bottom line: This is the year to be thankful for what you do have. Perhaps it’s your health or your family members and friends. Your emergency fund or your 401(k) balance. Perhaps your business is still standing through shutdowns and restrictions. There are no guarantees in life and I simply remind all of us of the abundance of what we have kept this year. At the end of the day, there are so many things to be grateful for. Thank you 2020, for reminding us all.

Until next year, friends. I am grateful for all of you.

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At Placers we are making the following Acts of Kindness Promises: We will be your career coach free of charge to assist you with any and all part of your job search. We currently have temporary work for folks that need short-term funds. We will act as a consultant to businesses that need a 90-day plan – free of charge. We promise to go above and beyond in our individual communities. If you need help in any way, simply fill out this quick form and we’ll connect you with a helping hand. No strings attached.

What We Actually Need from Our Leaders

The election feels like the exclamation point on the end of a long run-on sentence (otherwise known as the year 2020). We have been through a range of emotions and sticky situations this year. Many of us have gone from fear to frustration, to now what feels like a general sense of anxiety. With so much going on, it also feels like much of our world has been put on hold. What a weird paradox. This is the great pause (a very chaotic, messy, pause). For the past few months, we simply had to push pause on the really big business and life decisions until we know the results of the election. There are mere days until decision day and I’ve been thinking about the qualities that make a good person and a great leader. In most cases, I do believe that they are one and the same. Most people can quickly think of someone that they regard as a good leader. Close your eyes for a few seconds. Who comes to mind? What role do they play in your life? What values did they live by every day? What story unfolds for you every time you think about them and the impact that they made? Now, contrast this with a time where you were exposed to “bad” leadership. What fell short? Was it how or what they communicated? Their values? Were you unable to trust or rely on them? My biggest leadership pet peeve is when a leader fails to be present for their people. In my leadership journey, I have come to learn that a leader’s only job is to serve and to make their community better. To preserve and better their tribe. We may not grow up with an explicit objective to be a leader. Some of us are thrust into the moment, others are groomed for it since birth, many haven’t yet heard the call to leadership – but it’s coming. And even though answers to the question, “what makes a good leader” will vary depending on who you ask, we all know it when we experience it. So, what is leadership to me? It’s hard to master – in fact, I’m not sure one could ever truly “master” it. Here are the hard-fought insights I’ve learned along my leadership journey. And as always, I look forward to learning about your insights and experiences.

Great leaders make everyone feel important – regardless of titles or experience levels. They know that they can learn something from everyone they interact with, and they are happy to share their lessons with others.
Leaders ooze trustworthiness.When you want others to trust you, trust them first. We must give people a high standard to live up to. This works for me and 99 will rise to the occasion while one may disappoint. Establishing trust between two people is definitely something of an exercise in faith. We all need a little faith right now.
Great leaders create a compelling vision for the future. They don’t have to force others to follow their vision, because they inspire conviction. People want to rally behind them because they trust and believe in them.
Great leaders serve others. While a leader might wear many hats, their core responsibility will always be to grow, serve and help develop others. Leadership is not about power, perks, and prestige – it’s the privilege of getting up every day knowing they have the privilege to take care of their teams and community.
Great leadership is more than a series of techniques and theories. There is no quick life hack for leadership – time, practice, and self-reflection are absolutely key. The first step? Admitting you’re probably not as good of a leader as you think you are.
Great leaders are teachers – they are also learners. They must have the humility to admit what they don’t know while sharing all that they do know. Not knowing all of the answers doesn’t create mistrust – acting like you do when you don’t, on the other hand, does.
Leaders need people to lead. And followership is earned. Which leads to my questions for you to ponder this weekend:

What will you do to show up for your team/community/tribe today? What do you believe makes a leader great? What makes a bad leader?

When the election is behind us, we can get back to the rest of 2020 – if you can believe there are still two months left. Holidays anyone? Until next time, friends.

Chris

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At Placers we are making the following Acts of Kindness Promises: We will be your career coach free of charge to assist you with any and all part of your job search. We currently have temporary work for folks that need short-term funds. We will act as a consultant to businesses that need a 90-day plan – free of charge. We promise to go above and beyond in our individual communities. If you need help in any way, simply fill out this quick form and we’ll connect you with a helping hand. No strings attached.

Hindsight’s 2020: Finding the Blessings in Disguise

In one of my favorite reads, Zen and the Art of Happiness, Chris Prentiss outlines that things happen in our life for the best possible reasons – we just don’t know why at the time. So, let me ask you a question for you to ponder this weekend. What has happened to you that appeared to be bad, but over time your perspective changed? When has bad luck turned to be good luck in the end? For example, lockdown seemed awful at first. But maybe you now have extra time to cultivate a hobby, cook nutritious meals, and spend time with your family. This is my bad turned good story – I hope you will share yours with me, too. It’s February, cold, and snowing. Kim and I are in Wyoming in full sabbatical mode. On day number 16 of a 30-day trip I talked my adventurous wife into a day of skiing. Keep in mind, I live for snow and cold temperatures. I thoroughly enjoy the stillness and peacefulness of cross-country skiing and back-country snowshoeing. But on this day, we skied at Grand Targhee on the western slopes of the Grand Tetons. We were on the outback ski run, just before the papoose lane. I wish I could say we were at 12k feet in high winds, deep powder, and a black diamond run with a name like the good, the bad, and the ugly. But there we were when my phone beeps. I stop to read the notification – and its good news! I had received a message from John Fleming of the Small Business Administration office letting me know that I was selected as the SBA’s Small Business Person of the Year. Sheepishly, I turn and hand my phone to Kim – and she falls down on the mountain. Although she fell gently, her skis and bindings didn’t flex – unfortunately, her knees did. Seven torn ligament and cartilage (and a lot of physical therapy) later , she is doing much better. At the time, we weren’t aware that this would be an omen for what was to come in 2020.

Fast forward to last week. I’m at the Small Business Person of the Year ceremony at a lovely Italian Restaurant, Vincenzo’s. Normally, this event would have hundreds of people, press, video, government dignitaries, and contemporaries there to cheer you on. This year? 10 folks, including the winners, dined at separate isolated tables. We talked to the Governor as he read our proclamations. Seven winners and seven live zoom feeds. Yes, the ceremony was online. NO, no one other than my parents were watching (thanks mom and dad). The truth is, I am glad the event unfolded this way. 2020 has really put things into perspective for me. I am finding the good in a weird year and I have so much to be thankful for. I have many blessings in disguise.

“Again, all of life presents us with two basic ways to treat events. We can either label them “good for us” or “bad for us.” The event is only an event. It’s how we treat the event that determines what it becomes in our lives. The event doesn’t make that determination – we do.”

― Chris Prentiss, Zen and the Art of Happiness

I’m more motivated to work towards an item on my life list – a personal podcast. Recently, I’ve been a guest on a local and national radio show lending tips for job searching during the pandemic. This work has helped me gain the confidence I need to take the next step with developing my own podcast. I have been forced to be in the moment. I was always on the move, between meetings, offices, traveling for business, traveling to life list places. In fact, this story began on a sabbatical 2276 miles from home. I was perpetually in motion. And now, I am not. I now see the little things around me. Hummingbirds on flowers outside my window right now, for example. I have always said hire great people and get out of the way – COVID has made me live it! I have asthma and with COVID I’ve been home office bound during the pandemic. Giving my team space works to their, and my companies, advantage. I have a great team, but my business is my baby. If I am not careful, my passion and servant leader approach put me in the details on daily basis. Now, I let my team work the magic I know they’re capable of. Reply to this email and please tell me about one of your blessings in disguise. If one isn’t coming to mind – take a moment to really think. Sometimes, the disguise is extra good – but it’s there all the same.

My thoughts on awards:

I remain incredibly grateful for every recognition Placers has received. But for some cosmic reason, whenever we win an award something bad happens that same week. A key employee quits, a customer refuses to pay a large bill – I’m reminded that we remain imperfect and flawed. Awards risk distracting me and my team from what won the award in the first place. We start to believe what we read or see and we’re tempted to take our foot off of the pedal and lose our edge. Being on stage makes it harder to practice servant leadership. My job is to work for my team. Not win awards. Humility by definition is the service to others.

At Placers we are making the following Acts of Kindness Promises: We will be your career coach free of charge to assist you with any and all part of your job search. We currently have temporary work for folks that need short-term funds. We will act as a consultant to businesses that need a 90-day plan – free of charge. We promise to go above and beyond in our individual communities. If you need help in any way, simply fill out this quick form and we’ll connect you with a helping hand. No strings attached.

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Unlock Your Potential: Live with Intention

Are you where you want to be in your life? Did you cross all the items off your bucket list? Have all of your dreams been chased? If the answer is yes, yes and yes – congratulations! You can proceed with the rest of your day. But, if you’re like me, you probably answered no to at least one of those questions. We’re all a constant work in progress. A product of years’ worth of experiences, behaviors, and thoughts that have shaped us into who are now. We’re not the person we were ten years ago or even one year ago. Plans we make and habits we start today will form who we are tomorrow. As a young recruiter, I wondered out loud how my boss Marilyn always seemed to make the phone ring. Her advice was simple: “Chris if you have a good plan of action and have good jobs for people, they will call you back.” In other words: Stop watching and wishing for something to magically happen. Create a plan and then go out and make it happen. Live with intention. So, I did. And after, the phone rang for me too. Today, many years later, the phone still rings for me. Now, my vision is to leverage my hard-learned lessons to help others create the epic lives they really want but aren’t sure how to get there.

Before we talk about how you can create positive change in your life – I want to acknowledge how daunting the journey can seem.

How many times have you caught yourself saying “There’s not enough time”, “I don’t have enough money”, or “That will never work, it’s too risky.”? How many dreams have these thoughts stifled? Change is hard for a reason. When we change, we experience the uncomfortable effects first and the gain much later. If we start working out, we are sore well before our energy rises or the jeans fit. When we choose to save money for a new fridge or a house payment, the loss of morning gourmet coffee looms large well before your bank account shows any real promise. The life I want, lived the way I want to live it, is worth every brief period of discomfort. It has to be. Here’s an example. Since the age of 10, I had always wanted to climb a big mountain. It was on my bucket list for years. At 50, I decided it was time to tackle this challenge and I recruited my misfit hiking buddies to join me. I got up to train at 4:30 in the morning for months. Preparation for the trip ate into my savings. I sacrificed time with friends and family to train, work, train, sleep and then do it all over again. Why did I put myself through so much mental and physical stress? Why did I put this dream above all else for a few months? Because I wanted to be the guy who climbed a mountain after 50. I wanted to cross it off my list. I wanted to feel the thrill. The challenges did not outweigh my desire to achieve this dream. Bottom line: You have to want the thing more than the barriers to get the thing. Nobody can make you want it. That, my friend, has to come from inside. Once you unlock that passion and resolve yourself to chasing that dream – every excuse you once gave won’t even matter. We are our thoughts. And our life is a series of decisions. Over the years, I’ve developed a set of intentional thoughts and behaviors that I commit myself to in order to reach my goals. Here they are:

1) I revisit my life plan. Picture your life as a beautiful tree and each limb is a decision. What direction do you want that tree to grow? Where will those branches curve? With a plan, you decide the shape of the tree. That doesn’t mean your plans can’t change – but without a compass, you’ll have a pretty wonky looking tree. I block off intentional time to dream, to think about where I have been, what I have achieved, and what I want to do next. Regular “life checks” are critical to being able to make the adjustments in your life that matter most. Plan. Evaluate and Adjust. Plan again. Do this at least a few times a year.

2) I am disciplined. That doesn’t mean I never fall off the wagon. I skip a workout now and again, eat two pieces of pie sometimes, and take a mental day off even when I’m working. The key is that I always get back at it – I never let a break get in my way or slow me down. The breaks allow me the opportunity to recharge. The fuel I need to get back out there even stronger.

3) I surround myself with people that hold me accountable. I hold myself to a high standard and thrive when others expect the best from me. Having people you trust hold you accountable to your goals is a great way to ensure you don’t lose sight of them.

4) I get to the good stuff. Think about a journey you’ve started with a dream in mind. You put the work in but never got to “the good stuff”. Maybe you got distracted? Or forgot why you wanted it in the first place. Don’t lose sight of that. Keep pushing. My latest good stuff? Starting Placers Cares, a not for profit organization that can aid helping local workers get retrained and acclimated back into the workforce.

I know reading one humble man’s version of success seems like just another self-help hack approach to oversimplify the hardest life challenges. That’s not what Outside Insights is. My “secret to success” worked for me after years of adjustments, slips, and lessons. The key to all of this is to win the moment. Be disciplined and make productive decisions a habit. Act with intention. You will look up one day and have the life you wanted. I know hitting “go” on your dream – whatever it may be – is hard. Do it anyway. Dig deep inside yourself until you want it badly enough that the challenges ahead merely look like opportunities. What has stopped you from working towards a dream in the past? If you could hit “go” today – what dream would you chase?

At Placers we are making the following Acts of Kindness Promises: We will be your career coach free of charge to assist you with any and all part of your job search. We currently have temporary work for folks that need short-term funds. We will act as a consultant to businesses that need a 90-day plan – free of charge. We promise to go above and beyond in our individual communities. If you need help in any way, simply fill out this quick form and we’ll connect you with a helping hand. No strings attached.

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Tired of the Pandemic? Sleep on it.

I’d like to start this week’s email out with a question for you. If someone offered you a pill that could decrease your chances of cancer and heart disease by more than half, increase your memory and intelligence, decrease anxiety and stress and make you happier with no negative side effects – would you take it? The answer is likely yes, no questions asked, sign me up! This is a question asked in one of the best books I read in 2019, “Why We Sleep” by Matthew Walker. This magical pill in the question above, isn’t magical at all – all you need is 7-8 hours of sleep to reap those benefits. I won’t go into the science behind REM sleep, but I do encourage you to read up on it – it’s really fascinating stuff. Many folks in modern cultures operate on less than seven hours of sleep. Some people even brag about how little sleep they get, as if it is some sort of badge of honor. Ever since reading the messages in Walker’s book, sleep has become my top priority when it comes to my health, well-being, and even professional performance. Frankly, one of the best things I can do is wake up refreshed every morning ready to serve my employees, customers, suppliers, and family to the best of my abilities. My mother Sally tells me to this day that I was always a great sleeper. That’s one thing I never grew out of. I suggest not contacting me after 9 pm if you want a quick response. I am very clear and intentional about my mindset that sleep is more important than any TV show, book, or event that I am attending. At 52, my body demands that I rest. Whatever age you are, your body is demanding rest too.

“The silent sleep loss epidemic is one of the greatest public health challenges we face in the 21st century.” – Matthew Walker, author of “Why We Sleep”

We are not sleeping because we are playing multiple roles simultaneously while always trying to accomplish more. Lately, I read and hear stories of parents that are up until 3:30 am burning the midnight oil on tasks they couldn’t complete during the day because their children are at home virtually learning. And for those new to remote work – have you noticed that your working hours have actually increased since you’ve been away from the office? It’s difficult to log off when your “office” is a daunting eight feet commute away. I’m going to guess many of you have a hard time turning your task-focused mind off when it’s time to unwind for the day. As much as we wish it wasn’t true, there is no such thing as “make up sleep” on the weekends – your brain and body never get that time back. We get sick when we don’t get enough sleep. Quality sleep helps us heal and regenerate for the long fight ahead – we are slowly killing ourselves by denying our body the sleep it needs. When searching for coping strategies for 2020, adequate sleep must be at the top of your list. While a full-nights sleep might sound simple in nature – I know it can seem like an impossible feat.

Try a few of these simple steps this week:

1) Go to bed at the same time every night. Get your mind and body in a familiar rhythm. This will take time to stick with – try your best.

2) Establish a relaxing nighttime routine. Find a brief activity that makes you feel relaxed and helps you unwind your senses. Whatever you choose, make that part of your sacred nighttime routine.

3) Get up at the same time every morning. Manage the amount of shut-eye you’re getting by setting your alarm for the same time every morning. While tempting, avoid that snooze button.

4) Stop saying “yes” if your sleep is suffering. You only have so many hours in the day – every task you agree to takes time away from the other items on your plate or the amount of sleep you allow yourself to have. If a task is going to encroach on your full-nights sleep, don’t take it on.

5) Listen to guided meditations. There are many free meditations out there that are designed to help you break through anxious thoughts, unwind your mind, and drift to sleep. If you’re new to the world of guided meditations, it can feel awkward for many uncomfortable at first. Commit to really opening yourself up to the process and I promise you won’t regret trying.

I’m including a link to a Spotify playlist with a handful of helpful guided meditations. Simply click the image to be directed to the playlist. If you don’t have Spotify, try out this bedtime meditation on YouTube. the other steps listed above will take time to make a habit, you can test this step out tonight. Also, you can check out the upcoming book by Deepak Chopra – Total Meditation. Now, I have two more questions for you this week that I hope you’ll answer: 1) How do you ensure you’re getting the sleep your body needs? If you struggle with doing so, what’s standing in your way? 2) What’s the craziest dream you’ve ever had? The possibilities are limitless in dream world, so this one should be good! Until next time, friends. Sleep well!

At Placers we are making the following Acts of Kindness Promises: We will be your career coach free of charge to assist you with any and all part of your job search. We currently have temporary work for folks that need short-term funds. We will act as a consultant to businesses that need a 90-day plan – free of charge. We promise to go above and beyond in our individual communities. If you need help in any way, simply fill out this quick form and we’ll connect you with a helping hand. No strings attached.