More to Wegmans Fresh Cinnamon Raisin Bread than Meets the Eye!

Ever wake up with a desire for fresh cinnamon raisin bread to go with your coffee?  I did this morning. Ellen Weber, raved about Wegmans freshly baked cinnamon raisin bread at least twice in the last two days.  The thought of it kept playing in my mind.  I could almost taste it...

So I headed to the nearby Wegmans.  After scouring the shelves, no cinnamon raisin was evident.

I caught a baker's attention and asked if they had any cinnamon raisin bread in the oven.

"We don't right now.  We're all out," he smiled broadly.  "But I'll bake some and have it ready for you in 40 minutes.  Promise to come back?"

"You bet I will."

"I'll have it for you then," he promised enthusiastically.

Four plump, round loaves graced the shelf upon my return.  As I selected one, it warmed my hands, when I picked it up.  I caught the attention of the baker and thanked him as I signaled "thumbs-up."

Wegmans employees go out of their way to assist customers.  Their smiles and welcoming greetings make shopping pleasant.  No wonder Wegmans Food Markets rank third on the Fortune 500 list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2010.

Five reasons employees like working at Wegmans:

1. Wegmans reaches out to the community  Wegmans serves the local community  providing employee scholarships that help improve their skills.  These are open to any employee who wants to compete.  Wegmans provides at-risk, urban youth with skills they need to succeed, part time work and work-site mentors through the Hillside Work Scholarship Connection.  Wegmans taps peoples' gifts and talents in ways that propel them forward.
2. Employees are challenged to surpass customer expectations daily. They're rewarded by many customers like myself who sing their praises to others.  The human brain leaps to solve problems and find solutions.  When firms like Wegmans empower employees, like John Schaub, the baker at the Perinton store, to go the extra mile, both employees and customers are winners.
3. Career opportunities are open to all  Employees can rise to new positions through options for personal growth and professional development.  People raise their abilities by "doing and learning, not by watching and reading," according to J. Robert Baum, Director of Entrepreneurship Research at the University of Maryland.
4. Benefits rank high for both part time and full time employees in spite of a tough economy. Wegman's offers flexible scheduling, a fast-paced fun environment, competitive pay, and comprehensive benefits including quality health care, dental coverage, 401(k) retirement savings plan, and a retirement plan amongst many others.  When Wegmans rewards workers, it leads to greater satisfaction and well-being in the workplace.
5. Diversity is welcomed as an opportunity  Wegmans sees diversity as a way to inspire new thinking, which supports their drive toward continuous improvement.  This is a key to brainpowered leadership.

As Ellen Weber and I shared this delightful bread, we each enjoyed more than one piece!  But, a lot more brainpower went into it than meets the ordinary eye!

Thoughts?

Braden Kelley Interview on Stoking Your Innovation Bonfire

"Passion is a prerequisite not just for getting started with innovation: people leading innovation projects must have enough passion to fight through, over, around or under any obstacles they may encounter in their effort to make a new idea a reality..." - Braden Kelley, Author of Stoking Your Innovation Bonfire

Braden Kelley

Braden Kelley’s, Stoking Your Innovation Bonfire, fires up any organization with timely strategies to rekindle structure, culture and vision. Braden uses many case studies that open a window as to what innovation strategies work well for some and what are problematic for others. Each chapter proposes enlightened alternatives to blockages firms encounter.

Blinded by the Light – Vision Blockages
Peering in the Dark – Strategy Blockages
Setting a Course Blindfolded – Goal Blockages
What Are They Really Thinking? – Insight Blockages
Shining a Light on the Customer Problem – Idea Generation Blockages
Picking a Winner Without Looking – Idea Evaluation Blockages
Going to Market Blind – Idea Commercialization Blockages
Have You Had an Innovation Lobotomy? Organizational Psychology Blockages
Do Your Policies and Processes Keep People in the Dark? Information and Structural Blockages
Keeping the Lights On – Sustainability Blockages

Braden Kelley sizes up organizational innovation, the status quo. He identifies its underlying assumptions and shows some of the old rules which should be broken such as, separate Research and Development Departments. In so doing, organization-wide innovation is possible.  Kelley urges organizations to jump the gate and do something unique as they did earlier in bringing an original innovation to market.

Amazing graphs and charts help project the big picture.   You ask thoughtful questions related to the impact of culture in an organization - questions help readers pinpoint opportunities for cultural change.  Here are some examples:

• Is it okay to fail in our organization?
• Is failure permitted and possibly even celebrated?
• Is learning from failure valued and embraced?

Braden's chapter on an Innovation Lobotomy drew my attention since I use brain based strategies in working with clients of the MITA International Brain Center.

Interestingly, Braden discovered psychological blockages cause greatest trouble for organizations as they make changes. Here's how these relate to newly discovered facts about the human brain:

Most people are afraid to fail so they are less likely to take risks. Vivid memories associated with emotional events such as how team members were treated in past when experiments failed.  Strong memories of harsh treatment are stored in the amygdala of each team member's brain.  The memory literally rushes back any time a new risk arises, and freezes many from ever venturing forth again.  On the other hand, reflection to figure out where to from here, can turn harsh situations around for those willing to step forward with a thoughtful risk.

Organizational culture has a profound impact since trust levels can make or break initiatives.  Many organizational models are broken today and brainpower must be recharged for innovation to thrive.

Braden offers these brilliant antidotes:

Breaking out of the mold increases peoples' ability to imagine breakthrough solutions.  More brainpower comes into play when employees' gifts and talents are valued in ways that new solutions can lead change.

Flexibility to stretch beyond comfort zones.  The human brain's equipped to tackle toxins from folks who are stuck in a rut to create the new.

During my interview with Braden Kelley I zeroed in blockages related to people and organizations who experience an Innovation Lobotomy.  During the interview you'll note Braden's passion for and wisdom about innovation shine.  



I highly recommend Braden's book.

Meetings that fire your brain!

Ellen Weber has some amazing gifts for facilitating inspiring meetings.  No one touches her skills to crank up brainpower from entire groups.  And she ends right on time or even early.  On a whim, I jotted down several strategies Ellen seemed to pull from a hat to make this happen.

Ellen was amazed to see these listed so I encouraged her to write a book.  Since many folks agonize about ways make meetings effective, whether a participant or facilitor, it seemed like a winner.  When Ellen saw the list, her creativity hit the top with ideas that would not wait.  She hunted and pecked vehemently to type the first draft.

Strategies in the book [in press] are written for leaders and learners who expect more brainpower for innovation at meetings. If you were to use this book [in press] to guide your next meeting, what topics would you like to see addressed?

Zappos' Brain Friendly Work Culture

Zappos, CEO Tony Hsieh formed a theory, "if you create a work culture that fosters well-being, good practices and (eventually) good profits will naturally flow out of the operation." By 2008, Zappos.com hit a major financial milestone when gross merchandise sales for the year surpassed $1 billion, driven primarily by repeat customers and word of mouth. On any given day, approximately 75% of orders are from repeat customers.

"No matter what happens with the economy, the demand for talent will remain," Managing Editor Andy Serwer writes in his FORTUNE.com blog. "Great companies know that super-motivated, happy, world-class employees are an incredible competitive advantage."

How do good ideas harnessed in vision lead to policy where you work? Business schools teach the importance of creating vision. Yet, impact of carrying out policy to make vision a reality creates flames of inspiration or dampens them. Ever wonder what makes the difference as leaders and employees alike begin to walk the talk...

Interestingly, leaders shape vision into action as the brain cultivates new neuron pathways toward spirit and highest values. Let's look briefly at Zappo's "10 core values" formed by leaders and employees alike, to see how they relate to workings of the human brain.

1) Deliver WOW Through Service - Creating a "WOW" factor challenges the brain and breaks routines. The human brain leaps to problem solving and challenge to break boring routines.

2) Embrace and Drive Change - Changes take place by taking on and tackling new approaches. You work in working memory more as you learn, practice and problem solve.

3) Create Fun and A Little Weirdness - Play brings a joy to the work experience. The drive to play is located in the brain's thalmus.

4) Be Adventurous, Creative, and Open-Minded - The human brain thrives on creativity. By developing a fascination for discovery and adventure, you can experience joy in your work.

5) Pursue Growth and Learning - Zappos created a company library which provides hundreds of self-help and positive psychology books, Carlin Flores notes in Psychology Today, Oct, 2009. Reading unleashes your brain's thinking box. And, now Zappos is offering courses as well.

6) Build Open and Honest Relationships With Communication - While experience and upbringing shape our communication style and the way we develop relationships, these can be changed. As we share what we care about with fellow workers we build honest relationships. Because the human brain has great plasticity, we can change how we communicate.

7) Build a Positive Team and Family Spirit - Creating a mindset that builds a team spirit can make or break an organization according to Jim Collins in How the Mighty Have Fallen. Folks at Zappos live team spirit daily.

8) Do More With Less - Having all the newest gadgets at work does not make people happier. Experiences create meaning because people find "more meaningful part of one's identity and contribute more to successful social relationships," according to Leaf Van Boven, psychologist at CU-Boulder. When the recession hit in 2009, Zappos changed their congratulatory $3,000 happy hour that bonds new employees to a $110.00 in-house social and it's just as effective, if not more, than going to a bar.

9) Be Passionate and Determined - If people are passionate about what they do, it stimulates on-the-job optimal experience. Demanding cognitive tasks prompt the brain to focus intensely by filtering out irrelevant signals as you work.

10) Be Humble - "Something interesting happens," Bruna Martinuzzi notes, "when we approach situations from a perspective of humility: it opens us up to possibilities, as we choose open-mindedness and curiosity over protecting our point of view. We spend more time in that wonderful space of the beginner’s mind, willing to learn from what others have to offer. We move away from pushing into allowing, from insecure to secure, from seeking approval to seeking enlightenment. We forget about being perfect and we enjoy being in the moment." Humility is developed as part of the emotional or intrapersonal intelligence.

Brainpower's in play at Zappos!

Wonder how CEO Tony Hsieh truly walked the talk, when so many others let good ideas fizzle?

He describes the process...

Many companies have core values, but they don't really commit to them. They usually sound more like something you'd read in a press release. Maybe you learn about them on day 1 of orientation, but after that it's just a meaningless plaque on the wall of the lobby.

We believe that it's really important to come up with core values that you can commit to. And by commit, we mean that you're willing to hire and fire based on them. If you're willing to do that, then you're well on your way to building a company culture that is in line with the brand you want to build. You can let all of your employees be your brand ambassadors, not just the marketing or PR department. And they can be brand ambassadors both inside and outside the office.

If you were heading a company, what might you add to Zappo's 10 core values?

What one would you like to see incorporated into your workplace?

10 Triggers to More Brainpower

Worthwhile resolutions flow from one year to the next... We keep working on them - especially when it comes to building more brainpower. Lifestyle's key to optimal brain performance. Want to trigger yours?

1. Exercise that pushes blood flow - I like brisk walks and hikes for an hour's duration. In winter I cross country ski and in summer I golf on a course where I walk. What do enjoy for exercise? Exercise increases brainpower.

2. A Mediterranean oriented eating plan - The Mediterranean food plan is made up of more fruits and vegetables, more fish, and more healthy fats than the general American way of eating. I strive for five as Wegman's encourages five generous helpings of fresh fruits and veggies per day! You?

3. New adventures To grow brainpower, enjoy new intellectual adventures rather than sticking to the old. For instance, learn new games and play with others. You might enjoy a new game by Set Enterprises, for instance. Or, take a class, earn a degree, launch a new blog, use new technical tools. As Ellen Weber investigated, try taking a risk that'll benefit you.

Interestingly, searching the Internet increases brain function. A striking finding in a recent research study shows that "Internet searching appears to engage a greater extent of neural circuitry that is not activated during reading — but only in those with prior Internet experience," says Gary Small, director of UCLA's Memory and Aging Research Center.

What would you suggest for a new mental adventure?

4. Personally participate in the arts - Learning, Arts, and the Brain advances our understanding of the effects of music, dance, Currently researchers explore the question: Are smart people drawn to the arts or does arts training make people smarter? Learning, Arts, and the Brain advances our understanding of the effects of music, and drama education on other types of learning. People interested in the arts develop more attention skills. I work on increasing skills in video and photography, you?

5. Spice your foods Spices have more antioxidant power, measure for measure, than fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants help prevent cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, and premature aging.

Beneficial spices include: Cinnamon, Ginger, Oregano, Rosemary, Turmeric, Garlic, Sage, Red Chili Peppers, Coriander, Parsley.

6. Play Brain Age video games - stretch your brain Nintendo released "Brain Age" in 2006. NPR's Robert Holt says that playing it makes him feel smarter -- but he's not sure if it actually makes him smarter. Exercising your brain definitely helps. Some research on Brain training games shows a real boost. What have you discovered about these games that you'd pass on?

7. Drink plenty of water daily Must admit I truly push to follow through on this one. Water enhances both body and brain. According to Eric Jensen the brain is 78 percent water. Hydration's needed for attention, critical thinking, learning and memory!

8. Avoid distractions to remain focused Many environments full of distractions divert your attention, and if you allow your brain to keep wandering off, you lose focus. Not too surprisingly, you establish a pattern that's dangerous later in life.

9. Set long and short term targets Goals provide focus. With no guiding vision or plan, people tend to drift. Goals provide a measuring stick for progress. Goals enhance productivity. They bolster self-esteem. And most of all, goals increase commitment, so you're more likely to achieve whatever you set out to conquer. For best results, Hara Estroff Marano of Psychology Today suggests...

* Write your targets.

The act of writing down what you plan to do is a strong motivator. Writing down goals prevents you from leaving goals vague. Use action verbs. Create targets with measurable outcomes. Specify completion dates.

* List obstacles.

Think of everything that might stand in your way. Then create solutions you can use today!

* List benefits of achieving your goal.

Knowing exactly what you will gain from reaching your goal is a strong motivator.

* Identify sub goals.

Break down complicated plans into manageable chunks. Decide what you plan to do, and when. Make sure each step is challenging but achievable, and that you have a complete design for action. Then write it on your calendar and review regularly.

* Learn what you need to know.

If information or skill is keeping you from achieving your targets, determine ways to fill in gaps, and build this into your action plan. Be willing to study and work hard to reach your goals. Ask yourself whether you are really willing and able to do what is necessary.

* Enlist help from others.

Find someone, a coworker or friend, with whom you share a common goal. Get someone to go to the gym with you, or to quit smoking with you, or to share healthy meals with you. A partner can help you stay committed and motivated. Look for role models, people who have already achieved the goals you seek to reach. Ask him or her for advice and suggestions. Find how that supervisor reached this current position, and incorporate what you learn into your plan.

* Visualize yourself achieving each target.

Make your visualization real. Find a quiet place, picture, write down your experiences afterward. Go through magazines and cut out images that represent your goal, then put them around the house. Provide constant reminders to yourself about what you're working toward. Describe your ideal life in the future. Write a few paragraphs describing what you've accomplished, and how your life improved as a result. Use present tense as if it is happening right here, right now. This makes vision real.

* Get organized.

Prepared and organized, you will feel better about your ability to reach your targets. Having information scattered in too many places makes you feel out of control and undermines motivation. Set up a filing system, set aside your workout clothes.

* Reward yourself each step of the way.

Treat yourself to rewards that give you a hefty lift as you accomplish milestones on your road to success.

10. Keep Belly Fat Under Control Belly fat can creep up on you and it's dangerous to your brain. People who have belly fat in their 40's are more likely to experience dementia in their 70's. That enough to get you moving in the right direction... it is for me! That's why my plan to live a lifestyle outlined above will keep me on a great path in 2009 and every year thereafter.

Sure took lots of motivation over the holidays to stick to these Triggers for More Brainpower, but I didn't wander from the path. Hope to keep this going throughout the New Year and beyond. Want to join me?

Writing and Doing Like a Fire-Breathing Dragon

Do you breathe out fire in what you do as dragons do? Joanna Young asked that question in March, and I've been chewing on it since. When expressing ideas, no matter the topic, breathing fire into your words makes a difference. You'll juice up brainpower to access the fire...
Flickr photo by labels_30

Joanna pictures the fires as...

a breath, a powerful, transformative breath.

That's what's in it for us when we take risks to breathe the dragon fire...

Recently Joanna encountered many glitches as she transferred Confident Writing to Word Press. That was a powerful decision to make and she had the courage to go ahead. I can just imagine the new inspiration and dragon-fire we'll be seeing in future posts.

On top of this Joanna made a life-changing decision to move to the Aryan Islands located off the west coast of Ireland/Scotland. That was a transformative breath in itself and I hope that Joanna reaps life time benefits from it.

Stop by Confident Writing and wish Joanna Young well today.

Age of Conversation 2: Blogging Brainpower

Do you always get it? Great news is that Age of Conversation 2's about to make a debut at Amazon.com. When you pick the brains of many bloggers you can tap into the art and science of building community. Best part is you'll discover new tools to be a successful blogger and marketer.

Think of all the brainpower packed inside the 2nd edition with 237 contributors. You'll "get it" for sure!

Adrian Ho, Aki Spicer, Alex Henault, Amy Jussel, Andrew Odom, Andy Nulman, Andy Sernovitz, Andy Whitlock, Angela Maiers, Ann Handley, Anna Farmery, Armando Alves, Arun Rajagopal, Asi Sharabi, Becky Carroll, Becky McCray, Bernie Scheffler, Bill Gammell, Bob LeDrew, Brad Shorr, Brandon Murphy, Branislav Peric, Brent Dixon, Brett Macfarlane, Brian Reich, C.C. Chapman, Cam Beck, Casper Willer, Cathleen Rittereiser, Cathryn Hrudicka, Cedric Giorgi, Charles Sipe, Chris Kieff, Chris Cree, Chris Wilson, Christina Kerley (CK), C.B. Whittemore, Chris Brown, Connie Bensen, Connie Reece, Corentin Monot, Craig Wilson, Daniel Honigman, Dan Schawbel, Dan Sitter, Daria Radota Rasmussen, Darren Herman, Dave Davison, David Armano, David Berkowitz, David Koopmans, David Meerman Scott, David Petherick, David Reich, David Weinfeld, David Zinger, Deanna Gernert, Deborah Brown, Dennis Price, Derrick Kwa, Dino Demopoulos, Doug Haslam, Doug Meacham, Doug Mitchell, Douglas Hanna, Douglas Karr, Drew McLellan, Duane Brown, Dustin Jacobsen, Dylan Viner, Ed Brenegar, Ed Cotton, Efrain Mendicuti, Ellen Weber, Eric Peterson, Eric Nehrlich, Ernie Mosteller, Faris Yakob, Fernanda Romano, Francis Anderson, Gareth Kay, Gary Cohen, Gaurav Mishra, Gavin Heaton, Geert Desager, George Jenkins, G.L. Hoffman, Gianandrea Facchini, Gordon Whitehead, Greg Verdino, Gretel Going & Kathryn Fleming, Hillel Cooperman, Hugh Weber, J. Erik Potter, James Gordon-Macintosh, Jamey Shiels, Jasmin Tragas, Jason Oke, Jay Ehret, Jeanne Dininni, Jeff De Cagna, Jeff Gwynne & Todd Cabral, Jeff Noble, Jeff Wallace, Jennifer Warwick, Jenny Meade, Jeremy Fuksa, Jeremy Heilpern, Jeroen Verkroost, Jessica Hagy, Joanna Young, Joe Pulizzi, John Herrington, John Moore, John Rosen, John Todor, Jon Burg, Jon Swanson, Jonathan Trenn, Jordan Behan, Julie Fleischer, Justin Foster, Karl Turley, Kate Trgovac, Katie Chatfield, Katie Konrath, Kenny Lauer, Keri Willenborg, Kevin Jessop, Kristin Gorski, Lewis Green, Lois Kelly, Lori Magno, Louise Manning, Luc Debaisieux, Mario Vellandi, Mark Blair, Mark Earls, Mark Goren, Mark Hancock, Mark Lewis, Mark McGuinness, Matt Dickman, Matt J. McDonald, Matt Moore, Michael Karnjanaprakorn, Michelle Lamar, Mike Arauz, Mike McAllen, Mike Sansone, Mitch Joel, Neil Perkin, Nettie Hartsock, Nick Rice, Oleksandr Skorokhod, Ozgur Alaz, Paul Chaney, Paul Hebert, Paul Isakson, Paul McEnany, Paul Tedesco, Paul Williams, Pet Campbell, Pete Deutschman, Peter Corbett, Phil Gerbyshak, Phil Lewis, Phil Soden, Piet Wulleman, Rachel Steiner, Sreeraj Menon, Reginald Adkins, Richard Huntington, Rishi Desai, Robert Hruzek, Roberta Rosenberg, Robyn McMaster, Roger von Oech, Rohit Bhargava, Ron Shevlin, Ryan Barrett, Ryan Karpeles, Ryan Rasmussen, Sam Huleatt, Sandy Renshaw, Scott Goodson, Scott Monty, Scott Townsend, Scott White, Sean Howard, Sean Scott, Seni Thomas, Seth Gaffney, Shama Hyder, Sheila Scarborough, Sheryl Steadman, Simon Payn, Sonia Simone, Spike Jones, Stanley Johnson, Stephen Collins, Stephen Landau, Stephen Smith, Steve Bannister, Steve Hardy, Steve Portigal, Steve Roesler, Steven Verbruggen, Steve Woodruff, Sue Edworthy, Susan Bird, Susan Gunelius, Susan Heywood, Tammy Lenski, Terrell Meek, Thomas Clifford, Thomas Knoll, Tim Brunelle, Tim Connor, Tim Jackson, Tim Mannveille, Tim Tyler, Timothy Johnson, Tinu Abayomi-Paul, Toby Bloomberg, Todd Andrlik, Troy Rutter, Troy Worman, Uwe Hook, Valeria Maltoni, Vandana Ahuja, Vanessa DiMauro, Veronique Rabuteau, Wayne Buckhanan, William Azaroff, Yves Van Landeghem

Quite an impressive list. And, if you've yearned to launch a business blog, but were afraid you would not "get it," this book's for you.

All proceeds from the book go to Variety, a children's charity.

Thanks Drew McLellan and Gavin Heaton for the brainchild and all the work you've done to make this edition a reality. Thanks David Armano for a great cover. Thanks to all contributors.

Can't wait for it to appear in September.