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Author: Dave Tabor

Miscellaneous Thoughts

Example: Reminder of Why We Need Business Thinking in Government

My county sent me a license plate renewal for $188, and gave me the option of paying online for a $5.00 “convenience fee.”

I know, it’s just $5* but I don’t like wasting money – even more, I don’t like what I believe to be illogical, bureaucratic policies, so instead of paying $5, I took two minutes and 50 cents to mail a check.  Those of us in business know if the cost of paying online were free or close to free, the county would instantly have the money and reduce administrative processing costs.

This little anecdote offers suggests two points to consider:

  • Incentives do drive behavior, and not always in constructive ways. When customers aren’t behaving as we’d like, could we be incenting them to do so?
  • It’s election season – considering my “convenience fee” example, let’s put people in charge who have shown that they will govern with business thinking.

* By the way, pre-tax one may have had to earn $8.00, which compounded at 5% over 20 years is $21.23. That 2 minutes became $637/hour.

Miscellaneous Thoughts, Personal Development, Sales

How to Blow Your Brand with One Email – example

Subject Line: “Can you Help me?”

I received an email from a good friend.  Of course, I opened it.

My friend is a real estate agent I know to be huge-hearted, lovable, good natured and trustworthy.  This email, I sadly admit, really disappointed me.  Here’s the text:

  Do you have two minutes to help me with a problem???

I’m taking a great class right now and we’re having a competition. I need to get at least ten referrals in the next month in order to win!!!  I was just curious, who do you know from church, work, who wants to buy a home, sell a home, or invest in Real Estate that I could call today?

Thanks for taking the time to think about it!

I get it.  He’s trying something new, maybe stretching his comfort zone.  But dang it, I used to be absolutely certain that he was 100% focused on serving others.  Now he’s asking for something that’s completely about HIM.  Here’s what I wrote back to him:

  (Name), you know me well enough to know I refer when it makes sense – and I have! The (his firstname) I’m used to is all about helping others, not making an ask as part of a competition.  Sorry buddy, this makes me uncomfortable.  Stay you – that’s who people love.

We sometimes make mistakes when trying something new – successful people all make mistakes along the way.

Here’s the lesson: even when trying something new, we must be very careful to protect who we are and the reputation we’ve built in how others see us.

Miscellaneous Thoughts, Personal Development, Self Development

Do you know how your gatekeeper makes you look?

Recently I received a response from a communications director that felt like this photo.

I had invited his CEO to be a guest of the PROCO360 podcast and the snooty gist of the response was that the CEO is a very important and busy man.  His time cannot be wasted, so I must first convince the gatekeeper of the merit of my invitation.  Only then might my request be added to many from the throngs of admirers.

PROCO360 is a labor of love.  I take satisfaction in NOT interviewing jerks which this CEO must be, so I sent a reply to the communications director that his CEO would not be a fit.

I later met the CEO who is a lover of Colorado and Colorado business, and he’s a nice guy.  We were having a great conversation and the PROCO360 show came up.  He said he loves the mission and he’d like to be a guest on the show.  I said, “that’s interesting – I’d ruled you OUT.”  As you’d expect, that made him curious, then profoundly apologetic.  We worked things out and he’ll be on the podcast.

Do you know how your gatekeeper is making you look?

Miscellaneous Thoughts, Personal Development

Meet Pat.

Meet Pat.  He is braver than I am, and he’s having more fun.

We all know we shouldn’t take ourselves too seriously and I think most of us dream of being less inhibited.

I met Pat at Hopp’s Auto Body and when I did, I asked him, “tell me about your hair.”  As it turns out, his mother-in-law said he’d never have a mohawk, so just to be a sport, he did, and he changes the paint color for variety.  Why?  “It’s just for fun.”

As a long-ago mascot for the Denver Broncos, I felt comfortable acting crazy because I was anonymous.  It was a blast!  In person I’m way more inhibited.  I wish I were as brave as Pat when it comes to living large by having fun and laughing at myself.  Pat’s a great reminder to work on that.  How about you?

Miscellaneous Thoughts, Self Development

Up Close and Personal with Patriotism, Millennials

Until really recently, I could not relate to the men and women of the military – until they retired and got into business.  Of course, I’d always clap when members of the service were announced, clapping for the vague notion that these people are protecting America, protecting us.  Really though, it’s been hard to relate because I never served, I don’t understand what it’s like to be in the military, and I don’t know why we engage in the wars we do.  When I’d say the Pledge, it felt hokey.

Recently that changed. My son became 2nd Lieutenant Tabor in the U.S. Air Force.  This was entirely his idea.  He wants to serve his country and he wants to learn lessons of leadership within a disciplined group with a common pursuit.

The young Millennials are often maligned as thoughtless and privileged.  It seems to me that helping them find meaning, and supporting them when they do, builds stronger organizations and communities.

At Dan’s commissioning (becoming an officer), I said the Pledge of Allegiance and meant it for the first time in a long time.

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