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Junkyard Management

Seriously, Nobody Cares if You Are The Smartest Person in the Room

Last week was my final meeting on a board I joined almost 18-years ago. Eventually I might rejoin the board, but it feels strange to step aside from something that has been a big part of my life.

It reminded me of this story, which I shared a few years ago. I’ve refreshed it and am posting again because the advice from this mentor was so powerful. Here goes:

Many years ago I joined a board of directors for a reasonably large organization. It was an honor to be invited, and I wanted to help the organization in the best …

Family, Junkyard Management,

Liars and Thieves

A few years ago I wrote this story, but it feels even more relevant today. Maybe because it’s an election year, or maybe because we have our own “alternative facts” to believe. Whatever the reason, it feels like we are hearing more lies than ever before.

One reality of this, as this story points out, is that someone who lies to you is just as likely to steal from you.

This story happened on a hot summer afternoon in the mid-1970’s. I was with my dad as he was negotiating a deal with a contractor. Let’s call the contractor John. …

Junkyard Management, Random Thoughts,

COVID-19 and Junkyards

Sanitization has became our new national pastime. Rightfully so, of course, because we all need to be washing our hands regularly and sanitizing what we touch if we want to beat this pandemic.

I grew up working in my Dad’s junkyard. Junkyards are messy places. Everything in them has a touch of grease, grime, and dirt. At the end of a long day it would take a lot of soap and water to wash up. I remember how my Dad’s hands seemed to have a permanent thin layer of grease under his fingernails.

Our lives — even our lives in …

Junkyard Management,

Junkyards Save Lives

My guest blogger this week is Jason Sautel. Jason is one curious dude. His background as a firefighter in Oakland has given him hundreds of stories to share about life, death, pain, joy, and forgiveness. Today he maintains an online ministry to over half a million people, and has recently completed a book to come out in September (highly recommended … check it out here).

But what Jason does doesn’t fully reflect who he is.

Jason is a bundle of energy, curious about everything, talkative to the point of annoying, street smart in a way that can’t be …

Junkyard Management,

Junkyard Philanthropy

Here’s an obvious statement: a junkyard is filled with a lot of junk. The good junk is sold, and most of the rest is recycled. But some things have less than zero value because disposing of some items is an expensive endeavor.

The lesson learned from the junkyard is that giving it away is easier than throwing it away. It’s junkyard philanthropy.

For instance, old used tires are basically worthless. You can’t sell them, obviously. And they cost a lot of money to dispose of. They are hard to recycle, last forever in a landfill, and burning them releases toxic …

Junkyard Management, Random Thoughts, So you think you're a writer?,

Want to be a Guest Blogger?

Junkyard wisdom comes from a lot of places besides junkyards. You don’t have to go home with grease under your fingernails to attain wisdom (though it helps). Anyone from anywhere can have great insight.

Since my friends are amongst the wisest people in the world (I almost said the wisest people I know, but that’s obvious) then it’s time to share their wisdom.

Are you up for it? If you have an idea, opinion, insight, or fun story, let’s talk about you being a guest blogger. Maybe you have a rant you want to get off your chest. Or an …

Junkyard Management, Leadership,

Vulnerable Leadership

“The kind of trust that is necessary to build a great team is what I call vulnerability-based trust. This is what happens when members get to a point where they are completely comfortable being transparent, honest, and naked with one another, where they say and genuinely mean things like “I screwed up,” I need help,” “Your idea is better than mine,” “I wish I could learn to do that as well as you do,” and even, “I’m sorry.”

The quote above is from Patrick Lencioni’s book The Advantage, and it reminded me of something from thirty years ago.

D’Aun …

Junkyard Management, Leadership,

Please, Shut Up and Listen

The little voice in the back of my head kept whispering, “Tell this guy to shut up and listen!” It was yet another business meeting, late in the day, and the self-righteous leader condescendingly lectured me and my team about all the foolish things we were doing. He was partially right, largely wrong, but so convinced of his correct position he didn’t even take the time to hear my perspective. Thankfully I had the sense to keep my mouth shut. But boy was I tempted to unload on the guy.

One reason I didn’t go ballistic is because, honestly, what …