Sue and I escaped Washington Friday morning ahead of any snow; one of the last planes out of Reagan. We were there all last week at the National Prayer Breakfast. Some highlights for us:
President Obama: urged civility in public discourse. I couldn’t agree more and most of the three-thousand-plus there for breakfast agreed too. We absolutely must work on being civil and understanding, liking a person, even when we don’t agree with his/her policy.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: was the featured speaker. She did very well, re-living her Methodist heritage and her growth in her faith. She recalled friends—many of opposite politics—who came to her aid spiritually when she and Bill were having difficulties during his presidency. Those women continue to meet in a small group.
Os Guinness, author and social critic, spoke to a small group of CEOs. It was my first time to hear him, although I’d read several of his articles. Have ordered The Case for Civility.
Ken Blanchard spoke to the same group Thursday morning. His books on leadership (The One Minute Manager and others) are convincing in thoughts on parallelism between strong, effective leadership and the servant leadership of Jesus.
At Thursday’s leadership luncheon we sat with an older couple from the Bailiwick of Jersey, the Channel Islands: The Hon. Terry LeSueur, Prime Minister of the some 90-thousand residents. And he was one of over a hundred countries represented many by heads of state. LeSueur was probably the tiniest…nation…represented at the breakfast.
Our friends from my previously-visited “down-under” hosted a hospitality suite; good seeing Jock and Bev Cameron, Tim and Helen Pickles; John Sax, and others;
Dom, Rob, Chase, Bryant, James and Blazer—this year’s National Interns who aided in the Missouri Forum last month—were among the 500 volunteers who give their time to the event. And we saw young folks from many years of hosting them at Saddlebrooke; neat to meet their wives and hear about their successes.
Steve and Lynette Hughes’ daughter, Amy, got engaged to Alex Braden who joined his future father-in-law, and some eight of us at Shelly’s Cigar Bar downtown Tuesday.
Sue and I helped Steve and Cheryl South love on business executives new to the breakfast;
Had lunch with entrepreneur and Maryland Governor Candidate, Brian Murphy, who’s marketing 10-layer cakes and a shave oil.
It was a full and fun week. If you ever want to attend, let me hear from you.
–clyde
Two years ago when Sue and I were on a cruise ship, I thought it would be a treat to get a real shave from a barber. As a kid, I remember watching the barber prepare the beard with a hot towel, then using the chair-side strop, sharpening the razor before ever-so-gently drawing the blade across face and neck of the customer. So my first experience on the Holland America Line a few years back was absorbing.
And, my barber recommended that when I shaved at home I use shaving oil instead of shave cream or gel. I’d never heard of shave oil, but I took home a sample bottle to try. Let me recommend it. There are lots of benefits–primary of which is it gives a much closer shave therefore there’s not a late-afternoon shadow. Shave oil eliminates shave burns and razor bumps. So, I’m hooked and highly recommend you try it.
–clyde
This is the man who founded Walmart and regarded as maybe America’s most successful business entrepreneur. And, he came to my office one day. How’d that happen?
The link is my assistant, Jan Prenger. Jan, you see, was Sam’s executive assistant when the Prenger family lived in Bentonville, Ark. Jan’s husband, Mike, was a banker there. When they moved back home to Missouri, Jan needed a job and I needed an assistant. So there you go.
One day soon after we’d moved into our new building Jan told me that “Mr. Sam” was coming to Jefferson City that day and asked me if I’d like to meet him? WOW! That would be a bigger deal for me than if the President of the US were coming. Mr. Walton flew his own plane into little Jefferson City airport; Jan picked him up; they went to a quick lunch at a local diner; then out to our place. I was SO excited.
Walton was born in Oklahoma but really grew up in Missouri: high school at Columbia Hickman, and then the University of Missouri, where he was an athlete and a scholar and a member of Beta Theta Pi. I’d recommend you read one of the many biographies about this man. He was in town to visit the new Supercenter that had just opened. After our meeting he was going by to visit. He said he would just walk around unannounced looking it over. But just in case they didn’t eventually recognize him, he had a Walmart baseball cap and an employee badge that simply said “Sam”.
One story of that day which says tons about this conservative guy: On the way out I proudly showed off our new building, particularly the classy conference room. He inquired if I’d gotten value returned for what I’d invested in expensive wall covering and furniture. ”Of course not,” I responded. And he wisely retorted: ”then you paid too much.”
Mr Sam died in 1992. Call or e-mail Jan if you want to hear more about this man of legend.
–clyde
by Clyde on January 21, 2010
in Blog
Learfield’s Advisory Board meets Monday afternoon next week in St. Louis. These five come from strong backgrounds–as I’ve previously communicated. So we try to get the most from them during the five hours we’re together. We ask good questions and work hard to listen to their answers. Trust me, there’s a temptation to “tell”. But we need to learn to spend more time asking; then listening.
That holds true in leadership. Back in the early 90’s Sam Walton, Walmart’s founder, came to my office (Jan Prenger used to be his personal assistant). He spent 30-minutes or so privately with me. It remains one of the highlights of my life! Funny thing though about that time: He asked many more questions than I did. I tried and tried to ask him things, but he always deflected those questions and shot questions back at me! “How do you get financing? How’d you get this business started? When did you build this building? Have you gotten value from this fancy conference room? And on and on… My point is this: successful people are inquisitive and listen.
And, it holds true in personal relationships, doesn’t it? When you get back from a business trip and first see your spouse, imagine asking: how have you been? What happened on “30-Rock” last night? Tell me about PTA? Then really listen; really listen. At a recent meeting, I watched a friend from afar as he stood truly engaged in a conversation. His body language indicated his sincere interest in hearing all his colleague was saying. Then they moved to a table and my buddy leaned forward catching every morsel of what the guy was saying. It told me a good deal–and taught me much.
Be a leader; be a better friend; be a better spouse; be a better person. Ask questions and listen.
–clyde
by Clyde on January 21, 2010
in Blog
So my friend Bill Epley writes today:
Hi Clyde – I’ve noticed it’s been awhile since your last blog. I hope you’re doing ok.
So, readers, I’m announcing today that I’m back. Twitter has taken me away from this site. Gotta blame my laziness on something.
–clyde
by Clyde on December 22, 2009
in Blog
Dear Friends:
A buddy sent me this thought today:
The entrance of God’s Son into the world meant peace — but it didn’t assure that people would get along. It meant great joy — but it didn’t mean we’d always get to grin. And it meant unconditional love — though it never implied that everyone would act lovingly.
Christmas simply defies logic, doesn’t it? And yet, it is the real truth. Enjoy your families; enjoy your friends. And, give thanks to the God of the Universe that He is with us in all we are and in all we do.
Thank you if you were among the hundreds who sent greetings to Sue and me; we loved hearing from you. Know that we love you.
–clyde
by Clyde on December 10, 2009
in Blog
Bob Hague, a reporter for our Wisconsin Radio Network saved an elderly woman’s life yesterday. Here’s the wire-service story:
Alert Neighbor Helps Rescue Elderly Woman Neighbor Heard Cries For Help
Updated: 10:31 pm CST December 9, 2009
MADISON, Wis. — An alert neighbor came to the aid of an elderly woman in a south Madison neighborhood Wednesday morning.
Bob Hague was clearing off his driveway early Wednesday morning, preparing for his job at the Wisconsin Radio Network, when he happened to hear faint cries from a neighbor a few houses down.
“She’d gone out to get her newspaper this morning and I believe she took her shovel with her so she could dig it out,” said Hague. “And she ended up falling into the snow. (She) told me she’d been out here for 15 minutes calling and there weren’t many people around.”
The neighbor roughly 80 years old and very small in stature told Hague she knew she was lucky that he heard her cries for help.
The temperature at the time was about 30 degrees, but it started dropping shortly thereafter.
Good going, Bob! We’re proud of you!
–clyde
Corey Green. Remember him? He was an intern for us a few years back from Mizzou. Now he’s in the Big Apple doing advertising. This morning he sent me a blog link that I wish I’d authored; well written and right on target. By the way, if you’d like a bill-fold size copy of Wooden’s seven point creed, e-mail me: clyde@learfield.com.
by smays on December 2, 2009
in Blog
My brother, Greg, is a health economist. Very bright. So, I’m often asking him about this health care debate. We don’t always agree, but he’s usually right. He asked me to read NY Times columnist, David Brooks’ view. I did. And I think the guy about has it. Here’s how the article starts:
“It’s easy to get lost in the weeds when talking about health care reform. But, like all great public issues, the health care debate is fundamentally a debate about values. It’s a debate about what kind of country we want America to be.”
by Clyde on November 16, 2009
in Blog
Well, it’s not quite that bad, but we have moved things around a bit. Again. We’ve encouraged Greg to try his hand at blogging as a way to be part of the Learfield conversation and he’s off to a good start. You’ll find links to his posts on the Learfield.com home page. Greg and others will focus more on company news and I’ll write about whatever strikes my fancy. And you’ll still find links to my recent posts on the Learfield home page.
So if your bookmarks are messed up because of all these moves here’s what you need to know:
- Clyde’s Blog – http://www.learfield.com/clyde OR http://www.GrowLearfield.com
- Greg’s Blog – http://learfield.posterous.com
- Company News – http://www.learfield.com/category/news/
Again, you’ll find links to all three on the Learfield.com home page. More to come, so keep and eye on the home page for updates.