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Our Legacy
I recently published a book (limited edition) of my Memoirs written specifically for my two daughters and their children and their children. The purpose was to pass onto the family the values; the challenges; the insights; and the love that has been the genesis of our family. Writing a book about yourself can feel uncomfortable and egotistical, yet when you clarify the “purpose” of this writing, it truly becomes a labor of love. It enables you to tell the story about your life and the impact that others have had on your life and the outcomes, both ugly and beautiful. It gives you the opportunity to pass on life’s lessons. While I will not bore you with the stories nor the process of developing and delivering this kind of a gift to your children, I will offer up the opportunity to those who might be interested some personal introspection and ideas. If I discover there is a “thread” to this post I will continue. If there is no interest then…..
Dr. Ron signing his Memoir book for his daughters
Here is a photo of me signing my books at my very first Dr. Ron’s Book Signing on June 21st, 2009.
It’s coming up on 35 years…so big deal?
Sweetness and I will “soon” be celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary in July. Due to travel and time challenges our two daughters Ashley & Brianne and my son-in-law Jude surprised us with a special time with just the 5 of us together. So, what’s the big deal? There are ”lots” of adult children you know who have planned special surprises for their parents. So what? (oh really????) Kids all over the country acknowledge their parents for a life of love; attention; family; and connection (oh really????). So what was the value to Trish & Ron when our children acknowledged our sense of family…our connection together…our love for each other? The value was and is……PRICELESS!
Jude-Mom-Dad-Ashley in back & Brianne
Career Success is a Choice
This past weekend I had the opportinity to see Frankie Avalon; Fabian; and Bobby Rydell perform at the beautiful Lake Chautauqua Amphitheater. For some young readers of this post you will have to look up in Wikipedia to learn who they are. These gentlemen range in age from 66 to 70. They were in the heart of the “rock-n-roll” movement. They are still performing today (although limited); they profess their sense of family; they are laughing while they tell their stories; and they LOVE their work. Aside from taking me back to the 50’s & 60’s as a young teenager; aside from making me smile; these gentlemen reminded me of lessons we learn as we “mature”: “when you love your job, you never have to go to work”; “life is uncertain…eat dessert first”; and “nobody cares if you can’t dance well…just get up and dance.” These old, yet energetic and passionate men were alive, vibrant, and connected with their “customer”…their audience. What a lesson for all of us regardless of where we are in our life careers? I thought you would enjoy a shot of 69 year-old Frankie Avalon up close to Coach Ron?
Frankie Avalon at Lake Chautauqua, NY
Father’s Day is Special
I wanted to share with you just how beautiful my two daughters are. Hugging their father is Ashley, my “favorite oldest daughter” and Brianne, my “favorite youngest daughter.” What makes them so beautiful, is what’s in their heart, how they live their life, and how the value family. In addition to my wife Trish these two ladies are my greatest treasures.
Ashley-Bri-and me
Surprise 35th Anniversary Celebration
Last weekend my two daughters and son in law surprised Sweetness and I with a fabulous getaway evening at the Glidden House in Cleveland. What made it so special was that the kids made it very personal and we had a great opportunity to laugh, share stories, and how each other. This time was so special with my kids that I wish I could store it in a bottle and open it again and again and enjoy the experience. Thank you Ashley and Jude and Brianne.
Dr. Ron’s Comments
C”mon…….respond. Even if you disagree with me, share your thoughts. I know not everyone is willing to “sit” in the back of the room. I recognize I’m not a world figure or a movie star (welllll, look at my photos)…Speak up. Forget being complacent…be willing to share your feelings…if you don’t agree with my GM post; if you think I’m ugly; or you simply love the connection I have with my family……SPEAK UP! We are not living under a cover. Here you go………..I’m going to make a statement or a claim to begin some discussion: When I say “bad” words in the presence of my amazing wife when I am making a point, I should apolagize to her?
Attitude is EVERYTHING
Had my haircut today at Lori Stefanec’s Barber Shop by a young lady unknown to me. I came to learn she is recouperating from a near-fatal motorcycle accident. The result of this mishap, she broke her back; neck; hand; rib through a lung; jaw broken in 2 places and reconstructed; and serious brain damage. Doctors told her not much chance of any “normal” life. She gave herself 2 years to prove her doctors wrong. She is nearing 3 years since her tragic accident and she was cutting my hair! She went back to barber school to retrieve her skills. What I came to understand is she was committed to retrieving her life. I was moved by her story and not once was there a negative comment; no reflections on her bad luck; not even a hint of a “pitty party.” Rather, this is a young lady eager to get on with life; get healthy (in whatever form that may mean to her); and to raise her daughter. She is an inspiration…and I have never been pampered in the barber chair with so much care and attention. You see, she doesn’t move particularly fast and her speach is slow and deliberate. It was great because she was really focusing in on taking care of me. Her demure, her talent for “connecting” with her patrons, and her warm smile made me not want to leave the chair. She made me feel very special and she was determined to make this old man look good after his haircut.
Moral of the story: just when you think you have it bad…talk to the person sitting next to you on the bus. In my case, it was my young barber Heather. She reminded me of a lesson I need to revist from time…”I complained and complained about having no shoes until I met the man who had no feet.” We have a lot to be grateful for in our lives and I thank Heather for being a wonderful teacher to remind me to live out of an attitude of gratitude.
How Well are you Recognizing & Rewarding Your Team?
The number one issue facing my clients is “staff.” How do I get them motivated? What can I do to get them to work as a team? Why is morale such a day-to-day challenge? Unfortunately, many dental employers report a total absence of even the simplest of acknowledgements. The doctor gets “busy” and overlooks opportunities to celebrate the successes and accomplishments of his/her team. The impact on the practice is two-fold: First, low staff morale and high turnover and second, a decrease in productivity and practice profitability. With that as a backdrop, I developed an assessment to help my clients evaluate how well they are recognizing their team. If you want to take the assessment click on this link.
This Bailout is Bull&%#*it
Is is any wonder why so many believe employee loyalty is dead? Thanks to the bankruptcy protection afforded by our government GM sent “Ultimatums” to all of its 6,000 U.S. dealers—follow the new rules or we’ll see you in court! Outrageous!!! All those years the dealerships have supported this mismanaged; overbloated with excess capacity; breeding place for stupidity in business planning only to be treated with disdain and casual abandon. Why should anyone choose to purchase an automobile from a company that treats their vendors and business partners as they mean nothing? Not me. And in the meantime while the Feds are bailing out these unbelievably poorly led companies, what about the small businesses that generate over 60% of all jobs in the U.S. What say you?
No Kidding…I Didn’t Know That!
I feel every day is a gift and full of amazing “things”. As such, I am accumulating interesting factoids that I want to share with you. There is no real purpose for doing this………..it’s just fun and you will now have some amazing ideas to share at your next party. Click here for fun tidbits.