The Daily Wake Up Micro Podcast

I'm Sorry You Feel This Way?

Episode 648 - I'm Sorry You Feel This Way? 
The power of an apology can be great if you are sincere, take full responsibility, and don't repeat the action.  What about an apology that shifts the burden of responsibility to the person you are apologizing to? 
People who apologize by saying, "I'm sorry you feel that way" miss the point of taking responsibility for their action. 
In today's podcast, I share a story of a collector from Citi Bank who used tactics I didn't appreciate so he apologized that I felt the way I did. 
This individual wasn't a jerk; he was doing his job the best way he knew how. I believe that most people who apologize this way have the best intention at heart, just don't know the foundation of an apology is to be responsible. 
The next time you apologize because you've made someone feel bad, take full responsibility for your part in how they feel about the situation. 
You got it, now go get it. 
#knowTroy #DWUpodcast #apology

Find the One Not Talking

Episode 647 - Find the One NOT Talking 
Have you ever had something valuable to share with someone who immediately responded with, "well, what I do . . . " It doesn't make you feel good does it? It's not that the other person is trying to make you feel bad; often times they are trying to offer their experience to help. 
These type of people are often the ones that talk the most amongst a group of people like in a networking event.  Again, good people, they just lack active listening and timing skills when engaging their audience. 
So two takeaways for you as we head into the weekend. 
 Don't be the person that talks the most at networking events
 Look for the person at a networking event that isn't doing a lot of talking and find out why (by asking them questions).  You may be surprised at the valuable information they have. 
Oh, you aren't going to networking events.  Shoot, it's time to get back at it peoples! 
#knowTroy #DWUpodcast #netWORKING

The Opposite of Integrity

The definition of integrity is: 
1. the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.
"he is known to be a man of integrity"
 
2. the state of being whole and undivided.
 
The definition of hypocrisy is: 
the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform; pretense.
 
When you have integrity, you are whole, complete. When you have hypocrisy, you are partial, incomplete
 
The encouraging news is you can become someone with integrity any time or day you want. Simply do it; and do it now. 
 
#knowTroy #DWUpodcast #integrity
 
 
 

The Disrupters

Episode 645 - The Disrupters
The Atlanta Hawks are two wins away from playing in the NBA Finals. This is significant since it is the first time they've been in the playoffs with this particular group. Sports commentators have used every excuse in describing how the Hawks are doing so well and it always comes down to how poorly their opponent is playing.  Most teams, if not all, have to "pay their dues" before making a championship run. The Hawks aren't buying it. They are young and want the championship now. 
Sometimes in life there are people who look down on you because you haven't paid your dues yet. You are disrupting their foundation of "this is the way we've always done it." Don't be discouraged by their insecurity. You keep disrupting through your actions and go win a championship in the game of life. 
Got it? Yeah, you got it. Now go #getit
#knowTroy #DWUpodcast #GameofLife

Attitude is more important than . . .

Episode 644 - Attitude is more important than . . . 
Facts
Past
Education
Money
Circumstances
Failure
From the book, Developing the Leader Within You by John Maxwell

Check Yoself Before . . .

Episode 643 - Check Yoself Before . . . 
Watching my beloved Atlanta Hawks take on the Milwaukee Bucks has been an exciting time. We would have won the game last night if not for a freaky accident and an oversized referee shoe. Sports brings out the best and worst of people. Especially with fans. I'm part of a Facebook group with like-minded people rooting for the Atlanta Hawks.
Well, not all of us. 
What I don't understand about people is the joy some find in the misery of others. There are fans of the other team that will join the a fan-based Hawks Facebook group only to talk smack. 
What is the motivation for doing something like that to strangers? It makes no sense to me other than they need a hug. 
People are fascinating aren't they? 
#knowTroy #dailywakeuppodcast #ATLHawks 

When to Stand Up

Episode 642 - When to Stand Up
People have often asked me, "when do I stand up for something?" My response has always been, "when it's right."  There is a feeling in today's world that it's unfair. More and more people cry foul because others have advantages based of the color of their skin, gender, or sexual orientation. If you were to go to a mental health professional, they would start asking questions and eventually you would be faced with having to take responsibility for your own actions and only with things you control. 
So when do you stand up for something? 
When it's right. 
Stand up for something when it's right.  Regardless of the consequences, stand up for what's right. Malcolm X was strong in his belief and when he saw leadership in his group doing things contrary to their teachings, he said something about it. Because it was right.  If you are at your work and someone cuts corners to advance in their role, violating ethics, say something. Stand up for what's right. 
If you don't know what's "right" because of your lack of experience and understanding of something, stay out of it. Also, when something is a belief that doesn't violate the laws of land (like thought and free speech) that's not the time to stand up. That's the time to focus on only what you can control. If someone is rich it doesn't mean life is unfair or they had an advantage. 
Got it? Yeah you got it, now go get it. 
#knowTroy #podcast #dailywakeup 

Win for You - Not a Movement

Episode 641 - 
Real talk this morning about the individual desire to win spilling out into group causes. When you combine our desire to win with everybody wanting to be a part of something you have the situation we are in today. 
Wanting to win has been a part of us ever since we were kids playing kick ball on a dirt field.  Dale Carnegie writes a little bit about the power of winning in his book, How to Stop Worrying and Start Living. Winning is an important part of having an improved mental health, yet have you noticed the number of people in these groups that aren't happy? 
I follow in the footsteps of the late, great, coach Vince Lombardi, when he said, "Winning isn't everything; it's the only thing."  Where I take it a step further is, the definition of a win.  I write about a formula to follow in my book, You Got It; Now Go Get It!, which asks you to combine your desire to win with your daily plan. In other words, set up a plan for your day in which you have to overcome. Going to bed earlier, and waking up earlier are hard things to do on a consistent basis.  Turning your phone off for a day is hard to do. Not eating junk food is hard to do. When things are hard to do, and you do them, and only you know about it, it not only fulfills your desire to win, it makes you a better person. Daily. 
When we as the whole of society, improve individually, it makes all of us better. 

Taste of Freedom

Episode 640 - Taste of Freedom
There was a scene in the HBO show, Mare of Easttown where the criminal confesses to a crime because he can't live with the weight of knowing what he did. Although it was only a crime television show it reminded me of a website, Raw Confessions where users can anonymously confess whatever they want.  It was a huge hit when it came out and after going there this morning seems to be just as popular.  Finally, I remembered a story of a man confessing to a murder after watching the movie, Passion of the Christ.  It was 2004 and Dan Leach confessed to killing Ashley Nicole Wilson because he didn't want the child she was carrying.  He was sentenced to 75 years in prison.  Ashley Nicole Wilson's death was ruled a suicide. Dan Leach could have gotten away with it. Instead he chose to be free by confessing his crime. 
In 2000, our band had the opportunity to play at a heavily secured youth prison in the State of Washington. At the time we had a song called Taste of Freedom. As we drove to the prison in our tour van, we all agreed it would be insensitive to sing Taste of Freedom at a prison so we scratched it from the set. 
The crowd really got into our music. It was one of the more engaged crowds we had seen and I was inspired to do Taste of Freedom. I turned to the band and said, "Taste of Freedom! Right now!" We were a tight knit group so the band followed and we played. 
 
Jingle jingle little key
How I long to be with thee
The taste of freedom reigns supreme
 
The crowd erupted and gave the loudest cheer of the concert. They understood the value of freedom and their roar of approval sent chills down my spine.  
Do you feel trapped by a secret? Do you fear the consequence of your secret? I guarantee you the consequence of your secret is nothing compared to being free.  There are those in prison who are freer than a lot of us outside of prison. Be free today. Confess. 
 

NBA Refs are People Too

Episode 639 - NBA Refs are People Too
Watching the NBA playoffs and I'm reminded of how bad the players treat the officials. The players are constantly belittling the officials and often times throughout the game the crowd will chant, "Refs you suck, Refs you suck." Consider the alternative. No referees at all?  
I used to officiate Softball, Flag Football, and Basketball. Basketball was by far the worst one to officiate. Most of the players, even in rec ball, thought they were better than you.
In basketball, yes. In officiating, no. 
Always remember to treat everyone with honor for there is no one greater than you and you are greater than no one.