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SIX FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES - ONE, WHAT DO YOU STAND FOR?

Bill van Steenis — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:19:44 +0000

One of my favorite films is Schindler's List, a film about Oskar Schindler, a wealthy German industrialist who during the World War II produced war materials for Germany with the assistance of Jewish slave labor. During the war, Schlindler began to care about the Jews under his charge. He expanded his business and continued to add Jewish workers. In league with a Jewish accountant they saved hundreds of Jews including children from certain death in the gas chambers of Auschwitz. At the conclusion of the film, the Holocaust survivors that Schindler saved and their families filed past the tomb his tomb in Israel and each person placed a stone upon his tomb. Each stone represented person life alive today that Oskar Schindler was responsible for saving. These stones are known as standing stones. The term “what does that stand for” relates to standing stones found throughout the old testament (books of Exodus and Joshua) of the Bible.

Being Prepared

Bill van Steenis — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 21:42:13 +0000

I recently received a call from a cilent who told me about a presentation he gave at a university. The client went to a local university to make a presentation on having a career in a specific discipline within the accounting industry. After my friend completed his talk, he asked for questions. One student responded immediately and began to ask questions, not just questions but very well prepared questions. The student had clearly invested specific time researching the company and was well versed not only in the speaker's company but also the specific industry the company was engaged in as well. The questions went on for more than thirty minutes while many of the other students in the room just sat and listened to the exchange. The student so impressed the speaker with his in depth knowledge of the company and the industry as well as his specific area of expertise that the speaker decided to hire him.

This is yet another example that you can turn an opportunity to meet someone or speak with a person in leadership into an opportunity to join the company. It takes determination, planning, time and hard work to prepare for the opportunity to engage the speaker. If done properly and thoroughly you can end up with a job offer. I can't encourage you strongly enough to be prepared for each and every opportunity to engage company leaders and show them what you know. Always keeping in mind that companies hire people to solve the company's problem that they don't have the internal resources to solve. If you can solve this problem for them, chances are they will solve yours by giving you an opportunity to join them.

Pay it Forward: Living a life of service.

Bill van Steenis — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 03:03:49 +0000

Today I spoke to a classroom of university students about careers. I shared a lot of information with them about what life is like in the real world, the world that instantly arrives the day you get your degree. I started off by telling them the news that none of us want to hear, that the expensive education they have invested in and the hard work they have committed to, well frankly, "it's not about you. It is always about the customer and the employer. I explained that they are training themselves to serve others." I began to explain to the students the value of living a life of service has.

"Keep your word even when it hurts."

Bill van Steenis — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 22:59:25 +0000

According to the Forbes 400, Jon Huntsman Sr. is the 47^th richest man in the world. He got that rich by hard work and living a life of integrity. Jon started the world’s largest privately held chemical company from scratch. He is the inventor of the plastic eating utensils and Styrofoam food containers.

Huntsman has faced many tests of his integrity but the one that really impressed me was when he did a handshake deal to sell part of one of his companies to Great Lakes Chemical for $54 million dollars. By the time the deal closed the value of his company had appreciated to more than $250 million. Great Lakes waited for Huntsman to come back to them and renegotiate the deal but he never did.

Jon Huntsman shook hands at $54 million and that was his price. He said he never questioned his decision because his word is his bond. He made most of his money after he sold that part of the company to Great Lakes.

"Establish standing stones in your life."

Bill van Steenis — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 00:38:23 +0000

In the Old Testament, at the time when the people of Israel were traveling through the desert, many important events took place. When they experienced an event that marked their lives in some important way they would erect stones to mark that spot as a reminder of what took place there. If you watched the film Schindler’s list, at the end of the film, the survivors of the Holocaust and their descendents of the survivors filed past piled Oskar Schindler’s tomb. As they walked by each person placed a stone on top of his tomb. Each stone represented a person that was alive that day because of what Oskar Schindler had done several decades before. Those stones are called standing stones.

"ONE SOLITARY LIFE"

Bill van Steenis — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 03:01:45 +0000

Several years ago my wife purchased a box of Christmas cards. I am generally not much of a card person but I appreciate it when someone sends me one, especially my wife or daughter. While my wife was addressing the cards I picked one up and read it. It was entitled "One Solitary Life" and the author was anonymous but the message profound. It reads as follows: "Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another obscure village, where he worked in a carpenter’s shop until he was thirty. Then for three years he was an itinerant preacher.

Make Your Mission in Life Someone other than Yourself.

Bill van Steenis — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 08:30:12 +0000

I originally posted this blog post last December but it is worth reposting. I hope you enjoy it. I didn't know Jack Klunder but if I had I know I would have liked him. I like people with snow on the roof and wisdom in their hearts who aren't afraid to speak their minds. From what I've heard Jack was that kind of guy. I was introduced to "the world according to Jack" when my wife Barb and I were visiting our friend Erin recently at her home. On the wall above Erin's back door is painted "Make Your Mission In Life Someone Other Than Yourself". I read it several times. Then I asked Erin about it and she told me it was her grandfather Jack that said it as he prepared to die. She said that they were all gathered around Jack's bed during his last hours of life when someone asked Grandpa Jack for his wisdom for life. Jack told the family, "Love your spouse with all your heart and make your mission in life someone other than yourself."

You be the judge. What is the impact of kindness and mutual respect?

Bill van Steenis — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 07:29:53 +0000

What happened to the time? Today is my birthday, my natal anniversary. My dear friend US District Court Judge James Watson used to use that phrase in his courtroom. Every Monday as he would begin court, his first question would always be do we have any birthdays among our jurors or anyone that is part of the proceeding before this court? If there were the judge would point out that you only have one birthday, every other day that falls on the day you were born is your natal anniversary. Then we would all sing happy birthday or natal anniversary to that person or those persons who were celebrating that week.

Things I can change....and those I can't

Bill van Steenis — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 00:44:09 +0000

For many years I have been passionate about politics and any other thing I could think of. I was right and that was that. I have been passionate to the point of being obnoxious. I would argue with anyone that disagreed with me given the opportunity. I loved it, or so I thought. After a recent event in my life, I spent nearly a week of total quiet to assess my life and really think about how I have lived. I came to the conclusion I needed to change my behavior about politics and some other things. I hope to use that passion to pursue something more positive.

Pushing Through The Pain

Bill van Steenis — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 00:41:08 +0000

I've had a lot of knee surgery, 13 procedures to be exact. I've learned a great deal about pain over the past thirty years. Nothing I have ever experienced compares with having total knee replacements. I thought I was mentally prepared for this procedure. I didn't have any idea what I was getting into. The afternoon that I came out of surgery into recovery it felt like they had sawed off my legs, which when you think about it they did.