Moment-to-Moment Optimism

By Dr. Russ

Monday is Dr. Russ Busster Day.  It is the day I write about OPTIMISTIC TIPS to "BUSST-UP" any pessimism standing in your way at the beginning of the week. Today I draw on the New Orleans Saints victory in Super Bowl XLIV for optimistic inspiration and wisdom.  For an overview and introduction to “Super Bowl Optimism” check out my mini-blog at Life in Lansing.

TEN SUPER BUSSTERS

1. Vince Lombardi Trophy Busster – “I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle – victorious.” ~ Vince Lombardi

2. “Ain’ts” Busster – Those who have failed, failed again and learn to fail better learn not to take teasing and ridicule personally.  Instead, they learn to take it as feedback that there is much to be done and accomplished.  Ridicule is born of strong emotion, indicating somebody cares and is emotionally invested in desire for improvement.

3. Katrina Busster – The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. teaches that, “Only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.”  Call the Saints the “Hurricane Comeback Kids.”  A “Skilled Optimist” has learned that opportunity for the “greatest of gains” only occurs when life seems to be at its “darkest hour.” Those who see and seek such opportunity in such moments draw on previously untapped motivational reserves, acquire new skills, persist longer than ever before, and able to keep a sharp focus on attaining the previously thought to be impossible goals.

4. Brees Busster – “We just believed in ourselves and we knew that we had an entire city and maybe an entire country behind us.” (Quarterback Drew Brees quoted by Barry Wilner, Associated Press).  In addition to inspiring great individual dedication, a disaster like Katrina often inspires new collaborative efforts and belief that everyone was out to help New Orleans survive and thrive.

5. Two Point Conversion Busster – Coach Sean Payton took the risk of calling for a two point conversion after Jeremy Shockey’s touchdown so the Saints would be up by seven points requiring a the Colts to score a touchdown and extra point just to tie. At first Lance Moore’s 2 point conversion catch was ruled incomplete, but Payton “challenged” calling for a video replay review.  Upon review, the incomplete pass call was overturned and two points awarded.  The “skilled optimist” knows when to take on the challenge and what is a reasonable risk.

6. Onside Kick Busster – At the beginning of the second half Saints Coach Payton became a role model for an “Optimistic Risk Taker” when he called for an onside kick to start the second half.  He told the team, “You’ve got to make me look good on this . . . that really becomes like a turnover.”  The “risk” worked and New Orleans not Indianapolis” began on the “offensive” side of the ball.  A “skilled optimist” is not afraid of “risk” and with practice over time becomes quite good at “risk taking.”

7. Sean Payton Busster – This “never-before-a-head-coach” coach provides inspiration that the impossible is doable; a 3 and 13 team can become an NFL Division champion the next year - three years after that a “Super Bowl Champion.” More importantly he has inspired an “optimistic” culture within the organization, a culture focused on hard work, responsibility and accountability.  He rebuilt the roster with coaches and players who shared those values. Only eight players remain from the 2005 “Ain’ts.”

8. Paper Bag Busster – Resilience to the ridicule of derogatory name calling is one thing, but resilience to being actively ignored and treated as if “does not exist” takes incredible stamina.  In the 1990’s “disgusted with losing” fans could have shown their complete disdain for the team by not “showing up.”  No, that would have been too easy on everyone.  Instead they showed their displeasure with the symbolic act of wearing a paper bag over their head at the game.   I’m sure such truth hurt, but it likely forced the Saint’s owners out of complacency and toward an ultimate “fix.”

9. Superdome Busster – The Superdome stands as a monument to the “optimism” of the architectural do-over.  Its near destruction by Katrina resulted in re-building an even better venue for sports; now a larger than life symbol of the “never say die spirit” proving that self-reinvention and rebirth are not only possible but preferable to the status quo.

10. “Who Dat” Busster – Making and poking fun at yourself is one of the higher forms of “skilled optimism.”  – “Who dat, who dat, who dat say gonna beat them saints,” became the Saints fans rally cry as they made fun of their own Creole language heritage.  When we can poke fun at ourselves we show we are capable of the highest form of self-worth.

By Dr. Russ,

Every once in awhile a reader sends me some material that strikes me as so compelling that I find I must share it with the entire readership of Moment-to-Moment Optimism.  Today, I refer you to a brief, but very inspiring video, about how a young adult with Down’ syndrome took a simple idea, made it personal, and had a huge impact on the daily optimism of those he “touched."

A bagger with Down’s syndrome at a large supermarket listened carefully to the speech of the consultant hired to improve customer service and loyalty.  He heard her say that everyone can make a difference by creating memories for the customers that will motivate them to come back.

About a month after her speech, she got a call from 19 year old Johnny the bagger with Down’s.  He said at first he couldn’t think of anything special as he was just a bagger.  What could a bagger do?

Then, he said an idea came to him.  Every night after work he would look for an inspirational thought for the day, and with Dad’s help made multiple copies of the message on the computer.  He cut the quotes into small cards and signed his name on the back. He put the message of the day into each customer’s bag.

It wasn’t long before Johnny’s checkout line was three times longer than any other.  When the store manager tried to open up new lanes the customers stood pat saying they wanted Johnny’s “thought for the day.”

To see the rest of the story and to see how Johnny’s simple act of wanting to make a difference transformed the culture of the store form one of ordinary to one of extraordinary OPTIMISM : click on the link and view the short video: "Johnny's Story."



By Dr. Russ

Puppy Purchase

Some years ago a good friend of mine from my college years had come to visit me and my wife.  My wife and I had been married for about two years and we had just purchased our first puppy together, a miniature poodle.  We lived in a large apartment complex with a large grassy area surrounded by the apartment building; a nice safe place to let the dog run a bit while training her.

Puppy Training

I was training my dog to come to me when called.  As the dog ran around in the grassy area, I would call, “Here Cara, here Cara,” and she would dutifully come to me.  I would then say, “good dog, good dog” in a very cheerful voice while giving her a soft pat on the back.  The dog and I must have repeated this routine some 10 times in a thirty minute period.  Somewhere in the middle of this exercise, my friend asked: “Why are you rewarding the dog for expected behavior?”

Psychologist versus Political Scientist

Being a psychologist, I replied, “How else will the dog learn unless it is reinforced for expected or good behavior?”  My friend shrugged his shoulders not really understanding my reply.  I thought to myself, "Well, he was a political science major in college and I was a psychology major."  I also realized why he had never been able to train the three different dogs he had had since I had known him.

Dog Days of Organizational Culture

How does this dog story relate to human beings in organizations?  I have interviewed and consulted with hundreds of “bosses” over the last twenty-five years and well over 50% of them have given me the same answer above: “Why should I reward (even with faint verbal praise) an employee for expected behavior?”  Conversely, I hear very consistent complaints from employees that they do not like their boss because he/she is demanding and critical while rarely giving praise.

The Santa Myth

According to American myth, Santa Claus lives at the North Pole with his wife, numerous magical elves, and eight reindeer.  During the year he makes gifts and toys for all the children of the world who have been good. He keeps tabs on “who has been naughty and who has been nice.”  The nice ones get a gift or toy on Christmas Eve and the naughty one’s get a lump of coal.  Santa, the boss of the North Pole and Christmas Eve, is giving out praise for good or we might say “expected behavior.” 

Give Praise Like Santa

If you are a boss or supervisor, be aware that you can never give enough praise.  Employees and supervisees thrive on the gift of verbal praise.  Be specific: “Thank you for making that phone call.”  Realize no behavior is too inconsequential or unimportant for a little praise (e.g., washing out the coffee pot, taking mail to the post office, or just doing the expected).  You don’t need to spend the whole year making gifts to be delivered once a year;  you need to give the Santa, “HO, HO, HO and a thank you very much,” every day, multiple times a day.  Give this simple act of daily praise and you will have more productive, satisfied and OPTIMISITC employees than you could ever imagine. You will be building, praise by praise, an “Optimistic Culture” in your organization.

What do you think? Make a comment.

By Dr. Russ 

The Dr. Russ Buss Optimism Week-in-Review Self Check

Check your weekly progress towards becoming a “Skilled Optimist” by trying to answer these thirteen questions posed by Dr. Russ Buss.   Can’t answer one, then click on the link to the blog post to find it.

13 Questions for Your Weekly Optimism Self-Evaluation

1.    What does the word "BUSSTERIZE" mean?  Have you begun telling others how to “BUSSTERIZE” their moments of pessimism? Have you been practicing your “BUSSTERIZING STRATEGIES?”

2.    Have you learned to BUSSTERIZE excuse making, staying stuck on the unchangeable, ego-protection and fear of failure?

3.    Have you learned to BUSSTERIZE moments of low motivation and lack of inspiration?

4.    How does your organization or workplace measure up against the 10 characteristics of an optimistic organization?

5.    Does your organization encourage a positive attitude every moment every day, creative thinking, adapting to rather than resisting change, and risk taking?

6.    Do you believe that YOU have a purpose and mission within your organization?

7.    Does the organization encourage debate, disagreement and help seeking?

8.    Are you planning to host a Dr. Russ Buss T-Shirt Day once a month to celebrate your organization’s belief in building and maintaining a STRONG optimistic culture.

9.    Have you scheduled a “Dr. Russ Buss T-Shirt Day Pot Luck Lunch,” identified a blog post for discussion and appointed a discussion leader?  Have you been to the STORE?

10.    Have you learned to spell OPIMISM the Dr. Russ Buss way? O is for opportunity, P is for Persistence, T is for tough-it-out, I is for inspiration, M is for moment to moment living, I is for imagination, S is for sharing, and M is for make-it-happen.

11.    Have you cut out the OPTIMISM SPELLER AND POSTED IT ON YOUR REFRIGERATOR?  

12.    Have you started conducting a daily OPTIMISM SPELLING LESSON WITH YOUR CHILD?

13.    Are you enjoying “The Diary of a Struggling Optimist?" Do you see the value of social networking and using Twitter in building and maintaining moment-to-moment optimism?

How optimistic were you this past week?  Could you keep the optimistic moments flowing?  Did you make progress in your QUEST to become a HIGHLY SKILLED OPTIMIST?  Make a comment and let us know.



Wednesday is JUST ONE THING DAY, the day I release the OPTIMISM TIP OF THE WEEK and answer the oft asked question:  “Please, please Dr. Russ tell me just ONE THING so I can get one more moment of optimism into my week."

In yesterday’s post, I discussed how to create an OPTIMISTIC ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE at your place of work.  Today’s tip elaborates on a strategy to commemorate and celebrate your organization’s commitment to creating and maintaining that optimistic culture at your workplace.

Tip of the Week:  To create, inspire, and maintain an OPTIMISTIC CULTURE in your WORKPLACE designate ONE DAY A MONTH as DR. RUSS BUSS T-SHIRT DAY.

Here are 10 SUGGESTIONS to help you establish and run a MONTHLY DR. RUSS BUSS T-SHIRT DAY!

1.    Make sure everyone at the workplace has a DR. RUSS BUSS T-SHIRT* (see purchase opportunity and instructions below).

2.    Make it a casual dress Friday day so everyone can get into their COMFORT ZONE OF OPTIMISM by wearing jeans, khakis or whatever clothing inspires optimism for them.

3.    Have everyone wear their Dr. Russ Buss T-Shirt.  Remember that in cold weather it can be worn over another shirt for that OPTIMISTIC LAYERING EFFECT.

4.    Have a “POT-LUCK-LUNCH-OF-OPTIMISM.” Have individuals bring foods that build or remind them of optimism.  Examples: serve a Chinese or Japanese dish with chopsticks to remind you of “Persistence;” serve broccoli for the “Optimistic Lifestyle;” serve chocolate dipped strawberries to “savor a moment of optimism"; etc. Make sure each person labels the dish with a 3 x 5 card that explains the dish’s OPTIMISTIC MEANING.

5.    Gather in a small group for a half hour in the AM or over lunch and have someone serve as group leader.  The leader is responsible for reading or distributing (ahead of time) a blog post with discussion questions.  The leader then facilitates a discussion about the post questions.

6.    Nominate 2 to 5 blog posts for BEST BLOG POST OF THE MONTH and have the workplace members vote on their favorite.  Then post the results of the vote as a comment on the Dr. Russ Buss website.

7.    Each month designate someone to bring in a PICTURE (digital photograph or print, a painting, or other image), A SONG OR PIECE OF MUSIC, or name of an HISTORICAL HERO that represents optimism to them.  At lunch the individual can present and explain the choice.

8.    Remember a small workplace of 2 to 5 employees, can celebrate this DAY OF OPTIMISM as easily as a medium or large workplace setting.  AN OFFICE of a few or more employees within a larger organization can celebrate the day as well.

9.    Be an OPTIMISTIC SELF STARTER - the one who INITIATES and makes this day happen at your workplace.

10.    Invite Dr. Russ to give a FREE 10-15 minute INSPIRATIONAL LECTURE ON OPTIMISM at YOUR DR. RUSS T-SHIRT DAY POTLUCK LUNCH.  (To invite Dr. RUSS e-mail him at drruss@drrussbuss.com, or call 517/999-2634)

* For orders of 1-9 shirts, PURCHASE your Dr. Russ T-Shirt ON LINE at CURRENT DISCOUNT OF 20% OFF.  For orders of 10 OR MORE call 517/999-2634 for an even greater and INCREDIBLE discount!  MAKE YOUR PURCHASE WITH A CREDIT CARD OVER THE PHONE.