Would I...If I Had 98?

Leadership Lessons I Learned From Last Saturday Night...

I attended a party last Saturday night and I was struck by the leadership lessons I learned from the birthday girl. Now living in Miami, you probably are thinking the party must have been at Club Liv at the historic Fontainebleau Hotel on South Beach but, you would be incorrect. C'mon, I am in HR -- I would not have gotten past the bouncer they don't let my kind of professionals into Liv! Instead, we convened in private dining room in the burbs which fit the occasion just perfectly.

This was not any birthday party it was my kids great grandmother's 98th birthday bash and boy can Grandma Lil parrrrrrTAY! This is my wife's grandmother and the mother of my mother in law (who I actually like, oddly enough...but I digress) Grandma Lil turned 98 years old. She just moved down to Miami 3 months ago from New York. Why, you ask? Because that is what New Yorkers do, they grow older and move to Flaarada (spelled NY frenetic style)...she just took her time getting here and that's a good thing, as we have one less person going slow in the fast lane with their blinker on...but I digress.

As you can see from the picture she is gorgeous, stunning, a lady and as sharp as a tack! I wish I was that sharp but I played football and certainly must have been concussed a couple of times, but I can't remember, is that a problem?!

You see Grandma Lil is the Matriarch of the family although my mother in law would beg to differ (did I tell you I actually like my mother in law? Yes I did this is a public forum - and I only look dumb and yes I really like her too, I know shocking I am a concussion survivor!) But I love Grandma Lil, as she is what is good in this world and although she does not have a name like Thatcher, Meir or Mother Teresa she might as well have...because she has made her name a great one as well.

Lil is every bit as strong as those ladies and every bit a leader, even if it was only in her 5 square miles where she lived in Yonkers, New York for the past 97 years. She has raised 4 all very successful children and have several grandchildren and a pod of great grand children.

Grandma Lil is every bit a lady...but she instilled in her family a blue collar mentality that she still has today, she is a worker. Hearing the toasts to Grandma Lil it did not take very long to see the very valuable leadership insights she bestowed upon a generation and beyond. Here are the leadership lessons I learned at Grandma Lil's 98th birthday bash:

1. It's not what you earn its what you build and save. This was pretty much her words and how true is that? You could earn 10 million bucks a year, but if you have not built something and saved something, you have not earned.
2. Hard work takes work. Simple but so true (I did say I really do like my mother in law right? Yes it takes work probably more on her end to like me!)
3. Role models and heros come in all shapes, sizes, colors and ages. Grandma Lil is one of those kind of people, are you, am I? It takes work to be a role model regardless of your role.
4. You are never to old to try something new. This 98 year old just started writing in her complex's newsletter, and yes she still lives by herself. She said when she moved here there are some very interesting people that live in her complex and bam she is writing articles about them, already on the writing staff of the local gazette...and no she has never written articles before.
5. You don't need HR to tell you when you screwed up...that's what Prada is for. Evidently Grandma Lil's shoe was made for her kids and son in law when they acted up years ago. The story goes she had the power of Nolan Ryan one of the strongest pitching arms in baseball history and with perfect speed & accuracy she'd take off her shoe and whip it across the room and nail the perp (probably her sons or my father in law who I really really like) right in the middle of their backs after they were rude or were acting up. Disclaimer, as an HR professional, I do not recommend you take on this practice at work, as you might end up in the principals office. I know, you are thinking about it, a size 8 Prada could talk some sense into some folks...DON'T DO IT!...But you could try it at home...like against the wall, not on people...Lil goes back some time, they had very different rule books back then. Just remember, you know what is acceptable or not...if you go there, just know there could be a Prada headed your way or maybe not...I am not sure which fear is worse! Think about that one next time you are not the model employee or son in law...better keep your head on a swivel!
6. The Shadow of a Leader is real...people pay attention to you! Seeing Grandma Lil's family and her new friends, clearly show your actions (good or bad) as a leader casts a shadow and are passed onto the people around you. While it is not always easy to be good all the time, you must know people are watching, people learn, and people act because of how you are as the leader, even if you did not intend for them to do so...be aware of your shadow.

7. Don't waste a damn minute...there is always something to be done. Yep, Nuff said.

I loved hearing those emotional tributes of this wonderful and super strong lady -- oh and by the way who just lost her husband of over 75 years just 3 months ago, who also was 98. She has been dealing with the loss of the love of her life, but she keeps moving forward as there are things to do and people to see. What other 98 year old sells her house moves south to start her next chapter in life...a new place to live, new friends, but same daughter/my mother in law! I really did take away some real leadership lessons from Grandma Lil's 98th birthday party and her time here on earth...and knowing her, there will be many more years to kafell about her.

As the last toast was toasted, I thought to myself, self, you know when nice things are genuinely said about you, they are not given out freely -- they are earned and Lil earned every one of those niceties. I know how fortunate my kids are to have been part of this special celebration and for all of us for that matter. The creme de la creme of the night was not the cake, although delish it was her leadership lessons she continues to teach us about through her words and actions. Now I have to go work on my shadow...thanks for staying until the end...and if I had 98...would I...be the leader I wanted to be, would you?

Onward and Up!

Please excuse missing words, bad grammar or typos as my editor is off tonight...wait I don't have an editor...yet. These thoughts are mine and not those of my employer. Thanks again for reading and as always please share any thoughts or comments you have.