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Kassidy and Diva.jpg)
Kassidy and Kennedy.jpg)
The five of us- notice the protruding bellyThursday, November 27, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
The QBQ
The QBQ is one of my favorite books, I really liked this quick note that was emailed out- Hope you enjoy it too.
QBQ! QuickNotes™ may be forwarded by email or printed in their entirety with full credit given for personal and group use.© QBQ, Inc. 2008. All rights reserved.
Ending the Blame Begins With ... Me.
by Kristin E. Lindeen "The QBQ! Daughter"
Have you ever made a mistake? Dropped the ball? Caused a problem? I have. And I hate it when that happens.
Before joining QBQ, Inc., I served as a university academic advisor helping incoming students pick their classes. Jessica, a co-worker, and I counseled one new student, a single mom with two little ones who was hesitant about attending college. The three of us worked closely to set a schedule that worked for her. But on the first day of school, it turned out that she'd been put in the wrong class—wrong subject, wrong time, wrong location. Bad news for an incoming student. Especially, a busy mom.
Well, we all huddled and after some creative scheduling, the problem was solved. The student—our customer, my customer—was happy.
So, feeling personally accountable, I did a postmortem to see what went wrong and what I could learn from it. I tried to ask all the right questions of myself—I mean, after all, I was raised on QBQ!
“What could I have done to clarify?” “How could I have made sure to follow up?” “What can I do to be more careful in the future?”
Later, I wandered into Jessica's office and started sharing about the whole mess. But while I talked, Jessica was only ... nodding! My frustration began to build. You see, to be truthful, I was accepting my responsibility for the problem, and rightly so. Yet, what I really, really wanted my co-worker to say was, “Well, Kristin, I could have done more, too.” When it got right down to it, I would've happily agreed to take, say, 70% of the blame, but she could and should take 30%. In fact, I would've negotiated to 80/20 if she'd wanted to. I just needed her to state I am accountable, too!
Has this ever happened to you? You’re asking the right questions, admitting to your involvement in a problem, practicing PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY!!!, but no one else is owning up to their part!? It’s not an easy position to be in. Honestly, as I was telling her, “I could have done this or that differently…” I wanted to scream out, “And you, Jessica, could have done something differently and it’d be really super for you to admit it!!” What’s ironic, is this coworker even had the QBQ! book sitting on her desk.
That was the day I realized that practicing personal accountability by using The Question Behind the Question is a choice—MY CHOICE—and not one that I can force others to make. In her office, I suppose I could've asked Jessica to read the QBQ! book again, but that probably would not have enhanced our working relationship. Personal accountability is just that: personal. I can't make someone else be accountable. My job is to eliminate blame from my life.
Since I became a QBQ, Inc. team member and began speaking and conducting workshops on my dad's (John Miller) material, I have learned that organizations struggle mightily with this blame thing—what it looks like, why it happens, what its costs are, and how to stop it. There's even a bit of confusion about blame. Some recent client statements:
Our executives actually like to ask "Who dropped the ball!?" because they feel it keeps individuals from hiding behind systems and processes.
So, blame creates fear? What's wrong with that; isn't fear a motivator?
As a manager, why shouldn't I blame my staff ... they're the ones not reaching their goals?
OK, I know I shouldn't blame others, but does that mean I should take all the blame all the time? I believe in simple, so let me simply quote the QBQ! book: Accountable people don't blame anyone. Not even themselves.
It's true, solving problems, excelling in our work, building relationships, and reaching goals are all driven by introspection, humility, continuous learning, passion, accountability, and hard work. Never finger-pointing, accusations, recrimination, and blame. Let's call it quits on The Blame Game today. We can do better. Are you with me 100%?
If not, that's okay—it begins with me.
Kristin E. Lindeen QBQ! speaker/workshop leader mailto:Kristin@QBQ.com
by Kristin E. Lindeen "The QBQ! Daughter"
Have you ever made a mistake? Dropped the ball? Caused a problem? I have. And I hate it when that happens.
Before joining QBQ, Inc., I served as a university academic advisor helping incoming students pick their classes. Jessica, a co-worker, and I counseled one new student, a single mom with two little ones who was hesitant about attending college. The three of us worked closely to set a schedule that worked for her. But on the first day of school, it turned out that she'd been put in the wrong class—wrong subject, wrong time, wrong location. Bad news for an incoming student. Especially, a busy mom.
Well, we all huddled and after some creative scheduling, the problem was solved. The student—our customer, my customer—was happy.
So, feeling personally accountable, I did a postmortem to see what went wrong and what I could learn from it. I tried to ask all the right questions of myself—I mean, after all, I was raised on QBQ!
“What could I have done to clarify?” “How could I have made sure to follow up?” “What can I do to be more careful in the future?”
Later, I wandered into Jessica's office and started sharing about the whole mess. But while I talked, Jessica was only ... nodding! My frustration began to build. You see, to be truthful, I was accepting my responsibility for the problem, and rightly so. Yet, what I really, really wanted my co-worker to say was, “Well, Kristin, I could have done more, too.” When it got right down to it, I would've happily agreed to take, say, 70% of the blame, but she could and should take 30%. In fact, I would've negotiated to 80/20 if she'd wanted to. I just needed her to state I am accountable, too!
Has this ever happened to you? You’re asking the right questions, admitting to your involvement in a problem, practicing PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY!!!, but no one else is owning up to their part!? It’s not an easy position to be in. Honestly, as I was telling her, “I could have done this or that differently…” I wanted to scream out, “And you, Jessica, could have done something differently and it’d be really super for you to admit it!!” What’s ironic, is this coworker even had the QBQ! book sitting on her desk.
That was the day I realized that practicing personal accountability by using The Question Behind the Question is a choice—MY CHOICE—and not one that I can force others to make. In her office, I suppose I could've asked Jessica to read the QBQ! book again, but that probably would not have enhanced our working relationship. Personal accountability is just that: personal. I can't make someone else be accountable. My job is to eliminate blame from my life.
Since I became a QBQ, Inc. team member and began speaking and conducting workshops on my dad's (John Miller) material, I have learned that organizations struggle mightily with this blame thing—what it looks like, why it happens, what its costs are, and how to stop it. There's even a bit of confusion about blame. Some recent client statements:
Our executives actually like to ask "Who dropped the ball!?" because they feel it keeps individuals from hiding behind systems and processes.
So, blame creates fear? What's wrong with that; isn't fear a motivator?
As a manager, why shouldn't I blame my staff ... they're the ones not reaching their goals?
OK, I know I shouldn't blame others, but does that mean I should take all the blame all the time? I believe in simple, so let me simply quote the QBQ! book: Accountable people don't blame anyone. Not even themselves.
It's true, solving problems, excelling in our work, building relationships, and reaching goals are all driven by introspection, humility, continuous learning, passion, accountability, and hard work. Never finger-pointing, accusations, recrimination, and blame. Let's call it quits on The Blame Game today. We can do better. Are you with me 100%?
If not, that's okay—it begins with me.
Kristin E. Lindeen QBQ! speaker/workshop leader mailto:Kristin@QBQ.com
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
Halloween
Kennedy and sisters
Kennedy in Daddys hat
I can sit up on my own
Kennedy with Abby and Aunt Candace
Little Travis
Miranda- The Seventies Chic
My Zombie BrideWednesday, November 5, 2008
Friday, October 31, 2008
6 months
Believe it or not, Kennedy is 6 months old already. She had her check up this week. She is 18 pounds 11 ounces and 27 and 1/2 inches long. The doctor estimates that she will be about 5'7", well, I will be passed up by all of my kids apparently. The doctor was just amazed at how pleasant she is. He kept commenting, "is she always this good" "Look at her eye contact, she is very social, does she always smile? " I think he was charmed by her pretty quickly.
Kassidy was teaching her horse how to do the barrels yesterday, (I think it was actually the other way around, but that's OK.) She is gaining her confidence quickly. I have never seen someone with such a natural seat in the saddle. She gets that from her daddy. They had fun playing tag and follow the leader.
On a sadder note, we found out today that our birthfather has appealed for custody again. I thought that we were past the possibility, but I was wrong. We don't have much information yet. I am amazed at how much more difficult adoption is than child birth, It truly is a miracle how the Lord makes it work out. The evidence of satan's influence over the hearts of some trying to stop this process is truly terrifying.
He will not win.
SHE BELONGS IN OUR HOME AS OUR ETERNAL DAUGHTER.
Friday, October 24, 2008
an Ah Ha moment
I had some sweats and a teeshirt on the other day and I walked into the living room. Kassidy yelled "MOM" like something was on fire, I said what, she said
"Your baby is poking out"
Apparently I am starting to show...
Pictures
I tried to take some portraits with my new camera, mostly because my girls are so stinkin cute. let me know what you think!!!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Vacation Finally
We went on vacation to Dads house. We had a great time. Kennedy did really well on the Really long drive. We went to a zoo, the lion was the best. We also went to a little mining community that has wild burrows in the street. Kass had a lot of fun feeding them. We had a great time with Nana and Papa. Kassidy had big tears when we left, as usual. Kennedy had them wrapped around her finger in about 2 minutes. We went to the cheesecake factory, it was awesome. Kassidy and Nana and Papa went to the Cracker Barrel, it is their special place where they have a date. Kass came home with a WebKinz. She named it nancy and is having a great time with it. We had such a great time, Thank you Nana and Papa, we appreciate your love and support!!! 
Nana, Kassidy, Travis, Kris and Kennedy at the Cheesecake factory. Kass and Gloee, she has seen better days!!
Great big Segaro cactus. Travis, Kennedy, Kassidy, Nana, great big Lion
Papa and Kennedy
Kassidy got Papa on a camel, now thats crazy. Nana and Kassidy
The crew headed for a ride on the desert. They found a snake skin. Kassidy and a wild Burrow.
Kennedy got a Girrafe, she loves it. Papa lovin on his girls.
Nana and Kenedy. Kassidy and Kennedy
Monday, October 13, 2008
New Camera
Mom gave me this super cool canon rebel camera. The shutter speed is awesome.
Mom spent the day with us last week, I slept, she played with Kennedy, Kass got out of school early, we both got perms, (my hair is really hard to perm and the best perm I ever has was when I was prego with Kass, so we thought we should take advantage) Anyway, Kass got her first perm, mom said she complained less than I did
( I think she was nicer to Kass)
Thanks for the great hair Mom, your the best.
Before.......After
Sister has me Stylin. I Finally got some Idaho potato's, dirt and all!!!!!
Kass is getting into the feeding game. Kassidy and Miranda are up to something???? They look pretty guilty to me.
Seriously Dad, put these on me.... I could crawl if only I could get this belly off of the ground.
We are so close to holding a bottle,,,,, so close
Kennedy and our caseworker Marisa. We love her.
Kennedy and our caseworker Marisa. We love her.
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