60 Countries Represented

"We have over 1000 crew members serving you and they represent over 60 different countries," said the Cruise Director. Yikes, I don't think I could name 60 countries!

Right after that, my HR mind went right to - where do you put them, what are their sleeping arrangements, how do you staff a crew of over 1,000, are they all employees, contracted out, or hired on a temporary basis, what about communication and religious/cultural differences - how are these addressed, how do you staff for illnesses at sea - do you always carry a certain % of over ceiling staff, how much do you rely on the local economy at each port for services - and on and on.

I never asked the questions so do not have the answers but what I do have is a memory of an organization who, from this customer's perspective, got it right. The service was unbelievable and everyone, absolutely everyone was working towards the same goal - providing a signature experience. 

I am pretty well traveled and will not ever forget the first time I realized while traveling abroad (I think I was sitting beside an Italian lake drinking espresso) that not everyone wants to be an American. Couldn't believe it at the time, it was shocking to me but it is true.  Everyone has something to offer and it makes us all richer when we are open to seeing and accepting their gifts. 

Recognizing differences, often the focus of diversity efforts , was not the approach this cruise ship took with their staff and customers. I saw it as celebrating and honoring uniqueness and I think whether you are on the boat or off, it is something we all could learn from. 

Model Student

What does it mean to be a model student? A model leader? A model manager? A model anything?

My daughter's spring conference with her kindergarten teacher was this week and basically, we were told that she is a model student, a kindergarten teacher's dream. She didn't really know what that meant but she did get what her teacher said about listening, doing quality work, knowing her numbers and letters, being nice to her friends, helping other students out. She is also a 6 year old with a lot of energy and ideas and fun and she shares that with others.

So, inquiring minds wanted to know . . . was I a model mother, manager, wife, co-worker, friend? Depends on how you define model. Define it as someone who tries to follow her heart and do what's right, learns from the many mistakes she makes and although she doesn't always get it right, keeps on trying. Yes. Define model any other way and probably not. And, there are so many ways to do so.

What I have learned over the years and I hope to teach my daughter, and model for others, is that it is not how others define it, it is how you define it for yourself and that whether you are student, a peer, a leader, manager, coach, parent or daughter being true to yourself is the one thing worth modeling.