Business News

CEO Daily Update – 10.16.2020

October 16, 2020 by Jason Gazaway

Word for The Year | Gloves Back in Stock | Don’t Be A Know-It-All | News to Start Your Day

It’s Friday!!

(October 16th is National Boss’s Day. National Sports Day, and Global Cat Day…so take your pick on which to celebrate today.)

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Well, it’s Friday and I’m not Christin. lol! She asked if I could fill in for her today and I always enjoy getting to talk to all of you.

If you are like me, then you are probably just as surprised as I am that we are already in mid-October. It is crazy how quickly this month has flown by, even how fast this year has gone by at times. I was joking with a buddy the other day about the craziness of this year and told him it felt like the year went like, “January, February, March, March, March, April, April, April, Ma-Ju-Jul-Aug-Sept-Oct.” I imagine the rest of the year will fly by just as fast, which means after Halloween next week, Thanksgiving and Christmas will be right around the corner before we know it.

Every year, I end it by reflecting on the past year and then nailing down what I need to focus on for the next year. I usually try and narrow it down to one word or a short phrase. For 2020, my phrase for the year was “Focus on the things that REALLY matter.” At the core of it was to be intentional about my relationships, my time, my energy, my health, and my spiritual walk. Little did I know how different 2020 would be than what I thought it would be at the start of the year and that phrase and the meaning behind it took on a whole new intensity during the year. I realized some things weren’t worth my time, effort, and energy and were just a distraction. Other things became more important, like my relationships and health, and gained more energy and time. The shift in focus has been very impactful for me both personally and professionally.

So, I have started the process already of looking towards 2021 (I think everyone has and just wants to move on from 2020, haha!). Right now, the concept for my word/phrase revolves around “Restore”. Not sure how it will evolve and what insights I will gain about it between now and the end of the year, but I am looking forward to continuing the process.

Have you ever done something like this? Do you usually have a focus for the year or do you just go with the flow? I don’t think either way is right or wrong, I think it is just different for each person depending on their personality. Just curious.

Hope you have a great Friday and weekend! It’s going to be chilly here in the South. I am ready for some real Fall weather!

Jason

Today’s Product Updates from Rebecca:

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CEO Daily Update – 10.12.2020

October 12, 2020 by Jason Gazaway

Spaghetti Brain? | PPE Prices Continue to Fall | CP-PWR-CUBE-4 | Alignment & Adaptability | News to Start Your Day

Happy Monday! (A holiday for some, a normal day for others.)

Hey there, friends. I hope you all had a good weekend. It was rainy and wet here due in part to Hurricane Delta making her way through. I have been thinking of those impacted by her direct hit since Friday. My heart just breaks thinking of them being hit by Hurricane Laura just a few weeks ago and now again with Delta. If you are in that area and there is something we can do to help, please let us know.

Have you ever heard of men’s brains being compared to waffles while women’s are compared to spaghetti? I was thinking about that today, feeling like a spaghetti brain myself, and I Googled its origins. Apparently, it was a book (that I’ve never read) written in 2001 by Bill and Pam Farrell. It looks like it was endorsed by Gary Chapman, author of The Five Love Languages. A reader mentioned that book in response to my personality test post on Friday. It is a good one! Craig and I attended a Gary Chapman marriage conference pretty early on in our marriage. He was funny and engaging. We still use some of the content from the conference with each other, so he obviously made an impression on us.

Anyway, back to spaghetti and waffles. I’m not sure if that characterization holds true for the majority of men and women, but it certainly does for us. Craig has the ability to focus on one thing at a time physically, mentally and emotionally much easier than I do. Everything is connected for me. Looking for a sock? Oh, look that toy needs to be picked up and I should probably take out some meat for dinner. Did I move the laundry over? I should do that and I cannot forget to send that email, oh and I also need to take out that puzzle for school tomorrow. Now, what was I looking for again?

I was having a particularly “noodly” day today as I was processing through the weekend, thinking about what’s coming up for the week and also what I wanted to share with you all today. About the time I thought I knew what I was going to write about, a friend shared a meme that induced a moment of panic. I don’t want to frighten you, friends, but I do have a little PSA: there are only 10 more Fridays until Christmas. Eek! How can it be?

6 Fridays until Thanksgiving

10 Fridays until Christmas

81 days left in 2020

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CEO Daily Update – 10.9.2020

October 9, 2020 by Jason Gazaway

Who Am I? Part 3 | Self-discovery Tools | Gloves & Hand Sanitizer | Aim for the Terminator | News to Start Your Day

Who Am I? – Part 3 (A personal and CK Story)

[This is Part 3 of a personal/CK history story. This post can be read on its own. If you’d like full context, feel free to read Part 1 and Part 2 first.]

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It is Friday, friends! I’m keeping things a little lighter (but not shorter, haha) today.

After my experience with a deepening faith and letting go of the need to prove myself over and over, I really wanted to understand who I was at my core. What was I made to do? Is a person made to do just one thing?

I believe there are many ways to take the journey of self discovery, and I see value in employing tools to help along the way. In business and in personal relationships, using the same language to discuss differences and strengths creates alignment. It is one of the reasons tools like Enneagram are so popular. Do you know your Enneagram number? (I am a 5w6, “the Investigator”.)

A few years into running CK, we began using several different personality tests to help us determine if a candidate is a good fit for a position. We also have done some fun internal team building exercises. I enjoy getting to know more about everyone in that way. I like it when things are organized by like type, even people, ha.

One of the things I discovered in my testing is WHY I am passionate about helping others understand themselves and find a place to flourish in work and in life. It is one of the things I missed most about work life: interviewing, hiring and building teams that work well together.

Does your business use any tools for hiring and team building? Have you found them helpful or not useful at all?

The three main tools that we use at CK are: the DiSC, PIAV assessment, and the CliftonStrengths Assessment.

If you’ve been around “personality testing” at all in your job or otherwise, you’ve probably heard of the DiSC profile. It gives you letters, D (dominance), I (influence), S (steadiness), C (conscientiousness), associated with behaviors that together describe how you likely react to situations. Useful for team building for sure.

The PIAV – Personal Interests, Attitudes and Values assessment – gives you insight into the why behind your behaviors. What is motivating you to behave or react the way that you do?

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CEO Daily Update – 10.2.2020

October 2, 2020 by Jason Gazaway

Hobbies + Mental Break | Cisco Catalyst WS-C3750X-48P-S | PPE Specials | News to Start Your Day

It’s Friday!! You’ve made it!

Welcome to the CablesAndKits CEO daily email. Read more about this email by scrolling to the very bottom.

TGIF, friends!

This week has been fast and furious for me, and I am looking forward to a slower paced weekend. Since I began working in CK again this summer, the change of pace from weekday to weekend has become more dramatic and completely flip flopped from what it was before. Pre-Covid we typically reserved weekends for more going and doing, hanging out with Craig (because he was gone to the office so much during the week) and seeing friends. Mondays were restful, a reset back to “mom’s pace” for the girls and me. In our new routine it feels like we run from Monday to Friday, so by the weekend I’m in need of a mental rest. Since this season of life with littles doesn’t offer much physical rest, I try to do things that help my brain take a break or at least do things that offer a change in mental activity. Two of my favorite things to fill that space are reading and working on mood boards for redecorating rooms in our home.

I’ve been a reader for as long as I can remember. As a pre-teen I had a subscription to The Babysitter’s Club book club. Each month I received a package with three books plus Babysitter’s Club themed merchandise. It was one of my favorite days of the month, and I usually read the books in just a few days. As I grew older and eventually came into the business world, I tried to translate my love of reading to more how to, business, and learning books, but I honestly still struggle to spend my reading time in these type of books. Reading is an escape for me, like watching a good movie, usually of the chick flick, comedy or drama variety. For some reason I used to find it embarrassing in business circles to admit this or talk about it, perhaps because so many good learning type books are referenced in business conversation. Here I am now “confessing” it to all of you.

Last weekend I read The Lies That Bind by Emily Giffin. I hope it’s eventually made into a movie like one of her other books has been. It was a great escape/mental rest for me. Tomorrow is library day for me and the girls, so I’ll be looking for my next reads. What are some of your favorite books?

Besides reading and digital mood boards for décor, I also like to cook and do photography. Craig bought a watercolor art kit for me last Christmas that I have yet to try, but I expect it’ll be a good mental break type activity as well.

What are your hobbies? How do you change the pace of your days to have a physical or mental rest?

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CEO Daily Update – 9.23.2020

September 23, 2020 by Craig Haynie

Knee Shots | Chocolate Milk | PPE Sale | Inspiration vs Motivation, pt 1

Happy Wednesday!

Welcome to the CablesAndKits CEO daily email. Read more about this email by scrolling to the very bottom.

My knee – Haiyaa. It’s worse, but I went to the ortho doc today. Fortunately they were able to fit me in. When the doctors are too busy they try to fit you in with the physician’s assistant. He was busy too so they got me in with the janitor. No real training but he’s overheard a few conversations that seemed useful.

They ordered an MRI because my pain level (an 11 on a scale of 1-10 when I try to bend it) was not normal based on his exam. They also gave me a steroid shot. Let me tell you something …. He walked in the room and said “are you ready for this?” Well, I WAS BEFORE YOU SAID THAT. Shots don’t bother me but when you’re asked if you’re ready it perks you up a little. He sprayed the area with a numbing spray and in the needle went. You know it’s going in there for sure. Then, oh boy …. then, in comes the injection of 37 gallons of liquid into a space the size of a pecan. GOOD LORD!! “Do I get a sucker??” I said gasping and wincing.

Speaking of needing a sucker, if you haven’t had a COVID test yet take a sucker with you if you go, you’ll want it when it’s over and unless they took my advice they don’t give them out. Since I sorta screamed it while honking the horn I doubt they took it to heart.

Something else noteworthy was the fact that the entire time I was going into the doctor’s office, getting X-rays, and getting examined (all but a small part) I had my Bluetooth headset in and was listening to, and sometimes participating in our weekly management meeting. WHAT A WORLD we live in that we have the technology to make this possible. Also, since our whole team works from home it’s not odd to be dialed in like that if necessary. Back when we met in person at the office having one person dial in would be strange. This new way of working certainly has some benefits.

I don’t know if it’s true, but I heard …

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CEO Daily Update – 9.21.2020

September 21, 2020 by Craig Haynie

Weekend Away | CP-7965G Phones | Clorox Wipes & Masks | Business Updates

Happy Monday!

Welcome to the CablesAndKits CEO daily email. Read more about this email by scrolling to the very bottom.

Well, we did it! The camping weekend was a big success. Everyone in both families had a ton of fun. In fact, before we left we reserved two spaces for next year!

We didn’t actually get lost in the woods, but got “lost in thought” in the woods … and then of course this song/video came to mind. See how many 80’s bands you can hear/see in this video haha.

It’s amazing how much “fun” doing nearly nothing can be. Like the line from the movie Office Space, “I did absolutely nothing and it was everything I thought it could be”.

We cooked outside on a flat top grill, sat around the fire talking, and the kids rode their bikes up and down the road for hours. We went to a playground and let all the kids play and also played putt putt before we left. And, going with friends that already knew what they were doing made things that much more enjoyable.

And of course (and if you’ve ever gone camping you already know this) I have a shopping and todo list a mile long! Things I didn’t even know I needed I suddenly cannot live without. It’s incredible, but it’s like any “hobby” where spending money and working on things is actually enjoyable, so it’s great.

The unfortunate downside is I did something to my knee Friday when we got there that caused pretty excruciating pain when I went from bent to straight and visa versa, and constant aching pain even then, especially when not hopped up on Tylenol or Ibuprofen. All the reading I did seemed to point to the need to rest, ice, and elevate, which was pretty hard to do well under the circumstances. Not walking at all was not an option. So I did the best I could, walked straight legged, swinging it around, sitting as often as I could. Now that I’m home I’m trying harder to rest it and let it recover. Good Lord getting older is tough!

It’s amazing what some downtime will do for the mind. Now I’m ready to hit the ground running this week! I highly recommend taking a break every once in a while!

I don’t know if it’s true, but I heard …

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