As
I have blogged about recently, we are installing all new software at Lykki.
This is no small project and many hours from a large team of super smart people
has gone into pulling it off over the last 8 months. Happily we are down to the
final few weeks and then we go live. Our new system will be amazing!!! More on
that in a future post.
There
is nobody more excited than me to see the project completed. I have full trust
in our team so I am not involved in the project - except to sign the cheques,
order sushi, beer an keep the coffee flowing.
Today
I was walking past a team and what they had on the screen made me stop in my
tracks. I snapped this picture of a Data Relation Flow Map. (OK, I made that
up - no idea what they call the screen). Anyways it was humbling for me to see
the complexity of the project yet also energizing to know that we have such
uber smart partners who work at Lykki. As an entrepreneur there is a saying -
"always hire people smarter than you if you want to grow and
succeed". I am happy to say I sure did.
Great
work and kudos to the Lykki software team!!
Cheers
Calvin
Another
fantastic event last night by the Lykki Culture Club. Cosmic Bowling.
Great
friends, fun food and ....... A chicken costume?
Rita
is one our new partners and only 6 months with Lykki but already she has made a
major positive impact on our culture with her " all in" attitude.
When you show up to a public bowling alley dressed in a full chicken
costume - just because, you know you have the right kind of partners at Lykki.
Rita
also brought her daughter Kelsey who kindly "wished" a strike
on the bowling ball of anyone who asked her. She was a popular girl wishing
each ball bowled. Sometimes she was so busy there was a lineup and I chose to
skip the wish. Of course you know what happened - gutter ball. When she wished
my ball - a strike or at least a great throw.
Thanks
to all our Lykkiites who attended. I wish we did that every Friday.
Cheers
Calvin
Today
I attended a special invite from the Tri Cities SHARE Society. Martin Wyant, CEO of
SHARE reached out to the community business leaders to have a brainstorming
session on ways to improve the Food Bank. I was honored to be included In a
group of other local leaders.
The
most memorable part of the meeting for me was the hands on tour of the Food
Bank facility. First what is saw was food, lots of food. Or at lease it seemed
that was until it was explained that over 20,475 hampers a year are handed out.
Although there seemed to be an abundance of product, it was the selection that
is the Food Banks challenge. They explained many people when they donate food
during a food drive or drop a few cans in the local grocery store food bank bin
chose to donate soup. Although the food bank explained they were so grateful
for any sort of donation, they didn't need more soup, they had so much they
actually rent additional warehouse space just to store the excess. The next
time you donate to the food bank choose protein based products like peanut
butter, tuna and even Lima beans. These are the items they really need to round
out a healthy hamper.
Please
feel free to stop into your local food bank and drop off your donations
directly to the volunteers. How about a little random act of kindness and bring
some coffee and doughnuts for the volunteers and staff and roll up your sleeves
for an hour or two. I'm sure they would welcome you with open arms. This
year they will need over 26,000 volunteer hours so every bit helps.
I
was excited to learn they also host team and culture building volunteer time
for companies who want to share the experience with their staff. Van City makes
it a mandatory part of their onboarding process for new staff. I can say that
Lykki will definitely add this idea to our team building.
Cheers
Calvin
Today
was a rough day at Lykki. We did one of the toughest things - we made a tough
decision that fit our Ki Values although it would hurt our business and cost us
lots of money.
Our
HR department and management decided to let a long time partner go. We use the
term " free up their future" because we see it as an opportunity to
start new and take their future in a new direction.
How
many times have you seen people who stay in a job or relationship and they are
miserable. It's just not a right fit yet the person continues to persevere. Why
don't they make a change? Is it the safety, the unknown, possibly it's just not
bad enough yet. Sometimes someone needs to make the change for them.
As
an employer, I think we are responsible to ensure employees are in a role they
are passionate about - to not leave people just coasting and existing each day
doing the base minimum. I feel if we were to do that then we are Stealing Their
Future. If we can't find the right role for someone where they can jump
out of bed in the morning full of excitement that they are making a positive
impact on the business then we need to Free Up Their Future so they can find
that excitement somewhere else. Who knows what that person can become
once we set them free to pursue their true calling.
Regards
Calvin
The
next best thing to dressing up at Halloween is growing facial hair for a cause!
Well at least for the guys at Lykki :-)
This
year is a special Movember in tribute to one of our dear suppliers Tom Buchanon
who recently lost his battle with cancer. We will miss you Tom!!
So
here we go on a mission to raise some money on our Movember Page and to grow
the kind of stashes not seen since 1978. Fun times for a serious
cause.
Cheers
Calvin
