I’ve been reading a book called “Enchantment” by Guy Kawasaki and I think it’s worth sharing a meaningful part of it (to me anyway), so that we can go into 2012 with the best of intentions!

“Mensch” is a German term for “human being” but in the Yiddish term, it means “honest, fair, kind and transparent, no matter who you’re dealing with and who will ever know what you did.” 

2012 is said to be the end of the Mayan calendar and the beginning of a new consciousness. Let’s think about all the people that passed away in 2011. Osama Bin Laden, Kim Jung Il, Kadafi, Michael Jackson, Steve Jobs and several other world influencers and leaders. 2011 was a year of revolting- the world begging for real, tangible change. 2012 will be the beginning of it for all of us and I can’t wait to see how it will unfold! 

My two biggest lessons of 2011:

1. The power of consistency. Creating a truly consistent business, finding consistently performing staff, delivering product to the public in a consistent way every time. Being consistent with what we say and how we act with our peers, co-workers, friends, family and loved ones. Consistency is not confusing. I will focus on this in 2012.

2. The power of a great team. Hiring the right people that fit the right jobs will eliminate so much stress and increase the chance of success exponentially. Round pegs in round holes, not any other way. Your team should eliminate stress, not add to it. If you feel like your workload is more with the addition of a teammate, chances are you have the wrong hire. Hire slow, fire fast- only way to be. I learned this the hard way.

For 2012, let us all begin by being Menschs!

Here are 12 things for all of us to think about, to print out and put on our fridges so we can look at it every morning before we begin our days:

1. Always act with honesty.

2. Treat people who have wronged you with civility.

3. Fulfill your unkept promises from the past.

4. Help someone who can be of absolute no use to you.

5. Suspend blame when something goes wrong and ask: “what can we learn?”

6. Hire people who are smart as or smarter than you and give them opportunities for growth.

7. Don’t interrupt people (even if you’re excited to share a thought). Don’t dismiss their concerns offhand. Don’t rush to give advice. Don’t change the subject. Allow people their moment.

8. Do no harm in anything you undertake.

9. Don’t be too quick to shoot down others’ ideas.

10. Share your knowledge, expertise and best practices with others.

11. Focus on goodwill (positive actions that make the world a better place.)

12. Give people the benefit of doubt.

Happy New Year and let’s share our resolutions with our closest and dearest so that we can all hold each other accountable.