Y GIANT

Ironically, I sat around a table of friends this past week and prayed for a few of the people in my life that have impacted my Y career. Little did I know that soon one of those men, Bob Rule, would pass.

Bob Rule was a giant of a man. And that is not just hyperbole. He impacted thousands in his lengthy YMCA career. His loss is not just a loss for the High Point Y, but for the entire YMCA movement.

I was fortunate to have worked for him for 5 ½ years and we have shared a 30-year relationship. During that time Bob was not only my boss but also my mentor, friend and father figure. I owe so much of my career to his leadership. Here are a few things that I carry daily in my work that are truly the influence from Bob.

• Always keep the Mission First. I read a quote this week that encapsulates Bob’s philosophy. “For some people, you may be the only bible they see.” He understood the Y’s ability to bring people closer to Christ.
• Bob had a huge heart for the downtrodden and people that were hurting. He taught me early in my career to focus on the people who need the Y the most.
• He had a clear vision that the YMCA could shape the future. He told me that the kids I worked with at camp and on the sports fields would grow up to be fathers, mothers, members, volunteers, board members, and donors. Never has that been more true than looking across the current leadership landscape in High Point and counting the leaders that participated as kids at the Y.
• More than anything, Bob made sure that we should always laugh – especially at ourselves! He would always say something to me and I would gulp and think I was in trouble, there would be this long awkward pause and then he would burst out laughing.

Most days during my time in High Point, I would have lunch with the late Joe Miller, who was the long time property manager at the Y. Often our conversations would be about how cool Bob was. Joe said one day that Bob was “Cool Like Jazz.”

I have been in Cleveland County for 24 years, and if anyone in that community feels like myself or the Y has had an impact on their life, well they can draw a straight line back to Bob Rule.

He was a GIANT……No Hyperbole.

Story Tellers

This week in the Wall Street Journal, there was an article about story telling. The article outlined the importance of how couples that are able to share life stories with each other form a deeper bond. The gist of the article is people who know how to tell stories have the ability to connect at a deeper level.

I believe this is true as we try and share stories within our Y families. Here are a few story telling tips from the article.

a.       SETTING: Make sure there are no distractions as you share the story. Eliminate the mundane details from the narrative. For example, don’t share the color of your socks or what you were wearing if it’s not pertinent. Think about who is listening and tailor the story to their interests. And don’t share stories about the hum-drum details of our Y, sharing a story is an invitation to come into the Y world. 

b.       PLOT: There should be action and truth in the story. Every story should have a beginning, a middle and an end. It needs a VOICE and if it’s a personal story you should reveal yourself. Share your emotions and don’t be embarrassed to be vulnerable.

c.      WRAP UP: Stories should be about something meaningful. Make the point of your story clear. Work on wrapping up the story concisely and not meandering the end with useless details. Wait for feedback. The story should inspire and help you connect.

Being an effective story teller is empowering to us because we get immediate feedback in their emotional response. It is also empowering to the listener because it helps them understand and connect with us and with the YMCA in a deeper and more meaningful way. These stories help bring the listener back to the core of why they love and support the Y. In tough times, it helps bind us all together in our shared values and history.  Sometimes I like to share a story about the future. I try and paint a picture of the possibilities of our work. This can help us all visualize our organizational aspirations.

I find that the older I get, the more emotional I get when I share. I told a professional story teller that I was embarrassed because I cried once when I shared a story at a very important Y event. He responded that I should cry, every time I share that story.

If you want to be a more effective story teller – REFLECT on the events of your work and life. REFINE what these events mean to you and finally READ great stories that inspire you and learn from the best!