Minute With Mallon: Stand Up Today!

Welcome to Minute with Mallon!

Something I Taught:

Do you ever know you need to do something, but hesitate and the situation gets worse?

So do I… 

We’ve got a tree that is leaning over our property. It’s been that way for a number of years and I've noticed recently that it’s leaning more and more because of its weight. It’s about 80 to 90 feet tall and it’s extremely dangerous. (See picture below ⬇️)  

I’ve been very concerned that if the tree falls in a big storm it will crush the storage shed that we have.

The problem is that the person who owns the property next to us hasn’t seen the tree recently. 

Under Georgia law, if a tree owner knows or should have known that a tree is hazardous and fails to address it, they may be held liable for any resulting damages.  More importantly, providing written notice via certified mail, email, or text describing the condition and potential risk establishes that the neighbor was aware of the issue.

But the lady is older and very nice. And I didn’t want to upset her with something that I know is going to cost quite a bit.

So I’ve waited and I’ve prayed (and worried!)  😂

Not a great plan.

So one Sunday afternoon, while I was watching a football game, I stood up, walked out the door and up my driveway, went to her home, and started knocking on the front door.

No answer.

Then I walked around to the carport and started knocking on the side door.

No answer

Things didn't look exactly right, the carport didn’t look as tidy as it usually does.

And I started worrying.  “Is she OK?  Is she possibly in there by herself with no one to help her?” 

I went back to my home and called a client who knows her brother. I explained the situation and asked him to ask her brother call me.

When he did, I explained that I had gone over there to talk to her about a tree, but that I was concerned about her safety and health.

He told me that she was in Texas at her daughter‘s home, had been there for a while, and was recuperating from a heart attack. 😱

Then he asked me about the tree.

I told him what the problem was. He agreed to come look at it and told me to call a couple of tree services and get some estimates.

“Robert, don’t worry. We will take care of it. I’m so sorry you had to call us. She just doesn’t go out back that much anymore.”

He got in touch with his sister who called me and was so apologetic. I told her not to worry at all and to focus on her health.  A tree should be the least of her worries.

The bottom line is, the tree is scheduled to be taken down in a couple of weeks.

Why am I telling you this?

Until we take action, nothing will happen!

Everything changed the second I stood up during that football game and walked out the door.

But I’d been looking at that tree for over a year. And I’d done nothing.

So what comes to your mind right now? Where are you sitting in the chair when you need to be standing up and walking towards your situation?

I’m going to encourage you to right now when you finish this newsletter, pick up the phone, walk out the door, or do whatever action you need to do to set things in motion to fix your “big tree” problem!

You don't need to know ever step of the process to fix it, you just need to know the first step.  Then take it! 

Something to Ponder:

"You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step." 

Martin Luther King Jr.

Something I Learned: 

I was listening to a podcast recently and heard Jeff Bezos say this:
"In meetings, I always speak last. If I speak first, even strong-willed, intelligent participants might second-guess their own perspectives. By allowing others to share their views first, especially starting with the most junior, I ensure we hear unfiltered opinions. This approach fosters open dialogue and prevents my position from unduly influencing the discussion."

This is a great rule of thumbs for all you leaders out there!  Hope it helps!

Something I Saw:

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Hope you have an incredible week! 

Robert