Reader:

If you prefer the video version click image below

​

Morning Minute – 3.31.26

Second Chances: When & How to Use Them

The right decision can impact more than just one person.

Here are two real stories that show how giving the right people a second chance can create a lasting impact—for them and for others.

Story #1:​
Nick Saban shares the story of Muhsin Muhammad at Michigan State. In 1993, Muhsin had two arrests—one for marijuana possession and another for having a loaded firearm in his car. Alumni, media, and critics all said he should be dismissed.

Saban had a choice: remove him from the team or try to save him.

He chose the latter.

Muhsin was suspended, held accountable, and later reinstated. He went on to graduate, play 15 years in the NFL, build a successful business career, raise a family, and mentor others.

Story #2:​
In Asheville, NC, we had a technician, Bobby, who forgot to replace the oil in a customer’s car—destroying the engine. Everyone assumed he would be fired. Bobby had a wife and two children, and this was his family’s only income.

As GM, I had a decision to make.

Instead of firing him, I had Bobby stay after closing. Together, we worked through the night replacing the engine—he worked without pay.

We saved the customer relationship, and Bobby learned a lesson he never forgot.

Plus, the impact went even further.

Every team member across our 6 dealerships heard the story—and recommitted to doing things the right way.

As leaders, we all face moments like these.

How we respond to serious mistakes affects more than just one person. It impacts the individual, the team, and the clients who trust us.

Handled correctly, these moments can:

• Help someone move past their mistake and recommit
• Strengthen accountability for themselves and others
• Reinforce standards across the team

People are human—and humans make mistakes.

As leaders, our role is to decide:
👉 When to correct
👉 When to teach
👉 And when to give a second chance

Choose wisely.

Information without Transformation is Wasted Energy!

If you’d like to explore how to handle situations like these within your team, let’s connect.

(Click HERE for the video version of this message.)

Second Chances: When & How to Use Them

That is today’s Morning Minute.

***

Please feel free to share this message with anyone who made be helped by its contents.

Even better, use this message and/or video as a discussion starter for any manager, senior leader, or organizational meeting.

***

​​​​​​

Here are some recent Morning Minutes you may have missed with actionable ideas, useful instruction, and step-by-step methods to help you, your family, and/or your team to be more, do more, and achieve more.

​"Investigate before You Escalate - Ask Before You ACT" The best way to describe this: Ask before you act! We all face actions, messages, or situations that we perceive as threats. Discover a simple but effective method for successfully navigating these perceived threats. Learn this process to turn what appears to be an issue into a productive conversation.

​"Own Your Time - Stop Being Overwhelmed!" Its your time: Plan It, Review It; Take back your day! If you have been or are experiencing being overwhelmed, learn this simple process to manage your time as you manage your schedule. Discover this simple, effective time management system, plus Stephen Covey's decision framework for handling your To Do List.

​"Perfection or Direction: Which Will You Choose?" Success often depends on knowing when to Refine and when to Begin. There is a time for perfection and a time for direction. Discover several examples of the difference with George McClellan and Steve Jobs using perfection, and Ulysses Grant, Jeff Bezos, and George Patton using direction. Learn how that effective leaders use both in their pursuit of success.

​"Accept - Analyze - Adapt!" We all need a process for handling unexpected things that we can't control. That process involves accepting the fact that we are not in control. We then must analyze what we are experiencing by asking questions like what? who? why? when and where? Then we can adapt in order to be ready next time. Sometimes life gives you a moment to practice all 3!

​"Who Are YOU Striving to Become?" Is who you are today, moving you closer to, or farther from, the person you want to be? Discover the 7 major attributes of winning leaders, coaches, and business owners. Learn how that those who possess these attributes can make the move from employee to employer. See how these apply to your successful career path.

"Your Phone - Ally or Enemy?" This is one of your most powerful tools - often used the wrong way. Encounter a common call coming to you where after you answer there is a 9 second delay and the caller says "Hello?" Learn some simple ways to strengthen your teams phone performance a) before they are hired b) during their initial training and c) via continuous improvement training after they start.

***

Please remember our Armed Forces in action in the Middle East.

Ask God to protect and defend them. And pray for a quick and successful end to this conflict.

***

May God bless you, your family, and your team.

Larry A. Bonorato lab@larryonlearning.com 864-630-2625

(published by the Bonorato Creative Group, LLC; all rights reserved)