Who's Driving?

There's a reason only one seat in the car has a steering wheel.  Can you imagine if they all did?  If everyone in the car knew the destination, but had a different opinion of which route was "best" AND had the power to change directions?  That ends one of two ways- A) in the ditch or, B) at a total stand still.  Either way, people are getting hurt and yelling at each other.  That's why a car only has one steering wheel.  Because to get anywhere safely, you ultimately need one person making the decisions on how to operate the vehicle.

It's the same when you have a project team trying to accomplish a goal.  If someone doesn't have a steering wheel, or worse, if everyone does, you're going to end up in a ditch.  There are simply too many good, feasible ideas in a group.  Sure, you could do it lots of ways- but you can't do it every way.  Someone must have the power to decide and that person must have the leadership to be willing to consider the options but still take a stance. Otherwise you get nowhere or worse, you crash.

And by the by, never agree to ride in a car with multiple steering wheels either.  That's just signing up for a bad trip.

Put That On a Rock On Your Desk...

(Editor's Note- This is a repost from earlier this year of my personal favorite piece.  New content will be back this Friday, but enjoy this lost treasure as I enjoy my holiday weekend :)

Years ago (which always sounds weird to me when I say it given my age- but it’s the truth) in my Disney days I stumbled across a really cool piece in an Art of Disney store. It was a collection of quotations by Walt Disney that were etched onto glass which was shaped like a cut rock. There were like 3 or 4 different quotes, but one of them immediately struck me.

“You can dream, create, design, and build the most wonderful place in the world…but it takes people to make the dream a reality.”

Since I’ve always been passionate about training and development, this quote has continually and perfectly captured a piece of my soul- that without great people, nothing else matters. It was a beautiful desk piece with an even more beautiful and profound message.

I should have bought it.

I don’t know why I didn’t right there on the spot- but I didn’t. To this day I cannot remember what ridiculous reasoning would have led me to that dumb decision. But even without the piece, the quote and its spirit have remained with me forever.

And that’s profound- because rarely in life can you find the perfect combination of words that says so much with so little. That ideal phrase that simply and elegantly explains great depths of thought and principle. Like a true work of art- the words are beautiful at a glance and masterful as they are studied. No wonder you would want that sitting on your desk everyday- keeping your mind focused on what’s right.

Which is why for years in my training and coaching when someone says something truly profound I have often responded “put that on a rock on your desk.”

Because when you can find a simple statement that can capture so much and keep you so centered, you want it to feel permanent. And you want it there every time you look up, reminding you of what really matters.

This year my tireless efforts and relentless pursuit of Walt’s words have paid-off as I am now in a job where every day through training and development I am impacting the people I work with to make our company better. That rock on the desk of my mind has kept me focused in my pursuit of my dream and the rewards are really starting to materialize.

And then, last weekend at a charity yard sale, sitting half-covered in bin full of knick-knacks,

I found that rock.

When chasing a dream it’s important to have a constant focus. So ask yourself this question-

What would you put on a rock on your desk?

Back to the Books

I have to admit, I've been slacking.

I've been so busy with so many projects, tasks, and such that I haven't been hitting the books the way I should be.  And the funny thing is, I can feel it.  I notice the dip in my creative energy- really my energy overall.  As someone that Gallup has described as high in "Strategic, Input, and Ideation" I know how much my energy can depend on a constant stream of new ideas.

And yet, because I've been so busy, I've let the flow dry up.  And I notice it.

You probably notice it too when you let your fuel run dry.  The question is, do you know what fuels you?  Personality profiles- like Gallup Strengthsfinder- can help if you need a start.  But no matter what you should know what keeps you fresh, inspired, and motivated and then make sure you are making time to indulge it.  A small investment in your drive will pay huge dividends in your endurance.

So for me, it's back to the books.  If you have any good suggestions, please feel free to send them my way (@JeffreyBWeaver on Twitter, or in the comments).  And for you- figure out what motivates you and make time to indulge it.  You'll be glad you did.

Updates

Just about every morning when I open my iPhone I see a little red badge over the App Store letting me know I have an app with an update.

Sometimes it's a small fix for a bug I never even noticed.  Other times it's an exciting new user interface to dazzle me.  Maybe it's that feature I've always wanted and wrote so much feedback about.  You never know until you open it.  It's like App Christmas.

But it's also a reminder that no matter how much I love my favorite Apps- they're never quite done.  There are always improvements.  They're always getting better.

Walt Disney once said that what he loved about his theme parks more than his movies was that the parks were alive and always changing.  Once a movie was done, it was done.  (George Lucas proved him wrong, but let's not digress...)

The point is this- don't be afraid to update.  And, because of that, don't be afraid to ship.  Quit waiting for it to be right and simply make it "be." 

You can always update later. 

Inspiration

It can come from anywhere.  A quote, a picture, a simple random thought.  And it's happening constantly.  Every moment of every day, you're being bombarded with sensory overload- any one input perhaps holding the key to sparking a fire.

How to you manage that? 

First, you have to be open.  You have to be aware, alert, and accepting of these new ideas and perspectives.  You have to acknowledge them.

Second, you have to be discriminating.  You can't waste time trying to coddle a bad idea.  Let those go- the quicker the better.  Push them out to make room for the new ones that hold more promise.

How will you know when it's the right one?  You'll feel it.  If all you can do is rationalize, if all you can do is analyze- you're doing it wrong.  The best inspiration doesn't hit us rationally.  It hits us emotionally.  It sparks us.  Kindle those fires.  They will burn brightest.

Don't Fight the Current

When you live in Florida, you grow up with rip currents.  Times when the water flow off the beach becomes particularly strong and can easily sweep swimmers away.  Strong, experienced swimmers have lost their lives to rip currents because they try to swim against them.  The fight like a salmon to forge ahead and eventually succumb to exhaustion. 

So you're taught from a young age that if you get caught in a rip current, don't try to swim against it.  Instead, you take an angle and let it move you along while you work your way back to shore.  You may end up many miles from where you started and have to walk back, but your chances of survival are better.

Change can be much the same way.  Sometimes we don't see it coming and we are quickly swept up in a fast moving current.  One that we often cannot control or stop.  And if you try to fight that change head on, you may just exhaust yourself and be done.

Instead, when the change you're facing is too powerful to stop, lean into it and look for way to change course just enough to get back to safety.  Even if you eventually have to walk your way back, it's important to realize when you can't fight the tide.  Don't fight the current.  But don't think you're stuck wherever it leaves you either.

A Very Particular Set of Skills

That’s what you need in today’s job market.  Does a degree help?  Sure.  But it’s not enough on its own.

What employers and customers want are skills.  They want to know you are capable and competent.  Can you get the job done and in a meaningful way?  Do you have a high standard for excellence?  Do you serve well?  Are you passionate?  Do you deliver value?  They won’t care much where or how those skills were acquired.  Be it in formal training or over a very long career. 

But you’re going to have to deliver.  And the better your track record of delivering, the more you’ll be worth.

One more thought- is it better to be a specialist or a generalist?  I hear that a lot, but the answer is actually dependent on a very different question; who do you want to work for?  Large companies, where resources abound, will want specialists.  Their economy of scale makes it possible for them to pay a lot for a narrow task and they will want the best of that breed.  But if you’re sights are set on smaller organizations, go general.  The more you can do, the bigger your value to a company that has limited resources and needs more “bang for the buck.”  That can help you find your place in this job market as well.

Input Sabbatical

I love ideas.  New ideas, new concepts, new perspectives.  Innovation and invention are my drugs and, like any good addict, I've invested a lot of time and energy into getting my fixes.  But also like any drug, too much can do you harm.

Lately, I've found myself in that very position.  For a while I've been riding a great "high" of ideas.  My notebooks are overflowing and it seem as though every project I have has a buffet of new thoughts or directions to choose from.  It's been fun, it's been exciting, but it's become overwhelming- paraylyzing even.  I'm unable to get anything closed out, or move anything forward, because the vision, or the path keeps changing.

So I had to stop.  I had to stop reading my blogs, my Twitter feed, and anything else that I normally turned to for inspiration.  I need to back off the new ideas.  Because the ideas I already had need to ship.  Remember- if you don't ship, you're not accomplishing anything.  Many good ideas have died in wait because we wouldn't ship until it's perfect.

So I took an idea sabbatical.  Instead of finding new ways, new ideas, and new perspectives, I'm focusing on shipping what I have.

Because we can always improve it later.  It can be refined, improved, or polished down the line.  If you wait for perfect to ship, you never will.

So if you're finding youself overwhelmed and falling behind because you keep refining the process, consider an idea sabbatical.  Block out the new ideas just long enough to ship the ones you have.  You have to clean your plate before you go back for more.

(PS- that's not permission to ship something sub-par and clean it up later.  Standards still matter.  This is about how ideas evolve.  Quality still matters.)

I'll be back...

I'm on a much needed vacation this week, so nothing new to post. 

But when I come back, I'd like to take a crack at writing somethings that my followers might suggest.

So if you have an idea for a blog topic you'd like me to write on, leave me a comment, or send me a tweet (@JeffreyBWeaver) and let me know.  I'll pick one to be the new blog when I get back.

See you soon!

(P.S.- if you want to follow my trip, follow my Twitter or Instagram, both @JeffreyBWeaver for the adventure)

Everywhere you go, you'll always take the weather with you...

Stop Trying to Please the Critics

It's thier job to find fault anyway.  Any critic who gave nothing but glowing reviews without picking things apart would be fired.  That's not the job.  The job is to find fault.  The job is point out the alternatives that were passed on.  The job is to critique.  Nothing less than "perfection" (which each critic defines differently anyway) would appease them.  If you're doing your work to please a critic, you've already failed.

Instead, do your work to please your audience.  Know your tribe and do what you do to delight them.  They are who matters.

And even then, realize that sometimes, as the artist, you know best.  Which is why trust matters, too.

But let the critics critique.  It's what they do best.

And create your work anyway.  That's what you do best.

The Case Against Facebook (And what you can learn from it)

Here's a simple mantra- Never let the measurement become your motivation.

It's a great thing to remember when you are leading with "why" and working for a cause, not just a paycheck.

Unfortunately, as the folks over at Facebook have found out, once you IPO, the measurement is inescapable.

(For the sake of disclosure, let me quick say this- I've never liked Facebook.  I didn't start using it until it became a mobile app and I only keep it to stay in-touch with some long-distance friends.  There's a reason you don't see a Facebook page on my profile here and you never would.  I've simply never been a fan.  So perhaps I'm not the target demographic and thus my critiques here are invalid.  Fine.  But the broader points will still hold.)

When Facebook started out, it wasn't about Ad dollars, or "Eyeballs", or any of that.  It started out as connections.  As friends.  As a way to know what was going on with each other.  And that "why" satisfited that need we all have to be connected to the people we know and love.  It drew a lot of attention.  Even some of the early add-ons, games, fan pages, etc, were all about knowledge and connection.  And then a funny thing happened.

Someone came along and said, "Hey, that's quite a crowd you have there.  Mind if we sell to them?  Here's a big pile of money if you say yes."

Now, don't mis-understand, I'm not against profit or capitalism or any of that.  But someone should have said "sure, but only if we can maintain our "why" and keep it about connections."  But no one did.  Instead, Facebook started changing from being about connections to products and promotions.  Highly customized, sure, but the "why" changed.

And then it got worse.  To the point that now my phone's notifications are going off constantly letting me know that businesses- not friends or family- but games and ads are awaiting me on Facebook.

I'm over it.  I shut down all my notifications.  And if my feed keeps being clogged up, I'm going to shut off the app too.  Because that wasn't the deal.  I didn't sign up for marketing; I signed up for connections.  But Facebook changed the "why" and now they're going to lose me.  And I'm sure I'm not the only one.

The lesson is this- you need to know your "why" and you need to protect it.  You need to keep others from taking you away from it and changing it.  You cannot let the measurement (whether money or "eyeballs" or anything else) become what motivates you.  Because it will not motivate your tribe.  They follow a "why"- they won't show up just so you can make your numbers.

Facebook isn't unique here either.  Plenty of noble companies have lost their way and fallen.  MySpace did.  Twitter's on the way now.  Facebook won't be far behind.  But the question for you and your company is- will you be next?

Language & Culture

The two are inexorably linked. 

You could put someone from New Orleans and Paris in the same room.  They might both speak French, but they'll have a hard time communicating.  Dialect is a product of culture.

The nuance matters.  The colloquialisms matter.  Their distinctness is part of the culture.

So if you plan on creating, building, growing, or maintaining a culture; you better think about the language.

It matters.

Compromise

Do it on the unimportant stuff.  That's easy.  If you care less then they do, then cave.  And the more  stuff you can put on the "unimportant" list, the better off you'll be.

Never do it on the important stuff.  The core, the essentials, the things that matter most.  Be passionate, be persuasive, and be firm.  Notice I didn't say stubborn.  Or impossible.  But when it matters, when the soul of the idea is at stake, don't cave.  Especially to win something on the unimportant list.

Now here's the hard part.  What belongs on which list? (*Hint- there's probably too much on the "important" list after the first draft)

Reconnected

Well, I did it.

A whole weekend partially disconnected from my digital life. No work, no social media of any kind, no blogging, no e-books or Angry Birds. No checking-in, no front page, and I didn't "Like" anything.

So how was it? Well...

First up, it was a lot harder than I anticipated. Apparently I've grown much more accustomed to my digital life than I realized. Not having several devices going at once; not being constantly in-touch was weird. And more than once I found myself having pangs of withdraw not knowing what my online friends were up to. And I was bored at first; way more than I expected to be. I had no idea how much I had come to rely on my multitasking ways. It was an eye opener.

But that said, it was great. I felt so much more engaged and present. I played with the dog instead of telling her to get off my lap. I watched a little TV, but it wasn't just background noise- I actually watched. I listened to music more than normal. I got outside, went for a walk, and just relaxed. I was much more mindful of what I was doing and I was much more pleased with myself.

The funny thing was I really didn't think I had a problem. Going into this weekend I really thought I'd just notice it a bit but that wouldn't be a big deal. I had no idea how truly dependent I was on all my distractions until I took them away. I'm glad I did.

So what have I learned? That I need to do this more often. I think more weekends are going to be "e-free" or at least "e-reduced." I'm definitely going to stop the multitasking. It's not good for me. I'm going to be more mindful and more present. And I'm going to try to mix up my life and get out the routine.

Not bad for a weekend experiment.

Disconnect

When was the last time you were unplugged from your devices?

Yeah, I don't remember either.

I recently got the newest iPad and so now I have this incredible Retnia Display to look at.  But I'm having a harder time than ever not looking at it.  To the point that it's making my eyes hurt.  Not good.

And the ADD, oh the ADD.  When I do put my iPad down for a minute, I almost immediately find a reason to pick up my iPhone.  All this while my Mac is compiling a video and the TV is on the background.

It's noisy.

It's straining.

It's harmful.

So I'm going to disconnect.  For the whole weekend.  I'm going to read real books, not e-books.  I'm going to forego the internet.  I'm going to turn off my Twitter feed.  And I'm not going to multitask at all.

I'll let you know how it goes in a special Monday update.  But for now, I'm signing off.  One weekend of disconnecting from my toys and actually living my life. 

Anyone want to join me?

Stop Hitting the Snooze Button

I'm really sorry about this.  It's not usually my style to make you feel bad, but I learned something recently and I just don't know a better way to share it.  So here it goes.

For years, my snooze button and I have been frienemies.  On the one hand, that button provides immediate relief from the evil alarm clock's morning siren; providing me those precious extra 7 minutes of half-hearted slumber.  I'm not sure what the scientific reason for those 7 minutes being the most gratifying sleep you can get (maybe someone smart could study that.  I'm busy writing blogs and such) but I know that it is.  And for years, I have thoroughly enjoyed that little extra time in bed.

Oh sure, I've laughed at myself about it.  My favorite line is Jim Gaffigan when he says "ah the snooze button.  Nothing like starting the day off with a little procrastination."  Funny, yes.  True, a little.  But then someone very successful told me something that hurt a little too much. 

When you hit the snooze button, the first thing you've done with your day is fail to keep your commitment.

Ouch.

See, I set that alarm.  I chose what time I needed to get up.  And for a long time I somehow thought that meant it was no big deal because getting up 7 minutes later only meant I was letting myself down.  But it's bigger than that.

What I've really been doing is starting my day off with a failure.  Setting that alarm was like setting a goal and I missed it.  And that can speak volumes about the rest of the day.  It meant that from the moment I was out of bed my score card was in the red.  Something had to give.

So two weeks ago I made a commitment.  I changed my alarm time and reminded myself that when it went off I had a choice to make; get out of bed and start the day with a win, or face a long drive to work thinking about how I had missed my very first commitment of the day.  And in the past two weeks, I've only missed once.  And it was a very long drive in that day.  But the good news was, the next day I got another chance and I got it right.

And here's the funny thing.  When you start you day off by keeping your first commitment, it makes it so much easier to keep the next.  And the next.  And the rest.  See, I've written before about how winning creates momentum- I just never realized how I was starting my day was affecting it.  But it does.

So I'm sorry if you've had to come to the unpleasant realization that I did about how you're starting your day.  I didn't set out intending to make you feel bad. But guess what?  Tomorrow when that alarm goes off, you'll have another chance to get it right.  And as hard as it can be to get out of that big comfy marshmallow, it's a lot tougher to think your first choice of the day was to fail. 

Keep your commitment.  Start with momentum.  And stop hitting the snooze button.

Stop Apologizing for Being Awesome

Stop it!  Right now!  I mean it.

You are awesome.  You're a Linchpin.  And you need to stop apologizing for it.

Don't think you are?  Answer these questions:

1) Do you ever avoid taking risks because of what others, especially a boss might think?

2) Do you hold on to a good idea because you don't think you can explain it well enough?

3) Do you follow the process, even when you know there is a better way?

4) Are you more concerned with playing by the rules than doing your best work?

5) Are you trying to fit the mold, when you know it needs to be broken?

6) Do you think that the only way to be noticed or advance in your career is to be the "perfect employee"?

7) Do you think the "perfect employee" is the one who does what they're asked with the best attitude?

8) Do you think success is more about being right than being innovative?

9) Do you think the process is more important than the outcome?

10) Do you believe that only the people who take risks are the ones who get the axe?

If you said "yes" to any of these, you're apologizing.  You're withholding.  You're not being authentic. 

And you need to stop.

Because it's the people who say "no" to all those things that become truly indispensable.  It's the people who take risks, push boundaries, and break molds that are simply too scarce- and thus valuable.  Anyone can follow the process we already have.  But that process won't win forever.  The key to success is not to become the master of this process, but the creator of the next one that works.

So stop holding back.  Stop being scared.  Stop apologizing.

Just go be Awesome.

What Gets Rewarded, Gets Repeated

We are quick to admit that what gets measured, gets done.  But what about the things that are hard to measure?

It's easy to measure sales goals, delivery windows, profit margins, call resolutions, and account balances.  Measure them regularly and they'll get done.

It's not as easy to measure things that matter even more.  Like niceness, commitment, risk-taking, vision, and passion.  And when things aren't easy to measure, we tend to not measure them.  And when we don't measure them, they don't get the attention they deserve.

So what can you do if the measurement is tough?  Just go for recognition instead.  When see someone being nice, thank them.  When you see someone working with passion, recognize them.  When someone takes a risk, reward them.

Because if you don't, they'll just focus on what's being measured.

Think of it this way- what gets measured, gets done.  But what gets rewarded, gets repeated.

Are You Proud of Today?

Earlier this week I tweeted (@JeffreyBWeaver) this question:

How would your day be different if you asked yourself "Am I proud of everything I did today?" at the end?

It's a question I've started asking myself a lot lately.  See, I found that, too often, I'd look back on a day and feel like I accomplished nothing.  I have this long list of things I'm always meaning to get around to but never do "because I'm too busy" or "there's not enough time" or "I'm tired" or whatever else I tell myself on the couch after work.

And so I started to look at everything I was doing in a day.  A lot of it felt like wasted time- meetings that didn't need me, being too far into a trivial detial, watching TV, etc.  Some of it felt productive, but wasn't.  Others were time wasters that I justified with "I deserve it, I worked hard today."  But the bottom line was those things were taking the place of productive things because they were easier.

And I'm not proud of that.

So I started asking myself that question- am I proud of what I'm doing?  Today, right now, all the time; can I- will I- be proud of this later?  Not will anyone else.  Will I be proud of me?

It's making me change a lot.  Because when I'm forced to make decisions thinking about how I'll feel about them later, not now, I make better decisions.  It's simple (not easy), but in this wold we live in that is happening faster than ever and so much focus is placed on here and now, not later, it's something we miss.

So stop missing it.  Stop making decisions now without thinking about later.  And the easy way is to just ask yourself, "will I be proud of this choice?" 

Will I be proud I hit the snooze button? Or proud that I got straight out of bed?

Will I be proud I watched 4 hours of TV before bed?  Or proud that I finished that book?

Will I be proud I pushed half my to-dos off to tomorrow?  Or proud that I cleared the list today?

Remember what Zig Ziglar said- "We all get 24 hours in a day."  Are you proud of how your using yours?

Tough question.

The Summer of Excellence

Labels matter.  They give us clarity and common understanding.  They set expectations.  Such is the case with the summer program one of my co-worker's kids is in right now. 

It's called the Summer of Excellence.

Cheesy.  A little, yes.  But it also gives a sense of purpose to a time normally associated with goofing off and slacking. 

Zig Ziglar tells us we hit what we aim at.  Aim at nothing, you'll hit it every time. 

So here's the question; are you aiming at a Summer of Excellence, or a Summer of Mediocrity?

Silencing the Fan

If you haven't figured it out by now, I'm a pretty big Apple fan.  Not just because they make great, cutting edge products, but because they are such a role model in the realm of user experience.  And as someone who designs a lot of work that is used by others, it's a good lesson to constantly be learning.

Their latest MacBook Pro offering is another great example of redesigning a product from the ground up with the user front of mind. You can check it out here to see what I'm talking about.  There's a lot to love about the notebook, but one thing in particular struck me- the fan.

On this latest laptop, Apple created new fan that uses an asymmetrical blade pattern. This causes the sound of the fan to vary its pitch (instead of the consistent hum others make) which means your ear won't lock onto the pattern and you'll basically never hear it. No one was previously making this type of fan which means Apple had to design it and then find a supplier who would mold it and build it just for them.  It's a lot of work for only one version- the most expensive version- of their notebooks.

So why do it?  Why go to all the trouble and expense?  Because for Apple, they want to remove every possible distraction from your experience.  They know that if you're editing a movie, you want to hear the soundtrack; not the fan.  If you're sitting quietly reading an important report, you want to concentrate; not hear the fan.  They are obsessively focused on taking out of the equation anything that would get between you and what you really want- your content.

As a presenter, we have the same responsibility to our audience.  And so we too must take the time to get the details right and eliminate the distractions that get between our audience and the thing they really want- our message.

Because if the slide has spelling mistakes, it's distracting.  If the page numbers don't line up, it's distracting.  If the animation doesn't work, it's distracting.  If you're searching for your handouts, it's distracting.

So take the time to get it right.  Get passionate about removing the details that would distract your audience.  And think about your delivery from the audience's perspective, not your own.  Be relentless in your pursuit of experience.  And ultimately, figure out what it takes to silence the fan.

Are You Being Productive, or just Active...?

That's a Tim Ferriss quote from his book, The Four Hour Workweek. It's also one of my favorite affirmations ever.

It's easy to trick ourselves into feeling productive. Check your email, read the latest blog updates, maybe drop-in on a co-worker for a quick chat. But just because you're moving doesn't mean you're doing anything worthwhile. So ask yourself with each task you take on- "am I being productive, or just active?" Then, find a way to dump the "active" and focus on the productive.

Remember- we all only get 24 hours a day. Success is about learning to use them the best way possible. Eliminating the active in favor of the productive will help you do just that.

Sorry I missed you...

I took a few days off last week- including Friday- which is why there was no new blog post.

 

It was amazing.

 

Sometimes we forget how much information, how much volume is being poured into our brains on a daily basis.  If you don’t take some time to empty it out, it’s a problem.

 

Think about when you pour water into a glass until it gets full and then keep pouring so it overflows.  That’s what our minds are like in this digital age we occupy. Think about the water in that glass.  It’s churned up.  There’s a lot of waste.  The new stuff can’t get in and the old stuff can’t get out.  So sometimes, you have to turn off the flow and empty the glass to start over. 

 

That’s what I did last week and I can say I do feel refreshed, open, and ready to receive what’s next.

 

So sorry if I missed you Friday, but I’ll be back at it again this week on schedule.  Cheers!

Give it Time to Fail

Here’s something you don’t hear often enough.  If you’re going to try something new, you have to give it time to fail.  Don’t just abandon it after the first failure.  Don’t just throw in the towel after it flops once.  Give it a chance to fail a few times.  Let it crash and burn on a couple of occasions. 

Because one of two things will happen:

A)     You’ll learn why it really fails and know how to make it better or

B)      It just might succeed.

Where do I start?

The problem with a blank page is that it can be anything.  I've come to encounter this problem quite a bit as an aspiring blogger.  It seems that too often as I stare at the blank page, trying to decide what to write, I'm overwhelmed by all the possibilities. 

 

There's often a trap that can be fallen into when faced with unlimited choices.  That's why you would never ask a four year old what they want for breakfast.

 

What do you want to eat this morning? 

 

Waffles!

We don't have waffles, pick something else.

 

Pancakes!

We don't have that either, pick something else.

 

Hot Dogs!

You're not having hot dogs for breakfast...

 

... and then the hissy fit ensues.

 

Anyone with a kid knows how you're supposed to do that.

 

Do you want cereal or a pop-tart?

Hot dogs!

 

Not an option, do you want cereal or a pop-tart?

Pop-tart!  And then you can move on with your day.

 

Starting from scratch can be achieved the same way.  Instead of trying to choose from unlimited possibilities, just try to choose from the first two you think of.  Quit worrying about the rest.  Keep it simple and realize that you only starve when you don't decide.  And there's always another breakfast tomorrow if you pick the wrong one.

 

Limit your options, make a choice, and move on with your day.

 

The Ultimate Leadership Challenge

People hate change. Knowing, understanding, and embracing this simple truth is one of the most crucial, yet most difficult, parts of leadership. As leaders, our very existence is predicated on the idea that change must happen. No one needs a leader to stay where they are- you need a leader to take you somewhere. And going anywhere, even somewhere you want and need to go, requires change. People hate that.

That's why teleporting is so popular in movies. It's requires almost no effort to make a change. How cool would it be if we could just teleport our teams to the place we want to take them?

The funny part is, people hate change even when they want the change and know it's good for them. I, for instance, want to be thinner and know all benefits that would come from being in a healthier place. Yet just try to get me to swap a steak for a salad. The change of lifestyle just seems overwhelming and exhausting. Even though I'm uncomfortable with where I am, I'm even more uncomfortable with the change.

It's all very discomforting.

Breaking through that barrier, convincing people to act and change, is what makes great leadership. It's more than having a vision or a destination, it's more than being able to communicate, and it's more than being admired. You need all those things, but you need to be able to use them in a way that creates action.

That's the ultimate leadership challenge.

Your Summer Reading List (and mine too)

Ah, Summer.  That magical time of year when my home state will be flooded with pasty people who will suffer through the act of sitting in sand for the chance to not be pasty any more.

Frankly, I've never much understood that.  Even having grown up in the Sunshine State, I've never been much for the beach.  It's hot, which leads to sweating.  And it's sandy, which when mixed with sweat, creates an aweful "stick to everything" reaction that takes me a day or two to feel better about.  I love Florida as much as anyone can, but I'll never be a beach person.  Go figure.

I do, however, love books.  And knowing as I do that when you're waiting to not be pasty any more a good book can help pass the time, allow me to share with you my recomendations for your summer reading list.  Some of these are on mine as well.  Others I've already read.  All of them will make you smarter. And who couldn't use a little of that?

Small Giants, by Bo Birlingham
Bo's book is perhaps one of the greatest reads I've ever had the pleasure to find.  This book changed the course of my career by helping me understand the kind of company I wanted to work for.  If you want to really understand what makes great companies great, pick this one up.

Insanely Simple, by Ken Segall
I just finished this one recently and it is inspiring.  Ken offers a unique and insightful look into the Apple that Jobs built.  But it's his keen observations and how they can apply to your company, your team, and even your life that makes this book so worth while.

EntreLeadership, by Dave Ramsey
I've read the book, taken the course, and I will say again and again- this is how it's done.  Not theory, not some great "ideal" but the hands-on playbook of how to be a leader who wins.  You absolutely must read this if you want to lead.  Absolutely must.

How to Be a Presentation God, by Scott Schwertly
This was a surprising gem, and one of the most inspiring books I've read this past year.  Scott's direct, approachable style overlays one of the most powerful messages I've read in a long time.  Whether you present to anyone or not, this book is a great read on what it takes to inspire.

Linchpin, by Seth Godin
I'll never be able to recommend this one enough.  It changed my life.  It will change yours too.  I promise that.  Read it.

As for my next books; I'm in the middle of Start With Why by Simon Sinek and then Platform by Michael Hyatt is up in the queue.  If anyone has read either yet, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

So off you go.  Find some sand (or if you're like me, a hammock with a nice view) and enjoy.  And in the end, you'll have something that lasts much longer than tanlines; you'll have the knowledge to be a better you.

Don't go shopping when you're hungry

Everyone gets the logic of this simple statement.  We don't make our best decisions when we're influenced by high desire.  Better to shop when you're not hungry and make more thoughtful, rational decisions.

Hiring is the same way.  If you only recruit when you have a desperate need, you won't make rational, thoughtful decisions either.  You'll take the first thing you find that looks yummy.

Don't go hiring when you're hungry.  That's a good way to end up with a stomachache.

The Big Blue Bear

Standing 40ft tall outside the Colorado Convention Center is a blue bear. 

Don't worry- it's not real.

That would be terrifying.  I can’t imagine anyone wanting to attend a conference if they had to sneak past a 40ft bear to get there.  There are very few breakout sessions that you'd risk your life for.

But this bear is not terrifying at all.  In fact, he's curious. 

The artist designed the bear to stand on his hind legs and peer into the expo hall, as if he's curious about what's going on inside.  And who can blame him?  We've all had the urge to take a peek when we walk by a busy conference; wondering what could be so special about the activities inside.  But there's been something extra special about this bear to me as I've attended the ASTD International Conference and Exposition these past few days.  Seeing him has been a constant reminder to me to be curious as well.

See, far too often when we are at a conference we try to make the most of it by planning every session, every moment, of every day.  We mark the sessions we think are best, we star the vendors we don't want to miss, and we arrive early at every session to get a good seat.  We create such a detailed plan for ourselves that we forget that our best laid plans always have a fatal flaw.  We don't know what we don't know.  We don't know that the course description was off and missed out on great information.  We don't know that the vendor we walked by had the perfect solution to our biggest problem. 

We're focused.  We're determined.  But we sacrifice curiosity.

Not the bear.  He's just curious all the time.  And a great reminder that we should be too.  Which is why I skipped a session just to take more time in the Expo Hall.  And you know what?  I found some great vendors I would have missed.  Then I changed my morning session and you know what?  The new session was the BEST one I took all week. 

We love our plans and our strategies.  And they are important.  But don’t let them stop you from being curious.  That’s important too.  Because you never know what you don’t know until you take the time to be curious.

Poof!... A Dog House

Some things just don’t happen by accident.  Like dog houses.  You never wake up on Monday after a long weekend, head to the kitchen, pour your coffee, then look out in the back yard and think “where did that dog house come from?”  It’s never like that.  You can’t accidently make a dog house.  If you want a dog house, you need a plan, a trip to the hardware store, a weekend of work, and if you’re like me, a box of Band-Aids.  It takes thoughtfulness and, more importantly, effort if you want to keep your puppy dry in the back yard.

Leadership is like that too.  You’re not going to wake up one Monday, head into the office, pour your coffee (seriously?  More coffee?  Kick the habit…) and look around surprised as you think, “Huh, when did I become a leader?”  Nope.  Leadership also requires planning, thoughtfulness, and effort.  It’s not an accident.  It’s the result of intentional action done the right way all the time. 

When I’m teaching new leaders, I belabor this point because it’s so important.  See, you can learn all kinds of skills as a leader, be exposed to the countless theories on how to best manage people- but that’s no different than looking at pictures of dog houses and wishing one was in your backyard.  It’s fun, but it’s not going to keep the puppy dry.  You need action.  You need effort.  You can’t just think about it- you have to do something.

So if you’re waiting around for your team to suddenly start trusting you, or communicating better with each other, or engaging and being more productive, you’re wasting time.  It won’t happen any more than you will wake up to a dog house in the back yard.  Whether it’s a team or a dog house, building takes effort.  So get going!

The Velvet Rope

You're awesome.

I know it's true. For one, you read this blog which means you're smart. And you read blogs about how to be awesome, so you're willing to learn. That alone puts you ahead of most. So I'm pretty confident in my assessment that you are awesome.

The problem with awesome is that everybody wants a piece of it. You're time is a precious commodity and so you're always being asked for help and expertise. No one said being awesome was easy. But that ok, you love it. You love to help, love to say yes, and love to give.

But here's the thing; time is limited.

You only get 24 awesome hours a day. And you need to sleep at least 8 of those to be at peak awesomeness.

So you have to be picky about who you give access to your time. You need a filter. You need to check credentials. You need a velvet rope.

Think about it. Every awesome club has a bouncer and a velvet rope out side making sure only the most awesome people get in. That's how they stay exclusive and, thus, awesome. Now, high school popularity politics aside, you need the same mentality. You need to start saying no. You need to be selective when it comes to the people and projects you grant access to your awesome talents. You may not go so far as to put a 300lb linebacker outside your office- that was my choice, but mostly because he matched the decor. But the mentality has to be the same. Limit your access, remain exclusive, and make people who want in have some standards. That could mean jacket and no jeans; or it could mean they must have defined goals and a solid timeline.

Because the point is, without standards, things start to go downhill. Let in a few guys with stonewashed Levis and Ed Hardy shirts and your club will loose swagger. Start taking on projects that are a mess, and you're awesome reputation can suffer too.

Hey, you're awesome. Don't forget it, and don't be ashamed of it. And more importantly, act like it. Don't be afraid to be a little exclusive. Especially if you want to maintain that awesome reputation.

Breathe In, Breath Out Move On...

Wanna know something great about the past?  It's behind you.  You don't have to live there.

You can try.  But it takes a lot of effort on your part.  Like walking against the flow of a moving sidewalk at the airport.  Do it a little and you stay in place.  Want to really go back? You have to run.  It's exhausting.  Moving forward is the natural way.

So don't try to live in the past.  Especially if the past wasn't as good as today or tomorrow (and it almost never was.)

On the other hand, if you're not happy with where you are today, go forward.  That moving sidewalk will help you, propel you even, towards a better future faster than you think.

Life moves in one direction.  Stop fighting the force.

I bought a cheap watch from a crazy man, floating down canal.  It doesn't use numbers or moving hands, it always just says now.  Now you may be thinking that I was had, but this watch is never wrong.  And If I have trouble the warranty said...

Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On...

~ Jimmy Buffett

Momentum

Nothing makes achieving goals easier than achieving goals.  Yes, I know how redundant that sounds.  But it's not.  It's about momentum.  The emotional high of completing a project will make you crave the next one.  The satisfaction of reaching a goal will drive to achieve even more.  Simple, but undoubtedly true.  So how can that help you?  Here's a couple of tricks I've learned.

1) Schedule overlap in your projects.  Start-ups are exciting and energizing.  Completions are scary.  But if you overlap a start-up with a wrap-up, the energy that comes with starting something new can help carry you over the finish line.  Think of it like a relay race- you don't hand-off at a standstill.  Both runners adjust their speeds to successfully keep the momentum going.

2) Schedule multiple projects to close in the same span.  Often times, I have little side-projects that need attention, or even wrap-up that never seem to get done.  They aren't motivating, and they aren't top priorities, so they tend to sit.  Schedule those for right after a big project finishes and let the momentum help push you through those tasks.

3) Take time to celebrate.  One of our most common mistakes in this "what's next?" culture of ours is to not take time to enjoy a Win.  We get one thing done and then start staring down the next.  Take a moment to enjoy the success.  Blow your own horn if you have to.  Enjoy your favorite restaurant or treat yourself somehow to remind you that success feels good.  If the only reward you give yourself for completing work is more work, you won't learn to enjoy it.

Momentum is a powerful thing.  So take care to build it up and let it help you achieve your goals!

America's Got Talent- Do You?

I have a confession. I'm not entirely proud of this, but that's what confessions are about, so here it goes.

I like summer TV.

I know, I know, shocker to be sure. But there's just something about the light, fun, mindless shows of summer that make me giggle and give my brain a much needed break. Wipeout is a good one. I want to be a contestant so bad. If they ever do a siblings show, my brother and I are IN! My other one is America's Got Talent.

AGT (for those in the know) is good summer fun. I love the variety of acts; the weird, wonderful people who show up in droves ready to demonstrate their "talent." So when my wife and I got the chance to go to a live taping in Florida this week, we couldn't say no. It was awesome. No spoilers here, but get ready for another fun summer season for sure.

If you're not familar with the show, it's a bunch of variety acts competing for a chance at a million dollar contract and a show in Las Vegas. There are 3 celebrity judges and the 4th judge- the audience. It's facinating, because the audience is really encouraged to participate and get rowdy about thier opinions. People yell stuff out and the judeges respond. And the crowd really does seem to influcence the voting. It's very cool to see it without the editing; or the commercials.

But on the way home, I started thinking about the 3 kinds of acts you see on AGT. You can categorize them fairly simply and there are lessons you can learn from each.

AGT Audition Type 1- Genuine Talent.

I will say, there are some serious contenders coming this year. And it's exciting to think that mabye we saw the next million dollar act before anyone else. But what's neat about genuine talent is how quickly the whole audience recognizes it. Almost immediately the whole crowd would cheer and chant "Vegas, Vegas!" That's what's great about genuine talent. It stands on it's own and everyone, even a room of amateur judges, knows it when we see it. And what's inspiring is how these performers are always so passionate. They cry when they get "yes" votes. This isn't some pie in the sky dream- this is the payoff for a lifetime of deditcation. And it shows.

AGT Audition Type 2- The Joke.

There are some peole who come just to make a joke of it. We saw several at our taping. And the thing about it was, it wasn't funny- it was just annoying. See, it's one thing to be disruptive or saterical with a point. But these performers weren't poignant, they were just grating. Mockery for mockery's sake is not satire and the audience quickly felt the insult and turned on the audition. You can't make your audience the joke and expect them to laugh. They won't, I've seen it. They feel taken advantage of as their time is wasted. It's not pretty.

AGT Audition Type 3- The Sheltered Moderate.

These are the hardest to watch. The sisters who sound great in the kitchen, the dog all your friends love, the hairdresser with charisma. People with more courage than talent who haven't taken the time to really practice or prepare. I'ts not really thier dream, it's a fun idea that when a few people said "do it" they listened. But they didn't get enough trusted opinions to know it wasn't real. On the one hand, they are brave because they are putting it out there. On the other hand, they are foolish because they didn't have an honest perspective that would have saved them harsh criticism.

And thinking about all this made me wonder- if you're a entrepreneur heading to market, which one are you? Because you won't have the benefit of a room full of honest strangers giving you immediate feedback. You'll more likely sink a lot of money into marketing hoping to learn which one of these you are.

If you're business is the real deal, people will notice and cheer.

If you're being disruptive to a market just to take advantage of it, people will boo you off the stage.

But what if you're a moderately talented idea that needs a little more time and refinement before you can wow the world? Have you asked enough trusted friends for honest opinions? Have you tired it out in a way that makes you confident? Is it a dream you're passionate about or just an idea you like? You better know- because the audience will. And that 4th judge is the one that really matters.

The Kelsey Roll

I don’t want to brag too much, but I’m related to a celebrity.

 

Well, a minor celebrity.  A minor, regional celebrity.  Ok, you’ve probably never heard of her.  But if you eat sushi regularly at a locally owned restaurant in my hometown and have ever asked for something that wasn’t on the menu, then you know my cousin, Kelsey.  Because she has a sushi roll named after her.  The Kelsey Roll.

 

So how does one rise to local sushi stardom?  Well, if you’re my cousin, you become the only 5-year-old regular at the counter.  Eventually the head chef will name the custom roll your mom orders for you in your honor.  And it is an honor, by the way.  Because it’s rare.

 

So how does a 5-year-old become a regular at the counter?  You can thank my aunt for that.  She’s a big sushi fan and a single mom.  So when she heads out to dinner she takes her daughter with her, and she becomes a fan too.  Because that’s what’s great about kids; they learn what we teach them.  Want your kid to appreciate sushi? You have to take them to a sushi place and not cave in when they want to order off the kids menu.  Because they will eat it; as long as you lead them there.

 

Now, that doesn’t work if you put sushi on their plate and then order lasagna for yourself.  They aren’t going to be courageous and open if you’re not.  But if you lead them, they will follow.

 

The same is true when absorbing a new hire to your company culture.  If you surround them with people who truly love it, and offer them no options but to embrace it, they will usually decide to at least give it a try.  And, assuming you have a tasty offering, they’ll quick become a regular, raving fan.  It takes effort, but so does getting a 5-year-old from the country to love sushi.  And I’ve see that happen before, so I know it works.

 

20/20

It's amazing how quickly hindsight can give us clarity.  A decision made today can start changing the world tomorrow and almost instantly, we realize we've done something tremendous. 

What's even cooler is how the bigger the decision, the quicker we tend to see results.

And here's one more thing to consider- sometimes the biggest decisions we make are the ones to simply change our attitude.  Do that for a day, and you'll quickly realize how tremendously your old way of thinking was holding you back.

Don't Just Teach- Inspire!

My Weekend with Dave Ramsey; Lessons from EntreLeadership & Total Money Makeover Live!

Don’t Just Teach- Inspire!

If you’re not familiar with Dave Ramsey’s EntreLeadership, you need to start here by watching the first lesson online.  That’s how I got started and it took only that 45 minute online lesson to convince me that this was something special.  Not new, not revolutionary, but special.  See, that’s the magic of what Dave does.  He’s not reinventing the wheel, he’s not always breaking new ground.  But he’s making you believe you can do it.  He’s proving it works.  And by proving it works, he’s giving us hope and inspiring action.  And that was my first lesson from EntreLeadership.

As a trainer, a teacher, my job has to be about more than just transferring knowledge.  Yes, that’s important.  No doubt about it.  But it’s not enough.  Because in many ways, what I teach isn’t new, or extraordinary, or even profound.  Most of the time, I’m teaching common sense and expectations.  So what makes me, or any trainer, special is if we can get the people we teach to take these thoughts and put them into action.  When your words have the power to transform in to real energy and momentum- that’s when you’re successful.  And watching Dave on stage for two days was like a master’s course in motivation.

So what can I share with you about it?  Here are few things I’ve realized.

1)      You Have to Believe What You’re Saying.  I know how simple that sounds, but a lot of trainers teach material they didn’t write.  I know I do.  What I realized is, as a participant, you can feel the energy Dave has because he lives what he’s saying.  It creates an emotion in the knowledge that acts like glue and makes it stick. 

2)      Great Materials Can Keep You on Schedule.  I think that “Ramsey” is originated from an old Irish word for “ramble.”  And as a trained trainer, I noticed when Dave would stray a little too far from the timeline and have to make it up in the talking points.  It’s not his fault, and honestly, I might have some “Ramsey” heritage myself as I can easily get side-tracked when a good story is making a good point and the audience is right there with me.  But Dave’s materials are brilliantly designed to help him make up the time.  Key words are highlighted, there’s ample white space for note-taking, and he puts all the answers to the fill-in-the-blanks at the end of the chapters.  So even when rushing a bit on the book points, the audience has the knowledge they need.  It’s going to make me re-think a lot of my design.

3)      It’s the Details That Make It Amazing.  You have to get the little things right.  The books have to be spelled correctly.  The slide deck has to work.  The colors and fonts can’t be distracting.  The lighting should be good.  Give everyone a pen that writes well.  All these little things won’t make a training good, but any one of them can become a distraction that makes a training bad.  So take the time to get the details right.  It clears the way for participants to focus on nothing but the message.

The bottom line is, you have a job as a teacher that is more than just knowledge transfer.  You have to inspire action based on that knowledge.  It’s not easy, but it’s really the only part that counts.

 

My Weekend With Dave Ramsey

Yup, that’s me on the left, my darling wife Melanie on the right, and in the center- Dave Ramsey himself.  How did that happen?  How did we go from having a simple, cheap, weekend planned to being backstage with Dave Ramsey himself?  I’m still not quite sure.  But here’s what I remember…

It all began back at the end of last year when Dave announced that he would be coming to Orlando, FL for both his EntreLeadership 1-Day Event and Dave Ramsey LIVE! in March.  Melanie and I have been working on Dave’s Total Money Makeover for just over a year now and we’re down to our last debt (my car, I’m an idiot, and it’ll be paid-off by December).  We had missed Dave’s live event the year before and we promised ourselves if he came back to Florida, we’d go.  So when the email alert popped in my mailbox that we could get advance tickets at a low price I thought- “Score!  See Dave AND save money!  That’s just a double good idea!”

 So Melanie and I looked at all the ticket prices and options.  The DRLive Team has so many great ways to enjoy these events.  VIP seatings, lunches, backstage meetings- the works!  But being on Baby Step 2, Melanie and I opted to go cheap- the lowest priced, general admission tickets to both events and a deep discount hotel night.  Everything paid in cash and a weekend trip that wouldn’t follow us home.  Turns out, it’s one that will stay with us forever.

Friday, March 16, 2012; EntreLeadership 1-Day Event

Mornings and I have always been “frenimies.”  I appreciate them, but I hate them.  My bed is ridiculously comfortable (we call it the marshmallow) and getting out of it just seems stupid.  So to have to wake up at 5:30 am is asking a lot.  But there we were, up and getting ready for EntreLeadership.

I’d been once before to a simulcast last year.  It was a game-changer for me and gave me a completely new perspective on how I approach people, leadership, and my work.  Melanie had never been, but was a big fan of the Podcast.  So we were both looking forward to a great day.

And a great day it was.  We got motivated.  We got informed.  We even got to meet Chris LoCurto, Dave’s VP and one of the original EntreLeaders!

Me, Chris, and Melanie at EntreLeadership 1-Day!

It was an amazing day filled with great knowledge and huge inspiration.  I filled a note book with ideas and my Twitter timeline with quotes (you’re welcome followers- the rest of you missed out BIG!). 

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be writing a lot about my take-aways, but let me start with this; you have more power to influence and affect your work, your team, and your success than you realize.  Want to make changes?  Want things to improve?  Start with you and the rest will follow. 

Saturday, March 17, 2012; Dave Ramsey LIVE! Event

After such an inspiring day for work on Friday, I couldn’t wait for Saturday to be inspired about my own life and money.  I had no idea just how amazing it would become.

We planned to arrive at the UCF Arena around 11:00am.  The event didn’t start until 1:00pm, but the bands play early, there are opening speakers, and the seating was general admission.  So we wanted to be early and ready to take full advantage.  So there we were, standing in line with our $20 tickets, listing to Dave’s IT team rock the stage.  When suddenly, this couple comes up to us and says, “come with us, we’re going backstage.”  Turns out, they were from Magnify Credit Union in our very own town of Lakeland, FL.  They had purchased the full Backstage Experience and somehow had extras.  Without knowing anything more than “we were there” they decided to extend to me and Melanie the chance of a life time.  Within moments, we were being taken around the side of the building and ushered into the VIP area where we ordained with badges and put in a line to meet Dave Ramsey himself.

Our Key to the Kingdom!

The day was incredible.  Want to know how good our seats were?  Check out these photos from our seats to the stage…

I had one big goal for the day- to meet Jon Acuff.  I am such a huge fan of his blogs, his books, and his work.  So my day wouldn’t have been complete if I hadn’t had the chance to have him sign a book for my brother and take a quick picture.  And wouldn’t you know it…

That’s an official “Side-Hug” right there.  Doesn’t get much better.

I still am not sure how it all happened.  Frankly, the math just doesn’t add-up.  We spent a total of $300. That included the event tickets, the hotel room, Financial Peace University at the event price, and a couple of books.

I ran the math.  We ended up with almost $700 worth of stuff! 

I think Dave would be proud of that.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be writing a lot about what I’ve learned.  While the suitcase is empty and the laundry is done, I’ve still got a lot of unpacking to do from that weekend.  But right now, I just have to say this.

Thank you.  Thank you to Dave Ramsey, Chris LoCurto, Jon Acuff, Rachel Cruze, and Becky from the DRLive team.  And thank you to each and every team member and volunteer.  You all made for one of the most memorable, inspiring, and truly incredible weekends I’ve ever had in my life.  The memories are priceless and I can’t wait to take everything I’ve learned forward.  It deserves to be shared and share it I will.  So thank you all for the gift and know that I plan on using it to the fullest.

Thank you to the people of Magnify Credit Union in Lakeland, FL for unexpectedly making our day that much better.

And thank you most to my wonderful wife, Melanie, for making it that much more fun by being there to share it all with me.

Now, time to get to work…