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This month, in The Platform Builders Mastermind group, we are working our way through Simon Sinek’s recently released “Leaders Eat Last – Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t.”
Sinek, the author of Start With Why, provides a deep look into what creates the most effective teams and more importantly, what keeps them working together, even during the most difficult of times.
This is one of those books that will take you a little bit longer to read because so many thoughts require you to take another look, just to make sure you understood the power behind them. A phenomenal effort by Sinek, Leaders Eat Last not only looks at the dynamic of the team but of the individuals that make up that team.
What really sets this book apart is Sinek’s unique look at why some people make good leaders and others don’t and the “why” behind the results they get. In this post, the second of four, I will attempt to capture the basic thoughts of the eight parts of the book.
PART 3: REALITY
THE COURAGE TO DO THE RIGHT THING – Sinek tells the story of an air traffic controller that broke the rules and as a result, saved over a hundred lives. The point of the story is that sometimes it’s ok to break the rules, because it’s the right thing to do.
The bigger point of the story is that we have created a culture of non-thinking rule followers that use those very rules to justify making the wrong decision just because “that’s what they were told to do.” Sinek goes on to discuss the idea of trust and offers this great thought: “We don’t just trust people to obey the rules, we also trust that they will know when to break them.”
SNOWMOBILE IN THE DESERT – Another great chapter! We are the most advanced creature on the planet and yet, have the most difficult time working collaboratively towards common goals. Sinek suggests that people are not the problem in most cases when discussing our cooperative efforts.
Our culture is so competitive that in most of the environments that we work in, we are judged on personal performance. This creates a natural condition pushing us to do better than the next guy. Sound like looking our for #1 to me. Create an environment in which your people can thrive, and they will! (Tweet This)
PART 4: HOW WE GOT HERE
THE BOOM BEFORE THE BUST – This is Sinek’s look at how the economic health of the nation has impacted leadership. The roaring twenties were a time of prosperity and wealth never seen before. Then the stock market crash hit in 1929 beginning a depression lasting until nearly 1942. Going to war is widely accepted as the event that pulled us out of that depression.
The point he makes is that like in anything, there has to be balance. He makes a great comparison between the good times and the bad – at least from a leadership perspective. The generations that have produced great security and stability have focused on leadership and service, not excess and consumerism. Hmm, isn’t that interesting!
THE BOOMERS ALL GROWN UP – Sinek takes a look at the three stock market crashes we have endured since the baby boomers took over running government and business. There has clearly been a shift to the idea that people are as disposable as products. We have moved away from a strong sense of community and now focus on protecting “what is ours.”
This may be one of the strongest thoughts in the book – “There are smart executives running companies and managing systems, but there seems to be a distinct lack of strong leaders to lead the people.” I wonder if the leaders still exist but there no longer exists a job description that includes them. Just sayin’
Here is Sinek’s bottom line that I take away from this section of the book. “It’s not how smart the people in the organization are; it’s how well they work together that is the true indicator of future success or the ability to manage through struggle.”
Read that again and just think about it for a minute. Does it apply to your current environment?
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One of the issues that concerns me about our future is the gap in leadership that has I have often seen in our next generation, otherwise known as Generation Y.
I’m not big into playing the blame game, but because I am in the group that I hold partially responsible for the predicament we are in, I will go ahead and bring it up. If you are in your 40’s or 50’s, you (we) may have dropped the ball when it comes to the influence we had on the 20 and 30 somethings.
Admittedly I am speaking in broad generalities here, but nonetheless, somebody fell short in teaching leadership skills to the millennials and seeing how we raised them, I guess that makes it us. Enough said on that, it’s time to look forward and not back.
In my travels to Orlando and Las Vegas over the last three weeks, I encountered two 22 year olds that really impressed me. This will be a two part post to introduce you to a couple of kids (I can say that because my own kids are 21 and 23) that proved to me that we will indeed, have some solid individuals taking care of us one day.
Sometimes I just walk and think.
Let me introduce you to Ben. Ben works as a server at the Hard Rock Cafe in Las Vegas. My wife Michelle, was in some classes so I decided to do what I sometimes do, go walk and think. If you ever have been on the Las Vegas strip, you know how hard it can be to think. I decided to stop and get some lunch and Hard Rock seemed to be as good of a choice as any.
I got seated and then this younger guy comes over to me and sits down at my table and says “Hi, I’m Ben, what can I get for you.” His demeanor alone, told me that he was an A game player. Very self confident and looked me right in the eye when he spoke to me. You don’t always see that anymore.
He made me feel like I was the only guy in the place.
He was busy, but made it a point to check in on me every time he went by my table. I was by myself and I am sure he knew that I was not going to be a big ticket item in his section, but he continued to treat me like I was the only guy sitting out on the patio. I am alwys intrigued by these young “go-getters” and I struck up a conversation with him. I wanted to know what made this guy tick.
Turns out that his family had a restaurant back in New York that he started working at when he was 16. Seven months ago he headed west in search of among other things, some nicer weather. I asked how he got such a good job so quickly being a newbie in town and his response told the whole story.
He had filled out the on-line application for Hard Rock but knew that a face-to-face meeting could make a bigger difference in getting the job. He intentionally wandered into Hard Rock one day and was able to speak with a manager. The manager was immediately impressed and he had his second interview during the same visit.
Shortly thereafter, he was invited for a third interview and a week later was going through orientation. So what is the point of all this? Well to me, it’s pretty simple. Ben decided to happen to life and not wait for life to happen to him. (Tweet This) I wonder how many other applications sat on a hard drive while the applicants sat on their couch waiting for a call.
I will never forget that meal.
Ben said he loves the interaction with his customers as much as any part of his job and his actions definitely supported that. I think most would agree that going out to eat is more about the experience than the meal and Ben made mine memorable.
At only 22, I asked him what he wanted to eventually do, what were his big aspirations? His response; he wants to eventually get into fine dining. I didn’t think about it at the time but I would guess it is partially because he will have the opportunity to make someone’s night out a memorable experience that won’t soon be forgotten.
My guess – Ben will be exceeding expectations in some really nice dining establishment someday and probably sooner than later. Ben was one of those individuals that you can just tell will achieve his dreams. Ben, at 22, was leading by example in his respective industry, and making a difference in the lives of those he serves.
THE QUESTION: Do you have clarity on what it is that you want to achieve?
THE CHALLENGE: Do something today that will get you one step closer to reaching that dream.
Later this week I will introduce you to Stephanie, who works in the world’s largest Marriott.
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]]>This month, in The Platform Builders Mastermind group, we are working our way through Simon Sinek’s recently released “Leaders Eat Last – Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t.”
Sinek, the author of Start With Why, provides a deep look into what creates the most effective teams and more importantly, what keeps them working together, even during the most difficult of times.
This is one of those books that will take you a little bit longer to read because so many thoughts require you to take another look, just to make sure you understood the power behind them. A phenomenal effort by Sinek, Leaders Eat Last not only looks at the dynamic of the team but of the individuals that make up that team.
What really sets this book apart is Sinek’s unique look at why some people make good leaders and others don’t and the “why” behind the results they get. In this post, the first of four, I will attempt to capture the basic thoughts of the eight parts of the book.
PART 1: OUR NEED TO FEEL SAFE
PROTECTION FROM ABOVE – Sinek starts out the book telling the story of pilot Johnny Bravo and about his courageous actions from the battlefield. When asked why he risked his own life to protect the lives of his fellow soldiers, he simply responded “Because they would have done it for me.” Are you willing to do for others what you would expect them to do for you?
EMPLOYEES ARE PEOPLE TOO – The second chapter is built around this great thought from Sinek: “The leaders of great organizations do not see people as a commodity to be managed to help grow the money. They see the money as the commodity to be managed to help grow the people.” Imagine that … focusing on people before profits. Isn’t that interesting?
BELONGING – Sinek introduces the concept of a “Circle Of Safety.” We all want to belong to something and when a culture is created that not only provides the opportunity to be part of it, but also provides security and stability, then engagement, fulfillment and productivity go up as well.
YEAH, BUT … – This is a great chapter. Sinek explores the idea that it is not extra work and long hours that stress people out, but rather the loss of control. When we are able to control our environment, we are much more inclined to remain engaged and loyal to our team.
PART 2: POWERFUL FORCES
WHEN ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH – If you are reading this, you probably already have more than enough. In other words, your basic needs have been met and you are living more abundantly than most of the people on this planet. Sinek begins to take a look at the physiological reasons that influence our thoughts and actions.
E.D.S.O. – Chapter 6 provides a clear picture of the four primary chemical incentives in our bodies and what happens when these chemicals are released.
- Endorphins – This chemical masks physical pain. This is what makes you feel good after strenuous physical activity.
- Dopamine – This is the chemical that makes us feel satisfied, a sense of achievement or accomplishment.
- Sarotonin – This chemical provides a feeling of pride, respect or value. This builds our self-esteem.
- Oxytocin – This is what enables us to form friendships, feel love, and build deep trust.
Sinek does a masterful job describing how all of these play into our role as a leader.
THE BIG C – No, not that one. Cortisol is responsible for the stress and anxiety that we feel when something goes bump in the night. It is our bodies way of telling us that something is not right. The problem is that although it is a defense mechanism, it also puts strain on our body. Using it to our advantage is the challenge.
WHY WE HAVE LEADERS – In order to function as a productive team, organization, or community, someone has to make the first move. Someone has to lead. Someone has to set a course in a new direction or we will simply exist where we are. Someone has to make the first sacrifice so others can follow.
I know we are early in the year, but I have a pretty strong feeling that Leaders Eat Last will be one of my top books for 2014. I actually had to good fortune to meet Simon Sinek earlier this week and hear him speak from the stage.
I can tell you this much, Sinek is the real deal. In a crowded hotel lobby, he gave me his undivided attention and made me feel like the only one in the room. He practices what he preaches and is consistent with his message.
Pulling from his highly viewed TEDTalk video, “People don’t buy into what you do, they buy into why you do it,” (Tweet This / Post to LinkedIn) Leaders Eat Last will fill you in on the “why” that leaders use to lead.
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This month in The Platform Builders mastermind group we are working our way through “The Power Of Urgency – Playing to Win with Proactive Urgency” by William Keiper. John Maxwell teaches that the greatest gap is the gap between what we know and what we do. I believe the Proactive Urgency that Keiper is talking about can close that gap.
In Part two of The Power of Urgency, Keiper takes a deep look into the idea of Playing to Win with The Power of Urgency.
“Your current state is a perfect reflection of your prior decisions.” – William Keiper (Tweet This / Post to LinkedIn)
In this, the final of three posts, I want to offer up Keiper’s thought provoking take on the idea of Proactive Urgency. Keiper ends each of the 17 chapters with an “Urgency Rule” and I want to highlight a few to set the frame for Part 2 of the book.
Urgency Rule #12 – A purposeful commitment to acting with pro-urgency is a sustained, continuously renewed promise manifested in your bold actions. This ongoing promise leaves no room for fakery, conformity or false consensus.
I love this quote from Keiper, “The path of least resistance will always be crowded with those who occupy half-numb, half-lived lives.” Commitment never follows the path of least resistance. Commitment will require you to step outside of your comfort zone and do the things you have never done before to become someone you have never been before.
Urgency Rule #14 – An initial decision, no matter how good, immediately becomes a prospect for an adaptive decision based upon new inputs. Be the best challenger of your own decisions.
How often do you challenge your own decisions? Be honest! In almost everything we do, we can do better. There are very few decisions that we make in life that would not benefit from asking these challenging questions:
- What do I need to start?
- What do I need to stop?
- What do I need to do more of?
- What do I need to do less of?
- What am I missing?
If we made better decisions and became just 1% more productive each week, we would increase our productivity by more that 50% every year.
Urgency Rule #17 – Proactive urgency is personal. If pursued with clarity and commitment, it will transform your work, your life and the lives of those around you.
There is that word clarity again. If you have heard me speak, you know how important I believe clarity is in everything we do. Lack of clarity brings confusion and lack of focus. Focus is what keeps you on the right path. Knowing where you are and where you are headed are the keys to getting there.
The question: Have you really committed to reaching your goals or are you still playing small and working through the path of least resistance?
The challenge: Choose a goal you are working towards and fully commit. If you are not struggling, you are not growing.
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I haven’t written about this topic in a while but thought today would be appropriate. Today begins another week long event that happens twice a year. The John Maxwell Team Live Certification event is like no other that I have ever been involved in.
There is huge added value for an incredible team, and of course teaching from John himself. This will be my fifth trip to the event and I will be joining about 200 of my returning friends and colleagues. In addition to them will be over 400 that will be attending for the first time.
I have been watching the posts over the last month reading about the excitement, anticipation and even a little bit of fear. John Maxwell has taught is that if you want to do something you’ve never done before, you need to become someone you’ve never been before. (Tweet This / Post to LinkedIn)
That’s a pretty powerful statement if you ask me. Many of my teammates were already coaches, speakers, or trainers when they joined the team. For many others, these are areas they may have never explored before and were simply drawn to the team because of the focus on leadership and access to John’s wealth of knowledge on the subject.
You know I love questions! As my own level of awareness has increased over the last few years, I have become much more intrigued with the answers as well. There are always many questions at the live training event and I want to take a look at three of the answers that cover a multitude of those questions.
YES, AND …
Life is not black and white. It’s not yes or no either. I have experienced the value of taking a yes or no question a step further. Let’s face it – yes might be the right answer, but is it the best answer? I have found that yes can almost always be followed up with “and.” The “and” is the opportunity to add clarity.
And as far as I am concerned, we can always use more clarity. So the next time you answer “yes” – see if putting an “and” after it can get a better answer.
IT DEPENDS
Well many times it does depend. “It depends” is a way to force a better question. It forces you to add some clarity in the question itself. A better question will always result in a better answer.
Our culture has put us into an immediate gratification mindset and when you think about it, all this has done is create an environment in which we grab the first response that moves us forward. The problem is, that sometimes that forward is in the wrong direction. Make sure you know what it “depends on” before moving on.
JUMP, AND BUILD YOUR WINGS ON THE WAY DOWN!
I love this one. It has all but become the mantra of the John Maxwell Team. So many of us let fear hold us back, and not only from the things we want to do, but from the things we were meant to do. I’m not suggesting we be irresponsible and take action without thinking first. I’m suggesting that you think first and then take action, even when it scares you. Like I said earlier, the only way we can do things sometimes, is to DO IT AFRAID!
Dieter Jansen, one of my teammates that I recently took through our 90 Day Success Roadmap program, posted this earlier today as he prepared to head north from Capetown, South Africa:
“Never been to a live event, never been to a think tank. I have so many questions. But being confused is OK once you get used to it. You meet such nice people along the way…”
How beautiful is that! What a great attitude! Isn’t amazing how things can change just from adding a little positive perspective and suspending the need to know how. Those are the words from someone willing to step outside their comfort zone. My prediction for Dieter … Success!
The Question: What question did you answer recently with “yes” and yes was only the right answer?
The Challenge: Re-visit that answer and add the “AND”
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Click here to get a copy of my Kindle Book “The Manifesto Of An Influential Leader”
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When I finished my last post, I told you that I was going to jump right to the next thing on my to-do list which was the final chapter in my book. Well, I did it.
Four sections, seventeen chapters, and almost 40,000 words. The thought of writing a book never would have even entered my mind three years ago. And now I have done it. I typed the last word, hit save and just looked at the screen. What now?
Since I started blogging almost two years ago, I have looked at many more of my experiences as not just something that happened, but something to write about. If you think about it, there is really something to be learned in almost everything that happens to us.
I spent a good part of today reflecting on my journey through this book project. There are many different challenges I faced. I went back and forth on the things that many authors probably do. Things like what chapter to put where and what quotes to insert for emphasis and character. You know, author stuff.
But as I put word count and punctuation to rest for a while, I discovered that there are much bigger lessons that I learned.
It’s not over until it’s over, and it will never be over.
I felt a multitude of emotions as I looked at the screen, which for the first time in weeks, did not have a word document icon appearing in the task bar. I felt excited that it was done. I felt anxious because there is still quite a bit to do before it actually hits a bookshelf. Finish the cover art, editing, interior layout and so on. The words are written, but the project is far from over.
The thought that came next was actually quite inspirational. This book, due to the isbn number it has been assigned, will be forever. Well, as long as they keep track of that stuff I guess. But that will probably be quite a while.
Our decisions and actions don’t only determine our future.
But the thing that struck me is that the content will be able to add value indefinitely. This magnified the fact that lots of things we do will last forever. The decisions we make and the actions we take all frame what comes next. Every single thing, even down to the smallest detail, will set a unique trajectory for our future.
Let me give you an example. Suppose you go to the store and the checkout clerk is clearly having a bad day. You could return the attitude or you could value the person instead of the action and show them some random act of kindness, thank them and go on your way.
Random acts of kindness really do matter!
Now that experience might be done for you, but you have no idea what a difference it might have made for them. It might have changed the direction of their entire day, including what happens when they get home with their spouse and kids.
You don’t have to think too hard to realize my new book, Leadership by Invitation, is about leadership. One of the most popular quotes by my mentor John Maxwell is, “Leadership is Influence, Nothing More and Nothing Less.” (Tweet This / Post on LinkedIn)
In the book, I make a very clear case that everyone is a leader. After all, we all influence others in some way or another, don’t we? My point is this. The things you do matter. They all matter. The thing we overlook all too often is how much they can continue to matter, even after we think we are done. Your influence matters. Make it count!
The Question: How much do you think about the collateral impact of your actions?
The Challenge: Do something today for someone that won’t matter at all to you after your done, but will make a big difference for them.
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]]>This month in The Platform Builders mastermind group we are working our way through “The Power Of Urgency – Playing to Win with Proactive Urgency” by William Keiper. John Maxwell teaches that the greatest gap is the gap between what we know and what we do. I believe the Proactive Urgency that Keiper is talking about can close that gap.
As soon as I write and publish this post, I will start on the final chapter of my new book, Leaderhip by Invitation – How to RSVP and Embrace Your Role as a LEADER, that will be available in April. I wish I would have practiced pro-urgency a little sooner in getting by draft completed.
Procrastination, or lack of pro-urgency as I understand more clearly, has plagued me all my life. Start a project and then start a project and then, you guessed it, start another project. But never getting any of them done. My greatest accomplishments always seem to come when I am under the gun.
I used to think that this was a strength, and I guess it can be at times, but the truth is that pro-urgency eliminates a lot of the “unknowns” that can creep up while attempting anything. Life happens fast, and sometimes what happens comes at us so fast we have to go on the defense just to protect our end of the field.
The recent Super Bowl was an example of a great defense resulting in victory. But that defense was calculated, well thought out and well planned. That defense used pro-urgency to prepare and produce.
The lack of pro-urgency results in a defense that is fighting for it’s life. This defense is reacting instead of responding and it shows. My experience has been that although this type of defense can function, and even function well, they forfeit the opportunity to make adjustments for the unknown and unplanned events that happen. Basically, it limits your ability to stay in control and be flexible.
“It is important that you get clear for yourself that your only access to impacting life is action.” – Werner Erhard (Tweet This / Post to LinkedIn)
In this, the second of three posts, I want to offer up Keiper’s thought provoking take on the idea of Proactive Urgency. Keiper ends each of the 17 chapters with an “Urgency Rule” and I want to highlight a few to set the frame for the rest of the book.
Urgency Rule #9 – There is power, clarity and efficiency in creating and consciously attending to distinctions. You can see what you need to see, when you need to see it.
The noise and clutter that we face everyday overwhelms our senses and numbs our ability to focus. Pro-urgency provides the clarity to cut through all that noise because we know what we want before we need it. That way, when the time comes that we need it, we already know what it is.
Urgency Rule #10 – The future of a moment ago has arrived. You bring it your perfection along with your uniqueness. Make it your mission to leverage your uniqueness starting immediately.
You should be using your uniqueness as an advantage over everyone else. The things that make you different are exactly the things that will let you stand out in the crowd. All you need to be is 1% better or faster than the next guy to have an advantage.
Urgency Rule #11 – Security is mainly illusory. Remember Helen Keller’s words: “Avoiding danger is typically no safer in the long run than outright exposure.” Practice leaving your comfort zone.
If you want to do something you’ve never done before, you need to become someone you’ve never been before. The only place you will find that is outside your comfort zone. And the time to leave is now!
The question: What is it that you know you need to do, but haven’t because it will require you to step outside your comfort zone?
The challenge: STEP!
***********************************************************************
Click here to get a copy of my Kindle Book “The Manifesto Of An Influential Leader”
Join me on the STOP CHALLENGE CHOOSE 12 week health transformation
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This was one of those blog titles that I plugged in a few weeks ago because I thought it would be a good topic for one of my upcoming posts. As I opened up wordpress to start in on the post I had to laugh. This is a picture of my desk at the exact moment I logged in. Appropriate subject? Ya Think!
I have been very transparent about my “comfort zone” when it comes to my work space. Most of my life, I have had a million things going on, finishing very few of them in a timely manner, but feeling achievement by getting lots done. Right? I guess it’s a matter of perspective. Checking 30 items off your list in one day may appear to be a huge success. But if you had three hundred items when you started the day, maybe not so much.
Being Busy And Productive Is Not Enough
I have learned a lot about the difference between being busy and being productive over the past few years and it has helped. In my defense, I have been working diligently on getting the draft done for my new book, Leadership by Invitation, and earlier today, I was pulling quotes from several different sources (as you can tell) but my desk still ends up like this at least once a week. I guess old habits are hard to break.
For the most part, I have turned being busy into being productive, but with that success (if you can call it that) I have come to realize that there is a new level in achievement. That comes form moving from productivity to effectiveness. Now you might think that these two words mean relatively the same thing. Well, not in my world. And here is why.
Success Comes When We Move From Productive To Effective
As I have focused in on living out my purpose – “building what matters – people!” – I have realized that we can be very productive, while at the same time not be effective at all. Huh? In my book, I talk about strategies and vision that produce results. These results are based upon a specific purpose. Do you see where I’m going with this?
I can be very productive, take out the trash, wood on the fire, shovel the snow off the driveway and so on. All of these are productive, but really don’t connect back to my purpose. Based on my experience, many people out there are lost somewhere in this state of confusion. They get busy with a list, over time that list grows (with many items serving other people’s purpose rather than their own) and they lose sight of what they really want to accomplish.
So what can bring clarity to all of this and help you maintain focus on fulfilling your purpose? In a few months you will be able to read the long version when the book comes out, but here is a snapshot for you that might help you get headed in the right direction.
How To RSVP Your Way To Success
Be clear on your VISION. What do you really want? If you are in a leadership position, and you are, what vision are you casting to those around you? Are you even casting a vision?
Once you identify that vision, you need to determine your role in achieving it. That’s right, your purpose. Identifying and understanding your PURPOSE is what brings additional clarity to the big picture and helps you to stay on task. (Tweet This / Post to LinkedIn)
Now that you have a vision and understand your purpose in fulfilling that vision, you need a strategy to achieve that vision and fulfill your purpose. The right STRATEGY is what keeps your work not just productive, but effective.
Now that the strategy is in place and you are casting your vision and fulfilling your purpose, take a look at the RESULTS you are getting. If they are not what you identified within your strategy, make the necessary course corrections and stay at it.
There is a quick look at what’s coming up in much more detail, but I believe that even taking a little time right now to see how your current condition or circumstance fits into this framework, might just make a difference for you.
The Question: Are you being productive or effective?
The Challenge: Take a look at your activities and find something you are doing in which you can move from being not just productive, but effective.
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Here we are … “What I Learned This Week” Friday. Along with the usual stuff this week, I spoke with a handful of corporate executives, attended a few webinars and participated in a few mastermind groups. The theme this week in just about everything I did was CLARITY.
For me personally, clarity was the difference maker in my transition out of the construction industry. I mean it’s hard enough as it is to try and stay clear and focused when you only have one job. Going from one to another, and one that is completely different, produced a lot of fuzz in my vision for a really long time.
I think the most significant thing that was missing early on was guidance. I was trying to do it all myself and well, you can probably guess how that turned out. When I became part of the John Maxwell Team, I not only was connected to John himself and an incredible roster of teammates, but a mentorship team that has been invaluable in my successful transition.
One of my teammates, Kary Oberbrunner, who was coaching and mentoring in his own business took me a step further by introducing me to a framework that included an Overarching Vision, Purpose, Unifying Strategies and a Scorecard for Significance. If you want to know more about that framework, let me know, but the end result was gaining the clarity that I had been lacking that brought my world back into focus.
I said clarity was the theme this week, but it came in different forms and I offer these up to see if your world currently resonates with any of them.
I’m not sure where I am so how can I possibly know where I’m going?
You have to start somewhere, right? Well it only makes sense to start where you’re at. I have found that if you find yourself in this situation it’s because you’re lacking a benchmark, nothing to define your current condition. I love the idea of starting with the end in mind. Do you have a vision for your future?
Look, I will be honest, if you don’t know where you’re going then it doesn’t matter where you are. Knowing where you want to go allows you to establish what the difference is between the destination and where you currently are. A destination provides the clarity to map the course to get there.
I’m too busy to figure out where I want to go. I can barely take care of today.
I know some of you are in this category. I won’t pretend to minimize your current workload or responsibilities, but this I know – if you don’t know where your going, it really doesn’t matter where you end up. If you don’t have a plan, someone else will make one for you and if you didn’t know this already, they don’t have much planned for you.
Clarity doesn’t just happen. It comes from strategically planning out the steps you need to achieve a desired result. And it only starts there. Once you have that plan, you need to work it. Clarity is the glue that holds a plan together and makes it stick! (Tweet This / Post to LinkedIn)
I’m not quite ready for clarity, I need to take care of a few things first.
Really? Doesn’t that, in itself, suggest that clarity is needed? The time for clarity is now. Remember earlier when I said BEGIN with the end in mind. Last time I checked, the beginning is usually the first part. My point is that the next move is your most important because it sets the stage for the rest.
Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you need to take care of a few things before you create and implement a plan. Those “things” should be part of your plan. Start now with the plan you want to execute. Be strategic and specific with every move.
My guess is that you fit into at least one of these three scenarios, maybe more. This week I mentioned the gap between what we know and what we do. Clarity can close that gap.
The Question: Which of these scenarios are you currently in?
The Challenge: Before going back to whatever it was you were doing, take just 15 minutes and come up with one action item you can take immediately to improve your current condition or circumstance.
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Click here to get a copy of my Kindle Book “The Manifesto Of An Influential Leader”
Join me on the STOP CHALLENGE CHOOSE 12 week health transformation
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]]>This month in The Platform Builders mastermind group we are working our way through “The Power Of Urgency – Playing to Win with Proactive Urgency” by William Keiper. John Maxwell teaches that the greatest gap is the gap between what we know and what we do. I believe the Proactive Urgency that Keiper is talking about can close that gap.
I have to admit that, compared to the rest of the world, I have had it pretty easy during my 48+ years on this planet. I have always had my needs met and have had more than my share of wants. I used to take this for granted but after spending a week in Guatemala last June, I realized how blessed I have been.
As much as I appreciate my good fortune, my reflection on my life has helped me to understand that I allowed that blessing to be a crutch at the same time. I never really felt a sense of urgency growing up. I never got into that mental or emotional state of despair that some would consider a place of urgency.
Because of that, I have struggled to apply a sense of urgency to really, much of anything in my life. Don’t get me wrong, I have faced deadlines and situations where the pressure was on, but I always saw a path to the end. I never realized how this was setting me up for failure. Maybe failure is the wrong word here, but I have gone through most of my life assuming that things will simply work out and they usually did.
“We are more ready to try the untried when what we do is inconsequential.” – Eric Hoffer (Tweet This / Post to LinkedIn)
The real impact in this is that complacency and mediocrity, the status quo, became an acceptable outcome for me. If you know me, you know that I have always had a strong work ethic and have accomplished quite a bit in my lifetime. That being said, the idea of “Proactive Urgency” that Keiper describes in great detail was never part of my game plan and I realize now how much more I could have accomplished. Never too late to learn, right!
In this, the first of three posts, I want to offer up Keiper’s thought provoking take on the idea of Proactive Urgency. Keiper ends each of the 17 chapters with an “Urgency Rule” and I want to highlight a few to set the frame for the rest of the book.
Urgency Rule #1 – Proactive urgency is purposeful, insistent, committed action pursued with a passionate edge. It is an activist choice to access your deepest personal power for the creation of almost immediate transformation.
What would be on your list of items that you are purposeful in, insistent upon and committed to? All I can say is I need a bigger list!
Urgency Rule #4 – The world has changed. Our long-trusted external support systems are weakening. Self-reliance in thought and action is critical for reaching your most important objectives.
Based on current statistics, the things that we could once depend on – work, family, education and religion are becoming diluted in today’s cyber-world. Unfortunately, our ability to find strength in those items is becoming more difficult. These were once the foundation of our existence and now they have become, for many, simply things that fit in when we have time.
Urgency Rule #6 – Choosing to act with on-demand urgency yields continuous, incremental advantages. Think of pro-urgency as your edge in a competition – your life where winning by fractions always matters.
It’s true, the difference between winning and losing or success and failure in often found in the minor details. The smallest of details do matter. Just ask an Olympic swimmer or downhill racer. A sense of urgency might just give you the advantage that makes the difference.
The question: Who do you know that displays this “Proactive Urgency” in their life that has resulted in success?
The challenge: Go talk to them and find out how they use it and how you can apply the same principles in your life.
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Click here to get a copy of my Kindle Book “The Manifesto Of An Influential Leader”
Join me on the STOP CHALLENGE CHOOSE 12 week health transformation
Don’t miss a single post from Building What Matters by subscribing at the top left of this page.
Help support us by clicking here and Liking our facebook page
Barry Smith 2/5/14 photo courtesy of amazon © Building What Matters 2014
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