IN THE BOX PODCAST

Final Episode–Episode 57: Building Hype, Unanswerable Questions, Evolution And More (Podcast)

This is the last episode of In The Box Podcast. On this episode we talk about building hype around a business or product, how life is like basketball, a question I’ve never been able to answer, embracing evolution and how to maintain your composure after receiving harsh feedback. Enjoy and farewell.

Final Episode–Episode 57: Building Hype, Unanswerable Questions, Evolution And More

New Business – What are some ways to build hype around a new business or product?

Life is like – Life is like ___________

Food – Food for thought, what is a question you have never been able to answer?

Evolve – Why are people afraid to embrace their own evolution as a person? And one top to overcome that fear?

Bonus – In a moment of hurtful criticism of an idea, what is one way to keep your composure?

 

Stay Positive & You Can Find Past Episodes Here

In The Box Podcast

Episode 32: Talking To Other Generations, Getting Out Of Ruts, Credentials And More (Podcast)

On this episode of In The Box Podcast, we discussed the importance of credentials for work, how to communicate to people from other generations, whether you should take feedback about your work personally, one way to get out of a rut and whether all change can be considered progress.

Episode 32: Talking To Other Generations, Getting Out Of Ruts, Credentials And More

Credentials – How are important are credentials when entering an industry?

Generation – Best technique to communicate with other generations?

Not taking things personally – Should you take criticism about your work personally?

Ruts – What is one thing you do to get out of a rut you’re in?

Bonus – Is all change progress?

 

Stay Positive & Check Out This (And Other) Episodes Here

Seeking Clarity

I hear a lot of good ideas. (Yes, nearly everyone I meet I ask what they would work on if they had all the time and resources to make it happen.)

I see a lot of people quickly give up on their good ideas because when they communicated them, they didn’t communicate them clearly and got discouraged.

Certainly if you can’t communicate your idea, it’s not a good one, right?

You see where I’m going here.

We need to surround ourselves with people who don’t criticize our ideas, but point out the spaces which aren’t clear.

When people ask about your idea, (usually) they’re not trying to break you; they’re sharing their confusion with you.

When I ask a question to flush out someone’s idea and I know they can’t respond immediately, I say, “you don’t need to respond right now. Think about it differently and get back to me later.” Sadly, few understand clarity is something figured out over time.

For now, know you have permission to go back to the drawing board, you have permission to suck, you have permission to think about it a bit more.

For great (not just good!) ideas follow these steps:

1) share your ideas

2) listen to people’s confusion so you know what you need to clarify

3) break. think about things differently

4) share your idea again

5) repeat steps 2-5

 

Stay Positive & Please Don’t Get Held Up On Step 1

Keeping Sane

  • Not everyone needs to approve of your work.
  • The “good” in a good idea comes from having passion, not from the actual idea.
  • You’re told to ask good questions, “can you help me?” is the best one.
  • Always have something fun planned two weeks in advance.
  • You’re enough.

It’s easy to go insane when your work load gets heavy. It’s hard to implement the habits above. You know how I feel about easy vs. hard.

 

Stay Positive & It’s Not Easy, But It’s Worth It

Those You Can’t Convince

The naysayers, the critics, parents, your boss – all the people you can’t please, can’t convince, can’t alter their worldview, can be ignored.

The naysayers can be shunned. The critics given the cold shoulder. The comments from parents, bosses, and those you thought were friends can be tossed in a void.

There are a lot of non-believers out there.

You’re not required to respond to them, acknowledge them, or, worse yet, believe them.

 

Stay Positive & Don’t Prove Others Wrong, Merely Prove Yourself Right

Where’s Your Attention At?

It’s easy to notice the not-so-good. Easy to talk bout bad advertisements. Easy to rant about poor customer service. (Just did yesterday, oops.)

The number of blogs and conversations dedicated to the bad and the ugly are infinite.

It’s sad, really, that there’s so much bad stuff out there to comment on. Sadder yet there are those out there willing to focus so much attention on it.

You have to wonder, does it do good to focus so intensely on the negative?

The typical response is that we learn more from failure than we do success. However, that only holds true when it comes to our own actions, not others’. When it comes to others’, we learn more from their successes than their failures. (That’s why we attend seminars, to learn what works. Sure we hear a failure story or two, but it’s a lead to them saying what works. They don’t focus on the negative and we benefit greatly from that.)

Better to learn from others what success looks like than what it doesn’t. Reason being is we can dedicate our lives to seeing what doesn’t work and still not find the answer for what works.

It’s best to celebrate the success of others and attempt our own.

 

Stay Positive & Time Spent On Negative Is Time Not Spent On The Positive

What The Successful Believe In

Keep On Keeping On

It’s only Tuesday and I’ve been reminded

1) relationships are everything. They build and attract new business. They provide insight you would have not received (or you would have learned the hard way) had you not made the connection. You will know if you’re on the right track in work and life based on the praise from those you’ve connected with. Nothing is more energizing than an hour spent turning a stranger into a friend or an hour spent with someone better than you.

2) you must have a definition of what’s good enough. Too often we work toward perfection and either never ship the product or we ship it too late. When it comes to logos at Aly Asylum, they have to pass the tattoo test. “Would you tattoo this logo on your arm?” If the answer is yes, then it’s good enough. Ship it.

3) ignore the naysayers. It’s on you to establish a mental and emotional filter, to allow and accept personal and helpful feedback while shutting out the negative, the criticism, the feedback many will call “constructive.” It helps to surround yourself with people who have a sort of forwardness to their personality. They act as a reflection of how something is, not how something should be or isn’t.

Now let’s get on with the week, develop some relationships, ship something daily, and shun the trolls.

 

Stay Positive & Keep On Keeping On

Photo credit