Why Try To Get Out Of Your Box, When You Can Use What's In It?
If it brings you joy, no one can argue that.
Same if it brings you anger.
“You made me angry” can be argued against. “I feel angry” can’t.
It warrants reminding that while your emotions are your own, so are theirs.
In the end, here’s what matters most: are you feeling what you want to feel?
If not, then, ya know, maybe start.
Stay Positive & You’re In Control
Leaders do a lot. No doubt about that.
One of the elements of leadership they never lose traction of (at least the best leaders don’t) is that their team maintains the 101.
They do the required readings.
They know the product or service.
They can tell the backstory.
They can tell a story.
Need a real life example? A bartender that doesn’t know what “up” or “on the rocks” is on a cocktail menu that only has those two options. Sure it’s bad on the bartender, but they’re a reflection of the leadership.
That’s what we are and that’s what our teams are to us.
Stay Positive & Mindful Of The 101
I’ve always despised RACI charts. Who is responsible? We are. RACI is for management and cogs and efficiency – not leadership. It’s a mechanism to get the bare minimum with the bare minimum. It’s a legacy made from the industrial revolution. It works (some of the time), but is it necessary?
When I have people asking me who is responsible for an effort, my answer is always the same: we are.
We may be responsible for managing it or for adding value or for the execution… but 100% without a doubt we are responsible every time. If it involves us, no matter in what way, we’re responsible.
Any answer that is otherwise along the lines of “they are” is a recipe for disaster. It’s the opposite of a network or a team. Stating responsibility is elsewhere is actually the invitation to blame someone else. The work is ultimately lesser because of this attitude.
Stay Positive & Own It, Always
Brushing once a day for less than a minute still puts us on the path toward dental hygiene challenges.
Something so rudimentary and simple requires intention and consistency to work out in our favor.
It makes you wonder about the more meaningful work we do. We clearly can’t expect remarkable results from using a new sales methodology if we test it out once a week. We can’t expect to reap the benefits of mindfulness when we only practice when it’s convenient.
It’s not that we have to do everything with intention and consistency; but we do have to with what we want to grow and ensure the future success of.
Stay Positive & Time For A Habit Check
The first level of a sticky product or idea is that someone comes to it multiple times. It’s the purchase of your same body wash again and again or the library you visit each month rather than going to any other one.
That’s powerful, but not nearly as powerful as the second level of stickiness.
The second level of a sticky product or idea is that someone wants to bring others into the fold. It’s the Dive Bar that you go to ounce and go again because you have to show others. It’s the purchase of a dozen more of your favorite hand-crafted soaps that you’ll give to your friends.
Both levels hold value but it begs a question around where we spend our time: maintaining level one? or pursuing how to achieve level two?
Stay Positive & See You Again Tomorrow?
It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that if we follow spec, check the boxes, do as we’re told, we’ll impress someone.
Maybe it’s our boss or our significant other or maybe our self.
But when does that truly pan out? Can you think of an example? Or if you can, did it last more than 5 minutes? or after the next task was assigned?
Didn’t think so.
People are impressed with the unusual, the unexpected, and the weird.
The things we didn’t think we could do and more often times the things we knew we could but didn’t want to.
It’s the stuff at the edge. The spot that’s uncomfortable. The spot where you’re not sure it’s going to work.
Stay Positive & Go Ahead, Impress Them… Actually Impress Them
Bigger isn’t always better.
Three is still a party.
Imagine the results of a retailer holding 20 unique events in which a few people showed for each. Niche. Personalized.
Imagine the intimacy and connection a brewery can make when they launch a tasting panel before sending beers to the general public.
Small groups allow for purposeful interaction, tailored experiences, and are more conducive to the sharing of personal experiences.
By all means, continue having the big events, mass advertisements, large launches, but make room for the meaningful parties, too.
There’s a time for 300 and there’s a time for 3.
Stay Positive & When’s Your Next Party?
