Why Try To Get Out Of Your Box, When You Can Use What's In It?
The hard part isn’t coming up with great ideas that no one has thought of before. The hard part is executing them once you’ve thought about them.
For some, the hard part is even executing on small, not-that-remarkable, old ideas.
They all need your support, not your criticism.
Stay Positive & A Pat On The Back Can Go A Long Way
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If you asked me to explain what a confirmation bias is, here’s the example I would share.
A realtor is showing you the house, asks what you like, what you don’t like, and says there’s never been a better time to buy a home.
She’s not lying.
For her, there really has never been a better time for someone to buy a home…from her.
Consider the stress, pressure and insecurity she would have to deal with if she worked as a realtor during the worst time to buy a home. Not glamorous, and certainly not reassuring.
Better that she confirm she made the right career choice by reminding herself there’s never been a better time for her to work as a realtor.
But for you. The homebuyer, now may not be the best time ever to buy a home.
When it comes to sellers and buyers, the seller is there to analyze from the buyer’s perspective whether it is or if there will be a better time to buy a home. It’s the same for marketers, artists, friends, bosses and so on.
When you hear “there’s never been a better time,” think wisely whether they are referring to themselves or to you.
There’s a difference between someone who is looking out for you and who is looking out for themselves.
Better to figure out which it is up front.
Stay Positive & There’s Never Been A Better Time To Stop And Think (They’ll wait. Trust me.)
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You can spend time on the prep. Researching. Getting your ducks in line. Learning the best way of creating what it is you want to share with the world. It doesn’t need to be big either. When I worked in painting I would spend a lot of time prepping the walls before paint touched them. I cared about getting it right.
Then it comes to the actual thing. The seasonal dish, the painted walls, the newest piece of tech has to be just right. It has to work. Meet expectations. Tell a strong story.
But there’s a very important space after you’ve prepped and created: delivery.
There’s a reason waiters place your plate of food in front of you from your right side and not your left. They could catapult the dish to you, but that’s not quite right either.
There’s a reason the paint on the ceiling is on in long strokes and in a certain direction (it has to do with how natural light enters the room). It could be painted with a brush in every different direction, but it wouldn’t be right.
To get it right, we have to focus on spec, on the end product, and always remember to put energy into how you deliver. It’s the triforce of excellence.
Stay Positive & Check, Check, Check To Get It Right
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It’s funny when people ask me about company culture.
I often respond, “you’re looking at it.”
It’s easy to forget that people make up the company culture. That it’s more than just words on a wall or in a handbook.
It’s more than design and parties and pets being welcomed on the premises.
It’s more than bonuses, BBQs and being one another’s bartender.
Culture is merely the outcome of practicing what you preach.
When you are all of a similar mind, when you share the same world views, when you all set the bar to the same level and proceed to surpass it, to act on it – that’s culture.
Honesty, integrity, passion, and curiosity isn’t a culture.
The people who put those items into action is the culture.
Next time you’re wondering about the culture of an organization. Talk to a few people. Spend some time with them. That’s all it takes to know what they’re culture is and if you’ll make it stronger.
Stay Positive & Culture Works When You Do
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Some people, when they read a book from Seth Godin, feel inadequate. They feel like they’re not doing enough. They feel lazy.
Might this be the case for you without Godin?
Do you find yourself talking to a friend, hearing all that they’re up to and then feeling guilty about spending your weekend watching Netflix and not chasing your dreams?
If so. Watch Bob Newhart and listen closely.
Inadequacy is most felt when you compare two things that ought not be compared.
Here’s the behind-the-scenes fact of those you’re feeling lazy compared to: they sacrifice a lot.
They sacrifice a lot to do what they’re doing.
They may be killing it at work, but they don’t have as much family time as you.
They may be off traveling the world, but they’re making acquaintances, not life long friends that will stand next to you at the altar.
It’s not fair to you or the person you’re comparing yourself to when you feel not good enough or lackadaisical. They may be looking at you, thinking about how you’ve got something great in your life that they’re missing out on.
Comparing yourself to others isn’t worth the ego boost when they’re doing less than you and it’s not worth feeling inadequate when they’re doing more than you. You’re not the same. It’s not apples to apples.
Better to compare where you are at now to where you want to be later, not where others are or will be.
Stay Positive & “Stop It!”
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Interestingly what people pay you for is often wildly different from why they pay you for it.
Many businesses still believe the what matters.
They take out ads featuring shots of the what in use. They talk about the functions and features. They share every detail about the product so you’re completely informed (and hopefully persuaded to pay them for it).
Little of it resonates unless a consumer is in need of one particular screw for her DIY bench.
Yet, even then, is it a screw she wants or the relief in knowing she’s almost finished?
When in doubt, confirm that the why trumps the what.
Talk less about the richness of your custard and more about the deserved feeling of treating oneself.
Take out fewer ads that showcase the design of a hammer and creatively show how a father feels when his kid wants to give it a swing or his wife appreciates his handyman-ness.
It’s becoming ever more rare to get paid for the what. Why wait around until it’s extinct?
Stay Positive & The Why Is The Only Reason The What Matters (HT to Dave)
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There is a handful of reasons why we shouldn’t learn something new, try something different, and master tasks we never thought of mastering before.
At the forefront of all those reasons is that we fear The Suck. Those 15 minutes of being really really bad at whatever we’re trying for the first time. That suck can produce emotions like frustration, stress, and embarrassment regardless if anyone else is around.
Thing is, to process copious amounts of information, to be a maven, to be able to at least do it all (no one said you have to be incredible at it) you have to be open to The Suck.
I’ve learned that when you acknowledge The Suck and call it out and work through it, there’s no end to your ability to process all you need to be good at something you’ve never been good at.
It doesn’t take much. Just a little resilience and attitude to deal with The Suck because you care enough about your abilities once you’re past it.
Stay Positive & Give Yourself Permission To Suck
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