GarthBox

I agree with Daniel Pink that regret can be a good thing.

(If you’re interested in the topic at large, get your hands on Dan’s book.)

The issue is that it can be. There’s no default setting. It requires the hardest action of us to get positive value out of it; it requires us to decide to.

We can use regret of inaction to be what drives us to take action in the future.

We can use regret of action to apologize and make things right now.

The hardship arises from the fact that we can use either of those regrets (of action or inaction) to degrade our self-worth instead of using it to change our behavior (now and/or later).

There’s no science that indicates that’s the default setting. Thus, it’s an active choice we can make to learn and grow or to have it take us on a downward spiral.

Stay Positive & Sort Of Obvious Which To Choose Then, Right?

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In the last week I’ve been surrounded by some exceptional artists.

A brewer. A judge. A fiddler. To name a few.

One particular thread stands out from my conversations with them about how talented they are and impressed I was with their skill and how they handled particular situations. That thread is that each shared stories of how they floundered at first before they got as good as they are now.

And not just a story. Stories. Plural.

They floundered first and then again and again and again – in different ways, trying different things and learning in different ways to get as skilled as they are now.

First, just imagine how skilled they’ll be if they keep pushing the boundaries and floundering more.

Second, just imagine how relieving it is to know that’s part of the process – no need to let your mistakes degrade your self-worth.

Stay Positive & Keep Growing

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We often don’t think of love as a skill. It should come naturally, right?

I’d argue it doesn’t. Even in the moments it feels natural, there were a series of thoughts and actions and observations we had that made us love something.

That said then, it’s not only the responsibility of a leader to train team members on the skills that help them perform the tasks and responsibilities of their respective positions, but to also train them to love the brand and it’s offerings.

When that love shines, there’s no better marketing.

Stay Positive & Passion Connects

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There’s a place for consistent, uniform goods.

There’s a place for personalized, unique goods, too.

Either direction, there’s also the opportunity to humanize the goods; to craft or display them in a way that makes someone feel seen.

Stay Positive & More Humanity, Please

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The quickest way to climb a corporate ladder or build a tribal following or to create change in your neighborhood is to set others up for success.

What’s challenging (and also overlooked) is just how exhaustive the list of ways you can set others up for success is.

We can check over the work. We can draft an email for them to tweak. We can put a little more elbow grease into our tasks. Those are obvious action items.

But, setting a guest up for success that’s come in for a coffee can go beyond anything to do with the coffee. It could be smiling at them when you get their order and complimenting them on their handbag – energizing their soul for the day.

You can set potential customers up for success by making sure the side walk in front of your store is swept and clean, giving folks an unconscious signal of care.

The deeper you dig into ways you can set others up for success, the quicker you can grow (your self, your brand, your business).

Stay Positive & Lend More Than A Hand

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Our default setting is to use our choices in business to help set the tone of the culture.

We choose to be open 24 hours. We choose to offer paternity leave. We choose to allow dogs inside.

And yet nothing is more culturally establishing than to be clear about the things we choose not to do, be or offer.

The marketing firm chooses NOT to handle social media publishing for its clients. The organization WON’T make an offer on a position until they have viewed applications from people of color. The restaurant chooses to NOT be open after 5 p.m. so staff can be with their family each evening.

The spotlights shine on the positive, but the tension that resonates with people are the things you choose not to do.

Stay Positive & Make Sure To Share What You’re Not, Too

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There’s really no reason to do any work that we’re not proud of.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that we simply don’t need to do the work.

The accepted challenge is to find an element of the work that makes us feel fulfilled.

I used to do data entry for a grant program and the task wasn’t pride-filling. However, hearing from families that got the grant money sure was.

Here’s the thing: pride can be found in any work, but it requires you to look for it. It might even require you to ask to be involved in another element of your work. It might even require you to be more curious and empathetic. All great actions.

Stay Positive & Proud

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