GarthBox

There’s a Zen Buddhism word of Shoshin, which means “beginner’s mind.” It refers to being open and eager to absorb new information and implies that we drop any expectation or preconceived ideas about something. It involves looking at something with fresh eyes. And it’s a fantastic way to approach a daily meditation.

But what about beginner’s heart? The emotional baggage we carry with us from yesterday or earlier today? What about the anger we might have for whatever reason? It’s curious to think what would happen if we went through the day with a beginner’s heart, too? Open and eager to show empathy, listen and care. Implying that we drop any preconceived emotions about something or someone. A clean emotional slate.

Stay Positive & Do You Have The Heart For It?

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Leadership is partially sharing tactics and strategies. It’s partially training others to build their skills. It’s pointing them in the right direction and helping them out when stumble. All of that is leadership.

But what leaders really do, the core of it all, is that leaders get others to care. Care more. Care enough to be vulnerable, to overcome risks and chaos, to, in turn, lead others.

Stay Positive & Ever Notice The Best Leaders Are Surrounded By Those Who Care The Most?

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That’s what all progress is: risky and chaotic.

If it’s neither of those or in the rare cases only one of them, it’s not progress, not forward movement, not using our imagination to its fullest extent.

If it doesn’t feel risky or chaotic then you’re bound to be surpassed by competition.

But when we embrace what feels risky and chaotic; if we enlist ourselves to make the leap despite the feeling of fear and assign ourselves to do our best to organize (and dance with!) the chaos, only then can we make change, an impact that matters, and meaningful progress.

Anything short of risky and chaotic is hiding.

Stay Positive & Ready To Get At It?

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Cynicism and skepticism is done at the expense of a group.

So is selfishness and fear.

Far more productive to focus on what is an investment in the group.

Positivity, passion, selflessness, fun.

Note: Even when you don’t think your thoughts and emotions impact the group, they do.

Stay Positive & In It Together

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When you care deeply about your employees or team members, they absorb that and in turn care deeply about your customers and then your customers care for your business. It’s a magical cycle.

But care can come in a lot of forms. It can be pay and events and gifts.

Worth remembering, it can also be about process improvements; making the work smoother or simpler or even just more fun.

Stay Positive & More Fun

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Permission is a necessity for a great marketer, not an option.

Before a mass email, a purchased list, a flyer distribution, consider what can be done to earn the permission first.

What can you give away to get the permission? What can you stand for? Who can you connect with first?

Marketing isn’t free. Awareness isn’t free. Both are earned.

Stay Positive & Seek Permission First

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The loyal are the ones that don’t look elsewhere.

They’re not clicking on job postings. They’re not looking up reviews of other restaurants nearby.

They might keep with you, but the loyal that looks elsewhere isn’t the kind of loyal you want.

You want to be remarkable enough that people don’t click, don’t look.

Which means two things are on you to maintain that kind of loyalty.

The first is a continuous sense of familiarity. Humans are creatures of habit and what you’re doing right that got them hooked needs to be maintained regardless of how tired you might be of it.

The second is a continuous introduction of new. Humans will always be fascinated by shiny objects because they help tell a story. They might not always buy it or try the new thing you’re offering, but they notice and admire it and respect it.

That’s the magic combo of loyalty: old and new.

Stay Positive & Easy To Write, Hard To Execute

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