GarthBox

The more connections between people that you can make, the more fulfilled you feel, the more sticky the product, and the more remarkable the endeavor you’re focused on becomes.

An interesting exercise: place the # of connections you think the idea you have, a competitor product has, or your favorite app creates on a daily basis.

You’ll notice three things:

1. It’s easier to make more connections (i.e. opportunities for people to connect) than you think – especially when you make it a daily focus
2. You’ll see a strong correlation between reaching success and the # of connections you create – and sooner than you think
3. More unique opportunities will take place – meaningful ones outside your scope

Stay Positive & Go Connect

Let’s set the record straight together that impulses don’t inherently need to be a bad thing.

If your impulse is to hold the door open for the person exiting it behind you, that’s great.

And that impulse buy? Well, I’ll admit I bought fancy swedish fish candy while waiting for the deli to make the sandwich I ordered. I’m enjoying a few pieces of that right now as I type.

Impulses foster creativity and innovation because they can break the mold of conventional thinking.

The experience created from the impulse creates a learning opportunity that drives personal growth.

Perhaps the next time you notice an impulse, maybe it’s not as bad of a thing as you’re reacting as if it is.

Stay Positive & Highly Recommend

Businesses can get away with closing randomly.

Software companies can get away with their products breaking and locking customers out of their databases.

Apple Orchards can get away with picking the best for themselves and leaving the rest for visiting families.

There’s no shortage of what one can get away with.

What matters is where you draw the line for yourself.

The average bar is raised when we raise it for ourselves.

Stay Positive & The Pen Is In Your Hand (Always Has Been)

Let’s not confuse your role as an ideator. Not exclusively, anyway.

You don’t get paid to have ideas.

You get paid to have opinions.

Opinions are ideas, but they’re based on data and they have an action basis and expected result.

It’s also easy to hide behind an idea… “it’s just an idea” is safe.

There’s no hiding behind “that’s my opinion right now.”

Stay Positive & Are You Earning Your Pay?

To learn a new language, the starting point is simply that: learn it. Hear it, see it, and, ya know, it’s the 21st century, so type it.

That’s not really enough though for it to stick, however. (Begs the question is if we can call it learning if it’s in one ear and out the other…)

For you to really learn a new language, you have to think in it, not just think of it. If you think about needing to make a left turn at the light – are you doing it in English or in Deutsch?

And you can get stickier, still. Are you engaging others in in the language?

You can guess this doesn’t just go for learning a new language. The system applies to any new idea, methodology, technology, process….

Stay Positive & The Only Question Remains Is How Bad Do You Want To Learn It?

To be a true differentiator, you have to have three variables: it’s unique (as in, most others don’t do it), it’s impactful (you experience results from it), and it’s provable (someone points out the positive impact of it).

Here are a few ideas how to be a differentiator.

For every item that’s of importance to you, set reminders to take action on it, even if that action is merely to keep it top of mind.

Next time someone says something you disagree with, repeat back what they said and explain a benefit of it before offering your alternative suggestion.

If you’re a certification-junkie, have more that relate to your emotional intelligence than your technical expertise.

Of course, there are plenty more you can do. Perhaps rather than doing this it’s worth reflecting at how many differentiators you have today?

Stay Positive & Aim For 3-5 To Put The Difference In Differentiation

It’s not new to think about measuring life by the moments that take our breath away.

It’s new to many to think about seeking those moments out. Proactively. Intentionally.

You know, rather than waiting for life to happen.

The only difference between a boring cup of coffee and an exquisite cup of coffee is often the existence or lack-thereof of focus on it.

Little things having a big impact is all a matter of perspective and intention.

How you choose to look at things matters. Even if it’s just a cup of coffee.

Stay Positive & Time For A Double Take, Huh?