Why Try To Get Out Of Your Box, When You Can Use What's In It?
People know what you did to. It’s part of your story. It’s tangible; they can see what you did.
But they often forget what you didn’t do – and knowing what you didn’t do makes your story stronger.
It’s a list you have to intentionally share.
Who are you not targeting? Why didn’t you do it X way instead? What shortcut was available to you that you skipped in lieu of being in it for the long haul?
What you are is as important to share is what you’re not.
Stay Positive & Keep Sharing
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There’s a quick way to gauge whether you’re personally making an impact somewhere, and it’s to answer one question: Would you be missed if you were gone?
It’s different than “could they still do what needs to be done without you?” because that answer should be yes. Rather, missing you if you were gone hints at the value you’re adding and the legacy you’re creating.
But what about gauging the impact of the work itself? Well that’s a similar question: Is it remarkable?
Remarkable as in the the guarantee that people will talk about it once you ship it? Remarkable as in is it designed to be shared? Remarkable as in is it worth remarking about?
If you wouldn’t be missed if you were gone, then it’s time to step it up.
If the work won’t be talked about once it’s out in the world, then it’s time to step it up.
Stay Positive & Step By Step, Really
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We often hold off on making a change we should until others notice… and speak up.
The grocer doesn’t remove the old blueberries until a guest speaks up about how old they look or how the one they picked up has mold on it.
The teacher doesn’t work on her health until one of her kindergarten students does what a kindergarten student does – state, out loud, what they see.
The author doesn’t do the hard work of paying a real proofer until someone calls them out for some formatting and spelling errors.
The problem is that there are plenty that notice and not enough that will speak up to us, for us.
Rather, we have to speak up for ourselves.
Not only that, but it’s better we speak up for ourselves sooner than it would take others to notice.
To act before we really need to act.
Stay Positive & Toss The Blueberries Before Anyone Notices
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If you’re ever unsure where to start, begin with the truth.
The truth of how the people you are trying to reach see the world.
The language they use. The perspective they carry. The opinions they hold tightly.
It’s easy to get lost in the story you want to tell.
It’s difficult to land in the story they want to hear.
But worth it. And it starts with the truth.
Stay Positive & Listen And Learn
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Will it have been a selfless act?
Will it be something you feel proud of?
Will it be customized to the right audience?
Will it be for some instead of everyone?
Fun thing is that you don’t need to wait until an action you take is in the past to look back at it.
It’s a great way to evaluate whether or not to do something; whether it’s legacy-worthy or not.
Stay Positive & Use Your Brain Power
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If the path toward promotions is setting others up for success then we’ve gotta get good at defining, coordinating and excelling at jumping off.
Have you taken the project 90% of the way there?
Is the strategy and the bones and the foundation in place?
Who needs to be part of the hand off?
You haven’t become too attached have you?
Someone else is yelling “TIMBER,” right?
Stay Positive & Build, Hand Off, Build Again
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Good things happen when you arrive early, ship early, reach out early.
Good things also happen when you read out loud, talk out loud, share out loud.
Combine the two and great things happen.
Stay Positive & We’re All Ears
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