GarthBox

When you remove the emotion and nuance out of it, getting to the next level is pretty simple.

Connect more. Understand more. Speak more. Risk more. Help more.

Of course, doing more of that on the same level you’re at isn’t the answer.

You’ve gotta do all of that on the next level.

What I’ve found is that some people want to pick the brains of those a level above to try to understand what they should do; when in reality what that does is delay.

If you are trying to figure out if you actually want the next level, it’s a fair tactic.

But if you know you want it, researching how isn’t necessary.

Connect more. Understand more. Speak more. Risk more. Help more.

And do all of that a level above. (Example: if you’re a product manager and want to be a director of product, you need to do all of those things for all products, not just the one you own.)

Stay Positive & The Path Is As Simple As You Want To Make It

I know that there are some leadership qualities I suck at. And I’m okay with it.

Mainly because I know that if I try to be perfect and nail every leadership quality, I’ll fail a bit at them all.

All to say, perfection is the enemy of success.

So it goes with parenting. Or relationships. Or driving skills. Or sales goals.

The faster we can be okay with “the cons” of the way we do something or goal we set, the more smoothly we can excel at “the pros.”

There are two facts to life. One is the obvious “the only guarantee about a plan is that it won’t go according to plan.” The second is that “if it’s not what thing, it’s another.”

Fortunately, we have the ability to choose what that thing is…and then be okay with it.

Stay Positive & Acceptance Is A Form Of Forward Movement

There’s really nothing that is set it and forget it.

Not if we want it to make an actual difference ongoingly.

Which restaurant would you prefer to visit: the one that reprints a menu when something changes or one that waits a week and updates multiple items at once?

I appreciated the staff this morning who were out squeegeeing the tables outside because it rained this morning.

Sales force won’t adopt a platform no matter how strong you come out of the gate with it without all the methods of upkeep.

Consider the fact that when we sign up to do something, we’re not just signing up to do it, but to also maintain it.

Stay Positive & Maintenance May Just Be Your Differentiator

Okay, maybe checking in every two seconds would be annoying.

But in most scenarios, we’re not checking in enough – even when we think we are.

Go ahead and check in one extra time and see what happens.

Chances are likely your direct report will have a question you can answer that helps that move forward faster than waiting for your regular check in.

I’d be your partner would appreciate it more if you checked in with them on the relationship before some milestone or decision together happens.

And if you’re a waiter or waitress – or anyone providing a service to someone else, this is extra relevant.

Stay Positive & More Is Better Than Less

If you’re like me, you’ve entered moments of reflection where you question how you can care so much and others so little.

Or that you shouldn’t care as much as you do.

Or someone else says that you care too much.

In every instance, there’s layers of comparison (which doesn’t do anyone any good) and narratives (that are completely up to us). Funny thing is, there’s no scale for caring. It’s not measurable; it’s subjective and defined by our own stories.

When we feel bad about caring too much (or if someone doesn’t care as much as we think they should) – that’s on us.

You know how it’s just a generally good way to live to give others the benefit of the doubt? The same can be said about you caring too much. Far better to care too much (by your own subjective evaluation) than care too little.

Hell, I’ve even found for myself that when I think I’m caring too much, there’s still more caring I can do.

Stay Positive & Outa Your Head

The fact that you shouldn’t have to is never a good excuse to not.

In fact, it’s often the things that we shouldn’t have to that actually create our legacy, get us our promotion, connect us with others, create remarkability, and so on.

Stay Positive & No You Shouldn’t Have To, But Do It Anyway

That’s what so few will tell you. And if they tell you, they try to buffer it or detail a scenario that tension worked wonderfully; as if it’s easy.

The one way I’ve seen it function best to create tension where it should be and not where it shouldn’t is by being clear on expectations at the beginning.

It’s easier to have a tense discussion with a sales rep if you remind them of the shared goal you have at the beginning of the conversation.

It’s easier to get stakeholder buy in on a piece of content that challenges the target’s status quo if you remind the stakeholders of the brief you all agreed on (positioning, pain points, etc.,).

Note that I’m not saying it’s easy. Tension never is. (And if someone says it is easy, I question the impact it had.)

Stay Positive & But It Is Easier