Exploitation And Exploration

Unique Meal

Growing up, we’re given the freedom to explore, to be curious, to discover new things.

In the right school, it could be a lot of the same–learning, growing, trying on different hats.

But then we get into work and our MO becomes exploitation–to use our skills and to put action in what we’ve learned … often on mundane repeat.

The trouble is that even the greatest exploiters in the world are still standing still. They’re doing the same thing and getting the same results.

If you want to move in position or get that raise or achieve autonomy in the work place, then you need to blend exploration back into your efforts.

Stay Positive & Curiosity Helps

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In Every Direction

Flower Pots On A Wall

If a legacy or a successful business or feeling fulfilled at the end of the day has everything to do with people, it’s worth looking for them in every direction.

Striving to meet up with those ahead of us.

Lowering a helping hand to those below.

Thanking those who we have to look up to.

Sending words of encouragement to those right behind us.

And, maybe most important, locking arms and appreciating those right beside us.

There are people in every direction. Are you looking?

Stay Positive & High Five, Wherever You Are

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Your Side Of The Two-Way

Harley Davidson Logo

Like any good marketer, you’re thinking about the target audience.

You’ve considered their habits, how much they’ll pay for your product or service and evaluated how loyal they will be to you.

With doors open, you expect them to enter – and they will!

You may also expect them to return based on everything you know about them. And this is where many trip a wire in business.

Loyalty is expected without the need to do any more than what we set out to provide, but that’s not how business grows.

When we make a bigger promise and take a risk because we’re loyal to our customers, they’ll often reciprocate (by returning).

As such, it’s as important that we recognize and reciprocate to those who do what may be inconvenient to them simply to do business with us.

Loyalty is a two-way street. It may start with our target, but ultimately it’s on us to promise big, deliver consistently and to care with all we’ve got again and again.

Stay Positive & Drip By Drip We Both Move Forward

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The Best Work

Person In Front of Art

Making the worst work is pretty easy.

First and foremost, you succeed when you don’t make it at all.

But, the best work, that can be easy, too.

You succeed when you keep your promises.

That’s all people are looking for you to do.

Make a promise. Keep it. Then make another. Keep it.

Stay Positive & Repeat

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It’s Not Forever

Paint Worn Off

The idea you finally launched, it’s not ever lasting.

Nor is the fear of needing to come up with another one.

That fella who has been visiting your venue since day one … there’s bound to be a day he stops entering your door.

The woman who has been teaching kindergarten for 30 years might decide it’s time to move onto something else.

Everything has an expiration date.

It can be hard to buy that when it comes to something that’s working in our favor, but it’s vital we believe it when it comes to pain or frustration or struggle.

It’s only temporary.

Stay Positive & Hang In There

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You’re Going To Feel Dumb

Technical Pile of Wires

Thankfully, when it comes to dumbness, it’s a temporary condition.

But it is a condition everyone must suffer as they pursue something bigger than themselves.

If the change you seek to make didn’t require smarts, it would have already been done and we wouldn’t need you.

It hasn’t, though. And we do need you.

Need you to run into situations where you’ll feel dumb, make decisions you’re unsure of, and raise your hand to ask a question you know everyone in the room knows the answer to but you.

We need you to feel dumb. Temporarily.

Stay Positive & It’s A Sign You’re Still Moving Forward

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At One Point

Person Making Coffee

At one point the coffee shop used to try serving more than its kitchen could handle.

At one point the brewery tested out what it was like to make sour beer.

At one point the comedian was a lawyer.

At one point I wore skinny jeans.

The idea of there being a version that you used to be isn’t a mark of failure. Often times, “at one point” is actually referring to a time that we were brave, that we took a leap, that we became a better version of ourselves.

There’s no need to get hurt when someone reminds you of what something used to be or how someone (you?) used to be. At one point, we were all lesser off than we are now.

Stay Positive & At One Point, We’ll Be Better Tomorrow Than We Were Today

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