Hydra Growth

Hydra Growth

Despite the extreme malevolence of Hydra, humans have one similar attribute.

With hydra, the story goes, you cut one head off and two grow in its place.

Similarly, we grow when we learn from our mistakes, get uncomfortable, experience burnout.

There’s a reason the expression is “like they’re running around with their heads chopped off” and why after they recover, they are all the better because of it.

If you’re not pushing your limits, stepping over the line or taking risks, you’re not growing as much as you could (or as much as we need you to).

 

Stay Positive & Yes, We Need You To

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The One Skill You Need To Have To Build Friendships

Reading The Room

Friendships, relationships, business connections, partners, loyal customers… you name it–the one skill you need to have is actually two-part.

  1. Read the room.
  2. Act on it.

In a world where being liked is a major step toward success, it’s essential to interpret how others are feeling, to read body language and, most importantly, to act on that information.

 

Stay Positive & To Make Enemies, Read The Room And Don’t Act On It

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The Flavor Cycle

Flavor Cycle

In the beverage industry, the flavor cycle used to last a year or longer.

A handful of months were dedicated to building the hazelnut flavor demand. Then it would become a trend for another six months to a year before it would see a slow decline.

Palates, lifestyles and competition have killed that long cycle and I teased this idea in a blog post of mine from five years ago about Cheez-it flavors.

Certainly you could focus on all the different flavors of beverages and each of their (now) 15 minutes of fame, but what’s more important to recognize is the number of new beverage brands.

Yes, consumers want more of a variety from you–the flavor cycle proves that, but they also want better, better stories, better designs, better flavors.

 

Stay Positive & If You’re Only Creating “More,” You Won’t Make It

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Checking In

Check In

When in doubt… check in.

Check in when you think you have everything set.

Check in when you’re doubting yourself.

Check in when you absolutely need the confirmation that you’re prepared.

Check in when you need to for yourself.

Check in when your boss hasn’t even asked you to.

Check in when you think you have everything right.

Check in even if it means you’re going to show that you were wrong.

Check in to see if they can add value to what you’re suggesting.

Check in just to check in. It’ll always help.

 

Stay Positive & No One Has Ever Gotten Screwed By “Checking In”

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Can You Make It Better?

Can You Make It Better

Once you can respond that you’ve made it as good as you can given the time frame and your current knowledge bank, it pays to then ask the same question to someone else.

You’re never in it alone and someone will always find a way to make it (whatever “it” is) better.

And if success is what you’re after, you need better.

 

Stay Positive & Not Bigger, Not Shinier–Better

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Elegance > Force

Elegance

You can shout, but it’s more sincere when you whisper.

You can buy more power, but using force usually results in a path of destruction.

When you focus on tiny moments, subtle cues, and ways of connecting on a personal level, you’re performing elegantly.

It’s a far more attractive way of marketing.

 

Stay Positive & Let’s Dance

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Be Better

Better Not Harder

Telling your teammate to be better is partially a joke, partially a directive, and fully accurate.

To tell your teammate to try harder is an assignment that they’ll eventually come up empty on–they can only try so hard.

 

Stay Positive & Better Is Better

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