GarthBox

Responsibility isn’t something that’s given to you. It’s something you take. It involves initiative, care, and, much of the time, the motto of asking for forgiveness, not permission.

I’m an advocate for taking responsibility, but, in the past, it has kicked my ass. When something went wrong with a project or a communication stream or a product of my team’s work, I took full responsibility for it. Not blame; responsibility.

I figured out how I could have been better. I voiced to the team or my boss or my friends what I’ll do going forward if a similar situation arises. In other words, I’d make sure that problem never happens again.

My advice to you is to be careful of the responsibility you take. Too much of a good thing (responsibility), really is a bad thing.

In some cases that I’ve acknowledged where I screwed up on a project, people used that as their scapegoat, not accepting any responsibility for themselves and their part in the failure.

While I have the view that when something goes wrong, it’s never one person who is at fault, it’s everyone involved; others don’t necessarily share that view. Nor can you or I force them to. For some, when given the chance to let you or someone else take responsibility for the failure, they let’m.

This is why the team you work with matters so much. The responsibility you want to take needs to match the same responsibility everyone else on the team wants to take.

When you address it upfront. It guarantees the same failure won’t happen again. And that’s what you want to be sure of isn’t it?

Failure is to be expected. The same failure twice or three times or four is just sloppy.

 

Stay Positive & Take Responsibility, But Choose Wisely

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I’ve always thought the target market part of a business plan was a little off.

Why would one be talking about their target. Isn’t it better to talk with them?

That way, it’s as if the investor was sitting at the table with you the entire time you had a conversation about the target’s wants, needs, motivations, emotions and opinions about your business. In fact, you might even share their name and stop calling them “target.”

Just as a transaction is a conversation, so should the business plan be.

Entrepreneurs may have at one point been able to get away on a seal of trust.

“I, as an investor, trust you know your target” may still happen, but…
“I, as an investor, trust your target” is much more powerful.

Which will it be for you?

 

Stay Positive & Talk With, Not About

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I have reason to believe every successful business puts an end to loneliness.

Stories connect people. Brick and mortar shops craft a space for people to connect with others who have a similar-mindset. Even reading news is less about reading news and more about having something to share at dinner.

When I was working to prove myself wrong (that putting an end to loneliness wasn’t an essential product of a successful business), I argued about delivery services.

Think about it for a moment.

A consumer doesn’t have to talk to anyone on the phone. Doesn’t have to get out of their PJs. Doesn’t have to enter society. At first glance, it’s a way to keep alone.

Yet, when the delivery arrives, people still answer the door.

They could have taped a tip to the door with a note that says “set the pizza down, knock twice and leave.” There was likely a “delivery instructions” portion where they could have noted they wanted no human contact.

Alas, what I believe to be the critical moment to a successful delivery service is in fact that connection at the door. It’s almost like delayed gratification for the customer.

They await that knock on the door as much for the person as the pizza or sub or burrito.

What door are you knocking on?

 

Stay Positive & The More Loneliness You Put An End The Better

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Last night Michael and I wrapped up the final podcast of In The Box podcast. We’ve been recording weekly for more than a year. We took a lot of ideas to the edge of reality and certainly talked about things differently. All in all, it was one of the best projects I worked on.

Here are some takeaways from it.

• I learned comedians are funny because they are truth tellers. (Episode 1)
• Some of the most creative ideas come from ideating something that is hilarious and realizing it might work. Like streaking with a sign that has your logo on it. (Episode 2)
• You know your business is in trouble when your staff doesn’t have the power to override technology. Be sure you put human interactions and control first. Everyone who works for you should have the ability to right a situation. (Episode 3)
• Michael and I still disagree on whether reading a book at the bookstore is stealing. I still don’t think it is. (Episode 5)
• All-inclusive resorts aren’t really all-inclusive. You pay for everything. The same goes for hours worked on salary. Just because you worked more than 40 hours doesn’t mean you didn’t get paid for them, you just made a lot less money. See the reality in things, but don’t hesitate to word it in a way that leaves you feeling good. (Episode 8)
• Just about every feeling you feel and action you don’t take can be sourced to your self-worth. It’s a slippery slope and we all need to work harder to feel worthy. (Episode 10)
• You are your most important asset. Treat yourself right. Emotionally. Spiritually. And even with the food you eat. (Episode 11)
• Meditation is essential to maintaining energy throughout the day. (Episode 13)
• You can’t be passionate about something until you experience it. And trying to sell something you haven’t experienced? Forget about it. (Episode 16)
• Frustration and anger might get you moving, but it won’t have you creating the best work. That comes from passion and love. (Episode 20)
• Open a channel of feedback with everyone. It’s essential to keeping things moving forward. (Episode 25)
• Credentials don’t matter when entering a new industry if you’re thinking about accolades, awards and certificates. However, having shipped great work matters immensely. (Episode 32)
• The simple solution for dealing with not getting what you want is to change what you want. Obvious. We know, but we talked about it anyway. (Episode 38)
• If you think you should bite your tongue, then bite your tongue. (Episode 46)
• Starting is easy. Do your best to finish something before starting something else, even if “finished” looks different than what you first imagined. (Episode 49)
• Take responsibility. You don’t need to ask for it or wait for it. It’s one of those “do and apologize later” things. (Episode 52)

This is a pretty short list given that Michael and I covered at least 5 topics over the span of 57 episodes, meaning we talked about more than 285 topics. Wowza.

For those inspired to start their own podcast. Here are some thoughts.

If you want to start your own podcast

1. Be ready to troubleshoot. Podcasting involves all types of technology from a media hosting site, to website, microphone, to garageband, to a working computer. Every few episodes we had tech issues we had to resolve. It’s possible. Be ready to watch a few tutorials on YouTube.
2. We saved a lot of our time by not editing our episodes. It worked. I don’t think our podcast could be any more authentic than what it was. Judge your podcast idea and decide if it’s human or if it’s professional – if it’s professional, spend the time editing.
3. Record multiple episodes ahead of time. You can easily go a month without recording if you dedicate an entire day to recording episodes. This didn’t work for Michael and I because we wanted fresh content and fresh life questions as life carried on, but it might work for you.
4. Come up with a format. Set a timeframe. Design a flow. Michael and I went in with the idea that we’ll record and figure things out as we go. That meant we recorded a handful of very long podcast episodes where we talked in circles. We hit our stride around the 27th episode and into the 30s. If you want inspiration, check those out.
5. Remember that you’re global. Local speak doesn’t really work for podcasts. Michael and I figured that out real fast.
6. Figure out ways to promote your podcast. It’ll be worth it. We always had listeners, but would have liked to have more. The only way that’s going to happen is through promoting your podcast. The pool is too full with small fish for you to standout without putting some creative marketing tactics to use… and money.
7. Know that it’s difficult to stop podcasting. It’s something you invest in and the more you invest in it the more you feel like you’re losing if you let it go. It was tough for me especially after reading this comment. 

 

Stay Positive & Catch Past Episodes Here… Until My Next Project

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If you weren’t doing what you are, what would you pay to be doing it? What would you give? What would you be willing to sacrifice to do it?

If it’s nothing or not much, then what you’re doing isn’t essential.

Do a spot check.

Are you passionate about it?

Are you good/skilled/talented at it?

Are you doing it for the greater good?

If any of those are a “no” then what you’re doing isn’t essential. You might be on track to doing what produces a “yes” for all three questions, but you won’t know until you step back and evaluate.

If you’re not doing the essential, than what are you doing?

 

Stay Positive & Do More Of What Makes You Most Happy

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Here’s an interesting test. Ask your friend or nearest co-worker what book they think you’re reading. It doesn’t have to be specific. If they just tell you a genre or a topic, that’s fine.

Their response will give you insight into how much authority you hold on a particular subject. If you’re consuming information about a specific topic, it’s likely you’re sharing it with friends, family and your sphere of social connections. (And if you’re not sharing it, what exactly are you doing with it?)

Information really is power. Not just in power to act on the information you consume, but power to get others excited about your endeavor and inspired to begin or endure their own.

Leading as well as gathering support begins with showing you care about something, deeply.

 

Stay Positive & Why Care Any Bit Less Than Deeply?

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