GarthBox

There’s a lot of good moves we can make when we have nothing or little to lose.

It’s why Vaynerchuk says to start a business when you’re in college or young – for less to lose.

On the other hand, what put Minnesota Wild head coach into fame this week was he pulled the goalie in overtime for an extra attacker. He had everything to lose by doing that. Fans, news, and management would have tore him a new one if his team lost because of that call.

But they won.

There’s magic to progress when there’s risk. If we’re only seeking out “nothing to lose” moments, we’re still moving, but it’s either slow or in circles. Remarkability happens when people leap. And when one leaps, there must be something at risk.

Stay Positive & Everything To Lose, But Everything To Gain

Putting on a play is different than putting on a show, even though it’s called the same thing.

The greatest singers of our time don’t just sing, they perform.

Remarkable authors don’t just tour and do book signings, they throw an event. (At least, this category of artists is starting to catch on to the importance of a performance.)

If we want to stand out – and by extension, be remembered – we have to give a performance.

Anything less and we might as well just call it a hobby.

Stay Positive & Do You Care Enough?

Sometimes we’re so focused on our shot that we forget that we can move the target up.

Through the journey, it should be a dance.

How to move forward in the moment, but how do you make it more likely for the end goal to move toward you, too?

Simple example: someone wants to make a friend. Forward movement would be that they merely need to start acting as a friend to others. And to move the target closer? Host a social event at the local library.

Our job when it comes to progress is to both push and pull.

Stay Positive & Create, Don’t Wait

I haven’t been able to put my finger on it, but someone knows when you are asking them for something vs when you are involving them in a decision.

Asking a team member “what do you think of X” sounds like it’s involving them, but it’s unlikely you are; even if you’re trying to, it won’t be perceived that way.

Involvement requires a few variables:

• They’ve gotta be part of the ideation phase of the original/big idea; the thinking stage before any action is taken. Ideation of a piece of the core idea is not involvement.
• They’ve gotta be engaged with, conversed with, collaborated with in the middle of a project. They need tasks and to-dos; not just being asked what they think of a decision or what they’d recommend.
• They’ve gotta be recognized as a key player in the completion of the project. This is the one that is easiest to evaluate throughout and helps the us nail the first two bullet points. Envision you’re at the end of the project tomorrow and you’re giving a speech: are you complimenting your team member to start? If not, you’re likely not involving them.

It’s not a perfect structure but it’s directionally accurate and will help you become the leader people both need and want.

Stay Positive & Involvement Is Key To Retention, Connection, Meaningful Execution…

There’s only 24 hours in a day. At some point, people make more money not because they can do more, but because of what they do.

The first factor that gets weighed, then, is how well you do what you do. This is results driven. KPIs. OKRs. Sales goals. Or it could be impact you have on a team and how well you lead a project.

The secondary factor that is often overlooked is almost back to square one: what you do.

Do you have the really tough, unpleasant conversations? Do you carry the weight of ownership of bigger goals? Are you the one that has to make massive decisions, fast and in the moment?

If the answer is yes to those, you get paid more than someone who answers no.

On the path to financial progress, there’s no faking it until you make it… Do the things you do well so you check that box. Then do the things people simply get paid more for doing.

Don’t wait for the responsibility. Give it to yourself.

Stay Positive & Now Your Raise Is Incoming

Ever notice how sports players with wild hair often get a little extra air time?

Or when you open a meeting with a quirky fact or self-depriving joke, the tough conversations are a bit easier?

It’s not just rocket science. These emotional triggers are what we gravitate to and what makes something a bit more memorable than not.

We’re attracted to the weird. Mesmerized by it, even.

The real question remains: when was the last time you infused some of that into your work? Your relationship? Your kids?

Stay Positive & We’re All Weird (That’s Why It Resonates)

Before you hit send on the email, think about if you were them. Should you make some edits?

Before you spend $5,000 on a print ad, think about if you were the reader. Is it worth it?

Before you say what you’re feeling, think about if it’s in the communication style of the recipient. Will it resonate?

Before you wait until the last second, wouldn’t it be better to do that thinking sooner?

Stay Positive & Start With The End Target In Mind