Author Archives: Ryan Russell

About Ryan Russell

Ryan Russell - Driven to develop the next generation of leaders.

Making It In Your Twenties

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On Jan 12, 2012, at 12:42 PM – a friend wrote:

As if my life didn’t already have enough changes… wanted to ask you to pray about some more new stuff.

It happened, my boss was reassigned and I have a new boss. My scope of responsibility has broadened to encompass (quite of number of things than it didn’t before). I have a (new employee who is significantly older than me and who has a much different work style). My new boss is a hard driver, old thinker, who doesn’t read books like Linchpin or 4-Hour Workweek. It will be a great challenge. I have concerns that that he has burned out other people who have followed his lead. I’m stoked to have someone who get results working with me, but it’s not gonna be easy. Working for my old boss was unchallenging if I didn’t challenge myself. This will be a whole different vibe.

All that to say, I would appreciate your prayers and feel free to drop wisdom on me as you feel it’s necessary. Normally I’d be excited for the new challenge but at this point with ironman training, a new baby, my wife’s new business and an additional committee role I took before this new development… More or less, I’m just getting exhausted!

Enough of that shit. Time to swim.  Later.

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January 13, 2012 at 2:51:53 PM - ryan russell wrote:

Sorry man for delay, I’ve been swamp with work and tired at night.

I will be praying for you.

Your late 20′s is a time to ‘make hay‘. It’s when you really grow, but it’s also a period of time where you put in the hours. Unfortunately, (the timing kinda stinks because) it also usually ends up being the time when wives want to have kids and other (life) things (intersect).

I wish I had been more patient when I was your age. Able to see what I was doing and slow down to enjoy my small kids more… especially as I just kept having them.

Hone your crafts of leadership and artist now. It is out of this period of time that you will make a professional name for yourself and it is out of the period of time where you will lay a solid foundation for yourself where you can make bigger (impact and) bank for your time in the future.

Leaders Need Washboard Abs

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I supposed it has a real name, but I call it the finishing work. It is the work at the end of a project that takes it from being pretty good to being very exceptional. In most cases it is the final 10-15% of the work that could be done, but doesn’t necessarily have to be done. Few people tend to like do finishing work, so it becomes the natural separator in almost every experience that you have. You will find it is the difference between restaurants, websites, athletes, leaders and relationships.

I want washboard abs.  Although I workout 6-7 days a week and have completed several marathons, triathlons and an ironman, I still do not have them. Why? Because I hate sit-ups and being a conscientious, healthy eater. These two items are finishing work. So, even though I workout really hard, I am still short of one of my goals. So, someday soon I will have to discipline myself to drink no beer and take the extra 15 minutes at the end of each work out to put in some sit-ups.
* And, no, these are not a requirement for leadership, but it got you to read the article.

How about you? Do you cheat excellence in areas of your leadership, home, work or personal life because of finishing work? It’s tough, but it is what it takes to move areas in your life from ‘good’ to ‘awesome’.

A Cozy Bed and A Big TV

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These are the enemies of today’s would-be leaders. Add in Facebook and you may just well have the trifecta. Entertainment, relaxation, and gossip news often spoil what could be industrious days. I am not talking about the weekend or even the 80 hour weeks. Just a typical day. Time and opportunity lost, spoiled away. Invention, entrepreneurship, social change and mercy-aid forgone because you can’t get out of bed early or into it at a decent hour.

Do you have big ideas and find yourself impotent when it comes to execution?

Unplug the TV.
Read, dream and plan a bit more.
Go to bed before midnight.
Awake fresh.
Exercise.
Capture the best part of your mornings for work!

Here’s to you! Enjoy your coffee & your accomplishments.

Google and Lazy Students

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The Lost Arts of Problem Solving and Asking Questions.

How does it begin and where does it end? If I can not find the solution on the first page of google, it must not exist. If my teacher isn’t readily available to do it for me, then “I can’t do it”.

Problem Solving
It is a learnable skill, and for some it is an art. You must begin with determination and then add in some perseverance. It requires a willingness to research… beyond the first five links on google. For challenging problems, you might not even find your answer online. Problem solving can sometimes lead to what used to be referred to as ”head scratching”. Something can be gained by staring at an actual piece of paper where you have scribbled notes and you PAUSE TO THINK. Be willing to follow leads, come to dead ends, and then start down new paths. Some creative brainstorming with other smart people may even be required.

Asking Questions
Don’t be afraid or to proud to ask sharp people for a bit of intellectual assistance. This is different than asking someone to do your job for you. This is actual learning and it doesn’t have to be limited to a classroom at school. Seek out people who know a thing or two or three. Exchange value with them. Get a push in the right direction. Most leaders are willing to donate a few quick minutes to share their skill with young, hungry, up-and-coming leaders. But your do have to ask.

 

Magic In A Conversation

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It is tough, I know. I too sometimes get caught up in the whole dilemma. In our heads it goes something like this… “Why call the guy when I can email him? Or wait, why email him when I can so quickly text? Better still, why bother with text, I’ll just tweet at him the next time I am checking my other social media outlets.”

Be notified! There is a little magic left in having an actual conversation. It is very personal. Tone, inflection, feeling, care, energy. It all comes through so much better for most of us when we take the time to talk with one another. Our faces more accurately reflect the nature of our souls. Personal dialogue conveys genuine interest. Conversation makes it so much more difficult for minor issues or misunderstandings to become major rifts or flare-ups in a relationship.

Don’t let technology’s ease of use lull you into thinking that it can be an adequate replacement for person-to-person, conversational interactions. If you have an important sale to make, pick up the phone. If a small thing at work is escalating into something that is pissing you off, walk down to the other person’s office. If you don’t feel a tenderness of care in the text messages between you and your lover, try an actual dinner date. Turn off the tech and see what might happen.

How I Got Things Done in 2011

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Every year we all try to get a little more productive. Here is my list of “The Most Essential and Indispensable Applications of 2011 For Getting Things Done”. No application can make this list if is not cloud sync capable. (Cloud sync is now a ‘must’ and can no longer be considered a “neat feature” for applications.)

Wunderlist - To-Do (GTD)
Since Apple can’t seem to ever get it right with a simple and powerful ‘to-do list’ program, everyone is left searching for the best thing. Here it is.

1Password - Universal Password
Worth every penny. Save & recall all of your passwords in one very secure application. This is a life saver with every website having their own log in requirements. The ‘auto-fill’ feature is time saving both for log-ins & for purchases.

Evernote – Notes & Ideas
Simply the best, most complete place to start, develop, keep and share ideas. PLUS it’s Free!

Google Docs – Documents, spreadsheets, word-processing, pdf’s & more
Google Docs started as a cute alternative to word processing on your own machine is now a viable replacement for ever again paying for a Word or Pages. The best improvement in google docs is the upload feature. You can simply import a document that someone sends you. Edit it. Share it. Download it. Convert it. Great stuff! PLUS it’s Free!

Dropbox – Easy File Sharing
“Get your files anywhere” is the company’s explanation, and that pretty much sums it up. You can also quickly sync files, share files and back-up files of all kinds. PLUS it’s Free!

*If you are still on a windows machine, I feel bad that you are such a slow adopter to superior platforms. Get going! Buy a refurbished machine.

Those Magical Two Words

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There are two types of people who are working your projects. Lazy people don’t count.

One type just wants the job to be over and is trying to find the quickest possible exit. The other type are those who are on the look out for how to make your project remarkable. Both have their place as long as they are working, but I’d rather have the person who is in pursuit of excellence. You know you have found one of these types when they include the glorious little phrase “and also” into sentences.

“I finalized the contract and also was able to save us 10%.”
“We finished the code and also found a couple of ways to make the site more user friendly.”
“I wrapped up the work outlined for this week and also had time to get ahead on next week’s items.”

‘And also’ hints at a person’s willingness to work hard and also their capacity to see what’s ahead and take initiative. Do you have people on your team like this?

Shouting May Be Required

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Colin Cowherd. While we continue to wait on the leadership book, here is another great synopsis of leadership inside of sports.

The definition of leadership:
Authentic
Yelling
Get to the point
Win the game
Take the hit afterward

Take the time to listen to his whole rant.

Incase you missed it, here is sideline incident from Sunday’s game following Tom Brady’s interception and the subsequent interaction with Offensive Coordinator Bill O’Brien.

Why You Hate Tim Tebow

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It is easy to hate optimism. It is even easier to hate a cheerful winner. Add in to the mix, “well, he’s not even that good”, and then you really need to hate Tim Tebow.

Sunday’s game was awesome! And yes, Tebow needs to be thankful that Marion Barber lost the game for the Bears. But as good as the game was, if you watched the post-game interview with Tim Tebow, you enjoyed the whole thing even more. Tebow’s smile was contagious. His appreciation for his entire team was authentic. His belief is unflappable (at least while he is winning). Why wouldn’t you want to have this guy as your teammate?

 Bottom line: Tim Tebow provides great drama and controversy AND he does it all from a positive perspective. His team rallies behind his leadership AND he wins. This is excellent leadership no matter your religious perspective.

* The hokey sort of Christians will make too much out ‘the message’ that they believe God wants to tell the world through Tim. Settle down. I am pretty sure God already sent the Messiah. #Christmas

Read the whole post game interview.
Consider Frank Bruni’s thoughts on Tebow’s optimism.

No Hiding From The Inevitable

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It is ludicrous to think or believe that you can run for president in this modern era and try to hide huge secrets in your closet(s). Even before newspapers and reporters, people all over the world have enjoyed the juicy, scandalous details of the failures of people in power. It has only intensified with media and money. You can not hide.

You can own your failures, grow through the hard times that come with confronting them, and avoid repeating your failure. People will let you march on.

But if you try to hide your personal scandals, keep indulging in them, pretend that they aren’t real, or avoid them all together… you will get buried. Reveling in your shortcomings might play popular with the media (for a season), but we won’t trust you in high office or position.