Category Archives: leadership

As you can a donkey…

Posted on by
Reply

The following was written by Epictetus of Nicopolis as a dialogue between himself and a fictional Roman Commander named Maximus around 112 AD.

Maximus: I sit as a judge over Greeks.

Epictetus: But do you know how to be a judge?  And what has given you this knowledge?

Maximus: The Emperor gave me my credentials…

Epictetus: And there is another question – that is, how did you come to be a judge?  Whose hand did you kiss?  In front of whose bedroom door did you sleep so as to be the first to say good morning? To whom did you send presents?…

Maximus: Well, I can throw anyone I want into prison.

Epictetus: Just as you can throw a stone away.

Maximus: And I can have anyone I want beaten to death with a club.

Epictetus: As you can a donkey.  That is not governing men.  Govern us as rational beings by pointing out what is useful to us and we will follow you.  Point out to us what is useless, and we will turn away from it.

Aware Of The Problem But Not Of The Solution

Posted on by
Reply

Good News! You are self aware enough to realize that you have a problem.

Bad News. You are lacking the self-awareness to realize that you have to take ownership of the problem and work on a solution.

Problems don’t solve themselves (age old axiom) and when we perceive that the problem derives from another source outside of ourselves it should be safe to assume that the solution won’t come from that source either. So when you encounter a ‘problem’ in your leadership environment the very best advice that I can give to you is that YOU should start working on the solution.

It is very unfortunate that this isn’t the default attitude and approach for most.

Active solutions for personal problems and challenges don’t come from other people. Some insights and advice may come from others but you have to be intimately involved in executing a plan if you expect to change your situation.

I’m not a psychologists… ask any of my friends and they will confirm this. What I am, is a strong believer in personal responsibility. Be it in your work place or in your personal life* all of us are bound to run into snags and challenges, so the challenge is to take ownership in making our lives better not just blaming our circumstances on others. So, what work do you have to do today? What situation do you find yourself in that you can start working on a plan to make better? Do you need encouragement? Do you need challenge? Do you need some strategic advice? Seek it out, ask for assistance, do the hard work that needs to be done.

* I would argue that you can’t separate work from personal life.

Quit Right Before it Gets Hard

Posted on by
Reply

The best time to quit is when it gets hard and the challenges become clear. In fact, what you should do is work at something just long enough to start to learn the processes inside your workplace, are able to ascertain most of the idiosyncrasies of your team, become aware of your environment and have crystallized for yourself what real challenges lay ahead. It is at this time when you have a sober assessment of the true hurdles that lay ahead and come to realize that the hard work is what comes next that you should hand in your resignation.

Of course this is sarcasm.

But it is accurate none the less.

Some of the very best advice I got in my 20′s (not long after graduating college and in my first full-time job) was to learn through perseverance and try my best to lead and navigate inside of the workplace challenges. Other opportunities were available at the time, and who knows, maybe some of the them would have been better, but I do know that I learned irreplaceable skills and life lessons be enduring tough times in the leadership setting in which I had signed up for. I learned things that I am certain that you can never learn by quitting.

Great Teams Can Be Heard

Posted on by
Reply

I regularly listen to the Dan Patrick show (www.DanPatrick.com) and it has quickly come to replace all other sports talk shows as my very favorite to download and give time to while I am running or driving. Here’s the key ingredients of ‘why’ – Humor, Sports and Team Work. Even if you don’t like sports that much, download the podcast and listen for a while. Pay close attention to the personal exchanges. You will hear relationship, defined roles, humor, specific goals for the show (such as excellence), trust, accountability and it will become quickly evident that these guys really enjoy working together. In fact, it is so evident that they enjoy working together as a team that it challenges me to be a better leader in developing my own team.

When a team functions well, there are few things that are more fun to be a part of. However getting to this place in time takes a bit of hard work and patience. It’s not easy to explain but there is something more fun about achieving a big goal or objective together.

Stop Over Thinking the World’s Best Cup of Coffee

Posted on by
Reply

You need to stop over thinking it, because things are getting way too complicated.

Run a coffee house? Your coffee ought to be awesome and a nice place to sit would be great. Learn from Elf.

Own a plumbing company? Do first rate work, make sure my toilet works and I want ZERO leaks throughout my house.

Did you say you are an auto mechanic? Really? Then fix only what really needs to be repaired and only offer to maintenance what truly needs to be maintained.

You lead a non-profit for homeless kids? Then work to make sure that there are beds available, good people to care for them and a plan to help them lead healthy and productive lives. Yes. I know it takes money.

Are you a pastor or clergy member? Teach people who Jesus really is, be like him yourself, use words the people can understand and do the same amount of good for the world that he did.

Too many of us are way over thinking our industries and our leadership arenas. We have forgotten the basics, the ‘core’ of our businesses. Everyone is super tired of shitty delivery, weak leadership and a lack of focus. Any worthy youth sports coach will tell a kid to “learn the basics really, really well”. Don’t get cute and cleaver offering wild incentives, cool programs, the most amazing ‘other’ thing that has nothing to do with what I came to your business for.

Starbucks, if I want music I will get on my laptop and go to iTunes.

Church, if I want a musical production, awesome video or interesting drama I will go to the theater.

Non-profit, if I want a new community with a bunch of friends who all have the same exact passion as me I will join a commune.

Do your main thing with excellence … or just go away. Stop clogging up the world with your noise and leave your mission for others to do. If you are just starting out, then here is the simple principle – stay focused on basics and learn your craft and your industry. Don’t get distracted.

Facebook Could Rule the World of Project Management

Posted on by
1

In my spare time I am a recreational project management hack. I enjoy starting teams of people (mostly volunteers) to do good in the world. Currently I am heading a new leadership team and experimenting with project management through Facebook. (If you are doing or trying the same thing on Facebook, then I would be curious to hear how you run project teams with the tools that already exist there.)

If Facebook wanted to, they could rule the world of Project Management.

Here is what Facebook already has:

  • Lots of People: Obviously this is key for project management.
  • Lots of People who already know the program. The less you have teach people how to use a new system the better participation you will get.
  • Groups (private & public) — this is key — I don’t want everyone to see my project and leadership team thoughts, notes, debates and content.
  • Postings & Comments. These are important for creating dialogue.
  • Documents
  • Pics & Albums
  • Calendars and Events
  • Email, group email and emailing to the project
  • Chat.

Here are critical features that Facebook is still needing to develop:

  • ToDo list with assignments
  • Time tracking. I bet Facebook is already tracking how much time we spend on each section so now they could just make that public for each of our projects (a timer).
  • Milestones
  • Dynamic document updating
  • Screen sharing, audio & video conferencing.

Most importantly here’s how Facebook could make money … (and believe it or not, for us also, not that they need me to figure this out for them). Facebook could run a basic version for free like everyone else does. Then run a pro version with a few more widgets &/or more volume of projects. Put ads on the side that directly relate to the type of project being run. (They already this in other areas. For a FEE let me turn OFF the crap I don’t want to see on my company project management tool. Also for a fee let me eliminate some of the social play crap that I wouldn’t want my employees to be goofing around on at work.

Yes, I understand that Google does most of this stuff already. But let’s face it, most people who you try to get to use Google Docs and features who aren’t using them already have a really hard time learning and adopting them. The experience isn’t as intuitive as it needs to be to be adopted by the masses.

A Finite Life and All of The Possibilities

Posted on by
Reply

Ok. My last post sucked. I was trying way too hard and came off as a Seth Godin wanna be., so here’s another attempt, trying to say it better.

I mentally wrestle with the billions of possibilities that are out there in the world and I don’t care what all of the tech geeks say, the world isn’t getting smaller. If anything it just keeps getting bigger with more problems, more things to buy, more business opportunities to develop and more friends to have (thanks a lot facebook & twtitter). The world is such a huge place and there is just so much cool shit out there. And beyond all of the cool stuff that the internet and news media sources bring to us, it also brings us a much, much clearer picture of all of the true need, hurt, war and helplessness that exists in the world.

I can get locked-up with all of possibilities.

At times it rattles me and prevents me from going any particular direction. I find myself asking, “Which way should I go? What should I choose to do really well and pursue with all of my energy and passion?” I could be totally into myself and seek daily pleasures and recreation. I could launch full force into a business idea. I could radically change the lives of a small village in Africa (or South America, or Asia, or Eastern Europe or the inner-cities of any major US city). And.. I could do all of this stuff at the same time if I really applied myself.

My life is finite but the possibilities are not.

Last Saturday I had breakfast with friend who most consider a sage. He is affectionally known as “the silver fox” by some. Over the last 10 years he has lead a team to radically and holistically transform a small village in the Dominican Republic who had great need. They have experienced tremendous results. Our meeting was on point about his desire and plane to re-launch his team to do it again with another village.  He’s passionate, driven and on task about making a difference in the D.R., but the question that bothered me was “why”. Not ‘why’ as in “why are you doing this?” But, more specifically “why there?”. I wanted to know how he chose. What helped a smart guy with a large world view decide to give his time, talents and resources to a small village in the Dominican Republic. What made it more worthy of his help? What comprehensive matrix did he utilize in making his selection? Did he receive a voice from heaven directing his path? Why not  _________? (you fill in the blank)

His answer: “Because it’s an opportunity that came to me.” (That’s roughly paraphrased; I forgot to turn on my iPhone recorder) He went on to explain that of all of the things he could possibly do here was an opportunity (not a possibility) that came to him through his network of trusted relationships. It fit him. It was his size, his style, within his ability and leadership and it needed to be done.

Man!, I need to make things easier on myself. I need to quit searching so hard through all of the possibilities and start focusing on opportunities that are right in front of me.

On a related topic, I watched this very good movie last night.

Possibilities vs. Opportunities

Posted on by
Reply

The world is full of possibilities… ever more so with the internet. It is possible for you to get involved, to make a difference, to collaborate with professionals in all sorts of fields, to change the world, to do international BIG business, to survive and excel in a niche market, to present yourself as bigger than you are, to have your own voice and matter or to be a silent partner with a huge amount of big impact ability.

Wow! The world is full of possibilities. There are so many possibilities that it can be overwhelming. So how do you filter through the possibilities? By looking for your opportunities.

Opportunities are possibilities within your specific reach and ability. Opportunities are possibilities that are uniquely positioned for you to take advantage of. Opportunities are natural leads, made friendships, networked relationships. Opportunities come about through your leadership portfolio.

Possibilities are made with the stuff of dreams. Dreams can come reality when you look for opportunities and then do the work of making it happen.

The 3 Most Important Resume Items

Posted on by
Reply

I’ve seen a thousand+ resumes over the years and now it is time to declare that the traditional resume must die. Here are 3 things that matter most for your new generation of resume.

1. Remarkable Performance.
This is also known as your portfolio of art, accomplishments, projects and leadership. Believe it or not, when you are exceptional with who you are and at what you do, word does still get around.

2. In-Person Network
All things being equal, the living, breathing human being still makes the most accurate and best impression. Way too many people are jobless because they are hiding behind their computers or are too lazy to drive down the street to me a possible employers or customers. Get out! Go meet some new people that matter. Learn what they do. Share what you do. Volunteer on local projects that matter. Make some free contributions to share your remarkable abilities. Knock on the door on the head of HR, maybe they are more available for real people than you know.

3. Online Presence
NO! I am not talking about your wasted Farmville time on Facebook. Share your art, your talks, your thoughts and your references from bosses, peers, and employees.  Blog about your industry, your role and how you are leading, serving or producing. (Heck, just do it at least once a month if you struggle to get started.) Post interesting and excellent pictures of yourself and possibly short videos. List your past projects giving a few important details. Make it easy for people to contact you via email and phone. If you are worried about security & spam, get a FREE number & email through google, then give your real stuff to legit contacts.

Do these 3 things well and you will never need your college formatted, Microsoft word template resume again.

You Should Fool Around

Posted on by
1

“Stop fooling around!” Can’t you just picture the agitated and harassed face of one of your elementary school teachers? Things haven’t changed just because we have gown up, it’s just a new person saying the same sentence. Unfortunately though, the person who now usually says it to you IS you. Stop it. Your growth in leadership is stagnant because you aren’t fooling around. The best ideas and some of your brightest opportunities are waiting for you in those forbidden moments. A next great step in your leadership, art and your life purpose will come from fooling around on the side of what you are already doing.

So…. start fooling around… with ideas, business concepts, dreams, leadership and even your current job.
Have fun.
Be ridiculous, like when you were a kid playing with your toys.
Include some smart & creative friends.
Dream big without boundaries.
Put the ideas down on paper.
Make a sketch.
Fiddle with a name and logo.
Make time to fool around once or twice a week.
Knock out some of the details in a list with categories.
List out the possibilities
Do a little research.
Put together a possible budget.
Use your imagination.
Make a couple of phone calls.
Share some of your best ideas with more of your smart friends; ask for their thoughts, their collaboration, advice and expertise.
Maybe, just maybe, you’ll come up with something huge.

My favorite time & places to start fooling around:
- While smoking a cigar with a sharp friend.
- On a hike or during a mountain bike ride.
- Online through a google doc.

Warning! You won’t ever come up with the next cool thing by just doing what you do every day, so find that extra time to start fooling around.

Warning!! Some of the best “next” things that you could be doing end up dieing because you won’t go work hard on them.