I've heard that if sharks stop moving they die. Everything that exists in our world demonstrates movement. Rocks move. Even if it's just at the molecular level. The cool thing is that we get to choose how we move. We get to choose where we move. Rocks are not so lucky. The word "Produce" comes from the Latin prōdūcere. It breaks down to 'Pro': Forward and 'Ducere': To Lead. When we produce, we lead forward. Leading forward requires movement. Leading forward requires … [Read more...]
Your baby is so, um, cute….
April 22, 2011 by
Everyone thinks their baby is beautiful. Even that couple who has that kid you think looks like Ernie from Sesame Street. A pregnant woman's body spends 9 months busy making a baby. We don't know what that baby looks like until it's born. We learn how beautiful (or ugly) our baby is after we produce it into the world. Until the baby is born, we just can't know. The same is true of our ideas. We can spend months working to make them real. We won't know if their beautiful, … [Read more...]
Grow in Confidence, Be in the know…
April 20, 2011 by
The more often I produce my work to the world, the more confident I feel. The more confident I feel, the easier it gets to take the risk. I trust that all will be well. The first time I wrote a blog post, it took 3 hours, revision after revision, proof after proof. After I did it 5-10 times, I could write something and ship it in 15 minutes. Humans fear the unknown. We face the unknown anytime we reveal ourselves or our creations to the world. Our insecurities float to the surface. … [Read more...]
Are you busy or are you productive?
April 19, 2011 by
I remember the first time I had to send an email out to a 1000 person audience. I wrote the email. Then I proofed the email. Then I tweaked the email. Then I proofed it. Then I proofed it again. Finally, I hit 'Send'. Off it went. I spent 45 minutes making sure the email was just right after it was already written. It wasn't. I realized this after it was sent. I was busy when I was writing, reading, re-writing and re-reading the email. I produced the moment I sent the … [Read more...]
Want better? Do better!
April 18, 2011 by
This afternoon my wife and I got home after a busy day away. We've been busy for the last several days. I noticed that our dogs were becoming more needy. They wanted more attention. When we got home this afternoon our dogs were out of their minds. They were all over us. They were panting ... Nudging against us. And being generally annoying. After a few minutes, we realized we haven't paid much attention to the dogs this week. We haven't taken them on walks. When we've been home we … [Read more...]
Pick up the Ball: A Simple Way to Save Face
April 16, 2011 by
I was emailing with a colleague to set up a time to meet. Then she dropped of the radar. I wondered what happened ... was it me? Was there something I said? After a couple of weeks I was about to follow up with her. Then I received this email from her: "I’m completely rude. I apologize profusely for not getting back to you. I am so sorry. I think my brain has been swallowed by a hippopotamus or something. Can we try again?" Boy, did she save face. I was completely disarmed. I got a … [Read more...]
1 Simple way to stop using excuses and start delivering
April 15, 2011 by
Yes or No. Black or White. One or Zero. I will do it. I will not do it. The job is done or it's not done ... complete or incomplete. I had a habit of using conditions and qualifiers in my speech (and I still fight this habit). I can weave a winding sentence that could confuse an insurance underwriter. The long sentence helped me avoid committing. This habit was killing me. It undercut my effectiveness in delivering consistently. Delivery is the fulfillment of a … [Read more...]
Ship, Partner
April 14, 2011 by
I was standing on top of a 40 foot cliff. It was my turn to jump. I hate heights. My friends were calling for me to jump. Too late to turn back now. I launch into a head first dive. My gut gets that feeling of having a wet towel twisted inside. Then I hit the water. Wooooo! I made it. If I was alone on that cliff's edge I don't think I would have jumped. The encouragement, support and, maybe some friendly goading, got me to take the leap ... to take action. I meet with a group … [Read more...]
A Ceiling or Foundation
January 15, 2011 by
I'm learning that I can use my past. It can be the ceiling keeps me from elevating. Or it can be the floor from which I launch to new heights. I choose. I took a walk last week. I was thinking of worth. As in a person's worth. A whisper spoke to me. It told me that the things I think weakened me made me stronger. The experiences that I thought made me less made me more. My worst can create the best. I choose. I had a moment earlier in the week to dismiss faith as fluke. I … [Read more...]
Are you with me or against me?
January 14, 2011 by
Do you believe in Santa, family values, gun control, Jesus, graduated tax rates, Allah, increased border patrol, Yahweh, the tooth fairy, or the effectiveness of free markets? If you believe in something, good for you! I'm finding the I derive way more joy from choosing to believe IN something instead of AGAINST something. I have much more of a sense of power when I fight for something instead of against something. When I believe IN something and stand up for it I can create or contribute … [Read more...]
