I just wrote an email of encouragement to my wife, Jen. We started this habit 8 years ago. Once a week, on Wednesday, we email each other encouragement. There's enough encouragement to make a book. The encouragement is a great way for us to refocus on what we like about each other, love about each other and want for each other. It's a great way ... until that day that's too busy. Those times when I say to myself, I can't right now ... I'll get to it later. The days when I lay … [Read more...]
What’s the Best Time of Day to Water Tomatoes?
June 27, 2013 by
We pulled into the driveway. We got out of the truck and went to visit with our neighbors, who were in their driveway. Jen said, "The tomato plant is drooping. Looks like it needs water." I went to the hose, turned it on, dragged it over and started watering. It was the middle of the day. Heat was at peak. A new conversation started. "Is this the best time to water the tomatoes?" "It's pretty hot." "I think you're supposed to water it in the morning or night." I … [Read more...]
Learn This Easy Magic Trick. It’s quick!
June 24, 2013 by
I walked in the door to the office this morning. Joe, the security guard, waved and smiled. I caught him in the corner of my eye, over my shoulder. I turned and waved back. A smile crossed my face. I realized this was a ritual that started my day with pleasure. It was small. But valued. I stopped, turned around, and walked to Joe. I opened the glass door to the small reception area where Joe sits. I told Joe how much I appreciated his wave and smile in the morning. I … [Read more...]
Lost in Distraction: Do you have blinders on?
June 11, 2013 by
Donald asked me a question. He's working on a project scheduled to complete in the next 5 weeks. I started to answer his question. Then I went on. I told him about stuff happening in 8, 10, 16 weeks from now. Don asked a follow-up question ... he was confused. Don was thinking only in terms of the June project. I screwed up. I confused him by showing him a picture broader than he was looking for. The only thing he cared about was the June project delivery. Don had blinders … [Read more...]
Are you qualified?
May 23, 2013 by
We are all in sales. Whether it's selling our idea of a great vacation to our wife or selling a Ford Pinto to a bizarre classic car enthusiast. We are all buying something, too. It can be your 3 year old's proposal to have a cookie before dinner or the ill-advised, 3,000 calorie loaded potato skins at Hooligans. Qualifying is the key to make the most of our time (and effort) for selling and buying. A key goal is to get to 'No' quickly. So you can know whether the prospect … [Read more...]
This Test Is Pass/Fail. Do You Pass This Test?
May 22, 2013 by
I've asked a lot people if they want a more significant and meaningful life. Every person I ask says 'Yes'. They may be lying. After all, it's a loaded question. Who really wants to tell someone, "Eh, I really don't give shit ... I'm good enough." Or they may be answering from the core of their soul. Looking at how people live tells me it might be somewhere in between. Or they just don't know how. At least not consistently. What about you? How do you qualify yourself? What … [Read more...]
Litmus Test: Are You Wasting Your Time?
May 9, 2013 by
We might be deluded in the U.S. We focus on being the best. At everything. And we ignore the results. We aim for exceptionalism ... being the outlier, the best, the far right of the bell curve. We practice exceptionalism ... choosing exceptions to avoid doing what would make us exceptional. Societies around the globe invest deeply in their leisure. The investment is the biggest we can make. Time. It ranges from the daily to the seasonal. Long walks with others, … [Read more...]
Brilliance is a Breakthrough
May 6, 2013 by
Think of people you consider historically brilliant. People who created dramatic impact on the course of history. How many asked for permission? Not many. Why? Brilliance breaks through ... Conventional Wisdom Expertise Reactionary Thinking Bureaucracies Stagnant markets Mediocrity Reasons it "won't work" No No No way No Brilliance doesn't ask. It becomes. What are you becoming? … [Read more...]
Is It Time To Overcome This Guilty Pleasure?
May 2, 2013 by
If they say no, you're justifiably frustrated... It's not your fault we're not doing it. They didn't give permission. You tried, right?Seeking permission can just be an escape. An abdication of responsibility. A guilty pleasure. If they say "yes" and it goes wrong, they own the decision. They should have seen it would not work. What were they thinking!? If they say "yes" and it does work ... You're brilliant! And it's a good thing they … [Read more...]
Can you afford ‘No’?
April 29, 2013 by
Hierarchical leadership is a permission machine. The machine is primed to respond with "No". People's work becomes figuring out how to override the default response ... moving the machine to "Yes". And then doing it again. And again. Working with the mysterious machine to get permission to move things forward. Managers might exist simply to push at the levers ... trying for the right combination to produce a "Yes". Other managers might exist simply to increase the volume … [Read more...]
