The option to say no
When you’re about to ask for something, be gracious and give control to the other one to say “No” without feeling guilt for saying so. That way you’ll save both of you of fake “Yes” and “I’ll think about it”. A couple of ways to do this: Feel free to say no, but it’d be amazing if you could. [Here comes your ask]. It’s totally ok to say no, and here I have something to ask [your ask]. We’re fine if you say no, but I need your help with something important to me.
All hands on deck
When going into a strategy session, retreat or next-year planning, one thing that often happens is this: Everyone goes to work and figure the ways to make things work… by just jumping in and “brainstorming”, coming up with solutions, deciding on 500 steps ahead. It all would be good, if this pattern didn’t repeat over and over: no reflection nor pause to define what’s THE big thing. Everyone gets behind their own interpretations of the ideas and at the end of the day/session, it’s just…
What if
Asking this is to exercise constraints. Unlike what many people think —that to be creative, you need to have freedom— when you’re restrained is when you get to be more creative. Asking “What if” helps in thinking broadly. And that’s the first step. After that, saying “But this is all I have” will set you in a game of constraints. Where you get to push yourself on how to do things different. And depending on how these things get to be different, your approach will be more or less creative.
Fill in the blank. By Tanya Moushi.
Today, this is brought to you by daily emailer and amazing writer Tanya Moushi. She’s got it right. Fill in the blank I feel excellent about myself when I ______________. I feel like shit every time I ______________. I’m ready to finally let go of _______________. I’m going to finally explore _______________. I’m extra grateful for ____________. This one is so full of gold and self-reflection. Perfect for preparing yourself for the next year.
Yes, you are
To yesterday’s email on “What’s the most important” in your business, there were interesting replies: Sustainability Profit Revenue Consistent income Me Freedom to choose Customers And so on… And, while all of them are important, ME, is the most important. Because when you’re not at your best, your work can’t be at its top. You can’t take care of your customers at your best. You can’t take care of making the best decisions to build sustainability into your business. You can’t innovate. You…
Laser-focused or Loser-focused?
What’s the thing you’re focusing on when running your business? The goal to get to? Or what others are doing in your same space, so you “don’t lose”? One can take you to new heights. The other one, only down. To zero.
Does great work really matters?
The common advice is that, if you do “great work”, you’ll close more deals or that this “great work” will make you stand out —which will automatically bring you clients that value what you do. However, the only ones who can tell good enough on the outside from “great work” are your peers. On the other hand, the ones who can tell work that delivers and brings results on what your clients expect, are your clients. And they fund your mission. While “great work” is a nice way to say what you do…
The less you know…
The more knowledge and more imagination, more originality. How do you get to know more? By knowing less. And then diving deeper. Deepening your expertise. Specializing. Seeing the patterns. With that, you know “What is” and all you have to do after that is ask yourself “What could be?” Start with this: what if?
Leadership stress test
“Leadership is about how to create more leaders; not attract more followers.” David Marquet Do a stress test with any “thought leadership” out there. Which one do most of them fall under? From the ones who pass the test, who do you feel like giving a shout out? Give some thought on why these and no the other ones. Here’s the thing Most “leadership” (and “thought-leadership”) goes about oneself. Choose the path to focus on others. Then, that is actual leadership.
Feeling like an impostor?
Mike Julian and Adam Grant seem to have opposite takes re: impostor syndrome. Mike’s take: I think the tech industry has many failings and shortcomings, but one that’s been annoying me lately is the pervasive belief that everyone has impostor syndrome.There are people that worked their asses off to become great and they know it. We shouldn’t be minimizing that. And the other take, from Adam: The only people who never feel like impostors are narcissists.Being 100% sure of yourself at all times…