by Helena Escalante | Creativity, Growth, Leadership, Marketing, Mindset, Opportunity, Resources, Tools
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes, 18 seconds.
TODAY’S IDEA: Emulate chefs
— From REWORK: Change the way you work forever by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson
What do the names Emeril Lagasse, Julia Child, Paula Deen, Bobby Flay, Rick Bayless, Giada De Laurentiis, and Ferran Adriá have in common? They are all famous chefs. Yet, with the enormous amount of restaurants that exist today, why do we know these names better than others? What makes these chefs so special?
While they are indeed gifted, that is not the reason why they are famous. They have achieved fame and success “because they share everything they know. They put their recipes on cookbooks and show their techniques on cooking shows.”
Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, authors of Rework, invite us to share everything we know too. “This is anathema to most in the business world. Businesses are usually paranoid and secretive. They think they have proprietary this and competitive advantage that. Maybe a rare few do, but most don’t. And those that don’t should stop acting like those that do. Don’t be afraid of sharing.”
If chefs make a living from their recipes and their cooking, why would any of them create a cookbook with the recipes? Why would they go on TV and show you, step-by-step, how to cook those recipes to perfection? Then anybody could replicate them!
But that’s not how it works, say the authors. The chefs know that the recipes, techniques, and tricks are not enough to beat them at their game. “No one’s going to buy [the] cookbook, open a restaurant next door, and put [the chef] out of business. It just doesn’t work like that. Yet this is what many in the business world think will happen if their competitors learn how they do things.”
Fried and Hanson’s advice? “Get over it.”
And they go on to say, “Emulate famous chefs. They cook, so they write cookbooks. What do you do? What are your “recipes”? What’s your “cookbook”? What can you tell the world about how you operate that is informative, educational and promotional?”
Virtual-knowledge empires are being built online with people and companies sharing what they know. What do you know that you could teach? The world needs you.
ACTION
TODAY: Think about your business. What do you do? You obviously know how to do that very well. How about teaching it to those who are interested? Emulate chefs!
FUTURE: Share your gift of knowledge with those around you. Even if you don’t go outside your company, you can share the know-how with new hires, for example. Or you can set up an internal program for professional growth and development and share your experience and expertise. The more you share, the better you’ll feel and the more of an impact you’ll have on those that surround you.
Know someone who needs to emulate chefs and write a “cookbook”? Please share this post with that person via email, Facebook or Twitter, thanks!
by Helena Escalante | Goals, Growth, Habits, Mindset, Resources, Tools, Willpower
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes, 46 seconds.
TODAY’S IDEA: The elements of grit
— From The Icarus Deception: How High Will You Fly? by Seth Godin
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines grit—in a behavioral sense—as “firmness of mind or spirit.” Psychologist and author Angela Duckworth describes grit as “passion and perseverance for long-term goals,” according to her awesome book: GRIT: The Power of Passion and Perseverance.
Marketing guru Seth Godin, in his book The Icarus Deception, defines grit as “the attitude of someone who realizes he has the power to care and is intent on doing something with it.”
Regardless of the definition that you like best, grit is real, albeit hard to describe and quantify. Many authors have racked their brains to figure out what constitutes grit and how to develop, nurture, and grow it. Godin says, “Grit is our future. Our best and brightest future.”
How so?
Because, “Grit is the unexpected bump, the decision that cannot be changed, the insistence on a vision, or the ethics of a creator. Grit stands in the way of the short-term compromises of the industrialist.” Godin goes on, “The grit in your spinach is precisely the same grit that we seek out in a leader or a hero. We measure sandpaper and grindstones in terms of grit—their ability to stand up to resistance. Someone with grit will grind down the opposition, stand up in the face of criticism, and consistently do what’s right for their art.”
So, if grit is so important, what are the elements that we must grow within ourselves? Here’s a list that Godin outlines as a compilation of the work of many authors including, of course, Duckworth’s.
Perseverance: “Many people mistake perseverance for grit. Grit includes perseverance, but it comes before the need for perseverance arrives, because grit includes goals and a passion for those goals. Some people will persevere merely because they are instructed to do so. Those with grit will persevere because they believe they have no choice, not if they wish to be who they are.”
Hardiness: “If the grind is wearing you down, then you may be viewing the grind as the enemy, something apart from the work itself. The person with grit, on the other hand, understands that the grind is part of what makes the work interesting, a challenge worth doing. If there were no grind, you’d need no grit.”
Resilience: “As the marketplace continues to create obstacles and deal setbacks, bringing grit to the problem (as a process, not a single event) turns every obstacle into a learning process, not a momentary hassle to be dealt with. […] The endless emergency of getting it over with is replaced by the daily practice of doing the work. This shift in attitude transforms the work and the worker.”
Ambition: The desire for accomplishment, power or superiority has nothing to do with grit, except that people committed to a goal and a way of being are often given credit for having those things. […] Grit exists whether or not it leads to measurable external success. Grit is its own reward.”
Commitment: “People with grit consciously set long-term goals that are difficult to attain and do not waver from these difficult goals, regardless of the presence of feedback.”
Flow: “Something extraordinary happens when we are swallowed by our passion, focused beyond all reason, deep into something we care about. […] What you are engrossed in isn’t nearly as important as the fact of being engrossed.”
And I would add a sense of meaning and belonging to the list above. A sense of meaning: because we must be aware of the positive outcome that our actions will create, and that must be important for us. And belonging: because we must feel that we are part of the change we are seeking to make.
ACTION
TODAY: Do you have grit? Take this quiz and find out where you stand on the grit scale.
FUTURE: Remember that all the elements of grit are internal, that is, they come from within you (vs. the outside from your loved ones or colleagues, for instance). Make it a habit to examine in which of your long-term goals you exhibit passion and perseverance. And if there are any that are falling through the cracks, look at the elements above and figure out which one you need to inject into the project to make it come back to life again (that is, of course, if you want to continue with said project; if not, focus your energy and your grit to where they will yield the best results).
Please share this post with someone you admire for his or her grit. You can do so via email, Facebook or Twitter, thanks!
by Helena Escalante | Accountability, Celebration, Collaboration, Goals, Growth, Leadership, Mindset, Networking, Opportunity, Resources, Time, Tools
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes, 21 seconds.
TODAY’S IDEA: 46 strategies for businesspeople to deal with tough times
— From The Little BIG Things: 163 Ways to Pursue EXCELLENCE by Tom Peters
Excellence guru Tom Peters started his blog in 2004. Shortly thereafter, he started publishing “success tips” and this book, The Little BIG Things, is a compilation of them. It’s an easy read, and it’s full of great advice. (Any advice from Tom Peters is golden!)
Peters is a famous author (In Search of Excellence and many more books) and a sought-after speaker. For a seminar in Finland in 2009, he developed these 46 “Secrets” and “Strategies” for Dealing with the Severe Downturn of 2007. However, after reading through them, I realized that they easily apply to both good and bad times. And as it relates to rough times, they may be of any kind, not just economic. Personally or professionally, whether you find yourself in the midst of real turmoil or just having a bad hair day (see #13), I’m sure you’ll find some words of wisdom and guidance that can help. Here are the 46 secrets and strategies verbatim:
- You come to work earlier.
- You leave work later.
- You work harder.
- You may well work for less; and, if so, you adapt to the untoward circumstances with a smile—even if it kills you inside.
- You volunteer to do more.
- You dig deep, deeper, deepest—and always bring a good attitude to work.
- You fake it if your good attitude flags.
- You literally practice your “stage face” in the mirror each morning, and in the loo mid-morning.
- You give new meaning to the idea and intensive practice of “visible management.”
- You take better than usual care of yourself and encourage others to do the same—physical well-being significantly impacts mental well-being and response to stress.
- You shrug off sh*t that flows downhill in your direction—buy a shovel or a “preworn” raincoat on eBay.
- You try to forget about the “good old days”—nostalgia is self-destructive. (And boring.)
- You buck yourself up with the thought that “this too shall pass,” but then remind yourself that it might not pass anytime soon; and so you rededicate yourself to making the absolute best of what you have now—character is determined, virtually in full, by one’s reaction to adverse circumstances.
- You work the phones and then work the phones some more—and stay in touch with, and on the mind of, positively everyone.
- You frequently invent breaks from routine, including “weird” ones—”change-ups” prevent wallowing in despair and bring a fresh perspective.
- You eschew all forms of personal excess.
- You simplify.
- You sweat the details as never before.
- You sweat the details as never before.
- You sweat the details as never before.
- You raise to the sky and maintain—at all costs—the Standards of Excellence by which you unfailingly and unflinchingly evaluate your own performance.
- You are maniacal when it comes to responding to even the slightest screw-up.
- You find ways to be around young people and to keep young people around—they are less likely to be members of the “sky is falling” school. (Naïveté can be a blessing.)
- You learn new tricks of your trade.
- You pass old tricks of the trade on to others—mentoring matters now more than ever.
- You invest heavily in your Internet-Web2.0-Twitter-Facebook-“cloud”-computing skills.
- You remind yourself, daily, that this is not just something to be “gotten through”—it is the Final Exam of Competence, of Character, and, even if you’re not a boss, of Leadership. (People often make great leaps in a short period during difficult times.)
- You network like a demon.
- You network like a demon inside the company—get to know more of the folks who “do the real work,” and who can be your most dependable allies when it comes to getting things done seamlessly and fast.
- You network like a demon outside the company—get to know more of the folks “down the line,” who “do the real work” in vendor-customer outfits. (They can become, and will become, your most avid allies and champions.)
- You offer thanks to others by the truckload if good things happen—and take the heat if bad things happen.
- You behave kindly, but you don’t sugarcoat or hide the truth—humans are startlingly resilient, and rumors are the real spirit-killers.
- You treat small successes as if they were World Cup victories—and celebrate and commend people accordingly.
- You shrug off the losses (ignoring what’s going on in your tummy), and get back on the horse and immediately try again.
- You avoid negative people to the extent you can—pollution kills.
- You read the riot act to the gloom-sprayers, once avoiding them becomes impossible. (Gloom is the ultimate “weapon of mass destruction” in tough times.)
- You give new meaning to the word thoughtful.
- You don’t put limits on the budget for flowers—”bright and colorful” works marvels.
- You redouble and re-triple your efforts to “walk in your customer’s shoes.” (Especially if the shoes smell.)
- You mind your manners—and accept others’ lack of manners in the face of their strains.
- You are kind to all humankind.
- You keep your shoes shined.
- You leave the blame game at the office door.
- You call out, in no uncertain terms, those who continue to play the “office politics” game.
- You become a paragon of personal accountability.
- And then you pray.
ACTION
TODAY: Keep this list handy: you can print it directly from Tom Peters blog.
FUTURE: Keep coming back to this list whenever you need quick and helpful advice. It works wonders as a pep talk too.
Know someone who is having a bad day? Please share this post via email, Facebook or Twitter, thank you!
by Helena Escalante | Celebration, Collaboration, Creativity, Goals, Growth, Habits, Leadership, Mindset, Resources, Tools
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes, 40 seconds.
TODAY’S IDEA: The Celebration Principle
— From Mentoring 101: What Every Leader Needs to Know by John C. Maxwell
Happy 4th of July! Today we are celebrating Independence Day in the United States. And it’s a great day to talk about celebration.
In his book Mentoring 101, leadership guru John C. Maxwell talks about what he calls The Celebration Principle: “the true test of relationships is not only how loyal we are when friends fail, but how thrilled we are when they succeed.”
Why does this even merit writing about? Shouldn’t this be a given?
Yes and no.
Yes, because we should all celebrate success, whether our own or someone else’s. And, no, because not everybody feels that way. Oscar Wilde said it best: “Anybody can sympathize with the sufferings of a friend, but it requires a very fine nature to sympathize with a friend’s success.”
Maxwell wrote a book called Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes Into Stepping Stones for Success a few years back, and quickly found out that everyone identifies with failure. “Everybody has failed, so [sharing failure is] a great way to connect. The problem is that because people so readily identify with failure, they sometimes have a hard time connecting with success. And if they don’t identify with success, they may resent it.”
Maxwell goes on to say that the same qualities that prevent people from succeeding (insecurity, jealousy, etc.), prevent them from celebrating the success of other people. “They constantly compare themselves to others and find themselves wanting. As a result, they have a hard time getting beyond themselves.”
“Beware of the green-eyed monster,” warns Maxwell. “If most people were honest, they would admit to feelings of jealousy or envy when they witness others’ success—even when the people succeeding are close friends or people they’ve mentored.”
So, how to avoid feeling this way? The author suggests doing the following four things:
1. Realize it’s not a competition. “It’s very difficult to achieve success without help. […] Life is better in a community of people you love and who also love you.” Maxwell offers the following reflections to keep in mind and to “be the rare kind of person who is happy when others succeed.”
My success can be achieved only with others.
My lessons can be learned only from others.
My weaknesses can be strengthened only by others.
My servanthood can be tested only under others’ leadership.
My influence can be compounded only through others.
My leadership can be focused only on others.
My best can be given only to others.
My legacy can be left only for others.
So I should commit myself to and celebrate with others!
2. Celebrate when others see success. “Not everyone views success the way you do… look at things from other people’s point of view. What are their dreams? What goals have they set? What battles are they fighting?” Celebrate with them when they accomplish something that is important to them!
3. Celebrate successes others don’t yet see. “Sometimes people make great strides and aren’t even aware of it. [… Have you ever] worked on a project and felt discouraged by your progress, but had someone else marvel at what you accomplished? It is inspiring and makes you want to work that much harder.” Same goes for you, celebrate the successes of the people that surround you, especially those that they may not see.
4. Celebrate most with those closest to you. “The closer people are to you and the more important the relationship, the more you ought to celebrate. Celebrate early and often with those closest to you—especially with your spouse and children if you have a family. It’s usually easy to celebrate victories on the job or in a hobby or sport. But the greatest victories in life are the ones that occur at home.”
ACTION
TODAY: Look at the people who surround you and look for things to celebrate that they don’t see. It will be a nice surprise when you point those things out! Celebrate with a nice word, an email, a handwritten note, a cupcake, a full party (if you have time to plan it), or however you see fit. The goal is to start celebrating!
FUTURE: Make it a habit to celebrate and share the successes of others. Be genuinely happy for them and your life will be all the better for it. And don’t forget to share your success with others too, so that they can celebrate with you.
Celebrate someone’s success by sharing this post! You can do so via email, Facebook or Twitter, thanks!
by Helena Escalante | Celebration, Creativity, Goals, Growth, Mindset, Opportunity, Planning, Resources, Time, Tools
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes, 42 seconds.
TODAY’S IDEA: Fresh start
— From WHEN: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Dan Pink
July is the start of the second half of the year. Where did the first half go? It evaporated!
How did you do? Did you move forward in your goals? What did you accomplish? Where do you need to change course? Where do you need to start again?
I did very well in some areas and, frankly, I’m not proud to admit that I had no progress whatsoever in others… (!). But I must accept and learn what went well and what didn’t, so as to course-correct and move forward.
Tama Kieves, in her book A Year Without Fear, says “Focus on your present chances, not your past disadvantages. Are you repeating history by repeating the story of your history? The past is over. It’s a new dawn. It’s a new you. There are infinite chances to reinvent yourself. The past is over.”
As we move on with the rest of the year, today is one of those infinite chances to reinvent yourself. So, how about starting again in this second half of the year with those goals that stalled somewhere between January and June?
Dan Pink, in his book WHEN, says that “Just as we human beings rely on landmarks to navigate space—‘To get to my house, turn left at the [gas] station’—we also use landmarks to navigate time.” These dates are called temporal landmarks.
Further, some people use these temporal landmarks to start anew, and this is called “the fresh start” effect. Pink explains, “ To establish a fresh start, people [use] two types of temporal landmarks—social and personal. The social landmarks were those that everyone shared: Mondays, the beginning of a new month, national holidays. The personal ones were unique to the individual: birthdays, anniversaries, job changes.”
“Temporal landmarks interrupt attention to day-to-day minutiae, causing people to take a big picture view of their lives and thus focus on achieving their goals.”
Pink offers a list of 86 days in the year that are especially effective to make a fresh start:
- The first day of the month (12)
- Mondays (52)
- The first day of spring, summer, fall, and winter (4)
- Your country’s Independence Day or the equivalent (1)
- The day of an important religious holiday—for example, Easter, Rosh Hashanah, Eid al-Fitr (1)
- Your birthday (1)
- A loved one’s birthday (1)
- The first day of school or the first day of a semester (2)
- The first day of a new job (1)
- The first day after graduation (1)
- The first day back from vacation (2)
- The anniversary of your wedding, first date, or divorce (3)
- The anniversary of the day you started your job, the day you became a citizen, the day you adopted your dog or cat, the day you graduated from school or university (4)
- The day you finish [reading WHEN] (1)
ACTION
TODAY: Decide to make a fresh start on those goals that you want to get done this year. Today is the beginning of the second half of the year and a Monday too. Happy temporal landmarks!
FUTURE: Pick a few temporal landmarks between now and the end of the year to check in on your progress. That way you can always course-correct, pivot or start anew, remember that there are infinite chances to reinvent yourself.
Know someone who could use a fresh start today? Please share this post via email, Facebook or Twitter, thanks!
by Helena Escalante | Growth, Leadership, Mindset, Resources, Tools
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes, 29 seconds.
TODAY’S IDEA: Self-centeredness and empathy
— From Relationships 101: What Every Leader Needs to Know by John C. Maxwell
Have you ever played with a two-year-old child? “He naturally chooses the best toys for himself and insists on his own way,” says leadership guru John C. Maxwell in his book Relationships 101.
Is this self-centered? Yes, but not in a bad way. “People are not self-centered on purpose; it’s just in the nature of humans to think of their own interests first.”
At some point we are all taught to share our toys and food, to be kind and play nice with others, and to be compassionate and empathic. Yet it’s the empathy part that sometimes trips us, because it’s hard to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.
“One way to overcome our natural self-centeredness is to try and see things from other people’s perspectives,” says Maxwell. He goes on to quote Art Mortell, author of World Class Selling, who shared his experience: “Whenever I’m losing at chess, I consistently get up and stand behind my opponent and see the board from his side. Then I discover the stupid moves I’ve made because I can see it from his viewpoint. [The challenge] is to see the world from the prospect’s viewpoint.”
Maxwell explains that, no matter our profession, the challenge for all of us is to see the world that way. And he shares the following thoughts “to remind us of what our priorities should be when dealing with other people.”
A SHORT COURSE IN HUMAN RELATIONS
The least important word: I.
The most important word: We.
The two most important words: Thank you.
The three most important words: All is forgiven.
The four most important words: What is your opinion?
The five most important words: You did a good job.
The six most important words: I want you to understand you better.
ACTION
TODAY: Watch this video on empathy.
FUTURE: There is a powerful exercise that I did a few years back that opened my eyes, my heart and jumpstarted my empathy. Seth Godin says that “Empathy takes effort.” Thus, the exercise is simple but not easy – yet I hope you do it and find it as valuable as I did! It’s as follows: pick a group of people who believe something you don’t believe. Now write down their narrative from their standpoint. It doesn’t have to be a long essay, say 250-300 words will do. Write it in their words and from their point of view, as if you were part of that group. There is no right or wrong, and nobody will see this exercise but you. When I did this exercise, I chose to see the world through my competitors’ clients. It was after this that I started seeing my competitors as collaborators and colleagues, and I was able to reach out to them and create some powerful alliances. You will learn much from this exercise and truly understand someone else’s point of view.
Know someone who could learn something from this post? Please share via email, Facebook or Twitter, thanks!
