All Green Lights #194 Failing forward. It’s a catchy term that’s popular right now. If you’re the kind of person who’s afraid to fail or doesn’t appreciate constructive feedback, please consider the following metaphor Laura Kelly shared with me: Now, imagine being on the road with only green lights…for everyone. How would that work? It wouldn’t. Hearing only positive feedback…
Don’t Be Reasonable #193 Excellence requires discipline. When you don’t have discipline, you get sloppy. When you get sloppy, you fit right in with the mediocrity the status quo fully supports. We were watching the post-game show after the Vikings played recently when the legendary Chuck Foreman (#44) made this statement about excellence “when you’re playing (the game) at a…
Own, Not Run #192 In a recent podcast with @shannonkmiles, she referenced a statement her coach made to her and her husband as they embarked upon starting their business. When they both cashed in their 401K to start their business, they began their entrepreneurial journey with sage advice from their business coach which she carries forward today. Bryan Miles and…
One Way Out #191 How often do you and your team keep doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results? (thank you for this definition of insanity Rita Mae Brown). If you are challenged with the results you’re having, it’s time to examine your patterns. Often we follow the same patterns out of convenience rather than challenging…
Playing Whack-a-Mole #190 If you’ve ever seen a game of Whack-a-Mole, you understand the sense of anxiety it creates. When it’s time to hit the moles, they seem to accelerate faster than you can react and it causes stress. Metaphorically speaking, this can be what a day in the life of any leader can feel like. I had a Whack-a-Mole…
Filling the Space We Have #189 I bought a new truck recently. It’s larger and newer than any car or truck I’ve owned. It’s technology with wheels, a very lovely ride, and has an amazing sound system. What more could I want, right? Not so. I don’t like how big this truck is. I am learning to drive differently than…
A Safe Space #188 Making it safe for people to tell you the truth is a muscle worth building. We all brush by opportunities to open the door and talk about deeper subjects, difficulties, vulnerabilities, and open wounds every day. When my Mom was in her years declining from Alzheimer’s, I longed to have deeper conversations with people about how…
Motivation is an Inside Job #187 A goal is not enough. It’s important, but it won’t motivate you when things are tough. How do you find your mojo if you really want to attain something but your mood isn’t supporting you? You can use external means: Great music, a quote, YouTube, a book – all for inspiration Work with someone…
There’s No Emergency #186 One of my colleagues was having a tough time with overcommitment and she felt completely swamped. She was chatting with several of us and asked, “who will I disappoint today?” What a rough question. No good answer can follow it. It suggests there is no way to honor my commitments, so I accept there’s nothing I…
Measuring Culture #185 While working on annual planning with a client, we embarked on a robust conversation about culture. The company will be 100 years old in just a few years, and the leadership team maintains a century-long commitment to excellence. One of the team members offered a great question to measure culture with: “How did you help your coworkers…