What's the Real Goal ?

I think there are times when we lose sight of our real goals.  Instead, we get convinced that executing our plan to achieve the goals is actually what it's about, and forget the plan itself isn't actually the goal.

I live and work in a world where we bring new ideas and ways of working (and being successful) to people.  If we're effective, people adopt these new methods and perform better.  But there are times when in our eagerness to demonstrate how well thought-out our ideas are, we lose sight that it's about people understanding and adopting what we speak about, rather than the need to transmit all the information we have.

I think it's better to get 100% traction on a smaller set of ideas, than to drown when confronted with all of them.  Of course, optimally we get both results - understanding and full content.  But, if we have to choose - choose wisely.

You - The Artist

We are all artists.  Seth's taught me that, and I've come to believe it.  We each perform our art every day doing whatever it is we do, from garbage collection to leading organizations to taking care of our kids.  Our art varies (as it should) and those really great artists stand out from the crowd as exceptional, in their own respective fields of expertise.

I had a week as an artist where I left no stone unturned, I performed to my own max, and it felt great.  I didn't short change my audience, and as a result I'm proud of the work I did.

When your experience combines with your talents, and you throw yourself into what you hope is a bravura performance - you'll never regret it.

I strongly encourage you - embrace that in your own life, and give it all you've got.  Be the artist you're capable of being.

Be Thankful

I had what in some instances might be considered a tough day on Sunday – It wasn’t really tough in the scheme of things – stuff just didn’t work out the way I’d planned, or hoped.  I was trying to get to another city  on the west coast for work– a 5.5 hour flight and I’d arranged to go early to both enjoy the day a little, and take some stress of travelling off.

Here’s what happened – I’d gotten up at 5am, and made my way through a mild snowstorm into the airport for an 08:00 flight.  They downgraded the airplane, made me do the extra security check, and couldn’t give me a seat until 25mins to departure, where I got the very last row.  Then the flight delayed.  Then the flight cancelled.  Then I couldn’t get re-booked, even though there were 3 more non-stops that day, and countless connections.  Flights were operating poorly all over the place due to the weather, even though my situation was mechanical in nature.  I ended up getting a 12:10 flight, but again due irregular ops at the airport, that plane was actually was scheduled to leave at 3:45 and eventually took off at 4pm.

But here’s why I was thankful – I made it, the plane didn’t crash, I ended up not sitting in the last row, I was able to do some preparation work while I waited and I felt better about the week’s tasks as a result.  What it costs me was some anxiety, and about 8 hours of my time, which truth be told I was going to try to enjoy casually – so nothing really lost.

I decided to be thankful rather than wound up as it made my day easier to deal with.  I tried to think consciously and positively, and appreciated the various assistance that was offered to me by others in the airport.  I don’t want to get all preachy here, but I would offer that I’m not sure what I’d have gained by being very angry and upset- I did see those people all day, and it didn’t work out well for them.

What I had reinforced from this was that some time things don’t go as planned, the situation often and frequently looks dire, and our response to it governs our experience.  But, you’ll get through it. I did.  My day wasn’t bad, and I hope I’m smart enough to have the same reaction next time. 

Motivation & Going the Extra Mile

Do you know people that work 60+ hour weeks and don't complain ?  How about those that volunteer for their community by coaching, or for their church by singing or advising those with less, or even in their families by being the 'go-to babysitters' ?

I'm sure you do, most of us know people that do those things, and perhaps some of us even do it ourselves -  but what motivates this behaviour ?   What drives us to get up at 5am, to work-out, or stay late and make personal sacrifices for the benefit of work or others in our lives.  In my work, we talk a little about business and personal agendas - the drivers we experience that cause us to do certain things.  But there's more to it I think.  Some people are simply wired to try a little harder out of a sense of wanting to be better, or the fear of the latter -  wanting to avoid looking worse.   I might suggest that there's an altruism spectrum, with Mother Theresa at one end, and a black-hole of selfishness on the other end.  Most of us are in the average, middle area, though some of us are clearly more altruistic than others.

These people tend to stand out in whatever group they find themselves in, they're the caring and giving ones.  It's great to recognize them, but the need to understand their motives doesn't always strike us.   I think it's a truism to suggest we can't force people to be selfless - not for any length of time anyway.  Any attempts to do that are misguided and ill-conceived.  The way to stimulate that behaviour is to reward the original motivation - show the fitness-oriented real gains in strength or capabilities, demonstrate to the work-focussed a raise, a promotion or a bigger office.  Show tangible results for those that strive to do a better job.  If I'd like to see someone try even harder, I might help them achieve the desired results they're aiming for, and in the process develop a sense of deep loyalty in that person.

Think about this the next time you see a situation, any situation where attempts are being made to force 'extra's' out of someone.  The way to see success here isn't a stick, or even a carrot for that matter...it's standing beside them and helping them realize the outcome they seek.