There is a lot we can learn from our phones and how we manage their power. Consider that:
- Sometimes the phone just shuts down even when it says it has a little bit of power still left; a moment of horror we can all relate to
- If the phone is completely drained it won’t turn back on right away when you plug it in to charge it; almost punishing us for letting it get so diminished
- How we use our phones (number of apps open, volume of cellular data usage, screen brightness, amount of video watched) impacts how quickly the battery is depleted; overtaxing or abusing it drains it faster
- There are things you can do to make your battery last longer; conservation is possible and makes a difference
Needing Inspiration: A Fool’s Errand
I can’t tell you how often I hear from clients and friends “I just need to get inspired” followed by “to (insert: something you need to do but don’t want to do).” Everyone seems to think that if they just found inspiration they would get done what needs to get done. But if you are like me, will you ever really be “inspired” to do bookkeeping, clean out my fridge, delete files from your hard drive, or do anything else so tedious? The reality is I’ll likely never be inspired to do these things, but they still need to get done. So searching for inspiration is a fools errand.
If you are looking to change an area of your life rather than obsess about the outcome you want, simply start keeping score. When you measure it, you focus on it, and typically take action to get the result you want. What game are you playing and what will it take to win?
One of the most important pieces of advice I often give people who ask me is quite simple - Just Do It. Too often people swirl in their ideas, dreams, thoughts and plans but never really stand up and say "I'm going ot make this @#%! happen!"
I’ve seen a number of people exit corporations to launch startups. One of the many challenges formerly corporate employee, now startup founders face is reframing expectations for success. It is extremely difficult to know if what you are doing is adequate because in startups there is often no “bar” for performance. So know that not knowing how well you are doing is a common experience.
A few years ago at my firm, we were doing culture workshops with teams around the world. There was a discussion about the idea of the proverbial grass being “greener” at competitors. Colleagues shared, “at Aon they do this or at Willis they do that” and that maybe everyone should go work elsewhere. At the back of the room, some very wise woman piped up and said, “If the grass is brown, water your own damn grass!” Amen - I couldn’t have said it better!
Change management is a cluttered field of study with many models, perspectives and methods. At my last firm I was blessed to help design and lead a transformative culture change to drive business results. The multi-year road to success was a total roller coaster, incredibly challenging and deeply rewarding. When I left the firm I reflected on what I thought were the most important things I learned in the journey and captured them.
What stands between you and your greatness? You.
You Are The Problem. Yep, that’s the sobering yet empowering news. The bad news is it makes you responsible. The good news is it gives you access and power to do something about it.
If you are a business owner, senior executive or even a product or project manager pay attention. Much of driving change, advancing strategy and winning in the market relies on changes within your firm to make it more competitive externally. Unfortunately, research has shown that the vast majority of major change initiatives fail.
What will your legacy be? Specifically in the context of your career, even your current role, have you considered what kind of mark you want to make? This is a question I find that very few people consider. Yet, focusing on the legacy you leave can help accelerate your career.
