Why Meet?

Seth Godin posts on The new standard of meetings and conferences.  The piece provides practical approaches to making meetings/conferences work.  But I’m most intrigued by the implication of how organizations accept the status que.  The practice of pretending that yesterday’s dinner is really not left-overs.

I know many people who work in organizations that have meetings and interactions without knowing why.  Maybe it falls under blind allegiance, maybe a desire to hold onto what once was. 

Ever sat in a conference or meeting and found yourself more interested in your watch? 

Acknowledged or not, many leaders are under the hypnotic spell of being ok and satisfied.

Time for some creative discomfort and dissatisfaction.

Things Customers Don’t Care About

Took on a consulting project with a company who’s focus is on event marketing.  As I talked to the president this morning, the following list came to my mind (we were discussing what customers care about specifically):

  • Customers don’t care about a salesperson’s volume goal.
  • Customers don’t care about your sales ranking (specifically inside your organization).
  • Customers don’t care about the fine print in your literature/contract.
  • Customers don’t care if your manager read you the riot act in the morning conference call.
  • Customers don’t care about who should get the blame (inside your organization)for an order botched.
  • Customers don’t care about the poor technology your organization refuses to give up.
  • Customers don’t care about how tough your market is.

One thing was clear after our conversation; customers care about relationship (do you care, can you be trusted, can you be a difference-maker) and value (when the transaction is complete the customer feels good).

Lebron James’ Advice on Career

Hey_mom_2

Lebron James gave us some great advice on our careers the other day. 

As pictured above, Lebron’s mom came to his rescue after being fouled by Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.  Lebron is yelling for his mom to sit down.

Lebron would advise us that our moms need to remember were playing a game:-)

 

Advice for Barack Obama

This is not a political/2008 American election post.  This is some friendly/honest advice for Barack Obama.

For consistency, I’ll focus on things relating to leading.  So here goes:

  1. Embrace candor and don’t tell us what we want to hear.  I know political pundits and spin doctors would say that’s crazy, but its what most Americans want.
  2. Don’t assume that you’ve arrived or have been anointed.  Leadership is a responsibility and not a privilege.
  3. Surround yourself with people who are interested in doing the right thing, and not polling numbers.
  4. Since history will judge you by what you did and not what you said, make your decisions and carry them out.
  5. Tough roads are what make us great, so don’t shy from them.
  6. Be careful with people who are impressed by you.  Those types will tell you only what is in their best interest.
  7. Tell America what you’re for.  Anyone can say what their against.  Courage is found in the "for."
  8. Be specific, even if it costs you.
  9. Like all of us, we only get one shot at this thing called life, so make it count.
  10. There are no inside secrets.  So don’t assume anything.

The Boomers

Matthew Scott over at The Life’s Work Group posted this piece on boomer men.  It’s very telling.

I think the reality Matthew points out is really for all sexes and ages.  Boomer men are just a part of the sign post.  Many people can relate to the statistics, and many people are addicted to being entertained.

Life (and all the issues attached) is hard.  It’s a subtle temptation to desire ease, comfort and security. 

I believe all people were wired for adventure and risk.  The question always takes us back to our willingness to embrace this.

Is It the Economy?

With all of the talk about the economy one could get lost in the maze and forget where great opportunity can be found.  I don’t write this to diminish any pain you may be experiencing, but to remind you of what could be ahead of you.

In that spirit, look at the below post from a couple of weeks ago:

Having trouble in life and/or career? 

Think about the following:

  • Trouble is like fire in the furnace that removes impurities from gold-your gold.
  • Trouble is like a plow to soil being prepared for seed planting-seeds of a great life.
  • Trouble is like an inconvenient truth haunting you to move out of what’s familiar and comfortable.
  • Trouble and pain are relatives, and they both are megaphones for a deaf world (thanks to C.S. Lewis for that analogy).
  • Trouble is like a laser in a master surgeon’s hands that focuses exactly where the need is.
  • Trouble should move you to ask for help.
  • Trouble is like the rainstorm that precedes the sun and rainbow.

Found by the Reason

Be found by the reason and:

  • Your career will take off in ways you never imagined.
  • Your employer (even if they don’t know or understand it) will be pleased.
  • People will begin to ask questions.
  • A sense of purpose will pervade.
  • Networking becomes important because you have a story to tell.
  • You’ll discover that leadership is not soft.
  • Candor will become a tool.
  • Money and things will become less important.
  • There will be a test and you must face it.

You can choose to pass on acting on the above list.  It truly is an optional proposition.  Don’t believe in the hype/marketing that tells you to keep things on the surface.  Your circle of influence (customers, friends, family, etc.) wants more.