Finding and Aligning To Your Purpose

I often get asked what the most important thing I've learned from spending 3 decades at Disney and other Fortune 500 companies.  Here is my answer - and a practical tool you can use toward the end:

Many thoughtlessly say that "Less is more".  This is not true.  More is more.  But that isn't the point.  Because "more" is not always better.  Better is better.  Period.

So, how do you make your life better?  By NOT wasting time on things that don't add value to you.  You've been settling for FAR too long - and with the new year approaching, this is a good time to prepare for your long-overdue breakthrough!

So, where do you begin?  How do you identify what "better" is for your life?

The complication is that Life gets full of distractions when we aren't crystal clear on our purpose and we end up saying "yes" to things that eat up our time and don't fully serve who we really are.

The proven solution is to get more focused on what you (a unique person with a unique purpose) should uniquely be doing to realize the unique reasons you are alive.  The challenge with this (and the reason more people aren't successfully living the life of their dreams) is that it requires the combination of THREE things:

• What are you good at (your "natural" talents)?
• What do you love (your passions that make you happy to lose track of time)?
• What does the world need (and values enough to pay for)?

Take some time to clearly identify these three things.  Discuss with people that know you well and want you to be healthy, happy, and successful. When you can identify where these three areas overlap and take action to focus most/all your time there, I promise, you will see everything in your life get much better.  

Finally, when do you begin?  "Now" is almost ALWAYS the best time to start your breakthrough chapter.

Think about it.  But more importantly, do something about it...today!

What's On Your Short List?

Do you ever feel like you are busy every minute of the day, and still don't have time to do things that are truly important?

One thing consistently successful leaders do differently and better than anyone else is taking action on the right (most important) things.  How do they tame the distractions that plague the rest of us?

They create their "short list".

It's a simple two-part process.  The first step is creating your personal short list of the most important non-negotiables in your life.

• Values (The key driving forces of your life?)
• Standards (The clear line that defines what is truly UNacceptable)
• Goals (The absolutely MUST do things on your bucket list?)
• Relationships (Who are the most important "long-term" people in your life?)
• Belongings (what would you grab if your house caught on fire?)
• Activities (What pastimes are the most important to you for optimal physical/emotional/spiritual/mental health?)

Once you identify your short list(s), it becomes very clear what to say "yes" to - and just as importantly, what to say "no" to.  Both of which keep you from wasting time and energy - allowing you to be the most productive on the things you care most about. 

The next step is to use your list as a guide in creating your schedule.  Start with plugging in the non-negotiable priorities on your list first.  Then, if you have extra time/energy, fill in the rest with the next most important things.  When you are done with your time (you can't manufacture more of it), you say "no".

Yes, there are consequences for saying no, but the most successful people share that the temporary discomfort created by that transition always gives way to a high-performance, more aligned life of integrity.

How do you prefer to invest your life - in the things that you are passionate about, or settle for less?  Nothing will change unless YOU change your actions.

Think about it.  But more importantly, do something about it...today!

Buen Camino!

Are you yearning for an adventure?  How about one that is an internal adventure as well?

There is an experience that has been commonly described as "life changing" by nearly everyone who has attempted it.  It involves about a month of time, a lot of personal effort, and the willingness to take the first step...and a lot of steps afterwards.

The adventure?  The famed El Camino de Santiago.  A 500 mile walking pilgrimage across northern Spain and/or parts of France.  Similar to the Appalachian Trail in the U.S., the Camino de Santiago crosses countless villages, 4 mountain ranges, and expansive stretches of open country that allow for a unique life experience. 

The external adventure is definitely worth the price of admission, but it is the internal adventure that makes the experience life-changing.

Adventurers attempt "El Camino" for many different reasons, but all find that the time spent in deep thought creates a clarity of insight(s) that forever enhances the quality of Life afterwards.

So, how much is THAT worth?

Along the journey, a common phrase is "Buen Camino", (which literally means "good path") is generally received as "good luck and happy travelling".  It also has a deeper meaning - an acknowledgment that you see a person who is searching for "perfection".  This is related to the "pilgrimage" intent.  Becoming your best self - what God intends - is the goal.

How are you "doing" your life?  Are you merely existing and going with whatever happens by default?  Or are you purposefully living your unique life by design?

Whether it is a month-long pilgrimage across a foreign country or simply a series of daily meditative minutes to yourself before you start your day, I hope that you take some time to ponder HOW you want to live your life's journey - so you have a "Buen Camino"!

Think about it.  But more importantly, do something about it...today!

Considering Consideration

There seems to be a lot of concern recently about a lack of consideration in society. In particular, I find it very interesting to see a bizarre (and incorrect) application of the concept.

The politically correct (and logically INcorrect) interpretation is behaving in a way that will never offend or be contrary to what the other person wants. That is not being considerate. That is called "acquiescence. I just call it "caving in". Either way, it inappropriately disregards your opinions - which makes it INconsiderate of you, now doesn't it?

Being truly considerate begins with mutual respect. Mutual, as in TWO way. Always doing what the other desires is not mutual. Placing the other person in a position worthy of respect and consideration is good, as long as it is accompanied by an equal value on your own worth. In fact, undermining your value for the sake of others (who might be unreasonable or too easily offended) is a perverted sense of humility. This erroroneous position does not respect the diversity that YOUR perspective brings to the situation. (Isn't it interesting that some people, in the act of "championing diversity" actually deny people's opinions that differ from their own.) That lacks integrity.

The correct interpretation of being considerate is simply being aware of the other person (in thought, word, and deed) and literally considering how your behaviors could impact him/her before you take action. Once you have sincerely taken them into consideration, your behaviors are a separate issue.

Bottom line: Consider the impact your behaviors have on others, but have the courage to honestly act on YOUR legitimate preferences. They are JUST AS valuable as ANYone else's. Of course, the WAY you do this is the key. Open, honest, and diplomatic dialogue is important for developing healthy relationships that create mutual benefit. To be genuinely MUTUAL, everyone (YOU included) must be considered.

Think about it. But more importantly do something about it...today!

Are You Misspending Your Life?

We are all faced with a particular dilemma each and every day: Not enough resources to accomplish the things we want to do. Every day, we face choices. Each day, we make decisions.

Are you who you always wanted to be - living the life you always wanted to lead? Are you getting the outcomes you hoped for most?

With every tick of the clock, we invest a second of our life that we can never get back. We have limited time, and other resources: Energy (you have to sleep sometime), Money (we always would prefer more), Knowledge (what have you learned lately?), Skills (have you made the effort to master the abilities you need most?)...the list goes on.

Interestingly, there's a similarity among people that have their act together. Almost all have had a significant emotional/life-threatening experience (whether themselves or a loved one) that motivated them to identify what really, deeply, profoundly, personally matters to them in life. These foundational truths become the priorities for every decision they make. Being aligned internally creates the integrity we all see from the outside.

There is no reason to wait for a life-threatening experience! Commit to investing the time and effort to be introspective. Ponder what makes you unique. Consider what you value most in life. These will direct you toward your purpose. Once you have those "north stars" to guide you, you can determine how to maximize (say "yes" to) the activities that create your dreams and minimize (say "no" to) those activities that do not contribute towards your unique purpose.

Don't squander another minute on behaviors that don't get you the life you desire most. You don't get a second chance. And your first/only chance is slipping away every moment you delay...

Think about it. But more importantly, do something about it...today!

Your Personal Pre-Shift Meeting

Wouldn't it be great if EVERYone consistently did the right thing on a regular basis? How do the best leaders accomplish this? Well, one example is Ritz-Carlton. Like other world-class companies, they are known for consistent behaviors because they stay focused on common values - and the behaviors that reflect those values.

The key is consistency of communication and accountability. Every Ritz-Carlton property - and every department at each property - hold a pre-shift meeting where everyone participates in a reminder about that day's assigned value. As part of this process, they discuss examples of what behaviors have/can bring that value to life for that day (with the understanding that every value should be lived each and every day), with ongoing feedback. Since the information is constantly "top of mind", it becomes easier (and more natural) to reinforce what behaviors are appropriate and why.

You can do this for yourself! Generate YOUR most important values/standards and then at the beginning of each day, one at a time, focus on how to bring that day's value to life in action - whether it be with journaling, meditation, or discussions with a colleague. Then rotate around to the beginning of your list when you get to the end. Consider it a daily action plan - and an opportunity to communicate through word AND deed what you value most.

Over time, you will find what Ritz-Carlton has found - the behaviors that reflect YOUR personal values will become a habit, and you will enjoy the benefits of a life of true integrity. Simple (and low cost) actions with profound results.

Think about it. But more importantly do something about it...today!

The Word "No" Is Your Friend

Colleague Jerry Weintraud once said "Every minute doing one thing is a minute NOT doing something else. Every choice is another choice not made." These two sentences hold a profound truth that we should all apply to our lives.

Most of us say that we have too many responsibilities - too many urgent items on our "to do" list. An overwhelming professional workload that seems impossible to balance with our overwhelming personal workload.

Sound familiar?

Usually, the root problem lies in saying "yes" to the wrong things. As leaders/role models we want to be action-oriented "make it happen" people who take on challenges and get results. Examining the most successful people, we find a counter-intuitive situation: They get more accomplished by saying "no"!

Yes. Saying "no" to the less important tasks (as urgent as they may be) frees up time to invest in the more important tasks.

Clearly identifying your priorities (Values, Vision, etc.) and measuring every request with the questions: "Will this task play a significant role in getting me to my most important goals?" helps spotlight what to start saying "no" to.

Here's an activity I did often with my executives at Disney: Imagine having an 8th day a week - what would you do? (Many responded with "Spend more time with family", "Work out", "Do more strategic planning", "Develop myself & my team", etc.) Then we would do an activity where they prioritize their responsibilities from top most important (not simply urgent) to least important. They were then tasked with delegating or deleting the bottom 15% of their list. THAT became their "extra day of the week". [Trumpets sounded, a shaft of light comes down from the sky onto them, they tingle all over...well, you know what I mean...] They were then guided to filling in that new found time with the wish list they generated earlier.

Try this exercise yourself and start saying "no" to the less important things that steal precious time from you accomplishing your very best.

Think about it. But more importantly, do something about it...today!

Are You Free Or Fantastic?

Have you noticed that, these days, your customers are more demanding? The recent economic challenges have caused us all to be more thoughtful and demanding when it comes to spending our hard-earned dollars. How do you compete when, more and more, people expect something for nothing?

As wonderful as the Internet can be, it is also the source of easy access to the lowest price option. In fact, "the low, low price of FREE" is becoming a common goal in the race towards commoditization. Bottom line: When there's nothing special/different/better about your product or service, why should anyone pay more for it than the cheapest source?

The only time it makes good business sense to offer something for free (or even at no profit) is if there is strategic value. Either 1. To entice your customer so they do business with you and you can sell them more items where you make your (ultimate) profit; or 2. to use it as a tool to gain exposure/awareness for future sales.

Otherwise, the "strategy of free" is, ultimately, a default strategy for going out of business.

The only other strategy is to be "fantastic". Designing your product or service so customers experience a "WOW" means you can charge (and they will pay) a premium. (At Disney, we used to call this "pixie dust" - you can do it too!) Not only do you get a buzz of publicity (happy customers tell everybody!), but you earn profit that actually keeps your business in business.

Wouldn't you prefer that scenario?

What does the "strategy of fantastic" require? Simply adding value at every touch point of your customer's experience. Exceed their expectation (by being different/better) every step of the way and they will come back - AND tell all their friends/family to do business with you too!

Think about it. But more importantly, do something about it...today!

THE Performance Dimensions

This blog is for any of us who work for a company or who own a company. (Those set-for-life/not interested in ever working again folks can go back to sleep...)

The key part of improving you/your business is knowing what to look for to determine what direction you're moving. Here's the good news: Your checklist has arrived!

What do you get when you cross-reference the most admired organizations with the most successful companies (Fortune 500), then survey executives, board members and analysts from the 24 industries represented? You get an amazing insider's view of what dimensions to focus on when planning or measuring your improvement process.

Here are the 9 dimensions:

• Innovation (How creative are you in breaking new ground - both internally and externally?)
• Quality of management (leadership throughout your operation)
• Quality of products & services (what impacts your ultimate customer experience)
• Long-term investment values (Are you connected/committed to the long haul?)
• Social responsibility to community and environment (Making a difference beyond your bottom line creates meaningful purpose)
• Ability to attract, develop, and retain top talent (The best talent exists - the goal is to create an environment that they passionately want to join)
• Financial soundness (Are you healthy/balanced in access to liquid funds?)
• Use of corporate assets (Are you responsible with how you use your resources?)
• Effective in doing business globally (How connected are you to people beyond your borders?)

Use this list to stimulate discussion with YOUR work team. Think about -and take ACTION on -your business differently: adopting a better strategic approach will lead to the kind of proven success the best world-class businesses enjoy.

YOU deserve the best results for your best efforts. Time to step up, step out, and break through.

Think about it. But more importantly, do something about it...today!

Recruiting For Keeps

I just finished a session with a European association of Human Resource professionals who are struggling with their recruitment efforts. The common complaint is that "there are no good people to hire". Actually, the truth is that there are PLENTY of good people out there. The real challenge is that they already have jobs working elsewhere. (After all, why would a legitimate good quality employee be out of a job...really? If you create a great culture, they will come to you!)

While many people asked questions about how to get more people to fill vacancies, the real root problem is two-fold:

1. Not keeping existing "right fit" talent
2. Not selecting new "right fit" talent

Employee retention is a chronic challenge for most organizations. Taking care of the people you have is a full-time job. Maintenance is not my strength, but I've always made sure that I engaged an internal support system to ensure people felt supported and cared for. Open communication, rewards & recognition, personal development, and mutual respect are just some of the tools you can use to create a culture that remains dynamic and attractive. When people are involved, they can create the kind of workplace that jazzes them most - every day. Involvement is directly correlated to engagement, buy-in, and ownership. When people are in an environment where they can connect with their passion and really make a difference every day, they will actually fight rather than leave.

As for not selecting "right fit" talent, this is usually the result of either not knowing how to articulate the non-negotiables of your unique culture (values, vision, standards, personality, etc.), or a lack of discipline in holding out for a right fit - instead hiring any warm body to fill the position short-term. Regarding this last issue, I've found that the team will bear the wait longer if they a) understand the value of holding out for a good fit colleague, b) are confident that the person selecting the new colleague has the same criteria as they do for "right fit", and c) the person selecting the new hire is working as hard as they are covering the additional responsibilities.)

When you hire the right people and maintain the relationship, it will continue to grow and stay healthy...just like any dynamic relationship. (Feel free to test this in your personal relationships too!)

And, yes, YOU can influence your recruitment process.

Think about it. But more importantly, do something about it...today!

What Vision Tool Lacks True Vision?

I've been noticing a disturbing trend. It involves people focusing themselves on their future.

Now, I'm all for people being strategic about where they want to go. I'm a huge advocate, in fact. My problem is the way some folks are going about this very important task.

They're creating "Vision Boards".

I'm not even really against Vision Boards (where people cut out and post pictures that represent their vision for their best future as a form of daily inspiration/reminder.) I just have an issue with the way a lot of people (most?) are doing them...because they are severely missing the point and undermining themselves.

Most people cut out photos of homes, cars, vacation spots, jewelry, expensive clothes, etc. - in other words "things". Of course, owning things is not, in and of itself, a bad thing. It's just that "things" are an outcome of being successful - NOT success. Trust me. Having all the "toys" is nice, but despite enjoying them, it is not what makes you successful or happy. Once you get the "things" - what next?

It is much more helpful to develop a Vision that reflects a more noble (unchanging) goal: who you want to BE. The difference you want to make. The impact you'll have on people's lives. Not as easy to find magazine photos of these things, but they are the real, deep-seeded driver that inspires/motivated your efforts in the long run.

Success is really about others. Things are usually about self.

Ironically, your "self" benefits most when you benefit others best.

So, what's your "True North"? Is it compelling you to grow and improve today? Are you moving in the right direction?

Think about it. But more importantly, do something about it...today!

How Many Days Have You Lived?

I was working with a client organization the other day and saw a sign in the machine shop. It was one of those typical signs that state how many days the team had gone without an accident. During my conversation with the shop manager, we discussed the previous day's leadership workshop on aligning Values, Talent, and Vision and how it related to the common safety sign.

People keep track of things that are important. Things like safety. Why then, do we not measure other things that are just as/more important?

For example, the client's safety sign read "123 days without an accident". Why don't we have a sign in our homes that read "18,250 days that I haven't died?" Unfortunately (or fortunately), we can't have a sign with the number of days we have left in life. I'd bet that would be a sign everyone would pay attention to.

Maybe I was wondering about this because I had just gotten news of the unexpected death of a friend's husband. We don't often think of how many days we've been alive - or that those days are numbered...somewhere. Maybe we should. How would that change our results in life?

Imagine instead if we had a sign that measured how many days we really lived! This was the discussion I had with the manager. "What if people were focused on what was truly important to them (Values), and what they were best at doing (Talent) that propelled them forward towards a goal that was compelling and desirable for them (Vision)"? As their leader, his job is to help them make that happen.

That is ALL of our jobs: To identify those things and take action to see that we stay on course. Every day.

Wouldn't it feel GREAT to add a new number each day to your sign "How Many Days I've Really Lived = X"??

Think about it. But more importantly, do something about it...today!