Response Ability?

Being held answerable or accountable is the official definition of responsibility.  No one LIKES to be held accountable...unless, of course, it is to be recognized for success!  Generally, when we hear the word "accountable", our human nature tends to encourage us to quietly step back.  Why is this and what can we do about it to be more successful?

People often avoid responsibility because of the possibility for pain if things don't go well.  It usually means working harder to oversee the activity.  It means showcasing/testing your skills and putting a part of you on the line: Your relationships and reputation.  Bottom line, it requires extra effort and personal vulnerability - not exactly a recipe for drawing throngs of eager participants.

Healthy people generally want to avoid harmful pain.  Risk, change, responsibility/accountability all involve what may be seen as unnecessary pain, unless approached in a healthy way.

So, what is the best way to be accountable?  Justify then support the risk/effort.

Making the circumstances conducive to embracing the opportunity is the first step.  Determine the discomfort/pain threshold and then create consequences that make the risk worthwhile.  For example, to encourage someone to take on a project (or hold them accountable for an action they are already responsible for), make the reward clearly worth the effort - or make the "punishment" worth avoiding.  Quite frankly, it's all about priorities - when not doing it becomes more painful than doing it, people will usually do it.

The second step is to support the process of taking on the responsibility. Having the "ability" to be responsible is proven only by ACTION.  Plain & simple: If a person truly cares enough to do something and is able to do it, they do it.  Period.

As it's been said: We judge ourselves by our intentions.  Others judge us by our actions/results.

So...how "response able" are you...really?

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

New Projects Goal: Thrilling...and Terrifying?

One of the Producers of this year's Academy Awards made a very interesting comment. He said "I know a project is a good one when I'm 50% thrilled and 50% terrified."

What a surprising...and profound statement!

Imagine if that were your new criteria from now on...how would your career change? We love the thought of experiencing the thrill of making a difference and achieving things that we are passionate about. Then, couple with that the terror of not being completely in control - of not being sure how to accomplish what must be done to be successful. Maybe even not even being sure that you have the skill or resources or (whatever) to pull it off without "going down in flames".

Wow. Kinda intriguing, eh?  For me, it sounds like a pretty good definition of being fully alive.

Actually, if we really analyze our very best moments - when we've done transformational things beyond our expectation - we have done just that. We expect to be able to do what we currently can do...but that never stetches us or causes us to grow. The only time we can really exceed expectations is to attempt more than we can successfully do...at this moment.

The striving for a risky goal just out of reach is what builds skills, knowledge, and ability...and reveals character.

How far we go depends on how much we grow. How much we grow depends on how much (and how often) we risk beyond our current abilities.

Isn't it interesting how a single comment can be a catalyst for deeper thought - and, if we choose to truly act - an improvement in behavior/direction.

Now excuse me while I go terrify myself...

Think about it...but more importantly, act on 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!

Impression or Impact?

You may have heard the sayings - they all make the same point:

All sizzle but no steak.
All hat and no cattle.
All talk and no action.
All style and no substance.

Question of the day (week/month/year) - Are you making an Impression or an Impact? Isn't it intriguing how some people are busybusybusy trying to create a short-term fake "buzz" when they could invest that same effort into developing a REAL long-lasting impact instead?

Impressing people may generate attention - at least for a little while - but they rarely last more than a season. It's kind of like the difference between celebrities and stars. One of my Disney jobs included working with "Talent" for special events. It's interesting how some people have temporary fame - they are hot for a while, then when it becomes obvious they are not talented (or talented in only one thing that loses favor) - they fade away. They might make a interesting first impression, but there's no depth to keep our attention. So they lose significance.

Creating an impact is about making a difference. Being memorable for more than just getting attention - it is about making something that matters. True stars stay interesting for years. They develop and contribute in ways that continue to add value to the productions they are involved in. Typically, they are more than good looks and a great agent - they are constantly improving their craft, or selecting projects that add value, or just plain give back to others.

Trust me, word gets around. (As it does about each of us.)

Making an impact isn't complicated. Focusing on being "on-purpose" and (daily) building something of value is what gives life more meaning.

And who doesn't, ultimately, want a life that makes a meaningful difference?
Think about it. But more importantly, do something about it..today!

A Hungry Dog Hunts Best

Hall of Fame golfer Lee Trevino once said "A hungry dog hunts best." Ever since my mother became friends with Lee a few decades ago, I've enjoyed his earthy way of being both fun and, at times, profound. This quote is a great example.

Over the past couple of years, both clients and colleagues have been asking me about how to thrive in these difficult times. I'm happy to help, but I also know challenging times should serve as a powerful reminder about what balance and good business health really is.

Whether in the physical sense or in the business sense, I've found that I actually enjoy being a little bit hungry at all times. Being extremely hungry? Definitely not! But even when everything is going fan-freaking-tastic, I strongly believe being a little hungry is healthy.

Being hungry reminds me of what's important. It keeps me aware and focused. It keeps me lean and agile. Being hungry keeps me needing to be ever more creative with my use of resources. It builds discipline. Finally, being a little hungry makes me appreciate that I'm not extremely hungry.

I encourage you to embrace hunger a little more today. Then stretch it to a week. Then a month. Then make it a lifestyle. I believe you'll be healthier as a result.

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

Using Pain as a Tool...the Good Kind.

Let me begin by stating, for the record, that I'm NOT a masochist. I do NOT enjoy pain. When I am in pain, I generally get cranky. I'm not fun. Things tend to get nasty. Not good.

But, there are different kinds of pain. The most successful people identify what pain really is and how to manage it for our benefit.

Pain is feedback. Pain is our body's way of telling us that we are doing something beyond our ability at the moment. Just a natural little "head's up". We should pay attention.

Sometimes the pain is physical: Like a hand on a hot stove. Good that we're experiencing that sensation of pain - it warns us to move our hand - quickly - before more damage can be done. It can also be physical pain, as in "my muscles are sore from my new workout routine". This is simply saying that we're enduring the pain of building muscle. Again, a good thing in moderation.

There's also mental/emotional pain as well. Recent example for me? Writing/publishing a book (At the rpinter's now - due out in a month!) Painful. But sometimes, learning (like building muscle) requires discomfort in the pursuit of growth. (Boy, have I learned a LOT during this publishing process!) This kind of pain can be caused by everything from guilt, to fear, to mere impatience (me and the publishing process). When we are tested, we can often gain benefits useful for us later in life. I feel like my (painful) lessons during this book publishing process fall into that category. Like eating right, exercising, and being disciplined in finances - not always fun, but almost always "good for you".

I guess the key is understanding when pain is the good kind or the bad kind. When is it too much? At what point does it become "worth it"?

To me, a big part of that answer is tied into why you are doing it. Does it align with your values and purpose? Does it support the greater (than self) good? Is the process making you a better person as a result?

All I know is that when I get over the "soreness" (whether physical or mental/emotional pain), I typically feel like I've gained something of value...even if that is learning never to do THAT again. The trick is to pay attention every time so we don't go too far down a negative path.

That is what set the most successful people apart: They are aware and take action to do something about it. Every day.

Some people say it takes discipline to do that.

I say it BUILDS discipline to do that.

What are YOU building?

Think about it...but more importantly, DO something about it. Today!

Getting Experienced...In A Good Way

As a collector of quotes - and life experiences - I just came across an aphorism by Louis L'Amour that is my current favorite: "You can't learn anything from experiences you're not having".

So much meaning. So few words.

Business life is too often full of mere talk. People analyze and study and discuss and have meetings and argue and write reports and present and talk some more...and wonder why nothing gets done!

In order to get new results, we have to "do new". "New" requires learning. Learning requires engagement. Engagement requires action. In short: Having experiences.

Ironically, the most successful people are those that take action before there's a 99% chance of success. They leap earlier - 80%? - and learn along the way. This earns them a competitive edge.

The key? That edge is NOT just the results of the action. What creates the real edge is their experience...what they gained from actually taking action.

It's an edge that can be realized no other way.

So, connect the dots for yourself this year. Step out in a way that you never have before - and experience more...learn more...grow more.

You'll soon see it makes all the difference in the world.

And your world will never be the same.

Isn't that what you want? A better life?

Go out and get some more experience...in a good way! ;)

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