And Then Comes...The Judgment

One of my current clients is a new international media company - full of young, fresh-faced employees that want to change the world. Very exciting stuff. I'm loving the high-energy, the fearless attitudes, and the willingness to be creative/innovative. All these characteristics are worth their weight in gold.

Their problem? They've discovered a troubling trend. They'll select an idea, then all start working out different aspects of that idea to being it into production, then - something invariably derails the process. Again and again, someone on the team (different every scenario) does something that causes the rest of the carefully laid dominoes to fall.

Bummer.

They've come to realize that the common denominator is "bad judgment". Their zeal, overdone, becomes a liability.

The key ingredient to good judgment is experience. Judgment requires comparing things and making an educated guess - a guess based on probability - gathered from the experience with the various aspects of the situation.

For example, if I'm in my car trying to pull out into busy highway traffic, I use my past experience to gauge the speed of the oncoming cars, the opening between certain cars on the road, my car's pick-up performance, my reflexes, etc. Then I act.

If my judgment is good, then I merge seamlessly into the flow of traffic. I have successfully "judged" the importance I placed on all the elements in an appropriate way.

If my judgment is bad, I either interrupt the flow (problem) or even get into an accident (bigger problem.)

This is why inexperienced people make bad choices. They are still learning all the changing components of the unique situation and "guessing" the best they can.

Inexperienced doesn't always mean "youth". Some people who haven't been exposed to different aspects of life (through circumstances or choice) don't have the tools to "guess" effectively. And some young people have incredible judgment because they've been building it from an early age.

So, how do you "build good judgment"? The same way you build good character or anything that is worthwhile and lasts:

1. Get curious. Purposefully expose yourself to new experiences. Don't passively wait for it to magically happen by accident.

2. Pay attention. Notice the details of the dynamics of how and why things happen. Notice the natural consequences. There's a reason consequences happen the way that they do.

3. Make the effort. You must build good judgment (bad judgment tends to be the default in Life.) Get engaged.

My client organization is making fantastic strides in optimizing their new experiences. They're not settling for some superficial/temporary "program of the month" - they are building a foundation - one "on purpose" experience at a time. They are becoming seasoned on their own terms...which will allow them to achieve their dream of changing the world.

What are you doing to purposefully achieve your dreams...on your own terms?

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

"Excuse My Dust"

Believe it or not, "Excuse My Dust" is written on the gravestone of humorist Dorothy Parker. Not exactly known for her protocol sensitivities, I must admit, I appreciate her humor - and the ultimate consideration expressed in her "final words".

Parker was a prolific writer known for her caustic wit. She had a reputation for making an impression on everyone she met. She was making things happen. When you are really working at making a difference, some dust is to be expected.

Whether you are working with customers, guests, clients, or partners - consideration is the key (appropriate humor doesn't hurt, either.) Taken literally, being considerate is simply considering others first. Making the effort to see things from their perspective, and think about how the situation/our potential actions could be affecting them, and what their preferred situation/outcome would be - we can begin to work towards providing for that.

Not always easy, but truly that simple.

No matter who you are interacting with, a little consideration goes a long way to making that experience a success. Simply asking: "What are their hopes for this situation?" or "How is my behavior impacting them?" - and doing something about it - can make a world of difference for them.

And for you.

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

Pixar Magic Can Be YOUR Magic!

You may have heard about Pixar's recent accomplishments: Record-breaking attendance for IMAX; Unprecedented 11th straight #1 box office opening week. Stunning!

The interesting thing is that Pixar is not achieving this by accident. Here are the steps that YOU can follow to get the same amazing results:

Begin with Your Story. What are your foundational Values? Your primary Vision? The deep-down wants of your Customer? With Pixar, EVERY decision is measured against these three things. Until you clearly identify and communicate these issues, you WILL waste time, effort, and money.

Set the Stage. Innovate rather than imitate. Your organization is unique. Don't copy what other world-class companies do. Instead, copy how they THINK - and then apply that process to your unique situation. Continuous improvement by doing what makes the most sense for YOU is the key.

Recruit the Cast. Taking your business to the next level is achieved only via your employees. In addition to the "stars" that are thew role models for your business, consider actively engaging those who are unhappy with your current outcomes. For Toy Story 3, Pixar gathered all the "black sheep" who had been complaining about how things needed to be improved and put them to work to accomplish that task. Give your malcontents a chance to "put up or shut up"!

Now, go out there and do something unprecedented!

Think about it - but more importantly, DO something about it...today!

Measuring Time = Measuring Life

It is a common tradition to take stock of our lives every New Years. Seems natural - the beginning of a new year and all. But assessing our life just once a year also seems way too long between reviews. Not nearly enough feedback in between checks.

So I started doing a mid-year check-in with myself as well (about this time of year.) That's when everything started to change for the better. Started seeing some improvements over the once-a-year reviews. So I started once a quarter. Then once a month. Then once a week.

Now I conduct once a day assessments of where I am and how am I moving forward RE: my big life goals/bucket list.

Don't get me wrong - I'm NOT a number-crunching, "sadistics" kinda guy. Still not. Quite the opposite. Plus, it always weirded me out when people focused so much on measuring things in their life. Many people get so focused on the measuring process, they take their attention away from the real life-living part. What a shame.

But I came to realize that measuring something doesn't make it less "natural" - as long as the reason for measuring it stays the primary focus. The point is that, once I identify a goal (or goals) that are aligned with my values, talents, and passion (my purpose), then the more I stay aligned with that path, the more fulfilled I will be as ME.

It's really all about making more (often) informed choices. When is that ever a bad thing? Plus, seeing changes in the direction of your goal - even small improvements - is encouraging, and motivates me to stay the course/make even more improvements.

Not a bad tactic, actually.

It takes some getting used to, but it can actually make a transformative difference in the amount of LIFE you have in your life.

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!

Bucket List Progress

I checked off a "Bucket List" item today. "Publish a book." Check. (For those who are interested, the title is "Lead With Your Customer" and launches in 3 weeks in Chicago at the ASTD international conference. Pre-sales are happening on Amazon.com. Check it out!)

The act of checking it off the list always seems to go so quickly...especially after all the time and effort that goes into actually DOING the activity. I guess that is true for anything big/important. In the end, it's mostly about the journey.

Here's the thing: This experience has me thinking about how we accomplish our life goals. I wrote up my first bucket list ("Must do") at age 12/13. I added a "Part Two" to it when I was about 18 and then again ("Part Three: Nice To Do") when I was in my early 20's.

I'm happy that I've completed about 80% of my combined lists, but now that I think about it, I'm NOT happy with how I've been slowing down in my list checking progress. It seems I used to accomplish 3-5 "wish list" goals a year. Now I'm lucky to do one a year. I'm now realizing the difference is that I used to finish a challenge, check it off, celebrate, then target the next one I wanted to experience - then start actively planning the next adventure. I've fallen down on that last part. Shame on me.

Lesson learned. No more settling. No more "getting too busy" with the distractions of life to live life (my pet peeve - which I am, ironically, guilty of right now.) Well, no more! I'm back on track! (Notice I didn't say that I was going to get back on track. If we really want to do something, we can always start right now. I've already selected my next challenge!) I'm halfway through planning my next tactical steps to bring it to fruition.

What about you? What have you been neglecting? Isn't it time to re-engage yourself and your dreams? You determine whether you life the life you desire or if you settle for living an average, passionless life. You only get one chance at this (yes, only one.) Take back your life today!

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!