Seth’s Blog
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/ I’m back to being on the Seth bandwagon. He had several posts this week that I really connected with. One of them, Full vs. Enough, compares consumerism to Thanksgiving. Typically on Thanksgiving we eat until we are full, or if you’re like me, until you’re absolutely stuffed. Too often, we've been persuaded by marketers and other maximizers that the only satisfying state is 'full.' Not just in what we've eaten, but in what we own, control or receive. Full doesn’t last and it isn’t even that great of feeling. The way Seth communicates, I can agree that I would much rather have enough. The other post I really enjoyed was The Boss Goes First. Seth talks about his belief that if you want to build a vibrant organizational culture, govern with authority, or create a social dynamic that’s productive and fair, there is one simple rule- You must apply the rules to the people in power before they are applied to those that aren’t. When authority is exposed to the rules first, the culture is more likely to stick. People hear what you say, but they always remember what you do. Daring to Live Fully http://daringtolivefully.com/ 10 Tips to Take Control of Your Life In An Uncertain World Marelisa discusses how there are countless things in our lives that we have no control over- the weather, traffic, the stock market, what anyone around you does and so on and so on. She then suggests ten things that we can do to feel a sense of control.
I think this post closely relates to the Socratic Method. Examining something with no true definition- the things in our life we lack control over- by focusing on the things we can control, in a sense defines those uncontrollable events; if that makes any sense. Either could be discussed by asking questions related to what things in life can we control. Delivering Happiness http://blog.deliveringhappiness.com/happiness-now-the-worlds-greatest-teams Happiness Now- The World’s Greatest Teams The post this week suggests several sources to look into how some of the greatest teams have been formed. I chose to look into a summary of the book written by Sam Walker, The Captain Class: The Hidden Force That Creates the World’s Greatest Teams. Sam uses his love for baseball and aims to answer one simple question- What is that spark that drives some teams to perform with such excellence? After studying numerous teams over many years, eventually becoming the sports reporter for the Wall Street Journal, Sam had an answer. The most crucial ingredient in a team that achieves and sustains historic greatness is the character of the player who leads it. This doesn’t just apply to sports, but can apply to any type of “team” environment in business. Sam’s journey to discover this was a journey of asking questions, much like the Socratic Method. He asked complex questions like- what makes a team the greatest of all time? I wasn’t able to get the entire picture reading a summary of the book, but will definitely be purchasing the full version in the future.
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Seth’s Blog
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/ There were two posts Seth made this week that I really connected with. The first was to pretend you received communication from your boss that the meeting tomorrow was cancelled. He prods- what would you do with your time? What would you initiate? He then encourages- if what you were planning is better than the meetings, maybe you should cancel them. This is interesting to me. I feel like we make some of our grandest plans in the space of time we thought wasn’t ours. That early Friday afternoon when the office takes off early prompts more productivity than an entire Saturday worth of time. The dread of doing something less than desirable is easily replaced by something you can plan and initiate yourself. In the second post, Seth talks about how everyone is irrational. Everyone else makes bad decisions, is shortsighted, prejudiced, subject to whims, temper tantrums, outbursts or short-term thinking. Once you see it that way, it’s easier to remember we’re everyone too. People are going to have their moments. I am going to have my moments. Cut people some slack and remember that you too are capable and guilty of behaving in an irrational manner. Daring to Live Fully http://daringtolivefully.com/ Marelisa didn’t post anything new this week, so I re-read her last post that I talked about- How to make your life more meaningful- and tried to reconnect with it. I think sometimes in our life we get so caught up in stuff that we miss the mundane, every day, substance that truly makes up our life. Focusing on this, making this part of your life meaningful, and simply recognizing that it’s the day to day stuff that really matters, that really makes us who we are, maybe then the overflow will carry into other areas of our life. I remember a saying my grandmother always used to tell me -- my cup runneth over – and begin to look for all the meaningful things in my life. Despite hardships and defeat, my cup truly runneth over. Delivering Happiness http://blog.deliveringhappiness.com/ There was no new blog post this week so I decided to look back at the first post of the year- 13 Inspiring Notions for 2017. The list is made up of the following suggestions: Give yourself permission, say NO, de-clutter, snap out of it, quotes & books & films…read some, know some, see some and share some, smile at strangers on the street, figure out your life word, meditate, manage your manager, have a top 3, find quiet in the disquiet and enjoy the now, practice and invest. All of these notions suggest one thing- put into your life what you want it to be. Be a positive person, take care of yourself- inside and out, get in touch with your core and invest in yourself- for the present and the future. Seth’s Blog
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/ Seth was able to draw me back in. He has posted several times this week, but one post in particular caught my attention- his post on The Real Law of Averages. It is a simple concept that gets overlooked far too often. He discusses how when companies want to raise their standards, they focus on the top of the heap, rather than at the base. Encouraging and motivating the top executives of a company, although it could produce success, if you were to focus on the 10,000 employees below them for improvement and higher standards, the company as a whole would see much greater success. “I think the reason we focus on the few is that it feels more dramatic, seems more controllable and is ultimately easier. But the effective, just and important thing to do is to help the back of the line catch up.” In being a leader, it is imperative to remember that the main strength of the company stems from the greater mass, not necessarily the “best” of them. Below is another post from Seth. This made me think of our “maps” we are creating and importance of them along our journey. The thing about mapsSometimes, when we're lost, we refuse a map, even when offered. Because the map reminds us that we made a mistake. That we were wrong. But without a map, we're not just wrong, we're also still lost. A map doesn't automatically get you home, but it will probably make you less lost. (When dealing with the unknown, it's difficult to admit that there might not be a map. In those cases, a compass is essential, a way to remind yourself of your true north...) Daring to Live Fully https://daringtolivefully.com/ How to Make Your Life More Meaningful Marelisa talks about the pursuit of happiness and how bringing meaning to your life can lead you there. According to a recent study, a meaningful life has three things- Purpose, comprehension and mattering. Marelisa suggests the following nine ways to bring meaning to your life. 1. Make Your Life More Meaningful by Having a Purpose 2. Reframe How You See Your Job/Occupation 3. Choose Your Friends Wisely 4. Find a Balance Between Seeking Happiness and Meaning 5. Choose Integrity 6. Write Your Life’s Story 7. Express Yourself 8. Make a Difference in Small Ways 9. Think of Your Legacy This idea is closely related to this topic this week. I’ve really tried to use this class and the tools we have learned to get to know myself better- the good and the bad- and to reflect on how my past has shaped me into the person I am today and how I am in control of what the future holds for me. I don’t think anyone could be a successful leader without having meaning in their life. Delivering Happiness http://blog.deliveringhappiness.com/happinessnow-october Happiness Now - October Wrap-Up This post reflects on the month of their community and highlights some important reminders. First, they mention the donations made by Zappos to the Las Vegas shooting victims and how it is a good reminder to look for the good and seek out help. They also included the below quote- “I am a human being, nothing human can be alien to me.” –Maya Angelou In our journey it is important to remember this. We are all unique creatures. We all have our own strengths and weaknesses. We all have our own dreams and desires. My dreams, my visions and my reality are all very different from someone else’s. Success will follow when we recognize this and understand that the collaboration of all of our unique qualities and dreams is what will truly make this world go round. Seth’s Blog
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/ Seth didn’t touch home with me much this week. I didn’t take away the same sense of inspiration that I normally do reading his work. Don’t get me wrong, his posts are decent and always talk about relatable material, they were just missing something that drew me in this week. Or maybe it was all the inspiration and alternative thinking I soaked up reading the Flip Manifesto (which I loved and shared with those close to me). Daring to Live Fully http://daringtolivefully.com/ It’s looking to be a common theme that I am not connecting with my blogs much this week. Marelisa’s latest post is “Learn to Draw in 30- Days Challenge.” She references the NaNoWriMo challenge that is currently being used- a challenge to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. Marelisa has given daily instructions on how someone could learn to draw in 30 days. A cool concept- but not what I’m used to reading from her. I guess I like to read these blogs for inspiration and a humorous approach to life in general- both professional and personal. Learning to draw, which I (think) I already know how to do, isn’t the inspiration I was looking for. Delivering Happiness http://blog.deliveringhappiness.com/ How to Reinvent Your Culture “WHY” and “HOW” This post closely relates to the Flip Manifesto I read this week. The post discusses looking beyond the traditional goals of a company and into the culture of the company. Most companies are clear about the "what", their mission, but they haven't defined a strong "why", their purpose, or gotten specific about the "how", their values and behaviors; this is what aligns and energizes staff. The key to defining "why" begins with the leaders first discovering their own personal why and then defining or aligning to the organization's why. Meaningful purpose is what makes a person want to come to work every day. It is important for companies to individually look at their culture and define the behaviors that make the most sense for their group. When companies go beyond and look into the Why and the How, it is the difference between having staff that just do their job and having staff that care. The Flip Manifesto is similar thinking. All these things that companies have been doing for ages, aren’t always practical and don’t seem to be working. By “flipping” the usual and trying the reverse, some companies have realized that they can be far more successful when they focus their energy on the people that work for them. I can say this, I wish I worked for Netflix or some company practicing these alternative approaches to employment. How amazing it must be to know that you are trusted and valued enough to work hard and play hard. I hope this movement towards a better work/life balance continues to evolve into more organizations and companies, because the reality in any business is, when your employees are happier, they work harder, and do better, which only adds to the success as a whole. Seth’s Blog
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/ This week Seth covered a variety of topics with his posts. One in particular stuck with me. He discussed expectations and what happens when ours are too high or too low. “We can either be brokenhearted or we can those high hopes as fuel to make the next cycle even better.” In thinking about Tribal Leadership and the stages we have been talking about, I think this quote from Seth is important to remember. When we expect great things and they aren’t delivered as promised, we can learn from both the feelings and the experience to either move forward onto the next challenge, or to move backward into the comfort of “curved” grading. Progressing through the stages takes time. It takes work. It does not come without defeat. I think when trying to better ourselves, we must remember we are human and capable of and likely to make mistakes. Not every journey is going to travel smooth. Seth also posts about distance between roles. It's tempting to enter a field where mastery is assured, where you have a very good shot of being as good at it as everyone else. It turns out, though, that the most exciting and productive fields are those where there's a huge gap between those that are perceived to be the very best and everyone else. The wider the gap, the more it's worth to push through it. Why not stand above everyone else? Is it so wrong to want to be the best you can be- even if it means standing above others? I cannot imagine all of the people who have limited their potential based on the fear of being so much better than others. Daring to Live Fully http://daringtolivefully.com/ This week Marelisa discussed the topic of us being willing to fail to be creative and innovative. She believes that in order to be creative, you have to be willing to take risks, and with risks come inevitable failure. Marelisa talks about Disney and a method the company uses to encourage creativity while expecting failure. A couple times a year they host a Gong Show. It is here where employees at any level present ideas to the top executives at Disney. If the judges think the idea is ridiculous, they hit a gong and move onto the next. The majority of ideas are gong worthy, but some great ideas have come from these sessions- Hercules for example- was an idea presented at one of these gatherings. Allowing employees at every level to feel like they have a say in the big picture is huge. Involving everyone and creating a global community among your company is imperative to creating a valued “tribe.” If I were to guess, I would think Disney is operating at a Stage 4. Delivering Happiness http://blog.deliveringhappiness.com/the-motivation-trifecta-autonomy-mastery-and-purpose How to Boost Productivity: Autonomy, Mastery and Purpose The blog this week focuses on intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Studies show that people are more successful when motivated by intrinsic forces versus extrinsic ones. This goes to prove that money doesn’t always encourage greatness. People capable of tapping into autonomy, mastery and purpose are proven to be more successful than those that don’t. A study revealed that a group of investment bankers who received “autonomy support” resulted in higher job satisfaction and job performance. When it comes to mastery, companies should look at what their employees are capable of doing. If tasks are too difficult, people become worried and feel out of their league. On the other hand, if tasks are too easy, people get bored. Calibrating what people should do with what they can do is important. Employers can connect people to their purpose to achieve greater results. People are motivated when they are connected to the outcome- connecting work to people and values. Not only does focusing on these three areas create a more successful work area, it creates a happier one. Bringing individuals together and creating a sense of purpose is important to move up the tribal stages. By uplifting employees and people in general, we will encourage growth all around. Seth Godin- http://sethgodin.typepad.com/
The past week Seth has made numerous posts that vary in their content. He has a motivating way of uplifting people. He wrote a short post – "You're doing it wrong"But at least you're doing it. Once you're doing it, you have a chance to do it better. Waiting for perfect means not starting. I really appreciate his positive attitude and casual way of communicating. His posts then transitioned into more specific topics. He discusses the idea that truly unique ideas, one that has never been thought of before, is unlikely to succeed because it will be difficult to gain support. It’s ok to have an idea that maybe you feel like someone else has already had. It’s ok to go forward with that idea. Focus your energy on making them remarkable and important and the rest will follow. Seth discusses individual roles more than group roles. But with that, bettering individual self helps to contribute to the entire whole. Daring to Live Fully- http://daringtolivefully.com/ The latest post on Daring to Live Fully discusses how to do the things that you don’t want to do. This resonates with me a lot lately. It is important to prioritize the things that you need to do, and often we avoid the more difficult actions because they are just that-difficult. It is important to understand that to get ahead, we must do the things we don’t want to do. Marelisa proposes a method to get those difficult tasks done. 1. Exit the avoidance zone 2. Demystify the task by unpacking it 3. Focus on prevention 4. Stop saying you don’t know where to start 5. Schedule it 6. Set a timer 7. Focus on what’s right in front of you 8. Be willing to enter the discomfort zone 9. Know it gets easier- enter the productivity zone 10. Keep going until you’re done Like Seth, Marelisa focused her topics on bettering yourself as an individual- which will in turn better the collective group as a whole. Delivering Happiness- http://blog.deliveringhappiness.com/happinessnow-september-18-22 Happiness Now- Choosing Happiness How Company Culture Shapes Employee Motivation The blog I read this week discusses the idea that when employees are happier, companies are more successful. Creating a good work environment for employees is important. Their main idea- Why we work determines how well we work. MOTIVES Play- When you are motivated by the work itself. Purpose- When the direct outcome of your work fits your identity. Potential- When the outcome of the work benefits your identity. INDIRECT MOTIVES Emotional pressure- When you work because external forces threaten your identity. Economic- When external forces make you work. Inertia- When the motive is far removed from the work and your identity that you can’t identify why you’re working. Indirect motives reduce performance because you are thinking about them, no longer your work. Highly successful work cultures focus on play, purpose and potential. This week was really fun. We were instructed to read through the blogs of our classmates and comment on two of them. I was inspired by Nima and Jack's.
Nima Desai- I really enjoyed Nima’s post about the children’s book “What Do You Do With an Idea?” I relate to Nima in her feeling like she has lacked confidence in some of her creative ideas. I think after the first five weeks of this course, we have all realized that all of our ideas are worthwhile; it is just about prioritizing them and finding the right support to turn each one into a reality. I think we all have fear about our ideas or our plans, but like Nima states, it is imperative we get out of a closed off private mode and open ourselves and our ideas up to others. Jack Burton- I completely relate to Jack and his post regarding his lack of leadership experience deterring him from stepping into leadership roles. I feel almost identical. Like Jack, I haven’t had the typical corporate career that most my age have experienced. I have spent my career thus far working in a government role in the legal field. Although I have had leadership responsibilities, I feel like the course of my work limits any type of creative leadership. I really appreciate Jack’s honesty and in depth look at where he’s been and the realization that his past can be a positive influence on his future. I can relate to both Nima and Jack. I’m hesitant to guess, but I’d say we are all dreamers- The ones that think up some really great ideas, but lack the courage or experience to make things a reality. It’s comforting to know that I’m not alone. A general comment about this class and all of us- It is so inspiring to see where everyone is coming from and the different struggles and realities of us all. I really appreciate the transparency of all of us and I think it is fantastic to read about everyone’s journeys and different experiences. Excited about all the wonderful things we can take away from this- our Creative Leadership “community”. Delivering Happiness
http://blog.deliveringhappiness.com/creating-your-personal-happiness-list This weeks blog topic- Choosing Happiness: Happiness ROI, Reinforcement & Rewards, Vision & Mission, Higher Purpose, Science of Happiness. This is so fitting for where I am at in my life this week. It is a good reminder that we have the choice to be happy even during trying times. Choosing happiness takes effort and at times, sacrificing other emotions. The author suggested creating a list of things that someone could choose to think of that make them happy. My list is as follows: Playing outside with my kids, relaxing around a fire with good friends, a Friday afternoon at the end of a long week, and watching the sun set on a hot summer evening. This list could go on for pages, but realizing that, makes me even happier to think that I have so many things in my life that when I choose to think about them, make me happy. Relating this to tough work situations will become invaluable to me. In stressful situations, instead of being upset I can make the choice to be happy by taking a few seconds to think of one of the many things that do so. Seth’s Blog http://sethgodin.typepad.com/ This week Seth’s Blog contained lots of valuable information. I am starting to see a common theme in his posts, and I like it. His writing focuses a lot on what I would call realistic inspiration. He is brutally honest while being incredibly inspirational- as much as that’s possible. Here is a post from September 7, 2017 Airbrushing When they began airbrushing the models in fashion magazines fifty years ago, no one complained much. Everyone knew, we thought, that it was some sort of make believe. But then they started airbrushing our food. And then vacations. And family photos. And brands. And jobs. Spend enough time looking through the glass on your tablet and you'll come to believe that you're the only one with a less-than-perfect situation. With the right filter, the grass really is greener... Which may very well cause you to amplify the differences, to magnify the distance between you and the airbrushed person with the online life. It's gotten to the point where people even airbrush their difficulties, making them ever more dramatic in their drama. "Compared to what?" is not always a great question. It might be better to merely say, "this is pretty good." I really appreciate this. I think we often get distracted by what’s going on with other people or what we see other people to have, when we should really be focusing on ourselves. If it wasn’t possible for us to see what others have/are doing, we would probably think higher about what we have going on. Seth’s two most recent posts, “Optimized or Maximized” and “Building on Maximized Systems” discuss the importance of optimizing yourself versus maximizing your performance. He explains maximizing by using an example of keeping your money in a bank. Every investment is chosen for maximum short term benefit- the only way for your bank to beat the other banks- but it’s a race to the bottom. Pushing an already maximized system puts more demands and more inputs, leading to degradation, lower output and eventual system failure. “Systems have an optimum level of performance. It’s the output that permits the elements (including the humans) to do their best work, to persist at it, to avoid disasters, bad decisions and burnout.” So, as a career effort, we should develop a unique asset. This gives us leverage to choose a niche in a system that respects optimization. Daring to Live Fully Brain Fog- 8 Ways to Clear the Fog and Start Thinking Clearly https://daringtolivefully.com/brain-fog This post talks about those times when people aren’t thinking clearly- when their brain is foggy- and what you can do with your lifestyle to decrease this. Marelisa suggests eating foods that are good for your brain: tomatoes, olive oil, green leafy vegetables, nuts, fatty fish and fruits. Foods that inflame your brain and body that should be avoided are: refined carbs, fried foods, soda, processed meat and margarine. She suggests exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, meditating daily, drink plenty of water and get plenty of Omega-3 fatty acids. All three of these blogs can relate to our topic of creative leaders learning from nature. Nature has figured out the key to optimization and collaboration. Nature has evolved into a system of millions of different parts working together so that every single part benefits. Historically, people have been doing the opposite. We have created, as Gerd Leonhard calls it, an ego-system. The blogs I am following relate to the concepts from nature in the sense that they discuss ways to improve your individual well-being so that you can be a better contributor to the big picture; so that you can find your happiness, your niche, your calling, whatever it may be, and optimize what it is you have, without worrying about what your neighbor has- because what you have you’re willing to share with your neighbor. It isn’t about who has what, who created what, who gets credit for what- it’s about the general creation and the collaboration of concepts and ideas. September 7, 2017 I was inspired by the videos we watched this week. All of the leaders discussed had a lot in common but also were very different. Nelson Mandela, a historical leader, possessed great self-control over his personal emotions to make his role as a leader stronger. He also put great thought into his physical appearance and presence- making specific clothing choice and arriving at public events at a specific time. Barack Obama was a leader that who unlike Nelson Mandela was lucky in his journey to becoming a leader. For the most part, his journey to leadership was without hurdles and he had good fortune. Desmond Tutu discusses leaders as servants. They are described as people who lead on behalf of others. This often requires sacrifice by the leader. Mother Theresa, for example, was a historic leader who sacrificed by living her life side by side with “common” people. The Dalai Lama has been exiled for over 50 years. Nelson Mandela spent time in prison. All of these individuals sacrificed for the sake of their beliefs and their role as a leader. In his opinion, a leader is someone who is not seeking self-glorification. He describes leaders as courageous and thoughtful. Richard Branson discussed how he has played his role as a leader and what he believes a successful leader in the business world to be. He views a leader as someone that has a vision and uses that vision to create something special. He credits some of his success for keeping passionate about what he is doing. He goes into detail about how he treats those he works with, and how important he believes this to be to be a successful leader. In his opinion, work should be fun. People spend a big part of their lives at work, it is important that they enjoy their time or their success could be limited- which ultimately would hinder the success of the company as a whole. He wants those that work for him to feel appreciated. From the top guns to the entry level positions, everyone should feel equally important. Madeleine Albright discusses women in leadership roles and firmly believes that women must lift each other up. She discusses her desire to see more women in leadership roles. She stresses on the importance of developing support groups with other women leaders. Women are critical of each other, and they need to focus on helping each other more. All of the leaders discussed shared a common positive, influential role. They all overcame some type of obstacle- racial, gender or social- to get to their leader roles. They are also all very highly respected and are/were successful with their goals as leaders. It is clear to me that they most desirable and sought after leader is one which is driven and dedicated while still remaining humble. People want their leaders to feel like they are one of the same. In my opinion, when you start creating a divide between the role or leader or “follower”, you create a disconnect, which lessens their success. -Brenna References "Madeleine Albright on Women and Leadership" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oF-iUTvPRJc&feature=fvwrel "Richard Branson" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlweQSVs4Vw "Desmond Tutu on Leadership" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrCeVwwu0Xc&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PLA67048432CEF2E0C "From Mandela to Obama, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_MhoIxhN4A&feature=fvsr |
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November 2017
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