Here’s Why You Should Steal
When I first started learning to play guitar, I didn’t have much to create.I started playing the music that I had heard again and again, only to realize what it was that I liked about it.I took pieces, movements, and hand shapes that I liked and rearranged them the way I liked.I took chords, techniques, and styles from the greats.
I stole just about everything I could.
What happened next was unexpected, though; I started to create my own sound.It wasn’t until I’d absorbed all this that I found my creative voice.Interestingly, the same thing happened with my writing, marketing, and the way I manage my projects.
I stole all the good stuff, and now I’ve made it my own.
Now, I’m not saying you should plagiarize or pretend you invented something, that’s weak and immoral.I’m just saying you need to find out what it is that resonates with you and internalize it.
This is a fast way to move toward the person you wish to be.
Techniques, styles, habits—whatever.They’re out there, and they’re yours for the taking.The most important part, though, is what you do with them.
2 Minute Action:
What’s a characteristic or achievement you admire in someone else?What’s a technique, strategy, or behavior someone has done recently that you think is smart?Try it for yourself today. I bet it takes you 2 minutes or less to try it on for size.
A Surefire Way To Never Achieve A Goal
I recently heard someone report on a project they were working on."Today, I'm working on this," they said. "I'm getting there."This is the kiss of death in the Agile framework.It's not specific, it doesn't give you any new information, and it doesn't tell you when it will be done.It's easy to see that it's a pretty useless sentence.So why do so many managers accept this from their teams?There are probably a lot of reasons. There's a lot going on, it's a long process and takes time, there are many variables in the way, it's not something tangible we can just measure or chart.The truth is that these are all excuses for lazy project management.
The truth is that this is usually the cause of one of two things:
- A conscious or non-conscious desire to avoid accountability. OR
- A vaguely defined goal or objective.
Let's break this down for a second.A vague goal would sound like "losing weight" or "speaking better Spanish."A clearly defined goal would sound like "losing 10 pounds by March" or "having a 30-minute conversation with a native speaker."
So where's the breakdown?
The secret is in the "-ing."It's the tell-tale symptom.There's no clear beginning or end. You can't check off the box.You're not sure where it starts or stops.It's the trouble with all gerunds.They used to be verbs, but now they're nouns.They used to be actionable, but now they're just there.This means that goals, progress reports, and project plans should all paranoically scan for "-ing" before finalizing.If you have one, it will likely end in an uncomfortable or unhappy failure.
2 Minute Action:
Here are the 3 questions I ask my team every, single day.Take 2 minutes and ask yourself:What did you accomplish yesterday?What will you accomplish today?Do you have any dependencies (things you're waiting on) to get these done?What are the impediments that will stop you from checking off these boxes?By focusing on what boxes are checked and which ones aren't you can avoid falling into the trap of eternally "working toward" something that may never have a finish line.Pro-tip: if your impediments are "not enough hours in the day" or "not enough coffee," you need to step back and look at your process/goals/expectations/standards. You might have a disaster right in front of you.
This Secret Advantage Might Change Your Mind About Being Anxious
Dry mouth.Sweaty palms.Obsessive hair twirling.Anxious nailbiting.Have you ever felt this way while walking into an interview?
Here's the secret advantage that might change your mind:
Interviewees have an interesting, mostly unseen advantage.The interviewer is sitting at the other end of the table thinking: "please, let this be the one."The interviewer has gone through a hundred resumes.They've already done 99 interviews.The interviewer wants the interviewee to be amazing!They're already biased because they just want to be finished with the painful interview process!If interviewees knew this, they might be a lot less nervous about the approach.The interesting thing to take away from this is that it doesn't stop at the interview.Most people want to see other people succeed. Whether for noble or vicarious reasons, I don't know.Most people root for the underdog, love a good come-up story, and generally want others to do well.The cool thing is that other people includes you.Now if only everyone would start their day knowing this . . .
2 Minute Action:
What's one way you're lucky?What's a decision you're glad you made?Can you write it down and post it somewhere for a week?You might be surprised at how such a little reminder can impact your attitude and output for the day.