One of the most critical determinants of the success of a program is buy in of all parties involved.
Working in broadcasting, this is seen on a daily basis, and a key understanding to all the ‘talent’ whose job it is to sell something a like a contest, promotion, or even a product. It doesn’t matter how much money a sales person was about to finagle out of a client sponsor, or how easily executable the promotions direct can make it. If the talent doesn’t feel up to doing it, it won’t work.
Just like teaching your dog tricks or teaching your toddlers anything, some days the talent (in broadcasting specifically here, but just about any talent you have working in any industry in general) is really feeling it, and want to do the best sell and their best work. Some days, its going through the motions. Some days, it’s just not going to happen. And while bribes and blackmail can be fine motivators to the interested, to the disinterested, not so much.
Think about this next time a new plan, promotion, or directive come around at your place of employment. If you’re asked to execute it, are you able to buy into it yourself? Are those that work above you showing you they’re buying into it? Are those that work below you showing that they intend to buy into it as well?
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To busy to write anything original, so here are a few links that caught my attention today…
Katic Couric’s blog breaks the new on thousands of cancellations in AARP memberships because of their backing of Obama health care reform…
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/08/14/couricandco/entry5242190.shtml
Engadget has a post on texting making our kids dumber, and brings the science to back it up…
http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/13/texting-makes-kids-dumb-science-fact/
Mark Cuban is never afraid to speak his mind, and he’s speaking to your love America, saying the most patriotic thing you can do right now is whatever you can to get rich…
http://blogmaverick.com/2009/08/13/the-most-patriotic-thing-you-can-do/
Lifehacker is offering up links to great computer desktop wallpaper to help you organize your GTD workload…
http://lifehacker.com/5337496/wallpaper-roundup-getting-things-done-with-workflows-and-quadrants/gallery/
And Valerie Frankel attempts to curb her own negativity by following the program outlined in the book A Complaint Free World by Will Bowen…
http://lifestyle.msn.com/your-life/reinvent-your-life/articlegh.aspx?cp-documentid=20985140>1=32036
Some quick links to some interesting blogs post I encountered today, while ‘working…’
Guy Kawasaki reassures me that I’m not crazy…I’m just an entrepreneur…
http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2009/08/youre-not-crazy–youre-an-entrepreneur.html#axzz0O4wtzOvb
Think TQ gives you the secret to inexpensive health insurance…
http://www.thinktq.com/training/todaystq/tqs_todays_tq.cfm?date=2009-08-09
Ian’s Messy Desk has some great tips for dealing with slackers in the workplace…
http://www.ismckenzie.com/solving-workplace-people-problems-the-slacker/
Courtesy of BusinessPundit, information on the newly announced JetBlue $599 “All You Can Jet” pass, valid from September 8 through October 8…
http://www.businesspundit.com/jetblue-launches-all-you-can-fly-pass/
And for the stat freaks like myself, graphic visualization of Manhattan’s population by day versus Manhattan’s population by night…
http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/QRjDK5XMAl0/manhattans-population-by-day-vs-manhattans-population-by-night
Today, I will give you a five step plan on how to solve just about any problem. I’m calling this plan, for obvious reasons, “The Overly Simplified Way To Solve Your Problems In Just Five Steps”
Step 1: See that you have a problem.
Step 2: Say, “I have a problem.”
Step 3: Do something about the problem.
Step 4: If problem persists, do something different about the problem.
Step 5: If problem persists, repeat step 4 until you have solved the problem
Overly simplified, but simple enough that you get the point.
When you are bitten by a bug, there is a certain amount of time that you just have to live through before the itching and swelling of that bite goes away. Rubbing and scratching the bite will only prolong the experience, the discomfort that comes with it and the time needed to heal. But eventually, the swelling will subside, the rash will fade, and the itching stops.
The same general thing happens when you are bitten by an ‘idea bug.’ Once a new idea come to mind, you’ve got a limited amount of time before you lose the adrenaline rush to put the idea in motion, and possibly lose the idea itself to the million of other thoughts that get processed through your mind on a daily basis.
And just like there are steps to take to help alleviate the suffering from an actual bug bite (don’t touch it, apply some medicated cream, take a pill, etc.), there are steps you can take to prolong the jolt of inspiration of your ‘idea bug’ bite:
1: Write It Down IMMEDIEATELY! – Never let an idea just dissipate from your memory. Just because the ideas are flowing now, doesn’t mean you’ll never go through an idea dry spell and need to look back on a few filed away ideas for inspiration. Write the details of your idea as simply or as detailed as they came to you, and place it somewhere you can routinely review it, lest you waist the effort of preserving it in the first place. Create an idea bank for storing randomly created ideas in a file folder, shoe box, computer file–whatever will work best for you. You can even carry a portable notebook to jot down ideas as they come if you are prone to attract idea bugs.
2: Order Your Steps – Make a quick determination on just how complicated your idea is and just how much work will be involved in your attempt to actually make it happen. Come up with a quick, easy to follow outline of all the steps involved that you can think of, and determine how long you think it will take to get the project started and completed.
3: Gauge Your Timing – Determine if this is the actual right time or place to attempt to work out the kinks in your idea. Let’s use the example of your idea being a ski stunt you would like to attempt and master. If you are nowhere near water or snow, chances are you won’t be working on the stunt by mid-morning. And if you have to lose ten pounds and get in shape before you can even attempt your stunt, that’s just more prep time needed before the attempt. If now is not the right time or you’re not in the right place, schedule a time in the future when you can assure all the conditions are acceptable to make an attempt at your idea. If your idea is not that involved or complicated, and you believe you can work on it now with minimum interruptions, and you are ready for the challenge, then jump on in.
4: Start At Your Earliest Convenience – The average person has about 48 hours or so from the initial formation of a new idea before they lose interest in it completely. And if they don’t take the time to write it down, they could lose the entire idea minutes after they came up with it. It is important to put your plan in motion for you idea as soon as possible, or schedule a time in the near future to get started, with plenty of incentive to get back to it.
Looking back at the month that was July 2009, I was able to get 7 (hopefully) quality posts online, with 5 being original posting from myself, one being a reprint that I need to tag as Reviewing What I Said, and one guest posting. Here is the full listing of my July posts, with a brief description.
Make A List, Baby! Part 1
Breaking down the basics of the most effective development tool you’ll ever use: a list.
http://fastforwardblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/make-list-baby-part-1.html
Make A List, Baby! Part 2
The four lists I use to manage my daily life: my Daily Journal, my Daily Dozens, my 30 Minutes A Day Log, and my Running Notepad.
http://fastforwardblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/make-list-baby-part-2.html
Welcome To Your Crisis
Comparing how you would handle a house fire to how you should handle any crisis you may face.
http://fastforwardblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/welcome-to-your-crisis.html
Is The Story Of The Little Dutch Boy Actually The Story Of Your Career?
Originally published in the former Cool Corporate dot COM Blog.
http://fastforwardblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/is-story-of-little-dutch-boy-actually.html
Do You Have the Right Mindset to Start Your Business?
A guest post written by Deborah A Bailey.
http://fastforwardblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/do-you-have-right-mindset-to-start-your.html
You Can Only Make Choices From The Choices Given
Just like you can’t hit a target that isn’t there in front of you, you can’t make a choice for your life that isn’t presented for you to choose from.
http://fastforwardblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/you-can-only-make-choices-from-choices.html
My Great Idea On How To Have A Good Life
I declared myself a minor genius since I had an idea similar to two much more major geniuses, Tim Ferriss and Chad Fowler
How do you really know when you have stumbled upon great idea? When others of higher fame and stature come up with similar ideas, as seen in this blog post from a week back by Tim Ferriss, The Big Question: Are You Better Than Yesterday?
My seemingly great idea is a simple plan to follow that will almost ensure you have a good life. The idea was so good that I actually came up with it twice, in two similar variations to the same theme, within a week. And I luckily had the foresight to jott both down in my Running Notepad list before I lost the essence of the idea.
What makes the plan even better is that I truly wrote it to be very simple to follow, even for someone who has found themselves in a dire situation, and are currently looking straight into what seems like insurmountable odds.
First, you start your journey to a great life by having just one good moment. Then, you work on having another one, and then another one. You’ll quickly find that working toward having good moments becomes addicting, and as you continue stringing some of your good moments together, back to back, and you’ll soon find you’ll have worked your way into having a few good hours, and then a few good days.
From there, just keep working until you are string together more and more good days, and those will quickly become good weeks, then good months, and then good years…all the way up until you can declare with all your heart you have led a remarkable and good life.
This plan isn’t easy, and it may take more time than you expect to string all those good moments into a good life lived, but the workload is enjoyable and life sustaining. And the good moments are just waiting to be had.
So start right now by declaring this moment as a good moment. Work on having more good moments, and keep stringing them all together. You’ll get to that good life, I promise.
Monster Learning
This Guest Post Written By Deborah A Bailey
How much baggage are you carrying? Have you created a business that looks just like the corporate world that you escaped from? When I was dreaming of going out on my own, I envisioned having time and freedom to do whatever I wanted. It may seem silly now, but I didn’t consider how much money I wanted to make. All I really wanted was to have time for myself. You see, I was in IT for over 15 years and during that time I worked weekends, nights and holidays. I was one of those people who could be relied on to drop everything and give her all for the team.
As the years passed, I realized that though I was giving my all, my paycheck wasn’t reflecting it. Not mention that I was frequently sick and had little or no social life – other than the occasional Happy Hour. Not that drinking cheap drinks at a chain restaurant is such a happy event.
What I never considered was that I would end up recreating my work life in my business – long hours, low pay and the occasional Happy Hour. Most of my friends in business do the same thing, so why would I think it anything was wrong?
Yes, when you get started it does require work and often much longer hours than the regular 9-to-5. But sitting at a desk all day and all night is not productive if it does not bring you any income. Back in my job, I was used to just spending hours at the desk, whether my work was productive or not. So, I simply recreated that world. It took me the longest time to feel okay about running errands or doing chores during “work hours.” However, I couldn’t blame my work environment for keeping me confined – I’d done it to myself.
Recently my coach asked me what I’d really rather be focusing on in my business. I answered, “If it was up to me…” She said, “It IS up to you!” That really hit me.
It was up to me to decide – but in my mind I was still the employee waiting to be told what to do next. I’ve often heard that starting a business will bring up all sorts of issues inside of a person. You will discover things about yourself that you never realized was there. I totally agree. It does bring up stuff. Though some of it can be hard to look at, it’s necessary. If you’re struggling to find that freedom you thought you’d have in your business, drop that baggage and free your mind first.
About the Author:
Transition coach and radio host Deborah A. Bailey is a sought after expert to discuss today’s most pressing workplace issues. Deborah helps her clients transition from employees to entrepreneurs as they eliminate limiting beliefs and connect with their passion.
After several years with various companies such as AT&T, Lucent and Johnson & Johnson, Deborah Bailey successfully transitioned to career consultant and coach by founding her company Deb Bailey Coaching (a division of DBC Communications, LLC). Her extensive experience in the employee to entrepreneur transition has made her the partner of choice for many successful entrepreneurs and career professionals. Deborah is the host of the internet radio show, “Women Entrepreneurs – The Secrets of Success”
For more information about Deborah, visit her website http://www.dbaileycoach.com
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED BY ME IN THE FORMER COOL CORPORATE DOT COM BLOG
Does your career follow a warped version of the story of the Little Dutch Boy?
The Cliff Notes Version of the Little Dutch Boy has a hole in a dike that was threatening to burst, and little boy walks up an sticks his finger in the hole and shores up the dike with the simple act…a decision that is a little tough because it makes him late for school, which will get him in trouble. Eventually, some passerby sees the boy, and brings back help to fix the dike. The story is told to teach quick action and self-sacrifice, because if the boy leaves, the dike is back in the same peril that it was in before, and he has no guarantee that help is on the way.
Switch the story to an analogy of your career. Were you on your way to something bigger and brighter, came across a problem that you could offer up a quick fix, and then got stuck supporting your quick fix forever? In real world work, sometimes the people whose job it is to actually fix things will do everything in their power to go nowhere near the problem, sticking you with your quick fix approaches, and bogging you down with unresolved issues that keep you from accomplishing bigger goals and moving forward.
I believe you have three ways to approach this problem:
1: JUST DON’T STICK YOUR FINGER IN THE DIKE: If it’s not your problem, its not your problem, and don’t lift a finger (pun intended) to fix it.
2: PUT YOUR FINGER IN THE DIKE FOR A WHILE, THEN TAKE IT OUT AND DEMAND ACTION: Save the company for just a little while, figure out what the real problem is, then kill your quick fix and get in the faces of those who have the responsibility to fix it, and make sure they fix it.
3: PUT YOUR FINGER IN THE DIKE, AND PRAY THAT THE RIGHT PEOPLE WILL DO THE RIGHT THING ON THERE OWN: …which probably won’t happen…but a little faith might help…
When I came across the idea for this post, I knew I was going to be short on answers, but I hope that just putting the thought out there will help those stuck ‘with their finger in the dike’ to get a better picture of their current situation, and find a way out of it.
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