Helping individuals, businesses, and organization leaders through coaching, hiring assistance, behavioral assessments, problem solving, training, and facilitation
A simple goal.
Make Something.
An idea, a concept, business, service, book, blog, website, or product.
A simple criteria.
Scary Cool.
Scary – A push beyond easy. This Something may require movement through fear, doubt, and insecurity to excitement and exhilaration.
Cool – Something beyond the ordinary that is exciting and worth buying, investing in, partnering with, telling others about, or purchasing.
Go. Create. Start.
Make Something Scary Cool.
We are all waiting.
You were not good at math. You were easily distracted. You got an F. You got more than one F. You lost your temper. You messed up. You lost the account. You didn’t get into college. You didn’t tell the whole story. You said the wrong thing. You didn’t lose the weight. You were a bad friend. You got fired. You spoiled the party. You quit the team. You stopped calling. You didn’t get science. You made the mistake. You struggled with[insert name here].
Sometimes events make us draw conclusions. We were not good at math therefore we will never be good at math. We spoiled the party, therefore we will always spoil the party, so we should not be invited. We quit the team, therefore we are a quitter. We struggle with a pattern of behavior, therefore we will never overcome.
But worse than giving up, we become disqualified.
Disqualified is when the past is allowed to remove you from future opportunities, growth, or development.
Disqualified is a limitation on our potential.
Disqualified is keeping us from making a difference.
Disqualified is when struggles keep you from helping others.
Disqualified is a lifetime ban.
But, maybe there is no Disqualified status.
Maybe we misunderstood the value of the journey, the struggle, and the failure.
Maybe the fact that we struggle, fail, quit, mess up, and lose are the very things that qualify us to make an impact.
Maybe others need to know that we struggle as well.
Maybe we can learn, grow, develop, and be.
Maybe the future is wide open.
Maybe we are qualified.
You meet.
You start to talk.
You try to explain some weirdness.
They nod.
They totally get it.
They totally get you.
You connect so quickly.
You feel so understood.
They speak as if in your native language.
They understand the perspective, the weirdness, and the challenges.
It is almost as if, as a good friend of mine says…
“They are from my Home Planet.”
They are out there.
You can find them.
They are from your Home Planet.
P.S. Remind them of their impact when you find them.
It was a simple label on that bottle.
Just two words.
Unsung Heroes.
A spark of an idea.
Why do heroes go unsung?
Heroes make a difference.
Heroes make an impact.
Yet we do not sing.
Heroes reach out in our time of need.
Heroes care about us.
Yet we do not sing.
Heroes influence and change our world.
Heroes take the time to reach out.
Yet we do not…
Maybe we can change.
Maybe we can open our voices.
We can sing.
We can express gratitude and appreciation.
How about a new category: Sung Heroes.
Sung Heroes know the impact and influence in our lives.
Sung Heroes know how much we appreciate them.
Sung Heroes are encouraged to continue their journey as Heroes.
Here is my first attempt:
“Thank you for the time you spend. Thank you for the time you lend. You have been strong for me, unwavering like the branches of a strong tree. You have helped change the world for good, sometimes with something as simple as leaving me feeling understood. You are my sung hero. Yes, my sung hero.”
Understanding our own behavioral styles is essential to our long-term success. Knowing that you have a tendency to follow the rules, or that you can connect with others helps you leverage those strengths in your style (maybe you have a passion for finance or you are great at sales).
Knowing how you are wired also helps you know when your style needs to be modified (maybe you are too strict at enforcing rules or you connect so often with others that you are not getting your own work done).
The other day I was having a somewhat difficult interaction and an overreaction. When I react this way, I revisit my own style (often with other people) to help determine the cause and see if this insight provides some solution or an easier way to modify my style in the future.
As I described the situation to someone close, they provided some much-needed insight.
I am wired for problems.
My natural tendency is to see things in an unfavorable light. Combine that with the perception that I am in control or have power over a situation, and things get interesting.
What I see as a problem, others may not even notice.
When I want to fix things, others may not be ready or aware that the problem even exists.
Sometimes this style works well.
If organizations, teams, or individuals need to change or improve.
Sometimes this style doesn’t work out as well.
If we are just having a casual conversation, or interaction.
This greater self-awareness helps me understand that although I would like to fix a lot of things, not everything is broken or a problem that needs fixing.
What is the old saying? “If you are a hammer, after a while everything begins to look like a nail.”
How are you wired?
If you know your own style, take a few moments to revisit your results.
Ask yourself the following questions:
1. What are the best 3 things about my style that really work for me in my role, job, career, or life.
2. What are the 3 things about my style that seem to get in the way the most, or if modified would lead to greater success.
Put that list somewhere where you can see it each day, and leverage what works, and begin to modify what doesn’t work.
If you don’t know your style, drop me a line or connect with someone who can help you identify your style.
The other day someone asked me to describe my two biggest goals in life. Once I got over the “Hey, I thought this was going to be a casual conversation!” I spent some time thinking about my response.
The reply didn’t come right away, as my mind raced between what I wanted to do and/or achieve and what I wanted to leave behind or be remembered for…then it hit me.
Two simple goals:
1. Be more flexible.
2. Have less fear.
More Flexible. I have noticed something as we progress through life. We tend to become stiff and rigid. This can be physically, mentally, or emotionally. We don’t stretch as often. We stop trying new things. We want things a certain way. We believe certain things. We know we are right and are not afraid to express that view. We have history with others. We hold grudges.
This goal provides a simple reminder. Am I getting stuck? Am I getting stiff? Am I responding and being closed off to new ideas, new activities, or new adventures? Recently I have been trying Yoga as a way to become more flexible physically, and starting to read a variety of books, or articles that may challenge my strongly held opinions. I initially felt resistance to both, but in time, both are becoming more natural.
Less Fear. Life is pretty ironic. When I was younger with less resources, less experience, and less opportunity, there was little fear. As resources, experience, and opportunity have grown, so has a corresponding fear.
This goal is the other important reminder. What am I afraid of? What is the worst that could happen? What is the cost of not trying these new things? Having this conversation with myself or others helps move me from inaction to action.
I am glad they asked me about my two biggest goals.
Two simple goals.
More Flexible.
Less Fear.
These two goals have become a kind of mantra for me.
Simple enough to remember, yet effective enough to keep me moving.
Now the question is passed to you.
What are your two biggest goals in life?
We all look forward to your answer.
Carl Weber Consulting 