Finding Freedom

What's holding you back from doing what you really want? Who or what is standing in your way?

Money? 
Status? 
Responsibilities? 
Comfortable routines?

Maybe it's time to...
- try something new
- take a risk
- stop accepting that things will always "happen" to you
- consider a fresh start 
- quit your job
- start writing
- stop playing politics
- follow your crazy dreams
- tell the naysayers and loud mouths to shut the hell up
- stop being a door mat 
- be fearless
- stop making excuses and live your own life for a change

Maybe it's time to find your freedom.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to My Career

I had a very clear plan as an undergraduate. It's almost impossible to say that with a straight face now!

A clear plan.

At 21.

Hahahaha.

Plan A
I went off to undergraduate school with a clear vision of what the next forty years were going to look like.

I almost made it to graduation day...
...then changed plans.

Plan B
I worked for a couple of years to figure everything out and then headed off to graduate school.

I had a clear vision of what the next forty years were going to look like.

I almost made it to graduation day...
...then changed plans.

You Will Never Think Big Enough
I've had the privilege to learn, grow, and serve in senior level positions for amazing organizations.

What have I learned?
- I didn't think big enough early on
- I didn't think big enough once things started moving quickly
- I'm still not thinking big enough (although I'm thinking pretty damn big!)

How About You
Is your career mapped out already? How could that possibly be true in a world filled with endless opportunities?

You can be more...if you want to be. There is nothing holding you back.
Literally. Nothing.

Think bigger every day. Even if you're embarrassed about your vision for your future.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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Stop Being Realistic

"One of the saddest lines in the world is, 'Oh come now - be realistic.' The best parts of this world were not fashioned by those who were realistic. They were fashioned by those who dared to look hard at their wishes and gave them horses to ride."

- Richard Nelson Bolles 

As you think about the work you need to accomplish today...this week...this year...spend some time distancing yourself from what is realistic. There is a phrase in sports that "safe is death" which means that simply doing what is expected and avoiding risk will guarantee defeat. The same principle applies to your legacy as a leader.
 
How About You
What about your legacy? Will it be one of transactional work that "kept the lights on?" Or, will you leave a different impression on your team, your organization, and your profession?

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses. 


 
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Power, Social Media and Tron

A new Tron movie - "Legacy"-  came out a couple of years ago and I thought it was awesome. (Yeah, I used the word awesome.) It combined a fascinating digital world of technology (a.k.a. gaming/social media/web) and the real world into a dangerous society focused on power and dreams of a better life.

Wait, that was just a movie, right?

Power, Everybody Wants Some
In this good versus evil science fiction flick the twist on power is an interesting one. Partners who originally dreamed of creating a Utopian society that would take care of people in a positive way gets all mixed up. Where once these two worked together toward a common goal, now they were at odds with each other chasing ultimate power.

Wait, that was just a movie, right?

Art Imitates Life
So how does Tron apply to the world of work? Easily. Right now in your organization people are maneuvering to gain more power, to cover their bases, or both. I'm not judging it, I'm simply saying it's happening. For the shrewd leader, being aware of these behaviors among employees, and their peers, allows for inappropriate power-plays to be reacted to immediately. We like to think we're all rowing in the same direction, but to ignore the fact that many sub-plots are going on constantly is simply naive.


How About You
How do you balance your career aspirations, dreams of a better workplace and desire for power? Are you pushing your social media brand, leadership authority, and ideas for change in an ethical way? I'm going to try and answer these questions too.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.




pic courtesy of paris-confidential

Resolutions Are For Suckers

I have long been a member of the New Year's Resolutions Club. I think long and hard about how I'm going to change my life and become something that I'm not...er...I mean something better. I've written personal lists, professional lists, exercise lists, organizational lists, and other lists I'm sure...I just can't seem to remember what they were.

Good Intentions

It's not that setting goals for yourself is a bad idea. In fact, committing to making improvements in one's life is a great idea...as long as the changes are realistic. That's where I've struggled over the years.

So this year I'm going to try something new...no resolutions, or goals, or delusions of becoming some sort of Hollywood fantasy version of myself. I'm simply going to try and do my best. No, that's not very flashy or exciting or inspiring. But if I can do my best each day, I might just make real progress instead of finding myself at the beginning of February lamenting that I'd fallen short once again.

How About You

How many of you have goals for the coming year? Are you dreaming of a better you at home, work, the gym, or with the family? Good luck with that. Maybe this is the year to avoid the disappointment of attempts at change that fall short; and to simply focus on bringing an honest effort each day. Happy New Year.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.



pics courtesy of leehippie and discotreats