Failure is an option here. If things are not failing, you are not innovating enough. Elon Musk – CEO of SpaceX & Tesla I like work, career, and job lists. They distill experience. They are a quick read. There’s the ‘ah ha’ moment with things that move you. I can refer to them. Also, they’ve been …
Business has to give people enriching, rewarding lives … or it’s simply not worth doing. Richard Branson – CEO of Virgin Omm … COVID is stressful and anxiety ridden. So, what to do? VUCANs medicate. VUCANs exercise. VUCANs go to therapy. VUCANs meditate. VUCANs do mindfulness. You’re always connected, look at the number of VUCANs who are driving …
‘Think in simples’ as my old master used to say – meaning to reduce the whole to its parts in simplest terms, getting back to first principles. Frank Lloyd Wright – Architect When you’re working, ‘are you in the flow’? This is the same idea of ‘being in the zone’ in sports. The answer to …
Look at the resting face of the COVID VUCANs next to you. I’ll bet their facial expression is hangry (hungry + angry), plain angry, annoyed, irritated, contemptuous, or … How many faces are smiling? Few or any. It seems that VUCANs are negative and flat out grim about their life and work these days. Maybe it’s the COVID …
So, first a quick survey: What do you do when your BFF (Best Friend Forever) misses out on a high paying job, gets rejected by an elite school, loses a race, has an outbreak of pimples, etc. What do you think? How do you feel? What do you do? Do you commiserate with the person? …
In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. Thomas Jefferson – U.S. President It’s stunning the number of VUCANs who are plain anxious at work. Many suffer from frequent panic attacks. Daily stress was the norm pre COVID. So, why suffer through this. Again, it’s all about self …
Work to live not live to work. Anonymous Stress, pain, anxiety, and fear are the outcomes of COVID. Fear of infection. Fear of death if you’re 60. Fear of getting it a second time. Pain of losing a loved one. Anxiety of being alone when you die. We work really long hours in these startups. Stress kills. …
The other day, my wife and daughter were out to dinner at a local pizza bar. The place was busy. The server was a tattoo’ed millennial. The tat across her forearm read: ‘Love the process’. Her process was her work. Her passion. Her work affirmation. Maybe, her calling – her true north. True north is …
I’m intrigued by what makes a calling during COVID. There’s a world of difference. Work can simply be a meal ticket or a place to go so other things get done. On the other hand, a calling can be almost spiritual work – work with a higher purpose. So ask yourself, is your career, job, or work a …
The only thing of real importance that leaders do is to create and manage culture. If you do not manage culture, it manages you, and you may not even be aware of the extent to which this is happening. Edgar Schein – MIT Professor There’s a famous quote that says culture always beats strategy. I once …