In 2011, a mentor of mine said:
“You’ve got to find a problem you can fall in love with. A problem that draws you in, teases you, and brings out the best in you."
Since then, I’ve been thinking, dreaming, wondering, and building with that prompt in mind. It was something he said over a #CoffeeChat in #Ventura, CA and I’ve used it to create workshops, write speeches, write books, and advise clients worldwide. When it’s time to create something and bring it to the planet, you (no doubt in my mind) want to experience success.
Have you discovered YOUR question yet??? I have…”How do I continue to get better, do less, and experience more in this short time I have on the planet?"
My grandpa passed away recently. For all 42.5 years I’ve been on the planet, I’ve known him as a man of integrity, someone who could guide me to change my mind by simply “looking my way,” and a grandpa who gave me my name (we both have Wayne as our middle name…). I learned a LOT from my grandpa. A LOT. As I prepare for the new year, and look forward to getting “teased” by the problem I’ve fallen in love with, I’m putting together a series of discussions - in person AND on line - to share ideas of problem solving and engagement with the communities I’m a part of.
Will I see at an upcoming #CoffeeChat (click here) or during an online Town Hall at Get Momentum (and, click HERE). Over the next few months, here are the topics we’ll explore. They are what I call the “not so secret steps to success."
Show Up
Recently, a Get Momentum member (and graduate of our past two Leadership Retreat programs in Ojai, CA) invited me to discuss the Get Momentum tenets of “FutureCasting” in to the new year with a small group of her most trusted clients AND advisors. Ranjani Mohana is an extremely successful small business owner in the Silicon Valley, and over the past few years, I’ve worked as her coach as she continues to “Show Up.” She builds her network by looking for ways to be of service. Think about that...
So, here’s the tactic I can recommend: Open your calendar - right now - and block out a MINIMUM of 12 days over the next 12 months. You can do 2-3 days a time, or 1 day a month, whatever you think might work for you. Your goal, find somewhere you can “show up,” at a meeting, a conference, an event, where your question can be “tested.” (You know, the problem you’ve fallen in love with.)
I’ve got 9 of my 12 mapped out for 2015. Wanna talk about them? Want to meet me there? Let me know!
Do Good Work
"Good"…It’s such a darned relative word. What does “good work” mean to you? Is it work you enjoy doing? Is it work you get paid (well) to do? Is it work that you give away? Is it ALL of that? Or, is it something totally different? I know, I know, that was a long list of questions. But, it’s important that you know - from the get go - what “good work” means to you.
At the end of the day, for the next 5 days or so, do yourself a favor: Write down the times during that day where and when you were WAY engaged. When did time seem to disappear? Where did you notice that your energy was rockin’ at a night level? Where did you feel like you were doing “who” you are, not just what you do? Keep track of this over a week so you can do some kind of Weekly Review at the end. In there will be a lot (and I mean a LOT) of information.
Ok, so I’ve been writing in a daily journal at the end of each day since 1997. I answer the same three prompts at the end of the day, and I’d love to share that with you. Members of Get Momentum will tell you that these discussions around “searching for the good work” are always worth the time. Welcome!
Stay In Touch
Accountability. To the project. To the people. To the process. When you are there, time-and-time again, for the work that needs to be done, for the people you work with, and for all of the activities that need to happen in order to achieve success, you will find more and more opportunities coming your way. The people around you - what I call your “Social Network” - are the ones that are going to look forward to your call. They are the ones who will turn to you for assistance. And, they are the ones who will refer you to others, when the time is right.
Today, right now in fact, go through your “Sent Items” in email. Look back over the last 30 days, and identify the people you’ve emailed who are “new” to your network. Then, as you think about who they are, what they work on, what keeps them busy, ask yourself this question, “Is there anything I can do to be of service?"
I’ve said it before, and I know I’ll say it again: “The best time to build your network is when you have something to give.”
What did I miss?
As YOU think about the secrets to success, what would you add to that list of four?
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