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We have to abandon the idea that schooling is something restricted to youth. How can it be, in a world where half the things a man knows at 20 are no longer true at 40 - and half the things he knows at 40 hadn't been discovered when he was 20?
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The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.
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I am an optimist. Anyone interested in the future has to be otherwise he would simply shoot himself.
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— All Quotes by Sir Arthur C. Clarke, inventor, futurist, and author of 2001: A Space Odyssey |
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Honesty - "Lying is complex. It's woven into the fabric of our daily and our business lives." Pamela Myers, author, Lie Spotting
On any given day, research shows that you may be lied to between 10 to 200 times. That also means that we ourselves may be lying between 10 and 200 times a day. Extroverts lie more than introverts. Men lie 8 times more about themselves than they do other people. Women lie more to protect the feelings of others. Some lies are relatively benign, but destructive dishonesty costs the United States economy almost 1 trillion dollars this year. Think of the residual effects of the Madoff scandal, the mortgage crisis, and the painful revelations of the truth in institutions of higher education. Globally, the cost of deceit is many trillions. Think Silvio Berlusconi, former Prime Minister of Italy.
In personal matters, it's hard to be honest all the time and sometimes it is overkill. Do we really need to know what celebrities (or our relatives) are thinking about 24/7 as they tweet, blog, and Facebook every feeling and event in their lives? Over-sharing is not honesty. Manic over-sharing can blind us to the wisdom of keeping our own counsel and the subtleties of simple human decency.
Yet honesty, in the right context, was the most highly valued leadership trait among 30 other characteristics according to Kouzes and Posner's research. None of the other characteristics work if honesty isn't in place first. Honesty builds human trust, the first building block of any relationship, personal or professional. People are willing to work long and hard to make an organization successful if they feel they are being told the truth.
In our own lives, self-awareness of our own motivations is the starting point. "Know thyself" was proclaimed 2,500 years ago by Socrates. We have to get at the truth of who we are. There are probably 3 or more people in your professional life who can provide honest feedback to you. Ask them three questions - Does my staff/family feel that I create and support an engaging and open environment? Do I hold myself accountable for what I commit to do? Do I demonstrate fairness to everyone?
Forward-Looking - "Plan for the Future, because that's where you are going to spend the rest of your life." Mark Twain
The World Wide Web has only been around about 7,000 days. Not a long time considering how much it has rocked our world and spawned millions of applications. Wikipedia, Google Earth, and unlimited entertainment from both professional sources and amateur ones are available at the touch of a button. Numbers here become irrelevant because they are so huge.
Everything connects to the web and funnily it is a "machine" that never breaks. Our devices may not work from time to time, or they can get lost between the cracks in the car seat, but the Web is omnipresent. Every screen in the world is pretty much looking at the same www. Machine.
The lesson in forward-looking is to get used to believing in the impossible. Technology will drive every single aspect of our lives in the future. This coming year, spend the first 90 days updating your business devices and apps, getting several technology mentors in your life, and advancing your knowledge of all the technology that is in your life right now. And then invite more technology in. Whether you are just learning to use a DVR or you have advanced to the Roku Player or Apple TV, it is cool to be smart and savvy about technology. Do your presentations or present your résumé on a tablet like the iPad, the Kindle Fire, or Asus Eee Pad. In career advancement, technical know-how is often a deciding factor. She or he, who has the most technology skills, has the advantage.
Competence - "Your success will be defined in myriad ways so get competent and credible in what you love to do." Commencement address given by Jon Stewart, host of The Daily Show
The best insurance policy in a world of uncertainty is to know where you are naturally gifted. What you are naturally wired to do. Where your innate talent resides. Then work like crazy to get competent.
It takes 10,000+ hours of dedicated focus to master any area of endeavor - writing, leadership, growing a team, growing a business. It takes intention and attention. But with mastery, you assume ownership of your life and your outcomes, and the good news is that when you are using and improving your strengths, you are in the flow. You still have to work hard, but it isn't grueling and draining in the same way that working on a weakness is.
There are many solid assessments available that can determine your strengths and gifts - the Hogan Potential, StrengthsFinder 2.0, StandOut, the Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument, and the Myers-Briggs/Strong Interest Survey are just a few of the hundreds of assessments available. You can also list 10 things you like to do and 10 things you don't like to do. That works great as a starter for a family discussion or to kick off a staff meeting.
Inspiration - "Watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss at least twice a year." Susan Bixler
The Whos in Whoville were undeterred by the Grinch. In the midst of loss and disappointment after someone stole all their presents and the "roast beast", miraculously the Whos were able to hold hands and sing. It was surprising and inspiring that they could have a good attitude after being ripped off. When outcomes are not going our way, it is easy to lash out and blame. Yet that is the moment when it most matters that we choose a different response. Great leaders, managers, and strong teams choose their behaviors, emotions, and responses, not the other way around. Cynicism, skepticism, and distrust will destroy relationships and organizations. A high degree of self-awareness and a commitment to self-management can build great organization - and great families too.
Events change all the time. But having the ability to re-frame people, situations, and conditions is a powerful tool. Getting up high enough to see a new perspective turns chaos into order. What appears to be the worst thing to happen in one's life can bring out the best in us and inspire others. This year spend the majority of your time with whatever and whomever bring you growth, energy, and purpose. It could be growing your faith, being of service to others, spending more time with family and friends, intentionally focusing on your career in a way you haven't before, signing up for additional education, pursuing skill development and coaching, reading books and watching movies that bring out the best in you. But stay inspired. In 2012, make your world as big as you can, take some risks, and watch the next 12 months become the best year in your life.
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