December 22, 2009
OPEN Forum Message
Company Culture
Can you recognize signs that your company's culture isn't working? Get advice from the experts on what to look for–and how to fix it.
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Featured Response
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Jenny LaScala
Not so fast, Jerry Maguire.
Before you make a scene in the middle of the cubicle farm, grab the company goldfish and storm out of the office screaming “Good riddance, losers!” you might want to consider these seven truths first:
1. Chatter is the cheeky culprit of failure. There’s a classic country tune by Toby Keith called “A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action.” Here’s how it goes: “I was getting kinda tired of her endless chatter. Nothing I could say ever seemed to matter. So let's get on down to the main attraction. With a little less talk and a lot more action.” Know anybody like that? Are YOU like that? All lip service and no foot service? I hope not. Chatter accomplishes nothing. Trust only movement. Are you talking or walking?
2. Discipline is the unsung hero of moneymaking. I start work at 5am. (When I’m on the road, 4am.) And I write between four and seven hours a day. EVERY day. That’s discipline. Now, I don’t take any credit for this. It’s my mom’s fault for instilling this value in me. She’s a thirty-year veteran of the fitness, aerobic, weight training and nutrition industry. She actually bench presses more than I do. Anyway, the cool part is, she never “taught” discipline. She just WAS discipline. So, that’s my secret. That’s how I made an entire career out of wearing a nametag everyday. Discipline. And sadly, that’s the unsung secret of success (and moneymaking) that most people don’t talk about. Because discipline is hard. And it’s too simple to make excuses for. What areas of your life would benefit from taking the stairs instead?
3. Error is the untapped wellspring of wisdom. Mistake is the mentor of man. If you’re not screwing up, you’re screwing up. In fact, every morning I spend a few minutes journaling lessons learned from yesterday’s mistakes. Been doing it for years. I suggest you try it for a week. It’s a humbling form of reflection. Plus it makes you smarter quicker. Remember: We learn not from our experiences, but from intelligent reflection upon those experiences. What will your mistakes teach you this week?
4. Focus is the solitary suggestor of success. Spraying is the enemy. Focus is mobilizing. Therefore: Take your index finger, cover up the tip of the hose, and shoot out a frozen rope of focused effort. Otherwise you’ll spread yourself too thin, the result of which will be a diffusion of energy investment. This is not good. Your challenge is to constantly ask yourself questions like: “Is what I’m doing RIGHT NOW consistent with my #1 goal?” and “What consuming my time but doesn’t make me any money?” Remember: William James was right when he said, “The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.” How much time are you spending on things that diffuse your focus and hamper your goals?
5. Inexperience is the immediate disqualifier of credibility. Not age, but inexperience. Two different things. So, if you’re young in age and concerned about your credibility, search your life for the relevant experience you DO have. Then reflect upon the lessons learned FROM those experiences, and how those ideas inform your ability to excel in your current role. Who would give their right arm to acquire the valuable expertise you now realize you possess?
6. Quitting is the constant companion of winners. In Seth Godin’s life-changing book, The Dip, he reveals the truth about quitting: “In a free market, we reward the exceptional. Everyone picks the best one when given a choice. And the people who are perceived as the best get rewards that dwarf the people who are third and fourth and fifth.” So, I guess winners DO quit, after all. Remember: Average is for losers. Quit or be exceptional.” Do you quit when it’s hard, or quit when it’s right?
7. Ceaselessness is the common constitution of champions. If you dissect the demeanor of any great champ of sports, music or business – famous or not – here’s what you will discover. Each individual, from an early age, had something that they never stopped doing: Free throws. Scales. Self-promotion. Whatever. That’s the definition of “ceaseless.” Without stop or pause. Unending. Incessant. What are you prepared to never stop doing?
REMEMBER: Before you take the plunge and go out on your own, just be sure you know what you’re up against.
Become a master of these seven truths and you’ll be on your way to making a name for yourselfLET ME ASK YA THIS…
What truths do you need to master?
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Jenny LaScala 2 years 4 months and 21 days ago
Great reminders Scott! I'm going to be particularly focusing on discipline in 2010.