XLife Tolerance-transferred

Sometime I feel stressed about saying the exact right thing or doing the exact right thing. If I'm talking with someone or persuading someone and the conversation doesn't go the way that I wanted, I tend to look internally to see what I did wrong, leading with the belief that if I said and did the exact right things, it would've gone differently. Do you ever feel that way too?

I see a lot of other people stressing about it too. Micro-managers who worry their teams will perform poorly, coaches who get frustrated when they can't make their team's win, employees who spend way too long at a job they hate, product developers who over-analyze projects to death.

It's clear how this mindset can steal from your life, when you constantly spend valuable brain space  looking for ways where you went wrong. It's equivalent to running a marathon with your shoes tied- it's slow, you trip over yourself and ultimately, it's your own fault.

So I'm here to provide some practical encouragement to myself and to you in math terms :)

Big Idea- Life is much more tolerant than you believe.

If you've ever done statistics, you're probably familiar with the concept of tolerance in a statistical way. It's the level or result a test needs to reach to be accepted as a fact. So many of us have a belief that life's tolerance is super high and every moment matters, like it was a test; and to get the results you want, you have to work hard to prove you were right..

So much is wrong with it. For starters, you can't force the truth. It's exhausting and futile. Plus, even if you were to succeed, you would end up with a lie.

This is a progression we're seeing in software today as well. As we shift away from static tables and logic to the more dynamic artificial intelligence. In the past, your software had to have all the right inputs to create the right outputs. Artificial intelligence, instead says- give me whatever inputs you have and I'll give you the best output.

This is something we can carry into our lives. We will never have enough information to make the perfect decision. There is a time and place for reflection, but it is not every time and every place. Progress is made by making the best decision with the information we have. If you're constantly finding yourself making the wrong decision, then take the time to reflect, find out what you need to learn to correct your decision making and move forward again.

Start with the Inputs

The real challenge to taking your business into the next century are the things that you haven’t even considered as data yet.  Consider a company that captures data about their customers. From a marketing perspective you like to know where they came from, from a sales perspective you like to know how much they’ve bought on the year, credit- aging, receivables-orders, shipping-location.

But do you know when they’re ready to buy more products? Do you know if they’re subscribed to that magazine that you’ve been spending thousands on? Too creepy? How about being able to run a report that orders customers by the size of their company or annual revenue? How about generating a cost analysis of production errors by employee?

In the past, measuring metrics like production errors were only appropriate for large manufacturers with heavy-handed operational guidelines. It would cost too much to implement for the smaller businesses. In 2017, Duke University developed “smart wheels” a technology that measures wear and tear of tires. While this may seem overkill, but when you consider the cost of replacing tires and the savings a company can realize by either avoiding blown tires or replacing them too soon you can see why the technology has been pursued. Keeping an eye on pioneering activities like this can help you reap the rewards when they become cost effective for  your industry.

https://phys.org/news/2017-06-sensors-real.html

Reading the data is one step, saving the data in a useful way is another. The systems of yesteryear are great for performing the day-to-day functions you need to succeed, but younger companies are get the benefit of those competitive advantages built into their software from day one. If you’re feeling behind, it’s likely that the vehicle (software) you use is holding you back. While supporting Team Horner’s journey to change their software, we found a great guide called ERPFocus. They gave the following 5 signs your software needs changing:

http://www.erpfocus.com/five-signs-you-need-to-upgrade-your-erp-in-2015-3128.html

• You aren’t mobile
• You don’t integrate easily with others
• The vendor isn’t keeping up with your needs
• The vendor isn’t keeping up with the industry
• You’re needing functions that aren’t ‘standard’.

If you want to run with the big dogs, you need a software that can not only keep your digital information, but track and capture more than you’ve done in the past.

What is Fiverr?

Fiverr

Fiverr is a website where you can find freelancers to do creative works like writing, singing, drawing, video ads, voice overs. The name comes from its pricing model where everything is in $5 increments.

How can I use Fiverr in my business? Creative work can be hard to find. Fiverr is a gold mine for these things, you can watch videos of contractors performing the work to easily find people who have the skill and also match the style you like. Here’s a quick link so you can see an example: Fiverr Whiteboard Video

What things should I know about Fiverr:

• Most of the costs on fiverr are not $5. A $100 job will be sold as 20 units of $5
• The website will tell you how quickly the contractor typically turns around a project, this can be useful if you’re on a tight deadline
• Each contractor is shown with their quality and reliability based on past sales
• Be sure your team provides the fiverr freelancer with a clear outcome. The costs of the service may be minimal, but a lot of time can be wasted if they are vague about the requirements.

Important Keywords to know:

What is a Gig?: A gig is a job accepted. Think of it just like hiring a musician for a ‘gig’.

How do I get started with Fiverr?

Anyone can sign up for Fiverr. Go to https://www.fiverr.com/ and click join.

Save Your Job From Outsourcing

Today outsourcing is so easy to do. Just about any and every job can be outsourced if not off-shored altogether. Technical support in India, manufacturing to China, labor in Mexico or even the virtual assistant taking the role of the in-person one.

Dan Roberts, CEO of Oulette and Associates, hits the nail on the head in his book "Unleashing the Power of IT". The critical factor about whether your job can be outsourced lies in how well you understand the strategy and core business of the company. Companies can hire an outside sales team, but they frequently don't because the sales people provide the foundation for a company's perceived value in the market place- their interaction with the customer is critical to the strategic success of the company.

Do you add value beyond the functional requirements of your team?

Speed of Change

The pace of change you can command can be calculated based on the size of change and your strength as a leader. To put it in simple terms

Speed of Change =  Strength of Leadership / Size of Change

Strong leaders can affect change rapidly. They hone in on the things that matter most to their employees and customers, they gather support for projects and initiatives and they move the ship.

Study after study has shown the 'disenchantment' syndrome of leadership. This occurs when a leader makes a bold statement or a change in direction and either the program fails or they change their mind too quickly. This is called 'flavor of the month' leadership.

As a leader, take a moment to think about the last project you tried to launch. How did it go? Was your team enthusiastic and ready to help or did they put up excuses and shuffle away grumbling?

It's not that people don't like change, they just don't like changes they don't want. Developing yourself as a leader to align yourself and them to tackle the same objectives is an important step in driving change effectively.

The Software Reality Tension

Does Salesforce do everything you want it to? Is your project management tool the right solution for everyone in you business model?

A good business will always look to provide its employees with the best tools, believing that with the right tools, they will be able to perform their tasks more effectively.

Today some of the best software tools available have revolutionized the way we do business and we couldn't imagine living without them.

Marc Benioff, Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Klaus Schwab
at Salesforce's Dreamforce 2014. taken by my iPhone :)

But does that mean technology is the answer?

As fast as technology evolves, the world still moves faster- companies grow, customer demands change and decision makers need to weigh the risk of over-flexing their tools and missing out on valuable business.

Consider the common situation where an ERP does everything you want it to do domestically, but as soon as you try to sell internationally, the different address formats wreck havoc on your business rules.

Look for a new system? Program new business rules? Avoid international sales?

For many companies, this isn't a crossroads they reach but a lifestyle they live with. Starting from a good platform, finding good developers to maintain it is the closest you'll get to a software that matches business realities.

What are some ways you or your company bridge the gap where technology falls short?

Like a Bull Dog

Today was one of those rare moments when two unrelated things clicked.

Last week I was playing chess with a co-worker. He was an exceptional player and the match was close until he unleashed an attack that seemed to come from everywhere, it was very demoralizing. Following the game, he gave me a piece of advice that I'll never forget- "When you're playing chess, figure out a strategy you want to go with and stick to it like a bull dog, never give it up".

Had anyone else said this, I'd say they were crazy, after all, isn't it the element of surprise that wins a game? Isn't it being flexible and able to respond to changing situations that make a player talented?

He was good though, so it stuck.

Not long after, I was writing an MBA paper on the strategic decisions of Mark Parker, CEO of Nike. In the paper I was asked to comment on his strategic leadership. So far he has restructured Nike to focus on sport-based divisions, invested in technologies like iPods and aligned with educators and investors to research new possibilities.

Each of these moves may seem trivial, but looking deeper, I realized that like a master chess player who clings to a strategy like a bull-dog. These moves, especially the restructuring can't be done wildly, it's difficult and will define the company for decades to come. Mark Parker is clinging to the strategy of creating a highly-personalized experience for consumers, keeping with the past present and future of their needs.

What do you need to stick with?

What are your IT strengths?

“The task of an executive is not to change human beings. Rather as the Bible tells us in the parable of the talents, the task is to multiply the performance capacity of the whole by putting to use whatever strength, whatever health, whatever aspiration there is in individuals.”

- Peter Drucker

Some of the biggest challenges in IT come from its complexity shield. That is, the shield of technical jargon that protects technical departments from accountability. You’ll recognize the comments like “this update had unforeseen complications” or “this system didn’t work with that system”. In the end, you might feel like you’ve handed your dreams to a magic black box with the hope that something good will come out.

Sometimes this insular bubble even attracts technical talent who prefer to be left to their own devices, but this does little for team synergy with the critical component of technology. Business leaders often accept this trade-off, feeling that having the talent provides a lot of value to the company.

So, what would happen if you could retain that talent and create synergy? The secret begins with recognizing your current capabilities.

Consider both your internal team and any groups you outsource to. Are they more business minded, technical, or service oriented?

Taking the First Step

Ok- you've decided you've had ENOUGH!

You're ready for a change. Now you need to make the first move.

If you're in fitness like my super star friend Nicholas Natt, you might make the move to buy a gym membership. If you're in technology, you might start reaching out to your local tech guy like me for advice.

Despite some of the clever sayings (the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step), the truth is, you probably know that first step well.

The impulsive types will take it without thought, the analytical types will wonder what comes next and next and next. Both are right- both are wrong. You need momentum and foresight- this is where wisdom and experience can be important.

The first step for many wise people is to seek the counsel of specialists in their particular problem.

What was your first step?

Decision Time

The symptoms appear early on. You start to feel overweight, the are more doctors appointments than you ever thought reasonable and problems begin creating more problems.

Of course I'm talking about your technology.

We love the set it and forget it allure of software. It shouts promises of revenue with little overhead costs- like the fat burn diets where you strap a machine to your stomach to substitute ab workouts.

Bill Gates, writes "technology is the nervous system of your company". This sage advice means we should connect things as much and as fast as possible and it's important to recognize when the system isn't working the way it should- slow for decision making, paying high development and consulting fees, paying for numerous third-party solutions.

Like health, there will come a time when everyone will say "Enough!" and make the changes either begrudgingly or enthusiastically.

What are some of your symptoms? Feel free to comment below.

The Business Experience

Last night I had the opportunity to connect with author and thought leader behind modern marketing, Brian Solis.

The premise of Brian's book and speech is the need to "Grow With Change"- although he didn't use my words, he had his own.

In Brian's words, personal technology (Facebook, Amazon, Google) all set a precedent for the technology we use in our business world.

Today our attention spans are so short most people didn't click this post, fewer have made it this far into reading it.

In summary (because that's what we all want), do what Steve Jobs said- spend a ridiculous amount of time making things simple. To do that you'll have to grow!

How Do I Disrupt my Industry, Like Uber Did?

Wow, congratulations! If you're reading this blog, you've probably thought further ahead than 99% of your competitors. You may be the type of person who has a thirst for adventure or someone looking to make their mark in the world.

So many industries have been upended by the changes of technology. Uber broke the taxi service, AirBnB competes with the hotel industry, Expedia wiped out travel agencies around the world. Truth is, if it exists today, it probably will look very different 100 years from now.

If you have a clear vision of what that disruption would look like, act on it now! No, don't spend 100K on a new application today, but start mapping it out- what will it look like?

Even if you're a billionaire, you'll need partners to help you disrupt an industry. Connect with technology specialists to get clear on the technical needs. Meet with end users to see what their true needs are (like AirBnB you don't need a hotel to have a place to stay). Try something new to break free of your existing paradigm.

If there's already competition- how well are they doing? A competitor doesn't mean you can't enter the market, Microsoft and Apple are constantly looking for the nearest competitors for products so they don't lose ground.

If you don't have a clear vision, do all the things above too! People mistake "lean startup" for "half-baked-idea" and jump into projects without clarity. It's ok not to get all the steps right, but unless you can clearly picture the end user experience, you'll be an ineffective leader.

Start with the end in mind!

Stay Busy- But not with work

Meeting up with old friends outside the
American Airlines Arena

Harvard Business Reviews "Guide to Managing Stress at Work" says ADHD people tend to over-perform when their plates are full and under-perform when they are empty. Conventional wisdom says give
work to the busiest person you know; and all procrastinators are familiar with expansion of time syndrome. All this means is - stay busy.

But don't always stay busy working. Stay busy building relationships. Stay busy relaxing. Stay busy taking vacations. Stay busy doing things for others.

Life is short, don't waste it in front of the TV, but don't try to fill it with work either. I know- I'm guilty of it too.

What Memorial Day Really Means to You

Today we remember our veterans and thank them for keeping our country safe.

Just the other day I was talking with my mentor about the reality of human nature. Essentially we are still the same people as we were thousands of years ago- still full of pride, envy, greed, joy, love and hope.

Today civilization may seem more 'evolved' and looking at Maslow's Hierarchy of needs it's easy to see why. The men and women of our military ensure the security that allows us all to pursue higher goals than simply our survival.

So thank the people who have given their lives to build the foundation of security for this country. It really is critical to what makes this country great.

Successful Business Thoughts with DZ

Today for lunch, I had the privilege of meeting with founder and owner of development zone, Yaniv. They have been in business for over a dozen years and I was interested to learn just how it was they were successful. Yaniv's response reminded me of the sobering and somber attitude of all successful business leaders I've come across, he said it's about the customer. He said I make sure that they never feel like they are left hanging, always answer your phone, always under promise and over deliver, and be true to your word. In the world of development, and business in general it's hard to find a man who walks the walk and talks the talk. Yaniv stressed this was a critical ingredient in retaining big clients like DHL, UPS, and Comcast.

It's not easy to find a good developer these days, it's not just about being good at programming or being good at designing it's about being a good businessman and ethical person and a hard worker.

The Technology Lever

Here's a big challenge in the modern workforce made up of a mix of generations. What are your thoughts?

The conversation revolved around how we were going to distribute education and training both internally and to our customers. The HR manager wanted an LMS that would integrate with anything, provide reports on everything and give the users a world-class experience. The CEO wanted to take our existing training, place it in protected folders online and manage the attendees through an excel spreadsheet.

It's not unusual for managers to worry about the risks of taking on extra task. If you're a savvy manager, you understand that there is a lot more that need to go into the system. How will we collect payments? Who is going to distribute the certificates of completion? Who will be available to answer questions that the students have? Plus, you know the CEO is going to want reports.

It's also not unusual for executives to underestimate the work of a project. If you're a CEO, starting off basic seems like a classic business principle. Why invest tons of time and money coming up with a complex solution to a basic program? Gauge the audience first and then see how well it's received, then invest the time and energy into getting fancy.

So who was right?

Transparency and Pain

Dale Carnegie says, "When you're wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically". That quick dose of wisdom is intended to help people make friends and influence people (great book), but there's another wildly valuable gem in that action- it creates POSITIVE PAIN.

Admitting when you're wrong hurts, but it also helps us grow faster. So let's take it to another level.

If admitting when you're wrong helps you grow, what would happen if you could find all your challenges before they became mistakes? What if we increase the stakes to connect more pain to the failure? Sounds mentally challenging, but that's one secret for growth.

Transparency is one way to do that. Transparency is an ethical leaders tool for making sure his mistakes are uncovered quickly and the visibility of the failure makes it more painful than if you could cover it up.

What are some areas in your business or marriage where you've been reluctant to be transparent? What is the fear that holds you back and what could you gain by letting go?

XThe Consequence of 90%

Don't give yourself excuses and you won't have any regrets

We've all heard coaches say give 110%. What the hell does that mean?

I'm not sure about 110%, but the consequences of only giving 90% can be real challenges to growing with change. Think back on a time when you gave 100%. I bet, regardless of the outcome, you were proud of yourself at the end of the day.

While personal pride is at stake when giving less than 100%, there's a second consequence called excuses. When you give 90% and the project fails you have an excuse. You can say if I had worked 10%
harder or done 10% more it would've been successful. This can keep you from recognizing the need for dramatic or systemic changes.

The secret, disempowering phrases I hear a lot are "We just have to do a better job of executing", "We just need to pay closer attention to these things", "We just need to communicate better". While these comments may be true and may help explain why things didn't work out they ultimately they don't really help you grow.

Stop giving less than 100% and you'll recognize the need for change a lot quicker.

The Power of the Third Party

Introduce a third party in a flattering way.

Have you ever tried to convince your significant other to change their dress style, mannerisms or annoying quirks?

If you have, you probably got burned and are a little wiser for it.

The truth is, we HATE to be corrected or rebuked. AND we hate it most from people we are closest to and we have a tendency to lash out in defense.

So how in the world do you get people to change? Enter the third party.

You may have seen a form of this technique in sales or speaker introductions. It starts with person A describing how credible/accomplished person B is and then when person B speaks, they are bestowed a tremendous level of respect. Suddenly, everything that comes out of their mouth is gospel and moving.

So the next time your wife asks you if you like the dress she chose, have her call a fashionista she respects and side step the whole debacle :)

12 Tips for a More Effective Work Life

1. 
   Set expectations and deadlines. If you write these down, it'll give your teammates structure, your supervisors confidence, and yourself enough time to get things done right.
2. Say No. Say no to ideas without enough support to move forward. Say no to customer requests that don't match your business capabilities or direction. Say no to false emergencies to remind people to plan ahead.
3. Make time. Your week should be divided into three sections: learning, teaching and doing. Make time throughout your week to exercise all three.
4. Delegate appropriately. Don't be afraid to give work back to a colleague or to request support from another department. As a team, you work best if everyone is doing their best at what they do best.
5. Under promise. No one but you knows how long something is really going to take. Don't promise everything as quickly as you know it can be done, give yourself plenty of flexibility.
6. Review each night- Take time to reflect on the day and refocus on what's really important.
7. Engage with groups- Not people in your organization, but people with a completely different focus/market. They will use tools in ways you haven't seen before and connect lots of dots for you.
8. Find mentors- Look for super mentors. People well beyond what you have and want with the experience to help you get there.
9. Read- Like mentors and groups, these can connect new ideas to old ones to make something beautiful
10. Put pride aside- Don't worry about who gets credit for ideas and work. If your sights are on a new level, those things won't matter.
11. Ask what’s really important- Number of people asking and authority of people asking can make the task seem more important than it is. Ideas tend to recycle themselves within groups. Don't let that derail you from the high-importance items.
12. Plan ahead- Real fire drills do happen, but more often than not, they are a result of procrastination and near-sightedness on behalf of management or ourselves. Don't let them become your day-to-day.