As I work on my new book on leadership, culture, and how we get stuck, I was sifting through notes and files and old posts. This one struck a chord. I wrote it five years ago and it still rings true.
= = =
A friend sent me a copy of Rick Butts’ e-book 7 Choices. In it, he talks about the time we work on us versus the time we work on what we do or getting customers or what we can offer. In 1943, Abraham Maslow outlined our need to belong in his paper The Hierarchy of Needs.
No matter your age or situation, you want your life to have purpose and passion. That is the core of why we may get stuck – we aren’t following either. We haven’t deciphered who we are and what drives our passion. All too often we seek external confirmation.
So why do we get stuck?
Is it because no one will help us realize our passion and purpose? Or is it that we haven’t discovered it inside us in order to tell people what we want?
Years ago, a friend gave me a copy of The Secret. I watched the first half of the film with my closed mind and arms folded and the second half taking notes. It wasn't the message, it was what we do with it. Intention, attraction, and most importantly action doesn't happen on its own. But finding what we want is more than half the battle.
We need action and focus. We are human. We get stuck. We fall into the same traps of listening to the opinions of naysayers. We fail to listen to that pang in deep in our gut. If you haven't experience this, count yourself very fortunate. That is extremely rare.
Help Is On The Way
Does this mean we shouldn’t discover people we trust to help us navigate this journey? Ask the most successful people on the planet if they get stuck and you will get a resounding – YES!
None of us is immune. But if someone asks you to help them get unstuck, forget their resume or the past and listen to what they need. If you do, magic will happen for both of you. Getting unstuck requires help and asking for it is our first step. If you're feeling stuck, let's chat.
Shoot me an email and let's chat!
__________________________________________________________________
Kneale Mann | People + Priority = Profit
New Book out in 2016 – Details soon!
Showing posts with label Maslow. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maslow. Show all posts
October 6, 2015
November 27, 2014
How Do You Measure Success?
Many say leadership is about results and the ability to measure those results. If you run a company, you are compensated by the success of the bottom line. But are you sure you know of all the ways you can influence the profits of your work?
It may be somewhat simple to proclaim if we sell more stuff to more customers we will be more successful. But let’s look at the items we can’t necessarily measure which dramatically affect the way we view success.
More More More
Certainly in Western culture, it appears we can never get enough. We are chasing the dream, the goal, the customer, the money, and all the while not spending even a second realizing where we are and what we have right now.
This goes well beyond monetary measurement to include experiences, relationships, belonging, esteem, and fulfillment. We aren’t here long yet we spend our time chasing something we so rarely can even define.
A few years ago, facing an historic downturn in the hospitality industry, Chip Conley decided to discover how he could improve his company, his employee experience, and the relationship with customers.
Watch this.
__________________________________________________________________
Kneale Mann | People + Priority = Profit
TED | Chip Conley
It may be somewhat simple to proclaim if we sell more stuff to more customers we will be more successful. But let’s look at the items we can’t necessarily measure which dramatically affect the way we view success.
More More More
Certainly in Western culture, it appears we can never get enough. We are chasing the dream, the goal, the customer, the money, and all the while not spending even a second realizing where we are and what we have right now.
This goes well beyond monetary measurement to include experiences, relationships, belonging, esteem, and fulfillment. We aren’t here long yet we spend our time chasing something we so rarely can even define.
A few years ago, facing an historic downturn in the hospitality industry, Chip Conley decided to discover how he could improve his company, his employee experience, and the relationship with customers.
Watch this.
__________________________________________________________________
Kneale Mann | People + Priority = Profit
TED | Chip Conley
March 4, 2014
Name. Living. Difference.
The process of giving someone a reason for doing something.
Webster
There is an entire industry focused on it, thousands of websites catering to it, millions of conversions discussing it, conventions modelled toward it, but what is motivation? What gives us a reason for doing something that will move us to our desired goals?
“If you plan on being anything less than you are capable of being, you will probably be unhappy all the days of your life.”
Abraham Maslow
There are many motivating factors to life. Maslow called it the Hierarchy of Needs which include; food, water, shelter, intimacy, and safety. He also wrote about self-actualization which is more intangible. We use words like potential and passion when describing how we can be our best.
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
Steve Jobs
Here’s something you may want to try. Find a moment today to write down three words; name, living, and difference. Think of them as steps in your life.
Make a Name
Write down all the things you want to do, to become more recognized in your field. It’s not about fame – few make that a priority – it’s about appreciation. I haven’t met anyone who claims they want to be known as the worst at what they do, so write it all down – even if it feels uncomfortable.
“An object that is at rest will stay at rest unless an external force acts upon it.”
Isaac Newton
If you want to be the best investment advisor in your firm, write it down. If your goal is to serve the best burgers in town, write it down. If you wish to create a charity, write it down. If it's something that has been nagging you to try for years, write it down!
Make a Living
This goes beyond paying the bills. That's a paycheck. Few avoid getting stuck by money (or current lack of it) on their way to a living but we’re dreaming for a bit so go for it. Don’t let your current situation slow you down.
When this draws to an end, I doubt either of us will be tallying up the possessions we had in our life. We will be focused on the experiences and perhaps the chances we didn't take.
Make a Difference
Write down all the things you do and want to do that will make a difference in others’ lives. These don’t have to be grand gestures – in fact, the small ones are often the most powerful. You don’t have to raise millions for disease research or build the new wing on the hospital.
“If you can't get a miracle, become one.”
Nick Vujicic
How do you want to make a difference in someone’s life? How do you want to give back and help others? The challenge remains for us to take the actions in order to make a name, make a living, and make a difference. I don't know many who focus on the name part, but there's no reason we can't make a living while making a difference.
Let’s take our three steps right now.
__________________________________________________________________
Kneale Mann | Leadership Strategist, consultant, writer, speaker, executive coach facilitating performance growth with leaders, management, and teams.
earthpm
June 28, 2011
Your Personal Media Experience
One-to-One Rapport
It doesn’t matter if you work in television, radio, advertising, communications, marketing, digital or mobile; your top job is developing audience. You can use words like influence and connection, conversation and relationship but having more people consume your offering gives you a better chance on driving success through whatever metric you decide to employ.
Return on your investment may be measured by revenue or awareness but unless you are independently wealthy, you need to eventually realize results of some kind. So in the quest for advancement, most are hesitant to take chances and things get stuck.
Creating Your Experience
As you know, the word media is plural for medium yet there is plenty of evidence that some feel it is a catch-all phrase. But for the most part we consume media alone through gadgets and channels. And with technological advancements, our experience is more in our individual control every day. Our user experience can be uniquely ours.
You don’t read your Facebook newsfeed with ten other people. You aren’t sending tweets from the control room of a studio. And you are probably not devising your next blog post while mapping out storylines and an editorial calendar with your team. Creating and consumer media is a personal process. There are exceptions but we mostly read, watch, listen, write and interact alone. Our quest to reach and share with others makes the experience social.
Imagine. Create. Share.
Think about your average week. Mine consists of time online, calls, email, writing, maybe a webinar, group calls, business development, client work, proposals, team discussions, driving to appointments and research. Your week may be different but you are conducting most of that work alone through various media.
So when companies talk about gaining more market share or building a brand - which can only be done between customers - they often use averages and demographics, charts and trends and that is valuable information but more times than not our clientele consume our offering alone.
How can you enhance customer need on a personal level?
Kneale Mann
image credit: thecoolgadgets
It doesn’t matter if you work in television, radio, advertising, communications, marketing, digital or mobile; your top job is developing audience. You can use words like influence and connection, conversation and relationship but having more people consume your offering gives you a better chance on driving success through whatever metric you decide to employ. Return on your investment may be measured by revenue or awareness but unless you are independently wealthy, you need to eventually realize results of some kind. So in the quest for advancement, most are hesitant to take chances and things get stuck.
Creating Your Experience
As you know, the word media is plural for medium yet there is plenty of evidence that some feel it is a catch-all phrase. But for the most part we consume media alone through gadgets and channels. And with technological advancements, our experience is more in our individual control every day. Our user experience can be uniquely ours.
You don’t read your Facebook newsfeed with ten other people. You aren’t sending tweets from the control room of a studio. And you are probably not devising your next blog post while mapping out storylines and an editorial calendar with your team. Creating and consumer media is a personal process. There are exceptions but we mostly read, watch, listen, write and interact alone. Our quest to reach and share with others makes the experience social.
Imagine. Create. Share.
Think about your average week. Mine consists of time online, calls, email, writing, maybe a webinar, group calls, business development, client work, proposals, team discussions, driving to appointments and research. Your week may be different but you are conducting most of that work alone through various media.
So when companies talk about gaining more market share or building a brand - which can only be done between customers - they often use averages and demographics, charts and trends and that is valuable information but more times than not our clientele consume our offering alone.
How can you enhance customer need on a personal level?
Kneale Mann
image credit: thecoolgadgets
March 24, 2011
Encore: Don't Listen to Them
Opinions are Just Opinions
We enjoy receiving validation and positive feedback. No one likes others who are overly negative. We enjoy acceptance. Having happy customers is a good thing. Support of friends and family is important to us.
But when we begin to measure our success, or worse, our importance by the number of friends, followers, subscribers or connections we have on the social web, we can quickly lose touch with reality.
Our need to belong
The outcast at school or the frustrated idea guy who has run up against the wall of executives who “don’t understand”, feel the same way. It sucks when we're not accepted. Those who walk among us with skin like a cobra fascinate me. The rest of us do care what people think despite our weak protests to the contrary.
But when does that need become an obsession? Do we believe those who say they don’t pay attention to what others say about them? Can we do the same? Just imagine what it would be like if it was really that easy to be a renegade with blinders to others and blaze our own path. Let’s go for it. Who cares what they say. We’re not gonna listen to them.
This is not about being arrogant, You can't walk on people. But to mix things up, let's stop asking for approval on our ideas so often. Do you think it can work? Can we do it?
Let's take the advice of the fine Dr. Seuss. “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.”
Kneale Mann | How can I help?
image credit: travelperch
original post: Nov 2010
We enjoy receiving validation and positive feedback. No one likes others who are overly negative. We enjoy acceptance. Having happy customers is a good thing. Support of friends and family is important to us.But when we begin to measure our success, or worse, our importance by the number of friends, followers, subscribers or connections we have on the social web, we can quickly lose touch with reality.
Our need to belong
The outcast at school or the frustrated idea guy who has run up against the wall of executives who “don’t understand”, feel the same way. It sucks when we're not accepted. Those who walk among us with skin like a cobra fascinate me. The rest of us do care what people think despite our weak protests to the contrary.
But when does that need become an obsession? Do we believe those who say they don’t pay attention to what others say about them? Can we do the same? Just imagine what it would be like if it was really that easy to be a renegade with blinders to others and blaze our own path. Let’s go for it. Who cares what they say. We’re not gonna listen to them.
This is not about being arrogant, You can't walk on people. But to mix things up, let's stop asking for approval on our ideas so often. Do you think it can work? Can we do it?
Let's take the advice of the fine Dr. Seuss. “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.”
Kneale Mann | How can I help?
image credit: travelperch
original post: Nov 2010
November 20, 2010
Don’t Listen to Them
Opinions are great, but...
We enjoy receiving validation and positive feedback, that's clear. No one likes someone who is overly negative. Keep that in mind next time someone says; “wha’dya think?”
We often seek the opinion of others simply to confirm our own.
We enjoy acceptance. Having happy customers is a good thing. Support of friends and family is important to us.
But when we begin to measure our success, or worse, our importance by the number of friends, followers, subscribers or connections we have on the social web, we can quickly lose touch with reality.
Our need to belong.
But when does that need become an obsession? Do we believe those who say they don’t pay attention to what others say about them? Can we do the same?
The outcast at school or the frustrated idea guy who has run up against the wall of executives who “don’t understand”, feel the same way. It sucks when we're not accepted. Those who walk among us with skin like a cobra fascinate me. The rest of us do care what people think despite our weak protests to the contrary.
Imagine if it was really that easy to be a renegade with blinders to others and blaze our own path. Let’s go for it.
Who cares what they say, we’re not gonna listen to them!
This is not about being arrogant. Leadership does actually require a team. We won't walk on people and we are certainly not better than anyone else. We are simply going to stop asking for approval on our ideas and start leading the charge toward what drives us. And in that world, numbers are obsolete.
We are simply following Dr. Seuss’ timeless advice; “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.”
Sound like a plan? You in?
knealemann | email
Join me for Movember.
image credit: dr. seuss | cashprior
We enjoy receiving validation and positive feedback, that's clear. No one likes someone who is overly negative. Keep that in mind next time someone says; “wha’dya think?” We often seek the opinion of others simply to confirm our own.
We enjoy acceptance. Having happy customers is a good thing. Support of friends and family is important to us.
But when we begin to measure our success, or worse, our importance by the number of friends, followers, subscribers or connections we have on the social web, we can quickly lose touch with reality.
Our need to belong.
But when does that need become an obsession? Do we believe those who say they don’t pay attention to what others say about them? Can we do the same?
The outcast at school or the frustrated idea guy who has run up against the wall of executives who “don’t understand”, feel the same way. It sucks when we're not accepted. Those who walk among us with skin like a cobra fascinate me. The rest of us do care what people think despite our weak protests to the contrary.
Imagine if it was really that easy to be a renegade with blinders to others and blaze our own path. Let’s go for it. Who cares what they say, we’re not gonna listen to them!
This is not about being arrogant. Leadership does actually require a team. We won't walk on people and we are certainly not better than anyone else. We are simply going to stop asking for approval on our ideas and start leading the charge toward what drives us. And in that world, numbers are obsolete.
We are simply following Dr. Seuss’ timeless advice; “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.”
Sound like a plan? You in?
knealemann | email
Join me for Movember.
image credit: dr. seuss | cashprior
March 6, 2009
Social Media Expert: Fact or Fiction?
The trouble with experience is the final exam comes before the lesson.
Author Unknown
As the world changes – because it always does – and we all get much too distracted by bad news and unfocused on trivial minutiae, there is a quite a bit of chatter about the value of social media.
You'd swear someone just poured blood in the pool and the sharks are hungry.
We have been building relationships, communicating, gathering in groups and satisfying our need to belong since the days of clubs and caves. And this is not a human thing, I’m sure the animal kingdom has their version of Twitter.
Good judgment comes from experience.
Experience comes from bad judgment.
Rita Mae Brown
As soon as you call yourself an expert, you run the risk of telling others you have learned all there is to know about a topic. The word 'expert' is misused more than the word 'irony'.
I hope my mechanic knows how to fix my car but I'd like to hope he is always learning about new and better techniques. Whenever you hear about a new wonder pill (the one with more side effects and warnings than benefits) there is always the requisite "call your doctor" mention. So, your doctor better stay on top of this stuff in case you ask her about it.
No one is a social media expert.
I worked in the radio industry for many years, had the amazing privilege of overseeing the launch of radio stations, made countless friends and built lifelong relationships. Does that make me a radio expert? Absolutely not. You may have never stepped inside a radio station, so I may know more about how they operate than you. So what, it means nothing.
Experience is the name everyone gives to his mistakes.
Oscar Wilde
We are all experts and we are all learning.
It matters not whether you have a PhD in Finance or a Masters in English, if you cannot share knowledge and information so others can learn and share with you – letters and degrees and experience means nothing.
Education is when you read the fine print.
Experience is what you get when you don't.
Pete Seeger
Where social media becomes a stumbling block for many people is when they treat it like another advertising medium – that is suicide. I was speaking with a colleague recently about social media and after an hour of explanation he said those five infamous words – “I know what I’m doing”. He then sealed the deal with seven more - "It worked for me in the past."
The world is your school.
Martin H. Fischer
He is looking for a social media expert to guarantee success. This is a horrible time to challenge ROI and metrics though many are attempting to do that. If you attempt to weigh an elephant with a produce scale, the chances of getting an accurate reading are remote - okay, impossible.
If you can guarantee your customers absolute success, buy a money printing machine and send us a postcard.
Everything has been said before, but since nobody listens we have to keep going back and beginning all over again.
Andre Gide 1891
Social media is not the golden bullet to save us from the abyss. But it is for real and it is here to stay. It will continue to evolve but at the core is our human need to build relationships.
Then again, that’s just my opinion. I’m no expert on the topic.
What are your thoughts?
@knealemann
Author Unknown
As the world changes – because it always does – and we all get much too distracted by bad news and unfocused on trivial minutiae, there is a quite a bit of chatter about the value of social media.
You'd swear someone just poured blood in the pool and the sharks are hungry.
We have been building relationships, communicating, gathering in groups and satisfying our need to belong since the days of clubs and caves. And this is not a human thing, I’m sure the animal kingdom has their version of Twitter.
Good judgment comes from experience.
Experience comes from bad judgment.
Rita Mae Brown
As soon as you call yourself an expert, you run the risk of telling others you have learned all there is to know about a topic. The word 'expert' is misused more than the word 'irony'.
I hope my mechanic knows how to fix my car but I'd like to hope he is always learning about new and better techniques. Whenever you hear about a new wonder pill (the one with more side effects and warnings than benefits) there is always the requisite "call your doctor" mention. So, your doctor better stay on top of this stuff in case you ask her about it.
No one is a social media expert.
I worked in the radio industry for many years, had the amazing privilege of overseeing the launch of radio stations, made countless friends and built lifelong relationships. Does that make me a radio expert? Absolutely not. You may have never stepped inside a radio station, so I may know more about how they operate than you. So what, it means nothing.
Experience is the name everyone gives to his mistakes.
Oscar Wilde
We are all experts and we are all learning.
It matters not whether you have a PhD in Finance or a Masters in English, if you cannot share knowledge and information so others can learn and share with you – letters and degrees and experience means nothing.
Education is when you read the fine print.
Experience is what you get when you don't.
Pete Seeger
Where social media becomes a stumbling block for many people is when they treat it like another advertising medium – that is suicide. I was speaking with a colleague recently about social media and after an hour of explanation he said those five infamous words – “I know what I’m doing”. He then sealed the deal with seven more - "It worked for me in the past."
The world is your school.
Martin H. Fischer
He is looking for a social media expert to guarantee success. This is a horrible time to challenge ROI and metrics though many are attempting to do that. If you attempt to weigh an elephant with a produce scale, the chances of getting an accurate reading are remote - okay, impossible.
If you can guarantee your customers absolute success, buy a money printing machine and send us a postcard.
Everything has been said before, but since nobody listens we have to keep going back and beginning all over again.
Andre Gide 1891
Social media is not the golden bullet to save us from the abyss. But it is for real and it is here to stay. It will continue to evolve but at the core is our human need to build relationships.
Then again, that’s just my opinion. I’m no expert on the topic.
What are your thoughts?
@knealemann
