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What’s my problem?
Let’s be honest. We all have problems. Ideally with good management these problems change. For example: First we had a lead generation problem, but we solved that, and now we see a customer service problem that wasn’t obvious when we were selling less. It’s naïve human nature to think if we overcome the current challenge…
Should you want a boater hat?
Does it make sense to pursue finding an occupation so enjoyable that we want to make it a part of our life…forever? Some of the most celebrated and accomplished people in the world are well beyond retirement age and still active (and not out of necessity!) I not only know the concept, but I’ve seen…
Everyone is Full of Sh**
Hehehe — you didn’t know that I spoke French? I hope you’ll forgive the use of that ugly word, but I’ve wanted to send out this essay with this title for MONTHS. When you read the message below, I think you’ll agree — deep in your bones — it’s true Any business advisor, or life…
Cross-pollination
What’s the difference between a helpful routine and a plateau? Between having something to look forward to and a calendar that’s too full? I’m guessing the answer might vary depending on the person, their priorities, and circumstances. We all need enough unscheduled time in our day to appreciate the magic of what’s around us. The…
Goddess-worthy Goals
Diana was the Roman goddess of the hunt and the moon. And boy, did she inspire some beautiful art. These days, it’s easy to be oblivious to the phases of the moon and the only hunting most are likely to do is tracking down our favorite items in the grocery store. And in business we…
How to Know Your Next?
Are you unsure of what to do next in your business? Allow me to make a suggestion. In my opinion, the next thing you should do isn’t customer-facing. It’s not even in the back room. It primarily involves your heart, the space between your ears, and your gut. The most important work is get clear…
What are you like? (REI Edition)
Ever sit down at a restaurant and ask, “what you are known for?” Well, a brand, and a reputation are like that. Yesterday I bought an air mattress at REI and found out that apparently, I hadn’t yet bought an REI membership. Quickly remedied. The clerk handed over a $20 store gift certificate-thingy, while explaining…
Minding Your Business: What’s in a Name
“What’s in a name? that which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet.” Agreed. Some have referred to the rose as the “queen of flowers.” No matter what you call a rose, her reputation reigns supreme in gardens and poetry worldwide. However, that kind of recognition is exceedingly rare. So,…
What could possibly be?
One of my favorite inspirational quotes is below. (Yes, it applies to business and beyond!) “You are not meant for crawling, so don’t. You have wings. Learn to use them and fly.” — Rumi Let’s do something different in this newsletter. Let’s walk together and consider what could be. Imagine. You are a newborn. (If…
Words matter — here’s proof.
Nowadays, what words weigh the most? “He’s a tech bro.” “They’re a philanthropist” “She’s a Democrat.” “He’s newly engaged.” “She’s a hunter.” Did you have thoughts about the people who the words described? Or at the very least did you picture a specific person with each phrase? Of course, it could be a philanthropic tech…
I Do Declare!
I hope that everyone had a wonderful Independence Day long weekend! Last week, pulling together a social media post, I narrowly averted disaster. Instead of posting an image of the Declaration of Independence I almost posted an image of the Constitution. Taking the opportunity to review both documents, I’m struck by many thoughts. I couldn’t…
Plandemic
Inspired planning can be summed up in 3 stages. There’s Dreaming – Strategizing – and Doing. What makes the planning important and motivates us to implement? Priorities. And, what helps the plan stay current? Pivots (like when a pandemic intervenes). Ok ok ok those are a lot of words. What’s my point? When it comes…
You Guys
Most weeks I send out a short article or essay, but this week let’s all take a look at some of your responses! It’s so enjoyable reading your replies to the newsletters. In “What’s Wrong?” I wrote about The Princess and the Pea — who was bothered by that pesky, teeny tiny pea at the bottom of her…
Communication is Consideration
[Sound Waves Picture] Thursday night at my mothers house, the Visiting Nurse Association called to say mom’s paperwork had been received and to tell us an intake nurse would call the next morning between 8 – 9:00. I was grateful to know when the call would happen, and rearranged my schedule to make sure I…
Worthy Passions
Last week, Memorial Day got me thinking about what’s worth dying for. And, since none of us will get out of here alive anyway, I started thinking about not only what makes a life worth living, but how to make a life you’d die to have. Not necessarily in a swashbuckling Elon Musk or Barbara Corcoran…
What’s Wrong?
[Pea Photo] You remember her. The Princess and the Pea was bothered by that pesky teeny tiny pea at the bottom of her very high pile of mattresses. It literally kept her up at night. So that pea was an annoyance. And, where there’s an annoying problem, there’s an opportunity. I’m annoyed that my boom box takes…
Which Came First, the Offering or the Sale?
[Chicken OR Egg picture] There’s a reason that – when they like what they see – the sharks of Shark Tank then ask about sales. The next answer is a critical point. Are we soaring to a great offer, or is everything suddenly slowing down, and the air leaving the room? You know why. There’s…
Never Missing a Sunrise…and the opposite
I hadn’t seen a sunrise in decades. We night owls whose bedrooms don’t face east don’t glimpse many cracks of dawn. A move to a new home with an east-facing well-windowed bedroom changed all that. Now each daybreak is impossible to ignore. The view is so spectacular, I moved the bed across the room for the perfect…
A Question for the Ages
Android or Apple? Paper or plastic? What’s the meaning of life? These are not uncommon questions. But, boy, the customer service call from Wayfair asked a question that beats them all. Last month I placed my first order with Wayfair. Y’know “one of the world’s largest online destinations for the home”. My ‘apartment home’ (as the marketing…
You Survived…What’s Next?
[Vinyl record sleeve photo] When my older son Rob survived 13 days on a ventilator last Spring*, none of us could know we were at the beginning of a year-long pandemic siege, unlike anything any of us had ever experienced. We’ve survived. As we emerge, I can’t help but think of the last 2 lines…
But I Didn’t Order This
“Silly Waiter” was a game we’d play when my two sons were little. One of us would welcome the other to our “restaurant” and take their order. Repeating the order – which often included lobster and chocolate cake – the waiter would, with a flourish, say they would bring it to the chef. In a few minutes, refilling…
A Good Conundrum?
Is there a correlation between likability and competence? Or — put another way — if someone is nice, does that make them good at what they do? There is NO correlation, though I wish there were. It’s a joy to work with someone you like, who is extraordinarily talented at what they do. But I’ll…
Minding Your Business
Hi everyone, The buds are a buddin’ and the blooms are a bloomin’ and – if you’re at all like me – Spring’s arrival is not a minute too soon. Last week I had tricky surgery on skin cancer (happily, not the big deal kind) on the side and tip of my nose. Grateful it…
Something Different
[Quote with flower image by Sherry Lansing] Hi everyone, Instead of my usual article, I decided to mix it up this week by featuring a quote I love, and something on Twitter that tickled my funny bone. Til next week,
Good Morning, Sunshine
[Hiking stacked rocks photo] Let me ask a question. Do you have something you’ve been meaning to do — that’s important to you — that is just NOT getting done? It doesn’t have to be business-related, but it can be. Yes? Well, then, Sunshine, keep reading. Julia Cameron calls her turbo-writing idea Morning Pages. They are three pages…
Simplicity
[Einstein Photo] Simplicity is genius. I believe this. Einstein himself said “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler.” He had a point. We can sometimes oversimplify to our detriment. Autopilot is absolutely simpler than manual driving, but we know it’s not meant to be used all the time. What can get compromised in the…
Bear Hug or Bare Truth
Spring approaches and the bears are coming out of hibernation. So are you and so is your business. We’ve all been dormant for awhile. That’s natural in the winter. This year, though, the impact of Covid-19 exaggerated the hunkering down. Now, like the bears, we are waking up. Rediscovering the world. Hungry. Ready to find some nice honey. This spring…
Note from Marilee
Hi everyone, just popping in to remind that registration closes TODAY for the 9HReset program I’m holding this Thurs. & Fri. from noon to 4:00 p.m. EASTERN. Details are below. I’m also super-excited to tell you that I’m kicking off a free program that I first wrote you about in January. The first Office Hours program is next Thursday. I’m testing this concept: two…
Everyone is Full of Sh**
Hehehe – you didn’t know that I spoke French? I hope you’ll forgive the use of that ugly word, but I’ve wanted to send out this essay with this title for MONTHS. When you read the message below, I think you’ll agree – deep in your bones – it’s true. Any business advisor, or life advisor, or any human…
Happy New Yea!
No, that’s not a typo. In thinking about the new year, I’m thinking that – instead of slamming 2020 into the ground and grinding it to a pulp under our boots – there’s a more helpful alternative. It might be more helpful to focus on what we learned, and to bring that newfound wisdom into what’s next.…
Eight to Great
It’s extraordinarily easy, when you are busy with the day-to-day, to let your business run you – and not the other way around. I’ve observed that businesses, brands – and people(!) – that thrive over the long term are always looking forward. At the same time they enjoy today the fruits of yesterday’s labors. How…
Your Gold Medal
Whether or not you were a big fan of the Summer Olympics, there’s just something about a gold medal that I think we can all agree is impressive and inspiring. I think it’s what it stands for: Excellence. Precious. Coveted by many but reality for few. Kind’ve like having a successful business. One of the…
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