B.A., M.A., Ph. D. & Everything Else!

On the first day of 2011, a friend of mine called and asked what I had planned for 2011? I answered without a second's hesitation, "To keep moving forward"... Today, the last day of 2011, I thought I'll pen a few words to mark the occasion.

In a sense, I have moved forward. I've been to places I've never imagined, both geographical and situational. I've stood in harms way to help complete strangers in ways that are most humbling, I've earned much more money than I ever had in a single year and I endured the most painful loss of the single most influential person in my life; my father. Come to think of it... In the midst of all that... At the end of 2011, I have moved forward and I'm still here...

My father always humorously recited the following joke. "Earning a B.A. degree means; Begin Again. Earning an M.A. degree means; More After and earning a Ph.D. degree means; to Push Harder Daily".

In essence, regardless of one's success in life, one thing should always remain paramount. Never to rest on your laurels.

That's the plan for 2012! Don't Rest on Your Laurels!

http://www.sixthcircuitappellateblog.com/recent-cases/

Leadership & Legacy; Beginning with the End in Mind

"No one can go back and make a new start, but anyone can start from here and make a brand new end"... It's never too late to build a leadership legacy you'll be proud of. At the end of your current position, after your academic/professional career, at the end of your life... what message would you like to be remembered by? These questions go a long way in shaping the person we choose to be and the message we would like to leave behind.

Leadership, as a topic, has been a major point of discussion for centuries and we're still redefining the concept, learning its diverse array of theories and experimenting on what styles best fit our identity. The dimension of your current role isn't as important as leaving a message for others that inspires achievement, improvement and sustainability.

As an older sibling, a parent, teacher, a manager or CEO, regardless of our scale of influence, we are all leaders and the earlier we embrace this role and learn as much as possible, the better. Be it short term, long term or even over a lifetime... any activity we carry out should be an opportunity to be a positive example to others.


I've always believed in beginning with the end in mind. Having a vision aids our execution along the way. Focus on the message, play with the concept and eventually your heart will settle on a brand message that fits.

The greatest leaders have shaped their legacies this way, building ideals that inspire others; Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream, Obama: Hope, Einstein: Intuition and imagination, Steve Jobs: Innovation & Design, my father: Education and Faith, and many others who have blazed the trails of success and taught us how to be better people and inspiring leaders.


Here are my 5 essential elements necessary to building the ultimate leadership legacy:

1. Consistent Message: 

A common Latin saying goes as such; "Repetition is the mother of learning". Practice whatever ideals you want to be remembered by and make sure you believe in them 100%... and if that single model, be it tenacity, attitude, grit, integrity, does not fit so well as your vanguard mantra, then change it... but it's very important to pay attention to your brand message  as well as its growth and development.

2. Define Your Expertise: 

To build anything that will last, impeccable quality is paramount. You know what they say about a "Jack of all trades"! Your work, your job, your responsibility to delivering quality products speaks volumes. Look for a niche you can perform better than anyone else and apply yourself to it. We're all unique and there are certain assignments that best fit our skill set other than others. History shows that people who have left behind dynamite legacies are those who found something they loved doing and applied a good amount of enthusiasm.

3. Execute Your Strategy Regardless of Convenience: 

To build a true image that stands the test of time does not happen by coincidence. You will require the necessary ingredients of champions; discipline, tenacity, persistence and patience. Of course, if these characteristics were so easy to embrace then everyone will be a champion. We must remember that there is a gap between knowing and doing and the more we actually bridge this gap the closer we are to becoming the leader we hope to be.

4. Focus on Doing the Best You Can, Not Perfection:

Of course, we say it all the time, "To err is human" or "No one is perfect"... and no one is expected be be... but what is most important, all the time, is to deliver on our word. Even delivering on our expectations or that of others 100% of the time might seem like an impossible feat, - One helpful tip in this area is to focus for five minutes: Starting is the hardest part; for your toughest tasks. This way you don't waste time procrastinating and once you begin, be patient enough to check, recheck and double check your work.

5. Human Capital:

"Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success" - Henry Ford; the first to apply assembly line manufacturing to mass production of affordable automobiles. He understood that the greatest asset of any organization was not the financial resources or latest technology, but human capital. As an individual, what makes us better people is appreciating the importance of relationships, both professional and personal, and valuing life itself. It doesn't matter whether you're dealing with top talent or not, everyone deserves respect and courtesy - Politeness is to humans, like warmth is to wax.

A very inspiring example of someone with incredible leadership legacy is that of Dr. Randy Pausch; who is popularly known for delivering "the Last Lecture" at Carnegie Mellon University. What I learned most from his story is to live the right way and enabling the dreams of others.

To view the full version of "Last Lecture" at Carnegie Mellon University on Youtube, click here

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Photo Courtesy: 

http://lcmsseventeen.blogspot.com/2010/03/beginning-with-end-in-mind.html

http://influence-people-brian.blogspot.com/2011/04/consistency-vs-authority-which-to-use.html

http://lewishistoricalsociety.com/wiki2011/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=126

Video Courtesy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNTEGQCAbyI&feature=related

Fight Complacency - Play Every Gig as if its Your Last

"There was once a man who thought he was better than me, and he was, until he had that thought". Anonymous.


This particular quote has floated in my head for well over five years now. An old college friend had recited it and I immediately adopted it as my mantra, even though I had not completely wrapped my head around its meaning. What most fascinates me about the quote is its multiple levels of interpretation.


A few days ago I crossed paths with a very influential authority figure; one who appreciates good poetry, and as we sparked up a very engaging discussion on motivation, leadership and strength, I asked him about the quote; "There was once a man who thought he was better than me, and he was, until he had that thought." He replied, "If I want to kill a gnat, I'll hit it with a sledge hammer."


As we grow older and increase our level of expertise on a varied array of subjects, we tend to get too comfortable. Over time, our complacency increases the risk of us over valuing our strengths and becoming less and less thorough in handling our affairs. As a result, we make the mistake of digging our own grave - metaphorically of course.


Our mistake is not giving a particular assignment our full attention, especially tasks in which we assume are our "areas of expertise". In essence, "Complacency is a state of mind that exists only in retrospective: it has to be shattered before being ascertained". Vladimir Nabokov.








Photo Credit: http://creoleindc.typepad.com/rantings_of_a_creole_prin/2011/08/family-of-complacency.html

Both tears and sweat are salty, but they render a different result. Tears will get you sympathy; sweat will get you change.

Jesse Jackson

Passion: The Key Ingredient to Happiness, Success and Leading a fulfilling Life

I've heard the question several times; "What is the key requirement for greatness"? How do we source real talent out of millions of others with the same skillset and/or background. Bill Gates, the Billionaire owner of Microsoft says, "there's no formula to it... That one-in-a-million type person does not follow a particular road to success e.g.: Dropping out of College, dropping in on interesting classes, travelling to India, smoking bongs, then settling on a great start-up idea and eventually changing the world". Yes, it worked for Gates, Jobs and Zuckerberg but, those are the exceptions, not the rule. There's more to the formula.


I've always loved reading biographies of exceptional people and I've found out that the one key ingredient that stands out most, is passion. Passion has kept them going long after everyone else has given up. Passion keeps them running on empty even when the finish line isn't in sight. Passion enables them to work on their trade so much so that it no longer seems like a chore. Passion has taught them discipline, hard work, tenacity, endurance, grit, hope, strength and faith... 


My very good friend, Albert Einstein said, "It's not that I'm so smart. I just stay with problems longer". The Michael Jordans, Lance Armstrongs, Roger Federers, Steffi Graphs, Jackie Joyner-Kersees and many other world athletes all know the feeling of living a life of passion for their one single purpose in life.

My previous blog post was premised upon the quote, "Choose a job you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life". Passion is the love that translates our enthusiasm to greatness. Passion makes work fun and choosing a career in a field we're passionate about is truly a blessing. In every field, only the truly passionate become the leaders, trailblazers, game-changers and they serve as that god-like inspiration to the rest of the world. Thanks to the Gandhis, Thatchers, Lincolns, Martin Luther King Jr.'s, Churchills, Mandelas, Roosevelts, e.t.c., now we have some sort of a template to follow on seeking our ultimate quest.


I've long concurred with the veracity of the following statement; "No one is lazy, they're just uninspired". So the next time you see  someone complaining, lethargic, demotivated, or just cranky on the job, then maybe it's a sign that they'll be more fulfilled in a different career. Only the passionate will continue working with the same enthusiasm, even when they're not getting sufficient paid, or not appreciated. Only the truly passionate will continue down a tough, tumultuous path, even when everyone else is saying it's a lost cause.


The passionate aren't satisfied with just meeting goals, making quotas or receiving the accolades. They keep delivering, long after the fame and attention have disappeared. What makes them exceptional is their ability to find a niche they're passionate about and pursuing it regardless of the obstacles along the way.


True passion never considers alternatives... True passion doesn't accept substitutes... True passion never settles. Indeed, passion is that inexhaustible fuel that elevates man to extraordinary heights of greatness. And only those who are willing to employ it as a lifestyle will go on to make a real dent in the world.

Photo and Video Courtesy: http://asanvicente.com/2011/10/09/are-you-passionate-about-what-you-do-by-thomas-michael-hogg/

"I View Today's Economy as the Value Economy. Adding Value Has become More than Just a Business Principle; It is both the Common Denominator and the Competitive Edge".

Arthur Levitt, Jr.

Do What You Love: Five Ways to Bridge the Gap between Job Satisfaction and Earning a Paycheck

CONFUCIUS said it best, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” According to the U.S. Department of Labor, every year we spend at least 1896 hours at work. On average, we spend about nine hours everyday on work related activities. Projected over a lifetime... and its pretty unfortunate spending all this time stuck in a profession we do not love.

Here are some interesting Job Satisfaction statistics from salary.com:

• About 65% of workers say they are somewhat satisfied in their jobs while less than 15% say they are extremely satisfied.
• The most satisfied age group in the work force is working retirees and the least happy age group are the millennials, those under 30.
• Roughly 35 percent of people said they were not looking around for a job and 65 percent of them cited the bad economy as the reason why. The need for a paycheck and benefits has the unhappy workers flying under the radar until the economy recovers.

Indeed, financial stability is important, but what's even more significant is pursuing a career we're interested  in. Of course, not everyone may get this opportunity but it's our responsibility is to find the right balance - based on our values, priorities, family obligations and preferences - between job satisfaction and earning a decent paycheck. The following tips serve as pointers towards bridging this gap.

1. Take the leap of faith and go for what you want, not necessarily what’s convenient: 

This rule is mostly relevant to college students and those still in the beginning phases of their careers. In order to choose the right career path one needs to know what what interests them and must have done substantial research on what the job entails. In business school, we’re taught to choose smart goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Reliable and Timely. Try as much as possible to clarify the career path that is most compatible with your passion.  

2. Hone your talents: 

Practice makes perfect. The more you do, the more you understand and as we gain more skill in this particular field, our interests spur us to push the boundaries of occupational success. Following the logic of becoming an expert in a specific field and going on to earning the right to command a price in a free market is not something that comes easily for everyone. It takes a lot of hard work. Even the most talented professionals have to put in a fair amount of effort to deliver and improve as time goes on. Working in a field you love increases the likelihood of becoming an outstanding professional.

3. Be creative in connecting the dots between your background and a new career: 

The world is changing and there are in-numerous combinations of how to connect our dynamic skill-set to any given career. With increasing development and influence of social media on business, management, marketing, advertisement, litigation, HR, ... Looking for a fulfilling niche, unique to our interests might not be so far fetched.

4. Career Shadowing: 

If you can’t just pack up your day job for a prospective intended field, it's perfectly understandable and you're not alone. However, the next best thing may be to make time to network with people within your prospective (dream) field. Take classes, call businesses that interest you, volunteer, attend seminars and follow up with the changing dynamics of these areas of interest. Most importantly, try not to pass up opportunities to speak to professionals within your intended field. In this economy improvisation is key and if you think enough, you might just spot an area in the industry which you're best suited for.

5. Beware of falling victim to the sunk cost fallacy: 

“ I've already come this far, I just can’t pack it all up and start all over”. Sounds familiar? Psychologists and Economists love making references to the concept of sunk costs. These are retrospective (past) costs that have already been incurred and cannot be recovered. The more we invest in something the harder it is to abandon it. For those of us with somewhat advanced careers, it may sound ridiculous to even consider leaving our familiar career path for something different, even if its a field we may derive lot's of pleasure from. It's important to recognize this fallacy and correct its impact where necessary.

Doing what we love is one way of leading a fulfilling and no matter what happens we must always find the love in what we do… Take calculated risks, expand our horizons, push limitations and try not to settle in any area of life, including our careers.

If you have any tips on the best way of choosing and getting a career you love, please share in the comments section.

_{Photo Courtesy: http://www.momandamicrophone.com/2011/03/loving-what-you-do.html}

_References: http://www.salary.com/Articles/ArticleDetail.asp?tab=psn&cat=cat011&ser=ser032&part=par1356

Six Ways to Maximize Your Time

Space we can recover, time never. Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821). 


Do you sometimes stop to wonder where all the time went? The last few minutes, hours, days, decades just appeared to vanish before our very eyes. Well you're not alone. It happens to even the most vigilant of us.

Time, as you might already know, is ever elusive. We're all subject to 24 hours in a day, but some people appreciate its urgency more than others. While some days seem to evaporate without registering any memorable moments, others hold a very high place on our imaginary, jumbo screen highlight reel.

One of my favorite quotes is by Albert Einstein:  "Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. THAT'S relativity."

Time is relative and depending on our perception of a task or event, our execution may be affected. As the saying goes, "More haste less speed". And this, my friends, is the beauty about time... The real issue is understanding ourselves relative to our timing. 


These five tips remind us on how to get the best out of our most limited resource and subsequently, live a life void of that ever present, supposedly innocuous question; "Where did all the time go"?

1. Understand That Your Time is Now

Not six months from now, after college, or when you start your business. Neither is it when I'm older and wiser. Our Time is Now. I relish the quote that says, " Move before you think you are ready". You find that living in the now allows you to embrace spontaneity and discover your strengths more than you ever knew. 


Sometimes waiting for the "right time" is the poison that kills the best of our dreams. The past is history, we can't do much about that. Tomorrow's a mystery, we can only plan and analyze, and waste the little we have right now... Focus on right now. The present - a gift that once it's gone, is lost forever. Carpe Diem.

2. Focus on Results, Not Routine

Aggressive action is not effective action. Being pragmatic is the key to living an impactful life. Sometimes we find ourselves beckoning to every supposedly important task, forgetting to take a breather from all the hubbub. Its important to actually assess how much progress we're making. Indeed, activity doesn't always equal progress. So it's up to us to weed out those incessant excesses in our routine that do not add any real value to our lives. 

3. Invest Time; Don't Spend It

Sure we're all entitled to a little R&R now and then but, being lethargic for too many days in a row causes us to lose steam on the grand scale of events. In small dozes, taking a break is very healthy for both our body and morale, but when our productivity begins to decline, and we gravitate more towards leisure than pain then a dangerous dynamic begins.

It's very important to set time aside for building our skill set and honing our expertise. When it comes to brain power and our learning ability, its true that "If you don't use it, you lose it". Setting time aside, each day for honing our bankable skills is the best way to stay sharp and relevant in today's dynamic world.

4. Respect Your Quiet time

Take time out, everyday, to listen to your inner voice. Only then can we consciously schedule our activities around what we love doing and what counts most in our lives. This is the best time to drown out the opinions of others and find out our true heart's calling.

No doubt, it is unrealistic to think that the world revolves around us... but for  at least 30 minutes everyday, it should. We learn more about ourselves in this way. We know when to strike, when to retreat; When to bring it, when to save it. Often times, this is the when seeds of random thoughts bear fruit from within the subconscious. 

5. Timing is Key

There's a season for everything. The best idea offered at the wrong time may seem useless. So it's up to us to schedule events for times we can deliver at peak performance. Usually the window of opportunity remains open during very short intervals and its most important to execute plans, once decide, without reluctance. Remember, hesitation places obstacles in our path; audacity clears them. So learn to be a Master of timing and you'll be amazed by how much you can accomplish.

6. Beware of Time Robbers

Work hard. Distractions are plentiful and time is short. Our days are numbered as pages of a book and each day you spend on necessary inconveniences, is a day that you will never get back. Examples of time robbers, the ones inflicted by others and self inflicted are; Unnecessary meetings - Over 11 million meetings are held each day in America. Many are too long and unnecessary; Work overload; Equipment failures; red tape; procrastination; personal disorganization; poor planning; perfectionism; just to name a few.

Time Quotes

• Time is the coin of your life and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you". Carl Sandburg
• Time = Life, Therefore, waste your time and waste of your life, or master your time and master your life. Alan Lakein
• Be mindful of time but do not grant a clock authority over your reason".

Photo courtesy: http://travelandtourworld.wordpress.com/category/africa/

Intensity Vs. Extensity; Identifying What Works For You

NAPOLEON Bonaparte, one of history's greatest generals, is remembered for his discipline and unparalleled courage. His most invaluable strengths were a very high level of grit, focus and intensity of purpose. He is famously known for saying, "Intellect is a magnitude of intensity rather than extensity".  

That strategic mindset may have served him very well. But my question is this, does everyone function this way? Do we all require 101% tunnel vision on every task to become the best our potential permits?

On the other hand, some of us just can't focus on one task for more than an hour. We prefer to multitask, know a little bit about everything and dip our little fingers in as many pieces of cake as possible. Of course, there's nothing bad in that... As long as we always wash our hands after right?

Bottom line, we're all unique and despite our all so similar human characteristics and limitations, there are  some rules that just don't work for everyone. 

I grew up with the old school rule book for success. I was taught to spending long, arduous hours reading books and rote memorizing pages upon pages of scripts. I reckon a lot has changed over the last two decades and kids of today have the opportunity to learn through a diverse array of mediums. 

This is the age of the ipads, laptops, Blackberrys, web 2.0, cloud computing, online degrees... I could go on but I think you get the point. There's so much cool stuff out there and it takes quite a lot of effort to focus on one thing and develop the discipline to consistently ignore everything else.

In Paulo Coelho's literary masterpiece, The Alchemist, he shares a short story that I believe sheds more light on how to maximize our effort and get results without turning into a zombie; 

_____

A merchant sent his son to learn the Secret of Happiness from the wisest of men. The young man wandered through the desert for forty days until he reached a beautiful castle at the top of a mountain. There lived the sage that the young man was looking for.

However, instead of finding a holy man, our hero entered a room and saw a great deal of activity; merchants coming and going, people chatting in the corners, a small orchestra playing sweet melodies, and there was a table laden with the most delectable dishes of that part of the world.

The wise man talked to everybody, and the young man had to wait for two hours until it was time for his audience.

With considerable patience, the Sage listened attentively to the reason for the boy’s visit, but told him that at that moment he did not have the time to explain to him the Secret of Happiness.

He suggested that the young man take a stroll around his palace and come back in two hours’ time.

“However, I want to ask you a favor,” he added, handling the boy a teaspoon, in which he poured two drops of oil. “While you walk, carry this spoon and don’t let the oil spill.”

The young man began to climb up and down the palace staircases, always keeping his eyes fixed on the spoon. At the end of two hours he returned to the presence of the wise man.

“So,” asked the sage, “did you see the Persian tapestries hanging in my dining room? Did you see the garden that the Master of Gardeners took ten years to create? Did you notice the beautiful parchments in my library?”

Embarrassed, the young man confessed that he had seen nothing. His only concern was not to spill the drops of oil that the wise man had entrusted to him.

“So, go back and see the wonders of my world,” said the wise man. “You can’t trust a man if you don’t know his house.”

Now more at ease, the young man took the spoon and strolled again through the palace, this time paying attention to all the works of art that hung from the ceiling and walls. He saw the gardens, the mountains all around the palace, the delicacy of the flowers, the taste with which each work of art was placed in its niche. Returning to the sage, he reported in detail all that he had seen.

“But where are the two drops of oil that I entrusted to you?” asked the sage.

Looking down at the spoon, the young man realized that he had spilled the oil.

“Well, that is the only advice I have to give you,” said the sage of sages. “The Secret of Happiness lies in looking at all the wonders of the world and never forgetting the two drops of oil in the spoon.”       

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

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In essence, we must learn to balance our ability to employ intensity and extensity of our intellect, as the situation permits, in order to get the best out of life and teach others to do the same.

Photo Courtesy:
http://futuretick.com/Lenovo-cell-phones/wallpapers-mobiles-phones/Genious-brain-Free-Wallpaper-Download-for-mobile-phone-cellphone-360-x-640-Resolution-Nokia-Samsun-4719

http://tlcbooktours.com/2010/10/paul-coelho-author-of-the-alchemist-a-graphic-novel-on-tour-novemberdecember-2010/

Steve Jobs - A Classic Example of Grit, Passion and Vision

1955 - 2011
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I've always loved reading biographies, studying people, learning and adopting successful strategies of the greats and applying them in my daily routine. I read a piece on Steve jobs a little less than a decade ago and what I admired most about his story was his ability to bounce back from "adversities" and return with bigger, better and stronger concepts with an unmatched drive to become better...


Personally, I thought it was most ridiculous for someone to get fired from a company he created. This was the situation Mr. Jobs found himself in the summer of 1985. I believe it is a very common trend in history for trailblazers, like Mr. Jobs to hit major stumbling blocks in their lives before finding true success. How Mr. Jobs handled that situation is a challenge to anyone who wants to live a life just a little bit better than ordinary...


Given that we're currently in the internet start-up craze, I think this is a befitting inspirational story to the millions of entrepreneurs out there still looking to get their ideas off the ground.


Look at it this way, your start up is like a baby… Your baby... An idea that you have nurtured and dreamed of for a good amount of time and you have the spine to bring those dreams to reality. Of course, there are quite a number of  bumps on the road for start-ups. The most common are constrained finances, naysayers, legal issues and bureaucratic bottlenecks. However, successful entrepreneurs welcome these challenges and they bring forth their revolutionary concepts to reality regardless. No excuses, no exceptions…


That's where Mr. Jobs found himself and instead of wasting his creative genius in fighting his coworkers or publicly making a fool of himself in the media, he started another...


He founded Next, and later on Pixar... and what I admire most about him is this: Even with Pixar's astronomical success, Mr. Jobs never forgot about Apple... He was relentless, tenacious, and persistent. He proved that Apple was not just a fluke, but was part of who he really was... Apple was his baby... and with a remarkable turn of events, he rejoined the Apple team and Apple rode on this giant visionary's wave of influence to become the game-changer it is today.


This beautiful love story doesn't just hold lessons for entrepreneurs, but for anyone who has ever had a dream of making a true impact in the world. It's for visionaries and super achievers... We're all witnesses to a life well lived and it's our duty to emulate Mr. Jobs’ drive and work ethic to become a little bit better, everyday.


Here are a few quotes attributed to Mr. Steve Jobs: Learn whatever you can from them and remember that, "Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do".

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Do Great Work:

"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle."

– Stanford commencement speech 2005

==================================================================

Death and motivation:

"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything - all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart."

– Stanford commencement speech 2005

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Vision:

"You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life."

– Stanford commencement speech 2005

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Innovation:

"Innovation comes from people meeting up in the hallways or calling each other at 10.30 at night with a new idea, or because they realised something that shoots holes in how we've been thinking about a problem. It's ad hoc meetings of six people called by someone who thinks he has figured out the coolest new thing ever and who wants to know what other people think of his idea.

"And it comes from saying no to 1,000 things to make sure we don't get on the wrong track or try to do too much. We're always thinking about new markets we could enter, but it's only by saying no that you can concentrate on the things that are really important."

– Business Week 2004

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Design:

"In most people's vocabularies, design means veneer. It's interior decorating. It's the fabric of the curtains and the sofa. But to me, nothing could be further from the meaning of design. Design is the fundamental soul of a man-made creation that ends up expressing itself in successive outer layers of the product or service."

– Fortune magazine 2000

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Internet Start-ups:

"The problem with the internet start-up craze isn't that too many people are starting companies; it's that too many people aren't sticking with it. That's somewhat understandable, because there are many moments that are filled with despair and agony, when you have to fire people and cancel things and deal with very difficult situations. That's when you find out who you are and what your values are.

"So when these people sell out, even though they get fabulously rich, they're gypping themselves out of one of the potentially most rewarding experiences of their unfolding lives. Without it, they may never know their values or how to keep their newfound wealth in perspective."

– Fortune magazine 2000

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Life and what matters:

"Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn't matter to me … Going to bed at night saying we've done something wonderful … that's what matters to me."

– Wall Street Journal 1993

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Simplicity:

"That's been one of my mantras — focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it's worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains."

– Business Week 1998

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Helping people:

"There's nothing that makes my day more than getting an e-mail from some random person in the universe who just bought an iPad over in the UK and tells me the story about how it's the coolest product they've ever brought home in their lives. That's what keeps me going. It's what kept me five years ago [when he was diagnosed with cancer], it's what kept me going 10 years ago when the doors were almost closed. And it's what will keep me going five years from now whatever happens."

- AllThingsD Conference, 2010

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Photo Credits: Apple Website

Social Facilitation: How to Empower the Audience of Self

Respect the Guy in the Glass

In 1908, Psychologists, Robert M. Yerkes and John Dillingham Dodson stated that, "Performance increases with psychological or mental arousal, but only up to a point. When levels of arousal become too high, performance decreases." 

The concept of social facilitation is relatively simple: When you are good at a task, in the presence of an audience, you excel. Subsequently, the mere presence of an audience, while performing complex, or less familiar tasks, inhibits your execution.

I believe, social facilitation is way more than just an academic term. As we attempt to live a deserving life of influence and integrity, we must be able to understand what motivates us and what could potentially hinder us.

The essential variable in this equation is understanding how we react in the presence of others. Do we live each day worrying about meeting other people's expectations or have we chosen a path that will truly give us fulfillment at the end of the day? It is most important to remember that, we are our most important audience.

My favorite poem, "The Guy in the Glass" by Dale Winbrow, holds true with the following stanza: 

"

You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years,

And get pats on the back as you pass,

But your final reward will be heartaches and tears

If you've cheated the guy in the glass. 

"

          

The following help us harness our motivation to succeed and refocus our energies on the right influence as we move forward in our quest for greatness: 

1. Master your craft: 

Achieving a certain degree of mastery over your craft negates, the influence of an audience and augments yours abilities to minimizes errors. A seasoned professional masters his craft and demands the highest quality in herself than even her worst critics. Eliminate childish "eye-service" and people pleasing facades for a professional work ethic. Hold yourself and your brand by that standard and only then can you overcome the limitation of externally influenced ineptitude. Remember, intensity beats extensity every time.

2. Maintain the highest integrity and honesty to yourself: 

Be true to your standards, regardless of who may be watching. Of course, as humans, we inherently possess the beautiful skill of self awareness and it would be fallacious to discount completely all external influences. So in as much as we strive to defend our reputation, our character - The true you - must not suffer for it.

3. Never Let Anyone Else Do Your Thinking for You: 

Indeed, Crowd Psychology is dangerous. In as much as we can learn so much from others and may feel more comfortable in a well established group, it is important to retain our individuality as well and cherish what makes us unique.  Social Scientists have established the fact that the psychology of a crowd differs significantly from the psychology of individuals within it. So the next time you're in a group and facing a unanimous decision, don't forget to question yourself and follow your true opinion.

4. Respect The Guy in The Glass: 

Never discount your ideas just because they didn't come from someone else. Ralph Waldo Emerson said it best in his essay, Self Reliance: "There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better, for worse, as his portion; that though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till." Nothing more needs to be said. A word, for the wise, is enough.

5. Adjust your awareness of potential evaluation: 
This is it! Here and now... Today, not tomorrow... It's like we postpone our happiness, plans and gratification for some later date... For some later time when we can say, "I've arrived, let me now rest". We say, "I'm not that much of of an influence yet, let  me get my degree first"... "I'm still too young, no one will listen to me"... "Oh! there's no money for that now, maybe ten years down the road"... 

I could go on but I guess you get the point. These are all just silly excuses... Someone once said, "If you really want to do something there's always a way. If you don't, there's always an excuse"... What's most important is how you see yourself today... right now... The show is already on... This is the already stage is set... The audience have been seated since day one... 

Remember, a superstar will always give the crowd a great show. No exceptions, no excuses... Do not cheat yourself by thinking you are not your most important audience. 

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“As a born actress, she instinctively understands that the world is more than a stage - its an audience.” R. Z. Sheppard. 

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Photo Courtesy: http://youmerugby.com/post/6519134437/how-poetry-and-recovering-alcoholics-can-help-your

INTERNAL QUEST: Our Quest for the best within

Mathematician, Alfred North Whitehead said, "Civilization advances by extending the number of important operations which we can perform without thinking about them." A first order condition for safety, peace and functionality, in any society, is ensuring that the necessary parameters for progress are in place - justice, freedom and sovereignty.

Take a good look at ultra-successful individuals in our society today; you’ll notice that they live their lives according to a strict set of personal principles more defined than their more average counterparts. Individuals, who choose to be something other than just ordinary, also require a similar “code of conduct” concerning their affaires.

In our quest to become the best version of ourselves, it is imperative we construct a blueprint to live by. Of course, nothing is set in stone and as we move forward and our experience builds up, we assess our performance and tweak our creeds accordingly. As the common saying goes, “He who fails to plan, plans to fail”.

To achieve that higher level of performance, we need to consistently inquire, search, and be willing to learn, grow and adapt to the sea of unforeseeable circumstances lying ahead. Remember, this is a journey, not a destination; a marathon, not a sprint; a process, not a single step.

I like Shiv Khera's quote that says, “Winners don’t do different things, they do things differently” How do we know what to do differently and what to copy from others? How do we figure out what works best for us and what doesn't? How do we find our zone and stay within its boundaries to best harness our potential? Bottom-line, if we are not improving, then what are we doing?

Here are a few reminders on how to get back on the fast track to becoming a little better, everyday.      

1. Understand Yourself:

"Ben Franklin wrote, “Three things are very hard; diamonds, steel, and finding our unique, individual abilities. You have to discover, essentially, who you are to best understand how to reach the apex of your capacity.

Exercising the natural instinct of self observation and taking mental notes - sometimes even literal ones - on how we respond to different circumstances may be a good way to start the road to self realization. It’s a personal assignment we cannot delegate. We note when our energies are highest? The best times to work, play, rest and recuperate.

Learning new things about yourself and your potential should be a lifelong quest… It’s fun… your destiny is in your own hands so why not mold yourself - as clay - and create that ultimate version of yourself. I believe that there’s nothing we cannot achieve. N/B: “Whatever a man thinks about day and night, everyday will surely come to pass. You attract the world you live in”.

2. Understand Your Goals:

Running at the fastest speed in the wrong direction will not get you to the finish line. It is your duty to decide what you want to do with your life. Decide your goal, understand the implications and figure out how to get there.

Above all else, what do you believe is your sole purpose? What do you believe you were born to do? If at the end of the day you only have this single act done, will you be satisfied? Intensity beats extensity every time… The earlier you begin the better…

I personally believe there’s always a better way of getting things done. For every path you choose, come consequences and it’s up to you figure out how to get to the Promised Land. Hey, aggressive action is not effective action – Settle down, decide then commit.

3. Read Biographies;

“Nothing is new under the sun”. For every path you choose or decision you make, you can almost, always be sure that someone, somewhere has tried it and failed, or succeeded before you… So it’s up to us to learn from that experience. Why reinvent the wheel? Why repeat their mistakes when we can stand on the shoulders of giants and begin from there. I often tell my younger brother that, "old literature never dies"… I don’t believe in old news, there’s always a lesson to learn…

4. Encourage Grit:

“Bend but don’t break” – That was the slogan for the 2009 NBA Champions, Los Angeles Lakers. Coach Phil Jackson – a.k.a. Zen Master calls this the “bamboo philosophy. To become better you have to keep trying… It’s as simple as that… For every milestone reached in our quest for success, I believe there’s this virtual turning-point whereby, it’s quit now and forget about it or, take one more step and here it is…

The beautiful thing about this journey is, most times we never know when we get to that point. Thomas Edison, one of the world’s greatest inventors said, "I have not failed 1,000 times.  I have successfully discovered 1,000 ways to NOT make a light bulb." My father once told me, “Don’t change the winning formula”. You’ve got to keep trying…

5. Have Faith:

Ask anyone who has ever knocked down a buzzer-beating jump-shot if while they were pulling up to shoot, they were thinking of missing? Do we wait for all the lights to become green before we leave the house? That initial fuel behind our decision to take a step towards any given venture is faith – “The evidence of the unseen, the substance of things hoped for”.

You may be thinking, I don’t think I have what it takes… Hey! Who knows?!? But remember this: “A ship is safe at harbor but that’s not what ships are for”.

6. Execute: 

The recently retired coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson - a.k.a The Zen Master - reminded his guys that all their practice sessions we led to naught if they couldn’t execute their plays down the stretch. You can have the best thought out plan, with the most cutting edge technology, but without execution, it is nothing but paperwork…

As we practice being the best version of ourselves, and renew our quest to become a little better every day, it is imperative we enjoy the ride.

Enjoy the challenge of trying again, regardless of the odds… Checking our tools… Checking ourselves… and doing our homework…

You might have your own set of rules, rituals, or personal standards you hold yourself by. Please feel free to share in the comments section below.