The Climb, don't forget to enjoy the view

While it is summertime, I couldn't help but, include this photo above to get us thinking about the climb and the view from the vistas above. As Joni Mitchell aptly sings, "I've seen both sides now."? I have had the opportunity to learn, grow,?build, and guide companies from 24M to 1 B plus valuation in their Marketing and Customer Experience strategies; I recently co-founded a public art-focused non-profit.? These ventures have something in common as they make their climb towards big goals.? I’ve been the voice of reason and also the wide-eyed founder with a dream and goal that no one quite knows exactly how it's going to all come together but, people are willing to get on board and see just what it can become.?

It's a?sunny Saturday morning, the first in months where I haven’t been running around after some activity supporting the midsized humans I am also advising and coaching aka parenting. ? I am sitting here working on financials, sending out checks, and thinking of promotion for an upcoming charity event (shameless plug you can donate here).? On the work front, we're finalizing a selection of digital agencies, considering themes for large events like Dreamforce and an annual customer event. In parallel, interviewing and also prepping for H2 and gasp… 2024 planning.??

What’s the point here you might be wondering, the point is companies and non-profits need different leaders and approaches at different times to meet them where they are on their journey. ? What worked when the world was a bit less complicated or the organization was a bit younger may not work in the present environment.? As a leader, these 5 principles have helped me successfully navigate personal and professional growth.

1. Acknowledge success. Meanwhile, understand the strategy that got the organization to where it is today might not be the strategy to apply for the next leg of the journey.? Growth, innovative ideas, and a burning desire to do good are just the start. Surrounding ourselves with leaders and advisors who’ve got experience, and perspectives that complement and some cases counter our own can be a great advantage in the next stage of organizational and personal growth.
2. Process does not have to be the death of entrepreneurship, scrappiness, or creativity. When applied thoughtfully it will free the organization from the time traps, the heroics, and the wasted energy that comes with just doing it the way we’ve always done it.??
3. Technology is the bridge, but its components must be interconnected. Your teams require a seamless flow of data points presented visually, empowering informed and swift decision-making. Relying on spreadsheets or isolated data silos isn't a sustainable long-term strategy.
4. ?Empowerment. What worked at 5, 50, 100, or 500 people might not work at 2000 people.? It can be uncomfortable to let go and empower teams.? Sometimes it won’t go as planned but, more often than not if you’ve given clear guidance and shared your “non-negotiables” they will be as judicious as you and will likely come up with creative and smart solutions you never considered because after all, these are professionals you’ve surrounded yourself with. ? When we get down in the weeds after reaching a certain scale it can undermine our team’s willingness as we say in the horse world to “take the bit and run.”?
5. Go long, choose a few things you believe in; these may take time to fully materialize. Balance this with short-term wins to enable flexible adaptation, guarding against the allure of the trend of the day that could derail your journey.? We’ve gotten so used to instant gratification we forget that not everything materializes immediately.?

Its definitely a journey, and I would be lying if I said it was easy to do but, I am actively working on applying these principles to our non-profit and with the teams I lead.? What I have learned is the small changes: acknowledgment, process, visibility, empowerment, and a long-term vision help teams and individuals build up the small wins which in the end are the big wins.? You’ll turn around and before you know it you’ve reached another peak. ? I hope you’ll remember to take a moment and enjoy the view as you set your course for the next one.??