November - First Friday

What I’m reading

The Messy Middle by Scott Belsky.

Belsky is an entrepreneur, author, and Chief Product Officer at Adobe. The book focuses on navigating the volatile middle stages of any venture, highlighting that success is not about the start or the finish but about optimizing the ups and downs in between. It not only related to companies, but also individual projects or engagements.

Key concepts:

Endure the Middle: The middle phase is fraught with ups and downs. Belsky stresses the importance of resilience and adaptability, traits that can help when managing long-term client relationships and complex projects.

1. Optimize Everything: Continuous refinement of your product, services, and processes can lead to significant gains. Small tweaks can make a big difference.
2. Team Dynamics: Maintaining a healthy and productive team is crucial. Address interpersonal and operational issues proactively.
3. Data-Informed Decisions: Utilize metrics, analytics, and feedback to make more informed choices. These guide your strategy and can indicate when a pivot is necessary.
4. Volatility is Normal: The journey will have highs and lows. Expect them and plan for them. (Most important concept in my opinion).
5. Resourcefulness over Resources: It’s not just the resources you have but how effectively you use them that counts.
6. Pivoting When Needed: Be ready to change your strategy or direction based on performance indicators and feedback.
7. Finish Strong: Don’t just complete your project; ensure it is rounded off in a way that sets the stage for future initiatives.

X thread by Brad Stulberg

10 insights I've learned over the last 5 years coaching executives, entrepreneurs, and athletes.

This thread is basic, sound career advice that I agree with and believe anyone can benefit from. Here are the 10 insights he explains:

1. Put yourself out there, caring deeply makes you vulnerable but enriches your life.
2. Balance doesn’t work; prioritize and choose where to allocate your time and energy.
3. "Find and follow your passion" is misleading; pursue interests and hone your craft over time.
4. The goal post is always shifting; enjoy the process and be present.
5. Define your own success based on your values, not societal norms.
6. Stress + Rest = Growth; both are necessary for individual and organizational development.
7. Read as much as you can; books offer invaluable insights and wisdom.
8. Surround yourself wisely; your community shapes you.
9. Marry self-discipline with self-compassion; both are crucial for a fulfilling life.
10. Don't forget to experience joy; relish moments along the way.

Concept I’ve been studying

Top .01% excellence in one area means sacrificing others (e.g., health, business, family, community). But achieving top 2% excellence across every aspect of life can be done. However, it takes top .01% level of self-discipline.

What does this mean?

The concept of aiming for top 2% excellence across various aspects of life, rather than striving for the top 0.01% in a single area, is significant for a holistic approach to well-being and success. It suggests that you don't have to forsake essential parts of your life to achieve greatness in one. When considering individuals who have reached the pinnacle of success, achieving the top 0.01% in a specific field, it becomes evident that such extraordinary accomplishment often comes at the expense of other life domains. This level of hyper-focus and extreme dedication in one area can create limitations or imbalances in other important aspects of life, such as health, family, or even overall well-being.

?Importance of the Concept

• Holistic Well-Being: When you aim for all-around excellence, you're taking a balanced approach to life. This comprehensive focus prevents neglecting critical aspects that contribute to long-term happiness.
• Sustainable Success: Excelling in one area at the cost of others often leads to burnout and can be short-lived. In contrast, a balanced approach provides a stable foundation for enduring success.
• Quality of Life: Focusing on multiple priority buckets contributes to a richer life experience. It allows you to cultivate diverse relationships, skills, and interests.
• Avoiding Downstream Consequences: Extreme focus on one area can lead to imbalances that affect your health, relationships, and even your ultimate happiness. Striving for the top 2% across the board aims to mitigate these risks.

Why Self-Discipline is Critical

• Juggling Priorities: Managing multiple life domains requires a high level of self-discipline to allocate time and resources effectively.
• Consistency: Achieving a high level in any area demands consistent effort over time. Self-discipline ensures that you remain committed to your goals, even when motivation wanes.
• Decision Making: Self-discipline helps you make choices that are aligned with your long-term goals, rather than being swayed by short-term distractions or immediate pressures.
• Accountability: Self-discipline helps you remain accountable to yourself. When you're disciplined, you set and adhere to standards that contribute to your overall goals, even in the absence of external accountability.

For me, personally, if I had to categorize my top priorities in life, they would be family, health, business, and friendships. I don't believe I'm in the top 2% in any of these categories yet, but it's one of my life goals to get there. To close the gap from my current state to my future state vision—using consulting terms we're all familiar with—I'll continue to focus on self-discipline and consistency.

Best podcast of the last 30 days

Jerry Colonna: The CEO Whisperer [The Knowledge Project Ep. 178] - Pod Link

Jerry Colonna, once a high-profile New York venture capitalist, transformed his life after a personal crisis. He became an executive coach and co-founded Reboot.io, focusing on the idea that better humans make better leaders. In the episode, Colonna discusses various topics including resilience, self-esteem, and anxiety. He also conducts a public coaching session with Shane Parrish.

?Key Highlights:

• Colonna emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, asking questions like "How am I complicit in creating conditions I say I don't want?"
• He talks about the gap between who we are and who we'd like to be, urging people to live in that gap without guilt or shame.
• Colonna introduces the acronym OFNR, which stands for Observation, Feeling, Need, and Request, as a framework for self-responsibility and discernment.

I thought this was a great episode and Jerry’s perspective challenged how I think about a lot of the topics covered.

My personal growth

How I’ve failed…

Focusing more on the future than enjoying the present. One thing I’ve always struggled with, especially professionally is enjoying the present moment. I came across a concept called “mental time travel” that hit home with me. The concept is based around “the gap” and “the gain”.

• The Gap: The distance between your current position and your goals.
• The Gain: The progress you've made from where you started to where you are now. This mental exercise allows you to objectively evaluate your professional journey, helping you stay motivated and focused.

The idea is when you find it hard to appreciate your current circumstances, mentally traveling back in time can offer a fresh perspective. By comparing your present life to what your younger self might have imagined, you can center your gratitude on the relationships and achievements you've garnered over time.

Both practices require a flexible imagination but offer valuable insights into your life's trajectory, helping you to appreciate the journey and stay aligned with your goals.

Personal development priority...

Dealing with a recent ego-check -- In the spirit of personal development, a recent ego-check came courtesy of my 2nd-grade daughter, Maela. I volunteered for her class's Halloween party, tasked with hosting a game of for her class – we played Halloween Bingo. Confident in my Cowboy attire—hat included—I was ready to be the "cool Dad."

However, the night before, Maela talked me through her list of "Dad Don'ts". Among the directives: "No cowboy accents," "You can't kiss me in front of my friends," and "No pretending bingo items are spooky because, Dad, we're in 2nd grade now."

The ego was bruised but the game was a hit, her friends loved it, and I managed to adhere to the list well enough to avoid any major embarrassment.

Speaking of Halloween, I loved all the family Halloween pictures on the Teams channel – awesome costumes all around (adults, pets, and kids)!

Closing culture thought

As we continue to grow and evolve, understanding the different leadership styles that contribute to our success is crucial. I recently came across an article that delineated the roles of allocator and operator leaders. Here's a brief overview:

Allocator: These leaders are typically responsible for the strategic distribution of resources—whether it's capital, talent, or time—across various projects or departments within the organization. Their focus is on the big picture, making decisions that benefit the organization as a whole. They often set long-term goals and assess risks and strategies. Think of Warren Buffett as a prime example.

Operator: These individuals manage the day-to-day aspects of a project, department, or the entire organization. They focus on tactical elements, such as team management, operations oversight, and efficient project execution. Steve Jobs serves as a classic example.

Allocators manage via spreadsheets, but operators are in the arena. While both roles are essential, our emphasis as we scale should be on leaders who are in the arena. The magic happens when we can seamlessly transition between these two roles as the situation demands. Let's strive to be agile, adaptive, and, most importantly, leaders who are right there in the trenches with our teams.

Clearsulting was founded on the principle of leaders who are actively involved in the front lines. The image of a leader out in front, as opposed to a "boss" at the back, perfectly captures our philosophy. This doesn't mean we shouldn't step back to strategize and operate the business; it simply highlights the importance of being deeply engaged in day-to-day operations for our continued success.

On a personal note, and from a mental health standpoint, I could never be a full-time allocator. I'd sooner return to my high school job flipping burgers than be confined to a role that keeps me out of the arena. Striking a balance between these two leadership styles will be critical to our future growth.

I hope everyone enjoys Founder's Day volunteering with their local offices. As I take a moment to focus on the present (see the "How I've Failed" section above), I never imagined Clearsulting would be where it is today. Thank you for everything you all do daily to make this place what it is. While numbers are important, what I'm most proud of is the culture we continue to build. I hope you all take a moment today to reflect on "the gain" and the progress and growth you've made here.