Optimism as the Default
? Sue Tinnish, PhD
Empowering Leadership & Growth | Executive Coach | Vistage Chair | Peer Group Facilitator
In this Issue:
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Optimism as a Default Setting
A few years ago, someone had the idea of starting a radio station that only broadcast good news. The station was out of business in a matter of weeks. We focus more on the bad than the good, plus the media thrives on disaster and a 24-hour news cycle seems to tempt many to manufacture it if not enough is available.
It seems that there is a streak of pessimism in most people that has several explanations:? short sightedness, a preference for being pleasantly surprised than dismayed, and a tendency to think linearly despite the knowledge that that for most people things have never been better in human history and that the economy is in expansion mode 75% of the time. We have short memories.
In his most recent “No Mercy, No Malice” blog, Scott Galloway shares an article by wealth manager Josh Brown who opines that despite the media and human nature “the optimists are eventually proven right. Not every day, but always and eventually. Indisputably.”
Every decision maker should take time for this post and learn the virtue of Optimism as a Default Setting .
1% Per Day to Success
If you missed it this past Friday, check out the webinar recording of author James Clear summarizing his best-selling book, “Atomic Habits” ? - For Vistage Members Only. (You don’t see too many Amazon review withs 131,000 rating average out to 4.8 out of 5.)
Amazon offers some excellent reviews and summaries of the book if you can’t access the webinar. Or if you are not a Vistage member, there is still time to register to hear James Clear on Thursday, August 29. Register for?James Clear on How to Get 1% Better Every Day .
“Clear says the natural impulse is to set big goals and attempt big steps to improve. However, he maintains that taking big steps often results in failure or only temporary gains. You rarely see the permanent results you want. The key to successful change, he argues, is in small habits.”
Vistage members, why not share this webinar recording with your team and do a “lunch and learn”? with your them? You may be giving your organization a real boost in productivity.
Zero to $20 Billion in only 20 Years
Most entrepreneurs want their enterprises to scale and there a number of books to help them do that.? But if you want some advice from someone who’s been there, done that and got the T-shirt, checkout this LinkedIn Post from HubSpot Founder and venture capitalist Brian Halligan.
Every big company was once a small one. Take a few minutes for Halligan’s reflection on a 20-year adventure from small to big and the 20 CEO Lessons Learned at HubSpot on the Journey from $0 to $20 billion .
Exploration or Exploitation?
Innovation is often divided into two different activities:? exploration and exploitation. We usually think of innovation in its exploration form; seeking out truly new markets or products (think the then revolutionary iPhone from Apple). But we shouldn’t forget that there may be more opportunities close at hand in the exploitation category which builds on existing products and assets.
Two examples of exploitation begin with long established products: ?French fries and donuts. The products are so well known and so simple that you may have trouble imagining them as the source of a compelling innovation tale. But each was the progenitor of two new products: One was created to turn a profit out of scrap ; in the case of the other example the innovation was necessary to have the product at all .
领英推荐
Maybe you’ll find something to “exploit” in your own company!?
Working Smarter and Not Harder
Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management faculty offer ideas for working smarter and not harder. The article offers 5 ideas to consider, each grounded in research from Kellogg faculty. Here are 2 of the highlights:
Econ Recon
The Fed Out West: ?If the economics profession had a religious holiday associated with it, the annual meeting of the Federal Reserve at Jackson Hole, Wyoming would be it.
This is an exclusive invitation-only gathering of economists and global central bankers where “paradigm-shaping research is presented and momentous policy shifts are announced.” This event is watched closely on Wall Street, especially this year when the Fed is once again coping with fighting inflation and making interest rate calls that might tip the economy into a recession in an election year.
ITR Economics’ Taylor St. Germain offers an executive summary of all the doing at Jackson Hole in his latest FedWatch.
Forgive us our debts:?Consumers are 2/3 of the economy so any metric portending problems with how they spend, and borrow, is of interest to economists as a leading indicator. Economist Brian Wesbury offers a one page tutorial on what business people should know about the current composition of consumer debt and delinquency.
Last but not least
I am hosting the following events:
September 6, AI in Action: Practical Tools and Strategies for Trusted Advisors, 12:45 - 2:30 pm, Rosemont area
October 1, 12:45 - 5:30 pm, Chicago, The Road to Growth: Accelerating Your Legacy. an interactive program designed specifically for small and mid-sized (SMB) business owners, founders, and leaders. Hosted by the Vistage Chicago Community, you are invited to join trusted experts to gain actionable insights and strategies to help you navigate the complexities of growing and scaling your business. Keynote, panel and hosted networking on the agenda.
Contact me for details on either program. [email protected]
Thanks for taking time to read this week's newsletter.
Sue Tinnish, PhD,?Vistage Chair, Facilitator, & Executive Coach
Find me easily at: 847.404.7325, [email protected] , Twitter:?@STinnish, LinkedIn: www.dhirubhai.net/in/suetinnish , Website: https://vistage.com/chairs/sue.tinnish
Keynote speaker | Communication Skills Trainer | Podcast Host, The Leadership Standard, Signature Leadership and Reading People
2 个月? Sue Tinnish, PhD - Practical optimism is the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel that acknowledges the darkness but ultimately gives us hope we will emerge out of it. We need more hope in the business world and leaders who see the glass half full, whose enthusiasm and energy is contagious.
Empowering CEOs & Presidents for Exceptional Growth | Vistage Peer Advisory Chair | Executive Coach | Transformational Strategist | Acclaimed Author & Speaker
2 个月Sue Tinnish, It's true that we are wired with a negativity bias, but adopting a mindset of optimism can be incredibly powerful. Small, positive changes can lead to significant growth over time, just like James Clear's philosophy in "Atomic Habits." Great reminder for decision-makers to embrace optimism and focus on continuous improvement.
NYC Master Chair & CEO Coach @ Vistage NYC | Leadership Development
2 个月Optimism as a default setting creates exciting possibilities for leaders, from shaping decision-making to driving growth. ? Sue Tinnish, PhD 's insights remind us that focusing on the positive can lead to transformative outcomes. Let's embrace this mindset!
Connecting CEO's to Build Power Peer Groups | Vistage Chair | Executive Coach and Mentor | Strategic Compassionate Leader
2 个月Sue, your roundup is fantastic! Insightful reflections and actionable advice across the board. Thanks!
Helping SMBs insource growth plan execution without a full-time PMO using the Executagility Model?.
2 个月It was great to listen to James Clear speak on his book Atomic Habits last Friday. My Vistage Florida Chair Heatherann Antonacci gave me the book "10x is Easier than 2x" and that book tells the story of James writing Atomic Habits. They pointed out that while the book talks about doing little things to get started, with which I agree, in order to 10x, he himself had to cut all the excess and focus his full effort on the book. My personal take-away is that seasons change. It is always possible to do the 1%, but not always to do the 10x. However, if you want to do the 10x thing - at some point you need to commit and do it, no excuses.