Performance is contagious? Ask Nate Robinson, the micro back-up point guard from the Boston Celtics if he thinks so. For those who didn't see the game last night, one of the best sports moments I have witnessed in a long time came during the second quarter of Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic NBA playoff game.
There was drama... Rajon Rondo (the spark-plug point guard for the C's) took a shot to the hip and went down hard, hobbling off the floor just as the first quarter came to an end. The arena went silent and the TV even went to commercial. The fact was that the Celtics title hopes rested squarely on the shoulders of how well Rondo would engage his TEAM in this pivotal game 6 for the right to go to the NBA finals. As the TV came out of the break, the announcers talked about about the changes in the lineup for the Celts in second quarter, throwing in a final "oh and it looks like Nate Robinson has replaced Rondo" just as the Magic were bringing the ball down the court. Nobody could have expected what would happen next...
There was heroism...
In the second quarter Nate Robinson introduced himself to the world! What happened over the next 8 minutes 46 seconds was what legends are made of. Lil Nate Rob took over the game, took over offensively, scoring 13 points, and defensively holding Jameer Nelson to nothing. He had the once gasping arena on their feet, literally shaking the confines of the TD Garden. He out-played, out-hustled, and out-influenced all the other 9 players on the court. He was waiving to the fans, slamming his hands on the parquet floor, and asking for the Orlando Magic to bring it on!
There was victory...
The Celtics won 96-84 to advance to their 27th NBA Finals with the right to play for the 18th title in the storied Boston Celtics' history. They did so in style!
It's these AMAZING stories that grab hold of me and wont let go. It's these legendary moments that inspire me and remind me of what's possible. How someone who didn't even play a single minute the first two games of the Boston/Orlando series can captivate an entire TEAM, arena, and TV viewing audience! AMAZING!
So what separates Nate Robinson's performance from everyone else in the arena? What pushes someone to step up in the most clutch situations? How does Nate's performance enhance those around him to take it to the next level? Whatever "it" is, it's contagious! His effort, energy, and confidence all become contagious. Complicated to explain, easy to understand. We have all been there. We have all been in "the zone", feeling like nothing bad can happen, nothing can take you down, nothing can get in your way of your goals.
So I leave you with this, think about how you spark the people you work with, live with, engage with daily. How do you become contagious to those around you? What's your equivalent to the 8 minutes 46 seconds second quarter lil Nate Rob had? Furthermore, how do you prepare to step up in the biggest of moments to be contagious? All so fascinating, cant wait to hear them...
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
I don't know...
I don't know... tough words to read. Tougher words to hear.
Honestly my first reaction to this statement is frustration and annoyance. No matter how many times I hear it said, it never sounds good. Easy to say, hard to hear.
Why do people say I don't know? Confidence? Selfishness? Knowledge? All of the above?
Its some sort of get out of jail free card with zero accountability for what's about to happen next. A response, check that, a reaction to a question that takes the easy way out. The frustration isn't because the other party doesn't know the answer, its that they choose not to. The receiving party gets cheated over not being met half way. How do we change this?
I don't know by itself is zero, unaccountable. By adding a word to the end of this phrase it becomes something fully accountable. Think about it, one word can equal the partnership in this conversation. There are a ton of words that can add instant accountability, what word would you choose?
I choose the word "yet" (though there's many more out there!). I don't know, yet. WOW! The impact this new phrase has on the answer to a question is AMAZING! Instant accountability! Responsibility on both sides of the conversation! Think about the power the word yet has. "I am not confident enough to provide a sufficient answer yet". "I haven't got enough info yet". "I'm not sure what to do in this situation yet." Whoa!
The next time we feel compelled to answer a question with I don't know, there is a challenge to include the word yet. A challenge to be accountable to the question asked. If you hear I don't know as an answer to one of your questions, speak up to include the word yet. Challenge the recipient to uphold the responsibility of your conversation. Think about what yet has in store. Think about what is possible in the word yet...
Honestly my first reaction to this statement is frustration and annoyance. No matter how many times I hear it said, it never sounds good. Easy to say, hard to hear.
Why do people say I don't know? Confidence? Selfishness? Knowledge? All of the above?
Its some sort of get out of jail free card with zero accountability for what's about to happen next. A response, check that, a reaction to a question that takes the easy way out. The frustration isn't because the other party doesn't know the answer, its that they choose not to. The receiving party gets cheated over not being met half way. How do we change this?
I don't know by itself is zero, unaccountable. By adding a word to the end of this phrase it becomes something fully accountable. Think about it, one word can equal the partnership in this conversation. There are a ton of words that can add instant accountability, what word would you choose?
I choose the word "yet" (though there's many more out there!). I don't know, yet. WOW! The impact this new phrase has on the answer to a question is AMAZING! Instant accountability! Responsibility on both sides of the conversation! Think about the power the word yet has. "I am not confident enough to provide a sufficient answer yet". "I haven't got enough info yet". "I'm not sure what to do in this situation yet." Whoa!
The next time we feel compelled to answer a question with I don't know, there is a challenge to include the word yet. A challenge to be accountable to the question asked. If you hear I don't know as an answer to one of your questions, speak up to include the word yet. Challenge the recipient to uphold the responsibility of your conversation. Think about what yet has in store. Think about what is possible in the word yet...
Thursday, May 20, 2010
A different way to work
TEAM:
Today I took a different way to work.
Yup, I drove the most obscure, least direct way to work. Normally my drive to work isn't newsworthy, however it was the start of a day that was!
Because of my new route I met, Melanie, possibly the happiest barista on the planet, from a Starbucks I have never been to before. I saw signs I have never seen and got to hear sounds I have never heard. My drive changed the way I started my day, it changed the rest of my day.
My day was filled with great experiences, awesome conversations, and very cool people. Perhaps these interactions were one notch higher due to my not so routine way to work.
Think about how a different way to work can change your day.
ENJOY IT!
Today I took a different way to work.
Yup, I drove the most obscure, least direct way to work. Normally my drive to work isn't newsworthy, however it was the start of a day that was!
Because of my new route I met, Melanie, possibly the happiest barista on the planet, from a Starbucks I have never been to before. I saw signs I have never seen and got to hear sounds I have never heard. My drive changed the way I started my day, it changed the rest of my day.
My day was filled with great experiences, awesome conversations, and very cool people. Perhaps these interactions were one notch higher due to my not so routine way to work.
Think about how a different way to work can change your day.
ENJOY IT!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Why do you get up in the morning?
TEAM:
New week; double the TEAM, double the learning! Heck I learned enough in one day to write a book let alone a one page blog! All week I saw LEADERS stepping up, inspiring their TEAM's for better results, partnering with each other to blaze new trails, even breaking the "business as usual" mold to achieve better communication as peers. All this learning reminded me of why I love what I do. It reminded me of why I get up in the morning.
There was a day that I couldn't easily answer this question. In fact those days weren't so far off. Of course even when I thought I knew why, it changed daily or weekly or monthly. What inspired me to get out of bed to do what I do was a means to an end. I worked to live. I think its fair to assume that most of us cant afford not to. Our common denominator is working to pay the bills, provide for our family, etc. I don't think that's a bad thing to want to provide or support for yourself or others. Its also not a bad thing to want something and work to purchase it. Our culture is driven by consumption and purchase, all of that comes at a cost. We work to pay that cost.
What if you asked the same question (Why do you get up in the morning?) but the answer was not because you work to live? What if instead you lived to work? No really, what if you lived to work? (pause....deep breath...)Instead of hitting the snooze button 47 times before you get out of bed in the morning you sprang out of bed determined to make today better than the last. Instead of not caring or having enough respect for your peers to bother showing up to work on time you decided that being early would contribute more to being a part of the TEAM and lead to better results. Instead of updating your Facebook and IM'ing your friends every waking moment you decide to have a conversation with your peers about how your business could run more efficiently and grow. What if you lived to work?
I was reminded this week that indeed I live to work. I live to do the work I do because I see first hand the impact it has on others. My work is deeper than the company, the money, or the title. My work is about the people. Inspiring the people I work with to do the same with the people they work with. Advancing knowledge and skills in others only to be paid back with more learning and development of myself. I live to work!
When you get that next quiet moment to yourself, think about the work you do. Think about the impact it has currently or could have if you lived to work. If you feel bold enough share it with me I would be honored to receive it! Thanks!
New week; double the TEAM, double the learning! Heck I learned enough in one day to write a book let alone a one page blog! All week I saw LEADERS stepping up, inspiring their TEAM's for better results, partnering with each other to blaze new trails, even breaking the "business as usual" mold to achieve better communication as peers. All this learning reminded me of why I love what I do. It reminded me of why I get up in the morning.
Why do you get up in the morning?
There was a day that I couldn't easily answer this question. In fact those days weren't so far off. Of course even when I thought I knew why, it changed daily or weekly or monthly. What inspired me to get out of bed to do what I do was a means to an end. I worked to live. I think its fair to assume that most of us cant afford not to. Our common denominator is working to pay the bills, provide for our family, etc. I don't think that's a bad thing to want to provide or support for yourself or others. Its also not a bad thing to want something and work to purchase it. Our culture is driven by consumption and purchase, all of that comes at a cost. We work to pay that cost.
What if you asked the same question (Why do you get up in the morning?) but the answer was not because you work to live? What if instead you lived to work? No really, what if you lived to work? (pause....deep breath...)Instead of hitting the snooze button 47 times before you get out of bed in the morning you sprang out of bed determined to make today better than the last. Instead of not caring or having enough respect for your peers to bother showing up to work on time you decided that being early would contribute more to being a part of the TEAM and lead to better results. Instead of updating your Facebook and IM'ing your friends every waking moment you decide to have a conversation with your peers about how your business could run more efficiently and grow. What if you lived to work?
I was reminded this week that indeed I live to work. I live to do the work I do because I see first hand the impact it has on others. My work is deeper than the company, the money, or the title. My work is about the people. Inspiring the people I work with to do the same with the people they work with. Advancing knowledge and skills in others only to be paid back with more learning and development of myself. I live to work!
What gets you up in the morning?
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Here's to the heroes!
TEAM:
This week was another spectacular display of what is possible. I saw tremendous effort and amazing results! There was collaboration to drive new products, enthusiasm to communicate with new partners, and engagement at unprecedented levels. There were some pretty extraordinary things that occurred. Incredible (no pun intended) efforts. Dare I say heroic?
Stay with me on this...
The word "hero" is a bold one. Its a word we reserve for the most epic of people. If you look up the meaning of "hero" in the dictionary you get a multitude of definitions that center around bravery, ideals, or achievement. The origin of the word even references mythological figures and warriors. WOW! It's certainly not a word to use lightly.
All of this makes sense when I think of my heroes, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. or Tony Gwynn, Steven Biko or John F. Kennedy and the list goes on. In fact dozens of civil leaders, politicians, CEO's, sports idols, authors, rock stars, movie stars or other agents of change come to mind. Primarily I think of people I have never met (yet) or are no longer living. Leaders of epic proportions or extraordinary performers in their craft. Their images are cemented in my head, the moments that define these people and gave them life, leave me in awe. I get chill bumps thinking about the idea of meeting some of the heroes I have studied, read, or learned from. I often catch myself thinking about what would I ask these people if given the chance. If I could have dinner with Nelson Mandela, what would I say? Where would I begin? I would probably be stuck on do I call him Mr. President, Mr. Mandela or should I call him Nelson?
After further thinking there are more epic people out there, more heroes. I'm not just thinking of heroes in the historical sense but the everyday heroes. Its the people that I have met, the ones that helped to shape who I am and what I do. It's Richard Stevens (My Grandfather) or Mr. Callaway (My High School English Lit Teacher) or Brad Hunter (My first Director of Sales). Its even the ones you read about in the local paper, see on TV, or hear on the radio. It's our military folks, police or firefighters that do heroic things on a daily basis. So many different examples of heroes all around us.
It's not entirely fair for me to compare what happens in our work
today to the heroism that happend on August 28, 1963 in Washington D.C. or to think that Gandhi's movement is on par with the conversations we are having in our stores. I do however think that the messages that our heroes provide us finds its way into our daily lives. Our conversations have some small ounce of heroism embedded in them. The heroics we read, watch, or listen to become a part of who we are. In retrospect all my heroes, some living, some passed on, some I never met, and some I talk with everyday all have something in common, they all move me. They inspire me to be the best, they give me something to aspire to, and they have purpose. These people remind me of what is possible.
So as I recall what I witnessed over the past week, I can honestly say I saw some heroism. Maybe not direct in nature but some resemblance of the heroes I have learned from and the heroes of the people I witnessed. I saw a TEAM making things happen. It moved me. Inspired me. Reminded me of what is possible.
Here's to the heroes, mine & yours.
Who are your heroes? Why?
What have you learned from them?
How does your heroism show up in your craft?
Share with me your thoughts...
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