The Virtual Leader
Giro d’Italia Malliot Rose

In a cycling stage race there often times when a group of breakaway riders gets far enough in front of the main peleton (pack) that one of the riders in the escape becomes the virtual leader of the race.  By calculating the time gaps it is easy to claim that one rider leads the race if the race were to stop at that moment.  The thing is that most times the gaps compress if not disappear all together as the race reaches the finish and the virtual lead is erased.  Since race organizers only award the race leadership jersey at the end of each stage based on the results, there is not a lot of power in being the virtual leader.  There is a high level of recognition for being the race leader, complete with a podium celebration, awarding of the jersey, interviews, special starting spot, and dedicated coverage from television and media at the professional level.


Concentrate on the destination.  Measuring yourself against others enroute is a bit irrelevant compared to where you stand at the destination.  

Super Power
What is your super power?

One of the ideas that resonated with me during Seth Godin’s “Pick Yourself” event in New York City this past week was the notion that each of us has a super power.  We tend to hide them behind our mission statements or provide evasive answers about our talents.  However, when we feel comfortable wearing our cape representative of our super powers it is transformative.  A super power is not about feats of strength or Klout scores.  It is an attribute that envelopes you.  The activity that slows time to a frame by frame presence worthy of the Matrix.  We find comfort in hiding our capes or send them to the emotional dry cleaners, feeling unworthy to tie them on in daily life but that is just what the world needs.  It is what your community and tribe seeks.  When I meet an individual with a super power, it alters the environment, my senses begin to ping as if expecting a lightning strike.


Where is your cape?  When are you going to put it on?

Radiated Glory

Sideline Parents


A boss who micromanages is like a coach who wants to get in the game. Leaders guide and support…then sit back and cheer from the sidelines.                                                 ~Simon Sinek

If you really want to experience the thrill of competition join the team on the field.  Pin on a number and get in the race.  Place your name on the start list.  Dive into a competition so deeply that only a small tunnel of light leading to the finish line is visible.  Arrive at your destination exhausted and exalted.

Being on the sidelines is wonderful entertainment but the glory of a victory is radiated from those who took part in the competition.  It is not yours to wrap yourself in but rather shared by the kindness and generosity of those who accomplished great deeds.  Knowing the difference is important otherwise we may believe we are critical to team’s success just because we fly their flag from our car window.    

Day of Days
Hot Wheels Track Assembly

During my grade school years I owned a Hot Wheels track for my Matchbox car set.  I bought it at church bizarre sale.  Besides the banked corners and the vertical loop, the critical feature was unit that looked like a car wash.  Once batteries were installed and it was powered up, two rotating brushes spinning on a horizontal axis were aligned to accelerate a Matchbox car sufficiently to make a complete lap of the track before returning for another application of speed.  Depending on the length of the track the return speed of the car effected the acceleration through the speedmachine.  Yesterday I attended an event that re-accelerated my commitment to serving causes that inspire.

Seth in Tribeca

I flew to New York City for the day to attend Seth Godin’s “Pick Yourself” presentation in the Tribeca.  The magical part was that Seth spoke from some prepared thoughts for an hour, weaving his themes into a series of anecdotes.  Then he answered the audience’s questions for the rest of the day, while surprising us with musical performers after breaks.  The questions for Seth ranged from the marketing strategies to hiring a hiking guide in South America.  As I reflect on my pages of notes and consider how to amplify the experience, I was taken by one theme in particular.


Seth presented the analogy of walking into a forest with an axe.  One person selects a single tee and starts a concentrated effort of chopping it down.  They understand it will not fall after only a couple hacks.  If they are committed and continue making progress eventually they will yell ‘timber.’  However, many of us give up after a couple swings and move onto another tree.  Eventually we find that we have left a scar on many trees but never committed long enough to fall any one of them.  The reality is that nobody knows which the right tree is to be wielding our axe on and that in itself is the adventure.  There is no shortcuts.  Hard work, perspiration, and blisters are the realties of a committed effort.  However, the biggest obstacle for most of us is that we fear our own super power.  The combination of skills that make us unique and accomplished artists.  

Ready?

What tree have you selected to chop down?  Are you willing to put fear aside and commit to the effort?  Are you prepared to experience your own art in the process?

Ready for Tomorrow

The service bays at the local tire store are always full with cars that have been parked inside overnight and are waiting to be worked on the next morning.  The scene provides visible confirmation that the enterprise is busy.  The tire store requires a high volume of traffic and therefore the approach makes sense.  If you cause is not based on volume but rather a specialized craft, does it matter if you demonstrate the amount of traffic that comes through your enterprise?  Do you need a capacity sign or does that represent a mass market approach that is against your company’s values?  Does a crowd draw future business?

   

Great Preparation
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A few key workouts make a dramatic difference in preparation.  Marathon runners often champion the psychological and physiological benefits of their long training runs.  Reaching the twenty mile mark makes the reality of completing 26.2 miles on race day seem achievable.  Committing to these important steps lead to a successful race.


What are your critical workouts?  What does it feel like when you have completed them? 

A Better Question
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What would it look like if we asked better questions?  What if we consider how to inspire our fans instead of getting more of them?  What if we wonder what my best look and feel like?  How would my clients feel if they could see and feel that they were my top priority?  What would be the impact of my next presentation if I brought my best first and confidently?  How would a key conversation play out if I were fully engaged and actively listened without distraction?  What if I approached each interaction as if there was paradigm shift about to take place?  How would it feel if I brought my best energy to the event that is most likely to fatigue me?  What if asking a better question changed my day?

Seats for Sale
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Certain business models work better the closer the enterprise gets to reaching capacity.  The goal is to fill every seat.  Airlines understand that closing the cabin door is the end of the window of opportunity to sell seats.  Once the flight departs they can offer high priced amenities but not seats for sale.  Airline business models are based on projecting need and filling 99% of the demand (somebody always doesn’t show).  If your cause thrives on capacity then the airline business models is ideal.


However, if your cause requires a deep personal connection then the capacity metric is not the preferred measurement for success.  Open seats in an independent school classroom should not be sold at a discount to anyone willing to pay a last minute entry fee.  Schools need students and families who are going to enhance the community experience.  If they accept everyone using the airline capacity model there are sure to be conflicts.  Purposes and expectations will clearly be misaligned.  When the airlines board a passenger who in intoxicated and unruly the other passengers get upset with the airlines.  They report via social media how they will never fly the airline of record again because of poor customer service quality.  Airlines can afford to find more customers.  Schools and deeply connected causes cannot.  Therefore, get the right people on the plane.  Leave a few seats open if you cannot find those ideally suited to join your cause.  Individual experience is essential and creating scarcity and a waiting list are high quality problems.


Decide if your enterprise needs everyone or just a select few.  Then get disciplined about your strategy.

Once You Arrive
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Knowing your desired destination is essential.   Equally important is understanding what you are going to do when you arrive.  A surfer’s destination may be a big wave.  Once on the wave’s face the real ride begins.  If we do not plan for our own success we find ourselves unprepared for the big moment we have journeyed so far to reach.  Never forget to prepare to celebrate.