Seth Godin

Who is it For? You or Them?

When they built the courthouse (San Miguel Courthouse, CO, pictured above), was it for the community or those who would hold power inside? What is our mindset when constructing something, holding a meeting, or starting a conversation? Seth Godin’s blog post double-clicks on the idea.

We have all been on the receiving end of a conversation that was positioned as an ask but clearly turned into a pitch. Are we able to build more trust and engagement when asked or pitched? How might we be authentic and intentional with our approach?

Standardized Tests or Essays

Have you worked on a project where the answer is known and the goal is to complete the project in the right order? Have you engaged in solving an interesting problem that has various possible answers? Seth Godin’s Akimbo podcast provides context for the interesting problem paradigm.

Some of us excel on the bubble sheet test, while others thrive with the essay option. Knowing the medium we are being asked to engage with may help us accept or decline the invitation to join the expedition.

Adopt or Adapt

One is offense, the other is defense. One requires the spark of curiousity, the other is associated with fear, or at least hassle.

Seth Godin

Seth Godin crafted an enduring blog post defining the difference between adopting and adapting.  A strategic decisions we need to discuss is if we are a group of people looking to adopt or adapt? The two mindsets will fundamentally change how we proceed. How might we plan for our future using strategies that reflect our posture?

Meeting?

Why do we gather, and when should we assemble? According to a Harvard Business Review article, there is a flow chart to review before calling a meeting. Dan Martell proposes the 1-3-1 method of decision-making for a one-on-one meeting. Simon Sinek has an online course dedicated to meetings. Seth Godin breaks down different types of meetings.

I rarely get excited to schedule a meeting. However, when it has a purpose that intersects with my purpose and is facilitated to elevate our best ideas and insights, I can leave feeling better about the organization than when I arrived. Leading a meeting is a skill. Anyone can call a meeting, but few can conduct a great session.

How might we ensure the best person on our team is leading our meetings, even when they may not have the title (or seniority)?

Positioning Assets

It is leading practice to position ski patrol toboggans at the top of the ski mountain. Much better than in a base area shed. We can respond quickly to an emergency with a well placed asset.

How might we consider which of resources need to be pre-positioned in an accessible location? If we run an outdoor education program with student groups in the field, it might be helpful to have a primary source map that captures scheduled routes and camping locations. If an emergency call comes to the base, we can reduce the friction just getting oriented.

Which resources have you pre-positioned? Which ones do you employ on regular basis? Which are cached for an unexpected event?

BoardSource recommends the following basic resources for most nonprofit organizations. The Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida has links to emergency planning resources. And Seth Godin blogged about the cost of emergencies.

It Can Wait Until the Meeting

What discussion and opportunities have you missed because they were postponed until the next meeting or there was not time on the agenda? What might have happened if the moment of creativity and insight was allowed to take flight in real-time? If all our actions are captured on a schedule, then when does ‘be remarkable’ appear in writing on our calendar? Perhaps we have the inspiration, strength, endurance, or ideal conditions to tackle the crux move today. What if we embraced the dynamic, now?

Thanks for the reminder Seth Godin.

When Does Edgecraft Start?

Seth Godin refers to Edgecraft as the furthest edge we can embrace without losing a connection to our super fans as we innovate. The feature, benefit, service must be remarkable. It is challenging to know when we have entered the realm of edgecraft . A tripwire to seek is when we start asking lots of questions. If we are on a mountain ridge, closing on the summit and dangerous weather approaches, we begin to evaluate our options. Is reaching the summit responsible? Can we get to the peak back to safety in time? How fast is danger approaching? What if we misjudge the elements, is there an alternative plan?

If we present a program or product decisions that everyone agrees represents our mission without raising anxiety and curiosity, we are not close to edgecraft. There is nothing wrong with mission centered work, we want to acknowledge it is not pushing boundaries. However, if we propose an activity that makes us uncomfortable but appears aligned with our Magnetic North (purpose, vision, mission, and values), then we might enter into robust debate. Perhaps part of our deliberation centers on the right balance between making our service better versus safer. Edgecraft is personal to every enterprise. A solo violinist is not capable of producing the same depth or sounds as an symphony. However they can be remarkable for their individual style and sound.

When have you practiced edgecraft? What were the results? How did your super fans respond? Does your community still retell the story of your edgecraft work? What questions did you ask of yourself? Why did you preserver?

Connections and Combinations

But today, value isn’t created by filling a slot, it’s created by connection. By the combinations created by people. By the magic that comes from diversity of opinion, background and motivation. Connection leads to ideas, to solutions, to breakthroughs.

Seth Godin

It is the new points of view, the uncommon connections, the different perspective that make our collective service more remarkable. Be powered by uncertainty to ask questions. Be inspired by those generating movements in foreign lands. Be willing to share with those we have just met. Be willing willing to wayfind. Assume best intentions. Be connected by a shared vision.

Yes, Online Conference Can be Done Right!

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With more flexible schedules, there are expanded opportunities to attend webinars and online conferences. Yesterday, I participated in the Real Skills Conference presented by Akimbo and Seth Godin. I entered the Zoom session with a bit of anxiety. How do you deliver customized content to two thousand people from fifty countries? The team at Akimbo is remarkable and ready to deliver. After a brief introduction and a short inspirational story by Seth, we split into twelve sub-conferences sorted by birth month. The December breakout had two hundred attendees and two coaches who provided content-rich guidance. Employing framing questions that oriented around four chapters, they delivered excellence. In each chapter, we were automatically directed into rooms with four participants. Each group of four had five minutes to reflect on each question before returning to the December sub-conference to interact with the coaches. I found myself connected with geographically diverse individuals. They were working on projects such as launching a just published book, leading a software engineering team, directing a coffee roasting company, being a rock star parent, saving a community through nonprofit fundraising, connecting the world to better nutrition, and writing a book on cybersecurity systems.

I was able to gain a valuable platform to assist in my consulting work and identify a specific skill to amplify my future work. The sense of isolation during social distancing was quickly removed. I recommend Akimbo highly, and there are numerous workshops available. Second, professional and personal development does not need to stop during our physical distancing. Online platforms, when used dynamically, provide an excellent platform for education, engagement, fun, and a connection.