Love this perspective Bob! I recently had a conversation with some friends on how much time they spend in meetings everyday. I recall the "amazing" insights from Microsoft Outlook telling me that I spent 60% of my week in meetings! No wonder it never feels like you get anything done.
One of my favorite meeting hacks has always been to turn it into a working meeting. To state the problem we are going to solve right then and there. Now obviously, this can't be applied in all settings as you might need data to make a decision. However, I've also found that saying data is needed can feel like a convenient excuse to not take action immediately.
As you know, large companies have reams of data from study after study. As a consultant, the amount of time I've spent unpacking the data they already have and using it to help solve a current problem is always hilarious.
Anyway, love the idea of taking action and not just meeting for the millionth time!
I love the "working meeting" idea, and anything to realize that meetings have a bias toward inaction. Once we are aware of our own individual and group issues, we have a chance to get past them.
I appreciate hearing some of the detailed backstory on your adventures, but mostly the inherent character you possess that paid off for you. Though I have a question about that. Would you say you developed the mindsets that helped you succeed the way you have, or did you always have this kind of pluck and confidence from the start?
"Getting a chance to work on Tide was like someone giving me the keys to their Ferrari for the weekend: If I don’t get this thing above 100 mph while I’ve got it, then I’m an idiot."
Thanks, Rick! And boy, great question, probably worth another post...But I'd say a few times in my life, I had a clear vision for what I wanted to do and became, well, obsessed. This was one of those times, as were my first two entrepreneurial ventures.
Two of my pickup basketball approaches come to mind: (1) be the worst player on the court (because the others make you better); and (2) win or lose, leave everything you have on the court (no regrets).
There have also been several times in life when I didn't have this same level of vision, focus, and obsession. And my outcome was not so great.
Yes, that makes sense. So there was a learning curve to demonstrating for yourself what works. I resonate with getting to a place where you realize that participating mostly in things you can feel obsessed about is a cheat code for a remarkable life. As the saying goes, "If it's not a hell yes, it's a hell no."
Love this perspective Bob! I recently had a conversation with some friends on how much time they spend in meetings everyday. I recall the "amazing" insights from Microsoft Outlook telling me that I spent 60% of my week in meetings! No wonder it never feels like you get anything done.
One of my favorite meeting hacks has always been to turn it into a working meeting. To state the problem we are going to solve right then and there. Now obviously, this can't be applied in all settings as you might need data to make a decision. However, I've also found that saying data is needed can feel like a convenient excuse to not take action immediately.
As you know, large companies have reams of data from study after study. As a consultant, the amount of time I've spent unpacking the data they already have and using it to help solve a current problem is always hilarious.
Anyway, love the idea of taking action and not just meeting for the millionth time!
I love the "working meeting" idea, and anything to realize that meetings have a bias toward inaction. Once we are aware of our own individual and group issues, we have a chance to get past them.
Absolutely! I wish I could say it is easy to get people to embrace it
I appreciate hearing some of the detailed backstory on your adventures, but mostly the inherent character you possess that paid off for you. Though I have a question about that. Would you say you developed the mindsets that helped you succeed the way you have, or did you always have this kind of pluck and confidence from the start?
"Getting a chance to work on Tide was like someone giving me the keys to their Ferrari for the weekend: If I don’t get this thing above 100 mph while I’ve got it, then I’m an idiot."
Thanks, Rick! And boy, great question, probably worth another post...But I'd say a few times in my life, I had a clear vision for what I wanted to do and became, well, obsessed. This was one of those times, as were my first two entrepreneurial ventures.
Two of my pickup basketball approaches come to mind: (1) be the worst player on the court (because the others make you better); and (2) win or lose, leave everything you have on the court (no regrets).
There have also been several times in life when I didn't have this same level of vision, focus, and obsession. And my outcome was not so great.
Yes, that makes sense. So there was a learning curve to demonstrating for yourself what works. I resonate with getting to a place where you realize that participating mostly in things you can feel obsessed about is a cheat code for a remarkable life. As the saying goes, "If it's not a hell yes, it's a hell no."