Foto Finish Friday

vanishing sunset, originally uploaded by pastaboy sleeps.

*Each Friday an interesting photo is selected to end the week on.

Talking Change

Walk
Originally uploaded by Joep R.

A lot of people can talk about change.

A smoker saying they're going to quit is talking change. An alcoholic saying they will stop drinking is talking change. A presidential candidate promising to deliver an administration different from the last is talking change. A manager saying they're going to shake things up and defy the status quo is talking change. A football coach promising to deliver more wins this year than next is talking change.

Anyone can talk change and nearly anyone does.

The thing about change is it cannot be sustained with talk. It requires action. It requires more than lip service. It requires a change in lifestyle, in practice, in thinking. When you start talking like that, people usually jump off the change bandwagon. That's when talk of change fades and the status quo lives on.

At some point you must stop talking change and producing change. It's easy to talk change. It's a whole lot more difficult to produce change.

Are you busy talking change? Maybe it's time to start following through on that talk. Produce some results. Go up against the status quo with some positive results. Quit that bad habit you've been telling your friends and family you are going to quit once and for all. Follow through on your talk of change.

Enough Said

Wayne Coyne, Flaming Lips
Originally uploaded by chris_saunders

Sometimes the best blog post is a blog post never made.

If you should happen to post though, it’s best to make your point and end it. If you go on and on, your readers will leave. Assuming, of course, someone is reading.

It’s the same way with public speaking. Sometimes the best speeches are the speeches never made. But, if you must stand up and speak, make your point and then sit down. No one likes to listen to someone who likes to listen to themselves talk.

I think I’ve made my point.

Foto Finish Friday

Hefner Lighthouse, originally uploaded by R. Doyle Bowman.

*Each Friday an interesting photo is selected to end the week on.

Past Success vs. Future Success

HYPOCRITICAL SIGNAGE
Originally uploaded by Wandering Eyes

In the movie Napoleon Dynamite, the character Uncle Rico revels in his past. Specifically his high school years of football. It's humorous to watch Uncle Rico talk about his glory days, "Back in '82..." In real life however, whenever you run across people like this it is sad. They're stuck and unable to realize the present, much less the future.

In business, they're not innovating because, "we've always been successful doing it this way." In almost anything you succeed in, it can be tempting to always do it that way and resist change in the future. Even if it that successful way of doing things is no longer working. It's how status quo's come into being.

Past success is no guarantee of future success.

Consider:

• If it was, Angel Berroa, Pat Listach, and Bob Hamelin would be household names. Each of them experienced a great deal of success in their first years of Major League Baseball. Each of them won the Rookie of the Year award. Based on their early success, their future appeared bright.
  
• Revel in your past success and one day you’ll look around and that’s all you’ll have. Past successes.
• Ask Venture, K-Mart, or Woolworths how those past successes are working out for them in guaranteeing future success.
• There's nothing wrong looking back at previous successes and even use them to help you gain leverage in the present or future. Far too often however, people look "back in '82" and want to stay there.

Past success is no guarantee of future success. Innovate, adjust, and grow.

It really is simple to understand. You just have to decide not to get stuck in '82. That's usually the hard part.

When Leadership Erodes

Originally uploaded by Breath of Life

In any enterprise, when the leadership begins to erode, the followers begin to grow restless. The vision gets lost. Morale dips. Communication becomes scarce. Many grow disgruntled. The workplace rumors soar. Many begin to show up only for the paycheck. Apathy sets in.

Your best employees leave. Maybe they don't walk out the door, but they grow bitter and cynical. Your best employees don't have to walk out the door for you to lose them.

It's a common trap for leaders to become complacent because the notable players are still around. Then one day it all goes wrong. The indecision, the ineffectiveness, the inaction all collide. The notable players (your best employees) show severe displeasure and the next thing you know they really are walking out the door.

This can be reversed. It takes time and a rebuilding of trust, but I do believe it can be reversed.

Some ideas:

• Tear down the corporate structures that restrict innovation and growth.
  
• Stop promoting mediocrity and begin promoting those who want to make the changes necessary to reverse the ship.
  
• Identify your visionary leaders. You will need them to regain or possibly even reinvent the vision.
• Stop playing it safe and just going with the flow. Start taking some risks that will give a spark of energy to your employees.
  
• Realize the importance of team building and who will perform this task best - then put them in place to start building.
  
• Get your hands dirty and build relationships.
• Invite new ideas into the fold, listen to the new ideas, and then actually implement them when they are worthy of pursuing.
  
• Quit blaming and start fixing.
  
• Sweat the small stuff and work your way up to the bigger stuff. It will give you a little more credibility when it comes to the old, cynical hands who won't want to change.
  
• Put trust in your employees. Especially in your best employees.
  
• Be clear on goals.
  
• Open the doors of communication, but don't shut them as soon as the negative sentiments come out. Acknowledge them and then fix them.
  

What are some of your suggestions?

Foto Finish Friday

Paris under the snow, originally uploaded by Gregory Bastien.

*Each Friday an interesting photo is selected to end the week on.

Lack of Will

RUN, RUN! ITS COMING!
Originally uploaded by MerlinsMan

"People do not lack strength; they lack will." ~ Victor Hugo

There's a lot of truth in that quote.

Consider:

• You always find time to do the things you really want to do.
  
• You overcome, though difficult, bad habits when you finally devote yourself to a life change.
• You often make a needed change when the suffering is no longer sufferable.

In many cases, it's not about your strength. The strength to overcome or grow is there, but the will is a little more difficult to discover.

Some excuses offered up:

• No time.
  
• Too difficult.
  
• Nothing will change.
  
• Cannot change.
  
• Too old.
  
• Too young.
  
• Don't know enough.
  
• Cannot make a decision.
• Security is better than risk.
  
• It is what it is.
  
• It is no use.
  
• No one cares.
  
• It has always been this way.
  

In the end all these excuses really say is, "I don't have the will." The strength is almost certainly there. The will is not.

Of course, they don't really apply to your life. Right?

Foto Finish Friday

Astoria Blvd, originally uploaded by isayx3.

*Each Friday an interesting photo is selected to end the week on.

And Now For Something Completely Different

gentlemens outfitters
Originally uploaded by buckaroo kid

"If you're not prepared to be wrong, you'll never come up with anything original." ~ Sir Ken Robinson

I first watched this presentation by Sir Ken Robinson at TED over a year ago. I've since watched it multiple times and his message has stuck with me. It is on creativity and education. He makes a compelling case for the idea that school, within its current structure, kills creativity.

In my opinion, Sir Ken is also one of the more brilliantly entertaining speakers around. I hope you will take a moment out of your busy day and watch. Especially if you currently work in the education system.

Be the Exception to the Rule

Originally uploaded by jen halski

When many politicians saw the abolition of slavery as a political risk not worth taking, Abraham Lincoln was the exception to the rule. When most leaders in India thought violence was the only way to overcome British rule, Mahatma Ghandi was the exception to the rule. When the status quo demanded the Catholic church control much of the world and heavily influence secular government, John Wycliffe was the exception to the rule.

On a much smaller level usually, you have the chance to be the exception to the rule in many aspects of life. Whether it be your everyday lifestyle, your work, or church you constantly come across opportunities to be the exception. You just have to choose to be.

• When everyone else is content to be mediocre, be the exception to the rule.
• When the it seems no one will take a stand, be the exception to the rule.
  
• When fear rules the day, be the exception to the rule.
  
• When your boss demands the very least, be the exception to the rule.
• When everyone believes you cannot, be the exception to the rule and show them you can.
  
• When it seems the best thing to do is to lay low and remain unknown, be the exception to the rule.
  

We could go on and on with these. I think you get the drift. Be the exception to the rule.

Foto Finish Friday

road to beauty, originally uploaded by hans solcer.

*Each Friday an interesting photo is selected to end the week on.

9 Ideas to Help You Change Your Approach

IMG_0001(!) Remake!
Originally uploaded by Mareen Fischinger

Sometimes it's not the system. Sometimes it's not everyone else. Sometimes it's not your terrible job. Sometimes it's not the man. Sometimes it's not your luck. Sometimes you just need to change your approach, your attitude, or your goals.

If you aren't already doing some if these things, it's probably time to change your approach:

1. Be exceptional; especially when everyone else isn't.
   
2. Focus on engaging people, not on how many business cards you can collect.
   
3. When you compliment someone, mean it. Not much is worse than a fake compliment.
4. Step forward when needed. You may feel alone at first, but it may be everyone's waiting to follow your lead.
   
5. When surrounded by mediocrity, you have two options. Leave or be the exception to the rule. Choose.
   
6. Challenge the status quo when necessary.
7. Always ask questions.
   
8. Be confident, but don't be a know it all. There's a difference.
   
9. Be consistent in everything you do. People like to rely on someone.

Start adding some of these ideas and others like them to your daily routine and it's amazing how much better you will feel about your situation. In the very least, you can have peace of mind. At least then you'll know it's not you.