Welcome to the second edition of Take It From Terry™. You'll find some fresh thoughts and proven ideas to make you more effective, along with a healthy dose of whimsy and fun.
Please check out my totally retooled website www.ManagementPro.com. Come and join the conversation at my blog Terry's Toolbox™.
Whether you are an old friend, a new acquaintance, a client, or a workshop graduate, I warmly welcome you to what I hope is a long and beneficial relationship.
Caption This Picture and Win My Book
A huge brass lion sits in front of the Swissotel Le Concorde in Bangkok,
Thailand... After conducting a seminar there, I couldn’t resist
climbing aboard and taking a ride. Someone snapped a photo which I
liked so much it’s on my website. This is the only uncaptioned
photo on my website, and I need some creative ideas.
Can you help? I’m giving away copies of my book for the best five suggestions submitted by August 30, and will ask my readers to choose the final.
Come Learn With Me At UCLA
Twice a year, I’m privileged to teach at UCLA's esteemed Technical Management Program along with other outstanding faculty.
This one-week program is unmatched in offering a wide variety of top-notch courses each March and September. Come to sharpen your technical or management skills and network with talented professionals from many industries and countries. The next program is September 14th -19th.
For my expanded spiel on this topic, click on this link.
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For the latest brochure, click on this link.
The Priceless Birthday Gift for Me, and You
For my birthday this month, I received something priceless as well as free. What does the person who has almost everything appreciate the most? The gift of reflection. The hallmark of any leader is pro-active learning, real-time awareness, and growth through insights.
My birthday gift to myself – and to you for yours – are 32 Thought-Provoking Questions. As I do around every birthday, I set aside time for personal reflection and re-planning.
You’ll find the complete list in this month’s Self-Mastery article. Here is how I answered a few of these:
What is one dumb thing you did this year you are willing to forgive yourself for right now?
- Didn't closely monitor my portfolio during stock market deadline (lost 15% portfolio value.)
What new empowering beliefs did you add this year?
- Now is the perfect time to enjoy my life even more.
What one thing will you do in the area of work that will make next year a better year for you?
- Create better system of follow-up and keeping in touch with business contacts and friends.
- Produce my monthly newsletters more efficiently
The remaining questions are listed below in this newsletter. You can use these questions individually, adapt them to your work team, or modify them to fit your family. These are great conversations jumpstarts to spice up staff meetings or to share over dinner.
Each month, I'll invite someone interesting to contribute an article. Our guest writer this month is a provocative thinker and industry leader in time-share resales. Enjoy these ideas from David Skinner, founder of the Holiday Group.
Touched by Technology
By David Skinner
Did you ever imagine your life would be so infused by technology? Where did you go for information before the internet? How did you stay connected without your cell phone? A day hardly passes without a new gadget or gizmo promising ever more convenience, efficiency, or entertainment. Some of these advances make it easy to forget what life was like before. Today in business and industry there is a generation who never experienced the “before,” who we rely on in many ways as we forge ahead towards an unknown future with new opportunities and risks.
To compare how far and fast of technology has advanced, we can look back to 1982 when John Naisbitt described this phenomenon in his then best-selling book, Megatrends: Ten New Directions Transforming Our Lives. In those simpler times, the facsimile machine was leading-edge technology. A document that once took seven days to receive by mail now took seconds with the start of a dial tone, a button click, a scratchy sound—and it was sent. Amazing!
Now, it’s not so easy to pinpoint the leading edge because technology is expanding and advancing so rapidly on multiple converging fronts. With this accelerating transformation of communication and information exchange, our lives are rapidly speeding up to where people find it ever more challenging to carve out balance and enjoy the leisure necessary to renew themselves and their relationships.
However, amid the swirl, not everything has changed, thankfully, or we risk losing the very social essence of what makes us human. An example concerns of VCR and its redefinition of family time. In the mid-1980s, the home entertainment center was born. Video stores sprang up everywhere and TV screens stretched to 27 inches. Pundits and prognosticators warned that the once-venerated movie theater will go the way of the dinosaurs because American families will prefer to watch their movies at home.
But Naisbitt showed this assumption was wrong. He deduced that “High tech-high touch” is the secret. He saw the trend that was to emerge: “The more technology we introduce into society, the more people will aggregate, and will want to be with other people: Movies, rock concerts, shopping. You do not want to go to a movie just to see a movie. You go to a movie to cry or laugh with 200 people.”
Prophetic words, indeed. We now have multiplex theaters with dozens of viewing rooms offering choices in every genre from drama to comedy. All serviced, of course, from the centralized refreshment stand.
The point Naisbitt makes even more valid today is that with each advance in technology, we yearn more and more to feel and be in touch with our humanity. We have a need balance high tech’s impersonal intrusions with an off-setting measure of “high touch.” People find meaning in the cultural traditions that define us. We coalesce with those who are like us. We seek solace and safety in numbers, which derives from our roots in tribal community. Technology has allowed us to connect with each other on a global scale, but that same technology can also keep us from staying connected with ourselves and others more locally.
THE CONSTANT TOUCH OF EVOLVING TECHNOLOGY
To gain a perspective of how far we’ve come and have yet to go, let’s examine three principles. Moore’s Law was originally intended to describe the constant increase in the number of transistors that could be affixed to a circuit board, which has come in a larger sense to represent the driving force of technology as the Agent for Change. Moore’s Law states that computational power—the heart of technology—will expand exponentially, doubling approximately every two years until (theoretically and without moderation) it would reach a point of singularity: Constant change. Let’s call this e-velocity.
When leverages, the power of technology often derives the self-organizing network, based on the same concept of interconnectivity that the fax machine depended on. While a single machine is useless, each additional connection offers an exponential increase in the value (n2) of every machine as well as the whole network. This is known as Metcalf’s Law. Let’s call it e-valuation.
If we accept Darwin’s theory of evolution, then we must see that everything works to fulfill evolution’s driving principle: To change, to advance, and to perfect. This concept embraces everything, including humanity and technology. Although the concepts remain the same, the terminology used to describe them differs. What Darwin called “mutation” and “adaptation” we now call innovation and adoption. What Darwin called “natural selection” and “survival of the fittest” we now call design integration and market acceptance. What we say, what we do, and what we think is part of an internal and external process of evolution.
Technology is the modern day “discovery of the wheel” that is an adaptation to the environment, which increases quality of life by reducing toil and increasing time for leisure. It is by this measure that we judge change, for better or worse. We can summarize the above three principles as Skinner’s Law of Smart Change:
E-velocity + E-valuation = E-volution.
But as we continue to evolve through ideas and technology, we cannot lose touch with what makes us unique as people. Individuation, community, collective identity, spiritualism, family, wellness, philanthropy, and even the ubiquitous Starbucks are but a few examples of high touch— those humanizing qualities that give us meaning and warm our souls, rooted in our past and encoded in our DNA.
While some change is welcome, other change is seemingly forced upon us and challenges us to seek and nurture high touch even more concretely. Today, high-touch movements are emerging in all facets of society to connect people through informal and formal networks such as human potential groups, yoga centers, fitness outlets, New Age churches, the arts, and a rebirth of social and political activism that includes the emphasis of solving third world poverty and disease.
High touch serves as the counterbalance to high tech. Without the proper balance, we suffer what is called “technology dissonance,” making it difficult to connect the past with the present—an identity gap, if you will, between yesterday and today. As individuals we feel isolated and uncertain. As a society we suffer confusion and psychosis. Citizens of the United States are exhibiting internal dissonance and discord as we resolve our country’s role among nations. To ignore dissonance gives rise to even greater opposing and more destructive forces seeking to terrorize. Being in touch with ourselves as connected to the greater good of humanity is essential.
Naisbitt recognized his predictions were coming to pass, but he also saw the dissonance of technological change on the rise which he addressed in his next book, Global Paradox (1994). He expresses this relationship more succinctly: “High tech has to be balanced by high touch to build high-trust organizations.” Trust, he emphasized, is the bridge between tech and touch, and is the promenade to the future.
Trust in a networked system is called authentication. In the fax network, it was accomplished by the “scratchy sound” known as handshaking. In today’s open access, always-on Internet, it is accomplished through a hierarchy of procedures ending in Username and Password.
As hardware is to software, technology is high tech that also serves as an enabler and platform for high touch. The Internet has become a breeding ground for social networks from the early chat rooms and bulletin boards to the present-day My Space, Second Life, and You Tube. All of these demonstrate the connections between high tech, high touch and high trust.
Yet the world Naisbitt foresaw in Global Paradox was one of contradictions:
- "The bigger the world economy, the more powerful its smallest players."
- "As the world is increasingly made into a single economy, traditional nation- states will become weakened."
- "The center of power will be moved to local production centers."
- "The more universal we become, the more tribal we act."
Each of these seeming paradoxes, if not resolved by trust, creates a dissonance that can resound in a single individual or reverberate through an entire society.
Naisbitt could not have anticipated this a quarter century ago, but he would certainly recognize it today. We converse anonymously in chat rooms, interact with avatars, and blog about our interests. We still go to traditional movie theaters, but we’ve also arrived in these social network platforms to share, cry and laugh with others.
In addition, Naisbitt identified “three paradigm service industries that will drive the service led economies of the 21st century . . . telecommunications, information technology and . . . tourism.” At the root of each of these industries is connection.
If we decline the opportunities technology provides and do not balance them with high touch, we may suffer the ultimate dissonance and only remaining choice evolution offers—extinction. All of our lives have been touched by technology. What you do with the keys at your fingertips determines how technology will touch yours.
About the Author
David Skinner is founder and CEO of the Holiday Group. The company was started in 1992 to fill a vital need in the timeshare industry, serving as a financing and sales bridge between resort sales and the resale market. He has spent his professional life in real estate brokerage, investment banking and securities, and as an entrepreneur. These qualities came together to form the basis upon which Holiday is built. David has three adult children, is married and resides in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico from where he commutes to Seattle.
Helping our clients to think bigger and plan smarter is what we do best. Our Logical Framework Approach makes it easy to tackle the critical issues on your plate. To learn the benefits of this approach, get our free Special Report Turn Strategy Into Action.
Every month, we spotlight a different client and share their project so you can learn the art of strategic project design. This month's project illustrates a strategic approach to personal and professional development.
If you are committed to "making a life" and not just "making a living,” you will enjoy periodically taking stock of where you have been as well as where you are committed to heading.
My last issue featured 32 Questions for personal excellence. Many of you wrote about how useful my last set of these questions were, so I’m pleased to provide a fresh set:
Looking Back to Move Ahead: 32 Provocative Questions for Personal Excellence
By Terry Schmidt, Founder www.managementPro.com
Enjoy the insights that come from answering these 32 interesting questions. Make it a virtual growth by asking them at least once a year (i.e., on your birthday, at New Year’s, or anytime.) Half of these questions reflect on the past; and the rest anticipate the future.
Reflective Questions:
- What was the best advice you received this year? Did you take it?
- What learning experience do you most regret not having this year?
- What was the best class, lecture, workshop you attended this year?
- What was the most impactful movie/play you attended this year?
- What was the most important book you read this year?
- What is one change you made in your home routine that increased your quality of life?
- What did you do to maintain a high level of health and vitality?
- What did you do this year that most contributes to your life mission and vision?
- What was the best opportunity you took advantage of this year?
- In what way have you become wiser?
- Whose career or life did you positively influence and how?
- What goals do you feel proud about accomplishing?
- What obsolete goals are you willing to let go of now?
- What was your greatest source of spiritual nourishment this year?
Look Ahead Questions:
- What would become possible for you if suddenly all your limitations disappeared?
- Who are you most looking forward to loving next year?
- What is the key to unleashing your greatness?
- What new goals will you set?
- What are three steps you can immediately take to further your key life goals?
- What is your greatest dream for the rest of your life?
- How are you planning to add to your spiritual life next year?
- What could you do much more effectively next year than you did this year?
- What is one change to your work routine that would increase your enjoyment?
- What would you dare to try, if money were not an issue and you knew you could not fail?
- How could you improve the quality of your personal and family life?
- How could you have more fun?
- What activity did you participate in a long time ago that you haven't done in a while and would enjoy doing again the next year?
- If it were exactly one year from now, and you had lived this year exactly as you dreamed, what would have changed?
- What one-word phrase or motto expresses your vision for next year?
- Whose career or life do you plan to influence and how?
If your head is spinning with insights and ideas, that's great.
- Now take it to the next level - generate your own list of provocative questions. I'd love to see what you come up with!
Here you'll learn about the books which have most influenced me professionally, personally, emotionally and spiritually. I won't usually talk about the latest best sellers. Instead, I'll share some outstanding books - some barely known -- which belong in every library and deserve to be read. This month’s features Jim Hirshfield, an inspiring entrepreneur who has achieved balanced success in the business world and at home.
Discovering True Fortune & Freedom
A Book Review by Terry Schmidt
These days there’s plenty of information about finding the
path to fortune. Most of the authors are “wannabees”;
a few are the genuine success story. You’d be wise to heed Jim
Hirshfield’s advice outlined in his book Fortune
& Freedom: The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Success.
Jim offers tried-and-true, simple yet powerful information based on
his personal experience as a Harvard MBA and entrepreneur.
Some of his advice is familiar, but easily forgotten when pressure mounts in your daily life. Hirshfield reminds us of their vital importance. For example, we sometimes think making more money is the solution to financial challenges. Hirshfield reminds us, however, “It is not how much you earn but how much you spend that determines your financial situation.” This principle applies to both business and home.
Thinking strategically is essential for achieving and enjoying success. He explains how Harvard Business School professor Michael Porter says, “[A] strategy is defined by the things you choose not to do.” In a time where we all feel rushed and pressured to do anything and/or desire instant results, it’s important to keep in mind that what you’re not doing is just as important (if not more so) than what you’re doing; and that the results of what you’re doing may take time to materialize. Hirshfield points out, in fact, “The desire for instant gratification can be a real barrier to freedom.”
Make smart career moves early in life to get the career experience necessary to position yourself for later entrepreneurship. Some of these early stages can be foundational to learning vital entrepreneurial skills such as discipline, leadership, financial concepts and so forth. You can gain these through stepping-stone job and career positions as well as through volunteer work. Entrepreneurs often continue to learn all along the way, but be sure to acquire certain must-have transferrable skills prior setting sail on your own in order to navigate the stresses and risks involved.
One of those functional skills and abilities necessary for you to
acquire in addition to your natural talents is that of selling,
which is a learned skill that isn’t taught in school.
Hirshfield describes:
“A person who can sell enters a world of opportunity, because almost everything we do involves making a sale. We not only sell products and services; we sell ourselves, our ideas, the way we live our lives. Work for a company, large or small. Work for yourself. Start your own company. Be a stay-at-home parent and sell part time. Go into politics. Serve your country in the military. All of these options work better when you can sell.”
Another vital skill is leadership. Hirshfield defines “leadership as accomplishing things through others” and views it as a vital skill for entrepreneurs who “will not have time to do everything yourself—and might not be able to do everything well anyway.”
In addition to accomplishing things through other people, Hirshfield advises you to use the money of investors rather than your own. “Investors need to invest somewhere. They need you as much as you need them. They want to put their money with someone who will respect their investment.”
Hirshfield outlines the considerations involved in finding a deal and deciding whether or not it’s a good deal. He recommends using a checklist that includes determining: “What is unique about the deal?” and “Is the price realistic relative to the prospects of the business?”
Hirshfield describes how “controlling the deal” is connected to your ability to control your future. Controlling the deal isn’t always easy as there are internal and external challenges that require on-going attention. He advises a combination of seeking expert advice and due diligence on your part to inform the decisions you make, particularly getting involved in the political process to make a positive difference as well as stay informed about (and hopefully influence) political policies that affect your business. His emphasis is not just on profit, but on building value.
No matter what business you’re in, problems are sure to be part of it. Hirshfield emphasizes, “Learning to solve the right problem is the most important lesson in this guide.” It requires identifying the problem(s); and using Hirshfield’s framework for problem solving. Planning, decision-making and implementation are rooted in doing the right things and not doing the right things—where each finds itself related to correcting or preventing problems in the past, present or future. Solving the right problems helps reduce organizational stress, which can affect your bottom line.
Time management can also be a problem if you don’t plan properly, especially when your aim is to have a successful home life as well. It is your most valuable resource. Hirshfield discusses the different perspectives of time for a young person who views it as “plentiful” and for a person on the other side who views it as “a non-replaceable asset.”
Hirshfield acknowledges, “Like all things, goals are relative. No family is perfect, and someone will always be richer than you. So be realistic, and forgive yourself if you notice a few people who seem to be doing better.”
Wherever you are in your business career, you can assess where you
are given Hirshfield’s time-tested advice and apply these tools
he offers based upon his own successful journey of entrepreneurship
so you too can set sail upon fortune and freedom.
The Washington Post periodically publishes a contest in which they invite readers to supply alternate meanings for various common words. Here are more of my favorites. Whether you laugh out loud, smile, or just arch an eyebrow, you'll have to agree that the English language is a wonderfully plastic medium when molded by the minds of master wordsmiths.
Semantics: n., pranks conducted by young men studying for the priesthood.
Spatula: n. a fight among vampires.
Excruciate: n., the ligament that attaches your ex-wife to your paycheck.
Perplexed: adj., lost in a movie theater.
Population: n., that nice sensation you get when drinking soda.
Nincompoop: n., the military command responsible for battlefield sanitation.
Ineffable: adj., describes someone you absolutely cannot swear in front of.
Pontificate: n., a document given to each graduating pope.
Discussion: n., a Frisbee-related head injury.
Cabbage Patch: A patch for those trying to stop eating cabbage.
Sudafed: A software program on how to file a civil action against the government.
Pop Secret: Paternity suit settled without publicity.
Oral-B: Monica's grade on her last intern evaluation.