Please know that I am still reading email, and if I don’t respond to yours, you haven’t indicated enough urgency.
When I get back to my desk in a couple of days, your problem will likely be solved, and I’ll be off the hook.
But if, by chance, you had something important or just wanted to tell me you appreciate me, I’ll get back to you when I return. (In this case, it’s Tuesday.)
Good things,
Lenny
Tighten all the screws. Then tighten them again.
Every one matters, even if it seems like they don’t.
Check on them occasionally.
But don’t push them past their limit. They could strip and be done forever.
I think this may be an analogy for building a team.
So for those of you who feel like you’re a screw carrying too much weight or are just completely stripped from over-tightening, know it’s not your fault.
The instructions should have made it quite clear.
Bad press is good.
Negative feedback is positive.
Criticism is constructive.
Just get people talking.
Because silence is what’ll kill ya. Not words.
If you’re at a career fair, what would you rather hear from a recruiter?
Five minutes of facts and diplomatic BS about the position and company despite the recruiter knowing immediately it’s not a good fit and you have zero chance to even get an interview simply because of something she saw on your resume you just handed them?
Or, the truth. And perhaps, five minutes of genuine, free career counseling.
Well, I certainly had no interest in delivering or receiving the former.
But that’ probably why I write something like the latter, here, every day.
When making decisions, people go with what they know.
For purchases, they know one thing for sure: price.
They also think about what they’d lose. Often, it defaults back to dollars.
And it’s not about losing dollars tomorrow. It’s about losing dollars today.
This is how we’re wired.
So how do we make something more certain than price. And how do we switch the immediate loss from dollars to something else?
Nobody wants to save for retirement. That’s pricey.
[notes from this twitter convo]
Check your assumptions.
Discuss them. Hone in on them.
Agree on them.
Now you’re solving real problems.
NOT the ones you assumed existed.
Some write carelessly. Some write without spelling or punctuation or grammar.
Some make zero sense at all.
Those trolls are easy to ignore.
Other trolls are careful. Thoughtful, even.
They write in perfect grammar. And they appear worthy of your time.
The sophisticated trolls.
Then there are the non-trolls. The people who ARE worth of your time.
It’s tough to tell the difference between the sophisticated trolls and the non-trolls.
When in doubt, though, they’re probably just a sophisticated troll. And thus, not worth your time.
He’s a business legend. He’s worth gazillions.
When asked about his secret to success, he keeps it simple: happiness.
Many assume my business success has brought me happiness. But the way I see it, I am successful because I am happy.
Of course, success is not just defined by money. It’s so much more than that.
And so when I say my #1 goal right now is to keep living this happy life, it’s nice knowing I’m in good company.
It’s fun to go find new business.
It’s exciting. It’s challenging.
It’s gonna grow your business.
But what about finding new business in your old business? Your customers and clients with whom you already have a relationship.
No, focusing on old business is not exciting. Nor is it challenging.
But don’t you want to grow your business?
In a world of ordinary, you have two choices.
The former might serve the masses. But the latter might delight and drive unshakeable loyalty among all that you need.