Our Tribal Society

Take a look around next time you are out at a baseball game, at a networking lunch or having conversations online - We all form tribes. At work, online and throughout our various community organizations.

After watching David Logan's presentation on Tribal Leadership I am now aware of the 5 tribal stages.

1. "life sucks"
2. "MY life sucks"
3. "I'm great and your not"
4. "We are great"
5. "Life is great"

Take 20 minutes and learn more about our tribal society. . . then ask yourself : What stage are you at? Will your tribe change the world?

About this talk

At TEDxUSC, David Logan talks about the five kinds of tribes that humans naturally form -- in schools, workplaces, even the driver's license bureau. By understanding our shared tribal tendencies, we can help lead each other to become better individuals.

About David Logan

David Logan is a USC faculty member, best-selling author, and management consultant. Full bio and more links

Quiet Reflection :: Unplugged

"Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action." -Peter F. Drucker

Do you "unplug" completely without once relapsing into technology?

Do you take time to discover your thoughts at the tip of a pen?

Turn off, unplug and tune into your own thoughts today.

It's amazing what you will discover without the constant barrage of social information, advertisements and the latest breaking news.

How often do you allow yourself time to reflect on your day or week? What activity helps you?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

REWORKing my brain

Last week Wayne Sutton made a recommendation for me to read Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson's latest book REWORK after a tweet I posted about going into #vampiremode to get a few things done for Experience Farm.

This morning I finished it, highlighter in hand.

The pages of my new favorite book are marked with a bright neon yellow Sharpie - carefully highlighting plain ole common sense advice that smacks you on the ass, and sends you off to think about what you've been doing wrong.
REWORK is on my desk. And I have already opened it 5 or six times to remind me of what I need to rework in my brain.




WORKAHOLIC

Working 16+ hours a day is a common practice. Seriously. What the hell am I thinking.

"Working more doesn't mean you care more or get more done. It just means you work more." p.25

"If all you do is work, you're unlikely to have sound judgments. - You stop being able to decide what's worth the extra effort and what's not." p. 26

AMEN.

No one is a machine.

SAY NO

"If I'd listened to customers, I'd have given them a faster horse." Henry Ford

God bless him. Can you imagine the resistance poor ol' Henry faced when tinkering with that damn contraption?

Well, Henry learned how to say NO and if he can do it, than I can too dammit.

"Use the power of no to get your priorities straight." p. 153

"People avoid saying no because confrontation makes them uncomfortable." p.153

It's true. How many times have you said yes to something that you regretted down the road?

I have gotten better at saying no.

You know that gut instinct? Trust it. Say no and explain why. If the person doesn't respect your decision and tries to bully you into doing something you don't believe in, walk away.

You of all people have to believe in what you do.


MEETINGS

How many meetings do you have a week?

And I don't mean meeting a friend for lunch or coffee. . . I mean business meetings?

This little golden nugget hit me like a ton of bricks "The worst interruption of all are meetings." p.109

This really got me thinking about how much time *WE* waste on unproductive "chase your tail" kind of meetings.

How much time would YOU spend on just a 1 hour meeting?

Scheduling ::

Preparation ::

Travel Time ::

Transitioning Back into Work Mode ::

Follow Up ::

X number of people in the meeting
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= BIG WASTE OF TIME and PRODUCTIVITY

I am not saying all meetings are bad - and neither are they. The meetings you do have should be productive with a clear agenda. Everyone's time is valuable.

Often meetings can be avoided by simply asking more questions before you say yes.

Why do you want to meet? What are the goals?

If the proposed meeting is a referral from a peer - then be sure to carefully consider why your peer did not want to work with that person.

I will reconsider the next time someone wants to meet me for coffee to "pick my brain" or discuss the possibility of maybe having a project they think my company might be a good fit for or because someone else referred them.

Example :: regretful meeting experience :: 2.5 hours later my partner and I had NO CLUE what this person really wanted except of course to sell us on their services, vent and gossip about the owner of the company that referred them. No thanks.

BUILD AN AUDIENCE

"An audience returns often - on its own - to see that you have to say."

I know this. You know this. So why is it so damn hard to sit down and write?

Many clients tell us they have no time. . . Hell, *I* say that about my own damn company blog which has yet to be launched because "it's not quite ready."

After reading REWORK . . . I call bullshit. When you say you don't have time to build your audience, what you're really saying is "there are more important things to do over here".

What kind of message is that sending to the people who may value your opinion or appreciate the knowledge that you share?

One person pointed out to me recently that they enjoyed my 'Danielleisms'. Thanks. I'm not for everyone, but I try very hard to do what I think is right.

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REWORK offers simple advice in BIG BROAD strokes of genius.

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What book have you read recently that has changed the way you are doing business?

Connect with me

"Why do People become Fans on Facebook?"

I recently commented on a Linkedin Discussion in the Social Media Today group that asked the question "Why do People become Fans on Facebook?"

I don't care what business you are in - at the end of the day we are ALL consumers and want to be treated like people, not counted, mounted and stuffed.

It's open season in social media land and your attention, clicks and $ are the target.



Read Fiona Bosticky's full article : Why do People become Fans on Facebook?

Follow Fiona on Twitter


How would you want your favorite brand treating you online?

Happy Birthday Daddy

Today would have been my Fathers 89th birthday.

I am so grateful for and terribly miss his adventurous spirit!




-- Post From My iPhone

Invictus

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

-William Ernest Henley


-- Post From My iPhone

Life-User Controlled Content

Our lives - just like social media is USER CONTROLLED CONTENT.

If someone is not playing nice or a positive influence in your world. . . YOU control how much access they have to you and your life.

I will NEVER apologize for choosing to block negative, acidic people from access to me, my life & family.

Personally I choose to surround myself with my #PositivePosse
and my family & friends who build me up, tell me when I'm wrong, help me become a better person - and laugh with me everyday.

Do you still 'Lose Yourself'?

Just watched this video by happen stance :: but wow what powerful poetry. damn.

Where To Add Your Voice

“Once you can understand where the conversation is, who leads, the type of voices and the best place for you to add your voice, you can then start becoming a more active participant.” – Mitch Joel, president of Twist Image

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It seems that there are a growing number of places to add your two cents - twitter, facebook, linkedin discussions, blog posts and comments, youtube. But where should you add your voice?

Most of you know by now that my preference is twitter. I feel connected to a larger conversation that is going on around me . . . kinda like a cocktail party, where you can meet and mingle with people you do and don't know.

I love the fact that I get to meet and learn from people on a global scale. Breaking news comes from friends who are there, I learn tips and tricks on how to be a better designer, I even have some great conversations about food, travel and where the best vacation spots are or the latest design trends.

With such a vast network of teachers, friends and mentors on twitter, I started to connect with them even more personally via Facebook and Linkedin and learned a very valuable lesson in where to add my voice and where to listen and learn.

Where do you add your voice?

I Do Declare: new new new!!

SO proud of Leigh Pearce! Girl must have a *CASE* of awesomesauce in that new office of hers!

Take a look at her new logo, signature and custom twitter background my company experience farm designed for her. . . then go tell her how much you like her on facebook!

Read her latest blog post ::

I Do Declare: new new new!!