Rocks Are Hard

Bring on Your A Game - Part Deux

So let's just acknowledge that it's going to be a tough year. The Media is shrinking, clients are looking for (justifiably) excellent return on their more limited investments, the economy is in trouble, which in turns makes us all nervous, I could go on, but I won't. 

Still now is the time to SHINE. Now is the time for your A game.

So, specifically, what to do?

• Be helpful -- to each other, to the media, to our clients, to our partners. If we help others, others will help us.
• Be nice -- say hello, and goodbye, Say please and thank you. You will feel good and the person you're talking to will feel good.  More "feel good" vibes in the world is a good thing.
• Dress the part -- now is not the time to just be comfy. Be comfy at home. At work, make an effort to be professional -- whatever professional means at your workplace. Unless you work at a surf store or in a flip flop shop, leave the damn flip flops at home. Take some time with your hair (I saw a few doozies on my way into work today). No rips, no wrinkles, no dirt -- pretty simple.  I'm considering putting up a sign on our building (not our office!) that says "if you didn't shower today GO HOME." 
• Act with a sense of urgency. What needs to be done by when? Work backwards and with a sense of getting it done RIGHT the first time (and hello RIGHT includes ON TIME). 

Do these things and you will be ahead of the game.  AND you will make the world a nicer place to be in. 

A Sense of Urgency

Now this may be repetitive, but it bears repeating - a sense of urgency (as opposed to panic) is the KEY to great service.

Urgency -- that it be done well

Urgency -- that you prepare for a good meeting, call, interaction

Urgency -- to deliver what you promise

Urgency -- to think AHEAD

Urgency is what separates us from all the crappy PR firms out there.

Be Urgent NOT panicked. Be planful and not knee-jeck. And secure your place in the ecosystem forEVER.

The End.

We're Not in a Bubble

My observation is that the smaller the organization the more time consuming the politics.  Church, schools, interest groups, etc.  how come these "small" places take such delicate hands to maneuver through?

Is probably not true for a transparent workplace like Double Forte where everyone hears everything -- but more than two people not just is God among us, so are agendas.

But it's important to remember that nothing -- no one person, no organization -- is a self-contained bubble, the actions and dynamics of which can really be contained.  That person you piss off at church could have the veto power at your next new business meeting -- likewise the client you make happy could be the one to advance your career or standing in the community by recommending you for a board position, etc.

So dammit, be nice. Be respectful. Do what you say you're going to do. Leave an indelible positive impression. Be known for helping.  Be known for being fair -- tough but fair is always better than easy but spiteful.

NO enviroment is a bubble that doesn't leak. Even the Bubble Boy did everything he could to get out.

Keeping Up

Keeping up with what's happening in the world is a daunting task.  Figuring out who to read, what to read, how to incorporate how to shift -- it's a lot to deal with on a constant basis.

Be deal with it -- absorb it -- we must.  In fact we must go BEYOND absorbtion to embracing the task of finding new ways & more effective ways to do our work.

The good news? There's lots of advice out there if you can learn to find it and then separate the good advice from the crap advice -- a digitial diving rod is my next invention.

On twitter today this gem was tweeted (is that the past tense?) on how to keep bloggers from hating you which is a gem -- to be read, to be absorbed, to be practiced by all.

I don't think the world needs to live on the edge, but we need to be constantly casting our nets wide and finding the most practical means to staying current and relevant. This is where the FUN is!    

2009: Year of the "A" Game

Ok People - it's a new year and as with all new starts (a new month, a new year, a new page, a new notebook, Labor Day when I break out all the new pencils) it's time to cast a theme to help guide us.

And it occurs to me, among all of the turmoil in the economy and unpredicability around us that once again, focus is our friend and that if we control ourselves we will be FAR ahead of the game.

And what does control mean? It means BRINGING YOUR "A" GAME EVERY DAY.

We can have bad calls or less than stellar plays, but we MUST play an A game every day.

Decide what your A game is and play it.

Sometimes It's Not Worth It to Try Harder

One of the hardest things to do is to ask for, LISTEN to and accept criticism -- of yourself, your colleagues, your clients, your friends -- well you get the idea.

I think most people try to be honost and helpful. Whatever they say is true, because it's their truth, it doesn't mean that it's accurate or fair (but hey whoever's waiting for fair to matter is heading for disappointment).

And truthfully, sometimes it's not worth it to try to change that person's point of view. Better to put your energy to moving on and making and keeping a good impression (or hello the right one) with a brand new slate.

For instance, my name is not on the Double Forte door for a reason: BECAUSE IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT ME....

But I have a certain style and if that style is what people want or DON'T want then we have options with other really really talented people who can do the job.

I'm not going to change my style (something about old dogs) but I will learn new skills. And I expect the same from everyone at Double Forte. But if a style doesn't work, then it doesn't work and we'll need to shift and flex the agency to meet the need.

More often than not I think it's worth it to flex to the client, to the colleague, to the situation. But sometime's it's not worth it becuase you won't win and without a win-win, why bother.