Webster says… An idea is something that you imagine or picture in your mind.  When I think on that definition, I agree with it.  I have had numerous ideas that I’ve imagined or have been pictures in my mind.  There are several ways that ideas arrive at my mental doorstep.  Here are a few of them. 

One way is for me to be in discussion.  I’ve been in meetings or simply having a conversation with another person.  In the midst of the discussion, I’ll have an idea that seems to pop up from out of the air.  But I generally attribute it to the “Lively Art of Conversation”.  It is my opinion that my mind goes into action when prompted by discussion.  If I had been simply sitting gazing off into space, I’m not certain that the same idea would have come to the forefront of my brain.  I find that I am mentally simulated during conversation and ideas arrive. 

Another way is when ideas are revealed to me when I’m asleep.  It has happened enough times that I regard it as a “place where ideas are born”.  Previously, I tried to analyze the process in order to determine the genesis of it all.  I had reasoned that an idea likely came because of something that happened before I fell asleep, watching TV, reading a book, or reviewing work papers.  But I have decided that ideas totally unrelated to my pre-sleep activities came to me during my sleep state.  Actually, I love this process because I am energized by the thoughts and the ideas that I received.  It’s as if they are sitting and waiting for me to open my eyes and begin a new day.  It’s like hearing the sound of birds chirping to herald in the morning and the prospect of tremendous things to come.

One more is when I have gotten a vision of something while I have been attending a totally unrelated event.  This one might seem a bit strange but for me it is very real.  One example…recently, I was at a leadership retreat and all of the attendees were watching and listening to a video.  All of a sudden, I got a vision of an idea.  It turned out that the vision was totally unrelated to the video or the retreat. That idea led to a significant series of life-changing events.

As a result, I’ve concluded that there is no rhyme or reason as to how ideas show up for me.  I attribute them to God and His desire to “Wow” me.  As a result, I try to stay open to what He wants to convey.  I’ve also learned that I can go with an idea or not.  My sense is that God is going to make it reality with or without me.  If I say “Yes”, I get to go along for the ride. 

Keep Writing!!! 

From Entrepreneurial Strenghfinder by Gallop

The 10 talents of current successful entrepreneurs are:

• Business Focus: You make decisions based on observed or anticipated effect on profit.

• Confidence: You accurately know yourself and understand others.

• Creative Thinker: You exhibit creativity in taking an existing idea or product and turning it into something better.

• Delegator: You recognize that you cannot do everything and are willing to contemplate a shift in style and control.

• Determination: You persevere through difficult, even seemingly insurmountable, obstacles.

• Independent: You are prepared to do whatever needs to be done to build a successful venture.

• Knowledge Seeker: You constantly search for information that is relevant to growing your business.

• Promoter: You are the best spokesperson for the business.

• Relationship-Builder: You have high social awareness and an ability to build relationships that are beneficial for the firm's survival and growth.

• Risk-Taker: You instinctively know how to manage high-risk situations.

While I agree with the 10 talents, I would argue that, with few exceptions, they are timeless and irrespective of economic considerations.  When I think of admired entrepreneurs, Ford, Tom Watson, John Johnson, Steve Jobs, or Bill Gates, I am reminded of how focused they were on these talents, almost to a fault.

In the case of both Jobs and Gates, they far surpassed their original partners (Wozniak and Allen) in understanding and embracing the criticality of these talents.  Ford, Thomas Watson, and John Johnson were pressing in on these talents in economical environments equally challenging to the conditions of our day.

I would change the conversation slightly and suggest that anyone who wants to be a success, regardless of the marketplace dynamics, has to understand, embrace, and utilize these talents. 

The list runs counter to the "employee mentality" where you come to work, adapt to the standard operating procedures, collect a pay check, and stand in line for a promotion.

So the task is to step up to the plate, decide to be a "game changer", and see things not as they are but what they can become.  Utilizing the 10 talents will be a key ingredient to success at whatever level you find yourself and regardless of the economic conditions.  

It’s a great idea of Steven Shallenberger to suggest that leaders establish a moratorium on blaming and criticizing for 21 days. Also, it is true that some leaders often try to appear to be highly competent all the time. But one of the critical aspects of world class leaders is the fact that they openly communicate their weaknesses. There is an expression “Don’t trust a leader that doesn’t have a limp”. If a leader can’t communicate their weaknesses, it’s likely that the organization will suffer and the “blame game” is one of their strategies when something goes wrong. With that said, there are some strategies employed successfully by world class leaders.

Here are six approaches to consider:

-       Try to remain calm in the face of turmoil

-       Ask open-ended questions in order to understand the situation

-       Get multiple points of view before coming to a conclusion

-       Determine what the “down-side” risks are

-       Come up with a viable solution

-       Provide “constructive” criticism off-line

Try to remain calm in the face of turmoil

The worse action to take is to fly off the handle and start naming and blaming.  Nothing good can come from that.  World class leaders rarely “run down the street with their hair on fire”.  This is where words get used that can’t be taken back.  Calm leadership is one of the first steps needed to recover from a bad situation.  The team generally is waiting to see just how the leader will react.  The expression “the speed of the leader is the speed of the team” is true in this situation.  Calmly approaching the situation is best for all parties concerned (and it helps tremendously in getting to the bottom of the problem).   

Ask open-ended questions in order to understand the situation

This is how the world class leader excels.  Before they make a decision, they realize that it is critical to understand the total scope of the situation or the problem.  If their questions start with “Who, What, When, Where, How much, How long”, it will go a long way at getting to the issues at hand.  Once the world class leader gets to the end of this process, the picture becomes much clearer and a possible solution to the problem can emerge.

 

 

Get multiple points of view before coming to a conclusion

The world class leader will try to hear from as many involved people as possible.  Each person clearly gets from their leader that nothing is out of bounds, nothing is off limits, and there will be no penalty for communicating the facts of what transpired.

Determine what the “down-side” risks are

Without blaming anyone, the world class leader has the facts of the situation, what went wrong and the potential down side risks.  With the risks isolated, potential solutions can be determined.  

Come up with a viable solution

There is an old adage “there are 100 ways to skin a cat”.  Based on experience and the input from a strong team, the world class leader will decide on possible solutions to the problem. He/she may make the final decision but it done with others providing guidance along the process.  The old adage, “there is wisdom in the counsel of many” is especially true here.   With the best solution determined, the world class leader will put it in motion and take full responsibility for the problem.  This is not the time for blaming or pointing fingers.

Provide “constructive” criticism off-line

If it is determined that someone was responsible for the problematic situation, generally the world class leader will give advice and constructive criticism to the person/s responsible.  The admonition might be very strong and direct but it is not to tear down but to build up, regardless of how thoughtless or immature the error was.  One of the best teaching aids is when the world class leader shares a time when they “screwed up”.  This hits home like nothing else.  It shows that the leader also has faults and weaknesses.

So, when the moratorium on blaming and criticizing is over, it will be critical for the leader to have a process to replace the old one.  Most psychologists suggest that it takes 21 days to eliminate a habit but it also takes 21 days to establish a new one.  So, I suggest to leaders start today to make a decision of your will to cast off the yoke of blaming and pick up a process that will have long term positive implications.