In Darkness There is Light

I feel compelled this morning to reach out to all the quiet guys who are in a dark place...

Who have lost their light.

Who have lost hope.

Who have lost perspective.

Who have lost themselves.

There is light, even in the darkest corners of your mind, spirit and body.

There is hope, poking it's nose around those dark corners.

There is perspective, if you step outside of your immediate situation and look at things through a bigger context, through a longer term lens, from a place of love.

There is you, still in there fighting to be heard, seeking to be loved, needing to be valued.

Where ever you are, I'm out here holding the light for you.

You are heard, loved and valuable even when you are quiet.

Even when you are in a dark place.

Please look for the cracks...

That expose the possibility that the darkness is a gift.

That turn a frown into a knowing smile.

That teach you a lesson about what matters most.

That reveal the light within you that others need to find their way home.

You are needed quiet guy.

Keep your light on.

Why I've been so quiet

I've been very quiet lately.

What did you expect from a quiet guy! :)
 It has felt like a necessary and natural break.

A number of people have been asking about this blog and why I haven't been posting.

Here's the deal.

The past six months have been a time of deep reflection and career transition.

I've been thinking about who I am, what I enjoy, what I want, how I want to contribute, who I want to play with and how to best leverage my experience.

The result of this exploration has been the development of a new business.

The business is called Strategic Fuel. It's a business and brand platform that will allow me to contribute in new and bigger ways. This is a business that is exciting for me. I've been getting a very positive response, fully enjoying the conversations and new connections. And I've landed some work too!

The image of the fire pit is a symbol that is resonating with me right now. It suggests coming full circle in my career and the importance of letting some things burn down so that new ideas and energy can emerge.

I'm letting the idea of being an 'employee' burn up. It's being replaced with the idea and stance of being an 'entrepreneur'.

There have been moments filled with anxiety and fear as I make the move to establish my own business. But mostly there is an underlying voice reminding me that life is short and it's time to play big. It's this voice that keeps me excited and moving forward.

I'm in the process of developing my Strategic Fuel website and you can check it out here www.strategicfuel.ca

I'm pondering what to do with this blog but I know that whatever it becomes will be the right direction for it.

Whether it's serving my clients through my new business, through this blog or in other ways I look forwarding to helping other guys like me express the best of who they are and build a prosperous business and life!

The Gift ONLY YOU can Offer

I saw this present under the tree and it got me thinking...
 
You have a gift to offer others.

You and ONLY YOU can offer this gift because no one has lived the exact same life that you have.

In my last post 'What's the compelling event that makes you essential in any economy?'  I outlined a three step framework to help anyone sell anything. Last time I started with the third question.

The three questions are:

1. Why do the people you are selling to buy anything?
2. Why buy you?
3. Why buy now?

Today we are focusing on the second question.

I love the idea that every person on this planet offers a distinct and valuable gift, and that there is a group of people out there that are eager to accept it if only they knew about it, and it was packaged in a way that was exciting to receive and open.

Sit with this idea and let the questions below and scenario of offering a gift only you can offer to some eager person (or group) run through your mind and heart.

Think about:

• What is my gift? 
• Why is it essential that I share my gift? 
• Who is most eager to receive it?
• When are they most eager? 
• What positive change or difference will occur for them as a result of their receiving it?
• What abilities and experiences allow you to offer this gift with an open, courageous heart?

Any gifts that surface for you that you are excited about are worth sharing with others. Don't spend too much time thinking about it. You will only know the answer to 'why you?' by being out in the world and sharing who you are with others.

So...what is one way you could share your gift this holiday season?

What's The 'Compelling Event' That Makes You Essential in Any Economy?

I saw this 'Blinking indicates...' notice on an elevator in Winnipeg during a recent business trip and it got me thinking...

Imagine being on that elevator and it suddenly stops between floors for some unknown reason. Panic!!

Have you ever been in a situation like that?

Have you experienced an event that causes a quick jump in your heart rate, increased panic, urgency or worry and the automatic search for an immediate solution?

The trapped in an elevator scenario could be defined as a 'compelling event'. If you are one of those people stuck in that metal box hanging by a wire you are compelled to find a solution immediately. You don't want a solution tomorrow or in a month. You want an answer RIGHT NOW!!!

Let me back up for one second to explain that the idea I'm sharing is related to three timeless questions that every human (or group of humans) who cares about being viewed as essential by the people that hold the purse strings should answer: 

Question One: Why do the people you are selling to buy anything?
Question Two: Why should they buy/choose you?
Question Three: Why should they buy/decide now!?

Question One relates to the core needs and wants of the people you are selling to. This could apply to your boss, your peers or your clients. How well do you really understand their motivations/needs/pains etc.?

Question Two relates to your competitive advantage or differentiation from others in your field. How well do you understand others in your field and how you stand apart from them?

Question Three is the focus of this discussion. I'm starting in reverse and will cover the other two questions in future blog posts. Question Three is about defining the compelling event that makes you essential and moves people to make a decision quickly.

There are real and manufactured compelling events. 

A classic example of a manufactured compelling event is a time or quantity limited offer. These types of events are called 'door crashers' and 'blue-light specials' and are proven to motivate people to buy.

In comparison, a real compelling event is a high stakes moment or series of moments that people have that they need help to get through successfully. These are the times when people seek out experts because when their reputation, health, money or relationships are on the line it is easy to justify spending the time, energy and money to get help.

When the stakes are high that's when you want to be THE guy on their mind!

A compelling event that I've experienced many times is when marketing or product managers are launching a new product. There are deadlines and sales expectations to hit. Product launches are high profile, stressful events with reputations on the line.

When companies are launching products, a new service or even a new company this is when I've been called to the table to help them feel more confident in how they are communicating the value of their offering. These are moments when I shine and offer tremendous value. These are also moments when budgets are sizable and there is little haggling over price, which also helps to bring out my best!

With the research and strategic planning work that I do for corporate clients I want to be known as an essential person on the team when a new product is going to be launched.  A product launch is a compelling event that creates demand for the greatest value I can offer to companies. It is truly a win-win scenario.

Here's how to identify your compelling event

To identify compelling events think about the times when you are sought after. More specifically, what are the most urgent, critical, high stakes, reputation on the line moments that people are willing to pay handsomely to solve that bring out your greatest talents and passion? These are the moments when you deliver the maximum value you can deliver.

The bottom line of why this matters

A compelling event drives people to make a buying decision quickly. Any delay in purchasing a solution will have negative consequences. A delay could harm a person's (or organization's) financial situation, relationships, reputation or health.  I believe that positioning yourself, your products or services as the expert in helping a specific group of people with a specific compelling event, or series of connected events is one of the most powerful strategies you can tap into to ensure you are needed and wanted in any economy.

Define your compelling event. Do it right now!

3 Life Changing Questions About Fences

I saw this fence blocking the sidewalk at the school where my daughter attends and it got me thinking...

1. What fences are in my way right now?

2. What would happen if I removed those fences? What if I could walk easily, at a steady pace, with no resistance, towards the life I dream about?

3. Why am I not doing it? Why do I keep putting up fences where none existed before?

That's what's on my mind tonight.

What do YOU think about these questions?

The Climate in Your Head: Brain Tornadoes or Blue Skies?

Tonight I decided I was just going to write a stream of thought.

No preparation here. Just seeing what comes out. Could be typos and lousy grammar but that's cool.

Lately I've been resonating with the idea of climate. I'm not talking about the actual climate, such as that in the photo to the right. (The cloud formations on the drive up to Barrie last Friday were pretty cool though).

Chartered Accountants?

This morning I was the kick off presenter for an audience of 60 Chartered Accountants (CAs). As part of my mission to empower quiet guys I have been actively looking for introverted professionals to engage with. I'm still not clear which quiet guys actually care about what I care about but I'm really interested in finding out!

I contacted the local chapter of the CA association, presented options for topics and was gladly invited to participate in their learning day today. The topic they chose was about the importance of building a climate for creativity and change.

What is climate?

The concept of 'climate' = the attitudes, behaviours and feelings that reflect what people experience everyday.

There are three levels of climate to be aware of: Individual psychological climate (the one in our heads), team climate and organizational climate. They are all interconnected within a workplace environment.

A creative climate (in a business context) is one that enables people to make new connections and generate ideas to satisfy the dreams, aspirations, hopes, wants, needs etc. of some group of people willing to pay for them.

In a recent study by IBM, 1,500 organizational leaders around the globe were interviewed. These leaders stated that the number one issue facing them today is increased complexity. And the number one competency  was creative leadership, the ability to thrive despite the ambiguity and uncertainty that is part of life as we know it today. I would suggest that creative leadership or creativity is something everyone can tap into, especially introverted men.

The key point in my presentation was:

If increased complexity demands increased creativity then we must understand how to enable creativity to flourish. One key answer is to become aware of and deliberately shape the climate in your head and workplace.

As I was preparing for the presentation it struck me deeply how important this message is. And I also become even more aware of the climate between my two ears.There are times when the doubt and fear swirls like a tornado, but then it is gone just as quickly. But I can feel the trail of debris it leaves. Yet in another flash the sky is blue and the sun is shining brightly. When it's like this I'm productive and want it to stay as long as possible.

Last night I stumbled upon an old journal I had written some notes in and low and behold the words below were written in it:

• Improving state of mind is the big competitive opportunity
  
• We all want relief of mental stress
  
• People seek trusted advisors because they relieve mental stress
  
• People want to know how you are going to make them feel better
  
• Improve the quality of life inside their heads
  
• Every transaction is about healing psychic wounds, not just buying a product or service
  
• We must understand the state of mind the consumer is after
  
• What do they want?
  
• How do you want them to feel? 

The words hit home for me. They reinforced the importance of this climate idea.

The bottom line is that I'm going to start focusing more deliberately on understanding the current climate in the heads of people I work with and live with. I'm also going to attempt to understand the state of mind that they are seeking. Of course I'll continue to notice the climate in my head and how it impacts my life at work and at home.

I hope you find this concept as empowering as I do.

Sunday Reflection: What is your transformation experience?

When I read the sign as I drove through Alma, Ontario last week it got me thinking...

If you don't know about Alma let me paint a picture for you. It is a small village in South-Central Ontario with one main corner. It's a place you can easily miss if you blink as you drive through.

However, there is a restaurant in town called Marj's Village Kitchen that is somewhat famous around these parts for it's home cooking. It is a rustic little spot and it was surprisingly jammed packed when I arrived at 2pm for a late lunch last Friday.

I sat at the counter because all of the tables were full. I observed the hustle and bustle of the staff serving up large platters of home cooked goodness, mugs of hot coffee, slices of freshly baked pie and a ton of good feelings.

This isn't really a restaurant review so I'll cut to the chase on this Sunday morning and let you sit with a question.

I was transformed by Alma and the experience of Marj's Village Kitchen.

When I walked into their restaurant I was transported to a physical and emotional space swirling with comfortable, warm, nostalgic feelings. It felt like home, even though I was a stranger just passing through.

Their slogan says it all: 'Welcome when you're here. Missed when you're not!'. 

I'm a fan for life. When I left Marj's I felt a bit heavier in my belly and a lot warmer in my soul. I stopped to take the picture of the Alma population sign because of the 'Population Growing' statement. It reinforced the optimistic feeling that enveloped me as I drove home that sunny fall afternoon.

Here is a Sunday Reflection for you to ponder.

Visualize the experience people have with you and how they are transformed as a result of who you are. This is a powerful technique to recharge your self-esteem and get clarity about the value you provide for people.

Start by picturing someone important to you (your spouse, your boss, a colleague, a client etc.). Then imagine they are transported into a space where YOU feel the most alive and at peace with yourself.

This is a place where you feel very powerful and your vision of what you are here to do in the world is crystal clear. It is also a space that allows you to express and share the greatest gifts you are here to offer others. You have no hesitation or fear in this space.

Look around the space.

What do you notice? What do you see, smell and hear? How does the space feel? What are you wearing? What are you doing? How are you feeling?

Now visualize your person arriving. You meet them with your heart wide open. Notice how they are carrying themselves. You can read their mind. What is on their mind? What concerns are weighing heavy for them? What are they excited about? What do they secretly crave more than anything else? What do they wish you would do for them that others have not been able to offer?

Imagine yourself at your best. Saying and doing whatever it is you do to deliver the greatest gift you are here to offer. What would you do? What would you say? What would they be doing and saying?

Visualize the transformation that occurs and how they are carrying themselves as they leave your space. What do you say as a send off to sum up what you are about and the gift they have just received? What might your slogan be? Imagine what they are thinking and feeling as they head back to the reality of their lives.

Let this experience bubble inside and see what pops up for you today. Feel free to share your experience on the blog.