A Decade in 7 Minutes
In Behavior, Change, Economics, Traditional Media on December 21, 2009 at 8:47 amI’m just not trying hard enough…
In Change, Committement, Reputation on December 20, 2009 at 9:03 amI saw a friend yesterday that I haven’t seen in a while; he’s been away at basic training. I asked him about the experience and how his wife, who also has a three year-old daughter at home, is holding up. Boot camp, he said, is an intense and repetitive daily ritual in which all he can do is look forward to the next break in the action – first lunch, then dinner, then lights out. Lights out is when he lies in bed and writes his wife, every single day. No phones of any kind, email, or Skype – just pen and paper. His wife, on the other hand, seldom writes. Home alone with their little girl, her days are no less taxing than his (I wonder if she realized how hard it would be, or, for that matter, if many people appreciate the sacrifice of the Army wife). What stands out in both cases is the commitment, perseverance, and dedication of these two people… that, and the fact that I’m just not trying hard enough.
It’s easy to say that I just don’t have time to blog, or to reach out to new clients, but the fact is that I do. My days are not so demanding that I can’t get more – a lot more – done. Professionally speaking, there are two types of people. Those who deliver, and those who do not. In my career, I have been both, and the truth is there’s just no excuse for the latter. Correction: there are lots of excuses for the latter – just no good ones. Early in my career I set the tone by being the guy who delivered, no matter what. My commitment to service was off the charts and I had a reputation that preceded me. Lately, marriage and kids, two of the greatest things in my life, have become convenient excuses for not practicing what I now preach daily – if you can’t deliver, shut up. In fact, shut up either way, just deliver. Word of mouth – hands down the best form of marketing – is only good when the word is good. And the ONLY way to buy great word of mouth is to spend effort. So that’s what I’m going to focus on in 2010. Come hell or high water, I’m going to focus on practicing what I preach and building my own reputation first.
