Grasslands need to burn from time to time. That burning creates the opportunity for fresh grass to grow. That fresh grass, in turn, helps feed the many herbivores who rely on it for nutrients.
I think it has parallels in our lives as well. It is good to set fire to our routines and recurring meetings from time to time. That reset creates space for new ideas and systems.
What got us here won’t get us there.
We have to let go of what was and what could have been to have a shot at enjoying or making the most of what is.
A reminder for today – take a few minutes to turn off all the technology and smell the roses.
When we stick with problems over long periods of time, every once a while, we have a moment of clarity. Dots begin to connect in ways they didn’t connect before.
Moments of clarity are rare. There’s a reason they’re often depicted as bolts of lightning in books.
My biggest learning when such a moment arrives is to put everything else aside and take the time to write it down. I treat it like a burst of energy – it needs to be harnessed right. Once harnessed, that flash of energy can inspire a period of sustained productivity.
Earn them by staying with meaningful problems for long periods of time.
Then, make them count.
We recently switched checking accounts to Schwab after a decade with Bank of America. There’s a lot to like about Schwab – no fee ATM withdrawals globally, some interest on that checking account, and so on.
But two months in, I’ve loved one feature most – they pick up the phone.
Calling Bank of America to get things done was a chore I hated. It typically involved an hour’s wait (no callback options) and I only did it if there was no other option. The Schwab team picks up within seconds and is always helpful. So much so that I’d move more business to Schwab in a heartbeat.
Most financial institutions see customer service as a cost center and spend years relentlessly watering down service to cut costs. Schwab clearly sees it as a way to drive retention and new business.
It shows.
I rented camera lenses from Lensrentals.com. The rental logistics were seamless. But what impressed me was the box.
It started with the message on the tape in the middle. Simple and nice.
It then had a note reminding me to double check the contents. “We’re the best, but no one’s perfect” was hilarious.
And then came the note on the tape they left with the return label. Epic.
A beautiful example of craftsmanship and doing small things with extraordinary care.
Well played, Lensrentals team. Thank you for the inspiration.
“Might be time to get some fresh air, start paying attention to the details. Some of those details might need your help” | Blake to Bruce Wayne
One of my favorite lines from Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy was this line from Blake (who would go on to become Robin) to Bruce Wayne. It is just as relevant for every organizational leader* as it was for Batman.
As you lead larger organizations, it is important to be able to delegate. But the ability to dig deep into the details conversely only increases with time. And it is especially when it is accompanied by good judgment that helps you understand which details are worth digging into.
I heard the term “Nomophobia” or “No mobile phobia” for the first time a few weeks ago. It refers to the anxiety of not having a working mobile phone. It is considered a behavioral addiction.
Given how ever present my phone is in my life on daily basis, I was curious if I was Nomophobic. So I took the opportunity to disconnect completely over two weeks this summer. On past breaks, I’d still check my phone once or twice a day. This time, it would be a complete switch off.
So I scheduled 14 days worth of posts, switched my phone off, and put in my bag.
The ability to completely disconnect from all kinds of information/news felt… wonderful. I came back more refreshed than ever.
I’d like to do it more often.
“It is hard to make that boat go as fast as you want to. The enemy, of course, is resistance of the water, as you have to displace the amount of water equal to the weight of men and equipment, but that very water is what supports you and that very enemy is your friend.
So is life: the very problems you must overcome also support you and make you stronger in overcoming them.”| George Yeoman Pocock – legendary row boat builder
Wise and powerful.
It resonated.
“Joy, you’ve made a lot of mistakes and you’ll make a whole lot more in the future, but if you let *that* stop you, *we* might as well lie down and give up.” | Anger, Inside Out 2
“Inside Out 2” was chock full of beautiful quotes and lessons. Perhaps the most important of them all was the importance of taking all kinds of experiences – good, bad, disappointing, frustrating, and the like – in our stride. Embracing the many emotions that come with these experiences helps us build a healthy sense of self.
And it is only when we learn to face our mistakes and embarrassments head on do we realize the wisdom in Anger’s words above. We’ve made a lot of mistakes… and we’ll make a whole lot more.
Can’t let that stop us.
A Learning a Day 