Great business advice I missed from Vanilla Ice?

Sometimes it is as simple as "Stop, Collaborate and listen"

That was his brand new invention?

OK probably wasn't what he was going for however sometimes this helps me when things get tough. I sing the song in my head to remind myself of these simple steps to get us off center and moving (You know versus getting in peoples face and creating tension)

Wow time goes by fast

This is the last post of the year and the decade. I remember vividly welcoming in the 2000's. Wow was life different in so many ways. No kids, technology (Where to start right?) I was in my 20s and enjoying life. Little did I know it would only get better. A lot of people I know are constantly speaking about age as something negative. You lose your looks, sometimes just yard work can make you sore and all the responsibilities of adulting. To me each phase of life has been better. I would suggest that some of that is working a plan versus being reactive.

The other thing I find interesting is many of the experts I work with or have worked with were the age I am now when I was just getting into my career. Sure I thought they were ancient (And for a 20 something they were ancient) Some might say I have mellowed over the years, I don't believe that is true. If anything I am as passionate or even more passionate for people. What more likely has changed is my perspective for sure. What I thought was important really wasn't as important as what I thought. I would also say that early in my career it was for sure more about me and less about others. Definitely a big shift for me. At times I look back and hope I was not as outwardly aggressive as what I was feeling in my own mind!

One thing I have loved in the chosen career path I have taken is constant change. Mainly here I am speaking about the stuff. If you think about the changes that have been major in technology over 20 years;

Smart Phones (Probably one of the biggest or in general - mobility)
Internet - sure it existed but only for the few versus the many
All the change Internet has brought. From streaming to shopping
Connected all the time - sure still internet however no matter where you are at you can be part of a team

Just a small and centric list of the stuff.

So what things have happened to me in the last decade that were unexpected or big change?

1. Global travel. I never really had the want to leave the US - heck why? Having done so more than a half dozen times this decade it was definitely impactful and gave me better perspective
2. Leadership development - I have always been interested in leadership however in this decade I have been able to spread that word and help other develop
3. Business EQ - This has always been a strong area for me. It comes natural. I have been blessed to work with other that have even more knowledge.
4. Tech integration - I started this early in my career and now when true mobility has come into play I am even stronger at it.
5. Parenting - sure I was a parent in the previous decade however in this decade I have seen my boys turn into men. From Caden and his first job to Carsen finding his friends and being more independent

Obviously there is much more that has happened in a decade, these are just the ones that stick out for me.

So where is all this rambling going? It is simple. It is all about people. Not the stuff.

Predicting the future

Most of the time I get to spend my time working around technology. When it comes to predicting the future of technology there are definitely some trends that are easy to spot.
Things will get smaller, faster and use less resources.
Where technology provides value at a high cost or for Enterprise it will get lower cost and eventually get to every user (That it applies to)
When people say it isn't possible, they are probably wrong
Key to successful mass distribution is to drive down costs and maximize the experience

Areas outside technology do have patterns (Like building successful teams, businesses and more)

Are you paying attention to not only the successful teams but also the failures. Then do you learn from it?

What business books to read

So my wife Jenifer makes fun of how many books I have and is constantly bothering me about how I am going to get through them all. And to be honest I wonder sometimes. There are weeks I manage to get through several smaller books and they are easy reads. Still other weeks that I fail to get through even one.

One thing I can guarantee is I will continue to be a student.

Here is a ever evolving list of my favorites. (Yea, I know should be shorter but if the want the short version just ping me)

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/35YC9M9OIMQ88?ref_=wl_share

Defensive

Driving - Great Idea
Playing Sports and defending your goal - Yep
At work when working with others? Bad idea.

I have to be honest, most likely my first response is defensive when someone comes at me with something that is contrary to my opinions. Worse yet, I struggle with listening. Instead my natural reaction is to start planning my defense. A strategy I am trying is to listen to everything first, identify the areas I can agree with.

Still a struggle for sure.

What is next?

I suppose this is a byproduct of a diagnostic mind. Think of repairing a small appliance. You take it apart and find the problem. Repair that problem then have to put it back together. Most of the time when putting things back together you have to know the order in which it came apart. You cannot put the case back together with out putting all the parts inside back together right?

For me this translates to business almost daily. I know what the end product looks like and I am constantly asking myself what comes next to be successful. What things logically come next and what is needed to be successful. Nothing is more annoying then getting almost to the end of the project to only find you have extra parts and you have to go back to put them together when it would have been so much easier to just do in when they were needed in the first place.

All that is well and good however you know from my earlier posts that I am not good at celebrating the small successes. Depending on how large the project, take some times (Maybe a quick snack break) to celebrate your completion of half the tasks or something similar.

People don't hate change?

I believe they don't like the uncertainty that change brings. So how do you help others through change. To me it is two areas.

1. Involve others in the change. Give the why and be firm in the change. One thing that is difficult is if you are shifty in your responses. This enhances the uncertainty and will lead to people afraid of the change to stay with the status quo. Make it clear, staying where you are is not going to be accepted.

2. You paint a picture of the future that others can see in their mind. Realize that you may not know the path you are going to take but you should know the outcomes you are looking for. Be as specific as you can on the end result! Be transparent on the fact you don't know the path. Have others help you with the path. Know when to compromise and when to stick to the results you painted up front.

Be firm yet patient in your painting the picture and I believe with being clear and firm most will get on board with the future painting.