The Greatness Guide, Book 2: 101 More Insights to Get You to World Class (7 page)

You are a brand. No matter what you think, when people hear your name, they conjure up some association. When people see you, an emotional response gets evoked. Like it or not, you (and your reputation) truly are a brand. So I gently suggest that you manage it. Well. Actually, what I really want to challenge you to do is to take the steps you need to take to become a cool brand. One that shouts “cutting edge,” “with it,” “original” and “revolutionary.”

Cool brands that immediately come to mind for me include Apple, Virgin, Phat Farm and Prada. They are fresh and hip and stylish. They
get
it. And they stand out in a world that loves conformity. They make me go “wow.” You could do the same—for yourself.

What would it take for you to become a cool brand? So that when people think of you, words like
innovative
or
world class
or
unique
infuse their minds. What would it take for you to become the Steve Jobs of your team or the Salvador Dali of your workplace or the Russell Simmons of your division? How could you become so strikingly great at what you do and who you are that everyone around you adores everything about you? Something to consider. Something to act on.

Everybody runs from conflict. It makes us feel bad, so we avoid it. Hope it will somehow resolve itself. It never does. Instead it just festers like a bad wound (what we resist really does persist).

Here’s my take on conflict: Conflict is nothing more than an opportunity for greater growth and a deeper personal connection. Every conflict carries within it a chance for you to learn a powerful lesson and to grow as a human being (in your understanding and awareness and perspective). And every conflict, whether with a loved one or a customer, is a gorgeous opportunity to forge an even closer bond with them. By turning their dissatisfaction into a wow for both of you.

So don’t run from conflict. Don’t send the email when you know you need to speak some truth face to face. Leadership is about balancing compassion
with courage.
And though it can feel so messy, in truth it’s a gift. Embrace it. Relish the potential it carries. Celebrate it. It can serve you so well.

Imagine a dashboard with a meter on it. At one end is the word
FREEDOM
. At the other, the word
RESPONSIBILITY
. To me, being a leader and living a remarkable life means striking the delicate balance between the two. In other words, the needle on your Responsibility Meter should stay in the middle. Ideally.

Life’s all about balance. And one of the most vital of all balance points is the one involving freedom and responsibility. Yes, be free. Enjoy the moment. Be wildly passionate. Have a fabulous time. Live in the now. And yet, be responsible. Set your goals. Keep your promises. Get important things done. Fulfill your duties.

Where does your life—this very minute—register on the Responsibility Meter? Too much time enjoying your freedom and not enough time doing what’s required to build a world-class career and world-class days? Or the other way around? Being at either extreme means being out of balance. So here’s an excellent idea: Think about what being at the middle of the meter would look like. Because better awareness drives better choices. And better choices create better results.

Just read a quote that provoked me: “Growth is the only evidence of life.” Intelligent words. They come from John Henry Newman. You know I adore the whole notion of growth. I believe that’s why we are here. To grow and expand through the work we do, the actions we take and the lives we lead (please remember: Don’t just live your life, lead it). Growth matters. It’s what ultimately makes us feel fulfilled (we are happiest when we are growing, and realizing our potential). Growth energizes us (even when it’s uncomfortable—and most growth is). Makes us who we truly are.

What comes to mind when you think about your best teacher or mentor or boss? Good thoughts, right? You appreciate the lessons and learning and growth that that human being promoted in you. So why would you feel any differently about the most trying/challenging/frustrating events of your life? Are those not the very events that have most shaped you? And evoked your best and highest? Taught you what you needed to learn to get you to where you stand today? They too were your teachers. They too championed your personal expansion. They too inspired your growth. So honor them. Because they have helped you more than you know.

“You can accomplish anything in life, provided that you do not mind who gets the credit,” observed Harry Truman. Splendid thought. Leave your ego at the front door when you go to work today and just do superb work. Good things will happen. For you.

It’s so human to crave applause and recognition and acclaim. We all want to be appreciated by our peers and revered by the tribe. But leadership is about a lot more than trying to look good in the eyes of others. It’s about standing for a Cause (as Pablo Picasso added, “It’s your Work in life that is the ultimate seduction”). It’s about being BIW (Best in the World) at what you do. It’s about leaving people better than you found them. And it’s about not worrying who gets the credit for a job well done.