Focusing means choosing with intention what you aren’t going to do, how you are going to fail, and who you will disappoint. Yes, it’s also about choosing when, how, and with whom you are going to succeed, but that success isn’t possible without first saying no. The best teams are comprised of people who focus … Continue reading Focus and Saying No
Author: Steven A Nichols
Figure and Ground and Focus
The trouble with email is that it is flat. Important and unimportant emails alike are marked in the same binary way (read or unread), occupy the same rectangular screen space, and are usually sorted together in a chronological jumble. Of course, assiduous tagging of spam, the occasional admonishment of a chronic CCer, and prudent folder … Continue reading Figure and Ground and Focus
The 2 by 2 Quadrant
As exposure to consultant jargon increases and the distance to the nearest whiteboard decreases, the probability of someone drawing a 2 by 2 quadrant chart (Gartner style) approaches 1.
Fixed / Growth Mindsets and beer
People enjoy unhappiness. It’s interesting. That’s why even comedies are about problems that need to be resolved. So when coworkers get together outside of work, they complain. Focusing on mutual frustrations is more interesting than going on about successes. Everyone needs to blow off steam. The candor that is possible outside of work is useful. … Continue reading Fixed / Growth Mindsets and beer
Hard Soft Goals
Some goals should be SMART. (Google it) Success should be obvious and measurable, black and white. Long term goals are different. They should be Hard/Soft. The hard part is broad- I want to build and sell a company for over ten million dollars by January of 2027. The execution is soft. Is it a software … Continue reading Hard Soft Goals
