The One Lesson for Making Change Happen @ellenfweber

My blogger/author/educator pal Ellen Weber has done this extraordinary post where she has asked 50 of the top rated business bloggers provocative questions. I am honored to be among the list. Check out the whole post. Here is my response to Ellen's question and a bit more on the topic:

Ellen - you asked: "If you could only garner one lesson from life to improve business most, what would that lesson be?" And the answer is also found in your post. Not only in your words, but in the effort you have demonstrated. The one lesson I would garner is that to make something happen, we need to do something - do something -- do something new, do something different, do something better, do something for longer, do something with others, do something that helps build talent and teams and relationships. It's about showing up - really showing up. That is what changes things. The extraordinary effort you have shown with this post, all the provocative questions, and your deep interest that comes through in your words is a great demonstration of the lesson. Bravo to you!

I was listening to Bob Costas' interview of Michael Phelps after he won his last Gold Medal. One of the things that Michael said that showed great perspective is that the results he got are the ones he prepared for. That had he trained for 4 years, he might have done better on the races where he struggled. But he chose to take 2 years off and this surely impacted his outcomes. This is called ownership.

See the connection between the two thoughts? To make something happen, WE need to do something. Now. This moment. And in the next. Most of the time this something has to do with people. Management is a social act, afterall.

Always be at peace with your results. They come from what you have done and the choices you have made. Want different results? Do something different. Woulda, shoulda, coulda thinking has no place in our minds. It will cloud our judgment and affect our choices.

I will be the first to admit that this idea is not always easy to manifest. It is human to feel regret, anguish, defensiveness, and envy when things don't go as we hope. And if we can quickly get beyond these human responses and transition to another very human response - dogged determination - we will thrive and change our worlds. I think about this everyday - talking myself into a more effective action whenever possible.

Comments

[Ellen Weber]

What a story of grace in action here Lisa, and thanks for your kind words also. It strikes me as I consider your examples that we do run hard, win some and trip lots! Maybe that last one is more about me than others :-)

Yet I leap and dance to your reminders of what clears the way through as leaders and what holds us back.

Some time ago I began to see this story you told so well here in light of how the human brain is fueled and oiled by our inner voice. goo.gl/EfpoA I mean - really reframed for a far better look EXACTLY as you stated so well in your compelling reminder to all of us:

"I will be the first to admit that this idea is not always easy to manifest. It is human to feel regret, anguish, defensiveness, and envy when things don't go as we hope. And if we can quickly get beyond these human responses and transition to another very human response - dogged determination - we will thrive and change our worlds."

Like you, I think about this often - and hopefully this week will be talking myself into an "even more effective action whenever possible."

Guess I owe you for that privilege, Lisa! Thanks!

[Robyn McMaster]

Lisa, I value your answer to Ellen's question. I'm also a doer and take risks as you do. You a leader who puts forth extraordinary effort

I have the privilege of working with Ellen Weber. Interestingly, she told me that she makes it a practice to ask herself a question every night before she goes to bed to give her brain a chance to work on her problems while she sleeps. Invariably, she has unique "aha's." Asking questions is second nature to Ellen because she starts with herself. Her mind goes in different directions than most people's and it is an adventure to see what she might come up with next. She turns other people's notions upside down. ;-D

[lisa haneberg]

Ellen and Robyn - Great way to build on the idea, thanks so much and for your kind words. I love the idea of asking a question before bed - I think I will give that a try. It also strikes me that Ellen's post of 50 questions also demonstrates the power of asking, "what if I..." and then following that up with action. So many people "what if" a lot but never DO. Let's all try upping the percentage of "what ifs" we make so this week.

[Robyn McMaster]

Lisa, that's a challenge I'll step up to. Truly, it's how you move from the ordinary to the extra-ordinary as you stated.