Let it Rain+ be a Rainmaker

My daughter recent got a childrens book called something like "Have you Filled a Bucket Today?"

Boy, I had not read it and I got it. I try to spend alot of purposeful effort filling other peoples buckets if not specific, then by being a positive energy in their vicinity.


First, I am convinced that the more you give, the more you get ( want to accelerate the timeline often though)

Second, That effort actually converts my energy upward when it is flatlined.

Ya know, I am reaching out now for some ideas.

I started by reducing negative input like the news.
I counted my blessings and all that is and has been great.
I connected with people who I had not reached in a while and people I had been want to reach.
Some of the best times and events have been when its raining & water can be so refreshing.
I will take a nap now.
What else you got?

Talking Grass Roots

Ever see a great item and doubt your evaluation because "if it worked, everyone would know" or " it would be selling everywhere"? HOGWASH!!! The world and economy is a hard perception fight for the single successful player/item.

There are incredible athletes & entertainers who are not "discovered" and exposed with mass distribution until afters either decades of chasing goals or that sudden fluke of Preperation meeting opportunity aka luck aka "overnight success"--Ha!

In our social and business dynamics there are people who develop plans out their own self interest to block out newcomers even if they shared the big benefit for all (eg, Fountain of Youth, World Peace, Health care for All, more affordable Sustaining power sources).

It costs so much for someone to be elected to office.

Stores charge big fees just to stock an item.

Lenders loan money to people who need money the least.

We have many people right now and throughout history who have persisten beyond rejection and schemes to prevail. Many through slow build, others in sudden flashes.

When we evaluate concepts and products or even people, we trust most the opinions of people we trust and respect. How to we foster this? How do we create a place, a time, assemble right people and the mindset of engagement rather than "waste of time" selfish apathy

My goal is to figure out a way to accelerate this exchange of meaningful interaction and conversation in a world of so much icoming clutter and technology distancing us from really talking. Any ideas?

During your conversion+Diminish the Aversion

As we observe and learn from others' succcesses, keep in mind what you see now is often not what made them a success. People often change from smart risk takers to just keep things the samers.



Remember those oversimplifications like "there are 2 kinds of people in the world?"

The add clarity to multides of complex concepts and are easy to remember in stress so we can applyactions to these easy-to- recall quips.



I want to add to one I read that describes a group or company.

In this organization there are:

Hunters- people who go out into then world and bring in contributors, customers, sales, donors

Farmer/ Gatherer-- Same result just more passive process & extended time period

Skinners- These guys are like administrators and financiers. They take apart the "kill" or "bounty" and divide it up.



This particular blog is to address the top leaders who use to be hunters, try new things, take chances, allow freedom to fail, challenge higher-ups and motivate others. Now that thay feel some success, these same people just try not to "mess things up". They like where the are and want to perpetuate the situation as long as possible.



You recognize these converted former change leaders in a meeting by how the are quick to poke holes in a proposal. One can tell the difference between inquisitive understanding seekers and snipers looking to impede possible change--even if improvement.



Remember also that there is a whole different leader who looks similar but he is just making change for appearence sake and not really improving the situation. This makes it look like progress but it is really just activity.

What course do we take? Make your changes smaller as to not create concern--then wait for the opportunity moment with all your resources on ready and charge through the gates to to what needs doing as a Real Change Leader

Communication Restoration. Show Respect

Communicating as I have addressed before is now more focused on efficiency rather than frequency----IT SHOULD BE.
There are so many more conveniences to share or waste expression. Recently I have seen a trend that I hope will redirect itself. That is people who leave more content of substance on social networks than professional ones.

My particular pet peeve is the voice mail or e-mail that says "call-me". About what? What is the about? Tell me something. Share information. It is really "gamey" and egotisical to not communicate some sort of value. I am personally motivated to act the oposite---if you do not have anything important to share then I will call back or reach out when every other priority has been reached and I am scouting for more things to do.

Okay, tip time:

1. Tell'em who you are
2. Tell'em why you are calling
Insert you number or e-mail at this point
3. Convey or share relevant information or a reason why they should connect with you
4. Tell'em what you think they will gain from re-connecting with you and
5. Repeat your contact information .....twice


People will appreciate this and you will get far more people returning your messages+Faster.

Now get out there and get it done!

Pick your battles, guidelines

Washington won Independence by evading most fights and keeping the Continental Army in tact.
Similar plans had all been executed by Alexander, Julius Caesar, and later Napoleon.
How do you know when to do what?

Sun Tsu had some guidelines:

Overpowering alone is not enough.
Only engage in battles you need to win
More important to out think than overwhelm your opponent
Always focus your strengths againt their weakness
Only attack to distract from your main objective
Deception is a key to all victory over those who oppose you
Many other tactics of The Art of War can be applied to the politics of Business. But these are only for those determined to be your opposition. Always take the high ground being amicable to all and virtuous to all ( the exception being those who oppose you)

Study and Prepare, then execute, execute, execute

Truth is that performance is not enough

President Obama spoke to school kids this week where among other things ge told them to work hard.
Well when do we tell them that's NOT enough?
When do we teach that you have to create allies, broker & accumulate favors and remember the teachings of Sun Zsu?

Who teaches that?
You see , being the best, staying out of trouble and befriending all just does not yield success anymore.
There are a growing number of people who succeed by downing others and touting why NOT to do new things.
And there are fewer executives with skills to discern the situation.
Most top execs lose the skills that got them to the top by shifting to a "just don't mess it up" mode.
They preach comfort in less risk, less meaningful work and few changes.
We must convey the skills to identify and expose these progress killers.
We must teach politics and emotional intelligence and no fear in pursuing the right things.
How do we improve the world for others by telling and preparing them for the whole truth and the real world?