If we are not getting to the core of the issue.

To the crux of the matter.

If we are not comfortable raising the brutal truths.

Then how are we going to deal with them?

If we pretend they are not there, they don’t go away.

They will continue to remain unresolved.

They will still be there.

Ready.

Waiting.

Until we are willing to tackle them.

If it is constantly swept under the carpet, then it never has the chance to be better.

We need to uncover the brutal truths so we can then deal with them.

How comfortable are we with raising the brutal truths?

“You must maintain unwavering faith that you can and will prevail in the end, regardless of the difficulties, AND at the same time, have the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.” – Jim Collins, author of “Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’t”

Everything is maxed out.

You are redlining.

There is no slack in the system.

You are producing and delivering.

It feels awesome.

You’re busy.

You’re getting stuff done.

Which is great … until it’s not.

Along comes the unexpected.

An unforeseen event.

Now you’ll have to find some slack.

“Much of the stress that people feel doesn’t come from having too much to do. It comes from not finishing what they’ve started.” – David Allen

“Beware the barrenness of a busy life.” – Socrates

You can choose what you do.

You can choose how you do it.

How you are going to show up.

However, they also get to choose.

They also get to pick.

Using whatever criteria they like.

Perhaps you don’t fit their criteria.

You might not be chosen.

You may not have what they are looking for.

The appropriate skills and knowledge.

The experience and track record.

The preferred approach or methodology.

They may not pick you.

So, stop waiting.

Pick yourself!

“The opportunity of a lifetime is to pick yourself. Quit waiting to get picked; quit waiting for someone to give you permission; quit waiting for someone to say you are officially qualified … and pick yourself.” – Seth Godin

“With realisation of one’s own potential and self-confidence in one’s ability, one can build a better world.” – Dalai Lama

At the time, it was the latest thing.

It has been working for years.

It has delivered repeatedly and tirelessly.

The process.

The technology

The approach

The software.

Now, it is outdated.

Almost obsolete.

The process still works.

It always has.

But there are now better processes.

It is more detrimental to stay with it.

When does the old way of doing things no longer add value?

“The difficulty lies not so much in developing new ideas as in escaping from old ones.” – John Maynard Keynes

“If you change the way you look at things, the thing you look at change.” – Wayne Dyer

What are you doing for others?

How can you best help?

What can you contribute?

How can you add value?

Make a positive impact?

What is your offering to the world?

It’s not about you.

It never has been.

It has always been about others.

“The way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Ghandi

“It’s not about you. It’s about them.” – Clint Eastwood

You’ve been asked to deliver a presentation.

A presentation to the key stakeholder.

You have put hours into the preparation.

Thinking through every detail.

Selecting the right images.

Working and reworking the flow.

Weaving and telling the story.

You are ready.

And then…

The meeting before you runs over.

The hour you were allocated has just been halved.

Then it gets halved again.

There are further delays.

It’s all okay … you’ve done the necessary thinking.

You know your message.

You are ready.

You’ve got 5 minutes … Go!

“Much wisdom often goes with fewest words.” – Sophocles

“It’s much easier to spend a lot of time making your microphone louder than it is working on making your message more compelling.” – Seth Godin

The inner voice.

Your attitude

A lack of motivation

Someone said, “you can’t”.

Your boss.

Limiting beliefs.

Lacklustre commitment.

A feeling of complacency.

A lack of energy.

Fear of failure.

A bad habit.

Boredom.

Your pride.

Insufficient skill.

Lack of knowledge

Negative self talk.

All the above are within your control.

Yes, even your boss (you can always change boss).

Within your control to change … if you wanted to.

“The moment you commit and quit holding back, all sorts of unforeseen incidents, meetings, and material assistance will rise up to help you. The simple act of commitment is a powerful magnet for help.” – Napoleon Hill

“Valor grows from daring, fear by holding back.” – Publilius Syrus

Checking vs. Caring

Policies vs. Purpose

Mechanical vs. Fluid

Alignment vs. Agility

Control vs. Autonomy

Procedures vs. People

Rules vs. Responsibility

Complexity vs. Simplicity

Obedience vs. Engagement

Management vs. Leadership

Permission vs. Empowerment

Competition vs. Collaboration

“We have to” vs. “We want to”

Authorisation vs. Accountability

Meeting standard vs. Raising the standard

People produce cultures.

“Control leads to compliance; autonomy leads to engagement.” – Daniel H. Pink, Author of Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us

“A company’s culture is the foundation for future innovation. An entrepreneur’s job is to build the foundation.” – Brian Chesky, Co-founder and CEO of Airbnb

You’ll want to do it all.

Somehow fit everything in.

Not let anyone down.

You will need to prioritise.

But if everything is a priority, then nothing is.

There will always be more on your “to do” list than can be done.

You will need to do less.

Do less, so you can do more.

Do less, so you can do it well.

With less distraction.

With more focus.

With clarity.

So, are you clear on your priorities?

“If you have more than three priorities, you don’t have any.” – Jim Collins

“The key is not to prioritise what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” – Stephen R. Covey

We will get to it later.

We have added it to the “to do” list.

We should do that.

We need to do this.

We let things fall through the cracks.

We don’t know how.

We think it is too difficult.

We will eventually get around to it.

We know what needs to be done.

We don’t view it as a priority right now.

We need to get our people up to speed first.

We’re caught up in busy work.

We keep fighting fires.

We never get around to making a plan.

We don’t have the time right now.

How long will it take before knowing becomes doing?

“If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way. If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.” – Jim Rohn

“It is not because things are difficult we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that things are difficult.” – Seneca