It might be uncomfortable.

It may feel scary.

It will definitely be challenging.

Put yourself out there anyway.

You’re not going to hurt anyone.

You won’t die.

You will learn something.

About yourself.

About what’s actually “out there”.

(Which is usually not as bad as it seemed).

“Out there”, you might fail.

You might be talked about.

You might be thought weird.

You will feel vulnerable.

That’s normal.

Do it anyway.

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.” – Nelson Mandela

“Staying vulnerable is a risk we have to take if we want to experience connection.” – Brené Brown

If the strategy is not fully developed, then it cannot be fully deployed.

If there is no alignment around the strategy, then there will be no alignment of effort.

If the strategy is unclear, then it cannot be communicated with clarity.

If the destination is uncertain, then any direction will get you there.

Debate and iterate until it is clear.

Getting clear on the strategy enables everything else to become clearer.

“Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.” – Sun Tzu

“If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.” – Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

You win some, you lose some.

And you learn some.

Sure, you can gain insight from triumph.

The winning proposal.

The closed deal.

The successful presentation.

You’ll likely learn more from the misses.

What didn’t go so well?

What was the feedback?

What would you do differently next time?

So, the review, the hotwash, the debrief, the evaluation.

Whatever you call it … ensure you do it.

It is the learnings that are invaluable.

“If you don’t look back on yourself and think, ‘Wow how stupid I was a year ago,’ then you must not have learned much in the last year.” – Ray Dalio, author of “Principles”.

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill

You could help if they wanted to be helped.

You could make an impact if they would only let you.

You can make the time if they would give it.

You would jump at the opportunity if they offered it.

You could lead if …

… wait!

“They” don’t need to give you permission to lead.

Start where you are now and lead from there.

“True leadership always begins with the inner person.” – John c. Maxwell

“Leadership is not a position or title, it is action and example.” – Robin Sharma

You will need to do the work.

The good parts … and the bad.

Not all the work will be important and challenging.

You will need to apply yourself to the modest and mundane too.

Doing great work, no matter the work, demonstrates a work ethic.

You can’t simply turn it on, only when the good stuff comes along.

Whatever the work requires, do it well.

That way you will be ready to do great work … anytime.

“Whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble.” – Sir Henry Royce

“Do the work. Everyone wants to be successful, but nobody wants to do the work.” – Gary Vaynerchuk

You have a network.

But your network is not about you.

It’s about them.

You must give before you receive.

So how can you strengthen your network?

Understand the needs of the network.

Provide benefit and deliver value.

Be accessible and approachable.

Connect and introduce others.

Follow up and stay in touch.

Get active and be proactive.

Provide referrals.

Share opportunities.

Reciprocate.

Be genuine and sincere.

Sure, you will need to call on the network.

But you will only get out what you put in.

“It’s not called net-sitting or net-eating.  It’s called networking.  You have to work at it.” – Ivan Misner

Searching for the boundaries.

Are there any boundaries?

Finding the boundaries.

Where are the boundaries?

Testing the boundaries

Can we question the boundaries?

Stretching the boundaries.

Are the boundaries flexible?

Pushing the boundaries.

Do the boundaries extend any further?

Stepping over the boundaries.

What’s beyond the boundaries?

Moving the boundaries.

How permanent are the boundaries?

Breakthrough the boundaries.

Are the boundaries limiting?

“If you do not push the boundaries, you will never know where they are.” – T. S. Eliot

Collaboration …

… draws on the strengths of the team.

… generates solutions.

… encourages new ideas.

… produces greater value.

… enhances contribution.

… leverages expertise.

… leads to innovation.

… produces efficiencies.

… lifts the team to the next level.

… compels communication.

… expands the skillset.

… motivates.

… builds competencies

… embraces differences.

… accelerates progress.

… divides and conquers.

… provides opportunities.

“Collaboration is multiplication.” – John C. Maxwell

Have you had time to think?

Do you think out loud?

Have you put your thinking cap on?

Are you thinking outside the box?

Have you thought ahead?

Have you stopped to think?

Are you thinking alike?

Is it wishful thinking?

Are you thinking big?

Did you think nothing of it?

Can you think on your feet?

Is it sooner than you think?

Are you thinking positively?

Are you having second thoughts?

Do you think highly of someone?

Can you hear yourself think?

Have you thought it through?

Are you doing all the thinking?

Do you want to think it over?

What do you think about your thinking?

“To find yourself, think for yourself” – Socrates

“Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try.” – Dr. Seuss

Panic is alarming.

Urgency is alertness.

Panic is impulsive.

Urgency is steadiness.

Panic makes things worse.

Urgency makes things better.

Panic is resignation.

Urgency is relentless.

Panic is a sense of defeat.

Urgency is a sense of determination.

Panic is unguided.

Urgency is directional.

Panic is chaos.

Urgency is control.

Panic is useless.

Urgency is effective.

“A higher rate of urgency does not imply ever-present panic, anxiety, or fear. It means a state in which complacency is virtually absent.” –  John P. Kotter