The Innovation Stack

“The purpose of this book is to show you that you don’t have to limit yourself to what has been done before. Becoming an entrepreneur is possible, but it will feel strange.” Jim McKelvey (P. 235).

We often think of an entrepreneur as someone who starts their own business or a sole proprietor. Jim McKelvey challenges this concept. The idea of an entrepreneur presented in The Innovation Stack is someone who finds a completely new set of needs to serve and opens up a market to entirely new set of customers. One of the many examples noted example provided was Herb Kelleher, a co-founder for Southwest Airlines. Southwest Airlines opened up a whole new market and helped lead the way to the deregulation of the airline industry which occurred in 1978. Prior to Southwest Airlines, there were so many government regulations and price controls that only business travelers with sizable travel budgets and the wealthy people could fly for their travel needs. Many analysts were convinced that the only people who wanted to travel by air were the wealthy. Well, Southwest proved analysts wrong, and opened up the airline industry to a whole new market of travelers. Along the way, they did not destroy or tear down the existing airlines, but rather overall passenger count has risen substantially across all airlines since the deregulation.

Jim McKelvey is one of the co-founders of Square, the credit card processing device that can be attached to your smartphone. Square has done something similar for small businesses and revenue for those companies as compared to what Southwest Airlines has done for airline travel. Square has created a new market for small business to more easily sell their goods and services.

Entrepreneurial companies which open up new markets are led by individuals who place themselves into an entirely different set of circumstances from a typical small business owner. These people have to explore the unexplored, solve something no one else has solved, get big businesses or big government bureaucracies to change rules, and do so in such a way that is appealing to a whole new market being under-served.

Near the end of the book, there is a section titled, “You Can’t Unread This”. The point being, after reading this book, we should be able to see problems and realize that they can be overcome. The book really focuses on serving a community that is in need. Jim McKelvey also has a business that trains under-privileged, who want to learn, how to code. The curriculum is designed to meet employers needs while keeping the costs to the student as low as possible. There is a whole story behind the motivation for that business as well, but it is the same entrepreneurial disposition. See a need that is being neglected or under-served and figure out how to better serve the affected community.

I suggest reading this book as it has the potential to open your eyes to a myriad of potential problems that need solving, and you just may be the right person to provide the solution.

Three Simple Things - Leading During Chaos

Have you ever picked up a book, knowing ahead of time that if you honestly assess and implement what is being taught your routine will be disrupted? Have you let that knowledge cause you to hesitate because you are not sure you are willing to do what it takes? This is what I felt going into Thee Simple Things - Leading During Chaos. This book arrived on my doorstep on May 14th, 2020. I let it sit in my nightstand for nearly 3 months before I picked it up. Reading the book itself took less than two weeks. My hesitation was that I knew I would be convinced of the need to change, and I am not always comfortable being uncomfortable. Sometimes I talk a big talk about getting out of my comfort zone, but to be honest I do not always live it out. Well, now after reading this book, I get to work through another adjustment to my life. Time to get uncomfortable again.

In this book, Thom expands a principle of 5 pyramids which he introduced in Unbreakable - A Navy SEAL’s Way of Life These pyramids are key areas of a person’s life (physical, intellectual, wealth, relationship, and spiritual) which need focus and attention on a daily basis. The idea is that with intentional daily focus on all 5 of these pyramids our lives will be lived to the fullest.

The importance of systematically introducing the 5 pyramids and using a building process is critical. If someone starts off trying to implement all of Thom’s recommendations at the same time, success is highly unlikely. Another key here is that failure will occur, you may start believing the excuses in your head like, “this is stupid”, or “I forgot”, or “I do not have the support of my family and friends”. If failure is experienced, it is simply a learning opportunity. I have come to appreciate the fact that I just need to do things because I said I would, and excuses cannot hold me back.

If we look at the great men and women in history, we will see a story of failure after failure, but these people never quit. One quote from the book which I am adopting as a mindset for myself is, “Quitting is the worst disease known to mankind.” I may find myself needing to adjust my goals and vision, slow down my progress, or shift my approach. No matter how tempting it may be while I experience obstacles in life, I cannot let myself quit.

Just how much I apply the lessons from this book to change my life is yet to be seen. Of the leadership books I have read from and posted about to date, this is one about which I have taken the most notes. I have re-referenced this book multiple times just last week alone. I need to remind myself that change and growth are processes not destinations. If I someday reach my goal of whatever job, relationship status, fitness level, etc. which I have set out for myself, that goal is only one step in the continuation of a life well lived.

Anyone interested in being a better spouse, parent, leader, or follower can benefit from what Thom teaches in this book. Realize that we are not an island to ourselves. We all need mentors, mentees, and those around us who will help spur us on to building a better life for ourselves.

Five-Star Leadership - The Art and Strategy of Creating Leaders at Every Level

The sub-title for this book says a lot in one short sentence, “The art and strategy of creating leaders at every level”. In the past 24 months, I have read over 40 books regarding leadership from a variety of authors who are all considered experts. You can check out reviews for most these books on my website. One might tend to think that after reading that much on leadership it is feasible to have learned everything there is available. I would tell you that I have barely scratched the surface. If you have studied either art or strategy it will become abundantly clear that a lifetime can be spent without fully comprehending more than a small degree of either topic.

This book provides a great foundation in understanding the reason behind how leadership is an art and there is strategy. From what I can tell, all branches of the US Military does an outstanding job of teaching men and women of all ages, how to be better leaders. There is much that we can learn from the lessons provided in the history of our military. In Five-Star Leadership you can also see how leaders in business and other arenas have contributed to the overall foundation of our current insight around great leadership.

In reading this book, you can see the value of love and care for others while leading. There are examples of why and how authoritarian type leadership is needed but in small and carefully applied doses. The value of participative and delegatory leadership tactics and styles become more clear. The authors teach on how to build a strong foundation for leadership and just how important it is to ensure you take stock of a situation before taking action.

One principle strength that I gleaned was the importance of ethics in leadership. As a leader, if you are not driven by a high ethical standard, you will undermine your own authority as well as the effectiveness of the whole organization. An unethical leader is an impediment to themselves and many others around them, both up and down the chain of command.

Five-Star Leadership does get into some deep concepts. It requires focus and attention to grasp what is being taught. I found it well worth the effort to read this book, digest what I can, and keep it nearby for future reference. I highly recommend this book for those who are serious about understanding leadership and how it affect the behavior of those around us.

Responsibility - Am I Going to Take Ownership?

Responsibility (noun) - the state of being held as the cause of something that needs to be set right.

There are aspects of true leadership which are messy and unflattering. Often leadership is bearing a load of pressure and demands. If done right, pursuit of these aspects will elevate those in your care and help them excel at the tasks and duties set before them. Being responsible is one of those leadership aspects. Taking responsibility does not guarantee short-term success. Sometimes taking responsibility for things which have gone wrong can be emotionally painful and leave you vulnerable. This does not change how it is the right thing to do.

We can take this to the extreme, which is not helpful either. If my team fails to achieve an objective, I must start by looking at what I could have done differently (did I provide adequate training and preparation, did I lead by example, did I lead from the front?). At the same time, it is not helpful if I coddle those who did not step up and I fail to hold them accountable for their actions.

There is a balance. If I do not start with myself and where I need to grow, take responsibility, and seek improvement then I fail to lead. Well balanced leadership is not something completed or accomplished, but something constantly pursued. A principle key to balanced leadership starts with taking responsibility.

People who take responsibility are often seen with at least these 4 characteristics

1. They get the job done - no excuses. Sometimes there needs to be a resetting of a timeline or expectations, but they get the job done

2. They go the extra mile - help a team mate out. If I tell a cohort, “that is your job, not mine”, I am not helping. Sometimes we all need someone to come along side to give us a hand up, as we strive to achieve the next level of excellence and accomplishment. How much am I willing to help those in need as they strive towards their own aspirations?

3. They are driven by excellence - perfectionists are not needed. Perfection is the enemy of excellence. If I expect perfection then those around me will not achieve greatness as I will be discouraging mistakes along the way. The pursuit of excellence will be filled with physical, emotional, and mental bumps, bruises, scrapes, and mishaps. That is how people make progress. I need to be modeling and encouraging the pursuit of excellence.

4. The produce results without regard to the situation - just get things done. Perhaps I did not lead my team to achieve the ultimate goal, but did we make progress and outperform our past selves? Did I get the tasks completed, Did I help my team grow and produce positive results?

Taking responsibility is about owning the need to improve. If I am to be responsible for those in my care, I need to find a way to elevate their performance. How am I doing that? Beating them down, and discouraging them is not helping. However, giving them a pass on not making enough effort is not good either. I need to be responsible for providing others with the tools, encouragement, discipline, and care it takes for them to succeed. I need to give them the praise when they have done a great job and achieved outstanding results. Only then am I on the right path of taking appropriate responsibility as I strive to lead well.

Emotional Intelligence 2.0

In an increasingly technological society, it can be easy to forget or neglect the value of building and sustaining relationships. Some people just seem to have a knack for relating and connecting with others. We can often think that some people are naturally good at building a rapport and others just cannot seem to get it right. We often think that much like our Intelligence Quotient (IQ) or personality, our Emotional Quotient (EQ) is simply a product of our nature.

The authors of Emotional Intelligence 2.0, (Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves) show convincingly that our EQ can be improved. It takes work and diligence. We have to be willing to subject ourselves to a mentor who is genuinely interested in our personal and professional development. It will be messy at times and exciting at others, but we can all grow in our emotional intelligence.

The book describes how we can often fall into the trap of letting an emotional response cause us to lock up or freeze in our actions, but we can work through initial fear, anger, concern, or other real emotional reactions. When we allow ourselves to be taught, to pause and think, and carefully formulate response which shows clear thinking. Our knee-jerk reaction can be good in certain circumstances, understanding those times and knowing when to use a clearly thought out response takes time, experience, and a teachable humble attitude.

Read through this book, the initial ~55 pages give the necessary background and guides an understanding of the assessment results. After taking the initial assessment, the reader is provided with an outline of areas to focus and develop their emotional intelligence. Once time has passed and the work of development and growth has been progressing, you can then retake the assessment and see where there has been gains. Take the time to expand your emotional intelligence, it will help with relationship building throughout all facets of life.

Strengths Based Leadership

Strengths Based Leadership

In my experience we often evaluate workers on a specific set of criteria or objectives tied to job descriptions. Our annual reviews are chocked full of notes which tell us how we were deficient in one or more of our responsibilities. We are told, that on a scale from 1 - 5 (with 5 being the best score), every area where we are less than perfect. I can only speak for myself, but when I have worked diligently and given what I thought was more than expected, then am told in writing and verbally, just how much I am lacking in areas of “competency”, I am at the least emotionally deflated. I have to conscientiously pull myself out of negative thoughts and feelings to push on towards excellence.

There is great value in having reviews and seeking areas for improvement. However, I believe that Don Clifton came up with something which I believe is a better approach for career planning. In 1999, Don Clifton created an online assessment called StrengthsFinder. The idea was to help businesses and workers to find out where individuals have strengths across 34 unique themes. We can then use these strengths along with the individual’s aptitudes to develop more efficient and effective teams.

Tom Rath is Don Clifton’s grandson and has continued in the legacy of seeking out how to help people find and develop their strengths. Pick up a copy of “StrengthsFinder2.0”, and you will find out the basics about these 34 themes. If it is a new book, you should also find a sealed insert near the back of the book, with a code and website where you can take the “StrengthsFinder2.0” assessment. You will find it helpful and enlightening as a tool to help with personal and professional growth.

“Strengths Based Leadership” gives you access to take the “StrengthsFinder2.0” assessment. Additionally, it provides insight into aspects which helping in team leadership. Someone can certainly pick up this book and read it from cover to cover, but that is not the primary intent. The initial ~100 pages provides insight into the value of understanding people’s strengths. The rest of the book serves as a compilation of reference information to help with the implementing the idea of leading with, and playing to our strengths as an individual and those in our care.

I have a good friend who is quick to remind me and others, we are leaders if we are a brother, sister, mother, father, aunt, uncle, grand parent, teacher, coach, manager, technical lead, or many other titles which can be handed out. We all lead at some level. Successful leadership is intentional, learning, growing, and always seeking to improve. This book provides the reader with tools to assist in seeking to continually develop and improve leadership skills.

The United States of America's Independence Day - 2020

Photo courtesy of Henry Ford College

As we look to celebrate the birthday of our nation, the day we designate to celebrate our freedom from a tyrannical king who ruled from the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, I want to share some of my thoughts.

The opening to our Declaration of Independence, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Today, this is where I want to focus on the opening to our Declaration of Independence. The truths that our forefathers knew to be “self-evident” were all found under the covering of these distinct attributes. Although they are "self-evident”, these men found it necessary to put them in writing for a proclamation to the world in general, their fellow citizens as a whole, and King George III specifically. Sometimes things that are “self-evident” are not always in the forefront of our thoughts or beliefs. There can be times when the world around us seems to be falling apart and we should cling onto these truths which are indeed, “self-evident”.

We are experiencing some dark times in our nation right now. Who knows when it will subside or if there will be another flash-point that makes things worse? One response we can have in troubled times is to lash out in anger, play the victim and proclaim “them” as the villain. Reacting in this manner does not bring people together and fails to reflect the “self-evident” truths that we can read about in our Declaration of Independence.

I want to address the truths that we see in this opening paragraph, as quoted above.

• All men are created equal: This is for all mankind. The phrase is used in a generic term in reference to humans. I know and realize that there was slavery, so not all men were treated equally, but that does not negate the truth that they are all created equal.

• …they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights. These “Rights” are not to be controlled by a governing body. These rights simply exist. These rights are unable to be alienated from the right to be human. These rights are sewn into the fabric of human nature. Among these rights, three of them are uniquely pointed out here.

• Life: A basic right to live, breath, think, and be.

• Liberty: “The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views.” We all have a responsibility to live at peace with others, but we do not have the right to use governing powers or brute force to restrict one’s way of life, behavior, or political views. I may not agree with someone and we may choose to participate in rigorous debate. In the end, it is never okay for me to impose my view of religion (one’s way of life), behavior, or politics upon someone else through the use of force.

• The pursuit of Happiness: We are never guaranteed happiness. We are only given the right to pursue happiness. What makes me happy may not be the same thing that makes you happy. As long as my happiness does not cause direct physical or financial harm to you then I have the right chase after that happiness.

I am grateful to the many men and women who serve in our armed forces and the various law enforcement agencies. They put their lives on the line every day for my Life, Liberty, and pursuit of Happiness. If I could personally thank each of these individuals that would still be too little of an expression of gratitude. Saying “thank you” is truly the least I can do, but that is where I will start. Thank you!

Happy Birthday to The United States of America! Happy Independence Day! May we all enjoy our Life, Liberty, and pursuit of Happiness!

Start From Zero - Something to Consider

Start from Zero - Dane Maxwell

This book was a different kind of business book from those I have reviewed in the past. I believe the lessons taught are just as valuable in business as those found in previously reviews. This is really a different take on leadership and it focuses on the realm of ownership and being an entrepreneur (I cannot spell that word without help).

In many businesses, the tendency is view the “expert” as a great candidate to be the next leader of his or her team. Most leadership books that I endorse will convey the idea that being the expert and being a leader are two separate sets of skills. An expert is a great technical or procedural expert but that does not make them a strong leader of people. To be a significant leader of people, it is helpful to have a technical aptitude. However, a notable difference is shared in the quote from Theodore Roosevelt, “Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.”

In this book, the reader is encouraged to step even further away from being the technical expert or being competent with a technical aptitude, and suggests taking on the mindset of an owner. Dane Maxwell, walks the reader through making this adjustment in how to think about earning money for yourself, your family, your dreams, and your desire to help others.

There are many ideas and thoughts shared in this book, which I plan to put into practice over the coming years. A key element here is to keep moving forward even when failures occur. Dane is not encouraging the reader to keep a failed business idea alive even when there is no chance of success. He is conveying that as an entrepreneur, you should be prepared that your first try at starting a business is not likely to succeed. A key idea is to “fail fast” and learn from that failure, ensuring the same failure is not repeated.

One key aspect that was not explicitly described, but implied, is that once a business is launched and reaches a certain level of success, it is time to let someone who knows how to lead that business be in charge. In other words, find a CEO to take over that business. Dane does not advocate giving up majority ownership, rather find a competent leader who will help you make sure that business can grow.

I have seen and read about a number of business that struggle with “Founder’s Syndrome” (aka foundersitis). One thing that can be the outcome of Founders Syndrome is that the business cannot grow beyond the founder’s ability to control daily operations. A founder can become so invested in the idea that they are the technical expert, business expert, marketing expert, and/or sales expert that it ends up stifling growth beyond a count of 100 - 150 employees. Ironically, a study of military history will also show that starting in the early 20th Century we have progressively learned that a field commander struggles with oversight an excess of 150 troupes within their command. In both business and our military we have learned that our front-line leaders (team leads, fire team leaders, etc.) are the most effective at helping to gain success and significance within their teams. With the instruction provided in Start From Zero, handing the reigns over to a CEO once a business grows beyond your ability to lead it, is a great idea.

I would highly recommend this book. The tools taught will take time to implement and practice before one should expect entrepreneurial success. Dane shows that we really can start from zero and build a business.

Naked at Work - A Leader's Guide to Fearless Authenticity

Naked at Work

According to Merriam-Webster the definition of Authentic: “true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character. //is sincere and authentic with no pretense”. Pause for 30 seconds, let that definition resonate in your heart and mind. How often to you find yourself being authentic in everyday life? It does not take long for people around me to see whether or not I am being authentic. I am not as good at deceiving others as I sometimes think I am. So, why do I even try?

Sometimes shame can lead me to where I believe it is best to cover-up my past or try to ignore its influence. I have done some foolish things in my past, made decisions based upon false premises, jumped to unfavorable conclusions of others, and hurt others either intentionally or unintentionally. When I let the shame shroud my past, it shows up in being defensive about and overthinking the words and actions of others. I can often either hide my concerns and deny they exist or I overreact and lash out at others. Neither of those responses are helpful in any area of life, and are even more destructive when I am looked to for leading others.

I am not a psychologist nor do I aspire to become one. I am simply seeking to learn how to be authentic to who I am designed to be. Shame is a tool to hide my failures and shortcomings. Authenticity helps me not only uncover the pain in my past, but also is key for dealing with the results of those failures, while moving forward as a stronger person and leader.

In this book, Danessa Knaupp does a masterful job at helping the reader understand how shame will hold us back and how we can turn that around to properly balance those struggles with being authentic in leading others. The opening chapter is titled, “There is no Perfect Leader”. From the very beginning we are led to understand, get rid of the idea of an exact formula for leadership.

Danessa goes on to show the detrimental affects of shame and then spends the majority of the time helping us to learn of the enormous benefits of authenticity as it relates to leadership at work. In many of the scenarios provided, we see Danessa’s own struggles with shame in failed business attempts and growth in authenticity. We read of others along the way helped her in learning to grow. These experiences have shaped her into an exemplary leadership coach.

I also had the privilege to participate in a group discussion with Danessa through Dose of Leadership University past weekend (June 13th, 2020). In our conversation she was extremely gracious, encouraging, and helpful. The impact Danessa had on our group will reverberate through to many others and her impact will only continue to spread, like the ripples from a stone when thrown into water. She and Richard Rierson had a great conversation which you can hear on Richard’s Dose of Leadership podcast from June 3rd, 2020. I highly recommend Danessa’s book and Richard’s podcast to all leaders from all walks of life as we all should be seeking to be authentic in every aspect of our lives.

Building Professional Relationships

If you get along, they will go along

Building effective teams is how things get done. There are many facets to getting a team to work together with a high level of efficiency and effectiveness. Building strong professional relationships is one of the most important keys to a successful team. Some key areas of focus when building relationships are below:

1. Understand People - Use your head, think clearly about those in your care. All people have these in common

   • We all like to feel special, sincerely compliment others

   • We all seek for a better tomorrow, provide hope

   • We all are looking for direction, provide navigational insight and tools

   • We all experience emotional lows, be a source of encouragement

   • We all want to succeed, guide others in how to get there

2. Care for People - Have a heart that shows compassion

   • You cannot be a truly effective leader, unless people want to follow you. Show others you care for them and they are more likely to follow your lead

3. Help People - Extend a hand up to those in need

   • Leaders are more respected when they keep the interests of others in mind

   • Focus on what you can sew into others rather than what you can reap from them and others will follow you to the front lines of the battle you face

If you are like me, you may find it difficult to build relationships at times. Here is some advise that has been given to me.

• Improve how you think about relationships. Read books like, “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie.

• Strengthen your heart and compassion for others. Take your focus off of your own success and significance and place it upon those in your care.

• Repair hurting relationships. How many of us are estranged from siblings, children, parents, or old friends? Reach out, take ownership and responsibility for your part of the rift that has occurred, and seek to rebuild.

Without relationships, there is no leading. Relationships are not the only way we lead, but it is the primary way to build trust and to influence others in a positive and significant manner. No one is perfect at relationships, which means it is very important to practice getting better with every opportunity you have.