kdalen

Avoid the Important

By / February 15, 2024

I absolutely love this quote from Tim Ferriss. 

“Am I being productive, or just active? Am I inventing things to do, to avoid the important? Focus on demonstrating results instead of showing dedication.” – Tim Ferriss

It is easy to convince yourself that your “chores” are more important than your goals. 


The mere fact that it is easy is where the trap lies. 


There is certainly a time and place for “chores.” Build them into your schedule, and develop systems to focus on them as needed. But do the same for your goals. Otherwise, the swirl of chores will keep you endlessly occupied. 



 

Too Seriously

By / January 8, 2024

As leaders and change-makers seeking to make significant impacts, it’s easy to fall into the temptation of taking ourselves too seriously. 

 

Now, that is not to say our work isn’t serious or that we cannot seriously care for the outcome of our efforts.

 

When we take ourselves too seriously, we can put up blinders. We can miss out on feedback, engagement, and most importantly, opportunity. 

 

The way that we carry ourselves significantly contributes to our culture and how others enroll and partner with us on our journey. 

 

Our work can be serious, but we should make sure we are aware of how we dance with our emotions related to our work. Otherwise, we could be missing out on a greater outcome. 

Honesty

By / February 15, 2024

When provided with the opportunity to share our feedback or our take, it’s always best to be honest. 

 

But honesty should be given as a gift, not wielded as a weapon. 

 

You know the difference when you deliver it. But you also know the difference when you are on the other side. 

 

Be transparent, be real, contribute to growth, and share the gift. 

Flail Into Place

By / March 22, 2023

Fall into place. Fail into place. Flail into place. 

All three are acceptable. All three tell a different story. 


But where did they end up? Into place. 

Gets The Worm

By / March 20, 2023

We are all familiar with the saying “the early bird gets the worm.”

I believe the key here is not because the bird woke up early once to get the worm. 


He wakes up early every day. And that routine is magic. 

What We Want

By / March 19, 2023

In a recent Seth Goin experience, he shared the 4 responses that over 10,000 humans across the world responded to when he surveyed them about significant work.


1. I surprised myself with what I could accomplish
2. I could work independently
3. The team built something important
4. People treated me with respect.


He went on to highlight accomplish, independently, team, and respect.

I was a part of that survey. And I can confirm my responses align with what he found.


Let’s grow and challenge our own abilities, give me the autonomy to work alone or with others (which means trust I’ll get my job done), and show me that you respect me as a human and a professional.


You don’t need to work a corporate job to obtain these four ideas. You don’t need to work a remote position to realize these either. They can be found in virtually any job path or career. And if they seem unobtainable I challenge you to job craft and create it for yourself.


Sounds Smart

By / March 19, 2023

“Pessimism always sounds smarter than optimism.” – Morgan Housel

 

“For reasons I have never understood, people like to hear that the world is going to hell.” – Deirdre McCloskey

 

Pessimism is common and easy. Optimism is welcoming and difficult. We gravitate towards the negative because we want to feel better about our situation. Or we don’t want to feel at all. Because hope and faith can hurt. But without hope and faith, how do we grow?

Significance

By / March 16, 2023

As change makers and leaders, we seek to create value and drive significant work. 


The beauty of significance is that we can define it for ourselves. Or our family. Or our team. Or our tribe. 


Knowing that we have control in defining what significant work can look like for us gives us the ability to change what we are doing and start actioning towards that significant work. 

Naivete vs Inexperience

By / March 14, 2023

There is a grey space that exists when discussing naivete and inexperience.

 

Naivete implies a lack of knowledge or understanding due to an absence of experience, whereas inexperience implies a lack of experience in a particular area, but not necessarily a lack of knowledge or understanding.

 

I think that when we find ourselves in a naive space, we identify an opportunity to build our reference set and knowledge base, and add items to our list of experiences yet explored. 

 

Even more, when we feel comfortable enough to cast judgment on others and label them as naive, we should promote their desire to engage and grow. Because we’ve been there before and can help them check certain experiences (and perspectives) of their list too.