Newsletter for July 2009: 21st Century Skills: Seeing the Invisible
21st Century Skills: Seeing the Invisible
Strictly Business: Far Beyond Reasonable
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In the 21st century, the edge goes to those who can see the invisible. The edge goes to those who "know" and trust themselves and their instincts to make winning decisions and develop winning relationships.
21st Century Skills: Seeing the Invisible
This is part of a continuing series on "Skills for the 21st Century." We've talked about Extreme Selfishness and we've looked at Positive Self-Projection. The next essential skill to "survive and thrive" in this brave new world is the ability to "See the Invisible." (You can see past issues at: http://www.rodgerblaker.com/business-life-coach-newsletters.htm
We hear that we are living in the "information age" and that workers of the future will be "information workers," but I doubt it.
We are swamped with information! We are over-whelmed and stressed, even paralyzed with too much information. Our mailboxes are full of junk mail, our inboxes are full of spam. We have hundreds of television channels and a dozen of them give us "news" all the time. As if there aren't too many "talk radio" and "news radio" stations, now we have satellite radio! It's too much!
We are looking for SOLUTIONS, not more information.
Fortunately, human beings have an amazing ability to cut through the clutter, identify the KEY piece in a world of random data, and take action.
In his recent book, Blink, Malcolm Gladwell calls this "thin slicing." Others have called it intuition or instinct. Personally, I think it's a skill. It's the ability to know instantly that something is "right" or "wrong" for us. When we take an instant liking to someone, we are "thin slicing." We simply KNOW, and we are seldom wrong.
In the 21st century, peak performers will understand and hone this skill to a razor's edge.
Peak performers will be just as swamped with information and "free" offers as the rest of us. They will have just as much paperwork, feel just as much pressure, and they, too, will have to get their kids to soccer and ballet and band practice. Peak performers will have to cope with it all. How will they do it?
By seeing the invisible….
We've all had the experience of sensing that a sales presentation is "a bit off." We all know the feeling when someone is lying to us. We all know "that look" when our kids are fibbing. And we either USE that "knowing" or we ignore it. Sometimes we prefer NOT to know that someone is lying or that a business deal is "a bit off." It's called denial and we all do it, but the winners in life do much less of it.
There was a time when you could do your "due diligence" before signing a contract, and fortunately, we have great resources to help us investigate situations, make sense of them, and decide if it's right or not.
But increasingly, there's no time. Increasingly, the attempt to do "due diligence" generates such a flood of data that we literally cannot make sense of it all. That's when top achievers trust their ability to "thin slice." Through all the clutter and data, they can "see the invisible." They "get a feeling" or "just know" that something is right or wrong for them.
Call it intuition or call it instinct. Call it "thin slicing" or a "gift," but we all have it and in the 21st century, winners will hone and rely on it. A thousand years ago, our ancestors could look at the sky and predict the weather, or track an animal through the forest. Today, the winners in life still use their "inner knowing" to create the life they truly want.
In the 21st century, the edge goes to those who can see the invisible. The edge goes to those who "know" and trust themselves and their instincts to make winning decisions and develop winning relationships.
"Go to the truth beyond the mind. Love is the bridge." -- Stephen Levine
"Happiness is that state of consciousness which proceeds from the achievement of one's values." -- Ayn Rand
"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment to improve the world." -- Anne Frank
"Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get only with what you are expected to give... Which is everything." -- Katharine Hepburn
Strictly Business: Far Beyond Reasonable
Have a dozen grocery and convenience stores near us. There are pages of dentists, doctors, lawyers and accountants in the phone book.I hope the point is obvious: What makes people go out of their way to do business specifically with you?
Recently a friend told me about a wonderful experience he had when Ford agreed to pay for work on his vehicle even though it was 35,000 miles (!) out of warranty. In a less dramatic story, another friend got Toyota to service the air conditioner in his wife’s car even though it was over the warranty miles. Those stories turn customers into "fanatics!"
I have another friend who told me about Fiddler's Green, a golf shop in Eugene Oregon that brags of having the largest on-course pro shop in the world. Apparently people drive hundreds of miles to buy golf clubs, bags and accessories from "Fid's" because of their extraordinary service. My friend told me the place is huge, and it's fun. They greet you at the door, and they always have exactly what you're looking for - plus a few other "essentials" that my friend said he didn't know he was looking for!
He told me that he once wore out a golf bag, and they replaced it free. He used it for over two years when the strap broke. He figured that was ordinary wear and tear and he just wanted to get one like it. The owner talked with him, said he'd "see what I can do," made a phone call and handed my friend a brand new bag. My friend is a fanatic for Fiddler's Green and he has recommended “Fid’s” to every body he knows including me. If I’m ever in Eugene you can bet that “Fid’s” will be on my list of places to visit.
What do people say about you and your business? How many "fanatics" do you have? It only takes a handful of loyal, life-long customers to make any business successful, but too often we focus our attention (and budgets) on advertising to get new customers in the door. That's a very expensive way to do business!
Amaze your customers. Astonish them. Go way beyond "reasonable" and you'll build an empire, make your fortune and have fun doing it. Go far beyond "reasonable."
My good friend Bobby Stephens sent these funny “different slant” Zen Teachings to me and I wanted to share them with you. If you come across great jokes, puns, puzzles or one-liners (I like to call them "bumper slickers") please send `em along. Go ahead, make me chuckle - I dare you!
Sex is like air. It's not that important unless you aren't getting any.
Always remember you're unique. Just like everyone else.
Never test the depth of the water with both feet.
If you think nobody cares whether you're alive or dead, try missing a couple of mortgage payments.
Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.
If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.
Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.
If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably well worth it.
If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.
Don't worry; it only seems kinky the first time.
Good judgment comes from bad experience ... and most of that comes from bad judgment.
A closed mouth gathers no foot.
There are two excellent theories for arguing with women. Neither one works.
Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.
Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
We are born naked, wet and hungry, and get slapped on our ass ... then things just keep getting worse.
Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
Rodger Blaker works with executives, small business owners and professionals who want to grow in their business and create an extraordinary life!
For info on resources for your success, visit: http://www.rodgerblaker.com or call me at 214-485-2238.
Please forward this copy to your friends and colleagues! That's how I grow!