Vision and Opportunity

In one of the ecorner videos this week, Sheryl Sandburg speaks of the visions of companies like Apple, Google, and Starbucks. She wanted to be a member of companies and teams that had a vision.
Near the end of the video she says," If you want to be an entrepreneur and you want to be a leader a vision that scales and that is compelling is a part of leadership. You have to compel people with the why."
Sandburg worked for these companies because she saw this vision. She saw that their vision was going to change lives and the world as a whole.
These businesses were successful because they had a vision and they advertised that vision.

In the other ecorner video Larry Brilliant says that we live in a time of much opportunity. He states that in his time he's never seen such young and successful people create something out of nothing.

In my eyes I see vision and opportunity as a power couple. Apple defied the odds with their vision of personal computers. When they started it was unknown to have a computer to yourself, let alone a teeny hand held one! But now they are known as the top company for phones and computers. They voiced their vision and created a worldwide successful company. Not only did Apple have a great vison but they CREATED opportunity where there wasn't any.

I think in our careers, no matter what they are we should have a vision. It brings purpose behind every action in our careers.

Where Happiness Really Comes From

Randy Komisar tells a story in his video about how he discovered that wealth isn't happiness. He was a big CEO for a company and was making lots of money. But at some point he stopped and realized he wasn't happy at all. So he gave that up and ended up doing something that actually made him happy even if it didn't make him a lot of money.

In our case studies this week there was one about missing your daughter's dance recital. You either went to work to deal with a big problem or kept your promise to your daughter and went to her dance recital. I thought about the situation for a little while and was having a hard time thinking of what I would do. But in the end I thought "Well that company isn't worth seeing the disappointment on my daughter's face. If the company can't understand that my daughter is more important than them then I'd rather not work for them." Family is the most important unit on this earth. If it's the most important than it's obviously something to sacrifice for.

I've looked back on my life so far and the thing that has truly brought me the most happiness is my family. There's something about being able to laugh, talk, cry, and spend time with people you've known your whole life and love.

Money and power can't replace relationships and it can't fix loneliness.

"True riches are found in big hearts, not big wallets."-Anthony Douglass Williams

20% Time with 100% Passion

I particularly loved the video, License to Pursue Dreams by Melissa Mayer, this week.

I loved the concept that devoting only 20% of your time to being creative and working toward a dream.

Mayer stated that 50% of Google's new ideas came from when their employees spent 20% of their time creating something they wanted to create.

Honestly, this is genius on Google's part. For one, this would keep me happy in a job if I was allowed at least one day a week to creatively express myself in something I loved. Two, Google obviously hires some amazingly talented people to create things for them. They are genius in giving them the tools and letting them go for it. This really put passion into what they all have created.

If someone sat me down and said "Hey, I trust you and your abilities. So I'm going to give you a great camera, lighting equipment, a computer with all of the necessary Adobe programs, a budget of $100 a month, and a few highly- rated books to learn from. I want you to go create something amazing. If you need anything else, let me know. I only ask that you complete all of your work and only spend one day a week doing this project."

Think of the possibilities! Ideas are already floating around in my mind of what I could do. I'd probably set this day to be Friday so that the whole week I would be motivated to be productive in my work and get the things done that are necessary. It would keep my job exciting and rewarding. I would look forward to that day each week and pour all of my heart into my work.

So what can you accomplish by devoting only 20% of your time to creatively expressing yourself?

Even if you could give yourself only one tool, maybe a camera and one great lens, you could create so much. If you put in 100% effort and passion during 20% of your time there is bound to be great success.

License to Pursue Dreams

License to Pursue Dreams

The Two L's

Leadership and Loyalty. 

A good leader is a loyal one. And not just in that specific aspect of their lives. They are loyal in every way possible in each part of their lives.

I was watching a TED talk about Leadership today. The speaker talks about being an example. Leadership is an everyday thing. He tells a story about how a girl came up to him at his college graduation and said that he changed her life. What he did wasn’t even something most would consider leadership. He had only ever talked to her that one time.  But his example and his ACTIONS were what inspired her to stay in college. 

He was loyal in what he did. He signed up for college and he continued to do it until he completed it. He was a member of a charity board and he continues to participate in that charity today. 

Leadership is about changing lives. Had he not been loyal in what he did he wouldn’t have been that LEADER for her to look up to. 

Leaders are examples. They don’t have to be a president or CEO. They don’t have to be a chairman or manager. It can be anybody. Anybody who is willing to be an example of loyalty.