Threshold Consulting: It's Your Life, Own It!

Is Yours a "Better-Than" Brand?

Over the course of my life, I've come to regard bold claims of being "better than" as the last refuge for people who are afraid they lack in some way. Unfair? Yes, I suppose it is. We live in a comparative and competitive world where actually being better can lead to visibility and success. After all, in the current climate of the 2008 Olympics, there is plenty of evidence for that. It’s the fastest swimmer or the fastest sprinter who wins the gold medal.

Beyond highly specific contexts, however, things get fuzzier. For example, is a MacBook better than a VAIO notebook? The real answer is, "it depends." And among the factors it depends upon are the specific needs of the buyer. Each is an example of a strong brand. Each can rightly claim advantages that the other cannot.

So, why am I thinking about this?

Just today, I read a blog post by Thom Singer, at his blog, Some Assembly Required, in which he discusses how some self-appointed Gen Y leaders complaints reflect badly on an entire generation. Coincidentally, earlier today, I had heard that some folks - and is this really a surprise? - are upset that despite American thought leadership, China has taken the concept of free enterprise and has used it to compete, well ... freely! 

No doubt I’m oversimplifying what are truly complex situations. Yet, in each case, it occurred to me that pointing the finger elsewhere is a great way to distract from one's own shortcomings – rather than demonstrating one's value. Applied to managing one's brand and career, there is an important lesson here, and it's this: figure out your value and find audiences for whom that value is relevant. When you do that, you really don't have to make sweeping, "better-than" generalizations. People who benefit from the value you deliver will promote it, and you, as being the best choice for them.

Cross-posted at The Personal Branding Blog

Playing Big

I have the distinct privilege of being part of a team that delivered the November 8, 2007 Global Telesummit, A Brand You World, celebrating ten years of personal branding.

It was an amazing experience that was made no less incredible by the fact that the team orchestrated this event in just under six months – all while juggling their own full time jobs and businesses. And before you underestimate the immensity of this achievement, consider that the team needed to: build a website, recruit a world-class line up of speakers, put together a social cause partnership, find sponsors to provide needed resources, create a program schedule that worked for all, and get word of this event out to bloggers and journalists.

Certainly the team gained a lot of support and momentum from speakers, hosts, partners, sponsors, bloggers and journalists. Yet, there is an essential lesson in this; one that you can apply to your own life:

No one on this team played small!

The drive and ambition of team members was always clear. We set a big goal and stretched. Yet, coincidentally, just after the event, I found a quote that captures this basis for achievement. The quote is from Marianne Williamson; it has a spiritual quality, but the message is appropriate:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world."

She goes on to say:

"And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same."

How about you? Are you playing big?

Just One Degree of Difference

I don’t know about you, but when I think of great achievements, I tend to think of expending huge effort. And yet, there have been times when I’ve found myself surprised to see that the difference between ordinary and extraordinary performance can be very small. Well, based on a great online movie, I’ve just seen, it seems that great achievements can be a matter of a very small degree of difference. 

The movie is 212° The Extra Degree, from Simple Truths.

Want some inspiration to achieve more in life? Then click the link above and take a few minutes to see this short movie.

Once you do, make a list of the results you want in your life. Then consider what will provide you with the degree of difference in achieving those results. Whether it’s some small action, a strength, or an attribute that sets you apart, once you know it, you can use it to achieve the results you want!

Contact me if you would like to uncover strengths and attributes that can help you achieve more in your career and life.

Inspiration from the Academy of Achievement

As you may know, I believe that owning your life is enhanced to the degree that you set goals that lead to achievements. Striving for achievement is challenging, but I think the effort is worth it.

Still, it helps to have inspiration…

… and inspiration can be a click or two away at the Academy of Achievement website.

When I visited, I was drawn immediately to Keys To Success, which include elements that nicely complement and expand my own ideas about what makes for an achievement. For example, Preparation:

“Knowing where you can go starts with knowing where you are, and where you’ve been. Success isn’t a matter of luck – it requires practice, study, and strategy. Learn all you can about your passion. Master every last detail, and consider all the nuances and possibilities. Then don’t hold back.”

Wow!

What makes for an achievement?

What are your top ten achievements?

If that question left you momentarily baffled, you’re not alone. When I ask clients to list their top ten achievements, whether in their careers or in their lives, I often get a glazed look that seems to say, “Achievements? What achievements?” On the other hand, if I ask what they’ve accomplished, they more readily rattle off a list of things they’ve done.

So, the question is: What makes for an achievement?

Actually, accomplish and achieve have very similar definitions. Each definition references a result following the exertion of effort, and each references success as in “to carry out successfully” or “to succeed in reaching.” Each, in other words, refers to successful completion.

Yet, there does seem to be a big difference in the associations we have for these words. “Achievement” seems to call up images of cheering crowds, award ceremonies, and speeches. Kind of like winning the Super Bowl. “Accomplishment,” on the other hand, seems to suggest something on the order of finishing your “to-do” list. 

So, what’s wrong with that?

Own A Life of Achievements – Yours!

Okay, you’re not alone if your first thought upon seeing the word “achievement” in the title of this post was of those slick Successories posters with the motivational sayings. You know, a photo of a happy group of people at work placed above words that remind you that there is no “I” in “Team.” Well, it was my first thought too. Of course, it was quickly followed by a flow of images of my favorite Despair, Inc. posters.

Yet, it is precisely the juxtaposition of these contrasting motivational accessories that highlights the point of this piece: true achievement in your life is grounded in personally meaningful events and outcomes that make you feel proud because they reflect who you are and what is meaningful to you. As well, a true achievement brings you insights about your capabilities, and inspires you to go out and achieve more.

Achieving a milestone on the road to someone else’s vision of success may bring you personal recognition and reward, but may be shallow if it did not in some way tap your vision, values, passions, or purpose. This can happen at work, it can also happen in other parts of your life.

So, the question is: Is your life an expression of someone else's vision?