September, 2015 | Lorne Rubis

The Last 15 Minutes of Anything!

Key Point: I think there is great value in preparing for work and life in the context of playing a sport or being involved in another competitive activity. Participating in these moments teaches us so much about ourselves and positions us for the many challenges we confront in daily life. Learning how to finish is something we can learn and practice in play.

When Alex Ferguson took over as the manager of Manchester United, a world famous English football team, they stunk. It hadn’t won a league title in nearly 20 years and faced the real possibility of being relegated to a lower division. 26 seasons later, under Ferguson’s leadership, United won 38 domestic and international trophies, giving him nearly twice as many as any other English club manager. United became one of the most valuable franchises in all of sports. Harvard Professor, Anita Elberse, studied Ferguson’s “formulae” and published a superb article in the Harvard Business Review. I recently re-read it because I was trying to recall Ferguson’s philosophy on finishing. Here’s what he told Elberse:

“I am a gambler – a risk taker – and you can see that in how we played in the late stages of matches. If we were down at halftime, the message was simple: Don’t panic. Just concentrate on getting the task done. If we were still down – say, 1–2 – with 15 minutes to go, I was ready to take more risks. I was perfectly happy to lose 1–3 if it meant we’d given ourselves a good chance to draw or to win. So in those last 15 minutes, we’d go for it. We’d put in an extra attacking player and worry less about defense. We knew that if we ended up winning 3–2, it would be a fantastic feeling. And if we lost 1–3, we’d been losing anyway.

Being positive and adventurous and taking risks – that was our style. We were there to win the game. Our supporters understood that, and they got behind it. It was a wonderful feeling, you know, to see us go for it in those last 15 minutes. A bombardment in the box, bodies everywhere, players putting up a real fight. Of course, you can lose on the counterattack, but the joy of winning when you thought you were beaten is fantastic.

I think all my teams had perseverance – they never gave in. So I didn’t really need to worry about getting that message across. It’s a fantastic characteristic to have, and it is amazing to see what can happen in the dying seconds of a match.”

I just returned from the Labor Day long weekend where I had an opportunity to watch some of the best cyclists in the world compete in the Tour of Alberta. Of course, these riders are physically gifted. However in cycling, like life, so much success has to do with a mindset of grit and perseverance. The very best riders know exactly when to attack. They leave nothing left in the tank.

Character Moves:

Are you a finisher? In anything you do that matters, do you have a mindset like Sir Alex Ferguson’s teams, or the great cyclists? Do you put up a real fight? Like Ferguson notes: “You can lose on the counter attack but the joy of winning when you thought you were beaten, is fantastic.”

Almost everything in work or life has a “last 15 minutes.” It is always surprising what can happen in those closing moments. Push yourself in the “last 15 minutes.” Of course you may lose, but you know what you did to leave it all on the field.

Practice finishing with greatness. Even cleaning up after yourself when a meeting ends is a symbol of completion. Watch how many people leave without even paying attention. End your evening with a wrap up of what you did well that day. If you’re going for a fun run or ride, end with a strong close. Finishing up strong on the little things leads to having the same mindset when the big, significant events come our way.

Last 15 in The Triangle,

Lorne

One Millennial View: Seeing that I’m in the office around 5 a.m., I’m not the best when it comes to making my bed first thing in the morning. My morning routine is very quick. It’s rushed, I wake up and I’m out-the-door ASAP. It normally involves me putting on shoes with the assistance of a cell phone flashlight, to put it in perspective. Is that the best way to start the day? Probably not. I do believe in that whole “make your bed first thing because it means you’ve already accomplished something” theory… It makes sense. In this case, we’ll refer to that as the “first 15 minutes.” But you and I both know that when I do get to the office, my messy bed doesn’t really affect anything I do that day. However, my “last 15 minutes” in everything I do for the rest of the day, certainly does.

– Garrett

Edited and published by Garrett Rubis

Are You Techustomer Capable?

Abundance Growth mindset Transformation

Key Point: I believe that today’s employee has to be capable of understanding and/or knowing how to find, develop and apply technology that might deliver customers what they really want without customers even knowing yet. Think about how rapidly our expectations change and how fast today’s “wow” becomes tomorrow’s “yawn.”

Somebody noted to me the other day that the current rate of change will be the slowest of our lifetime. And (this seems beyond belief), I heard that some health care futurists predict that wellness technology knowledge is progressing so rapidly that the human who lives to be 1,000 (yes that’s one thousand) years old has already been born. That idea feels almost incomprehensible. Disrupters are everywhere and are attacking everything. No profit or non-profit entity is safe or protected. No job is “safe.” At the same time, opportunities have never been greater.

If you don’t know how to think, use and even design application services like Uber or OpenTable, you likely are too far behind the technology curve to provide much more than pedestrian, analogue behavior. Soon, almost all transaction business will be delivered by machines. If you don’t know how Disney was inspired by the Nike FuelBand to create The My Disney Experience, and how they removed as much guest friction as possible with Magicbands, you are likely missing some critical thinking and insight. So what does this imply to you and me regardless of age or position?

Character Moves:

Become as digital as possible. Use mobile devices and applications wherever and however you can to understand our possibilities. The idea that this technology is dehumanizing and/or that it’s beyond your interest, or too hard to understand is a mindset for someone who doesn’t want to be employed very long. And I don’t think this is an overstatement. Holding your nose to the idea of an iWatch or that Uber is unfair to taxis may be noble, but also very shallow.

As a small test that might be an interesting filter to ongoing employment could include questions like:

– Tell me about the top five apps on your smart phone and why you use them.

– Create a way you might apply technology on how you might get rid of or smooth out pain points our customers currently experience? Bring me back a design by the end of the day.

– Outline the key attributes you think you have to demonstrate that you are techustomer capable?

Techustomer (my made up word) savvy in The Triangle,

Lorne

P.S. Next year the questions will be way more challenging

One Millennial View: Snapchat… Oh, that Snapchat. The company valued at $10-$20 BILLION dollars today is one special example I believe every average Millennial probably subconsciously conceptualized themselves before it entered the app world in 2011. Seriously. It DID take geniuses like Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy to realize how to actually make it a downloadable reality, but… It’s safe to bet that in 2011, someone, somewhere, texted a picture. They wished and dreamed it could be seen and then disappear in 10 seconds. Unfortunately, their only recourse would have been a follow up, “Hey, mind if you delete that photo?” plea. A self destruct option was science fiction fantasy. Hilariously, it might be a reason no one will be voting for the infamously shady Anthony Weiner in 2016. Keep that in mind the next time you think a convenience is impossible or unable to be manufactured.

– Garrett

Edited and published by Garrett Rubis

Grit in Your Teeth

Accountability Purpose Resilience

Key Point: Research by leading academics like Angela Duckworth, finds that one particular characteristic (along with a few others) is a significant predictor of success: GRIT. Grit is the quality that allows an individual to work hard and maintain focus on achieving an outcome – not just for weeks or months, but also for years. Duckworth has developed a test called the “Grit Scale.” You rate yourself on a series of 8 to 12 items. It’s entirely self-reported, and yet what Duckworth has found is that a person’s grit score is highly predictive of achievement under challenging circumstances. Rate yourself honestly without fear. Only you know the score. What did you find out about yourself?

Check out this video on Grit:

My qualitative experience resonates with this research completely. I’ve seen the smartest and the most talented people quit, avoid and/or bail out before the finish line. Even the hardest workers will get distracted and stop. Lots of people procrastinate and ultimately avoid doing anything beyond wishing for something better. I expect little from them. Others are great starters and yet somewhere before a desired outcome, they will give up. And even the hardest workers often get stuck in relentless martyrdom and for some reason can’t get things over the goal line. The people I’m most attracted to are of course smart, skilled and hard workers. However beyond that, they are distinctively exceptional by combining focus and follow through. They do fail often in their journey but you can expect them to get up, dust themselves off, flourish in the learning and carry on. They finish! They have GRIT!!

It is interesting to note that at West Point, a cadet’s grit score was the best predictor of success in the rigorous summer training program known as “Beast Barracks.” Grit mattered more than intelligence, leadership ability or physical fitness. Even at the Scripps National Spelling Bee, the grittiest contestants were the most likely to advance to the finals. And the work of Carol Dweck stresses the importance of having a growth mindset as a gateway to GRIT. This respected academic’s point is we can learn grit and perseverance. Although we might respond to frustration and failure by thinking, “I should just give up; I can’t do this.” Dweck proves that those feelings and beliefs, as strong as they are, can change. We need coaches and role models who can teach us to find our grit.

Character Moves:

1. While we all must be flexible in this crazy, changing world, having the grit to focus and become really good at something will provide us with value, space and relevance. You and I can do it. It’s never too late. Focus and follow through on what you’re good at and like to do for the long run! What valuable skill/experience/knowledge can we develop that will make us a desired expert?

2. Focus and following through with grit does not mean staying at one job or even vocation. It does not just mean having a “passion.” It operates from the perspective that each of us is good at something we also like to do. When we can find what’s really underneath that feeling and sense of accomplishment, we often find the elusive “purpose” in our lives. When we focus and follow through on that purpose, grit defines us. We naturally have grit in our teeth. We need to allow ourselves to find it, learn it, practice it and grow it.

GRIT in the Triangle,

Lorne

One Millennial View: Losing or switching interests and “giving up” seems to be a Millennial issue, or at least a stereotype. Remember that blog you started? Or that spin class you don’t go to anymore? We pick up something new and drop something old on a regular basis. Starting, quitting and pursuing new fads is engrained in our culture to a degree, and always defended with the “well who cares if I stop this?” Yes, with most hobbies or interests, there’s no real significance if you lose interest. However, this lackadaisical attitude is dangerous when it seeps over to those things that do actually matter (your job, responsibilities, and commitments). So that rec softball league you joined isn’t cool anymore? Ok. But, make sure you’re still going to bat for your goals that keep you rounding life’s bases. Hopefully you know the difference.

– Garrett

Edited and published by Garrett Rubis