Note: This is a guest post by Art Gould, a division manager with Self Storage Company, details below…

I’ve never been much of a neat freak. This is the standard line I used to give people who would walk into my office for the first time and find it hard to disguise a look on their face that could be described as a mixed proportion of shock, amusement, and disgust. I’ve found that understatement is always a cool way of stating the obvious with all the rough edges smoothed over. My friends and co-workers have forever been telling me how much more I could get done if I only took some time to straighten out my clutter and at least try to create an appearance of organization in my life. So a few weeks ago, I decided to bite the bullet and do something about it.

Being the type of person who tends to commit totally to things, I decided to leave no stone unturned in my mission to self-organize. I read books about it. I watched DVDs. I invested in new file cabinets, new folders, and new software. For the first time in years, I cleaned my desk completely. As I peeled layer upon layer of paperwork off my desktop, I began to flush out items buried deep within the rubble; items that I had long ago given up for lost. Receptacles became my best friends. I filed everything that needed filing, catalogued everything that needed cataloguing, sorted everything that needed sorting, and arranged everything that needed arranging.

By the time I was done, I looked around and admired my new surroundings with a feeling of utter satisfaction and a deep sense of accomplishment. My new office and my new organized self were now realities. But very soon thereafter the realization hit me that I was now a week behind in everything I was supposed to have been doing. I had become so consumed with my organizing crusade that I had not spoken to anyone in over a week. My list of calls to return was very neat, very organized, and also very long! My projects were all neatly stacked in their own bins and folders but I had not been working on any of them. People who stopped by and complimented me on my nice clean desk also complemented me on being all caught up with my work. I gave them a weak smile and didn’t dare tell them how wrong they were. I wound up spending that weekend, plus a few days thereafter, working long dogged hours, trying to make up for time lost while I was on my organizing binge.

After I finally got caught up, I began to sense a new problem. My new desk was beginning to take on the characteristics of a shrine. I dared not do anything that might alter the pristine image that had made such a profound impression on me once I had finally cleaned it. My obsession with keeping it immaculate soon became an additional task added to my already long list of tasks. Except unlike the other ones, this project didn’t have a neat shelf life to it. I could never say that it was finished or completed, or that it was time to move on to the next one. Instead, it became the 800-pound gorilla in the room; always there, lurking in the background, even when I tried to ignore it.

I started thinking: is there such a thing as being too organized? Is it possible that maybe a tiny bit of chaos, mixed in with all the neatness and efficiency, might actually be a good thing? So I made a decision to politely usher the gorilla out of the room and get back to being my old productive self. I didn’t let it bother me at all if my desk became something other than sterile. I even let it get to the point where it could accurately be described as slightly (but no longer overly!) messy. Don’t get me wrong, I am no longer the slob I once was. I recognize the value of structure and embrace the concept of a streamlined approach yielding benefits in terms of productivity and efficiency. I also realized that striking the right balance is the key! Now I am organized but no longer obsessed with it. I allow a little chaos into my environment but I try to maintain it.

In case you are wondering if you have hit the point where your organization is offering diminishing marginal returns, here are a few indicators to keep watch for!

SIGNS YOU ARE TOO ORGANIZED:

1. When you buy so many storage bins to store and compartmentalize your items that you no longer have enough space for the bins in your office.
2. When most of the folders in your file cabinet have only one sheet of paper in them.
3. When you spend 45 minutes trying to decide whether to file an article about Madden 2010 in the sports folder or the software folder.
4. When you start spending an inordinate amount of time neatly sorting and filing your junk mail.
5. When you spend so much time and energy mapping out the next leg of your vacation that you completely miss out on what is going on around you during the current part of it.
6. When you ask your friends to wait a few minutes before going out to eat because you just noticed that some of the books on your bookshelf are out of alphabetical order.
7. When you file everything logically and neatly—-and then find you are no longer able to locate anything you need.
8. When you spend more time making lists of what to do than doing what is on them.

Art Gould is a division manager with Self Storage Company, which operates a group of websites, including a Texas self storage locator. He travels a lot for business related to centers from Texas to the Illinois self storage site. As a result, Art has a strong interest in productivity, organization, working on the road, balancing work and home life, and reducing stress.

Posted by Mike King under Success | 3 Comments »

Reinventing leadership for the age of mass collaboration

Author : Emmanual Gobillot

Leadershift is not only about the subject of leadership, but how leadership is shifted from a traditional sense of leadership to one more defined by social media, collaboration and engagement.  I love the subjects of this book and it covers the subject well from various aspects of such a shift.  Four specific areas of leadership are argued to be irrelevent in this new age of mass collaboration.

• Experience
• Knowledge
• efforts
• power

I like the discussions on these and while I can’t say I was all that aware of this new ‘shift’ as it is called, I’ve certainly seen evidence in leadership and learning about leadership where each are true.  These factors do not on their own carry much weight and when it comes to mass collaboration which has been proven time and time again with online content, system for anonymous creation like Wikipedia and massively multiplayer online role playing games.

One quote I love in the book is this:

The key to leaders’ success is not their willingness to accept a day of reckoning and the efforts they make to prepare for this.  Rather, it is their ability to embrace the idea that, given some fundamental trends, each day is a day of reckoning.  This is the difference between mediocrity and excellence.

I just love that as the point of embracing an idea is by far the most important thing to lead change.  There are literally thousands of great ideas that stay as just that, ideas.  it is not until one of these is truly embraced by a leadership that the idea takes form and begins to shape into reality.

The remainder of the book covers how to create the leadershift the book is really talking about.  It focuses on building communities, on engaging a social atmosphere around the shift and building followers that are fully participating in the community.  The four usual suspects of business that are desirable outputs are engagement, alignment, accountability and commitment.  The corresponding leadershift inputs to make these occur are simplicity, narratives, tasks and love.  Completely different from the old school list which is clarity, plans, roles and money.  These fundamental changes force a new kind of leadership, one where engagement happens without structure or hierarchy, where the leader is more involved and equal to the masses with narratives and dialogue to deepen the community and with compassion that bonds it all together.

All in all, the book is very good, I am not sure how to act on some of the ideas in the book or how to make those neccessary changes, but it certainly gives enough examples and stories to get a person thinking about application.  I’ve certainly seen many aspects of the mass collaboration and as a blogger, this is more obvious than it might be to most, since social networks, collaboration and building a community are certainly the success factors of any good blog as well, its interesting to see this in a context of business as well. Its a book that I’m sure you will enjoy if you are a leader, have interest in these mass collaborative efforts or you are simply interested in learning about how business are changing the way they operate to be successfull.  I don’t think the book is a game changer by any means but the information in it, the references, the examples are all solid, informative and very intriguing to any leader exploring collaboration.

Posted by Mike King under Book Reviews | 4 Comments »

Mountain unicycling is a regular past time for me, which I’m sure you have read about before if you are a regular reader.  Its a sport not many venture into as it has a steep learning curve and there are simply not that many people who do it to be encouraged by or to learn with.  I have to seek people out who have the same interest, as I am not very likely to just come across other unicyclists.  Surprisingly, once I do get out and go riding, I run into a lot more people who are able to ride and will tell or show me when I encounter them.  I’d never know though without being out on the unicycle in the first place.

For the most part, I definitely enjoy to ride with other people, but with my level of experience in the sport and endurance, I do not have other riders who get out on one wheel with me in the mountains.  So, because of that, I often ride with mountain bikers who will easily give me a run for my money with all of their mechanical advantages.  Other times, I simply ride on my own, off in solitude, just me, my muni and the mountain.  That is what I truly love about the sport.  Getting away from the city, the traffic, the stench, the thick polluted air and of course gobs of people.  In the mountains you can literally ride for hours and not see another soul.  Its a place of peace, a place for thought and to be content.

The trails I ride are certainly not easy, most are hiking trails, but rated as more difficult ones as I love to ride areas that are known as very technical.  If you don’t know, that is when a trail has a lot of roots, rocks, boulders or obstacles to navigate and will typically be more windy with more ups and downs than other easy hiking trails.  It’s in that kind of riding where I am challenged and can get into a state of flow and enjoy the ride the most. Flow is all about movement on the unicycle.  Its not easy to navigate rough terrain on one wheel and it requires years of practice. On a mountain unicycle, to ride advanced trails, one must learn to ride with their whole body for motion. I don’t simply peddle with me legs and steer with my arms.  I have to put everything into the trail, my whole body, mind and motion in order to stay on top.  I have to bend my body, thrust my upper torso up and over rocks, whip my shoulders and head around to steer the trail, and pull with all my strength up on the seat handle to lunge with the muni overtop of gaps or logs.

It’s a great workout for the legs and core, but more than that, it forces me to focus and to free my mind of all the other daily activities, thoughts, problems and feelings and simply enjoy the ride, the workout and the environment where I am riding.  It feels very free to have these times of solitude and solitude is something that really strengthens me.  It always has and it’s always been my sports where I can enjoy this level of solitude and freedom.  I have other sports that are the same, windsurfing and I am just getting into snow kiting as well.  I’m sure that is what attracts me to these sports even if it has never been intentional.

So my title may need some explanation.  The fortress of solitude is a reference to Superman’s Ice fortress that he has to escape to, away from all people.  He goes their to seek answers to his struggles with the world and he goes their for freedom and solitude.  That is exactly what I feel like I have in my escapes to the mountains or on the water in incredible winds.  My focus shifts at those times not just to the sport, but more to my fortress of solitude. It is a place to recharge my spirit and mind, to be free and to be content and enjoy life.  So let me ask you, do you have a fortress of solitude that you rely on for a similar freedom?

See some more of my unicycling pictures in my photography section of panoramas on this site.

Posted by Mike King under Personal | 10 Comments »

Today, I have a guest post that is not your typical self-improvement or personal development article, but one written as an adventure in taking fun to the max to build relationships within an office. This is written by a reader John who offered up this guest post with some initial comments that I thought describe it best:

As an outdoor enthusiast, gun toting war veteran, some may think it strange, but yes, even I am on the never ending quest for a bit of order, more time, and perhaps even some balance! …  I phoned my friend and suggested he arrange a small get together with the three people in his office he found particularly difficult, to come play airsoft for an afternoon, and I would foot the bill. I claimed I was promoting a new leadership concept, but, in truth, I wanted to see what would happen when they were put in a situation where they were interdependent and the results were easily calculable.

I’m holed out high on a bluff, watching them advance through a pair of binoculars. The advancing enemy force is unlike anything I’ve seen in my long tours abroad. They come charging in slow motion like a band of marauding Vikings, if Vikings wore flat fronts and penny loafers. Leading the charge is my friend Jim, wearing business formal in crisp dress shirt and tie, M4 held high. In fact all of them are in varying degrees of office attire. These are his workmates. I call in their positions with my radio, and my small well trained team starts suppressive fire. At the crack of gunshots their initial bravado is halted, and they scatter behind walls and barriers for cover. I make sure to let a few volleys from my heavy machine gun go over their heads. Little by little, they start to advance, providing covering fire and inching towards the center of the arena. They’re soon outmatched and outgunned. Each round that afternoon went like this. But every time they came out, they’d last a little longer, work together better, communicating and signaling each other clearly. At the end of the long day of playing airsoft, we meet and recap. The prim polished crew I said hello to that afternoon is gone. So was the initial air of tension and hostility between them. They’ve come back begrimed and ratty, scuffed and bruised, but with arms slung over each other. It’s a phenomenon that I’ve seen on the airsoft field as well as the battle field. A group starts as strangers, but they come together as teammates. Another mission successful. The lessons of cooperation and teambuilding learned in airsoft makes it a great activity for offices to participate in.

I am fortunate to work in a great office at Airsplat, where we sell Airsoft guns during the week and “kill” each other on the weekends! We’re tight knit and as much friends after work as we are teammates during the day. I didn’t realize how unique my situation was until one of my friends Jim, called me to vent. One of the skirmishes at work got the best of him a couple Friday’s back and he let it all out for an hour about the inane squabbles and petty competition.

After listening to his story, I reflected, and came up with a proposition. I suggested my friend invite his department, including the three people in his office he found most difficult, to play airsoft for an afternoon, and I would foot the bill. Anticipating his resistance I posed it as a favor because I was promoting a new leadership course. In truth, my desire was to see the results of them interacting outside the office in a situation where their interdependence would actually mean the difference of “life” or “death!” (or at least a couple good stings from bb’s)

One of my favorite books of all time is The Art of War. Though it is full of countless battle tactics that translate easily into life strategies, one in particular stands out to me. Sun Tzu said “If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt.” My whole philosophy was riding on this. The slight twist in my situation was that the enemy was intangible, but equally threatening – discord. The challenge was to show these fellow office mates the benefits of communication and teamwork in a less formal environment where they could see the tangible results more readily.

When I caught up with Jim afterward he told me: “You know, we’re still not all buddy-buddy, but we’re talking with each other more, getting our priorities right and turning in projects on time. It feels….I don’t know, smoother.”

What this reinforced for me was that several key strategies that develop on the field also thrive in the workplace.

Knowing When to Let Others Lead

There’s the saying “Too many cooks spoil the pot” I want to add in my own qualification by stating “Too many generals spoil the chance for victory” In an office environment, there can be constant vying for position, whether it be for a promotion, or who delegates the tasks on a project. Soon the discussion stops being about the original goal and more a battle of personalities and egos. Sun Tzu said, “he whose ranks are united in purpose will win.” In the heat of battle, where results are clear (“alive” or “dead”) leaders will naturally come to the forefront, and others follow will accede. I saw this in the first few rounds with Jim and his coworkers. I could see everyone telling everyone else what to do, each hiding behind his own piece of cover, yelling and motioning orders. Separated and vulnerable, they were quickly tagged out every single time. It was only when Jim started to take the lead position and show through his strong example that they started to stick together. With the common goal of victory at the forefront of everyone’s mind, the team will focus more on working together to win, and less about who’s leading.

Tenacity

Another lesson from Sun Tzu that can be applied is “You will not succeed unless you have tenacity”. How easy is it to defeat an enemy that doesn’t advance, that hides behind barricades afraid of getting shot and hit? It’s startling how many stories I’ve heard of where the employees of an office are fine with just “getting by” and scowl at those individuals who work harder for everyone’s benefit. They don’t want them to ‘rock the boat’ and make everyone else look bad. In airsoft there is no “getting by” there’s just the black and white reality of ‘living’ and ‘dying’, of victory and defeat. You win and lose as a collective whole. I think playing airsoft helped Jim and his coworkers understand viscerally that they’re all in the same boat, and that its ok to work hard as individuals and as a group. Though they lost every single match they played that day, they never gave up and kept hitting the battlefield with energy.

Making and implementing Strategy

Planning ahead both the navigation and the weapon choices and tactical strategy are critical for success in an airsoft game. If you don’t know where you are going and how you are getting there, if you don’t know how to defend yourself and your “plan b,” you will be taken out quickly. At work, this is just as important. Whether it is choosing a firm deadline and delivering something in time to be reviewed, or having the proper material on hand for a presentation to the board, without a strategy and a little planning, chaos will likely ensue, which typically later conveys into office disharmony.

Improvise and Surprise

“March swiftly to places where you are not expected” The best results come from the actions that weren’t expected. In airsoft, it could be coming at the enemy from an angle they weren’t expecting, or creating impromptu camouflage from local flora. In an office this can be taking on personal side projects that weren’t asked of you, or turning in a project far in advance of schedule. Your team can stand out amongst the rest, and if its not accepted, at least it didn’t let down any expectations, because there were none to begin with!

From the way things turned out, I’m a firm believer that airsoft is a rather unique but incredibly effective means to hash out conflict and build cooperation. After all, Sun Tzu also said “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”

If you are interested in trying it out, Airsplat has a comprehensive listing of US Airsoft Fields, all perfect for arranging a shooting get together with your most or least favorite friends!

I called Jim again to see if they would be up for another get together in a few weeks. He said accounting was ready to go, they bought even more horrid ties for the event. Just before I hung up, Jim added, “Actually, the guys in marketing want to go too.”

This article was written by John Durfee of Airsplat.com, the nation’s largest retailer of Airsoft guns.

Posted by Mike King under Learning | 4 Comments »

Get a Grip on Your Business

Author: Gino Wickman

Let me start by simply stating my own praise for this already highly recommended book.  I have read a lot of business books and Traction is definitely my new found favorite.  It packs in so much applicable content around 6 key factors for running a business; it is an excellent handbook to use for growing and leading any small to medium sized business.  It covers these components from the perspective of starting from the top in a business with the leadership team and expanding the concepts throughout the organization as the tools are implemented and proven.

Most books and many that Wickman references are excellent business guides for narrower topics and while agree with many of his references and have enjoyed those books as well, this one covers such a wide scope, yet with an incredibly strong focus on the leadership component itself and with what is called the Entrepreneurship Operating System (EOS).  The EOS is Wickman’s term for the overall system used to run the business and it is what the book teaches very well with example company implementations used throughout the book, with specific tools and implementation strategies and with outlines and samples available for every step of the implementation process.  This is what I like so much about Traction, it is more of a handbook and one that gives an excellent set of steps for implementation.

Wickman covers these 6 components:

• Vision
• People
• Data
• Issues
• Process
• Traction

Inside each component, he presents the strategy of why and how to implement changes to make each step of the EOS a success.  It typically takes anywhere from one to three years to fully implement and realize this EOS in a business and see the resulting change and/or growth as a result.

To give a bit more detail about one of these components, I particularly liked the component on issues as it is a strong area especially in engineering and software areas which I work in.  The issues component is certainly not new to me in my company but it is often an area we struggle with solving.  Wickman gives a framework to use for the issue solving track that is three mains steps:

1. Identify – This step involves examining an issue to discover the real issue that is faced by that can only be discovered by being honest and uncomfortable to peel back the layers to identify what the underlying problem really is
2. Discuss – Everyone involved has their say about the issue with a focused effort to discuss that issue alone (no tangents). Keep the discussion around what is right overall for the company (the greater good) not individuals or individual groups.  Once any discussion becomes redundant, it’s time to move to step 3.
3. Solve – This step is mean to conclude the issue and solve it once and for all.  The whole point is to make the issue go away forever and not come back.  You turn the discussing into one or more action steps and you decide to move forward to finally solve the issue.

So overall, this book is one I will definitely be using in business to implement much of this EOS as I see the value, am excited by the overall focus and approach Wickman has and very much like the components and implementation guide.  I’ll leave you with a final quote directly from the book near the end about putting this system all together.

Many books have been written on the topics of meetings, planning, solving problems, developing people, and prioritizing.  What is new about the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) is the way these disciplines have been assembled into a complete system for running an entrepreneurial organization.  Each individual tool is not as important as the whole, and all six components that make us the Entrepreneurial Operating System and the EOS Model need to be understood and mastered in order to fully gain traction.  You can read more about the process and book at the website, www.eosprocess.com

Posted by Mike King under Book Reviews | 2 Comments »

Posted by Mike King under Business | No Comments »