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Are You Doing What Only YOU Can Do?

Lary — Sun, 04 Sep 2022 19:01:39 +0000

The last time I looked, you’re the only YOU there is.

What is it that Only YOU Can Do?

As an experienced leadership coach working directly with CEOs and other senior executives, I’m constantly telling leaders:

Focus intensely on what only YOU can do.

I was reminded of the importance of this view when re-reading Andy Stanley’s book, Next Generation Leader. Andy is a renowned leader and popular speaker. This is the quote that stuck with me:

Over 80 percent of my time is now focused on the three things that only I can do.

What Only YOU Can Do!

A.G. Lafley is the former, two-time CEO of Procter & Gamble, who has written and spoken extensively on this topic. You can find a transcript of one of his speeches here, and register to read a more extensive Harvard Business Review article. It will be well worth your time.

Whatever your leadership level, there are certain things that only you can do … and if you don’t, no one will … and it will really help you focus on this critical variable in your leadership level to take a close look at these landmark articles.

There is no substitute for YOU.

Make sure you can always answer these 10 Questions

To help you along the way, I ran across an older article by Marc Kramer entitled, The 10 Questions You Should Never Stop Asking.

As you make your unique contribution, ask yourself those questions.

Don’t gloss over them because you think you’ve already answered them.

Pull them out … assume you’re starting all over again … and carefully consider each one of them.

If you don’t, we’ll look for you out in the boneyard.

Got Comments?

What do you believe is the largest single contribution you can make to your organization?

Comment below or Email me at lary@exkalibur.com

Who are you going to be?

Lary — Sun, 28 Aug 2022 16:52:19 +0000

In There’s Only One Reason You Keep Making the Same Mistakes. Repeatedly, I emphasized how much control we have over what we do.

Bottom line? We do what we choose to do.

Anything short of that is an excuse, and believe me, I know because I’ve got a big pile of my own.

Yet, every day I keep trying to knock down that pile. While it takes up a lot of space in my head, there’s no value in holding on to any of it.

It’s on you.

You decide.

You act.

That’s all there is.

Period.

The End

A Decision-Making Framework

Lary — Mon, 22 Aug 2022 03:25:31 +0000

There’s no lack of decision-making frameworks … the Eisenhower Matrix … SWOT Analysis … the Pareto Analysis … and countless more sophisticated models.

This is one hasn’t received a lot of attention and while it isn’t exactly a model, it is a simple but useful framework … particularly if you’re struggling to be decisive when you know you should.

What do you think? Is it helpful?

Want to sell more products?

Lary — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 17:41:39 +0000

This is an old adage among direct marketing copywriters:

The value of this approach is that it opens a wider door through which you can market your products. Selling “holes in wood” defines a broader perspective that your customer’s project involves more than just drills.

You put “holes in wood” because they’re necessary to build a cabinet or a table or maybe a house. Using that marketing approach, you open the door to a broader discussion with your customer and more opportunities to help them complete their project with additional products you can provide.

It applies to your business, too.

If you’re in the insurance business, are you selling insurance … or are you selling safety & security for your client’s home or business? Are you selling hamburgers … or a quick and delicious meal you can eat by hand … which then includes fries, sodas, etc.

The wine industry sells “experiences” … not bottles of wine, but a “shared experience” in the company of friends and family over a glass of wine.

How does this apply to your business?

Take a moment to consider this marketing approach for your business and let me know in the comments if it makes sense to you and how you’d apply it.

Is this a change you’ll make in your marketing philosophy?

Do you face a greater dilemma than this?

Lary — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 03:24:24 +0000

As a leader, you don’t have to look very far to find another dilemma to deal with… current profits or long-term growth (More sales? Less profits?) … retrain or replace? … buy or lease? … do it in-house or outsource? … and plenty more.

This one, however, sits at the top of the list and is one you face all day long … every day.

What are you doing to win this challenge?

Is there ever enough training?

Lary — Sun, 31 Jul 2022 18:33:35 +0000

Probably not.

In my experience, too many business leaders … while acknowledging the importance of training and education … are reluctant to invest in it.

In part, they don’t see a straight line between training and improved performance and success. When they don’t, they tend to think it’s “kind of” a waste of time … “can’t they figure it out?” … or, “it’s not that hard” … or “shouldn’t that have already learned this?”

Perhaps, but I love the graphic phrase in the quote below because it’s obvious truth is incontrovertible … and with a little thought, you can apply it to your organization.

For further insights about the value of training, check out, What does this phrase mean to you?

The Essence of Leadership

Lary — Fri, 22 Jul 2022 16:36:50 +0000

As our world becomes more complex … and there are so many things on our mind … this is a great reminder of your role as a leader to make sure your team is crystal clear about where you’re headed.

Never has the K.I.S.S. Principle been so important!

Can you answer this question?

Lary — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 15:32:51 +0000

Spend some quality time to think about this.

Do you have your answer?

Here’s the Formula for Failure!

Lary — Mon, 11 Jul 2022 08:24:00 +0000

Is this you?

Perhaps it’s all of us at one point or another, but it’s not on the path to the success we’d like to achieve.

It can also be linked to imposter syndrome, a condition, simply put, in which people feel their talents are inadequate to the goals they wish to achieve. From there, it’s easy to default to pleasing people instead.

Simple answer? Don’t go there!

Let Freedom Ring!

Lary — Sat, 02 Jul 2022 16:57:52 +0000

In 1886, Keokuk, Iowa celebrated Independence Day with a parade and the usual festivities. Samuel Clemens (better known to most as Mark Twain) was present and was asked to say a few words during the celebration, which he did, mixed with the laughter of the citizenry who hung on his every word:

“Ladies and gentlemen: I little thought that when the boys woke me with their noise this morning that I should be called upon to add to their noise. But I promise not to keep you long.

You have heard all there is to hear on the subject, the evidence is all in and all I have to do is to sum up the evidence and deliver the verdict.

You have heard the declaration of independence with its majestic ending, which is worthy to live forever, which has been hurled at the bones of a fossilized monarch, old King George the III, who has been dead these many years, and which will continue to be hurled at him annually as long as this republic lives.

You have heard the history of the nation from the first to the last–from the beginning of the revolutionary war, past the days of its great general, Grant, told in eloquent language by the orator of the day. All I have to do is to add the verdict, which is all that can be added, and that is,

“

It is a successful day.

Mark Twain’s speech continues:

“I thank the officers of the day that I am enabled to once more stand face to face with the citizens that I met thirty years ago, when I was a citizen of Iowa, and also those of a later generation. In the address to-day, I have not heard much mention made of the progress of these last few years–of the telegraph, telephone, phonograph, and other great inventions.

A poet has said, ‘Better fifty years of England than all the cycles of Cathay,’ but I say ‘Better this decade than the 900 years of Methuselah.’

There is more done in one year now than Methuselah ever saw in all his life. He was probably asleep all those 900 years.

When I was here thirty years ago there were 3,000 people here and they drank 3,000 barrels of whisky a day, and they drank it in public then. I know that the man who makes the last speech on an occasion like this has the best of the other speakers, as he has the last word to say, which falls like a balm on the audience–though this audience has not been bored to-day–and though I can’t say that last word, I will do the next best thing I can, and that is to sit down.”