Build Something To Sustain You Financially And Emotionally.
People Worth Following
Whatever happened to labor?
Sep 6th
Not Labor with a capital L, as in organized labor unions. I mean labor as in skilled workers solving interesting problems. I mean craftspeople who use their hands, their backs and their heads to do important work.
Labor was a key part of the manufacturing revolution. Industrialists needed smart, dedicated, trained laborers to solve interesting problems. Putting things together took more than pressing a few buttons, it took initiative and skill and care. Labor improvised.
It took thirteen years to build the Brooklyn Bridge and more than twenty-five laborers died during its construction. There was not a systematic manual to follow. The people who built it largely figured it out as they went.
Whatever happened to labor?
Sep 6th
Not Labor with a capital L, as in organized labor unions. I mean labor as in skilled workers solving interesting problems. I mean craftspeople who use their hands, their backs and their heads to do important work.
Labor was a key part of the manufacturing revolution. Industrialists needed smart, dedicated, trained laborers to solve interesting problems. Putting things together took more than pressing a few buttons, it took initiative and skill and care. Labor improvised.
It took thirteen years to build the Brooklyn Bridge and more than twenty-five laborers died during its construction. There was not a systematic manual to follow. The people who built it largely figured it out as they went.
Discovering Kindness In The Storm
Sep 6th
(Photo: Guillermo.D)
Sand storms bring out interesting conversation.
That’s what I was thinking as fine dust hit every inch of my face, flooding my sunglasses and burning my eyes. I pulled a white bandana up over my face, and then — as suddenly as it started — it ended.
The three people seated around me came back into view, I took a sip of water, and we continued where we left off. Just another late morning at Burning Man.
Your smile didn’t matter
Sep 5th
If you worked on the line, we cared about your productivity, not your smile or approach to the work. You could walk in downcast, walk out defeated and get a raise if your productivity was good.
No longer.
Your attitude is now what’s on offer, it’s what you sell. When you pass by those big office buildings and watch the young junior executives sneaking into work with a grimace on their face, it’s tempting to tell them to save everyone time and just go home.
The emotional labor of engaging with the work and increasing the energy in the room is precisely what you sell. So sell it.
Sometimes, price is an attitude
Sep 4th
Passed a store the other day. The sign read 99 CENTS! And the subtitle was, “Everything $1 and up”.
The 99 cent store was never popular because there’s some magical power about the price that is a penny less than a dollar. No, it’s because it represents an attitude, that this stuff is CHEAP. Not absolute cheap, just relatively cheap. Not even a good value, just cheap. Cheap compared to its non-cheap competition.
At the other end of the spectrum, the prices at the Hermes store appear to be missing a decimal point or two. The attitude is, “wow, this stuff is expensive.” It’s not about what you get, it’s about how it feels to pay that much.
Check-in, Chicken
Sep 3rd
One way to start every morning with your team is to have them check in. Go around in a circle and let people update and contribute. It’s not a silly exercise, in that it helps people speak up and it communicates forward motion.
Another way, probably a better one, is to have each member of the team announce what they’re afraid of. Two kinds of afraid, actually. Things that might fail and things that might work.
What are you, chicken?
Yes, we’re chicken. We’re afraid. The lizard has us by the claws.
Better than nothing (is harder than you think)
Sep 2nd
Most of the time, particulary in b2b and luxury sales, the competition is nothing.
“I will buy this treat or I will buy nothing, because I don’t really need anything.”
“I will buy your consulting services, or I’ll continue doing what I’m doing now on that front, which is nothing.”
None of the above.
“I will vote for you or I’ll do what I usually do, which is not vote.”
“I’ll hire you or I’ll hire no one.”
While you think your competition is that woman across town, it’s probably apathy, sitting still, ignoring the problem… nothing.
Launching the ShipIt Workbook
Sep 1st
Six months ago, I put together a workbook that would help Linchpin readers ship.
After testing it out on hundreds of people, it’s now ready for retail sale. [UPDATE on 9/2--yesterday, the workbook was so popular it went to the top 10 of all books on Amazon. And they sold all the warehouse could take. So it's sold out... I have shipped more to them, but they probably won't go on sale until the 8th. I'll update this post then. Thanks guys.]
You can find details here, or jump right to the buy page. The goal? To make you uncomfortable at the beginning of a project (and successful at the end).
Responsibility and authority
Sep 1st
Many people struggle at work because they want more authority.
It turns out you can get a lot done if you just take more responsibility instead. It’s often offered, rarely taken.
(And you can get even more done if you give away credit, relentlessly).
