by Aubrey Patterson

A great many swear by their to-do lists, and with good reason. Psychologist, author, and film-maker David Cohen maintains that a completed list greatly reduces anxiety.

Individuals with a strong internal locus of control believe events in their life derive primarily from their own actions, whereas those with a strong external locus of control tend to praise or blame external factors. A list is a way of being in charge. Sorting things out and getting jobs done gives you a sense of having influence on a world that seems beyond your control. - David Cohen

But these feelings of influence and control come at a cost.

Because it’s easy to add things to a list, our to-do items can quickly grow to an unmanageable number. To make things worse, as our well-intentioned lists expand, lesser items begin to take on equal importance with our most impactful work.

Simply put, putting too much stock in that convenient and coveted to-do list often leads to us spending...

by Aubrey Patterson

We all have good ideas.

And we should share them and hope our teammates elevate them into something remarkable.

When we have an idea but don’t act upon it, at best it’s just a good intention.

Some people think generous sharing can help a relationship, but vision without action creates disappointment in those we've excited with a new idea.

Someone who frequently offers ideas and rarely acts is communicating, “I have the ideas, you need to do the work.”

Good intentions only count when accompanied by good effort.

Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work.

- Peter Drucker

When we offer a new thought that is received enthusiastically, the actions of each team member should immediately be entered into some form of a shared task document.

Dreams are turned into action when we know who will do what by when, including the commitments of the leader who just motivated the...

by Aubrey Patterson

Many of us rely on willpower to actualize our biggest goals.

When we want to lose weight, we access willpower to prevent us from eating a piece of cake. 

If we want to save money, we use willpower to not click buy now on Amazon.

And when we want to wake up early, we use willpower to quickly get out of bed.

This common approach certainly seems to make sense. However, consistently relying on willpower is an exhausting, demoralizing, and failing strategy for most.

Willpower vs. Systems

Willpower is like a muscle. It needs to be consistently exercised or it can get weak.

Habits don’t require additional energy. They happen automatically.

If this, then that habits are most desirable because they require neither a lot of thought nor willpower. 

Powerful habits work together with beautiful synergy and beget excellent...

by Aubrey Patterson

In 1965, the founder of Intel, Gordon Moore, predicted that computer chips would exponentially increase in power while decreasing in size. This became known as Moore's Law and has been proven correct over the past 50 years. 

It isn't much of a stretch to extrapolate that an increase in the speed and convenience of computing has led to a corresponding escalation in the amount of information coming at us each day. 

So how can we keep up with the dizzying growth of information received and the multitude of channels that deliver new inputs seemingly by the minute? 

Predictability is desirable, but being overwhelmed certainly is not.

There's no app for this

We all know someone who adopts every new productivity app and very convincingly attempts to gain fellow converts.

Though well-intentioned, these efforts rarely amount to much because increasing productivity and peace of mind doesn't happen...

by Aubrey Patterson

People expressing they can count on us is one of the best compliments we can ever receive.

Being dependable, reliable, and consistent are qualities that speak to our level of dedication.

When we are dedicated to anything or anyone, we become a credible person. 

Commitment, Consistency, and Credibility

It's certainly frustrating to deal with people who say they are making a commitment but refuse to offer a time frame. When there is no clarity regarding what will be done and when, there really is no commitment or reliability. 

Much more damaging is when team members consistently don't meet agreed upon deadlines and trust becomes an issue. 

Trust is the highest form of human motivation. - Dr. Stephen Covey

One Commitment at a Time

Credibility takes time. There aren't any shortcuts to developing it.

How we do one thing Is most often how we do everything. 

...

by Aubrey Patterson

When scheduling your priorities into your calendar, how often do you place a time block on Someday?

It's a silly question, right?

Someday doesn't exist on the calendar.

We've heard the expression, there are seven days in a week and Someday isn’t one of them.

Planning to do something someday is saying that what we want is just a pipe dream.  A lack of risk and effort makes someday a frequently used excuse that doesn't allow us to take advantage of a sudden opportunity.

Procrastination is opportunity’s natural assassin. - Victor Kiam

Someday doesn't exist on any calendar and never will. If we keep loading everything into this phantom day, nothing will come of our dreams and we'll look back one day upon a devastating pile of regrets. 

You can’t be that kid standing at the top of the waterslide, overthinking it. You have to go down the chute. - Tina Fey

by Aubrey Patterson

Let's try this metaphor on for size:

Imagine putting together a large puzzle, filled with different images and colors, without the benefit of the picture on the box. Of course it’s confusing to know where to place all the pieces without knowing what we're creating.

Leadership doesn’t come with a box. The picture might only become clear as we put the pieces together. 

If we don’t know the kind of leader we are meant to be, it can be difficult to put the pieces together in a meaningful way. 

Often new and aspiring leaders try putting pieces together based on the images passed down to them by previous leaders and inspirational role models. Sadly, they might get mired in imposter syndrome before they even begin. We can become unfairly disappointed in ourselves because we lack the pieces others so eloquently display. 

We can try forcing the...

by Aubrey Patterson

Not all moments are equal.

By preparing ourselves and truly tuning in to what the world is saying, we can take advantage of timing.

Many don’t account for time; they believe they will always have the opportunity to achieve their goals. 

This simply isn't true.

Our people, environment, and team cultures are forever evolving.

Our goals don’t wait around until we can find a more convenient time. They are available only for a small snapshot of time before disappearing in an abyss of I should have’s.

Chapter Breaks

A slight delay in the timing of our actions could be the difference between an overwhelming success or an unremarkable result.

Such lessons are perhaps best illustrated by social media. As a new platform gains traction, there is a much greater opportunity to carve out space before others even create a profile.

Similar opportunities that are much less obvious are always available if we are attuned to our...

by Aubrey Patterson

Have you ever considered the time and patience required to visualize and actualize some of the world’s greatest achievements?

• Builders spent 26 painstaking months to complete the Eiffel Tower.
• Da Vinci took 4 years to finish the Mona Lisa.
• Michelangelo painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel over a period of 4 years.

It takes incredible discipline to do seemingly ordinary things for an extraordinarily long period of time, especially when the daily results are barely noticeable.

But masterpieces are created gradually, gradually, then suddenly.

Gradually, gradually, then suddenly

In Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises, a character named Mike is questioned about how he went bankrupt. “Two ways,” he replies. “Gradually, then suddenly.”

It didn't happen suddenly, you just noticed it suddenly. - Seth Godin

Hurrying and scurrying

We seem to have a default set to impatience.

While some things are best done quickly, the...

by Melody Stacy

“That’s not my job.”

“Don’t blame me. I’m just doing what they told me to do.”

These sentiments indicate a lack of ownership and a culture of compliance.

As we continue our series on forces of mediocrity, those strong inertias that try to pull us back to the status quo just as we are seeking greatness, let’s take a look at compliance and how, instead, we can build a culture of commitment. (check out part 1 and part 2)

Commitment outlasts compliance

Giving orders and expecting others to simply follow those orders is one of our quickest on-ramps to mediocrity.

Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness

- William H. Murray

Building commitment, on the other hand, allows for growth, freedom, and creativity. It invites contribution and empowers people to take initiative.

How can we fend off compliance as a force of mediocrity?

Try this quick...