2Weeks2aBreakthrough

Sass it Up Baby!

We are all so polite, you know? Well, perhaps not everyone is polite, but I think that most people walk around with a nice polished exterior.

We try not to offend.
We try not to stand out.
We hope we don't ruffle any feathers or step into someone else's sandbox.

It's all very tiresome, don't you think? Sure we want peace, joy and love - but I only want it if it is REAL. If  someone wants to step in my sandbox, I say come on in and make me defend my territory! I might find that it's the best thing that happened today.

I like authentic sass. Sass means we are alive - it means we are provoked - it means we care. Sass is fun.

I know there are cultural differences, but try sassing it up relative to what works for you. Sass brings forth the out loud and animated version of you.

Sass will look different based on our behavioral tendencies. My sass can be a bit jarring because my unsassy state might seem quite sassy to others. I have friends who are so reserved in their expressions that their sass can only be detected with a magnifying glass.

Sassy.

The dictionary defines sass as cheeky or rude. Some sass is rude, but I think sass can also be a beautiful thing.

My favorite bloggers get sassy and the posts that seem to get the most hits and comments are those where I get sassy. You must like sassy too.

We all like sassy even if it's a pain in the rear sometimes - a lively pain. Hey, got a meeting later? Sass it up and be the hero/heroine of the day. Sass up your dinner conversation.  Sass up with your boss.

What does the animated YOU look like and what can you do right now to enliven him/her?

Oh how I long for more conversations with sass!

2007 - Year of the Breakthrough

I declare 2007 the year of the breakthrough!

Breakthroughs for you, breakthroughs for me, and breakthroughs for those who we touch. Breakthroughs for the world.

While in New Zealand, I came in contact with one of nature's most beautiful fractals - the fiddle-head. In overly simple terms, a fractal is a shape that continues itself whether you zoom in or zoom out. I love fractals.

The fiddle-head is the sprout of a fern leaf.

This curly wonder is the inspiration behind the Maori (New Zealand indigineous people) symbol called the Koru. The Koru symbolizes new growth, beginnings, harmony, and peace.

It's the symbol that makes up my website logo, too. And this is somewhat by serendipity. I have always loved spirals and their fractal nature, so I asked my graphic artist to work up logos using a spiral. I never consciously thought of the fiddle-head or meaning of the koru, though - until my trip to New Zealand. My logo was everywhere (and in basically the same color)!

So it is with this symbol of new beginnings that I declare 2007 the year of the breakthrough. This ties into my personal genius, which is catalyzing breakthroughs (Dick, I know you don't think this is  my fully baked genius, but I am still here at the moment). This focus also ties into my mission to help managers and leaders produce amazing results and build great companies. How I will punctuate the year of breakthroughs:

• I have reopened the Two Weeks to a Breakthrough blog (this post is being posted both places). Several of you were disappointed when I put it on the shelf (thanks for that). Also, after what seems like an eternity, the book is finally coming out at the end of February. Looking back at why I shut down the blog, I think I needed a break from that and now I am ready to play full out again. Promise: I am going to go deep on this blog. Request: Put the Two Weeks blog in your aggregator or subscribe to it's feed. Thanks!
• I will be asking all my podcast guests about the breakthroughs they wish to generate and how they will do that (I don't really intend to prep them about this, I will just launch into a mini coaching conversation after the main topic is discussed).
• I will be focusing on writing more provocative posts that have the potential to catalyze breakthroughs.
• I will challenge myself to think bigger and bolder - my thoughts have been a bit small recently.
• And many other projects that I have not yet conceived. Feel free to share your ideas!

Join me in embracing breakthrough generation in 2007 (or what's left of 2006 - no time like the present!). Define a breakthrough goal for January. What could happen in January that would make a big positive difference to your life and to others with whom you interact?

One personal breakthrough I hope to acheive aside from my work in business arena is to develop a more successful (emphasis on quality) creative writing practice. To that end, I started a new blog called Essay a Smile. If you enjoy essays or poems or posts about writing, check it out.

Is Anyone Still Out There?

I put this blog into hibernation about 4 months ago. At the time, I felt like most of the posts were also appropriate for Management Craft, which has a lot more readers. And I needed a break, I think.

Well, I am back with posts focused on breakthroughs, development, success, and other variations of forward leaps. Is anyone still out there?

I'd like to start by reminding readers - and myself - about a practice that I used to do every week but that has slipped off my radar for too long. It's called unreasonable requests. Fellow blogger Curt Rosengren wrote about my habit here.

Honestly, I have not made unreasonable requests for a while - and this shows in my results (or lack of results). Today I got reinvigorated and started my practice back up. I began with several requests for new podcast guests - I aimed big and have already gotten two YESes. Making big requests really does work! I also have my mind set on making some big requests in the next 48 hours in the areas of career, leisure, and partnership. I'll keep you updated on the results.

When making big requests, timing is important. There are two lessons in this statement. First, try to curb your eagerness if you are very impatient (I am VERY impatient). Giving something a wee bit more time is often best. I have a situation that has been brewing right now that I an itching to close but I know that if I give it another one or two weeks, the outcome will likely be better.

Second, don't be shy to repeat a request at a different time. I made a few requests today that I had made before but the timing was bad. So far, one yes!

The most important aspect of making big requests is to go BIG and then be thrilled with any YESes you get.  Don't get bummed out about the NOs.

My request for you. I would guess that only a few people will still have this blog on their reading list. Help me bring it back by posting a link on your blog or sending a link in an email to 10 friends. THANKS!

As you will read in an upcoming post, 2007 is the year of the breakthrough, so there will be lots going on at this blog. Thanks for tuning in!