I am not a big sports fan and I am certainly not a fan of athletes as heroes. But I have been intrigued by Pete Carroll of the Seahawks. I read that he views his job as making everyone in the Seahawks organization the best they can be. That is how I view the job of any business manager. Which led me to wanting to know more about Carroll’s management style.
Which led me to this book.
What makes those famous Silicon Valley companies attract and keep top talent? Given a choice, the talent went to work for Google, Facebook or Apple. What made them do that? Most people will argue that it's the competitive pay or extra benefits (such as free meals), but I have to disagree. These businesses all have the factor of innovation on side, allowing their staff to think big and to perform in fresh and new areas.
The result is ‘belonging,” the knowledge that they are part of something and their opinions matter. I am a firm believer that innovation is undeniably effective as a motivator. Maybe you are thinking you can't possibly afford to have a workplace powered by innovation, but that's where you would be wrong. I'll go through five ways you can bring innovation to your workplace, attracting and keeping the best local talent, however big or small your company is.
The bravest souls quit their jobs to pursue a dream of turning their passion into profit. Considering the time it takes to achieve success, passion can easily fizzle. There is a point of no return when it is too late to stop because so much has been invested.
We are not going to give up on a dream just because we are feeling tired; we have to find a way to bring back the energy and commitment we originally had for this endeavor.
In 1961 a band auditioned for a Decca Records deal. Decca Records rejected them , saying "guitar groups are on the way out" and "The band would have no future in show business,". That band was the The Beatles.
In 2003 a group of friends came together to start a gaming company. They made 51 games with no luck. Their 52nd game was Angry Birds.
Failed at business eight times, Milton Hershey founded the Hershey's which is now one of the largest chocolate manufacturers in the U.S.
He was rejected by Eddie Bond when the 18-year old Elvis Presley auditioned for his band. Eddie Bond 'advised' Presley to stick with driving trucks 'because you're never going to make it as a singer'. Shortly after, Presley recorded his first single. The rest is history.
What does it take to overcome failure? Hope, faith, belief... these are important, especially when failure feels imminent. This video might inspire you to have a little more faith in yourself and fuel your inspiration:
Now that we are well into the second month of the New Year, many of us are already thinking, “what have I accomplished this year?” If your answer is somewhere between “nothing” or “not much,” this quick get-up-and-get-working guide is for you.
When creating a plan to achieve long-term goals, people often become overwhelmed or intimidated by what appears to be a mountain of obstacles. To make the necessary changes, start small and keep it simple.
