Get Tuesday! - July 9, 2024
Hello, my friends!
I trust you all enjoyed a relaxing, sunny and safe Fourth of July weekend. I’m ecstatic to be back home after a long summer road-trip throughout the Midwest. I’m energized to continue to attacking work, building out content over here and enjoying summer nights in the pool.
I have some really unique things to share this week, all centered around different ways of thinking and perspective. I hope you enjoy!
My content diet
Just like with food, part of having a healthy content diet is metabolization.
When I read something interesting, I try to synthesize it or come up with an original thought about it. It helps me to engage with and save the content so I can pull from the thought later.
This means going beyond passive reading and actively engaging with the content. Here's how I approach a healthy "content diet":
Synthesize and Analyze: When I encounter an interesting idea, I don't just store it away. I try to synthesize it - break it down, understand its core message, and see how it connects to my existing knowledge.
Spark Original Thought: This process can spark original thoughts. Can I apply this idea to my own field? Does it challenge an assumption I held? Forming your own perspective strengthens your understanding.
Engagement for Retention: By actively engaging with content, I'm more likely to remember it later. Jotting down key points, discussing it with colleagues, or even formulating a counter-argument are all ways to solidify the information.
This "metabolization" process isn't just about personal learning. It allows you to:
Share Insights: When you've truly digested an idea, you can share it with a fresh perspective, offering valuable insights to your network.
Fuel Creativity: By connecting different concepts, you can spark new ideas and approaches to problems in your work or personal life.
Become a Thought Leader: By consistently engaging with content and sharing your unique take, you position yourself as someone who not only consumes information but actively contributes to meaningful discussions.
Combo of strengths
From James: “I’m not the best writer, but it is a strength. I might be a 90th percentile writer.
And I’m not the best marketer, but it is a strength. Again, maybe 90th percentile? I’m better than most, but if you pass 100 people on the street it won’t be hard to find some people better than me.
What I have gradually learned is that it is not your strengths, but your combination of strengths that sets you apart. It is the fact that writing and marketing are mutually reinforcing—and that I enjoy both—that leads to great results.”
Don't underestimate the power of uniqueness. Your greatest asset is likely the specific combination of skills and experience you bring to the table.
Picasso
It took 40 years to be able to draw something remarkable in one minute.
I've always loved this story about Picasso.
Truth or not, it resonates with me.
How to get your colleagues on board with your idea
In the early stages of your career, getting people to not only listen to, but to agree to or to act on your ideas or views can be challenging. And it stays challenging throughout different stages of your career.
When you want to persuade someone to see (or do) things your way, you may default to skills you’ve been socialized to exhibit: making a rational argument supported by data, persisting in the face of a challenge, and projecting confidence. But these strategies can be counterproductive. When others seem to be resisting your ideas, there is usually a deeper belief or concern informing their view — one that they aren’t saying out loud.
To uncover these roadblocks and see better results, you need to understand the other person’s reasoning, instead of trying to explain your own. The key is to ask the right questions. Click the link above for the full article.
98 : 2
“We often fixate on the visible and exciting, overlooking that most success comes from consistently doing the mundane, unglamorous work that few notice.
The 98/2 Rule: people spend 98% of their time talking about flashy things that contribute only 2% to the results, while overlooking the fact that 98% of the results come from consistently doing the boring basics that few notice.
Ask yourself: Does the attention you give to something truly reflect its true importance?”
