Tag: stand out from the crowd

3 Powerful Questions to Stand Out from the Crowd

questionTo learn continuously, ask questions constantly. This is the very cornerstone of learning.  Many people already ask a lot of questions; some to the point of annoyance. However, those who stand out from the crowd ask a better quality of questions.

In today’s answer-oriented society, we have a dearth of good questions. We want information now, in digestible, low-calorie, high-fiber chunks. If the answer cannot be found on the first page of Google results, then it doesn’t exist or isn’t worth asking.

But it’s ok. It’s not your fault. Society teaches us to be Average and average people ask average questions. Average people ask “what?” or “when?” The socially inclined ask “who” (as in, “Who will see me there?”).

The Better than Average, those who stand out from the crowd, ask a different type of question. Their questions begin with “how?” or “why?” They probe for a deeper understanding of the issue. They want a greater context to provide better meaning. They want answers that aren’t readily found on the Internet. And sometimes, the answers they seek are high in fat, but a good fat, like Omega-3 found in salmon.

3 Most Powerful Questions

The Better than Average use the following 3 most powerful questions to get to the root of the issue:

  1. Why?
  2. So what?
  3. Who cares?

Once you can answer those questions, you will have a deeper understanding of your subject.

_____

Todd Brockdorf
Better than Average Guy
Author, Speaker, Consultant
[email protected]
Download Better than Average: Excelling in a Mediocre World

Post to Twitter Post to LinkedIn Post to StumbleUpon Post to Delicious Post to Reddit Post to Squidoo

Accomplishments

Sense of AccomplishmentSometimes we just need a win. It doesn’t need to be a large win. It just needs to be a win. As human beings we need to feel a sense of accomplishment. Something, ANYTHING, needs to get done. Done today. It’s that feeling of victory as we put the pen to paper and cross off one item on the To Do list.

It could be something like walking around the block for exercise. It could be paying that bill that’s been lingering. It could be cleaning the desk to prove that all of the clutter really does sit on something solid rather than magically levitates in the air.

Or, accomplishment may come from something bigger. It could be to push “Send” on that email that could change your path in life. It could be to publish that blog post that is wasting away in your computer. It could be to display your art publicly, instead of stashing it in the closet behind the winter coat that you haven’t used for years since you moved to Southern California.

We need to feel productive in some way. It’s why we work. Even if you work your job just to get a paycheck, it’s that paycheck that allows you to do your more preferred activities, like skiing, or camping, or crocheting sweaters for orphan puppies. In the end, you feel productive – you did your preferred activity. Even if you are loaded with money and don’t need to work, you still want to feel productive in some way (or so I’m told. No personal experience here.).

Go ahead. Get your victory on. Do something that’s been lingering. A weight will be lifted off your shoulders.

Do it. Do it today. Do it now.

_____

Todd Brockdorf
Better than Average Guy
Author, Speaker, Consultant
[email protected]
Download Better than Average: Excelling in a Mediocre World

Post to Twitter Post to LinkedIn Post to StumbleUpon Post to Delicious Post to Reddit Post to Squidoo

Be Specific in What You Want

The oldest rule in self-help literature is that “you must write down goals to achieve success.” If that idea is that old, as in as old as “the sun rises in the east and sets in the west”, why then, do we continue to read about it?

Because it works.

And, only better than average people do it.

Many people have goals. But they are not written. Unwritten goals are hopes.

Few people write down their goals. But they are vague. Unclear goals are wishes.

Rare is it to find one who writes down specific goals with an action roadmap. Those who do, have the best chance at achievement.

Be laser exact specific in what you want. Clarity breeds success.

While consulting, I find the biggest challenge of clients is their lack of clarity. They have an idea of what they hope to achieve, but it is vague. When you help someone achieve clarity, you help them reach a state of nirvana.

The world is your buffet. Be clear and take what you specifically want.

(image courtesy of Christian Gidlöf on WikiMedia)

_____

Todd Brockdorf
Better than Average Guy
Author, Speaker, Consultant
[email protected]
Download Better than Average: Excelling in a Mediocre World

Post to Twitter Post to LinkedIn Post to StumbleUpon Post to Delicious Post to Reddit Post to Squidoo

Turning Fear into Abundance

Turn Fear to AbundanceWe are scared. Scared that we won’t have a job. Scared that we won’t sell a product. Scared that we won’t make payroll.

We play in fear. Fear of rejection. Fear of loss. Fear of spiders.

The opposite of fear is abundance.

Somewhere will hire. Someone will buy. There is enough.

Change from a fear mindset to an abundance position to increase your chances of success.

What you verbalize comes true. If you think fearfully, speak abundantly.  Turn the fear into faith. Faith that you will succeed. Faith that your ideas will be heard. Faith that you will stand out from the crowd.

Look around. We live in the age of abundance. Access to the world’s information is in our pocket. We have more food than ever before. More people live in freedom. And it’s only getting better.

Find another customer to buy your goods. Take that lower paying job to make ends meet. Start the idea you’ve been putting off. Do what you need to do to persevere.

Someone somewhere needs your talents, services, or products. Go find them.

(image courtesy of Andy Potter on geograph)

_____

Todd Brockdorf
Better than Average Guy
Author, Speaker, Consultant
[email protected]
Download Better than Average: Excelling in a Mediocre World

Post to Twitter Post to LinkedIn Post to StumbleUpon Post to Delicious Post to Reddit Post to Squidoo

7 Things Generation Y Can Teach Us about the Workplace

Todd Brockdorf

There are no generational workplace differences. Quite simply, they are a myth. Yes, there are now four different generations working in the same place. However, all four generations still want the same things – respect, trustworthy leadership, stability, feedback, loyalty. See Jennifer J. Deal’s work at the Center for Creative Leadership.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, the question is, what can Generation Y teach us all – Boomers, Gen X’ers, Millennials, about the workplace. After all, the Gen Y’ers are starting to rise up the ranks of the corporate ladder. Or in some cases, are already sitting on top of it (aka Mr. Zuckerberg).

7 Things Generation Y Can Teach Us about the Workplace

  1. Ask Curious Questions – Generation Y is also known as “Generation Why” for a reason. They tend not to accept things as they are unless they understand the back story. In other words, the “why”. If we all asked more “why” questions, we could work to eliminate the ineffective/arcane/stupid processes, procedures, and practices that handcuff our abilities.
  2. Entrepreneurial Thinking – Generation Y wants to move fast and break things. They learn by trying, tinkering, and toiling. A company’s slow pace and bureaucratic overhead are the ball and chain of disenfranchisement. What would happen if we sped up decision making? Might a calculated risk pay off?
  3. Workplace Flexibility – It’s pointless to leave Generation Y trapped in the confines of their four-walled cubicle. They will find a way to bust out – one way or another. As we all try to do more with less, “work hours” are extending beyond 9-5. We can all embrace workplace flexibility. Who cares wherever or whenever work gets done, as long as it is on time and accurate? Who really cares if you are sitting in your PJs when you are responding to email? Do you really need to be in the office to do that? Of course not, and it shouldn’t matter to you if your coworkers do either.
  4. Unified Communications – Generation Y communicates through social media, text messaging, instant messaging, and to a lesser extent, email. Give your people the tools to be successful. Internal social media sites, instant messaging, and presence notifications (on the phone, busy, away from the desk), benefit everyone in the organization through quicker decision making and shared knowledge transfer.
  5. Feedback for Growth – One of the knocks of Generation Y is that they require constant feedback. So? Don’t you want to know how you’re doing? Or is sitting in the dark, stuck in the poop, like a mushroom, really a good way to grow? Feedback should be more than an annual occasion.
  6. Respect for Everyone – Generation Y grew up in a multicultural society. If they didn’t have it in their hometown, they saw it when they got to college. They accept people for who they are. They judge others on their merits, not preconceived notions or stereotypes. Can’t we all just get along?
  7. Expectations of Greatness – Above all, Generation Y wants to be inspired. They want to find meaning in their work. They want to do good. They want to understand a larger connection with the world. They expect greatness. If we all expect greatness in ourselves, our coworkers, and our company, we will find that meaning, the connectedness, and the good that we do.

_____

Todd Brockdorf
Better than Average Guy
Author, Speaker, Consultant
[email protected]

 

Post to Twitter Post to LinkedIn Post to StumbleUpon Post to Delicious Post to Reddit Post to Squidoo