PROGRESSION: Do NOT Follow Your Passion, Stillness Book Giveaway, and What Psychological Safety Actually Means
May 2020
I spent this past weekend in Southern California with family, taking Friday off of work. With the Memorial Day holiday, I was able to have a four-day weekend, and wow did it feel good to disconnect! I hope in the midst of this difficult period you’re able to unplug and spend time with loved ones.
Last month I launched The Not Your Parents' Workplace Show on YouTube with the goal of creating quick videos (5-10 mins) to help people accelerate career growth.
I quickly received feedback that many were interested in the show but don’t spend a lot of time on YouTube, preferring podcasts instead. So, The Not Your Parents' Workplace Show is now available as a podcast.
Please consider subscribing on one of the following platforms:
Apple: https://apple.co/2T8URbu
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Now let’s jump into our regularly scheduled programming.
Books, articles, etc.
The Icarus Deception: How High Will You Fly? by Seth Godin (Book)
Seth Godin is tough to beat, and I recommend this one as an audiobook as there’s something magical about his voice. The title comes from the mythological story of Icarus, whose father made him wings and warned him not to fly too close to the sun. Of course, Icarus ignored his father’s counsel and fell to his death.
The lesson we take from this is to play it safe and listen to the experts. But Godin shares that we too often forget that Icarus was also warned not to fly too low because seawater would ruin the lift in his wings. Godin argues that too many of us fly too low, and that flying low is even more dangerous than flying too high because it feels deceptively safe.
This message sets the tone for a powerful book on being more creative and pushing back on the constraints of the industrial economy. I highly recommend it for anyone looking to be more courageous, whether it be launching a new venture, making art, or striving to have more meaning at work.
My favorite quote from The Icarus Deception: “Change is powerful, but change always comes with the possibility of failure as its partner. ‘This might not work’ isn’t merely something to be tolerated; it’s something you must seek out.”
The 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure by Grant Cardone (Book)
Grant Cardone may not be for everybody, but after hearing my brother quote him several times I decided to try out one of his books. In summary, The 10X Rule says that you should set targets that are 10X greater than what you believe you can achieve and that you should take actions that are 10X greater than what you believe is necessary to achieve your goals.
Cardone argues that the biggest mistake people make is not setting goals high enough and that taking massive action is the only way to become the person you want to be. One habit I found interesting is that Cardone writes down his goals every day. Yes, every single day. He says that doing so helps him stay laser-focused on what he wants to accomplish.
Cardone is known for sales training, so, as expected, there’s a lot of hype and energy throughout. Yet I was surprised by how much The 10X Rule resonated with me. After reading this book and The Icarus Deception, I walked away convinced that the goals I’ve set for myself and my team are not high enough.
What Psychological Safety Actually Means for Teams by Shane Snow (Article)
Fantastic article from Shane Snow. I especially liked the contrast between safety and comfort. In his words, “A good fitness trainer will help you to safely exercise and grow your muscles. And you will be uncomfortable. But you will be safe. The job of a leader is not to protect their team from discomfort. It’s to protect them from harm—and to help motivate them to push through the discomfort and harness it for growth.”
Too often I hear leaders (me included!) say they want to create a safe environment when in reality their actions are focused on making everyone feel more comfortable. If you like the article, I highly recommend reading Snow’s Smartcuts. It continues to be one of my favorite books and has a lot of counterintuitive advice for career growth.
Observations
The Worst Career Advice and What to Do Instead
“Follow your passion!” “Find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life!” You hear it all the time. While well-intended, I’ve found this to be the worst career advice that's out there. In this episode of The Not Your Parents’ Workplace Show, I explore why and discuss three practical things you should do instead.
Recent episodes include:
This Simple Tool Will Stop Anger From Destroying Your Career: Podcast | YouTube
3 Daily Practices to Thrive During COVID-19: Podcast | YouTube
Career Q&A with Mia Mabanta, Head of Talent and Growth Initiatives at Y Combinator
Our next Career Q&A is with Mia Mabanta, Head of Talent and Growth Initiatives at Y Combinator. Mia provides excellent advice on the power of long walks, why ‘fake it ’til you make it’ is bad advice, and how immigrating to the US taught her to be scrappy and resourceful. I hope you enjoy her insights as much as I did.
Stillness is the Key Giveaway
Last year I met Ryan Holiday at a book signing for Stillness is the Key. I loved the book and have found its principles even more valuable over the last few months. I have two free copies to give away. If you’d like one, hit reply and write “Stillness”.
Gratitudes
I’ve found power in regularly expressing gratitude so I’ll continue the habit. I am grateful for the power of coaching! I got serious about coaching others earlier this year and decided to hire a coach for myself. Having a coach has been an absolute game-changer for me and I’m grateful for the value he’s provided.
Thanks for reading. If you've read anything worth sharing I'd love to hear about it. If you have topics you’d like covered in the Not Your Parents’ Workplace Show or feedback on how to improve it, please don’t hesitate to reach out. And do let me know if there's anything I can do to help you.
Nathan
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