Susan Marshall’s Media

The Backbone Institute 2010
Cultivate Your Uniqueness

Welcome to the New Year! We’re glad you’re with us.

Think of your favorite movies, TV shows, your favorite author, musician, or teacher.

• A primary objective of The Backbone Institute is to help you build confidence. When your confidence is high and founded on substance—competence is the term we use—you are more likely to make stronger contributions than less confident people.
• We live in a competitive society.
• People look up to the best in their industry as role models. That’s natural. What sometimes happens is that you forget that your life is not their life and that how they got to be the way they are has little to do with how you got to be who you are.
• What about “Dress for Success?”
• Some consultants advise mimicking your boss if you want to be promoted.
• At The Backbone Institute, we say “No!” Dress for success—OK. Aspirational. Best you in your next role. But trying to be someone else doesn’t work.
• Focus your attention on being the best YOU and offering your talent, expertise, and viewpoint.

Think about your favorite movies, TV shows, books, or music. Don’t each of the characters have a unique personality or role?

The world needs YOU, not a second best someone else.

The Backbone Institute weekly feature: CALL UP YOUR CHARACTER

Take some time to consider what you are especially good at. (Practice Critical Thinking)
• Seeing the stories in data/numbers
• Getting people to collaborate
• Generating new ideas for products or services
• Answering questions from a hostile press/audience
• Getting small children to play well together
• Making people laugh
•
Thinking about what you’re not good at (and should improve) diminishes confidence. We all have shortcomings.

When you can identify something you’re really good at and find ongoing evidence that it makes a difference, you begin to build an identity. Your uniqueness provides a platform for building your confidence.

e.e. cummings: “The hardest thing to do is to be you in a world trying to make you into someone else.”

When you can identify and cultivate your uniqueness, you add a dimension to your team/company that advances your competitive position.

Don’t aspire to be somebody else. Do what YOU do. Bring this New Year to your door and have fun being you, making strong contributions!

PLANNING FOR 2010 WITH THE BACKBONE INSTITUTE

Last week we talked about the importance of Reflection in getting ready for a bold launch in 2010. We practiced reviewing your calendar and seeking clues to help you have a stronger, more productive, and happier 2010.

Today’s work: Planning

Two things to consider before we get to planning.

1. It’s easy, when you look back, to find the things you did wrong. (Or think you did wrong.) We often seek to correct mistakes, thinking that this will take us to greater success. But if we make incorrect cause and effect judgments, we may be on the wrong track. Sports analogy: Have a short-term memory. “Acknowledge and move on!”

2. Recognize how much of your time was spent doing things others have recommended vs. working on things YOU want to do to advance your success.
a. Case in point: Many people go to networking events believing that their visibility will enhance their chances of getting new business.
b. Most people admit to feeling uncomfortable at networking events and view them as “necessary evils.”
c. If you do not have a networking objective and plan, you are likely wasting your time and that of others.

THE BACKBONE INSTITUTE’S WEEKLY CALL UP YOUR CHARACTER!
Play to WIN, not to “not lose.” When you play to not lose, you become conservative, afraid of making mistakes and… you make mistakes. When you play to not lose, you lose. When you play to win, you are more excited, determined and focused. You take your game to your opponent.

PLAY TO WIN, NOT TO LOSE.
• Mindset
• Energy
• Daily habits

What do you want to accomplish in 2010? - You did this last week.
• What work do you want to do?
• What income do you want to earn?
• What do you want your life outside work to be like?
• Whose life do you want to influence?

What help do you need?
It can be hard to ask for help. Nobody wants to feel deficient. But you cannot do everything you need to do to succeed on your own. When you can be vulnerable, you allow others to open up, too.
• What skills are necessary to meet your 2010 goals?
• Which of these skills will you need from others?
• Who will you contact?
• What will you ask for?

Look at your social media contacts; surely there is someone in your network who can help.

What resources do you need?
Important to know as you ask for help.
• Knowledge/experience
• Money
• Technology
• Marketing
• Production and Distribution

How committed to your goal(s) will you be? Your commitment affects the willingness of others to help you. Create a plan!

Where can you find these resources?
• Social media
• Family, friends, neighbors
• Networking groups
• Community groups

When you know what you want, you can go look for it with purpose.
Practice the discipline of creating a weekly action list. Make it and work it!

OUT TAKES:
This is what the process of creating The Backbone Institute podcasts sounds like before editing. It’s far from perfect AND it’s a ton of fun!

Happy New Year!
Happy New Decade!