"How to develop your own inner genius"/ "How would you work differently, if you knew you were leaving?"

Apr. 21, 2018 "How to develop your own inner genius": Today I found this article by Rick Lash in the Globe and Mail:

Senior client partner at Korn Ferry Hay Group

Like millions of people around the world, I couldn’t stop smiling while watching the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket lift-off carrying Elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster. For an extended moment, I shared the sense of pure awe and youthful exuberance of the SpaceX team, cheering as the massive rocket roared off the launch pad. 

Beyond the incredible technical feat, the event provides an important lesson in how genius can drive innovation that will shape how we’ll work and live in the 21st century and, most importantly, what future employers will be looking for in the people they hire.

 Want to work for SpaceX? Consider this job offer on their website: “An unparalleled opportunity to play a direct role in transforming space exploration and helping us realize the next evolution of humanity as a multi-planetary species.” Who wouldn’t want to work for that kind of company? 

Launching an electric car into space, creating the iPod, inventing the parachute – the results of the genius of Mr. Musk, Steve Jobs and Leonardo da Vinci. Although very few of us will become the next Mr. Musk, we all have genius potential. In looking at the minds of great geniuses past and present, certain patterns emerge; what we know is that genius is a discipline that can be learned and harnessed. Here are a few tips for developing your own inner genius.

Be curious (about everything)

Writer Walter Isaacson’s recent biography of da Vinci reveals that he taught himself how to be a genius by being curious about everything, from studying the tongue of a hummingbird to the design of war machines and, of course, painting. 

He was the textbook definition of a polymath – someone who has wide-ranging knowledge and expertise. We see this in other geniuses. Mr. Jobs was a computer geek, but also deeply interested in calligraphy and Buddhism. And Mr. Musk has passions from space to health sciences to farming and the entertainment industry.

Too often, we adopt the mistaken belief that being curious will take away from more important things, such as our careers and ability to earn a living. Instead, think of being curious as a way to enrich who you already are, something that will actually make you better at what you do. 

I was recently surprised to learn that a brilliant colleague of mine, an expert in evaluating jobs, had gone back to university several years ago to take a degree in winemaking and went on to run a vineyard, all while being a skilled silversmith. He explained that he sees patterns between these very different disciplines, and the mix helps him bring a more well-rounded approach to his client work. The lesson is: be curious for the pure joy of curiosity, not because it’s simply useful or practical. 

Another important habit to fuel your curiosity is to keep a learning journal. A leader I know has kept journals over the past 20 years, filled with quotes, models, personal reflections – almost everything and anything that interested him about his role, his company and his life. 

He is one of the most curious people I have ever met. So start a journal; be like da Vinci and begin by writing down all the questions you want to answer. Then start the exciting journey of exploring.

Manage your energy, not your time

Most of us don’t have unlimited time to pursue all our passions, but we often allow ourselves to get caught in the No. 1 thinking trap that limits our inner genius – perceived lack of time. 

Time is a limited resource; you will never have enough. Instead of managing your time, learn how to manage your energy. Great geniuses bring unbounded energy to everything they do, and they had no more time than you or me. 

In a recent Harvard Business Review article, Catherine McCarthy explains that unlike time, our energy is an unlimited resource that can always be replenished. 

She recommends building simple rituals to manage your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual energy, such as getting enough sleep, expressing appreciation to others, reducing interruptions and, most importantly, doing “sweet-spot” activities more often – activities aligned with your passions and values. All these rituals feed our wellspring of energy, which, over time, can shape our genius.

Work across disciplines

Several years ago, we studied the career progression of leaders at IBM. What we found is that those who progressed to the highest levels had made more career moves across very different types of roles compared to those who remained in one function or specialty. 

In our increasingly complex world, specialization is often seen as the key to success. So many of us choose between science, humanities or art, but that leads to a false dichotomy, and great geniuses know that. Einstein was an accomplished violinist, the great film actress Hedy Lamarr invented a radio guidance system that became the basis of Bluetooth technology, and, of course, da Vinci was both an artist and a great scientist.

Learning to read music builds pattern recognition, drawing develops observational and analytical skills, and taking an improv class strengthens your ability to think quickly and laterally. And nowhere is the need to branch into the arts and sciences more obvious than in today’s digital economy, which requires a unique mixture of technical ability combined with creativity and a deep understanding of business.. 

A recent Korn Ferry study of 350 digital leaders showed that the traits they possessed included curiosity, the ability to manage ambiguity, the willingness to take risks, and the ability to engage and inspire others. 

So sit down at the old piano you haven’t played in years or take a painting class at your local art school. Your inner genius will thank you.

The reflection of the earth in the windshield of a red Tesla Roadster, with a whimsical spaceman mannequin at the wheel, speaks to pure genius and is inspiring a new generation to change the world and do something no one has ever done before. Mr. Musk himself said he was surprised at the success of the lift-off and was fully prepared to see a rubber tire roll down the launch pad as the Falcon Heavy rocket exploded. 

But it didn’t. And that leads us to the final and perhaps most important factor in genius – resilience, the ability to stay focused on a bigger goal, despite any challenges. Ultimately, that is the power of genius and why we all need to nurture it in ourselves and others. 

Our collective future literally depends on it, because highly innovative and visionary organizations like SpaceX are fueling the new economy, and they are looking for that spark of genius in us all.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/careers/leadership/article-how-to-be-a-genius/

My opinion: I am about managing my energy.  I know I am most alert in the morning so I do all the hard stuff like looking for a job first.

This article inspires me to be creative.

May 28, 2018 "How would you work differently, if you knew you were leaving?": Today I found this article by Naomi Titleman Colla in the Globe and Mail:

It’s happened to so many of us – we are heads down, working hard at our jobs, losing sight of professional and personal goals and priorities because we are “too swamped” with “back to back” schedules. Then, all of a sudden, life happens – a new relationship, a child’s milestone, a severe illness or death, a lost job – either to ourselves or to a loved one and it puts things into perspective and we remind ourselves that life’s too short and that we haven’t been focused on the right things.

By contrast, many of us have experienced the sense of freedom that comes with an imminent departure from a role or organization. Priorities shift and stress is alleviated …but somehow work continues to get done, and often more efficiently and productively.

What would happen if we worked like we knew we were leaving? I don’t mean slacking off and not delivering on commitments; in fact, quite the contrary. I mean, what if we refocused on what matters and stopped sweating the small stuff? Could this mindset shift and a few simple tactics lead to higher engagement and productivity?

Set your own milestones and work with urgency

Most of us do not want to leave loose ends when we are moving on – so apply this same thinking in your daily modus operandi. Don’t wait for your leader or the “powers that be” to set deadlines for you. 

Set aggressive, yet realistic, timelines for yourself, set expectations with your leader(s) and stay focused on the milestones that will ultimately drive towards attaining your (and the organization’s) goals.

Get out there

Be curious about the things that interest you and tie to your purpose – take a step back from your job description and make time for “play.” You can do this by attending external industry events, volunteering for interesting projects, meeting like-minded people, reading up on or blogging about relevant topics and so forth. This will help you stay engaged, build your brand and will also benefit your organization as you bring in fresh perspectives.

Take time for the proverbial ‘lunch’

Break time is essential, not just for mental and physical wellness, but also for creativity and innovation. At many organizations today, workers don’t take lunch breaks – either because they want to get out earlier to tend to their home obligations or because they simply don’t have enough time in the day to get their work done. It is critical that workers have some unstructured time in their days to clear their minds and connect with others.

Don’t let perfect get in the way of ‘good enough’

How many times have we reformatted and revised materials that are ultimately never used? This is not only frustrating and demoralizing for workers, but is a waste of company resources. Perfection gets in the way of relevance – being quick to market with “good enough” is critical in today’s competitive business environment vs. slow and perfect.

Nurture positive relationships, and let go of negative ones

Don’t be too busy to keep up with the mentors, mentees, sponsors and colleagues that support you, both within and outside of your current organization – if/when you do leave, these will be the people that will vouch for you. When you know that you’re leaving is an obvious time to reach out to your network but it may be too late to reignite relationships that have gone stale.

Let go of the things you can’t control

Try to eliminate unnecessary noise that tamper productivity and increase anxiety and instead focus on the milestones you need to achieve. For example, politics exist in every organization – being aware of them is wise; trying to control them is exhausting.

Make deliberate choices about where you spend time

That doesn’t mean that personal always comes before work, but use the five-year rule (or the “If I left tomorrow” rule): In five years (or if I left tomorrow), would I regret having prioritized that work obligation over that personal one?

Finally, think about the mark you want to leave on the company … and don’t wait to make it. And be proactive about what you want to take with you – I don’t mean proprietary information, I mean the experiences and relationships (mentors, mentees, sponsors) you will carry with you for the rest of your career journey.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/careers/management/article-how-would-you-work-differently-if-you-knew-you-were-leaving/