Week 24.05 Magician's Mindset

It is hard to believe that January is almost over and that we are verging on completing the first 10% of the year! The Agency is already experiencing tremendous growth, and we have much to do. We have done an excellent job building our internal capacity; our relationship-first philosophy is holding us in good stead. We have new ideas we are excited to bring to market, supporting the growth of the most value-creating leaders who become flourishing and even more impactful. As we grow, we are actively seeking elite coaches who have demonstrated experience working with C-Suite and CEOs in major companies. And we have some new books we are working on. When Jacquelyn and I wonder whether we need to make some hard choices or do everything, we remember Harry Kraemer's wisdom that we all have the same 168 hours in a week, so if Steve Jobs could do what he did, surely we can accomplish a fraction of that. We need to adopt a Magician's Mindset to do what we want.

With so many potential projects, the details of each one can become overwhelming. Each person has their own needs and contributions, and trying to force everything to fit together can feel like a puzzle too complex to solve. The magician's mindset is oriented around the energetic essence of people and organizations rather than tactical details. It's about connecting to potential rather than reacting to constraints. Magicians empower people to exceed perceived limitations and boundaries. Once the impossible is done, it creates a new reality for others to ascend to. The Magician's Mindset is Essence-Focused.

In the early stages of new ideas, the fully realized solution is rarely obvious. The bigger the idea, the further away the answer seems. The magician speaks and thinks in metaphors as a way to envision possibilities. Sees alignments and patterns everywhere to make sense of the world. Strong expectation that desired outcomes will unfold through being deeply in flow, even if the path is unclear. The future manifesting is real in the present. The Magician's Mindset Operates in Metaphor.

With so many options and moving pieces, it often appears impossible for it all to work. Sharpening the pencil and trying to draw out the solution often forces decisions earlier than they need to be made. Walls and barriers loom large, rivers to forge look wide. The magician expects perfect alignments will emerge to address needs. Surprising changes that look problematic on the surface end up being ideal solutions. Barriers around finances, resources, and skills are immaterial from the realm of essence. These constraints don't dictate what's possible. The Magician's Mindset Dematerializes Obstacles and Breathes Synchronicity.

The magician's mindset is ultimately about being unencumbered by the material world to playfully dance with potentiality and trust in unfolding. It's a light, expansive, and creative orientation. Of course, the rubber will eventually meet the material world's road, but while we dream of what's possible, we must not let reality interfere with our dreams. In life and leadership, our times of most extraordinary growth and expansion come in our untethered imagination. Think back to centuries ago (or even decades) and consider all the things we take for granted today that are only possible because someone imagined the impossible. To create the lives we want for those we love and lead, from time to time, we need to allow ourselves to inhabit the Magician's Mindset. 

With love, gratitude, and wonder. 

Scott

Remember To Take Inventory Of The Things That Come Easy, Too by Whitney Johnson

It's a pretty common psychological principle – when we can look at the fruits of our labor, we get more satisfaction from doing it, and we tend to work faster, too. For example, taking inventory of everything you've accomplished in a year is a powerful motivating force. You know how long it took you to fold all those extra-larges.

But what about taking inventory of the blessings we didn't work for at all? When I go on vacation, I have a tendency to come off the plane, open the laptop, and immediately pretend like I didn't just learn to zipline and surf. Like deflecting a compliment, it's almost second nature. There's some part of me, and others, I think, that believes if it's unearned, it's not as valuable. Listening to the rain is easy – nailing the big presentation is hard, and our bodies are wired to reward success against the odds.

"In the early morning, I heard the monkeys talking to each other. They were quite boisterous." Simple, small things are just as valuable as big promotions. When you Step Back To Grow, do you see the whole picture? Or are you just focusing on how long it took you to fold those extra-large boxes – and how many more are left?

Take time to pause and reflect on the small moments.

Becoming More Collaborative When Your Impulse Is to Be Territorial by Jenny M Fernandez, MBA, 费 珍妮, Kathryn Landis, and Julie Lee, Ph.D.

Many leaders become territorial and overprotective of their teams, client relationships, and resources to preserve their ability to succeed. It’s not uncommon for talented leaders to compete internally with their peers for people, investment, and attention; in fact, it’s often that individual drive that made them successful in the first place. However, when you’re looking to scale your leadership and reach the C-suite, this “fend for yourself” mentality will stop you in your tracks.

It’s not uncommon for talented leaders to compete internally with their peers for people, investment, and attention; in fact, it’s often that individual drive that made them successful in the first place. However, when you’re looking to scale your leadership and reach the C-suite, this “fend for yourself” mentality will stop you in your tracks. In this article there are four strategies to help senior leaders redefine “winning” as a shared goal.

The Surprising Tool That Causes Breakthroughs In My Coaching by Maya Hu-Chan

High-performing entrepreneurs and executives are usually experts at understanding the needs of their teams, clients, and customers. They’re often not, though, experts at understanding their own needs.

When it comes to connecting with what they truly want or uncovering what their emotions are trying to tell them, many of them fall short. In these moments, I often find success with a surprising, powerful tool: leaning on images, not words, to reveal what’s important. This tool of visual metaphor and visualization allows these executives to merge their rational, analytical selves with their intuitive selves.

If you are having trouble articulating a goal, deciphering what your emotions mean, or understanding your needs and wants, try exploring a visual metaphor. It can help you connect your rational side to your intuitive self — and it’s a resource you can always have with you.