Alan Weiss’s Monday Morning Memo® – 2/8/16

I know this will generate letters that always begin, “I usually agree with you but….” Hear me out: People in business don’t want “humble.” No powerful executive shouts, “Get me a humble consultant!” CEOs don’t ask McKinsey for help with strategy because McKinsey is humble. Executives want “expert, fast, compelling, innovative, respected.” But they don’t want “humble.”

When you speak with conviction, courage, and confidence, people listen. When your volume is strong—not hysterical screaming like Chris Matthews drowning out others on TV, but easily heard and understood—people follow. And when you can use language, examples, and metaphors to support your points, people act.

I am not humble, nor am I arrogant (the belief that you have nothing left to learn yourself). But I do have the courage of my talent. I believe I’m an expert, people follow and succeed, and this reinforces my belief. Even my dog, Bentley, isn’t humble. He knows he’s doing an excellent job as a German Shepherd. I wouldn’t want him to act any other way.

He has the right to meddle who has a heart to help.

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Change the Life You Have Into the Life You Want: Spend a day with me in Boston at a VERY reasonable investment to put these concepts into practice. http://www.alanweiss.com/growth-experiences/change-the-life-you-have-into-the-life-you-want-in-one-day/

Outrageous Content Workshop:  In six hours create compelling, unique intellectual property that will attract your key buyers immediately: http://www.alanweiss.com/growth-experiences/the-outrageous-content-creation-workshop/

Million Dollar Consulting® Convention: In LA in March, the best such conference in the world. My featured guest is Marshall Goldsmith, and we have an all-star faculty: http://www.alanweiss.com/growth-experiences/million-dollar-consulting-convention/

Periscope with me:  Friday at 4 eastern US time, how to overcome anxiety and dread: @BentelyGTCSpeed