Alan Weiss’s Monday Morning Memo® – 01/08/2024
(Expanded from one of my recent, brief, blog posts….)
When my son was young he refused to go into a fun house because it was dark inside (for all I know, he still might feel that way). When I admonished him not to be afraid of the dark, he told me he wasn’t afraid of the dark, he was afraid of what might be in the dark.
Not a bad point, then or now. However, what might be in the dark (or our “blind spots,” remember the Johari Window?) can be quite positive. No one predicted the internet. Of course, no one predicted the pandemic, either.
We need to create light that allows us to avoid the obstacles in the dark and take advantage of the opportunities in the dark. That light comes from intelligent questions, prudent risk, and resilience. In other words, “rational fearlessness.”
What is “rational fearlessness”? It’s the willingness to set aside the need for perfection, affection, and connection, and venture into the uncertain and, perhaps, unknown. Back in the time of Columbus (if you don’t see references to him anywhere, write to me and I’ll send you photos of statues honoring him) or even the 1800s and the British Navy, a wooden sailing ship sinking at sea killed the entire crew. There were no radios, no choppers, no powered lifeboats. These people depended on navigational skills, well-built ships, and close cooperation to stay afloat. If societies were too frightened to do that, to practice rational fearlessness, the world would be a very different place today.
We’re not in danger of sinking, and our “bravery” and “fearlessness” can be far less daunting than that of those sailors. We simply have to find out what’s “in the dark”—beyond our ken—and understand that it may just be unimaginably positive and rewarding. It isn’t always deadly and disturbing.
One of my college professors, when asked about the absence of faith in society, replied: “Absence of faith? Look at the interstate. Millions of people a day driving in excess of 60 miles per hour within distances of the car in front that absolutely prohibit safe stopping and may result in loss of life. That’s the greatest proof of widespread faith that I can cite.”
Long ago when I was beginning to use computers, I noticed that, if there were 20 people in my workshop, they cumulatively had 30 Apple devices with them. (Today it’s more like 50 or 60). I thought that in the “darkness” of that time there was this growing, unstoppable marketing force. So I purchased a pile of Apple stock.
At $17 per share. I still have a hell of a lot of it.
Shine a light, friends, shine a light.
Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go. —T. S. Eliot
The risk of a wrong decision is preferable to the terror of indecision. —Maimonides
Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit. —e.e. cummings
No cross, no crown. —William Penn
Just Created: Using Contemporary Events to Generate Uniqueness and Extreme Value to Buyers
One day I was forced by my buyer at a St. Louis hospital to attend a board reception before my speech. I simply could not get out of it, so I began to “mingle.” I met a man who owned the largest trucking firm in Missouri and the eighth largest in the nation. I said to him, “How does the bankruptcy of consolidate freight affect you?” (I Had read that in the Wall Street Journal on the plane.) He spoke for 15 minutes and asked if we could talk again later. He became a client.
Are you aware that supply chains are being “shrunk” in order to be less dependent of foreign sources and intervention? Do you appreciate the fact that use of telehealth has increased by a factor of 38 since the pandemic and is expected to grow almost 25% annually from its current $100 billion in revenues? There are 32 million small businesses in the US, small business comprise 99.9% of all global businesses, and 50% of all of them fail in the first five years due to clearly preventable factors.
Two bad service experiences prompt about half of your customers to quit the brand.
This will run on March 4 at 10:30 US eastern time, on Zoom, and will be recorded for distribution later. My birthday is the prior day, Sunday, March 3, and so your gift to me is $900. Includes recording Bring your own coffee https://alanweiss.com/
NEW: The Maximally Productive Week: God didn’t rest enough—He rushed things in six days You arise Monday morning with great energy and vision to accomplish a vast amount of things. You take a deep breath, shut your eyes…..and it’s Friday afternoon and you haven’t done a damn thing. The week has been absorbed with unexpected requests, failure work, presumed “opportunities” that didn’t pan out, family issues, writer’s block, and the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse: guilt, fear, stress, and obligation.
Join me for 90 minutes which will change your life view and expand your business results immediately:
- Learn the techniques for setting priority amid tumult in the No Normal®
- Master methods to create “instant IP”
- Move from “to do” lists to “results” lists
- Drop the unimportant without guilt or shame
- Adopt Alan’s rare self-disciplinary approaches
- Enlarge meaningful discretiona
ry time
January 30, 10:30 US Eastern Fee: $695 https://alanweiss.com/growth-
NEW: Alan’s five keys to guaranteed consulting success for the next two years It’s not easy being green, but it IS easy pulling down the green if you know where to look
There are huge opportunities created by the turmoil of our times, the No Normal®. I call these the “New Realities.” But how do you know which are best for you? Is your expertise sufficient? Should you develop additional expertise? Are you in the right market? Do you possess the correct resources? We are moving toward a society and business culture where competence will trump credentials and results will rule. Sample key: Key #1: Transitioning is vital to survival.
Join me on February 13, 10:30 US Eastern $450 https://alanweiss.com/st
If you join both of the above you can do so for $1,000 in total, over a 12% savings: https://alanweiss.com
Speaking with Alan I’ve been asked to run one of my most all-time successful workshops once again, in the area that petrifies too many people: Delivering a dynamic speech.
- Create a speech of 45-90 minutes, including examples, visuals, and exercises.
- Practice delivering the salient parts of the speech, making a minimum of three presentations of various parts.
- Record both the speaking and the colleague (and my) feedback.
- Learn and apply the ideal creation of a “demo tape.”
- Learn and apply the proper marketing of the speech.
- Boston, 2.5 days, January 23-25.
https://alanweiss.com/growth-e
Master Master Class III
The first two were sold out, hence this third one, with all new material, past “grads” are welcome back. Maximum 12 people. Learn and apply key marketing and creative techniques to reduce your labor and improve your profits. This is a live program but you may attend remotely, as well. This will be in Newport, RI March 19-21. The fee is $6,000, $5,000 for past attendees. Breakfast, lunch and favorable room rates are included. https://alanweiss.co
