Tag Archives: Success

Tony Hsieh and Delivering Happiness

There will come a time when all servant leaders become conflicted with focusing on profits or people. Tony Hsieh (1973-2020) does a great job of telling all of us how to link profits, passion and purpose. As Jim Collins tells us, it is the genius of the “and”, focusing on profits “and” people and not the tyranny of the “or”, focusing on profits “or” people. If you have not read Tony’s book on Zappos, or have not ever heard of Zappos, pick up a copy of his book “Delivering Happiness”. So many great lessons from the book and a shame that Tony is not around today to continue his journey of bringing happiness to others. All too often, those focused so much on bringing happiness to others have a difficult time bringing happiness to themselves – I also think of Robin Williams.

Tony Hsieh – Delivering Happiness

There is a great section at the end of book where Tony goes deeper on his quest on Delivering Happiness. Tony tells us that, when you ask people what their ultimate goal is (by following a five why exercise), everyone only wants to become happier.

Tony tells us that happiness is about four things:

  • Perceived control – Tony’s way to do this was to implement a “skill set system,” giving out small raises as each employee learned and mastered each of 20 skill sets laid out by the company. Having clarity and control over their raises made employees happier.
  • Perceived progress – Tony changed the practice of one large promotion into smaller promotions given on merit every six months. Employees were much happier because there was an ongoing sense of perceived progress.
  • Connectedness – the number and depth of your relationships. Tony believed happier employees made more productive employees, so Tony was always thinking about how to foster socializing and friendships at work – with initiatives like discounted food and relaxation areas.
  • Vision or meaning – being a part of something bigger than yourself. As part of this Tony brings in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

Once you attain happiness, it can consist of three types of happiness:

  • Pleasure – Shortest lasting and requires constant stimulation.
  • Passion – Being in the zone – time passes quickly.
  • Higher Purpose – Being part of something bigger than yourself . This is the longest lasting form of happiness.

What to do if you are able to find true happiness? You need to share it. Your happiness will never decrease by sharing it with others.

Courtesy of The Calm app

Linear Progress

Your leadership journey will not always have linear progress. You know when everyone tells you that when you put in the work you will see progress. Hate to tell you, sometimes you don’t see the progress you are expecting.

Whether it is exercise, dieting or your leadership journey you need to be prepared for non-linear progress and even sometimes taking a step backward. If you find yourself going too far backward it may be time to seek out guidance or advice. The same strategies or approaches will not work for all situations. Send me a note if you feel that your linear progression has stalled and we can discuss some new approaches.

The “F” Word

My “F” word isn’t the same as yours. My “F” word is “Frustration”. I tell everyone that frustration is a useless emotion, whether in your personal life or your business life. Frustration occurs when you believe you are blocked from reaching your goal by something that is outside of your control. In my personal life, I have come across many frustrating situations and I have learned to reframe those situations as challenging vs frustrating. We underestimate how much is within our control. I love a good challenge.

In my business life, I spend most of my time observing and listening. Listening for that “F” word. When you hear the “F” word in your leadership journey, don’t avoid the situation hoping that it will correct itself. Rather meet it head on and find a solution.

I have a good friend (shoutout to Trevor) that has made a career of going into companies and listening for that F word. When Trevor hears the F word he develops an app to solve it. Trevor has made a career on solving the F situations.

Whenever you hear yourself or someone else use the F word, don’t run away from it, rather walk straight into it and find a solution.

Don’t Let Others Define Your Success – Part 2

If you haven’t heard of The Barkley Marathons take some time to research it. The Barkley Marathons is an ultramarathon trail race held in Frozen Head State Park near Wartburg, Tennessee. Runners are required to find their way around an unmarked trail in harsh conditions, covering about about 100 miles (160 km). The race is limited to a 60-hour period, and takes place in late March or early April of each year. There are books, articles on the internet and a fantastic film that all provide more information.

While the theme of the film is about the racers, you will also be introduced to the co-founder and director of the race, Gary Cantrell aka Lazarus Lake. During the film, Lazarus Lake provides narration. One of his quotes on success stood out to me.

Everyone has their own concept of success or failure. Don’t be concerned how others judge you, rather evaluate your performance and make your own judgement on success or failure

Don’t Let Others Define Your Success – Part 1

One of the great leaders in sports history is John Wooden. John Wooden was one of the best coaches in history. During a 12 year span in his coaching career, while John Wooden was the head basketball coach at the University of California, Los Angeles, (UCLA) his teams won ten national championships, including seven in a row. It took John Wooden years to develop his formula for success and documented the formal in his pyramid of success. This pyramid took years to create (started in 1932 and finalized in 1948) and became John Wooden’s roadmap to success.

At the core of the Pyramid of Success was John Wooden’s definition of success – “ Success is peace of mind attained only through self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do the best of which you’re capable”. John Wooden had a great teacher in his father. In Johnn Wooden’s book on Leadership, he recalls an early lesson from his father to him and his brothers – “Sons,” he would tell my three brothers and me, “don’t worry about whether you’re better than somebody else, but never cease trying to be the best you can become. You have control over that; the other you don’t.”

The message is the same – you define your success, others don’t. Too often we measure success by money, possessions, being better than others or popularity. Take a lesson from John Wooden, every day is an opportunity to do your best and be satisfied in that. You define your success, others don’t.