Insights…

Inner. Other. Outer.

Focus your attention inward, first. Remember, put your oxygen mask on first. Next, look up from iPhone. Focus attention on the significant others with you. Most distractions that derail performances are emotional ones. Many are disconnects with loved ones and teammates we’re not turned toward. Lastly, focus attention on your system. See all the connections from you to your team, your market and beyond.

Lack of inner focus leads to a rudderless leader. Lack of other focus leads to a clueless leader. And, a lack of outer focus leads to a leader experiencing a sudden system surprise sometime soon. Yikes. This leader has just been blindsided. Not good.

You need to build your second nature, my friend. Start within, continue with others, and finally become a student of your system. You are a house divided and it starts with a mind divided. Focus yours. Here’s how. Write. Write. And, write some more. Clarity will come. Most likely it will come in the form of surprise. These kind of surprises we call insights. We like these kinda surprises.

Inner. Other. Outer. We could use a few more leaders who steer through chaos with an amazing sense of calm, connect deeply in work/life, and see the future with insights we turn into innovations. Who knew clarity within was the lynchpin to insights. Slow down. Reflect. Write. When you least expect it, the skies will open, rays of sunshine will break through, and an insight you can use will appear.

Live hard. Love harder…