There isn't just one (it takes more to be the best)

There's an organization based in Santa Barbara named Catalyst for Thought. Today's event (a lunchtime "salon-type" discussion revolved around entrepreneurship, organizational growth and the essentials of running a successful business. The speaker: Steve Cooper, of High Tech CEO Advisor.



Looking back over the pages of notes I took ("brainstorming means you're willing to write any and everything down," Steve said) I have in front of me some amazing lessons that I would pay money for. In fact, he did! Steve shared that some lessons-learned DO cost money, that's just part of growing.

Here is something I wrote in big block letters...

1. Identify the Problem.
2. Find the Need.
3. Provide a Solution.

As easy as it seems, I'm challenging myself to go through this process for every one of my products (ie: solutions).

And you?

Location:Santa Barbara,United States

The "purpose" of purpose

Good day to you... Question: What's your own "So that..."? You know, the reason you do it all...your own raison d'être...your purpose.

I'm in Ojai, CA today (all the way through next week, in fact) and Chapter 7 of my next book is the hot topic of discussion. Everything I'm writing, all the articles I'm reading, even when I'm on my mountain bike in the Los Padres National Forest above my house...it's on my mind! This next chapter of "Your Best Just Got Better" is all about "Improvement...and purpose."



In 1995, I decided to go to graduate school, in education, and learn how to teach. In 1996, I graduated and immediately joined a high school (here, in Ojai!) as a teacher in several departments; I taught US and World History, Spanish I and Spanish II, ESL, Mock Trial, SAT Prep, and I coached Varsity Baseball.

I had a strong "So that..." all the way back then. I wanted to continually improve my teaching skills and content knowledge so that the students I worked for were as prepared as possible for their next steps...whatever those turned out to be.

Now, some 15 years later (phew, really???) I'm still at it. My "So that..." is crystal clear: "To equip clients with the mindset, practices and tools to make their best even better." The book I'm holding in the picture above was given to me by Mrs. Frances Hesselbein, President and CEO of the Leader to Leader Institute. She's a mentor to me, someone who has been interested in leadership and professional development since long before her tenure as CEO (1976-1990) of Girl Scouts of the U.S.A.

We had a discussion one morning over a cup of tea, the month her most recent book was published, and spent an hour talking about students, schools, coaching and leadership. I walked away feeling inspired, honored and "tasked" to go and step further into my own "So that..."

What's YOUR "So that..."? Please do share in the comment area below!

How is your idea generation routine generating ideas?

Are you on the path to make your best better?

If you are, in fact, how far along are you in that process? If you're starting, or halfway there, or thinking you've made it...try this out: Lay out a blank piece of paper, get a pen, and set a timer for 12 minutes. Yeah, just 12.



I coordinated this activity 6 times in the past week, here in New York City, for audiences as small as 20 and as large as 37.

With a blank piece of paper in front of them, a countdown timer on the large screen in front of the room, and "quiet time to think," I invited the participants to think up as much as possible.

If you had this opportunity what would you write down? Do you think the items would be short-term, task-y kinds of things? What about the bigger picture? Would your vision, direction or dreams show up? What about other people...that is, what would you think other people would encourage you to write?


So, with that experience behind me, I stopped by the front desk of the hotel I'm staying at this week in the city. My friend there asked, "Jason, do you have a minute?"

She gave me a list of topics that included: Commitment. Planning. Organization.

Then she asked, "What other things come to mind when you hear those words?"

You can guess what I did, right? I asked, "Can I have a blank piece of paper?" I wrote down her three words, and then I looked up and asked, "What other words come to mind when YOU see those three?"

(It turns out, she's working on a speech, and was asking me to help brainstorm some of the topics...)

Would you believe that in less than a few minutes we came up with 4 more words, a "draft" of an outline, and a great quote she might use in her speech? "How did that happen so quickly?" I hope you're asking yourself that question right now...

She wrote more down.