From Superhero to Servant

Theory: the leadership traits that can benefit startups are often the same traits that limit growth later on. 

Here's my thinking:

Startups benefit from agile, spontaneous leaders who quickly pivot when business models are challenged. I've been this kind of leader and it's an addictive buzz. So addictive that many leaders get trapped in that startup mentality which may well serve a startup but...

Mature organizations benefit from consistent, focused leaders who stick to the plan. Leaders that set aside their ego and do whatever is needed to serve their organization. This is when leaders must transform from superheroes to servants. Often this transformation requires them saying and doing the same things over and over. As Patrick Lencioni says in The Advantage: CEOs should consider themselves CROs- Chief Reminding Officers.

Being a servant isn't what most leaders signed up for. Being a servant doesn't sound very exciting. Sounds boring and, well, it can be. Like meditation, its meaning appears after you push through the skin of boredom and resist distraction (shiny objects). There is deep meaning and value in service but it requires leaving behind the ego and trappings of the superhero. What makes it harder is that these traits seemed so invaluable during the early days of a business.

Most leaders are easily bored. Many probably have ADD (guilty). They are like jazz musicians, always improvising. I'm one of the worst offenders. Routine is painful to creative people and most leaders are creative. That's often why they became leaders- they are creative problem solvers and most businesses begin by finding problems to solve. But message improvisations can mutate like a game of telephone as they echo through a growing organization. 

This is why I believe that the biggest threat to healthy, sustainable growth is bored leadership. Successful, sustainable companies do not allow themselves to become victims of distracted leaders but instead insist that these individuals serve the company. 

Saying and doing the same thing over and over is hard, really hard. But I believe, 100% believe, that is the difference between good and great organizations. 

Mastering the art of repetition must be the main work of leadership. I emphasis "art" because if there is no art to repetition, bored leadership will lead to an erosion of passion which is cancer to a healthy organization. Finding the art in repetition is no easy thing, I am still a ways off, but the more I practice the more meaning I find.

Conclusion: leaders must change their agility/consistency mix as their company matures.

My Health Story

I believe people should talk more about health. So I want to share my health story, where I am right now and how I got here. I hope it provides some value to you and I would love to hear your story.

I was raised by an extremely health conscious mother but did a rebellious 180 once I was on my own. Amish milk, eggs and chickens were replaced with Mac'n'cheese, pizza and bagels. I lived off bad carbs and didn't think much about what I ate. 

As I entered my 20s I slowly woke up to the fact that I had a body. I don't think I gave it much thought as a kid. I never connected my health to what I was putting in my body. I really started to make this connection when I was in my 30s. I know, not too bright, but that was how I lived and thought.

As my health problems increased I was forced to get serious. What were once annoyances were becoming real issues and I accepted that it was a problem I had to address.

One night last year I felt hot, swollen and sick after a big meal. This was not the first time a big meal had made me feel that way but I was finally fed up. I spent hours researching online and came to the conclusion I had to do a fast and cleanse. I had to hit the reset button. I didn't know what else to do.

I went 3 days without food, taking only fiber and supplements. It wasn't easy or fun but it felt good. My mind was clear even if my body was weak. As I began to reintroduce foods I became acutely aware of how they impacted me. I put myself in the mindset of a drug trial participant- is this a placebo or am I feeling something? I kept a food diary on my phone for a couple weeks to connect the dots. Then came the fateful bagel.

One day, about four months ago, I ate a bagel that changed my life. Yes, bagels can change lives. It was the first bagel since the fast. It felt like I had taken a sleeping pill. After I woke up from a nap I decided it was time to go gluten free. I'd done the research and all my conditions pointed towards a possible gluten sensitivity. 

I'm not one for diets and changing what I eat. I don't think my wife thought I was serious about staying gluten free. In fact, I've sucked at every attempt in my life to change what I eat. But this didn't seem optional. 

The change was almost overnight. Within a few days I felt better than I had in years. My energy levels were high, my mind was clear, allergies that had been getting progressively worse began disappearing, my digestion settled down and I started losing weight. In fact, I went from 225 down to 210 and have stayed there for months without worrying about anything but avoiding gluten. I do miss beer, bread, pasta, etc. But there are some good alternatives out there and many restuarants have gluten free menus or options. 

Not everything is better. I still struggle with Psoriasis, mostly arthritic, and I am considering giving up all grains and dairy for a while to see if that helps. Also, I have an arrhythmia that I take medicine for, but I believe I could address through diet as well. Which means I should probably cut back on caffiene and alcohol. Those two are the hardest for me to give up. Gluten is a breeze in comparison. 

My biggest takeaway is pretty simple: your digestive tract is the key to health. Or, to quote an old adage: you are what you eat. So many of our health issues start with what we eat. Also, so much of our immune system resides in our gut. They've even linked digestive issues to Parkinson's (which my father has) and other diseases seemingly unrelated to digestive issues. What passes between your digestive lining and your blood stream can have a serious impact on your health. 

So there's my health story so far. What's yours?

 

My Man-tine #thinkkit

This post is inspired by today's ThinkKit prompt "How do you unwind?"

Too often we sacrifice our bodies to get ahead. I've come to think of my body as a bank where I need to keep a positive balance. If I dip into the negative- too little sleep, no exercise, bad food, too much caffeine or alcohol- then I have to take steps to get back in the positive. Recently I judged a Startup Weekend contest where the runner up had a great idea for an app that would help you know when you dipped into the negative. I thought it was a great idea and I hope they go forward with it. 

For years I neglected my body, almost willfully. I stopped participating in sports around the age of 13 and ran with a crowd in college that almost prided themselves on their lack of athletic ability, or physical activity of any sort. Exercise was limited to carrying guitar amps in and out of clubs or walking around Bloomington since almost no-one had cars. As I came into my 30s (I'm 41) I found that the wheels were starting to come off. Stress no longer disappeared with a beer, back pain became a constant and my stomach was rarely at peace. Something had to change. 

Almost exactly 3 years ago, just before Christmas, I began a regular exercise routine. I started with a Yoga DVD and have been adding and improvising on it ever since. A personal trainer worked with me to add some anaerobic strength building reps. The routine- I began calling it my "Man-tine" about a year or so ago- starts with restful breathing on my back and builds through stretches, stomach crunches, etc, with conscious breathing throughout and wraps up with 20-30 minutes on an elliptical machine. I get made fun of by my wife and friends calling it a man-tine. My buddy Dan Ripley once told me- "yeah, I wouldn't tell anybody else you call it that." He thought it was pretty hilarious. I think "branding" my workout routine gives me a greater sense of ownership.

I have never felt comfortable in a gym. This goes back to when I was young and my parents would drag me out of bed and take me to the YMCA for a morning workout before school. I appreciated the intent but not the experience. So I was excited when we moved into our "new" house 4 years ago and were able to set up an elliptical machine in our bedroom and still have room for a yoga mat. I think exercise should be something of a spiritual experience and having a private space to practice has proved critical for my commitment to it. 

Like most people, stress is something of a constant in my life. Although there are many effective ways to unwind, I have found that my man-tine is the most effective de-stresser. Also, as I unwind and relax my body I am always surprised by how many interesting ideas float into my mind, how many problems begin to untangle and how clarity is achieved across many areas of my life. It reminds me of something Richard Branson said when he was asked how to be more productive- "work out". I've found this to be true in my own life. If you take the time away from the activity of your life to take care of your body you will find you are also taking care of your mind.

What do you do to unwind?

Struggling With Vulnerability

I hate feeling vulnerable. It makes me feel weak and exposed. Everyone probably feels the same I guess. When I was in 2nd grade I had one of those harrowing choir experiences, you know, where the teacher makes everyone do a solo in front of the class. I was terrified and completely froze. I don't know if I've ever felt that intensity of horror since. So I've known early on that vulnerability isn't native to me in any way. 

When you start a business it can help to appear invulnerable. You want to look confident to potential clients and employees, give off the vibe that you are here to stay. But over time a business is actually better served by a vulnerable leader- one that can take input, ask for help, admit weaknesses. There are some companies that thrive under charismatic, invulnerable leaders but they rarely survive them. 

Personally, I do not want to build companies that exist to serve me. I want to build companies that serve a real purpose. A purpose that has a positive impact on the world and also inspires others to become employees and customers. And yes, a purpose that empowers the company to make money. But to serve a purpose I have to become vulnerable. You cannot serve something or someone without becoming vulnerable. 

Being vulnerable doesn't mean constantly doubting yourself. In fact it can sweep away the shadows of doubt- nudging a difficult topic into the open for honest assessment and proper assignment. Being vulnerable can create similar emotions to feeling weak but I've been surprised to see how much strength comes from displaying vulnerability. It's a paradoxical thing. 

Vulnerability is a first cousin to love, that touchy feely emotion we often try to keep out of the workplace. But we all know that love can do that magic math where 1+1=3. The same thing goes with vulnerability. It usually leads to a byproduct that is greater than its parts- whether it be a new level of understanding, deeper friendships, greater collaboration, etc. We tap into our super powers when we become vulnerable. Unfortunately we have spent most of our lives, and humankind's evolution, fighting vulnerability for survival's sake. There is much to unlearn.

So I continue to struggle with vulnerability. I know the more vulnerable I become the closer I will be to realizing my potential- personally and professionally. My fear of vulnerability is what is standing between me and that potential. I hope someday to become that fully realized person but for now I continue to struggle.