The Price of Doing the Same Old Thing

Another week, another quote about change. I reflected on change as a driver for growth in my last post (see “Change for the Better“). In short, personal growth will not occur without a willingness to acknowledge a need for change.

This week, attention shifts to consequences of not embracing change. Bill Clinton, the 42nd president of the United States, reminds us that the price of change can be exceeded by the price of being set in our ways.

This idea addresses the dark side of change: Ignore the need at your own peril.

Pay Now or Pay Later

The price of doing the same old thing is a bargain in the short run. For example, the couple that earns a decent income but struggles to make their paychecks last all month are not poor. Far from it, they are usually having a good time. Dining out, movies, vacations, and self-indulgences swallow a lion’s share of take-home pay. Saving for retirement or unforeseen expenses is not a high priority. So, nothing changes and they continue to earn a good income, manage to get by, and have inadequate savings. The day will come when they regret not changing their spending habits. They have chosen to pay later. The cost of doing the same old thing is a deferred expense (accruing interest) that will come due sooner rather than later. The bill comes due for doing the same old thing at inopportune times, and we are not given the option to set up a payment schedule.

In contrast, paying now to enable change can bring what seems like misery but makes possible new outcomes. I have lamented my physical condition for nearly two years. In that time, I opted to do the same old thing because nothing changed. It was as if the scale was stuck on the same weight. It only took two years, but I realized that the price of the same old thing was greater than the price of change. Now, I see changes I have made for my wellness as steps to reaching goals I have set. When I looked at the price of change in a different light, it was easy to say no to french fries, milkshakes, and skipping exercise. The benefits change will bring far outweigh saving myself from paying the price for change and maintaining status quo.

Find Your Tipping Point

The quest to a slimmer me is not my first such journey. In 2005 I shed 37 pounds, going from 200 to 163 pounds in about five months. I paid the price of change at that time only after years of choosing to pay the price of doing the same old thing. In recent years, I enjoyed myself to the point that I had put back on about two-thirds of the lost weight. Now and then the catalyst for change was simple: I reached a tipping point and decided “no more.”

The price for doing the same old thing had become too expensive. My wellness demanded change. The price of change felt like a bargain the first time, and I cannot wait to experience the value arising from change. As I see the first signs of change I am stoked about losing the first few pounds and moving toward my goals. Price to change? What price?

Discretionary Spend

Enough about my situation—you have a decision to make regarding change. Pursuing change in your life is a form of discretionary spending. In most cases, you are not required to change but you consider different outcomes. Like any other discretionary spend, you must determine whether you want to invest in change or keep things as is.

Whether it is a stressful job, noisy neighborhood, or toxic relationship, you can spend on one of two outcomes: the same old thing or change. Standing pat could feel like a better deal now, but would spending on change yield even more fruit and blessings? If yes, change is a bargain too good to pass on.

Change for the Better

We are into the second week of the second half of 2018. How are things going at halftime? The beginning of the year and any goals or New Year’s resolutions set may be nothing more than a grainy image in the rear-view mirror. The plans to lose weight, read regularly, worry less, and turn off screens occasionally may have derailed. You feel like you are stuck in a ditch rather than driving down the road of good intentions.

The FIFA World Cup has been exciting to watch. At halftime of game broadcasts, experts discuss each side’s performance in the first half and what must be done in the second half to come out on top. We, too, need to perform a halftime analysis on our performance. Unless we are dominating in every area of life, the midpoint of the year is an ideal opportunity to refocus and reset.

This week’s One to Grow On quote is a timely halftime message. Entrepreneur and personal branding expert Chris Ducker knows us too well. Ducker suggests if we want to find the key to making things better simply look in the mirror.

Confront the Brutal Facts

Wait a minute, my shortcomings so far this year are not my fault. My main competitor launched a killer new product, my boss does not appreciate my value, or my significant is more interested in Instagram than me. I’m not getting what I want, but I am a victim of circumstance. Sound about right?

Instead of looking externally to assign blame for performance failures, we must confront the brutal facts, a concept made popular by Jim Collins in his book Good to Great. To confront the brutal facts means we make an honest assessment of our current situation—the good, the bad, and the ugly. If there is a gap between our reality and a desired state, chances are the cause for the gap is contained in the brutal facts. Some examples:

Desired state: Write an article for my blog two times a week

Actual state: Failure to consistently set aside writing time means no articles some weeks

Desired state: Lose one pound per week

Actual state: Inconsistent monitoring of food intake means no net change

If I want things to get better with blog productivity and weight loss, I need to get better at exercising the discipline needed to overcome my current reality. My failures in these areas are not attributable to anything or anyone other than me. I resumed the path to those outcomes only after I confronted the reality that I was the problem. If you are unable or unwilling to confront the brutal facts, you can stop reading now. Nothing is going to change.

Don’t Wait for Motivation

If you’re still reading, I will take that as a sign you were willing to confront the brutal facts of your reality. You have set the stage for change by pinpointing the source of the problem. Now how do you go about effecting change? Do not wait for motivation to kick in, or you will be in the same place January 1 when you think about what you will change in 2019.

Conventional wisdom is motivation spurs action. I will write articles for the blog when the inspiration hits me. The discipline to make better food choices will come to me when my pants become a bit too snug. In these cases, I am waiting for motivation to prompt action. One small problem: If the motivation does not come,neither does the action.

Instead of waiting for motivation to come into your life, understand that action fuels motivation. We can help motivation find us by taking action. The satisfaction from completing small steps and seeing progress energizes us to do more. For example, if I waited to have sufficient motivation to write a book, I would never get around to it. Thankfully, I did not wait and have written four books.

As I looked back through notes on my latest book writing project, I observed that the chapters were written in 27 sessions over a 10-month period. Research for the book occurred in another 25-30 sessions. In total, I estimate spending 100 hours researching and writing this relatively short book.

The thought of spending 100 hours on such a project would be daunting, but what got me through it was momentum created by the progress made from researching and writing a single chapter. Completing one chapter excited me about moving on to the next topic. In short, make it easier for motivation to find you by taking action.

Second Half is Underway

Do things need to change in the second half of 2018? Do you accept that if you want things to get better, you need to get better? It can be painful to confront the brutal facts and acknowledge our role in our current situation. That said, we should be happy that: a) we have the ability to recognize our part in where we find ourselves, and b) we have the ability to do something about it.

I need to change in order for things to change in my life. I am ready—bring on the second half.

Decide to be in Control

Control is an interesting state with which we interact. On one hand, many people wish they could take control of situations in order to get desired results. For example, if you like meticulously planning travel so that every aspect of a trip is covered, it can be challenging, even frustrating, to enjoy a trip with a group for which the itinerary is set by someone else. On the other hand, we may be quick to cede control when results do not go our way. Blame the weather, the economy, the neighbors, the boss, or any other external source that can be designated as the cause for undesired outcomes.

If you see yourself more as a victim of circumstance than guided by your choices, this week’s One to Grow On quote is a call to rethink the source of your outcomes. Author and leadership expert Stephen Covey, best known for writing The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, refused to allow us to play the “Oh Woe is Me” sad song.

The good news is our fate is not determined by chance and whims. Rather than depending on good luck or timely breaks to “make it,” we have control over reaching goals and experiencing personal growth.

A Bottle in the Sea

Despite Stephen Covey’s exhortation to see ourselves as a product of our decisions, we too often focus on circumstances as drivers of our outcomes. This thinking is like a bottle floating in the sea. Its direction is determined solely by the current and waves, helpless in navigating to a particular place for landfall. Moreover, we willingly accept and embrace external circumstances as reasons for our current state of affairs. Why do give over control of outcomes to circumstances?

It’s easy. If something does not go according to our plan, it makes sense to blame external forces. After all, we would not wish failure upon ourselves. “Facing rejection by a graduate program or being passed over for a promotion must be due the decision makers, not me, right? I cannot help if they did not recognize my abilities and value.” This line of reasoning is less time consuming and complex than a deeper evaluation of what I could do better to improve my chances in the future.
It’s painless. Realizing you are not happy, healthy, or wealthy is one thing; pinning the shortcomings on your choices and behavior can be a painful step to take. Do I want to take the blame for adding extra pounds because I could not say no to desserts and late night snacks? Or, can I do my ego a favor and point to a hectic schedule or stressful work environment to justify treating myself to foods that contribute to weight gain? Yes, let’s blame schedule, job, or anything else that absolves me of the result.

Is it possible that circumstances can determine your outcome? Yes. Sometimes, external forces beyond our control throw a wrench into carefully developed plans. For example, numerous stories have been told in the past decade by Americans whose business (or employer’s business) was devastated by the economic recession that began in 2008. Successful businesses and prosperous employees were jolted into a new reality: failure. The plan was not to crash and burn, but the economy was not interested in their plans.

Take Control

If we accept the idea that we are a product of our decisions, we have to move past shining the spotlight on circumstances. Rather than give external factors top billing in our life, shift the focus to taking control through decisions and actions. Is it easier said than done? Use these suggestions to take control:

Make the decision to own it. We should be excited that we control our outcomes and that we are not tossed about like a bottle at sea. Recognizing we are not limited by circumstances is the first step toward breaking free of seeing ourselves as determined by outside forces.
Remember past successes. When self-doubt creeps in about what determines your success, think back to times when your decisions or actions drove successful outcomes. For example, how did you manage your time when you made the Dean’s list while working two part-time jobs? You did not make the Dean’s list because you were lucky or won a lottery. Your decision to take control made it happen. Draw on past experiences of accomplishment to push through new challenges or uncertainties.
Avoid negativity. You may decide to see yourself as the product of decisions instead of product of circumstances, but you will probably find yourself around others who prefer to tie their fate to circumstance. They find fault with politicians, their pastor, the homeowners association, climate, gas prices, or any other convenient explanation for their current state. Recognize the negative thinking when you encounter it and avoid, even if it means evaluating with whom you spend time.

Get Excited

Reminding ourselves we get to determine our own results through decisions could be the best news we hear all week. Embracing this mindset can smash many of the barriers that keep us from moving forward. Stop using the kids, household chores, or bank account as excuses for not stretching to achieve.

IHOP’s Burger Flip: Good for Publicity, Bad for the Brand

What does a business do when it competes in a mature category and is battling for new customers? You shake things up. To that end, give IHOP credit for its bold campaign to introduce new hamburger items to its menu. It was no ordinary product rollout; IHOP has temporarily re-branded as IHOb, or International House of Burgers. After teasing the IHOb name last week, the company unveiled the burger initiative yesterday.

The announcement was met with surprise (many people thought the “b” was for “breakfast”) and anger that IHOP was turning its back on the promise of being a breakfast brand. Don’t worry, pancakes are not going to be eliminated from IHOP’s, err IHOb’s, menu. The name change is nothing more than a publicity tactic to draw attention to the new products. The tactic worked from a publicity standpoint, but will it help or harm the brand long term?

The Case for IHOb

Casual dining is a category in trouble and has been since the recession of 2008. In a mature product category, a prime growth route is to attract competitors’ customers. Growth becomes a zero-sum game rather than an organic process. A textbook marketing response at this stage of the product life cycle is to pursue competitors’ customers. The burger initiative and IHOb campaign is an attempt to attract diners who may not have viewed IHOP as an option.

A second textbook marketing strategy that played into IHOP’s decision is pursuing growth through new products. Business growth can be reduced to two options: sell to more customers or sell more products. Expanding the non-breakfast menu is a way for the brand to broaden its appeal and in turn, bring in new customers… at least in theory.

A business operating in the maturity stage of the product life cycle is in a precarious position. Maintaining status quo could point the bus in the direction of decline. Taking chances on new products to bring in customers may not work, but the possibility of success beats the alternative.

Is the Book Wrong?

Textbook marketing led IHOP to the IHOb campaign. Many marketing experts would argue the book is wrong, or at least not applicable, in this case. Brands are rich with meaning, embedded through customer experience and cumulative marketing exposure. The IHOP brand is synonymous with breakfast. When one thinks of IHOP, chances are the first association that comes to mind is “pancakes.” By extension, subsequent brand associations probably have something to do with breakfast. Associations about hamburgers, chicken, or any other entree probably are less likely to be elicited.

For better or worse, IHOP is associated with breakfast. Rather than trying to break free from the “breakfast box,” IHOP should double down on that association. Instead of attempting to widen its appeal by expanding the menu, IHOP should be on a quest to make breakfast more exciting and desirable. Add variety to the breakfast menu, improve product quality or taste, enhance the dining experience, but whatever you do, carry out the brand promise of a great breakfast.

IHOP has already sought to avoid being limited by a breakfast association. The change from its full name, International House of Pancakes, to IHOP was an effort to not emphasize the signature breakfast item. While you can take pancakes out of the brand name, you cannot eliminate it from brand positioning and promise. Instead of pancakes and breakfast in general being a growth limitation, IHOP is one of the few brands in the restaurant industry that could position itself as the ultimate breakfast experience.

Will It Work?

Sales performance over time will be the ultimate metric to evaluate the IHOP-IHOb campaign. Exposure is beneficial for a brand, particularly in today’s crowded and noisy marketplace. According to a USA Today story, IHOP’s brand mentions online since early June were about 15 times greater than a comparable time period in May. In the battle for the customer’s mind, being noticed is better than not being noticed.

IHOP is risking damage to brand equity in the IHOb campaign. Many consumers will be skeptical that IHOP can deliver on a quality hamburger. After all, it is a breakfast place, not a hamburger restaurant, at least that is what our brand associations tell us. Other brands are perceived as go-to places for a burger. Even if IHOP succeeds in getting customers to try its new burgers, a less than satisfactory experience with the product could be a threat to IHOP. Negative reaction to IHOP burgers could affect perceptions about IHOP in general.

IHOP should remain true to its brand roots and invest in being the best breakfast restaurant around. The brand’s parent company, Dine Brands Global, is diversified in that it also owns Applebee’s. It is pointless to drag IHOP into a bigger arena of competitors. Leverage the existing brand positioning and be great at breakfast.

Take a Flier and Do It

Nike is famous for its slogan “Just Do It.” The statement is simple and relevant in many situations. When it comes to personal and professional growth, “just do it” can be the difference between realizing dreams and wondering what might have been.

The One to Grow On quote this week is a hat tip to someone who expressed the same idea as Nike’s legendary slogan some 40 years earlier. Aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart lived a “just do it” life. Earhart took her first airplane ride in her early 20s and knew right away she wanted to learn to fly.

Amelia Earhart learned to fly, for sure. Her list of accomplishments included:

First woman to pilot a plane across the Atlantic Ocean
First woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean
First person to fly solo across the Pacific Ocean (Hawaii to California)
Flew solo from Mexico City to Newark, New Jersey
Attempted to become first woman to fly around the world

Earhart’s achievements were not without risks, including the attempt to fly around the world that ultimately took her life. The dangers of the flights Earhart made would prevent many people from even thinking about trying.

According to her biography, Earhart recognized and embraced the risks. “Please know I am quite aware of the hazards,” she said. “I want to do it because I want to do it.” Earhart put her life on the line in pursuit of what she wanted to do. We step out of line when far less is required of us.

What Holds Us Back?

Imagine if Amelia Earhart was encountering airplanes up close for the first time today. She could have fallen head-over-heels in love with aviation just as she did in the 1930s. Her newly found interest could have been extinguished quickly by thoughts such as:

“Flying lessons are probably too expensive”
“Being a pilot would affect my life insurance premium”
“My friends might criticize me for taking up a dangerous hobby”
“I need to pay off all of my debt before I begin flying”
“It is the busiest time of year at work right now. I might take it up in a few months.”

Whew! I am exhausted covering inaction with reasons that Earhart might not take up flying if she was a twenty-something today. If we follow Amelia Earhart’s advice, we should avoid falling into traps of over-planning, over-analyzing, and over-worrying about possible outcomes.

Two possible outcomes trouble us when we take on new ventures. One outcome is understandably worrisome: “What if I fail?” Most of us despise failure for many reasons. Failure damages our self-esteem, can make us look bad in the eyes of others, and even bring on negative financial or relationship consequences.

The other outcome that should be no issue at all holds us back more than we realize: “What if I succeed?” It seems ludicrous to suggest that the result we want from a venture could be the very reason we hesitate to chase it. However, growth entails change, and we may resist anything that pushes us beyond our comfort zone. A promotion could require moving to a new city. A well-received article or book could put you in front of audiences speaking and presenting. A new relationship could force re-evaluation of existing ones. Oh, the hidden dangers of “just do it!”

Get on Board

This week, take Amelia Earhart’s advice and focus on action. Rather than striving for perfection before launching a new idea, act on an idea and work out any flaws as you go. Some entrepreneurs advocate the concept of minimum viable product (MVP). In a nutshell, MVP emphasizes getting a new idea to market, learn from customer feedback, and adapt the offering as needed.

MVP is counter to getting a product “just right” before launch. Of course, a product needs to be valuable to its users. That condition does not mean the product must have all possible features and functions from the outset. Take it to market, get user feedback, and improve it. At the heart of MVP is Amelia Earhart’s belief that “the most effective way to do it is to do it.”

A “do it” mindset does not mean you are chucking plans and strategy out the window. It means you refuse to let them become obstacles to growth.

Are you ready to “just do it” this week?

Live Now to Create a Legacy Later

Today is Memorial Day in the United States. In 1971, Congress established a national holiday remembering all military personnel who lost their lives in the nation’s wars. The meaning of Memorial Day is sometimes lost as it has become known an unofficial beginning of summer and a time for social gatherings. In contrast to other holidays, “Happy Memorial Day” is an odd greeting to give someone. It is a time to reflect on the price paid for our freedom.

Memorial Day is also a fitting occasion to reflect on legacy. Americans enjoy cookouts, sales, ball games, and other fun activities because of the sacrifices made by members of our armed forces. Of course, some of our military made the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives in service. Their legacy is unmistakable. Short of dying for your country, what will be your legacy?

This week’s quote for reflection is appropriate for Memorial Day. It comes from a famous American patriot, John Glenn. He was a navy pilot, serving in World War II and the Korean War. Glenn was an astronaut in the Mercury program and later flew a space shuttle mission at the tender age of 77. He also served as U.S. Senator for four terms. In short, if someone was an expert on legacy it was John Glenn.

Interestingly, John Glenn downplayed what his legacy might be to those who followed him. Instead, he preferred to focus on living in the moment… his “live-acy” as he called it.

Three Videos in Our Mind

John Glenn’s attitude toward his own legacy is a model worth emulating. He built a one-of-a-kind résumé over a career that spanned more than 50 years. Glenn earned the right to rest on his laurels, but he opted not to do so. His attention was on the present. I wish I could say my attention is also on the present, but it is not as often as it should be.

Three videos are running in our minds at any given time: the past, present, and future. The highlight reel of the past can sometimes be exhilarating, sometimes embarrassing, and sometimes even saddening to watch. The preview clips from the future can trigger similar emotions.

With so much attention given to the past and anticipation for the future, it is easy to shortchange ourselves in the here and now. We may want to wipe out memory of some of the content of the past video. Some parts of the future video we want to edit or delete by exerting control (which we may or may not have over future outcomes).

The Live-acy Video

The focus thus far has been on two of the three videos running in our minds, the past and future. This week, spend more time on the video that is the present time in your life. If you set goals at the beginning of the year (a form of future video content), are you completing the daily and weekly tasks needed to achieve those goals? Or, have the goals become a distant memory because they did not receive attention in the present?

If you are concerned about your legacy, remember how it will be determined. Our actions in the present define the narrative that will be our personal brand legacy in the future. A life spent loving, listening, helping, and learning will be remembered for those actions. On the other hand, too much time spent regretting the past or fretting about the future deprives us of living now. The result is we are not as valuable to others as we could be.

An Interest in Living

This week’s mindset to practice is simple: take an interest in living. John Glenn’s quote is not an “anything goes” type of call. We still must operate within boundaries that accept the past and understand the future. However, we must be better at living in the moment, appreciating what is going on and the people involved.

Start Small to Go Big

The person who has “made it;” the “overnight success;” the lucky one “born with a silver spoon in his mouth;” they are representations of accomplishment. However, people who fit these descriptions are being photographed after they cross the finish line. We see them as winners, but we are often not privy to the pain, setbacks, and failures that happened along the way.

This week’s quote is a reminder that successful people do not start there. It is a journey to reach the point of observable achievement. They usually started by gaining small victories that snowballed into greater success.

The words of the Greek orator Demosthenes suggest we trace large scale success back to tackling small opportunities. To go big, we must start small.

The Benefits of Small Thinking

Encouraging people to think small, not big is counter to nearly every book written about success. I agree with the basic premise of that view—small thinking is limiting and sabotages personal growth. However, Demosthenes is not advocating we limit our sights. Instead, he frames great achievement as the culmination of many small victories.

Consider small thinking as Goal Setting 101; in order to reach a goal it requires completing smaller tasks along the way. The marathon runner does not stumble out of bed on race day deciding to run 26.2 miles. Instead, it is the day that is the payoff for months of training. The newly appointed CEO did not have her name drawn from a hat to win the job. She put in years of moving through the ranks. Along the way, she gained experience, learned new skills, and brought more value to the organization.

It can be more appealing to focus on the big goals like landing the executive position, winning the league championship, or earning an advanced degree. However, you will never realize them without checking off smaller achievements that comprise the journey to the big goal.

My Small Start Story

I reflected on the idea that small opportunities often lead to great enterprises. “Had I experienced the power of small opportunities?” I asked myself. A situation came to mind immediately that I credit for empowering me to step out of my comfort zone. Although it happened nearly 20 years ago, it impacts my behavior to this day.

We signed up our middle son, Sidney, to play soccer for the first time. The league director phoned with information about Sidney’s team assignment. My excitement for the upcoming season was soon dampened by news the director shared: Sidney’s team did not have a coach. The team would have to be disbanded without a coach to lead the boys. You might be able to predict the follow-up question from the director: “Would you be interested in coaching the team, Mr. Roy?” I knew the question was coming, too.

It wasn’t that I did not want to coach; the challenge was I knew nothing about soccer. I played and followed sports my entire life, but soccer was not a sport played during my youth. I apparently forgot that I knew nothing about soccer because I agreed to coach a group of five-year-old kids. Thankfully, I had two players on the school soccer team as students in my classes that semester. They shared ideas on some basic drills to run. Looking back, the season was one of the most rewarding experiences I have had as an adult. It gave me confidence to tackle other opportunities when they came my way that challenged me to do something new.

Think Small and Big Will Follow

I continue to be on the lookout for small opportunities. Sometimes, it seems too overwhelming to take on new tasks or projects. Your plate may be full, and the last thing you need is something else to do. While it is important to not take on more than you can handle, we are challenged to balance new opportunities and potential overload.

Completing small tasks and projects has a snowball effect. Experience gained and momentum built moves us forward to new experiences that stretch our capabilities. It is easy to say “no” as new opportunities come along, but are we doing so at the expense of growth? Getting to the big wins often requires a willingness to start with small opportunities.

Three Obstacles to Career Launch

The month of May is an exciting time in my world as a college professor. Graduation ceremonies are a rite of passage as students move from college to career. The National Center for Education Statistics estimates more than 1.8 million college degrees will be conferred in 2018-19. Although the current unemployment rate is a low 3.9%, new grads must not be lulled into false security that a job is waiting on them.

Launching is Hard

The sheer number of college graduates, coupled with persons looking to overcome underemployment or discover new opportunity, requires positioning your personal brand to compete to win. Anxiety, pressure, and even frustration are states I observe many people on both sides of graduation day struggling to handle.

It can be scary not knowing the next step in your life. No amount of note taking, studying, and preparing results in automatically landing a job. You are unlikely to find a course like “What Should I Do with My Life?” offered in college. That said, certain strategies should be avoided that will almost certainly stall your career launch.

Three Career Launch Obstacles

While there is no one-size-fits-all method for landing an entry-level position, some approaches are doomed to failure. In recent weeks, I have observed three approaches that are not working. How do I know? The people using them are no closer to their goal than when they began. Instead, they become obstacles to the first job after college. Be on guard against the following behaviors creeping into your career launch process:

The Waiter

We like to think our credentials and qualifications speak for themselves. The reality is we must communicate our value to prospective employers. We must find jobs as they will not find us! A graduate who encourages friends to “hit me up if you know of any opportunities” will likely experience silence. Don’t wait—make something happen.

I am not suggesting overlooking the value of network connections. Every good job opportunity I have ever had involved an assist from someone in my network. Your connections can help you if you inform them of your plans and goals. Then, it is easier for them to “hit you up” with leads.

The Loather

Adversity and rejection can create negative attitudes toward career launch. Becoming discouraged is more likely to occur when competing in fields for which there is intense competition. I counsel many students who aspire to work in sports business. It is common for a given position to have hundreds of applicants for a single position. Feeling jaded when search efforts go nowhere is not surprising.

I came across a tweet from someone who obviously was a sport management major in college. The person lamented that after five years after graduation she was no closer to launching a career in the field. I felt sorry for her… until I checked out her Twitter profile and feed. The content of her Twitter activity gave zero indication she was a person interested in or engaged with sports business. Her loathing of the difficulties of launching a career are stronger than efforts to break into the field, at least at first glance (and that is often the only glance one will get from others).

The Panicker

In contrast to the Waiter and Loather, the Panicker takes a more proactive stance to finding their first position. However, the approach taken needs refinement. The Panicker is ready to launch, but their eagerness gets in the way of articulating their value. They come across as willing to do anything regardless of fit.

An unintended consequence of their search is perceptions that they are unfocused or desperate. Trading in the shotgun for a laser can address these perceptions. A more targeted search can yield a stronger match between one’s value proposition and an employer’s needs.

Launching is Hard Redux

I realize the above discussion offers little in the way of solutions to launching a career. My observations of three behaviors that impede career launch reinforce the idea that the search can be challenging, frustrating, and demoralizing. The takeaway is to be aware of the presence of these career launch obstacles. They are normal states into which we can fall during career (re)launch. The key to overcoming them is to recognize their existence and not allow them to guide your behavior as you navigate the process.

The Real Deal: Pursuing Brand Originality

We live in exciting yet challenging times when it comes to carving out a distinctive brand. It is easier than ever before to create, deliver, and amplify your brand message. Doing so is no longer reserved for the powerful or those with access to communication channels… we all have access to communication channels.

The challenge to brand building is reconciling your brand message with the likelihood that it will not resonate with everyone. In fact, you may very well find fierce opposition to brand values for which there is no compromise. A safe play could be to follow the lead of other brands. We value best practices and other proven methods or tactics. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, or so we have been told.

This week’s One to Grow On quote is encouragement to avoid the inclination to be followers. Author Herman Melville suggests failing in originality holds greater value than succeeding in imitation. The thought of failing at anything may not seem like an aspiration, but should we be open to the possibility of failure in trying something original?

Comfort in Imitation

As I reflected on Melville’s quote, I quickly identified that any decision to pursue imitation for me is driven by a desire to remain in a comfort zone. Why take risks that could lead to failure when the comfort zone offers certainty? The attraction of the comfort zone varies with one’s risk aversion. For some people, the comfort zone is like a force field that keeps out pain and embarrassment that can come with failure.

The lure of imitation is strong when it comes to following best practices. A popular format for presenting best practices is lists. The suggestion is follow the list and you, too, will find success. It is like a paint-by-numbers approach to life.

A quick search for marketing best practices list returned these examples:

You have probably seen such “listicles.” The premise is amazingly simple—follow the guidance of the list for a proven path to success. If you can withstand having your mind blown and have the patience to sift through 105 ways to do something, positive results can come your way. The question is whether the success is yours, or are you living out someone else’s plan?

The Call to Originality

One of the most refreshing aspects of today’s marketing environment is the space for authentic brands. An alternative to cookie-cutter brand thinking is to establish brands consistent with personal values of the brand owner. I admire brands whose founding story includes a strong commitment to values. Patagonia, TOMS, and Warby Parker are three brands that come to mind as being rooted in their values. These brands come across as original because their strategies are consistent with their values and beliefs. In other words, they have succeeded by being original.

Building a brand on originality has drawbacks, chief among them is the brand will not be embraced by everyone. Personal conviction about your brand’s values will run into opposition and indifference. Your originality sucks (I don’t think so, but others will because you are “different”). Moreover, being original does not guarantee success. You can feel like you have not only stepped beyond a comfort zone; you are on a ledge and depending on the approval of others to maintain balance.

The Originality Obligation

Achievement rarely occurs from imitation. Author Todd Henry ends each episode of his Accidental Creative podcast by saying: “Cover bands don’t change the world. Don’t be a cover band. You need to find your unique voice.” Being original is hard and risky compared to being an imitator. However, the rewards and fulfillment awaiting those willing to pursue originality makes it an intriguing proposition.

Values: The Compass to Guide Your Career

“Maturity is achieved when a person postpones immediate pleasures for long-term values.”

– Joshua L. Liebman

An ideal starting point for understanding your purpose is identifying values that guide your thoughts and actions. Values are principles that serve as motivation for every decision you make. Like a compass, values give direction in making judgments about what is important, what is right, and what brings you happiness.

Making decisions that align with personal values can affect the outcome of virtually all major life decisions. Choice of the city you where you live, friends with whom you spend time, or a partner to whom you commit long term are influenced by values. Many instances of dissatisfaction with these decisions can be traced to misalignment with one’s values.

Values Inventory

Career choice is another life decision that should be made with careful consideration of values. After all, you are choosing how to invest your physical, mental, and creative energy to your work. You want to feel that you are committing your professional efforts to an organization that places similar emphasis on principles that are important to you.

Evaluate these four categories of career values to examine how your principles match with career considerations:

Intrinsic values – Motivators to engage in activities because you find them interesting or enjoyable; examples include feelings of independence or making a difference.
Work content values – Specific tasks performed on the job that are enjoyable or play to your strengths; problem solving, serving others, and using creativity are among values in this category.
Work environment values – Working conditions that create a positive work setting; opportunities to learn, generous benefits, and fair compensation are examples.
Work relationship values – Characteristics of interactions that matter to you; open communication, teamwork, and diversity are examples of work relationship values that are weighed in determining the fit of a career or employer.

Notice that control over outcomes that relate to these four career values categories resides in different places. Intrinsic values are yours—no one else dictates what is important to you except you.

Work content values are inherent in a particular job and can connect with your intrinsic values. For example, a career as a copywriter responsible for creating content for web pages and social media might be appealing because of the variety in assignments or the challenge of meeting client deadlines.

Organization culture, the shared values, beliefs, and behavioral expectations among the organization’s members, influences work environment and work relationship values . Organization culture can mesh with or oppose an employee’s intrinsic and work content values. The copywriter who places importance of using her creativity to solve a client’s marketing needs (a work content value) might feel that value is not being fulfilled if her ideas are frequently rejected because “that’s not how we do things here.”

Strike a Values Match

Organization culture is a strong influence on work environment and work relationship values . It can be difficult for you to determine how well your values match with the company. However, there are ways you can look into an organization’s culture when researching prospective employers. Indicators of a company’s values include:

Mission statement – Does it contain a statement about values? Also, many organizations go beyond a mission statement by identifying the organization’s values. How closely do the organization’s mission and values match with values important to you?
Philanthropy – What social causes or nonprofit organizations does a company support? Corporate philanthropy is a statement of a company’s values and priorities.
Physical environment – If you have an opportunity to visit an organization’s facilities or offices, are there visible cues about culture and values? One indicator is the layout of work spaces- Is it a maze of cubicles that isolates workers from one another, or is it a more open layout that promotes interaction and community among employees?
Employee Impressions – To learn about an organization’s values, go to an information source that is embedded there: employees. Ask employees about their experiences through questions as “What attracted you this company?” and “What do you like most about working for this company?” Their stories might resonate with what you seek from an employer or raise concerns about whether the organization shares the same values as you.

Find a Fit

Values represent what is important to you. Your challenge is to find happiness in the mix of intrinsic, work content, work environment, and work relationship values. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates we spend 45% of our day on work and work-related activities. If you spend nearly one-half of a day on work, do it in an environment in which personal and organizational values mesh.

Note: This post is an updated version of a post first published July 1, 2015.