25 years of winning and learning
One of my early mentors once told me, “I never lose. Either I win, or I learn.”
Shanny and I have won – and learned – so much since we founded Morningstar Communications on October 1, 1997. We are proud of the positive difference we have made for our employees, clients, and numerous communities. Thank you to everyone we’ve worked with along our journey.
The world has changed in so many ways over the past 25 years – most people went to the office 5 days a week, only epidemiologists knew what a pandemic was and for those lucky people who could access the internet, the fastest data speed was 14.4 KB per second. There was no social media and smart phones were still more than a decade away.
As the communications industry transformed, we evolved as well. For our first 20 years, Morningstar Communications was a strategic communications firm. Now, I am an executive consultant with a focus on leadership and communications.
As much as the world has changed, the keys to success haven’t changed at all. We hope you benefit from our top 25 pearls of wisdom we have learned along the way:
1. Learn from failure. – Don’t lose. Learn. Learn from your mistakes. Learn from other’s mistakes too. We all make mistakes. Just don’t make the same mistake twice. Failure is often our best teacher. If you learn and change your behavior, it’s usually worth the cost. And when the bad times inevitably come, if it doesn’t kill you, it really can make you stronger. And don’t forget to enjoy the good times, too.
2. Is a knock on the door an opportunity or an interruption? – Opportunities help you accomplish your overarching goals. They maximize your investment in both time and money. Say no to interruptions. Hone your triage skills. Pursue your best opportunities with passion and purpose.
3. When walking on the edge of the ethical ocean, don’t let your knees get wet. – The line between right and wrong resembles a shoreline, rather than a straight line. Very few business decisions are simply black or white. If you’re in water up to your neck, you’re in way too deep.
4. Values are bedrock - Know what should never change, what must change and evolve, and have the wisdom to know the difference. – Values are bedrock; products and services always evolve. Experiment regularly on the fringes of your core competencies, but never compromise your integrity. In 2000, Mac computer sales were 86% of the annual revenue for Apple. Today, Macs are less than 10%. Apple’s core value of providing a simple, beautiful design persists in phones, watches and dozens of other products.
5. Think Excellence, Not Difference. – Focusing on what makes you excellent is THE long-term, sustainable, strategic position. People care about why you are their best choice, not how you are different from your competition.
6. Recipient Oriented Communications. – It’s not what you WANT to say, it’s what they NEED to hear. Focus on each individual and you’ll get your points across much more effectively. And remember, one size almost never fits all.
7. Think•feel•do – Begin with the end-in-mind, teaches Dr. Stephan Covey. As you prepare to speak, know what you want your recipients to think (left-brain, linear, numerical…), feel (right-brain, emotion, passion), and do (the action step or mindset you want them to adopt).
8. Less is More. – People today have very short attention spans. They scan and skim the written word and drift through presentations. When you think you are done with your message, cut another 20% of your content. As Mark Twain said, “If I had more time, I’d have written a shorter letter.” Keep it brief. Then edit some more.
9. Give people the benefit of the doubt, even if you DON’T think they deserve it. – This approach reduces conflict and strengthens relationships. When you disagree with someone say, “Help me understand why …?” As Jessica Rabbit said, “I’m not bad, I’m just drawn that way.”
10. “You'll find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view.” – Was Darth Vader a good guy or a bad guy? Is she a freedom fighter or a terrorist? Each one of us has our own unique inherent biases, based on our genetics, upbringing and experiences. Recognize and accept your own biases before you make any judgments.
11. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine. – Most people resist change, even if it’s for the better. However, change is a necessary component of success. Embrace and determine how you can make positive change happen. As Jon Kabat-Zinn said “'You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf'.”
12. This too shall pass. – When things are going great, don’t get cocky; bad news is often just around the bend. And when things are going poorly, don’t despair; good news is often just around the bend as well. The key is to prepare for the bad times during the good times and vice versa.
13. Adjust your leadership style to the situation – Different situations require different kinds of leaders. Sometimes you need to be a servant leader, other times require a coach and sometimes you just have to take charge. Be intentional and strategic about which leadership style you choose.
14. Review your “To Stop Doing” list regularly. – We all do many things we simply don’t need to do anymore. Duties evolve. Roles change. Stop doing the tasks that are no longer effective or important.
15. Practice authentic networking. – The purpose of networking is to create and strengthen personal relationships. Networking is not transactional and there are no time-limits. Give and get. Authentic networking must be win-win for everyone.
16. How to attract and retain the very best. – Hire excellent people. Empower them. Be there when they need help. Otherwise, stay out of their way and sing their praises. Treating employees with respect is essential for attracting and retaining the best talent. This is how businesses and organizations win long-term.
17. The 3 magic questions – Barnett Helzberg taught us the value of continuous improvement. His approach includes regularly asking 3 magic questions: “Before moving forward, reflect briefly and capture what went well, what went poorly, and what was missing.”
18. “I don’t know, but I’ll get right back to you.” – Never BS an answer. People will respect you more when you are honest. Oh, and be sure to follow-up.
19. When there’s a problem, don’t react. Overreact. – Sweeping a problem under the rug just makes it worse. Instead - Own it. Fix it. Do what you can to make sure it doesn’t happen again. And then move on.
20. None of us is as smart as all of us. – No matter how smart anyone is, all of us are smarter together. When we build on each other’s ideas and truly collaborate we come up with the best solutions.
21. Take your work seriously, not yourself. – Work is a four-letter word, but if you don’t enjoy at least 80% of your job, something is out of whack. (As a word nerd I’ve always wondered – how can something be in whack?) Self-deprecating humor is an exceptionally effective leadership tool.
22. You own your reputation and your relationships. Everything else is fleeting. – Nurture your reputation and relationships by keeping a positive balance in each of your equity wells. Do favors for others, deliver on your promises, and treat everyone with integrity.
23. Go through life with bifocal vision. – Look to the horizon. Create a plan to accomplish your overarching goals and commit to following it. But, also pay attention to each step along the way. That way you will avoid or overcome the obstacles in your path.
24. Do good, and get caught. – This is my five-word definition of effective brand-building for companies, organizations and people. If you’re a good person, your reputation works for you. And if you’re a bad person, your bad reputation will stick to you everywhere in our small, interconnected world. As Henry Ford said, “You can’t build your reputation on what you’re going to do.”
25. Learn something new. Every. Day. – Learning takes many forms. Read business books. Dan Pink, Malcolm Gladwell, and Thomas Friedman are three of my favorite authors. Consume news from various legitimate media and sources. Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you and take their advice.
26. Do everything expected, and a little more. – Good enough rarely is. We must exceed expectations to provide exemplary service in today’s highly competitive world.
Here’s to more winning – and learning – for us all. Onward.