A healthy obsession to stay relevant...

The following is the original and the rewrite can be found by clicking here.

For no particular reason and out of blue, I thought of a brief conversation I had with a leader a couple of years back. We hadn't seen each other in a while and as we were quickly catching up, he asked me what I was doing now - My response was simply, "Trying to stay relevant".

He looked at me for a second and said, "Me too". 

A slight (but relevant) deviation from the topic at hand takes us to Andy Grove, the legendary CEO of Intel, who had a healthy obsession regarding paranoia and wrote about it in his book Only the Paranoid Survive - In part, this is explained in the preface of the book:  

Sooner or later, something fundamental in your business world will change.

I'm often credited with the motto, "Only the paranoid survive." I have no idea when I first said this, but the fact remains that, when it comes to business, I believe in the value of paranoia. Business success contains the seeds of its own destruction. The more successful you are, the more people want a chunk of your business and then another chunk and then another until there is nothing left. I believe that the prime responsibility of a manager is to guard constantly against other people's attacks and to inculcate this guardian attitude in the people under his or her management...

Similar to Andy's healthy obsession with paranoia, I know of at least two people who see the importance of having a healthy obsession to stay relevant, which brings us full circle to the quick conversation that started all of this. Since it seems I have a propensity for definitions, I thought I would start with this:

Rel·e·vant \ˈre-lə-vənt\: closely connected or appropriate to what is being done or considered.

So with that said, and in its simplest terms, "to stay relevant" is to stay closely connected or appropriate to what is being done or considered. Straight forward enough, but similar to what Andy Grove eluded to, sooner or later, what is being done or considered will change... and what was once relevant can quickly become irrelevant (I don't think a definition is needed here).

For the sake of being overly thought provoking, let's say this obsession to stay relevant is for everything - jobs, skills, views, philosophies, relationships, education, politics, the arts, etc. etc. etc.;  pretty much LIFE, give or take a few things. Here is what I have gleaned about the subject so far as I work through my obsession:

• Change, as the popular saying goes, is the only constant and puts you forever at risk of becoming irrelevant - Get comfortable with it.
• In a rather impactful way, you will become irrelevant more than once in your life. In short, it's going to happen to you, and you will have to work through it.
• What you want to be relevant with, is you choice ... staying relevant may not be.
• As much as you can become irrelevant, you can equally become relevant. Only you can decide if you want to stay where you are.
• Not accepting or adapting to change is one of the faster routes to being irrelevant.
• The universe doesn't care if you believe your way of doing things is the best way. Sometimes you will get lucky and be aligned, but know it is fleeting.

As you look at staying relevant, be it in the narrow scope of a job or to staying vibrant with as many aspects of your life as you can, it is ultimately about evolving with the environment around you, seeing what's coming and adjusting accordingly: 

• Have you taken a course of some sort in the last 12 months?
• Do you have a smartphone that is less than two and a half years old?
• Do you have a web site?
• Do you know how to write code?
• Do you have more than two social media channels you actively use?
• Do you actively blog?
• Do you actively video blog?
• Do you read more than five books a year?
• Do you travel?
• Do you socialize with people that are at least ten years older and younger than you?
• Do you actively network?
• Do you ensure your office door is not closed all the time?
• Do you have an overwhelming urge to be curious?
• Etc.

 Truth be told, I can't answer yes to all of the above, but my obsession has me working on it.

gpe

Figuratively speaking, what comes with a glass of bourbon...

For me, there is something very important that comes with a "splash" of bourbon*; sometimes with ice but sometimes served neat... I am still undecided with regard to that. None of which advocates the use of alcohol. 

It started off unexpectedly, as many things do, when out for dinner with three friends it was suggested that we should have "a bourbon". The origins of the suggestion admittedly came from reading a biography on John Wayne**, which of course did not diminish the suggestion in the least. So with bourbon in hand and no particular toast in mind other than recognition, we raised a glass.

Over the years I have refined my tastes regarding my preferred brands but the reasons for raising a glass always remain the same.

Within the past week, on two separate occasions, I was able to raise a glass; once with a group of some of my oldest friends at a weekend gathering, and the second with a long time friend who invited me to his house at the end of what turned out to be very "long" day. In each instance, with bourbon in hand and no particular toast in mind other than recognition, we raised a glass.

We raise a glass to friendship, the appreciation of the current moment, the memories of a life lived and the anticipation of a future yet to come. An unspoken thank you for all that has been done and all that is to come - Recognition of wonderful friendships, for which I for one, have been very fortunate.

And to that, I raise a glass with no particular toast in mind and say, "Thank you".

gpe

* Bourbon whiskey /bɜːrbən/ is a type of American whiskey: a barrel-aged distilled spirit made primarily from corn. (Wikipedia)

** Marion Mitchell Morrison (born Marion Robert Morrison; May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director, and producer.[1] An Academy Award-winner for True Grit (1969), Wayne was among the top box office draws for three decades.[2][3] An enduring American icon, for several generations of Americans he epitomized rugged masculinity and is famous for his demeanor, including his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height. (Wikipedia)

To present first or last... that is a very good question.

The following is the original and the rewrite can be found by clicking here.

I was at a networking meeting recently that brought ideas and investors together when an important topic was raised, as well as a point of view. 

The Founder and CEO of a successful startup was presenting to the crowd, offering business perspectives and advice regarding making your idea a reality. There is no doubt he has a long runway for success, and his advice and perspectives were "spot on" until the inevitable happened; you know... you are listening to a presentation and something is said that you disagree with.

As the CEO's was providing some insights, he offered the important advice of ensuring you are the first on the list of presenters, and whatever you do, make sure you are not the "last". Being an instinctive contrarian, I actually think being the last one to present is of great benefit... and so the rub began.

His reasons for presenting first were all very sound:

• You get your thoughts out first and set the tone.
• The audience is all fresh, eager and ready to listen.
• By the end of a long day of presentations, everyone is thinking of little more than just "getting out of there".

A few days after that meeting, I was at an informal retreat and posed this question to a number of experienced business professions who echoed what the CEO said and why. I didn't agree with them either.

I should be clear that I don't disagree with their reasoning, but more with the thinking that being last is a disadvantage. Here is why I see being last as an advantage.

• Even though I am standing between the audience and the bar, I am the "last face they will see".
• Since I know the audience will be tired, influenced by others and have already formed opinions; I will have to deliver a presentation that is so much better than what anyone else has done - Knowing I am already at a disadvantage will challenge me to simply do so much better, be more creative, and figure out how to overcome all the challenges the had CEO mentioned.

There is also one other reason - Sometimes you will have no other choice than be the last to present, so you may as well learn how to get really good at it. 

As that 'ol saying goes, "If you are able to do it in the bad times, just imagine how easy it will be in the good times."

gpe