All posts filed under: Motivation

Something good is about to happen

Published by Colin Nanka

Optimism is scientifically proven to be a differentiator between long term sustained excellence and sporadic success. If you can’t envision slightly above the horizon on where you are currently pointed, how do you expect to get there? Creating a written vision that you review daily helps manifest it happening. I review mine every morning, in addition to the obstacles I need to overcome to get there. Visualizing success gets you halfway to your goal.  It’s 5 minutes a day as part of my morning routine.  It took me a few hours to create it over a few coffees.  When you are clear on the vision and optimistic on the target, you are more likely to land the plane. Defeating Average. Colin

Why you should give your secret sauce away

Published by Colin Nanka

After 10 years of selling, I had figured a few things out. I had a process I followed what was working. Like a good BBQ sauce, I felt I had a recipe that was successful. Then one day it stopped working. I hit the financial crisis in 2008 and the way companies were buying changed. I didn’t pivot fast enough and had a rough year.  I also didn’t put up my hand and ask for help. I went it alone.  What did I take away from that year? People didn’t want BBQ sauce anymore. They wanted almond butter and I didn’t have a recipe.  In addition, if I had brought my BBQ sauce to the potluck party earlier and shared while it was in style, others would have shared their recipes back. I may have avoided a big slide. What am I saying? The selling world is complex.  If you give your secret sauce or go to nuggets away freely you are likely to get five to ten in return.  Ones that will keep you on …

Two questions to narrow your career focus

Published by Colin Nanka

I was talking to a friend recently and they shared two questions they recommend when coaching people on finding the bullseye for their next role in a company or job transition. What gives you energy? What brings you life? Doing what you are good at, where you have strength and passion is a good place to start. Often, we need other people to help raise our gaze up to 30K feet above the clouds and daily monotony to see clearly. I find writing the answers to these types of questions down and journaling against them for two weeks will give you the insight you are looking for. Defeating Average. Colin

What does success look like for the back half of 2020?

Published by Colin Nanka

A few months ago Tiger King was popular, we were all really frazzled & worried about the virus and our family’s health. The virus is still here.  We are still anxious….and we are adapting. In NYC, some things are returning to normal. We sat on two outdoor patios Friday and Saturday. It felt like a new normal. We know a lot more than we did. We are stronger than we were and maybe than we thought. Looking ahead  What does success look like for you for the rest of 2020? You may feel a little more room to breathe, have a few more windows of time to think. In those moments three questions to ask yourself? 1. What does success look like in 2020? 2. How do you want to look back on how you showed up? 3. What and who have you been in service of? Can you commit to 10 min per day over the July long weekend to help find your way in the crisis? You can do it.  We all can do …

Are you a chicken or a duck?

Published by Colin Nanka

In this time of anxiety and adversity, we need leaders who build trust, are authentic and calm during the storm. We are all feeling the pressure, angst and frustration. I see two types of leaders at this moment. The Chicken They ride the emotional roller coaster and show it on their face They are squawking at everyone and let them know they are feeling the pressure They waste a lot of emotional energy They have trouble attracting people to work for them The Duck They paddle hard under the water on solving problems and are calm on top of the water They ask good questions and provide a safe space for brainstorming challenges They focus on what they can control and waste less energy They are a talent magnet We’ve all had the moment where we are the chicken. It takes focus and practice to operate with grace. Defeating Average. Colin

The Moment Before You React

Published by Colin Nanka

“When we’re growing up there are all sorts of people telling us what to do when really what we need is space to work out who to be.” -Ellen Page I heard someone recently say, the space between when something happens to you and when you react to it is your opportunity to choose and grow.  It may be a millisecond, it may be a few seconds, but being present and aware of who you are and who you want to be in that moment is the compass to guide you there. Defeating Average. Colin

Trust you can connect your dots

Published by Colin Nanka

“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.” – Steve Jobs  I have always believed in paying it forward. Early in my career, I met two mentors who showed me the way. They shared with me, “give before you get and you will get more than you could ever imagine.” This is one of my rules that continues to serve me well. I can connect my dots back to decisions I made to follow their guidance and honor the advice they instilled in me.  I may not have known it then but I was seeding a lot of people who wanted me to be successful. I have had many occasions in the last two years where people I have helped 10-15 years ago for no …

Can you make a difference to just one?

Published by Colin Nanka

One day, an old man was walking along a beach that was littered with thousands of starfish that had been washed ashore by the high tide. As he walked he came upon a young boy who was eagerly throwing the starfish back into the ocean, one by one. Puzzled, the man looked at the boy and asked what he was doing. Without looking up from his task, the boy simply replied, “I’m saving these starfish, Sir”. The old man chuckled aloud, “Son, there are thousands of starfish and only one of you. What difference can you make?” The boy picked up a starfish, gently tossed it into the water, and turning to the man, said, “I made a difference to that one.” What can we learn from the Starfish Parable? We all have a difference at this moment we can make. What is your starfish? Defeating Average. Colin

Are you bargaining? 

Published by Colin Nanka

I find myself each morning noting two things that will improve the quality of my day. Working on intaking only 20 minutes of social media in the evening and being in bed by 930pm to get a full night’s sleep.  Why? More than 20 min of social media reading gets me wrapped around the axle in this divisive environment and drives angst prior to sleep. I don’t sleep as well.  Similar to bedtime. I need more sleep these days. I learned a few years ago to focus on managing my energy and not my time.  Less energy = less quality of work and life enjoyment.  Here the problem. I bargain with myself.  Just 10 more minutes of either I say. 10 min turns into 20 or 30 minutes and affects my frame of mind.  What’s the solution? A seedling does not turn into a towering tree overnight. The roots need to grow down before it can rise up out of the earth. For each intention, I note setbacks and success and the impact it has …

Trust builds better outcomes

Published by Colin Nanka

I had the pleasure of spending some time last week with an old colleague, David Droogleever on his podcast Softer but Stronger. We shone sunlight through the magnifying glass and put the spotlight on Trust. We discussed: Leading from your values Being a trust detective Dissolving reticence to team building and mitigating trust leakage How trust build better outcomes What an example of a north star is and how to find it. We had a good conversation and recommend taking in his podcast. Defeating Average. Colin