CHRISTI HEGSTAD PH.D.

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Giving The World Your Best

Christi Hegstad October 8th, 2017

Giving the world your best is not always easy.

Some days, you may give your best and end up hurt.

Some days, it just may feel too difficult in the first place.

Some days, you might decide the world doesn’t deserve your best.

And some days, you might just be tired, heartbroken, or plain just don’t feel like it.

Can you do it anyway?

Mother Teresa still shines as an example of a deeply impactful leader. She did not lead a life of luxury, she did not claim to hold any great power, she didn’t seek the spotlight or magazine covers or celebrity. Not that there’s anything inherently wrong with that; just that she modeled quiet leadership in a way that has truly changed lives as well as inspired millions.

Her days were not always easy. She wrote about difficult times, unbelievable challenges, and significant doubts.

Yet she awoke each morning and gave her best anyway.

In my own leadership – as well as in my parenting, friendship, and just in my desire to be a good human – I often turn to Mother Teresa’s example. I try to give my best – even when I’m feeling exhausted, scared, or uncertain. I don’t always succeed. But I try anyway.

How about you? What helps you continue to make a positive, purposeful difference in this world, even when it’s not easy? What helps you persevere anyway?

For a healthy dose of inspiration, join us at Spark! Click here for details and to enroll.

To see the full poem, Do It Anyway, attributed to Mother Teresa, click here.

 

 

Values: What Are They and Why Do They Matter?

Christi Hegstad October 7th, 2017

I recall sitting in a meeting many years ago, where my role was simply to take notes. Though in theory not a difficult task, by the end of the hour my jaw was sore (from gritting my teeth) and my hand felt raw (from clenching my fist).

Unbeknownst to me, this meeting became a turning point in my pathway to purpose.

A bit of background:

At the meeting, the facilitator held a very ‘my way or the highway’ attitude. Any time a participant brought up a new idea, he told them it would never work. When someone began to share a different perspective, he interrupted or even ignored them. Fresh thoughts, differing viewpoints, even clarifying questions were shut down with irritation, until he finally called the meeting to an end and dismissed everyone.

At the time, I knew his behavior bothered me, but I didn’t realize until a while later – when I conducted my first values clarification – exactly why my reaction was so strong.

What Are Values and Why Do They Matter?

Essentially, your values are core beliefs that serve as your moral compass.

Values permeate every single aspect of your work and life – personal, professional, leadership, relationships, and beyond. They influence every decision you make and every action you take, whether you consciously realize it or not. Identifying and understanding your values, then, brings a sense of clarity, alignment, and proactivity into your life in a way nothing else can.

When I conducted my values clarification, I discovered that two of my core values – growth and respect – had clearly been violated in that meeting. By shutting down diverse ideas and perspectives, the facilitator did not create an environment of growth for participants or even allow for the growth of the organization. By interrupting and responding rudely, respect had long flown out the window.

Suddenly, the reasons for my tight jaw and clenched fists became crystal clear.

Leading In Accordance With Your Values

You will likely experience your values most clearly in one of two ways: The pure sense of alignment you feel when they are honored, and your strong reaction when they are violated. Without clarity around your core values, however, you may experience those sensations but be unable to pinpoint – and thus change – the situation, as occurred with me in that meeting.

Once you know your values, you can intentionally design your environment to honor them as much as possible. And in situations where they are not upheld or downright ignored, you can take necessary action: speak up, redirect the conversation, stand up for someone or something, or perhaps even leave the room, for example.

When I begin working with a new coaching client, I ask them to complete my Values Clarification exercise first thing. Not only does this help them live, work, and lead in honor of their values, it allows me to coach them in alignment with what matters most to them. While I must honor my values, it doesn’t serve my client if I coach them in alignment with my values and not theirs.

This single act – the Values Clarification – prompts more lightbulb moments than I could ever have imagined!

Your Next Action:

As you might guess, I encourage you to take the step of clarifying your values. If you’re attending Spark, you’ll receive my Values Clarification tool and become clear on your core values before we even meet for the day. (Values clarification is also an excellent topic for a one-time Kickstart Coaching session.) You can also find other values tools available – just make sure they are reputable, time-honored, and speak to you.

Then, make a point to intentionally honor your values in your work, leadership, and life. If this is new to you, you won’t believe the difference!

 

Nowadays, when I notice my jaws or fists or gut clenching from tension, I check in with my values and act accordingly. This may require turning off the TV instead of watching political debates, for example, or listening deeply to someone who feels unheard.

And on the proactive side, I set up my life in favor of my values as much as I can. This may come in the form of communicating expectations at the start of a potentially intense meeting or by speaking up for someone who is being treated unkindly (kindness is another of my core values).

Living, leading, and working in honor of your values may not always be easy, but it will always be worth it.

Click here to secure one of the final seats remaining for Spark! 

 

 

 

Thinking About Becoming A Coach? 5 Steps To Get Started

Christi Hegstad October 6th, 2017

“How did you get started in coaching?”

I am asked this question often, sometimes by people simply curious about my path, but frequently by people considering becoming coaches themselves. I am happy to respond, as I believe the more thoughtfully and intentionally we approach a possible career or development opportunity, the more likely we are to make a purposeful decision that leads to fulfillment and success.

I’ve coached many coaches, as well as many individuals who have gone on to become coaches after our work together, and every story is a bit different. If you’re interested in hiring a coach, click here for five things to consider as you seek the perfect coach for you. And if you’re considering becoming a professional coach, consider the following five tips for building a strong foundation:

1. Work With A Coach.

First and foremost, work with an experienced, qualified coach. You will learn so much about yourself and about coaching, and your coach can help you stay accountable and motivated with your goal. When I teach coaching skills to managers and leaders in businesses, I always include practice time; it’s one thing to know coaching theory, skills, and concepts, but to experience coaching is a completely different thing altogether.

Personally, I also believe this is a matter of integrity: How can we expect others to believe in and invest in the power of coaching if we aren’t doing the same? Although I’ve been a certified coach for years, I still always have a coach myself. This supports my professional development, grows me personally, continually stretches me as a coach, and allows me to work in integrity and alignment.

2. Seek Out Reputable Training.

Just because you have experienced something doesn’t mean you are qualified to coach others through that experience. (You could mentor, perhaps, but that’s a different role.) On the path to earning my Ph.D., I was in school – most of it while also employed elsewhere – for over 20 years. I learned a lot and gained tons of work experience as well, but my coach training provided a completely different kind of learning altogether.

The International Coach Federation is a wonderful starting point. In addition to serving as a guiding resource for coaches and ensuring the ethical standards and continuing education of its members, the ICF provides a fantastic list of accredited coach-training programs around the globe. That’s where I discovered the College of Executive Coaching, where I gained my training (a program I absolutely love and still take courses from, by the way).

3. Connect With Other Coaches.

You don’t need to wait until you are a coach, or in the midst of your coach training, before connecting with other coaches. In fact, doing so as you’re exploring possibilities will serve many purposes: You’ll learn where other coaches obtained their training and can hear their experiences, you’ll grow your peer network for referrals and collaboration, and you’ll have a lot of fun because coaches are among the most delightful and welcoming people in the world (in my opinion, anyway! 🙂 )

For a couple of years, I served as President of the Iowa chapter of the ICF. I encouraged (and still do) people just thinking about coaching to attend a meeting and surround themselves with coaches for a while. Many of those individuals have become longstanding members of our chapter, certified coaches, and are now making a powerful difference doing work that they love.

4. Block Time Now For Coaching Work.

Look ahead on your calendar and start blocking time each week to devote to coaching work. You’ll need this once you begin your training program, but in the meantime you can use it in a variety of valuable ways: Read coaching books, arrange introductory meetings, schedule conversations with coaches you may wish to hire, review coaching materials, and conduct some self-discovery (see #5), to name a few.

5. Spend Time In Self-Reflection.

In working with a coach and through your training, you’ll become incredibly self-aware; I don’t think one can become a coach without experiencing this benefit. But you can start now. A few questions to ponder:

Why do you want to become a coach?

What would you love to help others achieve through coaching?

What’s your ideal vision for the world? How might becoming a coach help you make that a reality?

How might you honor your values through coaching?

What might stand in your way of pursuing this? How can you address those obstacles and prepare accordingly?

Ideally, you’ll become a coach because you have a grand vision for other individuals, your community, the world, and your own life – not because you’re wanting to escape a job you dislike or because you’re running away from something else. Questions like these can help you discern your purpose and help your motivation.

“As a coach,” write Steve Chandler and Rich Litvin, “your only mission is to wake up each morning and ask yourself: ‘Who can I serve so powerfully that they never forget our conversation for the rest of their life?'”

If that idea excites you, coaching might be just the thing for you!

You can learn more about my coaching here. And to work with me for a day along with other purposeful people, join me for Spark – click here for details!

The “S” Word And Its Remedy

Christi Hegstad October 5th, 2017

Years ago, I wrote an issue of my newsletter completely around one word. I challenged readers to take note of how often they used the word, to pay attention to what it did for their energy level or mood, and – if they felt especially on top of things – to then eliminate it from their vocabulary for a week or two.

That newsletter prompted more feedback than any I had written up to that point.

The word?

Should.

Seriously – how do you feel just thinking the word? Now attach an action to it, one that you don’t necessarily want to do:

“I should clean the toilets,” perhaps.

Or imagine a rather demanding person in your life pointing at you and saying, “You should do more!”

Sometimes even memes on the internet tell us we should do this or we shouldn’t do that or we should feel this and not that.

Ugh. It’s exhausting and can defeat us before we even begin. And if you’re anything like those early newsletter readers, you’ll be amazed how often you’re saying it to yourself in any given week.

But there’s a simple solution: Replace the word.

Every time you’re about to say “should,” for instance, replace it with “will” or “will not.” You are essentially making a decision with your statement which, in combination with not using the “s” word, offers instant relief and liberation.

Here’s a goofy example: Probably my least-favorite household chore is scrubbing the floor. I can recall days where I’d think, multiple times throughout the day, “I should scrub the floor tonight.” And since it wasn’t necessarily fun, I’d feel a dull sense of dread as well as accompanying guilt since I had likely been saying that same statement for days (weeks?) on end.

So I tried this experiment on myself. When I replaced “should” with “will not” (it wasn’t a life-or-death task, after all), I immediately felt freedom and didn’t think about it again the rest of the day – decision made. When I replaced it with “will,” I actually mustered up the resolve – a “Let’s do this!” attitude, if you will – and similarly felt freedom. Again, decision made.

And maybe “should” doesn’t impact you but you have different trigger words: “can’t,” “too busy,” and “overwhelmed” are ones I hear often. You can implement the same technique, replacing the word with something else – ideally, something more positive. “I’m too busy” can become “I choose to spend my time here instead,” for example.

Think of yourself as the driver of your car (of life), the captain of your ship (of work). Choose words that empower and make a decision rather than feeling a victim of circumstance.

It may seem like a small shift, but words have power. I think you’ll be surprised at how much a simple shift can impact your mindset, well-being, and sense of meaning and purpose!

Crave more meaning at work and/or purpose in life? Join us at Spark before seats are gone! Click here to enroll.

3 Tools For Making Purposeful Decisions

Christi Hegstad October 4th, 2017

Many of you have asked about the details around the decision to make this upcoming Spark event the final one. After years of sold-out audiences, hundreds of testimonials on Spark‘s work- and life-changing impacts, and nationwide recognition, how have I made the decision to make this the final Spark?

I’ll start by saying this decision did not come lightly. But once made, it was with 100% certainty – a knowingness, if you will. And, as will often happen with centered, purposeful decisions, everything transpiring since then – including some exciting new openings this decision has created space for – has served as confirmation.

So how did I make this decision? And how can you make decisions with confidence and knowingness? Here are three strategies I have found invaluable:

Consult My Purpose Statement.

First and foremost, my Purpose Statement serves as my filter for decisions. Since it incorporates my values (among other things), I know that basing decisions on how they align with my Purpose Statement will always serve me well. (If you’re coming to Spark, you’ll leave with YOUR Purpose Statement too, as well as a personalized plan to put it into action.)

I’ve often struggled with trusting my intuition and have just recently discovered why, another lesson I will share at Spark. While I’ve gotten much better over the years, and my Purpose Statement provides a type of constancy that I can rely on in any situation. I appreciate having something ‘outside my own head’ to guide me! 😉

Talk With My Advisors.

Although I’ve been a certified coach for years I still, and likely always will, have a coach myself. I’m also part of Mastermind groups that have proven invaluable.

These individuals, along with my family, close friends, and a few other ‘key players,’ serve as such a trusted source of wisdom for me. Whether my decision relates to my business, personal life, health, vacation ideas, or anything in between, these are the people to whom I turn. While thinking through things is important, verbalizing them usually brings about a different kind of clarity.

Practice 10-10-10.

The book by this same name, written by Suzy Welch, has been a game-changer for me and many of my clients when it comes to sound decision-making. Essentially, the process encourages you to make a hypothetical decision, then examine the possible consequences 10 minutes, 10 months, and 10 years from now. I have used this strategy repeatedly over the years and am grateful for perspective it offers! You can find a nice summary of the book here.

 

I used to struggle tremendously with decision-making, spending waaaay too much time overthinking, ruminating, second-guessing. Years ago I made a change: I decided one of my Guiding Principles would be

Decide And Take Action.

Meaning, once I make a decision, I immediately take an action in favor of it. This principle alone has transformed my decision-making and reduced my “buyer’s remorse” by leaps and bounds! Maybe something to incorporate into your practice, too?

These three steps essentially make up how I made the decision. I will explain the reasons why the public Spark will not continue after this year, some of which are quite personal, at the event itself. We are almost out of spots so if you’d like to join us, click here . I can’t wait for our purposeful, positive day of growth together!

 

Becoming A Master Of Your Craft

Christi Hegstad October 3rd, 2017
“Be so good they can’t ignore you.” 
Steve Martin
 
Coaching Tip of the Week:
We live in a world often looking for the fast solution, the instant gratification, the get-rich-quick answer.
When asked what advice he would give people wishing to mimic his success, actor/comedian Steve Martin lamented that no one listens to his advice because it’s not what they want to hear.
“What they want to hear is ‘Here’s how you get an agent, here’s how you write a script,'” Martin replied to Charlie Rose, “but I always say, ‘Be so good they can’t ignore you.'”
This week, begin mastering your craft. 
While you can’t necessarily control everything about your work or workday, you can control your effort, attitude, and approach. Always.
Ask yourself what would up-level your skills even more. Reading daily in your field? Hiring a coach? Taking a class? Attending a professional development event like Spark?
Take one step toward mastery this week. Start being so good that we can’t help but take notice!
To read my takeaways from the book, So Good They Can’t Ignore You, click here to visit my blog. And to join us for Spark, click here!

Things You Can Do When You Don’t Know What To Do

Christi Hegstad October 2nd, 2017

When you hear difficult news or experience the unfathomable, how do you tend to respond?

Like most people, I’m continually trying to navigate this. I imagine it will be a lifelong experiment. One thing I have learned about myself, however, is that I am much more effective – and feel much better – when I take purposeful action.

But sometimes the question is, what action can I take? What could possibly make a difference?

This morning, I asked myself these questions once again – then generated this brief list. What would you add?

1. First and foremost, feel your feelings. If tears need to flow, pillows need to be screamed into, hugs need to be requested – give yourself permission to feel what you feel. You can still be a positive, purposeful person and experience the wide range of human emotions available to us.

2. Shift your questions. While there is a time and place for asking ‘why’ and getting to root causes (for growth, not blame), we must also remember that the quality and focus of our answers depend on the quality and focus of our questions. When you feel stuck, switching to ‘how’ questions can often open you up to possibility: How can I improve the situation? How can I help? How can I take one step forward?

3. Conduct a person-to-person act of kindness. Send an unexpected gift card to a teacher. Write a heartfelt letter of gratitude to a service provider. Leave a pre-paid gas card and a “You’re amazing!” note to someone who recently lost his job and may not feel so amazing. Make eye contact when speaking.

4. Connect with your core values. There’s a line in an old country song that goes, “You’ve got to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything.” Know what you stand for. Also, recognize that you can’t stand for everything and still be effective.

5. Support values-aligned causes. Which do you see as more beneficial: Giving $20 to 100 different organizations, or giving $2,000 to one that supports what you believe in most? Once you clarify your values, consider donating focused time and treasure there.

6. Share your personal strengths. You’re a great writer? Consider contributing to a nonprofit’s newsletter. Amazing eye for interior design? Offer to create a welcoming lobby for a facility that helps people in need. Gain joy from using your strengths while you make a difference for others.

7. Note what’s within your control. This is difficult – and especially important – in situations where we feel like we have no control. We always have control over something, such as our attitude, how we respond to a situation, the words we speak, the actions we take, the way we carry ourselves. We may also have the ability to help, provide a safe space or listening ear, donate blood, or offer a service. Create a Breakthrough Map of possible actions, perhaps teaming up with a friend or group to get even more ideas flowing.

8. Take care of yourself. Breathe, nourish, move, create…fuel yourself. Consider your spiritual and emotional needs as well, inviting prayer, meditation, affirmations, or inspirational text into your life. Like the oxygen-mask-on-an-airplane metaphor, you must first take care of yourself if you want to be able to take care of others.

9. Seek professional help. Whether a therapist, physician, healer, coach, spiritual director…the options are endless. You don’t have to go it alone.

10. Refrain from social media. This may mean reading, as it can become overwhelming in the face of a national or global issue. It may also mean posting, unless you’re going to contribute to the conversation in a meaningful and helpful manner.

11. Pour extra love into the world. Love your family, friends, coworkers, cashiers, fellow drivers on the highway, grumpy service providers… everyone. Model what it’s like to love love love.

12. And in the words of Mr. Rogers’ mom, look for the helpers. They’re always there, and they will always remind you of the truest shining goodness of the human spirit.

Many of these may just serve as starting points or seem like they wouldn’t change the world. But sometimes what we need is the starting point, to provide us with the energy, momentum, and resolve to then dig deeper and do the big work. As Mother Teresa said, “Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you.”

What actions help you when you don’t know what to do? I welcome your additions to this list. Perhaps together, we can create a working document that we can turn to whenever we wonder what we can do to lift ourselves, our families and friends, and humanity to a higher level.

Much love to you, friends.

How To Create A Breakthrough Map In 5 Steps

Christi Hegstad October 1st, 2017

When I was in graduate school, the topic of the doctoral dissertation would inevitably come up in class from time to time. From the moment we received our acceptance letters into the program, we knew conducting a massive research project and writing a massive, extremely rigorous, paper about it would be part of our requirement.

But we were also good at thinking, “Eh, I don’t have to worry about it yet.”

Until, of course, we did.

The dissertation posed a challenge unlike any I had pursued up to that point. I had set and achieved big goals before, and I had stretched myself beyond my comfort zone many, many times. But the pre-research, the planning, the formulating of questions, the meta-review of data, the interviews, the structure requirements… Where to even begin? It didn’t surprise me so many students finish with their ABD – All But Dissertation – instead of the Ph.D., but I was determined to complete what I’d started because it meant so much to me.

It was then that I experimented with what is now one of my favorite tools for turning big wild dreams into reality. I’ve used it practically weekly ever since.

The Tool For Breakthroughs

The first step to success is, of course, determining what you want to accomplish, and I shared two questions to help you clarify that in my Breakthrough Goal article a few days ago.

I also promised in that article to share one of the best tools I know for propelling yourself down the path of accomplishment, which is the focus of this article. Once you’ve determined what you want to accomplish – writing a book, tripling your business revenue, hosting the greatest event ever, completing your dissertation, or practically anything else, your next step to set it in motion: Create a Breakthrough Map!

A Breakthrough Map (also referred to as a mindmap or idea web) serves multiple purposes: It allows you to get thoughts out of your head and onto paper (instant relief), gives a visual display to see gaps and prompt further ideas, and provides the starting point for an action plan. These maps can also prompt more, richer, and higher-quality results than standard lists.

In essence, Breakthrough Maps make the impossible possible.

How To Create A Breakthrough Map In 5 Steps

Like with most professional development tools, there is no single way to create a Breakthrough Map, but perhaps these steps I’ve learned over the years since my grad school days can help:

1. Decide Your Topic/Goal.

By now you hopefully have your Breakthrough Goal identified, but if not – or if you need help refining it – revisit my earlier article. Try to be as specific as you can. For example, a desired outcome of raising $100,000 for your nonprofit will yield better possible actions than “make more money.”

2. Phrase It In “How Can I…” Format.

Rather than simply putting your goal on paper, turn it into a “How can I…” question. You might consider this simplistic, but it shifts your mind into problem-solving mode and actually unlocks more than the goal statement by itself. It also assumes positive success: There’s no questioning whether you can succeed, the question is merely how – what steps your success might require.

Breakthrough Map - How Can I

On a blank piece of paper (consider large poster paper your friend here!) or a whiteboard, draw a circle in the center and write your How Can I question inside of it. For example, my Spark live event is just around the corner and since it’s my final one, I am putting my all into it. One of my earliest Breakthrough Maps posed the question, “How Can We Make Spark ’17 The GREATEST EVENT EVER?” My team and I have had SO much fun dreaming on paper with this!

A topic several clients have brought up, especially as we move into 4th quarter, revolves around their goals and ongoing distractions: “How can I stay focused on my top-priority goals as we near the end of the year?” I’ll use a version of this as an example as we continue:

Breakthrough Map - Starting Question

 3. Empty Your Mind Onto The Map.

Now it’s time to free up your mind space by purging all your thoughts, ideas, and even random possibilities onto the paper. Make a big mess. Pour them out in any order. Include actions to take, people who could help, resources you might call on, books that may support you, tools you may need…anything and everything that comes to mind.

This step will challenge the list-makers out there (I’m right there with you!) but believe me, it’s a challenge worth accepting! Don’t try to order your thoughts at this point. I promise there will be time for that later. 🙂

Breakthrough Map - Getting There

When I work with my coaching clients on Breakthrough Maps, I encourage them to keep going until they’ve generated at least 25 ideas. This can seem daunting at first, but it stretches your mind and helps you think beyond the status quo. Depending on your topic and where you are in your process, you might invite trusted others (i.e., your mastermind partners) to contribute possible actions as well.

Remember: You are not creating a to-do list here. You are simply giving space to ideas. You may decide later to only implement 1/3 of them – it doesn’t matter. The goal is to stretch, expand, and generate possibilities.

4. Leave It Alone.

Once you’ve created at least 25 ideas, step away from your Breakthrough Map for a while. Go for a walk, take a nap, do some yoga, switch to another project, maybe even put your map in a drawer for a day or two. As additional ideas come to mind, add them to your map.

5. Start Categorizing.

You can do this in a few different ways. One possibility: Take your ideas from your first Breakthrough Map and create a second one with logical categories.

Breakthrough Map - Complete

What I’ll often do instead is take different colored highlighters and mark categories accordingly. With the Spark example I gave earlier, I poured everything out onto the map, then used pink highlighters to note any actions related to the venue/environment, blue for logistics, yellow for materials, green for guest speakers, and so on.

Or, if your list-making itch has gotten the best of you, you can now start forming your thoughts into lists.

From Idea Into Action

While you can use your Breakthrough Map itself as your action plan, checking items off as you go, I’d suggest turning your “beautiful mess” into a truly organized action plan; my free Big Dreams, Bold Goals e-book can help you with that (click here to get yours).

What do you think? Ready to create a Breakthrough Map?

No joke, I make one at least weekly – and usually more often. I’ve created Breakthrough Maps for everything from the book that I’m writing to summer activity ideas to how to solve a problem that’s keeping me stuck to anything on which I find myself procrastinating. My journal is full of these random scribblings and I am so much better for it!

So whether you need to get unstuck, determine your first (or next) step in a project, or brainstorm what to pack on your upcoming trip, give the Breakthrough Map strategy a try. Let me know how it goes by sharing below, or on Instagram or Facebook! And for more on Breakthrough Maps and so many other practical, useful, research-based tools to help you fulfill your highest potential, join me at Spark on November 3 – click here for details!

 

 

Morning Journaling For Peace, Purpose, and Positivity

Christi Hegstad September 30th, 2017

Doesn’t the space in this photo look like a peaceful setting for morning journaling? I was happy to take advantage of it this week. There’s nothing quite like beautiful scenery and a gurgling river to help the ideas flow!

So many different ways to journal exist: stream-of-consciousness writing, gratitudes, daily recaps, morning pages, lists…to name just a few. I find journaling so helpful for getting thoughts out of my head and onto paper, thus freeing up mental space (and who couldn’t use more of that?!). I also brainstorm ideas, dream, process through challenges, vent, plan, and so much more via my journal!

Do you keep a journal? How do you like to use it? Share your thoughts below or on Instagram or Facebook! And to gain a variety of journal prompts and topics, be sure to join us for Spark on November 3!

The Secrets To Being So Good They Can’t Ignore You

Christi Hegstad September 29th, 2017

Two reasons in particular drew me to Cal Newport’s book, So Good They Can’t Ignore You:

1. His more recent book, Deep Work, was one of my 3 favorite books read in 2016. (FYI, I read a lot of books.) I had the privilege of hearing Newport speak at a coaching conference that spring and was impressed with his knowledge, ethic, and sense of story.

2. I knew the title of this book came from a line by Steve Martin, one of my all-time favorite actors (not to mention, banjo players). I figured any book inspired by the incomparable Martin had to be pretty amazing!

I was not disappointed.

I was, however, challenged, and in a way that I have been challenged for the past 18 months. I’ll get back to that in a moment.

The Overarching Premise

Newport makes his thesis clear before his book even hits page 1. “The conventional wisdom – follow your passion – is seriously flawed,” he writes in the introduction. “It not only fails to describe how most people actually end up with compelling careers,” he goes on to say, “but for many people it can actually make things worse: leading to chronic job shifting and unrelenting angst when…one’s reality inevitably falls short of the dream.”

What? Aren’t we supposed to do what we love?

Not according to Newport. But fortunately he doesn’t just tell us what not to do; he offers an alternate plan of action, too. A couple of his suggestions:

Be so good they can’t ignore you. In an interview, Charlie Rose asked Steve Martin his advice for aspiring performers, to which Martin replied:

What they want to hear is ‘Here’s how you get an agent, here’s how you write a script’…but I always say, ‘Be so good they can’t ignore you.’

And how might we go about doing that?

Develop your skills to mastery level. Shift your mindset to one of a skilled craftsperson. Don’t just practice, but engage in deliberate practice – the type of practice that stretches your skills and requires focus, concentration, and intentional effort.

That last part is significant: Many of us mostly practice what we already know because competence feels nice. From psychologists like Anders Ericsson, however, we’ve learned that mere practice isn’t enough to reach a level of mastery. We must practice deliberately, challenging ourselves and continuously stretching beyond what we know, which is often unpleasant and unenjoyable but massively skill-building.

Establish a sense of control. Autonomy goes a long way toward professional development and career joy. “Giving people more control over what they do and how they do it,” writes Newport based on his research, “increases their happiness, engagement, and sense of fulfillment.”

If you’re an employee, ask yourself where you have control in your profession. (Side note: “Nowhere” is an unacceptable answer. If nothing else, you always have control over your attitude, effort, and personal growth.)

“Think Small, Act Big.” This still has me spinning a bit. Perhaps since some of my frequently-used hashtags on Instagram and Twitter are #dreambig #startsmall!

But the story Newport offers in this section, about a Harvard biology professor named Pardis Sabeti, is perhaps my favorite in the entire book. She is an incredible example of someone who connects her work to a greater purpose, and she is changing lives – and the world – as a result. “Her happiness comes from the fact that she built her career on a clear and compelling mission,” writes Newport, “something that not only gives meaning to her work but provides the energy needed to embrace life beyond the lab.” She is a biologist, teacher, guitar player, volleyball player, and more. Her mission brings purpose to her days and energy to her life in a way no supplement could, and it allows her to work with enthusiasm and joy in a very demanding, often high-stakes position.

Accepting The Challenge

Newport, as well as my own research and book writing in the past 18 months, has challenged one of the foundations on which I built my business nearly 15 years ago – something I’ll share more about at Spark. His theories are valid, based in sound research, and explored through wonderful stories of musicians, athletes, business leaders, farmers, and everyone in between. So Good was both enlightening and entertaining to read.

So how might you apply some of these learnings to your own work and life? My favorite part of the book (aside from the stories, like Pardis Sabeti) is, interestingly, the conclusion: Here, Newport takes what he learned through his research and applies it to his own experience. While still a work in progress – as we all are – making shifts in his daily actions, focus, and mindset have impacted his life experience in very insightful ways.

Now it’s your turn: How can you bring more meaning and growth into your own work experience? How might you become so good they can’t ignore you? Share your ideas below or on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! And to create a full action plan around your core values and meaningful work, be sure to join us for Spark – limited seats left!

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