Mastery and Relevance
With the jobless market at a 16-year high, and the continuing stream of depressing data flowing out of the media – let’s take stock.
Two things protect us from all this projected – and in some cases, imagined – misery.
And they are the same two things that have always protected us.
And this is true for corporations, and it is true for individuals.
The two priorities are:
1. Mastery. We simply have to be brilliant at whatever we do. When I walk into an electronics store and find it empty, it is easy to see why: the place is a mess, the staff don’t care, the stock is low, and it is not enticing or inspiring me. When I walk into Starbucks and see lines trailing out of the door, the reason is just as simple: they do what they do as well, and often much better, than anyone else. People care and brighten your day. The other day while I was paying for my coffee in a Starbucks store, one of the barristas offered me a free sample of hot vanilla cider and a mushroom turnover. This is simple and brilliant – a demonstration of mastery and constant learning and improvement that leads to better service and an inspiring experience. The individual who is a master at what they do and relevant themselves and supporting the relevancy of their organization dramatically lowers their risk of being laid off in tough times.
2. Relevance. Things change. The environment changes. People change. Tastes change. Technology and innovation changes. The game changes. We have to keep up. If we aren’t relevant, we become obsolete – whether you are a company or an individual. Even in tough times, I’ll find the resources to buy what you offer, if it is highly relevant to who I am and what I do.
When we focus on Mastery and Relevance, we get better, and when we are better, we are valued.
January 14th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Fantastic writing, Lance, and it hit home at a perfect time for me. Thanks for being who you are!
Ben
January 18th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
Thanks for the encouragement Ben.
January 19th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Great advice! We need to stop moaning and start applying ourselves to what it is we have chosen to do to earn a living. Create value with what you have in your hands. Apply your heart to grow and get better at serving others.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:34 pm
[...] now, I leave you with a superb post by Lance Secretan on Mastery and Relevance! Food for thought and [...]
January 27th, 2009 at 7:18 am
Mastery comes from knowing what you stand for and where you intend to go! Folks at Starbucks know it very well. Wonderful post Lance. Did I tell you that I love your book “One”; still trying hard to get a copy of Inspire – it is generally out of stock in India.
February 15th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Witnessing the political debates in the US about Obama’s economic
plan, i notice how tribal many of the positions of the republicans and
democrats are. It seems many find it hard to change to adapt to the
new globally connected world we live in. I hope more business leaders
and political leaders try to incorporate relevance and mastery as part
of the process used to find new solutions to the new problems faced
today. What can we do to encourage more integral and relevant
thinking by our leaders instead of old patterns of us versus them.
February 24th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Lance, do you have any plans to visit Australia at all. I’d jump at the opportunity to hear you speak and attend a Leadership seminar.
Many thanks
Peter
February 25th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
No not yet. But you can enroll to become a Secretan Associate in our program next April. Check here http://www.secretan.com/hgl_associateprogram.php