09.08.2023

The Inside Person | Connect | Be More Pirate

Hello there! Welcome to my weekly LEAPS. 

You’re receiving this email because you subscribed to my weekly Wednesday feature or our mailing list. Every Wednesday, I share 5 things using our LEAPS approach: 

Learn: something new or an idea
Energy: something that’s creating an energy (good or bad) - a word
Action: something to do
Processing: a question to consider
Shout out: something or someone that I want to celebrate or acknowledge

HOW ALIGNED AND BALANCED IS YOUR SH*T?
Take the free GLAS Understanding Assessment
and receive your PDF overview and score.

LEARN
Something Worth Sharing

The Inside Person

One of my very favourite books is The Third Door by Alex Banayan - a book I’ve probably gifted the most to friends and colleagues. I was fortunate enough to have Alex send me a galley copy of the book before launch, so that I could create a #visualsynopsis.

The book sets out to uncover the definitive mindset of exponential growth and success - something he researched for over 7 years. Alex discovered that in many cases, the journey to success included having ‘an inside person’. This is someone that is able to open the door, to champion you and make introductions; the person that often allows you to by-pass the regular route. 

The inside person is referred to as ‘The Spielberg Formula’ in his book - as Alex managed to get a brief conversation with Steven Spielberg by finagling his way into a fancy gala. Although the conversation didn’t last long, Alex wrote about how Spielberg landed his first directing contract so early in life - discovering the simple formula: 

1. Find your inside person where you want to get in - someone that knows the right people and the way business is conducted.
   

2. Befriend and learn from them.
   

3. Ask them for their help.
   

Alex put this formula to practice during his research, and in writing the book. He leveraged contacts at Microsoft to work up to accessing Bill Gates. He had a friend at the nonprofit organisation ‘Donor’s Choose’ help him interview Tim Ferriss. He then in turn asked Tim Ferriss for help making further introductions.

Having someone on the inside completely changes the game when you want to make progress. It is rare for anyone to achieve their potential without others - and without a person on the inside. It doesn’t take away from all the hard work, experience and skills needed, but when you have someone on the inside and able to help, it makes all the difference. Equally, be prepared to be someone else’s ‘person on the inside’. Having the courage to seek out, ask and accept help is a skill in itself; it’s also what makes the world and business turn.

ENERGY
Focusing on an emotion or energy; a stand-out word / s

Connect

I guess this word was part inspired by the ‘learn’ this week, and part by the project we are working on at the moment. The project intent has been ‘connection’, and so I wanted to share the etymology with you.

The word originates from Latin CONECTERE meaning "join together". It’s formed by COM "together" + NECTERE meaning "to bind, tie". The more I’ve thought about the importance of ‘connecting’ and ‘connection’, the more the meaning of being bound together on our project has been strengthened.

ACTION
Something small that you can do that might make a big difference

Handwrite a Letter

In taking part in an initiative called Kindness By Post over the past few years, I’ve been reminded about the beauty and value of both sending and receiving handwritten notes. The concept is to send a stranger a card - someone that the charity Mental Health Collective matches you with. My suggested action for you is to handwrite a letter or card (with a few sentences), to someone. This could be a note of thanks, appreciation or to just reach out. Do handwrite it and post it - it’s so much better than a text or email!

PROCESSING
A question to think about and consider (you can discuss this with someone or write your thoughts down)

“Who has been your inside person?”

Go back to the ‘learn’ and ask yourself who have been your inside people during your career - or life. Who has opened the door when needed, who has made introductions for you or championed you? See if you can think of at least 5 people.

I’d love for you to send me your own stories / thoughts about this. Drop me a line with your answer / thoughts on this question

SHOUT OUT
Who / what I think deserves recognition, my gratitude or to be celebrated.

Warmth

We travelled to the US for work for the past two weeks. While it was incredibly hot (staying over 43 degrees C / 110 degrees F) - and so very warm physically, one of the other things that stood out to me were the warm welcomes we received everywhere we went. In particular, one of the team members from our client stood out. Yolanda, as head of HR, was the absolute example of how to provide a warm welcome.

When it comes to success in leadership, there is never just one playbook. There is, however, one simple fact that some leaders ignore at their peril: those who demonstrate high levels of “interpersonal warmth” have a better chance at long-term success.

“Warmth is the differentiating factor,” says Loran Nordgren, an associate professor at the Kellogg School. He cites a Zenger Folkman study that looked at 50,000 managers and found that a leader’s overall effectiveness is predicted more by #warmth than #competence. “If you’re seen as low-warmth, you have something like a 1-in-2000 chance to make the top quartile of effectiveness as a leader.”

BONUS GIFT FOR YOU
This week’s little extra for you - from me

This week’s free download is the visual synopsis for a great little book called Be More Pirate by Sam Conniff. If you have a little inner-rebel, this is a book for you. For all those pioneering, rule-breaking, forward-facing folk I highly recommend this book!

This visual is available to you for free (for 7 days) using the code: REWRITERULES when you check out. Access is via the link below.

The artwork featured in this section is all copyrighted and for private use only. If you wish to use these online, in blogs / features or in presentations etc - we are happy to discuss licences. Please get in touch. The downloads do not have watermarks.

If you’d like to discuss having your ideas, business or culture captured visually - you can also let me know via email.

SORT YOUR SH*T TASTER SESSIONS

SELF & CONFIDENCE, RELATIONSHIPS, FAMILY BUSINESS, PURPOSE, CAREER, BUSINESS COACHES…

LEAPS is a process used by our team and clients all the time - and even my own family on a daily basis. 

I’ll be sharing a set of LEAPS each week with you and encourage you to do your own version:

• L: what have you learned?

• E: what’s your energy / feeling word

• A: what’s one thing you need to do?

• P: what are you thinking / processing?

• S: who or what can you shout out?