Author: Scott Asai

Helping people develop their leadership skills to advance in their career

The Startup Baby

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There are a lot of myths out there about raising a child, as well as starting your own company. As a new dad, let me tell you that with a plethora of information available, there’s no better teacher than experience.
Here are some parallels between being a parent and owning a Startup:


Time. Sleep is determined by the baby, so when the baby actually sleeps, you better sleep also. Your schedule for the time being revolves around your newborn because they can’t help themselves. As a Startup company, unexpected events will arise and your schedule can be quite unpredictable. Some days you will have enough time to work, while other nights you will go sleepless working on a project. Time is finite, so spend time on what matters. 

Development. Some days you’ll feel confident as a parent and other times you’ll feel clueless. It’s not about being perfect but putting forth your best effort to help guide and develop your child. In a startup, there will be peaks and valleys. The learning curve is steep. Overall, focus on making progress and look for visible growth.
Adapting to Change. Adults may be older, but try and control a kid and your life will be ruined. Kids evolve at a rapid pace and adjust quickly to new experiences. The Startup World is never calm and flooded with risk. If you’re not ready to “pivot” (business term for switching to a new direction), you may overlook a great opportunity. Being flexible in a fast paced world is crucial to any amount of success.

You can’t learn about parenting or starting your own company without actually doing it. Do your research and talk to others with more experience, but be ready to learn through trial and error. Nothing can fully prepare you for the “birth” of a new child/business, but don’t forget the most important part: starting!

TV Teaches Me About Risk

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Guest post by Jeff Okita
In most dramatic stories, the level of intensity rarely stays high for the entire show. If it did, the viewer would become fatigued and there would never be a climax to look forward to. Stories need dips so the audience can better appreciate the peaks. Put it all together and the contrast creates the overall excitement and anticipation for what’s next.
Replace the X axis (horizontal) with “time” and the Y axis with “challenges.” The up and down movement currently represents my life. I live a high-risk, high-reward lifestyle. The juggling of various responsibilities is a burden I welcome. I’ve learned a ton over the past 3 years, pushed myself a lot, but wonder if stability would have been a better choice for me.
Entrepreneurs have to embrace risk, like it’s a good friend. Maybe risk should be coupled with periods of stability, yet the troughs give you time to heal and mentally prepare yourself for the risk-taking peaks. Only then can we truly appreciate the risks.

Go With The Wind

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In golf, the absolute worst condition to play in is when it’s windy. Rain, heat or cold can be uncomfortable, but wind absolutely challenges your skill level.
Since playing golf is frequently compared to life, what happens to you in “windy” conditions?
How many times have your plans been completely rerouted? Life is more about how you respond to your circumstances than how much control you have over them.
Take for example relationships. Sometimes you want so badly for a relationship to work out you do everything you can. Yet if it was meant to be, it shouldn’t be that hard. That’s not saying you won’t have bumps along the way, but if your goal is to make things work regardless, most likely you’re forcing it. Relationships are a lot of give and take, so when unforeseen circumstances blow your way, you should step back, look at the situation objectively and evaluate what’s really going on. 
The same applies to your career. You might be applying for jobs and not getting what you want. It’s frustrating, but maybe where you are is exactly where you’re supposed to be. What can you learn from your current situation that you can take to your next destination? Your dream job could be eluding you because something better is out there. Keep networking, applying and looking. When the time is right, you’ll know it. 
Sure, this is a bit optimistic in mindset, yet the alternative is fighting with the wind daily and losing. Going with the wind isn’t sitting on your butt waiting for lighting to strike, instead it’s taking everything into perspective while navigating ahead. You and I like to be in control. We prefer to plan our routine. Yet, how many times do things actually go according to plan? 

My challenge to you is make plans, but be willing to change them based on current circumstances. Life isn’t about what happens to you, but how you respond to it. Historically the wind is undefeated, so see where it’s blowing and ride it to your destiny. 

Battling OCD: Obsessive Comparison Disorder

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Guest post by Paul Angone
Nothing is more vital to twentysomething success than comparing yourself in every way, at every step, to everyone, both near, and far.
Family, friends, acquaintances, enemies, Seth Godin, Justin Bieber, Jon Favreau, Jon Acuff — all are fair game, all are incredible motivational tools if you just allow yourself to study them at every angle and decipher how they have done their lives much better than yours.
Pour over your friends’ Facebook profiles. Find all those at the same age who have “Director” or “Vice-President” in their title. Go through every picture of her My Life is Awesome Album. Measure how big their smiles are. Study their well behaved kids. Figure out the square footage of their newly remodeled house. Look at how nice their husband’s suit is. Find the brand. Google it. See how much it must have cost. Go buy a more expensive suit for your husband. Lease a BMW. Take a picture. Put it in your My Life is Awesome-er Album.
We used to only be able to accomplish this feat of full out, look-you-up-and-down-comparison, at our ten year reunion. But now with Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube we have the opportunity to compare ourselves to everyone, every, single, day. What a blessing.

“The key to success is comparing yourself to everyone, everyday. Then let that anxiety and fear propel you to work harder, faster, and with more motivation.” ~ Guy Who Had Nervous Breakdown at 33

Once you have studied, and obsessed, and found all the ways THEIR story is so much better than YOURS — like the jockey’s whip on the winning horse, you can use all this information as a measuring stick to smack your rear end into action. And pull down your pants first so that you can really feel the sting.

OBSESSIVE COMPARISON DISORDER

Or don’t.
Don’t compare yourself to THEM.

Don’t cram YOUR plotline into someone else’s story.

You’re not them. They’re not you.
Your story doesn’t fit in theirs. I’d be like watching When Harry Met Sally and then all of the sudden Shawshank Redemption cuts in. Billy Crystal wouldn’t have worked crawling through a sewer pipe to escape from prison. Billy Crystal worked with Meg Ryan. 
If we try to cram two separate stories together, then we’ll have a fragmented life that has no idea who or what it is — a story that will ultimately bomb at the box office.
As successful author/blogger Jon Acuff recently wrote in his article We Only Need 1 Tim Ferris (Jon Acuff – someone I like to compare myself too and then proceed to not write for a month because how could I write as well as Jon Acuff),
“We’ve already got everyone else, but you. We are short one you. We need you. We need your dream, in your unique way, with your unique thumbprint.” ~ Jon Acuff

YOUR STORY

So yes, be inspired by others stories but do not let their story dwarf yours. Do not become inflicted by Obsessive Comparison Disorder – a disease that runs ramped in American culture today. A disease that tells us to buy things we shouldn’t. A disease that devours Bubonic-Plague-Style creativity, energy, and peace — three vital characteristics you are going to need to write your story really well.
So the next time you find yourself wishing your life could be theirs, lingering a little too long on their Facebook Album as you fight the fight of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, remember:

“The the grass is always greener on the other side, until you get there, and realize it’s because of all the manure.” ~ Paul Angone Original (Imagine That!)

Superteams

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The NBA is a perfect example of a new phenomenon happening more regularly: Superteams.
LeBron James and Chris Bosh were harshly criticized (me being one of them) when they left their former teams to join Dwyane Wade on the Miami Heat. Players like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan all went on record saying they would never recruit each other to join forces. 
This trend may be highlighted by the NBA, but it’s spread into the business world as well. Joint ventures and co-founders are doing business together daily while strengthening their companies with added talent. Let’s look at a couple of reasons why this is happening:    
Collaboration: When there is more combined talent overall, there are more strengths to work with and it’s easier to eliminate blind spots. Creativity increases dramatically with more brainpower in the room. Alternative options are looked at because each person has a different worldview.
Reliance: It’s much easier to focus on growth when the burden is shared. Responsibility is divvied up so no one person has to carry the entire load. When one person is down, there’s someone else to pick that person up.
Generational: Millennials in particular prefer to join forces and collaborate. It’s a fundamental recipe for success. They are hard-wired to do things together. Rarely do you see any single 20-something founders of companies.
Think of it as team leadership. Shared resources usually bring about a better product/service. Although it may be a concept accepted more readily by Millennials, overall its an idea that works to everyone’s benefit. Long gone are the days of the lone ranger. Our egos may push us to be the superhero (Ironman), but why run solo when you can join forces and become a Superteam (Avengers)? 

Look deeply into your network and ask “Who are my potential business partners?” You can accomplish so much more with talented people around you, so start reaching out. You don’t even have to figure out what you’re going to do together, that may just come out of brainstorming! So what Superteam will you be a part of?

Co-Llaborate

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Guest Post by Charles Lee

Collaboration is both a mystery and a miracle. It comes in all shapes, textures, and sizes. Collaboration is as unpredictable as the future and ever changing like the wind. It lures and dismisses us without warning.

Collaboration is truly a complex endeavor. It’s complex because it involves complex beings – yes, people like you and me! Collaboration is neither static nor guaranteed. There are a million reasons why one might not collaborate with another. For some, it may their lack of time and resources. For others, their hesitancy is rooted in the fear of uncertainty, risk, or lack of knowledge. These and many more like them are all legitimate reasons and warrant consideration before entering a collaborative environment.
Here are some of the common ways people view the nature of collaboration:
Collaboration as Option – Some view collaboration as a nice option for enhancing one’s own endeavor. In this view, collaboration is something one adds to his/her work when conveniently available but isn’t considered necessary for one’s goal.
Collaboration as Connecting – Some view collaboration as simply as “connecting” with others. It doesn’t entail too much work outside of getting together. In this view, collaboration is mostly an intellectually satisfying experience with minimal commitment.
Collaboration as Want – Many view collaboration as something they want. They know it’s extremely beneficial to moving forward in their endeavors, but find themselves questioning how it actually works. Based on my interaction with leaders, I think most are in this category of thought. They really do want to collaborate but feel a rising sense of pessimism because of previous experiences and lack the energy to seriously try again.
Collaboration as Necessity – This is a minority group of people who view collaboration as an absolute necessity in their pursuits. Despite some of the disappointments of past experiences, people who hold this perspective choose to open themselves up to new opportunities, even at the risk of being let down again. These individuals choose to learn from their past “failures” to become better collaborators and work intentionally towards paradigms, systems and arrangements that produce great partnerships.
Understanding how to perceive collaboration is a good starting point in deciding whether or not to participate. In my experience, there appears to be some foundational principles that guide healthy instances of collaboration. These principles are in no way perfect, but they do help to form productive interaction and “co-labor” (a key to co/laboration). For example, a practical way to minimize unnecessary complexity is to state upfront as to what kind of collaboration you think you are entering. Getting things down on paper, even if it’s a simple one-sheet agreement, can make a world of difference. Minimally, you and the person(s) you are collaborating with will have a point of reference for conversation and potential refinement of arrangement.
I know for many driven by a “relational” posture may view this as mechanical and artificial. Nevertheless, the potential awkwardness of creating a mutually agreed upon agreement is far better to experience than the level of frustration that often arises when this is not considered.
Another principle to embrace is for those involved to focus on actionable steps. Think big and act small. Creating milestones that are clear and linked to accountability will be key. Ideas are only as good as one’s ability to implement. If your meetings are not filled with actionable items, you may want to reconsider having meetings in the first place. Incremental implementation is what ultimately helps us reach our goals. Keep moving things forward together.
There’s no doubt that collaboration is both powerful and necessary in our world. How to go about co-laboring is something we all need to help each other on. Collaboration truly involves mutual “labor” and commitment to work. Developing one’s skill-set in collaboration requires intentional pursuit and life-long commitment. Viewing collaboration as necessity will open up a world of opportunities and perspectives that would not have been possible without it.

How Busy Are You?

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“Do not confuse motion and progress. A rocking horse keeps moving but does not make any progress.” – Alfred A. Montapert
If you ask people “How’s it going?” chances are they’ll say “Busy.”
What does that mean? That answer is used like a badge of honor these days.
If you’re not busy, does that mean something is wrong with you?
What if you took pride in not being busy? Meaning prioritizing your time to spend it on who and what you value.
Maybe people equate success with being busy. In our fast world, carving out chunks of time can be looked down upon. If you’re not doing something, you must be wasting your time, right?! 
At the heart of the matter, what are you moving towards? If you’re busy because you’re chasing something that is significant, great! If you’re busy just for busy sake, maybe you should take a step back and reevaluate how you are spending your time. 
Time is finite and depending on how you frame it, there’s way too much or never enough. In the end, what really matters: how busy you were or how you spent your time?  
Think about that. How busy are you?

The Myth of "Slow Change"

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Guest post by Josh Allan Dykstra

It takes a long time to build anything worthwhile.

·      Building a house = slow.
·      Building a relationship = slow.
·      Building trust = slow.
·      Building a great company = slow.
·      Growing a tree = slow.
·      Writing a book = slow.
·      Recording an album = slow.
·      Painting a painting = slow.
This isn’t really all that surprising. What’s really interesting is how quickly these things can go away.
·      A house can be demolished with a few explosives.
·      A relationship can be destroyed in an instant.
·      Trust can disappear in a moment.
·      A company can dissolve without warning.
·      A tree can be uprooted by a big storm.
·      A manuscript, a recording tape, or a painting can be thrown in a fire (thankfully this is getting harder to do with digital media).
There are a couple of lessons here, I think.
First, we should probably be more patient. Growing something good always takes time.
Second, most of us operate under the myth that all change is slow. But that’s only one kind of change: The “growing” kind.
If you want quick change, all you need to do is get rid of something. That kind of change is FAST, and it’s not always as destructive as my examples here. (For example, get rid of your performance reviews.)

Why Starting is so Important

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This week’s guest post is by my friend, by Ben Arment. One day I was searching the Internet for great website designs and found Dream Year. I contacted Ben and we connected about our visions for the future. Thanks Ben for inspiring me to chase my dreams. 
“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.”
-Joe Sabah
One of the interesting turn-of-events in going after your dream is that people find out what you’re capable-of after you do it.
They had no idea you were interested in the field, let alone that you could actually do it. Or that you were available to do it.
Many of us wait around for someone to give us a “dream job” but organizations only hire people who are actually doing the dream. They don’t know you for what they can’t see.
Think about it – if you’re a cog in some company’s machine, all people know you for is being a cog. If your dream only exists in your mind, it’s invisible to the rest of the world.
It might as well not exist at all.
This is why starting is so important. You don’t even have to succeed. Just start. Fail gloriously if needed. But the very act of starting will bring your dream to the surface.
People will know your interests. They’ll see your hard work. Suddenly, you’ll become available to them. A consideration.
And as we always say in Dream Year, the waters don’t part until the heel of your foot hits the surface.

The Second Time Around

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First gets a lot of attention, but there are times when coming in second might even be better. 

For example, when I visit a new place, exploration is fun, but I prefer coming back a second time so I can repeat the things I enjoyed the most. At a buffet, I put everything on my plate that looks good, but my second trip only includes items that tasted great. 
In business, the first time around is trial and error, but when you make it through, the second time is much easier. Don’t try to fail initially, but expect mistakes when encountering the unknown. Serial entrepreneurs are much more successful than one-time entrepreneurs because of their experience. 
Don’t let your fear of failure hold you back. How you embrace failure now will determine how successful you will be in the future. Rejection isn’t as subjective as you might think. Don’t take it personal and move forward. How do you “frame” your situation?
Think about your career. It’s hard to figure out what you’ll love doing until you try different options. It works with dating too. Most people don’t marry the first person they date. We need that context to help us figure out what we’re looking for. 

So the next time you’re focusing on trying to get it right the first time, remember the second time around isn’t such a bad consolation prize. Isn’t that right McKayla?