I have tried to re-imagine many things: philanthropy, money, social movements, but never the word of business per se. Now’s as good a time as any but what is my inspiration for using the “h” word?

 

Riding San Francisco MUNI.

 

I grew up in a crazy city called New York City and so public transportation, particularly the subway, was the great equalizer where all people meet. I have the protocol down that seems to work: be polite, as if the other person was your beloved grandmother. But from riding MUNI for over two decades I have witnessed a disturbing lack of connection between and among riders. And it seems to be getting worse and worse. Young and seemingly healthy people sit in the seats designated for seniors and do not give them up when seniors board. Shy, scared seniors look lost as they stand but are unable to voice their need. Today, a strapping young man jumped in front of me to board MUNI, practically knocking me out of the way. Wow, was your momma a wolf who raised you to hurt small women? I don’t get it. Do we need to have a major mind-blowing disaster like 9/11 for us to look around, see our fellow humans and connect with them from that sense of shared destiny? I hope not.

 

Here’s another one that still boggles my mind: people sit on the aisle, blocking an empty window seat and then refuse to get up to let you sit there – you have to climb over them. When I sit on the window seat and need to exit, I let the person on the aisle seat know by saying politely with a smile “excuse me” and they still refuse to get up! They act as if being courteous would diminish their “status” in some way. I get up when people exit but most people don’t let me know and I have to guess. I miss hearing the sound of the word “excuse me.” My fellow San Franciscans, we need to do better. But enough about this.

 

So what does this have to do with my business? Everything. I am now trying to find ways that my business can express its humanity as an expression of my humanity. This means more than the “give back” program that will provide access to people regardless of financial resources and create opportunity for sharing across racial and ethnic and class lines. This means infusing programs and practices with an attention to those good things that make us proud to be human: including looking out for the other guy. Otherwise, well, we are just jackals and believe me, you do not want to live in world where jackals make the rules.

 

Follow along with me on this:

 

If you think you can’t learn anything form the mundane (like riding public transportation), think again

If you think that you can continue to deny your humanity and live a happy and fulfilled life, think again

If you think that our humanity has nothing to do with our business acumen or success, think again (and again and again)

 

Now I will officially step off the soapbox. Off to building my business with my humanity in tact. Wish me luck on the journey! Care to join me?

Between 2008 and 2011, global pop phenomenon Lady Gaga has created an impressive empire - three bestselling albums, nearly a dozen hit singles, and two of the highest-grossing tours of the past couple of years. On top of that, she's created a line of headphones for the popular Beats brand, is a creative director at Polaroid, a spokesperson for MAC's Viva Glam line, performs advocacy work, and more. And regardless of the length of her task list, she does it all while refusing to wear pants!

You don't have to be a fan be impressed by the sheer amount of output this young woman has achieved. How does Lady Gaga get through this seemingly endless task list, what are some of her productivity secrets, and how can you apply them to your everyday work and life?

Motivation. In any given interview, Lady Gaga always says that she has relentless drive to create. Without a driving force, it can be hard for anyone to stay productive and in action. To feel purposeful, busy people need a reason to do the things we do - for her, it's her fans and a dedication to her craft. For you, it may be a love for the work you do or the desire to stay on top of your projects. Reminding ourselves why we do what we do is essential to keeping us energized and on track, no matter the length of our task list. Make a practice to remind yourself what your own motivation is and your productivity will get a regular boost.

Delegation. Although she's know for her "interesting" sense of fashion, it's not actually Lady Gaga herself who creates much of her clothing - her multi-person Haus of Gaga is the creative force behind many of her famous (and infamous) fashions and hairstyles. It would be impossible, regardless of her motivation, for Lady Gaga to get through her certainly voluminous task lists herself. If you're a busy professional with too many tasks on your task list, you can't possibly accomplish them all - no matter how many time management tips you read. One key productivity and time management technique is learning how to effectively delegate so you can offload items from your task list. When you delegate tasks, you can still be in control of your output, but you personally let go of doing each and every task yourself.

Tools. Regardless of our time management techniques or skills, we all need the right frameworks and tools to stay productive. One of the ways that Lady Gaga was able to record her latest album while simultaneously touring the world was she had a custom bus created that housed an entire recording studio. This bus would drive behind her main tour bus, and after each show ended, she'd board the recording bus and create songs for several hours each night. Of course, you probably don't need a custom bus following you around, but for whatever task or project you're trying to accomplish, make sure you have all the tools you need close at hand, and you're likely to get more done.

Quality of work. In a recent interview, "Now that you have everybody watching, Gaga, you'd better be f***ing great." Especially for business owners, the quality of the work we produce can be a big determining factor in the success of our projects. In my work with clients, I've noticed that busy people tend to get more done when they always keep a close eye on not just the quantity of the work they produce, but also the quality. In our rush to get through our task lists, it can be easy to focus on either getting things done perfectly, or just scraping by. Now, unless you're a global celebrity and have all eyes on you, shooting for perfection probably isn't a needed goal. Rather, create benchmarks for what a great experience - for you or a client - would be, and work towards that.

Clearly, Lady Gaga's career success has depended in large part on her organizational skills and time management. What lessons can you adopt to help you get through your task lists so you can complete your projects?

On this entrepreneurial journey that really is a study in the cycle of change, I found myself in the “danger zone”: That place between discomfort and discovery. But how to move from one to the other? The anxiety, confusion and lack of productivity have taken on a life of their own. A wise woman gave me the warning and supported me in getting back to work.

Still, I wander, I waiver, I weep.

Right now I don’t need anyone to tear me down, I am pretty accomplished at it myself.

So advice for me and others seeking to find something inside that will trigger a move to the next stage of the change cycle?

I have a four-point plan:

• Reconnecting to my Brain Trust – I need my peeps

• Forgoing planning for action – no matter how small

• Actively seeking accountability – go ahead, be my taskmaster!

• Managing expectations – no overnight magic, instead, setting an ambitious but realistic timeframe

Is this the “secret sauce” for getting out of the zone? Not sure, but I will keep you posted and leave you with the words of wisdom from a simple sage who serves as an important role model:

“When you are a Bear of Very Little Brain, and you Think of Things, you find sometimes that a Thing which seemed very Thingish inside you is quite different when it gets out into the open and has other people looking at it.”

― Winnie-the-Pooh (author A.A. Milne)

Our WomenRock speakers were fabulous enough to send along a TON of extra materials and resources for you ladies. Over the next couple weeks we'll be rolling them out on the blog, so be sure to keep checking back for more. And don't miss the great photos from the event below and on our Facebook Page!

 

• From Alicia Morga (@AliciaMorga):

Stay self-aware. Be conscious of your feelings throughout the day with Alicia Morga's iphone app, gottaFeeling (link to app store). It’s free to download and available in English and Spanish. For more info, women can visit the website www.gottafeeling.com and users can keep in touch via twitter: @gottaFeelingapp.

For slides from the presentation, visit Alicia's personal website, www.aliciamorga.com.  And if you just can’t get enough of her, sign up to be an alpha user of her consumer application: www.refleta.com.

 

• From Linda Adler (Pathfinders Medical):

Have you recently received a medical diagnosis? Or are you caring for someone undergoing a difficult medical challenge? Even if you havegreat medical providers and are comfortable using online tools, you may be looking for a personal, experienced medical decision guide who can help you synthesize new information, make hard choices and/or care successfully for someone at home.

Pathfinders Medical Decisions is here to help you and your family.  We assist you every step of the way:  obtaining information and support services, mediating difficult conversations with family members and the medical team, and supervising the hospital to home transition. We help you navigate the unfamiliar terrain that usually accompanies illness, and we do it in a way that honors your individual values and preferences

We offer personal consultation in your own home,  as well as classes and programs designed to help you navigate the healthcare system.  Call us today to get more information: 650-498-8276, or visit us online at www.pathfindersmedical.com.

 

For more pictures from WomenRock, visit our Facebook Page at facebook.com/FearlessWomenNetwork!

 

Stay tuned next week for more materials and resources from our outstanding WomenRock crew.

"Great leaders aren’t afraid of scaling the peaks that few others are willing to climb"

– Chip Conley, PEAK

 

So being an entrepreneur can feel like climbing a mountain to get to the top to soak up the exhilarating experience – the essence of a PEAK experience. Your leadership will be tested again and again. But there are things you can do to build your stamina, everyday things that make you better suited for reaching extraordinary things.

 

Here are three daily practices to get you started.

 

Get from Point A to Point B with consciousness. Contrary to what you might see on the roads, driving is not a competition; in fact, it works best when done with courtesy and a cooperative spirit. Let the other guy in. Watch out for everyone (yourself included) by not using your hands to text or talk while driving.  Focus on driving and getting from point A to point B. When on public transit, do NOT sit on the aisle so that the window seat is blocked. Allow people to exit when you are on the aisle seat – why do so many people just sit there, ignore the existing passenger and make that poor soul have to climb over them? That can’t be comfortable for anyone and it’s just plain rude. It is not a personal slight to be polite to others, IMHO.

Love technology but love others more. Put the device away, not just when you obviously need to focus on a task at hand (e.g. driving) but also simply when you are in the company of friends. I am truly amazed by the sight of two people sitting at a restaurant table but not being with each other; instead, they are both interacting with their personal devices or talking to people who are not there. Love the one you’re with.

Find JOY in your dining; be mindful in your meals. For a change from fast food, try slow eating. For a change from wine guzzling, try mindful wine tasting. Be aware of what you are eating and drinking, where it comes from/how it speaks of place. Appreciate the ritual of food and the way it builds community.

 

If you do these three daily practices:

 

All those who love you will continue to

All those who don’t know you might grow to love you

And I will love you more than any of the above!

 

Put all that love to work to create a thriving business fueled by fulfilled stakeholders (employees, customers and investors).

Hope you enjoyed today’s dispatch on leadership for the aspiring entrepreneur. See you next week!

 

CJ Callen

http://www.thewineyenta.org

@thewineyenta

We entrepreneurs are a unique beed - we're driven, passionate, and hard-working, which often also leads us to be workaholics and perfectionists. Sounding familiar? Don't get me wrong, being a perfectionist has its advantages, but with it come a lot of inhibitions that ultimately end up holding us back. You let your fear of failure stop you from taking risks. Nothing is ever good enough, no matter how much you accomplish. You're constantly sweating the small stuff, and you somehow let one little mistake becomes a big comment on your own worth.

Give yourself a break! You are human! High expectations are good - afterall, your business should be shooting for the stars. But to deny or hide your flaws, to condemn your mistakes instead of learning from them - these are the things that will keep you from truly understanding and growing your business, and yourself.

In a blog post this week, "The Cure for Perfectionism", Eva Rykr suggests that instead of expecting perfection, aim for progress. The little steps will always get you closer to your goal, and ultimately leave you feeling more satisfied. I encourage you to try it!

Notes from an intern and aspiring Fearless fem:

Last week I had the honor of hearing two incredible speakers share their stories and inspirations at an event brought to campus by NetDay Silicon Valley.

First I must acknowledge the unbelievable talent we up here in the Bay Area. It really hit me just how fortunate I am to have fallen into such a mecca of innovation and excitement about the future! The climate we currently inhabit thrives on precisely the collaboration, new ideas, and risks that startups and entrepreneurs require. And the possibilities to connect with people doing amazing things are endless!

Edith Yeung, founder of the BizTechDay entrepreneur conference (biztechday.com) and host of the SF Entrepreneur Meetup (sfentrepreneur.com), started off the evening with her personal anecdotes about leaving the safe environment of business for a riskier but more satisfying career. She recounted the time she broke down in tears after waiting over an hour in commute traffic for a job that just wasn't worth it:

"If the rest of my life is stuck in traffic for a business I don't believe in, shame on me," she said.

Carlos Emilio Goméz, a young Spanish brain at Google, also spoke about taking risks, listening to your intuition, and taking the alternative route. Most poignant to me was what Carlos explained to be his ultimate reason for taking his current job at Google: If he looked 4 years into the future on one path, he knew exactly where he would be. It was good. If he looked 4 years down the Google road, he didn't know where he would be. But guess what - that meant no limits and no boundaries on his growth.

The theme to the event was "What do you want to be when you grow up?" and it wasn't until this point that I realized this question was not to make us reminisce about what our dreams were when we were 6 in order to make us feel bad about our failures to become astronauts and ballerinas. It was about shaping our dreams now. 

You see, we never stop growing unless we let ourselves. Edith declared that only when you reach a certain point, and you get too comfortable, do you then inhibit your ability to grow. So guess what? You can still ask yourself this question everyday. You can still ask your friends and colleagues this question. Since when did it switch from the optimistic "What do you want to be when you grow up?" to "What the heck can you do with that degree?" to "When are you going to retire?"

And who decided the subjective age of "grown-up" anyway? I say keep growing, and keeping creating and recreating your dreams for when you grow up, because you've really got nothing to lose. The only reason you don't have another ridiculous vision of becoming the next big Hollywood director is because you didn't think you were still allowed to have that vision.

Edith ended by quoting a personal favorite Frost piece of mine, "The Road Not Taken," which I hope you will find just as inspiring:

 

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

 

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same

 

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

 

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

 

To be an entrepreneur, to take the road less traveled, or even to have the guts to go out and start something on your own and leave behind the trail - that to me is true Fearlessness. I have such a great respect for the people who still have dreams for what they want to be when they grow up, and I for one will continue to mold my own.

Our two new programs start next week, and I wanted to make sure you didn't miss your chance to get on board. This week is your last chance to sign up.

Our new and improved Fearless Ideation (led by me) kicks off Saturday in San Francisco with a workshop designed to kickstart your creativity and put your dreams of owning your own business into your hands. This class is perfect for those of you who dream of leaving your corporate nightmare, but have no idea where to start in terms of being your own boss. Start here...

Do you already have your own business but are unsure of how to take it to the next level? Are you ready to grow but don't know what your next steps are? If so, our Fearless Business Forum is exactly what you need! Through the structure of both group and individual coaching (facilitated by me), we will explore what's holding you back and what you REALLY NEED to step into your full power as a Fearless Woman. Are you ready to do this?

Let's make some magic!

The first time I ate a fava bean, I was 12 years old.  

As my mom served the fava beans to my 100% Sicilian father and I, she said matter-of-factly, “Some Mediterraneans are so allergic to fava beans that it kills them.  I hope you two don’t have that condition.”  

My dad and I weren’t the types to leave food on our plates, so death be damned, we ate the fava beans.  We obviously survived, but it was so disturbing that I’ve never been able to look at a fava bean without thinking about my brush with death.  

My mom was a nurse and knew that favism, an extremely rare condition, didn’t cause sudden death, but illness that could lead to death if untreated.  Did she tell us that? No, she made it seem like we were playing vegetable russian roulette.  

So what’s the lesson?  Along your entrepreneurial path, there will be plenty of fatalists out there.  People who warn you of the worst case scenario - their cousin who who spent the last 2 years struggling, working 1000 hours a week, and who lost everything.  

So what can you do? How do you shake something like that off?

What I suggest is that you listen for nuggest of wisdom and know that there is more to the story than meets the eye. There always is. 

And keep eating your fava beans. 

Here’s a photo of my dog AFTER she learned to live. The BEFORE photo is missing – I did not want to scare you.

About 4 years ago, my partner and I adopted a Pekingese dog who was found on the streets of San Francisco. She was not “purty” – pink and bald like a plucked chicken due to malnourishment and also recovering from an ugly untreated, raging eye infection. She was shut down (had no personality), scared of everything and did not even know how to jump on a curb (our best guess is that she was a house dog who had never ventured into the outside world).

Then she went and reinvented herself. And taught me a few things about reinvention, i.e., how to live. She tried everything and sometimes failed but found that she was pretty good with a floppy flying disc.   She found a tribe of other dogs who gave her the courage to become a better Peke.  School is never over for her – now that she has learned “Dog 101.”

What I am doing after years working in the nonprofit sector is nothing short of reinvention. Like Cleo, I am back at school both attending class at FWEN but also making the world my classroom. I have a tribe of supporters called my “brain trust” and I am willing to fail because I know that I will succeed one day. What is my latest source of inspiration? Seth Godin’s manifesto Brainwashed: seven ways to reinvent yourself.

In this manifesto, Godin asserts “If you have the time, the intellect and the access to get your hands on an idea… then you have the ability to reinvent yourself.” I think it wouldn’t be tooting my horn if I were to say,  “Yes, I have all that.”

Why am I choosing to take this unconventional entrepreneurship path NOW? Well, I have a burning idea but quite frankly: “it’s the economy- stupid.” In the manifesto, Godin goes on to posit. “The economy just gave you leverage – the leverage to make a difference, the leverage to spread your ideas and the leverage to have an impact.”

That’ s right – this is not just about me; it’s about YOU. And so given the topic of this post (reinvention) and aided by Godin’s musings. I ask you to please take a moment to respond to poet Mary Oliver’s pointed question:

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do

with your one wild and precious life?”