Shackleton and the First Law of Leadership

I took the midnight to 3 a.m. watch last night. We had finally gotten underway after being hove-to for a few days. While the wind was still blowing at 12 knots, the seas were beginning to settle, and the sky was clearing rapidly with a descending moon showing through the clouds at the horizon.

It was hauntingly beautiful.

After I set the autopilot and did a 360 scan for ships and other hazards, I found myself looking up at the stars in wonder. When my eyes got used to the dark the first layer of stars gave way to billions of others that are normally not visible to us in our light polluted sky at home.

Just then the North Star caught my eye and Sir Ernest Shackleton flashed into my mind. Yes, I thought, Shackleton was one man who exemplified everything I have come to know about being an extraordinary leader.

Let me tell you more.

"Men Wanted: For hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success." – Sir Ernest Shackleton.

According to Wikipedia, "Shackleton is most noteworthy for leading the unsuccessful Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, colloquially known as the "Endurance Expedition" or "Shackleton's voyage", between 1914 and 1916. Although Shackleton failed to achieve his goal of crossing the Antarctic continent on foot, he demonstrated the leadership for which he is now known when the ship Endurance became trapped in the ice and was destroyed. Shackleton, known by his contemporaries as "the Boss", led his men to refuge on Elephant Island before heading across 1,287 kilometres (800 mi) of the open Antarctic Ocean to South Georgia Island in a small open lifeboat. Upon reaching the remote island, Shackleton crossed severe, mountainous terrain to reach a whaling station from where he was able to muster a ship, eventually to rescue his men on Elephant Island. All the men on Endurance survived their ordeal after spending 22 months in the Antarctic...Shackleton was a key figure in the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration...that captured the public imagination...for his leadership skills...[and his]ability to lead men through challenging conditions."

If you have been with me for a while, or have read my book, The Accidental CEO - A Leader's Journey from Ego to Purpose, you know that I'm committed to uncovering the keys to extraordinary leadership and making them easily accessible to all people, no matter what their roles in life may be. Toward that end I've defined Three Laws of Leadership and I contend that if you fully explore and engage them, you will will rise to the top of anything you might wish to do in your life.

So what's my first law?

To be Powerful in Your Life, you must first understand and master your Self.

I think Sir Ernest Shackleton represents living all three laws, but to examine being a Legendary Leader like Shackleton you must begin at the beginning.

You must know your Self.

Well, what does that mean exactly? I believe that when you know who you really are, when you know what you stand for, your values and what you are giving your life for, you can face any challenge or crisis with courage, conviction and decisiveness - and although you may feel fear, you are freed from reacting from fear.

When you know who you are, you bring flexibility to fulfilling your Vision. Shackleton's Vision for his Antarctic Expedition was clear and unswerving, right up until his fortune changed.

Yet, when his ship was destroyed in the ice pack, he lost no time in creating a new plan: getting his entire crew to safety.

As you read the history of this expedition it describes Shackleton as being decisive when he had to be and inclusive when needed to be. More than anything, unlike many adventurers of his day (and ours), it showed his highest priority was the well-being of his people and a willingness to do the right thing no matter what.

Now, none of us will ever be Ernest Shackleton, and my intention is not to tell you to "be like him!" Rather, I want you to understand that when you are clear about who you are, you will have access to something that most do not. You will have access to the invisible, which gives you the most powerful freedom in the world.

What do you think that might be?

Next week: Shackleton and the Second Law of Leadership.

Heaving to...

Sometimes, when there is nothing else you can do, when you have no control over the situation, you just have to stop and rest. At sea, during heavy weather, we call this heaving-to. What heaving-to means is to stow all the sails except for a small storm sail tied against the wind. We also tie the rudder in the opposite direction to the sail. This pretty much stops the boat's forward movement. The only action the crew will feel is an up the down motion, pretty much like a cork. The waves slip harmlessly beneath the boat allowing the crew to rest, cook, eat and recover their strength from the challenges posed by the rough weather.

Days 40 through 50 were interesting in that, like being in a storm you can do nothing about, there was nothing to do until the weather changed. So I hove-to, waiting for prospects to make decisions, waiting for a strategic partner to finish a project, and waiting for appointments to be confirmed.

There are times when we just have to wait.

In the past I would have beat myself up worrying about the seeming lack of progress. But during the past ten days I decided to heave-to. I enjoyed every day, and every moment planning, fixing equipment, updating lists, cooking great meals for my wife, Frances, hiking, visiting past clients and being on television!

Being on television - you remember Sweet Lou and Friends - was an amazing experience. I went to a TV studio where they had it set up like a living room with Lou sitting at a desk and me sitting on the couch. I felt like I was on Johnny Carson! There were two co-hosts, a small audience, a band, the cameramen, the grips, the producer, the guys in the control room, and me.

Once Lou asked me a question it was like friends having a conversation. I never thought it would be so comfortable. In the past, when I saw the red lights on the cameras I would freeze. But not this time. This time I was fully engaged, and so was the audience and everyone else in the studio. After the show, the band, the grips and the audience wanted to know more and I even sold some books. I really have to do more of this! I didn't make any money to speak of, but I definitely savored every moment of my heave-to week.

Sail On!

Sweet Lou and The Significance of Day 38

When you ocean sail your very life depends on being consciously aware every single moment.

You never know what the ocean is going to throw at you, but if you pay attention, work the boat and keep her headed in the right direction, you're pretty much assured of getting to your destination. The key is to never forget where you are relative to what you are doing and where you are going. At sea, for example, we take a fix to chart our progress at least three times a day - at dawn, at noon and at sunset. When you are sailing you are hyper-alive and that level of awareness brings with it a peace of mind that really allows you to enjoy the experience.

(Awareness > peace of mind > joyous experience.)

Since I began this journey with you I've been hyper-focused on every single moment and where it fits into the bigger picture of my quest.

Today is day 38. Just over 10% of our journey is already history. Can you believe it? I don't think I have ever been as present in all my life. In the past I would have awakened on day 365 and said, "Where the heck did the time go?" Do you know what I Mean?

Since I began this journey, however, there is only NOW and what I am DOING or NOT DOING to move myself closer to my goal. I couldn't care less about the past and the future depends completely on what I do right now, in the moment, on this day.

I am working the boat and checking the course religiously. I am making progress and I am having FUN!

To remind you, my goal is to move my work from that of a single practice to a global enterprise. While I love the sound of Global Enterprise, I still have no idea what it will look like or how I will get there. I am not attached to the outcome. I am, however, fully engaged in making it happen.

I am open and present to what ever the universe sends my way - no matter how unlikely - that might help me get to the formation of a Global Enterprise delivering CEOing.

For example, I have been wanting to put video up on my web site. I really don't know anything about video production or how to put it up on my web site, but on Day 31 I wrote down, "I am very effective in person, so it would be good to be able to have people actually see me talking to them, what about video on my site?"

Two days later I get a call out of the blue from a guy named "Sweet Lou". Normally, I have got to tell you, if someone named "Sweet" anything called me I would hang up pretty fast. But I didn't. I listened to him. Then I had coffee with him. It turns out that Lou Alonso had a dream to do a talk show so he created an internet television show called "Sweet Lou and Friends." I was recommended to Lou by my good friend Joe Lam, an amazing young movie producer. Hense the call.

Long story short, Lou is a big, flamboyant, creative guy with a heart to match. Professionally he is a master at creating environmentally safe buildings and homes (working with movie stars and ordinary folk)but he wanted to do more. So he chose to follow his dream to do a TV talk show. He didn't mind starting at the bottom to create something new and he is beginning to have some success. Yesterday, for example, Stacy Keech showed up on his show and, when I had coffee with him later in the day, he was hot on the heals of having Tom Sellek for his next show. Cool.

Anyway, Sweet Lou invited me to appear on his show next week. My first Video! Sweet!

How does this fit into getting me closer to my goal - we'll find out!

The significance of day 38 is that it was another chance to take a step closer to what I really want and I did just that. I accomplished a lot today. And I can only hope you did as well. I even found time to go on a 5.5 mile hike at sunset with my Coach Fred Jorge and we have another hike planned for Saturday.

Life is good, one day at a time.

And day 39 is going to be amazing as well!

Do you know what you are doing tomorrow?

Sail On.

Sailing with Joe's Kid

There we were, sailing along, having a great time, chatting up a storm when suddenly, the wind dropped out of our sails. Perhaps the wind changed direction, or we strayed a bit off course, but suddenly there was a dramatic loss of momentum and the sails started to flap. This flapping of sails is called “luffing” and it signals that its time to pay attention, to see what’s going on and make some adjustments. Sometimes its only a slight adjustment, other times it means changing course altogether.

As I pulled into my driveway the other day I noticed my neighbor Steve was in his garage. (His name has been changed to protect the guilty!) Steve is an interesting guy. He's got two 1940 Oldsmobiles -- a fully restored two door convertible and a completely disassembled 4 door sedan he tells me his grandfather dated his grandmother in -- and a 1960's Pontiac GTO.

Steve is always "Fabbing" something up. He can take a broken, worn out anything and rebuild and restore it to better than new. Talking to Steve is like talking to Wilson, the faceless neighbor over the fence on the 90’s television show Home Improvement. Always a fount of wisdom, always fixing something, always smoking a cigar and wearing a beat-up, greasy ball cap from the 1950's.
Even before I walk over to his place, I know Steve is working on something in the garage because all the lights in the "hood" as he calls it, dim as he fires up his welder.

Yet Steve is also the Senior VP of Supply Chain Management for a multi-billion dollar international food manufacturer and, given the stories he’s shared about work, they’re a company I think I can help.

Anyway, Steve -- who read my book when it was still in manuscript form and knows that I transform companies for a living -- starts to tell me about how he again used another quote from my book to make a point in one of his meetings.

So there I was, sailing along on a full breeze doing hull speed and feeling pretty good when BAM, in his next breath, Steve goes on to say how he really wants to bring in this other guy to help him "engage his people" in his latest innovation initiative.

"And I even bought 150 of this guy’s books for my people so they can all get on board," he says.

So, never one to be shy, I ask him, "Steve, what keeps you from asking me to come in and work with your group? You know dam well it's what I do."

He doesn't answer me, he just looks down at a piece of metal he's grinding.

Then he says, "That's a good question, Tom, you need to figure that out, don't you?"

Talk about having the wind knocked out of my sails!

Now before you think I was feeling sorry for myself, let me assure you that I wasn’t. Fortunately, I've become quite adept at seeing and benefiting from everything that's previously been invisible to me. In the past I would have felt TOTALLY dejected, but this time I immediately thought to myself "Joe's Kid!"

You see, Steve is a guy I hang out with on Saturday afternoons talking about cars and life. He, no matter how he tries, can only see me as his unshaven neighbor who wears torn jeans and holey t-shirts and complains about his lack of book sales.

To Steve, I'm not the savior consultant on a quest to go global; I'm "Joe's Kid."

Let me explain with a bit of background from my Catholic upbringing. One of the few times in the Bible where Jesus gets really pissed off is when he goes home to Nazareth. In his home town He wasn't revered as the Savior, He was just the carpenter’s son. He was just "Joe's Kid," and no one took him seriously. (He said later that “a prophet has no honor in his own country.”) Jesus got so angry that, when he was leaving town, he shook the dust off his sandals at them. In that part of the world, that's about as serious as a single digit "good by" is here.

If Jesus had listened to his neighbors he might have totally missed his destiny. But he didn't, he left town and worked miracles.

Well guys, just as Jesus left town and went on to fulfill His destiny, we are getting out of dodge by leaving port together, and, hopefully, getting out of our own heads in order to fulfill our own destiny.

My goal this year is to move from a practice to a Global Enterprise. If I listened to Steve, if I thought for just one moment that I “wasn’t good enough”, I wouldn't be able to leave the "hood" much less “go global”.

So, who, or what, is the "Steve" in your life?

And, by the way, who are you treating like "Joe's Kid?" Your spouce, kids, employees, the guy accross the street? We tend to keep people in their little box to the point where they have to leave the relationship to grow. And we miss the real brilliance that they are.

Sail on!

Parallel Synchronized Randomness

I am using my space today to share a post from a new friend, Paul Kearley. That's him on the right. I have been suggesting you read his book MUST Thinking for weeks now. I am posting his blog post today for three reasons: The first is because it so reinforces what we have been talking about. The second is I want you to experience a really great writer. And third, well, he lives so far North he can use all the exposure he can get! Enjoy. --Tom

There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle. ~Albert Einstein

My daughter Lauren and I were in my car on our way to Halifax where she was to have an appointment with an eye specialist to see if there was anything to be done for her blocked tear duct.

It was snowing, the roads were snow packed and slippery, and we had 350 kilometres to drive there and 350 to return. While I was not looking forward to 700 kilometres of white knuckle driving for a 15 minute appointment, I was really looking forward to spending the time with her. She has this natural and instinctive way to not only make you feel good about yourself, no matter how you are feeling, but she is a master at dragging you from your worries and focusing you on what is really right with the world.

As we were driving along, weaving in between bare spots on the road that weren’t snow covered, counting the cars that had slid into the ditch and in between changing CD’s in the stereo from “Alexis on Fire” to something else, she blurted out, “Dad, you know what my favourite saying is?”

“What is it?” I asked, dragging my attention from driving to her words.

“Parallel Synchronized Randomness” she said.

“Parallel Syncho what? What is that” I asked.

“It’s when the random occurrences of your life line up to look like they were planned that way and that they were supposed to happen.” She replied. “Do you know what I mean?”

Boy, did I ever know what she meant. One of my favourite sayings is “There are no coincidences in life.” There are just way too many things that happen to me that make me say “Hmmm.”

For example as I have been trying to connect with people about my ebook “MUST Thinking”, I am finding people whom I have never met before, but I feel like I have known them all my life. I learned from Bob delBuono, an old mentor and friend, 15 years ago that when life randomly gives you an opportunity to meet someone that you can learn from about your current situation, you had better take the time to connect with that person right then and there, because it will not happen a second time. Those “stars” may never align again and you would have missed an opportunity to gain clarity or direction on what you needed to know.

Take, for example, how I met Tom Voccola.

Three weeks ago, I didn’t know him from Adam, but ‘m sure that I was supposed to. In case you haven’t heard of Tom, who I’m sure you will soon, he is the author of a book called “The Accidental CEO – A leader’s journey from ego to purpose”. I came to meet him through a business networking site similar to Facebook called Linkedin. I was looking through my 3rd level of contacts, I don’t know what for, when I saw his name. My fingers were obviously more in tune to the universe than my mind was and they clicked on his profile and presto, three weeks later, we have shared emails back and forth, Tom has written a testimonial for my ebook, we have chatted on the phone, and we are eagerly trying to see how we can support each other in business. Parallel Synchronized Randomness.

The person you happen to meet on the sidewalk who knows a person you should meet. The phone rings, it’s someone dialling a wrong number but somehow you get to speaking and she knows all about the answers that you are seeking. You get a flat tire driving to work and someone pulls over to help you and it just happens that this person knows someone that you have been trying to meet and makes the introduction. The book that just magically appears on your desk one morning that no one knows how it got there, but carries within it the secrets that you have been searching for.

I could go on, but you get the point.

Life is as big a miracle as you want it to be.

When we set out each morning, if we can become open to these experiences, it is amazing just where we could arrive in life, but we must be in tune with the “music” that is playing. If we’re always plugged into our “I” pods, we will miss and sometimes walk right by the “you” pods that are out there all around us, just waiting to be discovered.

This week, please take the time to listen to what is going on around you. Be curious. Take no random happening at face value and be in tune to the circumstances in life in which you find yourself. Dare to discipline yourself to look behind the randomness of them and you may find answers to the life challenges in which you have been searching. But you must be open to take a chance and see where it will take you.

Make this your best week ever.

When Providence Moves too...

Hold onto your hats, mates. Trim the sails! The sun's come out, the wind's picked up and we're clipping along at hull speed!

Suddenly, my calendar is full, the phone's ringing off the hook, my hair (if I had some) is blowing back, and I'm enjoying the heck out of it.

Here’s a sampling of what’s come up lately. A previous client called to say he’s taking over a new start-up and committed to bring me in when they get to 100 employees. Then he referred me to his lawyer. The lawyer turns out to be a partner in the largest law firm in the world (did you get that?) And this lawyer specializes in start-ups and high-tech businesses in Silicon Valley. We set a date to meet and I will be sending him my book. In the meantime, he’s referred me to one of his serial entrepreneur clients who is a key influencer in YPO (Young President’s Organization.) I have been trying to break into the YPO speaking circuit for two years...suddenly this door opens.

I got a call from another consultant who was referred to me by yet another consultant who wants to bring me in on an assignment in Los Angeles. During our conversation, guess what? He is trying to do EXACTLY the same thing I am trying to do — go from a practice to a Global Enterprise. We begin work together this week.

And Tony, my new friend and associate at The Alternative Board, and I are now engaged in creating the visibility and marketing mechanisms to help fill our next two high level CEO Boards here in Ventura county.

So, there's a principle at work here that I simply MUST share with you that I, myself, am just beginning to have some understanding and competency around.

"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way."

— Walter H. Murray, The Scottish Himalaya Expedition, 1951

As we all know, to achieve anything in life, we must commit to a Vision, a picture of what we really want. Without that, it can be hard to muster the energy to get out of bed, much less climb a mountain.

But then, we must take action toward our Vision, even if we don’t know exactly what to do. The key is to take some action, any action. It doesn’t seem to matter as long as it is in authentic alignment with our desire and our values.

Then be alert to what unfolds — like the sun breaking out and a northwesterly wind coming up — and trim our sails accordingly.

When I cast off on this journey with you three short weeks ago, I had no idea how I would be able to move From a Practice to a Global Enterprise.

In the past, I thought I had to figure it out. To construct a detailed plan. To know exactly what was needed to get from here to there. But I never did figure it out. So Sea Fever and I stayed near shore doing little practice runs (nothing wrong with that), my grand sailing adventure mostly a figment of my imagination.

It wasn’t until recently that I finally got it. I mean, really GOT it. I don’t have to figure it all out. I’m ready, my boat’s ready. (I have been preparing for my next level of success for decades, just like you’ve been preparing for yours!) All I had to do is throw off the damn lines and go.

Now, just a note to be aware of. Not everything that shows up will be an open door or come to fruition, so don’t get discouraged. I met with a client yesterday who felt discouraged because his actions seemed to be producing little result. When he looked at it more closely, though, he found that he wasn’t really fully committed, not yet ready to move forward — and that he needs to first focus on readying his ship and his crew for the adventure that lies ahead.

So, what about you? What’s unfolding or not unfolding in YOUR life and your business?

Once you're committed, providence will move too...

There is so much that we can accomplish together.

And this is only day 22!

Yours on the Journey,

Captain Tom

Day 15 - Out to Sea

In my last post, as we headed out to open sea, I asked you to answer 3 questions to help you chart your destination - your Vision of the future for 2008. I heard from many of you and I am inspired about the challenges you’re taking on.

In return, here's my business Vision: A World that Works because Business Works. This is big, but you know what, it inspires me and pulls me forward. It calls me to be bold!

As a first step toward realizing my Vision I know I MUST transition from a solo Practice to a Global Enterprise. I cannot get there alone. And, while I am totally committed to this outcome, I have no idea how to get there.

The first rule of accelerated success is to find someone who has already done at least part of what you want to do and learn from them. So, on January 6th, I flew to Denver, Colorado to be trained as a CEO Board Facilitator and Coach for The Alternative Board.

The Alternative Board (R) is an international provider of peer advisory and coaching solutions to leaders of privately held companies. In other words, TAB has already mastered much of what I want to do.

What did I learn in just 7 days? Well, I learned how they built their organization, I learned how they market to, engage and train CEOs, Presidents and Owners, and I learned one way to successfully build an enterprise. I also learned that these are amazing people, and discovered an opportunity for a strategic alliance.

What's more, I met fellow participants who are former senior executives in both the automotive and defense industries who are just as passionate about changing the workplace as I am. They are natural allies on my quest.

So where do we begin, you and I, when we're sailing uncharted waters? The first step is to seek out some old salts that have sailed those waters themselves. Go sailing with them. Listen to their tales. Benefit from their wisdom. Learn from their mistakes. Nine times out of ten they will gladly teach you what they know.

Today is Day 15. Do you know where you are going? Make sure you’re clear on your destination. Focus and take action in alignment with your Vision. Next week, onward, through the fog.

Yours on the Journey,

Tom Voccola

I Promised You Adventure...

And adventure we will have.

We're gathered in the cockpit as we sail away from the harbor. You can no longer see the breakwater. As you look astern, the wake itself disappears into the fog. You can only hear the sound of the water against the hull and a fog horn in the distance. You feel the movement of the deck under your feet as Sea Fever rises and falls with the ocean swells. You decide to sit down. The deck moves up and meets you before you are ready.

You think to yourself, "This is different" and you're right. Everything about ocean sailing will require you to be different than you were just a few hours ago.

We are on our own. There is just us and a new environment. Water, blackness and fog. We have no idea what kind of challenges we will face. And we are not going to turn around. Yet we are on course. We are heading for a destination. A place where there is freedom to be ourselves. You want this. To test yourself. To be different. To be fulfilled. To learn to be - Captain - of your life, your career, your unique enterprise.

Okay, wake up. Pay attention. Now that we're aboard we're going to create a routine. Sailing in the open ocean requires a great deal of consciousness, or you will die soon enough. There's only one mission critical rule. Don't fall overboard. And only you can keep that rule. I can't keep it for you. You must remain on the boat to get to your destination.

The simple act of getting up and moving to another part of the boat requires a great deal of thought and coordination. Where is the nearest hand hold? When is the next roll of the deck? Who is where? Who is responsible for what? Is my life line attached?

There are measurements to be taken, a course to be followed, sails to be trimmed and weather to be watched. There is food to be prepared and watches to be scheduled and manned.

You think to yourself, "Why did I do this, anyway?"

You know there is actually an on-line virtual world called "New Life". In this virtual world you can give yourself an entirely new identity. We can change everything about ourselves. How we look, the kind of relationships we have, the life style we want, the home we live in and the games we play. I'm told that many times people in this virtual world excel in their new lives. They become richer, more famous and successful. Their businesses thrive and their people do what they are told. Yet, mostly, in their real lives, they continue to behave the same as they always have. Interesting.

In the next twelve months, the duration of this cruise, I will, you will, we will do what ever it takes, what ever we MUST do, to reach our destination.

But first, what is your destination for 2008?

Below are 3 important questions from my friend Paul Kearley's new book MUST THINKING

Go Here to Buy Paul's New Book

I want you to answer these 3 questions before your first watch. (We are on a boat, after all, and we will be recording our progress every Tuesday morning for the rest of the year.)

Now. Lie down on your bunk. Turn on the new LED light. Enjoy the gentle rocking of the ocean. Smell the coffee and the great supper cooking for you. And answer each of these questions for yourself.

1. What MUST happen for me to feel fulfilled and succesful? (My Vision)
2. Why MUST my Vision happen?
3. When MUST my Vision happen? (December 31, 2008)

Be creative. Write in the present tense, like it has already happened. Paint a word picture so that it moves you inside, so that it touches you dearly. Be ready to share your answers with me soon. (You can email me at tvoccola@ceo2.com if you want me to comment on them.)

I can't wait to share mine with you.

Dream Big. Be Bold.

Yours on the Journey,

Tom Voccola, Captain, The Sloop Sea Fever

P.S. If you just can't bring yourself to answer the 3 questions, buy Paul's book. You really MUST get in touch with what you really want. Because:

'Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back is always in effect. The moment one definitely commits oneself then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material sustenance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way.' - Goethe

Happy New Year, Mate!

A few days ago I invited you to set sail on a grand adventure with me.

During 2008 I will be sharing new ideas, concepts and questions about leadership that will help you with every aspect of your life, especially your business.

We’ve been working hard on the charts all morning and we are getting ready to cast off. If you haven’t reserved your bunk, you can do so right now by filling in the box to your right to join the team. All we need is your e-mail address. I promise not to share it with anyone. It is only for our work together here. Because with you on board, we can make this dialogue an international journal of new leadership thought, discovery and achievement.

Courage! Do not miss this adventure!

An Invitation to Set Sail...

So here we are again. In that safe harbor between the past and the future. I really appreciate the calm moments between Christmas and New Years. For me it's a time of reflection, appreciation and anticipation. It's also a time of charting the next leg of the journey and this year, I'm inviting you to come along with me.

My grand adventure for 2008 is to finish my new book about a very special start-up company. In fact it's called "The Last Start-Up - A Leader's Journey to Mastery." And in doing so I intend to co-create a new future with you.

During the year I will be sharing new ideas, concepts and questions about leadership that will help you with every aspect of your life, especially your business.

But before I can finish the book, I have to "be" the book. And this means I will actually have to help at least one new client implement a sustainable start-up model that works exponentially better than anything they've tried in the past. I have no idea who this client will be or how the story will turn out. And I can't wait to get started.

I am sharing this with you in the hope that you will set your own "grand adventure" for 2008 and, through this blog we can compare notes and support one another on the journey.

Now for your part.

Contrary to what some believe, Life is not a spectator sport. It requires us to get out of the stands and get on the field or, as I like to say "slip the dock lines free and sail."

I can't successfully make this journey alone. No one can and no one ever does. I need your help and your point of view. I need your questions, comments, encouragement and advice. But most of all I need the gift of your listening - and I promise to give you mine.

Go to www.ceoing.blogspot.com to join the crew. With you on board, we can make this dialogue an international journal of new leadership thought, discovery and achievement.

The winds will change and there will be storms along the way. But with a clear intention (a North Star to steer by), a willingness to learn from whomever and wherever the learning comes from, and the courage and good sense to hold on and persevere, we will reach our destination.

So welcome aboard. Go below, take a bunk, stow your gear. And get ready to cast off the lines of the past and set sail to our future. It's going to be an amazing adventure.

- Tom Voccola

P.S. That's my boat, Sea Fever. She's a 1962 Bill Tripp designed Mercer 44 Sloop. I've grown a lot over the past 18 years learning to captain her, and I've created lifelong bonds with most of the crew that have come aboard. I hope we can do the same.

P.P.S. If you know the founder of a start-up, or know of other leaders embarking on the next leg of their organization's journey, who might benefit from this "Last Start-Up" conversation, please feel free to pass this on to them.

The Accidental CEO

The average CEO is smart, hard working and ambitious, but he or she rarely sets out to be CEO.

In a seven year survey of over 300 CEOs, conducted by CEO2, 97% of those interviewed stated that they had never expected to become a CEO – at least, not in that moment. They got their jobs by accident.

Imagine one day going into a Board of Directors meeting as the CFO and coming out as the CEO. It really happens. “I couldn’t believe it; they relieved John of his duties and pointed to me. ‘George,’ they said, ‘we want you to serve as interim CEO while we do a search'. That was over two years ago.”

Another CEO told us that all he had wanted to do was be a great programmer. Alan had some great applications he was exploring in the music industry when his brother-in-law shared what he was doing with a Venture Capitalist friend who just happened to be looking to exploit the recent trend in music distribution over the net.

“I went from extraordinary programmer to incompetent CEO in less than 24 hours. And the funny thing was, everyone treated me like I knew what I was doing – like the title alone would somehow give me what I needed to do the job. I’m talking investors as well as my employees here. I never set out to manage a company with 600 people but here I am. It’s been quite an adventure, more than a little stressful, and at times very lonely.”

Still another CEO shared that his father, who founded a $200 million dollar electronic component and contract-manufacturing firm, suddenly died. Tom was working as a financial consultant for a top 5 accounting firm at the time and his mother asked him to step in for the family.

“During the first six months I looked at everything through a financial lens. It was my only experience so I fell back on it when I found myself in charge. I found out really fast that business is a heck of a lot more than the P&L. In fact the more time passed the more I found that 90% of the problems I ran into were people related. No one ever teaches you that, much less what to do about it. And many never find out about it until it’s too late.”

Even CEOs brought into organizations as professional managers laughed when asked about their first jobs as CEOs.

“Until you asked I had completely forgotten about my first CEO assignment,” said Steve, now Chairman and CEO of a billion dollar marketing firm based in NYC. “After a few years it feels like you’ve always been in the job. Like you were born into it. The key to being CEO is much like being a consultant” he said, “your first order of business is to survive long enough to do some good. And you have a hell of a learning curve.”

No matter how CEOs get their jobs, one thing is certain, there is not a lot of training for the job.

The CEO chair has a compelling agenda of its own, regardless of who is sitting in it, especially if it’s a public corporation.

The chair will run the CEO if he or she is not well grounded in his or her own personal values and guiding principles. Ungrounded CEOs end up managing and reacting rather than leading and growing.

There are three Laws of Leadership that are all but ignored in the tips, techniques, and best practices espoused by modern management thought. Until the laws are followed we will continue to have 74% of our managers disengaged and 97% of our businesses failing within 10 years.

What do you think?

More to come

Imagine

Imagine a world
where people are amazingly effective
as individuals and as members of teams.
Where they understand the business
and how they impact it.
Where they live where they want,
work where and when they want
and are powerfuly effective.

Imagine a world
of global relationships
where prosperity and teamwork
replace cultural strife.

Where prosperity is driven
by the right ideas,
the right efforts and the right measures,
all focused on making a contribution,
to one another and our customers
rather than personal agendas
and department fiefdoms.

Imagine, what could we be?

- George Van Ness

Making the Invisible Visible

Recently I was on a Southwest Airlines flight coming back from a week in Houston. I was tired. I put my head back and just closed my eyes. After I heard the clunk of wheels up, I looked over to see who I was sitting next to. He was a young man, maybe about 25 or so -- handsome kid. I found out later that he was from Thailand, going to school at UCLA. Anyway, he was typing furiously on his Apple Computer. I couldn’t help staring because everything on his screen was moving incredibly fast yet taking perfect form. It looked like he was writing a book, with charts, graphs and pictures suddenly appearing as intended. In fact, some of the charts, graphs and pictures seemed to have motion to them. “Interesting,” I thought.

“Are you writing a book? I asked.

"No,” he said, “I’m just putting in my notes from today’s meetings.”

“Interesting notes,” I said, motioning to the screen with the moving images.

“Yes, I’m working on a project that allows me to visualize virus particles.”

"Like I said, interesting."

"I'm working with a biologist at a Houston hospital. Would you like to see what virus particles look like?

“Absolutely,” I said.

He turned the screen toward me and I watched, fascinated, as he continued to type in machine code of some sort. After a moment or two there was a visual of what looked like a smudge on the screen.

“Watch this,” he said with a smile on his face. He hit a key and the smudge turned into a donut-looking thing that had spinning particles, each distinct from one another, but held tightly within the donut. It looked like a miniature universe.

“With a special algorithm I am able to see these invisible particles on my computer screen. Cool, huh?”

“Very cool,” I said.

“My name is Peter,” he said, putting his hand out, “I’m a Ph.D. candidate in Physics at UCLA."

“Well, Peter, pleased to meet you, my name is Tom Voccola and it looks like we are in the same business.”

“Are you a physicist,” he asked.

“No,” I said, “but we’re both involved in making the invisible visible.” I don’t know why I said it, but there it was.

“Really, what things are you making visible?” he asked, closing his computer and shifting toward me with an air of curiosity.

All I had to do was recall the past few days in Houston and I said, “I work in business, Peter. I work with human beliefs, values, thoughts, visions, desires and emotions, to name just a few. These things are invisible to us until called into question, yet they operate in the world just as surely as a hammer when it hits a nail. We’re not aware of what these invisible human programs are going to be or when they will appear, but they do. And when they do they manifest themselves as human behaviors that affect the world just as surely as a virus does.”

“Fascinating,” he said. “Can you give me an example?”

“Perception is not reality.” I said.

“Pardon me; isn’t it supposed to be 'perception is reality'?”

“Yes, it is, but that’s precisely why we have so many problems in the world. We accept our perceptions, usually from our five senses, as reality. Before you guys in science began making the invisible visible we had no idea that there were germs or viruses. But now we know better. And now that we know these germs and viruses are real, people like you are trying to see more clearly how they operate and once you understand, well, I assume you will begin using nanotechnology to influence how they operate.”

“Exactly,” he said, “think of all the lives we can save?”

“I do,” I said, "and I truly appreciate it."

I am glad there are people like Peter in the world. His curiosity, talent and drive may save the world one day. As leaders, the first step in being able to influence our lives, businesses and our families is to accept that there are indeed invisible forces at work – as essential as the food we eat -- yet with the same power and devastation as a bomb. What are the empowering beliefs or limiting beliefs, for example, that are running your business? With the awareness that our human internal operating system runs on beliefs comes the ability to see, to notice, and to observe them more clearly. Only then can you hope to consciously influence the outcome.

"Like I said, Peter, we're in the same business you and I. And it's good to know there are others engaged in changing the world by making the invisible visible."

The Surprise Factor

Have you ever noticed the invisible forces running your life and organization. I call it the Surprise Factor: destabilizing events; people not communicating; seemingly simple things falling through the cracks; thoughtlessness; being surprised by employee and manager behavior; covering up; holding information close to the vest; not trusting one another; offense being taken when none is intended; important issues being ignored; not taking the time to plan; not knowing how to plan; the elephant in the room; tolerating the elephant in the room; misunderstandings; making up stories; spreading gossip; malicious compliance; judging one another unfairly; pigeon-holing one another; not liking one another; being afraid to ask or question or contribute; not hearing what's really being said; focusing on what's wrong; reacting out of false assumptions; lack of appreciation; intimidating behavior; being closed to new ideas; being addicted to looking good at all costs; passing the buck; lack of follow-through. It goes on and on. Well, have you noticed some of this stuff? What are the costs to you as a person? To your organization? Is there a root cause?

Don't believe a word I say...

We have all seen so much in our careers that doesn't work. Promises that are never kept. Programs that fail to deliver. Social contracts that are routinely broken. We've become a workplace of skeptics where bosses are regarded as idiots and employees helpless and hopeless. (The Dilbert myth) Employees roll their eyes whenever management brings out yet another program to "fix those people!" And so they should. Because most of the programs are doomed to failure before they are even begun. They address the wrong things and are simply wrong headed. And, even when they do work -- usually through some super human effort --management will ignore the results or take actions that effectively cut the meaning out of the program.

So don't believe a word you read in this blog. Question everything. It's time.

Because what we have now -- our businesses, our lives, our country -- is not sustainable unless we begin doing what's really important. We have been living a lie. Yet I believe everyone --managers, employees, CEOs -- all of us go to work to do a good job, but something gets in the way. No matter what, something steals the meaning from us. Steals the joy and power and potential from all of us. So,what do you think it is? I have my theory. I call it the surprise factor.

You were born into a reactive world...

You were born into a reactive world, an eye for an eye world filled with fear, uncertainty and doubt. Of course you weren't aware of this. It was just the way things were. You were born with a strong Ego to protect you, as well as a strong Passion and Purpose with which to guide your life here on earth. Like all humans, you came as a contribution to our species. You were born with a unique message to express in the world. And as you read this you know it's true.

As might be expected, your parents were already trained in the ways of the world. They began to teach you how to protect yourself from your surroundings and what not to do in this world to get along. "Don't do this" and Don't do that!" they said. You learned not to trust strangers; how to always be wary on on your guard.

Your teachers, mentors and society in general continued your instruction in self-defense and reinforced your Ego time and time again. After all, anyone can be a child molester, a terrorist.

You were also instructed about who to be as well. "Be a good girl or boy, be a lady or gentleman guided your mother. "Be a hard worker, be strong and take it like a man!" said your father. "Be like George Washington and never tell a lie" said your teachers. "Take on the seven habits of highly successful people," said you boss.

Yet no one has ever addressed that part of you called Purpose and Passion, and so it lay dormant, while your Ego became stronger, more dominant and powerful. You developed the Ego mask called (just insert your name here!)

You're probably become adept at saving the project, saving the sale, saving the client or saving the day. People call you a leader, but in reality you are really a master of reaction, capable of handling anything your world can throw at you. You find yourself out front fighting to win, to survive.

Every once in a while, however, you have a nagging sense that there is something more, some reason for your success, but you never stop to question it because there is always the next hill to take. You unconsciously wield your Ego as a sword, because in your current world view, everything looks like an enemy to be conquered.

There is a more Powerful way to engage the world. And it's already inside.

Look in the mirror..

Look in the mirror and what do you see?

Your body. Handsome or beautiful as it may be.

And what don't you see?

You don't see all the thoughts, ideas, hopes, dreams and fears. You don't see the hard won experience, the unique abilities, the values, learned behaviors and limiting beliefs. You don't see the real you. And neither can anyone else.

Now take this to another dimension.

Imagine a family member, a friend, an employee or an entire organization in front of you.

What do you see?

This is the beginning point of a new business discipline. I call it CEOing. In the past CEO stood for Chief Executive Officer. It implies knowing it all. You don't. In this new context, CEO stands for Creating Extraordinary Organizations. It's an inquiry. There is no "one answer" to anything. The key skill you will need to create an extraordinary life or organization will be the ability to make the invisible visible - for both yourself and others.

So, as you look into the mirror, who are you, really?

I promise you, you are amazing, and you are here to change the world for the better in your life time. The adventure is in finding out, without any doubt, who you really are. And once you do, helping others do the same.

Have you ever wondered...

Have you ever wondered - with all of our Ph.D.s, MBAs, Best Practices, Business Gurus, Management Consultants, Best Selling Books and Advanced Technology - why 74% of our managers still report being disengaged at work?

Something's missing.

And it's right in front of you!

Go find a mirror to see what I mean.