Think Huge by Mark Arnold

Do You Know Where You Are Going?

My wife and I took a vacation to New Hampshire a few years ago. It was a great time for us to see the fall foliage and changing leaves. It was truly a beautiful trip. In order to see the best colors, we took many back roads. At one point during our excursion, we were completely lost. We didn’t have a clue where we were. We just knew we were somewhere in the backwoods and back roads of New Hampshire with no idea where we were headed.

Fortunately, we had a GPS system in our rental car. When we plugged in the address of where we were staying, the navigation device quickly kicked in, telling us which turns to take, what roads to travel and how to get back to our destination quickly. If it wasn’t for that GPS system, we’d still be in New Hampshire today!

Don’t you wish we each had a GPS system in life? You know, a device in which we could just plug in where we want to go and have it tell us exactly what direction to take. Which job offer to accept. Which person to marry. When to have kids. What to do with our teenagers (okay, that one may be impossible!).

Vision, thankfully, is that GPS system for life. The more clearly you know where you are going, the more likely you are to get there. So where are you going? Do you have a clear idea about where you want to go with your career? With your family? With your life?

It’s important to answer these questions clearly. Without a clear idea about where you’re going, you cannot expect to get there. Too often, the answers to those “where are you going” questions are vague, not specific and undefined.

So how do you do this? I recommend writing a six word vision statement for your life. Focus on answering the question, “What are you about?” For example, my personal vision statement is “Elevating the lives and business of others.” (Yes, I violated the six word principle by one word!). I’m actually having my work team do this exercise: they each have to write their own personal vision statement.

The more clearly you can define where you’re going (what you want to do with your career, what you want to accomplish with your family and kids, etc.) the better vision you will have. The better vision you have in your life, the more likely you are to both think huge and accomplish huge things. Be sure to pick your vision. Don’t let it pick you.

Think Huge!

Start New Year by Thinking Huge

Welcome to 2010!

 

As the New Year begins, there is no better time to Think Huge. We’re already several days into January and many of us are off and running. Activity and business, however, does not always mean success.

 

As we said in the book, Think Huge means, “Going many steps beyond where you are today and pushing past your comfort zone. In other words, not limiting yourself. We sometimes put an invisible ceiling on what we can accomplish in life. Thinking huge means removing those barriers and accomplishing our dreams and ambitions. Maybe you want to be the teacher of the year. Or the top salesperson. Or the CEO. Or a more involved parent. Or a more loving spouse. Or _______. You fill in the blank with what areas you want to think huge.”

 

You are probably thinking (or have already set) your goals for 2010. One way to set goals this year is to break them into the six Think Huge areas:

 

• Vision
• People
• Passion
• Time
• Perseverance
• Learning

 

Here are some questions to consider in each area and then examples you can use for your 2010 goals:

 

(1)    Vision

 

Do you have a vision statement for your life, department, organization, etc.? One goal might be to write your six word personal and/or professional vision statement.

 

(2)    People

 

Who do you want to be close to or get to know this year? For example, there may be a family member you want to reach out to, an old friend to reconnect with, or a child you want to hang out with more.

 

(3)    Passion

 

Is there a particular hobby or interest you want to develop more this year? Maybe this is the year you buy the Harley! One of my passions is to speaking so one of my 2010 passion goals is to do multiple Think Huge presentations (if you want to book me, click here—how’s that for a shameless self-plug!).

 

(4)    Time

 

How can you maximize your time in 2010? Maybe it’s to reduce the number of meetings you are in or to better streamline your meetings. Other time goal examples could include spending “x” number of hours a week for yourself, spending less hours at work, or improving a particular skill you have by practicing it more.

 

(5)    Perseverance

 

Is there some area of your life you are discouraged and want to quit? Don’t give up—persevere. Perseverance goal examples could be running a marathon or half marathon, finishing school, changing your job if you’re unhappy, improving your marriage, etc.

 

(6)    Learning

 

If you’re not learning, you’re not growing. What are you going to learn this year? Examples include taking a college class, reading one business book per month, attending a conference, etc.

 

 

You probably have multiple goals for 2010. Hopefully you have some in all six Think Huge areas. What Think Huge goals have you set for 2010? Please share yours in the comments section below.

 

Think Huge!

Vision Leaks

“The very essence of leadership is that you have to have a vision.”
—Theodore Hesburgh

 

 

If you are in a leadership position (whether at work, home, volunteer area or all three) your role requires vision. And your vision leaks.

 

The vision you have as a leader leaks to those around you. In other words, people follow the cues their leaders give. There can be positive or negative leaks. There can be motivating or de-motivating leaks. The vision leaking principle applies both at home and at the office.

 

Here are some quick questions to ask yourself about your vision leaking:

 

(1)    Can you quickly articulate your vision for your company, your family and your life?

 

I always recommend using six words or less. For example, my vision is “helping others elevate their life & business.” (Yes, that is the subtitle to Think Huge).

 

When day to day life hits at home and when tactical issues strike at work, it’s important that everyone understand why we do what we do. A strong vision helps those around us stay focused.

 

Leaking a strong vision for those around you is a sign of a true leader. Don’t wander aimlessly. Know what you want from your home and work life. Know what you want your team to accomplish.

 

If you have no vision, then you are leaking nothing. And your followers will notice that there is nothing coming from your vision.

 

 

(2)    Is your vision leaking positive or negative images?

 

Are you optimistic the next six months will be better or do you have a pessimistic approach? The best leaders tend to be more optimistic in their attitude and approach on life (not necessarily Pollyanna but positive).

 

Whatever you are mulling over in your head leaks to others. If you thinking positive thoughts, then positive things come out.

 

For example, I struggled the past few years with what I call “negative self talk.” If something went wrong at home or work I took it really hard and beat myself up. I blamed myself and felt like I was a total failure. I was setting perfection as a standard (which of course I couldn’t reach).

 

And then one day I heard one of my daughters doing the exact same thing (talking negatively about herself). I wonder where she learned that habit? You guessed it—her father. I realized then that my negative tendencies has “leaked” to her.

 

So now I’m focusing on the positive. I’m trying not to lose sight of the bigger picture when little failures occur. In other words, I’m trying to leak positive.

 

(3)    What is the size of your vision?

 

Is it huge or is it tiny? What do you expect—from yourself and those that work for you? Too often we only focus on incremental goals and thus limit ourselves. Someone is going to make the big sale, why shouldn’t it be you? Someone is going accomplish one of their lifelong goals this year, why shouldn’t it be you?

 

If you don’t expect much from your employees or your family, then that’s probably what you’re going to get—not much. However, if you expect greatness from those around you, then you’re far more likely to see greatness as well.

 

Don’t limit your vision. Your vision should be awe-inspiring and challenging. In other words, don’t set the bar so low that anyone could reach it. People are more inspired when they feel you want them to make a difference in life.

 

 

In some ways leaders are like a full cup of coffee. When you tip the coffee mug, something usually comes out. It’s the same way with your vision: when your followers (kids, employees, spouses, etc.) tip you something comes out—and hopefully it’s a strong vision.

 

So what are you leaking?

 

Think Huge

First Impression is Not Always the Last Impression

When you meet someone, do you automatically assume and form opinions about who they are? Do you make assumptions in your head about that person and set expectations for them? This is true for most people (even though we may deny it); we are guilty of preconceived notions upon a first impression. Do these first impressions change over time or are they set in stone for you?

If you saw a guy in old, dingy jeans and a t-shirt, would a CEO of a successful, international company come to mind? This Whole Foods Market CEO dresses in his own style, but the bottom line is that he rules the market. Or maybe there has been a time that a person looks absolutely charming until they open their mouth? We tend to jump to conclusions too quickly, which may not be the best route to take in our personal and professional lives. A famous idiom often used is “do not judge a book by its cover.” It is very important to be able to give the person a chance to prove themselves and not develop an impression.  We were taught this lesson as children, yet we tend to forget the wisdom learned at that age. Taking the time to force yourself to dismiss your immediate assumption not only allows you to see someone with new eyes, it also opens the door to a new experience.  Having the vision to recognize these situations and reroute the usual assumptions is a great way to Think Huge.

Sometimes, forming impressions lead to a form of discrimination that we as individuals may not even realize. We have certain misconceptions of various people and as human beings, we tend to identify one individual’s doing to their race, age, gender, religion or beliefs. Forming opinions according to the misconceptions keeps us from treating each other equally. By keeping your renewed vision of fairness in mind, you allow each person the opportunity to prove themselves.

 Developing impressions and assigning expectations according to them can be quite unpredictable. You may form high expectations of someone, but when they are not able to meet those expectations, it causes you frustration. This also goes for people forming expectations about you. Always under promise and over fulfill to exceed others’ satisfaction. When you are hiring someone, looking to do business, meeting for a date or even just dealing with a stranger, Think Huge about others’ possible potential. Maybe these people will return the favor and not make first impression assumptions about who you are.

 Do you believe that first impressions are lasting impressions? If so, why? Leave a comment and let’s find out!

 

Unique Perspectives: Think Outside the Box

Example #1: Apple and Nike noticed that they shared the same consumers so they decided to collaborate to create products. Nike designed apparel that had space for an iPod and shoes with sensors that detect workout progress. Apple iPod then allows you to download from these sensors to track your work out.

Example #2: M&M’s developed a web site where consumers can become a personalized M&M. They can then share this photo on their Facebook or MySpace page.

Example #3: When Toyota first launched its new Scion, they spent 70%  on street promotions and used product placement in video games to target the younger generation.

What have you noticed in the examples given above for various companies? They have all, in some way or another, been creative by doing things differently. What I want you to do is think about a job project you have on hand, a school project that you have to take care of, an employee you have to train or maybe even an interview for a job. Now, think of a really different idea or strategy to approach that issue in order to leave a lasting impression for your audience. As with the company examples, remember to step outside of the traditional methods and do something different.

If it is at work, think of a way to get your employees involved so they feel passionate about coming to work. Train them to better retain information by doing something different like a virtual game, simulation or even have speakers from outside the industry come in with a fresh perspective.

If it’s at a job interview or job fair, make sure that you stand out from the pile of resumes being collected. Ask yourself what you can do to stand out and not be just another resume in the pile. There are risks involved with straying from the norm, but your individuality may just land you an interview.

If it’s a school project, do an activity that no one has ever seen in your class. Impress the professor by waking up the audience from the usual boring presentation to a totally different project. Have audience participation and videos in your presentation or even a skit to act out what you discovered in your research.

If it’s at home, think of something creative for a holiday present, birthday party for your family member or any other special occasion. Think how you can use your creativity to do something that is completely flattering and out of the blue. Maybe even surprise your significant other with a great night out on a random evening.

No matter what aspect in your life you are focusing on, you can choose to think outside the box. Try it out and I guarantee that you will get the best feeling! Remember to Think Huge and try something different!

Dubai Proves that Nothing is Impossible

What do you think about when you hear Dubai? Do the words progressive and modern come to mind? Over the past decade, Dubai has progressed from a sandy desert to a tourist hub. It has based its economy on free trade and tourism by thinking huge. Sheikh Zayed Al-Maktoum’s leadership brought these changes because as a leader, he aimed to be progressive and followed through on his goals for the state. Even after his death, his vision is still being implemented through constant change and innovation throughout the state. In one of Al-Maktoum’s interviews, the interviewer asked, “You have the tallest skyscrapers, largest malls, and the highest-rated hotels. Why are you setting records for the tallest and biggest architectural work?” His answer was quite simple, “Why not?”

Innovative projects such as Burj Al Arab, the Palm Trilogy and The World all work together to form a progressive and modern image of Dubai. Some people may have the misconception that the Middle East is not progressive, but when it comes to Dubai, that thought is thrown out the window. Dubai has exceeded all expectations; they have even made it possible to snow in a desert with the Ski Dubai project. They have truly become the desert rose and all within a decade, under one ruler. Continuously, there are more and more projects added to the list.  Right now, an architecture model of a rotating tower (Dynamic Tower) is the going to be the newest edition to the Dubai skyline. This state has continued the vision of Al-Maktoum and the passion to continue progressing ahead of the pack is what keeps Dubai progressive. One man removed ‘impossible’ from his vocabulary and decided to Think Huge.

Do you currently hold a leadership position? You may not be the head of an entire state, but you still have the ability to do great things by thinking huge.  Did you choose to go along with how things are normally done, or do you think about leaving an impression and setting standards for your successors? Think about the roles you may get, whether it is at your workplace, at a place you volunteer for, a student organization, or even at home. You may think your role is small, but you have the ability to make a difference. For added motivation, think about this; Dubai is a dot on the map, but has done such powerful things by thinking huge and using its resources well. Think about how you can leave your mark in the world and take advantage of this opportunity. Set high standards and continue to expand on these. Aim to inspire those around you as well as those that may follow in your footsteps.

Shout back and let me know how you have taken a leadership opportunity and left an impression on the position for others to follow. Remember to Think Huge as a leader!

FIRST GRADERS INSPIRE ADULTS TO DREAM BIG

After hearing this inspiring story from Jenn Bills of PTP NEW MEDIA, I asked her to share it as a guest blogger for the Think Huge blog.

I always look forward to chatting with my friend Britt, a first grade teacher. Of course, I enjoy spending time catching up, but I also enjoy hearing the silly (but very honest) things that her students say. At this age, her students are interested in everything, but have not developed the ‘adult’ censor quite yet. Britt said this refreshing dose of honesty is one of her favorite things about working with this age group.

At my most recent meeting with her, she added that along with honesty, her students still maintain their ability to dream big. She elaborated that their dreams could be grand and huge because they did not even think to add limitations or stipulations. Britt felt that her students opened her eyes and reminded her to Think Huge about her dreams. She said her “Whoa!”  moment came when she let each student say what they wanted to be when they grew up. Doctor, teacher and firefighter were at the top of the list and Britt was moved to see the look of true excitement on each child’s face. Nothing stopped these kids from Thinking Huge, they were open and honest about what they truly wanted to do.

At the end of the this exercise, one of the more outspoken students raised his hand and asked Britt what she wanted to be when she grew up. She laughed, but then realized she actually was what she wanted to be. Her dream was to become a teacher and she succeeded. The sense of satisfaction through a recognition of her passion and having the vision to see it through is why Britt could smile.

Children have the ability to open our eyes and teach us great life lessons, some that we may have even forgotten along the way. In your professional life, are you happy with your career choice? Are you passionate about what you do? If you are unable to answer ‘yes’ to both of these, then take a step back and allow yourself to THINK HUGE. What is your huge dream?  Take a cue from Britt’s first grade students and remind yourself to THINK HUGE!

TURN VISION INTO INNOVATIVE ACTION

In-no-vate [in-uh-veyt] – verb (used without object) to introduce something; make changes to anything established.

Thousands of inventions have been created within the past century and some have been revolutionary. Innovation doesn’t necessarily mean to come up with a revolutionary product like the Internet or a light bulb. Innovation can be a small change which causes a huge ripple. All you have to do is Think Huge.

The yo-yo is considered the second oldest toy in history. In the Philippines, the yo-yo was used as a weapon for over 400 hundred years, though their version had more studs and sharpness to it. Pedro Flores, a Philippine immigrant, started selling a toy version of it in California. D.F. Duncan Sr. bought the rights for the toy and changed the yo-yo to have the butterfly look on a string. Who knew keeping someone busy by rolling a rounded top on a string could have made him millions? Duncan’s vision for the yo-yo worked because he took this idea one step further by thinking huge and acting on his innovative idea.

Innovative inventions create a need rather than fulfilling it. Great examples of this are the invention of Facebook, three-speed windshield wipers and deodorant.  Ask questions about everything around you and think about how things can be improved. Think Huge when it comes to innovation and you may be the next D.F. Duncan Sr.

Have you come up with an idea in your head and shot it down because it was yours? Then you see someone take that idea and apply action to it. Pursuing every idea may not be feasible. With those ideas that you feel are innovative and are passionate about, acknowledge them and take action. You never know what you can bring to the world…Think Huge!

Think Huge! Think Career...

As I have been interviewing several candidates this week for an entry level position, I started to think about creative ways to get a job. The standard ‘send in your resume and hope they call back’ just doesn’t cut it right now. To show interest, I have seen many people make the right impression by doing a follow up call or emailing to check in on the status of the position. What if this isn’t enough? What can you do to Think Huge during the job search?

David Rowe knew that getting a job would be tough, but he did not want to settle for something that he would not like either. To battle this tough situation, David decided to Think Huge. He decided to go beyond the traditional approach and walk the streets of London with a sandwich board that read “Job Wanted.” The first steps were hard, but he pushed himself to persevere. Even his father bet him that he wouldn’t do it. David’s creative vision for his job search landed him a job interview and a collection of business cards.

Kelly Kinney also decided to Think Huge with her job search. After continuously applying for jobs and not hearing anything back, Kelly changed her approach. She recognized that one of her strengths was to connect with people through publicity.  She saw a guy with a shirt that read “Unemployed” and decided to take it to the next level. She put her resume on the front of a t-shirt with her cover letter on the back. Kelly has had several offers because of her t-shirt resume. Potential employees recognized her ability to Think Huge through her creative approach.

During the second round of interviews that I conducted, one of the candidates (without being asked) designed two ads specifically for this interview. This communicated an incredible amount of initiative on their part. This applicant definitely stood out by applying the Think Huge principles of taking the time to design the ads, thinking of the people that she is interviewing with and having the vision to show me that she can do this job effectively.

These are just a few fun examples that I came across as well as my personal experience through the interview process. What’s your Think Huge story?   Shout back and leave a comment with your thoughts.  I would love to hear about more creative job search techniques.

Think Huge With Kerrie Hilton

I first came across Kerrie Hilton on Twitter.  As I do each week, I look for inspirational stories of how others Think Huge and then share them with those who follow me on Twitter.  However, how I found Kerrie’s story was different.  I first saw @12monkeys had congratulated @runkerrierun for her inspirational story.  As I Think People (one of the six Think Huge principals), I joined the conversation and asked @12monkeys to share her story.  Kerrie then sent me a link to her blog post where I was intrigued and excited to see Kerrie living out the six Think Huge principals in her own life.

To begin, Kerrie started out with Think Vision.  One can’t Think Huge unless they know exactly where they want to go. For Kerrie, she had a vision, “I decided to do something, I did it, and as a result I lost 55 lbs. and ran a marathon in 7 months. ”  However, it was not always easy and there were many personal obstacles Kerrie had to overcome.  Kerrie notes, “In Feb. 2009 I was an overweight stay-at-home mom that was happy, but didn’t like the direction ‘my’ life was going in. With 3 kids it’s easy to lose sight of your own needs. ”

Next, Kerrie begin to Think People.  Thinking huge will get one absolutely nowhere unless they involve people in their life.  For Kerrie she had support. “I started a weight loss plan with my friend Jackie’s help and started running, which isn’t something I was ever particularly good at,” Kerrie stated.  In addition, Kerrie also mentioned, “I decided to run a marathon after consulting my husband, who said, “Go for it.” Without the support of my husband and oldest daughter it would not have been possible.”  By having the support of those around her, Kerrie was able to put her vision into action.

As she begin to run the marathon, it became clear to Kerrie that she needed to Think Perseverance.  Thinking huge is not a “name it and claim it” gospel. One will encounter trials in life and thinking huge means overcoming those obstacles.  Kerrie had to do just that and recalls, “Soon, I started to feel sick and by mile 15 I was slowed almost to a walk. It felt like I was running though knee-high mud though I was pushing as hard as I could. This had never happened in training and actually 15 miles became ‘no big deal’ for me. I decided not to panic; no way would I have ‘DNF’ beside my name (the dreaded “did not finish”).”

In reflection of the race, Kerrie realized she had accomplished something incredible was able to Think Learning. One will only grow as much you are learning.  For Kerrie, she mentioned, “This was more incredible than any race I’ve ever run because the training was such a sacrifice and juggling schedules with 3 kids was such a struggle. I learned that no matter how prepared you are, you have to run YOUR OWN race, or the outcome will not be what you expect.”

Throughout her entire marathon journey Kerrie, it was important for Kerrie to Think Time.  Truly thinking huge means we are investing our time in the right way.  Kerrie recalls, “The best part for me was looking at my picture at the end of it all. I went from a size 16 to a 6 and ran a marathon in 7 months.”

Finally, a key reason Kerrie was able to achieve her goal was because she was able to Think Passion.  One needs to love whatever they are doing in life.  Kerrie remembers, “It really was as easy as deciding to do something and then taking the steps to make the changes to get it done. I truly think that anyone can do whatever it is they want as long as they have a goal, motivation, and most of all, support. Ordinary people can do extraordinary things”.

What’s your Think Huge story?  How have you been able to use the six Think Huge principals in your life.  Shout back and leave a comment with your thoughts.  I would love to hear from you.