Tim Fargo's Blog, page 5
March 13, 2014
Want people to read your content? Stop blogging! #Twog it.
If you want people to read your content, twog it, don't blog it.
Most of us are pretty unknown. So why is anybody going to invest twenty minutes on our blog?
Oh, that's right, they're not.
Apply Franklin Roosevelt's advice to writing: "Be sincere, be brief, be seated."
People will learn they can trust you to make your point and exit. It's appreciated.
When you respect their time, they'll enjoy your writing.
Twog, n. a blog of less than 140 words
On that note, I'll leave with 47 words to spare.
Happy twogging!
Most of us are pretty unknown. So why is anybody going to invest twenty minutes on our blog?
Oh, that's right, they're not.
Apply Franklin Roosevelt's advice to writing: "Be sincere, be brief, be seated."
People will learn they can trust you to make your point and exit. It's appreciated.
When you respect their time, they'll enjoy your writing.
Twog, n. a blog of less than 140 words
On that note, I'll leave with 47 words to spare.
Happy twogging!
March 3, 2014
Get the Myopia Out of Your Ear.
Is it important to listen? You betcha. But listening is a 101 level skill. Listening alone isn't nearly a world class skill. It is the foundation of a larger skill we'll call "Creative and Open-Minded Listening". Perhaps the difference is apparent. But just in case it's not, here are two imaginary examples of listening gone awry...
An astute Native American repeatedly refined the bow and arrow based upon feedback from his customers. He continually tested new versions of the latest bow and arrow technology, and based on that information he consistently produced unparalleled bow and arrow quality. Every military leader in the region awaited his latest versions and paid handsome sums to keep an "edge". Which was awesome, until some dudes showed up with a guns.
Benedict was an extraordinary hunter. His tracking ability and marksmanship were far above anyone within 500 miles of his town. A lifetime of learning from the great hunters of his region had earned him a place at the top of hunting culture. He earned tremendous sums of money from trading pelts and meat to people from far and wide. Which was awesome, until some guy started farming cattle near his village.
Now you might think, "well you're talking about major shifts in technology, or lifestyle". Perhaps, but in the first example someone other than the "good listener" had figured out that launching a projectile with greater accuracy and less bulky ammunition would be far superior. And, of course, they were correct.
In the second example, the hunter focused his attention and questions on being the most amazing hunter ever. But that gave him nothing close to the edge of the farmer who could, through less guile and more routine effort, have a predictable supply of meat and leather.
Though these may seem obvious, they both circle around the idea of avoiding listening "myopically". When you are asking the wrong question (though it may have served you for years) you can never get the right answer. What to do?
The best way to avoid this is to use the BIGGEST MENTAL FRAMEWORK possible when thinking about a particular problem. Don't make a better bow and arrow, make a better hunting tool. Don't be a better hunter, be a better food provider. Don't train your horses to be faster, think of a better way of being transported.
Improve your listening so you can see your client's problem directly, within a broader potential context. This leads to durable advantages, and profitability. Get the myopia out of your ear, and you'll put more money in your pocket.
An astute Native American repeatedly refined the bow and arrow based upon feedback from his customers. He continually tested new versions of the latest bow and arrow technology, and based on that information he consistently produced unparalleled bow and arrow quality. Every military leader in the region awaited his latest versions and paid handsome sums to keep an "edge". Which was awesome, until some dudes showed up with a guns.
Benedict was an extraordinary hunter. His tracking ability and marksmanship were far above anyone within 500 miles of his town. A lifetime of learning from the great hunters of his region had earned him a place at the top of hunting culture. He earned tremendous sums of money from trading pelts and meat to people from far and wide. Which was awesome, until some guy started farming cattle near his village.
Now you might think, "well you're talking about major shifts in technology, or lifestyle". Perhaps, but in the first example someone other than the "good listener" had figured out that launching a projectile with greater accuracy and less bulky ammunition would be far superior. And, of course, they were correct.
In the second example, the hunter focused his attention and questions on being the most amazing hunter ever. But that gave him nothing close to the edge of the farmer who could, through less guile and more routine effort, have a predictable supply of meat and leather.
Though these may seem obvious, they both circle around the idea of avoiding listening "myopically". When you are asking the wrong question (though it may have served you for years) you can never get the right answer. What to do?
The best way to avoid this is to use the BIGGEST MENTAL FRAMEWORK possible when thinking about a particular problem. Don't make a better bow and arrow, make a better hunting tool. Don't be a better hunter, be a better food provider. Don't train your horses to be faster, think of a better way of being transported.
Improve your listening so you can see your client's problem directly, within a broader potential context. This leads to durable advantages, and profitability. Get the myopia out of your ear, and you'll put more money in your pocket.
March 2, 2014
A one word suggestion for improving your life? LISTEN.
When I was a boy, I used to cut grass in the summers to make extra money. One of my clients was my father. On a pretty routine basis I'd cut the grass (what I thought I was hired to do) only to have my father dissect the job with his engineering mindset (I imagined him with a T-square examining the edges). In short, he was disappointed, and I was annoyed.
A classic case of poor agreement on expectations. To me "cut the grass" meant running the mower over the yard to reduce the general height of the lawn. To my father "cut the grass" meant running the mower over the yard until it looked like a putting green. Nobody was right or wrong. Just badly matched ideas of the job in question.
I hadn't listened well, and he'd fallen short in explaining. Thus, the problem.
That listening could fail so completely in such a rudimentary task is illustrative of the problems we all encounter in trying to foster meaningful clear communication. My use of lawn cutting is deliberate; many of our daily communications are on much more complex topics.
This could be a complete book (and perhaps that's a thought) so let me outline a few suggestions:
1) Listening requires more than remaining quiet. If you aren't positive you understand, even by a whisper of a hint, ask for clarification.
2) The more specific the communication, the less room for misunderstanding. Over- communicating is faster than reworking. (Even when lawn cutting!)
3) Listening includes CULTURE. Active listening is a CULTURE. A valuable one at that.
4) Listening includes demonstrating your comprehension by using some of what you hear in your plans. Even if the information is marginal, the payback for using a suggestion is in opening the pipeline for future information and suggestions.
5) Be sure you are truly open to ideas and comments. When people are busy calibrating their message to accommodate your "demanding personality", you may lose the point.
6) Remember, often the most important message is the one left unspoken.
In the end, my father and I sorted things out. Once I understood clearly what he wanted, I increased my price 250%. After an initial hesitation he accepted. I got more spending money, and he got his putting green.
Listening is a profitable, sanity preserving, exercise that everyone should actively practice on a daily basis. Of course, listening isn't mandatory, but neither is success.
PS - Tip of the hat to Tom Peters for getting me fired up about this. Thank you sir.
A classic case of poor agreement on expectations. To me "cut the grass" meant running the mower over the yard to reduce the general height of the lawn. To my father "cut the grass" meant running the mower over the yard until it looked like a putting green. Nobody was right or wrong. Just badly matched ideas of the job in question.
I hadn't listened well, and he'd fallen short in explaining. Thus, the problem.
That listening could fail so completely in such a rudimentary task is illustrative of the problems we all encounter in trying to foster meaningful clear communication. My use of lawn cutting is deliberate; many of our daily communications are on much more complex topics.
This could be a complete book (and perhaps that's a thought) so let me outline a few suggestions:
1) Listening requires more than remaining quiet. If you aren't positive you understand, even by a whisper of a hint, ask for clarification.
2) The more specific the communication, the less room for misunderstanding. Over- communicating is faster than reworking. (Even when lawn cutting!)
3) Listening includes CULTURE. Active listening is a CULTURE. A valuable one at that.
4) Listening includes demonstrating your comprehension by using some of what you hear in your plans. Even if the information is marginal, the payback for using a suggestion is in opening the pipeline for future information and suggestions.
5) Be sure you are truly open to ideas and comments. When people are busy calibrating their message to accommodate your "demanding personality", you may lose the point.
6) Remember, often the most important message is the one left unspoken.
In the end, my father and I sorted things out. Once I understood clearly what he wanted, I increased my price 250%. After an initial hesitation he accepted. I got more spending money, and he got his putting green.
Listening is a profitable, sanity preserving, exercise that everyone should actively practice on a daily basis. Of course, listening isn't mandatory, but neither is success.
PS - Tip of the hat to Tom Peters for getting me fired up about this. Thank you sir.
February 23, 2014
Ideas are great. Except when they're not.
Back when I was running Omega I had a brilliant idea. If we offered recorded statements on our investigations, we'd pick up a nice chuck of extra revenue and profit on many of the assignments we got. I did my best "idiots math". If we only get assignments on 20% of the cases, it will be so awesome, because 20% x the number of investigations x the $$$ for each statement is BIG MONEY. Duhhh.
In fairness (to me of course) this was a line of business related to what we did (investigations) and would be pretty easy to sell to our clients. The problem was pretty simple. We sucked at doing recorded statements. Add to that a complete lack of a coherent training program, as well as no real software tools to monitor quality, and you have a classic business screw up.
Obviously we should have had all those pieces in place BEFORE we launched. But we were blinded by overconfidence and seduced by the money. Everyone, including some very smart people (not me) were all on board for this idea. In the heat of the moment (or the meeting) it's easy to let enthusiasm get the better of you. People truly assume someone is thinking about the downside, unless nobody is, which can easily happen.
A secondary screw up is the attention this diverted from what we were already expert in, surveillance. We could crank out surveillance. We had rapid quality recruiting, awesome training, great investigators, superb software. We had it all. Ramp up the demand for it, and we'd meet it.
If we'd devoted our time to selling more of what we were good at, we would not have failed. We'd have made an almost certain increase in both sales and profits. So why didn't we?
We were looking for adventure. Excitement. The thought of simply expanding our existing offerings was subconsciously boring. So boring that it wasn't discussed. Conversely the new business was so exciting, we assumed our competence would extend through osmosis to this new line of work. WRONG.
From small businesses to large businesses this situation is common. People selling B2B decide consumers would be such better clients...or vice versa. The ease with which we drift from our circle of competence is frightening. You might ask why I didn't know better. I thought I did. Really. I wasn't THAT guy.
The lesson to me is very clear. Stick with what you know until sticking is stupid. Tread into new waters with the absolute greatest trepidation. There will be opportunities, and they should be taken advantage of, but put someone in charge of figuring out why you're wrong. Really. Make it someone's assignment to shoot a torpedo in any new idea you have.
While I agree with, and frequently post quotes about, the thinking that it is trying things and making mistakes that lead us to grow, it's good to balance that with some deliberation and caution. There is an exhilaration of the "new" that is very seductive. So it's important to remember: Ideas are great. Except when they're not.
In fairness (to me of course) this was a line of business related to what we did (investigations) and would be pretty easy to sell to our clients. The problem was pretty simple. We sucked at doing recorded statements. Add to that a complete lack of a coherent training program, as well as no real software tools to monitor quality, and you have a classic business screw up.
Obviously we should have had all those pieces in place BEFORE we launched. But we were blinded by overconfidence and seduced by the money. Everyone, including some very smart people (not me) were all on board for this idea. In the heat of the moment (or the meeting) it's easy to let enthusiasm get the better of you. People truly assume someone is thinking about the downside, unless nobody is, which can easily happen.
A secondary screw up is the attention this diverted from what we were already expert in, surveillance. We could crank out surveillance. We had rapid quality recruiting, awesome training, great investigators, superb software. We had it all. Ramp up the demand for it, and we'd meet it.
If we'd devoted our time to selling more of what we were good at, we would not have failed. We'd have made an almost certain increase in both sales and profits. So why didn't we?
We were looking for adventure. Excitement. The thought of simply expanding our existing offerings was subconsciously boring. So boring that it wasn't discussed. Conversely the new business was so exciting, we assumed our competence would extend through osmosis to this new line of work. WRONG.
From small businesses to large businesses this situation is common. People selling B2B decide consumers would be such better clients...or vice versa. The ease with which we drift from our circle of competence is frightening. You might ask why I didn't know better. I thought I did. Really. I wasn't THAT guy.
The lesson to me is very clear. Stick with what you know until sticking is stupid. Tread into new waters with the absolute greatest trepidation. There will be opportunities, and they should be taken advantage of, but put someone in charge of figuring out why you're wrong. Really. Make it someone's assignment to shoot a torpedo in any new idea you have.
While I agree with, and frequently post quotes about, the thinking that it is trying things and making mistakes that lead us to grow, it's good to balance that with some deliberation and caution. There is an exhilaration of the "new" that is very seductive. So it's important to remember: Ideas are great. Except when they're not.
February 13, 2014
Why should you buy the book "Alphabet Success"?
1) At $0.99, it's less than most newspapers, and of considerably more long-term value.
2) It's 78 pages. Very short, likely a twook (a tweet-like book). On of the major decisions in buying a book is what are you going to get out of it, esp. in relation to the time invested.
3) The return on investment from my book is pretty much a guaranteed positive, provided you read it and apply it.
4) The book in comprised of nine lessons, each told using an acronym to help remember it, and includes what I consider essential elements of succeeding, in anything.
5) So, click here and get rolling: goo.gl/JG4toI
Thank you. Please let me know what you think. Feedback is awesome.
PS - Yes, it's a Kindle book. Kindle has FREE software to read the book on any tablet as well as PCs and MACs. It can be downloaded from Android for related tablets, iTunes for iPads and MACs, and at Amazon.com for PCs. Let me know if you have trouble.
2) It's 78 pages. Very short, likely a twook (a tweet-like book). On of the major decisions in buying a book is what are you going to get out of it, esp. in relation to the time invested.
3) The return on investment from my book is pretty much a guaranteed positive, provided you read it and apply it.
4) The book in comprised of nine lessons, each told using an acronym to help remember it, and includes what I consider essential elements of succeeding, in anything.
5) So, click here and get rolling: goo.gl/JG4toI
Thank you. Please let me know what you think. Feedback is awesome.
PS - Yes, it's a Kindle book. Kindle has FREE software to read the book on any tablet as well as PCs and MACs. It can be downloaded from Android for related tablets, iTunes for iPads and MACs, and at Amazon.com for PCs. Let me know if you have trouble.
February 7, 2014
Be concise, be brief, be quiet... or "#twog for me baby"
Here's a thought for those writing or considering writing blogs.
Seth Godin is the most widely read business blogger. His entries are remarkably short yet resonant.
We're NOT wildly popular thought leaders, so why would people spend MORE time reading our lengthy blog post than they do reading the top blogger? (pause for the obvious) Exactly!
Pick a single point. Make it and move on. Less is more.
Thanks for dropping by.
(For more on this concept, read entry "#Twog, a brick of trust")
Seth Godin is the most widely read business blogger. His entries are remarkably short yet resonant.
We're NOT wildly popular thought leaders, so why would people spend MORE time reading our lengthy blog post than they do reading the top blogger? (pause for the obvious) Exactly!
Pick a single point. Make it and move on. Less is more.
Thanks for dropping by.
(For more on this concept, read entry "#Twog, a brick of trust")
January 31, 2014
I'm so mad I might have a opportunity!
Had a recent experience sitting on hold, waiting in a line, perhaps struggling with some packaging?
Those experiences are all opportunities. Places where someone made a decision to value the short term profit of their business over your time.They could have hired more people to handle your call, more personnel to deal with a long line, or designed packaging that could be easily opened.
All those are an opportunity, as are many many other situations you encounter in your day to day life. When there is a gap between your desired experience and the one presented by a business there is an opportunity.
There will be far too many opportunities for you to act on, even if you wanted to. However, you may find that once you realize this, you begin noticing more and more instances where a slight alteration in a business process could have yielded an amazing experience. You may even stop getting mad as you'll be too busy observing.
Have a great day. Watch out, there are opportunities everywhere!
Those experiences are all opportunities. Places where someone made a decision to value the short term profit of their business over your time.They could have hired more people to handle your call, more personnel to deal with a long line, or designed packaging that could be easily opened.
All those are an opportunity, as are many many other situations you encounter in your day to day life. When there is a gap between your desired experience and the one presented by a business there is an opportunity.
There will be far too many opportunities for you to act on, even if you wanted to. However, you may find that once you realize this, you begin noticing more and more instances where a slight alteration in a business process could have yielded an amazing experience. You may even stop getting mad as you'll be too busy observing.
Have a great day. Watch out, there are opportunities everywhere!
January 8, 2014
Success is like Sausage??? Tim has lost his mind!
What the heck? How on earth is success like sausage? What do you mean?
Well, I think success is very similar to sausage. With apologies to non-meat eaters, sausage tastes pretty awesome, just like success. But there are some things that going into making sausage that might make it a bit less appetizing if you really think about it. Same as success. What do I mean by that?
When I was running Omega, before the big payoff, I had a business with over 300 people, and a $2 million dollar line of credit. Just to make it interesting the bank had a lien against my house in the event something went wrong. Yep, the place where I lived with my kids. One bad move and boom, goodbye villa, hello streets.
This is no pity party. But it is important to see success for what it is. An arduous journey to get past seemingly neverending obstacles while fending off the competition along the way. It can be incredibly fun and enjoyable. Except when it isn't. And if you want success, you don't get a button to select "fun stuff only". You get the spoils, but you also are in for the headaches and risks.
So yes, success is like sausage, you'd be surprised what goes into it.
But don't let that stop you from taking a bite.
Well, I think success is very similar to sausage. With apologies to non-meat eaters, sausage tastes pretty awesome, just like success. But there are some things that going into making sausage that might make it a bit less appetizing if you really think about it. Same as success. What do I mean by that?
When I was running Omega, before the big payoff, I had a business with over 300 people, and a $2 million dollar line of credit. Just to make it interesting the bank had a lien against my house in the event something went wrong. Yep, the place where I lived with my kids. One bad move and boom, goodbye villa, hello streets.
This is no pity party. But it is important to see success for what it is. An arduous journey to get past seemingly neverending obstacles while fending off the competition along the way. It can be incredibly fun and enjoyable. Except when it isn't. And if you want success, you don't get a button to select "fun stuff only". You get the spoils, but you also are in for the headaches and risks.
So yes, success is like sausage, you'd be surprised what goes into it.
But don't let that stop you from taking a bite.
December 31, 2013
OMG - It's 2014 and I don't have any New Years Resolutions!!!
Hi there!
Here are a few tips on making something happen in 2014. Some folks will disagree with my suggestions, but tough tiddliwinks.
How to set goals, the quick version:
1. Keep it simple, measurable, and in spite of the "soar with eagles" chatter, within reasonable grasp. Complexity messes up your thinking, measurement is essential, and by finding some things you can get done with a modest effort, you can always reset your target with the confidence gained from round one.
2. Find a way to give your goals some synergy. Losing weight? How about a 5k run as another goal? The training will help with your other goal of losing weight. Losing weight will make running easier. Or if you want to read more, then add joining a book club. You get the idea.
3. Write it down! Commit it to a friend! - Everyone say this. Why? Because it works. Writing it down makes you internalize it. It's harder to forget. If you put it somewhere (like your calendar) it will keep staring you in the face. Good. Tell a friend too. They can also stare you in the face! If you have someone who will give you a friendly nudge, take advantage of it. Big help.
4. Don't be too rigid. Things go wrong. Adjust and move on. Rigid thinking is what puts goals on the shelf for another year. Relax a bit and if something goes wrong, dust yourself off, adjust and keep plodding along. You'll make it!
5. Whatever you do - this is critical. Have fun. The more fun your goals are to reach, and the more fun you inject into the mindset, the more likely you'll make it happen. Fun: have it!
Get your PEN and PAPER. Make it happen. Don't clean a drawer. Don't have a bagel. Sit down and move your life in a better direction for 2014.
Have fun. Really. Lot's of fun.
Happy New Year.
Here are a few tips on making something happen in 2014. Some folks will disagree with my suggestions, but tough tiddliwinks.
How to set goals, the quick version:
1. Keep it simple, measurable, and in spite of the "soar with eagles" chatter, within reasonable grasp. Complexity messes up your thinking, measurement is essential, and by finding some things you can get done with a modest effort, you can always reset your target with the confidence gained from round one.
2. Find a way to give your goals some synergy. Losing weight? How about a 5k run as another goal? The training will help with your other goal of losing weight. Losing weight will make running easier. Or if you want to read more, then add joining a book club. You get the idea.
3. Write it down! Commit it to a friend! - Everyone say this. Why? Because it works. Writing it down makes you internalize it. It's harder to forget. If you put it somewhere (like your calendar) it will keep staring you in the face. Good. Tell a friend too. They can also stare you in the face! If you have someone who will give you a friendly nudge, take advantage of it. Big help.
4. Don't be too rigid. Things go wrong. Adjust and move on. Rigid thinking is what puts goals on the shelf for another year. Relax a bit and if something goes wrong, dust yourself off, adjust and keep plodding along. You'll make it!
5. Whatever you do - this is critical. Have fun. The more fun your goals are to reach, and the more fun you inject into the mindset, the more likely you'll make it happen. Fun: have it!
Get your PEN and PAPER. Make it happen. Don't clean a drawer. Don't have a bagel. Sit down and move your life in a better direction for 2014.
Have fun. Really. Lot's of fun.
Happy New Year.
December 27, 2013
TY 4 RTs & SOs! #RocktheHouse
What is up with those crazy tweets? And why so many of them? What do they mean?
I get asked about the #gratitude tweets from time to time, and it seemed like a good idea to have a blog entry to explain the meaning, purpose, and mechanics of the hieroglyphics.
First, the long hand version of the tweet is "Thank you for retweets and shout outs." The hashtags are for fun and to break things up a bit. The reason to use shorthand is simple math. With only 140 characters it is important to use as few as possible. I'd rather explain and make sure I have room to mention EVERYONE.
The quantity of the tweets is dictated by the amount of people who have either retweeted or responded to something. I thank everyone since it would be impractical to examine the nature of every exchange. Occasionally someone doesn't recall making a mention, but I take the history directly from Twitter, so it is most likely a lapse in memory.
The second reason there are so many is that I try not to them every day, though that is getting harder as things get busier. There are limits on the number of tweets per day etc and I have to follow the rules of Twitter. I have worked to make them appear fairly quickly, and then finish. Always tweeking the tweets. :-)
The meaning is simple. I really appreciate people taking the time to drop by and interact with me, and my content. I'm not sure what noise a tree makes falling in an empty forest, but I think it is boring and disrespectful not to respond to the interaction. Thanks is owed, so thanks is paid.
Hope this helps to explain the tweets. Feel free to ask any questions you might have.
Thanks again!
All the best, Tim
I get asked about the #gratitude tweets from time to time, and it seemed like a good idea to have a blog entry to explain the meaning, purpose, and mechanics of the hieroglyphics.
First, the long hand version of the tweet is "Thank you for retweets and shout outs." The hashtags are for fun and to break things up a bit. The reason to use shorthand is simple math. With only 140 characters it is important to use as few as possible. I'd rather explain and make sure I have room to mention EVERYONE.
The quantity of the tweets is dictated by the amount of people who have either retweeted or responded to something. I thank everyone since it would be impractical to examine the nature of every exchange. Occasionally someone doesn't recall making a mention, but I take the history directly from Twitter, so it is most likely a lapse in memory.
The second reason there are so many is that I try not to them every day, though that is getting harder as things get busier. There are limits on the number of tweets per day etc and I have to follow the rules of Twitter. I have worked to make them appear fairly quickly, and then finish. Always tweeking the tweets. :-)
The meaning is simple. I really appreciate people taking the time to drop by and interact with me, and my content. I'm not sure what noise a tree makes falling in an empty forest, but I think it is boring and disrespectful not to respond to the interaction. Thanks is owed, so thanks is paid.
Hope this helps to explain the tweets. Feel free to ask any questions you might have.
Thanks again!
All the best, Tim
