Being Called ‘Ahead Of Your Time’ Means You Failed

“Being called ‘ahead of your time’ means you failed.” – Ted Rubin More from Forbes: Confessions of a Professional Disruptor: This seems to run contrary to our idea of disruption.  The ‘person ahead of their time’ is seen as a true innovator, the under-appreciated thought leader of the space.  But what Ted has tapped into here is that disruption is about making change, not just recognizing it.  A disruptor knows how to see it, how to convey the need to others, and how to make it happen. If the timing is not right – the market is just not ready for you – … Continue reading Being Called ‘Ahead Of Your Time’ Means You Failed

We Are In An Age Of Accelerated Disruption

To conclude these last few posts on organizational change on the role of individuals to disrupt and disorganize, another extract from this excellent summary of accelerated disruption in Forbes. Disruption At Scale. “Not only does modern social media/tech allow disruptors to collaborate, it also allows them the ability to disrupt/collaborate to or with the masses, at scale; all the while engaging, interacting and building relationships. Therefore the return on that empowers their ability to disrupt.” Companies are now more accepting of change – some are even making hiring decisions and investing in change.  Our accelerated pace to address the needs of an ever changing … Continue reading We Are In An Age Of Accelerated Disruption

Professional Disruptor

Apropos yesterday’s post on calling myself a Corporate Disorganizer, via Celine Schillinger I read this lovely little collation of the tendencies of a Professional Disruptor. from SAP’s Head of Social Strategy, Ted Wilms. Example quotes: A professional disruptor will arm themselves with the following: charisma, empathy, expertise/insight, doggedness, detachment (to defend against the attack of their ideas), and passion. Further… The status quo will resist the disruptor. Resistance is necessary.  It helps the disruptor frame their ideas and helps them showcase why real change is necessary. YES!. Full of high-five nuggets of goodness for anyone trying to do different in … Continue reading Professional Disruptor

I Have Changed My Job Title To…Corporate Disorganizer.

Recently, I added the job title “Intrapreneur” to my LinkedIn profile. It speaks to my belief that the future of work is changing underfoot. We need to be nimble, upskilling, influencers all. In yesterday’s post I wrote “[of my interest … Continue reading I Have Changed My Job Title To…Corporate Disorganizer.

Want Intrapreneurial Progress? Create ‘Cracks And Leaps’

I am newly taken with the definition of entrepreneurship from Joseph Schumpeter: creative destruction. Peter Drucker said the entrepreneur upsets and disorganizes. I am trying to apply the same notion inside the organization, even calling myself an intrapreneur. Consequently, this Schumpeter column in The Economist on entrepreneurs rang a bell: Joseph Schumpeter once argued that economic progress takes place in “cracks” and “leaps” rather than “infinitesimal small steps” because it is driven by rule-breaking entrepreneurs. “Entrepreneurs are contrarian value creators. They see economic value where others see heaps of nothing,” the article cites. Inside the organization, intrapreneurs do the same thing. They … Continue reading Want Intrapreneurial Progress? Create ‘Cracks And Leaps’

Personal Branding: Are You Curious?

Curiosity is the number one personal attribute to possess. Curiosity will enable you to deal with change, even embrace it. Furthermore, curiosity will enable you to drive the change; sponsor it; own it. And dealing with change is the number one business demand to deal with. I am always on the hunt for data on curiosity. You could say I am curious about curiosity. This is from Diane Dreher: Curiosity… “is positively correlated with creativity, intelligence, problem-solving ability, autonomy, a sense of personal control, and a willingness to challenge the status quo. It is also associated with positive affect, subjective well-being, better long-term health, … Continue reading Personal Branding: Are You Curious?

Knowing With The Head, The Heart, The Hands.

John Maeda always keeps it simple. His recent RISD Commencement introduction referenced Marshall Ganz; and how “moving people to action is about telling stories, and that our stories are formed by three ways of knowing.” Namely… knowing with the head knowing with the heart knowing with the hands This maps perfectly against the TMWK Personal Branding approach. Not only can we articulate our strengths through this triumvirate balance, we can also lead others with stories that exhibit the same attributes. Continue reading Knowing With The Head, The Heart, The Hands.

Hiring Advice For Finding A Job In The Social Business Era

I’m hiring, and I’m learning a lot about the state of the (MarComms) job seeker marketplace in the process. I wrote this to applicants as a (hopefully) helpful poke and prod. Hello. We HEART You. Firstly, thanks for applying for our job in the MarComms team. I appreciate it – the effort and hassle; the putting-yourself-out-there-ness. Now, enough heart. Let’s share some thinking about how we roll at. In no particular order… Some #FoodForThought By now, I hope you have seen the video The Old-But-Not-Quite-Dead-To-Us Brian made for you. If not, it’s here, in all its moustachioed, ironic, hipster glory: … Continue reading Hiring Advice For Finding A Job In The Social Business Era

Everyone Wants A “Head-Heart-Hand” Brand. But Few Have One. Which Is Yours?

Some of the most interesting realizations I have had in developing personal branding tools are that: We cannot be all things to all (wo)men; nor do we need to be – specialization helps others understand you quicker and more intensely; Balance is still important – few people want to be empty-handed in certain parts of the required skill sets of the modern worker. Talking with participants of the TMWK BrandBoard process, invariably a person wants to showcase Head – Heart – Hand attributes. These map against: Thinking – intellection (Head) Feeling –  emotion (Heart) Doing – action (Hand) Oh, what … Continue reading Everyone Wants A “Head-Heart-Hand” Brand. But Few Have One. Which Is Yours?

Resumes: Size Does NOT Matter…Compelling Story DOES.

I have talked before about how I dislike my resume / CV. It is just so difficult to fit a person into a formula. So frustrated was I with the blah blah blah of my 2-page resume I forced it down to one-page, thinking that would help. It did not. Then, in a fit of pique, and in the fervour of a creative outburst, I turned it into a 1-metre infographic. Satisfying (and a version of which trended on SlideShare for a while). Later still, I developed the BrandBoard concept as a mechanism to tell a first-person story that is … Continue reading Resumes: Size Does NOT Matter…Compelling Story DOES.

The Brand Follows The Work. YES.

The always excellent Nilofer Merchant has a great piece in HBR this week on getting the right focus about your personal brand. She argues that brand-as-marketing misses the point. Your brand should be the essence of what you offer. The brand follows the work. It should answer these two questions: What is it you care about? How will you find and work with allies? Agreed. At TMWK, we say your personal brand is a calling card that says: “Let me show you what I can do.” “I am part of the solution. I can help. Let’s talk.” [In times of flux], … Continue reading The Brand Follows The Work. YES.