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Medical Device Tips: Selecting the Right Consultant

1/17/2023

 
Our managing director Travis Smith covers five (5) key questions anyone in a buying position should be asking a consulting firm or individual consultant to better qualify them prior to making the buying decision.

Read the full article at www.sqr1services.com/white-papers/how-to-solve-your-1-business-challenge
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An Open Letter to LinkedIn #keepLIbusinessonly

1/20/2021

 
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We’re living in some wild times right now.  Wild in the sense that life is changing rapidly around us, so fast in fact it can be challenging to keep up with it all. This is certainly the way of the world and what we can expect for the foreseeable future. 

While change is inevitable, some change isn’t always for the best.  Enter LinkedIn.

If you’re unfamiliar with the story of LinkedIn you may be surprised to know it actually went live in May of 2003.  You read that right, LinkedIn got started even before YouTube and Facebook.  In the beginning LinkedIn’s mission statement was ‘connect the world's professionals to make them more productive and successful’.

This is the foundation, the bedrock, of what LinkedIn was supposed to be.
Fast forward to today, LinkedIn now owned by Microsoft since 2016, still has this same mission yet the actual user experience of the platform is anything but business focused.  A quick scroll down LinkedIn’s running content feed reveals content posted by people and companies covering literally every spectrum imaginable from business, politics, religion, personal pictures and even cat memes.  Lots of memes.

This, in my most humble of opinions, is an unfortunate perversion of the platform.

Today there are literally dozens of social media platforms offering us the opportunity to connect, speak our minds, share content while being paper tigers and internet trolls. So why is it LinkedIn keeps going the way of everyone else and allowing content that isn’t business related?  It’s lost its competitive advantage.  Why also are we as users adulterating this platform making it like all the others?

As a daily user of LinkedIn my soul purpose for using this platform is for business purposes, so naturally this is my bias. 

I don’t use LinkedIn for anything else except business and on a daily basis wish that was the case for everyone else on the platform.  I’m aware this is a big wish, perhaps colossal. There are dozens of other social communication platforms available for non-business purposes including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tik Tok, YouTube, Tumblr, QQ, etc.  If you want to post something non-business related you have a never-ending list of options at your disposal outside of LinkedIn.

About a year ago I made a personal decision to remove myself permanently from all other social media platforms as I felt like the time I was spending on them, along with the negativity, wasn’t providing good value in my life.  Fast forward to today, it’s hard to discern the difference between LinkedIn and other platforms like Facebook, Twitter, etc.  This, again in my most humble of opinions, is a sad statement as the idea and original intention of what LinkedIn was supposed to be is a great thing.  One which I believe is greatly needed in the world of business.

So here is my ask – please stop using LinkedIn for non-business purposes. 

Take your cat memes, politics, religious statements and personal content to Facebook where it belongs.

That being said, in the nicest way I know possible, here’s what I’m not saying in the above statement:
  • I’m not saying people should be censored
  • I’m not saying people can’t have an opinion
  • I’m not saying one persons’ voice or idea is more important than another
I believe free speech (1st amendment) is one of the best gifts our country offers, when it’s actually being honored and enforced.  My wish and ask for people to use other platforms isn’t a demand to silence, it’s a request for all of us to use better judgement when it comes to posting content. Another colossal request, I know.  This also shouldn’t be construed as opinions don’t matter and or business people’s opinions are more or less valuable than opinions or content which isn’t business related.

I’m also well aware of the fact that one can simply pass by unwanted content on LinkedIn they don’t like and or remove the connection or hide the content for future purposes.  While yes, that is a possible solution it doesn’t necessarily solve the problem.  Hiding or just passing by unwanted content is a form of indifference.  E.W. Howe is quoted as saying “The most destructive criticism is indifference”.  I agree.

I remain convinced, even more so today, LinkedIn should and must remain focused solely on business.  No exceptions.
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If you feel the same way about removing non-business content on LinkedIn I ask you to join me in using this hash tag any time you see content that isn’t business related. 

​#keepLIbusinessonly

Perhaps over time we can turn the tides and get this platform back to the way it was intended to be – for business purposes only.

Be well & live wisely.
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Dealing With Awkwardness in Negotiations

6/22/2020

 
Negotiations can be uncomfortable. How we deal with those moments of awkwardness and discomfort makes or breaks our experience and of course the end result. Here's why...

Visit Square-1 Engineering's Resources Library for additional white papers, articles and videos covering a broad range of content from product design, supplier relationships to leadership.  http://www.sqr1services.com/resource-library.html

#square1engineering #square1 #engineering #lifescience #consulting #negotiation #advice #business #strategy
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Working From Home – 15 Tips to Succeed With a Masters Grace

3/17/2020

 
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Co-Authored by Trisha Aure & Travis Smith

Many of us have been confronted as of recent with a reality which isn’t the status quo from before.  As we continue to evolve and adjust our business and professional lives around COVID-19 inevitably many things will change for us in the short term. 

How we adapt to those changes makes or breaks our ability to grow personally while continuing to excel professionally.  As social distancing continues to be a requirement in order to deal with COVID-19 companies and their employees are finding themselves in one of the biggest predicaments of arguably the last 40 years – the way we’ve done things in the past won’t work in the future.  One of the biggest changes companies are having to adapt to is their employees not being able to come into the office, resulting in hundreds of thousands of people working from home – and doing so for their first time.

We’ll be the first to tell you it can be a rather jarring experience if you don’t go about ‘working from home’ in a methodical fashion.  With the freedom which comes from working at home also comes great responsibility – a responsibility that can be downright tough for many of us as distractions are a plenty. 

Below are 15 tips for working at home you can implement to ensure your time is efficient while succeeding with a masters grace:

  1. Workstation: If you don’t have a desk at home, create a workstation; this is where you do most of your work for the day.  That might be the dining table or a countertop.  Try and stay away from the areas that you normally relax in.  Meaning, don’t set up your workstation in front of the TV on the couch.  A quiet place is essential.
  2. Internet: Make sure your internet can handle your type of work; most of us will be fine with a standard internet offering from your local provider however you’ll want to ensure you have plenty of bandwidth so that you can task away without the irritation of slow tech.
  3. Technology: Do you have all the technology you need in order to get your work done?  Think about your day at the office, what do you use throughout the day and how can you replicate that at home?  Hate your mouse on your laptop?  Some companies will pay for their employees work from home tech so if you need a new mouse or one of those flashy desk waterfalls it might be worth asking your manager about. This also may be time to finally learn how to use your webcam!
  4. Maintain a Schedule: Get up every morning the same way you would if you were driving into work that day.  If you workout at 5:30 every morning, workout at 5:30.  If you eat breakfast before leaving at 9 AM, eat breakfast at 9 AM. In our opinion, this is the most important component for good productivity in a new environment.  Also, since you don’t have a commute any longer perhaps you could put that time towards a new hobby or resurfacing an old one.  The options are endless!
  5. Dress for Success: We’ve heard this a thousands times and lived it ourselves – the clothing you wear makes a difference.  If you’re used to going into the office wearing business casual attire make sure to wear those same threads at home.  Sitting around in your floral moo-moo and Berkenstocks or your fire breathing twin dragon robe from the 90’s will only lead to mental laziness.  Stay sharp, dress the part.
  6. Consistent Communication: Create a communication loop with your manager and your team.  Communication is important in any business, but even more crucial when you don’t have face time.  Set up regular check in times to provide updates, to ask for support or to give support.  Try and make these specific so that there are no room for assumptions or wasted time.  For example, if you are responsible for reviewing redlines on an engineering drawing that is due at the end of the week, share where you’re at with your work and touch on what you plan on accomplishing that day.  Not only will this help keep everyone on the same page with work, but it will also help create rhythm within your day.  Knowing that there are times throughout the day for team communication will give you a path for that next task or milestone.
  7. Take a Break: Seems rather simple however it’s amazing how easy it is not to do at home.  Schedule a couple 5 to 10 minute breaks – go hit the loo, bark at the neighbors dog, walk around outside or get a coffee.  It’s vital you keep moving and stay active, don’t just sit flopped in your chair for eight hours straight.  Your back will thank you.
  8. Prioritize Chit Chat: The biggest change for most of us is not having the personal interaction with your coworkers.  At times it can feel isolating, ‘cabin fever’ can quickly.  This article talks about how to continue the interaction with people and the “water cooler” conversations.  Make time to have personal banter with your coworkers or call a friend.  Undoubtedly your coworkers are going through the same thing.
  9. The Daily 3: pick three tasks you absolutely need to get done that day for work.  Focus on those first and get them out of the way.  Once you’ve accomplished that and move on to others you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment which will give you mental kudos to tackle more work.
  10. Mental Gymnastics: Just because you aren’t at the office doesn’t mean you can’t still learn and continue to develop yourself professionally.  Check out podcasts, books on tape or virtual videos online to continue developing yourself  
  11. Eliminate Distractions: when you’re working from home it’s insane how all of a sudden folding laundry sounds like an amazing and super productive thing to do.  Resist the urge!  Keep TVs, tablets, cell phones, social media and your pets at bay.  This may or may also include your spouse – just saying.
  12. Days End: try ending each day with the same routine or action.  This can be a fun way to cut things up, try something new and close out a hard days work with a little something extra.  We like to pour a glass of wine at the end of the day when working from home.  It’s a nice treat that allows you to transition nicely into home life.  If wine isn’t your thing try a Capri Sun. 
  13. Managing Family Members:  there’s a good chance many of you will have other family members with you in the same home, kids, spouses, external family, etc.  Do your best to separate yourself from the clan.  Go outside, build a teepee in the backyard, hold up in the oily boxes in your garage.  The more quiet time you have to focus on work and not simultaneously playing parent, spouse or what have you the better.  Fail the above, try to at least set ground rules with others in the house so you can focus at your work at hand.
  14. Eating: Yes, you’ll even need to be mindful of how you eat.  When working from home it’s easy to fall into a ‘snack-fest’ where you wake up from your snack induced coma four days later to find out you’ve eaten everything in your pantry.  If you’re not careful this can happen day one.  If you can keep snacking to a minimum it gives you the opportunity to make a great lunch.  Get fancy.  Toss aside that Top Ramen and go for steak! 
  15. Taxes: If you’re working from home for a period longer than a couple weeks you may want to talk with your accountant or whomever does your annual taxes.  You may be eligible for some additional write offs on your taxes as a result of working from home.  Seek guidance from a professional in this area, just because you worked from home doesn’t automatically guarantee you’ll be able to use that to your benefit when it comes to Uncle Sam time.
 
Take Away
Creating a new ‘work from home rhythm’ as close to our normal routine as possible will be the quickest way to staying on track with work and personal life.  Schedule your day everyday and communicate that with your team and manager.  You will find you’ll get more work done, often in a quicker timeframe.

Key Consideration
This is not a time to panic, this is the time to adjust and keep moving forward.  A positive mindset and an openness to change are the keys to success here.  Remember, things will resume like usual at some point soon.  Keep your head up, smile, wash your hands and remember to be kind to others.  We got this! 

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Monday Quickie - Your Desire for 'Work life Balance' is Hurting Both Your Career & Personal Life

10/14/2019

 
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Article was written by guest writer Trisha Aure

​Many of us live two lives.  These two lives run on parallel tracks to one another yet few of us understand the dichotomy which exists by having a work life and a home life which operate separate from one another.  We’ve been told growing up these lives need to be mutual exclusive of one another where we don’t bring our personal life and issues to work and vice versa.  
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This inevitably creates a variety of issues for us at both the home and office.  The biggest issue it creates is our ability to grow as people which leads to our ability to grow as professionals.

Have you ever heard that personal growth is necessary for professional growth?  It is, I just didn’t realize how critical this was till about 6 years ago.  Some people believe separation needs to exist between work and home, or ‘work life balance’ as we commonly like to phrase it. 

I’m not convinced ‘work life balance’ is possible, especially not if you are looking to create a long term successful career which your personal life benefits from.

This ladies and gentlemen is where my career ah-ha moment began – the idea of a ‘work life balance’ is garbage.  We look at this phrase typically from the work side of things meaning we should work less in order to enjoy our personal lives more.  Yet how often are we looking at this phrase from the personal side to understand how we impact our professional experience based on who we are outside of work.  It goes both ways and to think a steady ‘balance’ between the two is possible is a dream in fantasy land.

I was in a new company and aggressively working on advancing my career.  I had a lot of personal baggage I thought I was leaving at the door before I walked into the office.  I had some deep heartache within my family dynamic that I never figured out how to live with, so I decided to act as though my life was perfect and I ignored my past.  This act forced me to live two different lives and I will tell you, this was not only one of the hardest parts of my life but it was definitely the loneliest. 

This is where I learned I wear my heart, and therefore emotions, on my sleeve.  This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, because that is where my passion comes from, the heart.  What I learned is when you are essentially living two different lives, it starts to take a toll on both your career and personal life.  I had received some hard feedback and it was based on my attitude because I was aggressively trying to hold my personal struggles back.  If anyone has ever been here before you know that holding feelings back only creates a blow up later down the road and mine happened at work. 

Luckily, I had great people around me that cared about me professionally AND personally.  I obtained a mentor and started receiving coaching on how to deal with my struggles that I quite frankly kept pushing down for over a decade.  It was not an easy nor short process.  Then again, anything worth having or doing right isn’t easy in the first place.  I started working on building a healthy mind, body and soul, and 6 years later I’ve continued this quest not stopping once. 

Growth is an everyday event and I have built some great routines that have helped me merge my two lives between home and work. 

After 6 years of focus, dedication and some really hard work to improve myself I have lost 40 pounds (and kept it off), I’m in a leadership role with a company I’m part-owner in, I’m actively involved in the community and constantly improving my life on both sides.  I honestly do not believe I would be where I’m at today if I continued to try and live two different lives.

To tie this all together, I believe that growth within your career begins at home.  Have you ever heard, you can’t love someone until you love yourself?  I believe that this internal love for yourself will only push you to cross any and all boundaries that you put up yourself.  Stop putting up boundaries, and add some goals to your life.  Once you start pushing forward, it’s crazy how that turns into unstoppable. 

Key Take Away
You must take care of yourself in order for you to strive in other parts of your life.  In regards to work and life, this is an AND, not an OR.  We need to be confident in both in order to grow in both.  I’m continuously reading leadership books and I can relate what I read in both my professional and personal life.  We need to do away with catchy slogans like ‘work life balance’ because all they do is drive us to live a lifestyle which isn’t attainable. 
 
Action Item
If you are stagnant in your career, or struggling with something personally and you see it hindering other aspects in your life, find someone to talk to, find a mentor, find a coach to help you figure out how to get over that hump.  I currently have a mentor which I found on micromentor.org.  This is a free site and it matches you with people that are looking to grow their career in various areas.  Growth is definitely uncomfortable and no one likes change, but building a strong support system will help guide us in achieving our goals and creating a well balanced successful life.  
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Monday Quickie - Turn Your Job Interview Into a Successful New Career

9/30/2019

 
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​It’s exhilarating, yet marginally terrifying!
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You’ve got butterflies in your stomach.  Butterflies of excitement, or is nauseous butterflies?  These feelings, normal as they may be, describe two life experiences: job interviewing and dating.  The butterflies of interviewing for a job are often characterized as the same response we get when interviewing.

Ever wondered why a first date feels like a job interview?  Knowing the answer to this can make or break your ability to turn your interview into a successful new career.

They feel the same, seem the same and often produce the same outcomes because a job interview and a date in fact one in the same.

While that may sound like an unpopular parallel to draw hang with me a moment while I explain why dating and job interview is one in the same.  Just as important, why it’s important to understand this and how it impacts your experience and ability to land the job you're interviewing for.

Let’s start with the obvious – people make decisions largely based on feelings. 

Did you know the majority of the time we making hiring decisions based off of one thing – how much or little we like a person.  This has been studied time and time again producing the same outcomes.  We’ll hire someone who may not check every box we need for the job from a function or experience perspective but if we like them as a person we have a tendency to overlook a lack of experience.  We do this because we’re wired to think, operate and act based on our unconscious biases which control our perspectives on race, education, economic status, personality, values, etc.  Simply, if we can relate to the person, we’ll have a tendency to want to hire them more often than not.

Ironically, this is the same exact process we use when searching for a mate and going through the dating process.  When we’re on a date we’re sizing the other person up as quickly as possible to determine ‘is there a reason I should see this person again?’.  Simply, can I relate to them?
We have a positive bias towards people who are similar to us and therefore a negative bias towards people who are different than us.

We don’t often associate first dates and job interviews as one in the same however the more we look into each experience and how we act during them we come to find that both of these human interactions are eerily similar.

How does knowing this information help me with dating and interviewing?  The better we understand the psychology of these interactions, our feelings on them and how we make decisions we can approach each situation with better perspective and hopefully end up on the other side with a better outcome.

Let’s look at the similarities between dating and job interviewing and how each of them impacts our decision making process.

- First Impressions:
This is the holy grail of decision making when it comes to whether or not we like someone initially.  Failure to have a good first impression will more often than not result in a second interaction never making the calendar.  Psychologists call it "thin slicing."  Within moments of meeting someone, we’re deciding and making assumptions on all sorts of things about the other person, from status, intelligence, career success and even promiscuity.  This can be as quick as 7 seconds!  What that means is that everyone is trying to put their best foot forward, which can make things tricky because often times both parties are wondering if the person they’re talking too is the ‘real’ John Doe or the in-character John Doe.
 
- Chemistry:
You know it when it exists.  Things just seem easy.  You laugh more, you tend to lean in closer to the other person more often and you even overlook potential red flags because your gut is already invested in the other person long before your brain has had a chance to catch up.  On the other hand, when chemistry is lacking you feel like you’re on a date from hell.  It’s awkward and painful, causing you to wish you had an escape route pre-planned to get you out of the date or interview.
 
- Communication:
Communication is much more than just verbal, it also includes nonverbal cues like the unspoken word and body language.  Ever been in an interview and eye contact communicated more in 4 seconds what a 10 minute conversation could accomplish?  I’ve been there and it’s a powerful experience.  When our verbal communication is locked in sync it can feel like we’ve been friends for years.  When communication struggles it feels like pulling teeth to have an average conversation.  Both people may be speaking the same language but it seems as if one person is speaking Russian while the other is a Mandarin linguist.  We become bewildered and confused, not exactly a great start towards building a solid relationship.
 
- Commonalities:
“Wow, I went to USC as well.  Fight On!”  “You’re from Handsome Eddy, New York also?  What a small world.” Finding common ground during a first date or a job interview can immediately disarm both parties allowing more casual conversation to occur.  Bonding takes place over the things we find out we have in common such as our love for golf, knitting that fabulous turtle neck sweater for the holidays or volunteering for a similar cause.  It doesn’t really matter what it is so long as we have a shared interest.  Most of us don’t realize when we’re in these moments what we’re looking for is something we already know and like – ourselves.  When we struggle to find something in common with the other party it has a direct negative impact to the chemistry we’re trying to build on.
 
- Perception vs. Reality
As the date and or job interview continues we inevitably begin to ask question to get to know the person in hopes of better understanding them and what they bring to the table.  Many times what happens during these exchanges is we get a glimpse into a person that isn’t very real at all.  I don’t believe people do this on purpose, at least most people, however the fact of the matter is in a first date and job interview we are doing our darndest to put our best foot forward.  As a result, people can often times misrepresent themselves for who they are and what they’re all about.  This is similar to the honeymoon stage where only after a period of time we’ll be able to know if the person today is the same tomorrow.
 
- Emotion
Love at first sight!  Let’s face it, emotion is a part of every first date and job interview, but it can also help us or hurt us in our decisions.  Help us in that if we become emotionally invested in the other person it allows us to overlook small red flags that otherwise might get in the way of us making a decision that could be good for both parties.  Emotions can also hurt us because if we experience something which causes our ego or pride to be damaged we then make decisions that aren’t in the best interest of the interview or date because we’re focused on protecting ourselves.
 
- The Angle
“What’s he really all about?”  ‘The angle’ is described as the feeling when a person has ulterior motives.  This happens both in interviewing and dating.  Candidates are angling to get a job, sometimes presenting themselves in a light which makes them appear more qualified than they really are.  Employers also do the same by upselling the career opportunity to entice candidates to consider the role even though the actual work might not be nearly as glamorous as how it was made out to be, or the company may not be the best place to work.
 
Key Take Away:
People by their very nature go about experiences, such as first dates and interviewing for jobs, in a fairly predictable way.  While the outcome might be out of our control, the way we go into the experience and how we handle ourselves during the experience greatly influences the outcome.  Knowing this information, first dates and job interviews are similar, can help you go through each experience with a broader perspective allowing you to make better decisions for yourself and potential career or company.

Action Item:
Next time you find yourself on a first date or job interview remember that these human experiences are designed to see if it is worth it or not to have a second go around.  The best approach is to just be yourself, as a result you’ll find that your interactions with others are far more valuable to you and the person on the other side of the table.

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Monday Quickie - Breakthrough Leadership Advice Compliments of Drucker

8/25/2019

 
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Are you an effective leader? 

​If you answered ‘Yes’, how did you come to that conclusion?  Did you base your answer off your company financial performance,  goal achievement track record or your wonderful employee morale? What if Peter Drucker himself had an opportunity to review your leadership work, do you think he would come to the same conclusion? 

If by chance you are new to the philosophies and teachings of Peter Drucker I highly suggest taking some time to familiarize yourself with his works.  Short and sweet – Drucker is considered the godfather of business leadership and is responsible for much of what we know today on how effective leaders work and operate.  His works redefined leadership through the 60s, 70s and 80s and we still refer to his teaching on the daily today.

What makes for an effective leader?  Let’s ask Drucker himself.  ‘The Effective Executive’, a leadership book for the times and originally published in 1967, provides eye opening insight on exceptional leadership in ways which broke the mold back then and continue to do so today.  ‘The Effective Executive’ provides a straight forward, simplistic guide to “getting the right things done” for people in a leadership capacity.  What I found amazing about this book is how relevant and simplistic Drucker’s advice is, even for today’s purposes 52 years later in a business world that is far different from when these thoughts were put to paper.

So, what is it then that makes for an effective leader?

All too often I find people enjoy making the topic of leadership how-to’s overly complicated.  Maybe they do that to sell more books or to justify their new and insightful leadership methodology.  For me, I’ve found the more simplistic something is the better chance I have in understanding it, implementing it and continuing to act on it as a new habit. 

Drucker’s approach to leadership success and effectiveness is simplicity at its best.  He identifies the following five core competencies successful leaders should have as a part of the fabric that guides them through their daily work:
  1. Managing Time
  2. Focus on outward contributions, gearing efforts towards results
  3. Knowing where and how to mobilize strength for best effect
  4. Setting the right priorities
  5. Combining #1-4 with effective decision making

Humbly, I’d like to offer up a 6th leadership core competency to add to Drucker’s list:
  1. Empathy. Modern day leadership requires emotional intelligence, or simpler put and ability to be empathetic and understanding of others, especially ones employees.

While this list may seem incredibly simple, I can tell you from personal experience it’s anything but that.  Often times the most simplistic things in life can be the most difficult to master.  Why?  Because it takes discipline.  Though these concepts may be easy to understand, the difficultly comes in the form of holding oneself accountable to doing it above all other things.  That’s the tough part! 

“Intelligence, imagination and knowledge are essential resources [for a leader], but only effectiveness converts them into results.” – Peter Drucker

Being disciplined to doing the right thing at the right time is certainly easier said than done.  So much so that Drucker identifies that the number one reason for leadership failure is the inability or willingness to change with the demands of and expectations of the new job.

Key Take Away:
The leaders’ who are willing to change and adapt while being disciplined to doing the right things at the right time are the ones that will be the most effective.

Action Item:
Read Drucker’s book ‘The Effective Executive’.  Regardless of your job title the insight you’ll gain from his timeless approaches to leadership is worth every minute you spend reading it.
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Monday Quickie – How to Be Successful in the Start Up World

8/19/2019

 
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​Working for big business certainly has its perks, there’s no doubt about it.  Stability, direction, benefits, work that is defined – you name it.  For some, this is the ideal work environment.  We plot along through our 8-5 and enjoy the consistent pace that comes with it.
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For a growing number of professionals while the world of big business has its strengths, it also serves to hold us back in our careers which is why we turn to the start-up world.  How do I know this?  I’ve lived it myself.  After more than 10 years of working for a $6B company I left and went into the start-up world.

My story, while it may not be unique, is a growing story many others now share. 

Why do people like the idea of start-ups?

First and foremost, it can be an exciting place to work.  Decisions are often made speedily, there’s typically much less bureaucracy, work is more flexible and of course it tends to be much more creative.  We also have the ability to learn much more about our jobs and the impact it has on the overall company and or business.  Therefore, it is possible to say being in the start up world allows us to become better business people in the process as we get to see the big picture, not just our individual roles and workloads like what happens in big business.

Then it’s settled, everyone should work in a start-up!  I mean, who wouldn’t want to work in that kind of an environment?

Hold up compadres, pump the brakes a moment.  The start-up world is no picnic.  Yes, the start-up world is exciting and full of daily innovation and discovery but it can also be rife with challenge, uncertainty and stress.  Not everyone is built or meant to be in the world of start-ups.  We may think we are however the reality is some of us are just better off being in big business.  Before you jump ship from your large company into the world of a start-up (and or small business) take a moment to check in with yourself on how you land with these five characteristics which are vital to ones success in the start-up environment:

1.Working Outside the Box
When we work for big companies often times our job and daily output is focused on a certain set of tasks.  It’s the opposite in the start-up world as often times the mentality of those who are successful in this space is that they’re willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done and company moving forward.  This includes taking out your own trash!  If you’ve ever said “that’s not part of my job description” in response to work that was requested of you I would recommend taking a hard look at whether a start-up or small company is the right move for your career.  You don’t have an option to be picky in a start-up, the only option is to do it.  Even if that means taking out your own trash.
 
2.Time Requirements
Working 8-5 in a large company can be a great perk.  If you’ve done that for any length of time you may have forgotten how nice it is to mentally shut off at 5PM.  In start-ups working 8-5 is non-existent.  It’s common to work long hours and or be tethered to your smart phone around the clock.  The statement ‘work life balance’ is blurred beyond recognition in the start-up world.  Those that are successful here know and understand that it takes time and effort to create something.  How dedicated are you to making that happen and what are you willing to give up in the process?
 
3.Ambiguous Nature
Working in a large company doesn’t necessarily mean that everything is clearly defined and outlined yet it is typical that SOPs (standard operating processes) are at the very least available for workers who choose to use them.  In the start-up world you may find yourself creating these on your own.  Take a moment to think how you would feel about being confronted with a daily situation where you are supposed to be working hard, hell – harder than ever before, and there isn’t a lot of direction or support to help you in that effort.  If the thought of that excites you than the start-up world may be a breath of fresh air, if not then maybe your 3 foot wide cubicle and plush ergonomic chair your large company bought is the safer bet.
 
4.Leadership
This is one of the most overlooked aspects of a start-up in my opinion.  Leadership.  If you haven’t worked in the start-up world before you may not be aware that people in leadership still do much of the hands on work.  In big business this is hardly the case.  Neither camp of leaders are necessarily better than one of the other, it’s just a very different environment.  In start-ups every person on the team has to give 150% to the cause which means those who don a leadership title still have to get dirty in the day to day work.  The reason you want to consider this as a part of your ‘can I make it in the start-up world’ is because leadership ultimately can have a great or very grave impact on the start-up business.  Seems a bit obvious but when someone is doing both daily work and in charge of strategic decision making their influence and involvement has a much greater impact.  In big business if a company experiences a failure with one of their leaders it typically can be salvaged whereas in the start-up world one or two costly mistakes by leadership will send the company into a grave six feet under.
 
5.Collaboration
Start-ups offer an intimate working experience. Working in a start-up everyone knows everything about everyone.  It’s close quarters with high amounts of communication, partnering and feedback.  Collaboration of course exists in big business but not at the intimate level of the start-up.  When we work for a big company we are often a part of a team but doing work independently, even times on our own little island.  If you’ve come to enjoy your island and aren’t interested in having neighbors up in your grill on the daily than perhaps staying in big business is the right decision for you.
 
A professional life in a start-up can indeed be a rewarding and exciting adventure.  Once we’ve spent some time analyzing what’s most important to us in our career and what we’re willing to do to get it than we’ll have a better idea of how the start-up environment and career fits in with our plans.
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Monday Quickie - Successfully Lead With Any Job Title

7/29/2019

 
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​It’s common to think “I don’t have the job title which warrants me to be a leader”.
 
Early in my career I struggled with this exact mindset challenge.  I thought “if I don’t have a title which gives me the power to lead, how and why would anyone listen to me in the first place”.  This mindset is especially true and often found with people who are in individual contributor roles.  We use the excuse “I don’t have the title to lead” as our justification for not stepping up to taking action, even in times when we know it’s what is needed.
 
I was well into the third year of my career when a senior partner in our office pulled me aside and gave me some much needed advice.  Let’s put it this way, it was a thump on the head in a caring way.  What he said was simple, yet incredibly eye opening:
 
“Your job title doesn’t give you permission to lead or make you a good leader people will respect, it’s more about your ability to help others achieve their goals while having their backs.  We can lead from any role in the company, there’s no need to wait to be told you can lead or given a title which means people have to listen to you.  So, why are you waiting?”
 
Urghhh, he had a point, even though in the moment my ego still wasn’t allowing me to hear it.  After a couple days of digesting this feedback I had to admit I felt pretty dumb about the way I was thinking about leadership and my role within the company.  I had to get over my ego and the thought that I needed a title to justify my ability to lead when the reality was, and still is, good leaders are those who take action and help others.  They listen, guide and influence because they’re passionate about helping others, first.  This in turns builds trust, respect and comradery – these are the building blocks and keys to being a good leader.  Titles aside, those who can build trust with their colleagues gain respect which leads to healthier interactions.  These things are possible and certainly most achievable even if your job title doesn’t reflect management.
 
Whether you have the leadership job title or not what’s important are your actions and the intent behind why you do them.  Follow these steps to help guide you down the path of leading successfully:
 
1.Let Go of Fear – the basis for our lack of leadership is fear; fear we won’t do it right, fear people will reject us, fear we’ll look stupid in the process, etc.; once we acknowledge fear is what holds us back from doing what we know is right or what we want we then can go about changing our perspective to improve the situation

2.Build the Foundation - for what successful leadership is by reading “The Go-Giver” by Bob Burg and John David Mann

3.Reflect - on who you are as a person, professional, peer and employee of your company
a.What skill sets or areas of influence do you possess which you could use to positive impact, support or mentor others within the organization

4.Channel Your Vulnerability – good leaders understand this truth, to be trusted as a leader we must be vulnerable.  This doesn’t mean crying because the creamer when bad and ruined your coffee, it means being honest and open with your intent, your struggles and perspectives to help people see who you really are.  No leader is perfect.

5.Be a Coach – listen and guide as this is the pathway to good leadership; like the old proverb says “give a man a fish and they will eat for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”

6.Act - start small and pick one person or department you believe you can positively impact; talk with that person or department to share with them your ideas and why you believe this would be of value to them, get their buy in before moving forward

7.Inform Management - Share with your manager the idea you have to help support and mentor others within the company,  .Be prepared to provide specifics on how this could positively impact the company

8.Consistency - implement a schedule you and your new mentee can follow which keeps you on track helping them achieve their goals, key thing here is to keep it natural don’t overdue it with processes and procedures
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Monday Quickie - 6 Ways to Obtain More Clients as a Consultant

7/15/2019

 
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Are you dealing with the rollercoaster highs and lows associated with being a consultant? (aka gig, freelancer, solopreneur, etc.)

Feast and famine.  One week you’re hot, one week you’re not.  You’ve got more work than you know what to do with, the stars have aligned and everything is grits and gravy in the world.  So busy you haven’t had time to think about a future in which you aren’t busy.

Then it happens.  Projects finish up and projects fall through.  Before you know it you’ve got nothing.  A big fat zero.  No billable hours, no active clients, and then it sets in “I’m going to need to somehow find new clients”.

The highs and lows of consulting can be a challenging emotional rollercoaster, especially if you aren’t used to it and plan accordingly.

It’s for this reason all consultants must keep in mind where their next revenue stream is coming from.  Sales is an inevitable part of being a consultant, it will always be a factor, regardless of how long you’ve been consulting and or how great you are at your particular trade.

Want to obtain more clients?

Follow these steps and you’ll find your consulting practice and the general emotional state to be much more consistent and in line with your hopes:

1. Sell Yourself Consistently - This isn’t really an option, it’s a must.  Don’t like sales?  If you can’t do sales you’ll need to find someone who can on your behalf, or find a new job. Consistently selling yourself, even while on projects, is paramount to your long term success.

2. Referrals – Ask your connections for recommendations or openings to new relationships; when you finish a project ask that client for a referral to another.  Happy clients are happy to do so. 

3. Make Friends with the Middle Man – There are services (like my company), companies and online platforms (like Flexjobs) which act as a ‘middle man’ between the people who do the work and the companies which need the help.  Find a business which specializes in your work and build a relationship with them.  This will eventually help bring you additional work, often times outside your sphere of relationship influence.

4. Case Studies & Testimonials – Create marketing materials which can be used online or as hand outs covering the work you do, projects you’ve done and how you can help people solve their problems. 

5. Know Your Customer – The more you know what your customer(s) need the easier it will be for you to get more work from them.  Often, the first project with a client isn’t the biggest need they have.  They give you small projects to test your abilities to execute and solve their problems.  Execution is everything.  Once you do so, ask about other business challenges they’re experiencing and figure out a way to help them with it, even if it means you can’t do the work yourself but can refer them to someone who can.  You were still a part of the solution – your client will remember that for future needs.

6. Network – Get out of your house, office and comfort zone and get involved with the industry you service.  If you’re in the life sciences industry there are two dozen events every month in southern California to participate in.  Pick a couple and commit to going.  Networking takes time to build trust and rapport with potential clients however it can be incredibly lucrative in the long run.

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    About the Author

    Travis Smith is the founder and managing director of Square-1 Engineering, a life sciences consulting firm, providing end to end technical project services to companies which design, develop and or manufacture products in Southern California.  He successfully served the life sciences marketplace in SoCal for over 15 years specializing in engineering services, consulting, project outsourcing and leadership development. In 2019 he was recognized as a ‘40 Under 40’ honoree by the Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce as a top leader in Orange County, CA.

    Travis also serves as Chairman, Board of Directors for DeviceAlliance, the only Southern California based medical device non-profit professionals organization and member of the University of California Irvine's Division of Continuing Education Advisory Board for Medical Product Development.  He holds a business management degree from California State University Long Beach and is a graduate of the Southern California Entrepreneur Academy.

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