I’m writing to you from my coziest chair on Martha’s Vineyard!
We just arrived here after my husband Rob and I, along with Wilber, our 17-pound cat, spent the winter in Florida.
Wilber has made the Great Migration South and then back North so often that he receives JetPaws frequent flyer points. And, he is apparently so excited to be home that he is on my lap right now trying to take over the keyboard!
It feels great to be home and to now get ready for a number of you coming to the Vineyard in the next few months for vacation and your Vision Days!
Before I share highlights from my inspiring time with best-selling author, marketing guru and business/life strategist Seth Godin last week, I want mention a sadness within our Women on Fire community.
And, to express my deepest sorrow to at least two Women on Fire who were close friends with Mary Richardson Kennedy.
Mary was the wife of Robert Kennedy Jr. and the mom of four children, ages 11-17, who died tragically last week. It is a horrible to hear about … let alone experience when you are friends or family of someone who takes his or her own life.
Friends and family survivors of suicide are often plagued with unrelenting thoughts of “Why?” and feelings of anger and guilt.
For any of you who are survivors of a loved one’s suicide and struggling, I highly recommend Alan Wolfelt’s Understanding Your Suicide Grief: 10 Essential Touchstones for Finding Hope and Healing Your Heart.
For you who were directly affected by Mary’s terrible death, on behalf of all of us, may you be surrounded with love and understanding and comfort in grieving this loss. We are with you.
So now I have a question…
Who or what do you turn to when you need a jolt of inspiration for new ideas and learning?
I have a number of go-to people, as you know. They range from spiritual leaders — Marianne Williamson, Deepak Chopra, Thich Nhat Hahn and Edward Beck — to thought leaders — Gloria Steinem, Warren Bennis, Barbara Sher and Seth Godin.
Some of you may know of Seth, famous for his Purple Cow theory. To be successful, he urges us all to find ways to be REMARKABLE … like a purple cow would be!
Last week Rob and I spent the day with Seth in New York at his conference creatively titled “Pick Yourself.”
Rob has worked with Seth in the past. And, the night before the conference we attended a very fun, private dinner with him.
Seth is such a good sport. I’ve been told by my friend Mark Henson that stroking Seth’s head is worth seven years of good luck!
Here are seven gems of wisdom I learned or heard in a fresh way by being with Seth:
1) Technology is evolving and it is destroying the Industrial Age. The new economy is about CONNECTION. What do you have to offer that a certain group of people (your tribe) will absolutely love? Keep in mind most people won’t care what you have to offer; some will even hate it; but your tribe will not be able to get enough of it!
2) Three skills necessary to possess in the Connection Economy: fundamental skills; understanding strategy and the big picture; being willing to get knocked down and get back up again.
3) Are you doing work you are so passionate about that you are willing to fail at it … or be arrested for it?
4) To succeed, you must dance on the edge. Ask yourself what scares you? What are you afraid of? And, go dance on the edge of that. Because once you do, then you put your fear behind you and you make leaps forward. Know what it is that holds you back, because it is your growth opportunity.
5) Be extreme in your dedication to yourself and your work and your organization. Travel lightly. Carry little in your backpack in order to run faster.
6) Forget mentors. Instead find heroes and emulate them. If you need support or to learn particular skills and strategies, hire a coach.
7) Do not wait for someone to select you to do the thing you want to do. You must pick yourself!
I’d love to hear how you stay current with your own learning and inspiration!
