When Mark Parker became CEO of Nike in 2006, he asked Steve Jobs for advice. Jobs said:
“Well, just one thing. Nike makes some of the best products in the world. Products that you lust after. But you also make a lot of crap. Just get rid of the crappy stuff and focus on the good stuff.”
It’s kind of funny when you read it at first, and it sounds so simple. But that which is simple is rarely easy as we all know too well.
As far as how to do it, Jobs levied another simple yet incredibly difficult challenge:
“Focus means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully.”
We’re midway through December now and I’m looking at the vision board I created last January with images and words illustrating the personal and professional things I wanted to achieve in 2024, some long term goals I wanted to work towards, and the principles by which I wanted to do them.
Now that we are 95% of the way through the year, it’s humbling to be honest with myself and recognize that while I did achieve some goals and live by certain principles, I also fell woefully short on others.
And a big part of that is due to lacking focus and being unable (or frequently unwilling) to say no to way too many other obligations, temptations and distractions.
These next few weeks I’ll be doing some strategic planning for the new year and a big part of it is going to be around deciding what to let go of, or as Jobs might have said, identifying “the crappy stuff,” i.e. the projects and initiatives that are not 100% congruent with:
- my driving purpose
- my brand
- my ideal client
- the greatest value I want to deliver to my clients, and
- the core values through which I want to deliver it to them.
That’s really hard because there are some projects that are at various stages of completion, which I have paid for in time, wages, energy and other resources.
So while abandoning them before completion feels like a waste, I also realize that continuing to invest more resources into something that I know is not guided by my North Star would be penny-wise and pound-foolish to say the very least, and deep-down, pride-driven at best.
And the thing is, they ALL were and still are really good ideas. But, channeling my inner Steve Jobs, I have to get crystal clear on the seemingly fine line between the really good ideas and opportunities on one side, and the absolutely mission critical ones on the other.
And if it’s not in the “mission critical” category, no matter how “good” it is, I’m going to have to put on my metaphorical big-girl shoes and say NO. Period.
This brings me to some big news:
After 4.5 years and over 200 amazing guests, I’ve decided to bring the Speaking to Influence podcast to its conclusion.
Not that I would ever consider it to be “crappy stuff”—I’d fight Steve Jobs to the end on that one—the podcast has delivered amazing value to my guests, my listeners, and to me.
But strategically, at this stage, there are bigger and better ways to leverage its legacy and the incredible lessons I’ve learned than to simply continue creating more episodes.
One of the most exciting fruits of that labor is my new partnership with Janet Salazar, a two-time guest on Speaking to Influence and Chairman of the Foundation for the Support of the United Nations.
Together, we’re launching a podcast mini-series (and hopefully the first of many,) entitled “Alpha Whisperers: Genesis.”
This 6-part series explores the power of people behind the scenes in advisory roles in both business and government. It aims to increase transparency and accountability—not just for decision-makers but for the advisors themselves—for the benefit of all.
Alpha Whisperers: Genesis (Promo – Click to Play)
The series officially launches tomorrow, so stay tuned for an email tomorrow with links to watch or listen on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and Audible (Amazon).
As I close this chapter and step into new opportunities, I challenge you to reflect on your own commitments. Where do you need to let go? What “good” ideas, projects or intentions are standing in the way of your mission-critical goals?
Or perhaps where are you afraid to let go of something even when you know it’s not serving you?
Is it time to let go of being a people-pleaser, and learn to advocate for yourself?
Or maybe it’s time to let go of a dead-end job or relationship that may once have held a lot of joy and potential, but now you see the writing on the wall.
Tony Robbins said:
“STRESS is making something MORE important than it really is… but
FAILURE is making something LESS important than it really is.”
It’s not easy to say no, especially when you want to say yes. But focus means picking carefully and committing fully to what matters most.
Trust me – it’s hard, but it’s worth it. And so are you.
