Is it Just Me?

The other day I had the opportunity to sit for a couple of hours and do some exploration into the business brains of a group of CEOs and Presidents of companies. It seems to me we're all working on pretty much the same things as 12 months ago but some of the desperation and, therefore, the intensity is less. No one disagrees that 2009 was one of the worst years that many have experienced, but now that it's behind us, it's just that...behind us. Everyone started 2010 with almost a euphoric feeling that seemed to hold until summer hit. I don't think it's just the heat...although it's been really, really hot! I think it's more like finding out after it's too late that you stood in the wrong line, or went the wrong way and the 15k race you and everyone else signed up for and started, is a half marathon. Not a full 26.2 marathon, but clearly more than you had planned for physically and mentally. That's a problem.

Everyone is trying to keep up, and it's tough. So this is where you either pull off to the side, satisfied that you did what you originally planned for, complain to the organizers that it's their fault for not making things more clear or accept the fact that you must keep going, even if it's at a much slower pace,. There's a finish line to cross and you don't want to be robbed of the feeling of crossing it.

Maybe it's just me, but I think I'll handle this slowdown, this unexpected occurrence with some moaning and groaning and just keep plugging along. I have a feeling you'll do the same. Well, actually I know you will. I know that you are a microcosm of the group of CEOs and Presidents I sat with. You aren't happy as we hit mid-year, but you'll be more inclined to stay in the race. Oh, by the way to all of you who answered the survey last week, THANKS! The results were interesting and helpful in my quest to talk to you about stuff that you want. We had a 3% response rate, which those that know tell me is really good. Most of you own your own companies, which tend to have less than 25 or more than 100 people, and many of you have been seeing me pop in your mail box each week for 3-5 years. A large majority know I've been doing this for almost 10 years. I'm humbled, grateful and appreciative because I really grow by communicating with you.

With that in mind, let me pass along a few of the ideas the group had. I'll tell you, the common theme was creativity and increased human "touch"...creating meaningful interaction between not just the companies and their clients and customers, but within companies. Many were trying to figure out how to incorporate video into the equation. There was one veterinarian who had incorporated audio and sound into almost everything, including an audio brand message that played when a piece of equipment was turned on. (Think booting up your computer and hearing the "Windows" music.) The most repeated ideas all centered on something that touched an emotional chord. Really. Whether it was a feeling of connection, a feeling of helping, a feeling of fun, a feeling of hope, a feeling of being cared about, a feeling of uniqueness or any other emotion you might come up with, what everyone in the group seemed to be working on was how to "reach" the psyche.

So there you have it. Maybe it's just me, but it seems making connections is how we finish the race. It's how we accept that we're all in this together and we're all going to come out of it together if that's what we decide to do. We'll work using technology where possible to creatively collaborate, capturing ideas and integrating them into what we do. And we'll keep going, finding a balance between practical plans and taking small risks, because it's where our connections take us, thank goodness!