creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties

I love the underdog story.  Today I get to write about one that is close to my heart.  I want to introduce you to Daniel Nava.  If you are a sports fanatic than you have probably heard the buzz about his first game in the major leagues.  More on that to come.  I grew up with Daniel.  We both went to a small school in San Carlos, Ca where we shared a passion for sports.  He was a couple years younger but had a magnetic personality making him a super likable guy.  Daniel and his whole family are amazing people and have been as long as I have known them.  His dad, who we all affectionately called, “Coach” never ceased to provide a healthy balance of encouragement and “bust you in the butt” pep talks.  He’s the real deal.

Daniel was so athletic and gifted in sports that there wasn’t anything he couldn’t play and do well at.  The thing was, he had a small frame in Jr high and high school.   I think he was around 4’11″ 70lbs his freshman year.  His whole life people told him he was too small but he never quit.

Initially cut as a walk on at Santa Clara University, Nava went to JC and excelled, ultimately returning to Santa Clara for his senior season. He went undrafted and again proved the doubters wrong by doing extremely well in independent baseball in 2007, earning the spot as Baseball America’s #1 independent prospect. He then proceeded to win the California League batting crown in 2008, albeit at the age of 25. Following an early-season injury in 2009, he went on to dominate the Carolina League and the Eastern League in limited at-bats.

He was called up to Majors to play with the Red Sox.  The rest is history.  His first time at bat, first pitch, he hits a grand slam home run.  He is the 2nd person to ever hit a grand slam on first pitch.

Watch this!

The Hair Stylist

The other day I had a conversation with the gal who cuts my hair. She was talking about her hair salon and wondered how technology and social media might play a part in connecting with and building her client base. She felt a little overwhelmed with all the options of Twitter, Facebook, myspace, Linkedin etc. She’s not alone. Our conversation reminded me that it’s about leadership first, technology second.

Leadership First

There are thousands of books out there that define and describe leadership for us. Let’s just start with Wikipedia’s definition for now,

“leadership is the process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task.”

This definition takes the concept of leadership out of the clouds and into your shoes. That’s why I like it.

The truth is, leadership is not tied to any one occupation or position. It’s extensive and inclusive. So a hairstylist, for example, is not excluded from using leadership to accomplish stuff. Like anyone they have to identify their process of social influence and then get to work.

What’s your PSI (Process of Social Influence)?

This may vary by occupation, but at a fundamental level, your process of social influence has to have at least 2 things:

1.  Engagement (how do you get people involved?) or as Wikipedia states “enlisting their aid”

2.  Empowerment (how do you give people a chance to contribute?) or as Wikipedia states “enlisting support”

Engagement + Empowerment = ACTs (Accomplishment of a Common Task)

The “lowly” hairstylist that values the community enough to enlist their aid and support with the goal of making her practice (cutting hair) better, will always improve if feedback is taken to heart. The truth is, we (customer) want you (hairstylist) to lead. Lead through your website. Lead through your posts on Facebook and Twitter. Invite us into the conversation. Lead in person. Educate us on your world.The salon, after all, it is your domain. You know it. You are the expert and you are the key to a good or bad experience. Do this, and we’ll follow – assuming you are good at cutting hair too.  :)

I woke up this morning, and stumbled to the kitchen where a pot of fresh coffee was already brewing.  As I poured the coffee into my cup I noticed my daughter’s artwork on the counter.  She’s 2  and coincidentally 2 things immediately jumped out at me.

1.  God Made Me
A simple truth that serves as a timeless principle and a governing fact of life.  “God Made Me.”  I was designed for a purpose.  I’m not a mistake.  My existence matters.  It was fashioned by a God who thought the combination of a free world and my gift mix in the time and space continuum would make for good story telling.  Coffee, as great of a thing it is, might as well have been dirt compared to the implications of that simple truth.  God made me.  Our actions serve as the tall tell sign to the world as to whether we believe this truth or not.  I pray I learn to believe that as much  as God does.

2.  Life is Art
Art grows.  Matures.  Changes.  Develops.  It possesses the ability to capture who we are, what we were thinking, and where we were in our lives at a given moment.  My daughter is young but as her father, I love her artwork in it’s current state.  It’s a reflection of her.  It’s free in form.  How beautiful the marriage between true expression of self and love for God.  I’m reminded that life is Art and it is at its best when it can be seen and used for something positive.

God Made You.  Now Go Create Something.

For the next week I am stepping away from my blog, twitter, facebook and disconnecting.  It’s been a really busy season for me and now I have to force myself to shut it all down and spend time reading, writing and thinking.  It’s therapy for me.

Have a great week!

I’m kind of a book worm.  I have this thing I am trying to abide by though: No new books until I finish the ones I’m reading.  Here’s what I’m reading:

Linchpin-Seth Godin
Put Your Dream To The Test-John Maxwell
Confessions of an Economic Hit Man-John Perkins

I’m almost done and will be going to the bookstore soon..

What are you reading or
What have you read lately that you highly recommend?

Wanted to say thanks to everyone that came out to Thrive and joined us for the Social Media Breakout!

Download Presentation HERE.