From Chapter 16 “The Rare Find” in Ingredients of Outliers. Food for Thought What I look for in job applicants, and in me, is a drive to constantly become better. It could be "better" at something trivial, but it's still an improvement. The next time you conduct an interview, or even when you are talking to a friend, ask: "How are you bettering yourself?" In most people, the thought of continued improvement never crosses their mind. Now that it's crossed yours, you're well ahead in the game! In Other Words There is some work that will never be done if you don’t do it. There is … [Read more...]
Pursuitology and Quintessence
From Chapter 16 “The Rare Find” in Ingredients of Outliers, Keep Pursuing Have you noticed that action and success seem to go hand in hand? People of action are the ones who are finding success. Sitting on your backside, waiting for it to happen is no way to live life or be an entrepreneur and a leader. You have to work harder and smarter than everyone else. Everyone has the ability to do this, if he or she so chooses. But whatever you do, don’t let your life pass and bemoan what could have been when you have all the tools to do it, to set the pace. One of the most often overlooked … [Read more...]
If it Ain’t Broke…
From Chapter 16 “The Rare Find” in Ingredients of Outliers. If It Ain’t Broke . . . Unless you’re in at least your late 40s, the name Bert Lance may mean nothing to you. He first came to prominence in early 1977, when newly elected President Jimmy Carter appointed him Director of the Office of Management and the Budget (OMB). A banker and fellow Georgian, Lance perhaps received the appointment as a reward for his service to Carter during the 1976 presidential campaign. Lance’s tenure at the OMB ended within a few months. He resigned as a result of certain charges leveled at him for … [Read more...]
Be the Rare Find
From Chapter 16 “The Rare Find” in Ingredients of Outliers. Are you that one-in-a-million person who stands out from the crowd? Before you answer that question, consider these words by Emmy Award-winning writer and comedian A. Whitney Brown: “There are a billion people in China. It’s not easy to be an individual in a crowd of more than a billion people. Th ink of it. More than a BILLION people. That means even if you’re a one-in-a-million type of guy, there are still a thousand guys exactly like you.” Is Brown on to something here? Could there be a thousand, or even a few hundred, … [Read more...]
Trust Your Hunches
From Chapter 15 “Intuition” in Ingredients of Outliers. Food for Thought For my experience, women have better gut instincts than men, but are less likely to follow them. If you reflect on times when you did and did not follow your gut, I think you'll come to the same conclusion as I have. My gut has saved me, my patients, and certainly my business. The rare times when I haven't followed my instincts have been nearly unrecoverable. In Other Words Listen to your inner voice for it is a deep and powerful source of wisdom, beauty and truth, ever flowing through you. Learn to … [Read more...]
Using Your 6th Sense
From Chapter 15 “Intuition” in Ingredients of Outliers. Proceed with Caution Over the years, I’ve kept a list of things that should make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. The following is a sampling of the red flags I’ve collected. Some are specific to the medical profession, but others may be helpful for anyone charged with screening prospective employees. Don't hire anyone who's rude to your receptionist or assistant. Arrogant people rarely improve their demeanor. Laziness and negativity are contagious; eradicate the source or it will infect your entire staff. … [Read more...]