Simon T Bailey’s Blog

I was recently sitting in a client’s employee lounge and saw a flyer that was on all of the tables. As I looked closely it said the following “turn competitors trash into competitive intelligence treasure. Receptacles will be set up in the atrium and on the 2^nd and 3^rd floor to collect all the junk mail you receive at home from the competition.”

The name of this marketing initiative is “Dump Their Junk!” I love it. What are you doing to share your competitive intelligence with your internal team? We have all received mail that will put into file 13. What if we step back and ask what type of insight can we gain from what others are doing? You may be surprised at what you discover.

Please send a response to the following question – what are you doing to increase your competitive intelligence?

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Like it or not the pace of change is forcing us to rediscover the adventurous spirit of our ancestors. There is a force that is moving us from the known world of our previous achievements to the unknown world of future opportunity.

I recently read a quote from John Amatt that really struck a chord with me. He said “to challenge change we have to learn to view change as a great adventure.” Every day you have to increase your ability to manage change effectively and learn to benefit from the uncertainty that change creates.

Adventure is a journey with an unforeseen outcome.  Be a change agent that controls the steering wheel of your life. Right now change is tapping you on the shoulder and inviting you to go to a place you have never gone to before. Are you ready? Buckle up – your adventure is about to begin.   

Please send a response to the following question – what type of personal or professional adventures are you experiencing right now?

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Today, as I was driving around my city, I could sense a shift in the air. As you look in the eyes of other human beings, you can sense that they are ready to experience something totally different and fresh. Everybody looking for the New-New!

In the world, there are shifts that take place all of the time. These shifts impact people, processes, and products. Many times, shifts in perspectives, ideologies, and mindsets often need to be overhauled in order to make room for new possibilities.  This doesn’t happen overnight. It is a long sustained march in the same direction. Deliberate in nature and intentional it’s desire.

Examine your world and determine for yourself what shifts do you need to make personally and professionally. When you do it, you will find hidden gems of relationships and unlimited opportunities that were just below the surface waiting for you to shift.

Simon says: What shifts do you need to make and why? 

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Simon Says - Change or be changed by change!

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Recently, I was invited to be the closing general session speaker for the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare at their 38^th convention in Boston, MA.  As I was preparing my remarks, I saw on their website that I was following Jim Collins, bestselling author of “Good to Great” whose books have sold a bazillion, and James Carville, chief political strategist in the Clinton Administration. Oh, did I mention that they also had presentations by Michael and Kitty Dukakis, and Michael Kennedy.

Was I scared? If I said no, then I would be telling a white lie. (Whatever that means.)  Was I somewhat concerned? Absolutely. Why? I was walking in the footsteps of some of the most celebrated and recognized names in the United States. Now allow me to share with you the naked truth, I believe I was the youngest person to address this group of CEO’s, board members, senior executives, blah blah The client told me right before my presentation that they had looked at over 100 videotapes before they selected me.

All of these thoughts were running through my mind, but I had to shut them out and dig deep. This presentation had to be over the top and I had to look fear in the face and slap it into the next century. I know that is a bit dramatic. However, the point is my fear was rooted in feeling inadequate, and not good enough to exist in this rare air. Yes, it is true that it’s not who you are that blocks your brilliance from shining, it’s who you think you are not.

Right now, you may have a ton of opposition against you. Perhaps some of it is self-imposed. I invite you to take a long hard look and feed your belief in a better future and starve your fears to death. Do not feed into it. You are brilliant and it‘s time to shine.

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The painter Pablo Picasso was dining at a five-star restaurant in a metropolitan city. A female admirer walked over to his table to say hello and to tell him how much she admired his work. Sensing that he was receptive to her accolades, she asked if he would do a sketch for her.

Picasso grabbed some paper, and with pen and pencil promptly sketched the waiters carrying luscious ice cream parfaits. As the woman reached for the sketch, Pablo Picasso said, “Madame, that will be $10,000.” Shocked, the woman replied, “But that only took you five minutes.” “No, Madame,” replied Pablo Picasso, “it took me fifty years.”

Pablo Picasso knew how much time he had invested in the mastery of fine art. He didn’t belittle his value or succumb to the pressure of someone who didn’t value his worth. Up until that moment at the restaurant, fifty years of his life had been invested in developing his artistic brilliance. He refused to allow anyone to diminish his self-worth.

How much are you worth? What are you doing to increase your self-worth? People will treat you the way you treat yourself. When they sense that you are unsure of your value, they will handle you any way they see fit.

 A friend of mine who was unhappy at her job one day decided that she was worth more than the demeaning way she was being treated, and refused to be abused any longer. Thus, she decided that happiness, peace of mind, validation, affirmation, and celebration was worth more than stock-options and the schizophrenic behavior of leadership.

 My friend, wrap your brain around this profound truth…your outward experience will reflect your inward self-worth. Your self-worth is as priceless as a rare diamond. Why settle for crumbs of bread when you own the bakery? Simon Says…You are worth it!

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