Take the Money & Run or Run Your Own Darn Business?

  

I travel a bit for my work and meet all kinds of fascinating people. 

Occassionally, I catch myself hesitating before crossing the floor to connect with a colleague if our eyes have met a couple of times over the clang of coffee cups and buzz of voices in the frequent flyer lounge.

You know what I mean, right? 

It’s the ‘I know you from somewhere’ or ‘I know who you are and if I don’t go up and say I hi I’m going to sit here all weird like until one of us breaks!’ kind of reason to start a conversation.

Fear of Rejection

Do you remember the awkwardness of school dances, waiting by the wall for someone to ask you to dance? Or raising your hand in class in case you were made fun of and you got it wrong? 

I put all that aside to approach a fellow speaker recently who had, through a gut wrenching, publicised event, achieved celebrity status and was being booked a lot through a major Speaker Bureau. I simply wanted to touch base ‘face to face’ for the first time and honour them, not for the outward signs of that day, but for the message shared on the platform. 

We introduced ourselves and started chatting…

I was reminded of Deborra-Lee Furness, Australian Actress and Adoption Advocate whose lucky husband is Hugh Jackman, spoke at a Business Chicks event on the Gold Coast. Deborra-Lee highlighted one of the things she misses the most about being well known is that while people know of her, she knows nothing of them and misses the ‘dance of getting to know people and becoming friends‘.

As my fellow Speaker, who was kot Deborra-Lee, and I danced briefly under the huge TV screen and sipped our beverages, we spoke about why we do what we do and how we approach it as Leaders and Speakers.

Want to find out what we said? 

This is where YOU run if you don’t or read on if you do.

 
She Takes the Money and Runs

Motivation is different for everyone, including the people on your team.

My colleague wants a certain lifestyle whether as a result of circumstance or by choice and that’s okay. My colleague is leveraging the opportunity. My colleague’s approach is transactional.

Your People are going to have various reasons for working with you as well. Some will be there for the whole show; others only for a brief performance – a cameo role. 

I’m Running a Cross Country Business and I’m Not Running Alone

In my work with clients we see it as transformational; not transactional. We’re in it for the long haul and the different seasons. 

We are a business. We aim to nurture our customers and our peers. We’re in this race together, as a team. 

It could be the same for you in your area of influence with a range of runners on your track and team. They could be operating with:

• Different conditions
• Different aptitudes
• Different team members
• Different officials
• Different spectators
• Different reasons to be there in the first place

When you walk away from conversations with colleagues and clients, ask yourself these important questions – not them – you. 

• Why you running in the first place? 
• Are you running to something or are you running away from something else?
• How prepared are you for this Leadership race?
• What do I need to get abfresh perspective on as Entrepreneur or Executive?
• How are you going to adapt to the conditions if the money runs dry or your funding gets cancelled?
• Who are the officials 
• Who’s on your team and who’s got your back?

Different Perspectives

Some conversations serve us in most unusual ways. Don’t judge another person’s motivation, seek simply to understand it.

Next time you’re at an airport, walk across the room and start that conversation.

Oh… And keep running in your own darn lane. Forget about comparing yourself or being surprised by other people’s motivations.

You were never meant to run someone else’s race!

You know what I mean. 

There’s my flight. Gotta run!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

By Tarran Deane AFAIM CEO Corporate Cinderella 

  
Books we recommend:

• “Walk Across the Room” by Bill Hybels
• “Do Talk to Strangers” by Kerri Phipps
• “Everyone Communicates, Few Connect“, by John Maxwell

Find out about Tarran’s upcoming book “The Alphabet Principle- Your Guide to Compelling Leadership” due for Release this year.