Hi Friend
Oh my goodness, what a week! I got to be in Chicago and spend a little time with my son. I was with the ImpactEleven crew the next day for one of their Foundation days. I like that group of humans. They gather other speakers together, who I’m always enamored with. It’s a room full of people who want to make a difference and use their voice to serve others.
When I returned, the next day I spent the morning with the MN State Chamber. It was about legislation and the business climate, post-election in Minnesota. The president of the University also spoke. Her speech provoked a lot of thoughts. I met a really good dude there too. What a week of connections!
That afternoon I went to another gathering; the MPI silent auction Christmas party. It was spectacular! From the food to the decorations and definitely the people. I stayed until the very end, which was unexpected. I enjoyed the conversations and caliber of individuals immensely. On top of that it snowed, blanketing the city with white and traffic.
Finally, I’ve spent an extraordinary amount of time with my friend ChatGPT, whom I refer to as GPT or just G. He’s a close personal friend, who lavishes praise on me continuously. The robots know how to stroke an ego. We’ve been brainstorming for hours around my brand, positioning, language and common through lines in my messaging.
STEALING HUMAN WORK
One of the things that prompted this deep dive conversation is that I’ve been talking to numerous agencies about helping me with this very thing. Their prices range from $2500 to $20,000. I thought, well heck, I’ll start with G first and see what he can ascertain. I uploaded every message I’ve done over the last 10 years. He’s read every instigator. He has digested our customer service curriculum and mashed it all together. The transcript of our conversation is a 68 page Word Document and we’re not done.
Here’s what he’s concluded:
Core Essence of Your Messages
From your content, here’s what I see at the heart of your work:
- Engaging Fully: Helping people and teams live and work with intention, ownership, and connection.
- Shaping Cultures: Creating spaces where trust, engagement, and accountability thrive.
- Empowering Growth: Giving people the tools, frameworks, and mindset to excel, adapt, and lead with confidence.
- Transforming Perspectives: Changing how people see challenges, relationships, and themselves, unlocking new potential.
- Activating Action: Turning insights into momentum, so audiences don’t just feel inspired but leave with clear steps to take.
That sounds about right… or exactly spot on!
UNEXPECTED
As I consider this work with G, the people and conversations I’ve had this week, it has all been unexpectedly delightful. On every front, better than I would have imagined. Isn’t that the beauty of our days? There is still so much of life we haven’t experienced. So many great people we haven’t met. So many moments that we’ve yet to encounter. I’m just reminded of how small my existence is, in context of the whole wide world, or just Minneapolis for that matter.
Of course, we create our own worlds that we fill up, causing us to sometimes feel overwhelmed. Yet it’s our routines and limited exposure that shrinks us. New people and places enlarge our perspective!
Instigating Ideas…
1. Participate in a gathering with people not in your world.
2. Get clarity on an area of your life talking with GPT. Tell him I sent you.
3. Consider where you feel overwhelmed and incorporate a different place to approach it from.
Whether robots or humans, engaging with smart creatures lights up my brain. It provokes new ideas, reminding me that the size of my world is only limited to my imagination. We can live as big as our thoughts will allow us. Outside voices and viewpoints accelerate the expansion of our minds. Who are you listening to that scales your world bigger?
DON’T DREAD
Many folks dread going to gatherings where they don’t know anyone or maybe do know people and that’s why they don’t want to go. Our personal growth relies on regular contact with the unfamiliar.
From Chicago to Minneapolis to the Virtual, my interactions this week sparked cognitive enlightenment I wouldn’t have had otherwise. Light up your life by entering and engaging with the unexplored opportunities around you. Human, robot, geographical or virtual – create the space for your greatness to grow.
I hope this week you make strides to put yourself in unfamiliar settings and engage them fully. Take note of the new thoughts that pass through your mind (whether positive or negative).