I am reliable at many things. Being a CEO isn’t one of them. If you’re wondering who tanked the once-thriving B2B part of my business, you might peel the plot curtain back just a bit farther than the pandemic to reveal . . . me. Your unreliable ‘Doh narrator.
These alternate CEO titles gave me a huge smile and chuckle this morning, thank you!!! Maybe I am a (Kajal-certified) ✨ cEo ✨ after all 😆🙏❤️🎉 And I’m honored to be your favorite CEO, the absolute highest compliment!!
You're not just my favorite -- You're my favorite because you show up reliably and authentically in those ways 100% of the time-- and that's what I love and that keeps me coming back to you!
Whew! Don't leave us hanging! I want the next part! And as for reliable used in a negative way, tut, tut. Here is what you are, Jenny Blake. . . Reliable: conveys the idea of constant occurrence; consistently good in quality or performance, able to be trusted. The ability to measure the same thing consistently. The latin root lig, li, and ly mean “tie.” Related to ligament, reliable, obligation. Whatever you do, you are always reliably YOURSELF!
So funny. We actually used EOS at our last company and I brought parts of it to CF. It's sort of elegant. I think it works really well for people and teams with employee mindsets. (Even though it's entrepreneurial.) You are not an employee so I can see where you'd get hives reading it. I so feel that back and forth of "I am a CEO" vs "I am a writer" vs "I am an artist". What do people "need" to think of you to hire you and take you seriously? I have been doing so much of that lately. I have created multiple websites, edited my LI a 100 times, and changed all forward-facing work depending on my mood and level of fear. When I'm at a 5, my edits paint me as a boring and vanilla appropriate person willing to mold into whatever the "employer" needs be to be. When I'm a 0 on the fear scale, I'm all me. I'm confident and sure that what I have to offer as myself is better than good enough. Going back and forth from 0-5 on a day-to-day basis is so frustrating, not to mention how confusing it must me for people who happen to see it. Eesh. Thank you as always for putting excellent words to all of this.
It really is an elegant solution and I can totally see how it gives disorganized companies, especially early stage ones, a simple way to set goals and stay focused. I just totally failed at properly implementing it 😭 I so hear you on how mood and fear directly impact how it feels to navigate change and especially the time in-between, where both can swing so dramatically from hope to despair and back again. I love your awareness around what the fear-based "5" Mel looks and sounds like and what the "0" fear scale "all me" is — I know you're discovering more and more of that version every day, and we all benefit so much the more you that you are :)
Identities....like rooms in a house or apartment. Sometimes many, sometimes few, sometimes loved, sometimes tired. Maybe the CEO room wasn't right. Time for a make-over of the room. The core qualities remain but used in a new way and with a different style. Have fun with the re-do!
Thank you Scott!! I love that metaphor — I’ll be in the library with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and one of those cool rolling ladders, and a secret door where you pull a book and the shelf swivels to reveal navy blue walls and big leather sitting chairs with stained glass lamps 🗝️📚🤓📚🛋️🕯️
Jenny, for years I felt like a failure because I didn’t seem to have the chops / know-how / courage to turn my solopreneur venture into an entrepreneurial one, with a staff and a team, etc. Those days are behind me and I’m now willing to say I’m #unretired but gosh you capture that dilemma so well! I am now a writer, podcaster, storytelling director, grandmother, etc. It’s enough. 🤓
Debbie! I forgot to reply to this last month while seeing it on-the-go, and I just wanted to say how much I loved re-reading this last line: "I am now a writer, podcaster, storytelling director, grandmother, etc. It’s enough." It is PERFECT!! 🎉 Can't think of better roles to embrace ❤️
Caring. Energizing. Optimistic.
Creative. Energy-Centered. Openness.
Charismatic. Empathetic. Open-minded.
❤️ You're my favorite C.E.O.-- in so many different ways.
These alternate CEO titles gave me a huge smile and chuckle this morning, thank you!!! Maybe I am a (Kajal-certified) ✨ cEo ✨ after all 😆🙏❤️🎉 And I’m honored to be your favorite CEO, the absolute highest compliment!!
You're not just my favorite -- You're my favorite because you show up reliably and authentically in those ways 100% of the time-- and that's what I love and that keeps me coming back to you!
The crazy part -- if more "CEO's" were able to be more of a C.E.O. ....I think the world would be in much better shape :)
You're reliably special, Jenny!
Whew! Don't leave us hanging! I want the next part! And as for reliable used in a negative way, tut, tut. Here is what you are, Jenny Blake. . . Reliable: conveys the idea of constant occurrence; consistently good in quality or performance, able to be trusted. The ability to measure the same thing consistently. The latin root lig, li, and ly mean “tie.” Related to ligament, reliable, obligation. Whatever you do, you are always reliably YOURSELF!
I agree. The only thing you need to reliably be is YOU!
Thank you Ben and Penney!! I love the idea of all of us being reliably ourselves, and leaning in more and more to that :) Brilliant!
So funny. We actually used EOS at our last company and I brought parts of it to CF. It's sort of elegant. I think it works really well for people and teams with employee mindsets. (Even though it's entrepreneurial.) You are not an employee so I can see where you'd get hives reading it. I so feel that back and forth of "I am a CEO" vs "I am a writer" vs "I am an artist". What do people "need" to think of you to hire you and take you seriously? I have been doing so much of that lately. I have created multiple websites, edited my LI a 100 times, and changed all forward-facing work depending on my mood and level of fear. When I'm at a 5, my edits paint me as a boring and vanilla appropriate person willing to mold into whatever the "employer" needs be to be. When I'm a 0 on the fear scale, I'm all me. I'm confident and sure that what I have to offer as myself is better than good enough. Going back and forth from 0-5 on a day-to-day basis is so frustrating, not to mention how confusing it must me for people who happen to see it. Eesh. Thank you as always for putting excellent words to all of this.
It really is an elegant solution and I can totally see how it gives disorganized companies, especially early stage ones, a simple way to set goals and stay focused. I just totally failed at properly implementing it 😭 I so hear you on how mood and fear directly impact how it feels to navigate change and especially the time in-between, where both can swing so dramatically from hope to despair and back again. I love your awareness around what the fear-based "5" Mel looks and sounds like and what the "0" fear scale "all me" is — I know you're discovering more and more of that version every day, and we all benefit so much the more you that you are :)
Identities....like rooms in a house or apartment. Sometimes many, sometimes few, sometimes loved, sometimes tired. Maybe the CEO room wasn't right. Time for a make-over of the room. The core qualities remain but used in a new way and with a different style. Have fun with the re-do!
Thank you Scott!! I love that metaphor — I’ll be in the library with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and one of those cool rolling ladders, and a secret door where you pull a book and the shelf swivels to reveal navy blue walls and big leather sitting chairs with stained glass lamps 🗝️📚🤓📚🛋️🕯️
https://www.pexels.com/photo/top-view-of-library-with-red-stairs-1261180/ There isn't a sliding ladder but it looks pretty cool for your mental imagery - loving your visualisation!
Incredible!!! Even a bridge inbetween?! I bet AI could come up with some wildly fantastical libraries for us :D
Jenny, for years I felt like a failure because I didn’t seem to have the chops / know-how / courage to turn my solopreneur venture into an entrepreneurial one, with a staff and a team, etc. Those days are behind me and I’m now willing to say I’m #unretired but gosh you capture that dilemma so well! I am now a writer, podcaster, storytelling director, grandmother, etc. It’s enough. 🤓
Debbie! I forgot to reply to this last month while seeing it on-the-go, and I just wanted to say how much I loved re-reading this last line: "I am now a writer, podcaster, storytelling director, grandmother, etc. It’s enough." It is PERFECT!! 🎉 Can't think of better roles to embrace ❤️