Pattern Recognition

Firsts can be our biggest challenges. First kid, first leadership role, first time CEO, first time entrepreneur, first time surfing, riding a bike, or a marathon are challenging. The struggle is two-fold; learning this new skill and the fear of learning this new skill. “What if” questions flood our minds. Often unaware, the person will start to live in the future and see worst-case scenarios. I have said before on my podcasts, “the most miserable business people I meet are big idea people, who are stuck in fear and can’t take that first step.” The funny thing about making those first steps is there suddenly are people, resources, guides to help you along; you just haven’t noticed them before. Learn how to identify that fear and what to do about it. Lastly, if you think you are fearless, guess again; you’re not.

This podcast is all about perception and how you choose to see yourself in the world. And if you are thinking of skipping this one, don’t. Perception goes beyond daily aphorisms or other “surface” tactics to boost your mood. Perceptional changes happen deep within you, may take some time, and open new and refreshing possibilities for leaders. If a person believes that leaders should be stoic, show no weakness, and always “game on,” that person is spending tremendous energy and brain space to portray that persona. That leader is doing a disservice to themselves, their employees, and their organization. This podcast will help you shift some notions of what being a good leader means and how we can get stuck in a rut with our assumptions without ever updating them to the world around us. It’s time to update your game.

My first challenging leader was for my paper route (if you don’t know what it is, ask your parents) when I was ten years old. Unfortunately, it didn’t stop there. Whether it is a new boss looking to make their mark, bad hiring decisions, lack of an appropriate talent pool, or just lack of training, challenging leaders are widespread. There are positive challenges to help you, your team, and your company grow; there are negative challenges. Both positive or negative can be hard to understand, accomplish, or stay mentally fit to address them. Everyone has tough leaders. I work with big visionaries (founders) and have realized that there are challenges to working with big thinkers; it is a package deal. Let’s chat about challenging leaders and what you can do to help them (often your best course of action), as well as yourself.

If you were alive in the 90s, you invariably heard the Barenaked Ladies “If I had a Million Dollars.” The last line of the song is “I’d be rich.” The crazy thing is, for most people, you might move that goal and get more. It’s not only money; it can be partners, accolades, material possessions, body image, etc. Once we reach a goal, we start thinking about the next goal. This is especially true of goal-oriented people. If this “moving goal syndrome” remains unchecked, that person will never be happy, never be satisfied. Learn how this exhibit in a person, what it means, and how to identify it in yourself. This isn’t just a trait for people with personality disorders; it likely is playing out for most people – you included.

Great leaders see market opportunities that others do not. They see around corners, find and build a great team, and can even collaborate with passionate (and sometimes challenging) leaders around them. In short, they see what others do not. Let’s become great leaders and see Imposter Syndrome in a way that others do not - as an asset. Like so many obstacles, roadblocks, and challenges in our lives, we see them as a detriment or a weakness. Weakness is the wrong way to approach feeling like an imposter. Here is a hint for the podcast: Only those with imagination, brains, and genius feel like imposters; Mediocrity does not. One of the painful things about our time is that those who feel certainty are stupid, and those with any imagination and understanding are filled with doubt and indecision. ― Bertrand Russell

Business leaders need a whole new set of tools to be successful. It is no longer good enough to have expertise in your discipline. Leaders need interpersonal skills, empathy, awareness, and 3rd party objectivity to see the blind spots in all of us. Simply put, Pattern Recognition is the blend of business acumen and psychology that makes leaders great. If you want to be the very best, understanding your personal biases and obstacles will need to merge with tools to build the best teams, achieve loyal followers, and accelerate your organization in the marketplace. These skills are not learned in B-school. They are made from 20 years of experience and hundreds upon hundreds of conversations, interactions, and downright failures. There is no emotional, fortune-cookie wisdom here. Our insights have a practical application for your management style and focus on making better leaders. Some of this may apply to your personal life, but the insights you glean from us have direct causation: better leaders make better organizations. Author, Investor, and Board-Advisor to the new generation of Silicon Valley success stories takes insights from Sand Hill Road, the global entrepreneurial community, and a rigorous study of psychology to the podcast. Many have listened to the prior podcast, Foundersplace, and wanted more. Pattern Recognition builds on that success and those conversations to uncover every leader’s traits that hold them back. Most organizations just accept lousy leaders. Don’t we deserve better leadership? Is there any reason why we should not demand it?