What Freedom Could You Unlock From An Empty Space?

Have you ever craved space?

Space at work, space at home, space to be creative, or space to simply escape?

I found a new coffee shop this week that was so empty I didn’t realize it was a functioning coffee shop. It was beautiful, two comfy chairs, a small coffee bar at the back and lots of open space. 

It was just what I needed after an unexpected house move thanks to a huge basement flood right before Christmas. With boxes everywhere, I needed some space to simply sit, think, and write. 

The disruption of moving house has meant I get to redesign my home office, Marie-Kondo our house top to bottom, and create new habits to avoid buying so much STUFF that simply isn’t necessary in our lives. 

As I walked back into our old house completely empty and free of our furniture I realized how ginormous our house was, but we couldn’t tell because of everything we had filled it with. 

You have space around you, are you protecting it?

Dedicated to growing your business,

Val

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How To Find The Perfect Community To Belong To

It can be lonely at the top. It can be lonely as a business owner. It can also be lonely when you are physically present but don’t have powerful emotional connections with those around you. 

Last month I was working with the Trust X Alliance Executive Council as they kicked off their strategy and planning for the year. What an incredible community they have built and nurtured for Ingram Micro’s top-performing solution providers around the world.  

When talking to the Trust X Alliance executive council members about why they joined and why they keep coming back, they fall into six areas that are essential for evaluating any community you are part of:

* Get excited and look forward to not dread attending. 

* Grow your business in ways you can truly track: profit, revenue, market share, customer satisfaction. 

* Garner candid feedback on your mistakes. 

* Gain cheerleaders when you need it most. 

* Giving and receiving advice in equal measure. 

* Glean big crazy ideas that you would never have thought of. 

I always like to ask the “So what?” question as to what exactly does someone get from being in a community. Holly Niedzielski, Director of Event Marketing and Partner Communities at Ingram Micro, gave a brilliant tangible example of Trust X Alliance:

"Individually, the 340+ organizations within our community are among the strongest in our industry, and working together as the Trust X Alliance they are extraordinary. Members of this collaborative community are always learning, and trend toward faster and more profitable growth. By focusing on their business, and working together to share and adopt best practices, we’ve seen the Return on Working Capital (ROWC) of our Trust X Alliance members increase—surpassing that of peers outside of the community."

Ask other executives in similar roles to you what communities they are part of and evaluate them against what matters to you in a community. 

Is it time to step away from communities you are part of that no longer are giving you what you need?

If you are a leader responsible for a community in your business I’d be happy to discuss some personalized ideas for how you can grow the size and impact of your community, let’s talk.  

What are your favorite communities you belong to? I’d love to hear recommendations so I can pass them on to others who could be a good fit. 

Dedicated to growing your business,

Val

P.S. I hope you enjoyed this week's VAL-uable Insights, sign up here to get them in your inbox each Monday morning: http://valwrightconsulting.com/newsletter-sign-up/

When There Are Simply No Words

Listen to the song Optimistic by Sounds of Blackness here.

Sometimes there are simply no words. Listen to the lyrics.

This is a song I have used for the last three decades whenever I need inspiration, hope, and positivity.

The situation doesn't matter, but the feeling that music gives you when you need it most transcends the written word.

We lost two legends this weekend.

Kobe Bryant and Clayton Christensen.

My words won't do their legacy justice.

Incase you are somewhere you can't press play and listen right now, or the Apple Music link above fails outside of the US, here are the lyrics:

Keep, keep on

Never say die

When in the midst of sorrow

You can' t see up when looking down

A brighter day tomorrow will bring

You hear the voice of reason

Telling you this can't never be done

No matter how hard reality seems

Just hold on to your dreams

Don't give up and don't give in

Although it seems you never win

You will always pass the test

As long as you keep your head to the sky

You can win as long as you keep your head to the sky

You can win as long as you keep your head to the sky

Be optimistic

If things around you crumble

No, you don't have to stumble and fall

Keep pushing on and don't you look back

I know of storms and strive

I been around them all of life 

Just think ahead and you'll be inspired

To reach higher and higher.

You'll always do your best

If… 

Just be optimistic, because what is the alternative?

Dedicated to growing your business,

Val

P.S. I hope you enjoyed this week's VAL-uable Insights, sign up here to get them in your inbox each Monday morning: http://valwrightconsulting.com/newsletter-sign-up/