How to Really Kick Ass

"The surest way to guarantee nothing interesting happens is to assume you know exactly how to do it." [Kathy Sierra]

One of the reasons why I'm inspired by people like Kathy Sierra, Guy Kawasaki, Charlene Li, Brian Solis, Hugh MacLeod, Robert Scoble, to give a few examples, is not just that I got to know them through their writing, and meet them in real life. It's also because each one of them has had interesting evolutions in their work - what they do and how they do it.

And no, it's not about the tools. It's about the people.

They've become popular for the one thing they have in common. What they have in common is the fact that they give power to their users. They do it differently and in different ways, depending on who they are. They are not afraid to make changes in their projects and direction, either.

That got me thinking about the times when I've leaped in my career. It happened when I've ignored limitations - those imposed by the rules and the self-imposed kind, too - and when I've helped my readers/colleagues/peers/family/friends (insert your word here) kick ass.

My top ten observations about how to go from here to kicking dust -  in no particular order:

(1.) Make it about others and the community

It's counter intuitive, I know, but when you give power away, you get influence in return.

(2.) Be human and approachable

The only barriers that exist are those you may erect - so don't.

(3.) Stay curious and interested

The most interesting people are those who are most interested in you, in learning, in doing stuff.

(4.) Pick your projects well

If you have a choice, do you know which one will give you more joy and thus yield?

(5.) Have courage

You could be the first one or the only one.

(6.) Be grateful and practice

It takes years of practice for something to look easy.

(7.) Give value, give credit

The biggest compliment you can receive is that someone gets an idea you shared done.

(8.) Get out of your comfort zone

Sometimes taking an outright risk is easier than stretching beyond known territory.

(9.) Put skin in the game

The only way you're ever going to succeed is if you figure out what you can offer the world.

(10.) Accept what happens

This is probably the most difficult of all.

***

The best way to get your wishes done is to help others realize their dreams. I created a permanent page on this blog that is about you to help you get a start. I'm listening - connecting ideas and people is not just a clever tag line, it's what I do and who I am.

What are your top ways to kick ass? Who are your rock stars?

[photo courtesy of livepath]

© 2006-2009 Valeria Maltoni. All rights reserved.

Comments

[Nancy Hinchliff]

Thanks for the great post. You are so right, it is so important to make users feel the have some value. Good way to keep them using. And you are so right on with the people you gave as examples who do this consistently.

[Heather Marie Philipp]

Thanks, this is a great and welcome post! Gonna ruminate on it today. Happy Friday and happy SXSW!! Wish I were there...

~ Heather
http://www.heathermariephilipp.com

[Joy-Mari]

I keep forgetting number 6. And then I hate myself for not being better at X.

I'll try to remember this from now on.

[CASUDI]

Great post as always! It seems the biggest barrier to doing 1-9 is the fear of not being able to accept what happens (10) if things don't go as planned, or right, or worse the opposite happens! The more one learns to accepts failure then the more one is willing to stick ones neck out and try new things.

[Brian DR1665]

This one is so great, I'm going to print it out and pin it to the cube wall this morning. Kick ass. Take names. Empower those names.

[Kathy Sierra]

That's twice in one day now that you have inspired me. So, cheers and thanks, Valeria!
-- Kathy

[Lola Audu]

Really glad I stopped by today. Giving power away flies in the face of our conventional view of authority.

The power of influence is much more subtle, but has the advantage of being more pervasive. It's a whole different ball game when you followers enable leadership as opposed to simply tolerating it.

[Neil Anuskiewicz]

A very inspiring post, Valeria, and cool photo!

[Valeria Maltoni]

@Nancy - of the many conversations we had at SxSW, the one that resonated the most with me was that social means we contribute to lifting others up. I like that.

@Heather - thank you for stopping by.

@Joy-Mari - right there with you :)

@Caroline - thank you for the update on twitter about your blog. Just because our intended consequence may not match the direction in which we end up going, it does not mean we failed.

@Brian - glad to be of service.

@Kathy - I love your work. Thank you.

@Lola - some days we probably feel like Clark instead of Superman. I like to call influence the soft power, that you never need to yield intentionally; people give it to you because they respect your work, etc.

@Neil - meeting Scoble was one of the many highlights of the trip.

[Neil Anuskiewicz]

I meant it was a cool picture because you were in it! I did not notice Scoble in the photo until you mentioned it. :-)

I have seen Scoble in other pictures before but, yes, it must have been fascinating to meet him. I like his blog.

[Ricardo Bueno]

You know Valeria, number 10 is probably the most difficult... After all, aren't we our own harshest critics?

I have a great deal of motivation for what I do and that drives me forward despite whatever challenges I might face. Every now and then I'll have a hiccup, but I'll get up and move forward. Sometimes I'll admit that I dwell on things a bit too much and that's not good (so I've learned)...but I'm making progress.