Alan Weiss’s Monday Morning Memo® – 2/1/16

I have alway eschewed the kind of honors that you pay for, e.g., one of the myriad,worthless Who’s Who books. I actually placed my dog, Trotsky, in one once. His check cleared the bank. Nevertheless, I have a couple of shelves full of awards. I guess I’ve earned some, but I’m always aware that there are those who are even more deserving who haven’t received them.

The current brouhaha over the Oscars is an example of too much focus on too little importance. I don’t doubt there’s racism (or ageism, or other isms) in Hollywood and elsewhere. But my expereince is that the “best” movie, or actor, or song, or play (and Tony or Emmy or Grammy) seldom is. The honorifics in the field of speaking and consulting, I know first-hand, are political, accidental, and stochastic. That’s why I don’t string the 14 initials after my name I’m “entitled” to, because it places emphasis on a tiny, insulated group of people making very personal and often biased judgments.

I don’t want to be known by my intiials or my awards. I want to be known by my behaviors and successes. After all, truly successful people don’t receive awards, they bestow awards, they have awards named after them.

All of you may, if you choose, proceed as DROAMMM (Distinguised Readers of Alan’s Monday Morning Memo). That, and two dollars, will get you on a bus.

A thing is not necessarily true because a man dies for it.

— Oscar Wilde

New Retreat Series: My first small group will be April 7-8 in Boston on Overcoming Guilt. Isn’t that worth 1.5 days? http://www.alanweiss.com/growth-experiences/alans-2016-retreat-experience/

Outrageous Content Workshop: Already had to move to a larger facility, spend six hours to create intellectual property and support that will last you for years and draw clients to you immediately: http://www.alanweiss.com/growth-experiences/the-outrageous-content-creation-workshop/

Million Dollar Consulting® Convention: In LA in March, the best such conference in the world. My featured guest is Marshall Goldsmith, and we have an all-star faculty: http://www.alanweiss.com/growth-experiences/million-dollar-consulting-convention/

Periscope Broadcast:  My next is at 11 am eastern on Feb. 5, this Friday. Download the app and follow me: @BentelyGTCSpeed. Special feature: I’ve archived past broadcasts here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/k2boam75fzurzae/AADYfmfPadh2oD2pKxHzPT4Fa?dl=0 All free!