Thoughts from an 8pm Warrior

Despite all my talk about bravery in a modern world, I am afraid.

• I’m afraid of failing my goal.
• I’m afraid of missing my children grow up.
• I’m afraid of running out of time.
• I’m afraid of losing people close to me.
• I’m afraid of losing myself.

Yet, without fear there can be no bravery. Without risk, there is no challenge.

Who “braves” one foot waves in their sailboat or takes on the “challenge” of arm wrestling their grandmother?  If you’re not afraid, you’re not brave.

You’re also not pushing yourself hard enough.

As leaders it’s okay to talk about our fears. After that it’s time to do something about them.

That’s bravery.

Have a brave night,

Aaron@Biebert

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I know you’re there.

You are reading this right now and wondering what the heck I’ll say.  The title wasn’t very descriptive and I didn’t begin with anything significant. I still haven’t said much…

For every writer, there is a you.

Writers and leaders sometimes forget about who’s on the other side of their emails, text messages, blog posts or reports.

It’s you.  It’s me.

We’re sitting on our laptop, iPad or phone reading what you send us.  You don’t see us, but we’re privately reacting and thinking about what you just wrote.

The moment we lose focus on the reader, our emails turn into barking, our blog posts turn into mumbles, our reports lose their soul and our written words fails to mean anything.

Write to someone.  Write for someone.

No matter how fatigued, distracted or busy you are, find your voice and speak to us like I’m speaking to you.  We’re here.

Have a great night,

Aaron@Biebert

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We all stub our toes.

We all want to tell someone about it.

When we’re kids, we go to mom or dad.  In school, we call our buddies.  In a marriage, we have our spouse.

I don’t know many successful organizations with two people at the top, and most leaders sit alone when they get hurt, make mistakes, weigh important decisions and need help.

Who was sitting with Leo Apotheker this week as he waited for his firing?  Who helped Steve Jobs pack his things when Apple’s board fired him in 1985?

Leadership can be a lonely business.

It doesn’t need to be.  When leaders allow themselves to join their team and open up, they find something magical happens.

They’re not alone.

Everyone knows we’re human.  We need to act like it.  People expect it and respect it.

We need to open up when we stub our toe.

Have a great night,

Aaron@Biebert

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Once upon a time, employees existed to serve their bosses.

Those days are over.

If you want your team members focused on your customers, patients, students, or other team members, you need to figure out what they need, give it to them, and get out of the way. Leaders need to be user friendly.

• If they have a better way, let them do it.
• When they have something to teach you, learn from it.
• As they need guidance, be consistent.
• If they need you, be there.

They are your customers. Leadership is your product.

Make it user friendly.

Have a great night,

Aaron@Biebert

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I didn’t come up with the idea*.  I’m not the first 8pm Warrior and definitely not the only one.

It is a fascinating tribe and I enjoy learning about what drives leaders to work while others play, chase dreams while others sleep, and push on when others quit.

You are an 8pm Warrior

My fellow 8pm Warriors are some of the best people I know.

How do you find one?  Since I write this blog in the evenings (and you’re reading it), the easiest place to find an 8pm Warrior is by looking in the mirror.

However, it doesn’t have to be a lonely path.  If you’re up this evening learning, growing, pushing, and planning, you are definitely not alone.

When looking for other 8pm Warriors, you’ll probably know one when you meet one. However, I thought it would be fun to have a guide.  Just in case you can’t tell, I wrote this blog post for 12most.com about common traits to look for.  I think you’ll enjoy it.

I wrote it with you in mind.

12 Most Common Characteristics of 8pm Warrior Leaders

Let me know what you think in the comment section.  Did I miss one?  List one too many?  What should be #13?

Have a great night!

Aaron@Biebert

*An 8pm Warrior is someone who uses the evening or early morning hours to work on a project they love. This includes, but is not limited to leaders, entrepreneurs, teachers, designers, artists, writers, or any other person who is passionate about their work and doesn’t confine themselves to a 9 to 5 schedule.

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Fear of the unknown is nothing new.  Ancient mapmakers drew dragons at the edge of maps where no one had ever gone before and added the words “Here There Be Dragons”.

The dragons represented fear of uncertainty.

Despite that same uncertainty, leaders like Christopher Columbus, Marco Polo, and Neil Armstong ignored their fears, pushed into uncharted territories, and changed the world forever. Children still learn their names today.

Leadership is all about uncertainty.  Isn’t that the whole point?

No adult needs a leader to show them how to rest, find diversion, or get comfortable. That’s easy for us!

We need brave leaders when it’s time to push higher limits, conquer new fears, and take us where we’ve never been before.

Leaders go first.

There is still a place for bravery in a modern world and we need brave leaders to meet the challenges of tomorrow and inspire future generations to do things that scare them.

Leaders can’t run from uncertainty.  They must set sail towards the dragons in life and show them for what they are.

They’re myths.

Have a brave night!

Aaron@Biebert

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The world is moving too fast to waste time proving that your instincts are right.

If you’ve had success, go with your gut!

It’s always true that where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Unfortunately, some people require proof of the fire when we can all smell the smoke.

It’s not smart.

Whether it’s Triberr, Klout, or the next big thing, great leaders and entrepreneurs trust their instincts and move full speed ahead.

That’s what Steve Jobs did, and we all know how that turned out.

Don’t wait for the fire.  It will be too late!

Have a great night!

Aaron@Biebert

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This is not a political post…at all.  Just a general look at the reality of business as it is and should be in a world of social media.

I saw on the news that Mitt Romney was getting some heat for saying “Companies are people.”  I’m not sure it’s a smart political thing to say, but I generally agree.  (That’s why I’m not in politics)

Here are five reasons why Mitt Romney was right in a way:

1) Companies have souls

If you’ve ever seen a company face bad news or great news, you’ll agree with me that a company has a soul and it can be shattered, uplifted, or ignored. Don’t ignore it.

2) Companies are born

When companies are born, usually everyone involved near the beginning feels like a proud parent.  The company grows, matures, and develops like a real baby.  Some days you like it, other times you don’t.

3) Companies die

Just as a company can be born, it can die too.  It’s very painful and sometimes they take their owners with them.  I just heard about a suicide of a business leader who lost his business during the recession.

When a business dies, it breaks hearts, dreams, and futures.  It’s very much like a funeral when it happens.

4) Companies have faces

I smile when I see the Starbucks logo. Great marketing leaders realize that their logo is the face of their company and they are careful to protect it.  Don’t let people stretch, crowd, discolor, or alter your logo in any way.  It’s your face.  People know it.

5) Companies have friends

Just like Facebook is friends with Microsoft (for now),  companies with strategic interests often bond together for a common cause.  They share secrets, plans, and connections.  Just like humans.

With the increase in brands using social media platforms, companies now have real human friends too.  Just check out the Facebook wall of the most successful brands out there.  It’s like one big party.

Summary

The best companies act like people.  They play well with others, communicate with one voice, have a heart, and unleash the collective soul of their entire workforce.

Have a great night,

Aaron@Biebert

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