As an avid reader of blogs (so much to learn from so many), there are a dozen that I monitor regularly. Chris Brogan’s is one of them and he recently described a decision point in life as an intersection on the road. It’s not a unique analogy and it wasn’t the first time I heard it. But for some reason, it gave me reason to really think deeply about the decisions we make, big and small. Although I am not one to “accelerate at crossroads” in a literal sense, I would say that I continue to press on the gas pedal when it comes to important personal and professional decisions. One thing I do not suffer from is “analysis paralysis” which I continue to see spreading across teams I observe. Countless opportunities are missed while decision makers sit on the sidelines waiting for perfect data. Rather than make the mistake of sitting on the sidelines watching opportunities pass me by, I prefer to take the field, explore the art of the possible, and accumulate both opportunities seized and opportunities to learn. I have found that I have learned very little in life while sitting on the sidelines looking for the optimal time to enter the game. I have also found that the mistakes I make on the field today result in my getting it right the next time.
In addition to his blog, Chris Brogan also authored the book Trust Agents, which is one of the inspirations behind me starting to write myself. The premise of the book is to guide people into leveraging social media to facilitate their evolution into that of a ‘Trust Agent’. The authors describe a ‘Trust Agent’ as a person who isn’t necessarily a marketer or in the business of sales, but is digitally savvy and uses the web to “humanize businesses using transparency, honesty, and genuine relationships.” That message alone really grabbed my attention.
I encourage anyone who sees himself as a ‘Trust Agent’, sees value in becoming one, or would like to help others evolve into the same, to read the book and follow through on the recommendations within. Get on the field. Make mistakes. Seize opportunity.
- How do you react when you find yourself at a decision point?
- If you do brake, does your caution result in missed opportunities?
- If you accelerate, do you find yourself avoiding or creating collisions? Are they collisions of opportunity?
