This Week

This week our company, TechTarget, celebrated it’s 20th Anniversary in our San Francisco office with a party for employees and customers.  It got me to reflect on my last 4.5 years there and the people I’ve worked with, clients I’ve had, mentors that have helped me.

In a speech, our CEO said: “it’s really all about the people.”

How true is that?

It’s not about ping pong tables or craft beer on tap that makes a company worth working for.  It’s not a convenient commute or a resume booster.  It’s the people.

The people you sit next to.  The people you shoot the shit with.  The people you work on difficult problems with.  If you’re in sales like me, the people you sell to and grow partnerships with for years at a time.

So, this brings me to two thoughts.

The first, obvious one is to look around.  The tidbit about becoming the five people you surround yourself with is true.  Do you like them?  Are you inspired by them?  Are they making you better?

I think you know what to do if the answer is yes or if it’s no.

But what’s even more important is what type of person you are for your colleagues, friends, clients, bosses.  Yup, let’s take a look in the mirror.  Do you brighten up the room when you walk in?  Do you challenge others around you to be better?  Do you learn from everyone – and try to dispel some wisdom to those willing to listen?

I think if we’re honest with ourselves, most of us would say “Kinda.  Sometimes.”  We can all get better.

And if it’s true that it’s “all about the people”, as I believe it is: then be the best person you can be.  This week.  Today.  This minute.

If we do, we’ll find ourselves in the right place at the right time.

Let’s make this a great week.

Weekly Six-Pack
Here are the 6 things to check out this week:

  1. This week, I wrote about how I broke out of writer’s block.  I stumbled upon a podcast, which led to me “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron.  I believe it can help with any creativity block you find yourself in. 
  2. I’m currently listening to Joe Biden’s heartfelt memoir, Promise Me, Dad.  I don’t talk about politics much and don’t intend to start now.  So far, the book has been less about his views and more about how he has persevered through personal loss and kept hope in the future. 
  3. Two podcasts caught my ears this week.  One is a new (live) episode of Finding Mastery between Michael Gervais and Pete Carroll about leadership.  The second is an old conversation between Jocko Willink and Tim Ferriss about getting out of mental darkness (heavy).   
  4. It’s been a hell of a financial run we’re on.  That means it’s a good reminder of what a crash really looks like and the value of playing the LONG game.
  5. For my salespeople, this is an oldie but goodie that I shared with my team this week about The New Sales Imperative.  
  6. I loved Steven Pressfield’s article about finding a sacred space for your writing.  The same can be said for your office, your garage gym, your kitchen.  Wherever you intend to do your best work, it needs to be a sacred space.

Quote of the Week

“We are kept from our goal not by obstacles but by a clear path to a lesser goal.”

– Robert Brault

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