The point of diminishing returns

 

There are only so many hours in a day and in reality you can only give 100% of your total effort to all the work you do.  Using your time and energy effectively becomes extremely important when you become busier.  In addition become very busy takes away other aspects of your life which includes family, friends, and personal hobbies.

This is a lesson I learned from my mentor and I believe everyone should think twice before becoming too busy.  For those who are motivated individuals like myself we can get caught up in the trap of becoming too busy and being involved in many initiatives or projects.

It sounds like a positive trait however many motivated individuals fail to see that being too busy and getting involved in a lot projects will reach the point of diminishing returns.  What does that exactly mean?  Well let’s look at the chart below:

If you are working on two things you can only give a total of 100%.  Task one is getting 79% of your energy in which creates a positive output.  The input is the work you put in + the process = the output (percent of return). Having roughly 80% of your energy dedicated to Task 1 is having a positive output for that task.

Now let’s look at the 2^nd chart below:

This chart is an example of someone who is involved in many things.  Although it sounds very motivating that a person is involved in many tasks/projects/initiatives but as you can see you are unable to provide a greater output because you are stretched out thin.  In addition, do you even have time for your personal life?  This exceeds the point of diminishing returns where we believe we are doing great however you are actually not providing the maximum potential outputs to the tasks you own.

The moral of the story is less is better!  Focus on your key tasks/initiatives and be cautious about spreading yourself to thin.  You should prioritize your work and FOCUS on gaining maximum output.

 

Ryan

9/11 a Day of Service

9/11 has forever changed the pathway of my life.  I was enlisted in Recruit Training (Boot Camp) in Parris Island, South Carolina and my platoon was in the final phases of boot camp and it was the first day of the infamous “Crucible.”  I will never forget when I overheard a side conversation with my Series Gunnery Sergeant with our Drill Instructors.  As we received a brief downtime from training our Company Commander has informed us of the terrible news.  We as upcoming Marines at the time were upset, sad, and full of emotion.  We were no longer serving to get away from home or to fund our college education, we are now serving our nation to go to war.

As we completed the Crucible and earned our titles “US Marine,” our Series Gunnery Sergeant has told us this is for real.  We will find ourselves doing what Marines are trained to do!  Whether on ship, air, or on land, we will be called to battle.

My life has changed.. no longer am I the Marine who signed up to get away from home.  As I returned home to enjoy my 10 days of leave.. I volunteered to help out at the WTC site.  I met a few other Marines (active and reservist) who put on their uniform to help firefighters and police officers.  I’ll never forget a firemen I met who was saddened that he was digging up his own people.  He was a discharged Marine Corps veteran and he looked me in the eye and told me he is going back in.  His words to me, “this is a moment when our nation needs us most, we are counting on you and the other Marines… I will be joining you and hope to see you out there.”

Fast forward two years later in Operation Iraqi Freedom.. I ran into that fireman and saw him in his desert cami’s with attached to a reserve unit in Garden City.  I don’t remember his name but his face and desire has never left my mind.

This is my story of 9-11.. we will never forget where we were.. I was earning the title “Marine” and my life has forever changed..

Thank you for all the first responders who were brave to run into the burning buildings… Thank you for the service members who volunteered their lives to serve our nation..

– Ryan Enriquez

Personal Success Wheel – Who’s got your back

I am currently reading Keith Ferrazzi’s book “Who’s Got Your Back.”  One of his famous lines that I often quote my peers is, “Do you have a relationship/action plan?”  I first read “Never Eat Alone” and it has given me some strong fundamentals for networking and giving back.  Since I read that book, I have a new perspective on how to build and nourish relationships.   It’s not about surrounding myself with successful people, but making the people I surround myself with more successful.

Every year I develop a  yearly personal plan that will set my deliverables and accountability I must do for the next fiscal year.  I set two goals, one for personal and one for my career.  As I continue to read Keith’s book on Creating your personal success wheel, it make much sense.  I do not what to get caught up in the “insane” cycle on living and working without a sole personal purpose.   After reading this chapter I am looking to enhance the 5 pieces of the personal success wheel. 

• Spirituality – I will seek more time for myself to focus that will ground myself beyond my life.  With the active and busy life I live, I believe I need personal time that will help me reflect on who I am and what is my purpose in this world. 
• Intellectual Stimulation – I read about 20-30 books a year ranging from my favorite topics such as business, leadership, and self-help.  This year I seek an opportunity to be creative by being more artistic and learning about cultures and history.
• Physical Wellness – I will continue to take care of my body by varying my workouts and testing my physical strength and endurance.  Fitness also keeps me motivated, driven, ambitious, and connects with spirituality of self discovery.
• Deep relationships – I am building my 1000 man army, however I want to organically continue to grow my trusted support networking and my loving relationship.
• Giving back and philanthropic outreach – I volunteer much of my time with ALPFA and various veterans organizations.  I often contribute some of my earnings and time to the community to impact positive change.

We are all connected!  The purpose of building myself is to help the network of peers around me more successful.  Our actions we take will affect the people around you.  Don’t just create a personal success wheel for yourself, but help your support network create their own.

Ryan Enriquez

Be a great Manager

It’s never too late to learn how to be a great manager.  It doesn’t matter what industry, function, or expertise you have, management is a skill and an art in which you will need to learn if you want to move ahead.

Learn from the best!  Darryl Conner is a Change Management Expert. 

When I was in the Marines, I was given a new platoon to command.  As a new platoon sergeant, being the leader doesn’t concern me with change management, why?  The Marines are trained to follow orders and employ the strategies and tactics I give them with instant obedience.  In turn, my Marines don’t have to worry about me as the new leader because I’ve been trained to lead what the rankings provide.

In the business world — Not so similar — First you have to manage the change of you to the subordinates and the subordinates to you.  Both parties need to meet eye to eye.  You will be learning as they will be learning.

As a new manager, start by communicating the objectives (missions) of the department or group.  This can simply mean you are setting expectations.  Give them the breakdown of the goals and the business.  You will always be challenged by the newness of the change.  Typical reactions of your subordinates to a new manager:

• Victim – Terrified of the impending change, like status quo
• Bystander – Hoping for things to stay the same
• Resister – Critic trying to rally others to resist the change
• Navigator – Handles it in stride keeping focus on the mission and the opportunity
• Opportunist – Seizes the changing time to promote self or ideas

As a new Manager, you need to make it happen early! Involve everyone early, communicate with them often, and let them know you are a leader!

The Manager must learn how to be a leader – and learn how to inspire

Management is a destination, leadership is the ship that will take you there!

As a Leader… use this acronym:  MOST

M – the Mission
O - the Objective
S – the Strategy
T – the Tactics to make it happen

There are many philosophies on leadership and management.. tons of books with great wisdom and techniques..  It is part Art and part Technique.  Managers are often individuals that are expected to do the impossible.  They are expected to solve their superior’s problems, and their subordinates’ problems and their own.  While they make this happen, a great manager will never lose his bearing and will never break a sweat. 

Leadership:

- A successful leader is having your subordinates respect you for who you are.. not your rank or position. As a great manager, the journey to get your team to the goal requires you to be a judge, negotiator, referee, counselor, and a coach.  You must always be honest and demonstrate positive values.  I also encourage managers to learn from their subordinates and reward them for their valued effort. 

To build and retain trust, you must be accessible!  Always remind your people if they have any questions or concerns, you are ready and willing to listen.  Let them make mistakes and take responsibility for it.  Ensure that the mistake is a learning experience.  Learn from your own mistakes, you have responsibility for other people’s actions, so the last thing you want to do is be responsible for someone’s mistake.  When things don’t turn out the way it is expected, recognize what you could have done differently.  Finally, treat everyone with respect and equally! 

 I would like to thank my ACP Mentor for coaching and teaching me all the above concepts!

Ryan Enriquez

2010 Reading List for MBA Students

2010 has been a great year.  Just before 2010, a friend of mine gave me inspiration to think “BIG.”  I vow to never sell myself short and to work with a purpose.  I continue to receive mentoring from top executives, friends, and classmates from the MBA program.

There are two ways of learning, which is to read and explore. This year I have read several books to enhance my business acumen and learn new skill sets.

• Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time– Keith Ferrazzi, Tahl Raz
• The Minto Pyramid Principle: Logic in Writing, Thinking, & Problem Solving
• The McKinsey Mind: Understanding and Implementing the Problem-Solving Tools and Management Techniques of the World’s Top Strategic Consulting Firm by Ethan Rasiel, Ph.D., Paul N. Friga
• The Lords of Strategy: The Secret Intellectual History of the New Corporate World - Walter Kiechel
• The McKinsey Engagement: A Powerful Toolkit For More Efficient and Effective Team Problem Solving
• by Ph.D., Paul N. Friga
• Six Disciplines® Execution Revolution: Solving the One Business Problem That Makes Solving All Other Problems Easier by Gary Harpst
• Action Inquiry: The Secret of Timely and Transforming Leadership by William R Torbert
• Corps Business: The 30 Management Principles of the U.S. Marines by David H. Freedman
• The Dragonfly Effect: Quick, Effective, and Powerful Ways To Use Social Media to Drive Social Change
• Lean Thinking: Banish Waste and Create Wealth in Your Corporation, Revised and Updated – James P. Womack, Daniel T. Jones
• Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion – Gary Vaynerchuk
• Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies – Jim Collins, Jerry I. Porras
• Merge Ahead: Mastering the Five Enduring Trends of Artful M&A (Future of Business Series) – Gerald Adolph, Justin Pettit, Michael Sisk
• On the Professions of Management - Peter Drucker

Ryan Enriquez

American Corporate Partners – Veterans Mentorship Program

 I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to have a mentor and executive coach ACP has assigned me.  Coming close to our six month relationship, he has been a valuable addition to helping me transition into the business world.  My coach was a former Marine like myself became a successful executive for PepsiCo. 

As I continue to mentor others, I always believe that finding a mentor is a great way to help you find direction and provide you with great wisdom.  Throughout our six month relationship, he has helped guide me to gain recognition within my current employer and inspired to me stay involved with the community.  The program is enhancing and building my foundation for success. 

My coach’s notes to ACP:

 I preached to Ryan a little about how it becomes our mission as Marines to support those who follow. Ryan has taken this mission beyond my expectations to veterans and the community. Like the candle that lights ten candles, when all said and done Ryan’s candle will light a 100 candles.
 
I view Ryan as being destined for greater accomplishments which, as you will note, I work hard at filling his basket of Learning’s by meeting with individuals (my Support Network) in different walks of life. Once we get Ryan’s career fully focused to next steps (targeted for early 2011) I will conclude the formal relationship with Core Values that go with being a high level Manager.

We are approaching the second half of the mentorship program and I look forward to listening to his guidance.  I will keep you all updated with my ACP program.

  

For more info visit:  American Corporate Partners

Ryan Enriquez

 

The Mexican Fisherman and the Investment Banker

Here is one of my favorite stories I pass on to all my friends….

The Parable of The Mexican Fisherman And The Investment Banker

An American investment banker was taking a much-needed vacation in a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. The boat had several large, fresh fish in it.

The investment banker was impressed by the quality of the fish and asked the Mexican how long it took to catch them. The Mexican replied, “Only a little while.” The banker then asked why he didn’t stay out longer and catch more fish?

The Mexican fisherman replied he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs.

The American then asked “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”

The Mexican fisherman replied, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos: I have a full and busy life, senor.”

The investment banker scoffed, “I am an Ivy League MBA, and I could help you. You could spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat, and with the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats until eventually you would have a whole fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to the middleman you could sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You could control the product, processing and distribution.”

Then he added, “Of course, you would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City where you would run your growing enterprise.”

The Mexican fisherman asked, “But senor, how long will this all take?”

To which the American replied, “15-20 years.”

“But what then?” asked the Mexican.

The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You could make millions.”

“Millions, senor? Then what?”

To which the investment banker replied, “Then you would retire. You could move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”

—–

Why do I love this story? This story has taught me what money is about and not what it’s about.  After hearing about this story I look to find a much more meaningful balance with work, my family, and friends.  The simple pleasures in life is often overlooked!  We are quick to chase that “American Dream” that many people are working very hard to do so but when will it be about YOU?  Life is all about being happy and fulfilling.  Money is dispensable but your relationships and priceless moments is what you will cherish.  

Ryan Enriquez

Can Leadership be Measured

 

I do believe leadership can be measured.   There are metrics you can apply to measure a leader’s short term success, but in the long term, leadership is measured over time by tangible and intangible success factors.  It’s not about creating a vision and strategy but how well you execute and be consistent with your journey.  

Based on my experience, a true measure of success for a leader is continuous improvement and the IMPACT that it has to a human resource.  It is the overall growth the leader can inspire to help their employees and followers grow professionally and socially.   Leaders need the ability to innovate and create positive change and must have a passion and purpose for their position.  

Everybody but the leader who will define his/her success and it is way beyond the final numbers which we all tend to measure.  Finally I would like to add, a successful leader is someone who can inspire others to become effective leaders!  

Ryan Enriquez

To Inspire, not Motivate

Motivation is short term action.. Inspiration is life changing actions!

Lately I’ve been hearing many people around me seeking motivation for a change in their life.  Motivation is a positive way to be productive, but yet sometimes with plenty of motivation we may achieve short term goals, but we are losing sight of the long term.  Inspiration is life changing… it is seeing our desires, dreams, passion, and purpose in our lives. 

I’ve read many motivational books and quotes. I’ve attended many seminars and had the opportunity to be around plenty of motivational leaders.  Yes, it is a blessing, but it only takes one or very few inspirational people to change your life.   

What are differences between motivation and inspiration:

When I was in the Marine Corps, my Staff Sergeant would always try to “motivate” our platoon.  Sometimes it can be manipulative and nonproductive such as we are not doing a good job today, today let’s work together as a team so we can achieve our goal!  Sounds motivating right!  It will accomplish short term goals but never the long term.   Motivation leaves us short sighted.  This motivational statement can go against us, what if we don’t accomplish our goal, and then what?  Perhaps punishment?    It may light some fire in our shoes, but it is not inspirational. 

A remember a day in Iraq that forever inspired me.  It was February 2003, right before the invasion of Iraq.  Our unit was waiting killing time in Kuwait.   There were countless hours of gas drills, digging sandbags, gas drills, and digging sandbags again.  I don’t know any Marine who likes to dig sand bags but my Platoon Sergeant at the time stated, “What do we look forward to today? Digging more sandbags right Marines?  We let me tell you all, this sandbag your digging is for a greater purpose! It can possibly save your life or another Marine!”  WOW!  That changed my whole perception to do work for a purpose, not because we have to do it.  My Platoon Sergeant inspired me!

Another inspirational moment was several weeks ago in my Executive MBA class, my instuctor was teaching us how to be great leaders.  We are to lead as a Strategist, working towards a greater purpose and to understand those we lead by tapping into their own passions and leading them to accomplish it.  My professor has impacted me that my dream in life is to inspire people around me, for long term sustainment and for personal growth.  It is now my vision to influence others and create a positive effect on people around me. 

That is the difference between motivation and inspiration. 

Inspiration begins with your lifestyle:

When I was personal training in college, many people would approach me for training sessions seeking to lose weight for the summer.  I would ask them what “motivated” you to start a fitness program.   Some of their statements would be: I want to tone up, I want to lose six inches off my waist, I want to drop 20 lbs.  I would often respond, let me give you a different perspective, how would you feel if you were able to run with your children again, how would it feel if you were to able to compete in a basketball league, how would it feel by leading a healthy fit lifestyle, what impacts can you have for those around you?? That is inspiration!!   I am inspired by other fitness enthusiast who promotes positive change around them. 

The bottom line is this:  Inspiration involves your spirit!  It is your dreams and the long life you will live.  Don’t be short sighted but take actions for a purpose that will impact others in a positive way.  As for business leaders, inspiration will not only make you more profitable, but it will also improve your employee retention and increase productivity.  Your workers will have loyalty to you, the company, and its customers.  I am happy to be surrounded by inspirational people.  I hope by reading this, you will be inspired to impact people’s lives around you.  Be a part of people’s journey and help them reach their destination.

Ryan Enriquez

Philosophy of Mentorship

I am a volunteer mentor to newly discharged veterans who are a entering the workforce or academic life (civilian life).  Additionally, I have my own arsenal of mentors.  Some are colleagues, fitness enthusiast, business, education, and life.   I believe every person is unique in their own way.  In life we have needs and wants.  We seek security, love, and a positive environment to grow physically, emotionally, intellectually, mentally, and socially.   If your fortunate, you may find one mentor who will help you grow in all aspects, but I recommend having more than one. 

We all choose our mentors based on our own outlook and vision.  I believe a great mentor is someone who supports risk taking and who can help spark your creativity.  A mentor should not give you the answers but help you discover them on your own.  They should also be the primary source to search for knowledge and self discovery.  Mentors should first ask, “What is your passion?  A mentor should assist others to set goals, realistic ones, and help them develop emotional intelligence.   

As a mentor, a part of their mission should develop love and respect for themselves!   That is where it all begins!  From there you learn to love others and the environment around you.   I provide mentorship because it is an opportunity for me to grow and self discover.  I embrace the love of education, positive thinking, and creating new opportunities.  Along their journey, I share my passions, dreams, aspirations, and projects to let them know I am also a student just like you.  I extend my hand to guide them and they extend their hand back to me.

Ryan Enriquez