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 2nd 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
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
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
Politically What?
I had a great meeting with my executive coaches and my insights evaluator stated I need to stand a political ground. The statement confused me because I don’t ever plan to run for politics but after our discussion, it all made sense. Whether I pursue the private or public sector, I must understand and determine the different political barriers within an organization. Most of all, I must be aware that each manager or executive have their own political stand. In conjunction with what I learned in my Executive MBA Class (Achieving Breakthrough Results) I came to determine the differences in Political Leadership styles.
Political Opportunist
Someone who is a political opportunist will look to win and advance at all cost, even if it means having their subordinates pay the consequences for their actions. These are the type of managers that work the crowd and can be very manipulative towards the people around them. They would often chose tasks that would give them high visibility and an opportunity to shine. You might often see this person enroll or be involved in nonprofit or charity events to make himself look good. He disguises his vision and values to what the company wants but motivated by his own agenda.
These leaders are usually the ones hanging at the executive offices paying no mind to their employees. This maybe his strategy to help himself move up in the company but not paying mind to his employees is risking high turnover rates and employee complaints to H.R. Additionally, he may take charge and micromanage like Drill Instructor, punishing but never rewarding, taking credit but never giving credit to those who deserve it.
Politically Correct
These are the people who usually avoid any confrontations. Often conservative by nature, Politically Correct (PC) are very careful at using their words when it comes to different preferences. It was designed to be inclusive and not to offend individuals based on social or cultural reasons. Therefore, Politically Correct leaders usually try to blend and busy worrying about confrontations that doesn’t exist. They never have their own perspective and have a difficult time speaking their minds. You might find this person in the meeting who will agree with everyone, despite the opposing views. Being PC can hurt themselves they are closed to making company’s decisions and taking minimal risk.
Politically Astute
My executive coach describe being Politically Astute is the direction I should go in based on my personality. Instead of being a leader for personal gain, I driven by purpose and do what is best for everyone and the company. A leader with political astute seeks to find ways to help others shine with him/her. They delegate authority and projects by encouraging them the importance and what they will get out of it while being tasked. Instead of being manipulative, Politically Astute leaders are motivators and inspirational. They have a balance of power and influence to make strategic decisions and get the mission accomplished.
Leadership With Two Minds
There are many qualities leaders must possess. Before I write, I wanted to inform you there is no true leadership style. I think the most effective leader is someone who is adaptable and overcoming to different situations. My first semester in Business School has taught me that. We are studying different leadership styles and to become a “strategist” we must recognize the other styles and be able to work and collaborate with them. In my other class (Strategic Analysis) we are studying the internal and external forces to make strategic commands in business.
Leaders should possess dual consciousness — which is being a practitioner and academic observer. I read an article by David Brooks — Leading with Two Minds, in summary it is to turn large organizations around. The United States Army has turned it’s organization in a blink of an eye. Besides the Army an institution of killing bad guys, it has also become an academic institution. With the battlefield rapidly changing, Fort Still had to shut down it’s Artillery course because the troops in Iraq knew much more the instructors on base. The new course now teaches negotiations with “sheiks” and band of bloggers are now sharing information from warfront back home to those who are about to deploy.
I never served in the Army, but through my experiences in the Marine Corps, we are encouraged to read. Whenever you go to a PX (mini-mall or wal-mart type stores on base) there was always a section called the “Commandant’s Reading List.” It is encouraged to read and officers would test their Marines by asking what they were reading and explain a brief summary. In addition, Marines were required to complete MCI’s (Marine Corps Institute) for promotion. There were required courses relevant to rank and MOS (Military Occupation Specialty) and there were electives such as Risk Management, Counter Insurgency, Terrorism Awareness, etc.
When I came back home from Iraq, many of the tactics and operations we learned in our MOS school were irrelevant overseas, we had to give informal classes to unit that was getting ready to deploy and provide them useful knowledge towards their operations.
The military today is practicing leadership with two minds. Business schools today are teaching to adopt this principle. An organization large or small should adopt this as well. Finally, I want to conclude that just because you maybe on top today doesn’t mean you will be on top forever. What got you on top will not keep you there, you must enforce sustainability, lead with two minds, adapt to the rapid changes, and adopt a culture of research and learning.
Ryan Enriquez
Further Reading:
Achieving Breakthrough Results - FDU EMBA
Action Inquiry- Bill Torbert - FDU EMBA Course Book
Complacency Kills
I remember a saying we use to say in the Marines and it was often used in Iraq was “Complacency Kills.” For the past couple weeks my MBA professors were often saying we have to break through the comfort zone to become successful. Many leaders and businesses fail to break through the comfortzone because of fear and comfort.. Fear of the unknown and what may happen and comfortable because they are doing well.. they become complacent and within an instant their business can quickly fail.
Complacency Kills…
After hearing lessons from the battlegrounds with troops being complacent and costing lives which could of been prevented.. I apply it to my everday life and never forget it.. In business, just because your doing well now doesn’t mean you will be doing well a year from now. Look at Toyota’s situation for example being the number 1 automobile dealer in the world.. now what?? A couple years ago, Bear Sterns being one of the largest investment banks collapsed..
In life, we can get comfortable.. comfortable with living, with eating, and activities.. how will you grow? Imagine those who are comfortable with their lives.. How many people do you know who enter exercise programs.. go through the rigorous process, lose the weight, achieve their results and then become complacent… they ended up where they started again or worse, behind where they started.. little did they know… Complacency Kills!
Complaceny can kill your career.. I am about to graduate with my Masters in Public Administration and a disturbing comment was made by one of the students.. He said, “I am burnt out from school, I will never study again.. I got my masters now.. I am set.” I gave him a rude awakening when I told him, learning and studying is a never ending journey.. “Just because you have your masters now doesnt guarantee you a free ticket to the promise land. It’s a tool, now use it.. don’t get complacent.” Once you receive more tools under your belt, the next phase of learning should begin there after. Just because your educated and mastered this subject doesnt mean your educated forever.. your degree and knowledge will be worthless if you dont enforce sustainability and continue to learn. Now, that you left the classroom doesnt mean your done learning.. you have only begun.
What gets you to the top will not keep you there… Remember that!
Nobody likes change.. With the world moving very fast.. we must embrace and accept it… Always keep in mind.. Complacency Kills!
Ryan Enriquez
The body can achieve what the mind perceives
The human mind needs the body to perform action. Without the body what can the mind perceive?
Many people are dreamers like myself. I imagine running 100 mile distances, swimming 5-10 miles, biking over 200 miles.. but can my body achieve it?? I am sure with the proper training and timing it can. It is one of my life goals. I imagine it and test my body day by day inching my way past each destination before embarking on another journey.
We all heard the mantra Fitness is 10% physical 90% mental. I agree with that statement and I always keep that mind when doing an intense workout to break through that wall and fight that little voice inside me that is telling me to quit.
If you read the book “Mind Power” by John Kehoe he talks about an experiment that visualization can produce the same results as physical practice.
The first group practiced shooting free throws for an hour each day. The second group visualized shooting free throws daily. The third group didn’t play basketball or think about basketball. After 30 days, all the players in all three groups took another free throw skill test. The players in the group that had practiced daily improved by 24 percent. The players in the group that hadn’t done anything didn’t test as well as they had the first time (no big surprise). The players in the third group, those who had ONLY visualized, improved by 23 percent, nearly as much as those who had physically practiced!
This is the power of the mind.
The mind is a very powerful TOOL. You have visualize what you want. You have to visualize small and large dividends and create a strategy to overcome them. Sounds complicated? Perhaps for some it maybe easy to visualize and to put it down on paper. Just like the experiment, action needs to be taken. I can not visualize myself running a 100 miles without physically training myself for it. The body can achieve what your mind perceives.. until you test yourself it just a pretty quote to post on your facebook wall or twitter 
.
Use your mind and use your body.. anything is possible if you have perseverance.
Ryan Enriquez
Note: I am not a pro athlete, nor am I someone with spectacular times and physical achievements. I simply put philosophy into my own practice and challenge myself for self growth. I don’t intend to be a motivational speaker.. I write to document what goes through my mind and use it for reflection. I am ordinary person just like yourself and I know what I am currently capable of.. but I can’t settle for what I have done, I want to keep seeing what I am made of.. and by doing that it has enhanced my personal and professional life.
Marine Corps Strategy – BAMCIS
This blog is dedicated to the veterans who are currently transitioning from military to civilian life. The skills and knowledge you learned while your in the service can be applied to the business world today. Never forget who you are and what you learned and take this as a reminder that you have the ability to make strategic decisions as you evolve yourself into the corporate world.
- Ryan Enriquez
Learning Objective: Given a scenario at work, how can the Six Troop Leading Step be applied to accomplish your project (mission).
Introduction:
We are often tasked with projects that can be day to day operations or complex projects that may support your day to day operations. The United States Marine Corps uses an acronym as a guide to “troop leading steps.” BAMCIS is a structured format to help develop operational risk plans. Having a structured format will help you not miss any steps. I spoke about the 5- Paragraph Order (SMEAC) which can be applied to the project management planning process.
Six Troop Leading Steps:
- (B)egin planning.
- (A)rrange for reconnaissance and coordination.
- (M)ake reconnaissance.
- (C)omplete the plan.
- (I)ssue the order.
- (S)upervise activities
I. BEGIN THE PLANNING:
The first step is to develop an action plan. In the Marine Corps and any other organizations, orders are conducted at the higher level. It can be small as moving supplies to one location to another or complex as creating the invasion plan for Iraq. Whether the project is small or large, BAMCIS is applied. Orders will be passed down, eventually the “Project Manager” will develop a plan on how they will carry out the orders.
- Planning available time: SMEAC (5 Paragraph Warning Order – Great for Project Management)
SMEAC is an order to describe who, what, when, where, how, and why.
- Situation – Information needed to prepare your plan
- Mission – clear statement on what needs to be accomplished
- Execution – general instructions for the project team
- Administration and Logistics – supporting structures such as resources and budget
- Command and Signal – chain of command- and communications plan
NOTE: I like to include an I before SMEAC (I-SMEAC). I always want to provide an introduction prior to issuing the 5 Paragraph order.
II. Arrange for Reconnaissance and Coordination
In the Marine Corps, this step involves conducting recon on the terrain on which you will be moving or coordinating. This step will be how will you plan your attack. In the infantry you will received a visual, aerial, and photographic recon of the area you will attack. Although, in the business world this can be applied. This means a way to identify things you may not know at the moment to create a strategy to mitigate it. In project management this would be the Risk Management Plan. Here we can foresee the risk, come up with an estimate on how we can be effective, and create a response plan. Your steering committee (in the Marine Corps it can be your Staff NCO and officers) can determine any risks that can occur and come up with strategies to mitigate them.
III. Make Reconnaissance
During this step is conduct the reconnaissance and coordination of your project team, sponsors, and it’s subordinates. This step is important because it ensures if all information gathering was met and then to actually utilizing and taking action towards your plan. Based on the previous step or “Risk Management Plan,” this step will be the execution phase of the project. During the execution phase, you will provide milestones that need to be completed. In Marine Corps terminology think of a convoy brief and you will have various checkpoints will you pass.
IV. Complete the Plan:
Here is where you will provide status reports and monitor and control phase of your project. Support, communications, and major activities will be important during this phase. For example, there might be reviews and changes that can occur during your plan. Communication is key to ensure that the changes that may occur is relayed from top down and bottom up. In project management you want to execute and complete each milestone (checkpoints). This step also involves delegating authority, measuring the on going activities, monitor the variables (cost or in Marine Corps terms bullets), corrective actions, and influencing factors that can occur prior to completing the plan (mission).
V. Issue Orders
We can use the 5 Paragraph Order (SMEAC) to provide instruction to the subordinates. The project has been accepted, plan has been finalized, and documenting all necessary actions. There are four keys to success when issuing orders:
1. You must ensure your members are present and aware
2. Proceed with the orders with an orientation (introduction).
3. Hold all questions until order is complete (prevent interruption)
4. Use visual aids to enhance understanding
Finally execute the orders…
VI. Supervise
This is the most important to the “Six Troop Leading Step.” You should continuously supervise your team to ensure all orders are being carried out. A good plan that is properly supervised is far better than an excellent plan that is poorly supervised. Remember each person in your team is different, therefore apply the mantra: IMPROVISE, ADAPT, and OVERCOME.
Regards,
Ryan Enriquez
Further reading: “Transition from Military to Business Professional”
| B | egin the Planning |
| A | rrange For Reconnaissance and Coordination |
| M | ake Reconnaissance |
| C | omplete the Plan |
| I | ssue the Order |
| S | upervise |
A guide to self-renewal | Discipline
“So as long as a person is capable of self-renewal, they are a living being.” -Henri Frederic Amiel
As long as you are living you are capable of self renewal. As I analyze this quote, I believe everyone is capable, but are you willing and able to re-new yourself? I’m in the evolution process to transition myself into the professional world. I find myself going through boot camp again, re-learning many things I’ve learned and opening my mind to learning from others. One of the main traits I am re-learning is Discipline. Sometimes discipline doesn’t doesn’t last, well neither does bathing, therefore it is recommended daily. 
If you read the book by Jim Collins- From good to GREAT..there are characteristics that make a great leader.. my favorite of those characteristics and it’s the embodiment of my service in the Marines is Discipline..Jim Collins quoted, “RINSE THE COTTAGE CHEESE.”
Rinse that cottage cheese means taking that small step to lead you to something better. One small step to add to the other small steps to create a consistent program for achievement and progress. Create a plan and stick to it.
Jim Collins likes to explain his principles through a story and life experiences.. He featured “Dave Scott” who won the Ironman Tri-athalon six times. Scott would ride his bike 75 miles, swim 20,000 meters, and run 17 miles – on average, every single day. He believed a low fat, high carbohydrate diet will give him that extra edge. Here is an example of Dave Scott rinsing that cottage cheese to achieve victory.
Most of the answers in Jim Collin’s book From Good To Great is founded on the principle of discipline to do whatever it takes to become the best within carefully selected arenas and then seek continual improvements from there.. Sounds easy, but not that easy.
I want you to think about your surrounding culture, whether it’s work, at home, with your friends, or colleagues. Think about the culture of discipline that surrounds you. Where do you want to learn and grow? I chose the Marines when I was 17 years old to establish my foundation for discipline to create a lifetime of success. Not everyone desires to serve in the military, but it was an organization that washes out the “cottage cheese” as a culture.
So here are some tips and guidelines to ask yourself (Jim Collins):
What does it take to create a culture of discipline? Can you be your own Dave Scott in your world. He is a superstar and a champion, but in your world, what do you need to do to make yourself a superstar? Lets start by planning and creating a road map (Post coming soon) for yourself or organization to develop a guideline for you to follow.
- Take a single mind focus to your cause… What are you passionate about? Are you the best in the world your in?
- Commitment to yourself and to your system.. each person and organizations have different systems of doing things. Many are alike but the system is different. Take the differences of the Army and Marines.. many people view them the same. They both serve the same cause and purpose but have different systems.
- Entrepreneurial freedom for that system… In business success is measured by revenue (just one aspect).. if life success is measured by impact! Being entrepreneurial means taking actions into your own hands and creating your own results.
What will Discipline produce?
- disciplined people- in organizations it’s about getting the right people on the bus and getting the wrong ones off. Think about it.. the right people are invaluable to becoming great. Chose the right people to enter your world and inspire others to be disciplined.
- A disciplined mind- being consistent, doing what is right, creating a plan, and following through.
- Disciplined actions- The result of disciplined people engaging in disciplined thinking is disciplined action. In the Marines, we recruited and molded them to become discipline. With the discipline, they created the culture and the mindset. With the the mindset caused great actions. As a result, the Marine Corps is one of the most powerful conventional force in this world.
Recommended readings:
Jim Collins: Built to Last. Successful Habits of Visionary Companies.
Jim Collins: From Good to Great. Why companies make the leap.. and others don’t.
Ryan Enriquez
