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Toronto, April 10 2012

I’m excited to talk to you about a tool that will help you frame your future and focus your energy for maximum impact. This is big. So be ready. It’s about Your Core Axes: the lines around which your world turns; the lines directing the forward motion of your life; the series of points that define your mental and emotional equilibrium.

Context is everything. The trends will sweep us along whether we’re aware of them or not. Success without awareness is called luck. It’s a one-time or sometime thing. We’re often surprised by it, and we certainly don’t believe it’s sustainable.

On the other hand, success generated by awareness is when we’re tuned into the future and we act accordingly. That’s called “Informed-Action” and it yields superior results.

The Core Axes represent equilibrium. Most of the time, we’re experiencing disequilibrium. There are always ebbs and flows. Much of our lives are spent trying to restore our equilibrium where we feel mentally and emotionally balanced. Sometimes we chase distraction as a false substitute for equilibrium.

True equilibrium is full self-expression and freedom from doubt. It’s where we’re being our Personal Best, surrounded by people who reciprocate our commitment to them. That sounds like a breakthrough, right? You may be closer to it than you think. In fact, you may need to change your attitude rather than your circumstances to experience your own equilibrium.

All breakthroughs begin with an insight that inspires someone to introduce something new. Insight. Inspiration. Innovation. Indivisible. Either the insight is so profound, or the inspiration is so stirring, or the innovation is so dramatic that a significant result is achieved.

The starting point is to realize that things are not what we think they are. The meaning of things comes from their “emotional tagging”. An emotional tag is the way we file things in our brain and body. It’s the feeling we experienced when we first encountered them or something similar to them. We feel things first, then we think, talk or act accordingly. Motion is driven by Emotion.

So be aware of your emotions as you review the Core Axes that we believe are shaping our mental and emotional equilibrium. Ask yourself how you feel about each of them and why.

Here are the Ten Core Axes. I guarantee you that each one is impacting your life deeply. After you’ve reviewed them, share your reactions with me as well as any other core axis you’ve identified.

1. From Clock to Cloud: We’re moving from being able to touch and define something permanent and precise to living with something fluid and fleeting. The cloud is no longer just a source of shade and rain. It’s a source of information and ideas. The future is not a place for those who need closure and control. It’s a place for those who are experimenters and explorers.
2. From Fatigue to Vitality: According to all our research, today’s most prevalent emotion is chronic fatigue. It’s taking all we have just to stay where we are. So much is coming at us so fast, it’s hard to know what to focus on, never mind what to do about it. We’re exhausted and we’re in desperate need of more energy. We’re tired of being tired. We want to feel alive and excited.
3. From Single to Community: We’re all connected all the time. We all belong to multiple communities. We’re committing to goals that are bigger than our own. Collaboration and cooperation are the order of the day. There is safety and prosperity in numbers. What’s more, our communities are transcending traditional social boundaries. New insights and ideas are enrolling us in new possibilities with new partners.
4. From Boring To Fascinating: Competence alone isn’t enough. We’re all in competition for other’s attention. No matter what we do, we need to make it interesting to others. We also need to reward them for choosing us. If people enjoy being around us, they’ll spend more time and money with us.
5. From Superfluous to Spartan: Whatever isn’t adding value is being stripped away. Bare is beautiful. Flat is the new up. We all need to consistently demonstrate and communicate how essential we are. The optics are as important as anything else. We also need to let go of those things that are not serving us any more. If we’re not travelling light, we won’t go far.
6. From Old to Young: Age is no longer an indication of youth. 60 is the new 30. From rockstars to thoughtleaders, grey power is growing. Boomers are regenerating themselves and their role in the future. They’re rediscovering their mojo. They’re bridging the generational divide. All our research shows that cross-generational teams are the highest performing ones.
7. From Rogue to Compliance: Whether we like it or not, the global meltdown has increased regulation and oversight across every industry. We’re all operating in a tighter space. Either we play by the rules or we’re disqualified from playing at all. It’s not good enough just knowing the rules, we have to embrace them. Going rogue is not an option. But neither is resigned submission. The greater the constraints, the more creative we need to be.
8. From Degeneration to Regeneration:Whether we’re using human resources or physical resources, we need to leave the campsite in a better state than we found it. In an acutely transparent world, there is nowhere to hide. It’s up to our imagination to turn scarcity into abundance. In fact, it’s a necessity. Whatever we deplete, we must replenish. Our future depends on it.
9. From Conformity to Autonomy: From the Middle East to the Great White North, people are taking control of their destiny. They’re making their voices heard. They’re pursuing meaning, well-being and wealth in equal measure. The new world is rewarding those who disregard the impossible. We are such stuff as dreams are made of.  Lemmings are so 30 years ago.
10. From Impersonal to Personal: We are all a market of one. The new champions are customizing their message, products and services to every individual customer. And we’re expressing our delight or disapproval from the digital rooftops. Everyone matters. Business is very, very personal. We’re only as good as the way we make others feel. Public Kudos is the ultimate currency of success. We build our personal brands one fanatical fan at a time.

Insight. Inspiration. Innovation. Indivisible. Hopefully, these insights have inspired you to introduce your own innovation along your Core Axes. Now it’s your turn to inspire others. Pay it forward.

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Toronto, March 15 2012

Hi This is Mike Lipkin and I’m inspired to be with you today. Since 2008, I have created over a 100 blogs, videos and podcasts. And yet every time, I create a new one, I marvel at the reach and impact I can have.  It’s miraculous. There are so many resources competing for your attention and yet here we are, interacting with each other. It’s a beautiful thing. Thank you.

The question is why? What am I doing to earn your attention for these precious few minutes? How am I differentiating myself from the thousands of coaches who would do anything to be in front of you? What’s the secret sauce that makes my offering more enticing?

The answer is charisma. I’m not being arrogant or egotistical when I say that. I define Charisma as a set of personal qualities that enable an individual to influence, persuade or bond with a large group of people.

So what are those qualities? What endows an individual with the power to consistently win people’s time, attention and business? It’s a domain that I explore every day? It’s how I make a living. It’s also how I make a life.

My choice to create this message was sparked by an article in the New York Times on March 11 2012. Ironically, the article was on the new Broadway Revival of Arthur Miller’s classic play – Death of a Salesman. Specifically, it was on Philip Seymour Hoffman’s preparation to become Willy Loman, the worn travelling salesman or, as the New York Times states, “the greatest tragic hero that America has ever produced.”

Death of a Salesman was first performed in 1949 and yet one of the most famous quotes from the play was uttered by Willy Loman’s wife, Linda, as she expressed her nostalgia for the Old Days of Selling”. She says, “In those days there was personality in it . . . There was respect, and comradeship, and gratitude in it. Today, it’s all cut and dried, and there’s no chance for bringing friendship to bear — or personality . . . They don’t know him any more.”

What’s changed – everything and nothing. I constantly hear the sales lament: The internet has changed everything. There is no opportunity to personally connect with the buyer any more. All the customer is interested in is price. I never get a  chance to actually meet with him. It’s become just a numbers game.

Reality, however, could be exactly the opposite. In a world where there are so many substitutes for the real thing, the real thing needs to be out of this world. It needs to be so satisfying to the customer that they choose it over all the alternatives.

Sales, like being in Broadway Play, has become a performance art. Every pitch, and every preparation for every pitch, must be pursued with all the intensity and flair of an A-List actor perfecting his role. Here is how Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s describes his struggle to play Willy Loman: “It’s hard getting inside this guy for a lot of different reasons. It’s like Whac-a-Mole. Certain moments make sense, then they don’t, then others do, then they don’t anymore. All of a sudden you’ve lost what you found — you thought you knew what that moment in a scene was about, and then you don’t anymore. And then you do.”

How often have you felt that uncertainty when you’ve been in front of a customer, in person or over the phone? One moment, you thought you were on the cusp of closing the deal, then you weren’t. The next moment, you thought you understood the customer. Then you didn’t. It’s all part of the show.

What’s more, yesterday’s successes mean little in today’s pitch. It’s about staring down your demons and absorbing the pressure of being the best. As the New York Times writes,

“For Mr. Hoffman there is little reassurance to be drawn from his best actor Oscar in 2006 for “Capote,” or from the years of reviews hailing him as one of the best actors of his generation. He says he wants to feel as human and exposed as possible each time he steps in front of the audience. And the pressure he puts on himself has not eased with the approach of Thursday’s opening night.

“I tell you, it’s not the first thing that you want to do when you wake up in the morning,” Mr. Hoffman said of becoming Willy. “You have to find your way there, every morning, to do that. You have to find the reason why, and you have to find the will to do it, and then you do. And then you’re reminded why you do, because you finish and — whether it went well or not — you hope that some people will find it satisfying and memorable.”

Mr. Hoffman said, “You’re working and finding the performance until the very last show. You go into any role asking a question, accumulating half-answers, partial answers, full answers, and then different questions come to you — and through it all you have got to trust your instincts, which is a private process,” he said. Referring to Willy, but also to his previous Broadway outings in “Long Day’s Journey Into Night” and Sam Shepard’s “True West,” he added, “A performance is a living thing, so pinning it down is kind of impossible.”

So that’s how Phillip Seymour Hoffman does it. What about you? How are you building your charisma? How are you differentiating yourself through all the channels available to you?

Here are Lipkin’s Seven Insights to multiplying your sales power through the new media:

1. Choose The Character You Want To Be. Sales is about reinventing yourself for the part that fits you best. Your customers are buying the role you can play in their lives. So I am your performance enhancer. I expand your perspective and motivate you to explore options that may not have been on your radar before. My character fits this character. And every message enables me to stretch my range. What part fits you the best? How meaningful is it to your customers? How are you growing into it? How are you stretching yourself?
2. Mesmerize Your Customers. Great salespeople find a way to fascinate their customers. They arouse their curiosity and interest. They find the points that their customers find most compelling and they play on them. They combine their style with their content to produce a riveting proposition. So the point that I am playing on here is how to sell like a Broadway Star. I’m guiding you on what it takes to be the one that owns your customers’ imagination. I’m using the brilliance of Phillip Seymour Hoffman and the New York Times to dramatize my message. And I’m also unleashing my natural effervescence as I tell the story.
3. Get Out Of Your Own Way. Be conscious of yourself but don’t be self-conscious. Great actors don’t allow their nerves to interfere with their performance. They use them to amplify their performance. They remember it’s always about the audience. Or, in the case of a salesperson, the customer. So right now, I’m acting. This is Mike Lipkin unplugged. At the same time, I’m concentrating all my energy on a single goal: making these few minutes extremely rewarding for you.
4. Be 100% Emotionally and Creatively Committed To Your Role. Every call needs to be treated like a career defining moment. This message is the most important thing I’ve ever done – until the next thing. Success in the new hybrid world of selling is binary – either you win it all or you get nowhere. Anything less than 100% commitment will close down your show. Reserve, inhibitions, doubt, tentativeness or ambivalence are fatal. So if you’re going to play, play full out. Your customers deserve nothing less. They’ll accept nothing less. Your competitors are already giving them nothing less.
5. Package yourself across the Channels – Phone, In-Person, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Personal Website, Podcast, Twitter, Blog, Trade Media, Newsletters, Intermediaries, Trade Associations, and Word-Of-Mouth. The sheer range of media channels available to everyone can seem daunting. The truth is you have to start somewhere. So begin by being spectacular in your traditional channels such as phone or in-person (e-mail doesn’t count). Set up your Facebook page. Spice up your LinkedIn profile. Create a personal website if you really want to build a distinctive personal franchise. Experiment with video and podcasts – we’re all being trained to absorb our key data this way. Get the right people to help you. There are thousands of good people out there who are both skilled and inexpensive. Lowell Brown and his company, Insight Design, help me. They can probably help you as well.
6. Make Your Charisma A Core Discipline. Phillip Seymour Hoffman lives the question of how to enrich his role every evening. His director, Mike Nichols, and fellow actors mentor him on how to enhance his performance nightly. He chooses his assignments so he’s always in reinvention mode. He also ensures he’s always visible. Charisma is hard work. It’s a learned skill that draws on our natural gifts. Mastery drives Charisma. Some of the most magnetic people I know are also the most understated. But they’re always on and they always bring their A-Game.  So this message, and the podcast and the video, and the website, Facebook and Twitter updates that go with it, are all part of my discipline. It’s how I grow myself, my craft and my relationships.
7. Be Resilient. Endure the inevitable frustration, annoyance, irritation, fatigue, blues and tension as you experiment with new media and ideas. The more you try, the more you learn. There is always a  temptation to back off from the edge and stay in one’s comfort zone. But the comfort zone is the antithesis of charisma. Remember: we can only lead others where we are prepared to go. Others are looking to you for leadership. Go first, even if you slip, stumble and fall. That’s still progress. Resilience is bouncing back with even more verve and passion.

That’s it from me. It’s been a thrill performing this message for you.  Until the next time, Act like you mean it. Sell like you believe it.  And know that you will achieve it – whatever it is for you.

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Toronto, February 29 2012

It’s Leap Year Day. Ever wondered why we need it? Leap Years keep the calendar in alignment with the Earth’s revolutions around the sun. It takes the Earth 365.242 days to circle once around the Sun. If we didn’t add a day on February 29 every 4 years, we would lose six hours every year. After 100 years, the calendar would be off by 24 days.

So what’s the moral of the story? We’re all part of the global revolution. We have a personal rhythm that must synchronize with our environment. We’re either becoming our best, or we’re drifting. It only takes a tiny lag every day to be off by a lot in our lifetime.

On this Leap Year Day, think about what you’re becoming. Are you aligned with success? Are you on purpose? Are you sensitive to the promises around you? Are you an invitation to possibility? Are you an inspiration to others? Are you mindful of your impact?

Those who are unaware are unaware that they are unaware. If we’re not mindful, we’re ordinary. We withdraw. We defend. We play not to lose when it only takes a small shift to win. Our instincts don’t always serve us well because they’re driven by our fears. And our fears are driven by our past.

Today is the day you begin your transformation by harnessing the power of “small wins”. According to an article in the Globe And Mail (02/25/2012) by Charles Duhigg, tthere is a huge body of research that shows small wins have enormous power, an influence disproportionate to the accomplishments of the victories themselves. Once a small win has been accomplished, forces are set in motion that favour another small win. Small wins fuel transformative changes by leveraging tiny advantages into patterns that convince people bigger achievements are within reacht.

So what small wins can you pursue today? What tiny advantages can you weave into your pattern of achievement? Here are a list of my Top Ten Small Wins that are sustaining my rhythm of success:

1. Creating this message.
2. Having a great conversation that inspires others and enhances me.
3. Making a donation of time and money.
4. Replacing frustration with fascination by changing my perspective.
5. Taking on something I’ve never done before – but still related to the art of motivation and inspiration. It may be a new partnership, medium, program or industry.
6. Being healthy by working out today– no physical pain, no disease, no mental dissonance, total wellbeing.
7. Delivering a great seminar where I know I brought my A-Game.
8. Receiving kudos for my contribution.
9. Reading, watching or listening to extraordinary talents – both fiction and non-fiction.
10. Living fabulously – great friends, great food, great clothes, great city, great country, great travel, great culture.

Winning doesn’t mean coming first. No one comes first all the time. It means being better than you’ve ever been before. It means that going for it is more important to you than losing it. It means that you’re in the game and you’re playing your heart out.

There is winning and then there is misery. It’s not about the hardware, it’s about the spirit. Winning seldom comes easy. Most the time, it’s hard. But when it’s hard, it’s really satisfying. The greater the resistance, the greater the benefit. Did you know, according to the New York Times (04/13/09), a young and healthy astronaut who spends six months in the International Space Station is likely to arrive back on earth with the muscles of an 80 year old. Why? Lack of resistance.

On the other hand, winning never gets old. It means being in a state of constant, conscious preparation. Every win is a deposit on the next win. There is no such thing as losing unless we derive the wrong meaning from our experience. Becoming bitter, cynical, resigned, or defeated means we’re succumbing to our personal history, negative self-talk, inner excuses or private alibis.

DH Lawrence wrote: “I never saw a wild thing sorry for itself. A small bird will drop frozen dead from a bough without ever having felt sorry for itself.” So when you feel bitterness, cynicism, resignation or defeated, override your inner-victim and summon your winning spirit. Inside every adversity is an equal or greater benefit.

So here are Lipkin’s Four Steps To Owning The Power of Small Wins:

1. Search for the wins. Be deliberate. Sometimes we need to move and sometimes we need to be still. Sometimes, we need to act, and sometimes we just need to think. However, all the time, we need to look for what we want to find.
2. Stretch your mind and your muscles. On the way to awesome, you have to pass through awkward. Discomfort is a good sign. Falling down means getting up. Experiment, explore, expose, and extend yourself for success. Lightning won’t strike you if you don’t get on the field.
3. Savour your wins. Take the time to celebrate. Revel in your results. Take the pause to refresh yourself. Reward yourself in the way you enjoy the most. Embed the win in your identity. Confidence comes from having done it before. Every win makes the next win bigger and better. Share your wins with people who want you to win. You’ll multiply their mojo as well.
4. Sustain Your wins. Develop your recipe for winning. Make it S.E.D. – specific, enjoyable and disciplined. Know the steps and take joy in taking them. We do more of the things we like doing. Make them non negotiable. We execute our priorities and we procrastinate on the rest. I gave you my Top Ten Small Wins. Now give me yours. Send them to mike.lipkin@environics.ca

That’s it from me. Be the reason why someone wins small today. If we all win small, we’ll all win big.

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Hi this is Mike Lipkin. It’s January 1 2012 and I’m in Toronto.

Welcome to the Year of the Dragon. Specifically, welcome to the year of the Water Dragon. According to the Chinese Zodiac, the year of the Water Dragon comes once every sixty years. And unlike the wicked, fire-breathing dragons of Western mythology, China’s celestial dragon symbolizes bold and benevolent power. Dragons are ancient, majestic, wise, and intelligent. Dragon years are considered particularly auspicious for new businesses, marriage and children. Dragon years also tend to boost individual fortunes and the world economy.

Of all the Dragon years, the 2012 Water Dragon is most likely to bestow the Chinese Five Blessings of harmony, virtue, riches, fulfillment and longevity, adding even more weight to my belief that 2012 will be about breakthroughs, not disasters.

Last year, I coached clients in Africa, Asia, The Middle East, Europe and The Americas. The common denominator of winners is that they all saw themselves in emerging markets, irrespective of their geography. Whether they were from Ghana or Germany, Chad or China, Saudi Arabia or Singapore, they saw themselves as part of the global community of 7 billion people. They revel in their double-ability – that is their capacity to create new solutions for new opportunities that they help produce. Just like I’m doing now – I’m generating the possibility of a phenomenally successful 2012 with you, and then I’ll help you make it so.

The macro-economic global forecast for 2012 may be for slower growth. But that’s for mere ordinary creatures. Water Dragons breathe abundance into their environment. They are noted for their calm, visionary intelligence, and balance of right brain creativity with left brain logic. They understand the Crisis Paradox: in slow growth periods, the majority of people tend to lose their optimism and energy. They are worn down by their own anxieties. Their desire to thrive is replaced by their need to survive. It’s a simple case of supply of demand. The demand for bold aggressive action is greater but the supply is smaller, therefore bold, aggressive operators are highly rewarded.

It’s also called the Inspiration Dividend. Customers want something extraordinary and they’re willing to pay for it. Whether it’s the finely sung words of Feist, or the magical prose of Haruki Murakami, or the snug warmth of Canada Goose, or the functional beauty of Apple, or the satisfying taste of Johnny Walker Black, or the reassuring thoroughness of my accountant and physician, Water Dragons do whatever it takes to enhance their impact and enrich their communities. They are the reasons why 2012 will be the end of the old world and the beginning of a brave new world. Are you one of them?

So here are Lipkin’s Seven Moves of The Water Dragon for a breakthrough 2012:

1.    Exercise Care. Crises will come at you fast and frequently. Breathe. Think. Focus. Prepare all the time by getting better all the time. We can’t predict the crisis, but we can predict a superior result with superior training. Be patient when patience is called for. Act urgently when it’s urgent. And have the wisdom to know when to do what. But when you’re in doubt: act. Inertia isn’t your friend. There is no such thing as status quo. Everything is moving all the time. Life is a long march. It’s exhausting, exasperating and exhilarating in equal measure. Fatigue makes us stupid. No one is at their best when they’re redlining. When you’re out of gas, you’re out of the game. 2012 is an Olympic year. Train like an Olympic athlete. Own the podium. Go for your Gold. Take ultimate care of yourself so you can take care of everyone else. This is the first step because it’s the step upon which all others depend. If you don’t take this step, nothing else is sustainable.

2.    Be Comfortable with Tension and Ambiguity. 2012 will be a year of opposites that will continually pull at each other: hope and despair; enthusiasm and resignation; big and small; escape and engagement; interdependence and self-reliance; caution and courage. Success depends on our ability to hold two opposites in our minds at the same time and still perform powerfully. Find your centre. Sustain your balance. Live through your imbalances. Keep coming back to your core. How do you find your core? Mindful experience. Dial up your awareness – use every event to sharpen your mental blade. There is no “should”. There is only “it is” or “it isn’t”. Accept the way “it is” or “It isn’t” and make it the way you want it to be.

3.    Celebrate. Spread the kudos. Broadcast your gratitude. Be fascinated by your good fortune. Revel in your gifts. Whatever the time, make it a good time to be with you. Make every conversation count. Make every meeting a masterpiece. Talk and listen to others like they’re the person you would most like to be with at that moment. The way we engage others becomes their opinion of themselves. Motivate by example, especially when you don’t feel like it. Act like you mean it and the feelings will follow. Live every day like it’s one more than you deserve. Growing older is a privilege denied to many.

4.    Believe in Your Personal Mojo. Your Personal Mojo is your unique energy. It’s your one-of-a-kind charisma and courage. It’s your exclusive power of contribution and capacity to create new possibilities. It’s a kind of magic that we all have but very few of us use. The primary difference between Water Dragons and everyone else is that Water Dragons fully express themselves. They dare to go where others are afraid to tread. They know what they’ve been given and they know what’s expected of them. Whether they’re an Olympic Athlete like Michael Phelps or Usain Bolt, or a legendary actress like Meryl Streep or Glenn Close, or an iconic performer like Oprah or Lady Gaga, or an internet mogul like Mark Zuckerberg or Larry Page, They continuously explore and experiment with their limits. To quote the late, great Steve Jobs, “Those who are crazy enough to believe they can change the world usually do.”

5.    Make Big Promises And Keep Them. Whatever It Takes. If we make big promises, we excite others and we stretch ourselves. By keeping them, we delight others and we develop ourselves. Sometimes we need to make promises we don’t know how to keep. Then we need to find a way to keep them. And there’s always a way. Today’s limits are tomorrow’s springboards. Like any discipline, the more we practice making-big-promises-and-keeping-them, the more masterful we become. First, it becomes a way of thought. Then it becomes a way of life. What’s more, with every follow-through, we train others to expect us to deliver with our next promise. It’s a virtuous cycle. Their expectations become self-fulfilling: they believe in us, we believe in ourselves and together, our partnerships create remarkable results together.

6.    Keep Talking & Listening. Nothing happens until somebody speaks. We are the composites of our communication. The more people to whom we talk, the greater our influence. Water Dragons live to listen and share. They develop their social networks any way they can – online and in-person. They meet, tweet, and call. They proactively reach out to people different to themselves. They open themselves up. They are connectors. They develop a reputation for adding value. First, they educate, then they profit.

7.    Still your mind. These words are not the only sounds in your head. They’re part of your mental cacophony or chorus, depending on your mood. You may not even remember them a few seconds from now. Ambiguity and uncertainty are deafening. We’re all a mind beat away from pandemonium. Success is a function of the silence we can create around our focus. Turn down the chatter. Schedule quiet time. Make it a ritual. Pay yourself the time first – at least one seventh of your waking hours. We cannot cope with the tension unless we’re relaxed.

That’s it from me. Be a Water Dragon. May the flow be with you, may the current always be at your back and may you ride the wave of your dreams in 2012!

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Hi, this is Mike Lipkin. It’s Monday, October 17 and I’m in Toronto.

If you have a body, you’re an athlete, says Nike. We’re all competitors in the game of life and 2011 has been an amazing race, but it’s almost over. It’s a sprint to the finish line. It’s also a sprint to the starting line of 2012 – The year of the London Olympics. That’s what I’m training for. I want to be higher, faster, stronger, lighter, fresher, edgier, newer, sharper, gutsier and nicer. I have to be. 2012 will demand a whole new level of execution. I believe it will be a breakout year. The winners of 2011 will be heading into 2012 with the FLAME – Focused, Lean, Adaptive, Magical, and Entrepreneurial. Magical means the ability to amaze customers with unprecedented functionality and joy, while entrepreneurial means the ability to create new possibilities out of anything – ahead of the competition.

I know I’ll be ready for the surprises, crises, cataclysms and shocks of 2012 on one condition: I have to let go of everything that doesn’t serve me anymore. I have to travel light. That’s the only way I’ll get to my goals, and that’s why I loved the article on the London Olympics in the September 23 issue of the Globe And Mail. It stated:

Never have the modern Olympics paid so much attention to the ideas of impermanence and portability. In a radical departure from the edifice complex that has blighted previous Summer Games, London 2012 is shaping up as the first Lego Olympics.  ‘Touching the ground lightly’ is the phrase we use,” says Chris Jopson, a senior architect at Populous, the London firm that’s responsible for the overall design of the Olympic Park and its main stadium. The firm has a motto for building the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which begin on July 27 next year: “Embrace the temporary.”

Take the Olympic stadium. It is 75 per cent lighter than a typical stadium of its size, it was built of a new type of concrete that requires less carbon to manufacture, and its top deck is partly constructed of gas pipes left over from a failed pipeline project. Even more crucial, it comes apart, like a very large piece of Lego. During the Olympics and Paralympics, when it will be full to bursting for the athletics competitions and opening and closing ceremonies, it will hold 80,000 spectators. Afterwards, the top decks can be removed, down to 25,000 seats. It will probably end up at 55,000 seats, when its new tenant, West Ham football club, moves in after the Olympics.

LEGO. In my language, it’s short for letting go, taking apart, putting together, and connecting the blocks. It`s about Reducing, Repurposing, Reinventing, and Being Remarkable. It`s about being able to fast forward by acting now – knowing that failure leads to winning and winning requires more failure. It`s also about resilience and idealism in equal measure. The one is the bodyguard of the other. Everyone is enthusiastic at the start of the game, but it`s how they play to the end that counts. As Vince Lombardi said, fatigue makes cowards of us all. Trying to hold on to what`s past will ruin one’s future. There is only what works right here, right now. That’s why my new mantra is “Touch The Ground Lightly. Embrace The Temporary. Say Yes To Impermanence And Portability. “

What do you need to let go of? How can you be remarkable? What do you need to reduce, repurpose or reinvent? How are you building your resilience for a phenomenal 2012? What will it take to bring magic and joy to your colleagues and customers? I’m doing my best to answer these questions. That’s why I’m creating this message. And that’s why I’m recreating every assignment and every engagement for every client. If it’s not customized, crisp and fresh, it’s a waste of time. And that’s the ultimate sin where time is the resource we’re all competing for.

I hope the rest of 2011 is the best time of your life – why would you have it any other way? Choose to make it so. Be a model of what’s possible. Others will follow your lead while you follow theirs. It’s never too late if you begin now. And by the way, if you want to talk to me about how to enable your team to make every moment count, call me. 416-917-6007. I’m here for you but not for too long, just like everything else in life.

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It’s the week after Labour Day. It’s time to be lucky. You know why? Because LUCK stands for Labouring Under Correct Knowledge. There are two kinds of labour: the first holds one back, weighs one down and wears one out. This is the kind of labour that exhausts one with unnecessary tasks or details. This is the kind of labour that gives work a bad name and makes us long for Friday after a week that’s been too long.

The second kind of labour is what I’m all about. It’s physical and cerebral work in pursuit of a meaningful goal. It’s productive activity that delivers measurable results.  It’s the execution of a personal mission that is exciting and exacting. It’s what builds our mental muscle and gives our lives meaning. Someone who loves their labour finds it much easier to love everything else. Inner work life has a profound impact on our creativity, commitment and collegiality.

And yet all the research says it’s getting harder and harder to love one’s work. According to the most recent Gallup Poll, 52% of Americans believe economic conditions are poor, 76% believe they’re getting worse, 45% believe they’re struggling, 33% think their health is suffering, less than half say they’re happy. Americans now feel worse about their jobs than ever before. In Canada, The 2011 Environics Social Values Monitor revealed that almost 60% of Canadians do not consider their jobs secure. 42% believe their jobs are even less secure than 2010 and 48% are dissatisfied with their financial situation.

As president of Environics/Lipkin, One of Canada’s leading motivation companies, I’ve seen a widespread disengagement of people from their jobs over the past three years. We’ve all been rocked by the great recession and the tepid recovery. While unemployment is around 7 percent in Canada and 9 percent in America, underemployment may be double those figures. “Reorgs”, cutbacks and product or market withdrawals are rampant. Confusion may be the order of the day.

Thomas Friedman, writing in the New York Times on August 28 2011, expressed our global inflection point beautifully: “the European Union is cracking up. The Arab world is cracking up. China’s growth model is under pressure and America’s credit-driven capitalist model has suffered a warning heart attack and needs a total rethink. Recasting any one of these alone would be huge. Doing all four at once — when the world has never been more interconnected — is mind-boggling. We are again ‘present at the creation‘ — but of what?”

I love that question: We are again ‘present at the creation‘ — but of what? What are you creating that will make a difference, leave a legacy, add value or create happiness? How are you finding the meaning that motivates you to be magical? Yes, magical – that’s where you create a solution or experience for others that captivates, charms and empowers them to be extraordinary.

Here’s the good news: Through the 2011 Environics Social Values Monitor, one of Canada’s leading syndicated research studies, we have identified the seven most powerful trends that you can leverage to create your own personal magic. Each trend reflects a movement on values that drive people at the deepest level. If you use these trends to guide your thoughts and actions, you’ll create LUCK for yourself and those around you. And remember, if you like what you read, pay it forward. Knowledge is only power when it’s shared.

The biggest trend of all is Introspection & Empathy. It’s grown 54% since 2009. It’s the need to examine one’s actions and find meaning in one’s life while understanding others at a deeper level. It’s a move away from judgment and intolerance to acceptance and appreciation. There is an interdependence between self-discovery and external connection. Introspection can only occur through others because they are a mirror into ourselves. We’re only as good as all of us together. In the face of exponential change, no one person has the perfect answer. It takes a combined action to find the solution. So go within by reaching out. I am you and you are me, separated only by circumstance. We share a joint responsibility for helping each other.

The next biggest trend is New Social Responsibility & Community Involvement. This trend is defined as a deep feeling of belonging to one’s community and a pronounced feeling of social responsibility where mutual assistance plays a key role. It’s also a measure of interest in what’s happening in one’s neighbourhood, city or region. This trend is up 49% since 2009. There is an understanding that being alone will make you more vulnerable. It’s a coming together to take on bigger, more complex challenges. Call it the new social cocooning where likeminded networks enable their members to adapt and thrive. So join or form your groups and become known as a valuable contributor to them.

The third biggest trend is Social Learning & Cultural Fusion. This is an attraction to and interest in diversity. It’s a feeling that there is a great deal to learn from people different to you, Diversity is perceived as a source of personal enrichment, and a way to satisfy one’s hunger for discovery and exploration. This trend also measures the inclination to incorporate some of these new cultural influences into our own lives. It’s up 41% over the past two years. The influx of immigrants and explosion of social media is expanding the scope and scale of our conversations. Increasingly, we’re all plugged into the global village. The best insights may come from the most unlikely places. At Environics, we see a direct correlation between financial success and being outward looking – connected, committed and open to other’s point of view.

The fourth biggest trend is Vitality & Effort For Health. This is a sense that one has an abundance of energy and that one is connected to this energy. It also measures a commitment to transform one’s lifestyle through exercise and radical changes to one’s diet. Half the Canadian and American populations are over 40 and while two thirds are overweight, there is a rapidly rising awareness of the power of lifestyle to enhance one’s wellbeing. This phenomenon is combining with a recovery from the chronic fatigue of the past three years. People are adapting to the new realities. They’re evaluating their lives and realizing that the worst didn’t happen. The sky didn’t fall in. Canadians, especially, believe they’ve come through a rough time, but they’re well poised for the future. There is a rise in demand for people and resources that enhance one’s wellbeing. Optimism and feeling good is so 2012. Being pessimistic and cynical is so 2008. Deliver on other people’s dreams and you’ll make good on yours.

The fifth biggest trend is Rejection of Authority & Support For Government Involvement. This is a rejection of unquestioning respect and deference to those in authority. It’s a belief that authority should not be respected for its own sake. It’s also a questioning of the institutions for which one may work. The pursuit of efficiency may be mutually exclusive to one’s wellbeing. This trend is up by 49% since 2009. But here’s a fascinating counter-trend: Support for Government Involvement. This is a confidence in government’s ability to positively affect how society works. It’s a tendency to believe that the government performs a socially beneficial function. And this trend is up by 35% since 2009. At a time where surprise is the order of the day and no one has a clear roadmap to success, people are skeptical about the leadership ability of their boss or management team. Business cannot always be trusted to take of business but we appreciate the role of government in guiding us through the crises.

The sixth biggest trend is Equality Of The Sexes. This is a desire to transcend sexual stereotypes and see an end to discrimination. It’s a commitment to eliminating all differences between mean and women in the family, culture and economy. This trend is up by 32% since 2009. It’s also a measure of the rising influence of women. The Environics Social Values Monitor shows that women are far better equipped to handle change than men. They score higher on Idealism, Courage and Sociability.  Of the 17 million jobs projected to sprout up in the US and Canada over the next decade, the vast majority will come in fields that currently attract far more women than men. In fact men dominate only 2 of the job titles expected to grow the most between 2008 and 2018 – construction workers and accountants. Call it the “feminization of society” – after a brutal crisis, there is a great demand for nurturing, caring, friendship and tenderness – all traditionally female traits. If you are a woman, this is your time. If you are a man, learn from a woman.

The seventh biggest trend is Pursuit of Originality & Personal Creativity. This is a need to demonstrate one’s individuality, and use one’s imagination and creative talents in daily life – both at work and at play. This trend has grown by 24% since 2009. It’s fuelled by the rise in personal energy and creative opportunities, enhanced by technology and social media. It’s also driven by the need to experiment and explore new ways of being and living. We’re all new immigrants in this new society carving a path out of the wilderness.

That’s it for now. It’s time to get to work. Adapt to the trends and create some of your own. Go first. You may just be the one others have been waiting for.

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Today is my favourite private holiday – it’s the official start of summer. The season that reminds us how good it can be. In fact, the Random House Dictionary defines Summer as “the period of finest development, perfection or beauty previous to any decline.” Well, we’ll all decline at some stage but Summer is now. Our period of finest development, perfection and beauty is now. So let’s revel in it.

Today came just in time. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been playing hurt a lot this year. I’ve been tired. I’ve been stretched to straining point. I fell down seven times, stood up eight. I’m still standing but I can feel the fatigue like extra pounds on my body. I believe I can fly, but my wings need a rest.

It’s been a huge year filled with unpredictable moments of delight and disappointment. I won what I didn’t expect and lost what I did. In fact, that’s become my new normal. Past results are no longer an accurate guide to the future. They may even camouflage impending decline.

The biggest phenomenon I’ve witnessed this year is the collective Inflection Point we’re all experiencing. Our pathways are being recurved. Our professions are being redefined. Our businesses are being re-formed. Our industries are being fragmetized and re-constructed in strange and thrilling ways. It’s not just about change, it’s about imagining the right-now-future while we execute it.

There isn’t a single leader I know who isn’t feeling a little shell-shocked by the size and speed of the revolution impacting their business. The great ones are stepping up their game while they inspire their people to do the same. They may not have all the answers, but they’re asking great questions.

So how dramatic is your inflection point? What step-changes are you going through? Are you ahead of the curve? Or are you behind eight-ball? Or both? Or are you so busy doing that you haven’t taken time out to even consider the question?

The German Philospher, Nietzche, said, “Things which matter most should never be at the mercy of things which matter least”. In other words, the Urgent should not take precedence over the Important. Doing should not occur at the expense of Thinking. Re-acting should not replace Pro-acting. And yet, that’s the norm. We’re running as fast as we can to stay in the same place.

The future belongs to those who prepare for it. Plan is a verb, not a noun. The signs are all around us and within us but we don’t see what we’re not looking for. So this summer, take a deep breath and relax. Release yourself from the tension and angst of your everyday concerns. Stretch out. Take the pause that refreshes you.

So here is Lipkin’s Summer Recipe for Lifetime Success:

1. Get into a Relaxation State of Mind beginning now. Think Summer – the period of finest development, perfection or beauty. Think about the people, places, things, food, experiences, and feelings that make you joyous. Imbibe the warmth. Get away in the next two months. New environments spark new ideas. Add to your collection of fabulous experiences. It’s going to be a whole new ball game for all of us in the Fall. We’re going to have to bring our A-Game every day until next summer. So relish the moment and replenish your Mojo – while you do the same for everyone else. I’m off to the Greek Islands in a few weeks, but I’m already in holiday mode while I’m working.
2. Look at your life through Fresh Eyes. Imagine you were someone new coming into your world. What would they see that you’re not seeing? What surprises would they find that may currently be hidden from your view? Why would they love being you? What would delight them that you’re taking for granted? Perspective is a view from a place where you are not. So go to that place. Look at things differently and you’ll develop different points of view. That’s why talking to others is so important. They are a mirror that enables us to see ourselves clearly. There is an ancient African adage that states, “A person is a person only because of other people”. So reach out and talk to someone.
3. Envision what you want to achieve in the next year. Envision why you want to achieve it. Envision how you’re going to achieve it. Envision who you will become. Paint a clear picture in your mind and share it with people you love and trust. Then look at it multiple times a day until it becomes real. Broadcast it on YouTube if you wish. Declare your intentions to the world and the world will conspire with you to make it happen. I’m living proof of this truth. I see myself as a preeminent coach to amazing leaders. I see the material I’ll produce to achieve that goal. I’ll be the relentless source of possibility and excitement that charges others up. It’s done. I’m in lag time. Yes!

Have a great summer! Relax, Refresh and Re-envision yourself so you can be hot, hot, hot in the Fall.

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Lady Gaga is my hero. According to The New York Times (05/22/11), she has become “the flashiest and most ubiquitous pop star of the 21^st Century”. She is “the queen that pop needs her to be”. She refreshes her image at Internet speed, while she sells multi-millions of albums and plays to sold-out arenas around the world.

But that’s not why she’s my hero. She’s my hero because she believes in Unicorns, so much so that she had one tattooed on her left thigh. Talking about her album, Born This Way, she states, “The unicorn for me is a mythical creature and magic. I believe this album attempts to annihilate the idea that magic is not real. I believe magic is real. I believe fantasy is real. I live halfway between reality and fantasy all the time.”

Her pace is also relentless. “No-one works like this girl”, said Jimmy Iovine, the chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records, her label.

The differences between Lady Gaga and Mike Lipkin couldn’t be more dramatic. But in one respect, we’re exactly the same – we both believe in magic and hard work. So what is magic? It’s an irresistible charm, influence or power that transcends experience and defies convention. Sometimes it manifests itself as an unexplainable wonder. And sometimes, we create it through our own purpose, passion, talent, courage and tenacity.

Spring is sprung. It’s the season of rebirth. The warmth is returning. It’s light until late. The blossoms are blooming. The birds are singing. The sights, sounds and smells of renewed possibilities are everywhere. It’s magical. It’s the time to rediscover, refresh, reinvent, and reset our personal resources.

Magic is the new game-changer because excellence is the new commodity. We expect excellence. We’re awed by Magic. It’s the ultimate differentiator. Sometimes, it’s a quantum leap and sometimes it’s a baby step. Sometimes, it’s once-in-a-lifetime and sometimes it’s everyday. But it’s always an experience that wins a standing ovation silently or out loud.

I know you have the Magic. The question is: are you making your magic real or are you letting it languish? Are you playing with passion or are you going through the motions? Are you transferring your joy to others or are you net neutral? Are you orchestrating their success or are you only focused on yourself? Are you engaged in something that fires you up? Or are you acting with apathy? Are you aware of your magic? Or are you on automatic pilot? Are you fully expressed? Or are you going unplayed?

It’s been a brutal winter, and I’m not just talking about the weather. The perfect storm is wearing all of us down. Whether we’re the dominant player or the underdog, it’s taking all we have to stay ahead of the curve. It’s easy to become cynical and fatigued. It’s easy to lose sight of our dream. It’s easy to be fearful. The majority of people are. Our research indicates that less than a third of people think that things are getting better. Less than twenty percent think their lives are “excellent”. Almost half say that they’re struggling to keep up with the challenges confronting them.

And here’s what I believe: it’s not going to get easier any time soon. So don’t bank on things getting better, bank on yourself getting better. Step back from the brink. Take a deep breath of spring air. Stretch. Think about your favorite things. Think about the best experience you’ve had this year. Think about your greatest strength. Think about the most valuable contribution you’ve made to anyone since January 1 2011. Think about the most valuable contribution that others have made to you. Think about what really excites you. Think about the biggest prize you want to achieve by December 31 2011. Tell someone you love them. Take the pause that will refresh you. And help others take it as well.

Here’s where I find my magic: My wife; sharing ideas with anyone; coaching others and being coached on how to achieve remarkable results; creating this video and podcast; physical vitality – being able to exercise vigorously without discomfort; watching or hearing extraordinary insights through podcasts on my iPad or iPod; barbecued salmon or perfectly prepared sushi; always fresh coffee from Tim Hortons; old Milwaukee beer on a hot day after an intense workout; creating a new program with my friend Teddy; winning a pitch for the next talk or seminar; Jack Bauer and Lady Gaga’s music videos.

Bring on the magic. Anything less makes you vulnerable. So here is Lipkin’s Personal Recipe for Making Magic:

1. Remind yourself why you’re gifted. I’m serious. You’re blessed with an abundance of assets. Take stock both inside and out. Gratitude is a source of great power.

2. Play to your greatest strength. Rediscover your Genius. It’s the one thing you do so well, others are amazed by it. In case you haven’t noticed, mine is talking and writing. What’s yours?

3. Set Yourself an Achievable Dream with a deadline. Motivation is an inside job. Keep your eye on the prize and the prize will pull you towards it. Imagine the possibility. Make it specific. Make it real in your own mind. Make it big, bold and bright. In my case, by the fall, I will create a mind-blowing, heart-warming, soul-stirring program on how to achieve colossal success with, through and for others.

4. Do the hard work. Practice your strength deliberately. Develop your capacity. Plug into your environment. Be the ultimate subject matter expert about your strength. There’s no magic bullet, just a magical journey. Be relentlessly curious. That’s why I’m creating this message. When the student is ready, the teacher always appears.

5. Bring Pleasure To Others. Be pleasure-able. Deliver delight. Enable enjoyment. Put a smile on others’ faces. Generate their laughter. Welcome them to well being. We all want to be with people who make us happy. Play this role well and you’ll be paid very well. Do it for the love and the money will follow.

6. Collaborate With The Best. Magic is a tribal ritual. It’s created by collective intelligence. It’s a partnership of people pooling their power and insights. It means becoming the kind of person others want to invite to their parties. It’s more than just being a teamplayer; it’s about being a catalyst – someone who precipitates unprecedented outcomes with energy and verve.

7. Reinvest and Reset. Burn bright but don’t burn out. Above all, take care of yourself. Pay yourself first. Recharge between sets so you can reset yourself. Take timeouts so you can be outstanding. Everything has its season. And every season has a beginning, middle and an end. But every season renews itself year after year. Just like you. This too shall pass so make it magnificent.

That’s it from me. Abracadabra. It’s the season to be magical so go cast your spell.

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It’s Election Time, And I’m Not Talking Federal Politics. Today is Election Day. Surprise, surprise: every day is Election Day. That’s the problem with life – it’s so daily. 24 hours is the new term of office.

We are all our own party. We have our own riding. We have our own electorate – they’re our family, friends, community, customers, colleagues, and fellow-citizens of our country and our planet.

How many people should be voting for you who don’t even know you exist? Why would they vote for you? Are more people voting for you today than yesterday? Or are they switching allegiances? How do you know? Simple: people vote with their legs – either towards or away from you.

Besides life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, peace, order and good government, no one owes you anything. Even freedom from fear isn’t guaranteed. Freedom isn’t free. Nor is acceptance, connection, recognition, fulfillment, or prosperity. It’s all earned, all the time.

It’s hard work but it’s not a chore. It’s the contest of life. It’s how we keep score. It’s how we constantly and conspicuously deliver superior value to our fellow constituents. When we tire of campaigning, others tire of us.

There’s a key distinction between people tolerating us and treasuring us. The passenger next you on the subway has little choice but to ride with you. Your colleagues could have no choice but to work with you. Your partner may feel obligated for better or for worse to stay with you. Your children may simply endure you. And your mother will always love you.

But what about those vital people in your life who have a choice? They can walk away at any time. They can choose where to spend their time, their effort, their energy, their support, their passion and their money. Are you their first choice? Are you on their Most Wanted list?

Again, I’ll ask you the question: how do you know? Are they calling you? Do they return your call? Are they talking about you to others? Do they give you preference? Do they tell you how much they value you? Do you see the smile and hear the delight in their voice when you’re with them?

Are you their pleasure? Or are you a pain? It’s that binary. It’s also a conscious strategy or an unconscious way of being. When people are engaged and inviting, it’s intentional. They demonstrate their appreciation for others. They put their best foot forward. They open up their charisma glands. They purr with pleasure. That’s what makes them beautiful. It comes easier to some than others but it’s always a learned skill.

So how’s your campaign going? Are you going to win the next seat or lose it? Are you mounted on the right platform? Do you stand for what counts? Is your message simple, relevant and consistent? What’s your visibility versus your competition? Are you earning your media? Is your franchise growing? How large is your financial and social capital? Who is championing your cause? How great is your will to win? How prepared are you to knock on doors until they open?

Stephen, Michael, and Jack have hit the road. So have I, and so should you. There is no such thing as a tenured incumbent. The status quo is quaking. Job security is a nostalgic whim. Customer loyalty is more perishable than your dinner this evening. Your competition is closer than you think. The next big thing is on the way and it could blow you away.

I know you know all of this. It’s simple but it’s not easy. We’re all lured by the mirage of continuity when things are going well, and even when they’re not. Our sense of entitlement and faith in the system gets in the way of what’s required to thrive, not just survive.

That’s the trigger: are you content to just carry on? Or do you want to see how far you can go? Do you seek the safety of the herd? Or are you willing to live on the tipping point? Whoever you are, someone is counting on you to go first. Whoever you are, someone is looking to you for inspiration. Whoever you are, someone needs your contribution right now.

Be a Candidate for what’s possible. Be the reason why someone says something or does something they would never otherwise have done. Give people something to rally around. Cynicism is so 2009. You can be idealistic and realistic at the same time. It may even be mandatory for success.

So here are Lipkin’s Seven Personal Campaign Rules to help you win:

1. Decide To Run. Get in the game. Find a passion that lights you up. Show your joy. Relish the challenge. In my case, it’s exciting people to excite people.

2. Make a Big Promise That Will Take All You Have To Deliver. Declare the irresistible value you will bring to others in a way that plays to your unique strengths. Express it in a way that enrolls others in your campaign. Make it so enticing they take joint-ownership of making it happen. In my case, it’s coaching people on how to define and live their dream life with others.

3. Be a Maestro. Develop your knowledge and skills to such a level that it occurs to others as a form of art. To quote the great Tina Turner, be “Simply The Best”. There is no substitute for extraordinary competence. You’ve already come a long way otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this. Take it to the next level, and then the next, and the next. There is no final one. That’s why I’m writing this. It’s my way of contributing and developing at the same time.

4. Be Memorable. Unleash your inner entertainer. Say it loud or say it soft, but say it. Make others’ day by making an impact. Make yourself bigger by playing a bigger role in the lives of your constituents. Decide on your style. Choose your moments and take them. In my case, it’s being this effusive and demonstrative in front of a camera. Or it’s the multiple sparkling conversations I have every day. Or it’s the opportunity to stand up in front of a live audience and wow them.

5. Get Out There And Meet Somebody. Campaigns are never won from the comfort of your office. Pick up the phone. Attend the meetings. Join the associations. Press the flesh. Look people in the eye and make a connection. And, yes, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkIn. Don’t just download, upload. Create your own podcasts and videos – that’s what I’m doing right now. It’s never been easier to broadcast your message to the world.

6. Make Good On Your Promises. Be who you say you’re going to be. Do what you say you’re going to do. Come through for others and they’ll come through for you. Build great alliances. It’s the Law of Reciprocation and it drives all sustainable wealth and wellness. We’re only as good as the people who return the promises we’ve kept.

7. Stay The Course. Life is a long march. We all go through our own seasons. Sometimes, we may need to lie low, but most the time we need to blaze our own campaign trail. That’s where the action is. That’s where the rewards are. It’s about stamina, mojo and resilience. And age has nothing to do with it. Some of the most energized people I know are well north of 70.

That’s it. I hope you’re inspired to launch or relaunch your personal campaign. And remember, when it comes to motivating your team, Vote Mike Lipkin. Yes, you can.

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We’re almost at the fifty-day mark of 2011. In dog years, an entire year has already passed. It’s been epic. The climate is changing dramatically, both physically and metaphysically. As Elisabeth Rosenthal asks in the February 13 issue of the New York Times: “What happens when 100 year storms are seen every 10 years, and 10 year storms become regular events? How many structures will reach their limits?”

My question is “How many people will reach their limits?” And my answer is “all of us”. 10-year storms are becoming regular events. The difference between the champions and the also-rans is whether our limits become boundaries that constrain us or turning points that redefine us. It’s that bipolar. Either we thrive on storms, or they swamp us. We seize the moment or we seize-up in the moment.

At the beginning of February, I hosted the 2011 HRPA Annual Conference for 2500 HR Professionals across Ontario and the rest of the world. The theme of the event was “Turning Trends To Your Advantage”. For three days, I polled delegates on their perception of what it takes to win in 2011. I then correlated their responses with the Environics Social Values Trends to discern the Ten Winning People-Trends of 2011. Some may strike you as self-evident and some may come as a surprise. But all of them will help you win in 2011:

1^st Winning Trend: Enjoy Your Work

This is the Uber-Trend. It’s the antidote to the post traumatic stress following the meltdown of 2008 and 2009. It’s about the pursuit of happiness in the pursuit of revenue. It’s the Fun-Factor that makes the Extra-Effort worthwhile. It’s about the smile, the laugh, and the special touches that elevate people’s moods in difficult times. Sometimes it’s embedded in the culture, and sometimes it’s the initiative flowing from a specific colleague or manager. But with so much time being spent at work, it’s important all the time. So ask yourself how much fun it is to be around you? Do others work with you because they have to? Or because they want to? No Kill-Joys Allowed.

2^nd Winning Trend: Be Inspired

Closely aligned with the first trend, this trend is the emotional engine that drives superior performance. As Nietzsche stated, “He who has a WHY to live, can bear almost any HOW”. It’s about being inspired by a higher motive. It’s about hiring out one’s heart as well as one’s head and hands. It’s about making a difference in something that makes a difference. It’s a 50:50 partnership between the employer and staff. It’s not the industry that defines the Inspiration Quotient; it’s the perception of the role that one plays in other’s lives. Inspiration can be the ultimate Game-Changer when everything else is commoditized. So how inspired are you? Are just laying rocks? Or are you creating a cathedral?

3^rd Winning Trend: Thrive on Austerity

The tide isn’t rising. As a rule, the market in North America isn’t growing. 1-3% growth may be the order of the decade. The mantra of the workplace is “cheaper, leaner, better, faster.” The winners are the “Adaptive Navigators” of the New Austerity. Their true resources are internal, not external. Their ingenuity increases in direct proportion to the challenges facing them. They feel the fear, but they alchemize it into excitement. They are confident in their ability and courageous in their actions. They back themselves especially when their backs are against the wall. They are the people everyone is looking for. So how lean are you? How are you demonstrating your ability to deliver a lot more for a lot less? And how skilled are you at helping the people around you travel light?

4^th Winning Trend: Matrix Yourself

Hierarchy is so boomer. The new reality is about heterarchy – where leaders and followers are interchangeable depending on circumstances. The matrix is the message. Dotted lines connect everyone to everyone so everyone has a license to create a better way. Influence is earned daily. Authority is by invitation only. Informal power and formal structures overlap. Titles are inevitable, and they’re even respected but they’re merely a credential. Whether it’s a commercial bank or a computer start-up, the passion for talent is egalitarian in the champion organizations. So how flat is your world? How accessible are you to others – both physically and psychically? Are you managing by title? Or are you leading by example?

5^th Winning Trend: Maximize Your Personal Value

In stripped-down organizations, the individual is decisive. When the rubber meets the road, it all comes down to the quality of the conversation between the representative and his/her client/customer. The bigger the scale, the more important every interaction becomes. Whether it’s an airline or a law firm, the individual is the ambassador of the company and the company is judged by the individuals it keeps. The winners appreciate their power and they exercise it every time. They play their A-Game and they keep raising it. They captivate their customers and they coach their own managements. So how accountable are you for making a difference? Are you aware of your own power? Because with great power comes great responsibility (with acknowledgement to Uncle Ben, Spiderman’s uncle).

6^th Winning Trend: Brand Yourself Fabulously

It’s one thing to maximize your value, it’s another to communicate it fabulously. The winners understand perception is reality. They know they’re defined by their words and actions. They’re conscious of themselves but they’re not self-conscious. They do whatever it takes to delight others. They understand how to differentiate themselves not just through the value they deliver, but how they make others feel while they deliver it. And by the way, this applies as much to corporations as it does to individuals. Function and feeling are intertwined. Show them the money, but show them the love as well. So what’s your story? What is your Magnetic Promise? What sets you apart from everyone else in your space? Why would the best customers want to buy from you? And why would the best performers want to partner with you?

7^th Winning Trend: Cross The Generational Divide

The Generational Divide may be smaller than you think. Boomers and Gen Xers are already close. But Boomers and Gen Yers can get even closer. There is a middle path where they can meet to create remarkable results. The best Boomers have the wisdom to meet Gen Yers more than halfway. With more than half the workforce over 40, they still have the power but they’re learning a new game that’s being defined by the Gen Yers. Experience can be a liability if it’s rooted in obsolete realities. The most successful organizations are characterized by a mutual admiration for each other. Mentoring flows both ways. Age has its advantages but youth has technology. So how supportive are you to the generations around you? Are you reaching out or shutting down? Remember, if you’re open to others they’ll open you up as well.

8^th Winning Trend: Master The Rules

In a post excess reality, every category is being constrained by terms of compliance that can verge on insanity. It’s as much about doing things right as it is about doing the right things. The pendulum has swung to the extreme and it may be a while before it swings back. So don’t complain, comply. The champions treat compliance like gravity. It is what it is. They operate within it. They’re creative in the space open to them. They don’t allow the “administrivia” to excuse them for not excelling. The process is not the enemy but one’s attitude can be. So how compliant are you? Have you mastered the rules of your game? Compliance can set you free to go deep on what really matters.

9^th Winning Trend: Build Your Social Graph.

Your commercial worth is a direct function of the number of people you influence. Connections are the new currency. You need to be LinkedIn, Facebooked and Twittered. But networking means a lot more than working the net. It means talking to people in person and by phone – especially if they come from a different place to you. It means building social reciprocity by reaching out and giving more to others than they expect. It means being personally philanthropic so you build passionate promoters – people who become your advocates because you make a massive difference to them. It must be authentic. It doesn’t matter whether you’re naturally gregarious or not. What matters is how much you matter to as many people as possible. So whom have you helped today? And how many more can you help?

10^th Winning Trend: Train To Win

Everybody loves to win but only a few love to train. Less than one out of five people have a regimented training plan – mental and physical. The urgent things are so pressing that we don’t find time for the things that are really powerful. It’s not about time-management. It’s about priority management. What matters most should receive the most time, right? But it’s the opposite. On both a corporate and an individual level, the winners find the time for what counts. They expand their capacity to be remarkable so they achieve more without doing more. So how are you training to win? What’s your plan? And how disciplined are you in executing it?

Those are my Ten Winning People-Trends of 2011. I hope they’ve enriched your perspective and energized you to be more. Let me know. This is Mike Lipkin, and until the next time, remember: There are so many people counting on you to be your best. As you step up, you take them all with you.