Over the Rainbow
I am finally beginning to type this issue and trying to piece together the very first component of the “Upgrade Me” program for 2024. I am sitting at my computer in my home office, which is dimly lit thanks to the cold, cloudy, rainy weather blocking any chance of sun and a single lamp providing a bit of ambiance to the otherwise dark mood. The bright spot, though, is that my one-year-old black cocker spaniel, Noelle, is sleeping peacefully on the loveseat behind me. She is quiet.
My teenage daughter, however, is watching something in the living room as if she is trying to set a record for the loudest in-home movie ever. Whatever it is, it occasionally sounds like a mix of a Disney show and some romantic comedy made for teenagers. My wife is vacuuming the living room with her noise-canceling earbuds and most likely listening to an audiobook she just purchased. I now realize why my daughter has the television at such a high volume. My four-year-old golden retriever is scratching at my office door, which usually means he wants out. He does feel he has me trained, though, to get him a treat on command. It could be he feels it is time for me to attend to his needs.
I’ve got very little time to write this since it is my day off from my primary role as a product manager, but I want it to be extremely on-point and valuable to you. This is the first weekend of the new year. This is where I usually begin to allow some of my best-laid intentions to slip. The plan to be healthy and nutritious derailed into a freaking candy bar or two. At least I worked out this morning. I say this as I am eating that second package of Reese’s she lovingly bought me at the store this morning.
I am reminded of a baseball game during my high school days when we were playing a team one late afternoon. As I was playing first base today, my shortstop nearly hit me in the face with a ball during a double play. Some bright field architects decided to situate the field such that during sunset, the sun would sit just behind second base as you were looking from the visiting team’s dugout, which just so happened to be situated behind first base. I still don’t know how I made that catch. Luck, I guess.
Now, up to bat, despite being a horrific hitter, I connected. I'm not sure where that ball went, but it felt like it was headed to left field. As I approached first, assuming I was going to be racing a throw, my coach was signaling for me to keep going. He was so animated, that he looked as if he was trying to play the air guitar while performing jumping jacks. I am running so hard, but it feels like I am in slow motion as I make my way through the dry sand mixed with pea gravel. I glance up. The sun hits me smack in the face. I look towards my third base coach to see if he wants me to keep running, slide, or hold up at second. I slide beautifully. Now, mind you, I didn’t see what my third base coach wanted me to do. He was just a glowing red blob, but I wanted to be safe.
I popped up from my major league textbook slide. I looked back towards first base. There, about 10 feet away, was a pristine second base. I had run past it. I quickly retreated, just beating the throw to the infielder. I looked at my first base coach who was less of a blob than my third base coach, but I could tell there was much confusion and disgust in his face, despite me ultimately being safe.
Back in my office, my tabby cat just knocked a book down from the shelf above me as she jumped to go to her napping place. My trip down memory lane is gone. But all the distractions and delays remind me that, thankfully, this year, unlike others, I took the time to establish a multiyear vision for my life and career. I know that whatever distractions come and attempt to delay me, or whenever a shiny object comes in front of my path, I am not aimlessly moving forward. I have a destination I desire to reach.
My desired outcomes for the year are to inspire you to live a life of significance and to encourage you to move past your fears to experience something new and different. I want you to apply strategy, establish goals, and measure and monitor success toward your ultimate vision. To do this, you need to be sure you are not aimlessly wandering through the desert but have a sense of where you are trying to go. While that destination may ultimately change if you get lucky and can go beyond that destination or if you need to just stay there once you get there, I want you to get there.
Today, I’m going to introduce you to the “Upgrade Me” program and help provide you with a framework to create a vision. I highly encourage you to watch this YouTube short with Jordan Peterson on aimlessness before you begin the work to craft your vision. I wish you much success and joy in 2024!
Transform your approach, transcend challenges, and achieve triumphant outcomes. Productize yourself, navigate change, and engineer triumphs!
Stephen C. Kincaid
P.S. Please do me a 3-minute favor this week. Put on some noise-canceling headphones or lock yourself in a quiet room. Close your eyes, dance, or move; turn on your secret disco ball if you have one. Turn the volume way up (don't be stupid and hurt your ears, though) and play this song: Over the Rainbow—Rocco & Mazza Remix.
Also, if you find this of value, please consider buying me a cup of coffee.
Summary
It will take guts to admit that you have behaved in a way that prevents you from being your better self, and then choose to act differently. - Sidney Poitier
In "Upgrade Me: Productize Self, Navigate Change, Engineer Triumphs," you will undertake a journey similar to a product manager devising a strategy for product market success. The process begins with personal visioning—defining what a fulfilling life means to you, much like setting a product vision that aims for market resonance.
The next step involves crafting your unique purpose, akin to a product's mission. This phase calls for introspection to understand your personal brand's unique value—your strengths, passions, and the contributions you aim to make.
Then, you take stock of your current career "portfolio," examining how you distribute your time and energy across various life domains, ensuring alignment with your vision and purpose. This mirrors a product manager's product analysis, assessing which features to enhance, maintain, or divest.
Drawing from research on well-being and fulfillment, you will incorporate proven strategies into your career plan, much like a product manager would use market research to inform product features and user experience.
Then, you will define your objectives and key results (OKRs), setting clear, actionable goals for personal growth. These serve as your milestones and metrics for success, guiding you toward your envisioned future.
"Upgrade Me" offers a structured approach to professional development, with each of you as the product manager of your life, navigating changes with strategic acumen and engineering triumphs through deliberate, informed action.
A Guide to Envisioning a Transformed Personal and Professional Future
The start of a new year is more than a turn of the calendar; it’s an opportunity for a fresh beginning and the perfect time to set a clear vision for the future. This issue will guide you in creating a vivid, inspiring picture of what your transformed personal and professional life could look like by the end of this transformative year.
The Importance of a Vision: A vision acts as a north star, guiding you through decisions and challenges. It's a representation of your desires and aspirations—a vivid image of your future success. Before we dive into crafting this vision, let's explore why it's critical to have one and how it can empower you to transform your life.
Creating Your Vision Statement: Your vision statement is a concise, clear expression of your future self. It should resonate deeply with your values and ambitions.
Wait. No time? Use this cheat sheet from Ebi Atawobi that I discovered when listening to her interview with Lenny Ratchitsky on Lenny's Podcast.
Once upon a time,
Then one day
and because of that
and because of that
and because of that
and finally
Short. Simple. Sweet. That framework provides a no-excuse format for creating a vision statement. I love it when trying to create a vision for a product, and I love it as I work to craft my vision statement.
Exercise 1: Reflect on Your Values and Desires: Begin by jotting down what matters most to you. What drives you? What are your core values? What do you want more of in your life?
Exercise 2: Visualize Your Future: Close your eyes and picture where you want to be by the end of 2024. Imagine your ideal professional scenario, your personal life, and how you feel. Write down what you see in the present tense as if it’s already happening.
Creating Your Vision Board: A vision board is a tangible representation of your vision statement, filled with images, words, and items that inspire you and represent your goals.
Exercise 3: Gather Inspiration: Collect images, quotes, and items that inspire you and align with your vision. These can come from magazines, photos, online sources, or personal mementos.
Exercise 4: Assemble Your Vision Board: Arrange your collected items on a board or digital canvas. There's no right or wrong way to do this – the goal is to create a collage that visually represents your aspirations.
Living Your Vision: With your vision statement and board in place, it’s time to bring that vision to life.
Exercise 5: Daily Visualization Practice: Spend a few minutes each day looking at your vision board and reading your vision statement. Visualize yourself achieving these aspirations and reflect on what actions you can take to move closer to this reality.
Exercise 6: Align Actions with Vision: Identify small steps you can take each day or week that align with your vision. This will help turn your vision into actionable goals.
Conclusion: Remember, a vision without action is just a dream. Let your vision statement and board be the catalysts that propel you forward. Revisit them often, adjust as needed, and celebrate every step that brings you closer to your transformed future.
Next Steps: As you continue with "Upgrade Me: Productize Self, Navigate Change, Engineer Triumphs," use your vision as a foundational tool to guide your transformation journey. Stay tuned for the next steps in turning your vision into reality.
If you would like to do this exercise with even more rigor and for all areas of your life outside of your professional career, I recommend viewing the following YouTube video: Use Strategic Thinking to Create the Life You Want
This video will provide you with seven questions that can clarify what matters to you and help you build your life strategy, according to BCG’s Rainer Strack. Here's the full article from Harvard Business Review, which will provide you with details on how to complete all seven steps.
My Vision Statement
I want you to know that I am right here with you doing the work this year. I am here for support and as a means of inspiration. Together, we will make 2024 a success!
While my complete vision is a bit more robust, here is my shortened vision statement:
By 2027, I am a transformative leader and creative force, having achieved financial freedom and optimal health, inspiring thousands with innovative strategies for personal and professional growth. My journey reflects a commitment to excellence, expressing creativity, propensity for action, and cultivating community empowering others to unlock their full potential alongside me.
Understanding 'Productize Self'
In the heart of the "Upgrade Me" philosophy lies the groundbreaking concept of 'Productize Self.' This innovative approach invites you to view yourself through the lens of a product manager, seeing your personal and professional development as an ongoing process of design, innovation, and refinement.
But what does it mean to 'Productize Self'? It means taking a step back and objectively analyzing your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, just as a company would with a new product. It means setting clear, measurable objectives for improvement and growth. It means being user-focused; in this case, the user is you, and your goal is to enhance your life experience and performance.
Productizing yourself involves several key steps:
Assessment: Just as a product team assesses market needs, you'll assess your skills, desires, and the alignment between your current state and your aspirations. This involves honest self-reflection and possibly seeking feedback from others.
Design: In product development, design is about solving problems in a way that meets user needs. For you, it's about designing a lifestyle, career path, or personal growth plan that addresses your desires and ambitions while considering real-world constraints.
Development: This is where you build out your 'features'—whether they're skills, habits, or networks. It's about taking action, learning, and iterating.
Launch: In a product's lifecycle, this is the go-to-market phase. For you, it's about putting your plans into action in the real world, stepping out of your comfort zone, and starting the journey towards your goals.
Iteration: No product is perfect on the first try, and neither are we. Iteration is about making ongoing adjustments based on feedback and performance, constantly refining and improving.
By adopting a 'Productize Self' mindset, you're committing to a structured, thoughtful approach to your personal development. You're not just passively hoping for improvement; you're actively engineering it. In the coming chapters, we'll delve deeper into how you can apply product management principles to various aspects of your personal and professional life, turning the concept of 'Productize Self' from an intriguing idea into a powerful tool for transformation.
The Necessity of Navigating Change
Change is an inevitable and constant force in both the personal and professional realms. It can come in the form of new technologies, shifting market dynamics, evolving relationships, or internal growth. While change can be daunting, understanding its necessity and learning to navigate it strategically is crucial for your growth and success.
In our personal lives, change can manifest as new interests, evolving relationships, or shifts in our health and well-being. Professionally, it might look like industry shifts, job role changes, or organizational restructuring. Regardless of the form it takes, change demands adaptation and resilience.
But why is navigating change so critical? Firstly, it's about survival. Just as businesses that fail to adapt can become obsolete, individuals who resist change can find themselves left behind, stuck in patterns that no longer serve their best interests or are aligned with their goals.
More important, however, is the opportunity that change presents. Navigating change isn't just about survival; it's about seizing the opportunity to grow, learn, and advance. Each change is a chance to evaluate where you are, where you want to be, and how you can get there. It's a chance to shed what's no longer working and embrace new strategies, skills, and mindsets that propel you forward.
Strategically navigating change involves several key elements:
Awareness: Staying informed and aware of changes in your personal life and industry, allowing you to anticipate and prepare rather than react.
Flexibility: Cultivating a flexible mindset that sees change not as a threat but as an opportunity for growth and innovation.
Proactivity: Taking proactive steps to adapt to change, whether through continuous learning, seeking new opportunities, or building a diverse and robust network.
Resilience: Developing the emotional and psychological resilience to handle the challenges change can bring and stay focused on your long-term vision even when the short-term path is uncertain.
In the "Upgrade Me" program, we'll explore strategies and techniques for effectively navigating change and turning potential disruptions into pathways for transformation and triumph. By understanding the necessity of navigating change and learning to do so strategically, you're not just preparing to survive the shifts life throws your way; you're setting yourself up to thrive and succeed, no matter what comes.
Engineering Your Triumphs
The concept of 'Engineering Triumphs' is about taking a systematic, thoughtful approach to your challenges and goals and turning them into meaningful and lasting successes. It's about moving beyond mere wishful thinking and into the realm of strategic planning and execution. This method is akin to how an engineer would approach the design and construction of a complex structure—with precision, foresight, and a clear plan.
Firstly, engineering your triumphs involves setting clear, specific, and achievable goals. These goals act as your blueprint, guiding your efforts and providing a clear vision of what success looks like. Just as an engineer wouldn't begin construction without a detailed plan, you shouldn't pursue your goals without a clear understanding of what you're trying to achieve.
Next is the process of building the foundations. This involves acquiring the necessary skills, knowledge, and resources you'll need to achieve your goals. It also means creating a supportive environment that aligns with your objectives, whether that's surrounding yourself with inspiring people, setting up a productive workspace, or establishing healthy routines.
The third step is the construction phase, where you put your plans into action. This is where discipline, consistency, and resilience come into play. You'll likely encounter challenges and setbacks along the way, but with a well-engineered plan, you'll have the strategies and contingencies in place to navigate these obstacles and stay on course.
Monitoring and adjusting your approach as you progress is also a crucial part of engineering your triumphs. Just as engineers must regularly assess their progress and make adjustments as necessary, you should continually evaluate your strategies, celebrate your successes, learn from your mistakes, and refine your approach as you move closer to your goals.
Finally, the moment of triumph isn't just about reaching your end goal; it's also about recognizing and celebrating the progress you've made along the way. It's about acknowledging the skills you've developed, the challenges you've overcome, and the person you've become in the process. This celebration not only provides a sense of accomplishment but also sets the stage for future successes.
In the "Upgrade Me" program, we'll dive deeper into how you can engineer your triumphs, providing you with the tools, strategies, and mindset needed to turn your personal and professional goals into reality. By approaching your life with the precision and thoughtfulness of an engineer, you'll be equipped to build a future that's not only successful but also deeply fulfilling.
Who might care to be a part of the "Upgrade Me" program?
Mid-Level Professionals: Those who have some experience in their fields but are looking to break through to the next level of success and responsibility.
Senior Professionals and Leaders: Individuals who are in leadership positions and are continuously seeking ways to improve themselves, their teams, and their organizations.
Entrepreneurs and Business Owners: People who are constantly seeking personal growth and improvement to reflect positively on their business success.
Aspiring Innovators: are those who are always looking for the next big idea or way to innovate and are seeking personal transformation to foster their creative processes.
Individuals Feeling Stuck: People who feel they're not fulfilling their potential or who struggle to stick to their New Year's resolutions and are seeking a structured, supportive program to make lasting changes.
Lifelong Learners: Individuals who are committed to continuous learning and self-improvement are always on the lookout for resources and communities that can support their growth journey.
These are the people who would likely care most about a program promising a transformative journey toward personal and professional triumph. They are typically driven, motivated, and looking for structured guidance and community support to help them achieve their goals. If this is you, welcome to the program!
To close this week's issue, if you found value, please engage by liking this post, reposting it to your network, or sharing Kincaid's Corner with a colleague. If you feel so inclined, I would love to join you for a discussion over a cup of coffee. Feel free to buy me a cup of coffee, too. :)
Finally, join the "Upgrade Me" Spotify playlist: songs to be added each week as we progress through the program.