What’s under your fingernails?
September 3rd, 2008
Scott, the nametag guy wrote a Spike Jones inspired post the other day. Check out his take on one of our 12 Brains on Fire beliefs.
Last week I had an interesting exchange with Cordell. And I was personally reminded how lucky I am that my work, my calling is one of my top ten passions. He and a small team are working on a project to help new people get quickly “immersed” in Brains on Fire’s culture. Our new immersion kit has suggestions like attend a Friday night Rage event, play a game of foosball, and hang out at Chicora on Thursday night. He and the immersion team are also collecting each person’s personal passion lists. It was a pretty cool assignment. I sent him my list with a short note about how great it felt to put my passions in writing and how excited I am to see everyone’s list. (Even though we are a pretty tight group, I am certain there will be a surprise or two.)
Anyway, here was Cordell’s very thoughtful response back to me:
“I hope everyone will take it seriously and not just throw something at it. It will be a good exercise in insight. If we can help people here unearth what drives them beneath the obvious, it will demonstrate the depth of understanding we seek to make a difference in the lives and success of our clients.”
So, what’s on your passion list? Or better yet — what’s on your employee’s or customer’s passion list?
Other posts by Robbin.
Jeff says:
I think it’s awesome that you guys are creating an immersion kit for newbies. It is so important when bringing new people in. And the fact that you’re building it by identifying people’s passions is genius. So often companies say our culture is our mission statement or a bulleted item on the wall things like customer service and quality products. B.S. really. The truth is your culture lives in the passions and personalities that do their work inside your walls.
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:58 amMy passion list:
1) writing
2) travel narratives
3) buying plants
4) my wife
5) figuring out ways to connect ideas that seem like they don’t connect
6) meeting strangers
7) animals that seem fictional but are real (walruses)
Blissmonger says:
Right now, I’m passionate about this:
http://iheart75.com/
September 3rd, 2008 at 6:01 amRobbin says:
Hi Jeff, I love to meet strangers too. Sweeping is one my hidden passions. Seriously, I’d sweep the streets if they let me. It calms me. Blissmonger, Etsy is a cool idea. Life IS way too short…
September 3rd, 2008 at 6:27 amHELLO, my name is Scott! says:
Hey Robbin! Thanks for the link love and of course, for the inspiration.
PERSONAL PASSION LIST
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:28 am*Nametags
*Questions
*Morphine (the band, not the drug)
*Taylor Guitars
*My health
*My family
*My dog
Billy says:
Great post, Robbin.
Man, I miss that guy. You’re all missed, but… anyway, great post.
*Family
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:14 am*Reading great writers
*Change
*College football
*Pale Ale
______________
*Understanding
*Cohesion
*Stories
*Pale Ale
*
Chris Rackley says:
Well, Robbin - here you go:
* My wife and daughter
* reading
* playing my Xbox 360
* web surfing
* worship
* my job - yeah, I pretty much love my job
My customers?
* Improving their business
* hunting
* cars
* Clemson football
* ministry/charity work
* coffee
Robbin, can I pick your brain for a sec? Should their be some ‘common passions’ we should be searching for? Because outside of general business philosophies, I can’t think of anything. Makes me feel pretty guilty. What do you think? Or should they be more specific per client - and if so, how could we effectively keep track of them all?
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:30 pmKyle says:
Ooh… This is fun!
*Relaxing
September 4th, 2008 at 7:19 am*Disc golf
*College Football
*Learning new things
*Fitness
*Stretching while letting out a big yawn
*Ironing
*Cornhole
*Planning heists
*Friends and family
Robbin says:
HI Chris, I do think you should look for customers who share your passions. For instance, we do better when we connect with companies who — like us — are extremely focused on creating meaningful growth, remarkable places to work and amazing customer experiences. Companies who are rooted in purpose, not just profits. Organizations who are interested in creating well, Brains on Fire…
Is that just shared general business philosophies? Maybe, but there are a boatload of different philosophies on what’s important in the business world. Some companies are simply focused on transactions and don’t give a hoot about relationships.
When you make a product, it really gets interesting. For instance, Method Cleaning products. I’ve been studying them for a while now. All cleaning products are pretty much made of the same stuff.
Method has beautiful products that work well, AND they have a desire to united “people against dirty”. Yup, there’s a shared passion for you. So many companies make the mistake of asking their customers to share their passion for making good soap and miss the bigger opportunity to connect. That’s the below the surface stuff. IN my opinion.
Kyle, it is fun stuff.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:33 amjim says:
1. Helping people turn the talk into positive action.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:47 am2. Seeing my work continue to make a difference for others as well as for me.
3. Helping people beautify their environment.
4. Continuing to create the inner sanctuary, the place to recharge and form new ideas
5. Caring less and less everyday about judgement toward my path and choices in life.
6. Keeping open to the possibilities.
7. Acting on them.
8. Enjoying every day as if it is my last.
9. Worrying less and enjoying more
10. Doing things with creative poeple.
Robbin says:
Oh Jim. Mr.compostinmyshoe. You finally broke your silence. Nice.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:07 pm