I'll take "none of the above"

What happens when you ask for something that isn’t on the menu? I watched this happen on two back-to-back regional flights a few months ago with wildly different outcomes.

First Flight

Flight attendant: “Would you like coffee or water?”

Passenger: “Can I get a Diet Coke?”

FA: “Sir, we have coffee or water.”

Second Flight

FA: “Would you like coffee or water?”

Passenger: “Can I get red wine?”

FA: “Tell you what, let me get through this and if there’s time, I’ll see if I can find you some.”

You’re allowed to ask for something that isn’t on the menu. You’re allowed to seek out new opportunities beyond what’s been offered to you. You’re allowed to color outside the lines.

But you’re not entitled to any particular response from the universe, let alone other people.

The downside of being extraordinary

If you only ever choose to order off the menu, to color between the lines, to stick to the status quo, you’ll never ruffle any feathers. As the saying goes, no one ever got fired for buying an IBM computer.

You’ll also condemn yourself to a life of mediocrity.

Because the really exciting, innovative, bold options aren’t on the menu. The menu is full of options most people like most of the time. And hey, that may be exactly what you want out of life: coast, cruise, and skate by on minimal effort without confrontation or risk of failure.

On the other hand, if you ask for something that’s not on the menu, you might get an eye-roll. You invite criticism. You’ll get pushback and be told to stay in your lane.

But you might also discover hidden possibilities and unique experiences. The question is, how much friction are you willing to endure in pursuit of something greater?

You’re not entitled to anything. But if you don’t ask, you’re guaranteed nothing.

It’s your turn to lead

“We must continually leap off of cliffs and grow wings on the way down.” -Kurt Vonnegut

There’s never been a time like now to ask for something that isn’t on the menu. All the rules in place since the Industrial Revolution were wiped out overnight.

While many organizations, entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small businesses are curled up in a fetal position wondering when things will go back to the way they were, a small handful of true leaders are stepping in the arena.

Truth is, they’ve always been here.

But suddenly individuals and organizations who couldn’t get heard in the global cacophony have a brief window of silence. For once, people are listening.

Not all people, but the right people.

And those people – prospects, clients, customers, employees, community groups – they’re looking for someone, anyone, to show them the way forward.

For once, shouldn’t it be you?

Pre-enrollment is open for The Leadership Mastermind. It’s an intense and deeply rewarding 3 month program for someone like you.

All of us are smarter than any of us, and in this program you’ll give and get generous advice over 6 group sessions and 3 private 1-on-1 coaching calls with me, plus access to recordings of all meetings for life.

I’ve only got 6 seats available and 1 was snatched up this week. By the end of 2020 we’ll know who the individuals and organizations are that are going to carry us into the future. They’re going to write the new rules, and the rest of us are going to live by them.

It’s your turn to write the rules. To decide how business gets done. To step up, make bold choices, and lead.

Schedule your discovery call here. If I believe you are a good fit for this group, I’ll extend an invitation to join before public enrollment opens.

We begin mid-May. Sooner if you step up now.