A Fish Climbing a Tree

Welcome, friends, to my newsletter. I'm extremely glad you're here! My goal is to create something that adds immense value in your life. New perspectives, new ideas, new tools, and anything else that helps you be a better, more effective, person.

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Since we're early - this is newsletter number one! - expect things to change. I'll be finding my writing voice and the connection with you! Please provide feedback by writing me back and let me know what you liked.

A Quote

“ One of the marvelous things about life is that any gaps in your education can be filled, whatever your age or situation, by reading, and thinking about what you read. — Warren Bennis

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Three Things

1 - 📚 Stop Asking Questions. While this book is specifically about podcasts, it's a great book on how to interview others.

2 - ☕️ Ember mug. This remains one of my most beloved gifts. Perpetually hot coffee is a life changer.

3 - 🥃 Don Fulano Añejo Tequila. My wife and I had this at a restaurant and had to find a bottle for the house. It's lovely.

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Deeper Dive

I've been reflecting on the metaphor of a fish attempting to climb a tree, particularly as it relates to managing employee performance.

There's a quotation, often misattributed to Einstein despite its source being unknown, that resonates with me:

"Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid."

I'm a growth seeker. It's in my DNA. As a consequence, I have a (shrinking) blind spot where I believe in any person's ability to change. I've often thought that if I can pair an under-performing employee with appropriate coaching, if I can share new perspectives, then they can put in the work and succeed.

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Unfortunately, repeated experiences have taught me that this is not always true. Not everyone is willing or able to undertake the journey of growth - the pain of changing is greater than the pain of staying the same.

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The fish metaphor offers up a new, and equally helpful, perspective. I always knew these were good people, yet they were fish and I was asking them to climb a tree. No matter how much guidance a fish receives, it simply doesn't have the tools to climb.

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Instead of persisting with fruitless efforts, it can often be more beneficial to give under-performers the chance to find their own 'water' - a place where they can excel. Throughout my career, I've noticed that people who have moved on from unsuitable roles typically find greater happiness elsewhere.

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Yes, the journey from one role to another one can be challenging, but each transition makes progress towards an environment where they can truly excel. As a leader, it's essential to question whether you're stifling someone's

potential to thrive - to get closer to their 'zone of genius' - by retaining them in a role where they're under-performing.

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Help your people find their zone of genius. Ensure your fish find their water, and don't expect them to climb trees.