A visit to an art museum reminded me of the value of sketching. Even the masters started most of their works with pencils, making multiple lines before determining the final location to paint or color. They had no illusions that the first try would be their final one.
Yet, so many times we expect perfection or a final draft right out of the gate. We want to start painting instead of sketching, making one line instead of a blur of many. It often frustrates us and makes it more daunting for others to provide feedback on the idea.
Take a lesson from the artists and start with a rough, penciled-in version of your concept, then go from there. Within the many lines, the true masterpiece can be found.
The construction office for a multi-million-dollar building project has trailer skirting that is askew. It doesn’t line up properly, and a piece of the edging is hanging loose.
If I were the building owner, this sloppiness would not inspire confidence in me. If they are unable, oblivious, or uncaring about how their own facility looks, why should I believe they will pay attention to the details and integrity of what they are building?
Your brand message is everywhere, even when you don’t mean it to be. Pay extra attention to the small ways you show up in the world.
In an amazing use of technological wizardry, Delta now allows you to scan your boarding pass to receive personalized connecting gate information. It also somehow shows this information only to you, even though others may be looking at the screen. No more scanning the giant flight information boards to find your flight, or wondering which direction to walk and how much time it will take you to get there. It’s now all laid out, just for you, even in your preferred language.
Technology can be wonderful for handling complex tasks and calculating massive amounts of data, but it also has valuable applications in producing micro-results from that process. Think about how you can narrow down what information you share and target the message to just what the person wants to know.
When you think of items to be recycled, you likely think of glass, paper, plastic, or metal, but I suspect few readers had oyster shells on their mind.
However, on Cape Cod, the Massachusetts Oyster Project partners with restaurants to collect their shells and place them in the water as an ideal underlying layer for baby oysters to attach to as an oyster reef grows. The project has collected over 66,000 pounds of shells that would otherwise go to a landfill.
But the real benefits of the project come from what oysters provide. Oysters are a valuable component of the island’s climate change mitigation strategy. They filter seawater that can lead to harmful algal blooms, create reefs that can reduce the impact of storm surges and limit coastal erosion, and provide homes for other shellfish. The shells help to restore the oyster reefs and grow the oyster population.
Personally, I am not a fan of the slimy appetizers, but I am delighted by the project to save them. Kudos to the volunteers who took this on as their project.
There is a non-profit organization for almost every issue imaginable. Support those groups that are working for causes you believe in, either with time or money. Don’t leave all the hard work to others.
Taylor Swift said that sometimes a song just appears to her, “like a cloud, and you just have to reach out and grab it.” Other times, she’s not so lucky.
I feel that way about writing dots; there are moments when the lesson becomes so obvious, and other times when I stare at a blank screen for an extended period.
I think that the entire creative process is like that. Whether composing songs, writing dots, painting, or designing graphics, there are times to capture and times to plod. The trick is having a system that allows you to act on the ideas that present themselves easily to you, and having the patience to outlast the blocks that inevitably worm their way into the mix. Both clouds and lulls are fleeting.
Leadership is about creating change, and those who seek to make a difference become proficient in three separate steps of the process.
The first step is identifying needs. Change leaders must recognize where gaps and inequities exist, or where opportunities lie. If you’re still relying on others to present you with problems to solve or projects to complete, you’ve abdicated your role in the first phase of the change process. You need to develop discerning eyes that pay attention to the process, feedback, pain points, possibilities, and trends, and identify where change is needed.
But noticing a need is not enough. Those interested in creating change must be able to articulate the issue compellingly. If you are afraid to speak up, are unable to deliver a persuasive message, or speak only in vague terms, the issue will likely remain unchanged. The most effective change leaders craft a specific ask, woven with an emotional story, to make their words memorable and actionable.
Finally, you must galvanize resources to implement the desired change. This could involve people or funds, assembled quickly or over time, but all mobilized to achieve the end result. Without the support and engagement of others, your idea is likely to fizzle.
Understanding that change happens in multiple stages is a helpful framework, especially for new professionals who have yet to learn that leadership and change are inextricably linked. Those who cannot identify, articulate, and galvanize are likely to remain followers, even if they have higher aspirations.
Today’s dot was written by Brooklyn Haneltfrom Minot State University.
When I choose partners for collaborative assignments, I often try to pair up with peers who study hard but don’t always get grades that reflect their efforts. I have been asked before why I do this, and it is simple: effort means much more in life in every way.
I find working with individuals who are naturally smart to be challenging. I am not naturally intelligent; I struggle beyond belief behind closed doors, even if I have created the illusion of being naturally smart. In my experience, naturally smart lab and group partners in school can be exhausting and, at times, self-serving. They don’t always work well in groups, as they often find it frustrating when asked to communicate concepts, which can sometimes yield little respect and compassion, and in some cases, a lack of self-awareness of the situation.
Whereas, pairing with peers who put in the effort without always reaping the benefits has never failed me. No one leaves confused, dazed, upset, or worse: pegged with an extra task. When a collaborative group creates a nurturing environment, everyone flourishes and feels appreciated, in turn expanding our leadership skills.
In every aspect of life, grit supersedes raw intelligence. You cannot teach Albert Einstein or Issac Newton to bench 400 pounds or run a marathon with their brain. People have to want it themselves; the reps in the shadows are greatly overlooked. I would much rather receive a lower grade in a group assignment if it means making friends, respecting others, and growing leadership skills together.
Where opinions and concerns can be communicated without fear, and tasks can be selected based on strengths and skills. Greatness is never given; it is built, and I would much rather build it with those who understand the weight of work than those who only know the view from the top.
Today’s dot was written by Randon Cordeirofrom Minot State University.
There’s a difference between being easy to work with and just staying quiet—and a lot of people mix those up.
When you’re in a group, it’s pretty easy not to say anything. You don’t want to start an argument, look stupid, or be wrong, so you just go along with whatever everyone else is saying. It feels like you’re helping the group move forward, but sometimes you’re actually holding it back without even realizing it.
I realized this during a group project. My group chose an idea that didn’t really make sense to me, but I didn’t speak up. I told myself it wasn’t a big deal and that we’d figure it out. But when the project didn’t turn out very well, I started thinking about what I could have done differently. I realized I had a chance to help improve it early on, and I didn’t take it. Staying quiet didn’t make me a good teammate; it made me part of the problem.
Being a good teammate doesn’t mean always agreeing. It means actually contributing. That could be sharing your ideas, asking questions, or pointing out something that might not work. Teams don’t improve when everyone agrees; they improve when people think and speak honestly.
At the same time, how you speak up matters. You don’t want to be rude or act like you know everything. It’s important to be respectful and open to other people’s ideas too. The goal isn’t to control the group—it’s to help it get better.
If you want people to trust you in a team, don’t just sit back and go along with everything. Say something when it matters. Help the group think better, not just finish faster.
Because sometimes, the biggest problem on a team isn’t someone saying the wrong thing. It’s someone not saying anything at all.
Today’s dot was written by Dalyce Lesliefrom Minot State University
I listened to the Hamilton soundtrack for at least an hour every day for the entirety of my sophomore year of high school. To this day, it is still one of my favorite musicals, and I relisten to it often. You could say it had a bit of an impact on me. Towards the end, there is one line that still gives me chills every single time I hear it.
“What is a legacy? It’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see.”
This line comes from Alexander when he is facing death, and it causes him to take pause and question all the things he had done throughout his life, most of which were done in service of his country and the public.
I think what is so powerful about this one line is how it encourages all of us to step back and think about what we are doing right now to leave an impact. Who are we helping? What change are we inspiring? What seeds are we planting? How can our actions today lead to a better future for the generations that come after us? When we are consistently checking in with ourselves, we are making sure that the work we are producing aligns with the goals we have set.
This is important because we may never get to see the end result of the work we do. A kindergarten teacher will likely never get to meet most of their students as adults. An electrician typically won’t see more than the studs of a house they are wiring. Being a good leader means you do your small part to help a larger project, in hopes that one day, it will have a major impact on someone else.
So, what seeds will you plant?
What legacy will you leave?
Source: “The World Was Wide Enough” from Hamilton: An American Musical by Lin Manuel-Miranda, Atlantic Records, 2015.
Today’s dot was written by Tessa Galvin from Minot State University
“I’m not doing good,” a close friend and co-worker told me. His honesty surprised me. I was expecting a quick interaction, those 30-second interactions that occur daily in the Midwest, but he started talking about a predicament he found himself in due to a lapse in judgment. He thought he had more time to figure out a project, but he didn’t. He was stressed about getting it done by the time the presentation was due, but he had done everything he could in the moment. He had only recently started the job, so he was feeling like a failure.
Only after I reminded him that he had realized his mistake and reached out for help from the right people did he accept the fact that he wasn’t a failure; he had just made a mistake.
It takes courage to admit when you need help, made a mistake, or feel like you messed up majorly. Being honest with your followers builds trust and connection. The next time somebody asks how you are, consider telling the truth.
