Dining at the Idea Buffet

Guest post by: Mark Sanborn
Become an Author

Free PDF Download
Are You Really “In Control”? - By Mark Sanborn

I try to avoid food buffets. Loving food and lacking the willpower to limit myself I tend to overeat.

An idea buffet, however, is something I search out.

The NSA UnConference, an innovative mid winter meeting for speakers, is one idea buffet I've attended. Two big theme in both programming and hallway discussion have been social media and thought leadership.

An aside: thought leadership is conferred rather than claimed. When others are affected by and transmit your ideas, you have some evidence that you've provided thought leadership. There are processes for increasing one's effectiveness at becoming a thought leader, but ultimately the marketplace judges one's success.

A second aside on social media: there are lots of exciting things happening in this arena. For proof, check out the Facebook page of my friend Steve Spangler. He and his company, Steve Spangler Science, make science fun for everybody. But at the same time, my conclusion is that we are a long way from knowing how social media will play out. The first-movers seems to have entrenched themselves deeply, but then again wasn't Microsoft pretty entrenched when Google showed up on the scene?

Back to the point: a good seminar, class or conference can be an idea buffet with a wide variety of delectable offerings. You pick and choose what you want to ingest.

At the end of the day (or event), you are faced with the challenge of separating what you can do from what you want to do and what you will do.

So many ideas; so little time.

The most successful don't just dine at idea buffets; they use the nutrients to create real muscle, and muscle is ultimately developed through use. As Arnold Schwarzenegger reminds us, nobody ever developed muscle watching him lift weights.

At the end of the meal, we sit contentedly (and sometimes excitedly) with the knowledge of what we've learned. The work begins when we apply "what we've learned" and turn it into "what we've done."

Eat too much, exercise too little and you'll become idea obese.

So keep up your intake of good ideas; just make sure you use them to build mental muscle that creates results.

An Unusual Man

Warren Buffett and his Effect on the Stock Market! Part 2

Smart Women Serve It Up The Right Way

Business Moat - Key to selling or buying a business.

Mom! He Got More Than I Got!

What is more important that Profit when buying or selling a business?

The Art of Living Well

Design Process - Concept Development

Lesson #2: Keep Your Wits About You

Secrets of Effective Sales Development

Economic Reform Needs Reason And Sense

First Impressions Mean Everything, Especially If You're In Sales

Business Dining Etiquette - How to Avoid Dining Blunders That Even the Most Successful Executives Make

Cruising Trends for the Near-Term Future

Proper Etiquette For Your Business Power Lunch

American Food Franchise Sizzler looking for better things in 2010

Bridges and Walls

When the Accountant Speaks, We Don't Listen!

Orienting New Employees: More Powerful with a Results-Oriented Job Description

Job Qualifications: More Powerful with a Results-Oriented Job Description

Home > Leadership > Mark Sanborn > Dining at the Idea Buffet > Google +

Referred by: http://www.PrimeauProductions.com

Free PDF Download
Are You Really “In Control”? - By Mark Sanborn

About the Author: Mark Sanborn

RSS for Mark's articles - Visit Mark's website
Mark Sanborn, CSP, CPAE is president of Sanborn & Associates, Inc., an idea studio for leadership development. He is an award-winning speaker and the author of the bestselling books, The Fred Factor: How Passion In Your Work and Life Can Turn the Ordinary Into the Extraordinary, You Donâ€™t Need a Title to be a Leader: How Anyone Anywhere Can Make a Positive Difference and The Encore Effect: How to Achieve Remarkable Performance in AnythingYou Do. His book Up, Down or Sideways: How to Succeed When Times are Good, Bad or In Betweenwas released October 2011. To obtain additional information for growing yourself, your people and your business (including free articles), visit http://www.marksanborn.com.
Click here to visit Mark's website.

More from Mark Sanborn
Details Extras the Personal Touch of Extraordinary Service
Are You Really In Control
There Is No New Normal
How to Motivate Yourself Part 1
How to Motivate Yourself Part 2

Share this article. Fund someone's dream.

Share this post and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Featured

Expert

Robert Strong
@robertdstrong
Visit website

Dining at the Idea Buffet

Related Articles

Related Forum Posts

Share this article. Fund someone's dream.


Name:
Email: