Twitter is all the rage these days. Several big blogging names are fully on board tweeting away. And a few others have not embraced the idea. The die hard Twitter converts would probably add a “yet” at the end of that last sentence. We’ll see.
Fortunately for me their IM connectivity is still not working, at least with GoogleTalk, which has been good for me from a productivity standpoint because I’m not all up in the madness non-stop throughout the day.
Most of what goes on there is only of passing interest to me. And I see an interesting principle that seems to be in play over there. I’m open to other names, but for now let’s call it
- The Cree Principle of Twitterization
Your Twitter posting frequency will be directly proportional to the length of your friends list.
It seems those folks on my friends list who have hundreds of friends (and huge followings) tend to be the heaviest Twitters. And that makes it easy for me. I can just check in a couple times a day, skim through, glean the interesting stuff and disregard the rest.
A Moment of Brilliance
Which brings me to one truly brilliant comment I saw there yesterday. Chris Brogan has been at VON for the past few days and at one point yesterday he said
Lots of visionaries and not enough princes of execution
Now I’m not sure if he was talking about a specific panel or session he was in there, or if that was a general commentary on the whole conference itself somehow. Regardless the idea Chris expressed has applications for us.
Especially in business.
Too often those of us who start businesses are full of great ideas. Obviously this is a very good thing, without which our businesses would never get anywhere.
But where it is easy to get into trouble is a that very point where the rubber meets the road. In order to make our vision a reality someone has to execute. It could even be argued that without execution, the idea falls short of greatness regardless of how brilliant it may seem.
I see it all the time with clients. They finally see the vision for blogging to support their business. They understand the value of conversation, the search engine benefits, and the advantages of adding humanity to their web presence. They see all that and say, “This is what we’re going to do.”
Yet, when it comes to the execution, the day to day effort of blogging, all too often the whole thing breaks down.
The Princes of Execution
It’s a role that isn’t as glamorous and sexy. We all want to be the visionary leader. The big cheese. In charge.
Yet somewhere along the way everything that happens requires a prince of execution. Even though it can be a thankless roll it is absolutely critical to the success of the organization that someone takes it on.
Chris is right. We need more Princes of Execution.
I’m guilty of trying to escape that role myself. I’ve been operating under this delusion that I needed to be more of the visionary leader and less of the executioner a prince of execution. Fortunately P of E is a role that I’m good at and have had many successful years with. I just need to give myself permission to be me.
So let me ask you this. Who is your Prince of Execution? Do you have one?
Did you even know you were missing one?
Gives you something to think about, doesn’t it.
Hi Chris
Haven’t found time yet to write my review on “The Knowing-Doing Gap”, but there also the essential bit is about: ideas, we all haven them, we all know that good ideas should be followed up/on, but there’s that immense gap between knowing and doing.
Becoming aware there is a GAP, it the first ‘execution’ to close it
I’m a Princes of Execution: I execute so much that I sometimes haven’t have time enough to become more of a visionary creater – and we do need both. As a person and as a team.
(Please don’t quote from the E-myth now, that doesn’t cover the contents of this principle)
Karen, maybe we could start a club. Call it The Executioners?
Sure ChrAs
But…. not only do I think ‘nomen est omen’, such a name without lengthy explanations could end the club before it starts.
(Excuse me, who do you execute?)
Chris, I also liked Brogan’s pithy summary. Perhaps the Twitter character limit will help us all think of new concise gems.
The question of execution has also been on my mind. So I recently profiled the online resources and outlines that I found most helpful. The Startup Nation 10 Step plan is most popular, I’ve found.
Sometimes, what we need is another person to talk to, to help us set up some plans and get moving. That’s why I also included the in-person resources like the Small Business Development Centers. Some of the resources you might not think about, like a local business incubator may help you launch your idea.
My article is, Startup: Resources to get from Idea to In Business, and I hope you don’t mind me promoting it here!
KarIn, (I will get it right. I will get it right. I will get it right… And maybe you should have added an extra s at the end of that
)
You’re probably right. The marketing might be a bit challenging on that.
Jeeze Luise, Becky. You just pointed us to a ton of great stuff. Thanks!
Although it is going to take me a while to process all that. But I’m looking forward to diving in just the same.
Chris,
Coming from a military tradition you know that battles are won with logistics. It’s the same with start-ups, its the same with growing companies. When we forget the quartermaster we execute our companies rather than our grand visions.
Good execution depends on good due diligence good planning, and good logistics. Then a large dose of common sense and a company can go far.
Thanks! This is amazing. I write a little tiny snip, and you go run with it and make a really great post. Thank you!
Tariq, Not only logistics, but at some point the battle must be joined. Lincoln went through how many generals before he found one who would fight in Grant?
Logistics is critical. But it will only get you so far. At some point someone has to lead the troops onto the battlefield. Otherwise the army might as well stay home.
Chris, you made me think. That’s something valuable to me. Thanks for your tiny snip!
Chris,
Good point. I quite agree. We need leaders and men of action. I was making the narrow point that without logistics, Grant’s army goes hungry and has no ammunition to fight with. Same result — they may as well have stayed home.
And you are very right, Tariq. Wasn’t it Napoleon that said, “An army marches on its stomach”?
Without the right support our businesses go nowhere.
Chris,
How does a company find princes of execution?
Princes even? One per department? You might get a succession war on your hand, all wanting to become king of execution.
My best bet to find a prince (or princes – they do exist you know, not only in fairy tales) is internal, in every department, from low to high. Which of your valued employees is always ‘getting-things-done’? He might be the frog, waiting to be kissed to turn into a real prince.
Karin,
Great idea. Then the princes or princesses can be groomed to take more responsibility.
The visionary leader is responsible for developing his or her people. That should stop a struggle for succession.
Jack Welch did just that at GE. He picked people that could execute, groomed them, and succeeded. When they wanted more authority (his!) he helped them get good positions at other companies. Many of his princes and princesses are now CEOs at major companies.
So, would y’all say that folks can graduate from Princes(es) of Execution to Master Visionaries?
If so what do you think it takes for that transformation to happen?
Chris,
Very interesting question. Though it takes a lot of natural ability, I think that Princes(ses) of Execution learn and hone their craft. I think that there are more of them around than there are Master Visionaries.
Master Visionaries are visionary. They simply are that way. They see things and in ways that others do not. They inspire others to follow. They can learn, and can hone their skills, too. Often times they do not know that they are visionaries. Their natural drive can cause them to function as Princes(ses) of Execution. They then learn the skills that help them when they fully enter their role as a Master Visionary.
The transition, to me, takes place at the intersection of their vision, the appropriate resources and the right timing. It is often more of a revealing of what always was rather than a transformation.
Sometimes there is a realization by the Master Visionary about the vision. That can be spurred by a mentor, a friend, or a eureka moment. Then that individual takes steps to carry out the vision. Success makes the individual visible, and people can then recognize the individual as a Master Visionary.
Tariq (BTW love the name of your own blog – “The Kitchen Table”)
My thoughts,(or does this sound to much as bragging) my experience exactly, complete with the encouragement of a mentor.
Thanks, Karin H., for the kind words.
wow !!! wat a fabulous article!!Good execution depends on good due diligence good planning, and good logistics. here i noticed this Good point. I quite agree. We need leaders and men of action. I was making the narrow point that without logistics, Grant’s army goes hungry and has no ammunition to fight with. Same result — they may as well have stayed home.thank you!!