Validation from Seth Godin is huge. In terms of making a difference, making a mark on the world with ideas, thoughts, best-selling books, blogs, an alternative MBA program, Seth is huge. In comparison, I’m a grain of sand. He doesn’t know me. I’m not even on his radar. Yet, I feel exceptionally, uniquely validated by this world-renowned leadership expert.
It’s been hard to articulate exactly what I do. Until now. Seth Godin has validated my work with one very simple blog he published last week called Front-Row Culture.
It was a great blog that takes my philosophy to the next level. I inspire individuals to become front-row leaders, or as I like to call them ‘ushers’ helping usher others to the front-row. Seth talks about culture. He wrote: “The truth is this: it’s possible to hire for, train for and lead a front-row organization. And if you merely let entropy take over, you’re going to end up with the second, lesser, failing organization instead.”
That’s perfect! Why didn’t I think of that? It makes so much sense to me – if you have leaders who believe in a front-row philosophy it creates a front-row culture. He shifted my thinking. I’m now encouraged to take my message deeper from individual to culture. And, as Seth says, if organizations don’t embrace a front-row culture, they will fail.
I love this. He get’s it. He knows that positive energy, engagement, productivity, excitement for work, all happens in the front-row. In fact, what does it take to have a front-row culture? It starts with leaders defining what a front-row culture is for their organization and living it themselves. Everyone has a different version of what front-row means, start with defining it. Then, imagine your organization was already there. What would that look like? Behaviors? Language? Habits? Define it. Live it. Close the gaps of what is and what could be.
There are millions of results when you do a search for Motivational Speaker. There are even millions of search results for Leadership Speaker. Yet, if you were to count all the speakers who speak specifically on living life in the front-row, you can count them all on one hand. In fact, I don’t know any other speaker who has dedicated their speaking on this topic.
The great news is, it’s unique. I’ve created my own lane and my own brand around the front-row philosophy.
The bad news is, it’s hard for meeting planners or speakers bureaus to understand exactly what I talk about. You will never hear a meeting planner do a search for “Front-row speaker”. I mean, what does that mean? Sometimes people are confused when I say “I’m a front-row leadership expert helping people get out of their comfort zone and live life in their front-row.” Now, if someone wants a bit more clarification on what that means? I’ll quote Seth Godin. He understands the importance and value of living in and leading from the front-row. Thank you Seth, for validating my work.
From your still learning how to encourage others motivational speaker,
Marilyn Sherman
