@catalyst

Delivering value in a world built to overlook it. Trusted advisor, close counsel. Founder of ValueSmith™. 30 years in the trenches.

 Tampa, Florida
valuesmith.com
Joined March 2007
  • Tweets38K
  • Following455
  • Followers4K
651Media
Yesterday’s workaround can become today’s workload.
Yesterday’s workaround can become today’s workload. — Michael Santarcangelo.

ALT Yesterday’s workaround can become today’s workload. — Michael Santarcangelo.

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Michael Santarcangelo retweeted
Shawn E. Tuma@shawnetumaOct 22
The core of leadership (or 'commander's intent') is painting a clear picture of the desired outcome. Empower your team with this vision, then let them creatively find the best path to achieve it. #Leadership #Management
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Attention on stalled work can feel like blame. What if it’s a chance to show a way forward—and ask for what’s needed?
Attention on stalled work can feel like blame. What if it’s a chance to show a way forward—and ask for what’s needed? — Michael Santarcangelo.

ALT Attention on stalled work can feel like blame. What if it’s a chance to show a way forward—and ask for what’s needed? — Michael Santarcangelo.

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“I’ll just handle it” can make an unsustainable workload look sustainable.
“I’ll just handle it” can make an unsustainable workload look sustainable. — Michael Santarcangelo.

ALT “I’ll just handle it” can make an unsustainable workload look sustainable. — Michael Santarcangelo.

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Did they lie? No. Did they believe it? Yes. Was it accurate? Also, no.
Did they lie? No. Did they believe it? Yes. Was it accurate? Also, no. — Michael Santarcangelo.

ALT Did they lie? No. Did they believe it? Yes. Was it accurate? Also, no. — Michael Santarcangelo.

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Put it on paper and the argument moves from the person to the paper.
Put it on paper and the argument moves from the person to the paper. — Michael Santarcangelo.

ALT Put it on paper and the argument moves from the person to the paper. — Michael Santarcangelo.

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The cost is still there, even when you don’t need to ask for more budget.
The cost is still there, even when you don’t need to ask for more budget. — Michael Santarcangelo.

ALT The cost is still there, even when you don’t need to ask for more budget. — Michael Santarcangelo.

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If it’s important, what keeps displacing it?
If it’s important, what keeps displacing it? — Michael Santarcangelo.

ALT If it’s important, what keeps displacing it? — Michael Santarcangelo.

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You can feel friction. You can't see gaps.
You can feel friction. You can't see gaps. — Michael Santarcangelo.

ALT You can feel friction. You can't see gaps. — Michael Santarcangelo.

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An executive's ask sounds like a priority. Often they're just thinking out loud.
An executive's ask sounds like a priority. Often they're just thinking out loud. — Michael Santarcangelo.

ALT An executive's ask sounds like a priority. Often they're just thinking out loud. — Michael Santarcangelo.

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There’s a column for cost, down to the penny. Where is the column for benefit?
There’s a column for cost, down to the penny. Where is the column for benefit? — Michael Santarcangelo.

ALT There’s a column for cost, down to the penny. Where is the column for benefit? — Michael Santarcangelo.

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They know the cost. Do they see the benefit? We're working our asses off. Delivering what was asked for. But the results aren't getting recognized as valuable. Instead, we hear: "I know what you guys do is important, but what do you do? Why does it cost so much? Why does it take so long?" Value equals benefits minus costs. They know the cost down to the penny. There's a column for it. Where is the column for benefit? If they can't see the benefit, but they can see the cost, the calculation in their heads becomes zero minus cost. It leaves us holding a ledger that's reading in the red. The benefit has to be realized for the value to be recognized. Our opportunity is to connect them to the benefit. That starts with delivering an outcome that makes something better for somebody. Before we start the work, who's got to recognize it as valuable? What benefit will they realize from the outcome? Those questions give us a focus: do work that delivers a beneficial outcome somebody else can realize. Then they have a benefit to weigh against the cost.
An open ledger shows a column of costs beside a benefit page brought into focus by a gold circle. The benefit page asks: What became better? For whom?

ALT An open ledger shows a column of costs beside a benefit page brought into focus by a gold circle. The benefit page asks: What became better? For whom?

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The person who asks for the work is often not the person who needs to recognize it as valuable.
The person who asks for the work is often not the person who needs to recognize it as valuable. — Michael Santarcangelo.

ALT The person who asks for the work is often not the person who needs to recognize it as valuable. — Michael Santarcangelo.

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People often ask for their best guess at the solution, not the problem they need to solve.
People often ask for their best guess at the solution, not the problem they need to solve. — Michael Santarcangelo.

ALT People often ask for their best guess at the solution, not the problem they need to solve. — Michael Santarcangelo.

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You can't show what you don't see.
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Michael Santarcangelo retweeted
yoni rechtman
@yrechtmanMay 18
How to write a forwardable email TDLR- I want to just press “f” in superhuman, comment on on top of what you’ve said, and press send. Make it easy. I get asked to pass along notes all the time. I proactively offer to do so just as often. Here’s how to help me (or anyone else) help you get what you want out of this interaction. Do This -Write in your voice about yourself. “I’m Yoni, a partner at Slow…” -Include all the context the person will need (who you are, why you want to meet them, links, etc.) -Send individual emails for each person you want me to forward to (“would love to get connected to Yoni”) -Keep it short. Don’t Do This -Write as though you are me talking about you (“I met this guy named Yoni”). I promise you it won’t sound like me, at least not to me and it makes it harder to just press forward
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Michael Santarcangelo retweeted
Erwan Le Corre
@ErwanLeCorreMar 27
Gentle breath-holding is a non-pharmacologic intervention for stress reduction. It goes like this: Inhale normally. Short hold. Exhale, inhale. Short hold. etc., Don't count and forget about time. Exhale long before discomfort. Relax and appreciate the experience.
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Michael Santarcangelo retweeted
Codie Sanchez
@Codie_SanchezMar 25
You'll think better with a pen in your hand.
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Michael Santarcangelo retweeted
Arlington National Cemetery
@ArlingtonNatlMar 24
100 years ago tomorrow, the first armed military guard stood watch at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Explore this history in our digital publication: A Tomb in the Heart of the Nation: The Origins and Creation of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier: arlingtoncemetery.mil/Portal…
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Michael Santarcangelo retweeted
Leila Hormozi
@LeilaHormoziMar 24
The difference between being nice and being kind: Nice people want to look kind. Kind people don’t give a fuck how they look because they just want to help other people.
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