“If your organization wanted to replace you with someone far better at your job than you, what would they look for? I think it is unlikely that they would seek out someone willing to work more hours, someone with more industry experience, or someone who could score better on a standardized test.

No, the competitive advantage the marketplace demands is someone more human, connected and mature. Someone with passion and energy, capable of seeing things as they are and negotiating multiple priorities as she makes useful decisions without anger. Flexible in the face of change, resilient in the face of confusion. 

All of these attributes are choices, not talents, and all of them are available to you.”

-Seth Godin, Linchpin

If you’re like me, sometimes when you are trying to provide more value it comes in the form of providing more hours of work. I have been challenged over the past month as I have pursued the AltMBA where the post-work hours when I would normally get additional work done have been taken up by projects and assignments for my class. 

It turns out that one powerful question, from The Coaching Habit, has helped me tackle this: If you say yes to this, what are you saying no to?

The Linchpin, as Seth calls it, is indispensable because they know how to negotiate priorities not because they say yes to everything. 

The AltMBA has pushed me to become more thoughtful in my professional and personal life. It has helped me to elevate the quality of my work, the effectiveness of my conversations, and have a laser focus on the time I have each day. If you are looking to get better, or, as we say, “level up”, then this might be a program for you.

Raven by Botho Willer from the Noun Project