By Peter Jeff
The Leadership Mints Guy

Here’s an idea to add punch to your persuasive skills. Reading time: 3:09

“Here’s how you fish,” beamed the proud dad, thrusting a new fishing rod into the tiny hands of his 5-year-old son.

As instructed, the boy methodically caught a fish-but not the thrill of fishing. And soon the boy abandoned his fishing pole for a swimming hole.

Meanwhile his 9 - year-old cousin kept fishing. He was too busy enjoying the WOW in fishing to concentrate on the how of fishing. The WOW?

His dad’s WOW words still echoed in his mind: “Think of your fishing pole as a magic wand that you dip into a watery wonderland.”

This boy was waving a magic wand around some fish. Not fishing. And that made all the difference in maintaining his attention and focusing his performance.

That’s what leaders do. They instill the WOW while others only demonstrate the How in performing a task.

WOWing leaders weave more meaning and purpose in helping others get comfortable with new things, new technologies, new methods for getting things done.

Leaders weave together the threads of personal confidence and conviction to help others grasp and embrace change.

Without leadership, without weaving the wow, you could instruct but not instill.

Without leadership, without weaving the wow, you could wield a tool in your hand but fail to get a grip on its potential.

Without leadership you could see only a fishing pole’s function (to catch fish) and features( a 10 pound test line etc.) and not see its latent value (a magic wand) and vision (to see deep into a watery wonderland).

But with leadership, with weaving the wow, you can lead invention toward innovation where the magic and momentum of the new technologies gain greater accessibility and affordability and become fully accepted in the marketplace.

Let’s scan the history books to see how long it took leaders to Weave the Wow of compatibility , accessibility and affordability in technologies ranging from the typewriter and fax machine to the microwave and bar code to the television and video casette recorder.

Typewriter.

As a tool the typewriter was first demonstrated in 1714; first used in 1874 but not fully utilized until leaders weaved the wow of it all in the 1900s.

Fax Machine.

As a tool, the fax machine was first demonstrated in 1842; used in the 1930s but not fully utilized until leaders weaved the wow of it all in the 1980s.

Microwave Oven.

As a tool, the microwave oven was first demonstrated in 1945; used in the 1950s but not utilized until leaders weaved the wow of it all in the 1970s.

Bar code.

As a tool, the bar code was first demonstrated in 1949 ; used in the 1950s but not fully utilized until leaders weaved the wow of it all in the 1980s.

Television.

As a tool, the television was first demonstrated in 1927 , used in 1941 but not fully utilized until leaders weaved the wow of it all in the 1950s.

VCR.

As a tool, the video cassette recorder was first demonstrated in 1961, used in the 1970s but not utilized until leaders weaved the wow of it all in the 1980s.

The leadership lesson is clear. Technological Invention is necessary but not sufficient in the success of a business. Innovation is requisite. How does the invention make things faster, cheaper, better . Then most importantly, WOW ‘em

Even when they’re fishing.

Today’s ImproveMINT

Personalize technology to keep your leadership thinking in mint condition.

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