#65 | 9.27.24 - What's your WHALE? / Google’s One-Click AI Podcast Creator / Fall Foliage Map / Be A Thermostat, Not A Thermometer
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Now, on to the content!
What’s your WHALE?
Several weeks ago, I attended the Global Leadership Summit, one of my favorite conferences of the year. As usual, Craig Groeschel gave a fascinating opening talk in which he gave leaders ‘permission to obsess.’ The understanding here is that there should be 3-5 things in your organization that you have the freedom (and a priority, really) to obsess over.
He then asked a question that brought a lot of clarity to me:
“What is your WHALE?"
He described a WHALE as:
Whole
Hearted
All-encompassing
Life
Endeavor
A WHALE is something that defines who you are, gets you out of bed in the morning, and is a cause you deeply believe in.
This concept resonated with me on a profound level. It made me pause and reflect: Have I identified my WHALE? Am I channeling my energy and passion into an endeavor that truly aligns with my core values and purpose? It was through that question that I identified three areas in which I need to be pouring my energy into. Getting that clarified was extremely motivating.
In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it's easy to get caught up in tasks and lose sight of what genuinely drives us. But identifying your WHALE isn't just a motivational exercise—it's a leadership imperative. When we lead from a place of wholehearted commitment to an all-encompassing life endeavor, we inspire others and create meaningful impact.
So, how do we discover our WHALE?
Self-Reflection: Set aside time to introspect. What are the causes or goals that ignite your passion? What would you pursue even if no one else joined you?
Align with Your Values: Ensure that your WHALE aligns with your deepest beliefs and principles. This alignment fuels authenticity and sustainability in your endeavor.
Envision the Impact: Consider the difference you want to make. How does your WHALE contribute to others and the broader community?
Commit Wholeheartedly: Once identified, embrace your WHALE with full commitment. Let it guide your decisions, priorities, and actions.
This journey led to a renewed sense of purpose for me. I realized that within my WHALE are three areas that all flow up to the purpose of helping lead individuals and teams from “here to there”. This endeavor isn't confined to my professional role; it permeates every aspect of my life—from mentoring team members to supporting friends and family.
So then, two questions:
What is the endeavor that you can't stop thinking about?
What cause or goal would you dedicate your life to, regardless of recognition or reward?
Understanding your WHALE can transform not only your leadership but also your personal fulfillment. It becomes the North Star that guides you through challenges and keeps you anchored to what truly matters. After all, when we pursue our WHALE, we not only enrich our own lives but also leave a lasting legacy on those we influence.
Google’s One-Click AI Podcast Creator
My friend (and reader of the newsletter) John A. recently told me about Google’s latest offering in the AI space, NotebookLM. NotebookLM takes an article, blog post, or web page, and with just one click produces an audio file of a conversation between two people. It’s crazy how natural it sounds. To test it out, I uploaded a link of one of my recent posts. If you’re curious how it turned out, here’s the audio. Pretty impressive.
Fall Foliage Map
This colorful map will tell you when to expect peak foliage in your area. Pretty cool!
Be A Thermostat, Not A Thermometer
I like to use the metaphor of a thermometer and a thermostat for this idea. If you’re looking for signals about how someone is feeling, it’s kind of like you’re trying to take their emotional temperature. You’re being a thermometer…
I really like what this article had to say, and it does a great job delineating the difference between the two. Highly recommended.
Words to wrap up
High morale happens on a team when each one knows they make a difference.
- John Maxwell