Go Unstuck Your Self

Feeling stuck? Many of us are—whether in our careers, businesses, or personal growth. But staying stuck isn’t an accident; it’s often the result of specific behaviors. If you want to remain stuck, here’s how:

1. Keep doing the same thing and expect different results.
2. Do nothing—wait for someone else to change your situation.
3. Let others control your mindset—react instead of leading.
4. Avoid planning—just wing it and hope for the best.
5. Never reflect—ignore data, feedback, and self-awareness.

The good news? You can break free by taking three simple steps:

1. Identify a clear goal—it doesn’t have to be big, just something to create movement.
2. Work backward from the goal—map out three steps that lead to it.
3. Take action & reflect—if progress happens, keep going. If not, adjust.

Let's go a little deeper, and Design for Success

What if we apply some Design Thinking, and "Begin with the end in mind" as Covey would say.

Design isn’t just about making things look good—it’s about creating with intention. Whether it's a product, a process, or a plan, great design starts with a clear purpose.

Think about a door: A handle suggests pulling, while a bar suggests pushing. A well-designed door removes confusion. The same applies to success—when the path is clear, progress feels natural.

Design backward, execute forward

To design success, begin with the end in mind. Ask yourself: ✅ Where do I want to go? (Point B) ✅ Where am I now? (Point A) ✅ What obstacles might block my path? ✅ What small steps can bridge the gap between A and B?

Breaking a big goal into smaller, logical steps makes progress easier and more sustainable.

🔹 Choose a goal you’re working toward.

🔹 Define Point A (starting point) and Point B (desired outcome).

🔹 Identify at least three key steps in between.

🔹 Take the first step today—momentum matters!

How does this apply to customer success - both internal and external?

"We’re designing for next logical steps so that we can take them, and we’re applying design principles so that if A happens and then B happens, it makes sense that C will happen."

Apply "Begin with the end in mind" for Customer Experience

• Start with the desired outcome and reverse-engineer the steps to get there.
• Break down goals into smaller, manageable waypoints to track progress.
• Use reflection points to ensure you're staying on course and not just going in circles.

Internal Customers Matter as Much as External Ones

• Employees and team members should be treated as internal customers.
• Success isn’t just hiring talent—it’s fostering engagement and career growth.
• Design career paths with 30, 60, and 90-day plans to set employees up for success.

Knowing is half the battle - as G.I. Joe reminded us.

Take time, and look at the challenge through the eyes of your customer. (remember this applies to internal and external customers)

• Customers may know they have a problem but not the solution.
• Identify whether they are problem-aware, solution-aware, or ready to act.
• Only engage with customers who are motivated to solve their problem—don't force a solution.

Design for Serendipity

• Success isn’t random—it’s a result of intentional design.
• Experience can be a surprise though.
• Create structured experiences that feel organic to customers and employees.
• Like in a national park, guide people along a path that naturally leads to engagement.

Leveraging Leadership and Systems Thinking

Strong leadership at the front line ensures sustainable success. You can use structured frameworks to simplify complex business challenges. (Think about board game design) When you use familiar design cues that folks can relate to, the process of design can be more fun. Balance adaptability with structure to help teams and customers navigate change.

Meetings include communication - let's design an effective meeting

An effective meeting starts with intentional design—plan ahead for success by considering key factors:

1. Who’s in the room?
2. Anticipate their objectives.
3. Define your objectives.
4. Clarify desired next steps.
5. Structure the meeting for success.

Reflect - Are Your Meetings Designed for Success?

Reflect on your most recent meetings:

• Were the objectives clear?
• Did you anticipate the needs of the attendees?
• Were next steps defined, or did things feel unresolved?

Make Your Next Meeting Better

Before your next meeting:

✅ Identify who is attending and their objectives.

✅ Define your objectives (no more than three).

✅ Plan for clear next steps (three to five actions).

✅ Structure your agenda to ask, share, and engage effectively.

This video gets into how you can apply Design Thinking to your meetings, and design those meetings for success.

How does this apply to getting unstuck and what can I do next?

If you have made it this far, thank you. (And if you have, share this with someone in one of those slack channels you are in where folks might be stuck)

Getting unstuck, from my perspective is the result of stabilizing your footing. Clarifying your objective. Applying design thinking to work backward from that objective. Confirming next logical steps. And, taking them.

When working with teams, the 3 c's are critical - Collaboration, Communication, Clarity.

It's hard, meaningful work usually is. It doesn't need to be overly complicated though. When things get hard, simplify them. We simplify through elimination.

When steps seem too big. Shrink them. Identify iterative steps that will help you get there.

Momentum loves movement. Movement loves momentum.

The small steps will help you build confidence that you can take them. When you take them, you will start to move. Forward progress, and continuous movement, will help you build momentum. Momentum loves movement. Movement loves momentum.

PS - Need a guide, or a helping hand. Give me a call.

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