Written by: Kyle Gillette, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
The first year we had a garden in our backyard, we did many things right, and as you can imagine, several things were wrong. I built the garden boxes and added great soil. We made sure we planted the seeds at the right time and watered them well.
That’s all good, but there were a few things we didn’t do well. We sort of picked random seeds to plant, like kale. We realized we don’t like kale. But boy, did it grow. We also put in too many seeds and didn’t thin our crop as we should have.
From the outside looking in, the garden appeared to be doing well. But we had too many vegetables and had to dispose of many of them.
We took these lessons to heart. In the second year, we decided to think both long-term and short-term. We planted some red potatoes and some asparagus as well. Despite learning some lessons from the previous year, we had a bad harvest the second year of the garden, but this was entirely our fault.
We didn't have good habits in place. For example, we weren’t consistently watering and weeding! As everyone knows, to successfully grow thriving plants, you have to be purposeful with the soil, watering, planting, thinning, and weeding. We could have done a much better job of this.
In the third year, we not only remembered the lessons learned but did something with the information. We were finally learning and applying. As a result, some amazing things happened. The asparagus started to grow, the potatoes began to take off, and we monitored the garden much better.
Our harvests were much better once we learned from our mistakes.
I tell you this story because a learner mindset is like growing a garden. Our relationships, actions, and attitudes need thinning, watering, planting, tilling, and harvesting. But if you don't learn quickly enough, sometimes what needs to be removed is tangled with an otherwise healthy plant. Removing it will harm the healthy plant!
If the garden looks a little dry, we may need to do some more watering to help it flourish again. Sometimes, we need to turn the soil and add some new healthy soil. In some cases, there are enough healthy plants that you need to transplant them elsewhere (or give them away).
The same is valid with leading a small business. We all have people, situations, and circumstances in our businesses that need to be nourished, thinned, or removed. To make the necessary changes, we have to change some things. These changes will impact the business environment, tactics, and strategies.
When you look back at your leadership experience, I imagine you've had experiences like my first, second, and third-year gardens. Looking back, you can see both healthy and unhealthy people, situations, and opportunities. How did you manage this?
I want to teach you a simple method to maintain a learner's mindset so you can garden within your business well. When you think about your business, can you see the signs that help you to know whether it’s thriving or not? This simple 5 question method will help answer that fundamental question.
In your business, every weed you pull, every plant that gets thinned, every new seed you plant, and every time you water or till your soil, you make changes that will help you create a thriving business. The tool I want to share with you is called a MOLO.
The More of Less of (MOLO) questions help you determine what behaviors, values, strengths, or weaknesses you need to address. Then, use this information to build powerful habits that will give you the best opportunity to improve your business and leadership.
In the final chapter of this book, we will look into the complete application of the SAGE Mindset Framework and the role using this MOLO tool plays.
MOLO helps you answer:
• What should you do More Of?
(The MO in MOLO).
• What should you do Less Of?
(The LO in MOLO).
• What should you Start Doing?
• What should you Stop Doing?
• What should you Keep Doing?
I highly recommend reflecting on these five questions every Saturday or Monday. Either start or end your week by answering these five questions. These simple questions will help you maintain growth in your business and allow you to reflect and learn from your experiences.
There are several ways to do a MOLO. The key to the process is to take only one topic at a time. Let's say the topic is marketing. Answer all five questions focused only on that topic. If you choose more than one topic and give multiple answers, the method loses effectiveness.
Lastly, make sure your responses are action-oriented so you can act on your MOLO every week. You should have a maximum of five actions you plan to take. Any more than this will feel overwhelming.
The MOLO has been a game-changer for me. There is no end to how effective and beneficial this weekly exercise can be. Completing this weekly exercise has generated thousands of dollars in revenue, reduced stress, and helped people get organized, just to mention a few.
Take the time right now to list out 5-7 topics that you can filter through these questions. You will find yourself weeding out the distractions and harvesting what is working best in your business in no time.
Kyle Gillette, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Kyle Gillette is an expert mindset coach. After working for 9 years in a men's mentoring program and seeing how much the student's mindsets were limiting their success, Kyle created the SAGE Mindset® Framework. He now helps small business owners who are struggling with burnout, feeling overwhelmed with work, or just plain stuck create the habits and mindsets gain the clarity, confidence, and clients they deserve. Kyle is also the creator of the SAGE Mindset App, he's an author, and host of the SAGE Mindset Podcast. He's been coaching and leading people in the non-profit and small business contexts for 20 years. Kyle desires to help his clients become the leaders they were meant to be.
