Photo Credits: Markus Spiske from Unsplash
This series is all about diverse entrepreneurship, but Jelly Social has a different and broader definition of diversity, one that highlights the uniqueness of individuals. To us, there are two forms of diversity to us: inherit diversity (age, gender, race) and acquired diversity (education, knowledge, skills, experience, values). Using inherited and acquired diversity can help us to realize all the different ways we are diverse. This week, we are talking to expert Larry Lall on his journey as a diverse entrepreneur!
What makes Larry Diverse?
As a diverse entrepreneur, shed some light on yourself, the work you’re doing and maybe some of the things that make you diverse!
Well, the kind of work that I’m doing is foundational coaching. The bottom line here is that it’s about who you are and what you’re doing for yourself that drives out everything else that you either acquire or attract. Think of a foundation as like that of a building; it’s holding up the structure, taking care of the longevity, stability, and sustainability of the building. This is the same thing I want to do with foundational frameworks for individuals and corporations alike.
I think it’s diverse because I don’t think there’s anyone else doing this kind of work at the foundational level at this point. If you think about the foundational framework for individuals, it’s really going to drive their authenticity which will drive their character, their identity, their leadership of themselves and of others, and improve their brand through performance and productivity. All of this will culminate in creating the outcomes, successes, and happiness they’re looking for. It’s a totally different approach that I built and developed and once you go through the program, it’s sustainable. It’s always about what it is and why it’s important, but you never get how to do it.
Obstacles on his Journey
Thinking back on your journey to becoming the person that you are today, what would you say was the biggest obstacle to overcome? Could be a professional obstacle, a personal obstacle, a mental obstacle, an emotional obstacle.
I think the main obstacle to overcome is perspective. If you could have multiple perspectives, to see something from many different views, that was probably the biggest obstacle to overcome. To be able to change the perspective I was using to look at problems and all the things I was doing would in-turn impact the mindset I would have. You realize it’s not about a positive or specific mindset, it’s about an open mindset which was a change in perspective I had to go through to do what I’m doing today. If I have a positive mindset or a growth mindset, I’ve eliminated half of the possible things that could happen that could be negative, and I’ve already built the filter that prevents me from getting that experience. If I change my perspective and look at it from an open mindset, I can bring those perspectives in and then I can use all those perspectives and use it the way I need to use it. Situations happen but if you don’t see it from the other person’s perspective, how do you understand what they are thinking, what they’re feeling, and what’s motivating them?
The important thing about being a coach is that it’s not about changing people’s mind, it’s about challenging what they’re saying so that they can think about it themselves. The important thing about being a coach is being able to teach people how to fish, teach them how to look at these new perspectives as opposed to giving them the perspective because they will go back to the same old habits. If they discover for themselves, it’s important because then they tend to use it going forward. My job as a coach is not to give it to them, my job is to challenge them to change their perspective, think differently, and keep an open mind.
Tools to Reframe Perspectives
When it comes to reframing perspectives, are there any helpful tools, techniques, or resources that you think might be helpful for that?
You must develop a certain amount of empathy and compassion. If you don’t have the empathy, compassion, and awareness, it’s very difficult to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and see things from their perspective. Get as much experience as you can; every day is both an experience happening and an experience waiting to happen. Be aware, be conscious, be mindful. Those are the fundamental skills you need to be able to recognize other perspectives.
Larry's Advice: Shut Up and Listen
As if you were to have a conversation with your younger self, what type of advice would you give your younger self?
That one is simple: shut up and listen. That is the biggest advice I would give my younger self and everybody out there today because if you’re listening to understand, it drives the perspective questions inside of you. The issue is not about what you’re telling others because others don’t care what you think anyways, what you’re listening to is what’s going to drive your change in perspective and how you develop and grow.
I started this club on Clubhouse called Leadership Perspectives and one of the driving principles is that the rooms are there for you to challenge yourself based on what other people say. The rooms are not there for you to try and convince someone else that you’re right. Running these rooms is about challenging your own perspectives, your own belief structures, your own perceptions of what’s important because of what other people say. You must be consistent in applying this all the time because if you don’t, you’ll fall back into those old habits that “I speak to convince someone else that I’m right and they’re wrong” which is counterproductive in the whole scheme of things.
Leadership Tips
I know that, of course, you’ve demonstrated a ton of expertise in leadership development. Taking things from that perspective, we’d love for you to drop your top tip on what you can teach others about breaking through their own leadership challenges.
It’s nothing external. It’s all about internal because if you can’t lead yourself, how can you expect to lead others? A lot of the stuff you have out there today on leadership is about the external things: how to build a team, how to build your communications but as I said before, it emanates from within you. If you don’t have those skills, you can’t do it at all whether for yourself or for others. The important piece here to leadership about personal and self-development. There’s one other thing, too. I have a thought, I decide, I take no action. Of course, my thought was a waste of time. Unless you apply the knowledge to make yourself better or to help someone else, what good is it?
We need that great leadership to avoid technology making us obsolete, but who is doing anything about it? Nobody! Let’s get on with this! If I don’t do something about it, who’s going to do it?
Speaker's Specifics
Larry Lall is a transformational coach, consultant, author, and speaker that helps businesses identify, resolve and improve foundational performance and productivity issues through building a culture of confidence and trust. He also helps individuals identify and achieve their desired outcomes while realizing their limitless potential.
Larry offers Foundational Coaching; Self Leadership for bridging the gap and sustaining outcomes, success and happiness. You can sign up for coaching on his website and see more of what he does on his LinkedIn!
