by Gary Vaynerchuk
The Izzy Way Book Review
Not all leadership books are a step-by-step guide to becoming a better leader. In Twelve and a Half, Gary Vaynerchuk sets out to change the reader’s mind in the shape of a memoir. I found nuggets that helped shape my leadership approach while reading the book. Sharing my top 5 of the Twelve and a Half ingredients and how they impacted my leadership journey might entice you to pick up the book.
1. Gratitude – “Regardless of what happened yesterday or every day before that, you still have a generous amount of time ahead of you – we generally live longer.”
My approach: Take yesterday’s experiments (failures) and figure out how to adjust to make it a win today or tomorrow. As a leader, I must strive to fail fast, fail forward, and avoid perfectionism in myself and others. While this will always be a work in progress, I mentor and coach others to be grateful for where they are, where they came from, and where we are going because we’ve not yet written the future.
2. Self-awareness – “Outside of financial benefits that come with a more senior role, chasing titles is 100% tied to caring what others in the organization think of you.”
My approach: Most of my career has focused on the work, not on a title, but I have experience where a title comes with certain perks (authority and influence is a very hierarchical company, but I tend to work better in the gray and ambiguous because there are a lot of outstanding accomplishments one can achieve when you take away the need for a specific title. Chasing a specific title limits you from seeing opportunities right in front of you, mainly when you only focus on what it will take to get the next title.
3. Optimism – “You have more control of your perspective than you have over the trillions of variables that make navigating the universe so tricky.”
My approach: I am typically the optimist in the room and in life. Even if I need to vent my frustrations, I can quickly shift my focus back to the opportunities in the situation. I always try to focus on the small wins and gains, and what the future holds if I make minor tweaks in my approach or thought process. I’ve controlled my thoughts, actions, and successes by refusing to let pessimism take over in any situation. My love of reading and organizing (thank you for my years working in a library), and my general approach of not striving for perfection, help drive my optimistic nature.
4. Curiosity – “When people lack curiosity, they dismiss new opportunities instead of taking the time to explore them.”
My approach: I tend to be quite curious about most things and seek knowledge in many different forums. As an introvert, my approach to meeting new people involves learning something new, making new connections, or sharing something I am passionate about (e.g., mentoring, leadership, change, etc.) with others. I’ve focused my career on exploring areas of my field and my skills by taking on roles in spaces and industries I was not fluent in or had not been in before. My individual development plan is an annual push to connect with new people, try a new course or program, and explore new ways of working.
5. Ambition – “Do it for the journey, not the destination.”
My approach: Ambition has never been something I shy away from, nor could one say I don’t have in droves. I tend to plan a path of where I see myself (a setting, a goal achieved, or a feeling). Still, I am always open to tweaking based on what I have learned through curiosity and improved self-awareness. I will admit my ambition comes in waves in certain areas of life (e.g., getting back into exercise after being sick or a massive cold spell in the winter). Still, I try to use my curiosity and optimism to break the funk and get back into doing things that make me happy. I will say that my career and personal growth have never wavered, because when I put my mind to something, I can achieve it in my own way.
Each of the above ingredients, along with my approach to each, is part of my leadership style. Everyone is different, and starting to mentor and coach someone from where they are is how I nudge them to find their curiosity, ambition, and optimism. I can be the optimist for people until they are ready to take it over for themselves. I also use many tools to help someone become more self-aware and be their best version.
I’d love to hear your thoughts if you choose to read or listen to the book.
Check out my other book recommendations.
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