Friends of Dave #60: Friendly Neighborhood Grinder
No, we are not talking about a sandwich or dating app...
A few weeks back I was having lunch with a former co-worker who I have known for a long time. As we caught up, my friend mentioned how someone we mutually knew referred to him as a known "grinder" within the organization to someone else. We then discussed whether he should take it as a compliment or a put down.
What's a "grinder" in business? You most likely know at least one. Some of you are one. Grinders are the people in an organization that might lack the polish or inherent talent of those you would expect to succeed, but always seem to come through and get the job done in the end no matter what. Grinders are smart, industrious (like a honey badger), and always a little bit frazzled or agitated -- it's like they blow through a room and are always followed by a cloud of dust. There's a constant crisis to be handled, a dragon to slay, or a fight to be fought in their universe, but, without exception, the grinder is also right there in front to meet the challenge.
Without a doubt, grinders in an organization can be exhausting. They tend to be on the extroverted side, with personalities to match their big hearts that they wear on their sleeves. They typically can also be hard to manage, especially for buttoned up, introverted managers that appreciate serenity. But what drives the grinder to grind is one inherent thing: they refuse to lose.
Grinders do not excel because they are the best looking person in the room, went to the best University or know all of the latest corporate jargon. They are not the most adept at negotiating corporate politics, and often can be viewed as "loose cannons". Sometimes they can seem to be disorganized, but make no mistake -- grinders know and sweat every detail of the task they are given (and they usually show it because grinders are also authentic). But grinders will be the first person to step up and the last person standing when something needs to get done.
So, what do you think? Is being known as a grinder a good thing or a bad thing? You can say it depends on factors like corporate culture, their position in the organization, etc., but I will tell you this: for my money, I'll take a friendly neighborhood grinder over someone who simply "looks" the part any day. They may not win many style points along the way, but they sure as hell will get the job done, whatever it may be....
I know it's a long weekend and there may be school vacation this week for some of you. Got some really good, thought provoking stuff so try to make some time if you can. As you can see we're starting to get a little "heavy" on the "AI" related articles, but I'll make sure we even that out over the coming weeks.
Enjoy -- and remember to give those grinders you know a hug!
XOXO
Dave
3 AI Stories To Get You Thinking...
Employers Are Failing Workers in the Age of AI — www.theatlantic.com
Artificial intelligence could bring huge revenue increases for companies—but not if they don't go the extra step to train their employees for the new era.
How AI is Shaping Africa’s Economic Development Trajectory — www.pulse.ng
Long time subscribers know I am bullish on Africa, particularly Ghana, as an area of growth and innovation in the years to come. Interesting look at how AI will significantly propel progress in this emerging market in the areas of financial services, healthcare, skills development, logistics, and agritech (ALL THINGS YOU CARE ABOUT, FRIENDS!)
Labor 2030: The Collision of Demographics, Automation and Inequality (long read) — www.bain.com
The business environment of the 2020s will be more volatile and economic swings more extreme. Very comprehensive (lots of great charts and data if you just want to skim) report by Bain that highlights how technology reducing jobs combined with Baby Boomers aging into retirement and Millennials looking to ascend the corporate ladder will create big challenges for businesses in the years to come.
4 For The Day Job...
Big Data Is Out. Execs Now Have AI On The Brain. — www.cbinsights.com
CB Insights has recently started analyzing earnings call transcripts, and according to those, there's only one hyped mega-trend out there that corporate execs are worried about: AI.
VC says startup boardrooms are now just filled with *clapping hand noise* — techcrunch.com
Fresh off a public spat between Uber investor Benchmark Capital and former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, VC Bill Gurley talks about how boards are becoming softer with founders in order to protect their street reps on future deals.
Make Sales & Product meetings a win-win — blog.intercom.com
I recently learned about Intercom, and have been pretty impressed with their customer engagement capabilities. Good insights here, for both startups and more established firms as well, on how to conduct a meeting with both sales and product folks.
Your Customer Success Leader Needs to Able to Run Through Walls — labs.openviewpartners.com
What do customer success leaders need to do to be truly successful at their jobs? Sometimes it involves saying no to sales and the customer.
Your Weekly Dose of Randomness...
Mullet Fest: Australian town to crown 'best mullet of them all'
No doubt the purpose is to boost the awareness of businesses in town, but you will not be able to deny the parties going on in the back.
The First Girl Scout Cookie Was Surprisingly Boring — www.atlasobscura.com
And then things "got a little crazy" when they introduced the Thin Mint....
New Oregon golf course will offer professionally trained goats as caddies — www.golfdigest.com
Must be a pretty wild scene in THAT caddy shack...
And The Last Word....
Parents of millennials are too involved in their kids' careers — work.qz.com
“I can’t imagine any scenario where I would let her fall on her face so she could learn a lesson. I don’t know how good or healthy that is, but that’s just me,” she said. “Ultimately, as a parent your children are a reflection of you. There’s always that need to control. That shouldn’t matter, but it did, or does.”
Hey helicopter parents: let them do this on their own. They might not get a trophy, but they will be better teammates and co-workers and will have a better chance to succeed in the long run. Trust us.