my dominatrix of decisions rides a hedgehog

How do you know when to say yes or no to a project or a client? Which Big Ideas get the green light or the kibosh? What exactly does "right time, right place" mean for you?

Only your Dominatrix of Decisions knows, and she has your best interests at heart. She will love you to the edge of your greatness, and snap her whip when you waffle. She wants you to stay on purpose, on target, and on fire. She wants you to say no to soul-draining gigs and time suckahs. She wants you to keep it pointed to where you want it to go, dammit.

This is how I employ her (remember, your Dominatrix actually works for you.) When a new idea or opportunity comes into view, I picture her in a kimono, with smokey eyes and platforms (yes, she is my altar/alter ego.) She leans over, surveying my potential choices, and whispers one word to me: Hedgehog. And snap! I know just what to do. Every time.

Let me back it up. Jim Collins wrote the mega seller, Good To Great. Good to Great features the Hedgehog Principle. The Hedgehog Principle is one mighty power tool for clarity and purpose-driving. It is deceptively simple. If you don't have a hog, you lose.

Hedgehogs for personalities or service-providers may seem different than that of product makers. But it's the same science. Here's a comparison of My HH vs. that of yoga wear business phenomenon, lululemon athletica's - as told to me by founder Chip Wilson a few years ago. BTW, lululemon is religious about the hog -- it's one of the many things I love about them.

ME vs. lululemon...an illustration of Hedgehogs at work

1. A) I am deeply passionate about: Liberating truth
Freeing the truth and truth that frees. My purpose is to inspire authenticity - freeing talent, ideas, voice, opinions, consciousness. I journey to freedom. It's a cellular-level commitment, and when I've diverged from that path in the past, the cost has been dear. When I stay the course of my truth, and support others in doing the same, I prosper in every possible way.

1. B) lululemon is deeply passionate about: helping people to be better athletes.
It's that simple and grand. Every single thing they produce - from innovative fabric that wicks away sweat, to thumb-hook sleeves - is a means to that end. Period.

2. A) I can be best in the world at: Sharing my journey
Telling my story and inviting other people to relate. I racked my noggin' on this one. But eureka! It came to me...no one can tell my story or share my acumen like I can. My experience is what I sell and the more I show up, the better.

note: the most important word in this Hedgehog sentence is can. It's not what are you the best in the world at (maybe it's not on purpose,) or what do you want to be the best in the world at (could be unrealistic.) Maybe you can only be the best in the world at making widgets that fit widget machines in Scandinavia, or advising females under thirty on investing in ethical funds in North America, or wedding planning in the tri-state area for under $20,000. Or maybe it just one thing you sell, such as...

2. B) lululemon can be best in the world at: women's black yoga pants.

Not very glamorous or all-encompassing, but a undeniably fundamental.

3. A) My economic engine is driven by: Multimedia.

I make money by packaging my wisdom in as many forms as possible, and most of those forms become passive income (ie. books.)

3. B) lululemon's economic engine is driven by vertical markets.

I do not bust a move, say yes, or make new stuff unless it's in sync with my Hedgehog Principle. It's pure, it's powerful and it works good and hard. Snap! Now be a good boy or girl and go get yourself a hog of your own.

posted 25 Jan 10 in: White Hot, business + wealth articles   ·   tags: ,   ·   Comments

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  • Leah
    Thanks for the inspiration--just what I needed! God is coming, and boy is she pissed :)
  • jeffrey
    "do what you want to do and the money will follow"
  • I've been quietly observing for quite sometime now. No more! Talk about igniting the flame for me. All the pieces were in my head, now it all makes sense!
    Thanks D!
    CC
  • Hi! Read your post on IttyBiz.com & wanted to say Hi :) I love your blog, just bookmarked it for my daily reading. This post rocks socks as well! I will be using your methods for my next client fork in the road.

    Cheers!
  • LOVE THIS!! Suzi and I are constantly re-evaluating and redefining how best to get to the "shaded in part" with our current team of two and diffferent strenghts. Good stuff and keeps it in the forefron with a simple graphic. Thanks Danielle!
  • "The most important word in this Hedgehog sentence is can. It's not what are you the best in the world at (maybe it's not on purpose,) or what do you want to be the best in the world at (could be unrealistic.)"

    This note alone contains an uncontainable revolution. And that's not just my girl-crush talkin'. Well done.

    With gratitude and love,
    Randi
  • I'm sick of my current job. It feeds me in tiny, unpalatable pellets and occasional drips of sweetness that keep me addicted and hoping for more. I'm kind-of looking for a new job (the resume is updated, I get a weekly email summarizing most of the jobs in my field in my area), knowing that's what is expected of me but not really wanting any piece of another JOB. Still, a few weeks ago. I applied for a new job that would give me the title and $$ I want, and would have me working for/learning from a guy I've admired for years, but the thought of the work itself sucked all the juice out of me. So, even knowing that I was the lead candidate, I withdrew. That was the Dominatrix's decision, and I didn't even know to thank her.

    I love what you do. And what you do is exactly what I want to do: tell my story and use it to help others (women in particular) move into the truth of who they are. But I'm the main breadwinner in my family, and I'm scared that there is no way in hell I'll ever make a living doing what my heart is telling me I want to do. It's ironic because anyone who knows me professionally will tell you I'm a rock star, so if I can be a rock star in this job, why can't I do it in another? Grr, I hate these stupid walls I've put up. But Yay for blogs like yours (found you through Havi) to tempt me to actually believe the small voice called my truth.

    And, Yay to hedgehogs. And Dominatrix decision makers, even if they are working subtly in the background waiting for you to hear them.
  • I should have linked to this in the post: http://www.jimcollins.com/media_topics/hedgehog...

    check it out.
    xo
  • hey, great breakdown... I stumbled across this concept a few days ago and had one of those slap-the-forehead moments. It makes so much sense. The key is that if any of the three ingredients are missing, you're on the wrong track - either you won't be any good at it, or it won't make any money, or you'll hate it - so the intersection of the three is the ONLY place to be if you want to build a winning formula.

    p.s. You don't seem to mention here why it's called the hedgehog principle - my understanding is that it's about tactics - hedgehog vs. fox. The fox is very clever and constantly changing his approach, trying different tricks to get what he wants. The hedgehog only has one trick, but it's a very good one: roll into a ball so your attacker gets a nose full of quills. It's better to be a hedgehog and just have one really good trick, but how do find out what it is? that's what the circles are for...
  • Currently I'm on an "unjob" hunt to bring in new opportunities. this is a great start to finding focus to begin the journey. love your works as always.
  • thanks for the inspiration!
  • That is brilliant as ever. Definitely something to ponder. And I will bring this up with my Mastermind group when I meet with them. I think that we have the greatness within and with some coaxing it will come out and that Dominatrix will push us in the right direction for the greatness that is waiting for us to snap to attention and notice was there all along. Thanks for inspiring me today. Enjoy the day! Erin
  • hhhmmmm...my first thought after reading this was "how do we even get to the place to know the answer to those 3 questions?" Still not sure about that. However, based on a very recent unfolding of events in my life - I was abruptly reminded, by my Hog perhaps?, that the Universe does really work and sometimes knowing when to simply trust that (whether the universe is showing up as a gut feeling or whatever) is all that is necessary. Very interesting post.......
  • Thank you! I had to tell a client that I was not going to allow an expansion of my work this morning. I felt railroaded into her decision to give me more responsibilities, responsibilities that I did not want and that I did not include when I priced out the gig.

    I am adding this book to my list of must haves.
  • I turned down a client this week. I knew it was the right thing to do, I could feel it in my bones, but y'kow there's a recession on and it takes some courage to turn work away. Withing hours a new opportuntiy presented itself that was soooo right. I couldn't have done it if I'd accepted the first client. My dominatrix obviously knew what was just around the corner, I just have to learn to trust her implicitly. Hx
  • I love this concept. It brings together all the right stuff, and you end up doing what you like, you're good at and brings value intro the world. It's the perfect fit lifestyle.

    Eduard
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