Mindsets That Matter: Don't Jump To Move The Flowers

Read time: 4 minutes

Hi 👋

If you're new here, welcome to the Build Things That Matter newsletter, where I share tips, strategies and insights I’ve learned building an 8-figure organization teaching hundreds of thousands of people technical skills - hoping it inspires others to build things that matter, too.

Over the years, I've participated in dozens of media appearances and photoshoots promoting the organization I’m building and our work. I’ve even had a one-of-a-kind Barbie made in my likeness. Pinch me!

At one of these photoshoots, I was reminded of an important lesson.

At this particular photoshoot, there were about 12 of us on set—agency staff, photographers, videographers, audio engineers, set direction, hair and makeup, the client, and myself. As the ‘talent,’ I arrived just before 9 a.m. and knew the whole team had been there for at least an hour—but probably much longer—unloading equipment and supplies and setting up everything required to get the perfect still photographs and video for the day.

As I waited, I saw the crew meticulously pouring over every detail, running back and forth with cords, cables, and props.

Eventually, I got onto the set, which was stunning—perfectly staged with bright natural light, bright set lighting, and an interview chair in front of a low, curated bookshelf.

I was particularly struck by the large arrangement of fresh flowers sitting on a shelf—bought just for the shoot to complement my outfit choices and add an important dynamic, fresh element to photos and videos.

I sat in the chair, got comfortable, and the team scurried behind the camera to assess their meticulously set-up “shot.”

After some hums and ahhs, they decided it looked like the flower arrangement was "growing out of my shoulder," as one crew member affectionately stated.

It was awkwardly placed. "We have to move her,” one set member quickly proposed.

There were nods and signs of agreement from the group. Myself included.

"Okay, Mel. We're going to move you".

I got up from the perfectly framed shot, and folks, in a choreographed unison, jumped onto the set, prepared to move the chair.

It was then that someone popped up from the back of the room and quietly said,

"Why don't we just move the flowers instead?”.

Everyone paused, and then anxious laughter filled the room.

Duh! Moving me and the chair would have undone hours of meticulous staging, getting the lighting ever-so-perfect, and testing video and audio, which would have to be done all over again—but this time in a rush since we didn't have the time anymore. Moving the flowers achieved the desired result—quicker, easier, and without undoing all the hard work.

Why was it that the group's first instinct, though, was to do the hardest, biggest lift solution first? To move me and the chair?

While most of us aren't setting the stage for photoshoots daily, we are building solutions with a team, orchestrating our movements and energy toward a shared direction.

And, it’s easy for builders, like you or I, to be biased towards action and get caught up in a scenario similar to that in this photoshoot.

In my experience, sometimes, the best outcome is only incremental - a small positive shift that can have big results, like moving the flowers. Other times, though, we need to move the entire frame or "shot".

How do you know which is which?

Here are 3 things I do before changing direction - big or small:

→ Take a breath: Before jumping in, I take a moment to pause and evaluate the situation. This could be a few minutes, overnight or longer, depending on how big of a decision or shift you’re considering.

→ Consider 1 other option: List possible alternatives - even just 1 other option and consider their pros and cons. You’ll probably find there’s more than one alternative, which can help you not overlook small, incremental changes that can have a significant impact.

→ Talk it out with someone: Whether it’s a co-founder, coach, team member or any willing ear, getting different perspectives can reveal simpler, more efficient solutions you might not have considered or highlight gaps in your thinking.

In the case of this photoshoot, we did end up having to move me and the chair in the end—but for another reason (the glare off my glasses). This move was worth it to ensure that the interviewer and all of the equipment weren't showing up in my glasses’ reflection.

So, sometimes we need to move the chair and sometimes just the flowers, and having a system to evaluate which can make all the difference.

That’s all for this week—see you next Monday!

But one more thing... Building things is hard, and we need more people to do it. My personal goal is to help 1,000,000 people build the skills and confidence to build things that matter. 

If you enjoyed this newsletter, can you do me a favour and forward it to a friend? Thanks in advance!

Let’s keep building, together 🫶🚀

#Mel

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