“Is This A Rock, Or Is It Sand?”

“They’re asking this question all the time,” the client said. “I love it.”  

I love it too.  It’s a victory for me.  It’s a clear signal that his team is thinking bigger than before.  The team has made the shift from thinking tactically to thinking strategically.  Growth is on the way!

This question captures the dilemma faced by every leader of a business in every key decision, almost every day.     

“Am I pushing sand?” Taking care of what’s right in front of me that makes the money for the business that customers pay you for? 

Or…

“Am I moving a rock?” Working on something bigger that enables your organization to push more sand and grow?  

It’s not an “either/or” question.  It’s an “and” question. Your organization should be doing both. If you want to grow, that is.  

The question often produces a “dope slap.”  When the leader of the business realizes he is only pushing sand, that he isn’t moving any rocks, he/she naturally asks “what are the right rocks to move?” and “how do I find them?”  and realizes they don’t have a plan for anything other than to push more sand. That’s when the dope slap occurs. 

Ask “Is this a Rock, or is it Sand?” about what you are working on today.  Explain what the difference is between rocks and sand and ask your team to apply the terms to what they are working on today.  My bet is you will learn a lot when you do this.  

There is more to it than merely asking the question.  But it’s a start.  

It’s what I help business leaders and their teams with. I use the “Rock & Sand Model” to do it.  You can too.   

Take a look at what the Rock & Sand Model is all about, and the various ways I can help you with the important task of thinking bigger and thinking strategically.  

So, are you and your team moving Rocks or Pushing Sand?