“When a group comes together, noise is easy. Just a few people have to make a commotion for noise to happen.” Seth Godin

I recently read an article that started with “Leadership orgs help CIOs develop networks, gain peer insights, and stay on top of technology and management trends.”

So far, so good, I thought. We need all three.

Then the author wrote “Here’s six groups that can help you become a smarter, more informed IT leader.”

I wasn’t on the list. Specifically, my company, CIO Mastermind, wasn’t. 

Stupid article.

Jealousy is an interesting animal. We tend to think of it as negative, when in its purity, it’s a beautiful form of love.

You can be jealous of someone or something, or you can be jealous for.

There is a big difference, the first being rooted in fear and insecurity, the second being grounded in conviction, provision, and protection.

An example: There is a scene in the movie Love Actually where a married man is being given attention by a younger woman at a holiday party. His wife says to him, “Be careful of that one.” She sees the other woman’s designs for her husband. The wife is not jealous that the other woman is younger or beautiful. She knows what she and her husband have, and she knows that no one can love him as she already does. Her caution is loving communication.

She also knows that her husband can be tempted. And he was. He didn’t have an affair, though his heart was toyed with and he soon recognized what a fool he would be for pursuing the other woman further.

When you are jealous for someone, you are driven by their best interests and are protective of them.

I am jealous for you.

I’m not jealous of the organizations that were listed in the article. The six are very large organizations with a long track record.

That’s the problem. You know it all too well. That which enabled a company to succeed disappears once they seek to obtain bigness at any cost. They don’t always make decisions informed by what is best for their users.

Bigness can miss opportunities to create value when they begin to prioritize something else (usually their own profit). Cornering the market doesn’t always serve the market.

Cornering the market adds commotion. Commotion is noise. Eliminate noise.

I want you to find your network, gain trusted insight, and stay on top of trends by being in one of the communities that CIO Mastermind has to offer. And I want this because we:

Deal only with your real-time challenges and opportunities, not topics or talking heads.

Meet in small groups where you actually get to participate.

Deliver high-consultative value from your peers for you and your stakeholders.

Consistently hear how members love the group’s vulnerability and transparency.

Professionally facilitate and stay focused in our time together.

Help each other outside of the group voluntarily.

Provide radical, personal attention to each member in groups and between groups.

Experience over a 90% retention rate after six years of serving technology leaders.

Offer personal and customized coaching for you and your teams.

If you find those qualities in other organizations, then I am happy for you, not jealous of them.

But if more articles exclude me and lead you into places that do not serve you as well, then I am jealous for you. I want you to know the love I offer. 

So. “Be careful of that one.”

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