Leadership is Language: Red & Blue

After reading Turn this Ship Around by L. David Marquet, which I wrote entries starting here I started his next book: Leadership is Language.

I am enjoying this book more than expected as L. David Marquet does a great job in sharing an anthropological history of modern work. A kind of: “how we got here?” for the work place.

The book discusses concepts of: Red work and Blue work.

• Red work: where a person takes action - physical labor is a prime example of this. I like to think: whatever gets the blood moving.
• Blue work: where a person does not take action - thinks, reviews, decides. I like to think of this as the person being cool.

Mapping Meanings

Once I have these two colors mapped to those actions in my head, I notice the colors more in my life.

As I am of Chinese ancestry, red is a color of luck and I do what I can to associate myself with objects of that color, like my phones. When I see my phone now, I think of “action!”

Recently, I had to suddenly purchase items and there were no red option - but I fell in love with the blue one, like a new water bottle. Whenever I see that water bottle now, I think: “chill”.

I find it interesting I am shifting my color preference based on a book or even how my own objects are making me reconsider my behaviors.

Next, I share what happens to my parenting questions when I apply Leadership is Language principles.