Confidence and the Peanut’s Gang

Webster says that the definition of confidence is the ability to feel certain about the truth or something.  Floyd V. Filson once said, “He can inspire a group only if he himself is filled with confidence and hope of success.”

When I saw the movie "Come home Snoopy" I was so amazed.  A dog that had major personality!  He was more like a person!  When I see Snoopy, I am reminded that if you believe, then a dog really can fly his doghouse all over the world.  Just believe and cool things can happen.  Every day, the adventures of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus and the whole gang provided many funny moments while at the same time offering a daily inspiration and lessons on life.  Here are some life lessons that I learned from Snoopy and The Peanuts Gang.

• Keep on trying.  Don't give up! It never hurts to keep trying because eventually, persistence will pay off.
• Don't sell yourself short. Be all that you can be.  Don't be anything less than everything you can be.  Always have confidence.
• Believe in yourself.  Or if all else fails, fall back on your friends.  It’s about having friends and the importance of their validation.
• Happiness can be found in the little things.  You should find happiness in any small thing that makes you smile.  Life is too short not to enjoy it.

When you don’t have belief and self-esteem, the results are sadness and distrust with others.  A leader that has belief will think ahead and take initiatives to improve quality and avoid crisis.  A leader who works efficiently and with competence will encourage others to do likewise.  With a strong self-confidence, you can do anything that you put your mind to do.  By having the confidence in yourself will help you reach your goals and be successful.

Happy Labor Day

Labor Day was founded to give workers and their families a day of festivity to enjoy.  Workers of labor have more than earned this holiday to be able to spend it any way they want to even if it's just simply sitting at home in the rocking chair or sofa and just simply taking it easy.  Labor Day also is a sign that summer is coming to an end soon.  I would like to wish everyone have a happy and restful Labor Day.

 

THEY WHO TREAD THE PATH OF LABOR

They who tread the path of labor follow where My feet have trod;

They who work without complaining, do the holy will of God;

Nevermore thou needest seek Me; I am with thee everywhere;

Raise the stone, and thou shalt find Me, clease the wood and I am there.

Where the many toil together, there am I among My own;

Where the tired workman sleepeth, there am I with him alone:

I, the Peace that passeth knowledge, dwell amid the daily strife;

I, the Bread of Heav'n am broken in the sacrement of life.

Every task, however simple, sets the soul that does it free;

Every deed of love and mercy, done to man is done to Me.

Nevermore thou needest seek Me; I am with thee everywhere;

Raise the stone, and thou shalt find Me; cleave the wood, and I am there.

                                                     ~ Henry Van Dyke

Fairness and the rules of engagement

Of all the leadership qualities, fairness is perhaps one of the hardest to practice on a consistent basis.  Fairness is often a question of perception, so while we may do our best to practice fairness, others may not always view us as fair.  Brit Hume once said, “Fairness is not an attitude.  It’s a professional skill that must be developed and exercised”.  Webster says that the definition of fairness is the ability of having freedom from bias and injustice.

So what are the rules of engagement when treating others with fairness and respect?  To begin with you must avoid creating favorites.  Do you seem to favor some people over others?  This is often experienced as having one set of rules for one person and a different set of rules for another.  Shine the light on someone else.  Once in a while, choose a well-deserving subordinate and give them recognition that they may deserve.

Give credit generously.  Every person who does the work wants to have their stamp on it, just as every artist likes to sign his painting.  For example, while it is not always feasible to recognize everyone who toils in the background to create a report for someone else, strive to unearth the efforts of everyone who contributed.  Nothing cements a relationship more than giving someone who is invisible credit for their intellectual and emotional labor in a project.  Set the example yourself and ask the same of your direct reports.  This is the most elevating, and often the least practiced form of fairness.

Developing the sensitivity to truly understanding that fairness is an important principle in being a leader is very important.  It makes us more attuned to people’s emotions in the work place.  We commonly hear the expression: “Life isn’t fair; get used to it,” but this doesn’t mean we have to accept it.  If you create condition where your constituencies can depend on the fairness of your organization, you will create a great workplace.  As a leader, being fair to everyone is very essential if you want to be a respected leader.

Tips for great Customer Service

 Good customer service is no longer an exception; it’s the expectation of every customer.  In order to be competitive today, you must exceed the expectations of your customers.  There are many elements that can cause a business to succeed or fail, but something that should be copied from every successful business is the customer experience.

Here are some tips to help you improve your customer service.

1.  Look at your business from the customer’s perspective.  You can't do this yourself because your viewpoint is biased, so are your staff.  Ask friends, family, relatives, acquaintances and strangers to visit your organization and your competition.  Get brutally honest feedback from a customer's perspective and don’t be offended by their feedback.  You can start focusing on the routine procedures like the meet & greet and more smiles.  A warm, energetic smile with a personality overflowing with enthusiasm is hard to say no to.

2.  Actively listen to everything that can help you see what the customer sees.  Very few people will give you direct feedback.  So you have to look deeper for the clues.  Active listening means taking and hearing all verbal and non-verbal cues.  It means really listening to your customers’ reactions to your sales processes, staff and facility.

3.  Measure everything from the customer's perspective.  How fast does your web site load?  Is a customer’s sent a sincere thank you note?  You and your team’s number-one job is to exceed each and every one of your customer’s expectations and do so with sincerity to make the customer feel welcome.

4.  Improve constantly.  The atmosphere of your organization should be warm, professional, friendly, inviting and fun.  Don’t forget that last word “Thank You” either.  It makes a huge difference for your staff and your customers.  By relaxing the environment, productivity and customer satisfaction increase exponentially.  None of us, especially our customers want to be around people with a bad attitude.

Remember, you're trying to create an experience for the customer that can be described as great customer service.  Customer satisfaction leads to customer loyalty, which increases repeats and referrals and leads to maximum returns, value and customers for life.

Do you appreciate yourself and others?

Margaret Cousins once said, “Appreciation can make a day, even change a life.  Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary”.  Webster says that the definition of appreciation is the ability to recognize and have gratitude for something or someone.

My short story starts out with the CEO of a company addressing a management meeting that he had called together.  He holds up a hundred dollar bill and asks everyone at the meeting, "Who would like this new hundred dollar bill?"  Hands went up all over the room.  He said, "I’m going to give this hundred dollar bill to one of you, but first I need to crumple it."  He wadded up the bill and asked, "Who still wants it?"  Hands were quickly raised.  The CEO dropped the bill and ground it into the floor with his shoe.  He picked up the crumpled, dirty bill.  "Now who wants it?"  Everyone still lifted their hands.  "Friends, you have all learned a valuable lesson” the CEO concluded. “No matter what I did to the money, you still want it because its value hasn’t changed.  Even though the bill is crumpled and dirty, it’s still worth twenty dollars.”  Although someone may have done something wrong in their life, he or she still has infinite worth. Every person has value.  Do you see others—and yourself—as having value?  This is why being appreciated is so important in life.

Feeling genuinely appreciated lifts people up.  At the most basic level, it makes us feel safe, which is what frees us to do our best work.  It's also energizing.  When our value feels at risk, as it so often does, that worry becomes preoccupying; this drains and diverts our energy from creating value.  We're all more vulnerable and needy than we like to imagine.  Authentically appreciating others will make you feel better about yourself, and it will also increase the likelihood they'll invest more in their work, and in you.

Appreciation starts with appreciating yourself first.  If you have difficulty openly appreciating others, it's likely you also find it difficult to appreciate yourself.  Take a few moments at the end of the day to ask yourself this simple question: "What can I rightly feel proud of today?"  If you are committed to constant self-improvement, you can also ask yourself, "What could I do better tomorrow?" Both questions hold your value.

Professionalism and how to develop it

You know that it's essential to be professional if you want to be a success.  For some, being professional might mean dressing smartly at work, or doing a good job.  For others, being professional means having advanced degrees or other certifications, framed and hung on the office wall.  Professionalism encompasses all of these definitions.  But, it also covers much more.

The Webster defines professionalism as the conduct, aims, or qualities that characterize or mark a profession or a professional person; and it defines a profession as a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation.  These definitions imply that professionalism encompasses a number of different attributes, and, together, these attributes identify and define a professional.  Professionalism is a trait that's highly valued in the workforce.  It has many attributes, including specialized knowledge, competency, integrity, accountability and self-regulation.  To improve your own professionalism, focus on improving in each of these areas.

You can also exude professionalism by being kind and polite to everyone, presenting a professional image in your attitude and dress, and showing up for work or meetings fully prepared.  True professionals are always prepared.  This requires advance planning, timeliness, and attention.  Focus on improving your time management and planning skills, so that you're always in control.

Although professionalism means keeping commitments, doing high quality work, and having expert status, occasionally the pursuit of these attributes might tempt you not to volunteer for projects that fall outside your comfort zone.  You will need to look at each situation to make that decision.  Lastly, always analyze risks beforehand to minimize the consequences of getting things wrong, be honest about any skills gaps that you have, and work to fill them.  Then do the best you possibly can.

Honesty is the best policy

To be honest means to do what you know in your heart is right.  Sometimes being truly honest means giving up something you want in exchange for doing the right thing.  Leadership means being your own person and when you earn a reputation for integrity, values and honesty, you’re likely to be a respected leader within the company.  Leaders who have gained success pay attention to the inner voice that provides their moral compass, and they learn to guide their conduct according to the virtues and principals that flow from their moral identities.  Ed McMahon once said, “Honesty is the most single most important factor having a direct bearing on the final success of an individual, corporation, or product.”  Webster says that the definition of honesty is the ability to be truthful and having freedom from deceit.

Here is a story about an elderly carpenter who is ready to retire.  He tells his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family.  He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire.  They could get by.  The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor.  The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work.  He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials.  It was an unfortunate way to end his career.  When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front-door key to the carpenter.  "This is your house," he said, "my gift to you."  What a shock! What a shame!  If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.  Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well.

Think of yourself as the carpenter.  Think about your house.  Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely.  It is the only life you will ever build.  Even if you live it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity.  We all must not forget that life is a do-it-yourself project.  Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today.

Learning Respect can be very hard at times

 G. Alan Bernard once said, “The respect that leadership must have requires that one’s ethics be without question.  A leader not only stays above the line between right and wrong, he stays well clear of the gray areas”.  Webster says that the definition of respect is having a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something.

Here is a story that a good friend shared with me many years ago.  A young man was getting ready to graduate from college.  For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.  As graduation day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car.  Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study.  His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him.  He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box.  Curious, but somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold.  Angry, he raised his voice to his father and said "With all your money, you give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business.  He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him.  He had not seen him since that graduation day.  Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son.  He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.  When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart.  He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago.  With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages.  And as he did, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible.  It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired.  On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words PAID IN FULL.

Self-respect is at the heart of respecting others.  When you can identify and appreciate your strengths and accept your vulnerabilities, it's easier to truly respect the value in others.

How do you define Integrity?

How do you know if a person has integrity?  These are people who are honest, kind, fair minded, and generous.  A characteristic of a great leader is their integrity.  Maria Razumich-Zec once said, “Your reputation and integrity are everything.  Follow through on what you say you’re going to do.  Your credibility can only be built over time, and it is built from the history of your words and actions”.  Webster says that the definition of integrity is the ability to adhere to moral and ethical principles.

Integrity encompasses many qualities, and one of them is accountability or taking responsibility for one's actions.   The lack or personal accountability is a major pitfall of leadership.  A leader who does not take responsibility for their actions and decisions is bound to fail.  Without personal accountability, a person has the tendency to play the blame game.  Whatever the consequences of their decisions are, particularly their mistakes, they blame on others.  This is a manifestation of cowardice and dishonesty and very unbecoming of a leader.  A leader without courage and integrity does not gain the respect of their followers.  In such a case, leadership has lost its essence.  There is no true leadership without responsibility.

Another quality of integrity is true virtue and true virtue comes from within.  It is instilled by time, experience and understanding.  If you know virtue and you have it in you, you will know it in other people.  You can always search in Google to find the meaning and criteria of "integrity" and you will read its definition.  If you yourself are a person of integrity, or are searching for integrity in yourself, your inner knowing and your intuition will give you the understanding to know the virtue from the pretense.  Virtue as a part of our true humanity will speak to the true humanity in others.  Otherwise, if virtue has been subdued and clouded by negativity, you cannot see its light or feel its voice.  Lastly, decisions may fail, but true leadership admits that mistake and makes means to recover.  True leadership knows the humility to admit mistakes, the integrity to take responsibility and the courage to move on.  The journey in being a great leader starts with acquiring integrity first.

What is Excellence?

Have you ever thought about what your life would be like if you pursued excellence every day? If you woke up every morning knowing that you were 100-percent, all-out committed to being the best in all aspects of your life? I'm not talking about giving something your best effort or even your personal best. I'm talking about being the best, selling out to that completely and not settling for  anything less. For this you need to have a fire inside you to be the best and get up every day willing to do what it takes to reach your goal. This is an invitation to find your voice and leave a mark in the world; an invitation to surpass the average and aim for higher levels of excellence; an invitation to tap into your talents more deeply than before and turn yourself into a radiating powerhouse. It is time to live your purpose in life and share your unique, beautiful gifts with all other beings. To have the resolve to have excellence, you have to want it and need to have the zeal to make this change in your life. Achieving Excellence is not an easy journey, in fact it is a journey filled with many barriers and obstacles.

In essence, excellence is becoming the center of your own universe, and from that grounded, centered position, shining your light into the world by using your unique talents. You will need to identify your values and learn how to make the right choices in your life. You will need to know what truly matters to you and focus your energy on what you value most in life. Living a life of excellence takes effort, but at the same time is rewarding and gives you energy so that you can keep up your work. Some people are content to make a nice living, spend time with their families, do good work for others and live quietly. But if you want to live life out loud and commit yourself to have excellence in every way that takes the ultimate in personal dedication, sacrifice and self-examination. I would like to invite you to excel in those fields where you really can make a difference, so that when you move on, you shall have left behind a better world for those who follow.

Happy Independence Day

The Declaration of Independence

By Washington Irving

While danger was gathering round New York, and its inhabitants were in mute suspense and fearful anticipations, the General Congress at Philadelphia was discussing, with closed doors, what John Adams pronounced, "The greatest question ever debated in America, and as great as ever was or will be debated among men."  The result was, a resolution passed unanimously on the 2nd of July - "that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States."

"The 2nd of July," adds the same patriot statesman, "will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America.  I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival.  It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to Almighty God.  It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forth forevermore."

The glorious event has, indeed, given rise to an annual jubilee - but not on the day designated by Adams.  The FOURTH of July is the day of national rejoicing, for on that day the "Declaration of Independence," that solemn and sublime document, was adopted.

Tradition gives a dramatic effect to its announcement.  It was known to be under discussion, but the closed doors of Congress excluded the populace.  They awaited, in throngs, an appointed signal. In the steeple of the State House was a bell, imported twenty-three years previously from London by the Provincial Assembly of Pennsylvania.  It bore the portentous text from Scripture: "Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land, unto all the inhabitants thereof."  A joyous peal from that bell gave notice that the bill had been passed. It was the knell of British domination.

Effective Leaders must have Compassion

Leaders have compassion by caring for people, but to be an effective leader one must go one step further.  That step being, an effective leader must care about everything that is being said in the organization.  We all must have mentors who will show us how to develop that compassion that is needed.

Having compassion is even more important for smaller organizations with less people than it is for larger organizations.  An effective leader must listen to what everyone says and be passionate about what they say.  There is nothing worse than having a leader not listening when you are pouring your most concerning thoughts out to them.  This is a leader breaking deal!  You do not want to go near any situation like that.

Besides being compassionate toward the people and what they say, a good leader must also be compassionate about his visions and beliefs.  It is important to have this, in order to achieve one's goals and be effective.  Having a passion for what you do is a trait of all good and effective leaders.  Your vision must have the conviction and compassion that will motivate your followers to understand and believe in what you say and do.  People will not get motivated by themselves unless you as a leader can project passion for it.  My vision has always been motivating others to realize their vision.

The leader who truly has compassion and can show it, will always be the more effective leader for the organization.  So now you must choose whether you want to be an effective leader or a follower.

Happy Fathers Day

 

 

What is A Dad?

 

A dad is someone who wants to catch you before you fall, but instead picks you up, brushes you off, and lets you try again.

A dad is someone who wants to keep you from making mistakes

but instead lets you find your own way,

even though his heart breaks in silence when you get hurt.

A dad is someone who holds you when you cry,

scolds you when you break the rules, shines with pride when you succeed, and has faith in you even when you fail…

Unknown

How to Stay Focused as a Leader

.

So what does it take to acquire the focus required to be an effective leader?  The secret is to combine priority and concentration with focus.  Webster says that the definition of focus is having clear and sharply defined objectives .  A leader who is well aware of his priorities but has no concentration knows what to do, but will never finish everything on time or might never finish anything at all.  On the other hand, if a leader has concentration but does not know his priorities, he shows excellence but his leadership will not have progress.  However, a leader who learns to harness and develop both these key characteristics will have the potential and ability to accomplish great things.

The important question is, how would you focus your time, energy and effort?  Effective and competent leaders who reach their peak potential spend more time focusing and fixating on what they do well than on what they do wrong.  To be successful as a leader and a person, sharpen and keep center on your strengths and take time to cultivate them.  This is the area where you should give all your resources, energy and time.  It will be well worth it and the returns would be tremendous.  Believe in the equation that growth equals change.  If you want to do great things, and yearn for progress in all aspect of your life, you have to keep evolving, changing and keep on improving no matter what.  Mind you, this isn't very easy to do, because this means going out of your comfort zone and treading on areas that are very new to you.  When you appropriate your time to new things related to areas of your strength, then you will grow not just a great leader, but an amazing individual in all respect.  Keep in mind, in leadership, if you cease growing, you are through.

How to Live Your Life Positively Happy

Charles Schwab once said, “A man can succeed at almost anything for which he has unlimited enthusiasm”.

Do you relish each day and live your life purpose with happiness?  What's the most important thing to remember?  In your life as a whole, what really matters?  What is your purpose in life?  Define it in one word, a phrase or in a single sentence.  Write it down in positive words. Instead of saying "I'll stop getting so angry", say "I'll be more loving and appreciative of people who value me".  Use words you can connect with, say it out loud and feel it.  Keep your purpose close to your heart and speak it with self- respect.  Banish self- doubt.  Knowing what you want to live and live for feels sacred. Remember and recommit to your life's purpose.

What are your priorities? Clarify them.  Rank your priorities and ultimately ask yourself "If there's only one aim I can attain, what will it be"?  That's your top priority.  Let your true priorities speak to you, understand how important they are.  Weave more of your time and energy into your top priorities over low priorities.

You need to choose friends who are optimistic and happy themselves, as you will be surrounded with positive energy.  Positive social relationships are a key to happiness, so be sure you make time to visit with friends, family and your significant other.  Kindness is not only contagious; it's also proven to make you happier.  When you're kind to others, your brain produces feel-good hormones and neurotransmitters such as serotonin and you're able to build strong relationships with others, fostering positive feelings all around.

Happy people know how to let life's daily irritations roll off their back.  Allow yourself to be immersed in whatever it is you're doing right now, and take time to really be in the present moment.  Avoid replaying past negative events in your head or worrying about the future; just savor what's going on in your life now.  Truly live each day, and the future will take care of itself. Joy becomes a way of living that will get you through even the bad times. The future becomes a happier place of no regrets.

A Memorial Day Salute

A moment of silence please. For the brave men and women, that protected our freedom, and did not return to be with us today.  My heart goes out to their family and friends on this day, their day, our Memorial Day.  Thank you for your sacrifice and our freedom.  The cost of obtaining it and keeping it, we owe to these true hero's.

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died while defending our Nation and its values.  These men and women are heroes for the profound contribution they have made to securing our Nation's freedom.

Principles of Leadership

How can you grow into a great leader? The journey is not an easy one but it can be accomplished.  Many have taken the journey and have either gotten lost and given up or endured the barriers and have become that great leader.  In all areas of our lives, there are principles that develop us into who we are and each plays a very important role.  These principles will prove to have enduring permanent value in your life and will help you find a balance in your life.  These principles are authentically articulated points of view based on integrating focus, integrity, attitude, belief, balance, and team.  The values originate in self-awareness, develop and deepen when combined with meaningful behaviors, and culminate in a lasting contribution towards professional satisfaction.  By developing these principles you will improve your own leadership styles.

The first Leadership Principle is focus.  Focus is seeing the vision before we start.  It is the blueprint and planning process.  The next principle is integrity.  Integrity is the value principle that forms the basis for the plans that have been made.  The third principle is attitude.  Attitude is the process of developing the mentality to be successful.  The fourth principle is belief.  Belief is the trust factor involved in building confidence and commitment to the plans that are developed.  The fifth principle is balance.  Balance relates to putting it all together to form a program that works for your business.  The final principle is team.  Team is the cooperation where all members work together toward a common goal.


You will find these Principles very essential to becoming a great leader.  A true leader does not think about how decisions will benefit them, they think about the impact it will have on others.  Influence is the foundation of leadership and relationships are the foundation for influence.  Leadership is the art of gathering people around a common purpose then inspiring, motivating and mobilizing them to achieve it.  This is where the journey begins.

A Mother's Day Poem

A Mother's Day Poem

 

Another Mother's Day is here,

Bringing joy and pleasures new,

On this special day, Mother dear,

I want to remember you

 

I cannot give you costly gifts,

And I've told you this before,

No matter what I give to you,

You give back much, much more

 

I'm giving you a pure, sweet rose,

Gathered in the early morn,

This rose you planted in my heart,

The day that I was born

 

In kindly, loving thoughts of you,

And with the faith you still impart,

The rose I give to you today,

Is the love that's in my heart

 

                                ~Anonymous

Achieving Excellence

Achieving excellence takes time to learn the process and there are no short cuts that can be taken.  When you look at the successful organizations, they have a long term, dedicated management and staff that is very satisfied with the workplace culture and atmosphere and most of all they are being recognized on a daily basis.  Perfection is not a goal that must be met, but if we can get close then we have succeeded.  By pursuing perfection and excellence, you won't just beat the competition and see marginal improvements in your organization.  The company will exceed all goals while your staff will meet their full potential and realize inner success.

 

In achieving excellence for yourself, you must avoid negative people, places things and habits and believe in yourself.  Yesterday is gone and, of course, tomorrow may never come.  Don't give up and don't give in, but consider things from every angle.  Give more than you planned to and remember that family and friends are hidden treasures.  Seek them and enjoy their riches.  Hang onto your dreams and ignore those who try to discourage you.  Keep trying it will get easier.  Always love yourself first and open your eyes and see things how they really are.  Don't forget that practice makes perfect.  Always strike a fair, win-win deal and make it happen.  Never lie, cheat or steal and be fair at all times.  Stop procrastinating, and keep working towards your dreams.  Quitters never win and winners never quit.  Read, study and learn about everything important to your life and take control of your own destiny.  Understand yourself in order to better understand others and want it more than anything.  Visualize your future and accelerate your efforts to make sure that you reach your goals.  Whether you are a player, fan, supporter, employee, manager or owner we want to be surrounded with winners, because in the end we all want to be just like the winners.  Sustained long term success requires a plan, talent, conditioning, execution, ability and heart.  So go out and achieve your excellence and be successful in life.

There is no "I" in Team!

Every day is an opportunity for teambuilding.  However, teamwork will only have a lot of "team" involved if there is motivation.  Instill in your group the awareness of them being a team. Then they will perform as one.  Let them know the rewards of working as a team.  Building a team includes motivating everyone in the team as one.

As a leader, the strongest motivator you can use to boost your team is self- esteem.  On an individual level, you must boost the self-esteem of your team members.  These individual forces can then work synergistically, working as a whole and fortifying the team.  Individual support creates more promising prospects for team success.  Your team members have to believe that they will produce more as a team than working individually on their own.

Building confidence in your group is a key factor in building your team.  It not only enhances the team, but it also helps things to function more efficiently.  The leader will need to build a positive work environment that supports the team, encourage co-operation among team members and set the stage for reaching achievable goals.  Once your team has greater self-confidence, they will be happier, cope with life better on a daily basis, and achieve success in their careers.  Building a team will improve work relationships.  Also being able to handle criticism better and raise self-confidence within their families.  There are many benefits of self-confidence including, increased interest in the job, a greater sense of competence, and a preference to take on challenges.  By creating a diverse team you will cover all areas of expertise for resource purposes.

Leaders, now that you have built your team, continue to empower your team members.  Teach them, give them knowledge they crave and continue to raise the level of expectations in reaching new goals.

Happy Easter

On Easter Sunday many children will wake up to look for the baskets of eggs with candy in them that the Easter Bunny has hidden for them.  Children hunt for the eggs all around the house.  I would like to wish everyone good egg hunting and a Happy Easter.

The Balancing Act



Your body is like an engine, and every engine needs fuel and maintenance in order for it to work properly.  Don’t make the mistake of letting your engine fall into bad repair.  Take time to prioritize your work and success will follow.  What does a successful leader and a high wire walker have in common?  They all need balance to be effective.

Begin your balance journey by figuring out what your values and priorities need to be.  Think of your life as a series of circles, arranged around a center circle.  The center circle is you.  If you’re running around touching each circle with your hand as you go by, you’re off balance.  But if all those circles are touching your center circle, touching not only you but each other also.  Then you are in balance.  A balanced life is all about the body, mind and spirit being in sync.

Taking care of your body is essential and healthy eating is very important for your well-being.  Limit intake of foods that are hard to digest and avoid processed foods.  Keep yourself re-hydrated as your body depends on your water intake to function well.  Physical activity is important for overall well-being.  The mind needs to be challenged with new ideas and activities.  We are social beings, created for and performing best in the company of others.  Get out there and meet new people, share your experiences and learn from others.  Make time for loved ones, be encouraging, and make a positive contribution in someone else's life.  Take some time out of your busy schedule, just for yourself, to do something creative and enriching.  And of course nothing will happen if you don’t have the desire.  You will need to get out there and just do it.  Having a positive attitude towards life is a key requirement for a healthy spirit and a strong mind.  Take the time to dream, plan, prepare, and set goals for your life, no matter your age. Giving hope and encouragement for tomorrow.

Once you achieve a balance, it has to be maintained.  If you are wondering how you will fit everything in your life, there is an answer.  Take time away from busy work and use it for things like exercise, meditation, art, music, socializing or taking a class.  Finding a balanced life will pay off in your professional effectiveness and personal fulfillment.  Balance is when you’re doing what you want to be doing, when it needs to be done, finding a balance that makes you and everyone around you happy.

Building Self-Confidence

Webster says that the definition of belief is the ability or habit of placing trust in oneself.  Building belief in yourself can be a very difficult task.  Self-confidence is believing in yourself, that you can do what you have set out to do and can do it well.  When you build self-confidence, you always tell yourself “I can do this just as others have."  Having a positive mindset is of most importance.  If a person thinks negative of themselves, they antagonize the goodness that they offer to others.  In the law of attraction, like attracts like, and positive attracts positive.

Liking yourself is a major step to building self-confidence.  Being confident of yourself teaches responsibility.  However, self-confidence is not to be confused with arrogance.  An arrogant person belittles other people to make themselves feel powerful.  A confident person, on the other hand, sees the good in other people.  They take time to support and encourage others without feeling defensive or jealous.  Having confidence in yourself makes you set realistic goals you can achieve.  Believing in yourself is empowering yourself.  It becomes a self- fulfilling prophecy.  When you believe "you can" you incorporate the power of positivity into your way of life.

Being assertive is another way of building self-confidence.  Assertiveness gives you the courage to stand up for what you believe in.  You will stand behind your decisions and will not be swayed by what other people might say or do.  You believe difficulties are challenges you can overcome and know there is a way out.  You take responsibility and take charge of your thoughts, your actions, and your life.  Self-confidence is the realization that you are a valuable person.  You appreciate your achievements and what you have accomplished.

The good news is that self-confidence really can be learned and built on.  And, whether you’re working on your own self-confidence or building the confidence of people around you, it’s well-worth the effort!

Develop a Positive Attitude

Webster says that the definition of attitude is having a positive manner, disposition and feeling.  So how do you go about developing a positive attitude?  You can make a decision to create a good attitude; however, if you do not create plans on how to take care of that decision every day, then you are likely to end up back where you began.

To maintain a positive attitude is about taking charge of circumstances.  Nobody really cares about your complaints and issues, especially in the work place.  You need to keep in mind that people have their own issues to deal with, and the least things they want to hear about are those that reminds them of the gloomy side of life.  Having a positive attitude requires you to keep a happy disposition despite feeling otherwise.  When you look cheerful, people will respond to you in the same way, and eventually you will forget the sadness of problems that you have.  You need to take care of your thinking and direct your actions so that they are consistent with your decisions.

Successful leaders think positive because success starts from within.  Success is reaching the top.  It's like climbing your way up to get to your goals.  From within you, you have to muster the energy, tap into your resources and maximize your potential.  You may not begin on a grand scale, but start with choosing the thoughts you think.  The power of positive thinking is true because positive thoughts are hundred times stronger than negative thoughts.  You can when you believe you can.  It is generally not as easy as that, but you can only truly feel the power of positive thoughts when you have gained clarity in yourself.

When you take responsibility of your own attitude or recognize that it can change how you live, manage it daily, and harness and develop positive habits and thoughts, then you can make your attitude your greatest asset.  Your attitude can become a powerful life changing aspect in your life that can open doors and help you overcome great obstacles.

Three Qualities of Integrity

The first characteristic of a great leader is their integrity.  Webster says that the definition of integrity is the ability to adhere to moral and ethical principles.  People who have integrity are honest, kind, fair minded, and generous.  Integrity encompasses many qualities, and one of them is accountability or taking responsibility for one's actions.  The lack or personal accountability is a major pitfall of leadership.  A leader who does not take responsibility for their actions and decisions is bound to fail.  Without personal accountability, a person has the tendency to play the blame game.  Whatever the consequences of their decisions are, particularly their mistakes, they blame on others. A leader admits when they make a mistake.  True leadership knows the humility to admit mistakes, the integrity to take responsibility and the courage to move on.

A second quality of integrity is true virtue which comes from within.  It is instilled by time, experience and understanding.  If you know virtue and you have it in you, you will know it in other people.  If you yourself are a person of integrity, or are searching for integrity in yourself, your inner knowing and your intuition will give you the understanding to know the virtue from the pretense.  Virtue as a part of our true humanity will speak to the true humanity in others. Otherwise, if virtue has been subdued and clouded by negativity, you cannot see its light or feel its voice.  Leaders who have gained success pay attention to the inner voice that provides their moral compass, and they learn to guide their conduct according to the virtues and principals that flow from their moral identities. 

The third quality of integrity is honesty.  This means to do what you know in your heart is right.  Sometimes being truly honest means giving up something you want in exchange for doing the right thing.  Leadership means being your own person and when you earn a reputation for integrity, values and honesty, you’re likely to be a respected leader.   I have a saying that goes like this.  "Life is a do-it-yourself project."  Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today.  A leader without courage and integrity does not gain the respect of their followers.  In such a case, leadership has lost its essence.  The journey in being a great leader starts with acquiring integrity first. 

The Importance of Focus

The importance of Focus in being a leader is an essential principle that must be developed.  You need Focus on priorities to get things done in order to get over the hurdles.  But what does it take to acquire the Focus needed to be an effective leader?  The secret is to combine priority and concentration with Focus.  A leader who is well aware of his priorities but has no concentration knows what to do, but will never finish everything on time or might never finish anything at all.  On the other hand, if a leader has concentration but does not know his priorities, this leader shows excellence but not leadership.  However, a leader who learns to harness and develop both these key characteristics will have the potential and ability to accomplish great things.

Effective and competent leaders who reach their peak potential spend more time focusing and fixating on what they do well than on what they do wrong.  To be successful as a leader and a person, sharpen and keep center on your strengths and take time to cultivate them.  This is the area where you should give all your resources, energy and time.  The returns will be tremendous.  Believe in the equation that growth equals change. If you want to do great things, and yearn for progress in all aspect of your life, you have to keep evolving, changing and keep on improving.  Keep in mind, this isn't very easy to do, because this means going out of your comfort zone and treading on areas that are very new to you.  When you appropriate your time to new things related to areas of your strength, then you will grow not just a great leader, but as an amazing individual in all aspects.  Keep in mind, in leadership, if you cease growing, the journey will stop.  Today, sit down and set your priorities in order and be sure to Focus on your strengths.  In leadership, to be effective and successful, you have to plan for success.
 

Robert J Dahl

Achieving Excellence

Every leader wants to achieve excellence.  The definition of excellence is being the best of what you are within the bounds of doing the right thing for the organization.  The core of excellence is good character and is about doing what is supposed to be done right the first time.  When striving for excellence, a leader needs to have a plan in achieving excellence.  The first consideration in achieving excellence is developing an excellence plan of action.  A plan should begin with a review of yourself, your qualities and the kind of leader you want to be.  Make your assessment straightforward and simple.  Choose which things are most important to you and place them on top of your list.  Consider how these things will affect you as a leader.  Be creative when setting up your plan.

Evaluate yourself according to your criteria in the plan.  Are your standards realistic and achievable?  Be open to making changes and revisions.  Some  things might have been forgotten, or useful ideas might suddenly come up.  Planning is a good approach in order for one to be more responsive to occurrences that could take place in the future.  Planning opens the right doors and presents options and possibilities in the future.

Leadership is about excellence, but a leader does not command excellence.  What a leader does is build excellence.  A leader creates excellence, being all the best that they can be and doing what is right for the organization.  Achieving excellence is not just about accomplishing something or getting the job done.  Excellence in leadership means a leader is engaged with good and strong character throughout the entire leadership process.  A leader always has to welcome change and cope with it.  Leadership has to progress and move forward with change.  Be open to learning.  It opens doors to knowing yourself more and fortifying it.  Knowledge is power.  Leadership is not only leading other people, but also yourself.  If you lead yourself effectively then you can also lead other people effectively.  Achieving excellence is not easy and must be earned.  It starts with planning, strong leadership and having good character.

Robert J Dahl

Defining Leadership

To begin to explore this very important journey we must explain the distinction of leadership. Everyone knows that all leaders start from within.  So first we must start with ourselves.  According to the Oxford Dictionary, leadership is the action of leading a group of people or an organization or the ability to do this.  And, to lead is to cause (a person or animal) to go with one by holding them by the hand, a halter, a rope, etc…while moving forward.   Leadership therefore requires influence, directions and action, so, for leadership to manifest so that others follow, it stands to reason that the leader, or whatever that may be, must first influence themselves, give self-direction and act on that direction.

Another definition of leadership is having the heart of a servant, combined strength and courage of a lion with the kindness and compassion of a lamb.   Leadership is where, how and who you take into your team.  Each of these have specifics, where-your mission and vision, how-your knowledge of the leadership principles and skills and who the people who follow you.  “True leadership must be for the benefit of the follower not for the enrichment of the leaders”, author unknown.  It mimics the concept of doing things for others without expecting recognition.  A true leader does not think about how decisions will benefit them, they think about the impact it will have on others.  Influence is the foundation of leadership and relationships are the foundation for influence.  Leadership is the art of gathering people around a common purpose then inspiring, motivating and mobilizing them to achieve it.  This is where the journey begins.

Robert J Dahl