Week 45 - XLR8 The Passionate Leader

I remember reading one of Stephen Covey’s books that asked: “What happens when you are climbing the ladder of success and find that the ladder is up against the wrong wall.” Once you have the courage to climb down (or are asked to climb down), take a fresh look at what you really…really…really…really…want in your life right now.

I recently received a note from someone who reminded me of this story that I passed along in one of our coaching sessions (verbatim comments in quotes). It took a while, but they discovered that “in life there are many ladders – professionally but also personally and that with the amazing support of family, friends and faith, I have encountered ladders that I never even knew existed.” Elaine and I have the pleasure of being part of these “moments” when fear is transformed to “happiness and enthusiasm” and we are grateful!

Zig Ziglar’s Inspiration: 365 Days A Year

• My favorite quote for the week of November 8^th – 14^th: “Give the world the best you have and the best will come back to you.” Madeline Bridges
• Last week, I talked about creating your Unique Ability. It fits this week’s quote because it represents the best you have been giving to those who appreciate you the most. Once you “discover” it, what could you do to get better at it? What could you read, study or do to practice your Unique Ability more often?
• I had the opportunity to meet someone this week that is in transition in his professional life. I gave him the assignment of gathering his unique ability data and composing his unique ability statement. What better way to attract a job that would maximize the utilization of your unique ability? When interviewing, decide how much you’ll be able to use your unique ability in this new role. The more you can . . . the more successful you’ll be.

• The Best Year of Your Life: Get Debbie Ford's Kit
• Week Forty-Four: What’s Your Excuse?
• One of your fellow bloggers wrote me about her use of Wayne Dyer’s work: Excuses Begone. “It is a whole lot easier to make up excuses than to try sometimes. But when you act without excuses, what a sense of ownership over the journey”. Wise words!!!
• Week Forty-Five: What’s Your Story?
• Each of has a story – a personal or professional drama – that defines our limitations. It tells us what we can or cannot do and how much love, success and happiness we’re entitled to. Look at last week’s excuse, the part it plays in your story, and rewrite it in such a way that it opens you up to new possibilities. Then choose the rewrite when your drama repeats itself in your head.
• Who might help you? Don’t keep them waiting.

• Creating a Culture of Leadership Development – A Drop for Your Bucket!!! Send an electronic drop or comment by going to the blog (click on this blog’s heading – Wake Up the Passionate Leader above) and click on the “comment” icon at the end of this week’s posting.
• Last week, a client related a story of the power of the DISC / Success Discovery Process. She initiated it with someone who had been a challenging relationship for her. The timing was right and this person opened up to her and a breakthrough occurred. This person’s performance has improved to such an extent, that if it is sustained, she will recommend this person for a promotion. Nice work!!!

To date, we have 257 subscribers. Our goal is 1,000 by year end. We need your help!!! Invite a friend, colleague or sign up your team this week.

Week 44 - XLR8 The Passionate Leader

I love Sunday mornings because I can read the paper, drink my coffee and watch CBS Sunday Morning on TV. Today they had a segment on Larry Bird & Magic Johnson (they played basketball against each other in the 70’s). While they competed against each other, they “hated” each other. However, their fierce competition made each other better.

What made this story special was their current relationship as described by Larry: "The one thing I know is if I ever had problems with my son, with my marriage, anything, if I call him he will be there and vice versa." In life, you don't get very many people that you know would be there in the middle of the night. "One, in my case. I got a lot of good friends, but only like him." Magic got very emotional when heard it. "We'll always be there for each other. It's something that - forget the color of the skin, we're the same. We're just alike. We're just alike." Amen.

I have someone like that in my life that I grew up with. John reads this blog. Just know how important you are to me.

• Zig Ziglar’s Inspiration: 365 Days A Year
• My favorite quote for the week of November 1^st – 7^th: “People are like sticks of dynamite. The power’s on the inside but nothing happens until the fuse gets lit.” Mac Anderson
• My son, Andrew, who came to Leadership Week last June, is working with a group in his fraternity to determine the power of their “Unique Ability” tonight. Their pre-work assignment was to ask 10 people (family & close friends): “What is my unique ability - why do you enjoy having a relationship with me; what is it about me that makes our relationship special?” Preferably, they would provide 2 - 3 key words or a short concise sentence.
• That data is then transferred to a worksheet with a 3” circle in the middle with 10 lines radiating from it. Each entry is further refined to the key words or phrase and written in the 10 spaces. Lastly, a 20 – 25 word statement capturing the key themes is written. Andrew came up with: “I am a genuine, loyal critical thinker with a desire to make an impact and determined to get results through collaboration and natural leadership charisma.”
• He has been interviewing for a job when he graduates in May. I emphasized to him that he should make sure his unique ability comes across loud and clear in the interviews. More importantly, he should choose the job that will allow him to utilize his unique ability the most.

• The Best Year of Your Life: Get Debbie Ford's Kit
• Week Forty-Three: Have Faith
• Want a great read? Try Mitch Album’s latest New York Times bestseller: Have a Little Faith...A True Story (40% off in Wegmans!). You may have heard of Mitch’s previous books: Tuesdays With Morrie, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, For One More Day.
• Week Forty-Four: What’s Your Excuse?
• Maybe you have noticed that human beings are masters at inventing excuses for why we can’t or don’t have everything we desire. “I didn’t have time.” “I’m too busy or stressed out.”
• The scariest thing about our excuses is that we often mistake them for the truth. The truth is we choose to make them so. What could you do or accomplish without your favorite excuse? Do you have the courage to give it up? Be more committed to what you want than this excuse.

• Creating a Culture of Leadership Development – A Drop for Your Bucket!!! Send an electronic drop or comment by going to the blog (click on this blog’s heading – Wake Up the Passionate Leader above) and click on the “comment” icon at the end of this week’s posting.

To date, we have 255 subscribers. Our goal is 1,000 by year end. We need your help!!! Invite a friend, colleague or sign up your team this week.

Week 43 - XLR8 The Passionate Leader

I went to see Michael Moore’s movie: “Capitalism: A Love story” on Friday night. While he goes to extremes to make his point, there are a lot of businesses and business people who only care about themselves. It makes our commitment to be leaders with integrity and the common good in mind even more important. We must be true to our values and build organizations that are consistently striving to articulate and strive for the “desired values” of all our employees.

To that end, I am looking forward to taking one of my clients to Washington, D.C. next month for a presentation given by my colleague, Richard Barrett, of The Barrett Values Centre entitled: “Leadership in the 21^st Century – Building a High Performance, Values Driven Organization & The Role of Coaching in Organizational Transformation,”. Richard is at the center of this very important dialogue.

• Zig Ziglar’s Inspiration: 365 Days A Year
• My favorite quotes for the week of October 25^th – 31^st: “Sometimes we all need to realize that negative thoughts have no power. We empower them.” Kurt Gold
• I had the privilege of attending the two-day launch retreat of The Soul Purpose Institute given by Steve D’Annunzio. Steve and I both believe that leadership is an inside job, not only because of what is going on in the world, but more importantly what is going on in our heads. With Steve’s help, my intention is built upon my spiritual disciplines helping me be more positive in my choices, thoughts, words and actions.

• The Best Year of Your Life: Get Debbie Ford's Kit
• Week Forty-Two: Integrity
• I hope you were successful in balancing or restoring your own sense of integrity over a situation or relationship that needed repair.
• Week Forty-Three: Have Faith
• At every moment – and especially in times of challenge – each of us is confronted with an important choice. Will we react out of fear or will we choose instead to be guided out of faith (love). Surrendering to faith is an act of courage. We must trust that all will turn out in our highest and best interest.
• Try what Steve D’Annunzio suggests – say: “what would love do now” or “remember God, choose love and create value.”

• Creating a Culture of Leadership Development – A Drop for Your Bucket!!! Send an electronic drop or comment by going to the blog (click on this blog’s heading – Wake Up the Passionate Leader above) and click on the “comment” icon at the end of this week’s posting.
• I did a team day this week with a start-up team. Their XLR8 Teams!!! Assessment scores were unusually high for such a new team - with a new leader - who was just promoted to this position. It became clear that he had used a significant amount of the tools and techniques he is experiencing in the XLR8 YOU!!! “Leadership Excellence” process. While they still have work to do, I have no doubt they will follow through with the actions they committed to.

To date, we have 254 subscribers. Our goal is 1,000 by year end. We need your help!!! Invite a friend, colleague or sign up your team this week.

Week 42 - XLR8 The Passionate Leader

I hope you take the time to read the last item today, a contribution from one of your fellow bloggers. I’ll let his message bring you inspiration this week.

• Zig Ziglar’s Inspiration: 365 Days A Year
• My favorite quotes for the two weeks of October 18^th – 24^th: “If one advances confidently in the direction of their dreams and endeavors to live the life they have imagined, they will meet success unexpected in common hours. Henry David Thoreau
• What are you dreaming about? As we have discussed, we read The Passion Test as part of our leadership process. The first assignment is making a list of 10 – 15 of the most important things you can think of which would give you a life of joy, passion and fulfillment. Begin each one with a verb relating to being, doing or having which completes the sentence: When my life is ideal, I am_________________________. (When you are clear, what you want will show up in your life and only to the extent you are clear).

• The Best Year of Your Life: Get Debbie Ford's Kit
• Week Forty-One: Indulge
• Which indulgence did you choose? I made a home-cooked Wegmans Menu Magazine meal, which Elaine and I enjoyed immensely. I made enough to give leftovers to family members as well.
• Week Forty-Two: Integrity
• Integrity is the foundation of a successful life. When our behaviors, actions and choices are consistent with our deepest values, we gain the courage to be ourselves and the confidence to ask for what we need.
• To the extent that we haven’t cleaned up past integrity issues, it will undermine the love, success and abundance we desire. Look back over the last couple of years at a relationship or situation where you haven’t acted with complete integrity.
• Ask yourself: “What could I do to bring this situation back into balance and restore my own sense of integrity?” Could you write a letter, deliver an apology or contribute in some way to someone in need? This action could involve the person directly, but it doesn’t have to.

• Creating a Culture of Leadership Development – A Drop for Your Bucket!!! Send an electronic drop or comment by going to the blog (click on this blog’s heading – Wake Up the Passionate Leader above) and click on the “comment” icon at the end of this week’s posting.
• Hello fellow Bloggers, This past week I shared the Dewitt Jones video “Celebrate What’s Right with the World” with my team again. I’ve seen the video over and over and it only seems to get better each time I watch it. After seeing it for a second time, my folks are feeling the same way. Far too often I feel as though society is very accepting of catching people doing things wrong and this video takes you in a completely different direction. It really encourages you to go out and find what’s right with the world, in our work place or in our homes for that matter. On any given day, there’s a heck of a lot more right than there is wrong, but too often we don’t spend the time or energy looking for those positive moments. The video was so compelling and “true” that many of my folks had tears in their eyes. Rest assured that it’s not because they’re feeling guilty of passing up positive opportunities, it’s because Dewitt helps us realize that every person and situation has beauty in it. It’s up to us to look for it and then make a big deal out of it. I would highly encourage all of you to share this video with your team, a client, your family or to watch it all by your lonesome. It’s sure to invigorate and enlighten even the “tough as nails” leaders. Thanks to Tom for introducing us to this video and making it available to us, too.

To date, we have 252 subscribers. Our goal is 1,000 by year end. We need your help!!! Invite a friend, colleague or sign up your team this week.

Weeks 41- XLR8 The Passionate Leader

Elaine and I are back from vacation relaxed and rejuvenated. I completed four chapters of my book while looking at and listening to the ocean. Our friends at Innerlinks sent the “Angel of the Month” for October – Trust. “Move from a place of knowing within you rather than as a result of adaptation to outer experiences. Let go of your assumptions and need to control life’s creative process.” It really sums up the point I’m trying to make in the book. Trust your inner guidance system (passions, unique ability, personal mission & values) to bring you joy and happiness in life. Since you have chosen to be a leader, lead from that inner strength. Stay true to what’s important to you first which is based on how you will serve others.

• Zig Ziglar’s Inspiration: 365 Days A Year
• My favorite quotes for the two weeks of October 11^th – 17th: “I bring you the gift of these four words: I believe in you.” Blaine Pascal
• We are beginning the pre-work preparation for the next XLR8 YOU!!! “Leadership Excellence” retreat. During our initial “getting to know each other interview”, we are curious to know which people gave them the “I believe in you” gift.
• Through our ongoing coaching, we want to know who they in turn are working with that needs the “I believe in you” gift. We then provide the necessary tools and coaching support. What an honor to part of their “success” story.

• The Best Year of Your Life: Get Debbie Ford's Kit
• Week Thirty-Nine / Forty: Silence
• I always use vacations to reconnect with my passions and update my markers - that way, I come back home fired up!
• Week Forty-One: Indulge
• What are some ways to really indulge? Pretend your best friend in the whole world who you haven’t seen in years is visiting you soon. What three indulgent activities would like to do with him / her? Choose at least one and do it anyway!!!

• Creating a Culture of Leadership Development – A Drop for Your Bucket!!! Send an electronic drop or comment by going to the blog (click on this blog’s heading – Wake Up the Passionate Leader above) and click on the “comment” icon at the end of this week’s posting.
• The Official Notice went out tonight - Attention all XLR8 YOU!!! / Wegmans Leadership University “Leadership Excellence” Participants and Graduates – announcing the 1^st “Family First Weekend Retreat” at Bristol Harbour on Saturday / Sunday, November 14^th & 15^th.
• You have been asking for this, so we finally scheduled it. The weekend will consist of completing and sharing DISC information; watching The Shift, by Wayne Dyer; and completing the Passion Test. You will also be able to access The Family First website for free family relationship DISC reports for your children, extended family members, etc. Please respond to us quickly as Bristol Harbor has only 30 rooms!

To date, we have 248 subscribers. Our goal is 1,000 by year end. We need your help!!! Invite a friend, colleague or sign up your team this week.