Sunday, February 8, 2009

Week 6 - XLR8 The Passionate Leader

Let’s stay on the topic of vision. Don’t forget to subscribe (box to the right) to get new blog postings directly.


  • Zig Ziglar’s Inspiration: 365 Days A Year: Watch the Video @ Inspiration 365
    • My favorite quote for the week of February 8th – 14th: Choice, not chance, determines human destiny – Robert W. Ellis
      • This fits perfectly with The XLR8 Team’s vision to help ourselves and others “surrender to the magnificence of our limitless possibilities.” I remember the elation I felt when we finished. I believe articulating this vision was indeed my destiny choosing me - providing an avenue to fulfill my purpose.


  • The Best Year of Your Life:
    • Week Five Assignment – Envision Your Best Life
      • I hope you made some progress putting together your vision map. Add to it on an ongoing basis. Reward yourself every time you refer to it before making a choice.
    • Week Six Assignment – Become the Person You Want to Be
      • Whenever you admire a quality in someone else – whether it’s a strength, style, determination, or creativity – you can be sure that this quality also exists within you. If you want to discover your greatest self, all you have to do is notice who you admire.
      • Next, think of a person you love and / or respect – someone you know personally or from afar. Identify three qualities that you appreciate the most about this person.
      • Finally, begin each day this week with the question: “What action can I take to nurture these qualities within me?”


  • Creating a Culture of Leadership Development – Sharing Best Practices:
    • Thanks to Kevin for his comment last week about how DISC has helped with his self awareness. Check it out at the end of last week’s blog. We are back to work this week – looking for best practices to share with you.
    • Please make a “comment” about a great leadership experience you had this week!


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Monday, February 2, 2009

Week Five - XLR8 The Passionate Leader

This week’s theme is vision. How will you change the world ~ through the vision for your life!!! I’m betting that the three people who took me up on my offer for the FREE MOVIE SCREENING of Wayne Dyer’s just-released movie “Ambition to Meaning” (see Week Four) will gain further insights into their vision. I’m looking forward to their “comments” in subsequent blog postings. Don’t forget to subscribe (box to the right) and get new blog postings directly.

  • Zig Ziglar’s Inspiration: 365 Days A Year: Watch the Video @ Inspiration 365
    • My favorite quote for the week of February 1 – 7: A vision is a clearly-articulated, results-oriented picture of the future you intend to create. It’s a dream with direction. – Jesse Stoner Zemel (co-authored Full Steam Ahead with Ken Blanchard)
      • The manifestation of those dreams are our passions. I read The Passion Test on an airplane to Aruba in 2006 and knew it had to be part of the XLR8 YOU!!! Leadership Excellence process. While I haven’t changed my top five passions, I do update my markers every year while I am here in Hawaii (a realization of a childhood dream).

  • The Best Year of Your Life:
    • Week Four Assignment – Look for What’s Right
      • Right after I wrote this, someone who I let irritate me in the past did something that really annoyed me. It reminded me that when you make a commitment for something, that commitment often gets tested immediately, particularly if you need to work on it.

    • Week Five Assignment – Envision Your Best Life
      • Once you have created a vision or articulated your passions, create a Vision Map. Buy several of your favorite magazines, cut out pictures and words that inspire, uplift, and motivate you to realize one or more of your passions. Make a collage that is a visual representation of what you want to create in this area of your life.
      • Lastly, hang your Vision Map someplace where you’ll see it daily. Pay attention to those opportunities that will undoubtedly arise for you to realize your dreams. Are you ready to say YES?

  • Creating a Culture of Leadership Development – Sharing Best Practices:
    • I got a call last week from someone who just joined an Executive Team I am working through The XLR8 Teams!!! Process with. He apologized for bothering me in Hawaii which was unnecessary because he made my day (it was raining anyway)! He was preparing to share his DISC Success Discovery Process (SDP) information with another member of the team and had a couple of process questions. Other than sharing his DISC with me, he hadn’t begun the SDP with anyone else yet. This process, while amazingly simple, has had profound benefits way beyond what I envisioned. Indeed, in some cases, it was the first step in their transformation process.
    • Please make a “comment” about your experience with DISC / SDP, as it just might begin someone else’s transformation!

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Monday, January 26, 2009

Week Four - XLR8 The Passionate Leader

Thanks to those who took the time to comment (scroll down to the end of last week’s post): Lance Miller about XLR8 Teams!!!; Debbie McCue using concepts from What Got You Here Won’t Get You There; Chris DePumpo’s movie review of Wayne Dyer’s just released movie “Ambition to Meaning”. Don’t forget to subscribe (box to the right) and get this blog directly when the latest one gets posted.


  • Zig Ziglar’s Inspiration: 365 Days A Year: Watch the Video @ Inspiration 365
    • My favorite quote for the week of January 25 – 31: Each of us will one day be judged by our standard of life, not by our standard of living; by our measure of giving, not by our wealth; by our simple goodness, not by our seeming greatness. – William Arthur Ward
      • This is beautifully illustrated in Wayne Dyer’s just released movie “Ambition to Meaning”. FREE MOVIE SCREENING – to the first ten people who ask. Simply send me an e-mail. Check out the trailer - http://www.ambitiontomeaning.com/store/index ; click on “movie trailer” in the upper left-hand corner.


  • The Best Year of Your Life:
    • Week Three Assignment – Play!
      • Blog your FUN! Mine started at my granddaughter’s baptism and playing with her afterwards. It continues now in Hawaii.
    • Week Four Assignment – Look for What’s Right
      • Think about someone in your life who irritates you, annoys you, or with whom you don’t see eye to eye. This week spend at least 10 minutes writing down everything that’s right about this person.
      • Show the video “Celebrate What’s Right with the World” at a staff meeting. How do we get more of what we want? Ask!!!


  • Creating a Culture of Leadership Development – Sharing Best Practices:
    • Since Elaine and I are on vacation for a couple of weeks, it’s your turn. What are you doing with your Leadership Development that you are most proud of?


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Sunday, January 18, 2009

Week Three - XLR8 The Passionate Leader

Congratulations to Keith Grierson – he was first to make a comment and won Zig Ziglar’s Inspiration: 365 Days A Year. Thanks also to Pam Erb, Jerry Shelly, and Dave DeMascole for their comments. Don’t forget to subscribe (box to the right) and get this blog directly when I post a new one.

  • Zig Ziglar’s Inspiration: 365 Days A Year: Watch the Video @ Inspiration 365
    • My favorite quote for the week of January 18 – 24: Don’t be afraid to take a big step if needed. You can’t cross a chasm in two small jumps – Anonymous.
      1. What is your BHAG for 2009 (Big Harry Audacious Goal – from Good to Great)?
      2. Recommended Reading: Hot, Flat & Crowded by Thomas Friedman – he has a BHAG for everyone on the planet.
      3. Please share your BHAG – we are all here to help!

  • The Best Year of Your Life
    • Week Two Assignment – Singing Your Praises

1. Award yourself 50 points for every person you shared your strengths with, plus 50 points for watching this music video from Wayne Dyer’s just released movie “Ambition to Meaning” (I’ll talk about the movie next week)

    • Week Three Assignment – Play!

1. FISH!!!!!!!!!!!. Playing is essential. Not only is it fun, but it also renews and refreshes us, helping us better focus on more serious aspects of our lives.

        • You are hereby ordered to schedule an activity that has no usefulness other than its enjoyment to you. Notice how your fun-loving attitude translates into other aspects of your life. Blog your FUN!

  • Creating a Culture of Leadership Development – Let me know if you need contact information.
    • Dave DeMascole & Lance Miller are doing great things with the XLR8 Teams!!! process
    • Jerry Shelly has a great “Happiness List” – an assignment from What Got You Here Won’t Get You There.

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Sunday, January 11, 2009

Week Two - XLR8 The Passionate Leader

Wow ~ what a fast week! I hope you enjoyed the first edition of the weekly “XLR8 The Passionate Leader”. You can find it along with this current edition on our blog - www.thepassionateleader.blogspot.com.

  • Zig Ziglar’s Inspiration: 365 Days A Year: Watch the Video @ Inspiration 365
    • I love listening to him speak - he has a wonderful southern drawl. My favorite quote from him is: “You can have everything you want in life if you will just help enough other people get what they want”.
    • He has a quote for each day of the year. My favorite for coming week is “God gives everyone certain attribute, characteristics, talents, and then says, if you use what you have I’ll increase it, but if you don’t use it, you will lose it.” Use it or lose it; it’s the law.” - Charlie “Tremendous” Jones.
    • WIN ZIG’s Book / DVD!: Be the first person to log a comment on the “Wake Up The Passionate Leader” blog ~ just go to the bottom of the blog and click on comments and share your thoughts on any of the topics previously discussed.
  • 2009 Angel/Mentor Card - www.innerlinks.com . Thanks to those folks who shared your selections with me this week. What’s yours! How has it affected you? (share on the blog).
  • “The Best Year of Your Life” Kit ( http://www.hayhouse.com/details.php?id=2334 )
    • Week One Assignment - Openhearted Giving
      1. How did it go? - Award yourself 100 points for every act of openhearted giving you performed this week.
    • Week Two Assignment - Sing Your Praises
      1. When we have a great deal of self-love, we’re able to acknowledge our strengths, talents and God-given gifts, and feel comfortable sharing our gifts with others. Contrary to what many of us were taught, acknowledging our greatness doesn’t diminish those around us. In fact, when we allow ourselves to shine, we give others permission to do the same. Self-love means loving ourselves enough to allow all of our magnificence to be seen.
        • This week, share with at least three people whom you don’t normally confide in all the things you do well. Notice how sharing your gifts lights you (and those around you) up. For those who have worked with us - pull out your passions, unique ability & personal mission - revise if necessary and share!
  • “XLR8 YOU!!! Leadership Excellence” - Sharing Best Practices
    • > Leadership Excellence” - Sharing Best Practices
      • What are you doing with your Leadership Development that you are most proud of?

    That’s it for this week. Please feel free to share your comments!