Week 48 - XLR8 The Passionate Leader

One of the folks I follow - Steve Roberts of “Cool Minds, Warm Hearts” - sent me this. “Stopped for speeding in L.A. The macho cop slowly swaggers up to my window and says in a somewhat 'gotcha' tone, 'I’ve been waitin’ for you all day.' To which I replied, ‘Gosh officer, I got here as fast as I could.’ He let me off.” I laughed.

Did you find this humorous? Why? I laughed not just because I am a reformed speeder (my radar detector got stolen from my car after two speeding tickets years ago). I laughed because it reminds me that we are in a hurry to get “here” or worse “there.” But how many of us are in a hurry to get to a clearer understanding about how our life matters? Take a look at the Simple Truth’s latest book/DVD – The Butterfly Effect (click). These are the “here” & “there” worth contemplating.

· Zig Ziglar’s Inspiration: 365 Days a Year

o My favorite quote for the week of November 22^nd – 28^th: “To love what you do and feel that it matters – how could anything be more fun?” Katherine Graham

§ Like many of you, I spent a dozen hours in the car this Thanksgiving weekend. I was listening to a CD of “TED – Ideas Worth Spreading” presentations. One CD in particular, by Sir Ken Robinson, entitled: Do Schools Kill Creativity? (click) was one of my favorites. While he was extremely humorous, his message was not. Schools are so obsessed with academic excellence that it overlooks most of our “genius”. If our parents are on that bandwagon, that’s two strikes against us. I hope you have found someone to help you or the right time to discover yours, and then find out how to make a living at it.

· The Best Year of Your Life: Get Debbie Ford's Kit

oWeek Forty-Seven: Count Your Blessings

§ I hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving. I am very grateful to you for subscribing to this blog. It has been very inspiring - something I didn’t expect. I am already looking forward to next year as I use the weekly discipline to focus on writing our book.

oWeek Forty-Eight: Love Your Imperfections

§ We make mistakes; we’re works in progress. My personal mission is to help the degree to which we are able to love and accept ourselves in spite of our imperfections. One way to reframe this is to say: “I’m worthy of my own love and acceptance even though I ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­__________."

§ Since many of our clients are too tough on themselves, one of their first reading/listening assignments is: Learning to Avoid the Gap by Dan Sullivan. The idea is to celebrate the progress we are making always knowing we can continue to strive to get better … or not. It’s your choice.

• 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.

o While it was a short work week, I had the opportunity to meet a couple of new clients for the first time. They have begun the XLR8 YOU!!! “Leadership Excellence” process and will attend the sold-out March 2010 kick-off week. Our first hour is to get to know each other and for them to share their story. I really love this part! I am always fascinated with how they got to this moment in time and am extremely grateful to be a part of their continuing personal and professional journey.

Week 47 - XLR8 The Passionate Leader

While Peter Drucker didn’t make this up, he influenced many CEO’s by asking: What is “the essence of your company?” The ultimate answer is beyond just making a profit or creating wealth for stakeholders; the essence of a company is making a difference, being really useful and creating something the world truly needs. Employee engagement is the buzz word of the 21^st century, and this is the best way for a company to tap into the full potential of its employees.

At some point in our Leadership journey, this mission becomes more important than anything. We often need to be reminded because we get caught up in our own self interest or the day-to-day challenges our business encounters. These often not so subtle reminders from the universe help us not only to become more deeply conscious of the purpose of our work, but may require us to reinvent the very meaning of our leadership journey. Believe it or not, that process is very exciting even though it may be very painful at first.

Zig Ziglar’s Inspiration: 365 Days a Year

• My favorite quote for the week of November 22^nd – 28^th: “The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can’t find them, make them.” George Bernard Shaw
• This is the foundation for the Law of Attraction. So why doesn’t everyone have what they want? Because as author James Allen observed: “We do not attract that which we want but that which we are.”
• I like the way Wayne Dyer explains this in his latest book: Excuses Begone! Who I am is first and foremost determined by what I believe. We really have it backwards most of the time. “I’ll believe it when I see it” should really be “believe it and I’ll see it!”

• The Best Year of Your Life: Get Debbie Ford's Kit
• Week Forty-Six: Create a Plan of Action!
• I added several new markers to my Passions! It is so motivating. Note to self: New Years is around the corner – a great time to celebrate and plan.
• Week Forty-Seven: Count Your Blessings
• This is appropriate for us Americans given that this coming Thursday is Thanksgiving. Most of our discontent stems from our inability to appreciate what we already have. Without gratitude, we become trapped in an endless cycle of wishing and wanting life to be different.
• No matter what your circumstances are on Thursday, make a list of all the things in your life for which you are grateful. If for some reason you choose to feel otherwise, then follow Gandhi’s lead – “the best way to feel gratitude is to serve others.”

• 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.
• Developing people is one of the most fulfilling aspects of leadership. I have the pleasure of working with some “younger” leaders (alright everyone I work with is younger than me). He shared the story of an “older” guy . . . let’s call him Bill . . . who recently talked about getting some new experiences as a direct result of working with him. Bill was given an expanded assignment in his current job not too long ago. With some good coaching, these new responsibilities, which got him out of his comfort zone, reinvigorated Bill. He hasn’t landed a new job yet, but he is getting further out of his comfort zone and interviewing. Congratulations to them both – that’s how it’s supposed to work!

To date, we have 259 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 46 - XLR8 The Passionate Leader

What would Peter do? Peter Drucker that is. The November Issue of the Harvard Business Review (HBR) celebrates The Drucker Centennial – “How his wisdom can help you navigate turbulent times.” Born in Vienna on November 19, 1909, (he died in November, 2005) Peter Drucker had a profound impact on how people around the world organize themselves in the realms of business, government and civil society.

One of my favorite Drucker HBR articles is Managing Oneself – “Success in the knowledge economy comes to those who know themselves – their strengths, their values and how they best perform.” It is the last of four articles included in the pre-workshop preparation for the XLR8 YOU!!! Leadership Excellence process as well as included in every Learning to Lead and XLR8 Teams!!! Notebook we send out. I’ll be highlighting some of his thinking as we end the first year of this blog.

Zig Ziglar’s Inspiration: 365 Days a Year

• My favorite quote for the week of November 15^th – 21^st: “The service we render others is the rent we pay for our room on earth.” Wilfred Grenfell
• Drucker spoke about the purpose of a company is to create and serve a customer. “A business … is defined by the want the customer satisfies when he or she buys a product or service. To satisfy the customer is the mission and purpose of every business.”
• One might want to expand the “rent” concept to investing in the ownership of the earth, for which business is currently the greatest withdrawer yet should be the greatest depositor.

• The Best Year of Your Life: Get Debbie Ford's Kit
• Week Forty-Five: What’s Your Story?
• I hope your story included your next chapters as well.
• Week Forty-Six: Create a Plan of Action!
• Lots of people have hopes, dreams, wishes and fantasies about how they’d like their lives to be, but few have translated their desires into clearly defined goals.
• We use The Passion Test to provide a framework for manifesting your unique ability, personal mission and values. By determining your top five passions, you can then pick the “markers” or goals that will help you live them. You are more likely to act upon them according to Napoleon Hill. “Cherish your visions and dreams, as they are the children of your soul, and the blueprints of your ultimate achievements.”

• 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.
• We have had a series of “graduations” over the last month. For those of you who are non-clients, this represents the culmination of approximately two years of working together. In the vast majority of cases, there has been tremendous growth in self awareness and development, coaching capabilities, and living in greater alignment with their passions and purpose.
• As importantly, they understand that their learnings are ongoing. We are very grateful for the opportunity to contribute to their leadership growth in the future. Thanks!!!

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 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.