Do you have an all-consuming passion? I recently had the pleasure of being in the audience to hear a CEO of a Fortune 500 company speak about the company’s future. I sat enraptured by his passion and realized the most successful people have an all-consuming passion and focus.
This type of passion keeps leaders ahead of the competition. Since these leaders are passionate about the industry, they never feel they know enough and are driven to keep learning. Staying on the edge of the latest information allows them to make strategic decisions, helping differentiate their company from the rest.
Refined by the Fire
Picture a drill sergeant. Can you see that mean look and hear the yelling – are you cowering with fear? Cross that with a chicken with it’s head caught off, and you know exactly what I looked like on the day of my sister’s wedding. We were falling behind schedule, and a few things weren’t turning out as planned. As the ceremony time approached, my ability to see the bigger picture and what next steps or corrective actions were needed helped us get everything completed. However, my directive and impatient nature rose to the surface as I barked orders in abrupt (but efficient) ways.
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Why Are We Here: The Importance of Communicating Project and Team Purpose
“And we could be fined for over $200 million!” The bigger picture came after the project had been in flight for a year. Setting and clarifying team priorities and the vision should be done up front, not when the project is behind schedule and the team is exhausted and wondering what the point was anymore. Why do we have such a difficulty communicating purpose and vision?
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Be More Successful by Not Working
“I’ll sleep when I’m dead!” During college that was a common phrase among my friends. It was the embodiment of our “go, go, go” mentality. After college it changed from balancing school, homework, and social activities, to balancing work, personal development, family and friends, volunteering, and more! It is so easy to fill our lives with good things and forget to rest and take a break.
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6 Tips to Control Your E-Mail Instead of Letting It Control You
Just throw it away! Or at least file it! I’m talking about those thousands of e-mails in your inbox. For those of you who are like me and have less than twenty e-mails in your inbox, this post isn’t for you. However, for those of you who have mentioned you have 1,900, 6,000, or that special person who has 67,000 e-mails in your inbox, pay attention!
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3 Reasons to Stop Shooting for the Moon
My philosophy has always been, “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you will land among the stars.” I’m a firm believer in Jim Collins’ BHAGs (Big Hairy Audacious Goals). Dreaming big builds excitement and enthusiasm that propels us into the future. It also allows the creativity to flow and generate new goals and ideas. However, there are times when big goals are simply unrealistic to the point they work against you.
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Who Moved the Bar?
“You’ve inspired me to do more.”
“When you stood up for what you believed, I knew I needed to as well.”
Nice compliments, right? For me, it was eye-opening. As a speaker and writer, I am always hoping someone is inspired by my words, that maybe, I have packaged information in just the right way to really connect with a person’s desire to improve. But these recent incidents had nothing to do with my blog or speaking events. These were people who I touched through mundane day-to-day events.
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The Cost of Doing What’s Right
A greater emphasis is being placed on transparency within our culture. Transparency within companies is being demanded, and with the increasing usage of social media, a company’s actions are magnified and communicated exponentially. People are not afraid to tweet, post, or blog about the experiences they have had with companies. What should we be doing to protect our companies from dissatisfied customers? Some react by withdrawing and attempting social media anonymity. Companies miss great opportunities when they do this!
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How Accountability Can Help Your Discipline
Why is it easier to have success in some areas of our lives but not all areas? I can easily hold myself accountable in learning and advancing myself as a leader, but I have zero discipline when it comes to exercising. My first instinct is to chastise myself and wonder why I so frequently fail in my resolve, especially when attaining my goals would result in high pay-offs. After reflection, I realized I have yet to meet a person who is disciplined in every area of their life.
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More Important than Talent
Did you know there was a guy smarter than Einstein? Do you know his name? I don’t remember it. Why? Because talent doesn’t equate to success. I personally know a lot of talented people who waste their lives…brilliant people. Why? They aren’t willing to do what’s necessary to succeed. Here are a few tips to get you ahead of the pack: Continue reading
