Category: Leadership &amp; Influence Page 17 of 20

Many times people reminisce about the “good old days” when things were supposedly better than they are now. The truth is that things have never been better than they are now. There are less wars, people are living longer, health care for most people is better than ever, living standards have risen, incomes have risen and housing sizes have increased.

Yes, some things have gotten worse – like the environment.

Yes, there are still many problems to overcome… especially in less-developed countries where many millions of children go to bed hungry and die early of preventable illnesses.

We are clearly living in a world of “haves and have nots” and for those of us who care enough to do something about it… there is plenty to do!

LEADERSHIP – What Can You Do?

What can you do?

You can make the decision to be a leader. The world needs more people who are willing to take the risk, to stand up, to speak up and lead. Most people are looking for someone to follow… why not you?

Over time, little things become big things… so start leading on little things. Before you know it, you will be leading on larger and larger stages.

If not you, then who?

Someday Island

Many people live on an island called “Someday Isle.” It goes like this: “Someday I’ll do this, someday I’ll do that…”

Today could be your last day alive. Your last thought could be: “Look at all the love I have shared and all the things I have dreamed of and have done.” Or, you will regret the things you have not done and people you have not expressed your love to.

You have nothing to lose by living each day as if it were your last… and whatever you dream of doing – do it now. After all, this is the only way to escape “Someday Isle.”

Personal Power

If your Personal Power is limited – then you have little chance of getting what you want. On the other hand, if you have a lot of Personal Power – then you have the ability, skill and capacity to do what you want and to influence other people’s thoughts and actions.

Are you willing to spend one more day not getting what you want?

This is the key question because if you want things to change, then you have to change. The first place to begin is to stop putting up with things the way they are…

Clarity

What is clarity and how does it apply to leadership?

Clarity refers to the clearness in what you are thinking and the quality of being clearly expressed and understood. As a leader, the clearer you are, the more effective you are. The more unclear you are, the more inefficient and ineffective your actions will be.

So clarity is critical to effective leadership!

How do you get clear? Is it a case of sitting down and thinking everything through thoroughly? In our experience more mental processing does not lead to more clarity… it leads to a reinforcement of the same thinking that was unclear in the first place!

To get clear requires a process of unthinking or unlearning in which the emotional and psychological layers are peeled off to reveal the core “truth.” This core truth or idea results in a cognition or “ah ha!”

The resultant clarity is palpable. Decisions made from this place are usually the right ones that lead to more clarity and more results.

The Struggle

What is the main cause of struggle in terms of leadership?

When you find yourself in struggle, it is most often just a resistance to change.

Five Reasons Why People Procrastinate

There are five primary reasons why people procrastinate:

1) Too much or too little information
2) Lack of emotional energy
3) Hoping things will change on their own
4) Afraid of making a mistake
5) Attached to current results

It is a mistake to overlook the fact that no decision is a decision.

What Is My Purpose?

Your purpose is your reason for being, for existing. It is what gets you up in the morning and provides meaning for your life. Often, our sense of purpose comes from our deepest essence – our core – and includes knowing who we are, where we come from, and where we are going.

Most people have a natural desire to contribute… to make a difference. Typically, our purpose is a combination of expressing our unique gifts or talents in a vocation (work, career or profession that is inspired) that contributes to others.

What about a self-serving purpose? This is possible and many people are driven in this way. However, the biggest challenge that results from this kind of purpose is a lack of fulfillment.

Fulfillment is the result of being on purpose in a way that makes a difference to others.

Think For Yourself

“When an old and distinguished person speaks to you, listen carefully and with respect – but do not believe him. Never put your trust in anything but your own intellect. Your elder, no matter whether he has gray hair or has lost his hair, no matter whether he is a Nobel laureate, may be wrong. The world progresses, year by year, century by century, as the members of the younger generation find out what was wrong among the things that their elders said. So you must always be skeptical – always think for yourself. There are, of course, exceptional circumstances: when you are taking an examination, it is smart to answer the questions not by saying what you think is right, but rather what you think the professor thinks is right.”

– Linus Pauling (1901-1994), Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1954, Nobel Peace Prize 1962

Stop Managing and Start LEADING!