Posts Tagged ‘Central Florida’

Are The Long Hours Worth It?

Thursday, February 18th, 2010
Heads Or Tails?

Heads Or Tails?

Age-old question.

What do you think?  What’s your opinion?

“It depends,” is the first thing that comes to mind.  Mostly the long hours are worth it.  If.

If?

Yes, if.

If it drives your ego, your title, your salary, your corner office, your feeling of self-worth – then no.

If it drives your ability to make a difference: to expand your reach, your relevance, your impact – then yes.

The challenge, when you’re insanely busy, is to not confuse the two.

Any one need a quarter?

Finding Our Passion

Saturday, February 6th, 2010
Fortune What?

Fortune What?

Finding our passion and pursuing our dreams with sheer determination is something we all dream about.

When is the best time to ease off the dreaming and ramp up the doing? It really depends. There’s so much to consider. So much to take into account.

Have you given up?

Eventually, most people give up. I almost did too. Then a small child was born. He changed my life and my purpose. He was and is the catalyst that inspires me to work tirelessly.

Over time, my five daily blogs have slowly, but surely been getting better. It’s funny sometimes, to think that many readers have no idea how hard I work in my professional position with a Fortune 100 company.

All this blogging is extra. Ya with me? Extra. What are you doing that’s extra? That’s hard?  That’s difficult? That you love so much you can’t stop?

My blogs are so basic and simple it’s almost embarrassing.  When there’s some “spare” time, I’ll be looking to take another step to jazz up the blogs.  I’ll be clicking here for more Wordpress Theme tips.

Do you let what you can’t do stop you from what you can?

General George Patton

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010
Just Say It

Just Say It

“Say what you mean and mean what you say.”General George S. Patton

Looks good on paper; however, most people are too afraid to say what they mean.

And if they do say what they mean, they don’t say it like they mean it.

Too chicken.

Human nature. Pathetic.

And we complain and wonder why our life isn’t optimized.

Lizard Breath?

Friday, January 29th, 2010
Lizard Brain?

Lizard Brain?

What the?  Lizard breath?

Yes. Weird titles can be effective. Sometimes. Today’s post is about helping us understand our inherent resistance to change, even though we know change is the way.

What about providing links to other bloggers who are smarter, more successful and have way more readers than you?

What about it?  Who cares, really? You may find Seth Godin more real and more something else. You may not.

And I don’t mean bullcrap phony real. We’re talkin’, “As real as the day is long” real.

Seth Godin’s thinking is brilliant. Have had a link to his blog on the right hand column for a long time. Seth Godin’s thinking inspires me, and countless others.

Click here to go to Seth Godon’s blog post from yesterday.

Anyone need a mint?

Speakers And Panalists

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010
Wisdom, From Experience

Wisdom, From Experience

Do you use social media?

Do you understand Socialnomics?

Someday, these things will be as common as cell phones.

There are a few big ones worth getting into, just to “stay with the pack”:

  1. LinkedIn
  2. Twitter
  3. Facebook
  4. Blogs
  5. You Tube

These are the big five.  There are dozens more. For now, simplicity is the goal.

Do you read or scan through these every single day?  Tomorrow, a quote from a LinkedIn group member – Speakers and Panelists – that is particularly articulate in defining advice for aspiring people.

Meanwhile, “What will you do today that scares you and moves you one step closer to your important goals?”

Get Me Out Of Here?

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

Ever wonder if we are more like vultures than not? It occurred to me that we are actually just like them.

Over the weekend, our Church’s Cub Scout Pack spent the night at Brevard Zoo.  There were many safety rules, because of the children, the darkness, the animals, etc.

In the morning, before breakfast, we were still confined to a certain area to remain safe. Across from our cabin, I spotted the vulture cage. There was a wild vulture standing on the cage pole, with other vultures just a few feet away on the inside.

Couldn’t help but have this moment of truth fly through my brain and capture it on this one-take You Tube video:

Any of this sound familiar?

John Maxwell Quote

Saturday, January 23rd, 2010
Time Waits For No One

Time Waits For No One

Quote from John Maxwell, courtesy of Bob Stewart.

“Law of the Niche: People are most valuable where they add the most value.”

Duh, right?  No brainer.  Obvious. Get a clue. You can’t be serious.

In the hectic pace with which we travel through our days (weeks, months), we often miss the most basic of life’s truths.

This happens to me with our son.  I’ll get caught up in my work, and the next thing you know, the week has flown by and our son has done amazing things, but guess who hasn’t noticed?  Guess who wasn’t there to add a little coaching, a little fun, a little encouragement?

Guess what else?

Life is like this.  Always was, is now, and always will be. Whatever your level in your organization, you must find your own ways to stay engaged, to stay passionate.

I see so many people who are stuck.  Many of them leaders, responsible for inspiring and developing others, the way a parent does with children.

They get stuck managing their to-do list instead of inspiring and developing their people.  Just like a Parent.  Just like me.

But the days (weeks, months) fly by.

Our son can not wait for me to find the time.  His life marches on at an incredible pace. He will not slow down for me. I must find the way(s) to keep up with him.

Same is true as a leader, and as an employee who follows orders. Same as you. You must figure this out yourself and not wait.

Because if you don’t, what are you stuck with?

I Have A Dream

Monday, January 18th, 2010
He Thinks I'm God

He Thinks I'm God

Do you have a dream?  Of course you do.  Who doesn’t?

Do you know the question behind the question?

No seriously, do you?

I mean, “Do you have a dream so big, everyone considers it impossible?”

Maybe you should.

Last year, after reading Robert Kiyosaki’s bestselling book, Rich Dad Poor Dad, dreams of a different kind began to form.

And this week, I’ll share a few more highlights.  Meanwhile, there is a fairly comprehensive Rich Dad Poor Dad summary over on the right hand column. It’s been there for a year.

You can see a lot when you look around.

Competent Incompetent

Saturday, January 16th, 2010
Hmmm...

Hmmm...

Has anyone ever called you a competent incompetent?

If so, consider yourself a rookie. But, a rookie with incredible opportunity.

In today’s rapidly changing work environment, even seasoned professionals may sometimes feel like a competent incompetent.

And there’s just one thing I’d like to say about that. Remember who you are and why they hired you in the first place.

When I first became a professional speaker, I knew nothing, zip, zilch, notta, zero, about public speaking.

This was a good thing, my new boss told me.

What the?

And what’s weird about his comment, I agreed with him.

I was fully aware I didn’t know a thing about my new career path.

Public Speaking for a large Central Florida company was frightening. The people that made up the team I just joined were seasoned professionals.

Me?

The new guy, that didn’t have a clue. But they eluded to the reason why they hired me, over all their other choices.

“You have the most heart!  The most passion.”

Here we are, 11 years later.

Why Are You In Trouble?

Friday, January 15th, 2010
Intimidated?

Intimidated?

Because you don’t have time to read this.

Because you don’t have time to follow this leadership blog.

Because you keep quoting others and have no quotes of your own.

Because you keep waiting for someone else to change.

Because you feel life isn’t fair.

Because you talk a good talk, but don’t walk a good walk.

Because you’re afraid.

All of these things can be dealt with.  But you don’t know where to begin.

Begin here.

One small daily step at a time.

Humans want quick fixes.

When will you finally accept that life doesn’t work like that?

Life works the opposite.