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Back To The Books

Rich Dad Poor Dad.

Here is the life-changing take-away:

When you work for someone else, you:

Earn
Pay Taxes
Spend

When you work for yourself, you:

Earn
Spend
Pay Taxes

I ain’t the brightest bulb in the box, but I get this. It took a lifetime, and a great book, but I get it now.

Of course, not knowing this most basic of economic structure is very embarrassing.

My Dad had two side businesses. My Grandfather had one too. My wife’s Grammy ran a one-room grocery store for 45 years.

What did they teach me?

Nothing.

How is that possible?

There is no good or decent answer, except to say, “That’s just the way it was back then.”

What a shame. But it is what it is. No bitterness. Lost opportunity to be sure. But no bitterness.

Now, only hope, determination and of course, indomitable will. Like the early pioneers.

Competent Incompetent

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.

Freakonomics And Sam Horn

You’ve probably heard of Freakonomics.

You probably have not heard of Sam Horn.

I met Sam Horn on LinkedIn.

Sam Horn loves quotes. jeff noel loves quotes. In fact, jeff noel is addicted to quotes.

Sam feeds quotes to quote-addicted people like me.

She also speaks and writes. And Sam Horn does them well, very well.

And if you have any common sense at all, you’ll trust me and click here to read this New York Times summary of her book, Tongue Fu.

I have six new ideas from reading this brief, but compelling angle to crafting your pitch, your elevator speech. Seriously.

Why Are You In Trouble?

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.

Second Great Leadership Book

Wow. Ever heard that phrase, “Time flies when you’re having fun?” Can’t believe it’s been nearly two weeks since I started writing about the two top leadership books I read in 2009.

Guess what, I never shared the second book. The Last Lecture was the second great leadership book I read in 2009. And the first?

Rich Dad Poor Dad, by Robert Kiyosaki.

How many knew I’ve had a Rich Dad Poor Dad book review over on the right hand column all 2009?