The good reason for doing the hard stuff first

Florida Hospital Winter Garden
Yesterday, Florida Hospital Winter Garden under construction.

 

Florida Hospital Winter Garden
Try building something great without blueprints.

 

The good reason for doing the hard stuff first is that the easy stuff is always easier than the hard stuff.

Draw the blueprints first.

Sweat the foundation, the infrastructural, the design.

You can decide later whether the family room floor will be tile, wood or carpet.

It doesn’t matter if you are certain about your floor if the house never gets built.

The easy stuff should always come last when it comes to organizational architecture.

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Let’s rename advice to suggestion

Best Disney Keynote Speakers
True dat.

 

After my leadership keynote, a client told me he made a commitment to learn all the staff member’s names, because he realized not knowing was really poor leadership. Here’s my response:

Advice? Let’s rename it to suggestion, since you haven’t officially asked.

Five years ago i stopped all texting, emails and phone calls while driving. Our Son was ten. i didn’t reveal what i was doing for 90 days.

After three-plus months i asked him, while we were stopped at a red light, “Have you noticed anything different about me?”

He responded with, “Did you get your hair cut?”

We quickly got to the end goal.

He had noticed.

A lot.

By the time he gets his permit, he may not recall me texting and driving. My clear expectation that he never texts while driving will carry so much more weight, because there will be no double standard. People hate double standards. Betting you do. Your staff is no different.

My advice suggestion:

i wouldn’t announce what you are doing. At all. Just do it.

And while you’re doing it, sneak in a bit of casual conversation – getting to know them, but don’t make it seem like an interview or an interrogation. They’ll get suspicious and start talking about you behind your back.

They’re going to talk about you behind your back anyway, but if you do it right (intentionally), the buzz/rumors will be extraordinarily positive.

Go slow, be sincere, and find a million ways to stay motivated.

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A never ending cycle of mismanagement

Nicholson Center Florida Hospital
Stunning facilities are not enough for vibrant culture.

 

Who expects extraordinary work from people who aren’t trusted to create it?

A fool?

Probably.

Disorganized and unfocused leaders spend way too much time on things that don’t matter.

Continuously cleaning up after mismanaged and mislead employees is a slow death.

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We know this

Disney Executive Keynote Speaker
Mickey Mouse statue at Disney Event Group, yesterday, March 16, 2015.

 

Excellence is a habit, created by what we repeatedly do.

We know this.

And here’s the harsh reality.

To know is to do. To know and not do, is to not yet know.

And by excellence, what’s implied here is balance, wellness, personal responsibility in all five of life’s big choices: mind • body • spirit •work • home.

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The opposite or paradox is always compellingly self explanatory

Lee Cockerell books
Books for others, to be signed by the author.

 

The opposite, or paradox, is always compellingly self explanatory.

The opposite of:

  • hate
  • sedentary
  • greed

The opposite of:

  • thrive
  • humility
  • peace

The opposite of:

  • intentional
  • inspiring
  • honest

Does anyone else see the benefit of thinking like this to become a better leader?

And by think about it, we’re talking all day, everyday.

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