When Helen Keller was asked what is worse than being blind? Her response was; To have sight without vision!
Every leader is answering these questions either consciously or unconsciously. The people that comprise your team are looking at you and asking these questions in their mind about your leadership. One of the laws of leadership is that “People do what people see!” Your team members want to know through your actions and words…..
DO YOU LIKE ME?
CAN YOU HELP ME?
CAN I TRUST YOU?
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 14:58 — 13.7MB) | Embed
Counteract The Lingering Suckage
Perhaps it is time for you and a partner or closest friend to sit down after a bruising experience or year for that matter and start writing out 30-50 positive brags that I am proud of in my life this past year.
Scripture declares that as a man thinks in his heart, so he is (Proverbs 23:7). There is something to be said about the power of your thoughts. Napoleon Hill’s classic book, “Think and Grow Rich,” is not a book about thinking your way into wealth so much as it is about handling adversity through your thoughts. Here is a question to ponder; Why do the inventors of digital technology deny or severely limit their children’s usage of it?
What is it they know that we do not know? One of the things that we are now learning about the use of digital technology is the false sense of reality that is being created. This lends itself to narcissism! Neuroscience has now shown us that we can literally rewire our brains by the constant use of new stimuli. This can be positive in that we can overcome disadvantages. It is negative when we live out of a false perception of life by perpetuating false narratives.
Perhaps scriptures is our best resource and guidance. Philippians 4:8 states from an imprisoned author, “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.”
When you take the time to write out your 30-50 brags, you will see that in the midst of difficulty you grew and became better. This gives the notion that perhaps all of life is not as bad as it appears. This exercise combats the suckage of negativity that blasts us daily.
In a digital world, there is something to be said about the art of writing and reflecting. Our best insights do not occur at the speed of life. Rather they occur in silence and solitude. We have seriously lost our ability for critical reflection. Speed is not better, it is just faster. Business is the enemy of effectiveness. Write out the positives, stop the negative drain.
LINKS
Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on iTunes – SUBSCRIBE
Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on Stitcher – SUBSCRIBE
FREE GIFT – “The Art of Balancing Candor With Care” – Click on the icon at the bottom of the page
Executive Coaching Service– Private message me for details on this customizable service
Music: “Wishful Thinking” by Dan Lebowitz
In his book The 80/20 Principle, author Richard Koch writes, “The 80/20 Principle, like the truth, can make you free. You can work less. At the same time, you can earn more and enjoy more. The only price is that you need to do some serious 80/20 thinking.” The key is the last sentence in this quote, “…do some serious 80/20 thinking.
We’ve all been exposed to the 80/20 Principle at some point in our lives: The principle states, quite simply, that 20% of efforts lead to 80% of results. Whether you know it as the “Pareto Principle” or the “Principle of Least Effort,” it’s an incredibly powerful concept.
It was 1897 when Vilfredo Pareto, an Italian economist, was studying wealth and income distribution in 19th Century England. During the course of his studies, he discovered that the majority of land and income was controlled by a minority of the population.
In fact, 20% of the population controlled 80% of the wealth and income.
On further analysis, mythical lore says that he found that this principle held true not only in different countries and different time periods, but also in contexts such as his garden—where he discovered that 20% of his peapods yielded 80% of the peas that were harvested!
Since Vilfredo identified the trend, many researchers have been busy pointing out some additional modern applications.
Check these out:
20% of criminals account for 80% of crime
20% of motorists account for 80% of accidents
20% of your carpet probably gets 80% of the wear
20% of streets account for 80% of the traffic
Well, you get the idea! Here is a key take-away, “Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Author Richard koch states it this way, “The few things that work fantastically well should be identified, cultivated, nurtured, and multiplied.”He would go on to state that 20% of what we do leads to 80% of the results; but 80% of what we do leads to only 20%. In effect we are wasting 80% of our time on low-value outcomes!
The goal as we approach the conclusion of this year and prepare for 2019 is to calm down, work less and target a limited number of very valuable goals where the 80/20 principle will work for us. Start with an inventory of where you are and then move into journey. Remember the few things that work fantastically well should be identified, cultivated, nurtured, and multiplied for the new year that is just around the corner.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:27 — 20.6MB) | Embed
In this podcast we are going to explore 2 rituals that will assist your preparation for a New Year and New You! The first one is….
Give Thanks in Writing
Gratitude is one of the most studied and most powerful happiness boosters available. Counting your blessings is not only Biblical, but it positions and strengthens your attitude for the coming year. In our digital age it seems that hand written anything has become archaic. It seems “so yesterday and dated!”
Digital signatures are the new methods of the present of our digital age.
My wife worked for a Credit Union in which the President would never allow a corporate mailing to leave his office unless he personally signed each letter. He would sign in a contrasting color of ink so as to communicate a personal touch.
Take the time to prepare a customized “thank-you” card especially designed for you. Write a unique note of gratitude to each of team members, Board of Directors, Vendors, Customers, and closest friends. You might be shocked and surprised at the positive responses you will receive. Customizable thank you cards and giving some of your time is inexpensive in relationship to the impact upon another human being.
Declutter your Space and Your Brain
Changing your literal environment can have a profound impact upon your ability to think new thoughts! It is time to “CHUCK SOME STUFF!” This can be a trigger to your brain that it is time to let go and move on in your life. Give yourself permission to let go and throw away old stuff!
Perhaps the holidays can be your trigger to seriously declutter your office, a room in your home, garage, files, etc.. Develop a holiday “get-rid-of-my-stuff” agenda. Then begin! Have a ruthless attitude about old stuff! Here are a few suggestions.
Declutter your schedule by decluttering your digital distractions. Turn off your notification alerts. Learn the art of deep thought/deep work in 90 minute bursts. This is followed by 30 minutes of “get-up-and -stretch” movements and simple tasks.
Clean out your desk and relocate your office furniture to give it a fresh look and feel. Stop feeling “stuffocated”in your workspace and personal space.
LINKS
Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on iTunes – SUBSCRIBE
Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on Stitcher – SUBSCRIBE
FREE GIFT – “The Art of Balancing Candor With Care” – Click on the icon at the bottom of the page
Executive Coaching Service– Private message me for details on this customizable service
Music: “Wishful Thinking” by Dan Lebowitz
Brian Tracey wrote the book “Eat That Frog.” The book focuses upon 21 ways to defeat procrastination. Basic idea: If the worst thing you have to do in a day is eat a frog, and you eat 
that frog first thing in the morning, the rest of your day goes downhill. Right?
Putting a positive spin on it, if you’ve decided what your MOST IMPORTANT thing is and you do THAT first thing in the day, it’s really hard to have a bad day.
Which is why I’m so adamant about keeping our wi-fi unplugged in the morning and starting our days (all 365 of them per year) being CREATIVE before we’re REACTIVE.
Every. Single. Day.
Accrete a little more Deep Work mojo.
Every. Single. Day.
Eat the frog.
First thing. Every. Single. Day.
Enjoy your frog today!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:18 — 16.8MB) | Embed
Warren Buffett stated once that business schools reward difficult complex behavior more than simple behavior, but simple behavior is more effective. Perhaps this is our problem in understanding the Pareto Principle – it seems too simple. After all, how can 20% of anything yield 80% of the results. A Wesleyan professor stated it this way;
How do you discover the main thing? Where so you begin? I want to offer four suggestions as a starting point of reflection.
Determine To Not Know Everything
Some believe that great leaders have to have all of the answers.Not True. Successful leaders do not know everything, however they know people who do. This is the power of having a great executive administrative assistant. If you do not have a great administrative assistant, you are headed for trouble. You cannot possibly know everything you need to know.
Determine Not To Know Everything First
We all have a tendency to “be in the know.” No leader enjoys being blindsided.
However, good leaders cannot afford to get caught up in every detail of an organization. If they do, they lose their perspective and their ability to lead at all. That is a high price to pay! In any organization, problems should be solved at the lowest level possible. What is the solution to this dilemma? Deciding that it is okay not to be first to know everything. For leaders it best to know the most important things than to know everything.
I Determine To Stay With My Strengths & Not Work On My Weaknesses
Half the battle of being smart is to understand what you are dumb at. The old adage is true – “Know thyself in order to lead thyself!” Gallup Research stated the most revealing discovery about great leaders is they have an acute sense of their strengths and weaknesses. They know who they are and who they are not.
I Determine To Take Charge of What Took My Time & Attention
This starts by taking control of your calendar. The question is not will my calendar be full rather, who will fill my calendar? It has been said that genius is the ability to reduce the complicated to the simple! NFL Hall of Fame Coach Vince Lombardi would begin training camp by holding up a football and stating to his team – “Gentlemen, this is a football!” Simplicity works!
LINKS
Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on iTunes – SUBSCRIBE
Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on Stitcher – SUBSCRIBE
FREE GIFT – “The Art of Balancing Candor With Care” – Click on the icon at the bottom of the page
Executive Coaching Service– Private message me for details on this customizable service
Music: “Canal 3” by Quinicas Mooreira
Having the ability to shine the spotlight of our attention is pretty much the secret sauce of awesome. Yet, It’s so elusive that even one of the world’s leading scientists who STUDIES mindfulness struggles with his own splintered attention.
In The Art of Connection, author Michael Gelb tells us about a talk Richie Davidson once gave in which he said: “I think if we’re all honest about it, we all suffer from attention deficit disorder.”
He continues by saying: “… and it’s in part attributable to the kind of exposure we have to digital devices.”
Adding: “Device dependence is highly reinforcing, so it becomes like a drug. And in fact it co-opts the same brain systems that are indicated in addiction.”
Gelb concludes by saying: “In other words, ADD (attention deficit disorder) is getting worse because of ADD (addiction to digital devices).”
Got a little ADD? Welcome to the common humanity party. Secondly make the connection between your two A.D.D.s: Your Attention Deficit Disorder is, to a large extent, caused by your Addiction to Digital Devices.
Here is a helpful little math equation from author and Coach Brian Johnson. A.D.D. – A.D.D. = You(to the power of “0”). As in, Attention Deficit Disorder minus Addiction to Digital Devices equals you to O power, where, of course, O = Optimization.
What is one small thing that you can do today to begin this journey of breaking addictions to digital technologies so that the best version of you can be seen by the world?
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:05 — 20.2MB) | Embed
I want to discuss six differences between Climbers and Connectors
Climbers Think Vertical – Connector Think Horizontal
A Climber is acutely aware of who is ahead at all times on the org chart. Where do they rank? Is a question that motivates them constantly. Moving down is anathema. Climbers are more interested in who is on the journey versus who can come along side of them.
Climbers Focus on Position – Connectors Focus on Relationships
Because climbers are always looking up, position is what drives them. Connectors are more focused on relationships – bridge building for others so they can succeed.
Climbers Focus on Competition – Connectors Value Cooperation
Climbers see everything as a competition to win. That will mean from some, win at all costs. Others may see success as an enjoyable game. Connectors on the other hand see their relational skills can best be used to foster cooperation. Working together is the WIN for Connectors.
Climbers Seek Power – Connectors Seek Partnerships
If your bent is always to win, then you naturally want power to climb faster that everyone else. Unfortunately, climbing the ladder of success is not a solo profession. The pathway to high-powered teams is to form partnerships first, winning is only the acknowledgement of hard work as a team.
Climbers Build Their Image – Connectors Build Consensus
Because movement up or down the organization depends on perception of performance, Climbers at times are more concerned with their image. There next promotion depends on it. Connectors however, are more concerned with getting everyone on the same page so they can work together.
Climbers Want To Stand Apart – Connectors Want To Stand Together
Climbers desire to be set apart from others. They want separation between them and their nearest competitor. Connectors find ways to get people close together. They look for common ground where they can stand together.
How Can you Become A Better Connector
If you are a natural climber, you probably need to work on connecting people. In closing here are some suggestions.
LINKS
Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on iTunes – SUBSCRIBE
Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on Stitcher – SUBSCRIBE
FREE GIFT – “The Art of Balancing Candor With Care” – Click on the icon at the bottom of the page
Executive Coaching Service– Private message me for details on this customizable service
Music: “8th Anniversary by Diamond Ortiz
Please extend your pointer finger and shake it as if you’re lecturing someone — saying something like, “You shouldn’t do this, this and this! Do that, that and that!”
Now, look at your hand and count how many fingers are pointing at the person you’re lecturing and how many fingers are pointing back at you.
Unless you’re missing a digit, you should see one finger pointing at the lucky recipient of your lecture and THREE fingers pointing back at you.
You may want to pay attention to that the next time you’re lecturing someone.
Author Debbie Ford in her book, The Dark Side of The Light Chasers, writes that this practices is a really handy way to notice our “shadow” — the stuff we haven’t integrated in our own lives that, unfortunately, we tend to project onto others.
She tells us to “attend our own lectures” because, more often than not, whatever lecture we’re giving someone else is the one WE desperately need to attend. The next time that we put our professor’s cap and start lecturing a loved one, co-worker, or a perfect stranger, pause for a moment and imagine yourself as the student that is diligently taking notes on your own lecture. Start doing whatever it is that you are lecturing others about.
Start living with passion about the things that you enthusiastically are lecturing others on!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 13:06 — 12.0MB) | Embed
Perseverance Means Succeeding Because you Are Determined To Not Destined To
Vince Lombardi stated once, :The difference between a successful person and others is not lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of determination.” The greatest achievers don’t sit back and wait for success because they think they deserve it. They keep moving forward because they are determined to achieve it.
Perseverance is Needed To Release Most of Life’s Rewards
Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. It is always the last steps of the race that count the most.
Perseverance Recognizes Life Is Not A Long Race, But Many Short Ones In Succession
Have you ever heard the phrase; Life is a marathon? Actually I would liken it to more of a series of smaller wins. For example Today Matters. What are you doing to win today. It is great to have a forward looking vision, but do not miss today’s opportunities.
Perseverance Draws Sweetness Out of Adversity
The trials and pressures of life often define us. When confronted by adversity many people give up while others rise up? Giving up when adversity threatens can make a person bitter. Persevering through adversity makes one better!
Perseverance Has A Compounding Effect On Life
Napoleon Hill stated, Every successful person finds that great success lies just beyond the point when they are convinced their idea is not going to work. How do you push through? Keep doing the right things daily. There are no shortcuts to anything worthwhile.
Perseverance Means Stopping Not Because You’re Tired But Because The Task Is Done
Robert Strauss stated that success is a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don’t quit when your tired – you quit when the gorilla is tired. Fatigue and discouragement are not signs to quit! Your strength of character rises up within you and you stay motivated to see things through.
Perseverance Doesn’t Demand More Than We Have But All That We Have
It has been said that in every victory there is a lot of try! Perseverance is an investment. It is a willingness to bind oneself emotionally, intellectually, physically, and spiritually to an idea until it has been completed. Perseverance demands a lot, but here is the good news; everything you give is an investment in yourself.
LINKS
Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on iTunes – SUBSCRIBE
Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on Stitcher – SUBSCRIBE
FREE GIFT – “The Art of Balancing Candor With Care” – Click on the icon at the bottom of the page
Executive Coaching Service– Private message me for details on this customizable service
Music: “8th Anniversary by Diamond Ortiz
