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Defeat The Thief of Your Thoughts

Something I have come to accept and work with is that my mind works best later in the day and especially late at night. At least for now…If I continue to hopefully mold more into being like my father, my mind will be on and running with super fuel @ 5am and pretty much throughout the day. I know I have a ways to go for that so I have to let my mind run its creative course during the evening. John Maxwell and Sara Grace have both encouraged me to manage this reality and keep a pad and pen close by so I can write my thoughts as they come to me.

Yes, this does lead me to getting out of bed late at night to jot down a thought that I can later build upon. I have tried the route of “Oh, that’s a good thought – it will stick with me..” only to wake up and it was stolen from me.  Just one of those things we learn about ourselves and I have begun to easily manage it vs trying to transform my mind to work at a different time. This has become very important to me in life as so much of my passion is to communicate beneficial biz talks, inspirational messages or any idea that hopefully adds value to mankind and moves them to action. Perhaps your best thoughts come to you during a certain time of day, I encourage you to manage this so you can best capture the essence of your brilliance. Keep a pen close by, have a thinking pad and allow the heart and mind to move you towards enhancing existence.

Be serious about further shaping your ideas, seek wise counsel to help you shape them..remember not a bunch of "yes men/women" on it. By the time you are teaching it or placing it before the executives, your audience cannot help but be receptive.

Nothing attractive, fascinating or influential ever started with the absence of an idea.

Gratitude for Some Change

What is your level of Gratitude today? Perhaps you have had a long slugging week and it appears dark outside during the sunshine. Can you find gratitude in this mood state? Of course you can, no matter the dealings you have received from the "negative" wagon. Often times the workplace has demands and domineering dictators that can infiltrate the power of your positive placement. To be sure there is something you can latch on to so you're not just mentally hanging in there.

Something my mom told me for many years is to just settle my mind and count my blessings. Why so much wisdom in that? Not sure, but it's often very effective. My only problem for so long was that I would not step up from my selfish suffering to think on my blessings. Well, we all are more mature than that now and we can pull out the ol' -- mom always said scenario. It works! Take a break from the mental massacre and turn your thoughts into a soul sweeper. Clean out the negative junk with thoughts of goodness. Perhaps it was something done years ago that put a jazz in your step. Reminisce on that feeling. Gravitate that thought to maybe 2 things you are in fact thankful for about your job!

Put this into practice during your drive on Monday morning or the weekend as many of you may be working: Think on three things you have to be thankful for and say "Thanks" in your heart to those things. Others are likely to see your head raised and your eyes forward when you walk in the door. This stature will create a positive feeling in others, but most importantly when you tell your happy vibe to your own face (That means - smile!) Turn yourself into a manufacturer of smiles and allow the mood state to swing in your favor.

This thought came from an all too common scenario that I experience. It gets me a little razzed when I go to a store and perhaps place some coins in the tip jar and receive not even the first thank you. Mind you, I am referring to places where there is not really a wait staff and they eagerly have a tip jar by the cash register. However, if you put some green paper in there - you get a sure thank you! I have resorted to only giving coins as a test, not as much a gesture of generosity. If they are thankful for the coins and tell me so -- they get a buck. Perhaps the amount of dollars will grow because they were thankful for a little and it lead to a lot. Try this at your local haunt..perhaps send them to this blog entry and consider yourself adding value to their day. They will be thankful for you!

Look into the power of the positive mood state on this blog entry from my friend: The Mood State

A book I just ordered -- yet to receive, but perhaps you can join me: Authentic Happiness

Tell your loved ones you are thankful for them!

Calling all Dog-Loving Linemen

Uhhh -- Michael Vick has insane football talent no doubt, but it appears that Mr. Vick has taken a flame thrower to his character. As many of you perhaps, I have been following this story and the grotesque allegations associated to this incredibly gifted athlete. When word first surfaced of the dog-fighting and consequential lethal torturing of these dogs, my soul sank, and then gravitated towards anger. Enough of the bitterness...here is the reality.

Michael, where is your accountability. In my recent post on Say "No" to "Yes Men/Women" I addressed the paramount importance to having people in your life that can say --- "Hold Up.. what the heck are you doing dude...that is not a good thing, do you not realize that you could jeopardize your career?" Oops, too many times the highlight film guys or the celebrity CEO's have a stature that tells everyone else to bow on down, you're the friend of the year. Was there someone in Vick's life that called him out -- perhaps, but evidently not someone that had much weight!

Go on with your real leadership Roger Goodell (NFL Commissioner) in telling Vick not to report to the Atlanta Falcons training camp tomorrow. Goodell's letter reads:

"While it is for the criminal justice system to determine your guilt or innocence, it is MY responsibility as commissioner of the NFL to determine whether your conduct, even if  not criminal, nonetheless violated league policies, including the personal conduct policy." Yeah Baby..emphasis added.

Goodell is not a "Yes-Man" in this scenario. He had the wisdom to know what was right and the courage to do what was right. Perhaps your organization has a "super-star" talent on the job, that  away from work totally annihilates the attractiveness of your brand and business -- Put them on the bench at least until a verdict is determined!! If guilty -- can em!

This situation has not enhanced the existence of the National Football League, the Atlanta Falcons, or the young kids who thought Michael Vick hung the moon. It has tainted the corporate image of his sponsors for the time being, his entourage is suffering and of course Vick Jerseys are not selling at all. Those are biz metrics attacked by a character flaw....

Read comments from Commissioner Goodell and Falcon's Ownership along with readers thoughts of outrage in today's USA Today

Perhaps Michael is innocent. I will be true to admit relief if that is the case. However, this was not good business and horribly puny character. I would not want to be MVick when the dog-loving linebackers face him on game day -- they do have to catch him first....

Look Further Than The Starting Line

Right now there are so many companies wrestling with the challenge of turnover. If you are reading this, you have a good understanding towards the plagues of turnover. Yes, there will always be some turnover and at times positive turnover, especially if you are the head coach of the latest NFL team to axe Terrell Owens.

This is not what so many are bruised from, they are bruised from losing people that they wanted to keep - people that they need for success. The grocery industry and the many labor pieces of it are struggling with high turnover. To qoute an industry executive I recently met with. "We are having to design processes around new associates vs. developing processes for long term associates." This reality is tragic to the success of business.

It all rests on leaders and how they are making people feel about the places they work. People do not leave companies, most of the time they leave a person, a person who did not show them care and compassion. The starting line to retention begins with the new hire experience. Day one for a new hire should be a day when they go home and tell their family: "I have never had a company make me feel that good, ever!"

To achieve this @ the starting line, stop running them through a paper/pen wipping of policies, disciplines and legalities (PDL) on Day 1. Better yet, transfom your day 1 PDL to reflect the Purpose Driven Life of your company. Connect with their heart and create an emotional transaction that makes them EXCITED to come back on day 2 vs returning as a nervous nother' number!

That is your starting line and a VERY important starting line, Do not go jumping the gun -

NOW look further. Our times of turnover have leaders running scared wondering when the next person is going to leave. Transfer this fearful running into releasing your people to achieve amazing things for the company. Marcus Buckingham teaches how Great managers release their people vs transforming them. If you are doing quality hiring, you need to trust your selections and set your movements on leading your teams to extraordinary results, not fearing a loss. Dedicated developmental journeys for the guy or gal that started yesterday is paramount. Put processes into place that grow humans through you and not try to glue them to you. Set your sites on what people will become under your development.

Create environments of a Leadership culture, not a cult. Make yourself emotionally attractive to people and remain dedicated to their growth. It will take sustained daily discipline and plenty of messy work. The dividends of doing so are far greater than spending all your time selecting new people.

Every manager/leader must read this. It is by far one of the best business books ever: The One Thing You Need to Know by Marcus Buckingham

Schedule Time for 5!

Have you ever received an unexpected phone call from your boss or a leader in your organization? Hmm, are you thinking of the one that did not bear good news or perhaps was one more thing added to your plate? That's not the call I am talking about...not the delegation dumper or the bad news bruiser.

I am talking about the call when the leader on the other end touches your soul through the phone. When was the last time you received this emotional teletransaction? I know, probably a very long time ago or perhaps not at all..... unless your Leader gives the "Caps Lock Leadership."

You do not have to know what it feels like before you become the emotional angel. In fact, it should become part of your weekly "to-do." Much of leadership is the state of being and not doing. I know you may have heard that before, but I am challenging you with an action item of "Being" by doing something. I am ranting on this at the beginning of the week so you can create your list of who you want to call.

You may run a small department and you should have an updated list of contact numbers for all of your associates. Take a glance at it and select your list. Pick 5 people to call. If you have a very small department, at least pick one person this week. If you have the responsibility and influence within a much larger body of souls, get with your HR department and have someone email you 5 random names and numbers complete with the department they serve in. Have this done for you every week of the year. My friend Tammy Yates does this for me every week and she is part of touching these people's lives.

I recommend making your calls on Friday afternoon. You are likely to catch someone in their Friday mood and when their mood state is more in your favor, you are highly likely to be the person who brings amazement to their week. They will go into the weekend with the reward you just gave them. That phone call will stick to their memory long after their earnings for that week.

Note these tips before you start dialing:

1) Your call is not about the job, it is to share your gratitude for the work they devote to your team, department, organization, etc.

2) Ask them what they are doing over the weekend. When they tell you they are doing something with their family, ask about their family if you do not know this information already. Refer to their family members by name when talking about them.

3) Share your own life if they ask you.

4) Always leave a message when you likely get a voice mail. Introduce yourself to the whole family if you know others may be listening to your message. If you talk to a spouse or significant other, thank them too. After all, your Leadership affects their families as well. Here is a helpful script if you need it:

"Good Afternoon, this is (name) with FHI and I was just calling to simply thank all of you for being a part of our company, I hope you will have a nice weekend and please know that we really do appreciate you and the job that Jason does every day. You can reach me at 561-555-3335, it would be fun for me to hear back from you and I wish you a great day -- "

5) Be prepared to hear of some work related praise or concerns even though that is not what you called for. It is always good to ask them, "Are you being cared for at work?" Do not get upset when they reveal to you some areas that are not going so well. They are giving you a gift by letting you know of a way to improve things.

This entire act of "Being" will take you about 30 minutes max. Why are you not going to do this? Let me know how this goes for you.

Play Hard and Never put your dreams in a box!

I started to title this one, "Play Hard - Dream Big" but I had a hunch that may have sounded like I was trying to revive the dust off an old Reebok commercial (Are they even made anymore?). Maybe you need to dust yourself off, play again and do it passionately. Think about how much you played as a child and how much it taught you. So much of what you do today as a Leader was injected in you from the playground as a kid. You hopefully learned how to get along with others, be a radical helper, how to out perform the competition, problem solve and perhaps a few fans cheered your game!

Please check out an article below from the Master of Play himself. In October of 2006 I had the chance to meet Kevin Carrol following a house rocking, dream wakening,  world changing talk in Atlanta. Sara Grace and I were totally blown away by Kevin's message and what he is doing with it here and in Africa. I mean who leverages their passion and influence to create a Homeless World Cup? That would be Kevin Carroll. He should be a regular visit on your readings. Allow him to bring action of play to your organization. Sara Grace and I made this message part of our Christmas and Graduate giving to our special friends: Rules of The Red Rubber Ball

Oh yeah, as Kevin says -- "Never put your dreams in a box!" This is from a man who clearly states his quest is to become the Oprah of sport and is well on his play. He was after all the Katalyst for a little yellow bracelet for a guy that rode a rather nice bike race.

Excellent article:Power of Play. Make sure you laser in on the parallels between play and productivity.

Have Kevin as a part of your daily dose and bring him to play with you: Kevin Carroll

Say "No" to "Yes Men/Women"

I hope you can join me in thinking about the times a friend told you that you were playing with fire or that your decisions might land you in a bit of trouble. If so, you likely have these people in your life because you made the right choice to surround yourself with people of wise counsel. I am talking about the type of people that are eager and willing to lovingly give you advice on biz and personal decisions. They are a must to your success.

World number 1 leadership guru John C. Maxwell calls it the "Law of the Inner Circle." The law states that your potential as a leader is determined by those closest to you. This plays into your biz teams and your friends as well. Your inner circle should not consist of "yes men/women"....you know the type...the one's that agree with everything you say, even when your actions might need reshaping or even rejection. He/She might launch your ego for the moment, but your landing could be smack dab in hot water or the unemployment line.

Corporate corruption seems to have run a rampant race in the early part of this century. Enron, Tyco, Worldcom. You know the stories, a few key people surrounded by "yes men/women" made decisions that destroyed the mental and financial livelihood of thousands. How about those ratios? Their Big L leadership landed them in Lock down vs Lovecat.

Often times it is a character flaw that sinks the ship. I am recently troubled by someone who recently compromised their integrity. The outcome greatly affected the Leadership growth of 300 people. They were in a high position of Leadership, but they failed to have accountability and the result is heart wrenching.

Do you have an inner circle or have you recruited the "yes's" to your team? I encourage you to act fast. If you need to build your inner circle, start with a few people whom you know will lovingly advise you and build from there. Perhaps there is someone that you respect in your organization or the basic biz community. Write them a handwritten letter and ask them if you can seek their guidance from time to time. Most people are honored by such a request and will be happy to assist and perhaps recruit others to assist your journey. You have the people around you. Continue to enjoy your friendships with the "yes's." I am not saying to cast them out, they are some fun-lovers and should remain friends, just be careful when seeking sage advice.

Oh yeah, sometime this week before you turn on the CPU...take 30 minutes and write a few handwritten thank you notes to those people who sometimes help you re-think things.

Look to this Leadership Classic from JMax and read: The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership.

Caps Lock the L everytime

I might as well kick this off with the warm and fuzzy-lovely. Part yes because my recent marriage to the love of my life, other part because it's just the way it must be. In my first and current tri-mester (10 years) of the biz world I have come to be a raving fan of what the L in L-eadership really means. Yes mi amigos and amigas, it stands for LOVE. It really is so much about Loving the role you hold as a leader and holding the people you lead. Hold them close to your heart and perhaps they will rally to create a better future for the others. The other people - Oh yeah, that would be indirect reports, business friends and the nucleus of the corporate heartbeats wherever you may be, the community at large and why yes your beloved customers.

I was once told by a wise friend, Dr. Milton Granham that if you do not care for people, you will never make it as a Leader. Now, understand that Dr. Granham has numerous academic accolades, a few masters perhaps and more than one PHD and the most prized possession = Many Many years of Experience! Well you must respect the P.H.D and all others, but what about the L.O.V.E? You better hold it and if you do not have it, be searching for a dose of it fast. It's not going to come from a textbook and you cannot one-click hop it in your basket on amazon. It's in your heart friends, so go sit in that cozy chair and think about your soul and how you want to really Lead people.

This belief was affirmed and released in me in a magnificent way when I first saw my friend Tim Sanders speak in 2003 @ John C. Maxwell's Catalyst Conference Tim powerfully revealed to me why Love really is the Killer App. Once it gets on you, there is no washing it off. Journey where my heart found it's biz beat. Read Love is the Killer App and perhaps the conditioning of your biz life will become further untangled.

Next time you think about Leadership or even write it down, don't forget...CAPS LOCK MUST BE ON. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE TYPING - JUST LEADING. TURN IT ON MENTALLY. L-ove your people and your biz.

Oh yeah, the day I totally knew what the L meant - back in 2003 - that would be the same day I met my wife Sara Grace whom I must dedicate this to. You show me daily what the Big L Looks Like!