In my last blog I discussed believing in yourself and choosing “I can if,” and not “I can’t because,” when faced with struggles or doubt.
Sometimes it isn’t enough to be the only one who believes in yourself – what do you do then?
“The success of a journey often depends more on who you are with than where you are going.”
Read More…
When I first learned this simple statement from Gay Hendricks, I have to be honest, it didn’t stick. It seemed too easy to say, and too hard to implement. Could I really just choose to think “I can” over “I can’t?” I thought about that for some time. It finally clicked for me when I added two words: because and if. So, for me this simple statement now reads like this:
Before you say “I can’t because”, you pass by “I can if.”
This thought process has worked for me in business, and in life.
In times of struggle or doubt, turn your focus from the obstacles to success and instead focus on the means to overcome the obstacles.
In my last post I discussed how we came to use the word mentor to mean a wise and trusted counselor or teacher. It originated with the Greek classic The Odyssey where Mentor was a man whom the king appointed to protect and counsel his family while he was away at war.
Through that story we saw that until Mentor was filled with wisdom, he fell far short of his role as protector and counselor.
If you are a mentor to someone else, how can you be sure you are giving wise counsel?
If you have a mentor, how can you be sure you are receiving wise counsel?
What is a mentor? I looked up the word on Dictionary.com and found a definition of a mentor that makes perfect sense: A mentor is a “wise and trusted counselor or teacher.”
I found another rather strange definition of a mentor on the Miriam Webster site: Mentor was a “friend of Odysseus entrusted with the education of Odysseus’ son Telemachus”
The name Mentor refers to a man from the Greek classic The Odyssey. In this story, Mentor is described as “The close companion to whom Odysseus, when he set forth, had entrusted his family, and charged to keep all safe till his return.” The king had “set forth” to fight the Trojan War and left behind his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus.
Since we now use the name Mentor to describe “a wise and trusted counselor or teacher” you could assume that Mentor did a tremendous job in protecting and guiding young Telemachus – Let’s see.
Yes, that picture is me experiencing the feeling of free falling.
What could I possibly learn about Leading Change from Indoor Skydiving?
First let me explain Indoor Skydiving. The entire experience takes place inside a vertical wind tunnel at wind speeds of 120 mph. You wear the same gear as a skydiver, suit, helmet, goggles and ear plugs – not just for show, by the way, imagine what 120mph can do to a body in a wind tunnel if you change your body position too quick or too much.
Here are the Lessons in Leading Change I Learned From Indoor Skydiving:
Elephants are large animals standing up to 13 feet tall and weighing up to 15,000 pounds. It’s no wonder we associate our difficultty leading change with our inability to move an elephant.
My leadership team and I are finishing a study of the book Switch by Chip and Dan Heath. In Switch, Chip and Dan describe the process of leading change in the picture of an elephant and its rider.
In short, the rider represents rational and logical thought and the elephant represents our emotional needs. Leaders must address both sides by addressing the head of the rider by explaining the need for change while capturing the heart of the elephant so it desires the change.
My family and I had the opportunity to visit a family-run elephant preserve. We observed the elephants interacting, exercising, performing and even painting a picture. The preserve owners and trainers taught us the about the elephants and their individual personality and behavior. Read More…
My latest post on Linked2Leadership.com talks about dealing with stress and its effect on your ability to think and learn.
http://linked2leadership.com/2013/01/06/leaders-4-ways-to-improve-your-ability-to-think-and-learn/
Last week my post titled The Balancing Act of Success discussed balancing the needs of the company achieving its purpose with the need of the individual to learn, grow and add value.
It’s that time of year again: annual reviews, when all leaders document the successes of the past year.
Many times leaders feel like the circus performer balancing plates; there are so many demands, which ones do I focus on?
Leaders are required to deliver shareholder returns, customer satisfaction and employee engagement; all which are integral to the successful company.
How did you do last year balancing the success of those that invest in your company – Shareholders and Customers – with those that are your company – Employees?
Last weekend my family and I attended a Christmas Story concert put on by the Trans Siberian Orchestra. TSO, as they are affectionately called, puts on a $20 million dollar show filled with rock and roll guitars, moving stages, lights, and songs; all dedicated to telling the Christmas Story.
This is the traditional Christmas Story, familiar to everyone in the audience, but told in a unique, energizing format.
TSO has been touring for over 14 years and is more popular today than when they started. Why?
For anyone who grew up in the 1980’s, the music takes you back to your youth. But the audience was filled with all ages, so that isn’t the only draw.
Their popularity comes from the story they tell. The Christmas Story tells of a long awaited success. It is the culmination of hope. It is the happy ending that has come after many years of suffering. Regardless of your background or beliefs, this is a human story. This type of success story is one that everyone wants repeated in their life.
Make your Story of Leadership a Success worth repeating.
