Football officially starts next week, folks. Today, I will share one of my favorite quotes from, undoubtedly, one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game. Perhaps his quote "Pressure is something you feel when you don't know what the hell you are doing" tells us why that is. Prior to retiring this year, the two-time and reigning Super Bowl Champion had broken … [Read more...]
Eradicate Your Obstacles With This Thinking Game
Would you like a way to get better ideas, faster? Would you like to nearly automatically tap into your subconscious brain to help you solve your vexing problems? Would you like a tool that would help your team think more clearly? What if I told you that tool was free, except for the five minutes of time you had to invest? But rather than thinking about it like a … [Read more...]
The Power and Pitfalls of Competition
Admittedly, I am a competitive person in just about every facet of life. Ask those who’ve known me my whole life and you might even hear some stories of competitive board and card game play that I’d prefer not be repeated. While I was taught to be (and think I mostly am) a good sport, my focus was most always on winning. And looking back, I can point to both the power and the … [Read more...]
6 Ways to Defeat Complacency
Complacency is all around us, but it (and the problems it brings) can be especially noticeable in the workplace. Think about it. How many employees fly under the radar doing just enough to meet the requirements of the job? How many long-time customers did you suddenly lose this year? How often do you see a dip or lull after a really successful period or outstanding … [Read more...]
5 Limits Leaders Must Challenge
We all have limits. Those boundaries beyond which we just don’t go. After all, it wouldn’t be safe. It wouldn’t be prudent. It wouldn’t be easy. We set limits for safety purposes or for logical purposes, but most often, we set them because we need an excuse. We are scared or lazy or we lack confidence in our own abilities, so we need a reason (an excuse) to not try … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Learn More From What You Read
Michael Hyatt builds a pretty compelling case for why leaders should be voracious readers in his post 5 Ways Reading Makes You a Better Leader, and he is not the only one touting the benefits. Many experts believe that reading is a major key to your success as a leader, and I agree. Reading improves your knowledge and skills, sharpens your mind, helps you to decompress and … [Read more...]
Setting Challenging Goals for Employees
We recently got the following question: How do I encourage my staff to set challenging goals for their employees. And while this is a great question, unfortunately, it is setting them up for failure. You see, there is a key component that all leaders must think about in regards to goal setting and goal achievement. Check out today's video to learn more about how you and your … [Read more...]
[Infographic]: Even the Most Successful People Fail Miserably
Every body fails from time to time, and as a new leader, you will too, but its not something that should keep you awake at night or stop you from taking chances. Because when (not if because it is going to happen) you fail, you receive an opportunity to learn a valuable lesson, while also proving to everyone how resilient, accountable and motivated you are. So rather than … [Read more...]
What Bad Habits Are Hurting Your Career?
Habits are a powerful part of our life. Without habits, we likely couldn’t cope with the complexity of our lives, yet, not all of our habits serve us well. As you grow as a leader, it is ideal that you think about your habits, so that you can replace bad habits with ones that will help you both professionally and personally. This exercise can help you to understand which … [Read more...]
6 Ways Leaders Can Help Others Measure Success
One of earliest tools I learned how to use growing up on a farm was a tape measure. There are several reasons for that. It is often used, using it won’t hurt you (think hammer, saw or torch!), and my Dad carried a small one in his pocket. As a boy, emulating Dad was always a good idea. I don’t use a tape measure every day now, and you may not either, but the idea of … [Read more...]