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Archive for Inspiration

Work and Play

Friday, February 3rd, 2012

91949164Too many people in the workforce separate their lives into two separate and distinct categories. They compartmentalize their days into the hours of drudgery and clock watching that represents their job and the freedom that exists when they get to their own leisure and recreation time.

People who work five days per week to get two days of a weekend or who work 50 weeks out of the year to get two weeks of vacation are missing the joy and satisfaction that comes from enjoying their work.
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Categories : Inspiration, Motivation
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Lyrical Wisdom: Leadership Lessons from Bob Dylan

Friday, January 20th, 2012

104712711Few artists have had as big an impact on art and culture, both American and beyond, as Bob Dylan. Whether it’s his legendary musical career that continues to inspire singers and songwriters more than five decades after the release of his first album or the way his body of work helped define a generation of social change, it’d be hard to believe Dylan hasn’t learned a thing or two about leadership along the way.

You better start swimming or sink like a stone, cause the times they are a-changing. – The Times They Are A-Changin’
Written as a commentary on the ongoing social unrest during the 1960s, this is one of Dylan’s most famous songs. And though its original message is grounded in the politics and civil rights issues of the decade, its lyrics can easily be applied as a warning to be heeded by anyone in an influential leadership position. The pace of business is only accelerating, and without a forward thinking leader who is willing to adapt to the changing trends, even a strong company risks sinking like a stone.
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Solutions and Excuses

Monday, January 9th, 2012

86800697All organizations and individuals have unique cultures and different methods of working toward accomplishing tasks. There is no right or wrong way to undertake a project, but people and organizations can be divided into two distinct categories that greatly affect their potential for success.

There are people who find solutions, and there are people who find excuses.

I am reminded of the great quote Ted Kennedy gave as a part of his brother Robert Kennedy’s memorial service. Senator Kennedy shared that his brother Bobby was fond of saying, “Some men see things as they are and ask why. I dream things that never were and ask why not.”
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What Are Your Leadership Resolutions for the New Year?

Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012

76766032We’re only a few days into the new year, and by now you should be taking your first steps toward achieving your goals for 2012. While some of the most common resolutions involve shedding a few pounds, quitting a bad habit, or spending more time with family, it’s also important to consider goals that will help you develop in your role as a leader. Every workplace is different and therefore every leader’s resolutions will be different, but here are a few ideas to help guide your goal-setting efforts.

Focus on employees
A company’s greatest asset is its employees, so it’s in a leader’s best interest to ensure their talent sticks around. Studies have shown that employees who are engaged in their companies are as much as 80% less likely to leave than disengaged employees. An investment in ensuring your business is positioned as a preferred employer in your market means you will be better prepared to not only keep your best and brightest, but also attract other top performers. From special perks to performance incentives, there are a multitude of strategies to consider to reward your workforce for a job well done and to maintain their commitment to the success of the company.
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Creative Conflict

Wednesday, December 21st, 2011

132067175One of the biggest challenges in a formal education is the struggle between creativity and conformity. Classroom educational experiences, by design, breed conformity. We are all taught to write, think, and process information the same way. While it is good to learn basic skills, conformity kills creativity.

Picasso said, “We are all born artists. The key is to remain an artist as we grow up.”

There needs to be some conformity in the way we learn the alphabet, but when you extend it to the creative writing process, you stifle the artist inside of each of us.
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Categories : Inspiration, Motivation
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3 Retention Tips to Learn from Santa

Monday, December 19th, 2011

98845179What would you give to never have a worker shortage or struggle with turnover? For your office to be filled with happy, engaged employees? To give your employees one day off and then have them back wanting to work the next day for another 364 days? The secrets to such a rosy employment picture may lie within the holiday songs you’ve been humming for the past month about the big man in red himself – Santa Claus.

“And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!”
– The Night Before Christmas

Just like reindeer, employees respond better and work harder when their leader maintains a personal connection with them. If you have hundreds of employees throughout multiple locations, it might not be realistic for you to recognize each one. However, you can still share words of praise and motivation. And, it’s perfectly reasonable for you to be able to remember your direct reports names, along with their dreams for the future and passions in life. Plus, the closer an employee is to their leader, the harder it will be for them to leave.
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Dependable People

Monday, December 12th, 2011

56386620The world could be divided very simply into two distinct groups of people. There are people who you can trust to get things done, and there are people you can’t.

All of us have a myriad of things to do each day in our personal and professional lives. How we prioritize these items and get them done on a regular basis will determine how successful we will become. Even if you work or live by yourself, you are dependent upon other people for each of the tasks you want to accomplish on your daily list. In some cases, you are waiting on other people to bring you the tools or information you need to move ahead. In other cases, you are delegating responsibilities to others so that you can oversee a project or work on other aspects of it at the same time.
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Categories : Inspiration, Motivation
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Lead Your Company in the Path of the Jedi

Friday, December 9th, 2011

stk16328hsdIn the timeless Star Wars saga, we are presented with some of the wisest, most proverbial lessons in all of cinema. To some, these films are the I Ching to life’s most elusive questions: should I try to get my dream job? “Try not. Do or do not; there is no try.” Or better yet, the saga can help keep you in check: I did it! I finally passed the bar exam! “Great, kid. Don’t get cocky.” The Star Wars films have long been legend since the first few notes of the now all-familiar John Williams theme song resounded in 1977 at drive-ins across North America. Because of its epic reputation, we are going to look at how the films can help us better lead our businesses in the Path of the Jedi.
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5 Easy Ways to Embrace the Season of Thankfulness

Monday, November 21st, 2011

stk128219rkeSometimes it’s easy to lose sight of the meaning and importance of Thanksgiving in light of the impending Christmas and end-of-the-year celebrations. But it’s a great time to focus on bringing a thankful spirit to your workplace. Try implementing at least one of these five simple ideas in your business this month and see the positive effect it has on your team.

Give Back to Your Community
Nothing helps you appreciate what you already have more than focusing on those in need. If your work load allows, take your entire team on an outing to serve meals at a local mission or shelter. Or, if that isn’t possible, hold a canned food drive so local families in your community can have a nice Thanksgiving meal.
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Categories : Inspiration, Motivation, Tips
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Leadership Lessons From Indiana Jones

Friday, November 11th, 2011

95732009Throughout the past century, the silver screen has produced some of the most beloved and revered heroes of all time. Characters like James Bond, Oskar Schindler, and even Batman, have inspired us to go above and beyond in life, love, and justice. One characteristic of these men is that they were all rogue mavericks. They went against the grain to achieve greatness. One of the greatest nonconformists in cinematic history is a simple college professor. But behind the humble background, there lies a patron who stands in the face of fear, leads dozens out of danger, and rewrites history. The man: Indiana Jones. The plot: outlaw leadership.

In the Indiana Jones films, Indy takes us through action-packed adventures giving us excellent ways to deal with life’s greatest issues and how to get out of tight spots. Though there are boundless lessons we can learn from him, we’re going to look at five ways to lead like “…Dr. Jones, doll!”
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