Monthly Archives: February 2012

You have to try!!

“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” Michael Jordan

I love that quote by Michael Jordan.  A fantastic basketball player and a great leader.

Are you afraid to try?  Recently I was talking with my son and shared a quote with him from Wayne Gretsky, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”  We were talking about just trying.  Whether it is sports, work or just life in general, you have to put yourself out there and try.

At ByDesign Technologies (www.bydesign.com)  we are offering a Spanish class twice a week during lunch hour.  I have been attending and trying to learn.  This week, the professor said, “Ok, next week we will have a quiz.”  My heart sank, “a quiz?  This is not good, this was supposed to be fun…a quiz? I gave up my lunch hours for a quiz? I don’t have time to study, what am I going to do?!?”  Breathe…..Then I realized that it was ok, if I failed the quiz, at least I could say I tried.  I didn’t back out, I didn’t walk out, I didn’t kill myself trying to cram…I simply tried.

How do we balance what we want to become with who we are?

I believe it comes in the trying, the failing and the getting yourself up off the ground and doing it all over again.  As Michael Jordan said, that is why I succeed.

Lead and Follow

I believe that everyone can be a great leader.  Some might argue that there must be followers but if everyone led one, wouldn’t we all be leaders AND followers??

Here are my top 10 list of skills for good leadership

 

Openness-Good leaders listen to others.  They know people’s opinions matter and love to have their opinions challenged.

Encourager-A good leader loves watching their team and others succeed

Forgiving-a leader must recognize that holding on to hurt or bitterness hurts them and the organization

Risk-taker-a leader recognizes when a risk is worth it, takes it and encourages others to follow

Honest-a good leader is true to themselves and the organization and understands that transparency wins people over

Dreamer-Good leaders think about tomorrow and all the days afterward

Thankful-great leaders recognize that they can go nowhere without a good team and constantly remind their team how valuable they are

Humble-Good leaders are not self-seeking

Flexible-Leaders are open to new ways of achieving their vision

Hard working-No one becomes a great leader without investing time and effort into their mission.

What would you add to the list??? Leave me a comment and let me know.

You cannot run with lots of baggage

Do you watch those sappy movies where someone gets off a plane, drops their suitcases and runs into the arms of their love?  It is so touching isn’t it?

In real life we all carry around baggage;  our past problems, emotions, bitterness, hurts.  We all have them.  Why are some people are able to lay down their suitcases and move on with a successful life while others drag them everywhere they go?

I think it is a multi-step process:

  • First you have to admit that you have baggage
  • Second, you have to make a conscious decision to separate with your baggage.  To some of us, that old bag has become a form of security and letting go means opening ourselves up to the same hurt
  • Third, Once you have made the decision, you actually have to let go
  • Fourth, You can’t pick it back up
  • Fifth, Every day, you consciously leave it behind….it is hard, but each day it gets easier
  • One day, you realize you didn’t even think  about that old bag

I am sure there is a lot of success in your future.  What bags are holding you back?  Put them down and run!!!  A better future awaits!!

I am just me

In America, when you first meet someone, within the first few minutes the question will arise, “what do you do?” We had some friends over from Australia and they quickly picked up on this. At one point the gentleman asked, “Why does everyone keep asking me what I do?” We all looked at him rather strangely and then one of us said, “We were just wondering?” He went on to explain that in Australia it is very uncommon that a person’s profession comes up in conversation. He said that you talk about a person’s interests and their family, but rarely their job. I began think about that and somehow it seems so right! Why does it matter if I am housekeeper or an executive.

My value is not in what I do, but who I am.

Today think about where you place your value. Is it about moving up the corporate ladder at all costs or is it moving up the corporate ladder by encouraging those around you?

I was speaking recently with a friend and I reminded her that what we do is going to change as we go through life. I have had many jobs. I have worked as a mail clerk, a secretary for tow truck sales, a stay at home mom, a teacher, an executive (and the list continues…). It is important that I realize I am valuable because I am me. The stuff that is inside of me matters most. I should always demonstrate good character, love, compassion, good will…..these are the things that move me forward in life, not a job title.

We are kidding ourselves if we think titles earn us respect. Respect is earned by how we treat others.

Leave me a comment and let me know what you think? Why are titles important??