Leadership on Speed

one of the most powerful movies i have seen in a long time

With my schedule, I don't get to watch nearly as many movies as I would like (older or newer) but I recently had the chance to watch the movie Secretariat and I LOVED it.  It is only fair to tell you that I am a bit biased because 1. I LOVE horses and 2. I am a sucker for anything remotely inspirational but, in my opinion this movies still moves to the top of the list.  

Most biographical movies are not 100% accurate and Secretariat is no different but any movie that inspires me to spend hours pouring through material to learn the rest of the actual story should be an indicator of how much I enjoyed it and the more I learned the more fascinated I became..

I learned a lot of lessons from Mrs. Tweedy and her crew.  Here are just a few: 

1.  Only YOU know what you know

    Despite how others may discount you, YOU know what you know.  If you have the experience or expertise to make something happen (even if you are the only one who knows it), GO FOR IT.

2.  Believe in yourself.  Believe in your dream. 

    New journeys are frought with trepidation and uncertainty.  Often the only thing that sustains you is your vision of the outcome.  Believe in yourself.  You may not always be confident in the path but always stand firm in the destination.

3.  Dreams breed innovation and creativity.

    Don't be afraid to step out of the box to accomplish the seemingly impossible.  You may be the only person on the planet to do what you are about to do - and that's ok.

3.  Commitment. Commitment. Commitment.

   Did I say commitment?

4.  Surround yourself with the right team.

   It is not enough to have talented people around you (though that is important).  They must also be likeminded spirits and believe in the dream as passionately as you do.  There is no doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world.  

5.  Commitment to a dream means sacrifice.

    Any journey worth taking involves sacrifice.  If you don't recognize that, I guarantee you that the people around you will.  

6.  Trust your intuition.

    This has always been a core belief of mine throughout my life and this movie only reaffirms that.  Women tend to call it "intuition".  Men may feel more comfortable "going with their gut" but however you couch it, use it.  The only times my intuition has EVER failed me was when I failed to trust IT.

7.  Speak your truth but let actions speak louder.

    It's one thing to speak up when the time is right but sometimes words can become bluster.  When that happens, it's time to be quiet and let the work speak for itself.  NO ONE ignores results.

8.  Know when to walk on the edge.

   No risk. No reward.  All of the great leaders of our day walked on the edge.  They walked on the edge because they believed in something so strongly that they could take no other action.  It was often not until the race had been run that history revealed their true greatness.

9.  Sometimes it takes a perfect storm.

   The question becomes: Are perfect storms acts of God or do you actually create the perfect storm by acting on influences in your environment?  I believe the latter.  Leaders see a need and make a choice to fill the gap.  They see events unfolding and recognize that they can make a difference where others see events unfolding and hope someone else will do something about it.

Is it time for your perfect storm?

Continue to be great! 

people don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it

Does everyone in your organization know (and buy into) why your company does what it does? How do you inspire your customers to do business with you?  This speaks directly to why a shared vision is so critical to the success of an organization.  I would love to get your feedback once you have had a chance to watch.  Agree? Disagree? Why?

 

Continue to be great!

declaring your freedom

For some reason, while celebrating this past holiday weekend, I found myself really thinking about this concept of independence...of freedom....

The year is now half over and if you're like most folks, you probably made some resolutions (or otherwise set goals) at the start of the year.   I wonder - what did you declare to yourself that you would be "free from" in 2010?  What did you declare your independence from?

January 1st is a time of declared promises..of fresh starts.  Does any of this sound familiar?  In 2010, I will..

..find Mr./Ms. Right.

..lose weight.

..gain more vitality.

..find a better job.

..make more money.

..have more confidence.

..start my own company.

..travel more.

..attend church more regularly.

..do better at saving money.

..go back to school.

..etc, etc, etc...

Are you on track?  If so, GREAT!  Applause. Applause.

If not, what happened?  Are you still trying to accomplish your goals or did you get so far off track you just quit?

If so, I've got news for you -----

The calendar may say July 6th but EVERYDAY is January 1st (theoretically of course).  Each day provides a new opportunity to begin again.  To pick yourself up, dust yourself off, recommit and make it happen.  The thing about goals is that in order to move toward something, we must declare ourselves free of something else...

..apathy

..laziness

..being tired

..low self-esteem

..poor health

..limiting belief systems

..and on and on and on...

So----what goals will you set (or re-ignite) for the remainder of the year?  What will you declare yourself free from in 2010?  Take some time this week to think about what you want your life to look like by years end - health, professional, relationship, financial, spiritual etc and get going!

How do you eat an elephant?  That's right - one bite at a time. 

It's never too late!

You were born to be great.

YES, you can!

this video will wipe out every excuse you ever thought you had

I first came across this video a couple of years ago and I think it is worth sharing again if you didn't watch it the first time (or even if you did!).  We all have days when what we planned to do gets usurped by our emotional state - in other words, we just don't "feel" like doing what we had planned.  This video may give you the motivation to dig deep on those days and JUST DO IT!

Continue to be great!

 

 

 

 

you HAVE to watch this Will Smith video!

 

"The fastest way to mediocrity is trying to be realistic"  -- Will Smith

I am an unabashed Will Smith fan. There has always been something special about the way he carries himself, the way he shows up that says, "This guy is special." ---- and now I have a little more insight as to WHY.

Few things leave me almost speechless but the depth and clarity of this clip is truly inspiring.  If you don't do anything else today, WATCH THIS VIDEO CLIP.  Hopefully, it will bring you inspiration beyond today.....

You were born to be great.

YES, you can!

 

 

creating an amazing 2010: the carrot and the stick

Well 2009 is  officially over. Done. Finito!

So now the question for you is: What will you create in 2010?

Let me first tell you that I'm not a "resolutions girl".  They're cute.  They're fun.  And if they work for you great.  But resolutions are often initiated out of some sense of "have to".  You know what I mean....

I have to lose 20 pounds.

I have to quit smoking.

I have to spend more time with my family.

Now let me ask you, does any of that seem fun to you?

No? Me either.  Is it any wonder why 60% of resolutions fail in the first 2 weeks? 95% within the first month?  By the way, today is January 5th.  How are your resolutions going so far?

Today I'm asking you to turn your perspective upside down.  Don't get me wrong.  As a coach, I am all about goals. In fact, I love them! But I'm not about goals just to have goals.  I am about goals that have been put into context...

What?

In other words, what will losing weight, quitting smoking or spending more time with your family do for your life?  What is the vision that supports those objectives? When you arrive at December 31, 2010 what kind of life will you want to have created?

So many of us think that we have to take what comes to us but we don't spend time really thinking about what we want our lives to look like, feel like, taste like...  Yes, taste! You know that savoring of a moment that turns into many moments and your life just becomes this incredibly sweet, tangy, joyful entity that has you intoxicated on a daily basis?  Yes, you can create that!

Here's some homework for you:

Over the next couple of days, make some quiet time to reflect on what you want to create by the end of this year.  How do you want to feel?  What do you want your life to taste like?  Do you want to create an incredible business?  Do you want to create entry into a company that resonates with your values and philosophy? Do you want to create an incredible connection with your spouse? Do you want to change the dynamics of some of your friendships? Do you want to be more loving, caring, passionate about life? Do you want to gain greater vitality? 

Most resolutions are successful because of the carrot (the vision), not the "stick" (the have-to's, shoulds, need-to's, etc).  Create a compelling vision along with a great plan of action and 2010 could be your best year yet!

You were born to be great.

YES, you can!

happy "declare your freedom" day

On this day, we wanted to take a moment to wish each and everyone of you a wonderful and safe holiday weekend.

As you enjoy family, fireworks and festivities, remember that we celebrate this day as a reminder of the America's declaration of independence from Britain and along with it the great freedoms and liberties we enjoy every day.

In this land, anything is possible.

You were born to be great.

YES, you can!

the passing of an icon, a legacy of love

I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror
I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways
And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place
-From "The Man in The Mirror"

Like the rest of the world, I am in shock and in mourning over the passing of Michael Jackson and yes, I have shed a few tears over the combination of brilliance, beauty and tragedy that marked his life.  I have to tell you though that when I heard the news from my husband, the FIRST person I thought of was Janet.  Having lost my last surviving older brother only one month ago, my heart went out to her and the rest of her family.  I know what it's like to get "that" call and to have your heart break in a way that you think you will never recover.... 

The "King of Pop" - dead at 50...  I just can't seem to wrap my arms around it.  One thing is certain however and that is, regardless of the oddities and the judgments surrounding Michael's personal life, no one can deny his imprint on the music industry and the lives of millions and millions of people around this globe through his music.

thanks michael                                                                                                                                    As for me, I remember being a little girl, watching The Jackson Five and being enthralled by the voice of this little boy who was only a few years older than myself.  Listening to songs like ABC and Ben - I still remember my friends and I forming a girl group and taking turns as lead singing Ben..  Those were the days and Michael was very much a part of it.... 

Once Michael went solo, we never heard much about The Jackson Five but they remain an integral part of the music of my childhood.  As a solo artist, Michael continued to thrill his audiences not just as a singer but as a complete musician and an incredible performer.  Who else do you know combined singing and dance artistry as well as MJ? 

a unique legacy of love                                                                                                                       I could go on and on but what strikes me as I listen to all of the tributes to MJ can be summed up in one word....LEGACY. If you have ever heard me speak, the one thing that I always speak to leaders about is this thing we call legacy.  I suspect that if you ask one hundred different people about Michael's legacy, you will get one hundred different answers because Michael's life and his music touched people in so many different ways.  He was a child star, a music icon, a performer who crossed racial and generational boundaries....  THAT is who and what we will (and should) remember - not the craziness borne of an existence we cannot begin to understand. As for me, the legacy that I will remember is that MJ's intention was to be purely and simply this:  love.  MJ was a human being that simply wanted to be loved and to express his love for humanity through his music. 

And of course, I always reflect at times like these on what my own legacy will be - what I want it to be - and if I'm living it....  What about you?  What will your legacy be?  What do you want people to say about you when you are no longer here? How will your story, your mission - live on?  The thing I want you to get is that "legacy" doesn't have to be as big as a Michael Jackson.  It can be the simple experience of a consistently loving "you" that people are blessed with every single day....

The passing of Michael also reminds us that tomorrow is not promised and that all we have is today.  In fact, all we have is this moment.  What difference will you make?

You were born to be great.

YES, you can!

making it happen

As you read this, I am two days away from achieving an almost lifelong goal to run a marathon.  It's difficult to believe that the day is at hand and to be honest, I am experiencing both excitement and trepidation...

I wanted to share this journey and this experience with you because in many respects, embarking on this goal is no different than starting a business, going back to school, making a career change or (insert your goal here).

Four months ago I began this journey with an intention and a dream. 

I hadn't run in years. 

But I had always wanted to run a marathon and I decided that it was now or never. 

Over the coming weeks, I want to continue to share many of the lessons I have learned and relearned over the past four months but the biggest thing I have been reminded of during this journey is this:

It is never too late to accomplish something.

All it takes is desire, strategy, passion and commitment. 

What have you been waiting to do?

What dream have you been waiting to make happen?

It is never too late to accomplish something.

You were born to be great.

YES, you can!

honoring 2008

Is it possible that yet another year has passed us by, relegated to the annals of history forever more?  I increasingly realize how quickly time flies and how fleeting time is.  So little time to truly create ones vision, to manifest possibility, to make the difference only you can make.

On the next blog, I will ask this question:  What will you create in 2009?  We'll explore the difference between creating your life and simply managing a "to do" list but for today I'd like to know how you would assess 2008.

Was it a great year? OK? Life altering?

The news media tells us everyday that, for most people, 2008 was not a good year - at least financially.  Banks failed, the real estate market remained flat, foreclosures were at a record high, the big three automakers are failing.

Is that true for you?

Whether the overview is great or not, what have you learned?  Take some time to think about the lessons gained in 2008.  Perhaps you can now acknowledge your perseverance, your courage, your grace under fire. Perhaps its your creativity, the love that surrounds you, a positive attitude.  Did you learn patience, assertiveness, confidence?

Savor those lessons.  They are some of your greatest gifts.   Sometimes we must look back to go forward , just be careful not to get stuck!

Now, what will you create in 2009?

You were born to be great.

YES, you can!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!