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I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples. – Mother Teresa
Define success on your own terms, achieve it by your own rules, and build a life you're proud to live. ― Anne Sweeney
Recent research shows that 15% of employees are engaged at work. If you happen to be one of the 85% that fall outside of that engagement zone, consider that there are a multitude of reasons why that might be true. However, before looking elsewhere for answers, start with yourself.
If you plan to get yourself a gift this holiday season, invest in the discovery of what work you are best suited for. That is a gift that will keep on giving.
When it comes to reaching your goals, plan your work and work your plan. Be prepared for the grind, the incremental and the journey. No shortcuts, no discounts, no hacks – just hustle.
Don’t worry about failure. Worry about the chances you miss when you don’t even try. – Sherman Finesilver
All kidding aside, we know that teams harness incredible power when they operate in harmony. One of your primary roles as a leader is to nurture the environment, ensuring that the team matures in the use of that power. To that end, be swift and decisive in dealing with matters that would undermine the team.
Two tips in that regard:
1) Regularly create space for dialogue, collaboration, and alignment.
2) Do not allow room for negative or disconnected overtones of “we” and “they” inside of the organization, all sub-teams must be a part of the big team.
Just imagine what is possible if we all do that something that we can do.
Consider the things you don’t like doing and outsource so you can spend more time doing the things you love. Now, just flip the script and do the same, taking things off someone else’s plate.
If you ask yourself “why” five times, you will get past the surface such as “to get to work,” “to earn income,” “to pay the bills” and closer to the root ... the thing that really drives you to action.
Delivering in-year results is good, creating a sustainable company is great.
Take a tip from the base stealers in baseball. Take a small head start towards the next base while securing what you consider to be a safe distance to your current base. Then, when you’re ready, make your move. Fear not!
If you ask yourself “why” five times, you will get past the surface such as “to get to work,” “to earn income,” “to pay the bills” and closer to the root ... the thing that really drives you to action.
Delivering in-year results is good, creating a sustainable company is great.
If you are looking to get closer to your passion and purpose, ask yourself this question. Then, as one of the favorite analysts advised me when looking for root causes, ask “why” five times.
If you ask yourself “why” five times, you will get past the surface such as “to get to work,” “to earn income,” “to pay the bills” and closer to the root ... the thing that really drives you to action.
Delivering in-year results is good, creating a sustainable company is great.
If you are looking to get closer to your passion and purpose, ask yourself this question. Then, as one of the favorite analysts advised me when looking for root causes, ask “why” five times.
If you ask yourself “why” five times, you will get past the surface such as “to get to work,” “to earn income,” “to pay the bills” and closer to the root ... the thing that really drives you to action.
Delivering in-year results is good, creating a sustainable company is great.
Find the talent that fills gaps within the “team resume,” complimenting what you have today and creating a stronger tomorrow. Leaders can often neglect to create succession plans --- which can be an act of omission or commission.
Delivering in-year results is good, creating a sustainable company is great.
When managers are pressed to determine who are our best performers, we often ask ourselves this question. “If I could only take four people in a boat with me, who would I take?” We often choose those that consistently exceed our expectations, demonstrating that they understand what is important and that they care enough to deliver it.
Choose whether you want to be average or exceed!
Comfort and growth are often in conflict with each other for a period of time. Comfortable places are familiar, cozy and pleasing. Growth pushes you into the unknown, it can feel foreign and even agitating. However, on the other end of each growth cycle is a higher level of comfort. Get comfortable with discomfort.
Talking can happen in a sedentary position. To steer is to guide or control movement. For you to achieve your passion or purpose, there must be movement toward it. Plan without overthinking, get started and then steer.
Positions and titles allow you to create and enforce rules within an established structure or ecosystem, but they arguably do not establish you as a leader for the long-term. One of the best definitions of leadership I have seen is that leadership is the art of motivating a group of people to act towards achieving a common goal.
Lead now! If you see a need that resonates with your passion and purpose, don’t wait to be exalted into a position. Take the opportunity to frame the vision, create common goals and motivate people to action.
We often comply with an employer’s standards and challenges to stretch ourselves in order to get and keep a job. Paradigm shift - - - this is about investing in you, strategically and proactively. Don't wait to be asked, create your own learning and development plan. [read the post for the rest]
From time to time, enumerate your "platform," which I consider to be your experiences, reputation, and network. As you note your experiences, you'll find that it is less about the answers and accomplishments and more about what you learned during the journey that adds enduring and transferable value, that you parlay future-forward.
As a natural introvert, I am never totally comfortable with public speaking, but I have learned to press through it and a number of others throughout my journey. However, there is one thing that I have wanted to do, for quite some time, but have not taken the leap. I wouldn’t say I’m “terrified,” but I let concerns hold me back. I have decided that I am going to do it, by January 1st if possible and I’ll share it with you when I do!
What one thing have you been holding back on? Do it and share it!
Money can act as a utility to help you achieve or sustain your passion, but it will never replace it. Passion yields high results. Lean into what you were created to do, find it and create a path to pursuing it.
The current state is the current state until it is not; until the present reality is shifted by someone. Don’t accept limitations and boundaries, persist, persevere and move past them.
Money can act as a utility to help you achieve or sustain your passion, but it will never replace it. Passion yields high results. Lean into what you were created to do, find it and create a path to pursuing it.
The current state is the current state until it is not; until the present reality is shifted by someone. Don’t accept limitations and boundaries, persist, persevere and move past them.
I enjoy watching children, who are unaware of limitations and boundaries, play and act out what they believe they want to be when they grow up. They do so with reckless abandon, having no reason to believe their dreams will not come true.
The current state is the current state until it is not; until the present reality is shifted by someone. Don’t accept limitations and boundaries, persist, persevere and move past them.
Progress is not in enhancing what is, but in advancing toward what will be. – Khalil Gibran Since operating my business and The Corelink Solution...
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway. – Earl Nightingale
You can do what I cannot do. I can do what you cannot do. Together, we can do great things. – Mother Teresa
Each of us must confront our own fears, must come face to face with them. How we handle our fears will determine where we go...
Absorb what is useful, Discard what is not, Add what is uniquely your own. — Bruce Lee
Be yourself. Above all, let who you are, what you are, what you believe shine through every sentence you write, every piece you finish. –...
Great things are done by a series of small things brought together. – Vincent van Gogh
Always listen to experts. They'll tell you what can't be done, and why. Then do it. – Robert A. Heinlein
Leadership is not about you; it's about investing in the growth of others. – Ken Blanchard
Don't give up on your dreams, or your dreams will give up on you. — John Wooden
Wanting something is not enough. You must hunger for it. Your motivation must be absolutely compelling in order to overcome the obstacles that will invariably...
The one thing that you have that nobody else has is you. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write and draw and...
Never separate the life you live from the words you speak. Paul Wellstone
The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be. ―Ralph Waldo Emerson
Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning...
The ability to be cool, confident and decisive in crisis is not an inherited characteristic but is the direct result of how well the individual...
We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations. – Chuck Swindoll
Eyes that look are common. Eyes that see are rare. – J. Oswald Sanders
How many great ideas do you have? How many of them do you tinker with … in your mind?
Choose one that you are passionate about and get started. For sure, it makes sense to do research and such, but don’t get stuck there. Begin!
Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try one more time. – Thomas Edison
Everything is connected …. No one thing can change by itself. – Paul Hawken
The important thing is this: to be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become. – Charles Du Bos
Dare to think and dare to do. – Mao Tse-Tung
Never underestimate the power to change yourself; never overestimate the power to change others. – H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity. – Horace Mann
Adversity is the midwife of genius. – Napolean
It is comforting to know that not only the steps, but also the stops of a good man are ordered by the Lord. – George...
It is the experience of touching the pain of others that is the key to change. Compassion is a sign of transformation. – Jim Wallis
To act is to affirm the worth of an end. – Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
Efficiency is concerned with doing things right. Effectiveness is doing the right things. – Peter Drucker.
Success isn't permanent, and failure isn't fatal. — Mike Ditka
It is comforting to know that not only the steps, but also the stops of a good man are ordered by the Lord. – George...
There are seasons of opportunity we experience along our journey, discern and capitalize. Throughout the journey -- peaks and valleys alike -- there are people we can assist, be in service.
We are on a constant journey of improvement. You have not even seen the best version of yourself yet. Keep going!
Opportunities often do not come labeled as such. They are often tucked inside of things we may not want to do and stored in places we may not want to visit – literally and figuratively. Approach your barriers with an opportunistic mindset and prepare for the increase.
Vision is the art of seeing things invisible. – Jonathan Swift
Change is not made without inconvenience, even from worse to better. – Richard Hooker
Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance. – Samuel Johnson
It is very hard to believe that there are only four months left in the year, isn’t it? When you consider the holidays and such throughout, we all know it is much less working time than that. Our natural inclination is to look at our goals and if we are not where we need to be, to drive harder. Before doing so, take a deep breath and evaluate. Are you pursuing those goals in the most expedient manner?
Many of you have probably heard this story. I never intended to write my book, Success on Your Own Terms: 6 Promises to Fire Up Your Passion, Ignite Your Career and Create an Amazing Life.
As I actively mentored others during my tenure at JPMorgan Chase, I noticed some developing themes. My “idea” was to become more consistent in providing advice, so I began to write down my thoughts. Over time those writings developed into a decent size document.
One thing led to another from a friend to another to an agent to a publisher and the book was born. However, what started the conversation was having those ideas on paper. Make it a practice to get your thoughts and ideas out of your head on to paper … there is power in that transfer.
Your goal may feel like a stone. Apply the “drips” consistently and know that as it hollows from the inside, you may not see the progress being made. So don’t stop before your breakthrough!
I am thankful for the many mentors who have helped me along my journey, particularly those that modeled the advice they shared. We are always being observed. Be intentional to model your beliefs, creating examples others can learn from.
Each morning commit to doing at least one important thing (paying your toll) before you consume any emails or social media. It could be something that helps you prepare yourself mentally for the day (e.g. devotionals, meditating, working out, etc.) or a specific task that moves you closer to realizing your passion and goals. Challenge yourself and watch the results.
As you wrap up this week, take a moment to reflect and find a few things “done well,” and give yourself that apple. We easily compare and contrast to find where we feel like we don’t measure up, but often miss acknowledging our wins.
Use the information you have and choose the move that best serves you. Learn, iterate, adjust and do better.
If you do sit still, that should be by choice, not indecision.
Talent is God-given. Be humble.
Fame is man-given. Be grateful.
Conceit is self-given. Be careful.
- John Wooden
Believe. Belief in your passion and purpose. Who you are and whose you are!
Achieve. Achieve the impossible, through faith and action is required. Both are required.
Relieve. Relieve yourself of comparisons to others and doubters within your tribe. Give your mind and body the rest and preparation it needs daily and weekly.
Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises.
- Demosthenes
Discern before you discard. Each opportunity is a potential small win in the making. Cumulative small wins add up.
Don’t isolate yourself with your fears. Instead, share them with those you trust that can share the burden and you can do the same for them. This is a journey, not a sprint … having partners during the journey will help you tremendously.
I find that my hands feel fully occupied when I act like an owner, yet fluid when I act like a steward, which is where I want to be. Stewardship bears the same responsibility for performing but acknowledges that the role you are in is a "pitstop" on the journey and for a broader cause.
Consider the context under which you perform.
Finding better and more efficient ways to do things is wise. That is wisdom. However, be wary of shortcuts that would lead you to believe that you can microwave your way to a great career.
I had the pleasure of hearing Erik Weihenmayer, the first blind person to reach the summit of Mount Everest, tell his story a few weeks ago. He shared some incredible footage from the climb. One-piece of footage was him and team crossing between two mountain tops on a ladder. It was probably thirty feet or so across. He joked that one of the benefits of being blind was that he could not look down, as if he did, he might have stopped. Looking down startled many of the folks making their way across those mountain tops.
Aim high, stay above the fray, make your way across your mountain tops and don’t look down ... there is nothing down there for you.
It is easy to think about leadership as an assignment, a title or a post, but it's not. It is about showing up, creating a vision, positively influencing, and taking action, etc. You don't need permission to do it.
I took this picture from an elevator within a Marriott hotel during my travels a week or so ago. If you can't read it clearly, here is what it says ...
"You will find only Pepsi products in Marriott hotels because, in a time of need, Marriott asked Coke for a loan, but were denied - Pepsi said yes! Thanks, Pepsi 🙂 "
While we certainly should not expect anything from helping others during a time of need, we also never know what might come of it. Do good and help others whenever you can!
By nature, I tend to dwell on "the how." I like to plan things for quite a while before execution actually happens. However, I can get stuck in planning and the truth of the matter is that to break into new territory, practice and trials beat thoughts and plans. [read more]
The thing that matters most to you may seem out of reach at the moment. Perhaps it is not the moment yet, not the season ... yet. But if you believe, hold tight, you might just be at the threshold. Be ready to turn the page, because the impossible can become possible at any moment if you persist.
Awareness can lead to insight and more meaningful actions.
As you jump into this new week of opportunity, give thought to what you have recently learned and what insight it has provided about you. What can you do differently? What can you improve? Where can you sharpen your saw?
What one area will you commit to making an improvement in this week?
Clearly defined goals is a great place to start!
Managers tend to follow the rules as prescribed and stay within “the box” and leaders work to transcend the “the box.” Leverage all you can to the extent you can, while working to lead in every aspect of your life.
Since you are like no other being ever created since the beginning of time, you are incomparable. - Brenda Ueland
Racing and driving horses wear blinkers to them focused forward as opposed to distractions such as crowds or the competition.
How much more progress could you make towards achieving your vision didn’t suffer from distracted momentum? Grab Your Blinkers!
The very idea of "failure" creates discomfort for most of us. However, discomfort is where growth happens. Embrace it!
Move confidently down your path.
Take a minute or two and jot down a few things you completed this work as you worked towards your passion and purpose. Acknowledge that work for just a moment ... let it re-energize for the next leg of the journey!
I have been sending out the Success Thought of the Day since January of 2000, which makes this the 20th year. There are many mornings, like this one, where I don’t “feel like” doing it. I don’t “feel like” rolling out of bed and doing my bible study, prayer and reading beforehand. [read more ...]
Once you have determined what is important to you (passion/purpose), strengthen your commitment and improve your odds of execution by having accountability partners. There are people whom you share your vision with, encourage you, celebrate with you and also hold you accountable.
Give thought to your unique capacities and talents. Are you developing and using them in service of your purpose?
You will be best at what you were created to be. That is sometimes hard to see early in your journey, it was for me. However, what you will find is that once you identify it and begin to chase it, things happen. Invest time wisely in figuring out what your passion is!
With each decision and action, you build and shape your character. As a career or business builder, consider that your character precedes your resume or sales pitch, so treat it with care.
If the career you are chasing, stripped of money and prestige, makes you feel good, you are on the right track.
As with all things, it is a journey and will take work. However, you're going to work regardless, how much better time spent in work you find fulfilling?! Your fulfillment will lead to your true fortune.
Read 10 pages of a good book, listen to an audiobook or podcast (hmm, I have one I can recommend :).
The small daily deposits add up!
Short term goals help you break the "big picture' down into bite-size pieces. Completing them provide boosts of excitement, reflection, and energy. More importantly, they are additive and have a cumulative effect on helping you reach your long term plan.
There are goal planning sheets here if you need some!
We all have our tendencies. By my very nature, I tend to focus on the "why," the strategy and how in terms of the pursuit of my passion. Even long after the why and strategy are settled, I can go on and on configuring and reconfiguring the "how." At the end of the day, plans are great, but in the words of Mike Tyson, everyone has a plan until they get punched.
Once you know that you know what you are in pursuit of, make the decision to do it or not. If you decide the answer is yes, then start. Get out of the safe laboratory of your mind and get your passion out on the road.
In the early 2000s, I was a part of a project team to eliminate paychecks and paper payroll statements at JPMorgan Chase. It may not sound like a big deal now, but back then, it was for the 60,000 plus people that received them. Further, to our knowledge, no other company had done it at scale.
Concerns, despair and even a bit of controversy began to stir as folks believed that employees were pretty wed to “their paper.” However, as a team, we stayed focused on “the stars.” We saw the possibilities for the employees and the company, and got it done!
I have learned that as you come face-to-face with challenges, your perspective can make the difference. You can focus on the crud and despair of the mud or the wonder and possibilities of the stars. That is a choice.
Educational paths serve to prepare you, titles can serve a purpose for a season, but neither can define you. Keep your long-term journey in front of you, treating "evolution" as if it were your middle name, growing daily.
Your journey towards your passion and purpose are worth it, take inventory.
Last year reading “goodby things” prompted me to take inventory and to ask “additive, neutral or distracting to my journey?”
If distracting, they must go. If neutral, evaluate relative to replacing with something more additive.
Your journey towards your passion and purpose are worth it, take inventory.
Serving others through mentorship doesn’t require a title nor extensive experience. There is always someone less experienced than you, wishing they were in your shoes, just as you did years before.
Don’t overthink it. Give back joyfully as opportunities arise.
What an internal trifecta! The question is, can you answer all three in the affirmative?
If not, give thought to what you need to change to make it so. Once you know the “what,” you can create the "how."
If it is worth pursuing, it is worth hanging on for your success. Barriers and challenges are inevitable, tighten your grip and keep after it.
When we venture out of our comfort zones to the unfamiliar, we expand our options and our perspective.
Who are you willing to cure?
It's mid-year, a time when we typically reflect on the goals we set for the year, consider what adjustments we need to make in order to reach them or we quietly give up on them.
Help cure someone's struggle to find their way or disbelief in reaching that goal with the gift of feedback.
Of course, we would love for life to be life school with a detailed syllabus so we know what we are going to learn, what we will be tested on and when. In reality, it doesn't work that way. Embrace each test, trail, barrier, and challenge as a part of your journey, making you stronger and building your resilience for the rest of the way.
Change is inevitable. Growth is optional. – John C. Maxwell While Uber hopping around New York today I was chatting with one of the drivers...
Scientists have said that on average an adult makes up to 35,000 remotely conscious choices each day. Over 200 of them are about food alone. At the moment, a singular choice can feel insignificant but a series of related choices often form a habit and a cumulative result.
Consciously make a choice about how you will begin each day. Randomly based on how you feel when you wake up OR with a focused list aimed at your passion, goals and a few priorities to guide you through the day.
Scientists have said that on average an adult makes up to 35,000 remotely conscious choices each day. Over 200 of them are about food alone. At the moment, a singular choice can feel insignificant but a series of related choices often form a habit and a cumulative result.
Consciously make a choice about how you will begin each day. Randomly based on how you feel when you wake up OR with a focused list aimed at your passion, goals and a few priorities to guide you through the day.
We are truly less than “perfectly polished.”
That is not weakness, there is no shame and you don’t have to present a façade to appear “perfect,” at least not with the right folks. [Read more at link]
Temper public proclamations about what is to come with getting it done. Plan, Do, Check, Act. [Read more at link]
An enabling factor here is clarity of what you are working towards. [Read more at link]
Pause for a moment and give thought to “that thing” you have always wanted to do. You know, “that thing” that comes to mind every so often. "That thing" that fills you with sublime hope and brings forth that Charlie Brown ear-to-ear smile. [Read more at link]
I am learning to change the rules, be balanced and play more. Play with your significant other, your children, broader family and even by yourself (e.g. gaming, puzzles, whatever you like to do). It’s healthy and we don’t get the time back.
Leaders that genuinely engage with their team members to understand and nurture that desire will see better performers. Conversely, those seeking the right career or business venture that lean into desire versus obtaining skills and faking the will are likely to see longer-term success.
Positioning can make the difference of having the wind in your face or at your back.
Those are muscles we need to build. Skills that help us cope, pursue with resilience and overcome obstacles an invaluable. Those are muscles we need to build to get better.
As we know, any skill overused becomes a weakness. Balance those skills discernment and assessment, making a conscious choice of how much to invest, particular when the wind is blowing fiercely in your face. Add to your assessment the opportunity to repivot and have the wind at your back.
We are sometimes prone to believe that "no news is good news." That's not true if you want to develop yourself.
Seek out people that will provide you with feedback. Substantive, constructive and actionable feedback is critical to your success.
If you’re reading this, that means yesterday is in the history books and today you have a fresh opportunity to remedy, recover, pursue and claim your victory.
You're most fierce competition stands in front of you in the mirror every day.
Go for yours without comparison to another’s and free from fear of scarcity. Live with abundance in mind.Competition can be a great motivator, but the best of all motivators is chasing your North Star.
The words written in today’s resumes and cover letters are still important, just know that after clicking to open those documents and scanning them, the next few clicks are most often to google to perform a search about you and then to your social media accounts.
The definition of "hard work" has changed a lot over the years in many areas with the advent of technology. Embracing technology is wonderful, but it can never replace a great work ethic.
Work towards integrating how you do right into your stream of activities. For example, you can mentor someone over lunch once a week. Another example is expanding your social media habits by finding new audiences (via hashtags or groups) aligned with your purpose, engaging and contributing.
Work towards integrating how you do right into your stream of activities. For example, you can mentor someone over lunch once a week. Another example is expanding your social media habits by finding new audiences (via hashtags or groups) aligned with your purpose, engaging and contributing.
Glass half full or glass half empty? Choose your approach and attitude now and then practice continually. There will be plenty of practice runs as challenges are a part of the journey.
Absent energy, there is no movement. I fully believe that the pursuit of your passion provides endless energy. When I teach classes around Success on Your Own Terms, one of the components I discuss is the Passion Point Incubator. It always draws a few chuckles … I get it, it sounds funny. However, an incubator’s job is to protect something that is early in its life and vulnerable until it has grown to a certain state (think eggs on a farm until the chicks hatch).
If you love what you do … take all the shots you can, as often as you can, for as long as you can.
Be a mentor and take someone with you so they can learn real-time. Change the game by using what you have learned to improve things for the next wave of folks coming after you.
How one deals with the obstacles is what separates the men from the boys. – Ian Schraeger While there are a number of things to...
If you struggle with identifying your passion, Anderson adds "When you're more interested in what you're doing than going out for a drink with friends, you've found your bliss." I would have said it a bit differently, but that works too!
In the sales context or when trying to get a meeting, a “gatekeeper” is the person we view as keeping us from getting target (e.g. executive). However, let’s assume that he/she is operating with positive intent, ensuring the executive is as efficient and effective as possible, managing the calendar to priorities.Your task is simple. You need to convey that you ARE a priority because you will help that executive achieve their goals. Get the gatekeeper to understand and you may be on your way. During my career, I have made friends with many gatekeepers!
I find that keeping score can be easy, particularly if we let others build the scorecard. While defining success is harder it is also one of the most transformative parts of our journey. Don't gloss over it nor accept contemporary definitions as your own without examination. Give your scorecard development the just time it deserves.
Each of our acts makes a statement as to our purpose. - Leo Buscaglia
I firmly believe that we are all born with unique gifts and talents which in turn give rise to our passion. Often, the hard work is digging deep to find, surface, and nurture them. To make a living, you are going to work hard. Consider this ... are you lining up your hard work behind your talent?
Full-time, part-time or some time. Make time to pursue your passion.
If anything, in today's environment we are overloaded with information. Be mindful to alignment your path of discovery in alignment with your passion and purpose.
Enduring businesses, careers and relationships take time to build. Set your expectations accordingly and work to resist microwave-like approaches. If it happens faster than expected, count that as a blessing!
Pick your favorite hero. Ask him or her to share their greatest learnings and without a doubt, they will come from the times that things did not work as expected.
A picture is worth a thousand words. If it helps, when leading a team, create your org charts with you on the bottom to give you a visual reminder.
What do you want most? Write it down. Review it daily. Make it evident in your actions.
Imagine a massive group of people imaginatively working towards the well-being of others. Marinate on that for a second. What could that yield for the current and future generations?
Life is also too long to live it compromised. Several years ago, when I made a job change, several colleagues asked me why I was doing so as it was a lateral move with no promotion or salary increase. Trust me, I was not thrilled about it being lateral either. [Read more...]
We are created as free will beings and have the opportunity to choose the paths that we take. Choose the ultimate outcomes you want, then consciously make decisions in alignment with those outcomes. [Read more...]
My position is progress over perfection or haste for that matter. Inch by inch, step by step, brick by brick, it will get done. Paraphrasing a recent reading, we often want a quick solve through a few steps that will quickly fix us, when indeed, our transformation is often unseen and cannot be calculated. In order for that progress and transformation to happen, you must stay on the road!
Sometimes the work you might be doing may not feel glamorous, nor draw applause. However, take Joy in your “Why!” If you know “why” you are doing what you do, on purpose, keep it moving!
We can only share and invest in others that which we have deposited within ourselves.
Taking in a few pages of a good book each morning is a habit that I have come to enjoy. I’m finishing up two books now, Living in the Light: Money, Sex and Power by John Piper and Becoming by Michelle Obama. I have a stack of books to choose from next, but I’m always looking for recommendations!
What are you reading? Please share if you recommend it.
However, for those that struggle with this topic, here is a question that perhaps you can ask yourself, out loud, that might help.
Dreams are not given to committees and thus not everyone will approve of your dream. Similar to a new company and its founder, so must you be with your dream. Have a business start-up like attitude, savvy, tenacity and resolve to get it done.
However, for those that struggle with this topic, here is a question that perhaps you can ask yourself, out loud, that might help.
“If I knowingly must suppress a part of who I am, that I believe is key to my journey of becoming who I am created to be, in order to enter a particular environment, is that the right environment for me?”
Enjoy your own life without comparing it with that of another. - Marquis de Condorcet
Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or to lose. - Lyndon B. Johnson
The best marketing doesn’t feel like marketing. - Tom Fishburne
Find comfort in committing to and fulfilling the promises you make to yourself. – James B. Rosseau, Sr.
They [children] don’t think about boundaries, precedents, solvency, market opportunity, or the business case. They think about what they enjoy doing or believe they would enjoy doing, and then do it. – James B. Rosseau, Sr.
Not enjoyment and not sorrow, Is our destined end or way; But to act, that each tomorrow, Find us father than today. – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception; it is a prevailing attitude. - Colin Powell
Every step-in personal growth needs isolation, needs inner conversation and deliberation, and a reviewing with the self. – Jam Meerlo
Victory waits upon unity of action. – Publuis Syrus
The sure way to miss success is to miss the opportunity. – Victor Charles . Opportunities are often seen as problems. It is a matter of perspective - glass half full or glass half empty?
The temptation to take the easy road is always there. It is as easy as staying in bed in the morning and sleeping in. But discipline is paramount to ultimate success and victory for any leader and any team. - Jocko Willink
Having once decided to achieve a certain task, achieve it at all costs of tedium and distaste. The gain in self-confidence of having accomplished a tiresome labor is immense. - Arnold Bennett
Growth and self-transformation cannot be delegated. – Lewis Mumford
The control of our being is not unlike the combination of a safe. One turn of the knob rarely unlocks the safe. Each advance and retreat is a step towards one’s goal. – Eric Hopper
The control of our being is not unlike the combination of a safe. One turn of the knob rarely unlocks the safe. Each advance and retreat is a step towards one’s goal. – Eric Hopper
New day, new week, new month, new quarter. Recent shortcomings are learning opportunities - - transform them into success.
The truth is that there is nothing noble in being superior to somebody else. The only real nobility is in being superior to your former self. - Whitney Young
The real “haves” are they who can acquire freedom, self-confidence and even riches without depriving others of them. – Eric Hopper
Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, in which you can walk with love and reverence. – Henry David Thoreau
If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right. - Henry Ford
I believe that one of life's greatest risks is never daring to risk. - Oprah Winfrey
Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome. - Arthur Ashe
If your why is strong enough you will figure out how. – Bill Walsh
It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding. – Kahlil Gibran
Make visible what, without you, might perhaps never have been seen. - Robert Bresson
The greatest thing is, at any moment, to be willing to give up who we are in order to become all that we can be. - Max De Pre
Sharing makes you bigger than you are. The more you pour out, the more life will be able to pour in. – Jim Rohn
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Comparison is the thief of joy. - Theodore Roosevelt
Hit the ball over the fence and you can take your time going around the bases. – John W. Raper
Philanthropy, like charity, must begin at home. – Charles Lamb
What are you looking to achieve this week? What lessons from the past are you leveraging to help you be successful?
It's not about what it is, it's about what it can become. ― Dr. Seuss, The Lorax
Long-range purposes keep you from being frustrated by short-term failures. – Charles Noble
One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals. And so when I hear about negative and false attacks, I really don’t invest any energy in them, because I know who I am. – Michelle Obama
The important thing is to realize that no matter what people’s opinions may be, they’re only just that – people’s opinions. You have to believe in your heart what you know to be true about yourself. And let that be that. – Mary J. Blige
No person has the right to rain on your dreams. – Marian Wright Edelman
You can’t succeed if they don’t. Good managers realize that they cannot succeed if the people working for them are not successful. Therefore, they empower their people and then do everything they can to help insure their success. – Al Kaltman
You can win if you got the heart and tenacity and soul to keep on trying. - Miles Davis
Both tears and sweat are salty, but they render a different result. Tears will get you sympathy; sweat will get you change. - Jesse Jackson
Give light and people will find the way. - Ella Baker
You are the designer of your destiny; you are the author of your story. — Lisa Nichols
Have a vision. Be demanding. - Colin Powell
You never know which experiences of life are going to be of value . . . You’ve got to leave yourself open to the hidden opportunities. – Robin Roberts
The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any. – Alice Walker
You can’t just sit there and wait for people to give you that golden dream. You’ve got to get out there and make it happen for yourself. – Diana Ross
I want to stop transforming and just start being. - Ursula Burns
The battles that count aren't the ones for gold medals. The struggles within yourself—the invisible, inevitable battles inside all of us—that's where it's at. — Jesse Owens
What you’re thinking is what you’re becoming. – Muhammad Ali
Start where you are, with what you have. Make something of it and never be satisfied. – George Washington Carver
You can be the lead in your own life. – Kerry Washington
Accept and acknowledge your own brilliance. Stop waiting for others to tell you how great you are! Believe it for yourself and about yourself. – Iyanla Vanzant
If you wake up deciding what you want to give versus what you're going to get, you become a more successful person. In other words, if you want to make money, you have to help someone else make money. - Russell Simmons
I am lucky that whatever fear I have inside me, my desire to win is always stronger. – Serena Williams
Many people don't focus enough on execution. If you make a commitment to get something done, you need to follow through on that commitment. - Kenneth Chenault
Don’t sabotage your own greatness by succumbing to failure. – Terri McMillan
Challenges make you discover things about yourself that you never really knew. – Cicely Tyson
Consistent accountability for our personal goals is a key driver to our success. Having just ended January, it is the perfect time to take a step back to review your SMART Goals. Rate your progress objectively and take note of what you have learned.
He that would have the Fruit must climb the Tree. – Thomas Fuller
Leadership is generally defined as the capacity to make things happen that would otherwise not happen. – Thomas E. Cronin
Whether we call in preparation, practice, apprenticeship or studying, it never sounds like fun, but it is a part of the process. Prepare early and often.
Learning to ignore things is one of the great paths to inner peace. – Robert J. Sawyer
It’s not what you achieve, it’s what you overcome. That’s what defines your career. - Carlton Fisk
Where we start and where we are now is almost irrelevant. It is most often a "temporary assignment." Plan, be prepared for and visualize where you want to go. Create your dream board holistically and get after it.
Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us. - Wilma Rudolph
Named must your fear be before banish it you can. - Yoda
If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward. – Martin Luther King
For many, this is the end of week three for a new set of inspired goals! Sometimes, it is around this point, that the excitement begins to wear off a bit. It's similar to having purchased that new car and then paying the first note. New undertakings such as walking into the gym at 5 AM don't feel quite as inspired as they did during the first week.
Step-by-step we move forward towards better fitness, meal-by-meal towards better health and task-by-task an initiative is completed. Count each step, meal and task completed as an accomplishment on the way towards your goal.
Passion/Purpose > SMART Goals > Prioritized and Calendarized work = Success.
Simply stated, “consistency beats commitment.”
There have been various forms of research done on this, but on average, a new behavior becomes automatic after 2 months. That said, it is less about the volume of things you do to achieve your goals and more about choosing a few right things and doing them consistently. Consider one or two things that matter most to achieving your goals. One or two things that you will do consistently until it becomes automatic.
Many people may occupy the same role that you do, have the same title that you do or run a company similar to yours. However, you always have the opportunity to perform and differentiate yourself. Excellence is a differentiator.
Perfection is not when there is no more to add, but no more to take away. – Antoine De Saint-Exupery . Whether you subscribe to the 80/20 rule, minimalism or some other form of prioritization. Priorities in work and life can make the difference.
Write your goals in alignment with your passion, purpose, and dreams. Create your expense budget, prudently, expecting an increase from your diligent work and faithfulness.
We often start with our passion, purpose and dreams. Then we translate that into a clear vision. However, from there, things can begin to get a bit tricky as there is a tendency to rationalize “what is possible?”
Write your goals in alignment with your passion, purpose, and dreams. Create your expense budget, prudently, expecting an increase from your diligent work and faithfulness.
It doesn't matter whether you are pursuing success in business, sports, the arts, or life in general: The bridge between wishing and accomplishing is discipline. - Harvey Mackay
Strive for beyond what you believe is possible for yourself. It is far too easy for us to expect far less than what we are capable of. Aim higher and expect more.
Diversify your opportunities. This is not to be confused with a lack of focus and random acts. Acquiring skills that allow you to perform and succeed in multiple areas is of value. It adds paint to your "career collage," (a concept I discuss in-depth in promise #4, https://thecorelinksolution.com/igniteyourcareer/).
The high cost of greatness is better than the low cost of mediocrity. ― Matshona Dhliwayo
The high cost of greatness is better than the low cost of mediocrity. ― Matshona Dhliwayo
As you wrap up the year, beyond the scorecard of successes and failures, give some thought to what you have learned. Then consider how you can use those learnings to reshape things in order to achieve your goals next year.
As you wrap up the year, beyond the scorecard of successes and failures, give some thought to what you have learned. Then consider how you can use those learnings to reshape things in order to achieve your goals next year.
What is now proved was once only imagined. - William Blake.
Don’t believe the people who tell you that you can’t. Believe your dream. Believe that it can be your future! - Chris Widener
To reach your potential, stretch in the direction of your natural gifts. — Lynn Berger
Give to the world the best you have, and the best will come back to you. – Ella Wheeler Wilcox.
“I bargained with Life for a penny,
And Life would pay no more,
However I begged at evening
When I counted my scanty store;
For Life is just an employer,
He gives you what you ask,
But once you have set the wages,
Why, you must bear the task.
I worked for a menial's hire,
Only to learn, dismayed,
That any wage I had asked of Life,
Life would have paid.”
The man who wins may have been counted out several times, but he didn’t hear the referee. – H.E. Jansen
The first step towards victory ... is to gain courage. – Plutarch
When you have a great and difficult task, something perhaps almost impossible, if you only work a little at a time, every day a little, suddenly the work will finish itself. - Karen Blixen
Success is sweet, but its secret is sweat. – Norman Schwarzkopf
In every success story, you find someone has made a courageous decision. – Peter Drucker
The road to success runs uphill, so don't expect to break any speed records
Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it. Autograph your work with Excellence. – Jessica Guidobono
Communication - the human connection - is the key to personal and career success. - Paul J. Meyer
I'm of the mind that even people who have limitations, if they have a curiosity, they will find a way to explore it. - Tish Grier
Your year, your quarter and even your week are not done with yet. Stay committed to your goals and follow through. You will be glad you did!
Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try and do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work; you don’t give up. - Anne Lamott
Be what you are. This is the first step toward becoming better than you are. – J.C. Hare
You are the only one who can control the way you think. Make sure you nourish the positive thoughts, and weed out the negative ones! Catherine Pulsifer
Dreams are lovely, but they are just dreams. Fleeting, ephemeral, pretty. But dreams do not come true just because you dream them. It’s hard work that makes things happen. It’s hard work that creates change. - Shonda Rhimes
Never underestimate your power to change yourself; never over estimate your power to change others. – H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
A career is like a house: it's made of many bricks, and each brick has the same value, because without any one of them, the house would collapse. - Andrea Bocelli
If you know there is a quality you want, behaving your way into makes sense. Why not give it a shot?
Anything that has real and lasting value is always a gift from within. - Franz Kafka
If you wish to achieve worthwhile things in your personal and career life, you must become a worthwhile person in your own self-development. - Brian Tracy
I am thankful for all of those who said NO to me. It is because of them I’m doing it myself. – Albert Einstein
I have failed many times, and that's why I am a success. - Michael Jordan
I’ve learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a life. —Maya Angelou
Leadership is the ability to get other people to do what they don’t want to do, and like it. - Harry Truman
Each step upward makes me feel stronger and fit for the next step. - Mohandas K. Gandhi
You must absolutely know who you are, whose you are and what you are created to do. With those three you can move forward wisely, confidently, joyfully and all the other “lys” that come with that peace!
Focus is scary – until you realize that it only means turning your back on markets you could never have anyways. – Clayton Christensen and Michael Raynor
Careers are often non-linear and in fact tend to be a tapestry of sorts. – James Rosseau, Sr.
Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less. - Rick Warren
How do you continue to sharpen your saw, learn new things and gain more perspective?
We often tend to rise to high expectations placed upon us by others. Four very powerful words can ignite so much energy … “I Believe in You.” I have seen those words spoken to someone by a person they respect (e.g. a teacher, a leader, a mentor, etc.) and sometimes sparks just fly.
Say them to yourself, often … while driving, looking in the mirror, getting dressed … whenever and wherever. “I Believe in You!” Then, raise your expectations of yourself and go get it!
Face and push past your biggest fears. Your biggest blessings could be waiting right behind them. - James Rosseau, Sr.
Success is most often achieved by those who don’t know that failure is inevitable. — Coco Chanel
Getting advice from others demonstrates wisdom. However, you must make the decision. Give your internal voice a high level of priority in the process.
Concentration comes out of a combination of confidence and hunger. - Arnold Palmer
It comes from saying no to 1,000 things to make sure we don't get on the wrong track or try to do too much. - Steve Jobs
It is a mistake to regard age as a downhill grade toward dissolution. The reverse is true. As one grows older, one climbs with surprising strides. - George Sand
A strong positive mental attitude will create more miracles than any wonder drug. - Patricia Neal
Passion is what gives meaning to our lives. It's what allows us to achieve success beyond our wildest imagination. Try to find a career path that you have a passion for. - Henry Samueli
The best way to escape from a problem is to solve it. -- Brendan Francis
Do not look back and ask why? Look forward and ask, why not? - Neil Patel
To double your net worth, double your self-worth because you will never exceed the height of your self-image. —Robin Sharma
We all get the same amount of time each day, no more and no less than 24 hours. While we struggle to gain more time to get things done, an exercise that always helps is taking a pause, examining your calendar and considering what things should “continue or stop.” Read more...
And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years. - Abraham Lincoln
Help thy brother's boat across and thine own has reached the shore. - Hindu Proverb
We are the choices we have made – Meryl Streep
Eighty percent of success is showing up. - Woody Allen
Strategic planning is worthless – unless there is first a strategic vision. – John Naisbitt Read the Full Blog Post
The only place where your dream becomes impossible is in your own thinking. – Robert H Schuller
It is the time of year when many are going through the performance process and are writing their self-appraisal. It is an opportunity to chronicle what you have delivered. As you write it, ensure it brings forth absolute clarity to your contributions in the context of your goals (as set with your manager if applicable). (Read more)
To gain that which is worth having, it may be necessary to lose everything else. – Bernadette Devlin
It’s a sure thing that you’ll not finish if you don’t start. - Napolean Hill
Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go. William Feather
The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential... these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence. - Confucius
Let your aim be the good of all. – Bhagavad Gita
An attitude of positive expectation is the mark of the superior personality. – Brian Tracy
Whoever knocks persistently, ends by entering. - Ali
A significant consideration for all of us is in how we invest in relationships. I would go a step further to say it is doubly important for those who lead teams. Having the privilege of managing teams for more than twenty years I appreciate that the challenges faced together on a daily basis can serve to build relationships. However, I have found that the time you plan away from the work, in shared activities that you enjoy together, truly creates more depth in those relationships … and that matters.
Man is most uniquely human when he turns obstacles into opportunities. – Eric Hoffer
Man’s main task is to give birth to himself, to become what he potentially is. The most important product of his effort is his own personality. – Erich Fromm
A teacher affects eternity; (s)he can never tell where his or her influence stops. - Henry Adams
Learning to deal with setbacks, and maintaining the persistence and optimism necessary for childhood’s long road to mastery are the real foundation of lasting self-esteem. – Lilian G. Katz
All appears to change when we change. -- Henri-Frédéric Amiel
Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present. - Jim Rohn
When hope is hungry, everything feeds it. – Mignon McLaughlin
The greatest of victories is the victory over oneself. The Dhammapada
Consider what you may need to let go of. It could be a past failure that you continue to dwell on; a relationship that...
Read the full blog...
Absent a clear vision, it is very easy for us to be “busy,” but perhaps not working towards a defined purpose, goal or direction. ...
Hear more words of wisdom from Bert Calhoun during the podcast interview.
Hear more words of wisdom from Matt Winter during his podcast interview.
Hear more words of wisdom from Fatima Salaam during her podcast interview with her husband and business partner, Bert Calhoun.
The ability to move beyond fear is a powerful attribute. It has often been said (and I am paraphrasing), it is not the just the...
We know that without a doubt, we lose 100% of the opportunities we do not go for. Perhaps better stated by hockey player Wayne Gretzky,...
Have a great day! James Success Thought of the Day now available: Daily to your email box Join here | At-a-Glance on Pinterest | As...
Don't take too long to get ready. Go make something happen today! We often wait until the “iron is hot,” because we want things...
Success Thought of the Day now available: Daily to your email box Join here | At-a-Glance on Pinterest | As a series on Medium Visit our...
Success Thought of the Day now available: Daily to your email box Join here | At-a-Glance on Pinterest | As a series on Medium Visit our...
Success Thought of the Day now available: Daily to your email box Join here | At-a-Glance on Pinterest | As a series on Medium Visit...
Success Thought of the Day now available: Daily to your email box Join here | At-a-Glance on Pinterest | As a series on Medium Visit...
Success Thought of the Day now available: Daily to your email box Join here | At-a-Glance on Pinterest | As a series on Medium Visit...
Success Thought of the Day now available: Daily to your email box Join here | At-a-Glance on Pinterest | As a series on...
Whether at home or at work, we are all seeking results and we want them consistently. Just think about how many times you have...
As I head into another birthday, I am more thankful than ever for God’s grace to see it; more conscious than ever about the endless...
There are certain TV shows or movies that I tend to watch over and over again. For me, the hitlist that jumps to the...
Last week, in my capacity as an Executive in Residence at the Kellogg School of Management, I had the opportunity to speak to the EMBA...
The realm of possibility is fascinating, as it is about things that may happen or may be the case. The inherent differences between the beginner’s...
Habits are powerful tools. John Maxwell shares a great story along this line that creates a visual that reinforces it. The Story One day, a...
Earlier this week I had the incredible experience to spend some time at The Village, which is run by the Atlanta Children’s Foundation for the...
If there was a role available for Chief Passion Officer, I would take it, hands down. While I have several passions such as music,...
In a previous Success Thought of the Day, we touched on the fact that we can become the average of the five people we spend...
Get the Success Thought of the Day delivered to your email box each morning. Join here! Visit our resources page for more tools for your growth....
Your Atmosphere Affects Your Outcomes Interestingly enough, many of us will listen to the weather forecast before we leave the house for the day. If...
Leading and controlling execution is key to your success. Earlier in my career when I was head of HR Service Delivery for North America...
For the past few days, we have focused on leaping into the 2nd half of this year, 1st getting our mindset around where we are,...
Yesterday’s Success Thought of the Day set the stage for action in the 2nd half of the year. I encourage you to read that...
“The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide you’re not going to stay where you are.” — John Pierpont Morgan It is time...
Today is the last working day of the month and quarter for many people. Some have already started celebrations having accomplished the goals they...
The law of association is amazingly powerful. In my summary around Promise #1, embracing your passion, one of the four key points includes seeking...
Leading direction is a critical skill that we all must attain. Some may argue that it is only necessary for those wishing to be in a “leadership position.” However, we must consider that leading...
The point of balanced success is a poignant one and calls each of us to ensure we understand and from time to time revisit...
Get the Success Thought of the Day delivered to your email box each morning. Join here! Visit our resources page for more tools for your growth.
Embracing your passion is the first step to achieving your potential. Passion, in and of itself, is like endless fuel as it is the gift...
On June 7, George Clooney received the highest honor an actor can receive for a career in the film industry, the American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement...
It is very easy for us to get caught up in the midst of a challenge and get discouraged, frustrated and in the end, outright...
Get the Success Thought of the Day delivered to your email box each morning. Join here! Visit our resources page for more tools for your growth.
Chris Pratt shared this words as a part of his acceptance speech at the 2018 MTV Movie Awards where he offered “Nine Rules from Chris Pratt,...
The Power of Goals is simply amazing. This past Sunday, a group in Mexico City that monitors for trouble, observed a small earthquake but noted it...
Over the years we have seen many people handle their lives in different ways. Take careers for example. John Travolta, an actor, had his first...
Get the Success Thought of the Day delivered to your email box each morning. Join here! Also, more resources for your growth are available...
Get the Success Thought of the Day delivered to your email box each morning. Join here!
Get the Success Thought of the Day delivered to your email box each morning. Join here!
Get the Success Thought of the Day delivered to your email box each morning. Join here!
Many of us are often waiting for our opportunity or the “moment.” That magical moment when we will have the spotlight and the perhaps the...
Get the Success Thought of the Day delivered to your email box each morning. Join here!
Get the Success Thought of the Day delivered to your email box each morning. Join here!
The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible. – Winston Churchill We have all heard the adage of “turning lemons...
Find out what you are good at without even trying…and then try. – John Addison The value of aligning your time and efforts with...
It is not uncommon for us to begin to back off at a bit during the last stretch of running towards the finish line. In...
We have all heard the expression before that we see the finished product, but often do not see the work that went into producing...
A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds. – Francis Bacon Get the Success Thought of the Day delivered to your email...
If you’re bored with life – you don’t get up every morning with a burning desire to do things – you don’t have enough...
I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving: To...
You cannot push anyone up the ladder unless he is willing to climb it. – Andrew Carnegie This is a great reminder for us. No...
