I wear a yellow gold ring on my right hand shaped like the American Eagle head resting on a deep black onyx bed to remind me to Soar With The Eagles and Not to Run With The Turkeys. When I was younger I ran with turkeys as some teenagers do and although I thought of myself as a leader I was really following my chosen peer group. This was a group that saw fun in being rebellious and breaking the law. On one sunny and warm summer morning my closest friend and I spoke of breaking away from this group while sipping our hot fresh coffee in the parking lot of the local hangout. In agreement, we drove away in his white 69 VW Bug and never looked back.
Today we can look back at all the people we knew then and some are dead, some are in prison, and some are in homes. For the lucky few who broke away we raised families, grew businesses and live a rich life surround by love ones. We have no regrets and we count ourselves lucky to recognize the fork in the road and then choose the right path.
This path for me has been winding yet forward moving because I chose to remind myself daily to Soar with Eagles and not run with Turkeys. What do you use to motivate yourself to succeed and keep moving forward everyday in business and life?
I would be very curious to know how entrepreneurs keep themselves motivated to strive and thrive in life and business. Let me know.
Friday, May 4, 2007
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Leaders Lead, Great Leaders Have Followers
I was just reading an email I received from Mac Anderson, Founder of The Simple Truths, and he was talking about his book The Essence of Leadership. Mac is an inspirational speaker so of course his book talks about how Great Leaders focus on how others feel; “The really hard stuff is the soft stuff…it’s building a culture around the feelings of your customers and your employees.”
I happen to agree with him on this point. Great leaders do get us to follow with our emotions. They inspire us to follow with great words that paints a picture in our mind and triggers emotions. In addition, they demonstrate that they are prepared to act on their words. John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King were great orators who were also prepared to back up their words with actions. But most of all, they used words that fit our times and our collective feelings. They knew that what they said is what we truly wanted in our hearts. That is why they were great, they answered the question of 'what's in it for me'. For me this makes the difference between a Leader and a Leader with Followers.
Let me explain this in another way, you can be a leader who leads by fear and intimidation. Perhaps General Patton of World War Two and his Command of the US Army Tank Division, is the best example of a leader without followers. His troops did as they were trained and commanded to do. They may have respected him for his toughness and successes but I suspect they also hated him as much or more. Whereas a great leader does not need to command, we will follow that person to the ends of the earth because we love and respect them so much.
As you build your business ask yourself what kind of leader you are and what kind of leader you want to be. Both can create significant results but one might allow you to sleep better at night.
I happen to agree with him on this point. Great leaders do get us to follow with our emotions. They inspire us to follow with great words that paints a picture in our mind and triggers emotions. In addition, they demonstrate that they are prepared to act on their words. John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King were great orators who were also prepared to back up their words with actions. But most of all, they used words that fit our times and our collective feelings. They knew that what they said is what we truly wanted in our hearts. That is why they were great, they answered the question of 'what's in it for me'. For me this makes the difference between a Leader and a Leader with Followers.
Let me explain this in another way, you can be a leader who leads by fear and intimidation. Perhaps General Patton of World War Two and his Command of the US Army Tank Division, is the best example of a leader without followers. His troops did as they were trained and commanded to do. They may have respected him for his toughness and successes but I suspect they also hated him as much or more. Whereas a great leader does not need to command, we will follow that person to the ends of the earth because we love and respect them so much.
As you build your business ask yourself what kind of leader you are and what kind of leader you want to be. Both can create significant results but one might allow you to sleep better at night.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
What Would You Wear For A Client Presentation?
I participate in a UK Trainer Base that just asked me an interesting rhetorical question on the following:
"I'd like to ask a question (again rhetorical), what constitutes 'well dressed' in the training environment? I was at a training assessment day some time ago where potential associates, myself included were asked to deliver a short management training workshop on a topic of their choice. The range of attire of the delegates was quite interesting (another term for varied and questionable), especially as the sole objective of the day was to impress the potential recruiter. One or two were definitely on the 'bit casual' side. So, given the topic was Management and the person watching was a potential client: what would you have turned up in and would it have helped or hindered? Just a thought:)
Peter
AKA Ed"
I believe at all times you should dress for success but also match the role you want to convey. In Ed's example I would have been dressed in a suit. When I started my Construction Company I started in a suit for all clients but soon realized that I was over dressed for home renovations. So I changed my approach and began to dress in business casual for my industrial clients and in jeans and a company golf shirt for my residential clients.
The thinking was that if I was in a suit for the home owner I must charge too much. For the industrial clients I had to present success but not too much or they will also think I will charge them too much. It may seem like a trivial detail but don't underestimate the decisions made by others based on your image. Most people translate information into pictures and the first picture they see is how you are dressed. I want to present myself as successful and professional but at the same level of the person I'm speaking with at that time. A suit to match a suit and dressed down for the person who does not wear a suit.
What is your opinion on this subject?
"I'd like to ask a question (again rhetorical), what constitutes 'well dressed' in the training environment? I was at a training assessment day some time ago where potential associates, myself included were asked to deliver a short management training workshop on a topic of their choice. The range of attire of the delegates was quite interesting (another term for varied and questionable), especially as the sole objective of the day was to impress the potential recruiter. One or two were definitely on the 'bit casual' side. So, given the topic was Management and the person watching was a potential client: what would you have turned up in and would it have helped or hindered? Just a thought:)
Peter
AKA Ed"
I believe at all times you should dress for success but also match the role you want to convey. In Ed's example I would have been dressed in a suit. When I started my Construction Company I started in a suit for all clients but soon realized that I was over dressed for home renovations. So I changed my approach and began to dress in business casual for my industrial clients and in jeans and a company golf shirt for my residential clients.
The thinking was that if I was in a suit for the home owner I must charge too much. For the industrial clients I had to present success but not too much or they will also think I will charge them too much. It may seem like a trivial detail but don't underestimate the decisions made by others based on your image. Most people translate information into pictures and the first picture they see is how you are dressed. I want to present myself as successful and professional but at the same level of the person I'm speaking with at that time. A suit to match a suit and dressed down for the person who does not wear a suit.
What is your opinion on this subject?
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