Great Leaders Transform Activities into Purposeful Action

“When you engage in systematic, purposeful action,

using and stretching your abilities to the maximum,

you cannot help but feel positive and confident about yourself.”

Brian Tracy

All too often, people engage in work or relationships without consciously evaluating what they want. As a result, there is confusion and missteps on how to move forward in their roles and responsibilities.

The key to productive, effective and even efficient performance is to focus on the purpose. When we align our thoughts, attitudes and behaviors towards achieving goals that are directly related to our purpose, we accomplish amazing results.

Great leaders understand this philosophy and make sure that all the team players fully understand, can articulate and embrace the purpose of their job. Priorities are much easier to establish. Goals become more focused. Synergy is prevalent.

Being a transformational leader takes commitment, openness and accountability. Influencing people to fully engage mind, body and spirit to achieve synchronicity will always optimize potential. It all starts with purposeful leadership.

ACTS to Ensure Relevance

A simple definition of relevance is the "relation to the matter at hand."

"So what," one might say. Well, experience and information is supporting that unless we ensure our relevance to a person, a department, a team, an organization, we can pretty much call it a day and move on.

What does it mean to ensure relevance? It means four steps...

1. Ascertain your current roles, responsibilities and relationships. All too often, we become immersed, no let me rephrase that, we become entrenched in a position or a part that we play so deeply that we lose sight of what is important. Clearly assessing our current functions and tasks can help to establish how we are establishing our relevance to the situations that we find ourselves in. Once this step is done, we can move forward armed with valuable information. Now, we know what we can bring to the game, the job, the partnership.
   
2. Create clarity around what is important. And let's try something novel - a friend in a recent conversation really helped me with this - start with yourself first. This is the time for you to fully understand what you want and need to ensure that your mental and physical energy and are souls are important to the matters at hand. After we appreciate our own wants and needs, then and only then can we start to fully appreciate what is important to others. Now, we can start asking better questions, sharing relevant information, talent and energy.
   
3. Transform through thoughtful action. Setting goals is a way of life. In fact, goals are set all the time most of the time without thought and definitely without any consideration for the planned actions that will help accomplish that goal. Investing thinking time up front can and will save tons of time. We can ensure relevance when we go into an interview, a response to an "request for proposal" (RFP), an evaluation or meeting with at the very least a well-defined plan of action that can positively ensure successful outcomes.
4. Sustain relevance. This last step involves consistent, ongoing, critical evaluation. The quality of what we evaluate is much more important then the quantity of what we are measuring. Sure we may have only made two mistakes, but the mistakes cost thousands of dollars or one or two priceless relationship. On the other hand, perhaps we have 50 clients but each of them only generates $500. Can a business survive on $25,000 or would changing the quality and the service and now the company commands $5000 per client and generates $250,000? Measuring and monitoring tasks, products, services, experiences - you decide what you want to measure, just be sure that it is meaningful.

Ascertaining, creating clarity, transforming and sustaining are approaches that can ensure relevance, that there is a "relationship to the matter or situation at hand" if you choose. The choice is yours.

How Clear Are You on What You Really, Really Want?

One would think that when a person is asked what they really, really want in work, in life, in a relationship, that the response would be immediate. Surprisingly, or perhaps, not so surprising, the responses are: silence... or "Let me think for a minute," or more sadly, "I really don't take time to think about what I really want, I'm too busy doing."

Silence or "Let me think for a minute"...

These two are interesting responses. They to me indicate that the person is stopped short for several reasons.

1. Genuinely, I need time to give a thoughtful response because it is important to me
2. Actually, I am afraid to express what I really want
   
3. I need to think about a response that will sound interesting and important enough to share and impress you
   
4. I don't trust you and so I'm not willing to share

This third response, "I really don't take time to think about what I really want, I'm too busy doing," indicates several things to me.

1. I'm not worthy of investing thinking time in myself to fully appreciate what I really want
2. I'm not used to stopping all the crazy busyness to think
   
3. I'm clueless to how important understanding what I really want is to me and to anyone involved with me
   

Whatever the reasons or stories we have for not clarifying what we really want, it has become profoundly clearly to me, that this is one of our greatest limiting factors in success in business and joy in life. The more I am clear about what I want, the more likely I am to attract that want (positive or negative into my life).

And so, I am leaving you with this question, "What do you really, really want out of ...?"

Or in the words of Henry David Thoreau....will you "live your life in quiet desperation."

Are You Effective in Leadership Style?

Numerous styles of have been shared over the course of time. In my research, I have decided to share two very specific theories which describe behaviors that demonstrate how effective or ineffective a leader can be.

In the 1930's, Dr. Levin, a psychologist, led a group of researchers in a study which established 3 types of leadership - Authoritarian, Delegative, and Participative.

• Authoritarian, also known as autocratic, was a style where the leader tells you how to think and act. It's the leader's way or the highway. A tremendous amount of distinction between the boss and the underlings and never the twain shall meet.
• Delegative, also known as laissez-faire, was a style where the leader offers little or no guidance and leaves the decisions up to the group.
  
• Participative, also know as democratic, was a style where the leader offers support and guidance. This leader actively seeks input and actually listens and responds to suggestions. In this type of leadership, the leader actually actively engages and participates within their team.

In the 1990's to the present, Dr. Paul Taffinder, an world renowned expert in leadership has been researching and publishing about seven styles of leadership. In 2006, Dr. Taffinder published these interesting styles of leadership in the book entitled, The Leadership Crash Course.

• The Transformational Leader is a style that transforms commitment and levels of performance, highly goal directed and willing to go against traditional approaches.
• The Enforcer is a style that are cautiously optimistic while driving towards very specific, defined objectives.
  
• The Deal Maker is a style that attracts followers because of the energy, enthusiasm and interest in the new and exciting.
  
• The Administrator is a style clear in what needs to be achieved and ruthlessly follow through.
• The Visionary is a style that inspires people to dream of greatness but fail to follow through.
• The Serial Entrepreneur is a style that is imaginative, but calculating, gamblers, displaying huge energy and commitment and sweeping people along with them because they make seemingly impossible challenges achievable
• The Spin Doctor is a style that seems to be everything a leader should be, but their behavior is inconsistent and self-serving.

These are two different approaches to defining styles of leadership. Both experts researched and identified traits and abilities that demonstrate varying degrees of effectiveness as a leader. At any given time, people will demonstrate any and all of these leadership styles. The question now becomes, how can we aspire to become like the traditional style from Dr. Levin's research, participative leader? And the next question, which in my mind now becomes imperative in this time of indecision, ineffective decisions, entrenched styles of leadership become truly transformational as Dr. Taffinder recommends?

I'm interested in your thoughts.

Understanding Motivation

Understanding that our motivations cause us to act or not act is a major key to personal and professional success. To further drive home this point, let's start with some basic definitions for motivation.

1. wordnetweb.princeton.edu -"the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior."
2. en.wikipedia.org - "the activation or energization of goal-oriented behavior. Motivation is said to be intrinsic or extrinsic."

If our motivators help or hinder us in achieving our goals, I'd like to offer some tips that can be considered to ensure that we achieve the positive results and goals that we desire.

Tip #1 - Set aside time for reflection and review of your motivators. Identify interests, fulfilled and unfulfilled dreams and goals and create a motivation journal.

Tip #2 -Focus on the positive goals or change that you want. The more positive and attractive the thoughts and images, the more likely you will be motivated to achieve the goal.

Tip #3 - Research individuals who have been successful. Read biographies, view movies and videos, interview successful people in your community.

Tip #4 - Find an accountability buddy or buddies. An accountability buddy is a person who will support, listen and provide honest feedback to help you discover what is hindering or supporting your growth.

Tip #5 - Measure your progress. Create a system that tracks your success, your challenges, your opportunities to change and grow.

Tip #6 - Be adventurous. Get out of your comfort zone, attend diverse social, community and employment opportunities.

Tip #7 - Have fun. Understanding one's motivation is a large part of our life and work journey and so we might as well enjoy the ride.

"The only lifelong, reliable motivations are those that come from within, and one of the strongest of those is the joy and pride that grow from knowing that you've just done something as well as you can do it."

Lloyd Dobens

Feasibility - Look Before Leaping

A feasibility study can mitigate risks if conducted as one of the first steps before leaping into a venture, a relationship, a project, a job or a change.

Why would an individual or company research feasibility?

The following simple definitions are a great start for building the case for investing time, money, resources and talent...

• "The quality of being doable" (wordnetweb.princeton.edu)

• "Doable, possible, achievable, workable" (en.wiktionary.org/wiki)

• "A determination that a process, design, procedure, or plan can be successfully accomplished in the required time frame."thequalityportal.com/glossary/f.htm

What are the elements for a successful feasibility study?

There are six basic elements for determine feasibility...

1. Identify Market/Customer Needs.
   

• What are the past, present and future needs of the market or client base?
  
• What are the services or products they have used, are currently using or would like to use?

2. Identify the Present Benefits and Results.

• What are the benefits that the products or services will bring?
• What results will the market or client base receive from this product or service?

3. Identify the Future Benefits and Results.

• What are the future needs of this endeavor to ensure sustained success?
• What will it take to ensure that these needs are met?
  

4. Identify the Resources, Costs, Investments.

• What will it cost to deliver the product or service?
• What resources are available to support this endeavor?
• What are the other investments that are required to make this effort possible?

5. Identify the Alternative Source of Supply or Service, A.K.A. competitive analysis.

• What sources are currently providing this product or service?
• How customer friendly are these current competitors?
• What are the current challenges that the alternative sources of supply are encountering?
  

6. Identify the Strategy and Financial Plan.

• What is the purpose of this endeavor?
• What is the vision and mission of this venture?
• What are the values required to support this product or service?
  
• What are the financial projections for a successful venture?

A feasibility study is not an exercise to delay to the start of a project or change. It is an investment in time, money, and resources to ensure that thoughtful business and life decisions are made. The ultimate benefits and results - leaping into deep water and finding that when you leap you can and will swim and sustain success.

A Life Global Positioning System (GPS)

Achieving visions and goals takes some degree of planning. A plan simply defined is "a process or method of acting, doing, proceeding, making"; an even simpler definition is "a map." Creating a plan involves dreaming, defining, directing and diverting. What tools do we have available to us to ensure that we arrive at our desired destination.

The marvelous Global Positioning System(GPS) comes to mind. With a GPS, one is able to connect to the target because certain coordinates have been plugged in and the time is recorded. When using the physical GPS, there a many options below are a few

• a map
• distance
• real time traffic
  
• detours
• arrows
  
• a voice, (my person favorite even when the street names not distinguishable but the person makes a valiant attempt with the interpretation)

having this tool for travel and vacation is marvelous, however, what if we developed our own a GPS for life?

• A map - a plan that lays out the results we are seeking a career path, a project, any goal or objective that with a little strategic thinking and tools for implementation would make all the difference in the world.
• Distance - how long or how far do we have to go to achieve
  
• Real time traffic - those issues are in front of us every day are we are now prepared to deal with
  
• Detours - Contingency plans for the unforeseen circumstances that come up along the way
• Arrows- the tools that take us right or left, over, under, around or through what ever obstacles are standing in the way
• A voice - the resources, mentors, self talk that can guide us, counsel us and listen when we get stalled or breakdown.

An electronic GPS saves time and generates peace of mind. With thoughtful planning, a life GPS is adds even more value. Having a plan, anticipating how long it will take, identifying what are the knows and unknows that show up, using visual to help us stay the path and to ultimately have the support and guidance to help us when the going gets tough - that's a Life Global Positioning System. Today, let's start developing our own GPS and see if our journey and work aren't so much better.

The Power of NEW

Why do we wait for the New Year for something NEW to take on significance? For me, there is a particular significance to NEW. Brainyquote.com describes the word new as

"Having existed, or having been made, but a short time; having originated, discovered or occurred lately; having recently come into existence, or into one's possession; not early or long in being; of late origin; recent; fresh; modern; -- opposed to old, as, a new coat; a new house; a new book; a new fashion."

If change our point of view, the Power of New happens everywhere. A clock ticks and a minute is born - that presents a new opportunity to start again. A plan fails - that presents the option to find new approaches. A relationship is struggling - that gives people the chance to start anew, restore or move on.

All too frequently I hear in conversations, I am sure I have even said it myself. This is stale, stagnant or boring, when in reality, it has been the perception, not the reality. Let's try for today to take on the Power of New.

One might ask, "How do we take on the Power of New."

Here on some suggestions:

• Rise early and enjoy a new sunrise - if it's cloudy, know that there is a sunrise somewhere in the world starting a new day.
• Review your job and compare to your job description - I'll bet you will find at least one new significant role that you have taken on that can be added (don't just lump it in the "other" line - make it a distinctly new addition).
• Discover a new route to work - I've had struggling business owners tell me that when they have taken a new route they often are led to a solution to one of their problems.
• Change your approach - even the most repetitious tasks have some element of the new in them - you can change what you are wearing, the hand that you write with, the tools that you use. No one else has to know and you will be surprised how different one thinks when something new is added.
• Ask someone you know, what is new in their lives. If they say nothing, ask them if they have met anyone new, read any new books, learned any interesting new facts. It's amazing how people open up.

These are just a few tips to help you discover the Power of New.

Have A Happy and Prosperous New Year

12 Gifts to Self in 2011

1. Set the stage health
   
2. Enjoy sunrises and sunsets
3. Go for walks in nature
4. Read a novel (or two)
   
5. Do something extra at work and tell no one about it
   
6. Try something new
7. Spend an hour or a day in silence
   
8. Create a development plan and goals that support growth and development
   
9. Be open to finding my talents
   
10. Be kinder to self
    
11. Hold myself accountable for what I control and let go of all that I don't
    
12. List 12 things that I am grateful for and send it to myself as a thank you note
    

What gifts will you give yourself this year?

New Year's Resolutions - aka - ACTS(TM)

2010 is coming to a close. Historically, at this time of year people generally start making New Year's resolutions. Popularly New Year's resolutions are regarding losing weight or to stop some other destructive behavior. The tradition is attributed to the ancient Babylonian's - the resolution - returning borrowed farm equipment.

I wonder who was more successful with resolutions, the ancient Babylonians or we in the present day?

There are four ways to make New Year's Resolutions stick.

Step 1 Assess what you would like to change.

At the end of 2009, I reviewed my journal, completed some psychometric evaluations and conducted some informal 360 degree evaluations. The results were astonishing - I needed to work on personal responsibility. (No really, that is not really a surprise, I am notorious for over extending, doing more for others and failing to accomplish my personal objectives and goals. Now, I had a starting point


Step 2 Create a purpose and vision for what you would have identified will help you the most.

I decided to allow myself to expand and innovate. I spent January reviewing my dream inventory (what I would like to accomplish in 2011). My passions came alive in quiet times of reflection and in conversations with close and trusted friends and advisers. I now clearly focused on what I needed to do to ensure personal accountability. and formalized my strategic plan in writing.

Step 3 Transform your life by setting goals and taking action.

I used the wheels of life to help me prioritize my goals physically, mentally, socially, spiritually, financially, socially, financially, and in my career to ensure ta for how I would be more accountable to my purpose with changes This really helped to break my resolution into interesting images for success and growth.Now I could set 1 goal for each area. This simplified the process it was and is easier for me to manage my time.

Step 4 Sustain your progress and success.

In the past, this has been the area where I and most people fail. No pun intended, but now we must hold ourselves accountable for our actions in order to get the results that we desire. I enhanced an approach that I used to monitor my progress weekly, monthly, quarterly and at the end of the year. I changed how I journaled daily to monitor daily when I started something new.

Now you have it, my approach to New Year's Resolutions. This year has proved to be an amazing year in all aspects in my life. I have a very long way to go with personal accountability and I am now in year two for starting ACTS(TM) all over again.

Here's a start for you with ACTS(TM)

What have you Assessed that needs to change in 2011?

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What is the new image, vision or picture that you will create for 2011?

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What goals will your set and actions will you take in 2011?

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How will you measure your progress in 2011?

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The Danger of Making Excuses

Transferring responsibility to others has become one of the greatest tricks of the last few decades. The second greatest trick is placing the blame. In either case these actions are called making excuses.

Here are some common EXCUSES:

• My boss is a jerk, that's why the company is failing.
• The government has made very bad decisions, that's why this country is failing.
• My spouse or partner doesn't listen to me, that's why our relationship is failing.
• My subordinates doesn't know how to do their job, that's why my division is failing.

I could go on for pages and yet I'd like to stop with these four.

My boss is a jerk, that's why the company is failing.

This excuse is really interesting, after all who hired you, or at least is currently keeping you in your position. The boss is far from perfect and so are we. What if we considered that our boss hired us for our strengths, our talents, our creativity, our differences from them in order to find new ways to ensure the company's success? If so, why not take the responsibility to find ways to work with the boss in order to make the company grow and flourish?

The government has made very bad decisions, that's why this country is failing.

This excuse is really popular and takes us off the hook for all the decisions make regarding our economic, social, health and educational position in the world. How much do we know about our rights and responsibilities in a democracy? What are our roles and obligations to help keep this country a world leader?

My spouse or partner doesn't listen to me, that's why our relationship is failing.

In my opinion, this is an excuse of convenience . How often are we having conversations that we reach mutual understanding and respect? What can we learn and do to help us become more honest and effective communicators and collaborators?

My subordinates doesn't know how to do their job, that's why my project, division, community, or family is failing.

This excuse is total abdication of responsibility. What have we done or are we doing to ensure that our staff, subordinates, team mates, children have all the tools and resources they need to be benefit from from influence? How can lead others to make better decisions and take action on those goals to ensure great teamwork ?

I am learning to appreciate that I only have control over me. Which means that I need to own my roles as a follower, a community member, a partner and a leader. I then need to develop those skills and talents that will help me to become a positive influence on others. Making excuses is dangerous, leaving damage, destruction and disappointment in its wake. Consider contributing, rather than making excuses and imagine how amazing the world and our lives would be.

Review - A Year End Transaction

2010 is coming to a close, quickly I might add. This is the time to review, reflect and prepare to reframe.

In reviewing the past year here are some thoughts and questions.

“Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody,
I think that is a much greater hunger,
a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.”

Mother Teresa, Missionary to India

What goals did I achieve?
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What relationships have I forged?
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What contributions have I made at work?
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What contributions have I made at home?
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What contributions have I made n my personal and professional growth and development?
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Set aside a block of time to review this past year is a great investment of time.

Any suggestions for others to review at the end of this year would be greatly appreciated.

Focus, Faith, and Fervor

When embarking on a new endeavor or relationship, we often fail to appreciate what it will take to ensure success. In fact, quite honestly, I had not nearly often enough considered the long term effects of those quick, easy and sometimes even thoughtless decisions I have made in jobs, relationships, and life in general. Then it struck me that there are three essentials that can and will ensure the degree of our success. Focus - Faith - Fervor

Focus is the starting point

"What you choose to focus your mind on is critical because you will become what you think about most of the time..." Noel Peebles

Finding the focus, that central theme or purpose for our actions and existence, sets the stage for a healthier, more productive and definitely more satisfied existence.

Some Focus Finding Questions:

• What impacts me?

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• What interests me?

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• What inspires me?

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Faith is the second point.

"A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history." Mahatma Gandhi

Finding our faith, that unshakable belief that we have the strength, resourcefulness and talent to live and work in a manner that always, always contributes. This is the midpoint for fulfillment and satisfaction.

Some Faith Finding Questions:

• How do I totally support myself in my focus?

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• How do I tap into that universal source of strength that holds me unshakable to my focus?

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• Who can help to restore my faith in my focus?

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Fervor is the is the third essential component.

Even the knowledge of my own fallibility cannot keep me from making mistakes. Only when I fall do I get up again.

Vincent van Gogh

Some Fervor Finding Questions:

• How do I get motivated?

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• How do I get back on track once derailed from my focus?

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• What would ignite that candle of passion when there is no fuel left?

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It's within our power to change lives, companies, communities and the world with focus, faith and fervor.

The Key of Power

"He who controls others may be powerful,
but he who has mastered himself is mightier still."
Lao Tzu

Power has many definitions. Sociologists define power as "the ability to impose one's will on others, even those who resist in some way." Some dictionary definitions "a measure of an entity's ability to control their environment, including the behavior of other entities" "or the ability to do or act; capability of doing or accomplishing something."

Some ways to find the Key of Power:

• Understand the vision, the mission, the company or the relationship for which we are about to embark upon.
• Decide that we are in agreement and actually want to be part of that objective.
• Identify roles and talents that best support that purpose.
• Communicate our concerns and our contributions.
• Listen and receive feedback assertively.
• Walk away when someone attempts to take total control of our power.

Power comes from within. We all decide how much we are affected by outside influences. The key of power will open any door if and when we fully appreciate what we own and what we allow to affect us and the results adversely.

Go within to find the Key of Power.

Make SPACE

Life keeps getting more and more cluttered; more stuff, more information, more competition, more challenges, more, more, more… What happens with all this accumulation and there is no room left - fatigue, dissatisfaction, and disillusionment.

How can we make more room in our lives for increased health, family, productivity, contributions? We can make space.

Select what is important. In Wayne Dyer’s The Awakened Life, he mentioned that when we identify that we as human beings really have one business – the people business. Now I realize that that is my business, so all the other clutter that shows up really moves lower on the responsibility ladder.

In family, social and business, understanding and interacting within relationships can become slightly challenging unless one keeps in mind that serving others doesn’t mean sacrificing self. It does mean to serve others and self in a respectful and healthy manner. This already takes some pressure off.

Prioritize our goals. It’s great to have goals. It’s not so great to have copious, competing goals. Come on, you know exactly what I mean. The job, the family, the interests, the wants and needs certainly can stack up and become almost too distracting. Collect all the goals in one area, make a list and establish what is really important. The rest, cross off the list or move to a “someday” list for future reference.

Assess our resources. Having a focus and then reviewing goals is a great start for making space. Next, let’s identify our resources. What tools do we have in our tool kit – skills, knowledge and talents? Who are the people we know that can help us personally and professionally. What about our experiences and community.

Collaborate with others. Last week, in the United States we celebrated Thanksgiving. I heard on the radio that people were cutting back on how many people they were inviting – too much cost and work. Now I really appreciate how much work a large dinner can be, I have even put together one or two on occasion myself, however this can really clutter life and physical space. Whether it’s a family, community or work setting, we can really make space for more enjoyment, more team work if we learn to collaborate. People want to be included and help. Just ask and one is wonderfully surprised with the results.

Enjoy life. When we know what is important, prioritize our goals, assess our resources and collaborate with others, we can really find joy. If we just choose to make SPACE.

Thanksgiving a Habit Not Just a Holiday

The great news about Thanksgiving is that it doesn’t have to just the second Monday of every October in Canada or the fourth Thursday of every November in the U.S. Thanksgiving can actually become a habit.

One might ask, “Why make Thanksgiving a habit?”

The reasons are infinite and personal. Appreciating that, I will share with you three of my reasons for creating a habit around thanksgiving.

It’s necessary. For me, taking the time to write or say thank you is a wonderful way to let others know that I was aware of their contribution.

It’s sincere. Saying and showing thank you in a genuine and heartfelt manner. Expressing and acting in gratitude that let’s the person know that it really added value to myself and others.

It’s positive and inclusive. The one person that I have had to become more conscious of thanking was me. Saying and writing a thank you note is something that I do at least once a month. Some months are tougher than others, I’m not always thankful for acting like a jerk or putting my foot in my mouth. Then I may only be writing that I am thankful finding a need to change.

Sound like a good habit to create. Please share with me what might be motivating you to make thanksgiving a habit and not just a holiday.

Be a Little Crazy - THINK DIFFERENT

Here’s to the crazy ones. The rebels. The troublemakers.
The ones who see things differently.
While some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.

Appeared on a poster from Apple

Think Different! This slogan was used by Apple from 1997 until 2002. It still is used in some advertising with Apple.

Be a little crazy today and THINK DIFFERENT.

Today, I will think different about...

Instead of being a writer, I am an artist in words..

Instead of being a nurse, I am a health engineer.

Instead of being a consultant, I am a change agent.

Instead of being a teacher, I am a motivator.

Instead of being a student, I am a future leader.

As we actively notice our thoughts, we can appreciate that those thoughts may actually be setting the tone for the day, our live and certainly our success

Instead of being practical, I am a little crazy - No I take that back, today, I intend to be really, really crazy.

How about you? Will you be a little crazy and Think Different. I can't wait to hear the results.

Breakdown, Breakup, Breakthrough

Making change seems insurmountable. Before us often looms wants and needs while having less. Finding ways to think and feel more effectively is becoming harder and harder. Unless we stop ourselves this downward spiral can become devastating. we can feel beaten down and up. Ben Zander says it best in the his wonderful book The Art of Possibilities.

"I am so sorry for you,
you're lives have been so easy.
You can't play great music
unless your heart has been broken."

Understanding that feeling sorry for ourselves gives us very little chance. Becoming a creature that focuses on results and then simple processes has much greater potential for sustainable and successful change.

The company is failing. The career is tanking. The project is stalled. Let's move past the heart break and get to work with a new three step process.

Breakdown: This is the phase where you analyze, outline and brainstorm all that is happening in the situation. Be detailed, leave out none of the essentials. Identify all the thoughts, feelings, actions and results related to what is causing you pain.

Ask: "How can I break down the problem to what is causing all the angst?"

1. Lack of money
2. Lack of friends
3. Lack of time
4. Lack of a plan
5. Lack of goals
6. Lack of clear focus
   
7. Lack of action
8. Lack of accountability
9. Lack of creativity
   

Sound familiar. And this is only a short list. Keep the list going.

Breakup: This is the phase where you take your list, find common themes and prioritize.

Ask: What is the best way to break this list up into practical and realistic elements.

If you actually look at the above list, it can at first be broken up into 3 major categories:

• Resources (Money, friends and time)
  
• Planning (Plan, focus, and goals)
  
• Action (Action, creativity and accountability)
  

Now look at your list and break that list up into no more than 3 or 4 major categories. Keep in mind that we are working towards creating a manageable list.

Breakthrough: Think of this phase as getting your life back, your hope back and ultimately your success back.

Ask: What can I do right now, today, to actually help me to breakthrough at least one barrier that is holding me back?

Resources - Find a mentor - Call a colleague, friend, former boss that you highly respect and ask for help in managing time and money

Planning - Get lots of blank paper, flip charts are great, identify where you want to focus and set goals.

Action - For one goal outline a very specific action plan, be creative and hold yourself accountable.

A simple process - Breakdown, breakup and breakthrough! Now it's your turn. Let me know how it works out.

The Mind is the Master Weaver

"They themselves are makers of themselves"

...by virtue of the thoughts which they choose and encourage; that mind is the master weaver, both of the inner garment of character and the outer garment of circumstance, and that, as they may have hitherto woven in ignorance and pain they may now weave in enlightenment and happiness.

James Allen

(As a Man Thinketh)

Our abilities, our intellect, our education are not what is holding us back from success in work and life. What is holding us back is our thoughts. Conversely, our thoughts are what lead us to greater degrees of success and achievement. All actions are directed by what we are thinking at the time and even though we may make a conscious decision to take action, something holds us back - the subconscious. Our subconscious mind helps or hinders us in getting the job we want, the income we desire, the relationships we seek.

A great deal of time is often spend on evaluating what has happened in the past. As we review and reflect our past accomplishments, it become essential to understand simultaneously, that we have undermined or enhanced our own outcomes. If we have not identified those limiting subconscious thoughts, our ability to take positive action to achieve our goals is greatly decreased. For example, an important objective is looming that we are responsible for, but there are repeated interruptions by others requests for help and assistance. These interruptions cause us to become distracted missing targets and responsibilities to others and ourselves. What set us up for failure? Our thoughts. We thought others had a greater need - our work isn't as important. In reality, we haven't thought about creating healthy relationships and limits that support collaborative success.

Our relationship with ourselves is another one that requires serious attention. Another example, I woke up this morning before 5AM and thought instantly, about writing. The bed was nice and warm, I was really comfortable. My second thought,writing can wait. I closed my eyes, snuggled under the covers and my thoughts returned to writing. I realized that I had a great idea - noticing how my thoughts affected my success or derailed me. With a sigh (not a really big one), I got out of bed and started to write. One goal for the day accomplished just as the sun was rising.

A great way to start the day. When we learn to think that our contributions and performance are important, we will stop being derailed and start achieving greater degrees of success. Notice the next time you are off or on track to success. Actively asking, "What am I thinking about right now?" when struggling to get something accomplished becomes a powerful habit for increasing the ability to refocus on what is important.

As James Allen wrote, "The Mind is the Master Weaver." Actively think about what you want to weave today.

Expand the Mind - Throw the Box Away!

Approach every day of your life with new perspective.
Don't just think outside of the box -
Throw the box away!
The Imagineering Way
By
The Imagineers

There is a trend and a tendency to put everything in a box. Now a box can be useful if one needs to carry around a limited object. But what if there is a need for carry something that is so big, so great, so tremendous that a box simply couldn't hold it.

Thousands of years ago the Egyptians and the Mayan's constructed marvelously, ingenious and creative structures. The structures, pyramids were built from rocks so large that even today experts really don't know how they were moved to their specific location. Although knowing the actual method that these architects used is important, what is more significant to me were the mind mastery used to achieve the dream. To me this was evidence of Imagineering.

Walt Disney was the Master of Imagineering, he imagined what life could be like and threw throw the box away. Men and women like Disney are becoming increasing hard to find. For some reason, we are adopting a mental attitude of restricting thoughts, ideas, dreams, and strategies As a results goals, behaviors, action steps and results are limited and quite honestly mediocre at best.

How can we start throwing away the box? Using a four step approach.

• Assess what you put in a box? We often put a label on so many things. Relationships, income, jobs, projects that cause us to become inflexible. The focus is so narrow that we achieve something good, but certainly not great.

Assess what you are putting in boxes today:

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• Create a image in your mind that is too big to fit in a box. Dream big, identify what might be too big for any box. What would your relationship be like without the box. More fun, certainly more interesting.

What can you create today that won't fit in any box?
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• Take Actions so big that the idea of using any box is ridiculous. It doesn't really matter if it works on the concrete level. Become an idealist and allow the architect in you and take action to build or move that idea or project forward. Remember, no boxes.
  

What actions can you take today that won't fit in your box?
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• Finally, Stop trying to find a bigger box and start living without a box. Let go of the box idea entirely and go for it. I know from plenty of experience that all too often we often think that the next size box actually demonstrates grow. In the short term, this is probably true, but if you want to make significant, sustainable change.
  

What is still stopping you?
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When will your start and throw that box away? ________