I love penetrating, thought-provoking, high-impact quotations. I constantly look for them, save them, and share them via my websites, articles, books, and presentations. In my opinion, it is hard to find a more penetrating, thought-provoking, high-impact quotation than this one attributed to Aristotle: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, …
Many people want—even crave—to be leaders so that they can and will have “power over people.” Many leaders want to advance further up the leadership chain of command so that they will have ever-increasing power over people. Power, particularly perceived power over people, is very addictive. For many leaders, their addiction to perceived power over …
In the book titled Difference: The One-Page Method for Reimagining Your Business and Reinventing Your Marketing, author Bernadette Jiwa focuses on thinking differently and being a ‘difference thinker’ in order to create totally new programs, products and services. Much of what she writes is also directly applicable to leadership excellence. Consider these statements, found in the …
In the midst of significant change throughout America’s healthcare system, I can think of no better time to read and study the recently published book by Bernadette Jiwa titled Difference: The One-Page Method for Reimagining Your Business and Reinventing Your Marketing. Seth Godin, the world-class marketing guru, author, speaker, and blogger wrote the following about this …
As part of the research for my next book, titled Be An Inspirational Leader: Engage, Inspire, Empower, I am interviewing highly successful inspirational leaders from all across America. Following each interview, I contact several colleagues of the person interviewed and ask for additional perspectives regarding the leadership of the individual I interviewed. The response has been …
As a leader, you’re expected to have the answers. Whether the questions are coming from customers, clients, competitors, employees, or the media, it’s important to be equipped with the right answer at the right time. But there is something even more important for leaders than having the right answers. Michael Hyatt recently addressed this topic …
People, including current and future leaders, who truly want to grow, achieve greater success, and become better leaders, spend significant time closely observing and learning from the top performers. In the book The Little Book of Talent, Daniel Coyle writes: “We each live with a ‘windshield’ of people in front of us; one of the keys …
All leaders who aspire to achieve greater personal, professional, and organizational success should be focused on leading and teaching resilience. Resilience is what makes the difference between those who give up and those who press on and reach their goals. And that’s a very important thing. Just imagine the ramifications within your organization. Imagine what can …
A recent issue of Inc. Magazine featured a brief article titled “The Three Things Employees Really Want.” Columnist Marc Barros explained that money is nice, but what employees care about most goes far deeper than just money: Purpose. Nobody wants just a job. People want to be part of a company that is clear about …
The late John Wooden, an extraordinary leader and basketball coach, had a powerful leadership statement: “Don’t tell me what you’re going to do. Show me what you will do.” This leadership philosophy and expectation is as relevant for organizations, teams, colleagues, friends, and family as it is for individual leaders like you and me. “Don’t tell me what you’re …
“Success is a lousy teacher. It makes smart people think they can’t lose.” – Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates. If that statement is true—and I believe many, if not most times it is the absolute truth—each of us should take very serious pause to closely examine the huge ramifications of that statement and that truth in our lives and …
In chapter 12 of his recent book titled, Sometimes You Win – Sometimes You Learn, John Maxwell writes the following: “To me, a mature person [and leader] is someone who has learned from losses, has gained wisdom, and possesses a strong emotional and mental stability in the face of life’s difficulties.” If you read this column regularly, …
“What are you becoming?” This is a critical question every leader should frequently ask him or herself—and answer in detail. This is also a question every leader should frequently ask each and every direct report and team member. Not only is the question critical to achieving your potential and reaching your personal and professional goals and dreams, it is …
As leaders, we are constantly coaching, teaching, and influencing those whom we are privileged to lead. Leadership is very serious business! Your leadership will have a long-lasting positive or negative impact on each person and each organization you lead. We really don’t have a choice. If you are a leader—and everyone is a leader—you are …
“Most of the time we don’t choose our adversity, but all of the time we can choose our response to it.” John Maxwell wrote this powerful statement of truth in his latest book, Sometimes You Win – Sometimes You Learn. How true it is that “most of the time we don’t choose our adversity, but …
In chapter 7 of his recently published book titled Sometimes You Win – Sometimes You Learn, John Maxwell addresses the critical importance of a teachable spirit and a consistent, lifelong personal and professional attitude of teachability. Maxwell writes, “people often ask me what most determines if they will reach their potential. My answer: a teachable spirit.” Maxwell …
Former cabinet member John W. Gardner said, “The first and last task of a leader is to keep hope alive—the hope that we can finally find our way through to a better world—despite the day’s action, despite our own inertness, shallowness, and wavering resolve.” Create, nurture, and keep hope alive—this is a universal …
What is the focus of your learning? Think about it carefully. As a human being and as a leader, what is the focus of your learning? In chapter 5 of his recently published book titled Sometimes You Win – Sometimes You Learn, John Maxwell writes, “The desire to improve themselves is the DNA of all successful …
“After more than forty years leading and mentoring people, I have come to the conclusion that responsibility is the most important ability that a person can possess. Nothing happens to advance our potential until we step up and say, ‘I am responsible.’ If you don’t take responsibility, you give up control of your life.” The …
One of the most critical foundations for productive learning and leadership excellence is understanding and accepting reality. Not what we wish, not what we hope for or what we want to believe. It is truly amazing how many leaders do not clearly understand reality. Or staunchly refuse to believe and accept reality. In the end these …