Month: November 2016

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The Law of Consistency

In a couple of hours, I will be facilitating another “Emerging Leaders” group sessions here at work.  We are working our way through John Maxwell’s book, The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth.  Here is an application from the end of chapter 5 (Law of Consistency) that is worth sharing:

“The more whys you have for pursuing personal growth on a daily basis, the more likely you will be to follow through.  Start compiling those whys.  Think of immediate benefits as well as long-term ones.  Consider reasons related to purpose, vision, and dreams.  Think of how it will help you relationally, vocationally, and spiritually.  Any reason to grow is a good reason as long as it’s your reason.”

15-laws

Leave a comment Posted on Character, Development, Leadership, Ownership, Passion, Success

​Resist the Urge to Be Average

I read this friend’s post Facebook just now. I thought you would enjoy reading it.

[from the book “Simple Secrets for Becoming Healthy, Wealthy & Wise” by David Niven]

‘Everywhere around you there are average people. They entice you into being more like them by offering their acceptance and by leading you to believe that everyone else is already more like them than you are. 

But the “average-person sales pitch” leaves out that you will be sacrificing your goals, sacrificing your individuality and unique ideas – leading a life that is not so much yours as it is determined by the preferences of your group. 

“A person who wants to be a leader must turn his back to the crowd.”

Psychologists have observed that bad habits can spread through an office just like a contagious disease. Employees tend to mirror the bad behaviors of their coworkers, with factors as diverse as low morale, poor work habits, and theft from the employer all rising based on the negative behavior of peers.’

Winners resist the urge to be average.

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What Are You Reading?

Reading is one of the best ways to develop yourself.  Here are the books I’m currently reading:

  • The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth by John Maxwell
  • In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Battersea
  • Awesomely Simple by John Spence 

What are you reading?  

Leave a comment Posted on Character, Communication, Development, Entrepreneur, Leadership, Ownership, Passion, Productivity, Professionalism, Success

Leadership Beyond Our Walls – Aunt Millie’s Bakehouse by Jim Johnson

Yesterday, my leadership team and I had lunch with Tim & Todd Baumann of Aunt Millie’s Bakehouse.  Tim serves as the EVP of Sales and Todd is the Director of Continuous Improvement / Strategic Growth.  I met Tim while standing in a 2 hour line during early voting. We talked about bread, Cubs baseball, and leadership.I later emailed him asking him to meet my leadership team.

I have taken my leaders outside of our office to meet, interact with, and learn from local entrepreneurs and business leaders.  Aunt Millie’s has been in business in our city since 1901 and they do business all over the U.S. as overseas (Saudi Arabia, Dubai, etc.). The family who has been leading this company does so with passion, integrity, and great effectiveness.

We had an outstanding time with great conversations and shared insight.  My leadership team asks wonderful questions and are very curious and eager to learn and grow.

Here are some of our take-a-ways:

  • Creating a culture that lasts for generations takes commitment, consistency, and courage.
  • I want to help create a culture that becomes a legacy at 3Rivers – where people love being here while serving our communities.
  • Leadership matters– whether a company bakes bread or makes loans. 
  • It is worth getting better.  Always.
  • Serving others is a leader’s highest calling. 
  • “Be intentional”. None of us have all of the right answers however if your head and your heart is in the right place than great things are bound to happen.
  • Build trust.

In our community, we have a rich history of successful leaders, entrepreneurs , and community investors.  This exercise is proving to add value to my team, those we meet, and to me personally.  My team becomes ignited through these experiences.  We grow in our leadership journey as we work to always “lift our lids”.

Leave a comment Posted on decision making, Development, Entrepreneur, Leadership, Ownership, Passion, Productivity, Professionalism, Success

Response Ability

On my way into work this morning, I was listening to John Lee Dumas’ podcast, “Entrepreneur on Fire”.  In the episode I listened to (#1482 from November 11, 2016), John was interviewing Rob Moore, author of Disruptive Entrepreneur.  I would highly recommend taking time to listen to EOFire.  Whether you are striving to become an entrepreneur or not, you will learn valuable insights into yourself, your work, and your world.

During an interaction, Rob pointed out that John had emphasized the word “responsibility” as “response ability”.  They had a great exchange following that.  For obvious reasons.

This past Friday, my company held its 3rd annual all-employee education day.  It was a great time to learn, collaborate, and stretch.  But now it’s Monday morning.  What are we all doing with all that information we were exposed to?

Studies show that probably only 5% of us will actually act on new insights we’ve been exposed to. That’s it!  Only 5%!

But dove-tailing off of EOFire this morning, you have the “response ability” to do more with what you learn.

  • You read an article that directly applies to your line of work.  Take time to share it with someone on your team.  Find out if your work should change based upon new ideas you discovered.
  • You read a book about personal growth.  Create an action plan to put what you’ve learned into practice.  Today.
  • You attended a seminar that got you all pumped up.  Journal about what you learned, how you felt, and what you intend to do about this new insight.

In other words, when you learn something new, TAKE ACTION!  That’s your response ability.  As Jeff Olson in The Slight Edge says, take daily, disciplined action toward your goals and you will succeed.

Are you taking responsibility?  Make a plan.  Do the plan.  Don’t let great insight and experience go to waste.

make things happen