Do Something…Anything

Fake it till you become it.  ~ Amy Cuddy ~

Some days you just don't feel it.  Try.  Try, anyway.  Even if it's just a little effort, don't slack off.  Be honest with yourself and then lie to yourself.  Tell yourself that you are engaged -  just do something because people are counting on you.  You can have an off day - just don't show it to the world.  Have a confidant because you might need someone to vent to but leave it at that and go change the world...even if you don't feel like it today.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

"I make myself feel more engaged."

"Busy" Doesn't Always Cut It

Don't mistake activity with achievement. ~ John Wooden ~

Treading water is certainly a form of swimming but it'll never win you a gold medal in a relay race.  You work hard.  It's true.  But just because you are busy at work, it doesn't mean you are accomplishing anything.  First, are you working on the things that matter?  Second, are you easily distracted when working on important tasks? Finally, is it more important to check off a to-do list or more important to have solved an critical problem? 

Ask yourself at the end of each day.  "What have I accomplished?"  Don't think in terms of tasks completed but rather what propelled you forward in the achievement of goals.  As a leader, never get fooled by your "busy" workers.  Ask them the same question.  "What did you accomplish today?"  Then: "How did that help us move toward our desired results?"

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

"I'm busy on the tasks that will help me succeed."

Don’t Dwell Too Long

Consider how much more you often suffer from your anger and grief, than from those very things for which you are angry and grieved.  ~ Marcus Antonius ~

Think about the last time you were really upset.  How did it make you feel?  How much energy did you use? Anger, frustration, and stress are normal emotions.  It's OK to get mad.  It's how you use your anger that will make the difference.  Do you use it as an excuse to be a victim?  Try instead to use is it as a motivator.  Think about why you are angry and what you can do about it - not how you can control the other person but, what you can do about yourself.  Great leaders will take the time to experience emotions and then they use it to learn.  Try not to dwell and you'll be stronger.


I experience my anger and I then move on.

Play to Win

Where the loser saw barriers, the winner saw hurdles. ~ Robert Brault ~

How do see difficulties?  Are they huge mountains that you can't see a way around?  Do you use words like "impossible" or "never?"  As a leader, take an assessment of your reactions the next time a challenge comes your way.  Do you begin with the possibilities or the impossibilities?  Do you shut down and assume that there is nothing that you can do?  If you find yourself wondering what you can do as opposed to what you can't do - then you are a visionary.  Leaders must strive to always see what they can do in any situation - and never give up on the dream. As a leader, help others to see what is possible.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

"I see obstacles and I still move forward."

No Excuses

One of the most important tasks of a manager is to eliminate his people's excuses for failure. ~ Robert Townsend ~

The difference between explanations and excuses is credibility.  How do you gain credibility?  By focusing on what you can do as opposed to what you can't do.  Never point fingers.  Loose the blame game.  Take ownership.  Always renegotiate.  Find a new path.  Ask questions.  Trust.  Try.  Coach. Turn frustrations into motivation.  Stay positive.  Don't complain.  Find humor. Make commitments instead of promises. Read the definition of credibility and live up to it, so you can teach others how to do the same.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

I build credibility in myself and others.

Love People Or Forget Leadership

I think everyone should go to college and get a degree and then spend six months as a bartender and six months as a cabdriver. Then they would really be educated. ~ Al McGuire ~ 

As a leader, it is necessary to be competent at your profession and you should understand your chosen industry.  More important, however, is your knowledge of people.   As you become a leader the most important skills are your inter-personal ones.   No matter your profession, the minute you become a supervisor, people become your number one focus - not your craft.  If you are uncomfortable with people then you will never be a good leader.  Spend your time honing your people skills and less time improving your craft.  You must love people in order to succeed - since supervising others is your number one function as a leader.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

I love working with people.

Put Yourself Out There

Boldness is a mask for fear, however great. ~ John Dryden ~

You might have heard the phase, "Never let them see you sweat."  There is some value in that statement.  It's not that you want to be false in your confidence.  Instead think of it this way -- there is research that suggests you can become more powerful if you hold yourself in a powerful pose.  So, perhaps if you make bold choices despite your fear, then perhaps you will help reduce that fear.  Confidence comes from experience.  Act as if the first time is really the second or third time.  Great leaders are fearful, just like you.  The only difference is that they aren't timid.  They don't act scared.  They act bold.  Act as if you aren't scared. Act until you become bold - until you become confident.  Put yourself out there - no one will find you until you do.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

I am bold even when I am fearful. 

Make Things Happen

“It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.” ~ Leonardo da Vinci ~

If you think instant success is really instant you need to start interviewing people.  Talk to those who have seemingly overnight success and ask them about their journey.  You might hear about struggles and failures or they might tell you that it was easy when they were following the right path.   The one thing in common is they will tell you that you have to do the work.  No one will hand you everything you need to be successful.  Some will have advantage but in the end it's the work that gets the accomplishment.  Great leaders do something everyday to get to their success.  Never mind about your starting point - Just Do It!

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

I work towards my success everyday.