Jan

26

When they say – I didn’t know I was supposed to do that

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Friends,

I think we can all have about 10% more success in the places we lead simply by keeping the ideals and ends in front of us with some frequency. Here’s what reminded me of the importance of focus and repetition. I just had an anniversary mentoring a Lansing boy, and so Big Brother Big Sister sent me evaluation forms. And it’s great that more and more not-for-profits are measuring what’s important. What gets measured, gets done! However . . .

I wanted to hide a little as I filled out the scale-of-1-to-5 scores on my mentee’s improvement, because there were a bunch of areas where I couldn’t say I had helped generate any progress. Some of these questions pointed to areas where I didn’t see progress, but I had been genuinely focused, but some questions caught me totally off guard. Under questions that had to do with my mentee’s Confidence, I was asked about progress in “personal hygiene and appearance” and whether he was “able to express feelings.” I read these and thought: “Shoot, I wasn’t even thinking about that. I was supposed to do that?” I think I probably could have had some positive impact if I had just been focused. So, I wrote my wonderful case manager Kelly and suggested that maybe the agency could find ways to email us to keep us focused on where we can make a difference, and perhaps how we can do so.

It’s so easy to forget just why we are here, just what our purpose is. Measurables are tremendously helpful, but doing them once a year, twice a year, even quarterly is just not enough. We’re all suffering from what someone called “permanent attention deficit disorder,” so we need to be refocused from time to time. If, as everyday leaders we want to move people to important action, we’ve got to find ways to do it: emails, quick monthly check-ins, flipcharts, etc! Or here’s some great low-tech that’s a blast. In my old office we had an entire wall painted with black chalkboard paint, so we could keep the big measurables up, as well as do spur of the moment, erasable brainstorming. There’s now a very cool whiteboard paint that allows you to turn a whole wall erasable for key objectives, or for short-term updates and brainstorms. Be creative. Just keep it present.

And here’s an ideal that I remind you of once a year: This is Michigan (and National) Mentoring Month. There are so many great kids who just need a friend in their corner, a listener, an encourager. They don’t need your wallet; don’t need a psychologist, just someone who will open his or her ears, mind, and heart. I’ve been enriched as much by Delvin, as he has by me, but in his case, he has so precious few people pulling for him. Be somebody great for somebody this year. Make life fine in ’09!

Lead with your best self!

Dan

 

Jan

20

Obama and You – Ways to Change the World

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Friends,

I’m one of the millions who’s flocked to DC to inaugurate a President and hopefully an era of hope. At a reception, I was telling someone about the leadership work I do, and he asked “Who’s your target audience?” I replied, “Everybody.” I titled my book Everyday Leadership, because I fervently believe everyone can lead. So, here I am – like the entire nation and much of the world – watching one guy to see how he’ll lead us. I’m thinking: Shouldn’t we all be able to take something away from this phenom, in whom we have placed so much hope? Not just about what he’ll do for us, but about what we can learn from him as we lead. What’s your Obama takeaway? I don’t mean about politics and national leadership. I mean about you – in your world (because in a sense we’re all “world leaders”). I look at him and think, “wow, I’d like to be more like that,” and here’s the model that he sets that inspires me:

1.

Courage. He had zero business running for President. He was too young, had spent too little time in the Senate, was too little connected, too poorly known, too much in the middle of raising young kids, too “left” on the war, and face it, too dark-skinned. Darn, if he didn’t run anyway!!! What do I think I have no business doing? I’m gonna do some of that.

2.

Honesty. In his early memoir Dreams From My Father, he tells his story – all of it – even the part about inhaling. When the issue of race was dogging him, he spoke very deep truths, unafraid of the supposed societal gulf, not afraid to challenge the right or the left. He didn’t mince words. It should be no secret that high-priced political consultants tell candidates, “Don’t answer the question you’re asked; answer the question you want to answer.” Obama has done some of that, but for the most part he’s been quite direct. The older I get the more I find that honesty frees. It frees the teller and it frees the follower. I want to stop holding back.

3.

Steadfast, measured confidence. He seems to play government leadership like Tiger plays golf, or Jordan played basketball. He’s unflappable, and that calms those around him. In my world – of too much work, teenage kids, Michigan’s economy, etc. – I act with what I believe deepdown: things will work out. I can help make some small contributions to making them work out, and I can stay cool while I do it..

If you watch the inaugural activities – whether you’re blue, red or purple – I invite you to open yourself to specific inspiration. Let Obama give you hope for America and the world, but also the inspiration to recommit in your world to

 Lead with your best self,

 Dan

 

Jan

12

Choose Challenge and Create Value

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Friends,

I’m scaring my capital-D-Democratic self these days, because I keep wanting to shake people up!  This instinct to grab people by the shoulders isn’t very compassionate, but I want to do it.  These are really difficult times; I know it first hand.  It’s not easy selling my valuable retreats to folks, when their travel and training budgets are as dry as the Sahara Desert.  This economy can be jarring.  I’d be darned mad if I’d been misled on a mortgage, had my job sold out to a low cost Mexican manufacturer, or been laid off as the pawn in a political struggle between medium-sized men with oversized egos and shrinking budgets.  And after being mad, I’d be scared about getting a job or a house or a loan in this environment.  But darn it, after getting a little comfort, challenge is sometimes what you really need to grow, and opportunities are there in this crazy (internet) world to build something new, something valuable and profitable. 

 Case 1.  Check out www.ojamas.us Some guy realizes there’s Obamamania out there.  And before Christmas he finds a way to fabricate flannel Obama-Jamas and sell them on the Net.  30 years ago could he have found a textile manufacturer?  Could he have figured out just how much inventory to buy?  Could he have found some chains to carry his stuff?  And if so, how long would all that take?  In today’s world, I’ll bet he was up and running in a day, with stock on hand in 2 weeks.  Inventory on demand.  Gaining credit with sales.  He didn’t need an office, a track record in textiles and apparel, or a warehouse.  If the guy had Skype, he wouldn’t even need a phone!!!!  And his business may be DONE in 6 months.  Caput!  But I bet he’ll find another opportunity.

Case 2.  A longtime entertainment writer got a buy-out.  He used some of the money to syndicate the same column.  Now he doesn’t have one buyer – the local paper – he’s got tens if not hundreds of buyers.  Oh, it’s precarious.  He doesn’t get one reasonably big check but many little ones, and he’ll be competing with lots of other formerly comfortable entertainment writers out there, but the point is he can access a national if not global economy.  And he’ll find new ways to deliver his stuff.  In challenge he’s finding opportunity.

 In the new world we’re in, it’s not about experience.  It’s not about girth.  It’s not about longevity.  It’s not about college degrees.  It’s all about value.  Each of us needs to ask: How can I add more value – whether I’m a laid-off-worker-turning-entrepreneur, or still a cog in a big (at least it’s big today) organization?  How can I help more people?  How can I give people what they want and need – and do it quicker, more personally, less expensively?  America – the land of political AND economic freedom – is primed for this moment.  But we have to say to challenge:  “Come on!  I’m on to you.  I’m not scared of you, cuz I’ve already been searching for opportunity, even when you were barely on the horizon.  Good riddance, cuz I’ve hated my commute, tolerated my boss, been under whelmed by my work, so now I’m going to do what I love and do it great, find out who needs it, and provide it for them.

Or, you can hunker down and hope somebody takes care of you, hope you can outlast the changes that are coming . . . faster and faster.  Your choice.

I say, the adventure is on!  Go

Lead with your best self!

Dan

 

Jan

5

Forward This to Yourself — A Great 2009

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Friends,

It’s not only a new day and a new week, but also a new year. I’m guessing that about 50% of my readers already have written goals for 2009. And of those, I would guess that 80% of those goals are oriented around work – often prompted by someone else’s expectations if not demands on them. So, perhaps only 10% have written, personal goals – related to but not exclusively driven by business goals.

 

Imagine though if you had a central focal point for the year, a north star to guide you, all the time. One goal that mattered to you deeply. Maybe you build a whole plan around it. Or maybe you just keep it in mind, like a mantra, repeating it, maybe praying about it: “a happier marriage,” or “an agent for my book,” “the promotion I feel I have earned.” Or maybe you look at that goal once a week and chip away, for instance, towards: “twenty pounds lighter in body and mind,” “making the career move I’ve dreamed about a reality by 1/1/10.” Maybe you could have a single picture of success that you also entrust with a friend or significant other, “to give myself two full weeks vacation to recreate,” to “get the credential that will give me credibility and open doors,” to “rehab that injury in order to become active again,” or “to simplify our life, spending less, saving more, and replacing nagging worry with a sense of building security.” What would be your one goal?

 

As you have probably read, I am offering large group retreats in Southfield this month and more intimate, small group retreats in Las Vegas in February to give people a chance to “Align for ‘09” and consciously strive to make 2009 the best year of their life. In those retreats I’ll help guide you to think out five years, create a clear picture of what you want, and actually build workable plans to get there. I invite you to consider those retreats. But in the simplest – which is often the best – way possible . ..

 

I offer this invitation: Hit “forward” for this message, address it back to yourself. When you get it, spend no more than 5 minutes answering these two questions:

1. In the last three years, the single most important thing that has driven my sense of fulfillment (or caused my lack of fulfillment) has been

Therefore,

2. If there was one goal I could offer myself that would have real merit in making 2009 a great year it’s this: I deeply want to have . . .

Let me know if you write it and what happens – right away or during the year. Or go to the comments page if you want to share stories or processes that tell how you have developed goals and achieved them.

 

Goals help make you an everyday leader – to

 

Lead with your best self,

 

Dan

 

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