LeaderSavers

New Kid on the Block?

This blog's for you!  Being new to a leadership position can feel much like a childhood memory of moving to a new neighborhood, enrolling in a new school, and going through the difficult process of making new friends.  It's tough to be the "new kid on the block."  Well, welcome to that new neighborhood called leadership!

Is Your Message Louder and Longer or Clearer? See my new blog at: www.blog.cstarcoaching.com

Live Your Legacy

The old pizza commercial that asked, “What do you want on your tombstone?” always reminded me of the Wild West, of gunfights at the OK Corral, and of the famous Boot Hill Cemetery.    It was a clever ad, but it made me think about things other than pizza.

It made me think about what one leaves to others – not money, but values.  I was a teacher for many years, and thought that success would be if just one student were to say, “You made a difference in my life.”  To my astonishment, many former students have said just that and more to me.

Knowing that somehow I made a difference was payback enough!  But I wondered just what they remembered from so many years ago.  Some said they learned to work hard and have a good time – in that order!  Others remembered that it is important to do your best always.  Excellence counts, not mediocrity.  And most important of all, treat everyone with respect.

What I am able to leave others is not money or things, but values.  It’s not what you have, it’s who you are.  What I encourage you to do is just this:  Rather than leaving a legacy, live your legacy.  YOU make a difference!

Another Awful Performance

As I listened in disgust to "The Star Spangled Banner" being mangled at the start of Super Bowl XLV, I wondered if the NFL deliberately chooses people who can't render a decent performance -- or who can't seem to remember the words.

Admittedly, the song is difficult to sing.  It has a wide range and some archaic words, but as it is our National Anthem, it deserves a decent, respectful performance.  It should not be performed in public by celebrities who can't do the anthem - or themselves - any favors by attempting it.

What made the performance worse was that our seven year old grandson was trying to sing along.  He knew the words and could carry the tune well.  And he recognized when the performer embellished the melody a bit too much - and messed up the words.  What kind of message does that send -- awful is OK?

This event attracted national attention.  We should have heard an outstanding performance.  What we got was awful.  It wasn't the first time, and I'm afraid it won't be the last.  But we deserve better.

 

How to Keep Those New Year's Resolutions

Do you set goals and then forget about them?  How about those New Year's Resolutions that begin to disappear with the tinsel and leftover turkey?

Actually, making and keeping New Year's Resolutions isn't the dismal failure many imagine.  Several surveys indicated that 67% of respondents make 3 or more resolutions, and 63% are keeping their resolutions after 2 months.  Maybe there's hope for the rest of us, after all!

If you don't know where you are going, you'll probably end up somewhere else.  It's time to get clearer on our personal resolutions and turn them into clear and attainable goals.  One way is to  develop SMART goals that are:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Attainable
• Realistic
• Tangible

Here's a challenge for you:  Pick just ONE of your New Year's Resolutions and develop it as a SMART goal.  At the end of the year, take a good look at what you've been able to accomplish!

Do you know your top three goals for 2011? Get your complimentary Goals Report in less than 5 minutes here:

http://www.freegoalsreport.com/quiz.php?id=2993

BetterYOUniversity

Living really well, changing your life for the better, finding success and happiness - it takes commitment, an action plan, and support to make BETTER become a part of your life. Here is a new program of membership-based classes and coaching opportunities to help create a BETTER YOU.  Be sure to check out BetterYOUniversity.

Founded by Professional Certified Coach Terri Zelenak-Hase, BetterYOUniversity is a personal development program with a twist: Daily class calls that take its members away from self-help books and workshops. Why? A book is rarely opened, and a workshop doesn't last. Better YOUniversity’s program is ongoing, offering its Members continuous, structured growth.

Coach Terri has brought together a group of Faculty Experts who provide, along with written materials and blog entries, new audio recordings in their specialized subject matter each month. These recordings are added to BetterYOUniversity's massive searchable audio database, along with all the daily class calls, giving BetterYOUniversity a continually growing archive of materials unparalleled by any other personal development organization.

Charles Boyer, Ed.D., (Charlie) is a Faculty Expert in Mentoring Leaders, helping YOU enjoy a BETTER work-life balance with clarity, Confidence, and Creativity.  Charlie brings his exceptional people skills, organizational abilities, and a wealth of successful leadership experiences and insights to each of his coaching sessions with you.  Take a few minutes to check out opportunities for you at BetterYOUniversity. 

An Attitude of Gratitude

As we Americans approach the Thanksgiving holiday, it's good to pause, take a good look at who we are, where we are, what we have, and express our thanks for the many blessings we enjoy.

It's too easy to fall into the "not enough" mindset, and it grinds us down, whether or not we realize it.  We tend to focus on scarcity rather than on abundance.  Rodgers & Hammerstein said it so cleverly in the song "There is Nothin' Like a Dame" from South Pacific:

It's a waste of time to worry over things that they have not.
We're thankful for the things they've got!

This Thanksgiving, focus on all that you are and all that you have.  Focus on abundance

What are YOU grateful for?  Here are just a few of mine:

• beautiful sunrises and sunsets
• a warm fireplace and a snuggly cat
• a loving wife, children & grandchildren
• great music to enjoy
• good friends & neighbors

I could go on and on -- and so can YOU.  Join me in choosing an "attitude of gratitude" this holiday season.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Three Worst Things on TV

Well, there are most likely a lot more than three, but here are some TV spots that, in my opinion, are especially bad – or outrageous – or reprehensible – or ridiculous – or any other term you can think of:

1.     Bathtubs on the Beach – you know the scene.  After a smarmy ad about “E.D.” there’s a picture of a contented couple sitting in separate bathtubs on the beach.   What’s that supposed to teach us?  Ridiculous!

2.     Medication disclaimers – the ads are slick photographic messages, but the soundtrack is telling us that this product could cause blindness, or heart attacks, or suicidal thoughts – but ask your doctor if XYZ is right for you.  What kind of message is that?  Outrageous!

3.     Political attack ads – wherever you live, the story is the same.  A lot of hype, a lot of lies, a lot of mudslinging. We know what candidates or political parties or special interest groups are against, but what do they stand for?  We don’t know.  Reprehensible!

What are your three worst things on TV?  Add your comments below.  I’ll bet we come up with quite a list!

How to Lose Credibility

 It’s easy to lose your credibility – just ignore your GPS.  No, not the little gadget that provides roadmaps and driving directions.  It’s your Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling.

You Don't Say!

Our recent vacation to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks was a wonderful, restful, awe-inspiring trip.  Beautiful scenery – blue skies, geysers, mountains, lakes, and lots of wild animals to gaze at, both up close and from a safe distance.

 

Don't Look at Your Feet

That’s what I used to bellow through my bullhorn when I directed a high school marching band.  Looking at your feet is a bigger problem than you might think.