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Only Read If You Want To Prosper
The headline of a recent email I received from SMEI really caught my eye. “People who read business books make more money - a lot more!” The email continues by stating that “According to a number of studies, business people who read at least 7 business books a year...
Are you backing into the future?
Years ago I was a volunteer at a center for recovering alcoholics and drug addicts. To help them succeed in their recovery, one of the things I would do was to encourage them to define, and then focus on the positive and healthy lifestyle they were striving to...
Do you have a gimmick?
Gimmick marketing and promotion is still alive and well. “If you order within the next hour, we’ll give you two for the price of one and include free shipping! Call now, operators standing by.” We find this approach to marketing amusing at best and of course we would...
Connecting for Success
Leadership author John Maxwell described connecting as “the ability to identify with people and relate to them in such a way that it increases our influence with them”. Connecting with people gives you an edge. There is a direct relationship between success and the...
Are You a Copy or an Original?
There are two ways to develop your leadership approach – copy someone else or be an original. A Copy… Copying involves identifying an existing leader you admire and respect, and trying to replicate their actions and behaviours. This can be a good starting point if the...
How Successful People Lead
If you haven’t read it, but are a student of leadership development, I strongly recommend John Maxwell’s book - How Successful People Lead. It’s on my recommended reading list of books for people I coach. John lays out simple steps that each of us must “grow” through...
Networks Can Bind and Blind
A robust business and personal network is important for advancing your career; building your professional profile and advancing your personal influence, however you should be aware of a potential blind-spot that can limit your future success – familiarity. Assess your...
Act your way to success.
Many people won’t take action until everything is lined-up, all the pieces are in place and they feel they’re in the “zone” - whatever that means. These are just excuses and self –justification for procrastinating. One of my Profs at university said it best “You are...
The Personal Sinkhole Syndrome
Sinkholes don’t announce their presence. They reveal themselves in the most terrifying and destructive manner. At best it’s a section of road or property that disappears, at worst they swallow houses, cars, swimming pools and people. Sinkholes are caused when the...
Take Action! (Especially when you don’t feel like it)
Feelings can be overrated and are even your enemy at times. I recently came back from a trip where I had been delivering a series of full day workshops and then doing my “day job” in the hotel room in the evening – many of you can relate to this scenario. When the...
What I wish my boss knew – Leverage my strengths!
Here’s confirmation of what most of us already know if we are paying attention - Gallup researchers studying human behavior and the impact of leveraging people’s strengths have discovered that building on employees' strengths is a more effective approach to creating...
What I wish my boss knew – Recognition
Make employee recognition a habit this year so your best employees stay and marginal or underperformers feel inspired and are motivated to try harder. The triggers that motivate people to achieve are unique for everyone. Many would say it is money; however more...
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