A Walk Can Get You Thinking

Last night I did something I hope to do on a regular basis. I went for a good walk. That's right. I have a goal to exercise and get leaner, better looking! You know what I mean. I walked for about an hour. Boy was that an hour.

I processed so many things on this walk. First, I thought a lot about the reason I was walking. Then I thought about the things I used to enjoy doing but have little time for these days. Things like golf and going to the gym. I reminded myself these are things I have to make time for. So, I will work on it and let you know.

I think during most of the walk, I thought about being a business owner and the freedom and personal satisfaction that goes with being your own boss. I also thought about the challenges that go with it as well. But one thought consumed me. What can I do to enjoy more success? Have you ever had the same thought? I am sure you have.

For some reason, the answer to my question came to the light. I was hearing the words of Zig Ziglar. Yep, Mr. Ziglar. He always says "you can have what ever you want by helping enough people get what they want." Until my walk, his words appeared lost to me. But now, I was seriously entertaining the meaning of these words.

After much thought about what I want, I asked another question of myself. What do other people want? Obviously, the answer has a broad scope. So, I began to think about in it relative terms. I modified the question a little and asked myself what do I have or what can I offer that people want? Boy, that loaded me up. I am now on a mission to figure that out. Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, here is a little suggestion for you. Take a walk. And while you are at it, ponder these questions yourself.

Are You A New Creative Leader?

Below is a list of 5 traits of the new creative leader. They are found in the article "Why Are Creative Leaders So Rare," by Navi Radjou. The subject was a tip from Harvard Business Publishing's Management Tip of The Day.

So, Where Do You Stand?

Yesterday's leadership skills will not work in today's fast-moving and evolving world. Only creative leaders who are visionary and empathetic will succeed. Here are five things you can do to succeed as a creative leader:

1. Instead of commanding, coach your team and organization toward success.

2. Don't manage people, empower them. The know-how, experience, and solutions are often out there; it's a matter of helping people discover them.

3. Cultivate respect by giving it, instead of demanding it.

4. Know how to manage both success and failure.

5. Show graciousness in your management rather than greediness. Be humble about your successes and whenever possible, give someone else the opportunity to shine.

Return The Call

Today I talked with a leader who told me that he is truly surprised how many people seem too busy to return a phone call. He said it seems to happen more and more these days. So, the question is why is it happening? The truth is I don’t know why – exactly. However, I do have my ideas about it.

* People are too worried about themselves
* They are afraid to commit
* Their life and work is out of control
* Your call is not important to them
* Maybe they just don’t care

I am certain there must be other reasons. But, I believe returning phone calls is a matter of courtesy. And it reflects a respect for humanity. Imagine That.

Goals Time

It is time to review and update your goals. If that seems like a surprise it shouldn’t be. Many people seem to think the right time to work on goals is the start of a new year. But, I say why wait? And who said that we should do our goals once a year.

There is no doubt that every new year will bring something new -- I get that. But the new year is not the time start your life or to start realizing business success. We all know tomorrow is not promised, so why wait. The things you act on today will bring you closer to where you want to be tomorrow or in the new year.

So, here we are. We have 3 months left of 2009. Are you planning to cruise the rest of the year? What a waste. By the way, some people have the opinion that no one wants to start anything new at the end of the year. Don’t buy it. If you do, I suggest you stay home. Now is the time to push yourself, your associates and your team. Set your goals and get into action.