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by Rick Baker
On Feb 1, 2011
"Success is Clearly in View" - The Leader's vision must be vivid and shared*.
During my parents’ lifetime, a leader said,
“I suppose leadership at one time meant muscles; but today it means getting along with people.”
That leader had a vision of freedom for his country; not just freedom from foreign rule but freedom in the broadest sense of the word.
This leader inspired the people of his country with quotes such as,
“Be the change you want to see in the world.”
“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”
This leader’s motto was:
“Simple Living, High Thinking”
This leader lived a life of peace and demanded the same from his followers. He encouraged non-violent civil disobedience from foreign authority he believed was unnecessary and unjust. He asked his people to refrain from retaliating when they were attacked with physical force.
His people rallied and followed his Vision and his guidance.
He lived to see his country of 300,000,000 people freed from foreign rule.
This leader was Mahatma Gandhi.
***
Now, that is a summary of the amazing achievement of a 20th Century leader.
The historical record confirms the details of a leader who, with Vision, set the global standard for peaceful human relations, and freed an entire nation.
***
Now, such an extreme example of pacifistic leadership is unusual.
Regardless, we can benefit from understanding the following about Mahatma Gandhi:
- He had a Vision – freeing the 300,000,000 people of his country
- He clearly communicated that Vision – his people knew exactly what he envisioned
- He led by example – his peaceful demonstrations and his hunger strikes setting examples for all
Footnote:
by Rick Baker
On Jan 25, 2011
"Success is Clearly in View" - The Leader's vision must be vivid and shared*.
Many, many years ago a military leader led his army into a crucial battle. His army was greatly outnumbered. His army faced an enemy on its homeland…a skilled enemy, an enemy determined to protect its home and people. The leader’s army was tired from fighting years of campaigns in foreign lands. His forces were demoralized by the loud celebrations screaming from the enemy’s huge encampment.
The leader’s commanders approached him, expressing their grave concerns and their fears about the utter defeat they most-certainly faced.
The leader agreed with every concern his commanders expressed.
Yet, the leader assured his commanders they would triumph.
The leader envisioned victory.
The leader only envisioned victory.
The commanders asked the leader how he could have such confidence of victory when he knew his army was outmatched in every critical area.
The leader responded – we will win because we have one thing our enemy does not have…we have me.
According to the records of history – that is how Alexander the Great inspired his commanders and his army to conquer even the most-challenging parts of the world 23 centuries ago.
***
Now, that story may be fact or it may be legend.
Regardless, it remains as a defining picture of a leader who set the standard for military excellence.
Alexander the Great led with Vision and he led by example.
***
Today, such ego-heavy leadership would be frowned upon.
However, we can benefit from understanding the following about Alexander the Great
- He had a Vision – conquering the known world
- He clearly communicated that Vision – his commanders and his troops knew exactly what he envisioned
- He led by example – his horse charging ahead, compelling his army to keep up
Footnote:
- "Success is Clearly in View" - The Leader's vision must be vivid and shared. That’s the title of the 2nd workshop in our 6-workshop Leaders’ Academy series.
by Rick Baker
On Nov 30, 2010
Considering optimists and pessimists, optimists are more fun to be around.
That applies except, according to some, when one is in misery...then, similar company is enjoyed.
The point here: optimism is most valuable when it is within the zone of realism.
Optimists can be annoying and disruptive.
The most extreme optimists can annoy almost everyone they deal with.
For optimism to contribute value it must fit within the bounds of realism.
The challenge is: realism is subjective (1).
Apparently, some of Guglielmo Marconi's relatives, including his father, thought Marconi was a bit of a lunatic. Marconi, of course, became an acclaimed inventor and a pioneer in the science of wireless transmissions. In that situation, the realists were wrong and Marconi's thoughts were prescient, not the imaginative rantings of a lunatic. Realism is subjective.
To the extent realists wish to influence optimists, realists need to base their influence on accurate thinking.
To the extent optimists wish to create change for the better, optimists need to accurately focus their optimism.
The balance between optimism and realism…. thought provoking.
Footnote:
(1) Realism is subjective. And, regardless of how well it is packaged in logical argument, subjectivity is often at the mercy of emotions.
by Rick Baker
On Nov 16, 2010
The best laid plans…often don’t work out.
You know this from your experiences…often ‘fate’ intervenes or ‘people things’ change and plans need to be adjusted or shelved.
Maybe, the best laid plans rarely work out in the manner our ‘power of will’ wants them to work out.
So, why bother planning?
Why not just take each day as it comes to you, recognizing you have the strength and talent to face whatever circumstances and situations happen to come your way?
Of course, there are spiritual implications and these sorts of questions touch deep at ‘the human condition’, ‘what is success’, and ‘why we are here’. But, that’s not territory of this Thought Post.
We are business people. At least, that’s one of the roles we play. And, it is a role that captures a good portion of our days…and lives. So, recognizing we are in business…
Why bother planning?
Here are 2 reasons, one very practical and the other, for some readers, will require a leap of faith:
The Value of Direction: Consider the native guide who described with animation the magnificence of the thundering waters…then raised a hand , showing the European explorers the right direction …then helped them cross difficult terrain, all the time adjusting the hand as it pointed…until they heard the water thunder and saw what we now call Niagara Falls.
Direction supports a positive attitude. When we see fingers pointing toward our desired destination it is easier to be confident, courageous, honest, persistent, creative, adventuresome, etc…enjoying those states of mind aligned with success.
The Magnetism of Purposeful Action: some believe fate, [or is it luck], favours those who act and especially those who act with purpose. Quality people are drawn to their cause…some of these quality people become acquaintances…some become friends, some become champions for the cause…others become crusaders, expanding the envelope and the experiences. The better the cause, the more the magnetism.
Consider Terry Fox. Just one young man, filled with hope and a dream…knowing exactly the direction he was going…supported only by family and friends. Then…
by Rick Baker
On Nov 9, 2010
Sales Tweet #82 ""Well things usually change for the better."" John Wayne, ""The Duke"", said that in the movie 'Chisum’.
The Thinking Behind the Sales Tweet
Just about everyone admired and respected The Duke. The man was an icon and his legacy remains strong. Now, The Duke did not always prevail…in a few movies the bad guys got him before he got them. However - his courage, his confidence, and his conviction to do the right things never waivered. So, when The Duke says ""Well things usually change for the better"" we better listen to him and heed his words. A link to Changing for the Better.
by Rick Baker
On Oct 26, 2010
Rhonda,
Thank you for your question.
The quick answer is, “One must change the way one thinks about time”.
Time is a concept. Time is an underestimated abstraction.
Now, I recognize this sort of theoretical mumbo-jumbo will not be helpful so I will limit it [for now] and only make a few points. First, a century ago, Einstein altered the way Man considers time. The way Man viewed time before Einstein is an example of what I mean by an ’underestimated abstraction’. And, Einstein only scratched the surface of time…granted he made a huge scratch.
Here’s another point, not quite so theoretical: a person’s perception of time is influenced by many things.
Here are a few examples:
- People facing imminent danger often experience time in slow motion
- As we get older it seems time moves more quickly
- When we enjoy experiences time moves quickly
- When we are in pain time moves slowly
In the same way we can accept situations alter our perception of time, we can also accept our mind, the human brain, is a tool that links each human being to time.
Each of us has a unique personal relationship with time.
So, if we can change the way our brains work then we can change the way we perceive and experience time.
An example: if we accept people perceive time as if it were moving in slow motion when they experience extreme stress such as being robbed at gunpoint then is it possible those same people could create for themselves the same mindset without the extreme stress? The answer must be, Yes – that is possible.
Another point with practical value: I believe a person’s self-esteem influences the way that person experiences and uses time. The higher the person’s self-esteem the more effective the person’s time will be used.
So, the first practical thing one must do is work on maximizing one’s self-esteem.
Some successful people were born with a predisposition to possess high self-esteem. I am sure that has not been proven…but I believe it is true.
Other successful people learned how to maximize their self-esteem either unconsciously or through conscious effort. Again, I doubt this has been proven…but I believe it is true.
Regardless, each of us can work at maximizing our self-esteem.
Two more points:
- Considering self-esteem, many human factors come into play: personal strengths, confidence, mood, vested interest, etc.
- Some time-management gurus claim the act of employing personal time management has a very positive impact on one’s ‘mindset’…Brain Tracy, for example. Success at managing how one uses one’s time could tend to increase one’s self-esteem. Even if that isn’t true there are other benefits, which have been catalogued by the time-management gurus. So, Yes, for a number of reasons it is a good idea to commit to personal time management.
Time management is a misnomer. Better to approach this as ‘personal organization’.
Think about Napoleon Hill’s observation…when required to sum it up in one word he said successful men and women were ‘organized’. That is, successful people appeared to live organized lives.
I hope this helps.
Rick
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