https://rickbaker.ca/category/hero-worship/ Rick Baker's Thought Posts — plain-spoken writing on leadership, business values, communication, habits, and the people side of building a business. Publishing since 2008. en-ca https://rickbaker.ca/post/we-benefit-when-someone-or-something-makes-us-do-what-we-can/https://rickbaker.ca/post/we-benefit-when-someone-or-something-makes-us-do-what-we-can/Tue, 15 Jun 2021 07:28:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Even the great Ralph Waldo Emerson needed that sort of help. Emerson said, " What I most need is somebody to make me do what I… https://rickbaker.ca/post/never-give-upyou-owe-it-to-yourselfyou-owe-it-to-your-familyyou-owe-it-to-life/https://rickbaker.ca/post/never-give-upyou-owe-it-to-yourselfyou-owe-it-to-your-familyyou-owe-it-to-life/Fri, 28 May 2021 07:38:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Of course, Sir Winston Churchill comes to mind, “Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or… https://rickbaker.ca/post/dreams-of-a-better-future-generate-a-better-future-vision/https://rickbaker.ca/post/dreams-of-a-better-future-generate-a-better-future-vision/Thu, 06 May 2021 07:33:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet "Past and future are dreams; now is a reality. All things are now; all power, all possibility, all action, is now." British… https://rickbaker.ca/post/hope-is-a-waking-dream-much-craved-by-people-this-explains-why-people-rally-around-leaders-with-vivid-vision-vision/https://rickbaker.ca/post/hope-is-a-waking-dream-much-craved-by-people-this-explains-why-people-rally-around-leaders-with-vivid-vision-vision/Thu, 08 Apr 2021 07:08:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Aristotle said, "Hope is a waking dream." People want hope; people follow dreams. https://rickbaker.ca/post/dreams-of-a-better-future-light-the-path-to-that-better-future-vision/https://rickbaker.ca/post/dreams-of-a-better-future-light-the-path-to-that-better-future-vision/Sun, 21 Mar 2021 07:14:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet "Past and future are dreams; now is a reality. All things are now; all power, all possibility, all action, is now." British… https://rickbaker.ca/post/maybe-it-isnt-more-blessed-to-give-than-to-receive-consider-the-ben-franklin-effect/https://rickbaker.ca/post/maybe-it-isnt-more-blessed-to-give-than-to-receive-consider-the-ben-franklin-effect/Fri, 19 Mar 2021 07:26:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Ben Franklin found people, even people who clearly disliked him, responded positively when he asked them for a favour. As one… https://rickbaker.ca/post/dont-delegate-any-task-you-cannot-do-yourselfexcept-software-engineering/https://rickbaker.ca/post/dont-delegate-any-task-you-cannot-do-yourselfexcept-software-engineering/Mon, 18 Jan 2021 07:37:00 -0500Clint Eastwood taught those villains, "A man must know his limitations." Similarly, a man must understand he is at risk when he delegates beyond his… https://rickbaker.ca/post/prediction-is-very-difficult-especially-if-its-about-the-future/https://rickbaker.ca/post/prediction-is-very-difficult-especially-if-its-about-the-future/Thu, 17 Dec 2020 07:08:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet While those words could have come from the lips of Yogi Berra or Mark Twain, they did not. It is a quote from the Danish… https://rickbaker.ca/post/i-had-to-succeed-because-i-finally-ran-out-of-things-that-wouldnt-work/https://rickbaker.ca/post/i-had-to-succeed-because-i-finally-ran-out-of-things-that-wouldnt-work/Sun, 06 Dec 2020 07:39:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet According to Napoleon Hill, Thomas Edison said that while talking about his persistence while working through 10,000 attempts… https://rickbaker.ca/post/seek-the-upside-in-ordinary-tasks-seeking-simple-work-and-doing-it-well-knowing-its-link-to-positive-outcomes/https://rickbaker.ca/post/seek-the-upside-in-ordinary-tasks-seeking-simple-work-and-doing-it-well-knowing-its-link-to-positive-outcomes/Thu, 26 Nov 2020 07:26:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet As the old saying goes, " There is satisfaction in a job well done ." There is more satisfaction when: 1. You know the work… https://rickbaker.ca/post/if-you-do-not-know-your-limitations-then-your-willpower-wont-2020/https://rickbaker.ca/post/if-you-do-not-know-your-limitations-then-your-willpower-wont-2020/Mon, 23 Nov 2020 07:19:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet " A man's got to know his limitations ." Clint Eastwood said that when he played Dirty Harry in 'Magnum Force', (1973). If you… https://rickbaker.ca/post/leadership-grit-grinds-grows/https://rickbaker.ca/post/leadership-grit-grinds-grows/Thu, 12 Nov 2020 07:06:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet John Wayne is one of my heroes. Every time I hear the word 'grit' I think of Rooster Cogburn, the character John Wayne played… https://rickbaker.ca/post/sales-people-should-select-heroes-learn-from-them-and-emulate-their-talents-strengths/https://rickbaker.ca/post/sales-people-should-select-heroes-learn-from-them-and-emulate-their-talents-strengths/Sun, 08 Nov 2020 07:44:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet I see better ways of approaching Sales. For example... Sales people can and should learn from ‘heroes’...as many as possible… https://rickbaker.ca/post/speak-of-the-devils-advocatebetter-still-bite-your-tongue/https://rickbaker.ca/post/speak-of-the-devils-advocatebetter-still-bite-your-tongue/Wed, 07 Oct 2020 07:22:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Constructive criticism is an oxymoron. Devil's Advocates ... here's an excerpt from Wikipedia: "In common parlance, a devil's… https://rickbaker.ca/post/some-things-are-urgent-some-things-are-important-very-few-things-are-both-urgent-and-important/https://rickbaker.ca/post/some-things-are-urgent-some-things-are-important-very-few-things-are-both-urgent-and-important/Tue, 04 Aug 2020 07:18:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet The vast majority of important things are not urgent and so they can be postponed. And, quite a bit of the time, that's exactly… https://rickbaker.ca/post/fear-is-the-darkroom-where-negatives-are-developed/https://rickbaker.ca/post/fear-is-the-darkroom-where-negatives-are-developed/Sun, 26 Jul 2020 07:34:00 -0500The Thinking Behind the Tweet I read that somewhere, many years ago. An interesting mind-picture. A metaphor true to our anxieties. We should avoid the… https://rickbaker.ca/post/the-parasites-live-where-the-great-have-little-secret-sores/https://rickbaker.ca/post/the-parasites-live-where-the-great-have-little-secret-sores/Sat, 11 Jul 2020 07:36:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet According to history or legend, when the great Henry Ford was caught in a very compromising situation he said, " Never… https://rickbaker.ca/post/2-types-of-people-succeed-in-business-1-those-who-naturally-get-it-and-2-those-who-observe-well-learn/https://rickbaker.ca/post/2-types-of-people-succeed-in-business-1-those-who-naturally-get-it-and-2-those-who-observe-well-learn/Tue, 23 Jun 2020 07:55:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet There are only 2 types of people who experience meaningful success in business: Those few, the intuitive, who somehow naturally… https://rickbaker.ca/post/plan-to-repeat-repeat-repeatthats-one-key-to-teaching-inspiring-influencing-people/https://rickbaker.ca/post/plan-to-repeat-repeat-repeatthats-one-key-to-teaching-inspiring-influencing-people/Thu, 11 Jun 2020 07:33:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." Benjamin Franklin When we observe repetition, we… https://rickbaker.ca/post/dont-blame-lack-of-time-when-the-real-culprit-is-personal-disorganization-and-self-imposed-mayhem/https://rickbaker.ca/post/dont-blame-lack-of-time-when-the-real-culprit-is-personal-disorganization-and-self-imposed-mayhem/Tue, 19 May 2020 07:01:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet If you free up a few moments, step back, ask yourself "How much time do I have?" , and spend some quality time thinking before… https://rickbaker.ca/post/respond-to-cries-for-help-with-listening-ears-seeing-eyes-and-thinking-brainsrather-than-with-your-cries-for-help/https://rickbaker.ca/post/respond-to-cries-for-help-with-listening-ears-seeing-eyes-and-thinking-brainsrather-than-with-your-cries-for-help/Thu, 23 Apr 2020 07:03:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet As Eckhart Tolle said, “ Most people respond to a cry for help with a cry for help ”. You can find plenty of opportunities to… https://rickbaker.ca/post/learn-from-yesterday-live-for-today-hope-for-tomorrow-the-important-thing-is-not-to-stop-questioning-einstein/https://rickbaker.ca/post/learn-from-yesterday-live-for-today-hope-for-tomorrow-the-important-thing-is-not-to-stop-questioning-einstein/Sun, 19 Apr 2020 07:21:00 -0500The Thinking Behind the Sales Tweet Good Questions are a, perhaps even the, key to excellence. Good Questions [to oneself] can maximize Self-knowledge. Good… https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-my-granddad-went-to-war/https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-my-granddad-went-to-war/Mon, 11 Nov 2019 06:30:00 -0500100 years ago my grandfather joined the Canadian army...volunteering for what turned out to be a brutal war experience. https://rickbaker.ca/post/influencing-powerful-people-9/https://rickbaker.ca/post/influencing-powerful-people-9/Sat, 23 Mar 2019 07:55:00 -0500This week's Dirk Schlimm quote - “Remember that powerful people identify greatly with their work and their enterprise. They expect the same from you. Show… https://rickbaker.ca/post/influencing-powerful-people-5/https://rickbaker.ca/post/influencing-powerful-people-5/Sun, 24 Feb 2019 10:29:00 -0500For a month now, I have been writing short thought posts sharing quotes from Dirk Schlimm, who will be CFFB 's special guest and keynote speaker on April… https://rickbaker.ca/post/command-influence/https://rickbaker.ca/post/command-influence/Wed, 31 May 2017 07:52:00 -0500Some people possess a natural ability called Command. It is one of those natural-talent gifts. It provides a natural ability to magnetize, influence, and… https://rickbaker.ca/post/building-self-confidence/https://rickbaker.ca/post/building-self-confidence/Tue, 28 Mar 2017 07:15:00 -0500A strong desire to achieve promotes self-confidence . Positive self-image and high self-esteem promote self-confidence. Sense of purpose and goals promote… https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-alpha-dogs-collide/https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-alpha-dogs-collide/Mon, 13 Mar 2017 08:00:00 -0500When alpha dogs collide you see raising of hackles and you hear snarls & barks...then comes the gnashing of teeth and to-and-fro attacks...much noise, much… https://rickbaker.ca/post/lets-not-water-down-confidence/https://rickbaker.ca/post/lets-not-water-down-confidence/Tue, 07 Mar 2017 07:13:00 -0500Confidence is a personal thing. There is no reason to design your self-confidence in a way that fits someone else’s viewpoint or rules. Your self-confidence… https://rickbaker.ca/post/belief-brings-peace-of-mind-confidence-success/https://rickbaker.ca/post/belief-brings-peace-of-mind-confidence-success/Thu, 13 Oct 2016 07:18:00 -0500Have you noticed when you truly believe something will happen you become calmer and have a greater clarity of focus? Have you noticed when you truly believe… https://rickbaker.ca/post/why-feel-fear-and-sadness/https://rickbaker.ca/post/why-feel-fear-and-sadness/Wed, 05 Oct 2016 08:39:00 -0500Why do we fear the loss of other people? Why are we sad when people leave us? https://rickbaker.ca/post/is-that-so/https://rickbaker.ca/post/is-that-so/Mon, 03 Oct 2016 07:15:00 -0500Sometime ago I read a book about calmness, peace of mind and the cultures that promote these things. The book talked about a fellow, initially well respected… https://rickbaker.ca/post/controlling-the-common-littlenesses-of-human-nature/https://rickbaker.ca/post/controlling-the-common-littlenesses-of-human-nature/Mon, 29 Aug 2016 08:55:00 -0500William MacDonald described Benjamin Franklin as a man who could control the common littleness of human nature 1 . It is clear MacDonald had tremendous… https://rickbaker.ca/post/does-creativity-crave-structure/https://rickbaker.ca/post/does-creativity-crave-structure/Thu, 25 Aug 2016 07:51:00 -0500I have heard opposing viewpoints. Some people think creativity happens when a group of brilliant young people bounce ideas off one another in zany… https://rickbaker.ca/post/i-rarely-write-about-morals/https://rickbaker.ca/post/i-rarely-write-about-morals/Tue, 09 Aug 2016 09:24:00 -0500I rarely write about morals. However, driven with hero worship, I want to share the 'self-direction' Benjamin Franklin provided to himself when he was in his… https://rickbaker.ca/post/on-goals-greater-than-oursleves/https://rickbaker.ca/post/on-goals-greater-than-oursleves/Mon, 04 Jul 2016 08:18:00 -0500"Our goals should serve as markers, measurements of the progress we make in pursuit of something greater than ourselves." Simon Sinek, inspirational post … https://rickbaker.ca/post/cmon-manlets-put-a-limit-on-self-sacrifice/https://rickbaker.ca/post/cmon-manlets-put-a-limit-on-self-sacrifice/Tue, 24 May 2016 07:04:00 -0500I’m thinking quite a bit about advice that helps leaders...i.e., When we want to provide advice to leaders, how do we hit the mark? How do we provide… https://rickbaker.ca/post/self-control-self-discipline-self-organization/https://rickbaker.ca/post/self-control-self-discipline-self-organization/Mon, 07 Mar 2016 07:51:00 -0500Napoleon Hill placed 'Organization' very high on the list of traits/abilities required for success in life. He made it clear he was talking about… https://rickbaker.ca/post/know-people/https://rickbaker.ca/post/know-people/Wed, 23 Dec 2015 07:30:00 -0500Father-to-Son Business Lesson #19 Below is a note sent by me to my son, over 5 years ago. This note was #19 in a long series of father-to-son Business… https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-expectations-are-out-of-synch-with-reality/https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-expectations-are-out-of-synch-with-reality/Mon, 03 Aug 2015 21:25:00 -0500Sometimes expectations adjust themselves to fit the realities of situations; sometimes expectations do not align well with realities of situations; sometimes… https://rickbaker.ca/post/are-you-superior-to-circumstances/https://rickbaker.ca/post/are-you-superior-to-circumstances/Thu, 09 Jul 2015 20:06:00 -0500”Our main thinking habit is to analyse situations so that we can recognize standard situations and then apply standard answers.” Edward de Bono ` The Six… https://rickbaker.ca/post/we-do-not-have-to-fear-fear-itself/https://rickbaker.ca/post/we-do-not-have-to-fear-fear-itself/Wed, 01 Jul 2015 07:01:00 -0500In his first inaugural address, in 1933, U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt said, " The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. " Starting with this… https://rickbaker.ca/post/in-awe-of-fiery-magnetism/https://rickbaker.ca/post/in-awe-of-fiery-magnetism/Mon, 13 Apr 2015 20:14:00 -0500Around you, the earth is scorched…burned with lack of trust. Yet… Somehow: you don't even see the tortured soil or the burning or the burned. Somehow… https://rickbaker.ca/post/the-lost-art-of-silence-listen/https://rickbaker.ca/post/the-lost-art-of-silence-listen/Wed, 07 Jan 2015 06:15:00 -0500"Silence was meaningful with the Lakota, and his granting a space of silence before talking was done in the practice of true politeness and regardful of the… https://rickbaker.ca/post/talk-about-communication-gapswhen-you-gaze-into-the-communication-abyss-it-screams-back-at-you/https://rickbaker.ca/post/talk-about-communication-gapswhen-you-gaze-into-the-communication-abyss-it-screams-back-at-you/Fri, 29 Aug 2014 23:18:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet The biggest problem in business continues to be communication gaps...which continue to broaden & deepen and, far too often, are… https://rickbaker.ca/post/on-influence/https://rickbaker.ca/post/on-influence/Mon, 24 Mar 2014 08:44:00 -0500Influence is the magical part of leadership. Influence is the magic that allows leaders to convert Vision and Desire into amazing actions and thrilling… https://rickbaker.ca/post/and-5-more-ways-to-influence/https://rickbaker.ca/post/and-5-more-ways-to-influence/Fri, 31 Jan 2014 08:58:00 -0500Understand People Do Only 3 Things: Good Habits, Bad Habits, & New Things Good Habits are things people think and do that help them achieve long-term desires… https://rickbaker.ca/post/jfk/https://rickbaker.ca/post/jfk/Fri, 22 Nov 2013 08:50:00 -0500When I was a young boy I had a small group of very close buddies. We played together. We played sports like baseball and football. We fought now and again… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-8645/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-8645/Thu, 07 Nov 2013 11:09:00 -0500Thought Tweet #864.5 " Men are ruled by toys. " [Perhaps, there is joy in things .] The Thinking Behind The Tweet My favourite composer, Richard Wagner… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-8585-2013/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-8585-2013/Fri, 01 Nov 2013 11:38:00 -0500Thought Tweet #860.5 You wanna lead, you gotta read. The Thinking Behind The Tweet The Pharaohs and high priests of ancient Egypt knew that. Abe Lincoln knew…