Challenges.

Happiness.

Shock.

Blessings.

Set backs.

Victories.

Disappointment.

Joy.

Suffering.

What I can’t accurately predict is when these things will happen nor the amount of each we will experience.

This is the stuff of life regardless of where we live or what we do. It is all part of the human condition yet we often act surprised when we have these experiences.

When we are enjoying victory it is difficult to remember the times of defeat. When we are suffering, joy seems elusive. Yet we have all experience these things in varying proportion.
Sometimes the tough times seem unduly prolonged and yet we never think that the good times go on too long.
We choose each day what we focus on, emphasize, remember and learn. We choose what we do and how we respond to what happens. These are critically important choices and the freedom we have in a world where forces beyond our control often affect us in dramatic ways.

At the end of the year we give others our good wishes. One of the best wishes any of us can extend is that of good choices. Circumstances and others can influence those choices, but ultimately they are up to us.
So at the end of 2011 I wish for you the very best choices for the coming year.

10 Assorted Questions

1. How will you narrow the gap between your leadership current ability and desired skill level? (Make time to craft a strategy.)

2. Will you wait for the next “big book” on leadership, or read (or reread) some of the classics? (The bottom line: read.)

3. Who will you seek counsel from in 2012? (Proverbs 15:22 says plans fail for lack of counsel.)

4. What will you do to improve your health? (One of the first great self-help authors, Orison Swett Marden, believed anything we did to improve our physical health improved our mental health as well.)

5. How will you cultivate your curiosity? (G.K. Chesterton said the world will never lack for wonders, only wonder.)

6. What are your specific, measurable goals for improving? (As in your: product/service? Operations? Sales/marketing? Brand?)

7. How can you simplify your leadership, business and life? (Simplification means removing the non-essentials.)

8. What are the major dials on your leadership dashboard? (In other words, how are you monitoring and measuring your success?)

9. Who will you help become better and how? (Good leaders lead well. The best leader develop other good leader.)

Mark Sanborn is a best selling author, advisor to top leaders and president of Sanborn & Associates, Inc., an idea studio for leadership development.

He’s also an acclaimed speaker and member of the Speaker Hall of Fame.

BRING MARK INTO YOUR ORGANIZATION FOR A POWERFUL LIVE PRESENTATION.

Mark provides more than a speech-he gives organizations a competitive edge. He’s a proven professional with over 2400 paid presentations and he can tailor a program to fit your needs. His clients include Harley Davidson, Costco, Morton’s of Chicago, Wells Fargo, HP, IBM and John Deere.

Featured Blog: There is no “new normal.” Blog at

http://www.marksanborn.com/there-is-no-new-normal/

PROGRAM NOTE: Mark can present this program to a mixed audience of managers and employees – or tailor it specifically to managers and top tier leaders.

Please contact his new business manager, Michelle Joyce, at michelle@michellejoyce.com or (703) 757-1204 with any questions or to book Mark for your clients’ upcoming events.