1. It is a muscle, not a muse. Creativity is developed from effort. The more you exercise your creativity, the stronger it becomes. 2. Persistance trumps passion. Rarely is great creativity accomplished quickly by passionate insight. More often it comes after much deliberation, labor and false starts. Passion is good, but persistence is more dependable.…
Joe Calloway is a long-time friend and highly respected colleague. I can always count on Joe for clear thinking and practical insights and would be a fan of his work even if we weren’t pals. Here’s a guest blog that explains some of the big themes in his new book, Magnetic: The Art of Attracting Business. Get…
1. Develop a growth plan with each person on your team. 2. Know thyself: What time of day do you do your best work? Make a list of the most important relationships in your life. Compare your activity level to your accomplishment. Identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. What is your personal learning agenda?…
“I will be happy when I get home.” “I’ll be happy when I get to college.” “I’ll be happy when I get to the beach.” These are some of the places where people say they’ll be happy. But where is the best place to be happy? Everywhere. Think about it. We read books about how…
The questions to ask for developing a character My friend Tom Marcoux is an author who writes in a variety of genres. Recently he shared this advice with me about writing fiction: “If you do try you hand at fiction, here’s a method I devised and have taught to college students/graduate students for 14 years. To…
Do you understand the importance of taking action? As Henry Ford famously said, “You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do.” If there is one irrefutable test of a leader, it is the results he or she produces. But how does a great leader produce results? They take action. Intent without…
Everything we accomplish happens not just because of our efforts but through the efforts of others. The biggest difference between people who manage others versus people who lead others is how they develop those under them. As all leaders know, untitled or not, leadership is power with people, not power over people. Do you build…
As Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” To truly lead, and make a difference in the world, you must always start with yourself. In order to start with yourself, you must understand if your actions come from a place of obligation or opportunity. Do you see moments to…
“I don’t know.” Few if any leaders want to admit this. Many should. Not knowing is not the worst leadership sin. In actuality, it can be a helpful admission. Leaders are charged with finding the right answers with those they lead, not being the repository of all the right answers. To attempt that is a kind…
1. Build on your strengths You’ll be happier and more effective when you do what you’re good at in pursuit of your goals. 2. Address your limitations If there are weaknesses or areas holding you back, deal with them. Until you do, they will slow you down. 3. Develop a learning agenda What one skill,…