Wishing You A Very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Holidays and A Fantastic Transition Time in 2015!

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As 2014 draws to a close, we want to wish YOU, the reader of this blog, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Holidays and 2015 may bring a lot of happiness, prosperity and the realization of everything that is a longing desire of yours! May you receive the help you need just when you need it the most, and may you give help at the moment in which it is most needed.


We look forward to 2015 to share even more tips to prepare YOU to become highly successful, to network, connect and inspire others to become the same!


Wishing you a peaceful new year,
Danny

P.S. Use this formula for The Chemistry of Success shared by Mike Lipkin and become a Personal Alchemist.

"The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination." - Don Williams, Jr.

Push it that one extra degree and be 212!

What is 212° the extra degree?

At 211 degrees, water is hot.
At 212 degrees, it boils.
And with boiling water, comes steam.
And steam can power a locomotive.


One extra degree...
makes all the difference.
And, the one extra degree of effort in business and in life... separates the good from the great!

The average margin of victory for the last 25 years in all major tournaments combined was less than three strokes.
The margin for victory between an Olympic Gold Medal and no medal at all is extremely small.
In the 2004 Men’s 800m race the margin of victory was .71 seconds.
At the Indy 500...The average margin for victory for the past 10 years has been 1.54 seconds.
On average the winner took home $1,278,813… the second place prize was $621,321… a difference of $657,492.

It's your life.
You are responsible for the results.
It's time to...turn up the heat.

To get what we've never had…
we must do…
what we've never done.

212° Attitude 
The only thing that stands between a person and what they want in life…
is the will to try it and the faith to believe it possible.

212° Kindness 
It is one of the most beautiful compensations in life...
we can never help another without helping ourselves. (Ralph Waldo Emerson).

212° Belief
Belief fuels enthusiasm, and enthusiasm explodes into passion.
It fires our souls and lifts our spirits.

212° Focus 
Having a simple, clearly defined goal can capture the imagination and inspire passion.
It can cut through the fog like a beacon in the night.

212° Perseverance 
Perseverance is not a long race: It is many short races, one after another. (Walter Elliot)
You are now aware

You now have a target for everything you do...

Getting to KNOW YOURSELF by Linda Ferguson and Chris Keeler

Do you ever wish you were better at predicting what choices would work for you? Enjoy this e-book based on the principles of storywork, NLP and solution focus.

VIEW

Four Steps to a Super Attitude by Brian Tracy

Unexpected circumstances can be thrown at you, but what is the thing that counts most in these situations? What counts most is how you react to what happens to you, especially when you have unexpected problems of any kind.

Here are four things you can do to assure that your attitude is the very best it can be, under all circumstances.

Focus On the Future

First, whatever challenges you face, focus on the future rather than on the past. Instead of worrying about who did what and who is to blame, focus on where you want to be and what you want to do. Get a clear mental image of your ideal successful future, and then take whatever action you can to begin moving in that direction. Get your mind, your thoughts, and your mental images on the future.

Think About the Solution

Second, whenever you're faced with a difficulty, focus on the solution rather than on the problem. Think and talk about the ideal solution to the obstacle or setback, rather than wasting time rehashing and reflecting on the problem. Solutions are inherently positive, whereas problems are inherently negative. The instant that you begin thinking in terms of solutions, you become a positive and constructive human being.

Look For the Good

Third, assume that something good is hidden within each difficulty or challenge. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, a major proponent of positive thinking, once said, "Whenever God wants to give us a gift, he wraps it up in a problem." The bigger the gift you have coming, the bigger the problem you will receive. But the wonderful thing is that if you look for the gift, you will always find it.

Seek the Valuable Lesson

Fourth, assume that whatever situation you are facing at the moment is exactly the right situation you need to ultimately be successful. This situation has been sent to you to help you learn something, to help you become better, to help you expand and grow.

Decide to Be Positive

A Positive Mental Attitude is indispensable to your success. You can be as positive as you want to be if you will simply think about the future, focus on the solution and look for the good. If you do what other successful people do, if you use your mind to exert mental control over the situation, you will be positive and cheerful most of the time. And you will reap the benefits enjoyed by all successful people.

Action Exercises

Here are three steps you can take immediately to put these ideas into action:

First, become solution-oriented with every difficulty you face. Make a habit of looking for the answers to your questions, the solutions to your problems.

Second, seek for the valuable lesson in every adversity. Make a list of every idea or insight you can gain from every setback or difficulty.

Third, think on paper. Take some time to write out every detail of the problem, and then take the most logical next step to solve it.

Share With A Friend

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Success Begins in Your Mind by Tom Hopkins

A strong positive attitude is one of the most important traits a sales professional can have. Most people who fail in business fail because they don’t know how to keep their attitudes positive on a daily basis. They start their careers learning and practicing the basics, honing their skills, and end up making lots of money. Then, they go into a slump. They will stay in their slump until they go back to the fundamentals, until they return to doing what they get paid for — accepting failure and rejection without letting it stop them.

The key to success is handling failure.

Handling success does not come naturally to most people. It is an acquired skill. Some of your emotions tell you to sulk and avoid any situations in the future that are likely to put you in line to feel the pain of rejection again. Other emotions tell you to get more out of life for yourself and your loved ones. Concentrate on what you have to gain, and learn how to change your attitude toward rejection.
       
There are five concepts that have helped me move forward in all areas of my life. Memorize them and recall them when you’re rejected or have failed to achieve what you wanted.
       
1. I never see failure as failure, but only as a learning experience. Every sale that doesn't close is a learning experience; every challenge you face is a learning experience. Look at failure and rejection in a different light — as a learning experience.
       
2. I never see failure as failure, but only as the negative feedback I need to change course in my direction. Outside a restaurant, I once saw a gentleman who’d had too much to drink to try to unlock his car with the wrong key. No matter how many times he tried, the key didn’t work. After I’d talked to him into taking a taxi home, it occurred to me that sometimes we keep trying to make the wrong key unlock the door to success; keep using techniques that don’t work in our selling endeavors.
       
It takes some stick-to-it stamina to keep calling the hundred potential clients you have to go through to get your next sale. And, while you’re doing it, you’ll have plenty of learning experiences, plenty of chances to change course in your direction to make your technique more effective.
       
3. I never see failure as failure, but only as the opportunity to develop my sense of humor. Have you ever had a traumatic experience involving a selling opportunity? Three weeks later, you finally tell someone about it and suddenly that same event is hilarious. The longer you wait to laugh, the more that failure will hold you back. Make a determined effort to laugh sooner, and learn the trick of telling a good story on yourself.
       
4. I never see failure as failure, but only as an opportunity to practice my techniques and perfect my performance. Every time you present your service to others and they don’t make a decision to "own," at least they've given you a chance to practice. Many people don’t realize the importance of this. Appreciate the opportunity to improve.
       
5. I never see failure as failure, but only as the game I must play to win.Selling is a game. Life is a game. Both have their rules. Over the years, I’ve discovered that a single rule dominates every situation: Those who risk failure by working with more people, make more money; those who risk less failure, make less.
       
If you risk failure, sometimes you will fail. But every time you fail, you’re that much closer to success. Success demands its percentage of failure.
      
Work with the five attitudes toward failure and rejection. What counts isn’t how many transactions fall out, how many people hang up on you, how many things don’t work out, how many people go back on their word. What counts is how many times you pick yourself up, shrug off the failure, learn from it, and keep trying to make things come together.

There are challenges and obstacles in business, but they are all temporary if you take control of your thoughts and develop the right attitude. I believe that winners are winners because they’ve learned to fuel their success drives by overcoming failure.

Wishing you greatness in selling,

Tom Hopkins

P.S. - In case you missed my last article, I sent you a little gift. You'll find it here>>

“Don’t wait. The time will never be just right.”

- Napoleon Hill

‘If you like your field, don’t give up’, says engineer Paul Frasie

“In my life I’ve learned not to have big expectations in the beginning,” says Paul Frasie, a designer engineer from Romania. “Because I don’t want to be disappointed later. So the only thing I thought about on my way to Canada was that since you leave everything in your country [when you emigrate], you have to somehow succeed in the new place. If you come to Canada and in six months return to your country, you will have nothing left – just frustration.”

However, Frasie did have plans – he intended to find a job soon after his arrival to Canada, to work and to buy a house. He had no idea of the challenges internationally trained engineers face when they come to Canada and start searching for professional jobs. Frasie didn’t know anything about the highly competitive job market, the “Canadian experience” requirement and the specifics of applying for jobs in Canada. He had prepared a Curriculum Vitae (which is used more often in Europe) and when he arrived he found some resume templates. So Frasie started sending his resume to companies he assumed would be interested in his qualifications and skills. “The first six months I sent tons of resumes and didn’t receive any feedback form anybody,” he says. “So at this point it was very tough and disappointing.”

To make matters worse, the global recession had impacted Canada as well and many engineers were losing their jobs. Frasie had already felt the recession in Romania, but he didn’t expect to find a similar situation in Canada. It was hard to stay positive and to figure out what the right thing to do was. He didn’t want to change careers or do survival jobs as many professionals did at that time when they faced unemployment. He loved his profession and wanted to work in his field.

What helped him stay optimistic was a meeting with the founder of the Association of Romanian Engineers in Canada (AREC). He introduced him to other engineers from his country and Frasie started building a network of acquaintances and friends with similar backgrounds. “Everybody helped me somehow,” Frasie says. “They didn’t find a job for me, but they gave me some sources, some useful information and shared their experiences with me.”

Read more here.

Waking Up a Business Means Waking Up the Little-Known Secret of Success... by Kevin D. Crone

Waking Up a Business Means Waking Up the Little-Known Secret of Success... It is puzzling to study business and try to determine the best path to achieve personal success as I have for 48 years - and then realize that knowing what to do isn't as important as we make it out to be. Yet, you and I are constantly looking for answers. We think that when we find them, everything will be better.  Really?  Applying what we already know is what really matters. Why is it that we don't always do what we know we should do?  What also occurs to me in my study is that attitude is responsible for about 80 percent of our success.  Enthusiasm is the little-recognized secret to success.  It is such a critically important attitude that we should become masters at applying it in our business and our personal lives.  Dale Carnegie described it as vitality, belief in what you are doing, and the demonstration of spirit and energy in all that you do. Why do some people keep going and growing, even in tougher times, and others simply wilt?  The answer is: enthusiasm. Some people think it's cool to just know the answers to what is wrong so they can complain or cynically challenge every new plan.  But people with enthusiasm define and play the game of business - while others are just spectators or commentators. It really doesn't matter what is wrong with the world; the focus should be on how we are dealing with the world in relationship to the life and business we want to have and that we're creating. Read more here. Read past issues in the Monday Morning Mentor Blog.

Attitude vs. Aptitude by Brian Tracy

Did you know that a major source of stress in your life is the "fear of rejection" or "fear of criticism?"

This fear of rejection manifests itself in an over-concern for the approval or disapproval of your boss or other people. The fear of rejection is often learned in early childhood as the result of a parent giving the child what psychologists call "conditional love."

Rise Above the Need For Approval
Many parents made the mistake of giving love and approval to their children only when their children did something that they wanted them to do. A child who has grown up with this kind of conditional love tends to seek for unconditional approval from others all his or her life. When the child becomes an adult, this need for approval from the parent is transferred to the workplace and onto the boss. The adult employee can then become preoccupied with the opinion of the boss. This preoccupation can lead to an obsession to perform to some undetermined high standard.

Avoid Type A Behavior
Doctors Rosenman and Friedman, two San Francisco heart specialists, have defined this obsession for performance as "Type A behavior." Experts have concluded that approximately 60% of men and as many as 30% of women are people with Type A behavior.

Don't Burn Yourself Out
This Type A behavior can vary from mild forms to extreme cases. People who are what they call "true Type A's" usually put so much pressure on themselves to perform in order to please their bosses that they burn themselves out. They often die of heart attacks before the age of 55. This Type A behavior, triggered by conditional love in childhood, is a very serious stress-related phenomenon in the American workplace.

Action Exercises
Here are two things you can do immediately to deal with the fear of rejection, criticism and disapproval.

First, realize and accept that the opinions of others are not important enough for you to feel stressed, unhappy or over concerned about them. Even if they dislike you entirely, it has nothing to do with your own personal worth and value as a person.

Second, refuse to be over concerned about what you think people are thinking about you. The fact is that most people are not thinking about you at all. Relax and get on with your life.

To overcoming fear,

Brian Tracy 

http://www.briantracy.com/

"You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you." ~ Brian Tracy

Breakout Opportunities Are What Accelerates Your Career by Reid Hoffman

Success begins with opportunities. Opportunities are like the snap to the quarterback in football. You still have to move the ball down the field; you still have to execute. But without a snap to the quarterback, there’s no touchdown. For a young lawyer, an opportunity could mean being assigned to work with the smartest partner in the firm. For an artist, it could be a last-minute offer (perhaps due to a cancellation) to exhibit at a prominent museum. For a student, it could mean being awarded a rare scholarship to travel and do research.

If finding these opportunities were a matter of simply walking into a store, rifling through a dusty bin of opportunities, picking one, and then checking out, the hierarchy of power in the world would look quite a bit different. Of course, it doesn’t work that way. It’s up to you—with the help of your network—to go out and find and develop professional opportunities for yourself. And not just any old opportunity will do. Entrepreneurs don’t start businesses just anywhere; they channel the mind-set and skills we’ve been discussing into finding the great business opportunities. Likewise, in order to accomplish something significant in your career, you need to focus on finding and capitalizing on those great career opportunities: the opportunities that will extend your competitive advantage and accelerate your Plan A or Plan B. - read more here.

As well, go back to this post The Ninth Quality: They are Natural Networkers and look for opportunities.

What Happens When You Don't Get What You Want? by Alan Kearns

You have been training for 15 years of your life. You have won a Gold medal in the Sydney Olympics & a sliver at the Beijing. You have just had a great swim, are in 15th place coming out of the water...things are going swimmingly. You are running your race, according to your game plan. You get up on your bike & start out of the gate, for the second part of your race. You're feeling fresh & exicted; you even have the wind at your back. You race your bike up the hill & get ready to put your foot into your shoes.

You hit a speed bump. You crash & wipe out; your Olympic race is over. You watch the winner complete the race & receive the gold medal, as you sit in the medical tent.

Speed Bumps.

For Simon Whitfield, this speed bump meant the messy ending to a terrific Olympic career. He shared, "I hit the speed bump just as I went to put my shoe on, I think. I hit on a funny angle and ended up crowd surfing, which is good for concerts and not so good for sport events." Everyone has them at some point in their lives, a time when your life veers off of your own game plan. From getting laid-off, a frustrating job search, not being chosen for aleadership role, or not being accepted into the program you were hoping to enter. 

Speed Bumps Hurt.

I thought of not just the physical pain that Simon was in, including a broken collar bone & a severe laceration to his foot, requiring stitches. I also thought of the emotional pain not only for Simon, but for all the other people in his life that were supporting him. "My breakdown moment was seeing my wife because I know how much Jennie puts into this and we're a team and she's put in so much sacrifice being at home a lot alone." 

Speed Bumps Can Teach.

Simon shared "It was hard to see my daughter upset, my wife upset and I was pretty upset. That means it means something doesn't it?"

1. We all hit speed bumps in our careers - it's not personal, it is part being a professional.

2. Take stock, deal with the reality of the situation, accept it, AND learn from it.

3. Start a new goal as soon as possible.

Speed Bumps Can Heal.

Simon stated "I don't know that I ever dreamed of four Olympics, two medals and flag bearer, I'm absolutely blown away by the whole thing."

When I first read his quote, I was stunned. I reread the quote to make sure that I had understood it correctly. Now THAT is a high performance athlete. It was obviously not the Olympic experience, that Simon was anticipating. I was so impressed by his forward looking perspective - from disaster to moving forward in less than 24 hours.

We have all had crash and burn experiences in our careers, but it's our response to these issues that is the key. Well done Simon, we are proud of you! You have represented Canada well & have been a great example, to those of us who desire to reach our full potential. 

  

Looking for help with your personal brand? Looking to become a more effective leader? Who's your career coach? Need help with a professional resume, job search, and interview preparation? Invest in yourself & get the edge in this competitive job market. Take a small step and book an initial coaching session.

CareerClass | Webinar - Get the Right Career, Right Now! Invest 1 hour of your time to help identify the right work situation. Join me Thursday, August 15 12-1 P.M. ET. Take control ofyour career, all from the comfort & convenience of your own desk.  

Click to register.

Giving my best, along the road with you!

Alan  

P.S. Looking for help with your job search? The 90-Day Job Search Program can help you identify the right career fit for you. Click for more details.    

  

P.P.S. Looking for career or leadership support in Ottawa? We have a terrific team to help you reach your potential & advance in your career. Click here to get started. 

5 Phrases that will get you fired by Robert Pagliarini

There are a handful of phrases I hear often that make me cringe. We're all told that we should never judge a book by its cover, but when I hear seemingly smart and successful people say these things, I can't help but think they need serious help. In a (unscientific) poll I conducted, it turns out I'm not alone. Nearly everyone admitted to reacting negatively to these job-killer phrases:


1. "There's nothing I can do." Really? You've exhausted every possible solution? This is similar to when my six-year-old says that she's looked everywhere for her shoes. When you say that there is nothing you can do, we learn two things about you: We know that you are a liar and that you are lazy. These are two qualities that are not going to help you get a raise or even keep your job. We know you are lying because there is always something you can do. And in the remote chance that there really isn't anything you can do, at least tell us everything you've done already, what you intend to do or who you are going to for help. Otherwise, we will assume you are lazy. Nobody with a spine has ever uttered these words. By using this phrase, it shows that you are weak, that you give up easily and that you lack all creativity and effectiveness. You don't get paid to be ineffective or lazy, so stop using this horrible phrase.


Read more here.

The Lead Wolf Model of Leadership

Surviving the Narcissist Leader By Dr. Rick Johnson

CEOs or Presidents, who attain positions of power, reach these positions for a variety of reasons. The reasons are not always a result of competency and hard work; these positions are not always earned. As a result employees find themselves under the rule of various kinds of leaders. Even those leaders that have earned their position can be impossible to work for and it’s difficult to be happy and satisfied doing it. I was once asked to write an article for a magazine about the old style of autocratic leadership that was so effective in the 70’s and even the 80’s. I titled it B.O.S.S. this stood for Boisterous, Omnipotent, Self-Indulgent, Scumbag but the magazine made me change the last S to Sociopath.

I used to work for a B.O.S.S. He was always walking around muttering “I’m the BOSS – you’re nothing. I’m the BOSS you’re nothing.” I wanted to say, “Well, whoopee, you’re the BOSS of nothing.”

Presidents and CEOs are typically seen as sources of motivation and direction. But what's often overlooked is the fact that they not only motivate their management team but they receive motivation and even direction based on the responses from the employees below them.

What type of leader do you work for?

The Lead Wolf (servant) style of leadership is successful because these leaders take the time to listen, imagine and investigate numerous alternatives. With the involvement of people they forge creative solutions to difficult problems. They challenge their people to stretch, go beyond their previous boundaries and think outside the box. 

Successful leaders feed off their people and allow their people to feed off of them. They give credit where credit is due. They give recognition as a means of gaining respect. They believe individuals can make a difference. Through these methods they learn to create new insights and possibilities. Successful leadership means creating a sense of urgency, getting mutual commitment to action. Action steps are always clearly defined and precise.

The Lone Wolf (BOSS - Autocratic) leader at the top dominates with power. They are autocratic and intimidating. They often believe that employees are a necessary inconvenience and aren’t capable of creativity and innovation.  More often than not, they embrace the “seat of the pants” based on intuitive judgment leadership style. This allows them maximum flexibility and “shoot from the hip responsiveness.” However, today’s environment demands a more stable administrative structure that requires a change in the nature of past leadership practices. Simply put, it’s an evolution from a highly reactive, autocratic individualistic style to a more empowering, employee oriented proactive style.

It’s about going from a “Lone Wolf” leadership style to a “Lead Wolf” leadership style that has confidence in the employee’s ability to make things happen and empowers the employees to get the job done.

What about the Narcissist Leader?

            

The Narcissist leader is often very successful. In fact there may be a certain amount of narcissism in all of us. However, the narcissism that exists must be balanced with respect in our relationship with our employees. Excessive narcissism from a psychological standpoint is considered a personality disorder. 

I personally have worked for two Narcissist CEOs during my career. Both of them were extremely vain, egotistical, conceited, selfish and paranoid. Each demonstrated one or more of those character flaws to an extreme. One actually threw a stapler at his secretary. Another had bugging devices installed in his executive team’s offices.

How Do I Survive in a Narcissist Environment?

Managing your BOSS requires skill. Intelligence alone isn’t enough. It requires leadership skill on your part. Excellent communication skills are a prerequisite and self-confidence in your own ability is a must to support your actions. Delivering excellent results for every assignment will not only gain their confidence but can actually create a dependence on their part. They will come to rely on you to make them look good.

Continue to make suggestions, express ideas that support the CEO’s personal initiatives that will bring them success and credit. This is especially helpful if they can gain the credit while you take the risk. Allow the CEO to take credit for your ideas and shoulder the blame for those that don’t work out. Is this risky? Sure it is but if you want to survive or even thrive under a narcissist it’s a risk worth taking. Of course, you could also just walk but that option isn’t always practical.

Understand the Narcissist Ego

Managing or just surviving a Narcissist BOSS is difficult at best. Building a relationship with a Lone Wolf or Narcissist CEO is based upon an understanding of and a capacity to manage the narcissism of the CEO.  This means you must establish a balance between expressing your opinions; ideas and candid remarks while utilizing your knowledge of the CEO’s need to maintain his acknowledge position of power in the organization. A narcissist CEO and some Lone Wolf CEOs have an inflated sense of self. They openly demonstrate their feelings of superiority, entitlement (especially in family run businesses) and an insatiable need for attention and admiration.

Manage Your Risk

Narcissist CEOs often trust very few people. As a result they may allow their spouse to become extremely influential with regard to their leadership style. Some may even employ their spouse in the workplace. Their creation of this spousal influence and dependence can be risky for you. One Narcissist CEO I worked for was single but used his girlfriend who was employed as my administrative assistant to fill this role. The risk lies not only in trying to manage that relationship if they are also employed at the company but this dependence and influence can actually isolate the CEO from his executive team because this influence generally will support his grandiose ideas. Additionally they feed his paranoia. Be conscious at all times of the following character traits:

• All employees are expected to think the way he/she does.
• Their strategies are often dynamic but grandiose.
• They trust only their own insights.
• They can be charming, glib, accommodating but often are manipulative, deceitful, ruthless and destructive.

Are Narcissist Leaders Successful?

Just as Lone Wolf autocratic leaders were very successful in the seventies and eighties many narcissist leaders can be very effective. In fact some very famous leaders are considered narcissists by some. People like Jack Welsch of General Electric, Bill Gates of Microsoft and Steve Jobs of Apple to name a few. These three CEOs are all very successful; however, they may be the exception to the rule. Look at Enron and World Com. These two companies weren’t just aberrations. Personally, I believe they represent what can happen when ineffective leadership driven by narcissism creates a cancer at the top that becomes malignant and begins to filter throughout the management regime.

These leaders and many others were undeservedly worshiped when the perception of success and enormous profits disguised their real character traits and leadership model. Profit covers many sins including the sins of the CEO. It allows us to ignore physiological brainwashing, manipulation, con artistry, exploitation and abusive behavior. They are extremely insensitive to respect for employees.

There are numerous narcissist CEOs at the helm of many corporations today. The challenge of ownership, first generation founders and executive teams reporting to these CEOs is to insure that these leaders don’t self-destruct and lead the company into a death spiral. This becomes an extremely difficult task for all involved because a true narcissist doesn’t even understand their own issues let alone the willingness to work through them. Narcissists need professional counseling to help them accept reality and recognize their limitations. Their extreme independence, paranoia and self-preservation create a wall that takes a bunker busting bomb to break through.

The Lead Wolf Model of Leadership

Effective leaders must have an edge. They must be courageous enough to take risk and have an unrelenting readiness to act. Popularity is not a requirement, but the ability to generate respect from the employees is, without a doubt, one of the most critical attributes. They must be relentless in their efforts, unconcerned about personal sacrifice of their time, and willing to go beyond normal expectations. Tough decisions are commonplace; uncharted territories will be the norm. Honesty and impeccable character are musts.

Lead Wolf leaders take charge and are not afraid of responsibility or risk. Most people want to follow them. A good leader develops openness, honesty, clarity of purpose and a sincere caring for the people they lead. They gain commitment and trust by demonstrating respect for the individual. They have a keen sense of understanding. They believe in their task, they understand the objectives, they communicate clearly and they honestly project the understanding that they need the efforts of everyone to succeed. That’s the Lead Wolf model of leadership. It’s all about believing in employees and their ability to create success. 

E-mail rick@ceostrategist.com for the Lead Wolf leadership thought provoker checklist and sign up for The Howl leadership newsletter at www.ceostrategist.com.

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www.ceostrategist.com – Sign up to receive “The Howl” a free* monthly newsletter and get your choice of "CEO Strategist's Hiring and Interview Guide" or "The Guide to Effective Training Sessions", valuable resources for all levels of management. The Howl addresses real world industry issues. – Straight talk about today’s issues.  Rick Johnson, expert speaker, wholesale distribution’s “Leadership Strategist”, founder of CEO Strategist, LLC a firm that helps clients create and maintain competitive advantage. Need a speaker for your next event, E-mail rick@ceostrategist.com.

There is always a way out; you just have to find it.

Just came across this story and because of its moral, I thought it is an inspiring tale to remind ourselves that when we think we used all the resources and don't see another solution, then look again...

Tale of Two Pebbles

http://thewisdomwarrior.com/2012/01/18/the-tale-of-two-pebbles/

"No way is the way. No limitation is the limitation" - Bruce Lee

The Choice Map and You

Recently I came across the Choice Map developed by Marilee Adams, the author of the Change Your Questions, Change Your Life book. If you remember one of the questions asked in the exercise for The Second Quality: They are Optimistic, (if not, please read the post!), then you realize that the way you react in the face of the setbacks will define the output of your life. 


The Choice Map is a powerful tool for getting better results and it is simple to use. Use it and it will help you in solving a problem or making a decision. Get the mindset of the Highly Successful Internationally Experienced Professionals and be happy!


"You really can change your questions and change your life." - http://inquiryinstitute.com/

How do you value your time?

Lately, I feel that I am operating in a perpetual fire-fighting mode because I devote more time to putting out fires than preventing them. Unfortunately, I can't control what I can't control, and I try to calm down myself and get the things I can control, done. Anyway, I remembered this story I like and I thought I'll share with you here. Even if you know it, maybe you can get another meaning to its interpretation. Then, ask yourself "What is the best use of my time right now?"

Imagine there is a bank that credits your account each morning with $86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day. Every evening deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day. 

What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course! Each of us has such a bank. It's name is TIME. Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose.

It carries over no balance. It allows no overdraft. Each day it opens a new account for you.

Each night it burns the remains of the day. If you fail to use the day’s deposits, the loss is yours.

There is no going back. There is no drawing against the “tomorrow”.

You must live in the present on today’s deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness, and success!

The clock is running.

Make the most of today.

To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who failed a grade.

To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who gave birth to a pre-mature baby.

To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.

To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who missed the train.

To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person who just avoided an accident.

To realize the value of ONE MILLISECOND, ask the person who won a silver medal in the Olympics.

Treasure every moment that you have! And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time.

And remember that time waits for no one.

Yesterday is history.

Tomorrow is mystery.

Today is a gift.

That’s why it’s called the present!!

Author unknown

Source: http://starteasy.com/ggalore/time/

"Transformation happens right now, not yesterday and not tomorrow - in this very present moment, which is all you really have." - Jillian Michaels

News You Can Use - New Canadians must self-promote more

Hello again,

I just read the below article and the topic is my preferred one. In my experience, networking success has never been based on who you know but, rather, who knows you. 

Because, NETWORK is surrounding yourself with people who support you! What propels your career success whether you are self-employed or working for others? "Networking with as many as possible." 

A commonly known phrase says: "What you know is important; who you know is even more important."

Furthermore, a more appropriate phrase would be: "It isn't who you know, but who knows you and knows what you know."

As noted above, your relationships matter - your professional network of trusted contacts gives you an advantage in your career, and is one of your most valuable assets. Who you know and more importantly who knows you can help your credibility. 

In this article you will find a road-map to become a master networker:

Getting Connected: IN SOME CULTURES TALKING ABOUT YOUR SKILLS IS CONSIDERED INAPPROPRIATE BUT IN THE JOB MARKET, IT'S A MUST

By ALLISON GRAHAM, SPECIAL TO QMI AGENCY

Internationally trained professionals come to Canada with the intention of building a full and prosperous life. Unfortunately, many find themselves underemployed and struggling to get connected to industry leaders and find worthwhile job opportunities.

At a recent conference dedicated to sharing strategies with new Canadians on how to connect in the job market, the overwhelming theme was encouraging them to "network." The question is "how?"

Successful networking is the same regardless of where you were born. There are four pillars -- the concept, the strategy, the Business of YOU and the fundamentals -- to become a master networker:

• The concept: In Canada, the networking approach that works best is more subtle than in other parts of the world. A person who has just met you is not likely to open up his or her network to you to help you find a job until the relationship has had time to develop. It could take meeting someone six to eight times at networking functions before you start to click. Showing up once or twice is not enough. Asking a person at the time of introduction to give you a job or introduce you to someone who could won't likely happen.
• The strategy: You'll need to figure out where you should go to network that will give you the best opportunity to connect with people in your industry. Research online can help you pinpoint the movers and shakers in your field. It requires stepping out of your comfort zone, but if you only network within current circles, you won't meet people who can lead to the job you desire.
• The Business of YOU: This is the networking pillar that addresses your image and employability. Your personal brand or reputation will have a huge effect on your ability to get and keep a job. The question for a potential employer is not only if you can do the work, it's whether you can function and get along in the workplace. For people to hire or recommend you, they need to like you, trust you and believe you are competent so every time you go to a networking event you want to keep these goals in mind. Ask yourself "What would it be like to meet me?" The answer may tell you a lot about how well you connect with people. One barrier for internationally trained professionals can be language. Even if you are fluent in English, a thick accent can make it difficult to connect at loud networking events. Practise and perfect your English or French. Knowing a second language can benefit you in your work, but getting connected to the right people will require conversations most often in English.
• The fundamentals: Knowing the how-tos of networking in Canada is essential to landing a job in the professional realm.

Allison Graham is a business networking expert, conference speaker and the author of Business Cards to Business Relationships: How to Build the Ultimate Network. To submit a question, comment on this article or contact Allison, visit her blog at http://blogs.canoe.ca/gettingconnected or her website, http://blogs.canoe.ca/gettingconnected

As well, check these Free Networking Tips.

"It isn't who you know, but who knows you and knows what you know." ~ Anonymus

The Ten Winning People-Trends Of 2011 & What They Mean To You by Mike Lipkin

We're almost at the fifty-day mark of 2011. In dog years, an entire year has already passed. It’s been epic. The climate is changing dramatically, both physically and metaphysically. As Elisabeth Rosenthal asks in the February 13 issue of the New York Times: "What happens when 100 year storms are seen every 10 years, and 10 year storms become regular events? How many structures will reach their limits?"...

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