BE BETTER THAN LAST YEAR!

WOW! Another year is done. Another year is starting. An end and a beginning all in a matter of seconds. That’s it. As everyone knows but no one wants to accept “we can’t change time”, we cannot speed it up and most certainly, we cannot slow it down. All that we can do is accept that time is change and change is time, it is always happening it is all around us.

The past is written never to be re-written. The future is a blank slate that we, in the present, get to write on. However, there is no going forward to write it we can only move in time towards it. We can plan things out but even then, no plan is foolproof. As General Dwight D. Eisenhower is credited as saying, “In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable." Obviously, 2014 is not going to be a battle but yet we often set ourselves up for a situation in which we are destined to fail. It is because we fail to plan.

This leads me to the hottest topic this time every year: RESOLUTIONS.

Many of us (myself included) have been guilty of proclaiming resolutions for the New Year only to have them fail or forgotten a few weeks into that New Year.

There are many tips, tools, and ideas (mine included) there flying around right about now.  There is nothing wrong with that!  Actually, I look forward to them every year because it shows that we need help.  We need plenty of help!

However, just before I finished writing my book “The Walking Leader" I stumbled across something and it became my mantra, my catchphrase, my daily mission, my motto: "Be Better Than Yesterday."

Now with a minor change I make my new year's resolution and I invite you to make it yours:
"BE BETTER THAN LAST YEAR!"

Thank you,
Dave Guerra

P.S. I do invite you to join the conversation and tell me what you are thinking.

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

I invite you to
follow me on Twitter: @daveguerra
visit my website: www.daveguerra.com

To order your copy of The Walking Leader:  Amazon Paperback / Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble

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Falling off the same mountain?

Why do we keep falling off the same mountain?

It's that time of year again. Time to make those dreaded New Year's Resolutions.  For many of us, the top resolution was and will be: LOSE WEIGHT/GET IN SHAPE

For others it is get a better job.

And for some it will be finish/accomplish this or that project (something that's been on the back burner for a long time)

Of course, you are different and your resolution will be something else.

Well no matter what it is, for many of us we will start 2014 fast and furious then by 25 or so of January the resolution becomes an old memory only to be dusted off sometime around the first bite of pumpkin pie next Thanksgiving.

Then the old "I will feast during the holidays and come New Year's I will do better." Only to repeat the process all over again. Thus we fall off the same mountain, again.

So how do we keep from falling off the same mountain?

More aptly, what should we do to not keep falling off the same mountain?

Find a different mountain to fall off of? No! That's not the answer.

What is the answer is to pace yourself. Remember, there are approximately 330 days till the start of the Holiday 2014 Season.

Create a goal. Break that goal down into smaller manageable and scalable sub-goals. Then work on those sub-goals.

For example, you say you want to lose 30lbs in 2014. Well, 2014 is 365 days long that means that on average you can lose 2.5lbs a month to reach that goal. It is that simple.

Have you ever seen a crop of corn or cotton grow? It does not grow overnight. I grows over the course of several months. First, the sprout then the stalk, lastly an ear of corn. Nothing overnight, nothing instant, everything in its time.

Trust on this one, if you stumble and fall trying to reach the sub-goal the distance your fall won't be as far as if you fell off the entire mountain.

Do what you can to reach the top of the mountain.

One step at a time and before you know it you will never fall of the mountain, again!


As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

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Introducing DOUGHBOY CITY

Please allow me to introduce you to my first work of FICTION: DOUGHBOY CITY

DOUGHBOY CITY is something that I have been working on since 2011 when I was a participant in NANOWRIMO (National Novel Writing Month). Then I put the core of this book on the shelf for about a year and a half. After the publication of THE WALKING LEADER, I decide to dust off the file that was DOUGHBOY CITY and I hit the keyboard running.

Then before I knew it, the book that was to become the final product was complete.

I had a lot of fun writing DOUGHBOY CITY as I did writing THE WALKING LEADER. If I can do it, I will continue to have this kind of fun for a very long time. Writing FICTION was a very nice departure from the NON-FICTION. Personally, I believe that I have stumbled on to something in alternating between FICTION and NON-FICTION means I can decompress from one while working on the other. I like the idea of breaking it up. It reminds me of the author DAVID BALDACCI who wrote a long line of serious thriller novels before taking a different path in The Christmas Train. FYI, The Christmas Train happens to rank in the top 100 of my all-time favorite Christmas stories.

About DOUGHBOY CITY.

The story takes place in the two months before the fall of the Berlin Wall. A terrible training “accident” takes the life of a young US Soldier. Another Soldier who is friends with the victim starts to put two and two together and figures out that it is no accident. However, he cannot prove it, especially, when the person he suspects is the killer all but confesses. He cannot prove it until one night as the world was changing an unlikely duo changes everything for everyone.

You can order your copy for the KINDLE DEVICE or APP: DOUGHBOY CITY (Occupied Berlin: Tales from Freedom's Outpost)

Don't worry the paperback version of DOUGHBOY CITY will be available on 7 JANUARY 2014.

Thank you,
Dave Guerra

P.S. I do invite you to join the conversation and tell me what you are thinking.

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

I invite you to
follow me on Twitter: @daveguerra
visit my website: www.daveguerra.com

To order your copy of The Walking Leader:  Amazon Paperback / Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble

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Turn Down The Background Noise

The Christmas season is well underway and every merchant and retailer is gunning for your hard-earned money. I am all for that! However, what I am not all for is the commercials that just do not get it. That is OK, there will always be commercials that will either talk down to the consumer or provide so much noise that the true message will never be heard.

Case in point, TJ Maxx has a series of commercials running under the title of "The Gifter". The series focus on a woman who is considered The Gifter, the one individual that knows exactly what everyone wants and knows that the retailer is the only place to get those gifts. In one of the series of commercials, the background audio was so overpowering that properly understanding the voice-over (narrator) was next to impossible.

The music was just too loud that trying to listen to the message was quickly becoming very frustrating.

This got me thinking about what about everyone else that is trying to get their message out there. How are they going about it? Are they putting STYLE over Substance because people want the pretty girls and the loud music? Are they forgetting Substance because Style has to rule the day?

In most cases, the answer is YES and in most of those cases, that is the wrong answer.

It is the WRONG answer!

No matter what, no matter when, and most definitely no matter who, the content will always be King. While you can put loud, colorful clothes on the King and fire up a row of trumpeters but if people do not see the content for themselves, they will see a King that’s just a flash in the pan and that my friends is not a good thing. That’s not a good thing for your message no matter what it is.

So turn down the background noise and turn up the message!


Thank you,
David G. Guerra

P.S. I do invite you to join the conversation and tell me what you are thinking.

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

I invite you to
follow me on Twitter: @daveguerra
visit my website: www.daveguerra.com

To order your copy of The Walking Leader:  Amazon Paperback / Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble

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Never Short-change Your Customers

On Friday, October 24, 2013 I stopped off at a locally owned business (a mom and pop restaurant) and ordered some lunch to go. My order was filled relatively quickly (there was NO ONE else in the restaurant during the lunch hour on a Friday (now why didn't I see that red flag)). I paid for my order with a $20 bill, which I handed over to the guy taking my order. My change from the $20 was supposed to be $14.28, at least that's what the little display window on top of the cash register said.

The guy behind the counter plopped on the counter one $10 bill, four $1 bills, and one $0.25 coin (a quarter). I looked at the guy, he looked at me, pointed to the money on the counter and said, "There's your change."

I just looked at him and slid my change off the counter. As I was making my way out of the restaurant I found out that the guy that shortchanged me was the owner for this "fine" dining establishment.

As I was heading home to enjoy my lunch I got to thinking about what happened. As I replayed it in my head I started feeling bothered and a little upset about the whole situation.

It is not the fact that I was shorted $0.03 that bothered me.

What bothered me the most is the business owner saw absolutely NOTHING WRONG with shorting me.

He offered no apology nor explanation as to why he was not giving me exact change. Heck, I could understand running out of pennies but I got nothing.

This really got me thinking:

1. Has he done this before? Yes, as he did to me with such impunity.
2. Is he doing it to others, now? More than likely yes, as he doesn't know me from the next guy.

Then I started to peel back the layers on the situation and asked myself:

3. What else is he short changing his customers on? (food quality, cleanliness (on the surface it looked clean), or something that is not visible to us?)
4. What about his employees, is he short-changing them?
5. Are his employees in on the short-changing of the customers (or stakeholders)?
6. Is this his standard business practice? (affecting internal and external stakeholders)
7. What other "questionable" business practices is he getting away with or being allowed to get away with?
8. Why is he a "cash only" business? That's right this long time business takes cash only and the note on the front door lets everyone know.


I have said it before and I will say it again: This is not the right economy to be playing games with customers. Short-changing a customer $0.03 or $300.00 it does not matter, what matters is that when push comes to shove people will remember when they get short-changed and who did it to them. They will remember, the next time they want what you sell. They won't think twice going someplace else. Personally, I already found their replacement.

Such a shame that this Mom and Pop operation chose to give up quality and service all in the name of whatever the owner is doing.

A word or two of advice: I refer to you to my May 7, 2012 posting "About Mom and Pop Stores (small business) vs. Big Box Stores" and the last paragraph:
"Remember, people are not going to give you their hard earned money just because you are a Mom and Pop operation. You are going to have to take it from them in exchange for a quality product, a quality service, and above all a quality attitude."


Thank you and Good Luck,
Dave Guerra

P.S. I do invite you to join the conversation and tell me what you are thinking.

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

I invite you to
follow me on Twitter: @daveguerra
visit my website: www.daveguerra.com

To order your copy of The Walking Leader:  Amazon Paperback / Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble

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"Everybody's Gunning For The VIP Section"

Thanks to Simon, John, Roger, and Nick for reminding me about this one.

We've all heard of the VIP section. That's where the all the "very important people" go. Just who are those VIPs? Are they actors, actresses, politicians, or just rich people with nothing else better to do with their money? They would like to think so.

However, the identity of a VIP is very subjective. To any organization or establishment a VIP is someone who can bring recognition or prestige to the organization. To an establishment (bar or restaurant) a VIP will give valuable exposure. However, is it right for everyone to want in to the VIP section?

Right and Wrong! The VIP section, wherever it may be, is a contradiction.People want in and those that are in want nothing more than to get out. So what's the big deal?

The big deal is that people want to be where the action is. People like living vicariously through others. Remember how cool you thought H.P. Lovecraft and Jack Kerouac were?

You read their books and thought to yourself "Wow, these guys are living an awesome life" and you probably thought about living that kind of life because these guys had it all, they can do what they wanted, not have to answer to anybody and people liked them.

Then when you got to college or started working you realized that was not what life was about.

While that is the same for the VIP section in anything and anywhere. Once you get there what is next?  Where is the next VIP section and how do you get to it?

The thing is that eventually one of two things will happen; you will get tired of trying to get into the VIP section that you just completely give up or you will become irrelevant and people will not want you in the VIP section any longer.  What then?

Here are five things you can do if you find yourself unable to get into any VIP section:

     1. The stop been envious of other people. Envy is a surefire way to keep you out of any VIP section including your own.

     2.  The same goes for jealousy.  Jealousy is not self-inspiring nor self-serving.  Jealousy has always been and always will be self-destructing.

     3.  Recognize that others want their own VIP section.  You are not alone in this endeavor. However, when you realize that everyone's vision is unique and your vision of what the VIP section is almost certainly differs from the person next you.

     4.  Help others make their own VIP section.  That old adage of "it takes a village" is still very true.  Help them make their own and they will most certainly help you make yours.

     5.  MAKE YOUR OWN VIP SECTION.  There is no need to worry if you are on the list because it is your list and you are always on top of that list.

So what if you do not own a nightclub or restaurant or bar?  You have where you are and that is all that matters.  Make where you are the hottest, most sought after spot on the planet.  Make where you are the only VIP section that matters.

If it is your home then you are all set! Your friends and family will always be at the coolest place in the world.

If it is where you work, even better because not only can you make the employees members of the VIP section but that every single customer that walks in through your door is automatically in the VIP section.

So it's up to you, you can even choose to try to get into the latest and greatest VIP section as determined by somebody else or you can just make your own with your own set of rules and access list.

Personally, I recommend making your own. It was a lot of fun making my own VIP Section.

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

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Blah, Blah, Blah + Static = Lack of Urgency

There comes a time in our lives when we see that not everything that others want us to see or wish for us to see is substantive but just a smoke screen.

It happens. 

In my opinion, this has been happening quite a bit lately. What I have seen is the continuing saga and drama of individuals that would rather deliver the same old song and dance instead of evolving to the next level, their next level of professionalism.

What I mean is they create the sense of urgency the same way they always have and fail to recognize that at some point there " urgency" becomes routine. It is that same sense of routine that others eventually stop giving any credibility to the individual. Think "The Boy Who Cried Wolf".

Then anything in the future becomes nothing but "blah, blah, blah" and that turns into STATIC.

It is that static that people eventually begin to ignore.  Then just like the boy, the person creating the "sense of urgency" no longer has any credibility nor is urgency applied when something real happens.

What then?

This is when those individuals that deliver that same "song and dance" must evolve and get away from that way of behaving.  Unfortunately, this will only happen when they have their back up against a wall and wolf is nipping at their heels. Is it too late?

Yes, when that time comes it is way too late! However, all is NOT lost.

Those individuals have to see the light before it becomes TOO LATE again.

If you are one of those individuals, please take this as a warning and not as static that you ignore now and later say to yourself, "If only I listened, then?"

Only you can save yourself.

Until Next Time,
David Guerra


 

Attention Business Owners: About Your Company Vehicles (again)

Attention Business Owners

I said it before and I will say it again: Do you know what happens when your employees take your company vehicle home?

Sure it might be after hours but they are still advertising your company name, phone number, website, and they are most certainly advertising your company's reputation. 

The situation is do you really know what your employees are doing with your company name on the weekends and after hours?  Better still, what are they doing with your company name when they are driving home after work or when they are driving to work first thing in the morning?

Are they really promoting the professional reputation that you worked long and hard to develop, cultivate, and maintain?

Are your employees working hard to maintain that professional reputation? Most of them are.  However, just like at a restaurant all it takes is one bad meal or a rude waiter and that restaurant's reputation goes down the kitchen sink and so will your organization's reputation.

All it takes is for one employee that is in a hurry to start the weekend and run a red light or do rolling stop at a stop sign or worst still shows signs of road rage in your company's van or truck and come Monday morning and almost as if by magic you sit there wondering how your company's reputation just disappeared.

Now, I know there's a need for employees to take company vehicles home after hours and weekends, especially if they are on-call.  However, those employees need to fully understand the severity of how quickly things could escalate and the importance of them to remain highly professional from the moment they drive the company vehicle off the company parking lot to the moment they return the company vehicle to the company parking lot.

So long as they have control of a company vehicle they have control of your company's reputation and fate.  Now, you need to ask yourself: Are you prepared to turn over total and complete control of your company to someone who you know is not prepared?

Of course, you send out your service vehicles and service people. Your employees have to get from point A to point B.  Obviously, you trust them enough to get from one point to another to do the job that they were hired to do.  That’s fine, however, it is their attitude and behavior while they're traveling that is the biggest indicator of how long your business will last.

If you have in the past or if you haven't, get those drivers together and lay down, in no uncertain terms, your exact expectations of those driving the vehicles no matter when they're driving the vehicles.  Also, don't forget to stress the repercussions of violating the expectations that you have just finished giving them.  I understand that there will be people who will push you, that will not take you serious as to what your expectations are and what will happen if they do not follow through.

Therefore, it behooves you, your employees, your company, and your insurance company that every driver signs a form that acknowledges their understanding and expected compliance of the vehicle use policy as you have explained to them.  Don't forget to ask if there any questions.  If there are no questions then verbally acknowledge that no questions were asked otherwise answer the question(s).

Something to remember; when you are talking to your staff please do not pull any punches, do not joke around, or they will most certainly take with them the impression that all of this is just a joke and you were not serious! This impression will be difficult to shake when it comes to following through when someone breaks the driving policy.

Remember, whether you want to admit it or not your customers and potential customers are ALWAYS watching you, your company, your employees and what they do with your reputation. So take my warning or not, that is up to you.

Thank you,
David G. Guerra

P.S. I do invite you to join this conversation. I want to know what you are thinking.

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

I invite you to
follow me on Twitter: @daveguerra
visit my website: www.daveguerra.com

To order your copy of "The Walking Leader"  Amazon Paperback / Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble

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Always Carry A Pen and Paper / Always have something to write with and on!

Retro 51 Tornado Red Rollerball Pen

In Rule #3 (Go By Yourself) of the Walking Leader, I mention the need to ALWAYS have Pen and Paper with you especially when you go for a walk or leave your office for any reason.

Having something to document any action, idea, suggestion or recording a meeting on or with is something that makes you as someone who is prepared for any situation. Whether you have a folded piece of paper and an old chewed up pencil or a Moleskine pocket journal and a Mont Blanc fountain pen, it really does not matter so long as you have something.  Now what does matter, is that you have something that will work for you every time you need it.

Personally, I prefer using a pocket journal from Field Notes (R) and a pen that fits my taste and style, as well as, my budget. Personally, I used one of the following three pens: 5280 Summit carbon Fiber Fountain Pen, Padrino Aero Silver Ball Point Pen, and Retro 51 Tornado Red Roller Ball Pen.

Each one of these pens works well with the paper in the Field Notes Pocket Journal.  The paper quickly absorbs the ink from the rollerball pen as it does with the fountain pen and the ballpoint pen.

The beauty of the Field Notes Pocket Journal is not only its compact size but the pages can be torn out and attached to any other piece of paper either by a staple, paperclip, bulldog clip, or dog-ear.

There is absolutely no excuse for anyone to get out from behind a desk and the office or cubicle or whenever you have without something to write on and something to write with.  You are a professional and you need to start acting like it. People see you as a professional the moment you start acting like a professional.  There are many things people can do but being recognized as a Professional in your field is something you can not fool all the people with.

People will immediately recognize when you're not telling them the truth, when you are just playing the part, and they will certainly recognize that you are not genuine when it comes to using the tools of the trade.

If you are constantly arriving at a meeting, gathering, or anyplace without at least a piece of paper and pen but instead are always asking to " borrow a paper and a pen" people will see right through you and know that you are not the genuine article.

Don't take your selections for granted. Never, ever do that. This is one of those thing that will help define you as a leader among men and women. This will help start to set you apart from those that are never prepared but somehow seem to skate on by.

Whether you are a "Newbie" or a "Veteran" it is never too late or too early to start increasing your professional skills of which having the right tools for the right job is the key to the increasing skill set thus increasing success.

The Professional is always prepared!  The Professional is prepared to deal with any contingency and is ALWAYS prepared to make a decision.

A Professional should also be prepared to take notes. Therefore, as a Professional you should always have something to write on and with otherwise why bother considering yourself a professional?


Thank you,
David G. Guerra

P.S. I do invite you to join the conversation and tell me what you are thinking.

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

I invite you to
follow me on Twitter: @daveguerra
visit my website: www.daveguerra.com

To order your copy of The Walking Leader:  Amazon Paperback / Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble


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About Giving 110%

Obviously, the Internet has become the great equalizer in that not only can small businesses now compete against the big conglomerates but you are competing with the world for the same business.

This most certainly means you have to be on top of your game 100%.

Notice I didn't write 110% because there is NO 110%.

Kid yourself all you want there is just no giving it your all plus 10% more. If you have 10% more to give then originally you were only giving 90% and NOT 100%.

Aren't they cheating the people or the organizations that they say they are giving 110% to? Worst of all they are really just cheating themselves.

Don't Cheat Yourself and Others!




Thank you,
Dave Guerra

P.S. I do invite you to join the conversation and tell me what you are thinking.

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

I invite you to follow me on Twitter: @daveguerra

Here are some Technorati Tags: • The Walking Leader • Giving it your all • Don' give less than your potential • Don't sell yourself short • • Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Leadership Development • Professional Development • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Ready, Fire, Aim! • If it ain't broke, break it. • Hire Crazies • Ask dumb questions • Pursue failure • Spread Confusion • Ditch Your Office • Read Odd Stuff • Avoid Moderation • Higher, Admire, Desire, Require, Satire, Inquire, On Fire, All Possible Scenarios • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

There Is No Longer Such A Thing As "Too Early"

In today's 24/7/365, always on, I want it now, instant world there is no longer such a thing as "too early"

Really, you can NEVER be too early for anything. Teenage girls line up for a week to get a glimpse of their favorite boy band du'jour. Heck, even the Tuesday before Thanksgiving is the new Black Friday.  Being too early is no longer an exception. Being Early is EXPECTED!

As for not being early, well now all you can be is LATE, TOO LATE, or WAY TOO LATE!


No longer can anyone get away with being late for anything. Whether it be for work, school, a date, a dinner, or a party.

Think about this: Would you approve of anyone arriving late? Short of a car accident or their clothes completely catching on fires, is there really any valid excuse any more?

NO! There is absolutely no valid excuse. A line from the 1994 song "Come Out and Play (Keep'm Separated)" by the Offspring gives the most appropriate warning: "...By the time you hear the siren, It's already too late..."


Thank you,
Dave Guerra

P.S. I do invite you to join the conversation and tell me what you are thinking.

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

I invite you to follow me on Twitter: @daveguerra

Here are some Technorati Tags: • 100 Ways • Being Early Is Expected • Late • Too Late • Way Too Late • No Excuse is valid for being late • Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Leadership Development • Professional Development • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Ready, Fire, Aim! • If it ain't broke, break it. • Hire Crazies • Ask dumb questions • Pursue failure • Spread Confusion • Ditch Your Office • Read Odd Stuff • Avoid Moderation • Higher, Admire, Desire, Require, Satire, Inquire, On Fire, All Possible Scenarios • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

Introducing The Walking Leader

I want to take this opportunity to introduce you to my contribution to the business leadership literary world: The Walking Leader: The 20 Rules You Can Follow Now to Guide You Down the Path of Leadership Greatness in Your Organization.

I wrote the Walking Leader for anyone that has wanted to get out from behind their desk and get to know the organization from within but didn't know how. To succeed in business (any business), any one in any position within any company, organization, agency, program, department, or section has to not only do their job better than everyone else they also have to get out and visit the front-lines. They have to be where the bullets are flying.

In a war, the front-lines is where the bullets are flying. The only way to truly know how the war is going is to be right out in front, meeting and getting to know those that are fighting out on the front lines every day! Business leaders, communicators, and instructors know and share with every that wants to succeed; the only way is to get out and be among the company staff.

However, there was a problem. The problem was there was nothing formally written to act as a guide to how to go and walk among the entire company's staff. There was nothing that even resemble a set of rules that anyone can go to when the time comes to get out there.

The Walking Leader was written to fill that void. The 20 rules are to be used as a guide to starting your own Walking Leader program. The 20 rules are to be used to become your organization's next Great Leader. As your organization's next Great Leader you will be in the position to recruit, guide, and mentor the NEXT Great Leader.


I invite you to get yourself a copy and get out there! Getting out there is the only way you will know how the war is going.

At this time, there are two places you can order The Walking Leader:
1. The Walking Leader website: http://www.walkingleader.com
(be sure to look for the DISCOUNT CODE)

and


2. Amazon.com


Tentatively after October 15, The Walking Leader will be available for sale at brick and mortar Bookstores, other Online Retailers, Libraries, and Academic Institutions.

Some basics of THE WALKING LEADER
Name: The Walking Leader: The 20 Rules You Can Follow Now to Guide You Down the Path of Leadership Greatness in Your Organization
Author: David G. Guerra
Page count: 106
Suggested retail price: $US 10.99
Year of first printing: 2013
ISBN: 978-1492120063


Thank you,
Dave Guerra

P.S. I do invite you to tell me what you are think of The Walking Leader.

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

I invite you to follow me on Twitter: @daveguerra

Here are some Technorati Tags: • 100 Ways • • 20 Rules You Can Follow Now to Guide You Down the Path of Leadership Greatness in Your Organization • • Be A Great Leader • Author • Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Leadership Development • Professional Development • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Ready, Fire, Aim! • If it ain't broke, break it. • Hire Crazies • Ask dumb questions • Pursue failure • Spread Confusion • Ditch Your Office • Read Odd Stuff • Avoid Moderation • Higher, Admire, Desire, Require, Satire, Inquire, On Fire, All Possible Scenarios • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

The Walking Leader publication date set

The latest book by US Army Veteran and Recovering Bureaucrat, David G. Guerra: "The Walking Leader: The 20 Rules You Can Follow Now To Guide You Down The Path Of Leadership Greatness In Your Organization" will be published and available for sale to the general public on Tuesday, August 27, 2013.

Initially, "The Walking Leader" will be available through Amazon.com, Createspace.com eStore, the Author's blog (http://daveguerra.blogspot.com) and on the book's website: http://www.walkingleader.com.

The Walking Leader is a book designed to be used by any individual in any potential leadership position with any organization (private or public sector) that knows that getting out among ALL employees and getting to know them is a essential to not only building credibility but genuine authenticity as a leader within the organization.

The 20 Rules are easy to learn but MOST difficult to master. However, that should not intimidate anyone trying to become a Walking Leader as anything worth doing should be worth doing right, no matter how long it takes.

As soon as accurate purchasing information is provided it will be posted on this blog and on the Walking Leader Website.

Thank you,
Dave Guerra

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

I invite you to follow me on Twitter: @daveguerra

Here are some Technorati Tags: • 100 Ways • Walking Leader • Book • Author • leadership • Leader • Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Leadership Development • Professional Development • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Ready, Fire, Aim! • If it ain't broke, break it. • Hire Crazies • Ask dumb questions • Pursue failure • Spread Confusion • Ditch Your Office • Read Odd Stuff • Avoid Moderation • Higher, Admire, Desire, Require, Satire, Inquire, On Fire, All Possible Scenarios • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

Ambition and Success!

Ambition and Success go hand in hand. They do so, so well that I made this really cool chart illustrating the correlating and exponential relationship of the two.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
The more ambition you have and the more you apply the more success you will have throughout your life.

If you don’t believe me, try one of the following:

Do nothing for a month and see how much success you have.
-or-
Do a lot for a month and see how much success you have.



Thank you,
Dave Guerra

P.S. I do invite you to join the conversation and tell me what you are thinking.

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

Here are some Technorati Tags: • 100 Ways • Be Ambitious • Have Success • Self-Discipline • Execute • Make it happen • Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Leadership Development • Professional Development • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Ready, Fire, Aim! • If it ain't broke, break it. • Hire Crazies • Ask dumb questions • Pursue failure • Spread Confusion • Ditch Your Office • Read Odd Stuff • Avoid Moderation • Higher, Admire, Desire, Require, Satire, Inquire, On Fire, All Possible Scenarios • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

It is ALL Show and Tell!

I just received an UNSOLICITED email (aka SPAM) that offered some webservices:

"I am ##name removed##, Business Development Manager.

I was on your website. Would you be interested in a possible redesigning of the site or addition feature that might benefit the overall usability and user experience which usually leads to better sales?"

Very interesting that this "Business Development Manager" DOES NOT offer to show any of the websites he has done nor does he NOT offer his personal website as a reference.

Folks, if you are going to tell the world that you offer a certain service please be prepared to show a little something of what you offer otherwise why bother?


Thank you,
Dave Guerra

P.S. I do invite you to join the conversation and tell me what you are thinking.

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

I invite you to follow me on Twitter: @daveguerra

Here are some Technorati Tags: • 100 Ways • Another spam email • Is there something hidden? • Want work but offers nothing • Something to hide? • Show and Tell • Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Leadership Development • Professional Development • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Ready, Fire, Aim! • If it ain't broke, break it. • Hire Crazies • Ask dumb questions • Pursue failure • Spread Confusion • Ditch Your Office • Read Odd Stuff • Avoid Moderation • Higher, Admire, Desire, Require, Satire, Inquire, On Fire, All Possible Scenarios • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

Today is a Brand New Day!

Whatever happened yesterday, and the day before that and the day before that day and so on in no way mean that is what should happen today or tomorrow. Today is NOT yesterday nor is it tomorrow. Today is NOW and right now is yours to make better, that is unless you choose to make it bad or worse than yesterday.

Sure you can sit and dwell on how someone screwed you over or how someone broke your heart or whatever but guess what? You cannot change what happened. You can only move forward from yesterday and make it better today!

Leave yesterday and the past where it belongs; in the past! They make monuments to commemorate the past which people visit all the time. Take the Washington Memorial for instance. There stands a tall spire to remember a great man that led a fledgling nation to become the greatest on the planet. However, no one stops to dwell on Washington's internal struggles, his personal setbacks, who broke his heart, or who spilled wassail on him during that Christmas at Valley Forge. Some two hundred plus years later all we see is the positive. That gives us a chance to make a better future.

So you can sit there and dwell on how someone did something wrong to you or you can decide that you will do what it takes to ensure that you are never in that situation again, even if means you are the one that did something wrong.

Now get out there and demand from yourself a better future!

Thank you,
Dave Guerra

P.S. I do invite you to join the conversation and tell me what you are thinking.

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

You can follow me on twitter at @daveguerra

Here are some Technorati Tags: • 100 Ways • Have A Better Day • Yesterday's gone • The Past is the Past • Move Forward • Today is a Brand New Day • Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Leadership Development • Professional Development • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Ready, Fire, Aim! • If it ain't broke, break it. • Hire Crazies • Ask dumb questions • Pursue failure • Spread Confusion • Ditch Your Office • Read Odd Stuff • Avoid Moderation • Higher, Admire, Desire, Require, Satire, Inquire, On Fire, All Possible Scenarios • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

Be Money Smart, Always!

BELIEVE IT OR NOT but SPENDING does NOT equal INVESTING!

• SPENDING is defined as  the act of paying out (money) in buying or hiring goods or services.

• INVESTING is defined as the act of committing (money) in order to earn a financial return.



Thank you,
Dave Guerra

P.S. I do invite you to join the conversation and tell me what you are thinking.

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

Here are some Technorati Tags: • 100 Ways • Be Smart • Invest wisely • Be Wise • Don't Waste Your Money • Don't spend just to spend • Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Leadership Development • Professional Development • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Ready, Fire, Aim! • If it ain't broke, break it. • Hire Crazies • Ask dumb questions • Pursue failure • Spread Confusion • Ditch Your Office • Read Odd Stuff • Avoid Moderation • Higher, Admire, Desire, Require, Satire, Inquire, On Fire, All Possible Scenarios • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero

Don't Forget The Front of the Boat

A few weeks ago, my daughter and I went on one of those Saltwater Fishing excursions out on the Gulf of Mexico. These fishing trips have become an annual event for her and me. Whether we catch fish or a cold or neither we always have a Great Time! We do some serious Daughter-Daddy bonding and this year was NO EXCEPTION.

However, isn't there always a HOWEVER when it comes to my posts?

I was left a little disappointed by the Customer Service/Business Side of the operation. The issue is that the Boat is a 50foot vessel. It has two decks but no one goes up there as all the fishing happens on first deck. The Wheel House is also on the second deck and it is big enough to hold the Captain and about three adults maximum.

Our first trip of the day was to take four (4) hours and it was going to be bay fishing at the Laguna Madre. Well we set sail at 8AM sharp and by 8:30 the hooks were in the water and the day was on. So Far So Good? Right?

Yes and No.

Yes, in that the day of fishing had begun. No in that there was a group of about eight individuals who were tying up the Captain and his crew at the back of the boat. Over the course of the next four hours, the Captain never once set foot to see how his passengers/customers/guests were doing at the front of the boat or the BOW in nautical terms. Yep, all the action was at the Stern and that's where they stayed. We did get a visit from the First Mate the ship's version of Gilligan or Little Buddy. He could not walk past us fast enough to get to the stern once again.

Seriously, Captain Lou (let's just call him Captain Lou) couldn't take five minutes from his busy schedule to ensure that everyone was SAFE, having a good time, or to do or say what he could to make certain we returned for more fun and fishing. For all we know Isaac the ship's bartender called in sick and Captain Lou was mixing Mai Tais on the Lido Deck while Gopher and Doc baited the hooks.


Aside from driving the boat to our next anchor point this guy must have spent more than 90% of his time and attention at the back of the boat. If memory serves me correct there were ten (10) of us on the Bow and there were about eight (8) fishing off the stern. I can't begin to stress enough just how much this guy was preoccupied with the back of the boat.

The time our Four Hour Tour had come to an end we managed to snag two trout, one catfish, and one complete Rod and Reel set  and that was sweet. My daughter somehow managed to snag it off the bottom of the bay and that was a good thing (see accompanying image).

As we made our way to get off the boat we had to go to the stern, there we finally got to see why Captain Lou and Gilligan were as giddy as little girls that they neglected their duties to their guests and possible paying customers. There was one individual, back there, who had one of those orange home improvement buckets FULL of fish. There were others who had stringers of fish. Well no wonder their experience was AWESOME! They were catching the fish.

I know, I know, some days you catch fish and some days you catch a cold. However, Captain Lou and his "little buddy" could have taken some time to talk to us and share their experiences on their waters and who knows we might not have had to stop, on the way home, for some "McFish."  Don't get me wrong we had a GREAT TIME!!! It was the customer attention that was lacking and that made my business interaction experience as EH....OK?

Let's break this down:

ONE BOAT + ONE CAPTAIN + ONE FIRST MATE + ALL PAID THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR THE TRIP = TWO DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES WERE RECEIVED
==========
!!!FOR PETE'S SAKE,  IT SHOULD NEVER EQUAL TWO DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES!!!


Less than half of the passengers got a Stellar Experience and will most certainly be returning for more fun with the Skipper and Little Buddy.

MORE THAN HALF got near bottom of the barrel experience and are most certainly entertaining the idea of finding a different boat and captain for any future fishing excursions. I know I will

Folks, it breaks down to this: When you have a captive audience you have to the your very best to that 100% get the Stellar Experience because short of being stuck up in a Ferris wheel all these people paid GOOD MONEY to spend time out on the water. For the feeling at the end of the morning, over 50% might as well have been stuck up in the Ferris wheel. So don't forget that aside from an engine and wheel house, a boat has a Bow, a Stern, a Port, Starboard side and sometime people have business to conduct on that boat. Take care of everyone and not just the ones that are making you look good.

Thank you,
Dave Guerra

P.S. I do invite you to join the conversation and tell me what you are thinking.

As always you can read this blog post in its original location at http://daveguerra.blogspot.com

Here are some Technorati Tags: • 100 Ways • A Fish Tale • Customer Service • Stem to Stern • Watch out for the Customer • and the Customer Experience • Dave Guerra • Leadership • Leading • Leadership Development • Professional Development • Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way • Ready, Fire, Aim! • If it ain't broke, break it. • Hire Crazies • Ask dumb questions • Pursue failure • Spread Confusion • Ditch Your Office • Read Odd Stuff • Avoid Moderation • Higher, Admire, Desire, Require, Satire, Inquire, On Fire, All Possible Scenarios • Give to the American Red Cross • Hire A Hero