Let People In!

There will come a time when you are doing something and doing it so well that people will notice.

They will not only notice but they will become genuinely interested in what you are doing. That interest will serve as a call to action for them and they will want to help.

Let them help. Let them in!

Folks, if you really want people to have something to believe in, something you have created then let them in.

Let them in and make them INSIDERS.

Everyone likes to be an insider. Everyone wants to be in the know.

Everyone likes to be invited to the VIP section.

OK, I might be going a little overboard but why not?

Why not let those that truly want in become insiders?

Think about it? What will it cost you or your organization to let a few more people behind the velvet ropes?

What will your organization gain?

Does the cost outweigh the gain or does the gain outweigh the cost? I bet the gain will definitely outweigh the cost.

Go for it. Let them help and Let them in!


Thank you,
David Guerra

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

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Five Lessons for Future Leaders

Five Lessons for Future Leaders

The age old question: Are Leaders Born or Are Leaders Made?

Personally, I go back and forth with the answer. There are times when I have seen a natural born leader take charge and give credit to that answer of "Yes, they are born."

Then again, there have been times that I have seen someone rise up from the organization's shadows and lead others to accomplish great things. Things that their own managers would never think about doing.

Thus, the question lives and it will live on for a very long time.

However, one thing is certain: To become a Great Leader you have to be an even better follower. In my upcoming sequel to "The Walking Leader" I have put together another 20 rules/guides/lessons to help Future Leaders become better followers.

Does this mean that I am answering the question? NO! It means that no matter who you are once you start on the path to becoming a leader you have to keep on that path. Along the way there are a few things to remember. Here are just five of them.

1. You Know Nothing

Sure you went to high school, college, vocational school,  grad school, and you have your education, congratulations but that is it. Unless you have worked at the organization before getting your education you walk into that company NOT knowing thing one about how that organization works. The company website, Facebook, twitter, and Instagram page tell you NOTHING about that company's culture, they may scratch the surface but it will never tell you the true nitty-gritty details. Others within the company can tell you but until you are knee deep in it, you know nothing.

2. Keep Your Mouth Shut

While you are learning how to fit into the corporate culture and how to do your job the company way my next lesson is for you to keep your mouth shut. Nothing sounds like nails scratching across a chalkboard more than hearing someone saying "back in school" or "back in basic training." Basic training or school is just that: school. You are there to learn the basics and that's it. You are there to learn the bare minimum. However, once you get to your first job or duty station (for those of you in the military) then it is the time to shut up and become a sponge. Soak up everything that your leaders, tenured staff, peers, and co-workers will to teach you. 

WORD OF ADVICE: If your new organization welcomes you aboard and then says get to work without so much as an orientation briefing, it is time to run to the hills.

3. Ask Questions 

Always ask questions! Ask questions, especially, when someone is teaching you something. Asking questions serves two purposes. First, asking questions ensures that you know and fully understand what is going on and what you will be held accountable for. Lastly, asking questions lets those that are teaching you know just how well you are grasping the training and just how well you will fit in within the organization.

4. Seek Out Mentors

Everyone needs a mentor or mentors. No matter where you go and what you do having a mentor to help and guide you in and outside the organization is always a great thing. One thing to remember, a mentor does NOT have to be your immediate supervisor. It does have to be someone you trust, you believe will be good for you, and will steer you in the right direction. 

WORD OF ADVICE: Do not select a mentor solely on the belief that their position or tenure with the company will skyrocket your career. If that's why you are doing this, STOP right now and move along nothing more for you to see or do here.

5. Have Fun

From the moment you set foot in the door filling that entry-level position to the moment you collect that gold watch and retire from the organization remember to do one thing: HAVE FUN!  If you are not having fun then why bother? Having fun as a follower will most certainly ensure that you will have fun as a leader. All the great leaders that I have known certainly liked to have their fun.

There they are, five simple lessons to take with you for your entire career. Don't forget to master them and then teach them to others (hint, that's the fun part).

Thank you,
David Guerra

P.S. I do invite you to join the conversation and tell me what you think about this post and all the others here on my blog.

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5 Productivity Tips from a Master Procrastinator

5 Productivity Tips from a Master Procrastinator

For a long time I was a Complete Procrastinator. Look up procrastination in the dictionary and there was my picture.

However, after years of struggle and plenty of unfinished projects I realized the only way things were going to be done was to get up and do them. One day, I got off my ass and started to get stuff done. Next thing I knew, my life was in some kind of order and the first three books that I had longed to finish writing were written and published.

I am NOT claiming that I am productivity guru. I will NEVER claim that I am a guru of anything. I will claim the opposite but I can honestly say that I have done a few things without fail since that fateful day. 

I am still not the best at getting things done but these 5 tips sure do make my life simpler.

1. Make a list
Personally, I try to make my list at the end of the day. I do it at the end of the workday that way it is waiting for me when I arrive in the morning. At home, I make a list just before I go to bed that way I do not forget, in the morning, especially after a restful night's sleep. Whatever works for you is all right by me. Just as long as you make that list!

2. Do what is on that list
Do not prioritize the list after you have made it. I never do. I just throw everything onto paper, an index card, a post-it, or whatever. Then once it is all there, I get to work. Typically, the most important stuff will find its way to the top of the list. Top to bottom, bottom to top, every other, or whatever your preference just get to work on the list.

3. What cannot be done today automatically moves to tomorrow's list
There will be times that you just cannot do everything on your list. That is acceptable. On those days, you have to roll with the punches. There is nothing more frustrating than busting your hump all day only to find out that you cannot complete all the items on your list. Do not let it get you down. Just move those items to tomorrow's list. Now, there will be times when you have completed part of the item and now you are waiting for someone to respond (via email or phone) or results are not yet available, you completed the item on your list. Mark it as done.

Once you get your answer then add it to your list. Remember, once it is done, it is done. What I am trying to say is, there is absolutely no reason to drag this out over three or more days on your daily list. If it is on your list move heaven and earth if you have to but get it done.

4. Use Your Calendar 
You have access to countless electronic calendars. USE THEM! Use them to remind you of important events, due dates, and to remind you to create your daily list. You can use the one on your smart phone. I use my Gmail calendar and have it synchronized with my phone.

Those around me might think I use the synchronized calendar a little too much as it is constantly beeping at me. Try it. Heck, try them all. Keep trying them until you find the one (or two) that work for you and use it or them.

5.  Repeat
Like the directions on a bottle of shampoo. To get the most effective return on these tips you must WASH, RINSE, and REPEAT. You have to use them, once or twice a day, then repeat the process tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, and so on.

Of course, there are countless other tips on the Internet and what may work for someone else might not work for you. By the same token, what works for me might not work for you. Remember, all that I am offering here is what works for me.

This works after a lot of trial and error. Do not get discouraged if whatever you try does not work for you. On the contrary, it should motivate you to find what does work for you. I wrote it before and I will write it again: Try it.

Also, I would like to hear from you and share with everyone what works for you? I also want to hear about what did NOT work for you? Tell me on Twitter (@daveguerra) or right here in the comment section.


Thank you and now get back to work,
David Guerra

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A Story About 2 Tree Trimmers Who Got 3 Job Offers in 2 hours

Greetings,
I want to share the following video with you. In it I talk about two tree trimmers that the building owner hired to trim a 20-30 year old tree that is just outside the front door. Over the course of the two hours they were out there the Tree Trimmer received three job offers. Not bad for a couple of hours work. When was the last time you received 3 job offers in two hours?

What do you think? Are you doing what it takes to get noticed? Are you hustling so fast and so good that people will come to you while you are doing a job for someone else only to offer you more work? Are you?

I will step up my "A" game. Will you?

Thanks for watching,
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

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ABCs of 2014: Day 12: Always Be LEADING

Today's ABCs of 2014 is: ALWAYS BE LEADING. A for Always, B for Be, and C for Leading (the C is silent).

Are you LEADING? Are you taking the LEAD in what you do? Are you stepping up to the plate each and every time someone calls for a leader to do so?

-or-

Are you just going through the motions? Just faking it? All of us would like to think we are stepping up and taking the leadership bull by the horns. That is a good thing to think and believe.

However, LEADING is an action. You have to be doing it and not just thinking it or believing it. YOU HAVE TO BE LEADING, ALWAYS!

There is no half in or half out with this one. Sure, there are plenty of people that will scam others to believe that they are leaders. If you need a hint as to who those scammers are, think POLITICIANS! OK, maybe 99.999% of all POLITICIANS.

Unless, they have proven themselves as True Leaders in their chosen profession first (Think President Dwight D. Eisenhower, President Theodore Roosevelt, President George Washington) otherwise they are nothing bags of hot air that spew forth nothing but bunkum!

If all the others do is nothing but going around making insincere speeches intended to please local constituents they are NOT leaders. You know, they PROMISE A LOT but deliver VERY LITTLE. Those my friends are NOT LEADERS! They are the opposite of leaders and I do not mean followers.

You are only a True Leader when you step up and PROMISE VERY LITTLE and DELIVER A LOT!!!

Now, get out there and start LEADING! Everyone that matters (and everyone matters) is eagerly awaiting for you to arrive.


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

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ABCs of 2014: Day 11: Always Be KIND

Today's ABCs of 2014 is: ALWAYS BE KIND. A for Always, B for Be, and C for Kind (the C is silent).

Like many of us, when we were growing up our grandmother or mother would tell us to be kind to one another. More often than not, we would pay attention to what they said. However, as we get older and older, we got cynical, more cynical, and still even more cynical. Which in turn, led to picking and choosing who to be kind to and when to be kind.

Believe me when I tell you that as I was growing up I found it easier and easier to choose when to be kind and when not to be kind.

However, parenthood and marriage and seeing how far not been kind actually gets you. You start to change your mind set I know I had to.
Now I find it easier to be kind most of the time (oh I still have my moments). However, there are still those knuckleheads and nitwits that seem to go out of their way to do whatever they can to put themselves in a position that gives them nothing more than a slammed the door in their face. You cannot change them, their attitude or their behavior but you can change yours.

Take for instance, the door-to-door salesman that refuses to take "no" for an answer. You try to be nice and say "No, Thank you" and yet they persist. You give them a second "No!" and this time with a little frustration creeping into your voice, yet they persist. You are now your third "NO!" They do not seem to care and they remain persistent all because they want to make the sale. What do you do? You tried being kind not once, not twice, but three times. Enough is enough!

Kindness goes out the window and in sets frustration, anger, and threats to call the police if they do not leave your property immediately.

Now in your world, it might not be a door-to-door salesman but it may be a co-worker, a client, a boss, a neighbor or whomever what can you do?

You start by being kind, you start being nice, you start being generous but where does that get you? It does not matter where that gets you, it certainly does not matter where he takes you. What does matter is that you decide to be nice, kind, and understanding right from the start. Then you have the upper hand you are on the higher group because you are starting something on a positive note. You are trying to go into any situation with a WIN-WIN attitude. An attitude that says you are going to listen but you are not going to be walked all over.

Now, if the salesman (or whomever) had accepted the first “No” then the entire situation would have ended on a positive note. Who knows maybe next time it will be a “Yes”? Maybe the next time your neighbor would respect the noise levels and turn it down at midnight instead of cranking it up until 1:00 AM and someone has to call the police.

So start with a smile and a little kindness and see where it takes you. Where kindness takes you is all that truly matters.

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

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ABCs of 2014: Day 10: Always Be Joyful

Today's ABCs of 2014 is: ALWAYS BE JOYFUL. A for Always, B for Be, and C for Joyful (the C is silent).

Always Be Joyful. 

Think about it, there is very seldom a time to be anything less than joyful. When you are less than joyful, it is typically of your own doing. Of course, there are times and events that are beyond your control (i.e. POLAR VORTEX XVLIII) then others join in your misery. However, you can be less than joyful for no more than five minutes. Why only five minutes? It’s real simple, after five minutes you will still be in that same situation. Besides anything longer than five minutes, you are just whining and for anyone older than six-years old to whine is pure nonsense.

Turn those situations that start leaving you feel less than joyful into something to be joyful about. If you are in a snowstorm, get out there, make the best snowman you have ever made and post it online for everyone to see. If someone has done something that has left you feeling less than joyful, then forget their nonsense and go find or do something that brings joy into your life.

Don’t let the misery of others dictate your decision to be anything less than being full of joy. Keep working on Always Being Joyful and before you know it, you will Always Be Joyful.

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

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ABCs of 2014: Day 7: Always Be Giving

Today's ABCs of 2014 is: ALWAYS BE GIVING. A for Always, B for Be, and C for Giving (the C is silent).

With the holiday season freshly behind us, reminder what was all around during that wonderful time of the year: "it's better to give than to receive."

GIVING does not only apply from Thanksgiving to New Year's Eve then tossed aside a little after the Tournament of Roses Parade comes to an end.

Try doing this "Giving is Better Than Receiving" -thing all year long. Seriously, why not turn the Twitter based "30 days of Giving" into a LIFE based 365 DAYS OF GIVING?

GIVE EVERYDAY! It is that simple




If you are short on ideas of what to give, how about just giving some LOVE! After all, Love is All You Need, at least that's what the song says. When it comes to songs, I give John, Paul, George, and Ringo top priority.

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

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ABCs of 2014: Day 4: Always Be Demanding

Today's ABCs of 2014 is: ALWAYS BE DEMANDING. A for Always, B for Be, and C for Demanding (the C is silent).

Every day you are meeting the demands of others. Demanding some of your time, demanding an answer, demanding you pay the bills, demanding you to pay retail, and so on.

What about excellence? Does anyone really demand excellence from you?

NO! They do not. Most people, retailers, large corporations want you to follow the status quo. Unfortunately, 99 times out of 100 the status quo vaguely resembles the status quo. It resembles less, it resembles something close to complacency.  Wait a second, the status quo is complacency! Being complacent is being just another face in the crowd. They don't want your excellence because that means they will be held to a high standard and all they want is to hold themselves to their standard. Their standard is typically far below anything resembling excellence so why would they want your excellence when all they want is for you to pay the bill on time and they will give you service or a product that you will accept (again, far below top-tier excellence).

So how does this change? How does one expect these individuals and organizations to start delivering excellence?

Try this on for size:

How about starting to Demand & Deliver Excellence from yourself? Is it difficult? Probably, not! I may be wrong but I doubt it. Demanding Excellence is EASY! Delivering EXCELLENCE is the hard part, the very hardest part of it all.

Now, ask yourself this: Are those that demand excellence from you delivering excellence to you?

You and I both know the answer. So let this serve as a warning, before you demand Excellence you must start Demanding and Delivering Excellence from yourself.



Until next time, I 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

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ABCs of 2014: Day 2: Always Be Believing

Today's ABCs of 2014 is: ALWAYS BE BELIEVING. A for Always, B for Be, and C for Believing

(the C is silent).

You can go through life not believing in yourself. Not believing you can make a difference. Not believing will only get you so far. Actually, not believing will get your NO WHERE! Trust me on this one I have known so many people that don't believe in themselves. What they do believe in is a lot of blame. Blaming others for not getting a fair shot at something. Let me tell you it is a sad situation they find themselves in. However, it is a needless situation to be in in the first place.

Seriously, all it takes is to look in the mirror and say to yourself at least once day that you believe in yourself. Before you know it you will always be believing in yourself. Then you will always believe that what you are doing will make all the difference. Then somewhere along the way you will start to always believe that Others believe in you. All it takes is to believe in yourself! You can do it.

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

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ABCs of 2014: Day 1: Always Be Asking

Today, I am starting something new.

Once a day, for the next 26 days, I will post what I call the ABCs of 2014. The purpose of them is provide a little motivation on how to succeed in 2014 and be better than last year.

The first ABCs of 2014 is: ALWAYS BE ASKING. A for Always, B for Be, and C for Asking (the C is silent).

Always ask for something! Ask for an answer! Ask for Help! Ask for someone else! This means that you have to always keep asking otherwise how will you learn something? How will you learn anything? If you are asking for someone else then do so only with the intent to empower them to start asking for themselves. Remember, you won't always be around and who will ask for them? They will have to learn to step up and ask for themselves.

Now, as for you, well you will just have to just continue asking for yourself.

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

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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

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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