Self-Leadership - Finding The Time

Self-Leadership - Finding The Time

Being a leader involves a different type of commitment and dedication. The difference comes from being a a committed and dedicated leader 24/7/365. That's non-negotiable. 

Being a leader is your other full time job. It is going to take up that much time. That is one reason most people feel they are ready to do what it takes to be a leader until it is time to step up and be the leader. 

It is nothing against who they are as individuals, nor is it a strike against their knowledge, skills, wisdom and character. Far from it. Those that recognize that at this moment they are not ready to lead are great leaders in the making.

Once underway, there are people that know they cannot hack the toll leadership takes on the individual. Yet, there are those that decide to fake it and never make it are not even worthy of qualifying as a bad manager. The individuals that would rather continue faking it soon become "micro-managers" thus fail to give respect to those they are supposed to be leading. They will soon find themselves without true and genuine followers. Then what good are they?

What does finding the time have to do with knowing when to play your hand or when to fold'em?

Everything. If the individual is not prepared to find the time to work on her skillset or his soft-skills will amount nothing more than a hill of beans. 

But there are only 24 hours in a day and eight of them are already spent sleeping!

True, but what about the other 16 hours? Eight of those sixteen are for working and working with the people you leading. That leaves eight hours for personal matters. Matters such as spending time with the family, hobbies, and personal development. All that and dinner, too?

You have to. You have no choice. 

One thing to remember you and I and all us one thing in common. We all have the same 24 hours. Believe it or not every Doctor, Lawyer, Computer Engineer, Graphic Designer, Photographer, Janitor, Teacher, Bus Driver, and Student, all have those same 24 hours. 

What does all that mean?

It means that while we are all unique individuals were are all, also the same. We have that same amount of time. Yet, there are plenty of people finding the time within those 24 hours to work on the commitment, dedication needed to become a better leader.

As you can see, it will be difficult but you have to find the time to be better. You have to use that time to grow both personally and professionally. In upcoming blog posts I will take a deeper dive into how to properly use your new found time.

As always if you have any comments, questions, remarks or concerns please email me at dave@daveguerra.com

Thank you,
David Guerra

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

P.P.S. To order your copy of Great To Follow: Amazon paperback / Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble paperback
To order your copy of The Walking Leader:  Amazon Paperback / Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble

Twitter #LeadWithGiants Tweet Chat: Leading Difficult People (Monday, August 17, 2015)

At 7PM Eastern every Monday evening the #LeadWithGiants tweetchat occurs on Twitter.

Every week a different topic. On the evening of August 17, 2015, the topic was Leading Difficult People.

I present the questions and  my answers and a little bit more. Please enjoy.
If you can, please joins us next week. Look for the #LeadWithGiants hashtag every Monday evening (and throughout the week) or follow @LeadWithGiants on twitter to get the questions..

Leading Difficult People


Q1. How would you describe a difficult person? #LeadWithGiants
My Answer: I would describe a difficult person as someone that is not 100% aligned with what is going on in the organization or personal life.
To be a bit clearer, a difficult person is someone that either does not want to be a positive participant in what the group, section, team, department or organization is doing as part of doing business.

Q2 What is your greatest challenge in leading difficult people? #LeadWithGiants
My Answer: Greatest challenge is maintaining dialogue while avoid the trap that is their monologue.
When it comes to leading difficult people the trick is to keep them and everyone else on the team focused. Keeping everyone focused is made even more difficult when difficult individuals want their story to be the only story to be told. A leader’s work is hard enough without having to deal with the negativity. However, a great leader will work through the problems and do everything she can do to keep everyone focused.

Q3. Describe a time where you successfully/unsuccessfully dealt with a difficult person. #LeadWithGiants
My Answer: First time leading soldiers in the Army. It is like a rite of passage for them to be difficult.
Yes, all first time leaders will be tested. They must be tested all the time. Testing is how leaders become good and how good leaders become great! The sooner a leader deals with a difficult person (or people) the sooner he can begin down the path to leadership greatness.

Q4 How have you seen a difficult person disrupt a team or group? #LeadWithGiants
My Answer: When the elements are not cooperating, the situation is SNAFU, one bad apple can morale hit rock bottom very fast.
When the situation is less than favorable and the team is already, teetering on the brink of complete shut down all it takes is one negative comment from the most difficult/negative person on the team to bring morale down. That’s why as a leader it behooves you to constantly maintain a level of professionalism and consistently apply morale boosting techniques to avoid any undermining by those difficult individuals.

Q5. How do you get a difficult person to change? #LeadWithGiants
My Answer: Training to fill in knowledge gaps, Make individual responsible for part of the results, work with them or cut them loose.
As a leader there is only so much you can do to motivate anyone. Difficult people typically feel underappreciated and may just need a little boost or opportunity to have them show their stuff. However, when they don’t have what it takes or flat out refuse to become active, positive members of the group well of course it may be time to cut the line and set them adrift (hopefully, into the sea of their own misery).

Q6. Can a difficult person actually be good for the team? #LeadWithGiants
My Answer: Yes, they can motivate in reverse. Do good just to put the difficult person in his place.
By having the team work together and complete the assigned task the difficult person gets what he or she was NOT expecting. The team used the negativity against that individual to not only motivate themselves but to drive the difficult person back to his/her dark place (until the next project comes along).

Q7. Why are some people difficult to work with? Where does it originate? #LeadWithGiants
My Answer: Some feel that based on tenure, education, or their own ego that they can do better than who is actually in charge and resentment begins.
Many individuals believe because they have the education they deserve to be leaders. When they do not get their way they start to resent the leaders that are deserving of the title of leader. See, going to school or staying with an organization for a long time does NOT automatically make anyone a leader. It is what those individuals do with their education or tenure that makes them the real leaders. There is NOTHING automatically given for getting a Bachelor’s Degree or outlasting your co-workers, it has to be earned, especially the title of Leader.

Q8 Why is “avoidance” a poor choice in dealing with a difficult person? #LeadWithGiants
My Answer: The problem person will only be encouraged because others will avoid the problem. Nip it in the bud! Nip it!
When problems are set aside or ignored, outright that is when the real trouble begins. Therefore, the sooner a problem is addressed, the sooner it can go away and never be dealt with again. It is better for the future of the leader, the difficult person, and the team when problems are handled effectively and expediently.

Q9 When the Leader is the difficult person, what then? #LeadWithGiants
My Answer: That is when other leaders MUST step in and handle the situation or risk complete leadership failure.
All the leaders in the organization are there for each other. That’s what being a leader is all about; to make things better for everyone. When one has a problem, it is the duty of all the other leaders to step in and help correct the situation. When they don’t step up and step in is when bigger problems occur and that is not a good thing for anyone.

Q10. If the entire team is difficult to work with, what might be the problem? #LeadWithGiants
My Answer: Lack of top-down communication, which did not create a buy-in by the stakeholders. Communication is king! 
The leader must ensure that communication is flowing in both directions to ensure that everyone understands what the situation is, what it isn’t, what must happen, and most importantly, who is going to do what. I understand it sounds that simple but it is harder than it looks. However, that should not discourage anyone from trying especially any leader worth his weight in salt.


Thank you,
David Guerra

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

To order your copy of Great To Follow: Amazon paperback / Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble paperback
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on DREAMS (Your Dreams)

Everyone knows there are two kinds of people in the world: Positive & Negative.

To me the negative considerably outnumbers the positive. I know that's not very optimistic thinking but reality is not usually optimistic.

While all of us have dreams. It is when we have dreams that we feel very passionate about that we can do something to make those dreams a reality.

However, a word or two of advice. You will be tempted to go to others for their advice in making that dream(s) a reality. That's all fine and good. Choose wisely when it comes to whom you go to for that advice. Ideally, you want to seek out the advice of those that have achieved or are achieving their dreams.

Unfortunately, individuals typically pick those that are not on any track to achieving their own dreams or have tried, failed, and gave up on making their dreams a reality.

It is those individuals that will bring their bad habits, bad ideas, bad opinions, and just plain bad karma to you and your dreams. This is where things start to go bad for you.

THAT IS NOT A GOOD THING!

How to correct this?

You avoid those who have the bad attitude. If you have spent any amount of time around anyone that has a good attitude and someone with bad attitude then you know who to avoid.

What if you are already wrapped up or mixed in with someone that has that bad attitude and is dragging you down?

Easy. You walk away! No! You run away. Don't forget to thank them for their time. If they ask what happened, why you are walking away, tell them you are taking their advice and moving on. Then leave! RUN AWAY!

IMPORTANT: I work "taking their advice" I don't mean you have to act on it!


Thank you for your time,
David Guerra

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

To order your copy of Great To Follow: Amazon paperback / Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble paperback
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ABCs of 2014: Always Be ZANY

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

Last piece of advice for the ABCs of 2014 is to ALWAYS BE ZANY.

That's right! Be Zany.

As a leader, you expect people to take you seriously and you know you have to take yourself seriously.

However, you don't have to be so serious that you start to lose touch with the little things in life. Don't be so serious that you forget how to have fun.

Schedule time to do something amusingly unconventional and idiosyncratic, something zany. Yes! make being zany part of your weekly (better yet, daily) calendar. 

Take a break and do something unexpected and fun. Do that and people will recognize you as a well-rounded individual and leader. That is a very good thing.

NOTE: we're done with the ABCs of 2014 but I am NOT done with pursuing leadership one step at a time. I am not done. Not by a long shot!


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

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ABCs of 2014: Always Be YEARNING

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

Always Be Yearning for more. Expect More. Demand More. Give More. Get More.

You must have that yearning deep inside of you. If you don't then you are doing something wrong or being a leader isn't for you.

Remember, about being the best? Being the best leader you can be. Well, you can't be the best if all you do is think about being the best.

To be the best you have act on it.

You have to want it so bad that your every waking moment you are acting on it. Then when you get it you want more of it. You get greedy for you it. Then you are going to want it even more. That is the kind of yearning I am talking about.

Staying Focused + Staying Motivated + Staying Hungry = Always Be Yearning

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

Here are some Technorati Tags: • The Walking Leader • Be Yearning • Leadership • Be a 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

ABCs of 2014: Always Be XCELLING

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

Remember Winning?

You can only achieve the win by being the best, by always excelling. Taking the time to commit to being the best. To go one step faster and further than everybody else.

If you don't do what it takes to excel past everyone else then why bother? If you are not working to excel then why even start? Why bother?

Seriously, people want to know that you are constantly striving to be the best or to beat the best to become the best.

The only way to be the best is to always be EXCELLING at everything you do. No Shortcuts, Just Excellence!

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

Here are some Technorati Tags: • The Walking Leader • Be Xcelling • Leadership • Be a 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

ABCs of 2014: Always Be WINNING

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

That's right, Charlie Sheen was on to something. Winning!

Seriously, there is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to win and doing everything you can to win all the time, every time.

Your staff, your peers, and anyone you encounter will want to know and expect to be working for or working with a WINNER!

So Always Be Winning!

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

Here are some Technorati Tags: • The Walking Leader • Be Winning • Leadership • Be a 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

ABCs of 2014: Always Be VERSED

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

It is the experienced leader that is always experienced or skilled in; knowledgeable about themselves, their organization, their employees, their own leaders, their peers, their family, their everything.

At some point in your career you will become the expert in the field. You worked hard to get there so stay there.

To Be The Man You Must Be Well Versed!
Sorry folks, there is absolutely no short cut to being a well-versed individual. Try taking the short and you will most certainly pay the price.

Don't lose focus when you are on this long journey. You will get there and when you do the reward will be well worth the effort.


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

Here are some Technorati Tags: • The Walking Leader • Be Well Versed • Leadership • Be a 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

ABCs of 2014: Always Be UNDERSTANDING

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

One of the greatest leadership traits is to be understanding. However, do not be understanding to a fault. Showing empathy is expected of any leader. Be warned, don't let that empathy become sympathy.

Sympathy will make even the greatest leaders make terrible mistakes. I am NOT saying that you have to be cold and heartless. What I am saying is that while you have a business to run you also have people that look up to you and go to you when they need something.

Give them a reason to continue doing so but also give them reason to not abuse it. Be Smart about 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

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

Here are some Technorati Tags: • The Walking Leader • Be Understanding • Leadership • Be a 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

ABCs of 2014: Always Be TRAINING

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

You can never stop training. Life is one teachable moment after another.

Train, train, train.

In the Army, we had a saying that still use today. Well actually two sayings:

"If it's raining, we're training."

"If it's not raining then we're training."

Teach them what you know. Then when you have done that, go learn something else then teach them that.


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

Here are some Technorati Tags: • The Walking Leader • Be Training • Leadership • Be a 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

ABCs of 2014: Always Be SMART

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

Be Smart. Not the kind of smart that is a sharp, stinging pain. 

I mean be the kind of smart that deals with intelligence.  Be smart in the sense that people will know that you can deliver the right answer even if is not the popular answer. 

Yeah, that's it. Be smart enough to know that people MUST hear the right answer, even if it is not what they want to hear.

If has got to be said, then say it!

That's the smart thing to do. 

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

Here are some Technorati Tags: • The Walking Leader • Be Smart • Leadership • Be a 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

ABCs of 2014: Always Be READING

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

Never ever stop reading. A leader is always reading. A leader should never be more than one arm's length away from a book.

What kind of book should she be reading?

Some will say leadership books. Others might say, biographies of other leaders. Still others might say read business book that focus on your industry. That's all fine and dandy.

I say: IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THEY SAY!

I say read what you like. Read whatever tickles your fancy. Read to Read!

Trust me on this: The more you read, the more you will want to read. The more the hunger for reading will increase. READ! READ! & READ!

As you read, your horizons will expand and your hunger will slowly start to creep into other genre of books. Who knows you might even ready my books one day?

So what are you reading now?

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

Here are some Technorati Tags: • The Walking Leader • Be Reading • Leadership • Be a 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

ABCs of 2014: Always Be QUICK

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

Always being quick is another one of those leadership traits that people are always on the lookout for. People expect to see a leader that is quick acting, quick response, and quick decision maker.

However, a leader should also take caution and not be too quick. Too quick to reach a decision (which could later turn out to be a hasty decision).

The ability to distinguish between quick and hasty comes with experience and knowledge. Be careful and do not try to rush this process. It will happen when it happens.

As you grow as a leader you will notice that your decision making skills will increase and be the right decision at the right time for the right reason.

In the meantime, work on always being quick!

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

Here are some Technorati Tags: • The Walking Leader • Be Quick • Leadership • Be a 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

ABCs of 2014: Always Be OBSERVING

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

Keeping your eyes open and observing the world around you is one of those critical leadership skills that cannot go unused.

By being observant you can see what's on the horizon. You can see what is behind you. You can see what is to right and left of you.

Don't get me wrong, I know you don't have eyes in the back of your head, like mom does. I am referring to the fact that as a leader, you must always be looking all around you. Also, look at the present, plan for the future and refer to the past.

(IMPORTANT: Notice I wrote REFER to the past. Be careful not to get bogged down and start to dwell on the past. You are to only use the past as a point of reference.)

By Always Being Observing you will be better prepared to handle the good times and the bad times. You will be able to anticipate when to step to the right or dodge to left or when to pick up the pace and when to slow down. Now, that's a good thing.



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

Here are some Technorati Tags: • The Walking Leader • Be Observing • Leadership • Be a 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

ABCs of 2014: Always Be PERSISTENT

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

Don't ever stop. Don't give up. Most of all, be Persistent.

There will be times that you feel like giving up. That's OK. You are only human.

However, you have to realize that you are not going to get to where you want to go or be if you are not PERSISTENT!

Persistence is the catalyst to achieving and sustaining success.

So Keep Doing What You Do! and Always Be Persistent!

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
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visit my website: www.daveguerra.com

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ABCs of 2014: Always Be NEAT

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

Always Be Neat. By being neat I do not mean having a cleared desktop. That is complete nonsense. An empty desk, to me, shows that you are doing just the bare minimum and you do not want to get your hands dirty. Doing the bare minimum is nonsense, plain and simple. A Leader has to roll up his sleeves, not occasionally, not just when the going gets tough but ALL THE TIME!

All the time, you must project an imagine of order. To be a leader that people will look up to, you will have to what it takes to show them that you are in control and you know what you are doing. Your desktop is not the ONLY indicator of how busy you are or how important you are or how fast you get things done. Your desk is just a desk. It is you and your performance that is the best indicator of how busy you are, how important you think you are, most importantly; you are the best indicator of you (not your desk).

You have to be presentable (even with the sleeves rolled up and mud on your face) at all times.  You have to be neat about it. Being neat and orderly and presentable means you are ready to go and address any situation, no matter the setting. You are ready to be a leader.

Be Neat!

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

Here are some Technorati Tags: • The Walking Leader • The Walking Leader • Persistent • Leadership • Be a 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

ABCs of 2014: Always Be MENTORING

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

You must mentor people. You cannot avoid this. You cannot run from this. You cannot hide from it. You have to be a mentor. Find someone and mentor them. I am more than certain that in your place of  work you will find no problem finding someone to mentor and lead.

There can be nothing greater than taking someone under your wing and teaching them what you have learned. There is nothing greater than to take someone under your wing and listen to them. Really listen. Then Really Share!

Then when the time comes find someone else to mentor. Never Stop Learning, Never Stop Leading, Never Stop Teaching, Never Stop Mentoring

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

Here are some Technorati Tags: • The Walking Leader • mentoring • Leadership • Be a 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

The Importance of Resilience: ANOTHER TUESDAY NIGHT WITH LOLLY DASKAL (@lollydaskal) 11 March 2014

Every Tuesday evening from 8pm to 9pm EST I participate in a Tweetchat with Consultant, Coach, Speaker, Founder of #LeadFromWithin, and Author of the book, "Thoughts Spoken From The Heart" Lolly Daskal.

These Tweetchats are insightful, thought provoking, and generate genuine conversation. Hundreds, if not thousands, of Twitter members join the conversation every Tuesday night.

Each week, it is a different topic. Our host, Lolly Daskal, over the course of the hour will post 10 questions, which end with the hashtag #LeadFromWithin. Every participant is encouraged to respond to the 10 questions. The responses are UNIQUE, INSIGHTFUL, & FANTASTIC!  You have to read them (well, as many as you can) as they go flying by your Twitter feed.

I invite you to join us every Tuesday evening for the tweetchat and throughout the week be on the lookout for the Twitter hashtag #LeadFromWithin

On the evening of Tuesday, March 4, 2014, the topic was “The Importance of Resilience.” Here are Lolly’s questions and my answers. Cheers!

Q1: What Is Resiliency? #leadfromwithin
A1: Resiliency is the ability to get back up one more time than you have fallen. #LeadFromWithin
Comment: There are plenty of other great answers but I put the answer into its most basic and most popular answer.
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Q2: How does one develop resiliency? #leadfromwithin
A2: Developing resiliency comes from discipline, hunger, and higher than normal value system that recognizes success comes from failure.  #LeadFromWithin
Comment: Life experiences are the best way to refine discipline, hunger, and our value system.
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Q3: Why is resiliency so important? #leadfromwithin
A3: It is important because it teaches us to know when to run and when to stand and fight. #LeadFromWithin
Comment: We have to know when to give up on something that cannot yet be overcome. We must know when to fall back, regroup and try again. It teaches us not to be like the moth to the light.
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Q4: What allows resilient people to cope with life’s inevitable stresses, hardships and losses? #leadfromwithin
A4: The ability to understand that stresses, hardships, and losses are part of life just as happiness & success is, as well. #LeadFromWithin
Comment: Resilient people are those that can bend and weave at the drop of a hat. They are the ones that can turn on a dime. That is what allows them to cope.
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Q5: Why are ethics an important factor in building resilience? #leadfromwithin
A5: Ethics keep you on course so you don’t compromise yourself when travelling through charted but dangerous waters.  #LeadFromWithin
Comment: Many say Ethics are what keep any leader grounded. I say they are correct. Ethics are what brought them to the level of a recognized leader and it is what will sustain and guide them to the next level.
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Q6: We equate resiliency with mental toughness, but what are the physical benefits of being resilient? #leadfromwithin
A6. We are more aware of and in harmony with our surroundings. Thus, we are more agile and flexible. #LeadFromWithin
Comment: Physical benefits of being agile and flexible means that stress does not take over which in itself is bad on the body. Stress wreaks havoc on blood pressure, hormones, and other components of the physical body, which in turn is bad for the body as a whole. Being resilient helps in minimizing the effects of stress.
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Q7: If fear can thwart our ability to be resilient, what are some ways to conquer it? #leadfromwithin
A7. Roleplay, walkthroughs, visualization, and of course, actually doing it will all help conquer that what causes the fear #LeadFromWithin
Comment: Practice, Practice, Practice. Yes, through practice you build confidence. It is with confidence that you conquer fear.
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Q8. What strategies can we use to change the way we view and respond to a failure? #leadfromwithin
A8 Don’t let failure consume your present. It is done and nothing can change that. Know that you still control your future thus failure becomes moot #LeadFromWithin
Comment: There are countless strategies out there. There are many ways to respond to failure. As for me and what works, I subscribe to the belief that fear cannot consume you. When fear consumes you then you freeze and when you freeze, life passes you by. When life passes you by, then you have failed. Know you cannot change the past but tomorrow is up for grabs then you can harness that fear and use it to be a success.
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Q9: To build resiliency and thrive in changing times we have to_________?
A9 Stay flexible and accept that failure is part of the process that takes us to success. #LeadFromWithin
Comment: Remaining flexible from beginning to end is the one thing that every successful individual needs. Resiliency is a great motivator as nothing can ever really stand in your way.
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Q10. How can we build a more resilient, less vulnerable self? #leadfromwithin
A10. Be more Open, Flexible, even more Accepting + Can Do Attitude and resiliency will increase as self-vulnerability decreases #LeadFromWithin
Comment: Keeping your options open and focused on accomplishing what you set out to do can be successfully completed. So long, as you keep the focus on the positive everything will be A-OK!
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That’s it until next week.

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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in • teg • ri • ty / Do you have what it takes?

Do you have what it takes? 

INTEGRITY! The small word packs a punch that to have people ask you if you have it will leave most people shaking in their shoes. No matter how you have lived your life up to the moment that you are asked you will have to stop and think about it.

It is those people that say "YES!" and do so without batting an eye that I worry about. To me, they have sold themselves on the idea that YES is the right thing to say. They say it almost as a defensive reaction and not something they have said after reflecting on the question. Sure, some people will say if you have to stop and think about it you don't have an ounce of integrity in you. I say that you have to constantly evaluate yourself.

So take your time in answer and answer truthfully. My answer is "For the most part yes. I try to live an honest life based on good moral principles that I have acquired and hone over the course of my life." 

Then again, your perception of what integrity is and isn't is subjective. It is subjective as everyone's view will vary.

Remember, the ONLY perception that truly matters is yours!

(definition courtesy of Google.com)

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

Here are some Technorati Tags: • The Walking Leader • Integrity • Leadership Traits • Leadership Principles • Attitude • Leaders • 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

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

I invite you to
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visit my website: www.daveguerra.com

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