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

I invite you to
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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

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 • ABCs of 2014 • Daily Motivation • Daily Success • The C is silent • Always Be Joyful • 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 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

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 • ABCs of 2014 • Daily Motivation • Daily Success • The C is silent • Always Be Demanding • 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 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

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 • ABCs of 2014 • Daily Motivation • Daily Success • The C is silent • Always Be Believing • 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

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


 

What is Great Content? Is It In The Eye Of The Beholder?

Last week, I was watching a "noted" author on SPREECAST.com talk about his soon to be released book. If you have ever seen any video presentation on SPREECAST you know that to the right of the video feed is a real time chat stream.

During that session, there was one individual, who later was revealed to be actively associated with this "noted" author, that posted on that chat stream: "We don't need more content, we need more GREAT content."

I responded, "[Name] all content is great. Remember "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

Then who I will call the author's alleged "ringer" responded "Dave, couldn't disagree more. Not all content is great."

I opted not to respond because I was not going to dive into a flame war with this guy.


However, seeing as how this is my forum, my soapbox if you will, then I will continue the monologue here.

As the Spreecast ended I was still not satisfied that I decided not to go down that road with the "ringer" that was recognized by the author. However, I am not satisfied. I am not satisfied that I never asked the question: What is "great content"? 

Who sets the standard for "Great Content"? I guarantee it is NOT this "noted" author and MOST CERTAINLY not the alleged ringer, not you and DEFINITELY not me.

That's why I stand by my statement of beauty being in the eye of the beholder. I guess this individual could not see that "GREAT" is subjective and comes in many shapes and sizes.

So long as CONTENT gets out it will be great to someone! Then again someone will consider the content completely worthless.


It just hit me, the alleged "ringer" didn't also take into consideration that one day after the "noted" author's latest book is published there will be people that will consider the book a load of bunk and NOT chock full of "GREAT" Content.

So I say again: Beauty (and Great Content) is in the Eye of the Beholder.

Maybe he'll get it one day? I highly doubt 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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Fix my car?

You probably have heard this before and I know I tell people this everyday so let's do it one more time.

Let's say you are an automobile mechanic and one day I take my car to your shop, tossing you the keys I say "Fix It!"

You give me a puzzled look and ask, "Fix what?"

Then I know this is the last thing you want to hear but I say, "You are the mechanic, fix my car" and I leave.

Is this anyway for people to communicate? NO. Absolutely not, yet it happens thousands (if not millions) of times every single day. Too much telling and not enough leading.

So what does one do to reverse that fact? Well, for starters one has to ensure that what you want to happen is 100% understood by those that will do it.

Basically, what I am eluding that you must ensure that you completely understand what you want. If you can't do that then having anyone else understand you will be a moot.

Take moment to make certain that those that you want to accomplish something, on your behalf, can do so without hesitation or question. If you are not able to get your message across, try a different approach. Keep trying until you are understood. Keep trying until you understand you.

tags: Dave Guerra, understand, getting things done, be understood, keep trying, Be Tenacious