Part 1: How Today's Leaders Are Like Successful Athletes

I was asked recently what I think today's business leaders need to be doing differently than 4-5 years ago, in consideration of the economic changes. I came up with a three-part model and used the ever-popular sports analogy for my answer. Upon reflection, I decided to share it out to the blogosphere in hopes that it is helpful for leaders at all levels in terms of creating more personal and professional success for themselves and others.

Part 1 of 3
Consider your favorite team-sport athletes with the most long-running career success. Let's borrow the strategy & apply these concepts to create long-running success in business:


1. They go to work on themself.

What I Learned On The Treadmill This Morning

Double Bonus! Watching or listening to motivational material while walking or running on the treadmill is such a great way to boost us up. This morning I was watching a DVD series that featured some of the greatest speakers of our time: Les Brown and Jim Rohn.  Wow, what a great start to my day!  These were my top 3 takeaways during the short half hour of exercise:

Do I Have To Choose: Make Money or Do Good?

Are you among the vast majority that believes you can either 'Do Good' -OR- 'Make Money' - in other words, do you believe that truly wealthy people are not truly good people?  Even if your intellectual self is arguing this right now, there is a very good chance that down in your core you have fallen prey to this conditioned habit of thought in our society.  Yes, some of the very wealthy have prioritized money over people.  However, this is NOT the rule and thankfully when we analyze further we can see that the

Only Winners Set Goals

Success requires no apologies. 
Failure permits no alibis.
~ Napoleon Hill

Aaaah, the promise of a new year, and with it the hopes of greater achievements than years past.  I absolutely love this time of year.  All the planning and imagining how great things will be when all those accomplishments come to fruition!  Oh wait, a dose of reality...most people don't achieve their goals and dreams.  Most people don't set goals at all.  Most people don't allow themselves the "luxury" of dreams.  It's unfortunate that most people don't understand how it all works. 

What Not To Do at the End of the Year

I've compiled a short list of things NOT to do toward the end of the year, things that most people do - because they are either too tired, ignorant, or unmotivated to make the most of the present and plan appropriately for next year..

Yes, we want to eat, drink, & be merry. We worked hard all year and when nearing the end, it is natural to seek celebration and experience some "I deserve it" attitude. However, this is not the time to let yourself go.  You want to