1. The GAP is not an accident
The GAP is there for a reason. You may have dreams and desires, but there is a reason that you have not made them a reality — admit to yourself that you need to be intentional.

2. Don’t do the easy stuff first
Often I make the mistake of sacrificing my most productive moments on “warm-up” easy tasks instead of focusing on the 2-3 GAP projects that need to be done today.


3. Build a plan to bridge the GAP
Even if it seems silly, grap a post-it note, state the GAP clearly and list action steps to get it done. Stick the note in front of your face until it is done.

Leading yourself is a daily battle of choices.

Choose to attack the highest priorities, choose to attack the projects that are unpleasant, choose to attack the GAPs… and celebrate when you reach the other side.

It Came from Within, part 3 – That Hideous Thing

I’m feeling jealous when I feel that other people don’t deserve what they have.
I’m feeling jealous when I feel that its not fair that I don’t have something.
I’m feeling jealous when I’m secretly glad when certain people fail or fall on hard times.

Making progress against jealousy is to realize that I’m not really angry at the person, I’m angry at God who “unfairly” distributes talent, money and beauty.

Making progress against jealousy is to actively celebrate the successes of others specifically in the areas I tend to experience jealousy.

That might sound like a delusional mind trick, but I have a hunch that it will cause me to thank God for what I have instead of seething inside about what I lack.

1. Imagine a 36-month future
As the leader, you need to dream about where your enterprise will be 24-36 months from today. Imagine growth, capture opportunities and see obstacles that are barely on the horizon. Taking one day every month to live in the 36-month future will help you to lead every day.

2. Own the master calendar
The calendar needs to be on your computer or your assistant’s computer. You cannot be dependent on a team member. You need to be able to update it anytime, anywhere and communicate it automatically with your team. There are many group access calendar options. Some of your team members are not as organized as you are; you need to do your part to communicate and then you will have a “coaching moment” when they miss a meeting.

3. Determine the annual schedule
Every organization and enterprise has an annual calendar that is driven by holidays, seasons, rhythms, conferences and strategies. Even if you don’t know the exact date, you know that you need to have a week of planning during the first week of August. Put it in your calendar NOW even though it is 15 months away.

4. Determine the monthly and annual schedules
During your annual or semi-annual planning meetings, establish these schedules. Keep them updated in the master calendar for 6 months in advance at all times.

5. Have a calendar time during EVERY meeting
It may seem like overkill, but take a few minutes for the calendar during every meeting with your team. During your daily 5-minute stand-up huddle, remind them about special events or variations during the next two weeks. During your weekly staff meeting, detail the calendar for the next two weeks and identify the dates for the next 4-6 weeks. During your quarterly all-day meetings, walk through the next 12 months so that your team can see and feel your vision for the future.

6. Enjoy the Benefits
You team will know that you are living in the future and they will know that you value their time. You will get squatter’s rights on the best dates, rooms, reservations and you will never hear – “I planned to be on vacation that week.” Your team will love you when you cancel scheduled events instead of adding surprises at the last minute.

Are you persuaded?

Disagree with me.

What would you add?

Put your comments below:

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If we attempt to live in freedom without submitting to gravity or time, we eventually fall or the sun goes down.

If we live in a nation and do not submit to its laws, we eventually are deported or incarcerated.

If we don’t submit to members of our family, we won’t enjoy the relationships (or probably an inheritance).

If we don’t mutually submit in marriage, we expierience tyranny, loneliness or a disatisfying 50/50 compromise.

If we don’t submit to God, we spend our lives in futile rebellion like a bird trapped in a screened-in porch.

I’ve switched my quest for freedom and autonomy to a life-long search for meaningful submission.

How about you? Do you live in freedom?

Post your comments below:

I’m a libertarian by nature so I give lots of freedom in my organizations. I’m collaboartive by nature, so I love to hear everyone’s input.

One of the most important responsibilities of a leader is the development of other leaders. Too often we’re guilty of expecting our team members to grow, but we do little to help them in the developmental process.

If those on my team aren’t developing their leadership capacity then I have to ask myself, “What do I need to do differently?” I must assume the proper stewardship of my team and do my part to contribute to their growth. But unfortunately many team leaders neglect getting involved in their team members development.

Here are 5 Non-Negotiable actions I would require as a team leader that will help build a culture of leadership development among your team.

Require written goals
Have the individuals on your team turn in a one page written summary of their goals for the next 4 months. This lays the ground work for shared expectations and gives you a basis from which to coach their performance.

Require regular 1-1′s
Meet with each person on your team at least once a month if not twice a month. During those meetings review their goals, ask what problems they are encountering and use it as a time for individual coaching.

Require reading
A team that reads together learns together. Reading a leadership book and discussing it during team meetings creates an atmosphere of shared learning and development.

Require reproduction
Leaders should be producing leaders. Ram Charan in his book Leaders at All Levels recommends that everyone in your organization have “raising up new leaders” as a part of their job description. When someone is teaching others to lead it reinforces those principles in their own life.

Require evaluation
Have times of regular evaluation as a team. Ask them: What have we been doing well? What can we learn from that? Where do we need to improve? What can we learn from that?

Remember leadership development is a discipline that we must exercise everyday.

If you lead a team, what are your non-negotiables?
If you are on a team, has the leader made them clear?
Post your list below in the Comments:

For more detail, read the whole post from the Management Innovation eXchange.

From Lawrence Blake…

Ever wonder why some people instantly become the life of a party? Whether it’s at your weekly office’s operations meeting or a cocktail reception, some people just have the ability to communicate with everyone.

As a publicist, I regularly have to mingle with people from all ends of the world, from countless sectors of business, and I want to give you a few tips that will allow you to successfully do the same!

The following tips can be utilized in every situation or at any event:

1) Be yourself.
A huge problem comes when you completely change your attitude and personality to fit-in. Everyone can tell if a person is trying too hard to work a room.

2) Don’t over promote.
Something I commonly see while at events is the guy or girl with a handful of business cards giving them out like a sidewalk flyer distributor.

3) Careful with the drinking.
Some of the best networking situations are over a cocktail, that’s a known fact. If you do drink, be aware of your consumption.

>> Rick’s edit: The same goes for over-eating. You don’t want to appear to be “out of control” with your eating, drinking, talking or anything else as you network.

4) Prepare.
Before you enter a networking situation, you should have a rehearsed introduction of yourself and what you do.

5) Measure the room.
As you walk in, look around. Take note of what guests are wearing, the overall mood of the room, and if there are any known power figures in attendance… If the mood is lively, get ready to put on a smile and mingle accordingly.

The bottom line is communication is not easy, but by following these simple steps, you can break the ice by being yourself and humbly interacting in any networking situation.

What else do you think about when you are networking?
Tell a brief story of a success or failure.

Post your comments below:

If you’ve read this far and you are feeling ashamed… don’t give up! It only takes 15 minutes outside to sweat, pant and double your heart rate. Once you are out there I bet you will stretch it out to 30 minutes.

What is your exercise plan for this month?
Where can you fit 30 minutes to sweat, pant and double your heart rate today?
How would you feel four weeks from now if you exercised regularly?

Post your comments about your fitness below.