Rick Baker's Thoughts

Good News: you have an emotionally charged group of leaders. Now: how do you convert that energy to the positive?

Sun, 05 Dec 2021 07:30:00 -0400

When our ancestors first saw fire, the first things they saw and understood were destruction and danger. As time passed, as they became more thoughtful and more adventuresome, our ancestors learned the energy of fire could be harnessed and put to productive use.

Harnessing energy and putting it to good use...that's the territory of leadership.

So, when you see people blowing off steam at work recognize there is energy generating the steam. Energy is good. Energy does good when it is harnessed and properly directed. That's a thing of leadership.

Leaders: Make sure your confidence does not threaten your followers.

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 07:27:00 -0400

Some followers are intimidated by Leader's self-confidence. Here are some Spirited suggestions, to make sure you do not come across that way:

Be authentic…it is OK to be on the reserved side of centre if that is your character…it is OK to be on the boisterous side if that is your character
Be committed to working on self-improvement…i.e., raising his or her own self-confidence when that is required, as it will be from time to time
Focus on strengths: personal strengths and the strengths possessed by others
As Dale Carnegie taught, "Praise heartily"
Make full and appropriate use of humour…some leaders have just a little of it and will need to remind themselves of the importance of putting it to good use…other leaders have heavy doses of it and they will need to remind themselves to never let it go too far…self-humour is best…humour at the expense of others is an absolute no-no
Listen…resurrect that art if it has become lost
Master your emotions…and keep them under control [most of the time]
Live with Integrity…as defined here

Plan for the particular and the peculiar...because that's what you are...and so is your perspective.

Sat, 31 Jul 2021 07:25:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Particular, peculiar, distinctive, & unique: in the English language the meaning of these words overlap. Of these 4 words, we should give 'peculiar' its fair share of consideration. While many people will struggle with defining themselves as 'peculiar', others will barely hesitate to do it...I mean, to other people...of course.

Knowledge costs money and lack of knowledge costs more.

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 07:43:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

We must pay to learn.

We can buy knowledge contained in books.

We can buy knowledge contained in hard knocks.

We must pay much for knowledge in order to have much.

If we do not pay much for knowledge, we pay even more.

The power behind our reactions is far too important to be left to chance.

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 07:51:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Knee-jerk reactions catch our attention and we hold them in disfavour. Yet – what are we doing to make sure they don’t happen?

What are you doing to anticipate situations/circumstances and pre-plan the release of the power of your reactions?

Don't be fooled - only deliberate practice allows talents to master tasks.

Mon, 28 Jun 2021 07:35:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Take Talent To Task: Take Task To Talent.

That's a lot better than taking weakness to tasks and taking tasks to people who are not capable of doing the tasks well.

And, it's a lot better than guessing and winging it at work.

Only a silly person would waste time talking about not having enough time.

Sun, 27 Jun 2021 07:17:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

I mean - you wouldn't throw away perfectly good food while complaining about being hungry...would you?

The time right in front of you is perfectly good time.

The essence of business is exchange of value.

Sat, 26 Jun 2021 07:52:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Stephen R Covey taught - the essence of business is relationships. I believe the essence of business is exchange of value. I believe, in business, exchange of value includes building relationships. Relationships is a subset of the value exchanged in business. No question - relationships are an essential ingredient of life. [Unless, I suppose, one is able to live the life of a hermit.] Certainly, relationships are the essence of society, whether family or community or all of human civilization.

Loyalty is Trust's better half.

Fri, 25 Jun 2021 07:45:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

We should cut loyal people some slack. They should not be taken for granted. They deserve much-better-than-average treatment. They deserve the best treatment we can deliver.

Good things come in little packages: that's the key to excellent work-process success.

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 07:38:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Dr. Richard Carlson taught - "Don't sweat the small stuff".

That's good advice as long as it confined within the following context: (1) do small stuff and do it well & (2) don't feel distressed while you are doing it. There's nothing wrong with sweating while working out the body....although perspiration is a more-delicate word for that body exhaust. When the body works hard it vents exhaust. When the mind works hard it also vents exhaust. This is particularly so when the mind is undisciplined. When we break work into small pieces - tasks - we reduce the amount of that exhaust. And, of more importance, we increase the opportunities to receive [mental, self-generated] rewards for jobs well done.

Organized people get work done; disorganized people get work repeated.

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 07:04:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Disorganization = more errors = more fixing of errors = repeated work.

And, of course, disorganization consumes time and generates stresses and anxieties.

Have you noticed - Disorganized people are the ones who complain most about being overworked!

Little of value exists without self-confidence. Self-confidence moves the world.

Tue, 22 Jun 2021 07:40:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Self-confidence sustains. Self-confidence is the catalyst of progress. Self-confidence moves people. Self-confidence constructs. Self-confidence moves the world.

Perception is reality...and perceptions change over time, taking reality with them.

Mon, 21 Jun 2021 07:05:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Perceptions are fragile things.

Our perceptions are partial, filtered, skewed...

Even some of our most-vivid and most-believed memories are proven wrong.

Toe the line and be ready to leap before opportunity knocks.

Sun, 20 Jun 2021 07:11:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

"Be Prepared" - Boy Scout motto

Lord Baden-Powell - Soldier, Writer, Boy Scouts Founder

(1857-1941)

***

Opportunity rides on the wings of adversity.

Powerful leaders take us to new realities.

Sat, 19 Jun 2021 07:56:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Powerful leaders possess the ability to bring about 'new realities'...some tremendously good, some tremendously bad.

While hindsight seems 20/20, for most people foresight is not.

So, most people find visions of 'new realities' to be unrealistic. Regardless, in powerful leaders' minds, they are visions of crystal-clear realism.

When you see your boss's weaknesses do you see your opportunities?

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 07:13:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Many people complain about the boss. That's the norm.

Few people realize the boss' weaknesses are prime routes to opportunities. That's unfortunate.

Allow your Talents to rescue your boss' weaknesses.

We should make meetings so laborious people choose to do the work between them over presenting excuses during them.

Thu, 17 Jun 2021 07:12:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of excuses.

Anticipate Situations.

Yes, it can be difficult...that's why it's called work.

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 07:49:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

But, Difficult should not mean Unpleasant.

Physically-difficult work burns up energy in muscles, etc. It strengthens the muscles...that's a good thing...unless you're lazy, in which case physically-difficult work would be annoying.

Cognitively-difficult work burns up energy in neurons and other places. It strengthens neuronal connections...that's a good thing...unless you're lazy...then work, again, would become annoying.

About being annoyed or stressed out, etc: the cause behind negative feelings is not work. So, let's not place the blame on work when, in fact, there is another culprit.

We benefit when someone or something makes us do what we can.

Tue, 15 Jun 2021 07:28:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Even the great Ralph Waldo Emerson needed that sort of help. Emerson said, "What I most need is somebody to make me do what I can."

People Only Do 3 Things: Good Habits, Bad Habits, & New Things.

When we want to develop better habits we need an injection of accountability; we benefit when someone or something makes us do what we can.

Workplace High-Pressure: does it cut the feet out from under your smartest people?

Mon, 14 Jun 2021 07:00:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind the Tweet

A high IQ doesn’t necessarily mean a high ability to work under stress. In fact, it is possible the opposite is true. Do you assume smart folks operate smart when the pressure is on? If so, perhaps, when the pressure is on people disappoint you.

Negative feelings cheat us: they take much energy from us and they give little of value in return.

Sun, 13 Jun 2021 07:46:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

We feel good when we participate in fair & square deals!

We would be annoyed if someone else came by and started stealing our energy...

To ensure fairness we need to tell negative feelings to go away until they can deliver a better exchange.

Anxiety: be present, don't fret over it, observe it in real time, & learn what it takes to control it if it gets out of hand.

Sun, 13 Jun 2021 07:22:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Anxiety is in our genes...what we feel now is the legacy of the fight or flight 'wiring' that allowed our ancestors to bring us us.

In right-sized doses, anxiety energizes and hones focus.

In too-large doses, anxiety becomes a demon and destroys quality of life.

Howling at the moon won't make it any brighter & yapping dogs don't make their owners any smarter.

Sat, 12 Jun 2021 07:23:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Constructive criticism is an oxymoron...in relationships, it's an interpersonal liberty taken one step too far.

"When you chase your tail ‘literally’, you get tired; when you chase your tail ‘figuratively’, you get nowhere."

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 07:04:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Bad Habits are a lot like chasing your tail. They consume energy and take you away from your long-term goals.

Loss of Focus and lack of Concentration are, for the most part, Bad Habits...learned over a lifetime of distraction...self-imposed anti-goal activities.

Focus & Concentration are choices...You can improve in both areas...yes - easy to say and hard to do.

...and worth the extra effort.

Creativity in science appears when insightful theories test known 'truths'. The same applies in business.

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 07:23:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

If the writers of screen and theater plays decide the status quo is good enough and stop coming up with new ways to get our attention and entertain us, few of us will continue to go to the theaters and cinemas.

If scientists decide the status quo is good enough and stop coming up with and experimenting around new theories, few of us will continue to fund scientific research.

If business owners decide the status quo is good enough...

We all have the same amount of time...we know the past is gone...we know we have the present...we only hope we have the future.

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 07:07:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Time is our most-precious commodity.

We cannot afford to waste any of it complaining about not having enough of it.

Only a silly person would waste time complaining about not having enough time.

Sometimes you just can win!

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 07:48:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Sure, sometimes you just can't win. Everybody knows that. Almost everybody says that. And, some people are caught up in the habit of thinking and talking like that.

Why not make a habit of saying, "Sometimes you just can win!"

People think 600-700 words per minute. People talk 100-200 words per minute. Most people listen...maybe 1 or 2.

Mon, 07 Jun 2021 07:30:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Listening - a little bit goes a long way. Just imagine what could be accomplished by a lot of listening.

Small business is like walking a tightrope: failure to step gets you nowhere & slip-ups bring you down.

Sun, 06 Jun 2021 07:01:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Take Delegation seriously. It is really important to do it and to allow yourself and your people to learn from errors.

"Fear is (a) an impulse, (b) a habit, (c) a disease."

Sat, 05 Jun 2021 07:33:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

That's a quote from Frank Channing Haddock's 'The Culture of Courage', (1910).

What an interesting view of fear.

What an interesting base for growing courage.

5 reasons to listen: (1) to understand, (2) to act, (3) to respond, (4) because it's your job, & (5) because you like people.

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 07:38:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Most people listen poorly.

It's reciprocal: people don't listen to them so they return the disfavour.

Then there's this pent up ego, demanding you express your thoughts rather than listen to other people's thoughts.

***

If we don't relearn how to listen evolution is going to adapt our ears into oblivion.

[One drawback of civilization: people who don't listen no longer get eaten by predators.]

Some ancient wisdom for Success: Have bone in back, not bone in head.

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 07:19:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind the Sales Tweet

Probably no ancient person ever said that. But, we will never know for sure. On the other hand, I did write “People should work at having thick skin and thin skulls”.

Thick skin will help people be less influenced by the criticism of others.

A thin skull will ensure important stuff gets in easier.

If you want to teach someone, first find out what they believe they already know.

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 07:16:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Far too often, we jump into teaching.

Far too often, we assume others do not know what we know.

Far too often, we conclude others are doing things poorly or incorrectly because they don't know what we know.

More often than not, we waste time and 'make work' when we assume and conclude others don't know what we know.

We can remedy this by asking simple questions before we give instructions and lessons.

Don't let yourself get so busy you let Situations catch you unprepared...anticipate Situations, plan ahead.

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 07:57:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

So many people think they are 'too busy' when the reality is they are 'too unprepared'. They live a business life consumed by a repeated series of fire-fights. Many of the fire-fights are directly linked to specific individuals' behaviour. And, habits being what they are, to a very large degree, behaviour is predictable. Think of a probable Situation. Think of who will be in the Situation. Think of how the people in the Situation will act. Plan your best Actions before the fires start.

The greatest of leaders change themselves. They mould their character to remove the bad habits that impair leadership.

Mon, 31 May 2021 07:03:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Sometimes they replace combative attitudes with kind attitudes. Sometimes they toughen up their softness. Either way they mould their character to remove the bad habits that prevent leadership.

Inspire business people by letting them know that you know what they do when they are at work.

Sun, 30 May 2021 07:44:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

If you believe people know what you do when you are at work then check again...you may be quite surprised to find others have a very fuzzy impression of your work. Or, they may know almost nothing about your work.

You do not have to emulate them...you can stand out...you can ask them and learn what they do...then you can know what they do...and they will appreciate you for it.

Few situations provide opportunities to do big things; all situations provide opportunities to do small things.

Sat, 29 May 2021 07:13:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

All situations offer, at least, small learning experiences.

All situations provide the opportunity for self-discovery and building self-confidence.

Never Give Up..You owe it to yourself...You owe it to your family...You owe it to Life.

Fri, 28 May 2021 07:38:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Of course, Sir Winston Churchill comes to mind, “Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”

Churchill, singularly, inspired a nation.

But, there's more to it...

Churchill inspired himself.

[...in support of inspiration and daily affirmations]

About Influencing Powerful People - #1

Thu, 27 May 2021 07:05:00 -0400

Here's a quote from Dirk Schlimm -

“I learned that influencing powerful people is a better and more effective route than complaining about them.”

This quote touches two important Spirited Leaders' philosophies -

Constructive Criticism is an Oxymoron

and

Influence is the Essence of Leadership.

When a combination of skills, goals, & plans is not present, people give up their dreams & hope.

Wed, 26 May 2021 07:17:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Skills, goals and plans will always be required.

Without these basics, work is demoralizing and frustrating.

Without these basics, unless they have tremendous will, people give up their dreams and hope.

You are so derisive...if only you could change that "r" to a "c" you'd have one good character attribute going for you.

Tue, 25 May 2021 07:24:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

This thought occurred to me while I was trying not to listen to a particularly annoying nitpicker.

...but for one letter...

Ever since, I cannot witness criticism without having at least a slight smile.

Our fingers naturally point outwards. Perhaps that's why we point at others when it's time to place blame.

Mon, 24 May 2021 07:58:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

The joys of evolution!

It seems [until someone helps me understand otherwise] we humans are the only animals capable of pointing fingers at others.

We alone enjoy all the benefits of both opposing thumbs and blame-pointing fingers.

The joys of job seeking & hiring: people connecting & maximizing the achievement of common goals.

Sun, 23 May 2021 07:26:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

It isn't about the amount of formal education.

It isn't about the number of years of prior-employment experience.

It is about agreeing on exchange of value.

And...it does not have to be a painful process.

The more you use your talents the harder it is to wear them out.

Sat, 22 May 2021 07:18:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

We struggle when we don't use our Talents...many of us accept that struggling lot in life...and some of us embrace struggling as the starting process that allows learning and growth.

Yet, few of us struggle to use up our Talents.

Isn't that unfortunate!

Two keys to beating your competition: (1) Start & (2) Finish.

Fri, 21 May 2021 07:00:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

If you make a habit of doing these two things, you will be leaps & bounds ahead of the pack.

Sure, there are many other things you need to do to serve and succeed.

To deliver value, all of those things must occur between (1) a Start & (2) a Finish.

If you want to build people up don’t knock people down.

Thu, 20 May 2021 07:05:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

When you have authority, most people shut down, in one way or another, in response to your criticism...

Maybe you want them to shut down...and be destructive?
Maybe you don't want to shut them down...and be constructive?
Maybe you haven't thought about the difference between being constructive and being destructive?

...what are you trying to accomplish with all your criticism?

Intrinsic Goals feel right...they align with our talents & strengths...they inspire & energize us.

Wed, 19 May 2021 07:34:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Intrinsic Goals mesh with life purpose, mastery of task, and self-actualization.

Naturally, intrinsic goals align with talents and Strengths.

And, in contrast to extrinsic goals, intrinsic goals tend to broaden rather than restrict experiences.

In pre-historic times people who didn't listen got eaten...now they propagate at will.

Tue, 18 May 2021 07:18:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Could it be 21^st Century predators are a forgiving lot of creatures?

Could it be Darwin was wrong?

...survival of the fittest? ... or was it survival of the most adaptable? ... or is it no survival for the least able to listen?

Assuming evolution is an accurate theory - and I'm not so sure about all the science details of that any more - regardless, if evolution theory is true:

How many generations will it take for human ears to shrink and disappear through lack of use?

Be nothing if not courageous.

Mon, 17 May 2021 07:37:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

It's about personal values:

If we are not courageous, what of value do we have to offer to others?
If we are not courageous, what of value do we have to offer to ourselves?
If we are not courageous, how do we take chances, fail, learn and grow?

Other people prefer it when you are present-minded rather than absent-minded.

Sun, 16 May 2021 07:52:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

'Getting present' is a Focus exercise...a mind-process of narrowing and fixing attention.

'Staying present' is a Concentration exercise...a mind-process of holding attention.

These two mind-processes, focusing and concentrating, involve different areas of the brain and they require the development of different skill sets. For me, and it may be different for you, focusing is an exercise of thought discipline. It requires thought discipline to cause attention to dwell on the single isolated situation or topic, ignoring everything else. This discipline can be very challenging. Similarly, concentration can be challenging when tasks are tedious or uninteresting. On the other hand, most people find concentration becomes easier when the topic or situation is one they are very interested in or excited about.

When we to want to win at all costs, our perspectives become quite blind to the realities of situations.

Sat, 15 May 2021 07:41:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Some people cannot adjust their thinking to fit the realities of the situations at hand.

Some people cannot even begin to untie their emotions, so they can use logic to think about the real facts they face in situations.

Perhaps, the problem is, their Ego must cry out for help regardless of the situation they face?

Inspiration is the music of creative intelligence.

Fri, 14 May 2021 07:39:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Our gift of creative intelligence must be there to inspire ourselves and others.

Our intuition is a special gift, with deep roots in our unconscious brains [lizard brains].

Our ability to inspire is linked to our creative intelligence and intuition - a wonderful aspect of our 'human condition'.

Hope is not a strategy but it is an essential ingredient of leadership.

Thu, 13 May 2021 07:15:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

'Hope is not a Strategy', an interesting business book by Rick Page.

"Hope is an essential ingredient of leadership." a Deepak Chopra quote from his book, 'The Soul of Leadership'

Both are accurate statements.

Self-knowledge is the often-overlooked success ingredient.

Wed, 12 May 2021 07:06:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

People who have a thorough understanding of themselves do better as business leaders. They understand their strengths and weaknesses; they understand their desires and goals; they understand their internal drivers and their behaviour; they understand their attitude toward and their reactions to situations and other people.

Business flourishes when pleasant-enough personalities exchange interesting ideas.

Tue, 11 May 2021 07:47:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

And, of course, following through on commitments.

Link to Thought Tweet #278

Willpower: use it and it grows as you grow.

Mon, 10 May 2021 07:23:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Willpower: we use it or it slips away on us.

Willpower relies on energy. Use it wisely. Use it regularly. Drain it. Rebuild it. Strengthen it.

Willpower [and its outcome, self-control]: use it or fail to have it; use it and experience personal growth.

We praise our phones by calling them "smart" then we toss them away, replacing them in their adolescence.

Sun, 09 May 2021 07:37:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Our technologies are becoming as fragile as our relationships.

Puppy Love used to apply to puppies...then it morphed toward hand-holding teenagers...now it has morphed toward hand-touched technologies.

Some never tire of fighting the same battles, using the same weapons, & meeting the same defeats. What peculiar stamina!

Sat, 08 May 2021 07:45:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

It seems some people never tire of experiencing the same old problems. What peculiar stamina!

Perhaps most of us appear that way when viewed from others' perspectives. [Attribution Bias]

Perhaps when observed by others most of us appear to obstinately cling to the bad habits that limit our ability to deal successfully with other people?

Perhaps my perceptions of other people's behaviour, as I watch them struggle, are too harsh?

If you assume communication is easy, you’re dreaming alone. If you find communication is easy, you may be dreaming with others.

Fri, 07 May 2021 07:48:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Shared dreams and goals, naturally, breed quality communication.

Dreams of a better future help generate a better future.

Thu, 06 May 2021 07:33:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

"Past and future are dreams; now is a reality. All things are now; all power, all possibility, all action, is now."

British author/philosopher James Allen said that in 1903. It seems to me Allen's advice is a key to what most people refer to as 'time management'. I mean, if people pay more attention to the present and less attention to agonizing over the past and worrying about the future then they will feel less stressed...and they will feel like they have more time.

On the other hand, we should not be too harsh on dreams - only dreams of a better future generate that future. As 2 examples, Marconi proved this...so did Martin Luther King Jr.

People are 'selflings': that's a good rather than a bad thing...so focus on yourself...regularly.

Wed, 05 May 2021 07:22:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

About that suffix 'ling': yes, often pejorative; but, not always.

So, cut other selflings some slack, as they will have to do for you if you are to achieve your desires.

You worked in your business, then you worked on your business. Now, you're overdue to work on yourself.

Tue, 04 May 2021 07:33:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

In the Emyth series of books, Michael Gerber explained the value of going beyond working in your business to working on your business.

Too many leaders worked both in and on their businesses but neglected the most-important activity - working on themselves.

As you work in and on your business expect minimal positive changes unless you, first, work on improving yourself.

Duplication annoys some people - others recognize repetition is a key to learning and repeated errors signal failure to learn.

Mon, 03 May 2021 07:35:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Efficiency happens when things are done right the first time.

Efficiency happens when people learn and remember.

Some people view these as mutually exclusive things.

Isn't that a shame?

Mistakes happen when people try new things.

Mistakes provide opportunities to learn.

Some people don't learn from their errors.

Isn't that a shame?

Your personality strengths give you a chance. What you do with them today is what really counts.

Sun, 02 May 2021 07:05:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Your personality may take a back seat to what you do...especially when the going gets tough.

We judge others by what they do.

We trust others by what they do.

Others do the same to us.

If trust is at the heart of meaningful business relationships, insight is in the brain.

Sat, 01 May 2021 07:51:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Trust, based on a history of past experiences, is not enough to guarantee business relationships contain value. When insight is added to trust, business relationships can thrive.

Even those not blessed with natural, pleasing personalities can learn to think and bite their tongues.

Fri, 30 Apr 2021 07:50:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

You can choose to adjust your personality so it is more pleasing and less annoying. Sometimes, the choice involves biting your tongue.

When you annoy people you don't make money...[unless you happen to be a sitcom actor or a Don Rickles clone]

Discipline yourself if you wish to persuade others.

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 07:50:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind the Tweet

Do what I say not what I do does not cut it. Probably, most of us can remember incidents when we were children and adults in positions of authority gave us instructions that they themselves did not follow. To the extent that happened, we learned to resist instructions that came to us as do what I say not what I do. As we gained experience and confidence our resistance to these inconsistent demands increased. Now, we have much trouble following instructions from people who do not lead by example. And, we distrust those who talk the talk but don’t walk the walk.

"Get a Life". Reality TV has added a whole new dimension to that old admonition.

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 07:24:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

It's now incredibly easy to 'get a life'. Our TV remotes provide us a full range of lives...numerous reality choices with many variations on how to annoy other people - annoying co-workers, annoying family members, annoying aspiring singers & aspiring dancers & aspiring entrepreneurs...annoying all types of people in all types of real-life situations...all available at the flick of a switch.

Question:

Do you spend more time (A) annoying other people or (B) watching people you don't know annoying other people you don't know on TV?

And, for those who are not avid practitioners in the art of annoying others...

Do you spend more time (A) solving your own problems or (B) watching other people struggle with their problems on TV?

Mediocrity happens when we live under the wings of our bad-habits.

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 07:26:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Bad Habits follow us like shadows. Bad Habits make us mediocre. We can replace Bad Habits with Good Habits...it's a matter of choice...and commitment & self-discipline.

When people are annoyed about setting goals, don't fight against the flow - help them make predictions.

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 07:03:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Some people, perhaps many people, are annoyed by the pressure of setting goals. Many people, if not most people, love to learn about and make predictions. There is little to be gained by fighting against the flow. Rather than fighting against the flow, [at least to some degree] Leaders and managers can seek middle ground and help their people make predictions.

People love to make predictions...and People will embrace the predictions they make.

Examples of predictions people love to make and learn about:

bets on sports games
weather predictions, especially "Ground Hog Day"
stock market investments
Nostradamus predictions

Why not add business predictions to the list!

How is it people who are 'too busy' find time to share their problems with others & watch all that Reality TV?

Sun, 25 Apr 2021 07:12:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

When 2 pet peeves collide...

(1) People ain't too busy - they just brainwash themselves that way.

(2) Reality TV just ain't - at least it ain't the sort of reality that creates value.

"It usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech." Mark Twain

Sat, 24 Apr 2021 07:01:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind the Tweet

I am fascinated by skilled public speakers. What value for their audiences! And, Mark Twain, with that amazing wit of his…provides a very important message with this quote. Here is another you can apply to public speaking: Abraham Lincoln – "Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe."

Better to fix the problem than to fix the blame.

Fri, 23 Apr 2021 07:47:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Winners seek solutions and think of better places.

Losers agonize over problems and fear uncertainty.

Organized people get more done; disorganized people get more stress.

Thu, 22 Apr 2021 07:37:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

When we are disorganized we make more errors and errors cause more work...and sometimes cause other people to have negative reactions...and then there is more stress.

Disorganization = more errors = more fixing of errors = repeated work = annoyed people = more stress.

Problems become weak when they face clear goals and a strong desire to succeed.

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 07:13:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Weak [or unaware] people think problems are troubling obstacles, which Misfortune delivers to injure us and beat us down.

Strong [and aware] people know problems are the necessary tests encountered along the road to meaningful success.

You can't teach an old dog new tricks...unless, perhaps, you praise him enthusiastically...and feed him the meat he craves.

Mon, 19 Apr 2021 07:48:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Sometimes old sayings go too far.

If you can teach yourself some new tricks then you can teach old dogs new tricks.

Anticipate situations you cannot control & train yourself so you avoid feeling anxiety or stress when they arrive.

Sun, 18 Apr 2021 07:26:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

When people find themselves in situations they cannot control their reaction is, naturally, one of discomfort. For some people, the discomfort is extreme. This discomfort often leads to thoughts and actions that lead to dysfunction, stress, and a host of other negative things.

We can learn how to do better than that.

We can teach ourselves how to do better than that.

When you know defeat has arrived muster your courage and take one more step ahead.

Sat, 17 Apr 2021 07:12:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

As Napoleon Hill said, "Quitters Never Win and Winners Never Quit".

and

"When faced with defeat the easiest and most logical thing to do is to quit. That is exactly what the majority of people do. More than 500 of the most successful people America has ever known told the author their greatest success came just one step beyond the point at which defeat had overtaken them."

Over 2000 years ago, Roman Stoics developed the habit of waiting a day before beating slaves who had erred.

Fri, 16 Apr 2021 07:24:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Speaking of Good Habits & Constructive Criticism...

If those ancient Romans could have that kind of self-control, just think what 21^st Century business people could accomplish if they put their minds to it!

If you cannot be interested at least be interesting!

Thu, 15 Apr 2021 07:02:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Seek first to be interested and to understand. If you cannot handle that maybe you can compensate by being entertaining...or, at least, interesting.

Stephen Covey - Seek First To Understand.

Perhaps people will warm up to you and remember you if you seek first to understand them?

That's consistent with Dale Carnegie's teaching.

If you cannot bring yourself to be truly interested in understanding other people then your opportunities for influencing them drop significantly. You may be able to squeeze in some opportunities by:

being interesting...attention-getting, magnetic...those sorts of things
being entertaining...like a motivational speaker or a magician or a clown act

Written Goals don't just help you set your work-priorities, they help you define your personal Values.

Wed, 14 Apr 2021 07:14:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Values, Purpose, Vision, Rules, & Goals are not discreet, stand-alone concepts. They are intertwined. For most People, they are iterative-too...gaining more clarity with time. When you boil business down, its essence is People, Process, & Situations. People come first. People bring with them 'Character'...which, for each person, is a summing up of his/her Values, Purpose, Vision, Rules, & Goals.

About structure...shouldn't your people see your business at least as solid as the building you work in?

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 07:13:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Overall, small and mid-sized businesses lack the structure they need to be sustainable, let alone be excellent. Business is about 3 things: People, Process, & Situations. Process means structure: structure for plans; structure for roles; structure for workflow; structure for communications; structure in the form of rules.

Business Contains Only 3 Things: People, Process, & Situations

Master Rules

Negative feelings by their very nature tend to alienate and isolate us. Then they go about wasting much of our energy.

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 07:12:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Feelings are mind states where egos are at work justifying their appetites.

While the voices of ego are little, they are incessant. Barrages of little voices fight to serve and satisfy the huge appetites of egos. Egos, their appetites, and their little but incessant voices are not to be ignored.

What we do not know has never increased so quickly....choose focusing over fretting...choose to use Talents.

Sun, 11 Apr 2021 07:11:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Alvin Toffler predicted it. Now, we're up to our ears in it.

People are strong when they have talent, opportunity, knowledge, and skills. While the knowledge requirement is growing exponentially, so are the opportunities.

People have not changed.

People still have amazing Talents!

People need to focus more....and that takes more work because of the escalation of interruptions. [There's a lot going on out there.]

When self-confidence shines it is charismatic, magnetic, & contagious.

Sat, 10 Apr 2021 07:10:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

And when self-confidence shines it keeps ego in the proper light. Put another way, it allows ego to perform in most-productive ways...ways that are appealing and so inspire other people.

Some people are way too busy talking to learn...

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 07:09:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

I bet you've noticed some people simply must express their views. If someone interrupts them, sooner or later, one way or another, these people will keep returning to what they were saying until they have finished saying it. And, if they don't think you are listening then they will repeat their message until they believe you have listened.

And, these people are quick to interrupt others and squeeze others out of conversations so they can inject their views.

Listening isn't important to these people: they don't feel a need to listen because their minds are made up.

These people are way too busy talking to learn.

Hope is a waking dream much craved by people. This explains why people rally around leaders with vivid vision.

Thu, 08 Apr 2021 07:08:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Aristotle said, "Hope is a waking dream."

People want hope; people follow dreams.

Good followers want to vent their strengths. And you want to see strength in action...am I right!

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 07:07:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Good followers want their talents, knowledge, and skills to be linked to opportunities.

Good followers expect their leaders to generate those opportunities.

It seems you can build a business on very complex things and on very simple things, but not in-between.

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 07:06:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Simple things, especially those that touch the emotions, form the foundation of many successful businesses - from your favourite local diner and your favourite hair stylist to pet rocks and dog groomers.

Complex things amaze us, especially those of us who are early adopters. Say no more than 'new Apple product'. Or, consider the impact new special effects have on the movies and the entertainment sector.

Einstein: Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.

Have you ever asked your customers what they would like you to measure?

Mon, 05 Apr 2021 07:05:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

You probably think about what your customers want.

You probably measure what you think your customers want.

But, do you ever ask your customers what they want you to measure?

It's okay to yell and scream at work...celebrations do not have to be subdued.

Sun, 04 Apr 2021 07:04:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Baby Boomers, an interesting 'generation': grew up under pressure...watched the first steps on the moon...survived disco music...and some of us still haven't figured out how to stop yelling and screaming at work.

Sales mastery involves a clear & narrow focusing of Personal-Strength Energy.

Sat, 03 Apr 2021 07:03:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

About Focusing on Personal Strengths

About Personal Energy

About Keeping Your Personal Energy Dry

Better to procrastinate when the task is under-whelming than when it is over-whelming.

Fri, 02 Apr 2021 07:01:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Much as our mothers admonished about other matters and manners, "There is a time and a place". This applies too to procrastination. Procrastinate For Success.

Strategies for managing error-induced anxiety can lead to happier, more-productive lives.

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 07:00:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

When we make errors we feel at least a little anxiety.

Anxiety is a dangerous state of mind because it can lead to rumination, worry, and deep and dark fear.

Better to nip anxiety in the bud, before it has a chance to grow into a very bad habit.

Talent can get lost...even young Mozart was too busy playing notes to focus his mind on quality music.

Wed, 31 Mar 2021 07:03:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Apparently, even the greatest, including the child-prodigy composers, could get all wrapped up in their instruments and their talents at the expense of gaining the specialized knowledge required to excel. [Fortunately, they had mentors.]

Strengths = Talent + Opportunity +Specialized Knowledge + Practised Skills.

Mediocrity happens when we live under the wings of our bad-habits.

Tue, 30 Mar 2021 07:00:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Bad Habits follow us like shadows. Bad Habits make us mediocre. We can replace Bad Habits with Good Habits...it's a matter of choice...and commitment & self-discipline.

We know the right things to do...even while we are not doing them.

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 07:05:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Most of the time we know the right things to do, yet, often, we don't do those right things.

In particular, we tend to do things that offer short-term gain over long-term gain. Dieting provides a good example. Most diets work if people follow them. Most people don't follow them. So, the reality is most attempts at dieting fail.

Isn't it ironic that successful people are busy while unsuccessful people are too busy?

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 07:54:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

I've never heard a successful person say, "I'm too busy."

I've heard many struggling people say, "I'm too busy."

There must be a cause-and-effect at play here...

Perhaps, successful people never place themselves into too-busy situations, so they never feel or think too-busy?

Perhaps, people who say "I'm too busy" doom themselves to never be successful?

Understanding the power of self-talk and not wanting to take chances on the latter...I choose to never say "I'm too busy."

Our pervasive habits take us both to and from our elusive goals.

Sat, 27 Mar 2021 07:21:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

The more elusive the goal, the more pervasive the habit.

Pervasive habits are like governors...some are good while some are bad....some are 'on topic' while some are 'off, on a tangent'.

Paraphrasing Napoleon Hill - the wind can take you east or west, depending on how you set your sail.

Self-control is a double-edged force: when it's strong it builds confidence; when it's weak it builds fear.

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 07:45:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

When we exhibit self-control we build our own confidence and this can be contagious, with confidence spreading from one person to the next.

When we exhibit lack of self-control our confidence shrinks..and this too tends to be contagious.

Battles require people; People require battles.

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 07:36:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

We all have heard it takes two to tango. Tango requires people...two. Battles require people...at least one.

Battles are a fact of human nature.

The question is: Do you back into battles or do you pick them well?

Is logic in action when you select your battles?

Does self-control determine your battles and how you fight them? Do your battles align with your strengths?

Like Beauty, Fairness is in the eye of the beholder.

Wed, 24 Mar 2021 07:21:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Fairness - an admirable motive...but, one that has a really difficult time surviving both delivery and receipt.

Fairness - a thing that tends to be torn between biased perspectives.

The rest of the world will treat me unfairly...OK...I will live with that.

I will treat others unfairly...OK...I will live with that too.

Problems are like icebergs: the biggest parts of them are below the surface.

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 07:16:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

We human beings have a curious habit. We tend to express problems in ways that conceal the real sources of our 'pain'. I suppose our egos make us play word and mind games...prettying up our real problems with make-up so other people will view us in [what our egos hope will be] a better light.

Social Media provides an excellent opportunity to say what you say instead of do what you do.

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 07:09:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Are you hunkering down over anti-social media?

Some thoughts about Fake Work.

...yes...pots do call kettles black.

Dreams of a better future light the path to that better future.

Sun, 21 Mar 2021 07:14:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

"Past and future are dreams; now is a reality. All things are now; all power, all possibility, all action, is now."

On the other hand, we should not be too harsh on dreams - only dreams of a better future generate that future. As 2 examples, Marconi proved this...so did Martin Luther King Jr.

If you want to win someone over then let him know that you know what he does when he is at work.

Sat, 20 Mar 2021 07:27:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Most people take at least some pride in their work...so they tell others about what they do when they are at work.

Few people have the interest or take to time to truly listen to others, so they never really hear let alone remember what others tell them.

You can listen. You can remember. You can let others know you care about what they do at work.

You can inspire people!

Maybe it isn't more blessed to give than to receive - consider the Ben Franklin Effect.

Fri, 19 Mar 2021 07:26:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Ben Franklin found people, even people who clearly disliked him, responded positively when he asked them for a favour. As one example, back in the day - almost 300 years ago, books were very rare in New England. Benjamin Franklin asked a political opponent [who had publicly criticized Ben] to lend him one of his prized books. The person loaned the book to Franklin, who read it quickly and thoroughly then returned it. After this experience, the opponent softened his attitude toward Franklin.

These Ben Franklin experiences led to what is now known as the Ben Frankin Effect.

In general, people don't lack the desire to make changes. They lack the skill and habit.

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 07:37:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

"They lack the skill." When it comes to change, skill is a multi-edged sword.

One sharp edge - the person who delivers the change-decision must deliver that decision with skill.

Another sharp edge - the person who receives the change-decision must receive that decision with skill.

Another sharp edge - the people who implement the change-decision must perform the decision with skill.

That's a lot of skill...that's the skill-work we must commit to if we want to make constructive change.

If you can convince yourself you are too busy then you too can make worse decisions.

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 07:32:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

It's all in the way you hold your mind.
You do not have to take the time required to make good decisions. It is your prerogative to make lousy decisions and nobody can take that right away from you.
There's probably no better way to make lousy decisions than holding in your mind the thoughts, "I am too busy" and "I don't have time".
If you put your mind to it you will find your mind will warm to the habit of "I am too busy" and "I don't have time". And soon, very soon, you will be able to make really lousy decisions.

Willpower is about converting self-drive into purposeful action.

Tue, 16 Mar 2021 07:46:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

If you have no definite purpose, no chief aim, no goals - then you have no need of willpower. Of course, your accomplishments will be unpredictable at best and destructive at worst.

***

"Persistence involves adherence to a purpose clean through to a goal."

Frank Channing Haddock

'Power of Will', (1910)

You too can see the positive things in people...just open your mind then your eyes.

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 07:20:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

When you have a positive mental attitude you are less critical of others.

When you have an agreeable personality you are less critical of others.

When you want to and think you can...you will see the best in people.

Discipline is the only remedy for wasted Talent.

Sun, 14 Mar 2021 07:19:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

When discipline is absent Talent is dormant, submerged, and wasted.

That's why discipline is a good thing.

Discipline serves a key role when success is in action.

Talk so people listen...listen so people talk.

Sat, 13 Mar 2021 07:44:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

'How To Talk So People Listen', that's the title of a book written by Sonya Hamlin in 2006.

How To Listen So People Talk...well, that's in the territory of the art of asking good questions.

Habits come in two flavours: green for Good and red for Bad. When you Influence others, don't make them see red.

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 07:33:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

People Do Only 3 Things: Good Habits, Bad Habits & New Things. [a link to over 300 posts About Habits]

There are only 2 ways to positively Influence others: (1) doing Good Habits & (2) doing New Things.

Why not show your Good Habits and, at least once in a while, try some well-planned New Things?

Win-Win deals happen when Self-Confidence meets Self-Confidence.

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 07:22:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind the Tweet

It takes [courage-grounded] self-confidence to win & it takes consideration of others to create win-win. These are the building blocks for exchanging value in business.

An interview or performance review question: How do you use your Talents to expand your ability to influence people?

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 07:25:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

The Gallup folks have defined 4 Talent Domains for leadership: Executing, Influencing, Relationship Building, & Strategic Thinking.

When we look at local leaders' Talent Themes we notice a lack of Influencing Talent Themes. A lack of Influencing talent & strength is widespread throughout businesses in our geography.

Understanding that, we need to help leaders improve their ability to Influence others.

A good starting point is understanding whether or not they understand the importance of Influence...and are taking steps to improve in the area of Influencing.

A good next step is providing Influencing-help in the form of specialized knowledge, situations/opportunities, and time to practice skills.

When you communicate, the processes you use influence people more than the logic you express.

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 07:02:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

According to Chip Heath and Dan Heath ['Decisive', 2013] "When the researchers compared whether process or analysis was more important in producing good decisions - those that increased revenues, profits, and market share - they found that "process mattered more than analysis - by a factor of six.""

Good Decision Making relies on good decision-making processes.

Good Influencing relies on good influence-making processes.

And Business Contains Only 3 Things: People, Processes, & Situations

About Decisions: as a general rule, avoid making them when you are stressed or pressed.

Mon, 08 Mar 2021 07:35:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Only on rare occasions do we need to deliver decisions with urgency. For the vast majority of situations we can take time to de-stress or reduce negative feelings before we make decisions.

Given a little time for clear thought we can consider options, we can check our gut, and we can perform common-sense tests.

As the saying goes, "If it's worth doing it's worth doing right".

Note: this not intended as an argument against the value of intuition...sometimes gut reactions bring the best decisions. And - there is value in taking time to think about gut reactions...and learn from them.

In business – discussions are good, decisions are better, and delegated decisions are best.

Sun, 07 Mar 2021 07:46:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Discussions help you determine whether or not you have good/talented/skilled people on your leadership team. Quality discussions allow you to help the people you work with....and vice-versa.

Decisions set the paths to results, either failures or successes. Learning from failures is the route to better future decisions and top future effectiveness, success, & profit.

Delegation of decision-making authority and accountability is the only way to grow a business. Delegation takes tasks to talents.

Master discussion first, then decision-making, then the art of delegation.

Talent without discipline - good for hobbies, not so good for businesses.

Sat, 06 Mar 2021 07:20:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Malcolm Gladwell [in his book, 'Outliers'] taught us, regardless of Talent, people need to spend at least 10,000 hours to become performing masters.

I think - if you are not paid to be a performing master then you are performing a hobby [not work].

I think - if you lack discipline then you won't even be good at hobbying.

And, I think - if you are not good at stuff then you do not enjoy it...and that's not a good way to spend your time.

Problems can be like icebergs, with their most-troublesome parts hiding below the surface.

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 07:26:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Mistakes become demons only when they know we haven't learned their lessons.

Thu, 04 Mar 2021 07:15:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

We give life to our mistakes when we allow them to get the better of us. As we worry about them, we give them power...the power of demons. When we learn the lessons they are trying to teach us, our mistakes no longer possess the power of demons. Objective thought is the key to learning lessons from our mistakes. Objective thought does its best work when our emotions are under our control.

Self-knowledge is an essential ingredient of success...it's the 1st ingredient. Spend some time on that. You're worth the effort.

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 07:05:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

People who have a thorough understanding of themselves do better as business leaders. They understand their strengths and weaknesses; they understand their desires and goals, they understand their internal drivers and their behaviour; they understand their attitude toward and their reactions to situations and other people.

And, according to Wikipedia...

The Ancient Greek aphorism "Know thyself" (Greek: γνῶθι σεαυτόν, transliterated: gnōthi seauton; also ... σαυτόν ... sauton with the ε contracted), is one of the Delphic maxims and was inscribed in the pronaos (forecourt) of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi according to the Greek periegetic (travelogue) writer Pausanias(10.24.1).^[1]

The maxim, or aphorism, "know thyself" has had a variety of meanings attributed to it in literature. The Suda, a 10th-century encyclopedia of Greek knowledge, says: "the proverb is applied to those whose boasts exceed what they are,"^[2] and that "know thyself" is a warning to pay no attention to the opinion of the multitude.^[3]

In Latin, the aphorism is generally given as nosce te ipsum^[4] or temet nosce.^[5]

Eggs don't hatch where scarcity-thinking roosts.

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 07:04:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Scarcity-thinking stifles curiosity and creativity and when curiosity and creativity are stifled success is elusive.

It is clear, some people fully disagree with these views...they continue to think and talk scarcity...and many people do nothing to correct that problem.

The 3 Prongs of Innovation: Invention, Discovery and Stumbling Upon.

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 07:48:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

P=2S+O...for every Problem [P], think of at least 2 Solutions [2S] and keep your eyes peeled for Opportunities [O].

Taking a P=2S+O approach to problems: that's a proven way to invent, discover, and stumble upon innovation.

And - Curiosity is the root of Innovation.

When we were newborn babes, we somehow knew the best way to get what we wanted was kicking and screaming.

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 07:06:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

When we were newborn babes, we somehow knew the best way to get what we wanted was kicking and screaming.

At first, really nice bigger people encouraged us to take action.

Then, of great surprise to us, many bigger people began a life-long assault aimed at proving otherwise.

When troubles consume your thoughts, remember "Your tooth will cease aching if your house is afire..."

Sat, 27 Feb 2021 07:34:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

"Your tooth will cease aching if your house is afire..." Frank Channing Haddock made that point in his 1910 classic, 'Power of Will'.

Long before the medical sciences confirmed the concepts of neuroplasticity, people knew the awesome power & virtually unlimited possibilities available to the human mind.

If emergencies can remove the pain of toothaches then properly trained minds can do the same thing.

Our minds have the ability to remove the 'negative feelings and thoughts' we encounter during day-to-day life.

In ancient times it was easy to protect intellectual property...when chisels were stolen few thieves could write in stone.

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 07:28:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

There's a long legacy of 'idea theft'. When our ancestors got beyond chisels and stones and into more-formal business, copyright became an issue. Apparently, the case law on copyright dates back to the 6th Century AD.

Speaking of our ancestors...

You cannot be worried, be angry, be frustrated and make money.

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 07:23:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

You can be habitually worried, angry, and frustrated...many people prove that.

But, how many successful people have you met who make habits of worry, anger, and frustration?

***

Worry, when held in controlled quantity, can motivate.

Anger has the ability to generate action...mostly destructive, but occasionally productive.

Frustration: the worst of the three; unproductive, inactive, unhealthy.

***

If you look into a mirror and see a worried, angry, frustrated face, you are peering into the eyes of a person who will never be wealthy.

...on the other hand, you just may find that face smiles at you, laughs, gets into a better mood, and accomplishes something constructive.

Time management tip: file files. Their name lets us know what we are supposed to do with them.

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 07:24:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Well...that is why they call them files isn't it?

I mean - those things don't have that name because of some other qualities...shouldn't we do our part to help them live up to their name yet not be confused with their less-flexible, more-abrasive cousins?

Business Growth is made of Innovation & Invention & Self-Improvement & more Self-Improvement

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 07:19:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

In business, learning is a life-long experience aimed improving self, helping others to do the same, and adding innovation, & invention.

If Necessity is the Mother of Invention then Courage must be the Father.

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 07:09:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Necessity walks hand-in-hand with Courage and their finest offspring is Confidence.

We must not underestimate the courage and self-confidence required to think and act in new ways.

We must not forget the key role Necessity can play, especially in the face of major challenges.

Courage and Confidence are the keys to creativity, invention, & innovation.

For one reason or another we human beings were born with egos...so be it...don't fight it...live & learn with it.

Sun, 21 Feb 2021 07:40:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Egos - Can't live with them; can't live without them.

Egos - life's biggest challenges.

You gotta go the first mile before you start talkin' about going the extra mile.

Sat, 20 Feb 2021 07:07:00 -0400

The Thinkin' Behind The Tweet

Everyone knows, "Talk's cheap". Yet, some people forget it. They get all carried away talking about going extra miles when they haven't managed to complete the first mile. They have taken some steps, cut some corners, etc., however, they haven't got that first mile done yet.

Clichés are cheaper than most talk: Actions are far more telling; Achieved goals speak volumes.

As your creativity increases your ability to receive good advice decreases.

Fri, 19 Feb 2021 07:52:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Creativity is one of the most threatening commodities. As a rule, when people observe it happening around them they feel threatened. This causes them to construct opinions and express them. When you show people your creativity the amount of advice you receive is sure to increase...

But A BIG OUCH on the quality of that advice should you choose to heed it.

What habit-thing lurks around Urgency, allowing it to defy logic and beat out Importance, time after time?

Thu, 18 Feb 2021 07:44:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

When we face urgent situations they almost always capture our attention and action...even if we know we should be doing more-important things.

Urgency is always hanging around the roots of Bad Habits.

Discipline: It's about teaching, learning, & accepting most-likely-correct ways of doing things.

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 07:44:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Discipline is about embracing rules & accountability.

Discipline is about directing actions toward goals.

About deviant behaviour in business: remove some, emulate some, & take care with the choices you make.

Tue, 16 Feb 2021 07:27:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

To influence change, you must focus on specific vital behaviours.

Find 'deviant' behaviour that needs to be removed...find 'deviant' behaviour that needs to be emulated...do these things...and then you create change.

***

DEVIATE...

I mean, from the 'norm'...and some deviate behaviour is in the positive direction!.

Dare to be positively different.

Drive to be positively different.

Thrive to be positively different.

Values are the ground rules that drive actions/behaviour. Shared values are the ground rules for behaviour in business.

Mon, 15 Feb 2021 07:21:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

When there is clarity around and embracing of shared values:

actions are magnetized in desired directions
people behave well
relationships are harmonious
goals are clearer
goals are achieved
profits are greater
people are energized

Battles require people; people require battles.

Sat, 13 Feb 2021 07:29:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

We all have heard it takes two to tango. Tango requires people...two. Battles require people...at least one.

Battles are a fact of human nature.

The questions are:

Do you back into battles or do you pick them well?
Do you put logic to work before you select your battles?
Are you really just battling yourself, for example - masking your prior errors?
Does self-controlhelp you determine your battles and how you fight them?
Do the battles you choose align with your strengths?

Choose your battles well; choose the battles that align with your Talents & Strengths.

Fri, 12 Feb 2021 07:40:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Battles require people; people require battles.

We all have heard it takes two to tango. Tango requires people...two. Battles require people...at least one.

Battles are a fact of human nature.

The questions are:

Do you back into battles or do you pick them well?
Is logic in action when you select your battles?
Does self-control determine your battles and how you fight them?
Do your battles align with your talents & strengths?

Don't shoot the messenger until you've at least had a chance to see the opportunity.

Thu, 11 Feb 2021 07:38:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Too often we close our ears and our minds to those who express objections.

Too often we close our eyes and our minds to opportunities.

Discontent, regardless of how it is packaged, just may be the best vehicle for positive change.

When you observe the How, the Why either resonates and amplifies the peaks or dis-harmonizes and diminishes the peaks.

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 07:58:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

First, it is essential to do a good job of observing in order to properly perceive the How.

Then, with the How understood, the Why has an opportunity to become fully clear.

Finally, take time to understand why the Why either resonates or dis-harmonizes. This is the route to understanding whether Values are in sync or whether Values are likely to create interpersonal challenges and Culture problems.

(I mean - Culture problems within your business, your family, or your community.)

You fool no one and annoy many when you set bars higher than you yourself can jump.

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 07:53:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

To the full extent possible - do not delegate work you cannot do yourself.

At the very least, take utmost care if you find yourself delegating work you cannot do.

Should you find yourself delegating work you cannot do yourself, do not make the mistake of being too critical of the performance of others. Be well aware of the limitation caused by your lack of ability to help them improve.

Wow - you're sure surprised to find others become silent when you put down their ideas!

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 07:49:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Try putting an end to receiving input from people then vetoing their ideas and shutting people down.

Even better, try putting an end to asking people for input, receiving the input you requested, then vetoing ideas and shutting people down...that one really burns people.

Problems are both the beast and the beauty of business.

Sun, 07 Feb 2021 07:37:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Remember...

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

And beasts are also in the eye of the beholder.

***

"A beast does not know that he is a beast, and the nearer a man gets to being a beast, the less he knows it."

George MacDonald, Scottish author, (1824-1905)

Those who seek perfection in others will find the human condition is permeated with imperfections.

Sat, 06 Feb 2021 07:17:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Do not assume you are your own harshest critic.

Do not assume your perceptions of others are unbiased or fair or reasonable.

Do not be blinded by the worst in people.

You know you need to take small side-steps to get out of a Bad-Habit ruts.

Fri, 05 Feb 2021 07:02:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Habits exist in loops of brain circuitry.

[Or, at least, that's a description that allows us to understand and address Habits.]

With each repetition, a Habit becomes more ingrained...the Habit groove or rut becomes deeper and deeper. While it may seem this applies more to Bad Habits than to Good Habits, we must not underestimate the force of the good. We must understand the grooves and ruts of several Habits are 'overlapped' and 'intertwined'. Good Habits support one another in positive grooves. Bad Habits support one another in negative ruts.

To escape a Bad-Habit rut we must focus our attention and interest on making a single, small side-step. That's the way to get out of a Bad Habit rut.

There is no set reality; reality is but what we make of it, nothing more, nothing less, unless we ask for another's view.

Thu, 04 Feb 2021 07:15:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Along the lines of 'perception is reality' and 'don't assume, ask questions'...and much more.

Time is a most-precious thing. Shame on the people who repeatedly waste time then complain about not having enough of it.

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 07:22:00 -0400

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

We all have the same amount of time...we know the past is gone...we know we have the present...we only hope we have the future.

We all have choices about how we use up our time.

For example, we can choose to make good use of the 'time scraps' that arrive regularly, during work days and during all other days.