Category Archives: Blog Posts

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My 10 Favorite TED (and TEDx) Talks

It still amazes me how many people have not heard of TED or TEDx. TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less). TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages. Meanwhile, independently run TEDx events help share ideas in communities around the world.

Here are my 10 Favorite TED or TEDx Talks:

  1. Juliet Doherty: Be Great!
  2. Joi Ito: Want to innovate? Become a “now-ist”
  3. Steve Jobs: How to live before you die
  4. Sir Ken Robinson: How schools kill creativity
  5. Brene Brown: The power of vulnerability
  6. Elizabeth Gilbert: Your elusive creative genius
  7. Jill Bolte Taylor: Stroke of insight
  8. Daniel Pink: The puzzle of motivation
  9. John Wooden: The difference between winning and succeeding
  10. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi: Flow, the secret to happiness

I hope you will find some spark of inspiration in these talks. Please share your favorites and help spread these ideas.

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Check out the Blog Posts in these Categories:
Leadership — Personal Development — Productivity — Passion

DISCUSSION QUESTION:  What are some of your favorite TED or TEDx Talks and why?

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A New Day: 28 August

A new day… 28 August! A great day to reflect on our responsibility, the possibilities, and the journey of life.

  • The world is calling out for your contribution!
  • The world is calling out for your genius!
  • The world is calling out for you to LEAD FROM YOUR CURRENT POSITION®!

DISCUSSION QUESTION:  What will you do to Lead From Your Current Position® today?

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EMBRACE THE WOBBLE™

If we accept that chaos is the “new normal” and that “VUCA” (Volatility–Uncertainty–Complexity–Ambiguity) is a reasonable framework to recognize the nature of the conditions that we operate in, then that begs a question: “How can we best operate in this VUCA environment?” I believe that EMBRACE THE WOBBLE™ will unfold as an extraordinary solution to a stable and balanced life.

INDIVIDUAL STABILITY

Simply put, I believe INDIVIDUAL STABILITY is the most fundamental and essential requirement in life. Other people can tell you about it, demonstrate it, and even try to teach you with tips, tricks, and shortcuts. But I believe it’s an inside-out process that’s best attained through Self-Development (the first phase of LEAD FROM YOUR CURRENT POSITION®).

In order to be highly effective… in fact, EXTRAORDINARY, we must seek to master INDIVIDUAL STABILITY. Yes, it’s a lifelong journey. But, like learning to fly a helicopter, your first major task is to HOVER… to firmly establish yourself on the path to master INDIVIDUAL (aircraft) STABILITY.

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VUCA Prime

If we accept that chaos is the “new normal” and that “VUCA” is a reasonable framework to recognize the nature of the conditions that we operate in, then that begs a question: “How can we best operate in this environment?” How can we flourish in a VUCA world? Some suggest that the best response to VUCA is VUCA PRIME (first introduced by Bob Johansen, a distinguished fellow at the Institute for the Future). It is a method to counter each of the elements of VUCA with a specific counterpart.

Consider this unique approach.

Every organization must be prepared to abandon everything it does to survive in the future.” Peter Drucker

VISION—UNDERSTANDING—CLARITY—AGILITY

over

Volatility–Uncertainty–Complexity–Ambiguity

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VUCA

We are constantly reminded just how fast-paced life is… and that the rapidity of life and change will only increase. Additionally, that chaos is the “new normal.” Does a simple framework to recognize the nature of the conditions that we operate in exist? Can it help us better cope with, or even thrive in, these conditions. Well, the one that I use is “VUCA”.

VUCA is an acronym used to describe or reflect on the volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity of general conditions in the world… the chaotic “new normal.” Common usage of the term VUCA began in the 1990s in military strategic planning and has been subsequently used in a wide range of situations.

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The LFYCP® One-Week Challenge

I want to provide you with a basic framework to help you refocus and achieve extraordinary daily results. I call this framework: “The Top 4 Questions You Should Ask Yourself Every Day to LEAD FROM YOUR CURRENT POSITION®”. The world is calling out for your genius, but the noise and clutter of your world may deafen that call.

Try answering these four questions every day for just one week and see what a difference it will make… and let us know what kind of results and insights you have below.

Four Questions

The four key questions you should ask yourself every day to Lead From Your Current Position® are:

  • What is my primary responsibility as a Leader?
  • What is the ONE thing I should create, cultivate, and encourage in my environment?
  • What is the ONE thing I should eliminate in my environment?
  • Are there additional questions that would give me insight into how I can lead from my current position?

Sign up for the FREE “Leader’s Guide” on my homepage if you haven’t already done so.

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YOUTH

One of the great paradoxes of life is explained in Samuel Ullman’s poem YOUTH: “Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind”

Failing to see the paradox that “youth” has another dimension other than time, can cause us to look outward for something that is inside all of us. Many folks live a life unsatisfied in search of the Fountain of Youth and other external solutions.

Instead, consider that:

It is a matter of the will, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions; it is the freshness of the deep springs of life.” Samuel Ullman

It’s no wonder that this poem was a favorite of General Douglas MacArthur. He had a framed copy on the wall behind his desk (in his Tokyo office) while serving as the Supreme Allied Commander in Japan. He often quoted the poem in his speeches and read the entire poem at his 75th Birthday Celebration.

I’ve included it here and in my Leader’s Guide (free sign-up gift). I read it often. Nothing helps me maintain focus, perspective, and courage more than this gift from Samuel Ullman. I hope it will inspire you, too.

May you always pursue your ideals!

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8 Questions You Can Use to Provide Clarity on Your Journey

There are many tips, lists, and tools to help you navigate through life. One tool that I’ve used since its introduction by Tom Peters in 1996, is a PERSONAL BRAND EQUITY EVALUATION. Tom outlines eight simple and thought-provoking questions that you can use to provide clarity on your journey.

The PERSONAL BRAND EQUITY EVALUATION is my #1 navigation tool for assessing my journey through life. I’ve used it since 1996 and update it every 90 days. I also recommend completing and reviewing a PERSONAL BRAND EQUITY EVALUATION every 90 days. Doing so will reduce the chances of stagnation and promote action, intention, clarity, and innovation in your life. It will also promote your connection to others.

A PERSONAL BRAND EQUITY EVALUATION by Tom Peters

  1. I am known for: [2-4 items].
  2. By this time next year, I plan also to be known for [1-2 more things].
  3. My current project [which is:_________] is challenging me in the following [1-3 ways].
  4. New stuff I’ve learned in the last 90 days includes [1-3 things].
  5. Important additions to my Address Book in the last 90 days include [2-4 names].
  6. My public—local/regional/national/global—“visibility program” consists of [2 things].
  7. My principal “resume enhancement activity” for the next 90 days is [1 item].
  8. My resume is discernibly different from last year’s on this date in the following [1-2 ways].

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YOURSELF TO BLAME by Mayme White Miller

The experience, education, and training I’ve had in my life continually highlighted the significance of a sense of personal responsibility. I’ve been far from perfect, but I actively attempt to counter the trap of blaming others. This is a valuable key to keep us focused on our purpose, goals and objectives, rather than the conditions of the journey.

Dr. Ben Carson continually shares this valuable key to his professional maturity. Introduced to him early in his childhood by his Mother,  she had him read this poem every time he made an excuse, whined, or complained.

This simple poem was the catalyst to his amazing life. I hope it can provide similar insights and inspiration to you.

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