When we think about leadership, it's usually in a professional context. We focus on how we lead our organizations, departments, and teams but rarely put any thought into how we lead other areas of our life. How are we doing in our family life? our community? our own health and well-being? Are we leading these [...]
Steve Jobs. Mother Teresa had Father Michael van der Peet. Henry David Thoreau had Ralph Waldo Emerson (the list goes on). Despite varying and sometimes contradicting perspectives on how best to succeed professionally, most leaders agree that a mentor is one of the most valuable people to have on your career journey. Unfortunately, if you're [...]
"The grind." Beyond workaholics, this phrase puts off more people than it excites. When people think of the grind, they envision their routine commute and their brainless, repetitive tasks. Not exactly a motivating image. Yet, the grind is needed for success. Most of your working life will consist of the grind with achievements peppered throughout. Your [...]
... slow down the process of saying yes and do your due diligence. I wish I could say no to everything that didn't move me closer to my goals but it's just not easy for me. I have a hard time saying no. I fear missing out on a life-changing opportunity or disappointing the people who [...]
If you want to succeed, do the hard work it takes to separate you from everyone else. If you persevere, you'll eventually get there. The extra bonus is that the journey itself will help you to grow and increase your chances of success. Don't waste your time looking for a shortcut - you're only prolonging [...]
... work for a superstar. During a recent trip to Los Angeles, the head of sales for a top financial services firm reflected on his career and shared with me that the #1 factor for most employee's success, including executives, is the quality of their boss. When you work for a manager who is a [...]
"We live on an island surrounded by a sea of ignorance. As our island of knowledge grows, so does the shore of our ignorance." John Archibald Wheeler, American Physicist (Scientific American (1992), Vol. 267.) The more you know, the more you realize how much you don't know. To be successful in your career, keep learning new things. Learn broadly about many [...]
A good character is foundational to your success. It'll help you build trust and enhance your reputation. To assess the type of character you are, look at your recent choices, thoughts, and actions. Ask yourself: Would I trust and want to work with someone like me? If not, choose a better character for yourself.
You do great work. You're hardworking and confident in your abilities. Unfortunately, if you're working at a high-performing firm, everyone else feels the same away about themselves. Ask yourself: Do others recognize me as a top performer? If you're not sure, then they probably do not. It's not because you're not good - it's because most [...]
... first get to the frontier. In every Olympics including this year's games, new world records are being set by those who continue to innovate the way they train and perform. In renowned expertise researcher, K. Anders Ericsson's, book on performance, Peak, I came across this quote that served as a great reminder. "Progress is made by [...]
... look at your behaviors. You thrive on feedback. That's how you got to where you are today. You actively seek out advice and insights from your mentors, great books and life experiences. Since you're open-minded and motivated to succeed in the shortest time possible, you experiment with all the different winning strategies that you come across. Some [...]
You're six months into your job and doing well at your company. You feel you've already settled in, and you're ready for more responsibility. So you schedule some time with your boss and ask, "So, what can I do to get promoted?" Many of the managers I coach have told me this scenario is becoming more [...]
