The Second Flame

I’m tossing a challenge out today. I think you’re up for it. It involves focus, commitment, energy, and desire. It will mean more than just being a good team player, or coach, or leader. It will mean sacrificing your time…almost all of it…to do one thing.

Win.

You…Today

Today we’re all about being busy. Really? Everyone is busy. What is your first reaction when you hear someone complaining about being busy? Do you think they can’t manage their workload effectively? Maybe they don’t understand how to protect time on their calendar to do their work, instead of being stuck in meetings all day. Or the classic, that they are in fact busy but never actually get any work done. There is a huge difference between busy and productive.

Busy…for the sake of busy…is failure.

The Challenge

Before I get to the challenge, it is important to clarify that you must be motivated to be the best you can be in your job. Not pretty good…not giving it your best shot…not using a bunch of lame excuses as to why things didn’t work out quite the way you hoped.

You must be absolutely committed. 

If you’re still with me, and I hope you are…here’s my challenge:

You and I will go all out in our work for the next 90 days. We will push ourselves, we will rely on each other for motivation, we will hold each other accountable, we will do whatever it takes...

…and we will win.

Let’s face it. Non-stop, clear the decks sacrifice is not sustainable forever. We will need to recharge our batteries. By committing to a 90 day onslaught we will be able to totally commit, and at at the same time know we will have a chance to catch our breath before too long.

How About You

It’s time to do more that get a second wind this fall. It’s time for a second flame! I’m fired up about having a kick-ass 90 day sprint. Are you up for it?

Let’s win!

I’d love to hear from you.

No Excuses. 

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Failure Is Not An Option

I spend a lot of time discussing leadership behavior. For me, it far exceeds the other challenges organizations face each day. Now you may be saying "wait a minute, what about the economic turmoil, persistent unemployment, and industry-specific pressures that could create havoc?" You're not wrong. But if leadership fails, you have no chance.

"If leadership fails, your organization does not have a chance to survive...and by the way, you are part of that leadership team. I am too."

Making Time
I work in an industry that appears to value meetings in an almost cult-like manner. We proclaim our full day of meetings ahead with an odd sense of self-importance. Really? The more I think about it, the more it sounds like I am not in control of my work life. If I'm allowing my calendar to fill up whose fault is that? You may work in one of those industries too. When the endless stream of "emails-copied-to-everyone" are added to the long list of meetings each day, it's no wonder that time spent focusing on leadership behavior is pushed to the back burner.

I believe we need to change the order of these priorities if we are going to make work better. Isnt' that what leadership is really all about anyway...to make work better?

How About You

When do you find time to focus on your leadership behaviors? Does this question even register with you; or have you finally achieved that long sought after title and have convinced yourself that since your calendar is so full you must be doing everything right? For me, I'm going to make time today to do some critical introspection.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.



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