A Leader’s Bucket List
In 2007, The Bucket List starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman popularized the idea of writing down your life dreams—things you aspire to do before you “kick the bucket”—and finding a way to make them happen. This lesson introduces a different sort of “bucket list,” one that’s intended to help you gain wisdom rather than…
Read MoreAsking for Change
People rarely do things for your reasons. They are motivated by their own hopes, aims, and aspirations. A leader’s goal is not to sell her vision to the team, expecting them to buy into something external to them. Rather, the responsibility of the leader is to show how her vision connects with the needs and…
Read MoreHow Would You Work With A Difficult Leader Who Doesn’t Like You?
From Good Leaders Ask Great Questions It’s difficult to work with someone you think doesn’t like you, especially when it’s your leader. Most people don’t respond to it well. They often do one of the following: Hide from the person: Many people go into avoidance mode. The good news is that there isn’t direct conflict.…
Read MoreHow Can You Be A Leader Right Where You Are, Even If You’re At The Bottom?
from Good Leaders Ask Great Questions I often hear this question from younger aspiring leaders. They want to apply my teaching to their current situation, but they don’t know how. The good news is that you can be a leader no matter where you are. You don’t need a title. You don’t need a position.…
Read MoreMan in the Mirror
I’m starting with the man in the mirrorI’m asking him to change his ways And no message could have been any clearer If you wanna make the world a better place Take a look at yourself, and then make a change ~ Michael Jackson “Man in the Mirror” In leadership, the first person we must…
Read MoreStopping the Dream from Slipping Through Your Grasp
Having a dream is like holding a glass figurine—it’s fragile and will shatter as soon as you let go of it. As poet Langston Hughes advised, we must “Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.” What does it mean to cling tenaciously to a dream? For…
Read MoreStandard of Living, Self-Actualization, or Significance…What Are You Shooting For?
Truly great men and women are not acclaimed because of what they own and earn. Nor are they admired merely on account of their talents or level of professional performance. Rather, they’re respected because of their willingness to give themselves to people and purposes that will live beyond them. Some people don’t even dare to…
Read MoreThe Cost Question: Are You Willing to Pay the Price for Your Dream?
Thirty years ago, Mary Lou Retton vaulted into stardom at the 1984 Olympic Games, becoming the first American to win gold in the women’s all-around gymnastics competition. She wowed the world with her amazing mix of grace, power, and dexterity. Her Olympic triumph, combined with her buoyant, bubbly personality made her an instant media sensation.…
Read MoreGive Your Dream a Team
If you’re dreaming big, then the size of your vision will surpass your present abilities. Not only that, but your dream will even dwarf your potential abilities. No matter how much you grow and develop, you won’t ever be able to accomplish the dream alone. One is too small a number to achieve greatness. Every…
Read MoreGive Your Dream a Scheme
When you wish upon a starMakes no difference who you are Anything your heart desires Will come to you. Disney offers great entertainment but lousy life lessons. You’re not going to receive a visit from a fairy godmother or find a genie in a bottle to grant your wishes. It’s not just Disney that promotes…
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