Use Play-Time as a Reward

“You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do.” ~ Henry Ford ~

Some days it's just hard to get going.  During the lazy days of summer you just want to be outside relaxing by a pool, lake or ocean.  Stop day dreaming!  Taking time for yourself is important so make sure you do it -  just don't overindulge!  Find a good rhythm for work and play.  Use play as your reward for getting things done that will build your dreams.  Lower your stress by just getting to it.  Great leaders will use play to balance out work but never in place of work.  Think about how great you will feel and how much more relaxed you will be if you just get a few things done before you spend time with family or friends. 

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

I will use play as a reward for smart work.

Scary Moments

A good scare is worth more to a man than good advice. ~ Edgar Watson Howe, Country Town Sayings, 1911 ~

"Next time, I will_______!" You can fill in the blank.  Experience really makes you who you are as a person, as a leader.  Even when you account for risk, something always happens for which you didn't plan.  Those heart racing moments teach you and embed the lessons you need to remember.  These events are important.  They give you the chance to grow.  As a leader, you can dispense advice and be a great mentor but those that follow you will only grow when they are thrown into the deep end.   Don't coddle those around you.  Challenge them to learn the hard way.  Not the mean way but the way that shows you care about them as people.  When things get hairy - ask them questions that really make them think about what they would do differently.  That is coaching, that is teaching...that is leadership.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

I will help others learn from the scary moments.

Sculpt Your Life

Could we change our attitude, we should not only see life differently, but life itself would come to be different. ~ Katherine Mansfield ~

How many times do you think or say: "If only _____, then I could ______?"  What if your attitude was the only thing holding you back?  You create your world with your thoughts.  If you choose to think about the hardships and struggles then that is all your life will be about.   It is much harder to roll a stone up a hill if you think you can't do it.  Believe in yourself and things will happen for you.  Try to improve your attitude about your life, about others and about the world.  You will operate differently if you bring positivity and acceptance into your purview.  

Remember positive doesn't necessarily equal naive or unrealistic and being realistic doesn't mean negative attitude.  As a matter of fact, you will be more grounded with a better attitude.  Leaders with a positive attitude are more in control of their emotions and better able to think and see things for what they are.  You are the sculptor of your life - create something worthy by having a better attitude.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

I will sculpt a better life with a better attitude.

Let Go of Being Right

Human beings are perhaps never more frightening than when they are convinced beyond doubt that they are right. ~ Laurens van der Post ~

Have you ever ruined a conversation, a meeting, a party or worse, a relationship because it was so important to be right?  So many arguments over things that really didn't matter! Reflect back and remember the times when you could've have just let it go.  There are cases when being right is the difference between life and death - literally.  But, how often does that really happen?  Also, consider how frequent your arguments are about opinions and not even facts!  Mindful leaders can determine when they are arguing opinion and when they are arguing fact, which one is life or death and then choosing wisely which argument to pursue or not pursue.  Take the time to determine which is more important - relationship building or being right. There are times to be right but most often it is more important to keep the relationship right. 

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

I will carefully pick my battles.


 

Limitations Spur Creativity

“Never limit yourself to what you can't do, but to what you have the power to do with what you have.” ~ Nadège Richards ~

How often do you use external limitations as a excuse?  You say or think things like: "There's not enough resources." "There's no money." "I need more people to get this done."  Change your focus in your mind and think of what you can do instead.  The biggest limitations are what you create in your head.  Leaders achieve when they have the will to do so.  Don't you admire those that achieve despite the odds?  If things come easy there is no growth.  Embrace limitations as a catalyst to creativity and innovation.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

I will use limitations to spur my creativity.

Take Care of Your Brain

 “The energy of the mind is the essence of life." ~ Aristotle, The Philosophy of Aristotle ~

Consider physical exhaustion.  What does it do to you?  Do you become slower?  Is it harder to breathe?  Do you become clumsy?  Did you have accidents?  Consider, now, mental exhaustion.   What does it do to you?  Do you become mentally slower?  Is it hard to concentrate?  Do you become forgetful?  Do you make mistakes?   Physical and mental energy are often connected but sometimes they are not.  When you are physically exhausted and it effects your mental state, quite simply, get some sleep and you can think again.  But, what if you are not physically tired but mentally tired?  Sleep is not the answer.   Instead, take a mental break. What do you do to energize your brain?  Exercise, play with a pet, get something eat, play a game or better yet meditate?  Because, what will you achieve with a tired mind?  Effective leaders will take mental breaks to energize their thinking and create insight.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

I will find the time to take mental breaks to energize my mind.

Trust in Trusting

“The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them.”
~ Ernest Hemingway ~

Just because someone is secretive or private, it doesn't mean you can't trust them and just because someone is willing to share, doesn't mean that they will share everything.  Regardless, you have to begin somewhere to find out.  You just have to be willing.   Some of you trust quickly and some of you trust slowly.  Whether quickly or slowly, you will have to trust at some point because the only way to discover is to begin to trust.  Both speeds of trust are valid but not for every situation.  Choose according to your goals.  Sometimes slow is good and sometime fast is better.  Better awareness will help you choose.  Mindful leaders have the confidence to trust and will pick the right speed for the right circumstances.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

I will trust others at the right speed.

Be A Passion Creator

"A strong passion with moderate talent will take you further than extreme talent with no passion." ~ Sir Ken Robinson, Keynote ASTD 2013 ~

Quite simply, you must follow your passion to achieve true success.   As a leader, it is critical for your organization's success that you create an atmosphere of passion.  Surround yourself with people who are passionate.  Create an avenue that helps others discover their passion and purpose.   Great energy is gained from the thrill of doing what you are supposed to be doing.  When you multiply the numbers of passionate people great things will happen.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

I will help others follow their passion.



Sir Ken Robinson
Key Note Speaker
ASTD ICE 2013 - Dallas, TX

Leaders Don't Procrastinate

If you want to make an easy job seem mighty hard, just keep putting off doing it.  ~ Olin Miller

Don’t you find it hard, some days, to just get motivated?  The more you think about what you need to do, the more mountainous it seems?  It is easy to put off those things that you don't feel like doing - however, they will start to fester and grow teeth.  Next thing you know, they're biting you in the rear!  You put it off thinking it will be easy and then every time you think about it...you groan.   Suddenly, your energy is drained.  You may think you are prioritizing but guess what?  You are not.  Prioritizing is putting important things first, procrastinating is putting off important things.  Leaders don't procrastinate. They get the important things done before they become problems.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

I will get important things done first.

Strength Through Authenticity

We are so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others that in the end we become disguised to ourselves. ~François Duc de La Rochefoucauld ~

How hard are you trying to be someone you are not?  Perhaps you admire someone's strengths and so you attempt to be more like them.  Maybe you aren't happy with who you are and try to hide who you are from others.  Conceivably, there is also the idea that  you don't know who you are, so you mimic those around to fit into a certain crowd.   True leaders take the time to understand who they are and they don't hide it from anyone.  Being mindful and meditating can help you gain more understanding of yourself.  As a leader, your real strengths can only manifest themselves if you stay true to your authentic self.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

I will be authentic to myself and others.

Be Realistic About Change

Those who expect moments of change to be comfortable and free of conflict have not learned their history. ~ Joan Wallach Scott ~

Do not assume that everyone will be thrilled with your desire for change.  Change is difficult by nature. As a leader, if you only speak about the great things that will come about with change you will be seen as unrealistic and out of touch.  However,  if you lament that change is bad or hard then your followers will most likely mimic you.  You need not use negative language regarding change or it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.   There are pros and cons to change and it's important to address both.  However, know that your followers will be automatically stressed with change, so don't dwell on the negative and don't gloss the positive.  It's all about balance.  Teach them about mindfulness and they will adapt easier.  They will also be grateful for the tool.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

I will be realistic about change.

Keep Moving

“Be not afraid of growing slowly. Be only afraid of standing still.” ~ Chinese Proverb ~

Patience for what we truly desire is one of the greatest tests. Things just don't always happen overnight, however, as long as you are moving in the right direction things will happen for you.  Take steps daily to achieve.  It is when you stop that you run the risk of never attaining or worse retreating.  It is true that from time to time you need to take a break and assess your journey - but that is not the same as standing still.  You are still moving toward success, just more slowly.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

I will move mentally and physically toward my goals.

Strengthen With Simplicity

“Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.” 
― Steve Jobs

It's easy for you to ramble on, making things more complicated than they need to be for others to understand.  Many things, especially communication, are stronger and more powerful when they are concise.


1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:


I will strengthen with simplicity.

Question Your Beliefs

This is how humans are:  we question all our beliefs, except for the ones we really believe, and those we never think to question.  ~ Orson Scott Card ~ 

To succeed you must question the validity of your beliefs.  Holding steadfast to some of your beliefs will keep you from moving forward.  Always be on the watch for shifts in paradigms.  What you are working on today, what you are thinking about today will be different in the future. As a leader you must always be willing to change your mind and grow. Otherwise, whatever organization you run, whatever team you lead  will stagnate or worse...fail.


1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:


"I will learn to question my beliefs to order to grow."

Urgent Is Not Always Important

What may be done at any time will be done at no time.  ~Scottish Proverb

Do you find yourself distracted easily?  Do shiny new objects pull you away from once exciting projects that have now become a little dull with time?  How often do you say yes to someone or something new when you haven't finished what you are currently doing?  You have good intentions as your move about the day but then other things and people will make demands of you.  As a leader you must be able to decipher between urgent and important.  Many things are important but not urgent.  Some people will approach you with seemingly urgent that is not necessarily important.  Learn to say, "no, thank you" or "wait...please."  Influencers will try to sway you.  Listen to their subtle or not so subtle methods of persuasion.  A mindful leader will be astute and focused - staying on course for the important.


1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:


I will devote the majority of my attention to the important.

Dream in Reality

Faith is a fine invention
When gentlemen can see,
But microscopes are prudent
In an emergency.
~Emily Dickinson~ 

When you have your head in the clouds, it makes your view a bit foggy.  Having faith and belief in yourself is extremely important but don't forget to do a reality check.  Dreams with no action is a fool's game.  Blindly going along with no focus on a real vision can lead to disappointment or miscues.  You must be careful to not think that desire will be the only key to success. Opportunities may pass you by as you sit, waiting for your dreams to manifest themselves.  Great leaders will have vision and will make things fly but only while they also have their feet firmly on the ground - searching for the real steps to move them forward.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

I will dream and I will keep myself grounded in reality.

Work-Life Rhythm

Perpetual devotion to what a man calls his business, is only to be sustained by perpetual neglect of many other things. ~ Robert Louis Stevenson, Virginibus puerisque, 1881 ~

Being singularly minded will help you gather success…but only, in that one place.  Well-rounded success means that you tend to all areas of your life.  Success in business can be a lonely road if you do not fill it with other interests besides your business.  It can make you off kilter.  Keep in mind, though, finding balance may never happen.  It's like multi-tasking in that it assumes you can do many things at the same time but, it's impossible to hold more than one thought in your mind at a time. 

In the pursuit of balance, it is also, not always possible to be at work, at play, with family or taking care of yourself all at the same time.  It's impossible to give everything equal time.  Instead of beating yourself up trying to find balance, which can be stressful and unhealthy.   Look to find a rhythm, instead.  Some time is better than no time.  As a leader you should set  the example of success and health.  Which can be accomplished by devoting regular time away from your business and toward other meaningful pursuits.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

"I will  pursue and devote time to non-business activities."

Make Fear Give You The Edge

Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you. ~Maori Proverb ~

For many of you there are very real and valid reasons to worry.  Fear keeps you alert and warns of danger.  It is a necessary part of your emotions.  Worry and fear will never go away for anyone.  The difference maker is how you deal with fear and worry.  You can let it eat at you and occupy important areas of the brain - where you need to think.  Use the alertness that fear provides to get focused.  Some leaders feed on danger and risk because it can be very exciting.    As a leader, know that risk means that you have the opportunity to grow and flourish.  With risk comes fear but with fear, can come bravery.  Trust that you will prevail and overcome.  Instead of fear ruling you - use it's energy to create success.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

"I will use fear to my advantage - with it, I will be more alert and focused."

Hard Or Just Boring?

We excuse our sloth under the pretext of difficulty. ~ Marcus Fabius Quintilian ~

You have money for the things you really want to buy and you have time for the things that are really important to you.  When you stop to record what you really spend your time doing, you may amaze yourself.  How many times have you thought about the things you want to accomplish only to begin to think of reasons not to finish or even start? Perhaps you haven't worked on it because you aren't very passionate about that project or task. So you make excuses, such as it being to hard.  And why not?  Labeling something as "difficult" is more appealing than "boring."  You think if you tell yourself or others that if something is difficult then it's excusable.  

As a leader, you will have to do things that you really don't want to do.   Some are fun and exciting, some are not.  It might be more fun to clean your bathroom grout with a toothbrush than do some of the many tasks necessary to lead.   Attaining our goals usually means doing some things we don't enjoy doing.  Change the way you look at these mundane tasks.  They are an important component- find joy that you will see the end result and it will make the tasks more likeable - a la Huckleberry Finn!  No more excuses.


"I will find joy and take action in all my tasks."