Between the Lines

Bull & Bear Essentials offers an excellent list of top ten tips for success in life. These tips were consolidated from a series of interviews which Barbara Walters conducted with four billionaires. Those who have heard me speak over the past few years and/or read my blogs will recognize some familiar themes. I have highlighted those which resonate with a few key points from my recently published book, “Is This Seat Taken?”

Over the past few weeks, there have been front cover articles on two of the world’s most powerful women: Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton. These leaders serve from opposite sides of the political arena, yet, I believe that they possess several of the same leadership qualities which have no doubt served them well. What can we learn from them?

Newsweek published a fabulous article on Steve Jobs’ creative genius a few months ago. The top 10 tips from his playbook follow. They are very insightful, and can be helpful for any of us embarking upon a opportunity which commands “out of box” thinking and management of a creative process. These tips are not for every situation within an organization; however, when trying to stimulate and inspire new “green field” ideas, they are spot on…

What really is the ‘X’ factor in business? We all know there is one – it is that “thing” that successful executives and leaders have that simply sets them apart from the pack. It is more than just solid performance, track records, and business acumen. It is that extra “something.”

Our world is facing indisputable and daunting challenges. When we bring these issues home – to our own organizations, teams, and personal scenarios – they become even more real. Our security, on every level – our freedoms, our financial well being, the future for our children, and our own professional directions – stands at risk. Today I talk about how passionate curiosity, battling hardened confidence, team smarts, a simple mindset, and fearlessness play a role in leading change and achieving success.

Many of you are contemplating new positions in your current organizations, exiting from existing companies to other related fields, and even going out on your own to try your hand in an entrepreneurial stint. The reasons for your changes are vast. Regardless of the reason why you are embarking upon change, this question invariably comes up:

“Now, what do I really want to do?!”

The pursuit of knowing yourself. Many of you who follow my writings and services, know how vital I believe true self-awareness is to us as leaders. This principle is also one of the foundations of a dear friend’s new and fabulous book, “If You Will Lead”, based in Rudyard Kipling’s beloved poem “If-”.

It seems like every time I turn around there is someone speaking or writing on how to develop, maintain, and foster a ‘personal brand’ in your career and life. In fact, I give talks on this myself – which have been enthusiastically received over the past few years. Yet, as with so many things, these discussions can become complicated, complex, and just “one more thing” to remember when we are already inundated 24/7 with voice mails, emails, deadlines, and other pressures at work and at home. So, how can we keep this concept simple and still relevant? A few tips as we start this new week:

A person isn’t who they are during the last conversation you had with them – they’re who they’ve been throughout your whole relationship. ~ Rainer Maria Rilke What kind of person are we? What kind of person do we want to be? What changes can we make to better enable that person to emerge? Who [...]

Many of you know, I love the New York Times column, The Corner Office, with Adam Bryant.  A few weeks ago, Bob Brennan, of Iron Mountain, an information technology company, was interviewed. The title caught my eye, and the content stirred an opinion I had been forming over the past few years. The key point I [...]