Watch Your Mouth!

1. …]]> Hey There-
Here is the list we had today on the Mornings with Lorri & Larry show. http://familynettv.ning.com/

Watch Your Mouth!

1. Watch how your words and actions could be perceived

2. Watch your emails and social media posts

3. Watch jokes

4. Watch bullying or power plays

————————————————————

Five Rules

• Media Rule

• General Rule

• Legal Rule

• Business Rule

• Family Rule

My question to you…

When was a time you or someone else said something you shouldn’t at work?

Successful people are successful because they form the habits of doing those things that failures don’t like to do. Albert …]]>  

Successful people are successful because they form the habits of doing those things that failures don’t like to do. Albert Gray

It’s happening again. I’m reminding my 14 year old son that it really is important to do those things you don’t want to do but will pay off later. He, of course, wants only to get on the computer to chat with his friends. His father and I (i.e. the crazy parents) think that getting his Eagle Scout and making good grades will serve him better than computer conversations that consist of “Hey” and “How do you like this teacher” and “My lame parents are making me go to this dumb thing again.”

Maybe the reason that my son Parker’s actions bother me so much is that I see myself in them. I don’t always choose the successful habits I should. There are some successful habits I need to do more regularly and some habits that I need to quit immediately.

One of the CEOs who runs a successful publishing company told me of a habit he has. Every morning before he takes a phone call or checks email, he takes 30 minutes to do the same ritual. He breathes deeply several times, reads an inspirational passage, prays and then really looks at his calendar to see if what he is doing is important. He said that if he doesn’t do this sequence, the day feels off and he never hits his stride. He claims this habit of slowing down and contemplating before attacking the day at full speed has made all the difference.

Successful people do have habits that others don’t like doing. They are disciplined and focused. They say “no” to time wasters and activities that get them nowhere.

Successful people do the most important things first. They aren’t interrupted by the unimportant. They focus. They take care of themselves so that they can perform and maintain a high level.

Think of the most successful person you know. What habits does he or she have that most people would not like to do? What habit could you do consistently this week that would make you more successful?

I’m dressed in my exercise clothes right now…about to go back to that successful habit.

Journey On!

Linda

Years ago, I danced on a professional dance company. If you …]]> Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments. Jim Rohn

Years ago, I danced on a professional dance company. If you didn’t show up for class, you couldn’t keep up. You missed steps. You didn’t have the endurance to perform. The choreographer didn’t leave a place for you to make it when you could. Instead, the company moved on without you. You didn’t perform and could even be cut from the company. Those of you who played competitive sports or served on a debate team or played an instrument or did anything that forced you to be the best you could understand this concept. If you weren’t disciplined, didn’t practice and weren’t available mentally as well as physically, you could not compete or even keep up. Talent wasn’t enough. A winning personality didn’t get you there. You ability to learn quickly didn’t replace the discipline of practice, showing up and making a commitment.
Discipline haunts me even now. Whether it is my sitting down and writing this blog or working out on a consistent basis or eating the right foods or reading the right books or even thinking the right thoughts, when I am more disciplined I get more done and am more effective. When I plan on a regular basis, the right things come my way. When I am more structured and really guard my time, the right things show up. I have more time. I am more effective. I can help more people.
Slack on the discipline and I get less than great results. So for the next week, I’m going to concentrate on being more disciplined in all areas of my life. I’m going to really plan for success and execute in a committed way. Where could you become more disciplined in your life that might have a big payoff? Are you willing to try it…just for a week?
Journey On!

Linda

When my husband took our 3rd grader to the daddy and …]]> Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers. Gen. Colin Powell

When my husband took our 3rd grader to the daddy and daughter dance earlier this year, I said, I wish I could go to a daddy and daughter ball too. Guess what ? I just did!

This weekend, my dad and I had the great privilege of attending the Dallas Military Ball http://www.dallasmilitaryball.org/ . The Dallas Military Ball is an annual black tie affair. It gives an opportunity to have a unified military voice for the greater Dallas/Fort Worth community. The organization is dedicating to honoring the active and retired military personnel, to salute those who are serving, thank those who have served and pay tribute to those who make the ultimate sacrifice.

This is the time when ALL of the Dallas/Fort Worth military community takes the time to come together and give recognition to brave people who sacrifice and perform services for our country. Actions that most of us will never even know. They do it with honor and a love of country that is amazing. The guest of honor for the Ball’s 45th anniversary is Admiral Michael g. Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Admiral Mullen is gracious, approachable and a true leader. This great simplifier showed respect and made a point of connecting personally with us. President of the Ball, Capt. Phil Resch of the Navy made it a point to come by tables to simply greet everyone.

The joint event honored some great leaders. The Dallas Military Ball presented Meritorious Service Award to Plano’s U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson, who served in the Korean and Vietnam wars as a U.S. Air Force pilot, including seven years as a prisoner of war in Hanoi after being shot down.

It also presented the Meritorious Service Award to Retired Lt. Col. James “Maggie” Megellas, the most decorated soldier from the 82nd Airborne in WWII and the original model for the G.I. Joe action figure. Maggie Megellas told the audience how he went back to Vietnam two years ago to see how the country had changed at the age of 89. He marveled at the simple fact that the young soldiers accepted him as one of their own, despite the age difference.

The leaders all seemed to share a simple message. “We are one in our love of country, love of family and a desire to help our brothers and sisters of service. “

I’m one of the lucky ones. Since a child, I’ve been able to see this simple message and a devotion to the love of country, family and service every day. My father, Retired Col. Byron R. Byars, Jr. was a reservist who went on active duty each year. An engineer , he always had a job related with keeping our country safe. And, like the other honorees, he never made much of the work or commitment. It was simply what he did and did it without complaining. Also, interesting was that while my dad served in the Army he knew so much about and respected the other services.

Also, not big surprise. The Dallas Military Ball distributes excess proceeds to military community and military relief organizations. A simple message again. They help take care of those who serve and their families. Wow.

What are you doing to become a great simplifier so that you can become an even greater leader?

Journey On!

Linda

Associations are wonderful things. They allow you to connect with others who actually know what …]]> Don’t Wait…Go to that Association Meeting

Associations are wonderful things. They allow you to connect with others who actually know what you do or who share your similar passion. This economy is NOT the time to go into the cave and hibernate until the bad things subside. This is the time to get out there and reconnect with professionals who can help you.

Recently I’ve spoken at two associations, the International Association of Administrative Professionals http://www.iaap-plano.org/Default.aspx?pid=1&u=TtoUEJtv/vQ= and the Dallas-Fort Worth Association Executives http://www.dfwae.org/DFWAE%20Assn%20Day%20Brochure%20FINAL.pdf. (Yes, there is an association for associations.)

In both places, I found people who were willing to help their peers. I witnessed people sharing job leads, business contacts and thinking up ways to partner creatively. All of these members seemed to share one thing…a desire to help each other.

What could you do in your industry right now that would make a significant difference in someone’s life? How could you be that professional friend that you wish you had? Get out there. Go to those lunches, visit the receptions, attend the education programs, talk to new people and reconnect with people who you haven’t seen in a while.

Stop hibernating and start associating. Our connections will pull us through. Let me know how it goes!

Journey On!

Linda

I had the opportunity this Sunday to observe a speaker deliver one …]]> Isn’t it amazing to watch the ordinary become extraordinary?

I had the opportunity this Sunday to observe a speaker deliver one of the most powerful presentations I’ve ever heard. Terri, who doesn’t like to speak in public, stood in front of a big room and shared her stories about being a foster parent. She spoke about the 9 children she’s had and the amazing effect that ordinary events have had on her family. Terri spoke of temper tantrums and chicken nuggets. She talked about baseball games and the power of simple things like a hug. She also told of one little girl who felt beautiful coming home from church because the bruises on her arm had gone away.

Terri didn’t wear sequins or flashy clothes but she had us mesmerized. While she has a tremendous voice, she didn’t try to motivate us by vocal techniques or big gestures. She looked at her notes and smiled and just shared her observations about becoming a parent.
Guess what? It was extraordinary. Her stories had the audience captivated. She turned ordinary occasions into an extraordinary experience for anyone who was privileged to hear her.

While I had always appreciated the way she compiled the reports for the committee we serve on and had always noticed her calm ways, I didn’t know her extraordinary story. Do you wonder who else has an incredible story that we don’t know? Just about everyone has a background worth discovering.

Just for this week, see if you can find the extraordinary in the ordinary. Let me know how it goes!

Journey On!

Linda