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29 Random Thoughts

By   ·  3 minute read

What better way to celebrate Leap Day 2024 than launching the D&D blog! A collection of experience, offering valuable insights and perspectives tailored for business leaders.

  1. Perspective is everything. Sometimes, it’s the only thing that you have control over. You might not be able to control your situation. But you have a choice in how you view it.
    • “Often it isn't the mountains ahead that wear you out, it's the little pebble in your shoe.” ~Muhammad Ali
  2. Make time for team-building. Start your meeting with a quick surprise - add a trivia question or a personal-interest question (like, if you could be stranded anywhere, would you pick the beach or the mountains?). It might be just the refreshing break the team needs to be able refocus.
  3. Cancel meetings, when possible. We do. Your team(s) will appreciate the time back to focus on tasks.
  4. Ian-ism: Don’t take yourself too seriously… You have to be able to put your team and the clients at ease. While recognizing the seriousness of the situation, it is advantageous when you can start by assuring your audience that it's going to be okay. As one of my colleagues used to say, “We ain’t savin’ lives or birthin’ babies ...” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone into a meeting where people are expecting sparks to fly and I’ll have the audience ease, which makes is much easier to focus on the resolution rather than the problem.
  • “Seriousness can kill you. It’s what causes high blood pressure and heart attacks.” Lee Haney, former Mr. Olympia (record 8 titles)
  1. We love the book Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun by Wess Roberts (https://www.amazon.com/Leadership-Secrets-Attila-Wess-Roberts/dp/0446391069). If you haven’t read it, you should. It’s fun and full of wisdom. I asked Ian to pick 5 and he gave me 7 😊
  • Everyone has a purpose, even if it is to serve as a bad example.
  • Success takes an unwavering commitment to defeating mediocrity.
  • Suffer long for the mediocre but loyal. Suffer not for the highly capable but disloyal.
  • Written reports only have meaning to the king.
  • Leadership is not about giving orders. Rather, it is about inspiring others to take action.
  • A wise king rewards those who bring him the tough news, and questions the value of those who fail to do so.
  • In times of despair, the tribe turns to the toughest leader.
  1. We believe comic relief = stress relief. Take a moment to laugh. One of LaDonna’s favorite sources for a quick laugh is Demotivators ® - found at Despair.com. These are essentially the opposite of motivational posters. For instance, LaDonna’s current favorite is: https://despair.com/products/you-are-special?_pos=1&_sid=4dc6f53ea&_ss=r&variant=49367762581
  2. Remember the time…? Keep a running list of the funny things that have happened, or the team said during your project, program or your leadership of the team. These become great memories to reflect on at the end of an engagement or an employee celebration.
  3. As a professional program manager, collecting lessons learned is a standard part of the implementation process. Not only does it inform plan adjustments and future engagements, but when it’s a continual part of your process, it promotes personal growth, as well.
  4. Our website & tagline Innovation. Expertise. Results. was crafted by Central Florida’s digital marketing leader Empowering Creative. They’re one of our business partners and are being highlighted during tonight’s Tampa Bay Lightning NHL game! Congratulations @EmpoweringCreative

 

 

Plus 10 of Our Favorite Quotes

  1. “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.” ~Alphonse Karr
  2. “It’s amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit” ~ Hary S Truman
  3. “Never give up! Failure and rejection are only the first step to succeeding.” - Jim Valvano
  4. “Bad news isn't wine. It doesn't improve with age.” ~General Colin Powell, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
  5. “Here’s something to think about: How come you never see a headline like, ‘Psychic Wins Lottery’?”. - Jay Leno
  6. “If you really look closely, most overnight successes took a long time.” ~Steve Jobs
  7. “You can have results or excuses, but not both.” ~Arnold Schwarzenegger
  8. “Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it.” ~Leo Tolstoy
  9. “One, remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Two, never give up work. Work gives you meaning and purpose, and life is empty without it. Three, if you are lucky enough to find love, remember it is there and don’t throw it away.” - Stephen Hawking
  10. “Two things are infinite: the universe, and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.” - Albert Einstein