I was reviewing some of my blogs from 2009 and came across my reading list for 2009 post. Well, 1 of 5 isn't bad. I did complete a total of 5 books in 2009, am enjoying finishing up Tribes right now and have developed a list for 2010, also. Because I didn't finish the others on the original list does not mean that they were not important, just that situations may have changed during the year(First 90 days), or someone may have have suggested a book to me(Love & Respect), a new book came out that was not available when I made my original list, I read about it in a blog post of someone else I follow(Duct Tape Marketing), or it was a gift given to me during the year.
So, what are the criteria for books that I read? The book should fall in to one or more of the following categories for me to consider:
1) Relationship building
2) Improvement (of myself, others, or processes I am working on)
3) Learning (kind of like New York, NY). Reading a book is learning
4) Discipline - How to improve priority management in my life.
This year, I have the follwing books in my 'stack to read':
As 2009 comes down to the wire, I hope that you have had a chance to reflect on the past year. I have enjoyed reading some other blogs about preparing for 2010 so I felt compelled to share my own preparation techniques. This technique doesn't just work for New Year's goals or resolutions, but solving many problems you may face. This is a tool introduced to me by my coach, Raymond Gleason of Building Champions.
To achieve the new goals you set, I ask myself the following 3 questions, in this order:
1) What do I need to KEEP doing? - What are those things that you have done that have worked? Be as specific as you can.
2) What do I need to START doing? - Maybe there is something missing from your process that you need to add. Again, be specific. If you have a goal to lse weight, it doesn't help to say that "I need to start eating better." It might be better to say: "I need to start packing my lunch three days a week to reduce fast food intake."
3) What do I need to STOP doing? - Maybe the most important question to answer. Because we only have 24 hours in a day, if we want to START doing things and don't STOP doing things, then we will become overwhelmed and likely not succeed. Our KEEPs will suffer and our STARTs will be ineffective. So, what are those things you need to STOP doing (even though they may be good things) so that you can achieve your goals. The Law of Sacrifice says it best: "You have to give up (STOP) to go up (Achieve goals)"
KEEP, START, STOP - It really is simple...and effective.
So, what are you going to KEEP, START, and STOP doing to go higher in 2010?
I wish you all the best in 2010. I hope that this blog continues to add value to your life.
I have been wanting to write about this for a while. I recall sitting in my office early this year and drawing on a napkin a picture of a helium balloon with the sandbags on the side. The science of a gas balloon is such that to fly higher," the pilot throws out ballast—like sand (sandbags)or water". The picture for me included the sandbags on the side of the balloon.
To me, this science is very similar to a leader's desire to 'fly higher'. While gas balloons need to let go of some of the weight (sandbags) to fly higher, so must leaders. I know that there are many times I allow 'sandbags' to keep me from flying higher. These manifest themselves in some of the weaknesses recently pointed out to me by my friends when I asked them directly for feedback:
1. Creates self imposed limitations due to historical situations.
2. Expecting too little of others
3. Can get seduced by the "good guy" and lose sight of the impact on the overall vision
4. Allowing others to take advantage of my time and my desire to help them succeed.
5. Unjustified lack of self confidence
These self-imposed sandbags are ones that I vow to 'let go of' so that I may 'fly higher' in 2010 as a leader and so that I can have an even more powerful impact on those around me. I would expect that my choices (and my blogging) in 2010 will support this desire. I encourage you to ask me and challenge me on how I am doing with this goal.
So, what are YOUR 'sandbags' that you carry around that keep you from flying higher?
Another disappointing loss for ND tonight. The tough part is listening to some of the prognosticators say that ND is not prestigious anymore...Does any other TEAM basically have their own national television contract? Can any other TEAM say that every one of their games is televised...every year? Can any other TEAM say that the biggest game their opponent plays EVERY year is the Notre Dame game? Notre Dame IS prestigious and Robert Smith (ESPN studio analyst) doesn't understand what he is saying when he says that Notre Dame can't afford a prestigious coach since Weis' buyout is so large.
Now, I do believe that Weis should forego a majority of the buyout since I believe he should be fired for 'cause'. Even HE said when he was hired that 6-5 just wasn't good enough! He's right. 6-6 isn't good enough, either.
Notre Dame IS a prestigious program. Notre Dame IS a prestigious coaching opportunity. Notre Dame WILL return to prestige in terms of the elite winning programs. 11 National Championships, 7 Heisman trophy winners. It's not just football...It's Notre Dame football!!!
So, as I look at what the kids may want as a gift this year for Christmas, I am often amazed by technology and how it has changed how we learn. I had been considering purchasing a guitar for my son. Then, I saw this blog post by Tim Stevens with a new "iPhone app" to play the guitar. Spend a couple minutes viewing this:
So, I can either buy him a new guitar and go through the pain of trying to force him to learn to play or finding a spot in the closet for another over-sized gift, OR I can purchase the app for his iTouch for $3.99. Now, I know all of the comments: It is more important for him to learn how to play the guitar rather than just hit buttons on a phone...right?
Sure, and it's more important for kids to learn cursive than type in Word....
and it's more important to learn how to divide using long division rather than using a calculator...
and it's more important to read a book from a hardcover rather than purchase an e-Reader and read on my smartphone...RIGHT???? Maybe.
So, what does this have to do with Leadership and Relationships. I will tell you. It is our TIME! You see, as I have said in previous posts, our time is something that we don't manage. We only have so much time. AND, how much of it do we waste on 'stuff' and 'relationships' and 'worrying' ...on holding on to things that we want to get better if we just give it a little more time?
Well, at some point we have to say that our time is much more valuable for things like family and taking care of ourselves rather than worrying if our hand writing is perfect and if our 'friends' will be angry if we don't come to the Tupperware party. My challenge to you is this:
1) Make a list of the things most important to you 2) Compare that list with what is on your calendar(handwriting, guitar playing, Tupperware parties, figuratively speaking) 3) Where there is a match, leave it there 4) Where there is a dis-connect, make a choice - Either it needs to be on the list of #1, OR you need to Let it go...Not so easy.
So, I think I may take up the electric guitar with all the time I am going to free up...
Posts
