Thought this was funny!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysmLA5TqbIY

Enjoy!

Ruth

PATIENT LEADERSHIP

Robin Sharma shares the story of a tree in his backyard that did not appear to be flourishing; it had no leaves, it looked frail and wasn’t getting taller. Sharma assumed it was dead but then something spectacular happened.

One day he noticed it starting to yield stunningly beautiful little flowers on its almost instantly firm branches. It grew higher than every other tree around it. And it offered Sharma the most coverage of any tree on his expansive property.

The leadership message? Strong roots eventually yield great success.


The bottom line: while the naked eye suggested the tree wasn’t growing, in truth, it was REALLY growing beneath the soil where the root system was becoming extensive to anchor the tree and allow it to absorb water and nutrients from the soil. The growth was below ground, establishing its foundation, ensuring its roots were strong and its base was secure. And once it was done, it outperformed every tree around it. Sharma reminds us that he needed to measure the tree’s roots when he was doubting the tree’s growth, not the tree’s height.

This is a perfect metaphor for what the growth and development process can look like in our own lives. Slow. Steady. Beneath the surface.


This is what our coaching program does for your organization. Some of the changes you will see in your associates will be obvious and immediate. Yet some of the other deeper, foundational changes will be more gradual.


We work with you to build that foundation and give each high quality employee a stronger base and anchoring for better performance; the underpinnings of an evolving culture. But we need to be clear. This doesn't happen overnight - growing the root system takes time...creating the foundation is a deliberate process.

Breathing life into a leader’s vision is also a deliberate process that takes time. Leadership experts warn us that it will be all too easy for some leaders to lose sight of their vision and instead focus on circumstances (budget cuts, details of what is going wrong, the “WHAT” and the “HOW” of running their business.)


They warn leaders to keep their FOCUS on the “WHY” of their business and vision. They warn leaders to never forget that their people are their greatest asset and leaders that know this invest in their high-quality people.


Talent without practice yields no results. But practice takes time and enormous commitment.
Catney!

Foremost expert by Ralph Marston

Every morning when I have my coffee I visit http://greatday.com/.

This one resonated.



There is no other person who is smart enough, or experienced enough, or informed enough or insightful enough to tell you how to live. That's up to you.
Certainly the advice and guidance of others can be extremely valuable. Yet when it comes to expressing and fulfilling the best of who you are, you are the world's foremost expert.

It feels good to be praised and it hurts to be criticized. Always keep in mind, though, that those who offer their opinions of you cannot possibly see the whole picture.

Your life is your responsibility. That is simultaneously a sobering obligation and a fantastic opportunity.

Successful living is difficult work and yet you are absolutely qualified to do it. You are worthy and capable of creating and enjoying whatever it is that truly fulfills you.

Make the commitment, do the work, accept the responsibility that is necessary for that fulfillment. Live the outstanding life that is yours to experience.

-- Ralph Marston

Make it good. Make it count!
Ruth

Got my recent Success Magazine and Sam Duncan, CEO of Office Max was interviewed. He shares 10 lessons on leadership. Number 6 is a good reminder:

"You pay for a training program, whether you have one or not. Training harnesses the built-in motivation most people already have to do good work. Investing the time and money for training results in lower turnover and lower shrink."

Make it good. Make it count!

Arlie Russell Hochschild, author and sociologist writes,

"Perhaps we don't want to believe that our staying too busy might be a cushion that protects us from the two things that scare us: silence and ourselves. But what would happen if we stopped and became a little less fearful of what we're feeling?"

Love it!

Saw Roger Ebert say these words to Oprah a few months ago and thought they were poignant.

“I believe that if, at the end of it all, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make ourselves a little happier, that is about the best we can do. To make others less happy is a crime. To make ourselves unhappy is where all crime starts. We must try to contribute joy to the world. That is true no matter what our problems, our health, our circumstances. We must try. I didn't always know this, and I am happy that I lived long enough to find it out."

~Roger Ebert

The Power of Your Thoughts

Was feeling stressed about work the other day and opened my Tolle book to this message:

"The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your thoughts about it.

Be aware of the thoughts you are thinking. Separate them from the situation, which is always neutral, which always is as it is. There is the situation of the fact, and here are my thoughts about it. Instead of making up stories, stay with the facts. For example, "I am ruined" is a story. It limits you and prevents you from taking effective action. "I have fifty cents left in my bank account" is a fact. Facing facts is always empowering. Be aware that what you think, to a large extent, creates the emotions that you feel. See the link between your thinking and your emotions. Rather than being your thoughts and emotions, be the awareness behind them."
Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth

I read this, took a deep breath and went right to sleep. How perfect...

Make it good. Make it count!
Ruth

One Thing

Was sent this recently and felt empowered by it.

One thing better

Don't despair that you can't immediately make EVERYTHING better. You can always make ONE thing better.

Then, you can continue that momentum, making another improvement, and another, and another. You can start right now.

Even one little success is empowering. It points you in a decidedly positive direction.

What if you could see each little nagging problem as the opportunity for improvement that it is? You would realize that there's no shortage of ways to be successful.

You already have everything necessary to start right now and create a continuous stream of value. One positive, effective, meaningful effort will get you going.

Feel how right it feels to make your world better. Delight in making a difference, over and over again.

-- Ralph Marston

Make your one thing GOOD. Make it count.
Ruth

What's the name of the song playing in the background in the intro to the Sir Ken Robinson website?

http://www.sirkenrobinson.com/

Recognize it??

Found out...it's Sia, Breathe Me...
Beautiful.

What You Believe

"You become what you believe - not what you wish or want, but what you truly believe." - Oprah

Make it good. Make it count.
Ruth

Promises, promises

A core value for me is integrity and keeping my word so if I say I'm going to do something, it gets done. This was an interesting week for me. I felt depleted and a couple times I chose to say NO to friends and YES to myself. I like to keep the promises I make to others but I'm not always good about keeping promises I make to myself and that needs to change. If I'm depleted I show up differently. I'm not as present and whoever I'm with is not getting the same QUALITY of interaction so we're both losing out.

Experimenting with saying yes to myself this week was a positive experience. I was reinforced for honouring myself because I felt restored and found that my friends wanted that for me so they understood.

Are you honouring yourself? Are you keeping the promises you make to yourself? A dear friend told me that Robin Sharma asks, "Tell me what is important to you and then show me your calendar." Be deliberate about taking time for yourself - book time in your calendar for the gym, for rest, for reading quietly, for whatever restores you.

Make it good. Make it count.
Catney

There are no words

Here’s what reaching the pinnacle of a lifelong dream can look like. There really are no words.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlHgRl2iHaA

Own today! Make it good. Make it count!

Catney