1. GET OUT AND EXPLORE : Extracurricular activities are not a waste of time. The best leaders are interesting people. They pursue passions. They love art. They experience unforgettable travel. And they engage in conversations with fascinating people. This allows them to stay inspired. And hungry. And offers them a steady stream of ideas that actually makes their businesses more successful.
2. LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE WITH THE DIRTIEST HANDS: Want to know what your customers love - and can't stand - about your business? Listen to the people on the front line. The grocery clerk hears exactly what's being said about the products on the shelves. The person answering the phone knows what people are most dissatisfied with. The technician gets exactly what needs to be fixed for the brand to grow. Learn to listen to the people who are closest to your customers.
The data they carry is priceless.
3. YOU ARE PAID NOT ONLY TO WORK. YOU ARE PAID TO BE SCARED: It's easy to do what you do every day until it becomes second nature. But what leadership's truly about is having the courage to out-think + out-perform who you were yesterday. And that's scary. Because you need to consistently do what's uncomfortable. But all growth lies on the outer edges of your comfort zone. Commit to not just doing your work but accepting the challenges that frighten you.
4. HEALTH IS YOUR WEALTH: These were peak-performing CEOs leading 24/7 careers. There was utter silence in the room when I shared this statement: "Health is the crown on the well man's head that only the ill person can see". Why be the richest person in the graveyard? And what's the point of getting to the mountaintop but reaching it sick? Get serious about becoming superfit. Then watch the caliber of your work and the quality of your life fly.
5. FAMILY FIRST: With children, we have a little window of opportunity. And once it closes, it's very hard to open it up again. Having a strong family foundation of deep relationships with those you love makes you a more effective businessperson. And who wants to get to the end of your career and realize you're all alone?
6. BE VALUABLE: Business, to me, is nothing more than a breathtakingly great vehicle to deliver unusual value to as many people as possible. Want to double your sales? Then double the value you bring to your customers. And the whole game of life's about much of the same thing: contribution. Being of value. Making a difference. No one on their deathbed wished they had made more money. Most of us do wish we have had a greater impact. As a seminar participant in Qatar shared with me: "The measure of the greatness of a person is the length their shadow casts on the future."
Why do I share the 6 challenges I offered to the CEO crowd with you? Because you are the CEO of your own career and the Leader of your own life. I encourage - and challenge - you to reflect on these ideas and then to act on them with speed. There's never been a bigger need for leaders in our organizations and within our world. And whether you have a title or not, that need applies to you.
2. LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE WITH THE DIRTIEST HANDS: Want to know what your customers love - and can't stand - about your business? Listen to the people on the front line. The grocery clerk hears exactly what's being said about the products on the shelves. The person answering the phone knows what people are most dissatisfied with. The technician gets exactly what needs to be fixed for the brand to grow. Learn to listen to the people who are closest to your customers.
The data they carry is priceless.
3. YOU ARE PAID NOT ONLY TO WORK. YOU ARE PAID TO BE SCARED: It's easy to do what you do every day until it becomes second nature. But what leadership's truly about is having the courage to out-think + out-perform who you were yesterday. And that's scary. Because you need to consistently do what's uncomfortable. But all growth lies on the outer edges of your comfort zone. Commit to not just doing your work but accepting the challenges that frighten you.
4. HEALTH IS YOUR WEALTH: These were peak-performing CEOs leading 24/7 careers. There was utter silence in the room when I shared this statement: "Health is the crown on the well man's head that only the ill person can see". Why be the richest person in the graveyard? And what's the point of getting to the mountaintop but reaching it sick? Get serious about becoming superfit. Then watch the caliber of your work and the quality of your life fly.
5. FAMILY FIRST: With children, we have a little window of opportunity. And once it closes, it's very hard to open it up again. Having a strong family foundation of deep relationships with those you love makes you a more effective businessperson. And who wants to get to the end of your career and realize you're all alone?
6. BE VALUABLE: Business, to me, is nothing more than a breathtakingly great vehicle to deliver unusual value to as many people as possible. Want to double your sales? Then double the value you bring to your customers. And the whole game of life's about much of the same thing: contribution. Being of value. Making a difference. No one on their deathbed wished they had made more money. Most of us do wish we have had a greater impact. As a seminar participant in Qatar shared with me: "The measure of the greatness of a person is the length their shadow casts on the future."
Why do I share the 6 challenges I offered to the CEO crowd with you? Because you are the CEO of your own career and the Leader of your own life. I encourage - and challenge - you to reflect on these ideas and then to act on them with speed. There's never been a bigger need for leaders in our organizations and within our world. And whether you have a title or not, that need applies to you.
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