The Arizona Cardinals Matt Leinart learned very quickly how to take a negative situation and turn it into a positive outcome. In 2004, he was the teams first round draft pick, fueled by his winning the Heisman Trophy presented to the outstanding college football athlete. Enter Kurt Warner to the Cardinals line, who was quickly assigned the starting quarterback by Arizona coach Keith Whisenhunt.
This story was just too good not to pass on. I am not a professional football fan, nor a Cardinals fan, but I may just reconsider the later. This is all about personal responsibility, leadership, core values and kindness.
In a supermarket, Kurtis the stock boy, was busily working when a new voice came over the loud speaker asking for a carry out at register 4. Kurtis was almost finished, and wanted to get some fresh air, and decided to answer the call. As he approached the check-out stand a distant smile caught his eye, the new check-out girl was beautiful. She was an older woman (maybe 26, and he was only 22) and he fell in love.
Think about how you will be better and different in 2009. Here is a list for consideration:
1. Take Personal Responsibility for everything
2. Decide to decide and make better choices
3. Learn something new at least weekly
4. Choose to reduce conflict and improve communications
5. Spend wisely and save more. Don’t buy junk you don’t need
6. Celebrate more and create joy
7. Don’t take yourself too seriously.
When I talk to clients and potential people that want me to speak to their group, I amazed that the majority of the time, communications is the number one issue. Of recent, presentation skills comes up most frequently and this means one on one or one on many. From speaking to Generation Y to anyone in your life, getting people to buy into you message by focusing on them and not you.
I am just guessing that the Lakers and the Celtics coaches are both accessing what happened to their half time speeches that night.
I have reinforced many things I already know through the news this week by paying attention to the headlines.
Big Brown was a shoe in to win the Triple Crown. Didn’t happen.
A few months ago Hillary Clinton was a shoe in to win the Democratic convention. Didn’t happen.
Donald Trump expected Casinos to fatten his fortune. Didn’t happen.
Winning takes focus, discipline, flexibility, self-awareness and more to gain the success you want and deserve.
From Big Winners and Big Losers by Alfred A. Marcus
The big winners:
1. Occupied sweet spots – they found their niche. Think about your job. Are you in your sweet spot? If not, why not?
I am tired of people telling me – “I really have tried work with my boss, or my colleague. They just don’t get it.” Actually, what I’ve learned is most people don’t get it. They are never going to have a chance at success unless self-awareness it the center focus of their personal development. Here is an old post but a good one: http://www.how2dealwithdifficultpeople.com/
1. Toxic and difficult people don’t like being around positive people, because they positive people have tools to manage their ugly behavior. Negative people don’t. Remember that a positive attitude won’t solve everything, but it will tick off enough people to make it worth the effort.
I was recently asked by a reader how they could possibly be overlooked as an expert on the job when, in fact, they are the expert and someone else is getting the credit. Here are the facts. If you don’t let people know how good they are, they will never know!
You must blow your own horn without becoming arrogant or a pain in the rear. It is just that simple. In the fast paced word of business today, leaders just don’t have time to seek you out. You must take the lead.
