Successful People

From Keep Your Eye on the Marshmallow by Joachim De Posada:

 

 

Characteristics of successful people:

1. common sense.

2. Specialized knowledge in their field.
...
3. Self-Reliance

4. General intelligence

5. Ability to get things done.

6. Leadership

7. Ethics

8. Creativity

9. Self-Confidence

10. Oral expression

11. Concern for others.

12. Emotional Intelligence.

13. Factor X, also known as LUCK.

(As William Feather says, "The improbable happens just often enough to make life either disturbing or delightful".)

Rate yourself to see how you are doing or even better have others rate you. You might be surprised.

Punctuality

Many years ago I heard a quote that had a profound effect on me--"If you are 10 minutes early, you are 5 minutes late."  Since that time I have made an effort to be on time (even early) for appointments.  Even though I have not always been successful with this goal, I've been amazed at the difference it makes when I am.  Below are some thoughts about the importance of this trait. 

 

Punctuality

By Sterling W. Sill — Excerpts from Leadership

 

This perfectly wonderful habit called punctuality can be a most valuable part of character.  It is a quality that is closely related to dependability and faithfulness and determination.

George Washington once made an appointment to buy a span of horses at three o’clock.  The would be seller showed up at 3:01.  But General Washington was no longer interested in the span of horses nor the man who was not faithful to his word. President Washington had a habit of inviting new members of Congress to dine with him.  Occasionally someone would arrive late and be mortified to find the President eating.  Washing once said, “My cook never asks if the guests have arrived, but only if the hour has arrived.” 

The [univerise itself] has a billion planets whirling through space in different directions and at different speeds, but each one is exactly on time.  If one planet were a half minute late there might be very serious consequences. 

Punctuality is not only important for itself alone, but it is also important for what it is a sign of.  Lack of punctuality shows lack of consideration for others. 

Lord Nelson said, “I have always been a quarter of an hour before my time, and it has made a man of me.” 

Punctuality is the father of many wonderful traits and abilities.  It is one of the greatest of all virtues.  To do our duty when it should be done is one of the cardinal virtues of leadership. 

 

 

 

Great Leaders Grow

I recently read the book Great Leaders Grow by Ken Blanchard.  He used the word grow to demonstrate ways leaders need to grow:

G ain knowledge

• Self-knowledge
• Knowledge of others
• Knowledge of industry
• Knowledge of the field of leadership

R each out to others
O pen your world (at work and outside of work)
W alk toward wisdom

Fixed Principles--One Aspect of Leadership

My good friend, Veronica Flores, shared on Facebook this morning an address given by LDS Pres. Spencer W. Kimball in Sun Valley Idaho on January 15, 1977.  The address was titled "Jesus:  The Perfect Leader."  Although I know not everyone associated with  Esperanza is LDS and may not even be a Christian, I felt that there were still principles in this address that anyone could apply.  Therefore, for the next few days I am going to share notes from this excellent speech. 

Pres. Kimball suggested the following skills and qualities that are important for all of us if we wish to succeed as leaders in a lasting way:

#1  Fixed Principles
Jesus knew who he was and why he was here on the planet which meant that he could lead from strength rather than uncertainty.  He could say to his followers, "Come follow me."  He walked and talked with those he served.

Personal Hall of Fame

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:There comes a point when a man must refuse to answer to his leader if he is also to answer to his own conscience. -Hartley Shawcross, barrister, politician, and prosecutor at the Nuremberg War Crimes tribunal (1902-2003) As I read this thought this morning I was reminded of a BYU Devotional speech “But We Heeded Them Not” given by L. Aldin Porter on February 14, 1995.

Our Esperanza scholars (and educators!) not only need to learn to think critically but also to carefully choose heroes who deserve to be followed and emulated. Elder Porter mentioned that we cannot permit ourselves to be led by foolish and blind guides. Just because someone is talended in the arts or in athletics or in the professionas does not mean they should be permitted a place in our personal hall of fame. Elder Porter gives the following example:

Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof taught a marvelous principle. You'll recall he sang a song entitled "If I Were a Rich Man." He expressed the thought that he would like to be rich so people would come to him for advice. Then Tevye says, "It won't make one bit of difference if I answer right or wrong. When you're rich, they think you really know." It is important to understand that everything said, written, sung, or insinuated by the wealthy or famous is not necessarily so.

We need to help our Esperanza scholars (and educators) critically examine who they admire and what qualities they admire in that person to make sure that only those deserving of their highest respect and emulation receive that honor In other words, we want them to choose carefully whom they will give their hearts and minds to.

"Uneasy Lies the Head That Wears the Crown"

Some great words of William Shakespeare are giving me some food for thought this morning: "Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown." (King Henry IV, Part II, act 3, scene 1, line 31)

Needless to say, I have not been declared a queen with a literal crown but as the leader of Esperanza's founding group I figuratively feel the weight of a leader's crown. President Gordon B. Hinckley mentioned these same Shakespeare's words in a speech he gave at BYU on November 4, 1969 titled The Loneliness of Leadership. There are numerous times "the crown" of leadership has caused me to experience deep loneliness. Therefore, this talk by Pres. Hinckley found at http://speeches.byu.edu/reader/reader.php?id=1131 has given me great solace.

In the Bible Moses was feeling the heavy weight of his leadership responsibilities when his father-in-law gave him some wise advice about delegation. (Exodus 18) Jethro counseled Moses that he would surely wear away and all the people with him unless he learned to delegate because he was unable to do the work alone. As I learn to improve my delegation skills there are also some things others can do to help lift the load:

• Apply the principles from the story A Message to Garcia



• Remember the phrase--"Do more, better, and before expected"-- when asked to do something



• When something is not completed at the requested time, say when it will be done rather than give an excuse

It will take the work of many people to make Esperanza an exceptional school. I, like Moses in Exodus 17:11-12, am so appreciative of the times those around me have stood beside me and held up my hands when they were heavy so that our work can go forward.

Disclaimer: Although I have a made references to the Bible and to an LDS (Latter-Day Saint) prophet in this BLOG posting it is not my intention to mix church and state. I only use these references because they so perfectly represent the points I am wanting to make.