Learning from the Best
April 19th, 2009 Posted in Leadership, NewsletterWhenever I am hired to speak to a company I always interview several of their leaders before my talk and one of the questions I ask them is “Are there people in your company who are thriving right now, even in this economy?”
The answer is always “YES.” There are always a handful of people who are doing well regardless of the economy and market conditions. Then I point these people out during my talk, with their permission of course, and tell the audience “If they can do it, so can you. These successful people show you that success is possible and they provide a blueprint you can follow.”
I have found there is a formula for success and this formula is predictable, repeatable and a process anyone can follow…especially YOU. You just have to be willing to learn the formula and follow it.
Don’t believe the myths that there is some secret recipe that explains why these people are successful. Don’t think success has to be complicated. It’s not. And don’t’ believe some people were chosen to be more successful than others. The recipe for success is not a secret. The art is in putting the recipe together and that’s what these successful people have learned to do.
That’s why I encourage everyone to seek out these successful people and ask them why and how they are successful. Take them to lunch. Invite them to dinner. Bring them to a baseball game. Buy them a cup of coffee. I have found that most successful people are generous with their time and advice.
Bring a notepad, take notes, ask and listen. Be humble and hungry. Learn, improve and grow and most importantly be willing to apply the formula and take action. If they can do it, you too can thrive in any economy.
Action Steps
- Find a few mentors in your profession who you admire and ask if you can learn from them.
- Find a few mentees in your profession who you can empower and inspire.
- I believe everyone should have mentors and a mentees. Someone you can learn from and someone you can teach. The more we learn, the more we grow; the more we teach the more we learn.
- Register for our free Training Camp tele-seminar where I’ll share the habits and traits of what the best do better than everyone else.
Will you commit to taking action on any of the steps outlined above? Post your comments here.
Stay Positive!
Jon
Read this full newsletter with additional resource links at:
http://www.jongordon.com/newsletter-042009-learningfromthebest.html
Read a Positive Company Case Study:
http://www.jongordon.com/casestudy-bona.html
Tags: bona, company, jon gordon, leader, learning from the best, positive, success, team
6 Responses to “Learning from the Best”
By David Howerton on Apr 20, 2009
Jon, as I’ve shared with you in the past, I read your messages eagerly. I’m preparing for Boy Scout Summer Camp, and it occurs to me how finding mentors and teaching fit in with the “boy lead” philosophy of BSA. So I’ll continue to work on that (developing leaders and empowering them to work with and teach the younger boys). But next comes the thought of how I might implement the “No Complaining Rule” while we’re at camp. It will be hot, we’ll be in tents, it won’t be mom’s cooking, the water will tast “funny”, it will be either dusty or muddy (depending on rain), etc. To me, these are not issues because I love to camp; I love to be in the outdoors. But I’m wondering if you have any age appropriate guidance for implementing the “No Complaining Rule” for boys ages 11 to 14 (those older than that are “seasoned” campers, and will not be complaining).
By Dolly Kennedy on Apr 27, 2009
A friend referred you to me .
I have just finished reading my first email newsletter and I am already eagerly awaiting the next one.
Thank you for sharing your ideas and tips for making every day brighter, not only for us but for so many others we may be able to share with.
You are an inspiration for hope and encouragement, so needed in this time of challenge.
Thank you .
Let Your Light Shine,
Dolly
By San Diego Printing on Apr 28, 2009
Nice post, thanks for sharing and I am really like it. I would like to know more about the “how can we learn the best?”
By Chauffeur Driven Cars on Oct 27, 2009
Excellent Post. Actually, I am new to this blog and like this informative post too much.
Thanks for sharing and keep it up!
Sherry
By Krabi on Mar 5, 2010
Thank you Jon for this cute post. I agreed with you…..”That’s why I encourage everyone to seek out these successful people and ask them why and how they are successful.
Really great idea!