Jon Gordon’s Blog | Developing Positive Leaders, Organizations and Teams

Feed the Positive Dog

Are you dealing with stress at work? Is fear knocking you off balance? Are financial worries causing you to lose sleep?

The answer is to feed the positive dog.

If you read The Energy Bus you know I share a simple story about a man who travels to the village to speak to the wise man. He says to the wise man, “I feel like there are two dogs inside me. One dog is positive, loving, kind and optimistic and then I have this fearful, pessimistic, angry and negative dog and they fight all the time. I don’t know who is going to win.” The wise man thinks for a moment and responds, “I know who is going to win. The one you feed the most. So feed the positive dog.”

The fact is we all have a positive and negative dog inside of us. It’s part of our human nature. The key is to feed the positive dog and starve the negative dog. The more we feed the positive dog the bigger it gets and the stronger it becomes. The actions are simple. We just need to make them a habit and do them every day. Here are a few ways to feed the positive dog.

• Practice Gratitude - You can’t be stressed and thankful at the same time. Gratitude is like muscle the more you do it the stronger it gets. Take 10 minutes each day and make a list of what you are thankful for. You will fill your body and brain with costless and priceless anti-depressants.

• Take a Walk of Gratitude - I do this each morning and it feeds me all day long.

• Turn off the News - Starve the negative dog.

• Smile More - It enhances your serotonin levels and uplifts you.

• Focus on Get to vs Have to - Read the article here.

• Read Uplifting Books - I happen to know of a few good ones

• Get together with a positive, uplifting person.

• Call or visit someone who has made a difference in your life and thank them. (research shows this is a huge happiness booster)

• Write a Few Thank You Notes Today - When you thank others you feed them and yourself.

• Watch a funny movie that makes you belly laugh.

• Mentor someone and be mentored by someone.

• Focus on God instead of Gold - For more read, Matthew 6:33

• Start a Success Journal - Write down the one great thing about your day. The more you look for success, the more you will find it.

• Decide to Make a Difference - When you help other people with their problems you forget about your own.

I Challenge You:

I challenge you to pick 1, 2 or 3 strategies identified above and make them a daily habit. Do them for 10 minutes a day, every day for 30 days. Don’t wait. Start them today. Don’t just read this newsletter, say “that’s nice” and put it away. Identify what you will do, when you will do it and commit to it. Your positive energy and natural anti-depressants are more powerful than the negativity you face.

Accept this challenge and declare the actions you will take on our blog here.

Stay Positive!

Jon

Video: Staying Positive Through Change

Watch this video Jon did for Volvo as he talks about staying positive through change.

You can also watch directly on Youtube or Vimeo. Learn more about The Shark and The Goldfish here.

How do you stay positive during change?

How to Stay Positive…when the boss isn’t

I speak to a lot of organizations on the importance of positive leadership and the benefits of building a positive culture that fuels performance. Yet, the most common question I receive after my talk is: “Jon, this makes so much sense but my boss isn’t that kind of leader/manager. So how do I stay positive when my boss isn’t?” It’s a question I know well. I remember when I worked in business development during the dot.com boom and bust. I had a very negative boss and one day I made a few decisions that changed everything. The Energy Bus wasn’t even a thought in my mind yet, but looking back I was already putting the principles into action.

Here are few suggestions that I hope will help you, your team and maybe even your boss.

1. Make Your Bus Great - You may not be the leader of your organization. You may not be driving the “big bus.” But you can decide to make your bus great. Every day just focus on being the best you can be and bring out the best in others, tuning out everything else. Tune out the negativity. Tune out the comments. Tune out anything you can’t control. You can’t drive anyone else’s bus. Just drive your bus and make it a great ride.

2. Your Positive Energy Must be Greater than All of the Negativity - In the book Power vs Force, author David Hawkins, MD shares research that 80 percent of the population vibrates to a negative frequency. The fact is negativity is all around us. It’s not just your boss . It’s everywhere. You must remember that your positive energy must be greater than all the negativity. As country wisdom suggests, “Never wrestle with a pig because you’ll both get dirty and the pig likes it.” Instead stay above the fray. Positive energy is much more powerful than negative energy. If you stay positive, the negativity can’t touch you.

3. Live it, Breathe it, Share it - Walt Whitman said we convince by our presence. If you truly focus on being positive and sharing it in an authentic and sincere way then you will do a lot of convincing. Your boss will sense something different in you and they will change the way they behave towards you. They may even ask what’s changed in your life.

4. Invite Your Boss on Your Bus - Give your boss The Energy Bus or another book on positive leadership. I’ve received countless emails from leaders who received The Energy Bus from their employees and it changed the way they lead. Best of all, the leader then invited the rest of the company on the bus. So don’t think you can’t change your situation or organization. You can. I’m convinced that very few people want to be negative. Most people are negative because of stress, busyness, and fear. Most people just need a wake-up call to break out of their rut. Decide to be a beacon of light that shines on others. You’ll be amazed at what happens.

5. If Your Boss Doesn’t Change, You Can - If all else fails then you have a choice. You can decide to stay positive and outlast your boss knowing that truth shines through and eventually a negative boss won’t last - ultimately their team will fall apart, results will suffer and they will be asked off the bus. Or you can decide to change your job. A lot of people do this and that’s why the best cultures that focus on positive leadership attract the best employees. Whatever you do, however, don’t allow a negative boss or colleague to get you down. With 80% of the population being negative, we need positive powerful people like you to offset the negativity.

Have you successfully dealt with a negative boss? What did you do? Have you helped your boss become more positive? What did you do? Share your thoughts here.

-Jon

Read the full newsletter with this article here.

5 Things to Do Instead of Complain

I’ve been speaking to a lot of organizations around the country and the one thing I keep hearing from leaders and employees is that complaining is at an all time high. I’m not surprised. There are two main reasons why we complain. 1. We complain because we feel powerless. 2. We complain because it’s a habit. The economy has shaken a lot of people’s foundations and we feel powerless which leads to a rise in habitual complaining.

So this week I want to encourage you to go on a complaining fast. Not because it will make everyone around you happier, although it will, but because it will help you experience more joy, peace, success and positive relationships. Believe me; I know a lot about complaining. I use to be a professional complainer and found that it not only sabotages your happiness and success but the morale of your team and family.

To help you break out of a “complaining” rut here are five things you can do instead of complain. These tips will help you realize you are not powerless. You have the power to choose your beliefs and actions. And in your focus on the positive instead of the negative you’ll find the faith, strength and confidence to take on life’s challenges and identify the solutions to your complaints.

1. Practice Gratitude. Research shows that when we count three blessings a day, we get a measurable boost in happiness that uplifts and energizes us. It’s also physiologically impossible to be stressed and thankful at the same time. Two thoughts cannot occupy our mind at the same time. If you are focusing on gratitude, you can’t be negative. You can also energize and engage your coworkers by letting them know you are grateful for them and their work.

2. Praise Others. Instead of complaining about what others are doing wrong, start focusing on what they are doing right. Praise them and watch as they create more success as a result. Of course, point out their mistakes so they can learn and grow, but make sure you give three times as much praise as criticism.

3. Focus on Success. Start a success journal. Each night before you go to bed, write down the one great thing about your day. The one great conversation, accomplishment, or win that you are most proud of. Focus on your success, and you’ll look forward to creating more success tomorrow.

4. Let Go. Focus on the things that you have the power to change, and let go of the things that are beyond your control. You’ll be amazed that when you stop trying to control everything, it all somehow works out. Surrender is the answer.

5. Pray. Scientific research shows that daily prayer reduces stress; boosts positive energy; and promotes health, vitality, and longevity. When you are faced with the urge to complain or you are feeling stressed to the max, stop, be still, plug-in to the ultimate power, and recharge.

What do you do when you find yourself complaining too much?

-Jon

Read The No Complaining Rule. www.NoComplainingRule.com

Read the full newsletter here.

11 Benefits of Being Positive

Over the years I’ve done a lot of research on the positive effects of being positive and the negative affects of being negative. The research is clear. It really does pay to be positive and the benefits include enhanced health and longevity, happiness, career advancement, athletic performance, team building and financial success. Being positive is not just a nice way to live. It’s the way to live. In this spirit here are 11 benefits of being positive.

1. Positive People Live Longer - In a study of nuns, those that regularly expressed positive emotions lived on average 10 years longer. (The Nun Study)

2. Positive work environments outperform negative work environments. (Daniel Goleman)

3. Positive, optimistic sales people sell more than pessimistic sales people. (Martin Seligman)

4. Positive leaders are able to make better decisions under pressure. (Heartmath.org)

5. Marriages are much more likely to succeed when the couple experiences a 5 to 1 ratio of positive to negative interactions whereas when the ratio approaches 1 to 1, marriages are more likely to end in divorce. (John Gottman)

6. Positive people who regularly express positive emotions are more resilient when facing stress, challenges and adversity. (Several Studies)

7. Positive people are able to maintain a broader perspective and see the big picture which helps them identify solutions where as negative people maintain a narrower perspective and tend to focus on problems. (Barbara Fredrickson)

8. Positive thoughts and emotions counter the negative effects of stress. For example, you can’t be thankful and stressed at the same time. (Several Studies)

9. Positive emotions such as gratitude and appreciation help athletes perform at a higher level. (Heartmath.org)

10. Positive people have more friends which is a key factor of happiness and longevity. (Robert D. Putnam)

11. Positive and popular leaders are more likely to garner the support of others and receive pay raises and promotions and achieve greater success in the workplace. (Several Studies)

How has staying positive helped you and your team/family? Share your thoughts on our blog.

Download a PDF Poster of these 11 Benefits of Being Positive. Download, print and share.

Stay Positive,

-Jon

Tags: Newsletter, positive tip

“The Energy Bus” Case Study – E. D. White Catholic HS Football

(A letter from Kyle Lasseinge, Head Coach)

After receiving an email from the University of Texas about how the football program used “The Energy Bus” as a motivating tool, I ordered the book and read it during summer vacation 2009 while in Gulf Shores, AL. As a high school head football coach, I believe I was intrigued at how professional football teams and college teams had used this concept to move their programs forward and decided to implement it with my team. While my teams at E. D. White Catholic HS in Thibodaux, LA had moderate success, I never really thought we were reaching full potential. In my career as a head coach, our team record was as follows:

2004 5 wins and 5 losses (did not make playoffs)
2005 6 wins and 4 losses (lost in Rd. 1 of playoffs)
2006 7 wins and 5 losses (won Rd. 1 playoff game)
2007 8 wins and 5 losses (won 2 playoff games)
2008 4 wins and 6 losses (lost in Rd. 1 of playoffs)
2009 12 wins and 2 losses (won three playoff games: lost in semifinals)

Our program at E. D. White Catholic is made up of some tough, hard-nosed football players. We are not filled with Division I college signees. In fact, in my career at E. D. White Catholic, we have had 1 DI signee (Chase Clement, LSU). We do, however, work extremely hard at becoming stronger, more athletic players evidenced by our work throughout the off-season and in the summer. We usually have a comparatively strong group of athletes. And, our kids are generally fairly knowledgeable about the game and relatively smart. We do not recruit kids, but rather, take what walks through the door and do the best with them. My disappointment with our moderate success was drawn from other schools in our 3A classification who were in a similar situation but perennial playoff qualifiers and success stories. Why couldn’t we be like that? I thought it was all about ATTITUDE! We had never seen ourselves as successes and didn’t believe we could win the close game or the big game. We lacked some confidence in that area and it was my goal to get that attitude for the sake of our program. In turn, our kids responded in close, big games with unprecedented success.

I began the first coaches meeting of 2009 with my discussion of the energy bus concept and how we were going to implement it with our team. As expected, even the presentation of this topic to our coaches led to some snickers and laughter. So, I began even with our coaches that they were either with us on this bus ride or they could leave immediately. None of them did but the tone and expectations of our coaches were set. I expected them to coach with positive energy every day. I relayed my expectation to them: Coach with PASSION and POSITIVITY! I also relayed the idea that we all were on some days going to “fall off the bus” but someone else would be expected to get them back on the right track. I cannot count the number of times I or a coach said, “Man, I’m not on the bus today. Help!” And that help would come via a kind word, a positive action, or pat of the back. In fact, many times one of our athletes would get the coaches “back on the bus” by something he did or said.

For our entire team and coaches, “Get back on the bus” was a rallying cry to get each individual ready to practice or play. When first introduced to our team on July 29, 2009, I emphasized:

We are about to board a bus. It’s a bus filled with positivity and passion. We have the power to take this bus anywhere we want it to go. I believe that it is going to New Orleans and the Superdome for the 3A state Championships. If our bus is not directed there, then we are doing the wrong thing here. We are wasting our time if we don’t think that our bus is going that way. To be on our bus, you are expected to push yourself beyond your limits, be a positive teammate, and help get your teammates back on the bus when they fall off of it. If you don’t think you can fulfill the expectations of our bus, you need to leave. I am the driver of this bus and will not allow any member of this team to bring any part of us down. If you cannot stay on the bus, I will ask you to leave. We are going to do this as a team and no one of us is bigger than the team. If you make me choose between you or the team, the team will win out every time.

After this speech on the first day, we explained that not everyone would be positive everyday but some of us would be. It was our biggest job as teammates and coaches to “get people back on the bus” when they were off of it. We all knew that a bad test grade or breakup with a girlfriend would never be a positive thing but once each of us stepped onto the practice or game field, we were expected to become POSITIVE and PASSIONATE about the game of football. And there was never a day when someone this failed to happen. As we stretched before practice, shouts of “Get on the bus” could be heard. As we went through pre-game warm-ups, “Get on the bus” was a common phrase spoken. And after each game, the direction of the bus was always mentioned as we continued to roll toward the Superdome. After week 7 and a victory over district favorite Patterson HS, I was named the Saints Coach of the Week and camera crews came to interview some of our kids. Without prompting, our kids mentioned “getting on the bus” as one of the keys to the season. It was at that moment that I realized they understood what this was all about. They had grown into the closest-knit group of kids I had ever coached. And it continues today as kids routinely stop their work in the weight room to cheer on another who is attempting a personal best. It’s been amazing. The result:

2009 12 wins and 2 losses (won three playoff games: lost in semifinals)

Words of this bus trip were never spoken to our parents or fans. However, word of the “bus trip” quickly spread throughout the community. Signs were posted all over town saying “POSITIVE AND PASSIONATE” or “GET ON THE BUS” or “KEEP THE BUS ROLLING.” In fact, some of the signs remain in my front yard today and in our locker room. For me, the “bus trip” concept was never more beneficial than what it meant to the parents of our athletes. Emails, letters, and personal thanks for the message and the results, of course, were more abundant than ever. It was a uniting theme for all and will always be part of our program.

I personally am asked about the book almost daily. I know people that have ordered multiple copies and give them away as they see fit. I recently began to do the same. It has been a blessing.

Finally, I’d leave you with part of my speech from the 2009-10 Awards Banquet at E. D. White Catholic:

For most of the passengers of the bus, the ride ended a little too early. In fact, it ended a week early. However, for the driver, it was never about where the bus was going, it was all about the ride. Thanks to all of you for a wonderful and memorable ride this season.

And thanks to you, Jon. God Bless!

Tags: Case Study

Whatever You Want

A few years ago I ate lunch at Aqua Grill, a restaurant near my house. While there I met the owner, Cary Hart, and told him I had food allergies. I asked him if he could customize a dish for me without eggs since I’m allergic to them. He said, “Whatever you want Jon. Whatever you want.” I told him I loved hearing that and he said, “That’s my philosophy. I just walk around the restaurant telling customers, Whatever you want. Whatever you want. Whatever you want. You don’t want to pay. That’s fine. Whatever you want.”

We had a good laugh but Cary’s customer service was no laughing matter. I go there all the time and have bought hundreds of meals because I know when I go there I’ll get what I want. It’s no wonder that Aqua Grill has been open for 20 years while every week it seems another restaurant in my area has opened and closed.

I found the same service at Pappasito’s in the Houston airport while coming home from speaking at the Texas Children’s Hospital. I was starving but not too hungry to walk to the other side of the airport to go to Pappasito’s. Javier is the manager there and when I asked him if I could get the Fish Tacos grilled instead of battered with egg he said, “It will take a little longer but if you have the time I’d be glad to do it.” Code words for “Whatever you want.” Javier and Pappasito’s believe in satisfying their customers and that’s why I eat there every time I’m in the Houston airport, which is often.

Success is simple. Give customers what they want and they’ll come back. You don’t have to give away the house. In fact Aqua Grill and Pappasito’s cost a little more than their nearby competition but they are busier and more successful.

Great service and getting things “your way” is something a lot of people, including me, will pay for in any economy. If you provide great service and make it the goal of everyone in your organization to satisfy your customers they will keep coming back and invite their friends and colleagues (who knows, they may even write newsletters about you that reach a lot of people).

Your job is to serve your customers and give them what they want. If you don’t, someone else will.

Do you have a great customer service story? Share it on our blog by clicking here.

-Jon

How can we better serve you? Click Here to share your thoughts about our weekly newsletters and what we can do to serve you more!

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Help for Haiti

Thank you to everyone who purchased an Energy Bus Action Plan over the last two weeks. With a 100% of proceeds going to Haiti relief, we sold 278 plans for a total of $2,780. We are going to round up to $3,000 and donate a $1,000 each to the following charities:

$1,000 to the Red Cross in Haiti.

$1,000 to Starfish Haiti.

$1,000 to Compassion International.

Thank you for making a difference in Haiti. We appreciate you and hope you benefit from the action plan.

Build a Winning Team

In the spirit of the New Orleans Saints winning their first Super Bowl I thought this was an appropriate newsletter this week.

I often say that, “You win in the locker room first. Then you win on the field.”

Whether we’re talking sports, business, education, healthcare, etc. the key to success is to build a winning team first. Of course this seems obvious but with increasing pressure to reach certain targets and goals and a challenging economy it’s easy for leaders and their teams to become outward focused on numbers and outcomes rather than inward focused on building the right environment, culture, attitude and synergy.

We must remember that it’s not the numbers that drive the people but the people and team that drive the numbers. The power comes from the inside and then it extends outward. Just as physical trainers will tell you that to build a strong body you must build your core, to build a strong organization you must build your core foundation-consisting of your people and team. Without a strong core you’ll have weak energy, weak performance and weak results.

The Saints were able to perform at a high level and as Drew Brees said, “We came together as a team and we believed in each other.” Without this belief, synergy and unity do you think it would have been possible for them to win the Super Bowl?

The same goes for the game of business and life.

Now more than ever it’s time to energize your people, communicate with them, invite them “on the bus” and move them in the right direction with a shared vision, focus and purpose. Negativity and fear are knocking your people off balance. It’s time to regroup, refocus, reenergize and create a strong core. With a solid foundation and a winning team you create strength on the inside that can withstand the negativity, naysayers and adversity on the outside.

I’ve spoken to a number of professional and college sports teams and am honored that many teams have read my books. Yet I have learned a valuable lesson. Books and speeches don’t win championships. Culture, players and coaches do. It’s their beliefs, actions, talent and teamwork that make the difference.

So, what action are you going to take this week to build a winning team at work, home, school, or on the sports field? Share your thoughts on our blog here.

-Jon

Read the full newsletter with links and resources here.

6 Lessons for Life

I woke up Saturday morning in Newport News, Virginia, looked out the hotel window and all I could see was snow. I called the airport and heard the news no traveler wants to hear. The airport was shut down. I was set to speak to Lia Sophia Jewelry that morning at the hotel where I was staying and that night I was scheduled to be at an event in New York City. I knew one thing in that moment. If I was going to get to NY I wouldn’t be flying there. And most likely I would be stranded for a few days in Virginia. I decided to make the best of it and focus on inspiring, serving and impacting those in the audience.

As fate would have it, the President of Lia Sophia, Tory Kiam, was attending my talk and was also heading to NY. When I walked off stage I was told he arranged for a taxi to take us to Washington DC where we would take a train to NY. Sounded like a great plan, Except for the fact that to get to the train station we would have to travel 182 miles through a snow storm on icy, snow covered roads and avoid getting stuck or into an accident along the way. It was an experience I will never forget!

Here are 6 Lessons I learned along the way. I hope they will help you on your journey through life.

1. The Right Driver Means Everything - Samud, the taxi driver, was amazing. He avoided ten accidents, handled ice patches with the driving skill of NASCAR’s Jimmy Johnson, and stayed calm the entire time. Leadership is everything and the right leader is the difference between cruising past or crashing into the obstacles before us. Samud never doubted that we would get through the storm to reach our destination and his skill and confidence made it possible.

2. Every Driver Needs a Great Team - There were times when Samud couldn’t see and Tory and I would guide him by looking out the sides of the van. We were his co-pilots and advised him when to slow down, when to avoid other cars, and when to speed up the windshield wipers which were accumulating ice. We couldn’t have reached our destination without Samud and he couldn’t have done it without us. Teamwork made all the difference.

3. Tap into the Ultimate GPS - When you are driving on sheet of snow and ice you come face to face with the reality that no matter how confident and talented you are there is a lot you can’t control. So you bet I prayed a lot and tapped into the ultimate GPS, God’s Positioning System, and asked God to guide us safely on our journey.

4. Drive with Optimism - Tory kept laughing at me because every hour I would say the roads would get better the closer we got to DC. The first few hours the roads got worse. But sure enough as we approached DC the roads were plowed and smooth. I didn’t know if the roads really would be better but I hoped they would be better. And that hope kept our spirits up when it seemed like we would never make it. Faith in a positive future keeps you moving in the right direction and helps you reach your destination.

5. It Could be Worse - Along the way instead of focusing on our predicament I kept thinking about the people in Haiti. Our situation was a walk in the park compared to what they are going through. Keeping things in perspective helps you stay positive through your challenges and keeps you humble and grateful.

6. Showing up Matters - I arrived at the event in NY with an hour left. It was a fundraiser for the George Boiardi Foundation. George died in 2004 when a ball hit him in the chest during a lacrosse game at Cornell University. George was known for his character, persistence, heart, work ethic and his plans to join Teach America after graduation. George’s life was cut short but his dream lives on through his foundation. When I arrived I met his mom. We hugged and she thanked me for making the effort to be there. I couldn’t help but think that if George was in my shoes he would do the same. He showed up on and off the field every day of his short life and his legacy lives on through so many people impacted by his example. So, no matter how long the journey I want to encourage you to “show up.” Whatever it takes, show up. Whether it’s by plane, train or automobile, or all three, show up.

-Jon

Share your thoughts on these 6 Lessons and join the discussion with others on our blog, click here.

Tags: 6 lessons for life, God, GPS, grateful, humble, jon gordon, optimism, team, Teamwork