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

Keep Your Vision Alive

“90% of the game is half mental.” -Yogi Berra

Here’s a question I bet you’ve never been asked before. At what mile do most people quit a marathon? If you are like me you would probably say the 26th mile. After all that’s when runners should be the most physically drained and exhausted. But like most things in life, there’s more to the story. Besides the first mile, the 26th is when the least amount of people quit. While there could be a hundred explanations as to why this is, I believe one reason stands in front of all the others. This reason is Vision and the power of the mind.

Most runners don’t quit during the 26th mile because they have a vision of where they are going. They see the end in sight so they keep striving for it. Sure they are physically exhausted but their vision fuels them and tells them to keep going to reach their destination.

Most runners quit a marathon at the 20th mile because this is when they lose sight of their vision. This is when they are both physically exhausted and mentally drained. This is when runners feel they have come so far and yet still have so far to go. This is when their goal fades away and their mental power dissipates. Where there is no vision the people perish.

This underscores and important principle that is a key to success, health and happiness. We must keep our vision alive. We must stay mentally and emotionally strong and spiritually fit.

After all, there will be days when our bodies say no and we need our mind to say yes. There will be times when it seems that everything in life conspires to sabotage our goals and dreams. And there will be weeks or even months when we feel like we are hitting the 20th mile. The answer is to maintain your vision and focus on it. Keep your vision alive and it will keep you alive. Don’t give up. Keep striving towards the vision planted in your mind and heart.

Here’s a simple 3 step process to keep your vision alive.

1. Write down your Vision for your life and career.

2. Know your WHY. Why is this vision significant to you? What do you hope for? What is the bigger reason for your vision? Your why is your purpose and you must know it because vision without purpose is like trying to drive to New York without the gas to get you there. Purpose fuels your vision and it fuels you. Write down your WHY.

3. Read your vision and your “why” statements each morning. Remember if you keep your vision alive it will keep you alive.

How will you keep your vision alive? Post your comments here.

Stay Positive!
Jon

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Tags: business, jon gordon, keep your vision alive, Leadership, success, tip, vision, vision casting

Learning from the Best

Whenever 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

Thank You Thursdays

Did you know that one of the simplest, most powerful strategies for enhanced leadership, sales and customer service is to thank your co-workers and customers?

It’s as simple as “Thank You.”

We just have to make time to say it-write it-and mean it.

Doug Conant, the CEO of Campbell’s Soup for example, has written 16,000 thank you notes to employees since 2001 and re-energized the company in the process.

The key is to do it and do it often. Otherwise it won’t become a habit and if it’s not a habit it won’t produce results.

Consider PPR, a company recently voted as one of the best places to work in the United States by SHRM. They implemented Thank You Thursdays: a process where every Thursday each employee writes at least three thank you notes to their clients. PPR recognized the importance of saying “Thank You” and they created a system to make it happen. I love this idea because they know the system drives the habit and the habit creates results.

But what if I don’t work for a company that has Thank You Thursdays you might ask? Then simply create your own system or find one that works for you. Thank you Friday’s perhaps. If you don’t like writing thank you notes then make it a point to call your customers and colleagues and thank them over the phone. Or thank people when you meet them in person. Thank your employees for striving to help the team succeed. Thank them when you see them doing something right. Thank your co-workers for helping you on a project. Thank your customers for the opportunity to serve them. And thank your bosses for providing you with an opportunity to make a living and a difference.

Expressing gratitude, like anything, is a skill and the more we do it the better we get.

And please know that even as I write this my personal goal is to express gratitude more frequently to more people in more ways. I hope you’ll join me and if you have implemented creative ways to say thank you in your company or career please share it on my blog and join the conversation.

Thank you for being you!

Stay Positive!
Jon

Live Tele-seminar Event
You’re invited to be a part of Training Camp! Join us on Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at 12:00pm EST for a special LIVE, world-wide tele-seminar event. Click here to register.

Training Camp Book Launch Party
Join Jon Gordon and special guests for a book launch party on May 29, 2009 for Training Camp: What the Best Do Better Than Everyone Else! Details and RSVP here.

www.JonGordon.com

Tags: business, jon gordon, positive, success, teleseminar, thank you, thursdays, tip, training camp

Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success

From time to time we will post reviews and reccomendations for select books and authors via my blog. Below is a newly released book by Dan Schawbel that you may enjoy. - Jon

Title: Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success (Kaplan Publishing)
Release date: April 7, 2009
Website: http://personalbrandingbook.com
Amazon: Order the book on Amazon here

In a world of changing business practices and uncertain futures, Me 2.0 offers practical and proven advice about personal branding from an authority on the matter. In the first book about personal branding written for the millennial generation by a millennial, Dan Schawbel bridges the gap between the current business climate and the progressive best practices of the future. Covering a variety of topics all crafted to improve one’s success in the job market, Schawbel proves that just being in the game is not enough, and that one’s success lies in being ahead of the game.

Some highlights from the book include:

• A proven 4-step process for building a powerful brand (discover, create, communicate, maintain).
  Tips on using social media tools for personal empowerment, confidence building, and professional networking in order to attract jobs directly to you, without applying!
• Tested advice on how to create an online and offline presence for career protection and self-promotion.
• Over 40 expert quotes from leaders including Don Tapscott, Guy Kawasaki, Penelope Trunk, and David Kirkpatrick of Fortune Magazine, among others.
• More than 70 research reports, three personal case studies and examples to give you a broader perspective on the topic.

Bottom line: This is the handbook for surviving and thriving in the digital age.

Reviews:
“The Business world is changing and what Dan Schawbel has captured in this book is the pulse of the changing branding market.”
- Gary Vaynerchuk, host and founder of Wine Library TV

“Dan Schawbel’s thorough and systematic approach will prove useful to anyone engaged in a job search, or more accurately looking to find the right career.”
- Dipak C. Jain, Dean, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University

Tags: book, build a powerful brand, dan schawbel, me 2.0, review

9 Ways to Beat Negativity

This is an article I wrote for April’s issue of Realtor Magazine. However as you’ll see, these tips apply to any profession. You can also find the article online here.

1. Tell yourself a positive story. Life is a story. The story we tell ourselves and the role we play in that story determines the quality and direction of our life. The best real estate professionals are able to overcome adversity by telling themselves a more positive story than the rest. Instead of a drama or a horror movie, they define their life as an inspirational tale. Instead of being the victim, they see themselves as a fighter and overcomer. You may not be able to control market conditions, but you can influence the outcome of your story.

2. Model yourself after success. Are there real estate practitioners succeeding today? Of course there are. Seek out those people in your market and ask to meet with them. Learn from their advice and model their attitudes and actions. If they can succeed, so can you.

3. Focus on the important stuff. Tune out the negative voices and start making positive choices. What are you doing on a daily basis to grow yourself, your team, and your business? Don’t focus on the negative things other salespeople and the media are saying. Instead, focus on marketing your business, taking care of clients, and building loyal relationships. Every morning ask yourself this question: “What are the three most important things I need to do today that will help me create the success I desire?” Then take action on those items.

4. Replace “have to” with “get to.” This simple word swap can change your mind-set and your approach to work and life. It turns a complaining voice to an appreciative voice, and acknowledges that life is a gift—not an obligation. So often we grudgingly say things like “I have to go to this meeting,” “I have to meet with this client,” or “I have to sell houses in this market.” In reality, it’s not about what we have to do. It’s about what we get to do. Research shows that when we practice gratitude, we get a measurable boost in happiness that energizes us and enhances our health. It’s also physiologically impossible to be stressed and thankful at the same time.

5. Refuse to participate in the recession. Professionals who’ve thrived during past recessions continued to go about business as usual regardless of market conditions. They worked hard and focused on taking actions to grow their business. As others are paralyzed by fear, take the opportunity to charge forward.

6. Boost your marketing and advertising. It may seem counterintuitive to spend more money on advertising and marketing right now. But with so many of your competitors cutting back in these areas, this is a great opportunity to build your brand and gain market share. People are still buying and selling, and they will buy from those whom they trust and see in the marketplace.

7. Create a positive vision. Instead of being disappointed about where you are, make the decision to be optimistic about where you are going. Create a positive vision for your future and the future of your team. Vision helps you see the road ahead and it gives you something meaningful and valuable to strive towards.

8. Invite others on your bus. Invite colleagues and customers to board your bus for a positive ride. Send them an e-bus ticket at www.TheEnergyBus.com. Share your vision with team members and ask them to join you in making this vision a reality. Be a positive influence.

9. No more complaining. Abide by the “no complaining” rule. When you realize you’re about to complain, replace your thoughts and words with positive actions. Let your complaints help you identify what you don’t want so that you can focus on what you do want. The key is to turn complaints into solutions.

What are some ways you will beat negativty? Share your comments on our blog here.

Stay Positive!
Jon

You’re invited to be a part of Training Camp! Join us on Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at 12:00pm EST for a special LIVE, world-wide tele-seminar event. Click here to register.

Tags: 9 ways to beat negativity, business, happiness, jon gordon, Life, marketing, negative, positive, success

To Be Your Best

If you are concerned about the future and anxious about your situation I know how you feel. I lost my job in 2001 during the dot.com bust. The company was losing money faster than we could raise it and eventually the company crumbled. I was given only two weeks’ severance and this left me on the verge of bankruptcy. I had my wife, two young children, a mortgage, no health insurance and only two months of savings. I was a paycheck away from losing it all. I remember telling my wife that if things get any worse I may have to run east and jump into the ocean. It was that bad. But then I asked a question that changed everything. While I didn’t know it at the time, I’ve learned that the question I asked is a question that anyone who wants to be their best must ask themselves. It is this:

What do I truly want?

Having studied and interviewed the best of the best for my upcoming book Training Camp I found that they all had a moment where they decided what they truly wanted. The best all had a moment where they decided… This is what I want to strive for and I will pay the price to make it happen.

Knowing what you truly want is so important because there will be times when it seems that everything in life conspires to sabotage your goals and dreams. There will be weeks or even months when you feel like you are hitting a dead end. If you don’t know what you want then you won’t keep working towards it. But if you know what you truly want, you will be willing to pay the price to make it happen and keep striving towards the vision planted in your mind and heart.

If things are good for you right now, use this time to become really clear about what you want. What do you want for your life? What do you want for your family? What do you want for your business?

If things are not so good for you right now then there is no better time to press the pause button of life and think about how you want your future to be better than your past. There is a myth that says that most people embark on a quest to find their destiny. Rather, more often than not, through adversity and challenges our destiny finds us. It is during these times where we ask the most important questions and gain clarity of vision, mission and purpose.

It was during an economic crisis and the most challenging time in my life when I had nowhere to look but inside and above, when I asked… Why am I so miserable? What do I truly want? Why am I here? What was I born to do?

I encourage you to do the same. These challenging times require you to be your best. And to be your best you must decide what you truly want. Once you decide what you want, you are ready to take on the Training Camp of life and all the struggles and triumphs it has to offer.

In this spirit I’d like to invite you to register for a free Training Camp tele-seminar where I’ll share additional strategies to bring out the best in yourself and your team. Click here to register.

Stay Positive!
Jon

Share your thoughts on this newsletter here.

Tags: anxious, be your best, future, jon gordon, tele-seminar, training camp, uncertain

Feed the Positive Dog

CNN reported the other night that one-third of all Americans are losing sleep over the economy, 8 out of 10 people are stressed out, and an increasing number of people are turning to popping pills to deal with the stress and lack of sleep. While these pills may work in the short term, there is a better way. It’s the secret weapon against stress, it doesn’t cost a dime and it is only a thought away.

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/Prayer - 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.

• 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.

• Practice the 5 Things To Do Instead of Complain. Download here. (PDF)
• 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 and effective than any pill. After 30 days, email me your results at info@jongordon.com. I read every email that comes to us. I look forward to hearing from you.

Accept this challenge and declare the actions you will take by sharing here.

Stay Positive!
Jon

Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn!

Tags: business, happiness, jon gordon, linkedin, positive dog, success, twitter

Turning a Negative into a Positive

If you read The No Complaining Rule you know it’s a fable about a woman named Hope who has a lot to complain about in her life. Her company is struggling, she’s having problems at home and she has to go to the hospital to get some tests done. It is at the hospital where she meets a nurse who teaches her The No Complaining Rule. Hope learns that every complaint represents an opportunity to turn something negative into a positive. She learns to use complaints as a catalyst to identify problems and create innovative solutions. And she discovers a powerful way to better lead her company, her family and her own life.

I read an article this week about a real life version of The No Complaining Rule in action.

Turns out Boston’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, was getting close to laying off a lot of employees. Projected revenue was far below projected costs. The CEO Paul Levy confronted the problem at an “all employee” meeting saying he didn’t want to have to layoff anyone. He asked the hospital employees for help. He asked them for ideas and solutions.

According to the article in The Boston Globe, “The consensus was that the workers don’t want anyone to get laid off and are willing to give up pay and benefits to make sure no one does. A nurse said her floor voted unanimously to forgo a 3 percent raise. A guy in finance who got laid off from his last job at a hospital in Rhode Island suggested working one less day a week. Another nurse said she was willing to give up some vacation and sick time. A respiratory therapist suggested eliminating bonuses.” The CEO said he was getting about a hundred messages per hour with ideas. You can read the article here.

This situation is a great example of what we accomplish when positive leaders bring their employees and teams together and empower them to focus on solutions instead of problems. By implementing The No Complaining Rule we can turn complaints and problems into positive action and solutions. We can transform our biggest challenges into our greatest successes. We can transform a negative culture into a positive culture. We can turn what seems “negative” into a “positive.”

I encourage you to read The No Complaining Rule with your teams and families, have a meeting, identify your complaints and problems and then let this move you to create solutions. There is a an action plan in the back of the book that will guide you through the process.

Stay Positive!
Jon

How do you and your team turn a negative into a positive? Share your comments here.

Twitter: You can now also connect with Jon via Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongordon11

Tags: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, economy, jon gordon, negative, negative into a positive, no complaining, positive, solutions

Positive Ways to Deal with Naysayers

My friend emailed me the other day and told me to check out the Amazon reviews for The Energy Bus. In the midst of a bunch of positive reviews there was one that said, “The content wouldn’t even get you on the show, Are you smarter than a 5th Grader.” My first reaction was to laugh. I wondered how he knew that I always get beat by the 5th graders on that show. My second reaction was to give him credit for a brilliant and funny jab. If you are going to put someone’s work down you might as well be creative. But he obviously missed one of the statements in the book that says the closer we get to truth the simpler the lessons become.

The book wasn’t meant to be complicated. It was meant to share simple truths on how to take on negativity at work and in life. The irony was clear. I was dealing with a naysayer who was being negative about a book that is about how to take on naysayers. I reminded myself of a central message in The Energy Bus that I believe we all need to remember …especially now.

Everyone of us will have to face naysayers on our journey. Not everyone will see what you see. Not everyone will share your vision and optimism. Not everyone will believe what you believe. That’s why your positive energy must be greater than anyone’s negativity. You certainty must be greater than their doubt.

Gandhi advised, “I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet,” and neither should you. This includes the media who are trying to do more than just walk through your mind with their dirty feet . They’re trying to roll around in your mind with horse manure 24/7.

Today I want to encourage you to be stronger and more powerful than the fear mongers and naysayers. Don’t believe the hype. Don’t buy into the fear. Don’t listen to the negativity. Tune them out. Focus everyday on being your best and bring out the best in others. Realize that naysayers are like germs. Just as exposure to germs strengthens your immune system, naysayers are meant to strengthen your resolve and determination to make an impact. They are meant to test the depths of your desire and the size of your faith. But if you know what you are here to do and why you are here to do it then the power of your purpose will be greater than any challenge or naysayer.

I may not be smarter than a fifth grader but I know this: Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me.

How do you Deal with Naysayers? Share your thoughts here.

Stay Positive,
-Jon

Fear or Faith? Listen to this weeks Positive Moment Audio Tip.

From Attitude to Gratitude: This Is No Time for Complaints

Tags: business, energy bus, jon gordon, naysayers, positive moment, positive tip, success, wall street journal

Great Leadership

Challenging times require leaders who can lead others through the challenges. Now more than ever we need great leadership in our government, schools, businesses, hospitals and organizations. Good leadership won’t suffice. We need great leadership. There is a difference.

• Good leaders get people to believe in them.
• Great leaders inspire people to believe in themselves.

• Good leaders say “Watch what I can do.”
• Great leaders say “Let me show you what you can do.”

• Good leaders catch fish for others so they can eat today.
• Great leaders teach people how to fish so they can eat for a lifetime.

Having worked with countless leaders over the years in businesses, schools and professional sports I’ve realized that great leadership is really a transfer of belief. Great leaders share their belief, vision, purpose and passion with others and in the process they inspire others to believe, act and impact. Great leaders are positively contagious and they instill confidence and belief in others.

Great sales managers inspire their sales people to believe in themselves and their product/service. Great school principals inspire their teachers to believe they can make a difference. Great teachers inspire and empower their students to believe in themselves. Great pastors inspire their congregations to serve and impact the community. Great sports coaches inspire their teams to believe they can win. And the people who have changed the world have been those who instilled in others the confidence to step up, serve, take initiative and create positive change. You don’t need a title to be a leader. You just need to lead.

To lead others in a powerful way you must invite them on your bus, share your vision for the road ahead and then encourage, empower and inspire them to drive their own bus. In the process, instead of having just one bus that you drive, you create a fleet of buses and bus drivers, all moving in the same positive direction. When you create a fleet of buses and empower people to drive their own bus, you generate an amazing amount of power and momentum that becomes an unstoppable force. This is what great leadership is all about.

What does great leadership mean to you? Share your thoughts here.

Stay Positive,
-Jon

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Tags: energy, great leadership, jon gordon, leader, positive, social media poll, success