Life-Changing Advice

Years ago one of my mentors gave me this life-changing advice:  

You either have to do things differently, or you have to do something different (for a living).

At the time I was spending too much money developing our software and the result was our company was struggling financially.  (I chose to do things differently and it has been a huge blessing.)

Take this quick test to see if you need to "do things differently" in one of the two most common areas most leaders fail.  My experience is LEADERS FAIL most often to:

1 - Set clear, measurable goals

2 - Follow-up

Consistent follow-up to build and sustain relationships is the harder of the two.  Take this quick test to assess how well you follow-up.  Then add-up your score and consider how you "have to do things differently" or not.

Ask yourself:  How well do I follow-up with:

1.  The commitments I make to my boss?

2.  The commitments I make to my peers in my firm?

3.  The commitments I make to people reporting to me, including accountability on their goals, career path, responsibilities...?

4.  People whom I ask for help - after I seek their advice, do I respond when they follow-up as I requested?

5.  Employees I should be training and/or mentoring?

6.  People with whom I miss a meeting or phone call?

7.  To God, however I define the creator to be?

8.  My spouse?

9.  My kids?

10.  My commitment to myself to replace my bad habits with new ones so my life is more fulfilling (healthy?) for me, and the most important lives I touch daily?

Give yourself 10 points for any follow-up you do consistently well, which is 90-100% of the time.  I suggest the following assessment:

90-100 points - You are a person of integrity, enjoying life, skilled at saying "no" to avoid overload, and have strong relationships with others.  You may be working too many hours, but that is another issue.

70-80 points - You are a good person, well-liked, but you let people down, struggle with productivity weekly, have 1-3 bad habits that are hurting you, and you wish you could do better...  but think you are too busy to deal with your bad habits.  (Big mistake.)

50-60 points - You are letting too many people down.  Although you may be productive, you are working too many hours, not delegating well, and your leadership is totally inconsistent.  As a result work and home relationships struggle.

40 points or below - Too painful.  Get help from a consultant / coach like me, mentor, or if your issues are related to wounds of your childhood, a past relationship, or something you cannot identify then talk with people you trust to identify a professional who can help you deal with the past so you can be fulfilled in your future.

If you do not follow-up with integrity then your leadership impact is a fraction of its potential.

We help entrepreneurial leaders develop NEW habits to overpower their less productive ones.  Contact me if you would like to become the leader you were designed to be and more positively impact the lives of others.