Sister Sites

Hi Folks;

Some of you may know that for many years my main focus in life has been as an Executive and Corporate Coach through The Leadership Centre.

Since I am no longer actively looking for in house coaching assignments, offering instead on line e-courses through this site (The AODR Curriculum). I have been in the process of transferring many articles and other content from www.tlc-leadership.com .

That site will then be completely torn down and rebuilt primarily as a feeder site to this site (http://www.acresofdiamondsrevisited.com)

The main difference will be that The Leadership Centre site will be designed to attract mainly corporate traffic while this site is directed more at the individual in need of self improvement skills and tools.

There is a bit of a juggling act involved as I realize that corporations are run by individuals who employ individuals and while I don't try to be all things to all people, for many years I have used the slogan, Leadership from the top floor to the shop floor. This simply means that I welcome executives who are in search of self improvement for themselves as well as those who will refer their brightest and most promising people to this site in search of the rapid leadership development they have experienced from The Leadership Centre in the past.

So whether you are looking for tools for your own development or for the development of your staff, family or friends, look through the available articles and check out the E-Curriculum from the Products Page, you may be surprised at what you find.

Len McNally

PS. And oh yes, please sign up for the AODR e-zine while you're here - after all at $00.00 its a bargoon!

We shouldn't be surprised!

Hi Folks;

I read a blurb somewhere that seems to think we should be amazed by some new research that tells us that kids are influenced by what they are told by adults especially teachers.

For example if you tell your son (or your pupil)that he is a pretty darned good football player he is likely to be a pretty darned good football player and if you tell him he is not likely good enough to make the team he likely won't!

I mean, come on folks, is this 2006 or 1906? We've known about the law of expectation for a long, long time! In fact, there is an article on
my e-zine that talks about a paper I wrote on the subject thirty five years ago.

This particular article (the one I read recently) was directed at teachers to let them know about how they can effect children in the classroom! If teachers don't understand this by now our society is in a lot of trouble.

Come to think of it, our society IS in a lot of trouble!

Hmm---

OK, I had better remember my class in logic where I learned that
if 2 + 2 = 4 and A + B = 4 it doesn't necessarily follow that A = 2 and B = 2 or that A = B ( 1 + 3 = 4 and 3 + 1 = 4 and 5 - 1 = 4 etc.)

So it isn't fair to suggest that teachers are responsible for all of society's troubles. (I know some pretty good ones but maybe I should tell them?)

However, I do think that it is fair to suggest that the person who wrote the article or the people who did the research and were surprised by the results had better wake up and smell the coffee - and not the decaff stuff either.

And the rule of expectation doesn't apply only to children! Managers, good managers anyway, know that praise for a job well done (especially public praise) is often a better motivator than money and they know that all criticism should be both constructive and private.

Now perhaps the most important questions should be, who funded this startling new research - and - Why?

wanna bet it was your money and mine?


Len McNally

PS. If you haven't signed up yet for AODR, The e-zine, whats holding you back? I expect you to sign up - so -

Communication

Hi Folks;

When I think about communication I can't help thinking about politicians, especially at election time.

Many years ago as a Political Science ( I think Americans call it Political Philosophy) project at university I studied and wrote a paper on an election campaign.

In this particular campaign an incumbent won his seat easily for the third time and it was pretty easy to see why.

In checking local newspaper records I found that this member managed to get mentioned in the local press at least once a week all year round and in the three months leading up to the election he got coverage - usually with a photograph - almost every day! It didn't amount to much but in almost every news story there was a few lines saying something like, "In a telephone conversation from his office in Ottawa Mr. Member said ....."

This guy was a professional communicator. Everyone knew who he was and where he stood on every issue, big or small. You didn't need to live in his riding to know that he was taking an active part in making our country a better place to live.

Looking around at local politicians where I live I see a Provincial member who is almost as good and a federal member who is better than average (at communication I mean) and I see opponents to both who seem to disappear into the woodwork following elections to poke their heads up only when the sitting member takes a stand on something very controversial.

I also see municipal politicians who never seem to stand for anything except re-election. Oh they attend council meetings and vote on almost every issue but their comments, if any, are always a mild endorsement of whatever seems to be the most popular side of any issue, they never take a leadership role.

Oops - there's that word again (leadership). I just can't seem to talk or write about any subject without bringing up leadership, and in politics it is definitely the characteristic in shortest supply.

Communication is an automatic characteristic of leadership. You can't lead without communicating and you would be hard pressed to communicate without exercising leadership.

Whenever I see an elected official who is rarely seen or heard from I can't help wondering what he is doing in his elected capacity and concluding that it is likely not much.

So how do you communicate in your leadership role? Do people know where you stand, what you believe in, what you oppose?

This - or any other - blog is a great opportunity to communicate - to express your opinion. Even if you don't know who will be reading it you may be surprised at how, just putting your thoughts down on paper (or screen) clarifies your position in your own mind.

Go ahead, just click on comments and start typing - it doesn't hurt a bit.

And while your here, why not sign up for the AODR E-zine? Its free!


Len McNally

PS. If you want to check out the products page, that's OK too!

Can you do it all alone?

Hi Folks;

There is an old anonymous saying, "The worst possible use
of your time is to do very well those things that need not
be done at all."

The next worst possible use of your time is to do things
that someone else who's time is less valuable, could be
doing.

I have a plaque in my office that asks, "Is what I am doing
right now making the best possible use of my time?"

Even after many years of coaching and cajoling executives
to spend their time working on Big Bang Activities, (those
that give you the biggest bang for your buck) I still have
days when I look at that plaque, shake my head, and answer,
"No".

The discipline to focus on the BBA's requires constant
alertness (which is why I have the plaque). It's so easy
to get caught up in doing something that's fun,
interesting, even challenging - but a total waste of time!

Don't get me wrong. We still need to do things that are
fun, interesting and challenging, but if they are not
productive things, they must not be slotted in to our
"Productivity" time slots.

Another huge time waster is "Perfectionism." Everything
does not need to be polished until it shines. Sometimes a
"matt" finish is good enough - or even better than a shiny
one.

As you strive to recognize and take advantage of the
opportunities around you, work hard on the personal
leadership, time management and discipline to invest your
efforts in those things that are most worthwhile. Your
"BBA's".


Len McNally

Yes I Can

Hi Folks;

If you've looked around the site lately you may have
noticed changes on a regular basis.

The idea of "Yes I Can" has been a part of my philosophy
ever since I came across the Henry Ford quote, "Whether you
think you can, or whether you think you can't….you're
right." (More than 25 years ago!)

I've made reference to this quote dozens - likely hundreds
- of times over the years and I've said, "Yes I can" to
myself millions of times.

So it was an automatic reflex action when I began referring
to my AODR e-zine as the "Yes I Can" e-zine and last week I
added the expression to the
www.acresofdiamondsrevisited.com
masthead so it now reads "The Yes I Can Website, e-zine and
blog".

Today I was renewing a couple of my domain names and in a
flash of brilliance purchased the domain name
"TheYesICanSite.com" so you may begin to see references to
that in various locations.

I am trying to make the site, the e-zine and the blog,
interesting, informative, educational and easy to read so
that you will continue to show up and to refer it to your
friends and colleagues.

As always your feedback is welcome (and encouraged) so if
you have comments, suggestions or questions, please jump
right in - the water is fine! Honest!

Len McNally

PS. If you haven't yet signed up for the AODR e-zine -
why not? It's FREE already!

Recognize Opportunities

Hi Folks;

The point behind Acres Of Diamonds Revisited (See Products)
is to encourage you to recognize and act on the
opportunities that surround you.

The main focus is on opportunities to attain wealth and,
lets face it, money is the yardstick most of us use to gage
success.

But there are countless opportunities that have little or
nothing to do with money.

The opportunity to make a difference in your community for
example. There are countless ways in which almost anyone
can make a contribution - from becoming a "Big Brother" or
"Big Sister", by participating in "Meals on Wheels", by
volunteering to visit the elderly, or read to the blind, or
campaign for a charity or for a political party or even an
individual.

Most of us sit around and feel free to gripe about all the
things happening in our world that are not good, not right
or even downright evil.

You have an opportunity to do something about it!

It doesn't have to cost a lot of money or require a lot of
time. A few dollars or a few hours every week can make a
difference in the lives of those around you.

And - I can promise you that when you do some little thing
to positively impact the life of someone less fortunate
than yourself - it will have a positive impact on your life
as well.

So give a little thought to those things you truly care
about. Have you lost a parent, a child, or a friend to some
disease?

Is the an organization that works to raise awareness of
that disease, or to care for the victims of it, or to care for
the caregivers or raises money to fight it? They can use
your help!

Do you see or read about children who are abused or
neglected or simply need a good meal or an overcoat or a
pair of winter boots?

How about sending a letter to a soldier on foreign service,
just to let him or her know you are concerned for their
welfare - whether or not you support the action they are
involved in.

It a strange thing, but once you start looking for
opportunities to be of service to your community and your
world, you will begin to notice returns on your investment
of time, money and effort. Returns in the way you feel
about yourself and therefore in how you respect yourself,
as well as returns in how other people relate to you and
respect you.

By finding opportunities to be of service you will find
opportunities to improve your own lot in life - its almost
guaranteed!

Len McNally

If it is to be.....and....

Hi Folks;

Leo made a comment this morning that prompted me to write
about "Taking Responsibility".

I was speaking with my daughter a week or so ago about the
same thing.

She is going through a marriage break up and I am very
proud of the way she is handling what can never be an easy
situation. When faced with the negativity of her ex she
shook her head and told me, "I can't think of it as all
bad. I have two beautiful children as a result of it. I
have a lot of fantastic memories. I'm a different person
than I would have been without this part of my life, a
better person, a stronger person." She sure is her father's
daughter!

The whole point is that she accepts responsibility for
where she is in life today. She made the decisions that
created her circumstances and she made the decisions that
are changing them. She has accepted, "If it is to be it is
up to me."

Psychologists say that many of us have a subconscious
belief that our present circumstances are the result of
what other people have done or have not done. Parents,
teachers, the "system", have all had a hand in shaping our
fate and we never had a chance.
We don't really want to know or even think about the truth
that we are the result of our own past actions or lack of
actions. Though, Word and Deed to steal the old Boy Scout
maxim - our own not someone else's - has created who, what
and where we are today.

Thomas Watson, founder of IBM said, "If you want to do
excellent stuff, its easy. Simply, as of this moment, stop
doing less than excellent stuff." I and I alone am
responsible for the quality of my work, my life and my
thoughts. I and I alone can change my circumstances.

I can ask others for help, for advice, for guidance but
when it comes right down to it, the results I get will be
determined by what I do.

Most of us understand the saying, "I am the captain of my
soul, I am the master of my fate" in relation to our
present actions and their influence on our future.

We need to be consciously aware that it applies in
retrospect as well. WE need to accept responsibility.


Len McNally

Learning to lead

Hi folks;

I wrote earlier about learning to be a leader so lets look
at what that involves.

First you need to consciously decide that you want to be a
leader - or more of a leader - in one ore more areas of
your life.

Second, as in a lot of other things in life, the best
training is to learn by doing. You can read a lot of books
about golf but the only way to improve your game is to hit
golf balls - a lot of them!

The same with leadership. Every time you consciously assume
a leadership role - even if at first you have no followers
- the easier it becomes to assume that role again.

And the more often you try to be a leader the more people
will recognize you as a potential leader - someone with
ideas and opinions and the willingness to express them -
and pretty soon people will begin to accept your ideas and
to act on them. Or at least to modify their own ideas.

Look around you at any organization or group you are a part
of. It doesn't need to be a forman group - what about the
three of four people you have lunch with, or go out for a
beer with?

In every group there are leaders and followers leadership
can change from day to day or from topic to topic) so pay
attention and determine who are the leaders in your group.
Observe the way they handle people, deal with controversy,
and influence the group. If you find someone who has a
leadership style you like and can relate to, emulate it. If
someone has a leadership style you don't like or can't
relate to (manipulation, agressive put downs, snide
remarks, etc. may justifiably turn you off) learn to lead
another way.

Start small, with a few people or even with an individual.
You may be able to assume the role of leader and mentor in
a situation where you have something of value to offer to
another.

Don't get pushy about it - if people think you are
consciously trying to take control or to take them in a
direction they don't want to go you will build resistance
and resentment. Try always to have the best interest of
your would be followers in mind and begin with quiet,
unobtrusive suggestions.Soon you will find people turning
to you, asking for you opinion or advise and often
following it.

Keep in mind as well that people are likely to follow
someone who knows what she or he is talking about so if you
are going to offer advice, encouragement or anything else,
make sure you understand your subject, the circumstances
and ramification of what you suggest. A key to leadership
is knowledge!

There is a lot more to say on this subject so check in on a
regular basis - and please feel free to post your comments.

And before you leave, look around the site. There are a
number of article that may be of interest to you and of
course I'd like you to have a look at our products page
where you will find a variety of e-courses as well as my
book, "Acres Of Diamonds Revisited".


Len McNally

Who is a leader?

Hi folks;

I overheard a conversation the other day that made me think
about how many people have no idea of what leadership
skills they possess.

There are a lot of people who think they are leaders who
are not - John Maxwell tells us that if you think you're a
leader and you have no followers, you're not leading,
you're just going for a walk.

But I was thinking more about those people who don't
realize when they are in a leadership role. It doesn't need
to be a "big deal" situation - most people demonstrate
leadership skills on a regular basis without being aware of
it.

When ever you say of do something that alters what someone
else says, thinks or does, you have demonstrated
leadership.

And - if you demonstrate leadership in one situation you
are very likely capable of learning to exercise leadership
in more complex situations. Look at the very simple example
of a six year old who says, "Mom, let's go to McDonalds."
If mom says "Good idea. Lets go!" the child has
successfully exercised leadership!

Give a little thought to the circumstances in your life
where you exercise leadership on a regular basis. If you
are a leader at home, or within your church, or at the
hockey rink, you can learn to be a leader in a lot of other
situations as well.

How do you "learn" to be a leader?

We'll talk about that in other sessions but reading books
like "Acres Of Diamonds Revisited " and "As A Man Thinketh"
(see our products page) can certainly help you get started.


Len McNally