March 6, 2005 9:36 pm - Great Leaders Find The Time!
"The loss of an hour," once said a famous philosopher, "is the loss of a part of life." This is a truth that has been appreciated by most men and women who have risen to distinction,--who have been world benefactors.
The lives of our greatest heroes' put to shame the laggards of today, who so often grumble: "I have no time. If I didn't have to work all day, I could accomplish something. I could read and educate myself."
How much spare time had Elihu Burritt, the youngest of several children, born in a humble home in New Britain, Connecticut, reared amid toil and poverty?
Yet, during his father's long illness, and after his death, when Elihu was but a teenager boy with the family partially dependent upon the work of his hands, he found time,--if only a few moments,--at the end of a fourteen-hour day of labor, for his books.
While working at his trade as a blacksmith, he solved problems in arithmetic and algebra while his irons were heating.
How did this man, born well over a century ago, possessing none of the advantages within reach of the poorest and humblest boy of today, become one of the brightest educators, a leader in the reform movements of his generation?
Apparently no more talented than his nine brothers and sisters, he accomplished much simply by improving himself at every opportunity. His love for knowledge grew the more he read, and it carried him to undreamed-of heights.
In palaces and council halls, the words of the "Learned Blacksmith" were listened to with the closest attention.
Read more about the life of Elihu Burritt, and you will be ashamed to grumble that you have no time--no chance for self-improvement.
Check out our Leadership Library for additional staff picks!
March 6, 2005 11:16 pm - March 2005 Edition - Leadership Tools Monthly News
It's now available! The March 2005 edition of Leadership Tools Monthly News has just arrived into the email boxes of all our valued subscribers.
This months issue is entitled: Creative Leadership - Leading Outside The Box!
T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S
Lessons-in-Leadership
- Leading Outside The Box!
Meeting for Results
- Creativity In The Workplace
The Juice Bar
- Creative Thinking - For A Change!
Reader Meter
- Testimonials-R-Us!
Site News
- Updates - and What's Coming Soon!
Don't miss out. Subscribe Today!
March 12, 2005 7:14 pm - Succession Planning
A brand new free tool was unveiled today at Leadership-Tools.com.Succession planning is a topic tha focuses on getting the right people in the right roles at all levels of the organization.
Succession planning solutions help business owners to:
- Gauge leadership bench strength and identify the best internal candidates for future key roles.
- Concentrate key resources on the succession-planning and management-development process to yield a greater return on investment.
- Determine the future direction of the business, and the steps needed to get there.
We have posted a more in-depth article on Succession Planning, where we also offer a form to request your free Succession Planning Tool.
March 12, 2005 10:45 pm - ALL New - All FREE Leadership Tools!
Looking for high-quality leadership tools, a fresh idea for your next staff meeting or impactful exercises and activities that will get your people excited?You’ll find many creative and effective tools here for your own personal use. Free for the taking!
Honestly, where are you going to get a better deal than that?
Each of the free leadership tools mentioned below were initially introduced in a current issue of the Leadership Tools Monthly News. Subscribe todayin order to learn firsthand each time a new leadership tool is added.
Our current menu of free leadership tools include:
Succession Planning Tool Life Balance Tool
Management Development Analysis Tool
Leadership E-Cards Tool
Master Action Plan (M.A.P) Tool
10 Key Questions Tool
Leadership Assessment Tool
My Favorite Things Tool
360 Degree Leadership Feedback Tool
Performance Appraisal Tool
Net Worth and Wealth Ratio Tool
You can request one or all of the above free tools as a Word File at our FREE TOOLS page.
In addition, we'd like to remind our visitors not to miss out on a tremendous book entitled Pushing To The Front by Orison Swett Marden, a must-read for every aspired or established leader. Ah yes, you guessed it, the book is also FREE. Enjoy!
March 17, 2005 7:50 pm - Leadership - Choosing Success!
I recently came across this wonderful story in the SBI Forums. This story is a wonderful example of timeless wisdom... a great life lesson. It seems that an elder Cherokee Native American was discussing the topic of choosing ones own successful path with his grandchildren. His message was short, yet highly insightful.
"Children", the wise old man said, "I am burdened by a daily conflict, a tug of war within myself... it is a dangerous fight and it is between two hungry wolves. One wolf represents ego, fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance .. all of lifes lower emotional traits. The second wolf stands for the higher qualities of man such as joy, peace, gratitude, love, hope, generosity, truth, compassion and faith. This very same battle is being fought within yourself, and every other person, this very day - and every day."
The children listened intently and after careful thought one of the children asked his grandfather... "Which wolf wins?"
The highly weathered, wise old Cherokee smiled lightly and simply replied... "The one you feed."
Too often folks are so focucsed on being "right", that they forget the bigger picture. The allow themselves the destructive luxury of feeding their own ego, feedling their lower self.
These misguided individuals decide that no matter what the costs they would rather insist on "BEING RIGHT", than to listen or learn and "BE SUCCESSFUL".
Feed the proper animial inside yourself. Feed your higher powers, feed your best self. With the nourishment you provide to your highest ideals, your life will continue to experience postive inroads and your best self will continue to emerge.
For more inspiring stories, go to the Article Vault. In addition, downloand this special free gift. Courtesy of Leadership-Tools.com
March 20, 2005 8:05 pm - Cheerfulness As A Life Power!
Cheerfulness has a wonderful lubricating power. It extends the life of every human machine.Each person must take care of his inside parts, no different than if our human body were an actual machine made out of gears and ball-bearings.
For centuries, doctors around the world have known that there is something healing in a positive spirit, a cheerful outlook and an optimistic instinct.
Laughter releases the stress deep inside that if gone unchecked can create sickness.
There is a truth beyond measure in the words:
"Laugh and grow fat!"The saying simply means that everyone who greets the day with a cheerful disposition will grow as a human being and experience more of what life has to offer.
"Scatter your flowers as you go,
For you will not pass this way again."I believe it was Shakespere who said that a light heart lives long?
Don't make the mistake of taking life, or yourself, so seriously that you forget to be grateful and enjoy those who you love, and who loves you.
March 24, 2005 7:23 am - NEW - Leadership Book Reviews
We recently added a new section to our Leadership Books page. As new book releases come out we will be reviewing several hand-picked titles and sharing these reviews on our site.
Take a look at our very first installment!
» NEW!The Enthusiastic Employee
March 24, 2005 1:22 pm - When to say, "That's Enough - Let's Get Back To Work.
Sales Manager Advice
That’s Enough – Let’s Get Back To Work!
Fortunately for me, I worked for a highly effective sales manager who knew what do.
I was on the verge of sinking into a major depression. As a third year salesperson with a good company, I was doing well, and was on my way to becoming the top salesperson in the nation for that company.
However, sales had slowed down a little, and I didn't have my usual number of proposals out for bid. As a result, I wasn't as busy as usual.
As my activity slowed, I began to worry. My doubts increased to the point where I had thought myself into a real depression, stuck on the question of "What's the use of trying?"
To Read the entire article............ Click Here.
In an effort to assist our readers in finding what they are looking for our site, we are rolling out this brand new footer on many of our pages.
March 28, 2005 6:26 pm - Ten Tips to Reduce Leadership Stress
(The following article has just been posted in the Article Directory)The need for stress management tools in the workplace is nothing new, but it is on the rise.
Numerous sources have referred to chronic workplace stress and burnout as becoming an epidemic.
Reports from major health services and surveys in various business publications report alarming statistics about the health consequences of chronic stress, and the associated cost to organizations of stress-related absences, accidents, poor productivity and morale problems.
Why are stress management issues so common? Hard work is an American value but we're probably adhering to that value too well.
As people are working harder but taking less time off than ever before, the level of their stress continues to increase in proportion. Also, the days are gone when people worked for the same company for 30 years with the guarantee of receiving a solid gold watch at their retirement party.
Job changes are more frequent now, and that's an additional source of stress.
How do you know if you're overstressed? Ask yourself the following stress management questions.....To View Full Article Click Here.
