Marshmallow

A fascinating study was conducted at the University of Stanford some years ago.   Four-year-old children were placed in a room, one by one, and a marshmallow was placed in front of them.  Each child was told that if they didn’t eat the marshmallow, in fifteen minutes they would get two marshmallows.  However, if they chose to eat the marshmallow right away, they wouldn’t get a second one.  Two out of three kids ate the marshmallow.  Fifteen years later, there was a follow up to the study and what was found was incredible.  Every child that participated in the study that hadn’t eaten the marshmallow right away were successful.  Many of the children who chose to eat the marshmallow, were not doing well at all.  Some had dropped out of school, others were not making good grades, and others were very much in debt.  The conclusion of the study was that people who are able to delay gratification have a much better chance of being successful in life.  There are marshmallow eaters and marshmallow resisters in our society, but the eaters outnumber the resisters three to one.  This principle is perhaps the only success principle that can be applied by anyone.  If in the past you were like me and would’ve eaten the marshmallow right away, it is time to change and resist.  We have a future to build.  Let’s learn from our mistakes and follow the lead of the successful people.

Leader

Despite the old adage, the truth is that leaders are made, not born. Leadership is developed by learning and refining a set of skills – skills that anyone, including you and me, can learn and develop. 

Good leaders have learned how to: 

Listen and learn from others        

Energize the organization

Act for the benefit of everyone

Develop themselves and others 

Empower others to lead

Recognize achievement 

Focus on these “Big Six” and you will become a more effective and respected leader.

Extraordinary Leaders

When people make a decision (either consciously or unconsciously) to follow your leadership, they do it primarily because of one of two things: your character or your skills. They want to know if you are the kind of person they want to follow, and if you have the skills to take them further. Although there are other variables, these are the primary reasons. This article will focus on the kind of character that causes people to follow your leadership.

1. Integrity: Integrity is doing what you say you are going to do. You are trust worthy, people can rely on you, and you keep your promises. The one thing that will keep people from following you, is their uncertainty of you actually taking them where you say you will.  Are you known as a person of integrity? If so, you will become an extraordinary leader!

2. Optimistic: People don’t want to follow others who think the future is bad! They want to follow those who can envision a better future, and know that they can get them there! Do you see the cup as half empty? If so, you are a pessimist. Do you see it as half full? Then you are an optimist. Do you see it as totally full - half air and half water? Then you are a super optimist! Are you known as an optimist? If so, you will become an extraordinary leader!

3. Embraces Change: Leaders are the ones who will see the need for change and willingly embrace it. Followers will initially desire to stay where they are. Leaders need to see the benefits of change and communicate them to the followers. If you don’t change, you won’t grow! Are you known as a person who embraces change? If so, you will become an extraordinary leader!

4. Risk Taker: Whenever we try something new, we are taking a risk. That is part of the growing process, and it is imperative. Most people are risk averse. Leaders calculate the risk and what is to be gained from taking the risk. Then they communicate that to the followers, and away they go to a better tomorrow! Are you known as a person who is willing to take risks? If so, you will become an extraordinary leader!

5. Relentless: The tendency of the follower is to quit when the going gets tough. Two or three attempts and their motto becomes “If at first you don’t succeed, give up and try something else.” Not the Leader! Leaders, know the good that lies beyond this brick wall, and they will go and get it. Then they will bring others with them! Are you known as a person who is relentless? If so, you will become an extraordinary leader!

6. Catalytic: A leader is ultimately one who gets people going. They are able to move others out of their comfort zone and on toward the goal! They can raise the passion, enthusiasm and the ACTION of those who would follow. Are you known as a catalyst? If so, you will become an extraordinary leader!

7. Dedicated/ Committed: Followers want people who are more devoted and committed than themselves. At the first sign of lack of commitment, followers scatter for the doors. Followers follow those who will stick it out because they see the importance of the task and the goal. Are you known as a person who is committed and devoted to the goal? If so, you will become an extraordinary leader!

Positive Attitude

For those of you who don’t know, I use an online calender to send me email reminders every morning of things I am trying to memorize.  For years I allowed knowledge to warm me up, but it never really became a part of who I was.  I have since learned that we get results from our outward actions and behaviors. Our actions are triggered by our thoughts, which are controlled by our habits, in which the heart is dictating at all times moment by moment in millions of situations.  We need to feed the heart, and that’s what memorizing does for me. 

 That being said, I am going to post new things in here that I am memorizing.

Positive Attitude

Many of life’s failures, are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.

1.  Your attitude is a choice. It should not be based on circumstances or something somebody did to you.

2.  Your attitude determines your actions.

3.  Your people are a mirror of your attitude.

4.  Don’t listen to yourself, tell yourself.  Feed yourself the right food (mentally and physically)

5.  Achieve goals all the time.

6.  Put positive messages everywhere.