Not exactly the best illustration of leadership (courtesy of Joe Lafferty)
What is true leadership all about? How should a real leader distinguish herself from the rest?
While there are plenty of leadership models around (including some which I have previously blogged about), it may be useful for us to think of true leadership as a list of vital traits which such a person should exemplify.
Courtesy of Healthland.Time
Have you heard of the “marshmallow test” for kids?
First conducted by American psychologist Walter Mischel in the 1960s, the experiment involved putting four-year olds in a room with a marshmallow on a plate, and testing how long they could endure before popping that sweet morsel into their mouths.
Courtesy of Marc and Angel Hack Life
Are you too cool for school? Do you loathe exam jitters?
Well, consider this. Most of the stuff we learn don’t actually hail from the hallowed halls of educational institutions. Instead, they come from our everyday encounters and experiences.
To many of us, Timothy Ferriss is living the dream life. Touting himself as a “serial entrepreneur” and “ultra-vagabond”, the author of the uber bestseller “The 4-Hour Workweek” works from anywhere around the world, pursuing activities as varied as skiing in the Andes, tango dancing in Buenos Aires, or racing motorcycles in Europe.
How does he do it?
Ever wondered why some people seem to have it all made while others simply drift by?
What is the difference between successful CEOs, political and religious leaders, and the rest of us who may lead more mundane and ordinary lives?
The secret, according to motivational speaker and author Brian Tracy, is that successful people run their lives according to the principles of self-discipline.
Keeping a regularly updated blog can be one of the best things you can do for your career. Trust me, its the reason why I can do what I do now.
However, it does require a certain amount of discipline, determination and grit to keep blogging and journalling. Especially when your work starts overtaking the rest of your waking hours.
Charybdis (image source)
You’ve probably heard the saying over and over again – change is the only constant (this quote first came from an ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus), especially in this day and age. Beyond the cataclysmic calamities wrecked by Mother Nature, I bet that many of us also face major shifts and upheavals in various aspects of our lives.
How does one manage oneself and others in the midst of tumultous changes? Here are some thoughts on what one can do to brace and ride the storm.
Courtesy of Computer Technology Review
One of the most fundamental lessons in any professional, personal or social endeavour is to close the loop. Don’t leave things hanging in mid-air or wait until they’re forgotten (and forgiven). Chances are that they might come back again to haunt you if you don’t hit that nail on the head until its well and truly level.
Now closing the loop doesn’t mean that you should try to go for quick and easy wins all the time. Occasionally, one needs to consider if closing a small loop may result in tearing open a larger issue in the long-run. However, the key principle is that you should not leave issues or projects in limbo as far as you can help it.
Is the difference between success and failure that clear? (source)
Success is a perpetually debated and discussed topic. It drives us both as a group and as an individual, steering our corporate, personal and social lives.
Some feel that success can only be metered by quantitative indicators. These measures tend to be financial, cumulative, self-oriented and tangible in nature.
Is it true that quitters never win and winners never quit?
Well, the answer is no – at least according to Seth Godin, business blogger extraordinaire and prolific author of small “hit ’em hard” books.