Being a well-led company rather than well managed.

Because of the incredible demands placed on our businesses, we must be proactive, flexible and adaptable. In our experience well-managed companies tend to deal with what was and what is. Well-led companies deal with what will be. This perspective allows us to tap the human potential and help our team members become what they’re capable of becoming. Leaders that lead well believe in others before they believe in themselves, provide the resources needed to get the job done and then guide the energy that’s released. Well-led means one plus one equals three! It means proactive, flexible, adaptable and so much more!

The shift from living in fear to living on purpose.

The driving force behind all behaviors is motivation. Motivation tends to come from two different perspectives. You can either be motivated out of fear or motivated out of purpose. One promotes the accomplishment and fulfillment of the Ultimate Success Principle and the other violates it. Violating the Principle means serving yourself, not putting good in, taking. Upholding the Principle means serving others, putting good in, giving. A company’s success is directly connected to how well it fulfills its purpose in serving others. The natural consequence of giving to serve others well is to achieve control of your financial destiny. This completely destroys the myth that the purpose of business is to take, is to make money. Its purpose is to serve others. Doing that well makes money…and lots of it!

Operating with unwavering commitment.

I would like to tell you that gaining and sustaining commitment is a consistent characteristic in most companies today. Sadly, it is not. So much in our society is about the latest, the greatest. What’s happening this day, this hour, and this moment. As Stephen Covey pointed out, it’s inappropriate to react to everything as if we are light switches. The real goal is to look at the “big picture”, make decisions that serve client, company and team and then hold on. Let the resistors come and go. Let the negative rear it’s head and be swept away. Do the right thing and then let the dust of time settle in order to prove you right. It’s hard…and it works. Be unwavering in your commitment to do the right thing and you can’t be wrong!

Being willing to control the variables necessary to control your destiny.

When it comes to this particular point we either find those that believe this 100% or those that don’t. Here’s the question: “Do you believe you control your destiny?” If yes, then you believe there are enough variables within your circle of influence that, when addressed appropriately, allow you to make the right decisions to overcome your challenges and accomplish your objectives. If no, then you believe life is a game of luck or chance where the cards or stars have to align just right in order for you to be successful. Based on everything we know about what it takes to be successful, can we control our destiny or not? Of course we can. We can’t always control what happens to us, but we can always control how we respond to what happens to us.

Leaving a legacy company.

There have been many that have been bright and shiny stars in business, those individuals who make a mark. The sad thing is, once they leave, that light goes out, never to be rekindled again. Today, more than ever before in our history, there is the need to create legacy companies. Truly great leaders understand the goal is not only to secure the now but the future as well. We need to build a solid foundation from which to launch and then the bench strength necessary throughout the organization to achieve ever-higher levels of accomplishment. We must transcend any one person’s or any one team’s influence. We have the right and responsibility to secure the future for generations to come.