Am I fixated on leadership these days?  No, not really!

It’s simply a conversation I began last week when I noticed a flock of geese flying north in a beautiful “V” formation with the lead goose pointing the way.

Being appointed to a leadership role carries considerable responsibility and accountability.  Many folks shy away from the role because of that and therefore never realize their own potential to be a leader.

But I’m not talking about the “appointed” leadership roles that we fill when we’re elected “president” or “chairperson” of an organization.  I’m talking about the kind of leadership Jesus exhibited as he traveled about facilitating learning and growth among the people. 

I call that “vicarious” leadership!  Vicarious because we just come to it without any official process that ‘names’ us a leader.  The skills and maturity we grow into are what brings us to a vicarious leadership role.

I think of my two younger g’children.  G’daughter is the younger of the two; but she is definitely the vicarious leader.  She is bold (depending on the venue in which she finds herself); opinionated and definite.  She ‘leads’ in conversations and tells her brother how to do things.  She’s smaller than most of her friends of the same age, but she’s definitely ‘heads & shoulders’ above them when they play together.  Not bossy, but takes charge; understands the rules; and interprets them for everyone else.

That’s the kind of leadership I’m talking about.  Those individuals that have a certain ‘charisma’ for leadership.  We are drawn to them.  We trust them because they exhibit an integrity that says they’re trustworthy. 

Individuals in this category (if we want to define it as a “category”) have the skill sets to match the personal traits they possess.  They tend to be open and transparent - warm, receptive and an encourager of others.

It’s the combination of skills, behavior and personal traits that make them leadership material.   And whether they carry a title or not in the marketplace, they lead others because they have what it takes to be a “leader”.

When I look out my office window, I still see that flock of geese flying overhead.  I still ask the question “how did he/she become the lead goose?”  Perhaps it’s by age or geese wisdom.  Perhaps it’s by lineage or some other “pecking order” that he/she was chosen.  Whatever, that goose had an awesome responsibility to lead the flock that followed. 

We have that same responsibility regardless of where we exercise our leadership skills & abilities.  As I said yesterday, women are ‘natural-born’ leaders.  We have what it takes.  Don’t shy away from the role when you’re asked to lead.  Folks obviously see something in you that perhaps you don’t see in yourself.

Be the leader you’re called to be!  Share what you know with others so that they too can learn and grow!  Master the personal traits of good leadership and take on the role proudly and with honor.

And those who follow will be better for it!

Have an awesome day with loads of love and tremendous blessings.

Linda

Yes, I really believe that!  Women are born to lead.  We have all the innate capabilties and skills to do so.

Then why don’t we?  Or do we without knowing it?  And what makes a good leader anyway?  And are good leaders always successful.

Good leaders know what they’re capable of.  They know the skill sets in which they excel.  More importantly, they know what they’re not meant to do and they seek out those who are.

Good leaders know that one cannot go it alone and achieve a level of success they want.  Leadership is about encouraging and empowering others.  Good leaders are catalysts for growth in others.  In fact, good leaders set others up for success.  They look for opportunities to make things happen for others.

What’s wrong with that?  Absolutely nothing!  We need more good leaders.  We need more women to take leadership roles in the market place.

But can a good leader be a successful leader.  It depends on how one defines success.  If one’s idea of success always relates to profit - and the size of the profit - then some excellent leaders aren’t necessarily “successful”. 

Good leaders aren’t interested in the payoff!  Whether the payoff is “big bucks” or “big recognition”.  What drives them is their desire to connect with others with whom they can have a mutually beneficial relationship.  Women are exceedingly good at that?

My question to you today is, “are you leading?”  Are you using the skills you have to lead others in a way that both of you grow?  Are you in touch with what you do well and what needs the help and expertise of others?

Some thoughtful reflections for the remainder of the week when we do take a few moments to reflect on the events of over 2000 years ago that have had such a profound impact on our lives and those around the globe over the centuries!

Be at peace and smell the lillies as they pop through the ground.  Much love & considerable blessings!

Linda

Here are some great links that may be helpful to you.  I have another list that I’ll dig out from one of the piles in my teeny-weeny office and share those as well:

1. www.myHours.com - time tracking tool
2. www.logmein.com - remote computer access
3. www.constantcontact.com - email tool for sending blasts, newsletters, etc.
4. www.icontact.com - email tool for sending blasts, newsletters, etc.
5. www.goDaddy.com - hosting company (email, website, etc.)
6. www.phonepeople.com - Voicemail (VOIP)
7. www.kall8.com - internet faxing

Thanks to AWI(tm) member, Monai S. in Ohio for this information.

I also get a very good business e-letter in my inbox on a fairly regular basis and this one has some good tax info as well as info from the financial aspect of business planning etc.  Let me know that the link to the website version of the e-letter works for you:

http://www.bizactions.com/index.cfm/ba/e116/en/80235878G1040J1442894/

We’ll try to do this on a regular basis, so send us the links YOU find that may be helpful to all of us!

Have an awesome day with much love & rich blessings!

Linda

Anita sent this last week & I saved it so it can be shared with everyone!  As I said, much of it is common sense, but not what we would usually think of - especially if (God forbid) it ever happens to us. 

ATTORNEY’s ADVICE - NO CHARGE  –  NOT A JOKE!

Read this and make a copy for your files in case you need to refer to it someday. Maybe we should all take some of his advice! A corporate attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company.

1. Do not sign the back of your credit cards . Instead, put ‘PHOTO ID REQUIRED.’

2. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the ‘For’ line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won’t have access to it.

3. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address. Never have your SS# printed on your checks. (DUH!) You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.

4. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine.  Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place.  I also carry a photocopy of my passport when I travel either here or abroad. We’ve all heard horror stories about fraud that’s committed on us in stealing a Name, address, Social Security number, credit cards.

Unfortunately, I, an attorney, have first hand knowledge because my wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieve(S) ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and more.

But here’s some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:

5. we have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call.  Keep those where you can find them.

6. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., was stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).

But here’s what is perhaps most important of all: (I never even thought to do this.)

7. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud line number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the internet in my name.  The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.

By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done. There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves’ purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them dead in their tracks.

Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, if it has been stolen:

1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285

2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742

3.) Trans Union : 1-800-680 7289

4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line):  1-800-269-0271

If you are willing to pass this information along, it could really help someone that you care about.

Thanks so much Anita for sharing this important info!

Linda

Today’s chat is from our wonderful AWP member in sunny CA, Carine!  Her post today makes me want to hop a flight & head to the coast for sun, ocean, beach and waves!  Guess I’ll have to settle for my fantasies of the above & enjoy Carine’s comments: 

“On the Road to Nowhere”

Good Morning Ladies-Spring has, more or less, hit the West Coast.  The sun and the temperature was up for most of the week.  I’m also leaving on a week’s cruise in less than a month.  Got me to thinking about the size of my backside, my formal wear and my swimsuit.  I’m pretty good-haven’t changed sizes or weight in a very long time, but with turning 50 and all, I seem to have a “different” figure.  So it’s with this in mind that I came up with the subject for this particular column!

Exercise is important. Doing some form of it helps relieve stress and depression. It helps raise the rate of your metabolism, thereby burning off more of those dreaded calories we all somehow inhale. It also, per WebMD and any doctor you come in contact with, helps prevent or lessen the effects of many diseases and syndromes.

As a person who has both a “nerve-ending syndrome” and rheumatoid arthritis, I HAVE to exercise. It’s definitely a “use it or lose it” type of thing.

If I had the luxury of doing my favorite form of movement-I’d take my crotchety 50-year old body, put on my very old (but still fitting-hah!) leotards and tights and hustle on back to jazz class. But since I don’t-I put on my leggings or sweats, lace up my walkers and either walk outside with Sunshine (my lovely lab mix) or hop onto either my treadmill or exercycle.

This brings me to the title of this article. I own a treadmill. My sister has generously loaned me her exercise bike as well.

Personally-I’d rather be outdoors with my faithful and beloved walking companion of over 10 years, music playing in my ears, stupid poop bag in my fanny pack and my emergency cell phone hooked on me. You’ll notice at no time did I say I looked good, just that I preferred it.

But when the weather gets in the way-which it does, even here in “sunny” Southern California-or my joints are not cooperating with the idea of going up and down the various slopes on my route, I have to rely on the dreaded machines.

Theoretically, I know either one of them give me a better, more consistent workout, but it just really isn’t as much fun. Both tell me exactly how fast I’m going, how many miles I’ve gone, my heart rate and calories I’ve supposedly burned. If you want to believe the digital readouts, somewhere along the lines, I owe myself a cookie.

When I’m on the treadmill, I turn on the television and watch the food network. If I’m on the exercycle, I grab a book or a magazine.

Yet, even though I’m doing two things at once-I haven’t been able to say I feel the “high” that I receive from walking outside with my pooch. I don’t feel as if I’ve accomplished near as much.

Being on the road to nowhere may make the grade physically, but for me, it loses the part where I get to come home feeling “better”. Yes, I know I’ve been active for 30 or more minutes and that I’ve been sweating. I “see” what good has been done for my body. It just doesn’t feel as “weight-lifting” as getting out in the open, on the streets with my headset of dance music wafting in my ears.

I love the sun, the air and looking at what’s around me. In a way, I’m not only doing something physical and emotional, but environmental as well. I feel good about picking up the trash in my wake and beautifying the area I frequent. It truly gives me a feeling of power and satisfaction.

Being on the road to nowhere may help the size of my jeans stay in the lower single digits, but it just doesn’t do as much for my soul.

Now, go out there and have an absolutely awesome day!”

Carine!

Today’s “moments” will be milli-seconds as I’ve more to do than one can imagine and the clock just keeps tickin’.

Over the weekend, I started a discussion about leadership.  I’ve decided to pursue that topic for a few days and just want to make some brief remarks for a Monday.

If I were going to make it in the form of a metaphor (and everyone knows I love that); I’d call leadership “The Monday Morning Experience”.  With Friday night, Saturday & Sunday as the “warm up” or “prep time”.

Look at it this way!  Leadership begins with native gifts in the area of administration; organization and a personality that draws people to you.  In spiritual terms, we call those gifts “motivational gifts of the Spirit” and we’ve talk about those sometime ago in the FORUM.

But they are just that - “native” and usually in pretty raw condition.  In other words, they haven’t been shaped & formed as yet.

That’s where Friday night, Saturday and Sunday in our metaphor, comes in.  We’ve reached a point in life where we’ve transitioned to, moved from or changed into.  We’ve reached late afternoon on Friday.

You know, a really good novel writer, especially a mystery writer (i.e. J.B. Flether on “Murder She Wrote”), always leaves the reader hanging a wee bit.  I think I’ll try that since time is rapidly overtaking me.

So, this is it for today.  We’ll pick up our metaphor tomorrow and look at good leadership vs successful leadership and what must occur between Friday night & Monday morning when it comes to developing leadership!

Have an awesome day with much love and great benefits!

Linda

I just looked up & out my office window.  To my utter delight and amazement, I saw 3 formations of geese flying overhead!  A sure sign of Spring.

The middle formation was in the shape of a “V” and it brought to mind that this is Palm Sunday for us Christians.  The day we are reminded & celebrate Jesus entry into Jerusalem to shouts of great praise from the crowds.

How quickly things change!  How fickle folks can be.  Less than a week later, the scene was very different & the joy of those who had spent 3 years with him (and come to love him) were devastated by the events.

For me, it’s not an easy time, but I’ll not go there today.  What occurred to me was the “V” formation, with the leader at the apex and the rest of his/her group in perfect formation behind.  Not one out of place or ‘jockeying’ for position or leadership!  They knew who was in charge & trusted his/her leadership. Trusted the leader knew to take them where they would be safe throughout the warm weather months in the north.

Leadership is an awesome responsibility!  Mostly, we grow into it if it is a part of our “purpose-package”.  Sometimes, it is thrust upon us & we feel unequal to the task.

Some years ago, Laurie Beth Jones wrote a book called “Jesus, CEO”.  It has become very popular, even among folks you would least expect to read & apply it’s premise.  The book outlines what Ms. Jones sees as the leadership qualities of Jesus when she reads Matthew, Mark, Luke & John; and draws upon how Jesus dealt with those closest to him, as well as the crowds who followed him for 3 years.

I suspect that it’s the same source today’s leadership “guru”, John Maxwell bases his work with leadership training.

Regardless of our faith tradition; how we express a level of faith or no faith at all - Jesus is the perfect model of successful leadership skills, abilities, qualities & character.  It was innate in him.  Yes, because of Who he is - but that is a faith issue.  He was purposed to be a leader.  What he needed, to be perfect in that role, was placed in his spiritual ‘genes’ by birth.  But he had to grow into it the same as those of us who are called to leadership must grow (or mature) into it.

How did that goose get to the front of the “V”?  What gave him/her that position?  More importantly, what was it - other than goose instinct - that assured every goose behind him/her that it was safe to follow?

As I write this today, I’m wondering why I wandered down this path!  Other than I looked up & saw.  Other than it’s Palm Sunday in the Christian community.  Other than my uncanny ability to find a metaphor for something - everywhere!

I’m not an expert on leadership!  I’ve read much of what Maxwell writes & I’ve wandered some of the pages of “Jesus, CEO”.  But I don’t consider myself qualified to teach or train others in leadership.

However, a leadership role is something we, as ‘chronologically maturing women’ traveling the 2nd half of the journey, are often called to put on.  It would be good to feel comfortable in a leadership skin.  It would be a blessing to know in the deepest part of our being, that we fit at the apex of the formation following us!

I will do my best to say a few words over this next week about leadership.  And my hope is that it meets a need; answers questions & clarifies doubt & confusion for those who come here.

Since I think one quality of a successful leader is to know when to step out and when to step back; I’m stepping back at this time & returning to the chores of the day - a day of remembrance that things can change very quickly.  But then there’s always that “V” formation to remind me that no matter what - we can celebrate the victories of our lives.

Have an awesome day with much love and continued rich blessings.

Linda

Spring truly is just around the corner.  You won’t know it here in the Midwest.  Rain yesterday and much cooler temperatures today.  But Harold said he heard a robin early this morning - so Spring is surely about here.

What is so important or desired about “Spring”?  From a spiritual viewpoint, Spring is the metaphor for metamorphesis (dictionary’s out of reach!).  Change & rebirth.  The move of the earth and nature from a dormant ‘death-like’ state to a burst of LIFE!

Ah, just writing it sends shivers of delight down my arms and across my brain! 

It used to be that I waited with baited breath for the first seed catalogs to arrive in January.  I eagerly leafed through the pages, dreaming of what I would plant this season.  And then there are the endless magazines that feature “Spring” projects.  You know, the ‘fixer-upper’ that throws dull & dingy out.  Fresh new linens & lighter, airier drapes, etc.

There’s nothing like new life and rebirth to invigorate us.  Perk us up and give us a sense of ‘youth’ and ‘vigor’.

There is of course, Easter and all it means that has nothing to do with bunnies, candy & hidden eggs!  The celebration of life, death and resurrection is the rhythm of life as we know it. 

We don’t need to be a spiritual ‘giant’ to recognize the analogy that Jesus’ sacrificial act on Friday and his awesome ‘rolled-away’ stone on “the first day of the week”, has to life as we know it on the earth. 

God, in His infinite power & wisdom, gave us an annual reminder that death is not final.  Winter is not the end.  Snow melts under the warmth of Spring sun and warm breezes.

And the lillies will peek through the ground regardless.  The sleepy evergreens and hosta’s perk up with the first hint of a temperature change.  And so do we!

Already, I’m longing to thrust my garden tools deep into the soil, turning it to watch the worms scamper across the dirt.  I can taste the hint of Spring in the air.  And I can feel it in my bones - in fact throughout my entire body.

As much as I have come to loathe winter, I’m not sad that I live where the seasons change as something to look forward to.  For without Winter, how could we enjoy Spring.

Whatever the weather or temperature where you are, my encouragement for the day is to sniff the air and smell the change of season that is hidden just behind a sleeping rose bush!

And enjoy those you love!

Linda

It was one of those days!  Raining heavily and I had to travel.  I looked at the “blog” and at the clock and decided I’d better honor the clock instead.

There are so many different things I could chat about for today.  In fact, so many I don’t know where to start.  I think I’ll start with a subject that came up during our recent PREZ CHAT.  The subject of Business Etiquette!

What is that, you might ask?  Do we even hear the word “etiquette” much anymore.  When I was a little girl, my mother gave me elocution lessons (although I talked plain enough for all to understand) and etiquette lessons.  It was sort of like the “poor girls finishing school”.  Learn to talk properly and how to behave in public (and private as well I suspect).

Etiquette is knowing the usually acceptable norms for behavior.  Not that we should be robots, but that we are expected to behave in ways that enhance our prospects of building a successful business; advance our career; or grow long-lasting strong personal relationships.

In the past week, I’ve experienced a lack of understanding about what works in the business world and what doesn’t.  Today the young manager of a restaurant came to our table, knelt down and laid his hand on the table near my plate.  When he asked if everything was okay, I responded “yes, but please take your hand off the table!” (Said with a smile so as not to totally offend).  If that wasn’t enough, the waitress brought our drinks in her hands (instead of a tray) with one of them stuffed against her blouse in the crook of what I’m sure was a sweaty armpit - yuck!  Not sanitary in the least and certainly not good business strategy.

It must have been my day!  I then went to a meeting where the person demonstrating a product proceeded to royally offend and upset!  Push, pressure, shove!  Doesn’t play well with me at all - and I suspect not with any of you as well.

Most of us know by now that in the virtual world, we are expected NOT to write email in ALL CAPS or BOLD!  It’s considered shouting!!!  With the exception of the above, I’m very cautious about using caps and bold - even for emphasis. (Learned the hard way, of course).

It’s common courtesy and exceedingly good business strategy to respect the integrity, intelligence and personal choice of those with whom we seek to do business.  They will want to do business with us because we treat them the way we want to be treated.  This is especially a fact when it’s male to female.  The person who raised my blood pressure today was male and I had the distinct feeling he thought I was just a cut above an ape because I am a female!  Or perhaps it had to do with my being more ‘chronologically mature’ than he.

How do we handle these moments that transverse our path as we journey the 2nd half?  I’m not the resident expert (again) of course; but I was totally honest with the man that he had offended me and raised my blood pressure.  He was apologetic, but the damage had been done.  I would never do business with him and if it had not been that the person who brought us to the table is one of our members - I would walk from what may be an excellent product and service.

Pressure, push & shove in the business world is a matter of etiquette!  Failing to listen to the potential client or customer is equally a matter of etiquette and one that can cost us considerable if we fail to learn it.

Talking about matters that have the potential to be explosive because people hold strong opinions that may clash (i.e., religion & politics) have no place when marketing your product or services.  Some discussions ought be taboo when seeking to do business with each other.

The bottom line is that we are not marketing our product or services - we are marketing ourselves.  People do business with people and the quality of the product or services is a side benefit.  If I like the person with whom I’m discussing a potential business deal - I’m far more likely to “buy” than if I feel I’m being demeaned as a person in some way.  Regardless of my gender or age!

Well, I went on another ‘rant’.  But when our PREZ CHAT women talked about future cyber seminars - they mentioned business etiquette as something we ought to address.  It obviously is an important topic.  And I think it’s very important when women are starting out on a new venture and treding into new territory.

I know our members are well acquainted with how to conduct ourselves in the marketplace.  But how do we handle those who don’t.  And how do we help our new solo-entrepreneurs manuever through the pitfalls that lay on the path to success - out there in the tough world of business?

It’s a good question to ponder as we head into the weekend break!  It’s good to check ourselves from time to time as well.  Are we practicing graceful marketplace etiquette?  Or are their areas we can improve.

I know I sure can!

Have an awesome weekend with much love & great blessings.

Linda

I can’t believe it’s Thursday already!  Where do the hours and days go?  Is it a function of our time and place in life?  Perhaps it’s the result of our desires to accomplish much more in this 2nd season of our lives.

Yesterday I talked a wee bit about the phrase we use at AWP - “2nd half of the journey”.  What is it and what meaning do we attach to it?

I decided to continue in that vein this morning as I listen to “The Voice” (Russell Watson).  How his voice inspires me and removes the “dry times”.

Once we believe we’re transitioning to another phase, season or time in our lives, I think we do summon the courage and energy to tackle more.  We tend to add more to our ‘plates’.  Yes, I know when we were younger and parenting, the days flew by just as fast.  But now, as we grow more mature chronologically and travel a different path, we have other matters to attend to.  Matters that add a unique dimension to our lives - excitement, eagerness, urgency.  Things to accomplish.  Dreams to turn to reality - NOW!

I do believe a sense of urgency is particular to the 2nd half of our journeys.  Not necessarily because we think time grows short - but that we may have recognized what it is we truly want to do with our lives.

We’ve talked a lot about passion & purpose here as a ‘hallmark’ of the 2nd half of the journey.  But it is the foundation of our sense of eagerness, anticipation, excitement and urgency.

Thus we cram as much as we can into the days with fierce determination!  And I guess that’s as it should be. 

Unless, of course, we don’t stop briefly to notice the beauty of a jet stream streaking high across the sky (as I just did from my office window).  Or listen to an awesome CD as we work or take time to talk to loved ones who have nothing to do with our business agenda!

If the 2nd half of the journey doesn’t make time for the soft moments, then our pursuit may lead us to a success we didn’t ultimately seek!  Soft moments, those times in our days when we S-T-O-P & do a little more than just ’smell the roses’ as we pass by.

‘Chronologically maturing women’ in the ‘2nd half of the journey’ have reached more than a certain age or self-awareness.  We’ve developed, built and corrected awesome skill-sets.  We know how to make things happen and we know how to juggle.  It has come with our ‘territory’.

But have we learned how to stop at the rest stops on the path we travel?  Rest stops designed to nourish us in dry times.  Places of intimate relationship with those closest to us.  Places to reconnect with the spirit that resides in our deepest nature.

My encouragement for today is that you will take a breather.  Behold the sky and clouds.  Call a friend just to check-in.  See the jet streams streaking across the sky by looking up once in a while.

And when you return to the “to-do list” you’ll be refreshed.  And the “to-do’s” will get done quicker and more efficiently!  You just watch and see.

Have an awesome day with ample soft moments.

Linda