The Greatness Guide, Book 2: 101 More Insights to Get You to World Class (9 page)

So be jokeable. Relax. Yes, go for world class. But blend that drive with a sense of amusement and festivity. Hold on to life with a loose grip. Every setback carries the seeds of an even greater opportunity (it’s taken me about 43 years to get that one). And life was never meant to be an ordeal. It was meant to be pure joy.

Here’s a simple truth I’ve learned from the best leaders I’ve worked with as a success coach, professional speaker and leadership consultant: The only way to truly get power is to give it away. The more you rely on, trust and believe in your team and the bigger the investment you make in getting them to their greatness, the larger will be the commitment, engagement and outright devotion they have toward you.

Power doesn’t come from forcing people to listen to you and coercing them to do what you say because you have the right title on your business card. Nope. Real power comes when you spread your passion, offer people a reason to climb your strategic mountaintops, treat them with rare respect and give them permission to shine, grow and Lead Without Title. Be there for people and they’ll be there for you. Simple stuff, but as I mentioned earlier, I’m a pretty simple guy.

Here’s a great line from Richard Kovacevich, CEO of Wells Fargo (I had to read it a few times to get it): “It’s the best five players that win the game, not the five best players.”

Okay, so maybe habits aren’t the hippest thing in the world. But they just might be the most important. What separates the best from the rest comes down to habits. A few good ones (that’s really all it takes—two or three really good ones) will make a massive difference in the way your career and your life looks at the end. They will make the difference between mediocrity and mastery. So choose them well.

Here’s a metaphor that may serve nicely to make my point: A good habit is like a sturdy oak tree. It starts off as a little seed, planted in a single moment. Fail to nurture it daily and it dies a fast death. But tend to it, just a bit each day, and the thing grows. Until one day it’s so strong that it is next to impossible to break.

Your habits will define how close to your personal mountaintop you get. Ones I’ve observed in world-class people include the following:

• Align all your actions with the highest levels of excellence and integrity
  

• Put relationships with people first
  

• Leverage adversity to make you/your career and your life even better.
  

• Get up early.
  

• Under-promise and over-deliver
  

• (always give people more than they expect and you’ll win).
  

• Be a passionate learner (read daily, listen to audio programs by insightful thinkers and attend seminars).
  

• Spend the first 60 minutes of each day dreaming, planning or simply working out to maintain remarkable personal vitality.
  

• Balance being tremendously good at what you do with becoming a tremendously interesting and well-rounded human being.
  

Just a few to pick from. To get you going. To plant your seeds.

I had a Perfect Moment today. It wasn’t a standing ovation in front of a thousand people. It wasn’t a phone call from a publisher sharing some good news. It wasn’t a Fortune 500 company calling to book a leadership presentation or coaching engagement for their team. No, it was a far more important thing that occurred in my life on this morning. And it was incredibly basic (as are the best things in life).

As I got out of my car in the parking lot of our office, I noticed an amazing fragrance in the air. It was pure beauty. So sweet and breathtaking. I looked around and saw that I’d parked under a tree overflowing with red and pink blossoms. Spring had sprung, and the tree was spreading its magic. I just stood there. Closed my eyes, entranced by the smell. And the moment. I felt grateful to be alive. Sure, I have challenges I’m dealing with (the only ones who don’t are dead). Sure, life could always be better. But happiness is all about gaining a sense of proportion and perspective. And we all have many blessings in our lives, like people who love us or work that gives our days meaning or healthy kids or simple gifts like food on the table and two eyes to see through. Like the Perfect Moment in the parking lot.

Life is so very short. Yes, it’s important to focus on excellence in your career and arriving at splendid success, however you define it. I totally agree with that. But equally important is enjoying the ride. Laughing. Having fun. Experiencing adventure. And not missing out on Perfect Moments. Mostly, they are free. And they are right in front of you. Today. If only you make the time to look for them.

I was driving Colby to school and got an idea I want to share with you. We were talking about
Everybody Loves Raymond,
the television show my kids adore. In particular, we discussed the tension between Raymond’s (cranky) mother, Marie, and Ray’s (loving) wife, Deborah. Colby said they don’t like each other because Marie doesn’t like Deborah’s cooking. I asked him to go deeper and to figure out the real issue. After we discussed it for a while, we both heard the coin drop: We got that the real reason Marie doesn’t like Deborah is that she feels threatened by the love between Deborah and her son Raymond. She’s insecure. Thinks she might lose him. So she’s hard on Deborah and has no praise for her. Ever.