Reflections on Leadership

Diverse friends are valuable in that they will ask you diverse questions to help uncover your real goals and aspirations. However, be mindful of where you get your advice. A colonial period blacksmith, though historic and charming, probably won't provide you much useful information about a hybrid car. Who are the five people you spend the most time with, and why? Are you getting quality advice fro...

What is the best compliment you have ever received? It felt nice, right? How many compliments have you given lately? Give ten or more genuine compliments today. *** About #30 Perspectives and Reflections on Leadership: Welcome to the Reflections on Leadership podcast, and our new series, #30Perspectives, where over 30 days, I offer a different perspective for you to reflect on your current beliefs...

Creating and Reacting use the same letters and how you arrange them when faced with a problem speaks volumes. Will you create or react? Describe your reaction to a current problem. What will you create to address and resolve this problem? *** About #30 Perspectives and Reflections on Leadership: Welcome to the Reflections on Leadership podcast, and our new series, #30Perspectives, where over 30 da...

Any goal can be measured. If a goal can't be measured, it's probably a wish. How do you know you've achieved a goal if you can't measure it? Two questions will keep you moving in the right direction; "How much?" and "By when?" What two measurements will you assign to those questions? *** About #30 Perspectives and Reflections on Leadership: Welcome to the Reflections on Leadership podcast, and our...

Goals inherently have deadlines, and that's what makes them stand out from wishes. Deadlines are not arbitrary -- they quicken your pace and force you to focus on accomplishments. List three of your important goals and their deadline. *** About #30 Perspectives and Reflections on Leadership: Welcome to the Reflections on Leadership podcast, and our new series, #30Perspectives, where over 30 days,...

Those who use the word "can't" often lack imagination; those who ignore it often create magic. What can you do today? What do you choose to do? *** About #30 Perspectives and Reflections on Leadership: Welcome to the Reflections on Leadership podcast, and our new series, #30Perspectives, where over 30 days, I offer a different perspective for you to reflect on your current beliefs, challenge your...

Be comfortable failing. It shows you have high self-esteem. Learn from your mistakes and move on without dwelling. What did you recently fail at, and what did you learn? *** About #30 Perspectives and Reflections on Leadership: Welcome to the Reflections on Leadership podcast, and our new series, #30Perspectives, where over 30 days, I offer a different perspective for you to reflect on your curren...

The best time to act is when the thought first strikes you because a better time does not exist. What's the most important thing you have to do today? *** About #30 Perspectives and Reflections on Leadership: Welcome to the Reflections on Leadership podcast, and our new series, #30Perspectives, where over 30 days, I offer a different perspective for you to reflect on your current beliefs, challeng...

Accept feedback as a gift. What you do with the gift is your choice. Acting defensive or elated is entirely up to you. Graciously accept feedback the same way you receive an ugly sweater; regardless of how you feel, you still smile at Auntie and say thank you for the gift. What ten people can you show gratitude toward today? *** About #30 Perspectives and Reflections on Leadership: Welcome to the...

Success moves in the opposite direction of negativity. What three things have you been most negative about recently, and how will you change your attitude about them? *** About #30 Perspectives and Reflections on Leadership: Welcome to the Reflections on Leadership podcast, and our new series, #30Perspectives, where over 30 days, I offer a different perspective for you to reflect on your current b...

Anyone who has poured salad dressing from a bottle knows that a little shakeup improves things considerably. If you find you don't have the right ingredients to add seasoning, stir the pot instead. What can you shake up today to release more flavor into your life? *** About #30 Perspectives and Reflections on Leadership: Welcome to the Reflections on Leadership podcast, and our new series, #30Pers...

An idea and a simple pen are powerful enough tools to raise the aspirations, faiths, and movement of entire nations. Writing down what's most important to you makes all the random rejections you receive from others along the way seem rather measly. What rejections have you felt recently, and how did you get over them? *** About #30 Perspectives and Reflections on Leadership: Welcome to the Reflect...

We almost always find what we're looking for. The problem is, we only see it when we're looking for something else, so we tend to ignore it. Look for good things today and see what else you notice. *** About #30 Perspectives and Reflections on Leadership: Welcome to the Reflections on Leadership podcast, and our new series, #30Perspectives, where over 30 days, I offer a different perspective for y...

When you were a child, did you ask permission to make-believe? Give yourself permission once again - it may help you rediscover yourself. We should spend less time dwelling on who we'll be one day, and more time embracing who we are right now! What if you were a better version of your future self? What are your current strengths? *** About #30 Perspectives and Reflections on Leadership: Welcome to...

Want a more exciting life? Make your decisions faster. But be careful. Making decisions before you know your objective is like throwing ingredients into a bowl, then determining what you want to eat. That's the wrong order. Pick the life you want to live first, and then live toward your objective. No excuses. No apologies. Do this and you’ll become more productive and learn how to correct your err...

Are you getting what you dream about, or is it time to examine where you are and where you’re headed? People talk themselves out of their dreams way too easily. Naturally, that hurts, so many of them self-medicate to find relief. What do you think would happen if instead, people committed to their important goals? Let’s find out. Welcome to the Reflections on Leadership podcast, and our new series...

Another freestyle edition. In this one, I ask you to consider your inner control freak, question what you’re afraid of, and challenge you to let those you lead take the opportunity to soar. *** About Reflections on Leadership: Leadership advisor, writer, and no BS accountability partner, Karl Bimshas, shares quick reflections on leadership, and interviews other busy professionals, to challenge you...

Went freestyle on this one. No script. I encourage you to reduce your amount of dictating what you need and start listening to the people who are helping you achieve your goals better. Find out what’s important to members of your team. Spend time with people (once a month absolute minimum) individually and frequently. Learn about their fears and anxieties and find ways to reduce the friction they...

No matter how thoroughly you planned, you don't know what tomorrow is going to bring. Every hurdle you've cleared to this point makes you stronger and wiser to deal with the others standing between you and where you want to go. No one said your route was the easy way. Dig in. You've got this. Every challenge you conquer makes victory even sweeter. Everything is preparing you for what's next. So, d...

Pick your obsessions and addictions carefully and deliberately, or one will be assigned to you. Success and failure have similar traits. The unglamorous, seemingly insignificant thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and choices that you make every day predict your future. The habits and routines you bemoan will either lift you up or drag you down. What you tolerate you invite to stay. Everyone has a pass...

Shame holds you back. Empathy pulls you forward. Look, the past is in the past. Maybe you made bad decisions. Maybe you found yourself paying the price for someone else's poor judgment. Maybe you were preyed upon, taken advantage of, or maybe circumstances just haven't been favorable. Okay. Shed the shame. Transform it into empathy. You've got experience now. You've been trapped in the deep dark h...

You don't need permission to lead. You need a purpose. Don't wait to be anointed or appointed by someone else — lead from where you are, today. Do not lead solely for money, or fame, grandeur, or power. Lead for those who need you in the darker hours. Lead for those who've not yet found their voice, the multitudes who've lost their choice. *** About Reflections on Leadership: Leadership advisor, w...

It's okay to oscillate in your life and with your leadership. In fact, I'd encourage you to do so. Regularly scan your surroundings and your interests, back and forth; taking note of changes in the landscape, people's beliefs, and your opinion. This predictability is a strength. To vacillate, however, is a weakness.  Churning like a whirling dervish, from one pursuit to another, either in con...

What if you suspended your outrage and replaced it with a thirst for knowledge? Are you humble enough to say, “You haven’t convinced me yet, tell me more.” Could you ask questions like, “What makes you think that,” or, “how did you arrive at that conclusion?” Imagine putting yourself in their shoes in a genuine attempt to learn their motivation for spouting off the very thing you detest. What coul...

Never want to be disappointed? Have low expectations. You exert minimal effort and plod through life. You don't expect much; you don't get much. It's a cynical philosophy way too many people adopt because it's easier. It's also crappy advice lousy leaders tend to give others. *** About Reflections on Leadership: Leadership advisor, writer, and no BS accountability partner, Karl Bimshas, shares qui...