Leader or Manager. Which Are You?...

If you were to provide a quick response to the above question, what would your answer be? Do you know the difference? Do I know the difference? A good place to start is for me to answer this question. I can see over the years I have been both, which has served and been a detriment to me at the same time. There are times I should have led when I should have followed and managed when I should have been managed. This brings up a key question that need to be examined. What is the difference between the two and how could this 'knowing' effect my future actions, relationships and outcomes to situations and events? I think the answer lays in self-management, not with others. If a person will self manage themselves they are then able to lead. Managing others only leads to co-dependency because others will always fall back to you to help them manage what they choose to not manage themselves. This then makes you feel responsible to others success or failure. On the other hand, if you take sovereignty back (being totally responsible for yourself) and lead from this authority of self others will want to follow or be around you for this energy. Then they will want to do the same, start to leading, following your example, being responsible for self. You then can allow / follow (as a great leader) the leaders around you put their own 'footprint' on matters that are theirs to own and operate. You then do only what is proper as your own leader of self tending to the details (management) that are your own, self management. I believe a great self manager is a great leader to the world. Go out and self manage yourself today, okay? You will become a great leader in your home, community, business and nation. You will find many thing in your environment change because of your change in thinking. Surprise yourself. Go be a great leader...
Until my next leading WebLog...

Lead or Follow But Get Out of the Gray...

It is a paradox that a true real leader knows how and when to follow as well as lead. It then stands to reason that a high degree of intellect and coherent emotion are working very well together to make a quick assessment of which is proper action at any given moment. I saw a great example of this watching Trumps 'Apprentice' last night. Amarosa was team leader on the losing team. They were required to come up with a highly creative, branded window dressing at a department store showcasing enjoying laying in bed(for a mattress company). Their team decided to do a traditional wedding scene with the happy couple parading around the bed in delight, while the winning team(from the men) came up with Cleopata and her 'king' in rich lounging attire, being served wine, etc. by a servant with cellphones, laptops at their side, merging the old with the new. One of Amarosa's teammates(the Hollywood Guru) was 'fired' in the boardroom for apparently not having enough 'creativity' to aid with the right decision to make this event highly special and unique for the judges, and therefore following her 'leaders' decision. Amarosa said in the boardroom she thought they asked all the right questions and fully understood what was right for the task. One of the members on Amarosa's team made the following comment while preparing their showcase window- 'When someone's impassioned with their vision, they inspire people to follow them'. She believed their 'leader' was right on the money and they would win the task! She followed without using critical thinking. She made an assumption that following the 'leaders' path would naturally attain success. And they lost and she got fired!
I think one of the most critical attributes of a true leader is to quickly assess the truth of a given situation, and act quickly with all the displays of courage and boldness needed to see it through the right way. They would not follow the 'pack' with the assumption everything is okay. I think "when everything is just okay, you're living in the gray". Get smart quick, know when to lead, know when to follow, and always stay out of the gray...
Have a great day everyone. Until the next WebLog...

Fundamental Relationship Projecting- Say What?

The stock market is an amazing thing. Just ask Warren Buffet. Master, mentor and billionaire extraordinaire. He is the ultimate Fundamental Relationship Projectionist! His history and success, in my opinion, is largely based on the relationships he has with people, namely long term, permanent business relationships. He does not trade stock or follow the market day to day. Anyone and Everyone who learned from him, followed his advice, and listened then piggy-back invested in his Berkshire Hathaway, made millions following his trust and advice. Had computers been used back then, these same people seeking through the 'net' surfing for a 'king' of investment (a virtual advisor) back when he started, none of them may have attained any level of financial success whatsoever. You see, he personally mentored under a highly successful investor, and build a strong relationship up and out from that. His integrity, authentic desire to use non-emotional decisions based on people and company strength, and not the market whims and flimsy ideas, built the foundation of growth into what he is and has attained today. And we all want to be like him without the years needed to accomplish it.

I think this is why many of us fail at ventures today in the technological world we live. Millions want to sell something/anything over the internet, buy into template cookie cutter affiliate programs, buy into outsourced ideas and programs. WHAT we sell is almost not important as the art of selling your 'SPECIAL' SYSTEM, all virtual! No relationships with people, just relationships with systems. This is why a master of direct marketing said recently it is the era of looking for diamonds in a great 'sea of poverty'. There are NO diamonds to be found there!

Also, we seem to now going about our business with the believe direct relationships are not as important as virtual one's Don't believe me? Just go on the net and see how many people that you will never meet that want to sell you something or into anything, even virtual nothingness, a virtual abyss. Let's set the record straight...true relationships cannot be 'bought or outsourced.' Did you get that? Relationships cannot be bought or outsourced! When you go out to meet people, shake their hand, chat a while, enjoy some time with coffee, ask a few questions, and enjoy someone's company no one can embrace that moment except the person/people experiencing it. Rapport builds with trust and integrity. And out from that can grow an expansive partnership which may include business.

A very wealthy businessman says this path of direct relationships can grow an enormous amount of wealth, much much larger than any derivative outsourced program a lot of internet guru's try to suck you into! So if you want a lot of money, wealth and riches in your life, join the ultra successful and live the 'good' life, then get out and market yourself and your ideas, seek out fundamental healthy relationships with everyone you can in your area, and watch the magic happen to you!
Until the next WebLog...

Will The real ME please stand up...

Hello everyone and welcome to a great new year 2008 and my first blog for the new year! So many things have changed in today's high tech environments that allow, encourage, foster and grow, virtual altered versions of the self that may or may not reflect the real person. Most humans do not want to feel 'left behind' to anything new, especially on the web. We have a need to follow what is 'current', even if it is to our detriment, both personally and financially. Let me explain. As we all know there is huge growth in online social networks, facebook, youtube, classmate websites, adult sites, gambling sites, to name just a few. When choosing to do e-business or a direct marketing business on the net the options are so wide and diverse so as to allow you many virtual possibilites. Many companies capitalize on this need of the small online business person wanting to make money through the net. The largest growing trend, buzz and direction of the net is to grow a 'pipeline' of virtual prospects from many sources 'out there' interested in what you want to sell, then pipelined direct to you, all done virtually. It is the new world of viral marketing. There are many flaws with this type of marketing that for most people will lead them to poverty. Firstly, you do not need to care anything about the 'real' person including there real name, as long as you get an email address, they are a contact prospect. Another consideration with this type of marketing is getting this pipeline growing by keeping lots of fresh leads (prospects) attracted to your web page and follow through to become a long term client, buyer. Very very few people have positioned themselves on the web with strong pipelines attracting prospects, resulting in what is known as 'lead poverty'. This is where 'affiliate' programs, lead generation companies and derivative programs come into play. Web sharks operate these programs and, mark my words, make huge sums of money, have powerfully positioned themselves (with everyone elses money- there own teams monies!). Want proof? In google, type in names like DONALD TRUMP or RICHARD BRANSON and look on the righthand bar who the top sponsored links are. These are just some of the guys operating these programs. The click throughs are extremely expensive for the average individual to capitalize on but cheap for the affiliate companies, which make you sign up, pay $40.00 per month to access, then add many other $charges for splash pages, web pages, templates, $5.00- $40.00 per prospect lead, to name just a few. (One side note- a multi-millionaire 20 year veteran networker says there are very few, if any great leads from these programs and it is all a waist of money!) You could easily seduced into 20 or 30 sub programs from the original company you got involved with from all the 'leaders' on your so called team. When you join these so called 'teams of professionals' you are forced to 'follow' their leadership and DUPLICATE what they tell you to do. When you do not (maybe because you cannot afford it) the person(s) who attracted you to the online opportunity most times will not communicate with you anymore nor aid your new business. DO YOU SEE WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING? Remember also most rarely do you ever meet all these so called professional team members unless you pay great sums to attend their holiday functions. This brings me back to my 20 year veteran marketer. He made huge sums of money over the years by doing only 2 simple things that work, meet and talk to real people! He does not use technology in TODAYS marketplace to make a fortune. Did you hear that? He states that the $300,000+ monthly earners do their business that way. If you are serious about making a fortune on the net with a direct marketing business you always have the option of following the crowd into the new virtual world trends or do it the old fashion way, by being yourself, authentic, real, meeting real people in need of a better life. It's that simple. If you walk into a room and see an odd looking guy standing and chatting to people its probably me, being real. Come shake my hand, then I'll know the real you? How great is that? Meet you soon...
Until the next WebLog...

You Only Have To Be Right Once...

'It doesn't matter how many times you fail. It doesn't matter how many times you almost get it right. No one is going to know or care about your failures, and either should you. All you have to do is learn from them and those around you because...All that matters in business is that you get it right once. Then everyone can tell you how lucky you are.'

Who said this? The multi-billionaire Mark Cuban. This was at the end of a blog Mark Cuban wrote about his attaining ultimate success- when he hit the MARK! (okay, I promise no more puns!) He stated that no one ever asked anything about his previous many ventures in the pursuit of success only to end in 'failures'- and they started from a young age. But when you strike 'gold', drill a 'oil gusher', buy a stock early that goes through the roof, etc. everyone around you claims it to be 'luck'. Silence is profound until you hit pay dirt! Then everyone around you speaks about you like it was just overnight luck. It is other like-kind people who really understand the years of trial and error, dedication, effort, 'stick-to-it'ness, the confidence and belief that you can and will attain your greatness somewhere, somehow, it's just a matter of time.

I remember another famous person in the music industry who said the 'mike' (your voice, fortune, etc.) only goes by you once. If you miss it you are out of luck. If any successful person had believed that they would have never had the courage to keep going. If Mark Cuban had believed this he would never attained what he did, he would not be a wealthy happy guy.

I say to you, do not ever give up. Do not ever give in to the voices of mediocrity, the negative people who silently live in the shadows of life and loud with rumors and murmurs when someone sticks out of the mud and rises into the light of greatness and fortune, then tells the whole world of your 'luck, overnight success'. Martha Stewart said it well in her recent book that 'opportunites will always keep coming to you all your life'. The point is all missed one's are just the setup for the next one, your next opportunity. DO NOT EVER GIVE UP.

You only have to be right once...

Until the next WebLog...

Is A Thinker Really a Thinker? Something to think about...

'C K Prahalad, India-born management guru and academician, has been voted the world's most influential living management thinker ahead of hands-on managers like Bill Gates, Alan Greenspan and Richard Branson. Prahalad, who is the first Indian-origin thinker to claim the title, was ranked number three in last year's Thinkers 50 list brought out by Suntop Media.'

This is the opening headlines of a recent article on the web. What importance does this have, who does it effect, what does it exactly mean. And who decided this and what criteria was used? And to who's benefit is it I believe this to be true? This is certainly something to think about. But does it hold substance? Is it accurate to the real world?

The words that the caught my eye, stood out from the rest from the headline, was 'management guru and academician'. That suggests to me that management and intellect is at the top of importance for global economic dominance and leadership that can eradicate poverty. That sends out red flags to me that rise higher than the hay in the fields! The very implication is that management means primarily 'people resources'. This further means corralling, funneling and directing people (managing) for commercial, global, economic purposes that we are told is 'good'. When you really think on it accurately, if someone else manages 'you', you will always be limited to the design and formulation of your life from the outside influences, a MANAGER. It is a master-slave relationship. Hence if you are allowing yourself and your life to be influenced and directly from an outside 'source' you will be a slave to the relationship, always managed. By managed also has historically proved over the years to only pay a limited cap on one's ability to earn money, produce income. The real wealth always funnels up to the top because the design of the corporate structure is a pyramid shape vs. a lateral design. Just read the fine print or listen to the 'gurus'. The CEO makes the most money, next the President(s), layers of Managers, then at the bottom of the structure, the folks being 'MANAGED'- the employees. Do you notice that CEO's, CFO's (the Financial Officer) and public relations people in the same companies not only manage the people, systems, structure, and goods sold interally but also manage the message- all outsiders. They even call it corporate governance. The only piece of the action most people ever get out of this is owning some form of shares... The all blessed phrase 'shareholder value'. The one that leaves YOU with the impression that YOU are the important one in the entire chain. So the answer to the question, 'To who's benefit is it I believe this to be true?' in this case is the corporate structure with one one specifically to blame or make accountable. It does a great job of keeping the structure in place with the most people resources at the bottom of the pyramid- the employees. The ones who make the least amount of money with no influence or decision making.
Would it not be a great thing to have a 'great leader and lateral thinker' amongst us, influencing the world than a 'great mangement and academician'? Was perhaps Gandi and Mother Teresa in this category, just to name a few? These people revolutionised systems and structures in place for a better society, world, with people being first importance in the chain, not last. These people understood poverty and the implications of it from the front lines, the human level. Further the passion of purpose they displayed was from deep conviction to make the world a better place, raise the consciousness and awareness.
It was recently said if you want to change poverty choose to not live in poverty yourself. To think about that and choose that is to become the master over the only domain you can control- YOURSELF. Only a corporate structure that benefits everyone, is lateral, and equal to all, fair, and unlimited in wealth to all people who put a high degree of effort in, can profit everyone- equally. The person who needs to become the expert on 'thinking stuff' is yourself.
I promise to do some thinking on this.
Until the next blog...

Oh Bee Oh Bee, where art thee, in the land of the free?

A recent tv show I watched profiled what I consider to bee the demise of one of the true wonders of the natural world...the honey bee. The honey bee pollinates just about every type of plant, vegetable and fruit in the fields of mankind. We do not only depend on the bee for honey. We need the honey bee to do the natural thing.. to seed the fields of foods in just about every food group available to man! If this does not happen we do not eat, period! The very makeup of the bee is amazing alone. They are designed so as to know which way the sun is, perform a dance that is in itself unbeelievable to show all the other bees how far, how fast, how high, how long to fly to get a source of food for the hive, how to protect the queen bee, the purpose and action of the worker bees, the purpose and action of the 'drones'... the list is so far reaching to nature that comes right back to effect everyone of us directly- our mouths. Whether we realize it or not today, we will know the truth very soon, as we will not have the food the bee has provided since the beeginning of time. The bee's are not even going back to the hive anymore, which means only one thing, death. We simply will not have the organic natural foods from the land of plenty to eat! Because there will not bee any! So now what??? Who, what is to blame? Why is this happening? Is it as profound as what the documentary revealed? Is it what is in our environment? A virus(s) and/or other health issues? Compromised immune system? Greed of the bee keepers and commercial operators? A mixture of some/all of these? Why is man's head down and we seem to not be aware of this siuation, which could be a tragedy on a global far reaching scale affecting our eating supply and nutrients? How did we let this get so far along on what could be an irreversible path, the death of one of natures wonderous seed planters and food suppliers. Why is it we are not paying attention to this serious problem...until a documentary reveals it as a serious problem? Is there something in all of us that we are so focused on ourselves, a narcisistic nation only focused on our own needs & greeds, our own desires, our own personal problems, our own personal wealth or lack of, our own personal illnessness/health issues, our, our, our, etc? Have we forgot the simple truth that nature has her way with the universe and inhabitants therein? She governs and corrects all negligence, all inverted perspectives and seductive spins away from of her truths. We are not getting the picture she must correct it all, as she governs everything below it, which is everything, including you and I. I, like many of you hope this can bee corrected and returned to it's natural state, or honey at the kitchen table as weel as many other foods we take for granted will bee no longer there.
Until the next post...