The power of becoming extraordinary

The firms that go beyond excellence understand the power of becoming extraordinary in the market place. It all starts with a shift in business attitude, culture, and practice. When firms develop the habit of continuous improvement and beneficial change for their customers they embark upon the idea of unleashing extraordinary value to the market place.

Reach leadership significance in our own platforms

Some of us are authors, speakers, trainers, business coaches, and corporate leaders. As leaders we should consider striving as a goal to reach significance within our own leadership platforms.

In order to do so, we must take responsibility of three areas: our body, mind, and spirit. The body, mind, and spirit can make significance in their own way based on discipline or training. We must understand that:

• The training of our body leads to strength and softness. 
• The training of our mind is in the channeling of energy.
• The training of our spirit leads to elimination of all thought. 

Thus the journey towards significance within our own leadership platforms begins when we empty ourselves and clear away worldly distractions. We do this to make room for what we want and expel what we don't want. This allows us to focus our specific intent whole-heartily in a niche market or finite area. It is within this finite area where we must master the use of our body, mind, and spirit in endless ways.

When we weave our body, mind, and spirit into our leadership platforms as a single entity we engage a higher level of leadership mastery infusing the rich blessings from the INFINITE.

See beyond the fork in the road

Situations move quickly like fast driving leaders in red sport cars that have a need for speed. 

Sure, we leaders may ignore a few warning signs along the way and feel like we're in control of our destiny. However, what happens when we drive up to the proverbial fork in the road but this time we have to deal with our own luggage, lunch, and baggage?

In other words, sooner or later we will all approach a defining moment in our lives when the path we’re traveling on diverges because of a crossroad which forces us to THINK.  

For simplicity sake, the most basic crossroad has only a left or a right path to choose. If going to the left leads to risk, doubt, and uncertainty; where, going to the right leads to safety, sureness, and certainty which path would you take?  

There are many ways to pontificate a solution. Instead of focusing on the "HOW" we should consider focusing on the "WHY". We don't always have to know the answer; however, realize that we all need to respect our inner feelings. The answers to most of our questions are already within us. Pause for a moment and listen to that quiet voice. We are often too distracted while driving.

Be still. Be alert. Be aware. See beyond the fork in the road. 

Copyright © 2013 Hasan Harnett. All rights reserved.

Cultivating golden relationships

The first rule of networking is that it powers the spread of extraordinary ideas.

The second rule of networking is that it allows you to see where you're going.

Therefore, cultivate golden relationships with like-minded leaders who have already been where you need to go.

Put your fingers in the taffy

We all have our own unique experiences when it comes to living our lives as employees. Yet for one reason or another at some point in our careers we all have felt unfulfilled. 

A typical employee rant would go something like this:  "I'm driving to work. I'm doing my job. It’s so busy but actually I'm bored. I'm looking for some recognition. I'm taking an extended lunch break today. Will I get caught? I don't know but I would like to get off early today. Where's my boss? Can I get on Facebook before going home? Can I just go home now? Perhaps I should stay late. I might as well connect to my job from home. Do I really HAVE to do this all over again tomorrow?”

Life is so much more than this. Stop thinking and start working your plan. In the words of my dad "You have to put your fingers in the taffy." Taffy is a sticky mass of boiled sugar, butter, flavorings, and coloring. The only way to make taffy is through stretching or pulling.

We can become what we truly want to BE. We have to push and pull and see what happens. We only live once and then it is over before we know it. Find out who you are, what you want to do, and then stretch yourself. The only person who can stretch your mind and leadership is you. I’m just a regular guy who is here to light the fire on your bunsen burner. That's what my leadership is all about.

Leadership is like balloons

Leadership is like balloons. They can come in a spectrum of colors: red, green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, and blue. Some balloons stretch to their limit and then snap back to their original shape. Other balloons fill up with different types of substances like water, air, and rocks. 

A single balloon does not represent the same scale and size as if you had a thousand balloons tied together to form a community.  The more color, shapes, and sizes the more diverse the balloons. It is in their diversity that makes balloons all the more beautiful. Balloons are empty until filled and outside material substances can ultimately change their direction and purpose. 

Here are three leadership lessons from Hasan Harnett about balloons.

1) Be flexible in your leadership. Change is one of the most difficult things we face in life as leaders. It is important to have firm goals but stay flexible enough in achieving them. 

Albert Einstein said "The measure of intelligence is the ability to change."

Jacqueline Carey stated "That which yields is not always weak."

2) Embrace diversity and the differences among your followers. Diversity represents the complex expressions of each person tied together for a common purpose. Remember to approach life with the same attitude in mind. Accepting your encounters with diversity is a learning opportunity. Respond appropriately.

Henry David Thoreau said "It is never too late to give up prejudices."

Stephen Covey said "Strength lies in differences not, in similarities."

Malcolm Forbes stated "Diversity is the art of thinking independently together."

3) Fill your mind with the right material substances. You can fill your leadership much like a balloon with whatever you choose. However, whatever you put in your balloon determines your leadership trajectory. In general, balloons filled with water become heavy and fall to the ground. Balloons filled with air become light and float better. Balloons filled with rocks sink. 

Every day you are at the beginning of a new leadership journey by which you must make decisions about your why and purpose. Success is only a decision away. I urge you to make your choices wisely. 

Leading beyond the world of averages

Someone once said: “You are the average of your five best friends.”

Ah…the game of averages. It appears to me that leaders in the 21^st century compete fiercely in this world of averages too. Let’s do an acronym to illustrate my point since we all need to raise our leadership to the next level. Write the word “PAGE” on a clean piece of paper. If you are an average leader or if you are doing things in an average kind of way, you will live a poor life.

P – Poor
A – Average
G – Good
E – Excellent

Think about it like this, average leaders end up having poor friends, poor careers, and lead poor lives. Likewise, good leaders have average friends, average businesses, and live an average life. Similarly, excellent leaders have good friends; good businesses, and live a good life.

Competition fiercely competes on the same “PAGE” even at the level of excellence. However, competition barely exists when you are an extraordinary leader.

21st Century Leadership Road Kill

How much will you invest in your personal development this year?

The best investment you will ever make in your life with your money is your investment in you. On one hand, extraordinary leaders understand this basic premise. As a result, they almost always have an amazing story, life, family, and friends because they habitually reinvest in both their hard and soft skills over longer periods of time. 

On the other hand, good to great leaders falter because of time horizon and investment constraints. In other words, they lack the habit of investing which causes them to miss out on the compounding effects of personal growth. 

Realize that the world is shifting towards an extraordinary leadership mindset. Leaders who refuse to invest in their own leadership development and life skills will end up like 21^st century road kill. Therefore, put your money where your mouth is. Remain congruent with your thoughts, words, and actions.