What is Leadership?

When asked which employees they would keep when it comes to leadership skills, employers say, "The ones who are willing and able to assume a leadership role and take charge when necessary and appropriate." So, what is leadership in today's organizations? Traditional organizations of the past had "bosses" who told their employees what to do. Then these bosses found that employees would do just that and nothing more!

In today's organizations, most "bosses" have taken on new roles. They realize that "bossing" others can destroy an employee's sense of ownership and pride. Today's organizations need leaders rather than "bosses".

♦ A boss possesses a title. A leader sets an example.
♦ A boss demands respect. A leader earns respect.
♦ A boss tells employees what to do. A leader inspires action in others and demonstrates the right way to do something.
♦ A boss focuses on "I". A leader focuses on "we".

Continual Personal Development

Your continual self-improvement is essential for personal development in life. A healthy child does not stop progressing after learning to crawl. He or she goes on to walk, and ultimately learns to run within his or her capacity. Each day is an opportunity to learn something new and to pursue knowledge about areas of interest and purpose in which you are passionate.

There is valuable wisdom within sound experience, but it is not recommended that you always totally rely upon what you may have learned or experienced eons ago. In every area of life, improvements and changes are continually taking place.

Below are four simple points to keep in mind for daily self-improvement:

1. Read books, trade magazines, journals, blogs and research articles pertinent to your area of interest.
2. Network and socialize with diverse individuals who share your interests and passions for living to keep abreast of new trends and areas of thought surrounding your interests.
3. Take courses available to you to advance your field of knowledge in your area of expertise or field of interest.
4. Travel internationally to learn about different customs, cultures and traditions surrounding your area of interest.

 

Discover Joy...

What lights your fire, floats your boat, puts a spring in your step? What makes time disappear for you? What motivates you to happily get out of bed in the morning?     
    It is great to discover why we do what we do, work where we work, engage in the business we do and find joy in our lives every day.  If you are fortunate enough to have family and friends around you who love you, we hope you share your time and hearts with them and embrace that joy fully.
    If you are in the group of people who also love your work and find joy in the everyday tasks and events associated with your work, you are doubly fortunate because you have discovered a secret-when work is fun, it is not work.
    We hope that you are in that group of people who love what they do. And if you are not in that group, maybe it is time to make a change and do something that will float your boat and make you happy while you work. It's OK to make a change, really it is. Scary, perhaps, but life is too short to be doing something every day and not be happy.
Here's to your happiness and Welcome To Living!

Peer Relationships...

Our peers can be a great source of support, information and camaraderie. Yet many of us get so busy we forget to take the time to nurture these important relationships. We often connect with our peers when we need something instead of creating mutually beneficial relationships throughout the year. This week, consider going to lunch with a peer and asking her/him the following:
•What's your greatest challenge right now?
•How can we interact in a way that would be even more effective?
•What can I do to best support you?

You will be amazed what you discover by taking the time to ask a few key questions and by sending the message that you care about the relationship.

Vote for Welcome To Living as the Best Small Business in Seattle!!!!

Vote for Welcome To Living as your favorite local business in Seattle. Click on the link below and you will find Welcome To Living under the Small Business tab, scroll down to #11 and VOTE!!

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/exclusives/socialmadness

Thank you for pariticpating!!

What Are You Focused On, Your Future or Your Distractions?"

Two Lists You Should Look at Every Morning

List 1: Your Focus List (the road ahead)
What are you trying to achieve? What makes you happy? What's important to you? Design your time around those things. Because time is your one limited resource and no matter how hard you try you can't work 25/8.

List 2: Your Ignore List (the distractions)
To succeed in using your time wisely, you have to ask the equally important but often avoided complementary questions: what are you willing not to achieve? What doesn't make you happy? What's not important to you? What gets in the way?

http://blogs.hbr.org/bregman/2009/05/two-lists-you-should-look-at-e.html?awid=9096134605609987456-3271

What Are You Focused On, Your Future or Your Distractions?

Create A Meaningful Life - Part II

Martin Luther King Jr. wrote, "If you are called to be a street sweeper, sweep streets even as Michaelangelo painted or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well."

Dr. King's quote is one that is steeped in choice, intention and right action and that power is ever-present with each breath we take. Isn't choice something we would all say yes to each and every moment? Of course, and yet we often unconscioulsy say no to choice because we rely on that automatic pilot-our habits, our ego-self that we have relied on for many years.

We don't even think about it. Many of us manage hourly, daily, weekly and yearly with our habits and ego guiding our thoughts, feelings and actions. To be unconscious to our own light and power could be due to many things: our lack of awareness of who we really are, our lack of discipline, our lack of a plan, our willingness to play small.

We just need to clearly remember and recognize who we are at the core of our being and act from that place of love and strength.