Umair Haque Director of the Havas Media Lab speaks on “Constructive Capitalism.”  This is an excellent view that will give every leader valuable insights on how to reinvent themselves to succeed in an emerging new era in business.  Take the time to watch this – it will support you as you consider how to rethink your approach moving forward.

Umair Haque @ Daytona Sessions vol. 2 – Constructive Capitalism from Daytona Sessions on Vimeo.

I work in a lot of corporate as well as public sector settings and I am always amazed at the intellectual horsepower found among corporate executives, partners in professional services firms and SES leaders in the Federal Sector.  Unfortunately, this intellectual horsepower goes partially untapped because of one thing -  the lack of regular feedback.  This is certainly not true for all organizations yet in our experience it is for most.

Can you imagine the implication if guided missiles, satellites, GP-S’s, or your own body’s temperature gauge had no feedback mechanisms built in?  Bottom line, they would not work and in the case of the later the lack of a feedback mechanism would lead to death!  Now look at your organization and ask yourself -

• How effective are we at giving each other constructive feedback?
• If and when we do – what impact does it have on our performance and profitability?
• What, if anything, keeps us from having a more feedback rich culture (e.g. we are too polite to each other, we live in silos, etc.)?

Here are some common challenges that hinder an organization’s ability to improve performance through feedback: (more…)

Take Your First Step Toward True Evolution of Your Impact!

Ever wonder why you repeat the same negative thoughts in your head? Why you keep coming back for more from hurtful family members, friends, or significant others? Why you keep falling into the same detrimental habits or limiting attitudes—even when you know that they are going to make you feel bad?

Dr. Joe Dispenza has spent decades studying the human mind—how it works, how it stores information, and why it perpetuates the same behavioral patterns over and over. In the acclaimed film What the Bleep Do We Know!? he began to explain how the brain evolves—by learning new skills, developing the ability to concentrate in the midst of chaos, and even healing the body and the psyche. (more…)

Two of my favorite Albert Einstein Quotes are as follows:

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.”

At first take – it does not appear these two quotes are related but they very much are!   For example, we are at a time of year when millions are inspired to set big goals both personally and professionally that they feel will lead them to a happier and more successful life experience.   Unfortunately, by the time February ends – many of our resolutions and the hope we felt will be a distant memory.   Why is this?  It is because the New Year generates a mood of hope in many.  It is an opportunity to make a fresh beginning!  Those making resolutions are tapping into this hope yet over days and weeks that follow the hope – we get hit by the tyrant of the urgent and our grand ideas shaped at the new year no longer seem “realistic”  in the face our “reality.” As Mr. Einstein says, insanity is doing the same thing over and over – expecting different results!

Now, I am all for setting goals and big ones!   In fact, as human beings we are quite goal directed and we accomplish many things effortlessly because of our unique gifts that others find amazing.  That being said, we do not apply the underlying principles that allow for success in one area of life in other areas where we are frustrated with!   One of these powers is our imagination.  Imagination is the foundation of vision, of great athletic accomplishment, and of great breakthroughs in our life and businesses. Most Goal Setting Approaches Do Not Take Into Account The True Human Powers That Allow Goal Setting to Be More Effective!

(more…)

Consider a typical day in most executive’s lives. You walk into the office with grand plans and while nothing goes according to plans you do feel you accomplished some key outcomes for the day. As the afternoon wares on you look at the clock and realize you have a 5:30 networking event you had committed to attending. You close down for the day, grab a stack of business cards and let your executive assistant know you are off to the event and will see him or her in the morning.

You pull into the parking lot of the hotel where the event is to be held and prepare to enter the fray. You walk into the room full of buzzing conversations and at some level you are wondering how to navigate the event. You may be one to stand around and wait for someone to approach you or you look for a familiar face or you move right in to talk to a key person you were hoping to meet. By the end of the event, you may feel you had some good dialogue, got to share a bit about your business with some key prospects and collected a bunch of business cards in your pocket. Yet, before you know it – it is the next day and you are off tackling the key issues in your office – the networking event you attended is fading in the background. Sound somewhat familiar? If it does read on because I promise if you do – you will approach networking in a totally different way! (more…)