Thursday, July 15, 2010

If I Had My Life to Live Over...

"If I had my life to live over, I would have talked less and listened more. I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded. I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth. I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed. I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage. I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains. I would have cried and laughed less while watching television - and more while watching life.I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband. I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime. Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle. When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner. There would have been more "I love you's".. More"I'm sorrys" ... But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute... look at it and really see it ... live it...and never give it back." - - Erma Bombeck

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Top 20 Leadership Books for 2010

  1. Leaders at all Levels by Ram Charan
  2. Crisis Leadership Now by Laurence Barton
  3. The Speed of Trust by Stephen M.R. Covey
  4. Leading with Character by John Sosik
  5. Leading at a Higher Level by Ken Blanchard
  6. Know-How by Ram Charan
  7. The Leader of the Future 2 by Frances Hesselbein & Marshall Goldsmith
  8. A Leader's Legacy by Eric Abrahamson & Barry Posner
  9. The 360 Degree Leader by John Maxwell
  10. Why Great Leaders Don't Take Yes for an Answer by Michael Roberto
  11. Growing Your Company's Leaders by Robert Fulmer & Jay Conger
  12. True North by Bill George
  13. Leadershift by Emmanuel Gobillot
  14. Leaders Make the Future by Bob Johansen
  15. The Inspiring Leader by John Zenger, Joseph Folkman & Scott Edinger
  16. High Altitude Leadership by Don Schmincke & Chris Warner
  17. The Orange Code by Arkadi Kuhlmann & Bruce Philip
  18. The Accountable Leader by Brian Dive
  19. Transparency by Warren Bennis, Daniel Goleman & James O'Toole
  20. Leadership Gold by John Maxwell 

Happiness

"The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation, but your thoughts about it." - Eckhart Tolle

Monday, July 12, 2010

True Servant Leaders

The best leaders desire to serve others, not themselves. True Servant Leaders -

- Put others ahead of their own agenda.
- Possess the confidence to serve.
- Initiate service to others.
- Are not position-concious.
- Serve out of love.

(John Maxwell, The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader)