The Start before the Start

It's hard to believe that we are heading into the last few weeks of 2009. For some it will be, "Good Riddance!", for others, "Not Bad.." or "Hey, we did great!"

Regardless of your expression and feelings about 2009, there is a new year and new opportunities in front of you and the start of your next year officially begins in just 3 weeks! A time of renewal, of re-dedicating ourselves to our purpose and, hopefully, gaining useful insights into the patterns or occurrences of the past year.

I really struggle between helping people through talking about 'Purpose' and helping them through talking about 'Process'. Process isn't sexy. It's not the perception that's given off by World-Renowned, Charismatic, 'Motivational Speakers'! They have the reputation to stir up the inner spirit and to 'motivate' us to believe in the power of the dream and dream and dream and dream!!!

I LOVE THAT! It's what the 'Burled Arch' is all about… Reaching the Dream!

AND my heart goes to, "How?"

I think that it may, actually, be worse to have a dream and not know how to make it happen than to never know what that dream or purpose was in the first place.

You see, there has to be BOTH – purpose and process, "the dream" and "the daily", if we are ever going to reach our "purpose"….. "on purpose"

To start the process, we have 3 areas of focus for the next 3 weeks.

1. What's the dream? Has it changed or revised since the start of last year? (Burled Arch)
   
2. Review and learn from the progress of our race toward the Burled Arch in 2009 (Evaluate and Evolve)
   
3. Purpose the process. (Ready and Checkpoints)
   

The Action for our 'Race' will occur in 2010 – and although it is EXTREMELY cheesy – the only way that we are going to "Win in '10" - is if we have "Purpose" AND "Process" .

I warned you about the 'cheese' factor, right?

To close out 2009 with the most benefit possible let's spend some time this week thinking about the last year. I would encourage you to take a consultants approach to your year, as opposed to a participants approach.

As a participant, you are going to feel all of the bumps and bruises over again as you relive each moment…

As a consultant, we recognize the emotions but search, dig, and glean for the lessons and ways for 'process improvement'

Try to step outside of your year and take a look, if needed – meet with your team or someone outside of you and your team for this process – it will pay tremendous dividends when done right!

The next 3 weeks will be a time of getting ready for the start of 2010. Let's start STRONG – in fact, let's start NOW.

Have a great week!

Iditarod Leadership Book - Now Released for Sale!

We are very excited about the first shipments of the book being released. Please stay tuned for more details and to follow the impact that the book is having on leaders and organizations. To purchase one or more copies of the book, prior to the release into bookstores, please click below:

For Case pricing please email us: Books@IditarodLeadership.com

Key to Success of another New Season

The First of September has always symbolized a change for me. The vacation season is over, kids are back in school and, hopefully, the oppressive heat of the Texas summer will give way to cooler temperatures. We have turned a corner - all the great aspects of fall are on the way and a new found hope with it – even now, the air in the early morning is starting to smell different.

For mushers aspiring to compete in this year's Iditarod – the season is turning their attention to building the strength of their team – to start locking in on the preparation of the team!

Being from Texas, I equate this with football camps - the initial, mini-camp workouts that are designed to start the process of getting everybody's head in the game, evaluating talent, and hitting the weights to build the muscle that will be needed for later. It's time to burn off the 'Goo' – the speed of tomorrow is built on the 'muscle' developed today - It's time to get busy!

As much of an 'Action' guy as I am – I know that the 'action' needed at the beginning of the season centers around preparation. The definition of 'Preparation' talks about a state of 'Readiness' and after all it's Ready, Aim, Fire – not Fire, Ready, Aim!

For our teams and for us as leaders – what is our next step of readiness? What event or 'race' is in the not too distant future that you need to get 'Ready in Advance'?

From the practical side, whether it's preparing for a meeting, the next product launch, or the Iditarod – we can gleam some best practices to improve our skill set:

1. Leverage the past to prepare for the future

• Conduct debrief sessions

• Review and Critique the last Plan / Preparation
  

Is there a way to improve our planning and preparation process? What are our tendencies when it comes to preparation? Who has this strength on our team?

• Review the lessons learned from the last event
  

One of the most powerful methods of current preparation is to avoid repeating past failures or mistakes.

"Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it" - George Santayana

Many times, we hold onto the pain of the experience and forget the lesson – let's flip this and learn the lessons while forgetting the pain!

• What happened in the past?
  
• What were the corresponding results?
  
• What do I need to DO differently? What do we need to DO differently?
  
• What were some of the underlying assumptions that brought us to our previous conclusions?
  
• Were there areas or aspects that we failed to anticipate?
  
• Where did we miss the mark and fail to execute effectively?
  

One of my favorite sayings is, "Today's problems cannot be solved by yesterday's thinking. Yesterday's thinking caused today's problems!"

We'll look at different areas of preparation this week and start to build out the plan for better planning and preparation.

Tomorrow's successes are built on today's preparation! It's a new season. Time to get busy!

Essentials: Being the Real Deal

The Real Deal, Authenticity, setting the standard – whatever the phrase you chose to use – the team will never run beyond your example (unless they are running away!)

As leaders, if we could hear our team – they would say, "Be the real deal". There are so many in this world that are more pretense than present tense… In other words they just aren't real.

I believe with all that is in me that the leader should be the one that set the example – the one that pays more than others pay and gives more than others give – after all – isn't that 'leading the way'?

I LOVE the fact that at times the mushers in the race will jump off the sled and run beside it with the team – to me it speaks about commitment – Leaders must set the example when it comes to commitment and paying the price..

What do we do when it's cold and rainy and we don't want to train? We get up, get out, and train anyway! When we don't 'feel' like paying the price? We pay it anyway!

I just don't know that I could take knowing that my team had a greater commitment level to the cause and a greater work ethic than myself.

My heart is that leadership sets the standard to the point where it goes beyond the status quo – to the point of actually "inspiring" the team to deepen their commitment, deepen their resolve, and creates that incredible culture of 'fanatics'.

'Enthusiasm breeds Enthusiasm' is one of my favorite 'isms'. It breathes the 'fire' and then continuously 'fans the flames' – not in any sense of unfounded 'hype' – but in the uncompromising belief in the cause. A love for the race, and the commitment to pay the price – each and every day – that makes attaining the 'Burled Arch' a reality – and in doing so creates a tremendous sense of pride and purpose within the team. Call me an idealist if you will…. But if we are not bought in and 'sold out' to our cause or mission or race – how would we ever expect anything of greatness out of our team?

Seeing the commitment, tenacity, and determination of a Lance Mackey, Lance Armstrong, Martin Luther King, Ghandi, Mother Theresa –serves to inspire the rest of us – to challenge the rest of us to shake off the tendencies to accept the mediocre and to reach for greatness. People are people and if they can set the example – then we can set the example – think of the 'tracks on the trail' that we will leave for others to follow. This is our 'Leadership Legacy' – our Leadership 'footprint'.

This week – if you feel like slacking up a bit – if it feels like things are crushing in on you – or the storms are hitting your trail – push on! In fact, pick up the pace, just a bit! Throw off the hooks that would seek to drag down or dampen your enthusiasm or resolve.

Leaders are charged with carrying the ingredients for fire on the trail. Where's your fire, today? This morning, to set the resolve for my team to complete a project, I was up and at it before 4 am. When I consult in the hurricane operation – there are few team members that will keep up with the pace that I set for myself. And for those of you that have worked with me and think the pace runs strong – my brother puts me to shame! His work ethic is always pushing me – inspiring me – stretching me in my mind to reach for another level.

The race is worth it – pour your heart and back into it! Set the example - If we are going to be in the race - let's always be real and let's be in it to win it!

Essential Items: Handling Criticism

It's easy to stand on the sidelines and criticize. It doesn't take much to sit in your living room or in a control booth and "Armchair Quarterback" the decisions and actions of those in the race.

If I haven't said it out loud to someone – this is certainly how I've felt., " throw on the parka, build the team, qualify for the race, start running 1100 miles in -50⁰ F and then we'll talk."

A leader takes many hits and some of the most difficult to take are when those you are leading start criticizing your actions, your leadership, or your personhood.

In the studies that Goleman has conducted on EQ (Emotional Intelligence) the findings revealed that a leader's EQ is a greater predictor of their success than IQ. I believe it is a fairly easy result for us to buy into – after all, don't most of us know people who are incredibly book smart and yet lack the 'people skills' necessary to be a success – and I want to unpack that as it relates to handling criticism.

Emotional strength is critical in leadership – in my mind it is one of those essential items – it supports perseverance and is foundational to pulling us through the inevitable 'rough spots' on our leadership trail. When it comes to handling criticism – we have two choices – shut down and build the wall or process what's being said.

So let's walk through a few steps that may help put criticism in perspective:

1. It's going to happen
   

   It is a fact of leadership that you are going to be criticized. It doesn't feel fair and it doesn't seem right – you're the one giving your guts for the company and the team and someone has the nerve to stand there and criticize! And you want to react and say, "If you can do a better job – be my guest!" Another fact is: if you don't want or can't handle criticism, don't be a leader! As the saying goes, "The only way to avoid criticism is to say nothing, attempt nothing, and ultimately, be nothing." Leaders are targets because we're out front and once we realize that criticism is part of being in this 'race' then we can learn to process it and use it for our growth or discard it.
   

2. Consider the Critic
   

   Some people criticize out of pure motives and others have an agenda. There are a number of quotes that have served me well – "Hurting people, hurt people.", "Crabs will pull others down that try to get out of the basket", "You can tell a person by the words they speak". People will criticize because they aren't happy in life and don't want others to be either, because of jealousy, insecurity, or the desire to keep the status quo. Knowing the source will help you to know which to really consider and use for growth and which to moderate. If they have been in the race, mushed their own team, and have your respect – it's much easier to accept!
   

3. Consider the Critique
   

   Consider that even though the source isn't credible there still may be some truth in their statements. Take the time to sift through all of the extra 'stuff' and get down to the real meat of the criticism. One of my mentors would say, "Eat the meat, spit out the bones!" We all have strengths and we all have weaknesses – if this falls into one of the areas of your weaknesses – then so be it! We all need to learn – we all need to grow – this is just lighting up a spot on the trail that you may not have seen before – or you may be in a place that you've never been before and you need this knowledge to be able to qualify for the next race ahead! No one is perfect – life and leadership are growth experiences!
   

4. Seek an outside, trusted perspective
   

   If the criticism came from a trusted advisor, coach, or friend that we knew had our best interests at heart – we would take that in and grow accordingly. Start to find or build a network around you of those that you can present the information to and that will give you appropriate feedback. If they are unwilling or unable to be open, honest, AND supportive – you need to find new counsel. Use that as a guide – find people you can trust that will give you open, honest, and supportive counsel.
   

5. Grow where needed (E-valuate and E-volve)
   

   Some people spend years developing their technical expertise or their educational advantage and somehow they think that 'Relational Skills' are a take it or leave it proposal – my team just needs to 'accept me as I am'. If the criticism centers on your relational connectivity as a leader – realize that you may need to spend as much time on your relational skill set (EQ) as you did on your IQ or TQ (Technical Competence). Where ever the area of growth – hunger for improvement and keep it in perspective – we ALL have areas where we need to grow.
   

6. Keep on mushing!

   You've come too far to turn back now – don't allow nay-sayers and discouragers to keep you from your destiny – you started this race and you can finish it! You are on the trail to something great and when you get there – all of the little 'bumps and bruises' along the way will seem insignificant.
   

I believe in you – you can do this – let me leave you with a great quote from Fred Smith: "No one ever erected a statue to a critic."

Mush on!

Essential items

Competitors in the Iditarod have mandatory items that must accompany them throughout the race - they are to be in the leader's possession - in their "sled" - for the duration of their "race".

This led me to think about some of the mandatory competencies that business leaders should possess. As leaders lead across so many different types of businesses – are there some commonalities that we can draw to say – these are the 'mandatory' items that can determine or affect a leader's success?

One of the top, in my mind, has to be perseverance.

Perseverance comes in many shapes, sizes and reasons – but however a leader gets there – it's crucial to their success.

Dogged determination (pun intended) can come through emotional strength, vision, passion – or just a simplistic hard headed stubbornness that says, "Over my dead body!"

In the midst of a challenging project that was outside of my normal expertise – I was reminded of a quote from Winston Churchill. It came from the unlikeliest of sources – but was right on time! The quote?

"Never, never, never, never give up."

It led me to remember another one of my Churchill favorites:

"The nose of the bulldog is slanted backwards so that it can continue to breathe without letting go!"

I started thinking about perseverance in my life and "paying the price" to succeed. There are so many that I meet that seem to be unwilling to pay the price of leadership or of their dream. Many things can be achieved with the simple will to succeed and the pre-determination to "pay the price."

So why do some make the choice and others don't? That's a mystery to me!

If it is your dream – your 'Destiny" – than how could you quit?

What motivates you to persevere when you want to quit? A parent or mentor's training? Belief in a higher purpose? Raw determination to prove nay-sayers wrong? Fear of financial lack or professional failure?

It's a true statement that necessity is a tremendous motivator. If failure is not an option – than it's only a matter of time until you succeed! And every setback only serves to push you to learn – to push you to change – to push you to improve.

I've said for years that if people think the drive in me that they see is strong or tough – they ought to be on the inside!

The work ethic that I learned from a football analogy is: Keep your head down and your feet moving…

Now – I would change that today to just say, "Keep your head up! And your feet moving…"

When it comes to paying the price, I have heard so many times from my mentor, John Maxwell, "Pay now, Play later" and "If you choose to play now and pay later – the cost will always be greater".

I, usually, put it into financial terms – the sacrifice and investment on the front end yields much greater rewards or dividends on the back end.

Paying the price means we don't quit after the first checkpoint, or the 5^th, or the 17^th – there are 20+ checkpoints – but at the end – our Burled Arch awaits and Success will come to those who simply don't quit – those who never, never, never, NEVER give up!

The Heart of my Leadership

The reason I am drawn to use 'Iditarod' as a metaphor for leadership is that I love the story of what the race commemorates. It embodies a majority of how I approach life and business. It's one of the summary points in Chapter 9 of the book: "Life is lived best when it's lived for others."

In Late January, 1925, Dr. Curtis Welch had come to the realization that what he was facing a deadly outbreak of Diphtheria in the village of Nome, Alaska. Particularly hit hard were the young people and survival hinged on getting the serum. We'll pick the rest up from the introduction in the book:

Finally, - the only serum in Alaska was found.

Where? How many miles? His heart sunk. 1000 miles away? 1000 miles of frozen, Alaskan wilderness away.

The serum was in the care of Dr. J.B. Beeson at the Alaska Railroad Hospital in Anchorage!

How fast can it be transported? The usual method for transportation during the summer months was steamship, but the sea had iced in the town since October and it wouldn't thaw until June. What about planes? Would someone be so daring as to fly during these conditions and attempt the landing? The only two available planes had been disassembled and neither had ever flown in winter. The call for help reached the Governor and the request for an alternate route was approved. The Alaskan Railroad ferried the medicine more than 250 miles north to Nenana. But from that point on, the traveling was treacherous.

Just before Midnight, January 27, with the clock ticking, the serum and the survival of the town was transferred into the hands of rugged men and their teams of sled dogs who would race across some of the most brutal terrain and the harshest conditions that mother nature has to offer.

When the first musher left Nenana, the temperature reportedly hovered at 50 below zero. The volunteer mushers transferred this "Baton of Life" 18 times – until it reached the hands of Leonhard Seppala and his lead dog, Togo, considered by many to be the true heroes of the run. Together they covered the most hazardous stretch of the route, and carried the serum farther than any other team.

The twentieth and final transfer was made and, according to legend, the serum was nearly lost when a huge gust of wind toppled the sled of this final musher. The musher frantically dug the serum out of the snow with his bare hands, righted his sled and continued on. February 2 at 5:30 a.m., just five days and seven hours after leaving Nenana, the Norwegian Gunnar Kaasen and his lead dog Balto arrived on Front Street in Nome.

Salvation came through Courage, Skill, Teamwork, and Perseverance!

I would add to that – that salvation came to Nome because a group of people were willing to give – to sacrifice time out of their lives – and danger to their lives – for the sake of others.

Again, it's one of my life mottos and one of the legacy pieces that I want to leave as my mark on this earth – "He was a person that was a giver. He gave more than he received. He served others."

Can we end one week and start the next thinking about serving? Thinking about giving? Thinking about charity? Where can we add value this week?

"Life is lived best when it's lived for others."