50 New rules of work. By Robin. S. Sharma

The global economy is in a state of acute disruption. Competition has never been more fierce. Consumers have never been so well-informed and loudly demanding. And what worked yesterday just might be obsolete today.

But this time is also a great time, for the astonishing few who are ready to show leadership. Leaders are at their absolute best during messy cycles versus during the easy ones. And messy cycles bring with them gorgeous opportunities.

As I sit quietly on this airplane at 40,000 feet, away from the rallying cries of a wired world filled with endless interruptions, I’ve distilled what I’ve been sharing in my presentations to clients across the planet over the past months, from Kuwait and Dubai to Paris, London and Dusseldorf.

Here are 50 powerful rules to amp up your game so this business cycle is one of your best business cycles yet.

The 50 New Rules of Work
1. You are not just paid to work. You are paid to be uncomfortable – and to pursue projects that scare you.

2. Take care of your relationships and the money will take care of itself.

3. Lead you first. You can’t help others reach for their highest potential until you’re in the process of reaching for yours.

4. To double your income, triple your rate of learning.

5. While victims condemn change, leaders grow inspired by change.

6. Small daily improvements over time create stunning results.

7. Surround yourself with people courageous enough to speak truthfully about what’s best for your organization and the customers you serve.

8. Don’t fall in love with your press releases.

9. Every moment in front of a customer is a moment of truth (to either show you live by the values you profess – or you don’t).

10. Copying what your competition is doing just leads to being second best.

11. Become obsessed with the user experience such that every touch-point of doing business with you leaves people speechless. No, breathless.

12. If you’re in business, you’re in show business. The moment you get to work, you’re on stage. Give us the performance of your life.

13. Be a Master of Your Craft. And practice+practice+practice.

14. Get fit like Madonna.

15. Read magazines you don’t usually read. Talk to people who you don’t usually speak to. Go to places you don’t commonly visit. Disrupt your thinking so it stays fresh+hungry+brilliant.

16. Remember that what makes a great business – in part – are the seemingly insignificant details. Obsess over them.
17. Good enough just isn’t good enough.
18. Brilliant things happen when you go the extra mile for every single customer.
19. An addiction to distraction is the death of creative production. Enough said.
20. If you’re not failing regularly, you’re definitely not making much progress.
21. Lift your teammates up versus tear your teammates down. Anyone can be a critic. What takes guts is to see the best in people.
22. Remember that a critic is a dreamer gone scared.
23. Leadership’s no longer about position. Now, it’s about passion. And having an impact through the genius-level work that you do.
24. The bigger the dream, the more important the team.
25. If you’re not thinking for yourself, you’re following – not leading.
26. Work hard. But build an exceptional family life. What’s the point of reaching the mountaintop but getting there alone.
27. The job of the leader is to develop more leaders.
28. The antidote to deep change is daily learning. Investing in your professional and personal development is the smartest investment you can make. Period.
29. Smile. It makes a difference.
30. Say “please” and “thank you”. It makes a difference.
31. Shift from doing mindless toil to doing valuable work.
32. Remember that a job is only just a job if all you see it as is a job.
33. Don’t do your best work for the applause it generates but for the personal pride it delivers.
34. The only standard worth reaching for is BIW (Best in World).
35. In the new world of business, everyone works in Human Resources.
36. In the new world of business, everyone’s part of the leadership team.
37. Words can inspire. And words can destroy. Choose yours well.
38. You become your excuses.
39. You’ll get your game-changing ideas away from the office versus in the middle of work. Make time for solitude. Creativity needs the space to present itself.
40. The people who gossip about others when they are not around are the people who will gossip about you when you’re not around.
41. It could take you 30 years to build a great reputation and 30 seconds of bad judgment to lose it.
42. The client is always watching.
43. The way you do one thing defines the way you’ll do everything. Every act matters.
44. To be radically optimistic isn’t soft. It’s hard. Crankiness is easy.
45. People want to be inspired to pursue a vision. It’s your job to give it to them.
46. Every visionary was initially called crazy.
47. The purpose of work is to help people. The other rewards are inevitable by-products of this singular focus.
48. Remember that the things that get scheduled are the things that get done.
49. Keep promises and be impeccable with your word. People buy more than just your products and services. They invest in your credibility.
50. Lead Without a Title.

I encourage you to share + discuss + debate these with your team and throughout your organization. Within a quick period of time, you’ll see some fantastic results.

Keep Leading Without A Title.

Sometimes Ya’ Gotta’ Hustle. By Zig Ziglar

In bygone years when cassette players were the rage, one day I needed a new one and, since I liked the one I had been using, I decided to buy another. I walked into the store which sells them, held up my device and asked if they had another one. The manager said, “I believe so,” and picked one up commenting, “Yes, this is it.” He then turned to the young man who was standing by him and asked him to complete the transaction. The young man started ambling towards the rear of the store so I asked him, “Are you going to ring me up?” The young man said, “Yes,” and I said, “Well, this is the one I want,” pointing to the one the manager had held up. He responded, “I’m going to the back to get you a new one.”

He casually sauntered into the store room. When he reappeared he was moving so slowly that I had to line him up between two shelves to make certain he was moving. Since I was obviously in a hurry, I was surprised at his movement and said to the young man, “I am in somewhat of a hurry.” He said, “Huh?” and I said, “I’m in a hurry.” The young man, to my astonishment, replied, “I am hurrying.”

In fact he was dragging his heels by anyone’s standards. When I was a youngster, I worked in a grocery store. When a customer wanted something and I was not in a dead run to get it, my boss would say to me, “Come on, Boy! A dollar is waiting on a dime!” He meant the customer took first preference and needed to be – and expected to be – given fast service or his next stop would be at another store.

I tell the story only to emphasize that when your customer is obviously in a big hurry, you need to hustle and meet the customer’s needs and expectations. That benefits the store and the customer, and helps secure the job for the employee. Think about it and I’ll SEE YOU AT THE TOP!

This article is an excerpt from Success For Dummies. Zig Ziglar is known as America’s motivator. He is the author of 29 books and numerous audio and video recordings. See him in action!

No Mysteries…Just Trust. By Chip Lutz

I love a good mystery, don’t you? Some of my favorite Sunday afternoons as a kid were spent watching Sherlock Holmes or Charlie Chan use their super sleuth skills to solve the most complex of crimes and, ultimately, save the world from complete annihilation. However great contemplating classic capers has been for me, having a mysterious leader has never been as entertaining. In fact, it can quickly become a horror show. Have you ever worked for a person whose reaction to situations would sway from one extreme to another depending on who was around, which way the wind was blowing, or if they had gotten a prime parking spot that morning? Well, you are not alone because I have had the displeasure of working with (and for) “Bi-polar Bob” and “Wacky Wanda” as well. Working with questions, inconsistency, and conundrums erodes the trust needed to keep morale high, move the team forward, and weather the trials that many of our teams are facing.

When examining relationships, there should be no mystery – at home, work, or play. If you are the last person to know about bad situations or feel like you’re the last resort, there is probably a reason. The question to ask is, “Am I building covenants or breaking them?” A covenant is a relationship of trust. It signifies that, no matter what, you act in accordance with your beliefs and that your teammates can count on that consistency. There are no questions and there is no guessing on how you will sail because you are sure and steady. This starts with your own reflections on what you believe, where you stand, and is manifested in how you behave. To build everyday covenants (and keep the mysteries at a minimum), I continually strive to stay consistent by taking the time to periodically reflect on three things: statements of purpose, statements of intent, and congruency between the two. Although you may not be able to change others around you, you can change your behaviors and reactions to those around you.

What Are My Statements of Purpose?
Statements of purpose manifest from the core of my being. Above all, they are what I value and what “I believe.” For me, I believe in honesty, integrity, family, love, laughter, and the innate goodness of the human spirit. I also believe that each person has been given a purpose on this big, blue, wet ball, and with that purpose a responsibility to ease the burden of others, not to make it heavier. Those values are the rudder by which I live my life. Take a moment to reflect on yours. What are your statements of purpose? What do you believe? Where do you stand? If it’s a mystery to you, then it will surely be a mystery to others!

What Are My Statements of Intent?
Statements of intent are different from things that you “can do” (there are a lot of things that each of us can do). Statements of intent are things that you WILL DO! My statements of intent include that I WILL:
• Treat others with dignity and respect
• Put the needs of the ones I love before my own
• Take myself lightly and find the humor in life
• Be honest with myself and others

When I’ve taken the time to reflect and intentionally write them down, they become my personal “manifesto” on how I will deal with people, situations, and also they become a roadmap of how I will live my life. What are the things that you WILL do? There is great power in knowing what your statements of intent are, writing them down and speaking them out loud. Do yourself that favor!

Are The Two Congruent?
The last thing I reflect on is if my beliefs and actions are congruent with each other. If they are, then there will be NO mystery to anyone on how I will (or would) respond in a situation. If there is, something is amiss. Either I don’t really believe what I’ve stated as my purpose or the intent doesn’t match the belief. I like to equate it to when people say they “want” something. If you want something, that means you are taking steps towards your goal. If you aren’t taking those steps, then you really don’t want it. It’s just a nicety. The same goes with purpose and intent. If you say you believe something but don’t actively live it, you don’t really believe it. The two must be congruent or you’ll be swayed, mysteries will continue and covenants will be broken.

It’s not that I don’t like surprises, I do. I like the spontaneity that keeps relationships fresh, vibrant and how it can propel a team to new possibilities. But, I know I am not alone when I state that I don’t like the mystery of how you’ll react if I come to you with less than favorable news. There are no mysteries within the covenants that are built with others; there is only openness, loyalty, and trust. That’s what is being built every day in relationships – as long as you are living your values and openly sharing them with those within your circle. Step Up and Invest Yourself Today!

Keep Leading, Laughing and Connecting,

LCDR Chip Lutz, USN(Ret), MSEd, CLL, is the President and founder of Covenant Leadership, LLC and has 22 years’ leadership experience.

17 Tips to Double Your Productivity in 14 Days. By. Robin S. Sharma

Dear reader,

I’m in Trinidad and Tobago, finishing up an intense but fulfilling tour through Latin America. Yesterday I spoke to the leaders of the government of this resource and culture-rich nation. As well as to 350 schoolkids on Leading Without a Title (here’s a link to a newspaper review of the event with the kids). I realized how much I love teaching kids about leadership.

Anyway, I’m also putting the finishing touches on the curriculum for the upcoming Remarkable EntrepreneurTM SuperConference June 10-12 which is all about helping small business owners double their profits while having more fun (there’s only a few seats left, register here). Entrepreneurs from over 26 countries have already registered. I haven’t been this excited about an event in years.

One of the modules is on “Doubling Your Productivity in 30 Days”, based on my work with some of the most successful entrepreneurs in business.

I wanted to share 17 of the tactics I’ve learned that I know will help you lean into your productive best in this age of dramatic distraction:

1. Turn off all technology for 60 minutes a day and focus on doing your most important work.

2. Work in 90 minute cycles (tons of science is now confirming that this is the optimal work to rest ratio).

3. Start your day with at least 30 minutes of exercise.

4. Don’t check your email first thing in the morning.

5. Turn all your electronic notifications off.

6. Take one day a week as a complete recovery day, to refuel and regenerate (that means no email, no phone calls and zero work). You need full recovery one day a week otherwise you’ll start depleting your capabilities.

7. The data says workers are interrupted every 11 minutes. Distractions destroy productivity. Learn to protect your time and say no to interruptions.

8. Schedule every day of your week every Sunday morning. A plan relieves you of the torment of choice (said novelist Saul Bellow). It restores focus and provides energy.

9. Work in blocks of time. Creative geniuses all had 2 things in common: when they worked they were fully engaged and when they worked, they worked with this deep concentration for long periods of time. Rare in this world of entrepreneurs who can’t sit still.

10. Drink a liter of water early every morning. We wake up dehydrated. The most precious asset of an entrepreneur isn’t time – it’s energy. Water restores it.

11. Don’t answer your phone every time it rings.

12. Invest in your professional development so you bring more value to the hours you work.

13. Avoid gossip and time vampires.

14. Touch paper just once.

15. Keep a “Stop Doing List”.

16. Get up at 5 am.

17. Have meetings standing up.

Stay Productive and Make Your Work Matter!

Kindest regards,

P.S. If you really want to dive deep into how the best in business translate their big ideas into fast results (while they actually have a lot more fun), you really can’t afford not to scoop up one of the few tickets left for The Remarkable EntrepreneurTM SuperConference in June. Don’t miss this game-changing event. Details here.

P.P.S. Watch this video on “The 11 Obsessions of Remarkable Entrepreneurs”

The Power of the Word. By Zig Ziglar

(Part Two of a Two-Part Series)

Charles Osgood, the “word merchant,” said that “compared to the spoken word, a picture is a pitiful thing, indeed.” C. J. Ducasse said that “to speak of mere words is much like speaking of mere dynamite.” The wisest man who ever lived said, “The right word spoken at the right time is as beautiful as gold apples in a silver bowl.” It has been said that the way people talk is the best indication of how they think, and the most powerful instrument for influencing a person’s thought process is the spoken word.

I have such great respect for the positive and negative power of words that for years I have been careful in private conversation and public presentations to use only “adult language.” Words like “dependable,” “commitment,” “dedication,” “discipline,” “responsibility,” “honor,” “integrity,” etc., and I am particularly careful to use a large number of four-letter words like “good,” “best,” “real,” “fair,” “hope,” “love,” etc.

The negative influence of words has been well-documented. Bill Glass says that over 90% of the men incarcerated in our penal institutions were repeatedly told by their parents, “One of these days you’re going to end up in jail.” Dr. Stephen Arterburn, cofounder of the world-famous Minirth-Meier Clinics, says that clinician Dr. Les Carter has never worked with an abuse situation that didn’t follow a pattern of verbal abuse before physical abuse. Dr. Carter also said that the more a person cusses, the less sensitive to the nature of their own behavior they become.

Yes, those words are important. Be careful of what you say, realizing the inherent power of words. Think and use the right words and I’ll SEE YOU AT THE TOP!

Zig Ziglar is known as America’s motivator. He is the author of 29 books and numerous audio and video recordings. See him in action!

5 Ways To Protect Your Company

Smart businesspeople are preparing for the possibility that the global economy will fall apart. No one knows what the future will bring but many pundits are growing more and more concerned with the ballooning debt of many nations. So to borrow from a focal point of GE’s CEO, “protect the enterprise”.
Protect The Enterprise. Whether you run a solo business or lead a team of 10,000, I suggest it’s worth your time and energy to think through how you will protect your enterprise – and actually grow it – while your market peers get bounced around in the waves of uncertainty. Here are 5 practical steps to build a strong company:

5 Ways To Build A Strong Company

1. Have a Board of Advisors. Find people who have built great companies and ask them to sit on your advisory board. Meet every quarter. Show them your numbers. Share your struggles. Listen to – and act on – their advice.

2. Set Up A Peace of Mind Fund. Install a reserve fund with at least 12 months (and ideally 24 months) of operating expenses. Set it up so a portion of your monthly sales automatically goes into this account. You’ll sleep better at night knowing your business can run even if income slows down.

3. Focus on People and Culture. The single best way to protect your business is to hire top talent and invest in training your people so they amp up their performance in good as well as hard times. And work on your culture. That’s the “special sauce” that brings out the best in a team.

4. Work On Your Business vs In It. The old Michael Gerber distinction is key here. I spoke at a YPO/EO event last week and met a young entrepreneur who’d just sold his company. I asked him for the single best move he made. “I worked on my business vs in it.” He explained his core concentration was on building systems and processes so the business ran superbly without him. (At the upcoming The Remarkable EntrepreneurTM SuperConference I’ll teach you exactly how to do this as well as execute flawlessly on each of these 5 winning tactics so your business is bullet-proofed against difficult times).

5. Become Obsessed with Value Creation. This is not some pie in the sky idea. It’s a hard-hitting business growth tactic. Obsess (yes, obsess) over how you can add more value to more people and the revenues will take care of themselves.

Make Your Business Awesome.

Robin Sharma

P.S. The introductory priced seats for The Remarkable EntrepreneurTM SuperConference on June 10th – 12th are sold out. We are now making a limited number of seats available at the $2497 early bird price before they go up to the regular amount of $5000. Discover exactly how Remarkable Entrepreneurs build great companies and fantastic lives. Click here.

A Secret Scrolls message from Rhonda Byrne.

A Secret Scrolls message from Rhonda Byrne
Creator of The Secret and The Power

From The Secret Daily Teachings

Stress, worry, and anxiety simply come from projecting your thoughts into the future and imagining something bad. This is focusing on what you don’t want! If you find that your mind is projecting into the future in a negative way, focus intensely on NOW. Keep bringing yourself back to the present.
Use all of your will, and focus your mind in this very moment, because in this moment of now there is utter peace.

May the joy be with you,

Rhonda Byrne
The Secret… bringing joy to billions