Recently, I viewed a TED talk by Simon Sinek entitled “How Great Leaders Inspire Action”. For me, this is a jaw dropping talk that I have now watched several times and made copious notes in my journal which, has provided food for thought, or to put it another way, has nourished the mind. In just a few minutes Mr. Sinek defined the difference between leadership and being a leader. He goes onto explain that people don’t buy what you do; people buy why you do it! If you can internalise this brilliant eighteen minute talk you will understand why some people merely view our opportunity as a means to help consumers save money while making a commission and others are driven by the understanding that they can help hundreds, if not thousands, of people through the power of time leverage, improve their disposable income, change their lifestyle and ultimately build a strong, residual financial wall that will protect them and their loved ones against the uncertainties of the future. According to Mr. Sinek it all starts with WHY?
View his talk http://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action.html
The other day I had a fairly lengthy drive and I listened to a couple of podcasts of my favourite radio program, Desert Island Discs. One featured an eminent cardiologist, Jane Somerville and the other featured Carolyn McCall who is the CEO of Easy Jet. I had to stop at a service station, not to fill up my car, but to fill up my journal with some choice “nuggets” that will be the start of some ideas for our business. It’s my belief that through the use of a journal and having it with you it will encourage you to be more observant during the day and could lead you to become a little more creative in your thinking.
I use my journal to record important telephone conversations. Currently I’m working with a number of team members. Some are very new and others have been with Diana and I for many years. To help me keep track of these varied conversations I keep notes of reviewed and expected activity. This type of note taking then allows me to coach those that I’m working with in an efficient manner rather than trying to remember what the agreed activity would be. Years ago my mentor told me to stop operating from thought and to operate from document. Documentation beats conversation every time! Just a couple of minutes of note taking can replace hours of sloppy conversation.
Before I make a phone call I invariably write an agenda in my journal. So, when I speak with my team member having exchanged pleasantries, I’m able to get right down to the nitty gritty. It makes for really interesting follow up calls when you say to your team member, “Those five things we discussed last Tuesday, how are you getting on?” Your team member responds with “What five things?” and you reply, “Let me see, I made a note in my journal.” The team member now knows that they are in trouble!
Some of my journals are stuffed with photographs, articles I’ve torn out of news papers, diagrams, sketches, doodles and of course my goal and contact list. Finally, why do I keep a written journal rather than an electronic one? It is a scientific fact that the material that you write or handle will be with you for much longer that the information you enter through a keyboard into an electronic device. It’s very satisfying leafing through a completed journal, numbering the pages, creating an index and adding your completed journal to your growing library of treasured material.
Until my next post……………..Toodleoo!
Clive Leach's Blog 