Where You Heading?

Photo Credit: Richard Chicoine iCopyright 2011

A few more weeks, and you'll be hitting the trails as an Alumni...

Happy Trails to You
Happy trails to you, until we meet again.
Happy trails to you, keep smilin' until then.
Who cares about the clouds when we're together?
Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather.
Happy trails to you, 'till we meet again.

Some trails are happy ones,
Others are blue.
It's the way you ride the trail that counts,
Here's a happy one for you.

Happy trails to you, until we meet again.
Happy trails to you, keep smilin' until then.
Who cares about the clouds when we're together?
Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather.

Happy trails to you, 'till we meet again.
-   Dale Evans and Roy Rogers
Did you just hum along to this old campfire song?
Did you hear the leadership message?
Great advice pops up out of nowhere every day.

Being "mindful" - in the moment -
helps you to dig well beneath the surface of just any old lyric to spark up your leadership style.
"Its the way you ride the trail that counts..."

This month's theme is "authenticity", being true to yourself...not faking it...knowing where you're going...

Who packed your camper full of gear...set your direction?
Are you travelling so fast that you don't catch
that special double rainbow
as you glide past?


Some Old "Cowboy Rules" Still Apply to Leadership!Roy Rogers was known as King of the Cowboys.  Dale Evans was Queen of the West.   Roy and Dale started off in radio, and became the tv leaders of a generation of kids in the 50's.

Roy Rogers Riders Club Rules:

1. Be neat and clean.
2. Be courteous and polite.
3. Always obey your parents.
4. Protect the weak and help them.
5. Be brave but never take chances.
6. Study hard and learn all you can.
7. Be kind to animals and take care of them.
8. Eat all your food and never waste any.
9. Love God and go to Sunday school regularly.
10. Always respect our flag and our country.






Just for fun...for the right-brainers:


"Don't Fence Me In"


Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies above,
Don't fence me in.
Let me ride through the wide open country that I love,
Don't fence me in.
Let me be by myself in the evenin' breeze,
And listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees,
Send me off forever but I ask you please,
Don't fence me in.

Just turn me loose, let me straddle my old saddle
Underneath the western skies.
On my Cayuse, let me wander over yonder
Till I see the mountains rise.

I want to ride to the ridge where the west commences
And gaze at the moon till I lose my senses
And I can't look at hovels and I can't stand fences
Don't fence me in.

Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies,
Don't fence me in.
Let me ride through the wide open country that I love,
Don't fence me in.
Let me be by myself in the evenin' breeze
And listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees
Send me off forever but I ask you please,
Don't fence me in

Just turn me loose, let me straddle my old saddle
Underneath the western skies
On my Cayuse, let me wander over yonder
Till I see the mountains rise.
Ba boo ba ba boo.

I want to ride to the ridge where the west commences
And gaze at the moon till I lose my senses
And I can't look at hobbles and I can't stand fences
Don't fence me in.
No.
Poppa, don't you fence me in 

A simple question

Photo Credit: Richard Chicoine iCopyright 2011



A simple question for you:

What If...
You begin every day with

YES?
One person's interpretation here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwjzmFNIWEQ&feature=related

Problem: No Time to Leverage

Photo Credit: Richard Chicoine iCopyright 2010

"There's not enough time in a day..."

Tipping Point Thought: Are you just busy or are you productive?

There's a BIG difference...

Pick one behavior pattern for personal change that will make the biggest difference. 

Focus on that.

If you pick the right "tipping point", and actually follow through, it will shift other aspects of your life and your relationships.

For example, more effective LISTENING leads to...

building better teamwork...

better customer service...

more understanding with those "hard to get along with" co-workers...

and becoming more productive (as you listen to yourself)...

etc.

Key Question: What are the benefits (of listening, for example)?Keep it REAL...Keep it SIMPLE...Commit to FOLLOW THROUGH.

See you for coffee soon!

Who's Your Tug Boat?

Photo Credit: Richard Chicoine iCopyright 2010

Who Is YOUR Tugboat?

OK: You've set your goals, figured out your direction, set your course.  Off you go... and then the winds change, the waves sweep your lunch overboard or maybe the ice cramps your style.

Think you can do it all on your own?

That is one of the biggest leadership myths around.

Every one of us needs our tug boat pals to help us navigate...plow through the thick ice...guide us to the safe harbour.

In the case of LTB, you may be the "captain" of your leadership/ship;  and as lead facilitator, label me "your tug boat".  My job is to serve.

As Yolibeth mentioned in her presentation about balance,

we all need our networks... setting your compass isn't supposed to be a personal secret exercise.  Checking in with your colleagues, mentors, friends and family will support you in making sure that you don't head out for sea with a storm about to fuddle your plans.  They too, are you tugs.

Tracy Buckler stated: "It's easy to lead if nothing's happening." 

Let's take that one step further:

it's easy to set goals if nothing is happening.

Take advantage of the wealth of experience around you... make this network a priority for you, now and in the future.

Set your goals high; ask questions that will scare you;

shake up your future.

Complacency is the most dangerous spot to be found asleep.

Mediocrity runs a close second.

Here's a thought:

Even though you haven't graduated yet, consider your role with LTB...

you might be the candidate to step into a committee, the board...

the national network. 

Yes, YOU.

Dream big.  Listen well. 

Wishing you...

Smooth waters, fresh winds, blue skies and

just enough turbulence to keep you sharp at the captain's wheel.

Call on the tugs before you need them!

New Horizons, New Decade

Photo of the Year (2009):  Icey Superior Sunset by Richard Chicoine

iCopyright 2010

Transporting Your Goals

"The way to get started is to quit talking

and begin doing."

- Walt Disney

"Make no little plans.  They have no power to stir men's blood and probably themselves will not be realized."

- David Burnham

We're a few days into the new decade, and a few months into your leadership journey.

What do you think you can you accomplish in the

next 100 days?

• Start by listing...

What's Important?

• Then sort out...

What's Really Important?

• Out of all your important/really important items... find 3 or 4 that are...MOST Important?

Setting Those Goals...New Horizons

Let me suggest ways to turn a very mundance goal-setting exercise into an inspirational attack on your "should-a/could-a muscles". 

1.  Review your goals from the Retreat in September.  You worked on LEARNING GOALS & LEADERSHIP GOALS.

2. Make notes about your progress...and better still, the stuff that you don't even remember thinking was important.  Start fresh if you want to.  Don't get stuck on old goals that are no longer relevant!

3.  Call up your partner - the one who helped you sort your goals at the retreat (who was that, anyway!)... and set aside talk time.  Get some input...rethink the plan.   The buddy system is more effective and let's face it, a lot more fun.

If you're not excited by your strategy, you haven't gone far enough in hitting the nail on the head. 

_______________________________

HELP!

Here's the Handout from the Retreat (short version)

Getting Real About Goals:

Thinking about my Leadership and Learning goals...

Now?

Near?

Far?

• What’s working well that I should keep doing?
• What have I been avoiding?
• What’s the challenge “over time”?
• What’s the challenge “in time / deadlines"?
• What’s the challenge when I’m “under pressure”?
• What’s the challenge with “unexpected disruptions and conditions”?
• What’s the challenge with “other people/colleagues/family”?
• What am I afraid of?
• Who could help me achieve this goal?

"A great wind is blowing, and

that gives you either imagination or

a headache." - Catherine II "The Great"

Draft of Leadership or Learning Goal



What? Why? When? Where? How?

Time line/critical path...FAR...NEAR...NOW...


In the NEAR:  Your graduation learning day in June will showcase your personal goals - leadership and learning.  Keep working on your far, because the conveyor belt of time always brings you from now to near, now to near and eventually your now will be your "far". 
Wishing you the best of the best for this year and this decade... stand on your own horizons ...

Maggie