Leadership Garden Coach

The Big WHY? - Flaming Ego

Do you “wonder how you” tame or flame your ego?

Ego has a lot to do with identity, being right, and survival.

First, let’s look at identity. According to my 1991 Random House Webster’s College Dictionary, identity is a noun defined as:

1. the state or fact of remaining the same one, as under varying aspects or conditions.
2. the condition of being oneself or itself, and not another.
3. condition or character as to who a person or what a thing is
4. the state or fact of being the same one as described
5. the sense of self, providing sameness and continuity in personality over time

Using any one of these definitions, if your ego is attached your job, position, or title it gives you a false sense of identity and security. No one was born a teacher, politician, CEO, or coach. Too often, we use these roles to distinguish ourselves from others, rather than who we are inside. When these roles change we lose our grounding and sense of self.

The Big WHY? – Survival Armor

Do you "wonder how you" don your “survival armor” in life?

But wait “What are you talking about?” you ask. “I don’t have any survival armor.”

The instinct to survive is innate in every human being. At times, we all encase our heart, mind, or spirit with some kind of protective armor. Why?

The Big WHY (Wonder How You . . . .) is series of questions and insights from an organic (Leadership Garden) view of leadership designed to unearth how you lead your life to thrive, or just merely survive.

I’ll pose questions for you to answer and share insights from growing my own Leadership Garden. My insights may ring true or not to you. Either way works, since there is no truth, except the truth you use to lead (guide and direct) your life.

I quote in my book: Like beauty is in the eye of the beholder, thought is in the mind, love is in the heart, and truth is in the spirit of a leader.

You Were Born a Leader to Grow and Sprout Greatness?

How come you don’t see yourself as a Martin Luther King, John F. Kennedy, Gandhi, or Mother Teresa? You were born, you grew, and you are a leader. Has your leadership greatness blossomed yet?

Unfortunately, the traditional view of leadership as a title, job, or position has failed the planet.

To lead simply means to guide and direct. Leadership is the action you take. You have say in how you convey your leadership from the moment of your birth.

On Monday 4/7/08, my new granddaughter was born. No doubt she was a leader at birth. She determined the exact moment she would arrive and her family and team at the hospital were there to support her.

Makenna was born as pure possibility to be, do, and have anything she wants. Whether she fulfills upon what she came here do will have everything to do with her, as well as those around her. Her environment will either stem or nurture her greatness. Little Makenna is no different than any other child born - except she has one advantage. She arrived into a nurturing and loving environment.

The day after her birth, I received a newsletter update from my good friend Laura Peterson, founder of Hands to Hearts International (HHI). Laura was sharing how HHI’s approach to provide nanny type care to children in orphanages has saved lives. She included a New York Times article about orphaned children in Sudan. . . .

"Expression" Part 9 - Final Leadership Conundrum Series

You are the one and only true leader of your life.
How you lead your life is an expression of you.
But the real you may be buried deep inside.
It’s now time to let your leader voice be heard.

“Expression” is the last piece of the Leadership Conundrum Series.

I have shared before that my purpose grew from deep inside on the day that my mother died by suicide. For more than 30 years, my career has centered on teaching, training, and empowering leaders. No matter how much I thought I knew or focused on helping others, I would not escape the lessons I convey.

Therefore, I chose to complete this series with insights into my journey to learn how to grow a thriving on-line Leadership Garden community. . . .

Do You Like Treasure Hunts?

Surfing the Internet is like going on a treasure hunt of information; yet, you can waste precious time and energy finding just what you want and need.

To help solve this issue, 10 experts in a cross-section industries (which includes me) have joined together in a 30 day free e-product offering. It's "first of its kind" Internet joint venture campaign.

Why is it unique?

1. It is a treasure chest of free e-products.
2. The vast majority are products that have never been offered anywhere before now.
3. There is absolutely nothing to buy. It's all FREE.
4. You choose the expert's treasure that has value to you.
Product topics range from leadership, Internet Marketing, relationships, success, life purpose, health and nutrition, e-product development, copywriting, marketing, and sales.

To learn more, check it out at: http://www.kathleengage.com/jvplatinum.htm

I personally have learned many tips and techniques from my colleagues in this campaign. In fact, I had been searching for some of the information for over a year and had difficulty breaking through all the noise of the get rich quick hype on the Internet. It wasn't until we came together to learn an ethical and systematic approach to on-line marketing and promotion, from our mentor Kathleen Gage, did we find each other.

It always amazes me just how valuable it is to share information and resources from people you know and trust. Now we want to meet you, get to know you, and if our offerings resonate with your needs, we hope you will pass our treasure chest of free resources along to those you know.

Connecting You with Budding Products and Services

As you may have guessed by now, I am all about the organic growth of the leader in you.

To accomplish my worldwide goal to seed and nurture 11 million Leadership Gardens by 11/11/2011, I took a six month mentoring course from Kathleen Gage the Street Smarts Marketer. She is an expert Internet Marketer who uses an ethical and systematic approach, just like when you plant your vegetable garden.

Kathleen brought together 10 diverse cross-sections of industries - leadership (me), Internet Marketing, relationships, success, life purpose, health and nutrition, marketing and sales - to teach us the ropes. Our goal was to learn how to promote our messages, services, and products to those who have a genuine interest in what we offer.

That’s the beauty of the Internet. It connects you with budding products and services that are just right for you that you might not otherwise find in the off-line market place. But how do you find them and what do you choose among the abundance of Internet entrepreneurs?

To that end, our group has created the “first of its kind” product launch. We are an eclectic group of unique individuals with diverse products. We decided to provide people the opportunity to sample our assorted expertise in a free e-product offer.

This isn’t one of those free trial offers. It truly is free e-product offer for 30 days, beginning today. What I like is that the Joint Venture grew from our collective heart, mind, and entrepreneurial spirit to make a difference in the world.

Regardless your particular interests or needs there is something of value for everyone among our various offerings.

Here’s how it works. You visit our group JV Platinum link:

http://www.kathleengage.com/jvplatinum.htm

Click on the product link that you want to check out. You will be directed to that person’s web page for further information and how to sign-up. All our systems allow you to unsubscribe at anytime. There is no risk for you to browse our group and individual web pages or even sign up for our products.

How can it get any better than that?

"Commitment" Part 8 - Leadership Conundrum Series

• You are the one and only true leader of your life
• How you lead your life is not only a choice but a responsibility to those around you
• Why? Because you don’t live alone or in isolation, unless you so choose. Even in that case, it impacts those who love you.

Today’s post is sparked by a Dear Abby column I clipped last month and found on my desk today. She was sharing how the roof fell in when she asked her readers what they felt the biggest problem was in society today. 

I have highlighted the key comments from each reader she chose to mention . . . .

Free eBook and Video Offer Coming Soon!

A group of ten people, with diverse business backgrounds, unite to make a free offer that can make a difference in your life - whether at work, home, school, or play. Check it out on You Tube.

"Integrity" Part 7 - Smile! Success and Life Balance from a Dentist - Leadership Conundrum Series

In a Leadership Garden, integrity - your word - is the "golden egg of leadership." It is your most prized possession. When you bring integrity to your unique purpose and aim, your words and actions match and the true success you desire appears.

As I was thinking about what to share in this post, I had the opportunity read an excerpt from What Can a Dentist Teach You about Business, Life and Success? Discover Secrets to Achieving Total Success! by Dr. Joe Capista.

Dr. Capista provides many powerful insights and techniques throughout his book, but the most relevant to this topic was how he came to realize balance and integrity is the key to Total Success. His personal story beautifully illustrates the point I was about to make. And there's a special offer at the end that will make you smile!

To get a taste of Dr. Capista's book and hear the truth about your golden egg, straight from the dentist's mouth read on . . . .

Update - You Can Help Stem Identity Theft, Internet Fraud and Eradicate Victimization in 2008

Yesterday, I posted my story about Identity Theft and victimization with the specific intention to harness the positive power of the blogosphere to bring awareness and individual responsibility to help stem this crime. I also wanted to highlight the swift action my hero, Kathy, took in hopes that other on-line vendors processing credit/debit cards would follow suit.

As a result of my post, I immediately began to receive comments from companies who offer services to help protect victims. I am sure there are many reputable companies out there and it is not for me to judge or screen all such services. But I do have a responsibility to my readers. So I chose to ask questions, instead of publishing their information in the comment section.

Why you may ask? First, no one can completely protect your identity but you. That's my point. And it may very well be subscribing to a security service with expertise may be just what you want and need. . . .