2012 February
Wednesday, February 29th, 2012
at 10:52am
Do you know what day it is today? It’s February 29th! Leap Year! Do you realize what this means? Well for some, it’s their birthday! Can you imagine only having your true birthday arrive every four years? If I was born on February 29th, I would be turning 10. Ok, I know I’m being silly now. However, Leap Year does give us a slight advantage: one extra day to do great things. One extra bag of time that you typically don’t have in a year. What are you doing with your time?
Time, after all, is the only equalizer of all people. When you think of that last statement perhaps you reflected on people you know, perhaps people you even love, who were robbed of their natural time.
People whose lives were stopped short due to unfortunate circumstances. My heart goes out to all of you. Even so, that should make this message even more powerful. You are lucky, if you are reading this you are alive today. What are you going to do with it?
Life is an adventure and business is a game. It’s a blast when your winning and there is great glory in adventuring and discovering new relationships and new ways of doing things. This world is complex and there is so much to know, get out there. You have an extra day to be excellent!
Joe Kiedinger
ACTION PLAN: It takes the same amount of time to be mediocre as it does to be excellent. Choose excellence! Now get out there!
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
at 10:27am
I recently heard this powerful example of Servant Leadership and wanted to share it with you:
“During the American Revolution, a man dressed in civilian clothes rode past a group of soldiers repairing a small stronghold. Their leader, from astride his horse, shouted instructions.
The man asked the supervisor why he wasn’t helping.
He answered, “Because, sir, I am a corporal!”
The stranger apologized, dismounted, and joined the exhausted soldiers at work. When the job was complete, he turned to the corporal and said, “Corporal, next time you need more men for a job, go to your commander-in-chief, and I will help you again.”
Too late, an arrogant corporal realized: his new workman was the beloved General George Washington. He also understood why Washington inspired devotion. A true leader is first of all a servant.”
This story reminds us that great power comes from being a humble, selfless leader who is dedicated to a cause. People respect a leader who’s not afraid to get their hands dirty. It’s no wonder a name like George Washington is so respected in our country!
What type of leader are you?
Joe Kiedinger
Action Plan: Attend one of the Servant Leaders of Wisconsin upcoming meetings!
Wednesday, February 15th, 2012
at 10:25am
We humans are funny creatures. We tend to judge most things by their outward appearance. Do you know the old adage, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”? Well, it’s our human nature to judge, unfortunately. I’m reading Steve Job’s biography and I’m finding it fascinating! Did you know that when the iMac was being developed, Steve insisted that the circuit boards be arranged in nice, neat rows. Meaning, that all those tiny electrical fasteners and widgets were to be aligned in perfect symmetry. He felt that the inside must equal the outside. I find that ironic because Apple had its own tools for opening up an Apple computer at the time so non-Apple people couldn’t mess with it.
We do this with people, too. We look at them from the outside and judge them. Do you remember Susan Boyle? Susan Boyle from the outside is not your image of a superstar. Everyone pre-judged her as being “crazy” for trying to become a professional singer on Britain’s Got Talent TV show. Well, she showed them the minute she started in to “I Dream a Dream” from Les Misérables. She is now a millionaire and has won the hearts of many. How many Susan Boyles do you have walking around your life? Some of them are our own children! Look deeper, mom and dad. Look deeper, co-worker or boss. There is a dynamic person in there waiting for someone to take an interest and bring out their voice. Will it be you?
Reminder: Sign up for our Servant Leaders of Wisconsin meeting coming up February 22. Bryce Paup, a former NFL player and member of the Green Bay Packers, will be presenting “Authentic Leadership.” RSVP with Meredith (meredithb@prophitmarketing.com) and bring friends. Seating is limited and you won’t want to miss it. For details, please go to http://www.aboutmecard.com/images/home/invitation_2-22-12.jpg
Stop judging and start leading!
Joe Kiedinger
ACTION PLAN: Bring your team to our next FREE S.L.O.W meeting. You will be glad you did! RSVP is appreciated.
Wednesday, February 8th, 2012
at 10:21am
When I talk to people about what it means to “leave a legacy,” I hear many different responses, everything from building a park that the community can enjoy to inventing a breakthrough product to solving an incurable disease. Legacy thinking takes on so many different forms. There are those, however, who I do think tap into what real legacy thinking is all about: making an impact in another person’s life.
To leave a legacy, you don’t need to solve the world’s energy crisis—you can do something as simple as having a positive impact in someone’s life by being a good leader. I invite you to explore this aspect of leadership at our next Servant Leaders of Wisconsin (S.L.O.W.) meeting coming up Feb. 22. Bryce Paup, a former Green Bay Packer and NFL Pro Bowl player, will be the keynote speaker and will talk about authentic leadership. Bryce has made Green Bay his home and has committed his life to the enrichment of others. Currently he is the head coach of the Southwest High School football team. He also conducts a Life Skills program to help people cope and learn how they can reach deep to overcome obstacles in their lives.
I’ve had the privilege of getting to know Bryce over the last six months and his message and character are sincere. You can make an impact by affecting the lives of others in an authentic way as Bryce is helping others to do. We hope you will join us for this free event. Contact Meredith Bartos at meredithb@prophitmarketing.com to receive more information.
Join us in creating a better community and a stronger world!
Joe Kiedinger
ACTION PLAN: Contact Meredith to receive information on this special event.
Wednesday, February 1st, 2012
at 10:32am
I have a best friend whose name is Todd. My wife says that Todd and I are like women. I said, “What does that mean?” She said, “You talk for hours on the phone.” I must admit that he is the only guy I can talk with for hours on the phone. We text each other every other week or so and then he’ll say, “Wanna go out?” That means, since we are 90 miles away from each other, would you like to connect on the phone tonight. We have a couple of beers, as if we’re going out on the town, and we discuss our business successes and stresses, family successes and stresses, and give each other advice. Sometimes we just listen to each other and offer no actual advice.
Todd owns the Chef’s Hat in Ephraim, Wis. A beautiful café located along the shores of Eagle Harbor. His family lives above the restaurant and enjoys many stunning views from the second floor. The one thing Todd and I have in common is that we both have a strong belief in what we are trying to accomplish. When he started his business, he refused to have fryers and serve fried food. Since starting mine, I have remained committed to the message of Servant Leadership and the Prophit Marketing System.
The momentum is growing because people are finally listening, and, in Todd’s case, they are eating his wonderful culinary concoctions. We both have a long way to go, but my point is this: If something is worth doing, it’s worth being patient for. There are too many talented and innovative people who give up before their ideas have a chance to blossom! Fine wine needs time to ferment. People grow wiser with age and ideas need a chance to sink in. Be patient—the world is depending on it!
Joe
ACTION PLAN: Relax … everything has its time and day. You’ll have yours, too!
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