- Buddy the Elf
from the film, Elf (2003)

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Give more smiles…

Smiling is where pleasantness begins. It costs nothing, makes you more approachable, and improves your looks (really).

I took this picture from my TV during Super Bowl 43.

Who would you rather have lunch with?
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Here’s the scene in Elf that’s the source for today’s quote (1 minute). Try not to smile after Santa’s arrival is announced.
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Glengarry Glen Ross fans: Saturday Night Live’s seasonal take on the classic scene, "Coffee’s for closers." Only worth the time if you’ve seen the film or actual scene more than twice (4.5 minutes).

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- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882)
American poet

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Give more inspiration / example…

In 1899, in one hour after dinner, Elbert Hubbard wrote a 1500-word essay (10-minute read) titled "A Message to Garcia."

It’s one of our favorites.

A true story of initiative and responsibility, the piece went on to be printed more than 40 million times (it’s still well-known with the big dogs of business and required reading for Marine Corps recruits and Naval Academy students).

Read it online or download a free copy (share it with your team).

Got young kids? Download and read them the children’s version we created (Rowan to the Rescue).

(Here’s the recently produced PBS program on Hubbard. Chapter 8, Hubbard’s Rise, is the segment on the Garcia story.)
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Fourth quarter printable calendars are up here.

Did you catch Eric Thomas (the hip hop preacher) in last Wednesday’s quote? If not… On a well-earned break or outside the money hours, he might be just the guy to get you rolling (5-minute video). It’s meant for students but it’s reminded me to work hard and focus more than once.

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(The Flintstones is an animated TV show that originally ran from 1960 to 1966. It’s about the lives of “a modern stone-aged family… from the town of BedRock.” The creator of the current show Family Guy is apparently producing a revival of it to air in 2013.)

Just say no to flintstoning.

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–Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
American writer and activist

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Give more leadership check…

Are you holding yourself accountable as a leader (with a title or not)?

As leaders, we enjoy the responsibility of helping people develop in a way that encourages them to hold themselves accountable for their attitudes, their work, and their results.

We need to be as disciplined, resourceful, and resilient in our efforts as we ask our people to be in theirs.

Relentless leadership is embracing the fact that the need for solid & ongoing reinforcement never ends and uncomfortable conversations are a necessity. This is how we create something special. (I talk a little bit about this in this quick video.)

Managers: How much development attention are you giving to your team? (20% of your week would be a full day of nothing but development time… 40% would be two full days, beginning to end)

Smile & Lead. Need some ideas?

(some of our favorite leadership thoughts from Ralph Waldo Emerson… really great stuff)
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Third quarter printable calendars are up here.

I love the example and her authenticity. Let her inspire you (5 minutes).

“Some people are,” I answered (without pointing out that we were too).

“I mean a lot of the people I know aren’t.”

I asked where that was and the person said it was at one of our local media companies here in Richmond.

“How’s the news being produced?” I asked.

“Well… Some people are working. I was really talking about the nonessentials.”

I hadn’t heard that phrase in a while. I remember hearing it on big snow days in the Washington D.C. area when I was growing up – an area that hosts a large number of government employees.

“You don’t wish you were nonessential… do you?” I asked.

essential (adjective): of the utmost importance
nonessential (adjective): not essential

We all have a choice.

Everyone can be essential. It’s a matter of becoming important to someone else (whether it’s behind the scenes or out in front). And that happens by making good things happen for someone else.

“You’re gonna have to serve somebody.”
–Bob Dylan (1941 – )
American music artist

Be essential… and encourage others to be the same.

Cross The Line.

No Gomos. No D-Grunts.

Gomo: Someone who goes through the motions.

D-Grunt: Someone who is disgruntled.

(Get a No Gomo or No D-Grunt printable here.)

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We have no talks for teens scheduled at the moment.

How to help your team to keep from going through the motions
(15 minutes – free)

09.06.11

8 am Eastern | 7 am Central | 5 am Pacific (click here)
11 am Eastern | 10 am Central | 8 am Pacific (click here)
5 pm Eastern | 4 pm Central | 2 pm Pacific (click here)

09.07.11

8 am Eastern | 7 am Central | 5 am Pacific (click here)
11 am Eastern | 10 am Central | 8 am Pacific (click here)
5 pm Eastern | 4 pm Central | 2 pm Pacific (click here)

Sometimes there’s limited space, so please check-in 10 minutes early on the day of the webinar. Please.

At the moment, we’re not archiving these. If you want to catch one but can’t make one, watch for an email notification in one of your newsletters from us or any updates via twitter. You can subscribe to our email newsletter here.

“Whenever I see Bruce Springsteen do anything, he empties the tank… every time. And the beautiful thing about this man is he empties that tank for his family, he empties that tank for his art, he empties that tank for his audience, and he empties it for his country. And we, on the receiving end of that beautiful gift are ourselves rejuvenated, if not redeemed.” – Jon Stewart (more below)

That “every time” is what gets me.

Most of us don’t get the opportunity to empty the tank in such a cool way as Springsteen, but we can work to empty the tank and be rock stars in our own worlds. (It’s the 1st point to Loving Your People… my little booklet – 5-minute read.)

If you’re a subscriber to GiveMore, you’re obligated to empty the tank (No Gomos*).

*Gomo: Someone who goes through the motions. (Get a No Gomo printable here.)

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Get a No Gomos wristband here

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