Let's Get Motivated!

What an awesome day in Nashville, TN at the Sommet Center. It was a day filled with so many guest speakers that had so much to say. I would like to share some of my notes, so....

I would like to talk about one of our guest speakers Gen.(Ret) Colin Powell!

Everyone knows that he is the former Secretary of State and is one of the most distinguished leaders of the 21st Century. It was really eye opening to see this man as one of us. He breaths, eats and yes, drinks hot tea, just like the rest of us. His wife says, when are you going to work again? Just like we do when the TDY trips couldn't come any sooner. (You know who you are) Down to earth and making everyone laugh, he taught me alot in his, what I believe to be, 30 minute time frame.

Here are some of my notes from todays Business Seminar with Gen. (Ret) Powell:

• Always look thru the windshield and not the rear view mirror. Let your past be the past and look to what is ahead. You can't change the past.
• Leadership is about followership. In Ft. Benning, GA they all say "Follow Me" Are you a leader?
• Communicate a purpose to the followers; make sure everyone gets it
• Instead of using the word "motivate", use the word "inspire"
• A leader is important. One thing that is hard is to look at someone who isn't being a follower in the work place and telling them you will either move them if they don't change or fire them. It is important to do this and not let it continue, you must be a leader!
• Selfless not Selfish servers are who leaders are looking for
• Following you out of curiousity is the sign of a good leader. When you, the leader, are trying something different, the ones who follow you and do so out of curiousity, tells you, you are a good leader.
• Face reality and make a change.

One thing that really stuck out was when he said that he would call the Spouses of the men he worked with and wanted to just let them know he appreciated their Soldier. If my husband's boss called me to let me know he appreciated my husband, that would make me have a bigger smile on my face when he walked in the door, heck, I might even bake him a special meal because today I found out he is appreciated at work! This would put a positive light on the spouse and probably make things just a little better in the home. We get through this life working and working and looking straight ahead with sometimes little or no acknowledgement. Your spouse might come home and need a beer because of their day or just come home and not want to talk about it. But know that EVERYONE wants to hear they are appreciated! That made an impact on me. It is definitely out of the norm. Being out of the norm is what sticks out and makes you stand out among the rest.