

James has a definite winner for us in this episode of Leadership Shop. He points out that always being successful is not very likely for…


James brings you an old story well worth remembering. Are you moving up the org chart or perhaps you only would like to move up…


James brings us some timely advice just right for getting on with getting on today. We all know about luck and even dumb luck. James…


How do you feel about another episode of Leadership Shop? Does it cause you to shake with fear? Are you way too reluctant to jump…


Are there many, if any leaders in your life? In fact, do you know of a leader, whether in your life or not? Since we…


This is an Irish blessing that you will likely find pleasing. If it is a message you want to share, please pass it along to…


You’ve probably heard the advice that tells us that we have to go along to get along. Much of the time, if it’s not altogether…


James is here to assure you that enthusiasm is the key to getting fired as well as to avoiding the employment ax. It’s your choice…


Now and then, we know we need to change things. The status quo is not ok and no one agrees with our ideas about what…


What do you want for Christmas? When I was young, my dad would say when asked that all he wanted for Christmas was a smile…


There are many ways to think about change: good news/bad news and such. Take your pick. It really doesn't matter since your only actual choice is to deal with it or just let it deal with you. Sure, I included a cool ear worm to distract you from what is, in the end, an easy choice.


Can you follow as easily as you lead? Do you switch depending on the situation or just be your best you? Do you always know what and why or is it sometimes a mystery even to you? This set of tips may be just what you need to answer the questions. If not, the ear worms will make up for your disappointment.


I make my choices and don't expect you to make the same choices. I manage my time and include you in my time priorities. Sometimes I am in charge and sometimes you are. Sticking to this is neither simple nor easy. Three interesting ear worms may help.


Self-awareness, Leadership, and Personal Success: A Challenge for Each of Us by OpenAI with editorial assistance from Gary Self-awareness, leadership, and personal success are three interrelated concepts that are critical for anyone looking to achieve their full potential in both their professional and personal lives. In this article, we will explore these concepts in depth, and provide some insights into how they can be integrated to help you achieve greater success and fulfillment. Self-awareness is the foundation of personal and professional growth. It is the process of understanding your own thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and motivations. When you are self-aware, you have a clearer understanding of your strengths, weaknesses, and areas for growth. This knowledge can help you make better decisions, build stronger relationships, and achieve your personal and professional goals. Leadership is about inspiring and guiding others to achieve a common goal. It requires a combination of interpersonal and communication skills, emotional intelligence, and the ability to think and act strategically. A good leader is able to inspire others to believe in their vision, build trust, and communicate effectively to drive results. Personal success, on the other hand, is a highly personal and subjective concept. It is about achieving your goals, both personal and professional, and finding fulfillment and satisfaction in your life. Personal success can encompass a wide range of areas, including career success, financial success, personal relationships, and physical and mental well-being. So, how can these three concepts be integrated to help you achieve greater success and fulfillment? Here are ttwelve key strategies to consider: 1. Develop your self-awareness: To be a successful leader, you need to have a good understanding of yourself. Take the time to reflect on your strengths, weaknesses, and areas for growth. Consider seeking feedback from others, and engage in activities that help you build self-awareness, such as mindfulness meditation or journaling. 2. Improve your communication skills: Good communication skills are essential for both personal success and effective leadership. When you communicate clearly and effectively, you can build stronger relationships, convey your ideas and vision, and inspire others to follow your lead. 3. Manage your time effectively: Good time management is important for both personal success and effective leadership. When you manage your time effectively, you can prioritize your activities, reduce stress, and increase your productivity. 4. Build your confidence: Confidence is an important component of both personal success and effective leadership. When you believe in yourself, you are more likely to take risks, pursue your goals, and overcome challenges. As a leader, confidence also inspires others to believe in you and follow your lead. 5. Cultivate empathy: Empathy is an important component of emotional intelligence and is crucial for effective leadership. When you are able to understand and relate to the experiences and emotions of others, you can build stronger relationships, communicate more effectively, and lead with greater impact. 6. Be adaptable: Adaptability is an important component of personal success and effective leadership. When you are able to adapt to change, you can remain flexible, respond to new challenges, and continue to grow and develop. As a leader, adaptability also allows you to be responsive to the changing needs of your team and organization. 7. Lead with authenticity: Authenticity is an important component of personal success and effective leadership. When you are true to yourself and your values, you can build stronger relationships, convey your ideas and vision with greater impact, and lead with integrity. 8. Set achievable goals: Setting goals is an important component of personal success and effective leadership.


The charm tip I get even though I think I may not be all that charming. The second tip I'm pretty sure I do not get at all. If that's not frustrating enough, the tune that goes with it, I get even less. Maybe it will work for you. The good news is that tip three does ring true for me -- nothing to complain about.


So you want to make some changes around here, make things better. Of course, there are a few problems that need solved. But even more to the point, there are people who may or may not cooperate. And often overlooked is how you manage your personal space. Check out this episode and judge for yourself.


We know that it usually works out best when we stay in our own wheelhouse but knowing what is and is not in there is often a quandary. Here are three tips to help us figure out what is and isn't for us. Sticking with what we already know is easy. The real challenge is with the new, the unfamiliar, those actions and opportunities that we have not dealt with before. That's where the possibility for success and failure loom.


Here we have three tips that may not seem to go together, but with a little more thought, they do. It starts with only selling what's right and not settling for just what's awesome. If you get that, the other tips fall into place quite nicely. The little ear worms will give you time to fully consider the connections.


Too often we focus on being sure we are doing things right before making sure we are doing the right things. Too often we focus on solving a problem before figuring out why there is a problem to solve. Sure, we also occasionally get the cart before the horse. I'll bet you get the idea. Here are three tips to help us avoid these amateur pitfalls. Of course, there are also three very cool ear worms to give time to ponder the tips.


What can be said about Christmas? As it turns out, quite a lot.


The three tips here work as a set. I'll leave it to you to figure out how that works. The three ear worms are not a set but are pretty compelling.


Making resolutions is a pastime in which we can all indulge but committing to our resolutions is only for the few of us who are serious about being the best we can be. This level of commitment starts with understanding that each of us is a leader and a role model for others. Yes, each of us. The issue is not whether we are leaders and role models. We are. The issue is whether we recognize our responsibility and commit to being the best we can be with everyone, whenever and wherever we engage with other people. -- Are we the example they should be following? Here are my twenty resolutions to be the best I can be with other people. Whether you choose to join me in any or none of the resolutions is your call. I am only letting you know that I think they will serve me well and am comfortable with having you hold me accountable for following through on each resolution.


The decisions we make are usually pretty clear but often our sources and reasons are less clear and not particularly obvious to either us or to others. We usually can come up with an explanation but that explanation is frequently post-action. So what's happening? I'm not sure but here are three tips that seem to me to be related. The ear worms are hear to give us time to ponder the "Why" of it.


The pursuit of Personal Excellence is a lifetime journey and never merely an event. What's more, it's a journey that many start but only a few sustain. For those few, it seems easy and natural, something that requires little effort. But neither does it just come naturally nor without intense focus and consentration. Personal Excellence is nothing short of a nonnegotiable commitment to doing the right things right, with everyone, every time, everywhere -- no exceptions, no excuses. Here you have the opportunity to both listen to Pursuing Personal Excellence and to downloading the MP3 edition for your more leisurely consideration. Will you take up the challenge? Probably not but one never knows. Now and then, that unusual person comes along who not only wants to pursue Personal Excellence but has no option but to take the journey. Pursuing Personal Excellence is a guide book of sorts for you only if you are up to the challenge. Good luck and happy traveling.


Just because the topic is boring, you need not conclude that the content is boring, although it may be. If so, the ear worms make up for it.


Our Home - Your Home is a handbook for foster parents. Although all parents will find the handbook useful for understanding and working with their children, it focuses specifically on abused and neglected children and on the special challenges of parenting for these children. If you prefer reading the handbook, you may download The PDF Edition Here. The audio edition is 3.5 hours so you may also find it convenient to download it from GaryCrow.net under the audio player for the podcast episode. Also note that the address in the PDF edition is incorrect. I hope you find the handbook useful and wish you and your foster child all the best.


I think I'll just let you go wherever the title takes you. Who am I to tell you who you are or where your mind should venture. My only suggestion is that you consider a bike for the ride.


Most of the time we have no need to make that extra effort to relate and to get along. Our worlds are fairly calm and predictable. There are those times though, those times when, as the country song says, "People are crazy." Sure, it's not clear whether it's "people" or just maybe us who are crazy. It is at those times when today's tips come in most handy. It is a matter of mind over madness. It's us or them.