Independence Day

July 4th, 2011

It’s Independence Day here in the US. This is THE national day that acknowledges the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Although many of us will be celebrating with fireworks and barbeques, this is also a time to take stock of where there is any inner tyranny. Where are we handing off our free will, free thought and open heart to another? Where are we looking to another for our own sovereign answers? Where have we abdicated what we know to be true for ourselves in favor of a quick fix from someone else? Where have we made another person our guru, master or teacher and absolved ourselves of our own ability to think with freedom?

In an age where many are looking for THE answer – to a job, career, business, relationship, family, whatever…….where do we need to declare FREEDOM!?! Knowing that we can always seek support from others, always enlist a helping hand….but ALWAYS – I mean ALWAYS – know our own hearts?

Freedom. Liberty. Self-rule. Happy Independence Day!

I would love to know what you are doing right now to know yourself and lead yourself. Please post your thoughts below!

To Your Inspired Leadership,

Mary Pat

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Decide! Break Through the Option Trap

May 25th, 2011

Leaders Make Decisions

I am the queen of possibilities. I see so many options that I can become paralyzed. I get stuck. Many options lead to lack of focus and the result 99% of the time is indecision.

This trap of options and indecision became so frustrating in my household that one day my youngest son looked me in the eye and said, “Mom, decide or die!” If I had to make a decision – choose one option (even if I suffered all of the anxiety of leaving all other options behind), OR DIE, what choice would I make? This approach worked. I made the decision and freed myself to move forward. Was it a perfect decision? Not sure. I do know that it was perfect for the moment because it moved me out of paralysis. If the decision was incorrect, I at least had some momentum to change course. When you need to decide, decide. Get out of your way.

Decide or Die is an appropriate battle cry for entrepreneurs and small business owners everywhere. Decisions may be imperfect, but they are not arbitrary or baseless if they are rooted in your purpose and you balance head with heart. Decide and move forward. Inertia ends. Growth begins.

Set a basis for good decision making by considering the following questions:

  • Describe your life purpose in one sentence – what do you do, what do you stand for and with what value do you do it?
  • Do you know what is important to you?
  • Do you decide mostly from your gut?
  • Do you wait for others to tell you what they think first?
  • What method do you have to quickly and efficiently analyze your options?
  • Do you know if what you are deciding about is even worth it?

    • Use This Decision Making Process To Make A Decision:

    1. On a sheet of paper, list all of the things that are important to you and would contribute to complete happiness in your life. Be very specific

    Rank your happy list to your top three or four.
    Put that to your left, in clear view.

    2. Make a second list of the options that you are considering.

    Place the list next to your prioritized happy list.
    Which of the decision options honors the entire happy list?
    Which of the decision options honors most of the happy list?

    3. Knowing what is important to you and contributes to your happiness and also what your options are, List on a third sheet the negative impact of each of the options.

    4. Compare all three lists and decide

    This may sound simplistic, and it is….but terrifically effective!

    One Last Hint: If you are having difficulty letting go of some options, pick one. Then file the other options away in an idea file. Review the file weekly/monthly/quarterly. As your business grows in leaps and bounds, some of those options are worth review. Others become obsolete because the clear committed action that emerged from your original decision has caused your business to shift and new considerations emerge.

    Battle cry – DECIDE! Pick the worthy action and do it. Other decisions will cascade from here.

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    Spring Cleaning For My Head

    May 18th, 2011

    Spring has almost sprung into Summer.  As per usual in Chicago, Spring remains elusive – preferring to wander into Summer or continue it’s comfort in Winter.  Maybe that’s why I miss Spring cleaning each year.

    Not this year.  I began with a purge of a few things that were not serving me in my life.  Now, all of a sudden, my house is turned upside down.  Ten contractor bags graced my front lawn this morning as old, worn out, and often broken “stuff” was eliminated and tossed.

    Today I’m feeling a tad depressed and I had to ask myself why.  Was I clinging to old comfortable stuff that didn’t work for me?  Did I miss an old friend of a stuffed animal?  Did I possibly think that my now 6’2″ boys would want to use the cracked kiddie pool?

    Further thought has brought me to the realization that with each tossed item of “stuff”, an accompanying bit of “stuff” in my head needed to be cleared.  These are my questions:

    1. Whose negative ideas do I carry around in my head that are not mine?
    2. What back talk do I give myself about my body or how I look?
    3. Where do I criticize myself mercilessly because I am not further along in my career?
    4. What guilt do I tote about time wasted or absent minded parenting now that my kids are almost grown?
    5. Where does my brain go yada yada yada about any old critical, negative or self-flagellating idea?

    So, as I clear the clutter and admire the space that has been created by my relentless tossing of stuff, so do I toss the stuff in my head.  One negative idea at a time; one outdated thought at a time; one self-abusive critique at a time.  Clearing the stuff and making space for expansion, joy and maybe – just maybe – a little bit of self acceptance.  Aw heck – let’s go whole hog – how about a lot of self love.  And self love is at the heart of personal leadership.

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    Coming Out of the Dark

    June 13th, 2010

    I love Gloria Estefan’s song…

    Coming Out of the Dark

    I finally see the light

    And It’s shining on me

    How often as the leaders of our business do we become so task oriented that we fail to shine our light in a meaningful way?  Where have we made silent agreements with others that we won’t outshine each other?  Where do we hide with a false sense of modesty that does not serve anyone?  Where do we still listen to those messages that go something like, “who do you think you are?”  Well, who DO you think you are?  I think you are as bright and as magnificent as the sun.

    Many of us have forgotten how to shine.  We knew how to as little children.  Watch children at play.  There is no holding back the light of a small and delighted child.  Remember what it felt like to be you with complete abandon?  No?  It’s been a long time and we’ve had tons of programming since then.  The light that we send out has dimmed.  But…the good news is that the light still burns very brightly inside of each of us. 

    Now more than ever, it is important to shine brightly and surely, from a place of inner leadership.  It models to others how we want them to show up in our businesses or in our lives.  If we all were shining at full wattage, from the inner place of love and leadership, what do you think might happen?  If every employee or assistant you had working for you refused to dim their light and rather showed up in the fullness of who they were, with all of their talents and abilities, what do you think might happen to your business?

    I’m coming out of the dark right now and seeing how many years I’ve been living and working in a diminished wattage.  My light is huge, so many may not have noticed the dimming.  But I have.  I’ve seen the silent agreements I’ve made to play small, stay in the background, and minimize the risks.  No more….The lights are on.  My eyes are a little squinty because I’m not used to it yet.  I suspect I will be before long.

    Live your life in the fullest place of brightly lit leadership.  With oil spills, economic downturns, compromised education systems, and all of the other challenges we face as a society….the world needs your light and your leadership.

    To your Inspired Leadership!

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    The Inspired Leader

    March 4th, 2010

     

    Someone who is inspired to inspire
    Someone who lives by a set of values and ethics and role-models those values each day
    An inclusive visionary
    A heart centered man or woman willing to collaborate from a place of vision

     

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    At the center is the HEART – the source of inspiration. 

    Not the mind
    Not the ego
    From the place of intuitive knowledge, emotional intelligence, spiritual connection, understanding that I am part of a whole

     

    Contemplate the 12 chambers of the Leadership Heart:

    Self Aware – Ego Vs Higher Self Trusts and Inspires Trust in Others
    Speaks the Truth Directly and With Compassion Is Curious
    Works with Integrity Is Accountable
    Inspires Others to Their Highest and Best Navigates Rather Than Drives
    Communicates Works with Wisdom – Works From Genius
    Is Here To Listen Lives with Vision and Purpose

     

     This journey is about finding the leader who lives in each of us.

    Consciously choosing to stay present in that leadership role

    Staying awake

    Knowing that others are watching…following

    Listening to our hearts

    Traveling as true Leaders Inspired

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    Dust Off Your Strategy

    February 1st, 2010

    It’s February.  You’ve had one month of the new year to test drive your 2010 Business Strategy.  If you haven’t given strategy a thought, there is still time.  For those of you moving into the year with a goal in mind, this is for you.

    It’s time to dust off your strategy.  Any business of any size could do with a monthly or weekly strategy dust off.  It’s never to early to clear the cobwebs.  One way to do this is to PREVIEW, PRIORITZE and PURGE. 

    You’ve set your business and financial goals.  You move into action each day.  Are you focusing on the most effective way to reach your end game? 

    Become more effective with the Three P’s. 

    First, PREVIEW the month to come.  Take a look at the beginning of the month and plan what needs to be done for the next 30 days.  Ask if this the most effective way to quickly reach your end game?  PRIORITIZE the most effective activities first and then – gasp! – PURGE the bottom 10 to 20% of activities.  Just get rid of them.  Delegate to someone else or just take them off your list.  Let’s face it.  You won’t do them.  They just make you feel overwhelmed and unsuccessful, and are likely to be work to keep you busy rather than effective.

    Strategy for Success:  Preview the month, Prioritize for success, Purge the busy work!!

    To Your Inspired Leadership,

    Mary Pat

    Leaders Inspired

    www.leadersinspired.com

    mpknight@leadersinspired.com

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    2009 – A Mulligan

    January 7th, 2010

    Thanks to my dear friend Nancy Sharp who defined the year 2009, a “mulligan”.

    A mulligan defined is a golf shot gone awry that your fellow golfers allow you to take over.

    2009 is a mulligan.  2010 is a do-over.

    Wonderful news!

    To Your Inspired Leadership,

    Mary Pat

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    Clear to Plan

    November 16th, 2009

    More and more business owners are turning their eyes to strategic planning.  There has been a lot of hunkering down this past year.  Put your head down and plow through.  In some cases, people have been in denial and are now just waking up to what has been happening.  It has been hard to see past the pain of what has transpired in the past year for most people.  On the other hand, some are stronger and surer and are eager to plan for the future.  In each case, we are finally seeing the whites of each other’s eyes – peering over in shock or gratitude; uncertainty or excitement.

    It’s time to plan.

    I’m a business owner who supports other business owners.  However, if I am to walk in the shoes of leadership, I decided I’d better put my money where my mouth was.  If I want to support my clients to create a dynamic plan that provides enough oomph to move forward passionately and confidently into the next thing/phase, I had better do some planning on my own

    But I was stuck.  Why couldn’t I get clear?paperwork_mountain

    Because I wasn’t clear.  A clearing needed to happen.

    I often start my clients with a process to do an emotional clearing so that the regrets and resentments get surfaced and movement into the future is not clouded by the pain or frustration or limitations of the past.

    What I needed to do was a PHYSICAL clearing.  It was so obvious.  I was in the middle of clutter.  Much like my mind might be.  The clutter pulled me away from the task at hand. I would move a pile here, a pile there.  I’d sit on a substandard chair and try, in too small of a work space, to create what I was trying to create.  I was constricted and contracted physically just like I might be mentally and emotionally if my mind was full of stuff.

    I cleaned and cleared my office.  Bags of junk tossed and piles of paper for recycling.  Off to find a bigger desk…because now that I am clear and can plan, I’m going to need more room.

    It’s time to plan.  What do you need to clean, clear, gather, eliminate or reorganize – physically or mentally?

    To your inspired leadership,

    Mary Pat

    www.LeadersInspired.com

    MPKnight@LeadersInspired.com

    Interested in developing a strategy?  Visit here to find out how.

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    Failure to Plan = Failure to Launch

    October 23rd, 2009

    ‘Nuff said! Do you know where you’re going to? Do others in your life know where you are going who can support you and hold you accountable?

    Why do we fail to plan? The answer can be found in our Inner Rebel. That rebel does not like to be told what to do, pinned down or held accountable. Anybody with entrepreneurial tendencies wrestles with this character. The antidote is to ask that member of your cast of characters to quietly sit in the corner while the spiritual pragmatist in you creates a plan of action.

    The plan is like the root system of a tree. The disciplined structure of the root system holds the tree firm and steady while the tree shakes like heck in a strong wind. PLAN!!! PLAN!!! PLAN!!!

    There are multiple ways to plan for a business. I’ve consulted with dozens and dozens of clients and businesses – many have “strategic plans” so lofty that paralysis occurs. The plan sits on a shelf. The trick is to keep it simple. Yes, have a long term view – that is vital. And give yourself a 90 day goal – or three progressive 30 day goals. If you have a long term view that is not broken down into all of its parts, you are looking through a looking glass and simply wishing for the outcome. Move into action that is founded in your goal.

    Words to the wise….women business leaders are queens of multi-tasking. Do you understand the consequences of scattered action? And do you know the power of focused intent? The best multi-tasker in the world is likely to get far less accomplished than her sister who is focused on one clear action at a time. To-do lists anyone??

    The wonderful thing about a plan that most of us forget – and the challenging part of a plan that some of us get stuck in – is that it is fluid. It can change with more learning and information. Are you someone who sticks with a plan even when new information tells you otherwise? Are you another someone who fails to take concrete action on agreed upon goals because you think things are going to change? The fact is we are building this rocket ship as it is flying. We get where we are going to and we need to move forward in a committed way AND at the same time be willing to shift gears, as needed. Paradox.

    • Do you know where you want to go?
    • Have you asked the hard questions to understand if this is a worthwhile endeavor?
    • Are you clear about your market conditions?
    • Do you have a product profit pyramid that focuses you on your highest ticket offerings?
    • Do you have a plan that clearly articulates action-based goals and tasks?
    • Do you review your plan every week and plan for focused activity each week?
    • Are you celebrating the achievement of your goals?

    What’s that old adage? Oh Yeah. “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail”.

    To Your Inspired Leadership

    Sophia

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    Are You A Leader Working In Your Mastery?

    October 12th, 2009

    We are all too comfortable with working levels below our mastery.

    All of us have a circle of comfort from which we operate. Over the years, this circle may have widened but I guarantee you that you are still stuck in the middle of the zone. What happens when you get to the edge of your comfort circle? You know, you generally bounce off the edge and turn right back around into your comfort zone.

    Our job as business leaders is to understand mastery on two levels. The first level is the personal level. What do I know, feel, see, or believe in such mastery that I have no fear to expand beyond my boundaries. The second is the business level. What do I do, believe or know better than anyone in the world – this is my mastery. Are you uncomfortable with the questions? Time to move out of that circle of comfort.

    Gay Hendricks and others in the personal development world have written and taught about working in your “zone of genius”. This is the mastery of which we are speaking. So let’s get comfortable with the question. Do you know where your particular genius lies? Do you understand where you are masterful?

    Successful businesses are gifted at matching task to talent. Why learn skills that bore you and frustrate you? Can’t you see how this takes you out of focused mastery action? Are you willing to delegate 30%? 40%? 50%? 90%?

    Ask yourself why you are unwilling to delegate? If the answer is that it’s easier for me to do it or nobody can do it the way I can, recognize that you are stuck in your circle of comfort. I tell my clients all the time, even though we are striving for excellence and transformation, at times 80% of something/some effort is better than 100% of nothing.

    When you work in your zone of mastery, you take focused mastery action. This will propel you forward with enthusiasm, passion and joy into your unique offering in the world.

    To Your Inspired Leadership,

    MP

    www.mpknight.com

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