If you are not familiar with Robin Sharma, I would suggest checking out his work. He is the bestselling author of The Monk Who Sold His Ferrarri and The Leader Who Had No Title. He put together 73 lessons of leadership and success that I wanted to share because their is some tremendous insight here. – Enjoy!

You can really Lead Without a Title.

Knowing what to do and not doing it is the same as not knowing what to do.

Give away what you most wish to receive.

The antidote to stagnation is innovation.

The conversations you are most resisting are the conversations you most need to be having.

Leadership is no longer about position – but passion. It’s no longer about image but impact. This is Leadership 2.0.

The bigger the dream, the more important to the team.

Visionaries see the “impossible” as the inevitable.

All great thinkers are initially ridiculed – and eventually revered.

The more you worry about being applauded by others and making money, the less you’ll focus on doing the great work that will generate applause. And make you money.

To double your net worth, double your self-worth. Because you will never exceed the height of your self-image.

The more messes you allow into your life, the more messes will become a normal (and acceptable) part of your life.

The secret to genius is not genetics but daily practice married with relentless perseverance.

The best leaders lift people up versus tear people down.

The most precious resource for businesspeople is not their time. It’s their energy. Manage it well.

The fears you run from run to you.

The most dangerous place is in your safety zone.

The more you go to your limits, the more your limits will expand.

Every moment in front of a customer is a gorgeous opportunity to live your values.

Be so good at what you do that no one else in the world can do what you do.

You’ll never go wrong in doing what is right.

It generally takes about 10 years to become an overnight sensation.

Never leave the site of a strong idea without doing something to execute around it.

A strong foundation at home sets you up for a strong foundation at work.

Never miss a moment to encourage someone you work with.

Saying “I’ll try” really means “I’m not really committed.”

The secret of passion is purpose.

Do a few things at mastery versus many things at mediocrity.

To have the rewards that very few have, do the things that very few people are willing to do.

Go where no one’s gone and leave a trail of excellence behind you.

Who you are becoming is more important than what you are accumulating.

Accept your teammates for what they are and inspire them to become all they can be.

To triple the growth of your organization, triple the growth of your people.

The best leaders are the most dedicated learners. Read great books daily. Investing in your self-development is the best investment you will ever make.

Other people’s opinions of you are none of your business.

Change is hardest at the beginning, messiest in the middle and best at the end.

Measure your success by your inner scorecard versus an outer one.

Understand the acute difference between the cost of something and the value of something.

Nothing fails like success. Because when you are at the top, it’s so easy to stop doing the very things that brought you to the top.

The best leaders blend courage with compassion.

The less you are like others, the less others will like you.

You’ll never go wrong in doing what’s right.

Excellence in one area is the beginning of excellence in every area.

The real reward for doing your best work is not the money you make but the leader you become.

Passion + production = performance.

The value of getting to your goals lives not in reaching the goal but what the talents/strengths/capabilities the journey reveals to you.

Stand for something. Or else you’ll fall for anything.

Say “thank you” when you’re grateful and “sorry” when you’re wrong.

Make the work you are doing today better than the work you did yesterday.

Small daily – seemingly insignificant – improvements and innovations lead to staggering achievements over time.

Peak performers replace depletion with inspiration on a daily basis.

Take care of your relationships and the sales/money will take care of itself.

You can’t be great if you don’t feel great. Make exceptional health your #1 priority.

Doing the difficult things that you’ve never done awakens the talents you never knew you had.

As we each express our natural genius, we all elevate our world.

Your daily schedule reflects your deepest values.

People do business with people who make them feel special.

All things being equal, the primary competitive advantage of your business will be your ability to grow Leaders Without Titles faster than your industry peers.

Treat people well on your way up and they’ll treat you well on your way down.

Success lies in a masterful consistency around a few fundamentals. It really is simple. Not easy. But simple.

The business (and person) who tries to be everything to everyone ends up being nothing to anyone.

One of the primary tactics for enduring winning is daily learning.

To have everything you want, help as many people as you can possibly find get everything they want.

Understand that a problem is only a problem if you choose to view it as a problem (vs. an opportunity).

Clarity precedes mastery. Craft clear and precise plans/goals/deliverables. And then block out all else.

The best in business spend far more time on learning than in leisure.

Lucky is where skill meets persistence.

The best Leaders Without a Title use their heads and listen to their hearts.

The things that are hardest to do are often the things that are the best to do.

Every single person in the world could be a genius at something, if they practiced it daily for at least ten years (as confirmed by the research of Anders Ericsson and others).

Daily exercise is an insurance policy against future illness. The best Leaders Without Titles are the fittest.

Education is the beginning of transformation. Dedicate yourself to daily learning via books/audios/seminars and coaching.

The quickest way to grow the sales of your business is to grow your people.

I wanted to share this quick story about the power of positive thinking. I hope it makes you stop and think the way it made me.

John is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, ‘If I were any better, I would be twins!’

He was a natural motivator.

If an employee was having a bad day, John was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up and asked him, ‘I don’t get it!’

‘You can’t be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?’

He replied, ‘Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or…you can choose to be in a bad mood. I choose to be in a good mood.’

Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or…I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it.

Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or…I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the
positive side of life.

‘Yeah, right, it’s not that easy,’ I protested.

‘Yes, it is,’ he said. ‘Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people affect your mood.

You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It’s your choice how you live your life.’

I reflected on what he said. Soon hereafter, I left the Tower Industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I
made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

Several years later, I heard that he was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower.

After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, he was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back.

I saw him about six months after the accident.

When I asked him how he was, he replied, ‘If I were any better, I’d be twins…Wanna see my scars?’

I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place.

‘The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be born daughter,’ he replied. ‘Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or…I could choose to die. I chose to live.’

‘Weren’t you scared? Did you lose consciousness?’ I asked.

He continued, ‘…the paramedics were great.

They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I
got really scared. In their eyes, I read ‘he’s a dead man’. I knew I needed to take action.’

‘What did you do?’ I asked.

‘Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me,’ said John. ‘She asked if I was allergic to anything ‘Yes, I replied.’ The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, ‘Gravity”

Over their laughter, I told them, ‘I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead.’

He lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude….I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.

Attitude, after all, is everything.

When it comes to books about networking, building relationships or dealing with people, the undisputed classic is How To Win Friends and Influence People. Dale Carnegie wrote the book in 1936 and it has been read by millions of people since.

One of the great realizations in the book is that although some people are more extroverted or affable, dealing with people is a learned skill that anyone can master it.

The second section of the book is titled, Six Ways To Make People Like You. These are simple ideas that make a huge difference.

#1 – Be Genuinely Interested In Other People.

Studies show that the word that people say more than any other is ‘I”. People love to talk about themselves, their lives, their hobbies, their families, their passions, etc… When you become interested in people, ask questions and allow them to talk, they will love you for it.

In a nutshell: Focus on being interested not interesting. There is a big difference. Interesting is about you, interested is about them.

#2 – Smile
A smile is a simple gesture that doesn’t cost you money, time, or energy but it can brighten someone’s day, changes the way you feel and make you more approachable.

Smiling is attractive and contagious. People around you can’t help but smile when they see a big smile on your face.

#3 – Remembering and Using People’s Name
They say that the sweetest and most important sound in language is the sound of your own name.

We’ve all been there when you recognize the person but can’t remember their name. It’s awkward, uncomfortable and sometimes embarrassing. We often use the excuse that “I am not good with names,” but if you want to master people, you need to begin to remember names.

Develop a system, when you meet someone use their name 3 times in conversation or write their name down in a notebook with some notes about them. Figure out what works for you.

#4 Be A Good Listener

I love the sage advice that we were given one mouth and two ears for a reason. We need to encourage others to talk and then listen to understand.

Listening is an active process. It is much more than being silent. It involves empathy, which is to walk in someone’s shoes and understanding, which is the ability to relate without judging or fixing.

Listening is a skill that is developed with practice and as you master it, people will like you more and more.

#5 Talk To People In Terms of Their Interests
People love it when you can talk to them in terms of their interests. They love when you are knowledgeable on subjects they enjoy and can have intelligent conversation about what matters most to them.

That doesn’t mean that you have to be an expert in every category, but being able to talk to people in terms of their interests goes a long way. One way to do this is to study topics of interest before meeting with people. If you know that your business lunch is with a huge baseball fan, then take some time to brush up on your knowledge of the game. This small point may make the biggest difference in how the lunch turns out.

If you have paid attention to the first five ways to make people like you, you are probably noticing a trend. Each of the points is focused on the other person.

Talking in terms of other people’s interest is another way to put them first and leave a great impression.

#6 Make People Feel Important Do It Sincerely

Making people feel important can be done in a myriad of ways. You can give a compliment, remember their birthday or a special occasion, recognize them for their skills and contribution or give them a gift.

The key is to make sure you do it sincerely. Your motives must be pure. This is not about giving to get, it is about giving because you care.

People read through individuals who are fake and only in it for themselves. If you are going to compliment someone, make it sincere. Look at the good in people and point that out.

As a boy scout I was taught to leave a campsite better than before I got there. I think the same principle applies to people.

Leave every person better for having met you.

Last Friday, legendary UCLA Basketball coach and leader, John Wooden passed away at the age of 99. John was known for his famous sayings and I wanted to share some of the great “Woodenisms” with you.

“It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.”

“Talent is God-Given. Be Humble. Fame is man-given. Be Grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.”

“If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?”

“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”

“A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment.”

“Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It’s courage that counts.”

If you’re not making mistakes, ten you’re not doing anything. I’m positive that a doer makes mistakes.”

“You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.”

“Never mistake activity for achievement.

This is one of the greatest stories of persistence! I promise you the story of Mel Fisher will inspire you!

I wanted to share an article that my friend Mike Robbins (www.mike-robbins.com) shared in his weekly newsletter.

Below is a poignant, true story. While this event took place a few years ago (2007) and you may have read it already, it was the first time I’d been made aware of it and I wanted to share this story with you. It’s an important reminder about the power of our attention – it’s not about the beauty of the music, it’s about our willingness to hear it and appreciate it.

Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning.

A man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about forty five minutes. During that time approximately two thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

After three minutes, a middle-aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later:

The violinist received his first dollar; a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes:

A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes:

A three-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes:

The musician played continuously. Only six people stopped and listened for a short while. About twenty gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour:

He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth thirty-five million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post a few years ago as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people’s priorities.

The questions raised:

In a commonplace environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?

Do we stop to appreciate it?

Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made…

How many other things are we missing?

If you stop and pay attention right now, where can you find beauty and brilliance that you may not have been noticing?

The first time I met Dr. Stephen Covey, the author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, was at an event that he hosted in his home. A mutual friend introduced us and told Stephen that I was writing a book. Stephen asked what the title was and I said, The Two Most Important Days Of Your Life. Then he asked if he could give me some advice. He has sold over 26 million books – so I said of course. Then he said , “Make sure you write the book for the reader, and not the writer. “ Not fully understanding, I asked him to explain. He then taught me, “Life is only fulfilling when you focus on contribution, not achievement. A book will be successful when it is written for the reader; to help, teach, and inspire. Authors who write for their own agrandizement ironically never achieve what they desire, but those who focus on serving others never lack for success.”

Dr. Covey’s advice is not just great advice for writing a book – it is great advice for life. In business, in relationships and in life – the more we serve, the more we get in return. If we approach our customers, employees, family, and friends thinking – how can I serve them, we are going to succeed.

I was asked to participate in the coversation with www.33voices.com and answer the question, What is the most important idea an entrepreneur should be thinking about right now?

My response was – As the world continues to struggle in the economic downturn, we face more problems than maybe any other time in our history. Millions of people have lost their jobs, families are hurting, and confidence is at an all time low. Technology is changing entire industries and making many products and services obsolete. I believe that we are rewarded for the amount of service we provide. If we learn to serve more people or to serve people in a more impactful way, we will be rewarded in greater ways. 

Entrepreneurs by nature are problem solvers. They get paid to solve problems. The bigger the problem, the bigger the payday. The world is facing some big problems right now. How do we create jobs? Feed families? Reinvent industries?  Or fix the broken system? Right now is the time for entrepreneurs to solve problems and serve people. When you think in terms of service, you are solution seeking. Identifying the problem, but focusing on the solution. The solution becomes your business plan, the service you provide, and ultimately the reward you receive in return. 

Albert Schweitzer said it best when he said, “I don’t know what your destiny will be but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.”

I sincerely wish you will have the experience of thinking up a new idea, planning it, organizing it, and following it to completion, and then having it be magnificently successful. I also hope you’ll go through the same process and have something “bomb-out.”

I wish you could know how it feels “to run” with all your heart and lose – horribly.

I wish that you could achieve some great good for mankind, but have nobody know about it except for you.

I wish you could find something so worthwhile that you deem it worthy of investing your life.

I hope you become frustrated and challenged enough to begin to push back the very barriers of your own personal limitations.

I hope you make a stupid, unethical mistake and get caught redhanded and are big enough to say those magic words ”I was wrong.”

I hope you give so much of yourself that some days you wonder if it’s worth it all.

I wish for you a magnificent obsession that will give you reason for living and purpose and direction and elan and life.

I wish for you the worst kind of criticism for everything you do, because that makes you fight to achieve beyond what you normally would.

I wish for you the experience of leadership.

Last night my wife and I watched the last 30 minutes of the Academy Awards. It is always fun to see who wins the big awards: Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and Picture of The Year.

The thing that impressed me was the way that they recognized the nominees for Best Actor and Actress.
Each of the nominees were introduced by a friend and colleague who knew them personally and had worked with them before. The personal relationship allowed them to share funny stories, genuine compliments and heartfelt congratulations to each of the nominees.

It was moving!

Whenever you are part of recognition with a team, family, organization, or business – take a lesson from the Oscars. Make it personal. Make it heartfelt. Make it real.

What a difference this makes on the impact of the recognition – not only for the individual being recognized but for all who are participating.

What a great lesson from the Oscars!

Yesterday I went to a networking event for lunch. There were about 80 people there and we were assigned to tables with 8 at each table. The conversation was good, but superficial throughout the lunch. The typical question was directed at the name of the company on the name tag. “Tell me about XYZ company?” or “What do you do at XYZ?”

Then the event director introduced an activity. We went around the table and each of us had two minutes to answer a personal question and then 2 minutes to talk about what we do professionally.

The personal question was either “What is a mistake you have made in the past?” or “What has been a memorable sporting event for you?”

I don’t think it mattered what the personal questions were but the interesting thing that happened was when people began to open up and talk about personal things, the mood, conversation and connection at the table changed. People were laughing and interacting more naturally. They were interested and engaged. It was no longer superficial, it was genuine.

When we can talk to people personally and not just professionally – we connect. When we open up personally – others can relate. When we are vulnerable and real we allow others to be the same and we bond.

Just some food for thought at your next networking event