Adonis Diaries

What having Heart has to do with potential success?

The difference between average and extraordinary isn’t power or money – its heart.”

Failing is easy: You are chasing urgency and neglecting priorities.

By Dan Rockwell?

Success is found by passionately doing what matters most. The thing that matters most for leaders is building other leaders.

Who:

1. Avoid Model T’s. Before driving a Model T you crank it to get it started. If you have to convince, cajole, or constantly crank someone to get them going, that’s all you’ll ever do. You’ll crank them – they’ll sputter – you’ll crank them again the next time. Failing is easy – spend your time cranking.
2. Passion first. Find the most passionate people available and throw gas on their fire.
3. Potential second. Potential seduces leaders who are dedicated to developing leaders. You see someone with talent, skills, and/or education and you start drooling like a dog at a dish. Potential apart from passion is constant frustration and ultimate disappointment.
4. Respect matters. The more they respect you the more impact you’ll have.
5. Practice trumps theory. Talking is useful but action matters most.Go with people prone to act.
6. The sandbox principle. How well do they play with others?

The rule of the needle:

When it comes to people, there’s never perfect clarity regarding who to coach, mentor, and/or teach.

Ask yourself, “Are they passionate?” If the needle tips to yes, ask, “Do they have potential in this area?” If the answer is yes, ask, “Are they prone to action?” etc.

The needle determines what or who matters most. It doesn’t point to perfection or create certainty.

Waiting for certainty and perfection wastes time and stalls progress. The needle indicates likelihood of success.

How do you determine what matters most?

How do you identify people you plan to develop?

The difference between average and extraordinary isn’t power or money – its heart.”

“You’re a man with heart. I’m glad to know you.”

Heart means:

1. Tender heart compassion. When I want to help someone in the community, Doug says, “How much do you need, Dan?”
2. Truthful transparency. It takes confidence, self-awareness, and honesty to share true feelings.
3. Profound commitment to service. Every person who fills out a customer complaint, and there aren’t many, gets a call from Doug.
4. Dedication to people. He enjoys pointing out how long “his people” have been with him.
5. High standards.
6. Curiosity. It’s not unusual for Doug to say, “Dan, tell me about your blog.”
7. Weaknesses. Doug doesn’t pretend he has it all together.

I’ve seen childlike enthusiasm twinkle in his eyes and heard flashes of frustration in his voice. It’s all heart.

People with heart: (From the LF facebook page).

1. Admit their mistakes.
2. Understand feelings.
3. Laugh at themselves.
4. Protect relationships.

More at: Leadership Freak Coffee Shop.

Losing you:

Losing you is dangerously easy. Leaders who’ve lost themselves:

1. Are controlled by others. If you don’t know who you are someone else controls you.
2. Feel pushed around by pressure.
3. Pursue success rather than significance.
4. Follow trends rather than principles.
5. End up crushed by criticism or crushing their critics.

Finding a heartbeat:

1. Take a walk and think your own thoughts; forget what others think.
2. Explore your joys. What makes you deeply happy?
3. Examine your anger. Values often drive anger.
4. Love deeply.
5. Serve wholeheartedly.

 How can leaders find heart?

How have you found heart?