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Henry David Thoreau Resources

Happy Thanksgiving 2012!

There are only a few days a years when we are all encouraged to step back and reflect on our life and its many blessings. I find this time of year to be especially important for this very reason. Of course it’s easy to get caught up in the commercialism and challenging logistics of the holidays, but I encourage you to avoid this temptation.

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Daily Leadership Thought #158 – Expand Your Definitions of What’s Possible

Most of our limitations in life are self-imposed. The history of mankind is the story of individuals stretching the boundaries of what’s possible. Many things we take for granted today were deemed impossible not too long ago. What’s required is an individual or group of people who are unwilling to accept the status quo. In essence, they believe there is a better or different way to do something. The motivations may vary widely, but the common thread is a pioneering spirit and willingness to think bigger and challenge conventional wisdom.
On a much smaller scale, most people box themselves in every day and limit their potential. Instead of pursuing their dream or passions, they narrowly define what’s possible. Unfortunately, the longer you accept your constrained reality the easier it becomes to rationalize why things didn’t go as planned. As a result, you end up lowering the bar of happiness and success in your own life which is the opposite of what you should be doing. Henry David Thoreau captured this mindset perfectly when he wrote “most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them.”
Wouldn’t it be better to “sing” while you are still alive? I encourage you to expand your definitions of what’s possible in your own life both personally and professionally. Take on new risks and challenges. Follow your passions and embrace your talents. Be a force for good and a catalyst for inspiration. The world will go on changing with or without you. Why not enjoy the ride and be part of the positive momentum.

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    Recommended Reading

  • Life Design Workbook

    Peggy and James Vaughan

    Please click on this link for a Summary of the Life Design Workbook.   The Life Design Workbook is a comprehensive guide that empowers you to take control of your life by making intentional choices that reflect your true values and aspirations. Written by Peggy Vaughan and James Vaughan, Ph.D., this workbook serves as a transformative […]

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  • Reflections on the Art of Living: A Joseph Campbell Companion

    Joseph Campbell - Selected and Edited by Diane K. Osbon

    Listen to Book Review AudioView the Book

    Please click on this link for the Reflections on the Art of Living – A Joseph Campbell Companion Book Summary   “Reflections on the Art of Living” offers a transformative perspective on the human experience. Campbell’s unique blend of scholarly knowledge and practical wisdom provides a framework for understanding personal experiences and finding meaning in […]

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  • Managing Oneself

    Please click on this link for the Managing Oneself Book Summary. We live in an age of unprecedented opportunity: with ambition, drive, and talent, you can rise to the top of your chosen profession regardless of where you started out. But with opportunity comes responsibility. Companies today aren’t managing their knowledge workers careers. Instead, you […]

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    Favorite Articles

  • 9 Management Styles Used by Leaders

    A management style refers to a leader’s distinctive approach to overseeing and guiding a team toward organizational goals. When a leader utilizes the right management style for their team or organization, it can greatly impact productivity, performance and workplace morale. Effectively motivating a team is at the core of successful management and being a good […]

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  • A Self-Care Checklist for Leaders

    Research has long shown the importance of self-care — yet many leaders still struggle to put self-care into practice in their own work lives. Before a leader can sustainably practice self-care, several important mindset shifts are necessary to ensure leaders set themselves up for success. This five-part checklist can help leaders make self-care a reality, […]

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  • Leading under pressure

    To control the anxiety produced by moments of intense pressure, first step back and analyze the stakes. The secret is to understand that how you perceive the stakes in any given situation can be controlled. “When you get into peak pressure moments, all you can think about is how important [the stakes are], what you […]

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    Helpful Websites

  • KPI.org

    KPI.org is an online resource for KPI practitioners sponsored by the Balanced Scorecard Institute (BSI), a Strategy Management Group company. BSI provides consulting, training, and professional certification services to commercial, government, and non-profit organizations worldwide. BSI specializes in helping organizations: Become a high-performance organization Increase focus on strategy and results Improve organizational performance by measuring what matters Align the […]

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  • Center for Creative Leadership

    Ever since our founding in 1970, our mission has been to advance the understanding, practice, and development of leadership for the benefit of society worldwide. Driven to serve with purpose for nearly 6 decades, we’ve shaped the industry and partnered with leaders globally to take on their most pressing challenges. By expanding human potential, we invest […]

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  • McKinsey & Company – 100 Articles on Generative AI

    Since generative AI (gen AI) burst onto the scene in late 2022, it’s captivated business leaders and society at large. The excitement is well deserved: McKinsey research indicates that gen AI could add the equivalent of $2.6 trillion to $4.4 trillion of value annually—and redefine the way people work and live. Over this period, McKinsey […]

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    Reading Excerpts

  • Principles By Ray Dalio

    Principles Book Summary   Part 1: Chapter 1 Over the course of our lives, we make millions of decisions that are essentially bets, some large and some small. It pays to think about how we make them because they are what ultimately determines the quality of our lives… We are all born with different thinking […]

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  • A Sense of Urgency – John Kotter

    Click on this link for the A Sense of Urgency Book Summary A Sense of Urgency – Book Excerpt (Click on this link for the Word document)   Chapter 1 – It All Starts With A Sense of Urgency …Go check, then you find people running, and they are stressed out. But this man (leader), […]

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  • The Truth About Leadership by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner

    Please click mon this link for The Truth About Leadership Book Summary. The Truth About Leadership – Book Excerpts   The Truth About Leadership By James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner Book Excerpts   Introduction – The Ten Truths The first truth is that you make a difference. It is the most fundamental truth […]

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