Leadership Thought #427 – Weakness Is Infectious (and Dangerous)
At the risk of sounding like an old codger (which I am not), I can’t believe how worked up people get up over common issues these days. It’s almost as if any level of adversity is intolerable. You would have thought the end the world was near the way everyone especially the media reacted to the recent winter storm. We were bombarded with worst case scenarios and impending doom. People raced to stores to stock up just in case they lost power for a few days. My goodness, can’t we handle a few days of discomfort if required? As a friend said yesterday, “Why the huge interest in toilet paper, can families really not survive a few days without TP?” Are they that close to the edge of hygienic catastrophe? I’ve seen it happen in families, businesses, schools, and communities: if you are not careful, weakness and worry is infectious. Like all significant change, it all starts with small symbolic gestures and begins to gain momentum elsewhere.
Leadership Thought #407 – Fear Sells, But The Costs Can be Significant
I don’t remember growing up in a fearful society, but I feel like I live in one now. All you have to do is turn on the TV, listen to the radio, read the newspaper and eventually someone will be trying to scare you about something. We all seem so emotionally fragile and quick to identify an enemy or cause for our concern. The news media has perfected this art so well that they have helped to perpetuate a more neurotic generation in a time when just about every violent crime statistic is down significantly or at minimum on par with what existed when we were children (and our population has grown significantly during this time). As the saying goes, if it bleeds than it leads.”
Leadership Thought #200 – Pay Attention To What’s Hindering Your Sleep
I’ve always believed that an inability to sleep well is your body trying to tell you something. It is clearly a warning sign. If you go on to long without listening there will be consequences. Pay attention to what’s keeping you up at night and then do something about it. Don’t assume the role of victim and become hapless in the face of adversity. Take control of your life and your need for rest. Sleep isn’t a luxury; it’s a requirement if you are going to live a happy, healthy and productive life.