Not a Secret Anymore - Nashville is on the map in new, powerful ways.

I often joke with friends who have never visited Nashville that they should never come.  I explain to them that after a few visits they will be hooked on the city and probably relocate here.  I tell them we are trying to maintain the small town feel with a little bit of metropolis atmosphere; therefore if the city grows too much, we will lose that.  But, despite my efforts, the rest of the world is continually talking about Middle Tennessee.  Nashville has always been known for country music.  Now, it's known for much more.  Here's what I've learned, just in the past month:

• New York Times added Nashville to its list of 52 places to go in 2014.  
• Travel and Leisure magazine rates Nashville one of its 2014 Best Places to Travel.  
• Forbes crowned middle Tennessean a region to watch in 2014.  
• Huff Post published 22 reasons to visit Nashville in a January 2014 publication.  
• MSN named Nashville one of the 10 Most Popular Cities for Millennials in a January 2014 release.  
• Nashville also made MSN’s Top 10 Green City 2014.  
• Middle Tennessee is on Fodor’s 2014 Go List as well.
• There are even 3 TV shows based in the Middle Tennessee region.

Information such as this could be useful in the workplace too.  Think of the many ways you could share this data in training, team-building, with new hires or with interns.  Such accolades could be included in New Employee Orientation or even during recruitment.   Certainly, city officials are singing Nashville's praises to companies that consider headquartering here.  There are implications for the salesperson trying to attract out-of-state clients; as well as opportunities
for the business owner looking to capitalize on increased tourism.  
I'm amazed at what has happened since the 90s when I relocated here from Florida.  Clearly Middle Tennessee is considered a wonderful place in which to conduct business, build a life, raise a family, and explore opportunities and adventures.  I once referred to Middle Tennessee as the best keep secret this side of the Mississippi; but it’s clearly not a secret anymore.  I give up; let’s spread the good news!

Capricorn Girl

I don't closely follow horoscope, but I do recognize good advice when I hear it.  Therefore, when someone shares my horoscope with me,  I listen and take heed.  

I came across this article about the Capricorn Girl.  I know zodiac description are usually vague enough to be try for almost everyone.  However, I found this to be rather specific and surprisingly accurate.  I highlighted some things that stood out for me.

"The Capricorn girl’s childhood life may not have been the easiest; as she may have felt that the joys and freedom of that time were somehow restricted and/or possibly withheld from her.

It can often take quite a while therefore for the Capricorn woman to come to terms with her feelings and to accept that it is all right for her to express herself or, to find the inner tools that will allow and direct such creative and emotional expression to the right outlets.

Once she has established and has built the path toward her own success however, there will be no stopping the progress of the Capricorn woman.

Over time she will develop and learn how to build upon her concepts and ideas, how to profit from every venture and, how to gain in a material and/or social sense from each of her many experiences.

Capricorn women are prone to build friendships with older people or those in positions superior to herself. Her objectives being to mix among those who can be of help and assist her in her climb to the top of her particular project, job or ambition.

While the Capricorn woman may have commenced her life with little endurance and limited courage, she has the ability to continually learn from her practical contacts in life as to what works and what doesn't.

The result is, that at the end-of-the-day, she will ultimately achieve a victorious result. For the Capricorn woman, it’s the later years of her life that are often the best."  (I'm hoping this will be true.)

Plant the Seed And It Will Grow - The Trust Factor

Relationships are built on trust.  All of them - at work and at home;  in business and in romance;  at school and at play.  It's either a lack of trust that propels a relationship downward or an abundance of trust that is a catalyst for moving forward.

Furthermore, trust affects our everyday choices.  We make decisions on what we will or won't do based on trust.  We decide what we're willing to risk because of trust levels.  We even determine what we're willing to share, based on the trust factor.   If there was ever a product you stop buying because you heard something bad about them, or a merchant you started supporting because of positive feedback, you were being experiencing trust-influenced choices.  Here are a few other examples:

You trust confidantes to keep your secrets.  If you're in a supervisory role, you trust (or don't trust) employees to do their jobs even when you're not watching.    When something in your home needs repair, you trust someone -- perhaps a complete stranger -- to come into your private domicile and do the work.   If you get a referral from a neighbor, you trust that person to provide a credible, reliable recommendation.

Have you ever bought or sold goods on e-bay or amazon?  If so, you were exhibiting trust.  You trusted complete strangers to pay for the goods you were selling, or you had to trust someone to ship the goods you were purchasing - sight unseen.

Relationships start with trust.  It can be built and it can be broken.  When commitments are kept, trust increases.  When promises are broken or dishonesty is exhibited, trust is lost.  It's not the only factor in a productive relationship, but it is an essential one.  If you want trust to grow, PLANT THE SEED.  

Inspired Resolutions

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

MORAL :
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt.  Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells if we never give up! Shake it off and take a step up.

Haven't committed to any resolutions yet?  Try these on for size:

1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.

2. Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.

3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.

4. Give more.

5. Expect less from people and more from yourself.

www.yourenhance.com

The Party's Not Over - Twelve Days of Christmas starts now.

My birthday is between Christmas and new years.  So my season of celebrating always continues after Christmas.   But for each of us there are reasons  to keep the party going after December 25th.  First consider this; even if you're not a person of faith, every time you say or write a calendar date, you are referring to Christ.  It has been 2013 years since he walked the earth, that's why this year is 2013!  

The carol, twelve days of Christmas, refers to the 12 days from Christmas to January 6, which is the Epiphany.  It's the day the 3 wise men reached Baby Jesus in Bethlehem.  It is believed that in times of religious persecution in England during the 17th century, Christians would share and teach the gospel by reciting this carol or poem which was later set to music. 

1. The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus.
2. The two turtledoves are the Old and New Testaments.
3. Three French hens stand for faith, hope and love.
4. The four calling birds are the four Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
5. The five gold rings recall the first five books of the Old Testament, Mosaic Law.
6. The six geese a-laying stand for the six days of creation.
7. The seven swans a-swimming represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit as described in the book of Isaiah chapter 11, verse 1 & 2.
8. The eight maids a-milking represent the eight Beatitudes.
9. Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.
10. The ten lords a-leaping are the Ten Commandments.
11. Eleven pipers piping represent the eleven faithful Apostles.
12. Twelve drummers drumming symbolize the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles Creed.

There's is a story behind every story.  There's always more to learn.  In 2014, I wish you a world of discovery wonder and delight!

Remembering Mandela: His Lessons For Business Leaders

Today, on his 94 birthday we remember and commemorate Nelson Mandela's accomplishments and contributions.  The hallmark of his leadership style was trust. The greatest leaders in the world gravitated toward Mr. Mandela because they could trust him to consistently live up to his life's mission of peace and freedom.

Move up http://i.forbesimg.com tMove down

 

Here are 7 leadership pitfalls Madiba always seemed to avoid:

1. Lacking Courage
Leaders that don’t stand up for what they believe in are difficult to respect and trust. Too many leaders today face the dilemma of assimilating our being their authentic selves.   Employees want leaders who are willing to stand up for them, promote them and show confidence in them. 
When leaders lack the courage to enable their full potential and that of others, it becomes a challenge to trust their judgment, decisions, awareness and capabilities.

2.  Having a Hidden Agendas
Leaders today are often viewed as devious and manipulating. Employees want to follow leaders who live by a set of value and continually strive to reach team and organization goals.   To avoid the impression of shadiness, leaders must state their motives plainly, explain rationale behind decisions, and clarify purpose.

3. Being Self-Centered
Employee catch on to leaders self-serving intentions. When a leader is only looking out for him- or herself employee expect the worst of them.  Employees then start to look out for themselves.  That  means they might resist cross training and mentoring, and refrain from sharing ideas and solutions.
Great leaders are great coaches and are always looking to help their employees grow and prosper.  

4. Damaging a Reputation

Move up http://i.forbesimg.com tMove down

When people begin to speak negatively about their leader, it makes it more difficult for others to trust their intentions and vision. We've seen in presidential races, that candidate have a high approval rating during elections.  However, once in office, when it's time to show what they are really about, approval rating often drop drastically. Every leader must be aware that he/she is constantly being evaluated and thus they can never grow complacent.  Sharpen the saw, continue to produce. 

 

5. Showing Inconsistent Performance
People are more inclined to trust those who are consistent.  A leaders credibility is not only built on their character but their track record of results as well.  Employees gain trust in a leader as they see consistent performance.  Leaders who are consistent with their behavior and performance are those who can be trusted. This is why leaders need to refresh their leadership style, skills, and competencies regularly. 

6.  Avoiding Hands-On Work
Delegation is fine when don't appropriately and with a purpose.  Leaders should not dump unwanted task on others just to avoid work.  Employees expect leaders to be willing to get their hands dirty.  Leaders should be engaged in the work and daily operations.   When everyone has to work late, the leader is not exception.  When others take a pay cut, the leader is the first to be affected.

7. Lacking Purpose
Leaders must understand that they goal is to help others succeed.   I heard a comedian say that he used to think it was his job to make people laugh then he realized it's his job to give people an opportunity to laugh.  It took a while for me to understand this, but essentially he was saying his role is not to force anything or anyone.  Leader should be a conduit; a catalyst; and at the core -  a servant. 

Mandela once said it's not the fact that you lived that matters, it the difference you made while you lived that does. 
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”  -- Nelson Mandela

 

No Vision, No Leadership: Now This Is Scary!