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Send queries to Todd Brockdorf mailto:todd@leadwithvision.com ########################################## VISIONARY LEADER Volume 1, Issue 5 - October 2003 Publisher: Todd Brockdorf Todd@leadwithvision.com http://www.leadwithvision.com (C) Brockdorf & Associates, Inc. 2003 ########################################## You have in your power the ability to change the world NOW! ========================================== Please recommend this E-Zine to anyone you know that is interested in being a better leader. (It's also a good way to develop leaders for your organization. Send this e-zine and tell them that they have the potential.) If you are receiving this issue as a forward, and would like to get your own free subscription, visit http://www.leadwithvision.com/ezinesubscribe.html To remove yourself from this list see bottom of this email. PRIVACY STATEMENT: We will not share, sell, or rent your address to anyone. Period. ============================================= IN THIS OCTOBER ISSUE ============================================= 1. Leadership Skills - Change-Ready 2. Do You Suffer From TBD? 3. Fortune Cookie Says... ************************************ ===================================================== 1. Leadership Skills - Change-Ready ===================================================== LEADERSHIP SKILLS - CHANGE-READY by Todd Brockdorf While at the University of Michigan, I was charged with leading a student organization. I had recently returned from a leadership conference with my head was full of knowledge. I had a vision for the organization: increased membership, dynamic programs, new ways to go about doing the same activities. It was going to be great! When I approached the front of the room to lay out my plans, I was confident. Perhaps I was too confident. I outlined how we were going to build membership. I told the current members how we were going to inject dynamic programs into our meetings. I stated how we were going to do things differently. Differently - that’s the key word. What I failed to realize was that people naturally do not like change. They didn’t teach that aspect at the leadership conference. People naturally don’t like to do things differently. However, in order to get from where you are today to where you need to be tomorrow, change is inevitable. But, if the organization is not ready to change, then it is like dragging a bus up Mt. Everest. If the situation is not rectified, soon after, that bus will become lighter, because all of the passengers (members) will have jumped off and fled. Before an organization, or a person, can change, it or he/she has to be READY to change. Creating a change-ready environment is often more difficult than actually implementing change, yet it is most imperative and most ignored aspect of the entire process. Here are five steps that can help create a change-ready environment: 1. Understand why it is necessary to change. 2. Obtain buy-in for change from others in the group or, for yourself, truly believe that it is necessary. 3. Outline a vision of the future. What will the new environment be like, feel like, and look like? What pain points will it solve? 4. Be flexible. Others may have additional input to the overall plan. 5. Anticipate areas of pushback and address them as clear as possible. ***** 1/2 OFF PROMOTION - ONE WEEK ONLY! ************** RESOLUTIONS & GOALS TELESEMINAR NOW AVAILABLE ON CD -- SINCE THE YEAR IS ALMOST OVER (CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?), WE ARE HAVING A SALE ON OUR POPULAR PROGRAM "How to Achieve Your Goals and Resolutions in 2003" APPLICABLE IN 2003, 2004, 2005 OR ANY YEAR! LEARN HOW TO SUCCEED IN YOUR RESOLUTIONS AND OUTLINE A PLAN FOR SUCCESS! THIS AIN'T YOUR USUAL GOAL SETTING WORKSHOP. THE CD PROGRAM IS NOW AVAILABLE. http://www.leadwithvision.com/teleseminar ****************************************************** ===================================================== 2. Do You Suffer From TBD? ===================================================== DO YOU SUFFER FROM TBD? by Todd Brockdorf Do you suffer from TBD? Sometimes I do. Someone recently asked me how I was doing. Most of the time the answer is, "EXCELLENT! How are you?" However, on this occasion, my reply was simply, "Busy." Have you ever felt that way - so worn out that all you feel is "busy?" You may suffer, like me, from TBD or Too Busy Disease. Symptoms of TBD include an increased heart rate, sometimes in association with perspiration, a tendency to run from place to place or task to task, and an occasional memory lapse due to too many small "mental notes." The episode is followed by a "worn out" feeling, a tongue that hangs from the mouth, and a vegetative state that only will allow you stare aimlessly and unproductively at the t.v. There is no cure for TBD, however there are some actions that can be taken to minimize its effects. These steps include, but are not limited to: 1. Limit the number of activities that you participate in. 2. Learn to say "no." 3. Focus on those things that will help you reach your goals and devote yourself to them. 4. Balance things that you have to do with fun things that you want to do. 5. Plan activities as best you can ahead of time and leave time for last-minute additions. If nothing arises, use the downtime for something else. 6. Exercise - it will help relieve the stress associated with TBD. ************************************ LEAD WITH VISION -- LIVE! Finally, this popular program is available LIVE! Todd has finally recorded this live seminar and it is available on CD. Learn how to set stretch goals, outline a plan for success, and follow through using an Action Roadmap! http://www.leadwithvision.com/tools ===================================================== 3. Fortune Cookie Says... ===================================================== I love Chinese food. You could say that I am a connoisseur of the stuff. I particularly love the sweet and sour chicken dish and it is my personal mission to find the best recipe in the world. So far, the best sweet and sour chicken that I have found is in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. Anyway, at most American Chinese restaurants, they serve a fortune cookie at the end of the meal. Sometimes the fortune is worthy of note, other times, the fortune is simply meaningless. As a new feature for Visionary Leader, I will share with you one of the better fortunes that I received over the past month. This month’s fortune is: "Rely on your own good judgment to lead you to success." ****** EARN BIG REFERRAL COMMISSIONS ********* You can earn a 10 - 25 percent commission for referring Todd for speaking engagements. Commissions normally start between $200.00 and $500.00 depending on your level of involvement. For complete details email Todd at todd@leadwithvision.com *********************************************** ===================================================== F^R^E^E ARTICLES FOR YOUR PUBLICATIONS ===================================================== All of my articles are available for reprint in your publication, company newsletter, etc. You may use articles written by me that you see in VISIONARY LEADER. Back issues can be viewed at: http://www.leadwithvision.com/Ezine/backissues.html OR mailto:freearticles@leadwithvision.com for an automated list of additional articles. 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