Welcome to our new subscribers who signed up at speaking appearances, through the leadwithvision.com website and our many other sign up partners. HEADLINES * Welcome to the one year anniversary issue. Can you believe it's been one year already? NOTE: When viewing this newsletter in Microsoft Outlook, please DO NOT remove the extra line breaks. It makes the formatting very ugly. ***** ACHIEVE YOUR RESOLUTIONS THIS YEAR ****** So you didn't quite achieve all of those goals and resolutions that you wanted in 2003. Not to worry, that's why there is 2004! Start out on the right foot. Learn HOW TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS AND RESOLUTIONS 2004 in a live telephone seminar presented by Todd Brockdorf. Let 2004 be the year that you achieve your own unique greatness. Visit http://www.leadwithvision.com/teleseminar for details. **************************** WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR GOOD ARTICLES on leadership. Send queries to Todd Brockdorf mailto:todd@leadwithvision.com ########################################## VISIONARY LEADER Volume 1, Issue 7 - December 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 DECEMBER ISSUE ============================================= 1. Leadership Skills - Bad Apples 2. Serve First, Lead Second 3. House Cleaning 4. Fortune Cookie Says... ************************************ ===================================================== 1. Leadership Skills - Bad Apples ===================================================== LEADERSHIP SKILLS - BAD APPLES by Todd Brockdorf One bad apple spoils the whole bunch, or so it is said. Someone may not get the job that he was hoping for. Other times, she may disagree with the direction the organization is being run. Or maybe there is even a personal internal conflict that runs contrary to your core values. As a result, one of the apples in the bunch may go bad. That apple may hold a grudge. It may try to persuade others to their position. It may even try sabotage. What should you do, as a leader, with that one bad apple? Here are some steps to take when dealing with a bad apple: * Try to determine why there is a bad apple. What is making it rotten? * Have you asked the bad apple where it would rather be or how the situation could be improved? * Does the bad apple have a valid point? You may need to admit that it is right. * How are others in the bunch feeling? Is this just a vocal bad apple speaking for the sentiment of the group? If so, it might be time to change course. * Could that bad apple be moved to a better place where it will be happier? * If all else fails and the bad apple is ruining the entire bunch, it might be best to let the bad apple go. ***** got leadership? ****** Keep your CDs organized in this high-quality, durable CD holder. Impress your friends with this unique case with "got leadership?" printed across the face. View it at: http://www.leadwithvision.com/tools **************************** ===================================================== 2. Serve First, Lead Second ===================================================== SERVE FIRST, LEAD SECOND by Todd Brockdorf With the holidays upon us, many people turn to charity to give something back to society. Whether it is dropping some change in the Salvation Army’s little red kettle, or volunteering to feed the homeless at a shelter, or offering warm coats to those who cannot afford them, many people are thankful for what they have and recognize that there are some that are not as fortunate this holiday season. Essentially, we are a servant to charity. We do it because we care. We care about serving the world in which we are thankful to be just a small part. We serve others because we care. We are servants first. As the natural feeling of serving others abounds, we make a choice, whether conscious or unconscious, to aspire to lead. We lead because we want to serve more people and share more of our talents with the world. If we were leaders first, a servants second, we would have an unnatural desire for power and control and perhaps, material greed. As leaders, we serve others because we care. We care about making a difference. We care about helping others succeed. We care about our world, whatever sphere of influence that may be. We are servant leaders. According to the Greenleaf Center for Servant-Leadership (www.greenleaf.org), "Servant-leadership encourages collaboration, trust, foresight, listening, and the ethical use of power and empowerment." It is because individual efforts, inspired by a vision and desire to serve, that can make a substantial difference to society. Do you lead simply to benefit yourself and your own standing? If so, you are not one of us. Do you lead because you like to see people work for you? If so, you are not one of us. Do you lead because you believe it is your birthright and you are entitled to it? If so, you are not one of us. You are not a servant leader. As leaders, people look up to us. Do you look down on them? We are not in charge to further ourselves and our own objectives. We are servant leaders put in place to empower those who we lead. ************************************ 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. House Cleaning ===================================================== HOUSE CLEANING by Todd Brockdorf It’s time for the annual house cleaning. No, I’m not talking about Spring Cleaning - it’s too cold for that, at least where I live. I’m talking about the annual mental house cleaning. Typically, this is the time of year where people set goals and resolutions for next year. They look back, or maybe just look at themselves, and say, "I’m gonna do (fill in the blank) this year." Have they stopped to consider whether their mental house is really ready for a cleaning? So they want to make a change. Change is good. But are they committed to change? What will they have to sacrifice to achieve their resolutions? If you want to lose weight, you need to sacrifice some of your favorite foods. If you want to make more money, you may need to sacrifice time with your family, or maybe leave the comfort of your current job, or take more risks. Each resolution or change involves some type of sacrifice. The question that needs to be answered is can you really give up whatever it is that needs to be surrendered? Can you live with the worst possible outcome, should your attempt to change fail? If you cannot answer those questions with a "yes" response, then your mental house is not in order and you are not ready to change. Are you ready for the sacrifice? ************************************ ===================================================== 4. Fortune Cookie Says... ===================================================== This month's fortune is: "Your life will soon be graced with the presence of stardom." Everyone can achieve their own unique greatness. What are you doing? ************************************ ****** 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. All you have to do is print the article in its entirety along with the by line at top and the credits, and complete contact information at the end of each article. I would also appreciate a tear sheet or electronic copy. 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