Daily Archives: May 23, 2012

Reinvention 101: 5 Lessons From Robert Downey, Jr. by Patrick J. Kiger

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The record-shattering opening success of The Avengers, which sold more than $200 million in theater tickets in the United States and did about $640 million in business worldwide during opening weekend, is further evidence of an amazing fact: Robert Downey, Jr. not only rules Hollywood, but he’s staged an even more impressive turnaround than General Motors.

Consider this: Since 2008, nine movies featuring the 47-year-old actor have grossed more than $1.5 billion in the U.S. alone, and his name on the marquee is perhaps the surest guarantee of a box-office smash. That’s an astonishing run, especially because it wasn’t that long ago — 2001, to be precise — that Downey seemed destined to become fodder for those “Whatever Happened To…?” articles in the supermarket tabloids. His drug addiction and erratic behavior earned him a prison stay and led producer David E. Kelley to fire him from what seemed like his last chance for resurrecting his career, a supporting role in the hit TV series Ally McBeal. Downey sank so low that despite his enormous talent, he was virtually unemployable.

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Character and Conscience in Leadership by Mike Henry

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view original / leadchangegroup.com

Blogger’s note:  great piece here… much to think about, much to reflect on…

“Conscience is that faculty in me which attaches itself to the highest that I know and tells me what the highest I know demands that I do.” Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, May 13.

ImageWe talk much here about character-based leadership. Our definition for character-based leadership is leading from who you are rather than your power or position. Often, people ask if we have some religious slant on character. We do not. People sometimes check to see if we’re going to be “character-cops” – making lists and judging whether or not someone acts with character. Hang around a while and you’ll see we don’t want to “police” character in anyone but ourselves.

But often, the lower, softer side of who we are would prefer not to be challenged. Our lazy side would prefer to be left alone. We don’t want to get out of bed early to exercise. We can find any excuse in the world to avoid challenges from either outsides ourselves or inside.

On our inside, in our character, there is this faculty, a feature, built into us that calls us to be our highest self. It calls us to be our best us. That’s our conscience.

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6 Habits of Truly Memorable People by Jeff Haden

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view original / @jeff_haden / inc.com

ImageHow to stick out in the minds of your colleagues and customers–no gimmicks required.

In order to succeed, almost everyone—whether business owner or employee—must be memorable.

While you don’t have to be The Most Interesting Man in the World, being known is one of the main goals of marketing, advertising, and personal branding.

Out of sight is out of mind, and out of mind is out of business.

But if your only goal is to be known for professional reasons, you’re missing out. People who are memorable for the right reasons also live a richer, fuller, and more satisfying life. Win-win!

So forget the flashy business cards and personal value propositions and idiosyncratic clothing choices.

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The Exit Interview

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Imageby J. William DeMarco

In the Military we have a rather unique “tradition” of the exit interview.  When a commander is about to leave, public affairs or in the case of the Bloody Hundredth, the Wing Historian will give a quick interview regarding accomplishments, plans and vision.  It seemed to last no more than five minutes with about five questions… but in a way those questions are a bit irrelevant as all the answers led back to the talented people we have in today’s military….and I hope in our nation.

One thing that was clear as I attempted to answer the historian’s queries… there is no way to do any of this by yourself.  There are leaders that are quite happy to grab the spotlight and point it at themselves, but there is a major step in any person’s development as a leader when that light leaves you–it shines on the people and you realize… you don’t need the light.

I like to kid myself that I have vision, plenty of ideas, and pretty vast amounts of energy…but if a leader wants a vision to get traction and big…there are only two choices:  A) Give up the vision…it’s too big… one person can’t do it…. or 2) GET HELP!

There is no way to do anything without people… in the AF we are lucky to have some of the world’s finest, but do they know it? Our soon to be new Chief of Staff, Gen Welsh is fond of saying…”you don’t know how good you are.”  That rings true in the US Military… and it has probably been true throughout the history of our country.  But it dawns on me…we need to let them know that WE as a nation cannot win (in any endeavor) without them.

“We should not only use all the brains we have–but all we can borrow”  - President Woodrow Wilson

We can’t stop at brains… smarts….we need our people’s hands and hearts as well…this is what has made our country great…no?

“There are no problems we cannot solve together, and very few that we can solve by ourselves.” –President Lyndon B Johnson