Called upon to be humble through Servant Leadership
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Humility to me is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking about yourself less. -Jim Hunter, The Servant
Servant Leaders are called upon to be humble. To many folks, they think that means adopting the mantra of: “I’m not all that great and other people are better than me.” That’s not at all the message Servant Leadership is trying to get across.
Rather than directing us to think negatively about ourselves, Servant Leadership provides many suggestions of how we can become more positive, communicate more clearly with others, and become happier people in general.
In this case, being humble requires directing our attention away from our own lives and issues and instead focusing on the people around us. In the office, it means spending more of our energy serving our associates rather than ourselves.
Joe Kiedinger
ACTION PLAN: This week, when you catch yourself focusing on issues in your own life, make a conscious effort to get up and ask a co-worker how you could make their day a bit brighter. Chances are, you’ll not only feel happier afterwards, but it just may start a cycle of goodwill in the office.
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What will you do with your extra day?
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Do you know what day it is today? It’s February 29th! Leap Year! Do you realize what this means? Well for some, it’s their birthday! Can you imagine only having your true birthday arrive every four years? If I was born on February 29th, I would be turning 10. Ok, I know I’m being silly now. However, Leap Year does give us a slight advantage: one extra day to do great things. One extra bag of time that you typically don’t have in a year. What are you doing with your time?
Time, after all, is the only equalizer of all people. When you think of that last statement perhaps you reflected on people you know, perhaps people you even love, who were robbed of their natural time.
People whose lives were stopped short due to unfortunate circumstances. My heart goes out to all of you. Even so, that should make this message even more powerful. You are lucky, if you are reading this you are alive today. What are you going to do with it?
Life is an adventure and business is a game. It’s a blast when your winning and there is great glory in adventuring and discovering new relationships and new ways of doing things. This world is complex and there is so much to know, get out there. You have an extra day to be excellent!
Joe Kiedinger
ACTION PLAN: It takes the same amount of time to be mediocre as it does to be excellent. Choose excellence! Now get out there!
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Presidents Day week Servant Leadership message!
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
I recently heard this powerful example of Servant Leadership and wanted to share it with you:
“During the American Revolution, a man dressed in civilian clothes rode past a group of soldiers repairing a small stronghold. Their leader, from astride his horse, shouted instructions.
The man asked the supervisor why he wasn’t helping.
He answered, “Because, sir, I am a corporal!”
The stranger apologized, dismounted, and joined the exhausted soldiers at work. When the job was complete, he turned to the corporal and said, “Corporal, next time you need more men for a job, go to your commander-in-chief, and I will help you again.”
Too late, an arrogant corporal realized: his new workman was the beloved General George Washington. He also understood why Washington inspired devotion. A true leader is first of all a servant.”
This story reminds us that great power comes from being a humble, selfless leader who is dedicated to a cause. People respect a leader who’s not afraid to get their hands dirty. It’s no wonder a name like George Washington is so respected in our country!
What type of leader are you?
Joe Kiedinger
Action Plan: Attend one of the Servant Leaders of Wisconsin upcoming meetings!
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Did you check under the hood?
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
We humans are funny creatures. We tend to judge most things by their outward appearance. Do you know the old adage, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”? Well, it’s our human nature to judge, unfortunately. I’m reading Steve Job’s biography and I’m finding it fascinating! Did you know that when the iMac was being developed, Steve insisted that the circuit boards be arranged in nice, neat rows. Meaning, that all those tiny electrical fasteners and widgets were to be aligned in perfect symmetry. He felt that the inside must equal the outside. I find that ironic because Apple had its own tools for opening up an Apple computer at the time so non-Apple people couldn’t mess with it.
We do this with people, too. We look at them from the outside and judge them. Do you remember Susan Boyle? Susan Boyle from the outside is not your image of a superstar. Everyone pre-judged her as being “crazy” for trying to become a professional singer on Britain’s Got Talent TV show. Well, she showed them the minute she started in to “I Dream a Dream” from Les Misérables. She is now a millionaire and has won the hearts of many. How many Susan Boyles do you have walking around your life? Some of them are our own children! Look deeper, mom and dad. Look deeper, co-worker or boss. There is a dynamic person in there waiting for someone to take an interest and bring out their voice. Will it be you?
Reminder: Sign up for our Servant Leaders of Wisconsin meeting coming up February 22. Bryce Paup, a former NFL player and member of the Green Bay Packers, will be presenting “Authentic Leadership.” RSVP with Meredith (meredithb@prophitmarketing.com) and bring friends. Seating is limited and you won’t want to miss it. For details, please go to http://www.aboutmecard.com/images/home/invitation_2-22-12.jpg
Stop judging and start leading!
Joe Kiedinger
ACTION PLAN: Bring your team to our next FREE S.L.O.W meeting. You will be glad you did! RSVP is appreciated.
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Don’t just live a life, leave a legacy!
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
When I talk to people about what it means to “leave a legacy,” I hear many different responses, everything from building a park that the community can enjoy to inventing a breakthrough product to solving an incurable disease. Legacy thinking takes on so many different forms. There are those, however, who I do think tap into what real legacy thinking is all about: making an impact in another person’s life.
To leave a legacy, you don’t need to solve the world’s energy crisis—you can do something as simple as having a positive impact in someone’s life by being a good leader. I invite you to explore this aspect of leadership at our next Servant Leaders of Wisconsin (S.L.O.W.) meeting coming up Feb. 22. Bryce Paup, a former Green Bay Packer and NFL Pro Bowl player, will be the keynote speaker and will talk about authentic leadership. Bryce has made Green Bay his home and has committed his life to the enrichment of others. Currently he is the head coach of the Southwest High School football team. He also conducts a Life Skills program to help people cope and learn how they can reach deep to overcome obstacles in their lives.
I’ve had the privilege of getting to know Bryce over the last six months and his message and character are sincere. You can make an impact by affecting the lives of others in an authentic way as Bryce is helping others to do. We hope you will join us for this free event. Contact Meredith Bartos at meredithb@prophitmarketing.com to receive more information.
Join us in creating a better community and a stronger world!
Joe Kiedinger
ACTION PLAN: Contact Meredith to receive information on this special event.
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Patience—the Secret to BIG Success!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
I have a best friend whose name is Todd. My wife says that Todd and I are like women. I said, “What does that mean?” She said, “You talk for hours on the phone.” I must admit that he is the only guy I can talk with for hours on the phone. We text each other every other week or so and then he’ll say, “Wanna go out?” That means, since we are 90 miles away from each other, would you like to connect on the phone tonight. We have a couple of beers, as if we’re going out on the town, and we discuss our business successes and stresses, family successes and stresses, and give each other advice. Sometimes we just listen to each other and offer no actual advice.
Todd owns the Chef’s Hat in Ephraim, Wis. A beautiful café located along the shores of Eagle Harbor. His family lives above the restaurant and enjoys many stunning views from the second floor. The one thing Todd and I have in common is that we both have a strong belief in what we are trying to accomplish. When he started his business, he refused to have fryers and serve fried food. Since starting mine, I have remained committed to the message of Servant Leadership and the Prophit Marketing System.
The momentum is growing because people are finally listening, and, in Todd’s case, they are eating his wonderful culinary concoctions. We both have a long way to go, but my point is this: If something is worth doing, it’s worth being patient for. There are too many talented and innovative people who give up before their ideas have a chance to blossom! Fine wine needs time to ferment. People grow wiser with age and ideas need a chance to sink in. Be patient—the world is depending on it!
Joe
ACTION PLAN: Relax … everything has its time and day. You’ll have yours, too!
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Have you been frustrated?
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
I can pretty much guarantee we’ve all been frustrated with other people at some point, whether at home, in the office, or both. It’s just part of the human condition.
Think back to a time where you were really upset with someone at work. Why were you upset? How much energy did you invest into your frustration? How much time was eaten up by your anger towards the other person?
Now think about this: what if you had just gone directly to the person to discuss the issue in the first place? Likely, the problem was just because of miscommunication. You probably would’ve been able to come to a simple, quick solution that would work for both of you.
Think of all those hours of frustration that you could’ve spared yourself. Kind of seems like a silly waste of energy, doesn’t it?
If you find yourself focusing on someone who has upset you, I urge you to work up the courage to confront that person. Approach your co-worker/associate with a calm, respectful, understanding attitude. Discuss the issue matter-of-factly, without placing blame. The energy you invest in communicating effectively will save you time and your sanity!
It’s just the Servant Leader thing to do.
Joe Kiedinger
ACTION PLAN: Use communication first!
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There’s so much more to you!
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Do you know how deep you are? Have you ever had the discussion way down deep where nobody goes? You know that voice that talks to you and says, “you’re not good enough. You can’t do that!” It’s the voice of sabotage. Are you AFRAID to be successful? There is so much you were designed to accomplish so why is it some people are wildly successful and some people, who are often smarter and more talented, only achieve mediocrity? FEAR! So where does the fear come from?
There are people who believe they can only charge X amount for their services. For example, I have seen business consultants who may charge $1500 a day for their services. I have seen similar coaches charge $5,000 a day. There are speakers who can get $30K a speech! Why is that? Well, it’s simple: The high-priced speakers no longer listen to the voice in their head that says, “You can’t charge that!” Oh, they have the voice—they just don’t listen to it.
Now, put money aside … what about starting a movement? Do you think you can start a movement that touches people’s hearts and stimulates their brains? Whether you think you can or can’t … YOU’RE RIGHT! There are a small handful of people who I’ve faced from time to time who cut down my ideas. They’ve tried to sabotage my dream of creating a global community of Servant Leaders. “Impossible!” they say. At times I do have weak moments where I doubt my efforts. Then I shut down that voice inside me that wishes me to fail and I keep pushing. I’m fortunate. There have been other amazing people who have traveled before me on this journey to make my road less stressful. People like Ghandi, Mother Theresa, Martin Luther King, Jr. In recent years, there has been Robert Greenleaf, Jim Hunter, Tom Thibodeau, the Skogen family and others. Live for what you believe in because nothing else matters!
Joe Kiedinger
ACTION PLAN: Shut down your inner voice of sabotage!
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My eyes are opening!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
My Servant Leadership journey has been a powerful one, this past week especially. On Friday I had the opportunity to spend the day with about 85 of the staff at Silver Lake College in Manitowoc, Wis. This small private Catholic college blew me away as we started the day-long convocation. Fifteen of their staff members led the group in a Servant Leadership reflection, which had my eyes welling up as I stepped up on stage. The reflection lasted only 15 minutes but the quotes and sharing were powerful. I thought I would share some of the quotes that I heard.
Lau Tzu:
”A leader is best when people barely know he exists. When his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: We did it ourselves.”
John Quincy Adams:
”If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are the leader.”
Fr. Keith Clark:
”Next to the words ‘thank you,’ we believe the words ‘what do you think?’ are the most empowering words a leader can speak.”
Joseph P. Chinnici, O.F.M.:
”I believe that when we can see all of this in the same field—then we will catch the ‘bug’… of being a Franciscan intellectual, and we will discover a voice, and we will learn to treasure – in a profound way – each other’s voice; because, no matter what the language, I sit and learn and teach and that way we become brothers and sisters together.”
Although my presence there was to share the VOICE we all have as unique individuals through the lens of Servant Leadership, I left feeling, in the presence of those Servant Leaders, that I gained more than I had to give.
Joe Kiedinger
ACTION PLAN: Use “what do you think” in your conversations at least five times this week.
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A funny thing happened over Thanksgiving!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
I hope you enjoy this story.
Background: Danica and I purchased a commercial building over a year ago and have our office on the second floor. The first floor has two tenants who lease from us: a restaurant and a hair salon.
What happened: Over the Thanksgiving holiday, our salon tenant abandoned his lease obligations, took his computer, and sent a text to me saying he was done! There were two stylists still working at the salon. Danica and I immediately reached out to them, and we all met at the salon the Saturday evening of Thanksgiving weekend to discuss the situation.
As you can imagine, these two individuals, Travis and Rossemary, were beside themselves. They were on the verge of panicking. First, their schedule was in the computer that the owner removed. Second, they didn’t know if they still had jobs! Danica and I told them we would take over the salon. We decided to rename it and create a Servant Leadership experience for all its current and future stylists as well as its current and future customers. So that’s what we’re doing. Thank goodness we own a marketing firm! In three days, we renamed it Salon Fifty Four (based partly on its address: 154 N. Broadway, Green Bay), changed the sign and got things moving.
However, through the transition of trying to find existing clients and dealing with the phone change, we are still trying to reach out to let people know that Rossemary and Travis are still in business! I’m hoping you can help me. I would take it as a personal favor if you would be so kind as to schedule one hair cut, color and styling, keratin treatment, or eyebrow waxing or threading. You can call either Rossemary or Travis at 920-432-0601. Bring in this Wisdom and receive 20% off any treatment as a THANK YOU!
I hope you don’t mind this plug. It literally happened so fast but I believe things happen for a reason. We’re excited about this new adventure, and I feel that we’ll be successful in our efforts at making Salon Fifty Four Green Bay’s premier location for talent and experience. Danica is loving it! What’s thrilling for me is that this is an opportunity to take our system and insert it into a hospitality business that we control. Lot’s of fun!
Here’s to the many adventures you will experience in 2012. Remember, with every situation there is an opportunity. Seize them!
Joe Kiedinger
ACTION PLAN: Consider liking us on Facebook at facebook/salonfiftyfourgb
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