| If you have ever had the feeling that you did not | | | | top 10 Characteristics of each person, if possible, |
| know where to look, yet you were searching for | | | | you admire. If you don't have ten for everybody, |
| something, then you have come to the right | | | | it's ok. Get as many as possible. |
| place. There have been a lot of times I have not | | | | Now, take the top ten characteristics from your |
| known where to look. I knew that I was | | | | complete list, and this becomes a game plan for |
| searching for something, just not sure what. In | | | | you to start studying and applying those to your |
| Leadership, we are constantly searching for ways | | | | life. There is a reason to get down to the top ten. |
| to improve. Was that what you were looking for? | | | | It will become clear to you in the next few |
| And, if you are looking for ways to improve you | | | | paragraphs. |
| Leadership, there are so many people and | | | | Write them on a 3x5 card, on your phone, in your |
| organizations to emulate; it can be daunting even | | | | crackberry, whatever, and start trying to bring |
| deciding what or who to study. | | | | those elements into your everyday life. (Note, |
| So let us take a minute and bring a little process | | | | check out Ben Franklin sometime) |
| into it. (Life is a process, get used to it) | | | | Your list might include things like tenacity, |
| Begin by deciding who in your life is A. Important | | | | compassion, passion, initiation, action oriented, |
| to you, B. Has traits and characteristics you | | | | learner, personable, can do attitude, etc.... Just by |
| admire, C. Someone you would like to study. This | | | | writing this list down you have effected change in |
| list can be made up from anyone in any time, | | | | your life. Think how much different it will be when |
| from the dawn of man until today. | | | | you start applying those characteristics. |
| I recommend that you make the list long at first. | | | | Try to bring in one of these elements into your |
| Put as many people as you can think of. You can | | | | day, each and every day, for 10 days. Next you |
| trim it down later. Once this list is complete, begin | | | | will then try to bring in two elements a day, then |
| to trim it down. Use a system. (Life is a system, | | | | three, and so on. |
| get used to it) Try grading the list on a scale of | | | | At the end of 100 days, you will have integrated |
| 1-10. 10 being most admired, 1 least admired. Try | | | | the most successful characteristics of people you |
| to get the list down to a manageable number. | | | | admire into your life. Imagine the possibilities! How |
| In fact, it is best to get to around 10 people. | | | | much power and direction will this give you in your |
| Think of it as if you were stranded on an island | | | | pursuits for 2009? (Life is the pursuit of goals, get |
| with 10 people from history, who would you want | | | | used to it) |
| to be stranded with? (Note: this is not Fantasy | | | | OK, here is a real gut check for you. On your |
| Play Island, it is Serious Business Island) | | | | people to admire list, are you on that list? Did you |
| Once you have pared down your list, identify the | | | | write your name down? If not, why not? |