Trust

TRUST is defined by Wikipedia as the trait of believing in the honesty and reliability of others. Usually trust is gained over time. As you develop a relationship with others, if the relationship is important to us, we will invest the time and effort to ensure that the other person begins to understand our intent and even when bad outcomes happen, we will be given the benefit of the doubt.

If you find yourself in a relationship with a boss, subordinate or peer that does not yield the benefit of the doubt then you can be assured that TRUST is not operative in the relationship. It may be beneficial at that point to address this issue head on with the person you need a relationship with. Understand, like a forest, TRUST takes many years to build and grow and can be destroyed in a matter of minutes through carelessness or reckless abandon. Protect your integrity and the TRUST others have given you on a daily basis.

Networking

CONNECTIONS! NETWORKING! INFLUENCING! The most often used mechanism by every successful person to get a head is “networking”. Whether you are trying to get a promotion, a new position, close a business deal or get people to assist you in a project—YOU HAVE TO NETWORK! Very seldom do any of us get a head because of our skills—to use your skills you HAVE TO GET IN THE DOOR. The door opens because you have INFLUENCE with a network. Connections are absolutely critical if you want to influence people. Before you can get any one to go on a JOURNEY WITH YOU have to find out where they are on the continuum you find yourself on and then make it their business to join you there.

I can categorically tell you that they will never be on your path if you are negative or berate them. All of us need others to project our interests forward and to promote our positions (a rising tide lifts all boats), so why do we turn off the very people we need to assist us? Don’t be a turtle and hide in your shell, only to let catastrophe happen. The excuse that “you told everyone that bad things would happen if you were not listened to” is not an EXCUSE FOR INACTION! Get out of your shell and make positive things happen by being a positive person that can network and influence others.

Have a GREAT NETWORKING DAY!

When Independence Becomes Individualism

If team members are willing to give of themselves generously to the team, then it is being set up to succeed. In America, independence and individualism is highly valued because it is seen as a sign of innovation, hard work and a willingness to be pioneers. I too embrace those qualities. However, I have learned over time that independence taken too far is a characteristic of SELFISHNESS, a need to emphasize the “I” in independence. Too much independence focused on self will begin to harm or hinder others. Here’s a barometer. If you find yourself in conversations, criticizing the efforts of others when they fall short of the mark or even if not in conversation, thinking the same thoughts, then you have gone past the point of independence and are in the lonely country of individualism. We all fall short from time to time and an investment in others will ensure that even if you stumble you will never hit the ground. In the words of Mr. Spock of STAR TREK, “The needs of the many, always outweigh the needs of the few, the needs of the one!

Williams Sisters 2

By now you should know that Venus and Serena Williams played for the title at Wimbledon and that Venus won! It was a blessing to see these two women vie for the championship of a game that traditionally does not attract African Americans. They were also the last two Americans to represent our country at this British tennis match. Another 1st also occurred at Wimbledon with Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer for the championship at Wimbledon. Since Nadal also won the French Open he accomplished something that has been accomplished in 28 years – some one to win both the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year.

All these athletes embody the characteristics of winners that even in the face of at time insurmountable odds they persist to go that extra mile. Whether your extra mile is to put an extra our in to study or put the effort in to lose the last 10 pounds or to grit your teeth when one of our customers is less that polite, you are Winners each day you put that extra mile in.