Tag Archives: self-improvement

The Doctor Said the Word, Cancer

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The company developed, manufactured, and sold anticancer drugs, i.e., breast, prostate, and bone. I was a sales representative and product manager for our breast cancer franchise. Additionally, I’ve given motivational talks to a Cancer Support Group at my church, intermittently, for 20 years.

However, I was diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer this year, received twenty-eight cycles of radiation treatment, and was given a clean health bill. I am a motivational speaker, author, and poet who writes about many human experiences. I have added my personal experience with cancer diagnosis and treatment through poetry in a piece entitled, The Doctor Said the Word, Cancer. I encourage personal examination, with regular checkups and a sensible diet with exercise. Early detection continues to be the best protection in identifying and treating cancer.

The Doctor said the Word, Cancer

One day I had a few questions,
I needed a few suggestions,
To calm my mind.
I needed answers,
When the doctor said the word,
Cancer.

Suddenly and immediately,
The shock,
Hit me like a ton of bricks.
My chest was in a headlock.
I was knocked out of orbit,
As my world was rocked;
I felt pressured,
And noticed the clock.

Suspended in a freefall,
The disturbance
Was like turbulence.
I was not asleep, but this wake-up call,
Caused the earth to shake;
I questioned, “Was this a cruel trick?
Was this a mistake?”
Mortality and invincibility
Began to quake;
The news struck and I was stuck
In a moment of doubt;
As I struggled in a bubble
To figure it out.

What happened to others
Was happening to me;
Worst-case scenario thinking
Was entrapping me.
Life is not only about me.
I must be free to act,
Courageously.

I wrestled with my primary fear
Of doubting how long, I would be here.
The inevitable became near.
My instinct was not to be succinct,
But the goal of survival was clear.
Don’t let cancer hyphenate my name,
I pray it’s a disease I can tame.

I pondered the consequences;
My body’s natural defenses;
Which treatment options would be severe,
Which therapies would extend my years?
As I watched, my priorities changed,
Elements of my life were arranged
From the small to the significant;
To be bold, scared, and magnificent.

Copyright © 2022 Orlando Ceaser

Invasion of the Idea Snatchers

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The Idea Snatchers invade our workspace. They sit next to you in meetings and slowly siphon your concepts and ideas. They steal them quickly in full view of witnesses. They sometimes collect them and stash them away when no one is watching. Later they will repackage them and pass them off as their own.

The Idea Snatchers walk among us in our workplaces, homes, and relationships. They seem harmless, but they drain energy, engagement, passion, and creativity. As in the movie Invasion of the Body Snatchers, these pods will lie next to you and pick your brain and replicate your ideas.

Ideas are necessary for growth and development. We have more than one great idea in us, so we must harness the ability of continuous generation. The process of duplication and replication of more ideas is a necessity. Ideas are in various stages of readiness. Some ideas should not be shared until they are fully baked and implemented. Others are resilient and modified and shaped into a form superior to the original. Many ideas have a shelf life and expiration date. If you sit on an idea and don’t release it, you will eventually see the idea expressed through the lives of others. An idea, like water, will seek its level and burst forth in time.

Ideas must live and we are the conduits to release them into a world waiting for their impact. We must, therefore, set them free and allow them to flow into the world. But we like to receive a credit; otherwise, we will shut down and shut off their supply.

Idea Snatchers may be ingenious deterrents for sharing ideas. They will question you to fully understand your idea and then use their gift of embellishment to enhance and disguise the origin of the idea. They are not concerned with plagiarism because they believe no one will discover their actions.

Idea Snatchers are prolific plagiarists. They may have the following traits.

  • Ruthlessly ambitious
  • Spontaneity
  • Opportunistic
  • Disloyal
  • Great at implementing
  • Poor at generating their own ideas
  1. Document and track your ideas

Nature channels feature programs about scientific experiments with animals in the wild. They may be tracking fish, birds, or large animals. To keep track of the test participants they will tag the animal with a GPS device to flag them later. They will tag the subject to flag the subject so when they bag or capture the subject to complete the experiment. You must utilize similar techniques to tag, flag, and bag your ideas. It would also be helpful if you could document your idea with a follow-up memo or handouts. Preparing for the meeting will enable you to claim the idea as your own.

  • Circulate your ideas

Make your boss or others aware of your ideas and contributions. Write your ideas in a memo or in your journal with the date and time of origination. Take your idea from concept to potential utilization. The level of thought put into it will identify you as the creator. Think through the ideas and the value they can provide to the enterprise or the area that can benefit most.

In a brainstorming session, it is hard to determine who generated an idea because they bear the fingerprints of many potential owners. A solution is to make your idea the center of the discussion so that it stands out from the others. You can also set up the idea by saying you thought about the idea a long time ago and list the advantages and disadvantages in a full-blown presentation.

  • Captured in performance evaluations

Submit your ideas when you provide input for your performance evaluation. Be sure you are claiming credit for your ideas only. Make sure your boss is aware of your ideas before your input. You do not want to be an Idea Snatcher.

  • Share your ideas

Be careful how and where you share your ideas. Networking events are promising environments to collect the ideas of others. You may willingly share ideas, concepts, and suggestions believing in the Law of Reciprocity, what goes around comes around. You will be rewarded for your generosity in helping others. When you pollinate ideas, don’t be surprised when your ideas come back under the name of someone else. A professional speaker said, “the first time I am quoted, the speaker may mention my name and give me credit. The second time it was something the speaker read. The third time the speaker was just thinking about a topic, and it popped into his head.” The only time you may get full credit is the first time.

You are the conduit, the vehicle to release ideas into the atmosphere. Victor Hugo said, “There is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come.” Consequently, if you generated an idea, you want to get credit for creating it and keeping it safely out of the hands of the Idea Snatchers.

 Copyright ©2011 Orlando Ceaser

I Watch in Awe as Children Play

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The Chicago Afterschool Development Working Group, under the leadership of David Cherry and Julie Lenner, is a grassroots group of afterschool, education, civic, and nonprofit leaders and practitioners working together to strengthen the voice of impact of afterschool development in Chicago (www.allstars.org). Their work inspired this poem.

I Watch In Awe As Children Play

I watch in awe as children play;
To see them run beneath the sun.
Laugh at the crazy things they say; 
Life is carefree and full of fun.

Creative minds that will amaze,
In formal games or make believe;
Resourceful in so many ways
They achieve what they can conceive.

How simply they can make a toy
From articles within their reach;
Amuse each child as they enjoy,
Lessons that teach and shape their speech.

Some fix objects that are broken,
For they have the proclivity
To solve problems, be outspoken
In their childlike activity. 

I watch in awe as children play;
Especially as they excel;
Imagination on display
With stories used to show and tell. 

They don’t see walls they cannot scale
Or the boundaries of a box.
They do not think that they can fail,
For they are keys in search of locks.

And boundaries don’t need the lines,
For they will color as they see
The picture they want to define,
Is the masterpiece it will be.

Quietly they engage in thought;
To solve puzzles and figure out
The answers that were never taught;
While never focusing on doubt.

I watch in awe as children play,
The purity of inquiry;
The innocence that they convey;
To move with boundless energy.

Their cognitive development;
The social skills that are increased;
In their natural element
Where intuition is released.

They will play it forward if we,
Allow them the chance to explore
The land beyond the boundary
That will refresh and teach them more. 

As they sit alone or in a group,
Playful adventures never cease.
They will jump ropes not jump through hoops;
Exertion is what gives them peace.

I watch in awe as children play, 
One continuous exercise;
We try to regulate their day,
With structure, but they improvise.

Intuitive they get things done,
For they are focused on results,
That’s measure by the kind of fun,
That could teach something to adults.

Copyright © 2016 Orlando Ceaser
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    I Am Not Enough

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    We work together as a team. No person is an island and no person should work in isolation. Most goals are designed to be reached i coordination with others. Additionally, no one should think that they should go through the ordeal on their own, that the objectives should be reached on their own merits.

    You are sufficient, as an individual. You are enough within your own right, but when the storms of life are raging and objectives and performance targets must be achieved., you are not enough, nor should you be all that is needed. Involve the team. Involve mentors and coaches and peers. Your growth will accelerate and escalate when you realize and say to yourself, “I am not enough.”

     

    I Am Not Enough

     

    In search of wisdom I think vanity

    Will hide the weakness of humanity,

    As ego converts the truth into lies.

    Misguided in the darkness I confuse

    Reality with an elegant ruse;

    What I surmise as wisdom is not wise.

    Sometimes rejected, the world will mock me

    And life will rock me, and friends will shock me,

    Reminding me that I am not that tough.

    Though I consider myself fully grown;

    The evidence is present and has shown;

    When I am in need, I am not enough.

    I am proud of being spontaneous,

    With wit that’s sharp and instantaneous

    And eloquent when speaking off the cuff.

    I state opinions with precision

    Use intellect to discuss religion;

    An empty vessel who’s seeking more stuff.

    The myth of the person who is self-made.

    The courageous one who’s never afraid.

    Gregarious in the face of trials.

    Despite a vivid personality,

    I’m stuck with the truth and the reality

    That something is missing behind the smiles.

    A goal in life is to be prominent;

    To play a role, forceful and dominant;

    Confident life, will never call my bluff;

    A revelation is inside of me;

    Doubt points to an innate deficiency.

    I was created for community,

    When I am alone, I am not enough.

    And when friends have aching hearts filled with grief;

    I search for the right words to bring relief,

    But silence is all that I can bestow.

    The pain seems permanent as I confess,

    To being anemic and powerless,

    Aware that my incompetence might show.

    I often question what I see in me;

    An arrogant idol, a deity;

    I cannot survive independently;

    I finally came to the conclusion,

    That life without God is an illusion;

    When I was lost and bound; He set me free.

    When I deliver all I can provide,

    I still fall short of being satisfied;

    Love has made me a diamond in the rough.

    I bask in the splendor of His brilliance;

    I ask the Lord to give me resilience;

    Until I’m with Him, I am not enough.

    Copyright © 2013 Orlando Ceaser

     

    More information available through books and speaking engagements at

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    Leadership Greatness through High Performance Poetry

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    Innovation demands that we seek different and distinctive ways of stimulating our imaginations. This may be achieved by making an association through poetry, which is not often seen as a companion of business thinking. It is the other soft skill. Hopefully you are open to this additional insight.

    book_of_poems

    High performance poetry is an invaluable vehicle for expressing leadership greatness. This art form emphasizes key elements of achievement and helps to cultivate development for personal and professional gain. “Leadership above the Rim turns out to be a shockingly original collection of poems by Orlando Ceaser, a manager-cum-poet who shares them at team meetings and when his direct reports are promoted.”1 This comment from the Financial Times magazine was an early confirmation of the radical insight found in poetry.

    People go to work and school and keep their gifts or their light hidden from their peers. Those with a gift of poetic expression will shy away from putting it on full display due to a perceived negative stigma. However, poets can be important to business. Poets have keenly developed powers of observation, outlook and curiosity that lead to investigation and interpretation. These powers can lead to leadership greatness and high performance if we harness the inherent strength of the language and imagery.

    Poets use their senses to gain a better understanding and appreciation of their world. They are introspective, intuitive and deep thinkers who are able to view a situation from many perspectives. They are used to experimenting with different approaches. This can be very helpful in leading people and running a business.

    Webster’s Dictionary defines a poet as:

    • Gifted in the perception and expression of the beautiful or lyrical
    • A creative artist of great imaginative and expressive gifts and special sensitivity to his medium.

    The poet has inspirational words for winning, has a vocabulary for victory and can speak effectively against the language of losing. The poet is a panoramic thinker. The poet can use

    high performance poetry to link the vision and mission of the organization to desired outcomes. Further, through conversations with their peers, poets can help you sell the vision and the goals of the organization. They can approach a subject, such as business, with the radical insight that could lead to inspiring innovation in ideas, products and services. Their observations and perspectives will add to brainstorming and problem-solving sessions.

    High performance poetry focuses on using achievement-oriented language to encourage and celebrate excellence. Dana Gioia, a poet with extensive business experience, is a graduate of Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, and the former Vice president of General Foods. In addition, and quite notably, he is the past Chairman of the National Endowment of the Arts. As he rose up the managerial ranks, he felt he had “an enormous advantage over his colleagues because he had a background in the imagination, in language and in literature.”2
    In a business setting, high performance poetry allows people the use of language, through stories and metaphors. Through these stories and metaphors, the poet is able to paint a positive and attainable picture of the company’s vision. On a deeper level, the poetic communications will touch the hearts of people to build trust and engagement.

    The poet may be the introvert in the room, deriving their energy from absorbing everything around them and processing it later in the day. They may be the creative ones, who are insightful, observing and analyzing problems from many different perspectives. They may see things that others don’t see, mainly because they are looking. In my book, The Isle of Knowledge, I tell a story about my friend Buttons from my childhood. During our walks around the West side of Chicago, Buttons was always finding money and other things of value. I tried to match his skill, but with little success. His secret was that he was always looking down and therefore, had a greater opportunity to find things. He was looking where the treasure was located. The poet is always looking for treasure in the places where they reside.

    They are always observing, always using their senses, always connected and involved in the world around them. Identify the poets in your midst. Whenever possible, be sure to include them on cross-functional teams and you will be rewarded with a higher performing team that will exceed your expectations.

    Another quality that poets bring to the table is a love for experimentation. Their use of metaphors, similes, allegories and hyperbole are some of the ways in which they explore different portrayals of the current reality. At work, they use the same talent to experiment with different solutions, searching for more than one right answer, to improve the quality of decision-making.

    It is beneficial to know the poets in your organization and to encourage their expressions of creativity. When these individuals and others focus on high performance poetry, they will leverage their talent to help you utilize and maximize the innate abilities within the team.

    You may have heard that poetry and business do not go together. However, this perception may hinder people from exploring and experimenting with a valuable perspective. The high-performance poetry featured in this book will help employees examine its use for achieving their goals. This perspective, if harnessed, will improve the culture within your business in a myriad of ways.

    Max DePree, former CEO of the Herman Miller furniture company, tells a story in his book Leadership is an Art, which is a part of the Herman Miller company history. It is a story about a millwright. “In the furniture industry of the 1920’s the machines of most factories were not run by electric motors, but by pulleys from a central drive shaft. The central drive shaft was run by the steam engine. The steam engine got its steam from the boiler. The boiler, in our case, got its fuel from the sawdust and other waste coming out of the machine room – a beautiful cycle. The millwright was the person who oversaw that cycle and on whom the entire activity of the operation depended. He was a key person. One day the millwright died.”

    One day the founder of Herman Miller went to the house of the recently deceased millwright. While visiting his home, the widow asked if the young manager would mind if she read some poetry aloud. After listening to her read beautiful poetry, he asked the author of the work. She replied that it was her husband, the millwright. For years the young manager and others at Herman Miller who were apprised of the story wondered,” was he a poet who did millwright’s work, or was he a millwright who wrote poetry?”3


    High performance poetry will start you on the path of discovering more about the people in your group or organization. It will help you to explore various aspects of the work experience. It will illuminate and elucidate human motivation and the desire to innovation on an even grander scale. This greater understanding of people will be instrumental to the team’s commitment to exceeding expectations.
    Max Dupree goes on to say, “understanding and accepting diversity enables us to see that each of us is needed. It also enables us to begin to think about being abandoned to the strengths of others, of admitting that we cannot know nor do everything. This simple act of recognizing diversity in corporate life helps us to connect the great variety of gifts that people bring to the work and service of the organization.”4 Leadership greatness can be achieved through many avenues. Achieving leadership greatness through high performance poetry is another way to experience the variety and versatility present within your team. I trust that this book will assist you in extracting and multiplying the greatness around you and within you.

    TABLE OF CONTENTS

    Preface

    Acknowledgments

    Adapting

    An Ancestor’s Apprentice

    Ask (Acquire Selling Knowledge)*

    Athletes Leading As Role Models – (ALARM™)

    Be humble as you hustle

    Be strong to the finish

    Championship Thinking

    Circle of Excellence*

    Coming Through in The Clutch

    Confessions of a Corporate Climber

    Do You Ever Want to Spin with Me?

    Follow through

    Front-line Leadership*

    He Makes Leaders for a Living*

    Habits and Hustle

    Hustle

    I Am Not the One

    I am in sales

    I Am the Good

    Faith Effort

    Imagine a Company Anarchy On Demand

    Inertia

    Intellect Fulfilled is an Awesome Thing

    It Is Time

    Keep the Ones We Love Alive (Drive

    Defensively)

    Last Will and Testament

    Leadership in a turbulent Season

    Leadership is Allowed

    Let them Lead

    Make your own good news

    My time and my touch

    Obstacles

    Passion makes you cry

    Paying your dues

    Peace

    Quest for meaning*

    Quotas and forecasts*

    She is not too old

    Someone you may never know

    Stronger together

    Structure

    The Box

    The Hunger

    The Lady and her Legacy

    The Leader Within

    The Mark*

    The Old Guard and the New Way

    The Third Quarter of Life

    The Temple of Wasted Time*

    The Unabridged Life*

    The Un-led

    The Year in Review

    Uncertainty

    Universal Coach

    We are committed

    What will you be known for?*

    When I say diversity, What do you hear?*

    When we announced the merger*

    Where is the diversity?

    Whether Report

    You have been chosen to lead*

    About the Author— Orlando Ceaser 

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    31 Day Leadership Gauntlet – Day 31 – Shared Greatness – The Epic Leader

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    Epic means larger-than-life, on a grander scale, and above and beyond the ordinary. Epic is the magnitude found in a Cecil B. DeMille blockbuster movie with enormous sets, panoramic views and large crowds of people. They are like movies envisioned by Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, JJ Abrams and James Cameron.

    When I apply epic to leadership, I want you to think of leadership that is scalable, based on the situation, circumstances, and demands of the organization and needs of the people. The Epic Leader has the skills, abilities, talent and capacities discussed over the 31 Day Leadership Gauntlet. They produce gargantuan goals and vision, with the courage to be empathetic, resilient and able to adapt style, structure and emotions to be empathetic and emotionally intelligent.

    The Epic Leader is in the mind of the beholder; the followers are made bolder because of their ability to shoulder the burdens together. They are effective in working as a team. Size matters to the follower because the Epic Leader is big enough to coach, mentor and lead where leadership is required. The followers feel they can trust them because of their reputation and trustworthy interactions. The Epic Leader also, has a grander vision, a sense of purpose with their egos intact as they develop their people to have the curiosity, strength through interdependence in turbulent times, with the spirituality and curiosity to be creative and able to overcome fear.

    The Epic Leader is humble and their humility will not allow them to say, “I’ve got this or I am enough,” but you know it is true from the leadership versatility they exhibit and the leadership power that is granted to them by their followers. The Epic Leader makes others into epic followers. The followers feel like somebody. They feel they are going somewhere and to ready to do something great.

    The Epic Leader creates impact players, who are students of the game, in the right role, powered by a dream and who are always created with high standards. They are continuous learners. They are familiar with the work and leadership practices of Gen. Colin Powell. Their people have grit. It is the grit that is talked about by Angela Duckworth and defined as passion and perseverance. The Epic Leader wants to take their people and organizations from good to great as Jim Collins discussed in his book. They have the vulnerability that Brené Brown writes, speaks and researches. They are equipped with the emotional intelligence referred to by Daniel Goleman and Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves. They understand the Givers and Takers as outlined by Adam Grant and Start with Why according to Simon Sinek, and the strengths of their people as championed by Marcus Buckingham.

    The Epic Leader ensures their followers will have the appropriate mindset, therefore a  they put forth the right effort and preparation.  They work to be culturally competent from reading Malcolm Gladwell in his books Blink, the Outsider and Talking to strangers. The epic leader understands unconscious bias through the work of Sondra Thiederman, Making Diversity Work, and the research of Mahzarin R. Babaji and Anthony G. Greenwald summarize in their book about hidden biases, Blindspot. He took the Intrinsic Association Test (IAT) at  https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/.

    You do not start out saying you want to be an Epic Leader. They would not be the mindset of a person focused on humility. It is a distinction bestowed upon you by those who look up to you and learn from you. You have been a breath of fresh air on their development and they realized how you have improved their environment and enriched their lives.

    May you unlock your leadership greatness and become an Epic Leader. May you continue to magnify and multiply; magnify your impact and spread your reach to positively influence more people. I am hopeful that your 31 Day Leadership Gauntlet journey was a mind stimulating, heart inspiring and faith affirming adventure into becoming an Epic leader. May your Epic followers be instrumental in helping you to change the world

    The Epic Leader

    The Epic Leader surveys the terrain

    And ponders the strategy, yet remains

    True to the mission; put their people first,

    As they seek the best and plan for the worst.

    The Epic Leader ascends and descends;

    Adjusts and gains trust as they comprehend

    The magnitude of the crisis at hand,

    To manage chaos, while taking a stand.

    Their mission is clear, their vision intact

    They may have charisma that will attract,

    Or humility and a strength of will

    To lead the people with dreams to fulfill.

    The Epic Leader has the confidence

    Of someone emboldened by competence

    And guided by a mission and vision;

    A philosophy that shapes decisions.

    The Epic Leader walks across the stage;

    There is alignment, as people engage

    In the moment, confidence exuded,

    As people feel affirmed and included.

    The rivals don’t always attack at dawn

    And competitors charge with weapons drawn.

    They have monumental ability

    To focus on mental agility.

    The Epic Leader manages to rise

    To the encounter, but look in their eyes,

    For there lies the energy on which they feed;

    As power flows from what the people need.

    The Epic Leader prepares and repairs.

    To show us that leadership shares and cares.

    They can get by on a wing and a prayer.

    Resourceful, vulnerable, self-aware,

    Emotionally wise and capable,

    When change is truly inescapable;

    Uncertainty is a root of the norm,

    They will translate, transcend, as they transform.

    The Epic Leader advises their crew

    And wisely considers their points of view;

    With seafaring credentials to perform;

    Courageously at the height of the storm.

    Copyright © 2019 Orlando Ceaser

    Personal Reflections

    1. What can you do to become a bigger leader?

    2. How can you enrich the lives of those I influence?

    3. What you do today to make person I encounter feel important?

    4. What are my strengths and weaknesses in interacting, influencing and leading people?

    5. What are my blind spots, as it relates to understanding people were not like me?

    6. How do I gather feedback on how others see me?

    7. Who are the people I should select?

    More leadership information at OrlandoCeaser.com

    The ‘O’ Zone Blog: myozonelayer.com

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    31 Day Leadership Gauntlet – Day 30 – Mediocrity      

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    Step out in excellence. Individuals and organizations mired in mediocrity failed to reach their potential, fall short of meeting customer expectations and do not achieve the best. Excellence demands dedication, creativity, innovation, cooperation and coordination between teams and departments. The analogy of the impact player works to explain the high bar necessary in today’s environment.

    Impact players are peak performers, game changers and difference makers. They are recognized as the superstars in our organizations, schools, communities and families. They are the stars on the team, the leaders that people respect and emulate. The greater the number of impact player available, the more it accelerates and creates a critical mass necessary to reach your goals.

    Organizations cannot afford wholesale mediocrity within their ranks. They must select the best talent, develop the best talent and retain the best talent. Just imagine how productive we would be if we increased the number of impact players within our group. They would realize that they are in need group of performers. Their presence would have a synergistic effect on the group. Employees would be more engaged and productive; students would achieve higher grades and test results. Businesses would consistently reach their productivity and financial targets.

    There are 10 principles observed in impact players from academia, athletics, entertainment and business. This is not an exhaustive list and all of them may not be present in everyone.

     

    Impact Player

    1. A Natural Fit for the Role

    • Excels in areas where their talents, skills and abilities are fully utilized

    1. Powered by a Dream

    • Driven by ambitious and stretch goals to fulfill potential and purpose

    1. A Student of the Game

    • Continuously learning information about their field and related areas

    1. Fundamentally Sound

    • Masters the basics through practice and mental rehearsal

    1. Sets High Standards

    • Fully engaged to beat their personal best, which exceed job requirements

    1. Creative Expression

    • Develops new ways to improve work and play, with a style of their own

    1. Passionate Execution

    • Aggressively implements plans and checklists to stay on tasks

    1. Lead by Example

    • Personal actions match their words

    1. Make Others Better

    • Elevates team performance by teaching and challenging the effort and results of peers

    1. Serve Others

    • Willingness to share talent and resources – give back – pay forward

    Copyright © 2007 Orlando Ceaser

    Please review the Impact Player poem. How do you align with the principles?

     

    The Impact Player

     

    He was not always an Impact Player;

    A natural fit at his position.

    He had to struggle through many layers

    Of resistance from the competition.

    He worked to get in the best condition;

    While mastering all the fundamentals;

    Setting high standards, filled with ambition;

    Knowing success is not accidental.

    She was not always an Impact Player;

    A change agent, when she first reached the field.

    She started thinking as a bricklayer,

    Then felt she had a cathedral to build.

    The game slows down the better we produce

    Always passionate in execution;

    Powered by a dream that’s put to good use,

    To spark a leadership revolution.

    We are striving to be Impact Players;

    Always being creative in the role;

    Tie breakers, the movers and shakers;

    Willing to work hard and pay the toll.

     

    For we do the hard work and we achieve

    Superstar status that we can savor.

    We are students of the game and believe

    That serving others has brought us favor.

    We are striving to be Impact Players;

    No one questions our talent or drive.

    As armored knights, we are dragon slayers,

    From medieval times to this moment,

    We thrive.

    Difference makers willing to trample

    The forces of mediocrity;

    Who are always leading by example,

    And making others better constantly.

    We’re decisive without hesitation

    From these principles we will not waiver;

    Our research and investigations,

    Fill us with courage and make us braver.

    Copyright © 2017 Orlando Ceaser

    Personal Reflections

    1. Review the 10 principles

    2. What are your strengths and where do you need to fortify your efforts?

    3. Pick a strength and an area needing improvement and focus on them today.

    4. Review the book Unlock Your Leadership Greatness by Orlando Ceaser.

    5. Books are available at amazon.com and orlandoceaser.com

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    31 Day Leadership Gauntlet – Day 29 – Burnout

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     Burnout occurs when we try to do all things and be all things to all people. When we bite off more than we can chew and much more than we can digest. When we are running 100 miles an hour and need to reduce speed and take a rest, but we ignore the warning sign and keep going. Burnout occurs when we fail to acquire the skill to shape our lips and say No.

    Burnout has three definitions that I would like for us to consider. The first two are from the Oxford dictionary.

    1. the reduction of a fuel or substance to nothing through use or combustion.

    2. the failure of an electrical device or component through overheating.

    The third is from http://www.helpguide.org which defines burnout as “a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands. … Eventually, you may feel like you have nothing more to give.”

    Together these definitions describe a situation where an individual is physically and psychologically drained. This is not a desirable state in high performance individuals or organizations. We are more productive and more valuable to our company and families if we develop strategies to preserve our overall health.

    I coined the phrase, “we will kill you if you let us.” This was spoken because I saw people with good intentions, deny their families, allow the workplace to encroach into their living rooms by failing to structure their time and priorities properly. They refused to delegate or ask for help when the workload was too high.

    When the burden is great and before it is too late, we must slow down. Review the poem, Slow Down and make a list of tactics you will use to improve work/ life effectiveness. This is a phrase that many organizations use instead of work life balance, because they realize that balance may not be possible.

     

    Slow down

    How many signals do you need?
    A mind is tired,
    A body fatigued;
    A heart is idling
    At high speeds;
    As you push harder
    To succeed.

    You’ve seen examples
    Of careers,
    That crashed and burned
    In overdrive.
    You’ve seen the sorrow
    In your peers,
    Who lived each day,
    But never alive.

    You better slow down
    Before you go down
    For the count.
    You’re running red lights
    And go to bed nights
    With what amounts
    To a weary heart.

    How long have you seen
    Warning signs?
    How long have you been
    Scorning signs?
    You awake and
    The morning lines,
    Are unkind,
    For you can’t unwind.

    You better slow down
    And get the low down
    On your soul.
    Don’t let the red zone
    Lead to a headstone
    On the goal.

    How many signals do you need?
    A mind is tired,
    A body fatigued;
    A heart is idling
    At high speeds;
    Create the balance
    And succeed.

    Copyright © 2001 Orlando Ceaser

    Reprinted from Leadership Above The Rim

    By Orlando Ceaser

    Personal Reflections

    1. What can you do today to slow down?

    2. What activities can you remove from your plate as you delegate?

    3. Who do you know that has a reputation for being well organized?

    4. What books or other resources can you on time management?

    5. How do you prioritize what’s important to accomplish?

    6. How can you need more of your work at work?

    7. Do you schedule time with your family?

    8. Do you schedule time with your spouse to decompress and relax?

    Working Weekend

    More leadership information at OrlandoCeaser.com.

    The ‘O’ Zone Blog: myozonelayer.com

    Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=orlando+ceaser

    31 Day Leadership Gauntlet – Day 28 – Courage

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    Onyourside

    Courage is not the absence of fear but proceeding in its presence. Courage is not necessarily acts of bravery against a life-threatening adversary. Courage can be defined as a situation where you are prompted to rise, step forward and risk something, to benefit yourself or others. You must be willing to go to the front of the line to demonstrate bravery. Therefore, Courage is not always about us. It is performed as a practice, a template, a role model to benefit others.

    There are instances during a day or a season when you are being watched by your family, group, team, peers and community. How will you respond in difficult situations? When a fear generating dilemma appears, there is a courage stimulating response that is required. How will you respond? Will you be brave?

    When an intimidating moment appears in the leadership gauntlet, it is a perfect opportunity to stand up, show courage and be on the front line and take the lead with your people. What does courage look like? It varies with the demand and the scale of the crisis. Courage could mean standing up for them when they are bullied by peers, strangers or management. It could be when unfair assaults on their skills, reputation and performance occurs during a meeting or performance review. Courage could occur during periods of uncertainty when patience and guidance are needed to help someone make it through a frightening predicament.

    Courage could also manifest itself in the ability to show weakness, vulnerability, empathy and compassion. Courage provides the opportunity to let down your guard and connect with people. Look for opportunities to show people that you are on their side, that you can identify with them and fight with them. You can roll up your sleeves, join the fight and work with them.

    Front-line Leadership

    https://youtu.be/bhB6r02clVk

     

    When in the clenches or against the ropes

    Or in the trenches where it’s hard to cope;

    When in the battle to succeed,

    On the front line is where you lead.

    To make decisions cowards fear to broach,

    You’re on the field as player and coach;

    To give followers what they need,

    On the front line is where you lead.

    You are the traction on a slippery slope.

    Your plans and action are symbols of hope.

    Momentum grows by word and deed,

    On the front line is where you lead.

    So, by example you show them the way.

    You’ve rolled up your sleeves and joined in the fray.

    For in the battle to succeed,

    On the front line is where you lead.

    Reprinted with permission from Teach the Children to Dance

    Copyright © 2001 Orlando Ceaser

    Personal Reflections

    1. How have you taken the lead to show someone that you are on their side?

    2. How can you demonstrate to someone that you have them back?

    3. Describe a situation when you weren’t there when someone needed you?

    4. Where do you need to show courage more consistently?

    5. Describe a time when you went to bat for someone.

    6. What situations are more difficult for you to show courage?

    7. What is the worst thing that can happen in most situations?

    8. Does the worst thing that can happen, consistently happen?

    More leadership information at OrlandoCeaser.com

    The ‘O’ Zone Blog: myozonelayer.com

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=orlando+ceaser    

    31 Day Leadership Gauntlet – Day 27 – Fatigue

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    Spin20182

    You must be aware that fatigue it is one of the obstacles you will encounter going through the leadership gauntlet. Self-health will strengthen your mental physical and spiritual well-being. When we are fatigued, we cannot do our best work. We are not able to think clearly or created. I’ll run down feeling of low energy also reduces our productivity. A key component of is the amount of rest we receive. The sleep foundation says that “While sleep requirements vary slightly from person to person, most healthy adults need between 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night to function at their best. Children and teens need even more. And despite the notion that our sleep needs decrease with age, most older people still need at least 7 hours of sleep.” Are you getting enough sleep every night?

    Secondly, we are surrounded by date to increase our awareness of nutritional foods and those products that may be good for us. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, NHLBI suggests that we have a healthy eating plan.  “A healthy eating plan: Emphasizes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat dairy products. Includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts. Limits saturated and trans fats, sodium, and added sugars.”

    In my book, the Isle of Knowledge I focus on the mantra that I use every day. I want to get my REPS in as a part of my normal routine. R stands for reflection. I begin each day thinking about the day and the activities that lie before me. E is for exercise. It may be simple calisthenics stretching or going to the club for more rigorous activity, such as lifting weights, running or participating in a spinning class. P is for prayer to ensure that I am spiritually centered. S is for study, which requires light reading to establish continuous learning. The study may be at the beginning of the day, during the day or at night before I go to bed.

    You would agree with me that you do your best work when you are rested. Your ability to last and avoid fatigue is influenced by your eating habits, exercise routine and the amount of sleep you receive.

    I’m Better When I’m Rested

    I’m better when I’m rested

    And have strength when I’m tested;

    Experience in life has made me wise.

    My mind is far from fragile,

    For mentally I’m agile;

    When judgment’s muscle gets exercise.

    I’m better when I’m at peace;

    In solitude I release

    The worries and factors that lead to stress.

    My problems have solutions,

    My plans have executions,

    That raise the likelihood of success.

    I’m better when I’m rested.

    My mind is not congested;

    Thoughts across the synapse accelerate;

    For sleep enriches, fortifies;

    Ideas that I synthesize

    As I, subconsciously create.

    I’m better when I’m rested;

    Resolved when I’m contested;

    To conquer waiting enemies with zeal.

    I’ve come to the conclusion

    That sleep prevents confusion;

    Performance mirrors the way I feel.

    Copyright © 2001 Orlando Ceaser

    Reprinted from Teach the Children to Dance

    By Orlando Ceaser

    Personal Reflection

     

    1. How much sleep do you consistently receive?

    2. Do you feel sluggish or fatigued?

    3. Do you have a sensible diet?

    4. When was the last time you had a physical checkup?

    5. What do you do for relaxation?

    6. What hobbies, interests or talents do you have?

    7. Do you have a consistent exercise regimen?

    8. What is the number one health related issue that you need to address?

    9. Who will be your accountability partner to reach your health goals?

    10. When will you start?

    More leadership information at OrlandoCeaser.com

    The ‘O’ Zone Blog: myozonelayer.com

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=orlando+ceaser