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The Paralysis of Perfectionism

At my home here in Montgomery, I have in the front yard two very large trees.  One is an oak, the other a sweet gum.  Of the two, the sweet gum is by far the most troublesome.  In fact, I have considered having it removed on several occasions.  

During the Christmas break, I spent the better part of one beautiful, cold morning raking leaves and dried sweet gum balls in preparation for the city’s yard debris pick up scheduled for later in the day.  My lawn is large, and the raking that I had to do, even with a good-sized rake, amounted to an invigorating workout. 

As I was working, I noticed that even though I had a large pile of leaves and things accumulated, there were still leftovers lying all around the area I had raked.  My immediate desire was to go back over the area, and over it and over it, until every last leaf particle, twig, sweet gum ball, or other piece of trash had been removed, thus leaving a pristine carpet of brown, dormant grass.  However, time was ticking away.  I expected the great, orange, City of Montgomery garbage truck to be along any minute, and I needed a large pile curbside for pickup. 

As I made the decision to pile up as many leaves as possible, and leave the residue for another day (or, perhaps, for the lawnmower), it dawned on me that the tendency to perfectionism can be, and very often is, a cause of paralysis in even the best meaning of people.  

How many times have we not started a task because we didn’t know where to begin, and the mountain before us seemed too steep to climb?  How many times have we failed to do something because it couldn’t be completed perfectly on the first try?    How many times have we not tried something new because of the fear of failure?

The expectation of perfectionism this side of Heaven is a pipe dream.  It will never happen.  It can’t happen.  And our belief that it somehow will happen is crippling.

In the Bible, we see laid out for us plainly, and without any attempt to cover or hide, the faults and mistakes of every single character, save one – Christ Jesus.  

When we study the lives of great men and women, we discover that they all made mistakes.  What contributed to their success was not perfection, but perseverance.   You see confidence, but not smugness.  A willingness to learn and grow and try again and again and again.

As you go through this week, try not to let perfectionism paralyze you.  Instead, focus on tackling things in manageable, bite-sized pieces.  When you fall down, pick yourself up and try again.  For it is through our failures that we often grow the most.

Getting Things Done

When I began this blog, one of my early posts was on the Pomodoro Technique - a timer system that improves productivity.  Jim Estill reminds me in his post from yesterday that I would be getting much more done if I would use the technique religiously.  You can check out his post at CEO Blog - Time Leadership by clicking here.

Never Forget

It was a typical morning at Jefferson Davis High School.  I was in my office gathering materials needed to teach my music appreciation class.  As I headed out the door into the band room, the phone rang.  Usually, I wouldn't take a call just before class, but expecting one, I quickly grabbed the receiver.  My percussion instructor was on the line and he told me to turn on the TV - a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City.

I envisioned a small prop plane which had somehow gone terribly off course.  I could not have imagined what I would see when I hit the power button on the television set mounted on the wall at the front of the room.

My students and I watched in horror as the second plane slammed into the tower.  It became quite evident that this was no accident and that we were under attack.

School effectively shut down at JD that day as we were all glued to our sets watching events unfold.  As teachers, we didn't know what to say or how to answer the questions the kids posed to us.  The biggest being, simply, why?

One year later, I prepared a halftime show to honor the memory of those who lost their lives on Septebmer 11, 2001.  The memory was still fresh and emotions still ran high.  Cramton Bowl fell silent as taps was played, and many were moved to tears.

With each passing year, however, we hear less and less about the tragic events of that day.  In fact, most of our school children today are too young to have any memory of what we so commonly refer to as "9-11."  We call it "Patriot Day," and rightly so.  But we must never let it become just another "day."

In the midst of our football games and fun this weekend, I encourage you to spend some time remembering the events of September 11, 2001. It is important that we understand that ever since our founding, we have had to fight for our freedom in this country. We should honor and appreciate those who are in harm's way even now to protect my right to compose these words, and your right to express your opinions and worship as you feel led.  Let us never forget.

May God bless you richly, and may God bless America!

Lessons from Westwood

Although I had heard the name many times through the years, I didn't really "discover" legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden until he died earlier this summer.  It was only then that I began reading about him and realized what a great man he was and what wonderful lessons could be learned from his life, especially in the area of leadership.  Wooden was meticulous in every way, with a constant drive toward excellence both on and off the court.  Leaving nothing to chance, he kept very detailed records of every practice, and reviewed them years later to assess what worked and what didn't.  He also kept a reflective journal, reviewing whether any given day had been transformed into a masterpiece. I guess you could say his methods worked - at least if you use national championships and deep personal relationships as a measuring stick.

For the next few weeks, I would like to focus on the leadership traits of John Wooden.  In the meantime, I invite you to consider purchasing the book Wooden on Leadership, authored by Coach Wooden along with Steve Jamison.  It is one of the most practical leadership books I have ever read, and should occupy a prominent place in every leader's library.

The Importance of Work/Life Balance

I'm a big John Maxwell fan. Recently, he discussed the importance of balancing life and work in a really neat blog post which you my find here. I hope it encourages you to keep your priorities straight!

Pick Your Battles

As leaders, we are confronted with conflict of some sort most every day. When do we fight and when should we give in? John Maxwell offers some insight into this important question in a recent post on his blog which may be found here.

The Leadership Genius of Harry Truman, Part IV

When at Work, Work and Work Hard

There wasn’t a lazy bone in Harry Truman’s body. Throughout his life, Truman made the most of every single day. From his years on a farm in Grandview, Missouri, to his “retirement” at the Truman Library (during which he was in the office six days a week), the former president believed that every minute counted, and that one should work while at work.

Effective time management is one of the most important attributes of great leadership. It is impossible for a leader to effectively manage his responsibilities without effectively managing his time – for our lives are lived within the context of time.

In order for one to maximize time usage, it is important that the various activities of life have their proper place. There should be time for work, leisure, family, rest, learning, and a variety of other pursuits. Concentrating on work while at work frees up time for other activities within the 24-hour day.

As was discussed in the first installment in this series, President Truman liked to get an early start to his day. The first order of business was a brisk walk, followed by the reading of several major daily newspapers. After breakfast, Truman could be found at his desk in the Oval Office by 7:00 a.m.

Truman began the workday with a fast-paced meeting with his top advisers. He would come to the meeting with assignment packets for each member of his team. These packets were put together in the president’s study the night before as he meticulously prepared for the next workday. The remainder of the day included a whirlwind of appointments, lunch at 1:00 p.m., then a brief nap in the residence.

Upon waking from his afternoon nap, Truman began what amounted to a second workday, which would last well into the night. In the end, Harry Truman would work from 12 to 18 hours on any given day.

When we think of planning, we usually think of long-term projects, or goals for a new year. However, we should be planning each day, setting aside time for various tasks that can be grouped together and knocked out in a single “chunk” of time. We should work while we are at work, avoiding idle chit chat, web browsing, or other time sinks. Engaging in these types of activities amounts to stealing from our employers as they are paying us to work for them during certain hours of the day.

The Pomodoro Technique, a time management tool, was discussed in an earlier post that may be found here. The idea behind this method of time management is to focus on a single task for a “chunk” of time, allowing for a break after 25 minutes of work. The task list is also of paramount importance and should, along with the calendar, drive the day’s agenda.

Don’t be lazy! Commit to work while at work, leaving more time to spend with the most important people in your life.

Note: You may access the other articles in this series here: Part I, Part II, Part III.

Get Organized!

People consistently cite the need to get organized as one of their resolutions for any new year. It is especially important for leaders to have their act together, so this should be a priority for anyone in such a position.

Dr. Frank Buck of Frank Buck Consulting will be observing National Get Organized Month by including daily "best of" posts throughout January on his blog, Get Organized! . This blog has been in operation for over five years and, although geared toward educational leaders, offers plenty of excellent advice for managers of any team.

I urge you to check out Dr. Buck's blog and get organized in 2010!

Great Leaders - Great Quotes

I hope this collection of inspiring leadership quotes gets your week off to a good start!

The Leadership Genius of Harry Truman, Part III

This is the third installment in a series of articles on the leadership traits of Harry S. Truman, former president of the United States. You may read Part I here, and Part II here. Detailed articles of this sort will be a weekly feature on this blog, and several historic leaders will be examined this year.

Part III: Read Voraciously

When President Truman died in December of 1972, archivists at the Truman Library began cataloging his personal library. They were astounded to learn that Truman possessed, and had read, several thousand books. This does not count the books checked out from the Independence Public Library over a lifetime, and those borrowed from the Library of Congress during his Senate term.

Despite poor eyesight, Harry Truman read almost constantly (he claimed to have read every book in the Independence Library by the time he was 18). He also had an uncanny knack for retaining what he read. In his book, Mr. Citizen, Truman recalls that, when faced with a complex decision, he would study a leader from the past who had to make a similar decision. Every night Truman would read about this particular leader just before going to bed. Within just a few days, he would have settled upon his approach to tackling the issue at hand.

Truman became a student of history and a student of great leaders and great people. To be sure, he had a natural interest in this sort of thing. However, he also correctly realized that the past is merely a prelude, and that there are lessons to be learned from important figures throughout history.

During World War I, Truman was a captain in the Army, commanding a field artillery battery made up of unruly young men from the Kansas City area. He whipped the boys into shape using tactics he learned by reading the biography of Civil War general and former President U. S. Grant.

Following the war, former members of Truman’s battery would hang out at his haberdashery in Kansas City, seeking advice from “Captain Harry.” On one occasion, a young former soldier asked Truman for advice on books that every successful man should read. Following is Truman’s recommended reading list:

1. Plutarch’s Lives
2. Caesar’s Commentaries
3. Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography
4. Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
5. Bunker Bean
6. Missouri’s Struggle for Statehood
7. The Bible
8. Plato’s Republic
9. Shakespeare’s works, including the Sonnets
10. The complete works of Robert Burns
11. Childe Harold
12. Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World
13. Charles Beard’s An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution

It must be pointed out that Harry Truman did not attend college. He applied for the Naval Academy and West Point, but was rejected due to poor eyesight. His personal finances simply did not allow for higher education. However, by examining the above reading recommendations, it is clear that Truman was an educated man, and was well prepared for the challenges that faced him during his White House years.

It was Truman who said, “Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” The average CEO in America reads 4-5 books per month, while the average American reads but one book per year. To be a leader means to be a learner – constantly.

Chances are other people have faced problems much like yours, and chances are much has been written about them and their approach to such difficulties. Very few people ever take advantage of this great repository of knowledge and experience available.

Action Point: Visit your local public library regularly and purposefully become a student of history. You should also begin to build your own personal library as funds allow. If you hold a leadership position, begin a systematic study of great leaders. You will soon see patterns emerge that are common to all great leaders, and you will begin the process of developing your own leadership style. The more you know about history, the better you will be able to determine where to go for specific answers as to how to handle a problem you are facing. The solution has already been discovered, you just need to get into the habit of looking for it.

Note: You can find out of print books at great prices by visiting Abe Books. I have purchased several titles for $1.00 plus shipping.

Make 2010 Your Best Year Yet!

Happy New Year!

Now is the time for resolutions, plans, goals, and good intentions. We all want to improve, and we seem to think about such things when we start out in a new year. However, most people find that their resolutions don't last very long. We eat better, exercise more, get up earlier, organize ourselves - for a few weeks, and then we fall into the same old rut we were in when we ended the old year.

How do we go about making our goals and resolutions happen? Brian Tracy has addressed this topic in this excellent blog post. The trick? Have specific goals, write them down, and set deadlines for completion.

What are some things you want to make happen in 2010?

Clear the Clutter

Tim Sanders over at Sanders Says recently encouraged his audience to "dump the junk" in preparation for 2010. Clearing out the clutter before launching a new year could be just the thing to energize us and help optimize our potential in the new year. Tim suggests that you consider dumping "commitment clutter" as well -- taking a good hard look at your calendar, and making decisions as to what is really most important, and what will move you clearly toward your goals.

Can you think of ways you can de-clutter your life as we wrap up 2009?

Colin Powell on Leadership

Enjoy this short video of Colin Powell addressing students at Colgate University.

The Leadership Genius of Harry Truman, Part II

An important weekly feature of this blog is an analysis of great leaders in history. What better way to learn the fine art of leadership than by studying those who have led, and led well?

In last week's post, we began a series looking at the leadership traits of Harry S. Truman, 33rd president of the United States (or 32nd if you asked Mr. Truman!). It is interesting to note that today marks the 37th anniversary of President Truman's death at the age of 88.

Part II: Dress for Success

During his Senate years, Mr. Truman was listed as one of the ten best-dressed men in the United States Senate. He was known daily to sport a neatly tailored suit, complete with pocket-square, fashionable tie, and shiny shoes. He even made headlines with his vacation attire, which usually consisted of a wild, Hawaiian shirt, white pants and socks, and white shoes. But even on vacation, Truman was squeaky clean, and sharp as a tack.

There is an old story that while Sir Winston Churchill was visiting the White House during World War II, he encountered the ghost of Abraham Lincoln as he was getting out of the bathtub. Upon seeing the specter, Churchill, who was wearing only his birthday suit, was reported to have said, “Well, Mr. President; you seem to have me at a disadvantage.” (Churchill refused to sleep in the White House thereafter.)

Even the great Winston Churchill felt insecure when “out of uniform.” How you look impacts how you feel, how you act, and how you are perceived by others. Attention to detail in this area suggests to others that you will give attention to detail in all matters. Dressing neatly, nicely, and appropriately shows that you care and that will get you plenty of mileage every time. Thus, it is an important step toward winning the confidence of your employees.

Action Point: Determine the dress code for your workplace and assemble the appropriate wardrobe. Turn to friends or your spouse for advice as to what colors best suit you and what style is “you.” If your office requires coat and tie, make sure your outfit is professionally tailored. The extra money is worth it, especially considering you can make a suit last a very long time if properly maintained.

Art of Manliness is a great blog which offers plenty of grooming advice for men. You might want to check out this post on men's fashion, this one on pocket squares, and these great videos on how to tie a tie. For women there is this site on the latest business fashion trends.

Bookmark these sites and step up your game in this all-important area.

Merry Christmas!

I hope you are enjoying this holy holiday with your family and friends. I would like to share with you a beautiful rendition of For Unto Us a Child is Born, by Handel. Regular posts continue tomorrow with The Leadership Genius of Harry Truman, Part II. You may have a look at part one in this series by clicking here.

We will also be looking at some of the leadership traits of Colin Powell in Monday's post.

For now, enjoy this musical masterpiece, complete with score, and have a very Merry Christmas!

Sleigh Ride

Just for fun . . . Here's one of my all time favorite Christmas tunes played by the Boston Pops, directed by John Williams. It's fun to watch the percussionist crack the whip with the slapstick!

Enjoy!

Classic Book - Timely Message

I recently ordered a vintage copy of The Success System That Never Fails, by W. Clement Stone, and I've been ripping through it for the last couple of days. Stone was a giant in the insurance business, and one can't help but be amazed at his systematic method of achieving such astounding success. Starting out in Chicago, he eventually built the largest insurance empire in the world, and he takes the time to outline exactly how he did it.

Although this book talks extensively about the art of salesmanship, Stone's classic work is a must read for anyone who wants to continually improve in their chosen profession. The book is an easy read, and one comes away with some very good ideas about goal setting, systematic planning, and overcoming obstacles.

Click on the "I'm Currently Reading" button to have a look inside the book and place an order.

The Pomodoro Technique

In my quest to be the best leader possible, I quickly realized that time management is of utmost importance. Basically, I changed my way of thinking from managing my work to managing my time.

The to-do list is extensive, and is downright overwhelming if not managed properly. For this reason, I have found that it is best to think of to-dos in terms of a week and not a day. In other words, "I need to get the following things done this week." Then I list them in order of importance.

There are myriad of techniques for organizing and handling tasks, but one common theme is the importance of scheduling "chunks" of time for knocking things out. I stumbled upon one such system recently and thought I'd share it with you. It is called the Pomodoro Technique, and you can learn more about it here. I also suggest you get the full scoop by visiting the Pomodoro website.

Look for more articles in the future on time management. It might be the most important prerequisite to good leadership.

The Leadership Genius of Harry Truman

I can’t help but be fascinated by Harry Truman. He is, without a doubt, one of America’s great presidents. But we have had several great presidents, and none of them attracts my attention and piques my interest quite like Mr. Truman. I suppose it is mostly because he came out of nowhere, became president, and then attempted to return to his normal life. In short, he was just a regular guy, or, as he would put it: Mr. Citizen.

President Truman believed in studying the lives of great men and women, and then applying that knowledge to current situations and challenges. He was a real student of history, and he used the knowledge attained over a lifetime of reading biographies and history texts to solve some of the most complex and critical problems of our time.

I have studied Harry S. Truman extensively over the last several years, and I have concluded that he is worthy of imitation if one wants to achieve great success and become an outstanding leader. The things that Truman did were simple; but Harry Truman was simple, and that’s why I like him so much.

Today’s post is the first installment in a series of articles about the traits that made Harry Truman such a great president. I invite you to check back each Saturday for the next several weeks as we explore the tremendous attributes of this fascinating man.

Part I: Be an Early Riser

Harry Truman liked to think, and he thought best in the early morning. Mr. Truman was up and out of bed by 5:30 each morning. He took time to bathe and dress before devouring multiple newspapers from across the country. Then he would head out the door for his famous “daily constitutional.”

Truman was famous for this daily walk – a two-mile affair clipped off at about 120 steps per minute. He would bundle up if it was cold, and he always carried a walking stick, even though he did not appear to need it.

The point of the walk was two fold: Get much needed exercise, and think, think, think before tackling the day. There is no telling what decisions were settled upon during some of these walks. At the very least, the President felt energized when he entered the Oval Office each morning.

The basic idea behind getting up early is that of maximizing every minute of the day. In his landmark book, Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill suggested that, when planning those golden 24 hours we all have at our disposal each day, one should devote 8 hours to work, 8 hours to family time and recreation, and 8 hours to sleep. Now we all know that this is much easier said than done. But it is the idea of planning the time that is so important.

Truman knew that in order to be an effective leader, he had to be informed, and he had to have time to clear his head and think. He utilized the early morning for this purpose because he was rested, his mind was clear, and his world was free of distractions for those few precious minutes. And, he was smart enough to get in some good exercise at the same time!

Action Point: Try to get into the habit of rising early each day. It may be tough at first, but you will find that you feel better, have more energy, and may even find the answer to a nagging question or two in the process. Maximize your time!