Unleash Your Inner Entrepreneur

Another set of super tips from Robin Sharma

This month I invite you to focus on unleashing your inner entrepreneur so you innovate, execute and deliver results at a level called wow.

First, here are 5 Brain Tattoos to play with:

1) To have the results that ultra-successful performers have, you need to be willing to do the things that only ultra-successful people are willing to do.

2) The discomfort of change is always better than the heartbreak of complacency.

3) What the victim calls Genius, the true entrepreneur knows as practice.

4) Education is inoculation against disruption.

5) There's zero point in masterfully doing the wrong things.

Second, I've recorded this quick learning video from my hotel room on a recent tour to help you win in your work.

Watch it now:
http://www.robinsharma.com/blog/03/unleash-your-inner-entrepreneur

In Leadership, 

Robin 

Fast Takeaways

Another learning mail from Robin Sharma

Here are some of the fast takeaways from this trip across multiple time zones:

1. Every moment in front of another human being is an OPPORTUNITY to express your highest values and best self.

2. No matter where you go, people treat you the way you treat them.

3. No work is unimportant work. Even the most seemingly insignificant job is a chance to show us your creativity and make a contribution.

4. "Perfect Moments" can happen in the least likely of places.

5. Mastery Matters.

6. If you're not lifting others up, you're bringing others down.

7. This time is the BEST time for each of us to show our leadership+virtuosity+humanity.

8. We each have the responsibility to Lead Without a Title and do our part to build a better world through world-class work and stepping into our best selves.

Keep Leading Without A Title.

 

60 TIPS FOR A STUNNINGLY GREAT LIFE

1. Exercise daily.

2. Get serious about gratitude.

3. See your work as a craft.

4. Expect the best and prepare for the worst.

5. Keep a journal.

6. Read “The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin”.

7. Plan a schedule for your week.

8. Know the 5 highest priorities of your life.

9. Say no to distractions.

10. Drink a lot of water.

11. Improve your work every single day.

12. Get a mentor.

13. Hire a coach.

14. Get up at 5 am each day.

15. Eat less food.

16. Find more heroes.

17. Be a hero to someone.

18. Smile at strangers.

19. Be the most ethical person you know.

20. Don’t settle for anything less than excellence.

21. Savor life’s simplest pleasures.

22. Save 10% of your income each month.

23. Spend time at art galleries.

24. Walk in the woods.

25. Write thank you letters to those who’ve helped you.

26. Forgive those who’ve wronged you.

27. Remember that leadership is about influence and impact, not title and accolades.

28. Create unforgettable moments with those you love.

29. Have 5 great friends.

30. Become stunningly polite.

31. Unplug your TV.

32. Sell your TV.

33. Read daily.

34. Avoid the news.

35. Be content with what you have.

36. Pursue your dreams.

37. Be authentic.

38. Be passionate.

39. Say sorry when you know you should.

40. Never miss a moment to celebrate another.

41. Have a vision for your life.

42. Know your strengths.

43. Focus your mind on the good versus the lack.

44. Be patient.

45. Don’t give up.

46. Clean up your messes.

47. Use impeccable words.

48. Travel more.

49. Read “As You Think”.

50. Honor your parents.

51. Tip taxi drivers well.

52. Be a great teammate.

53. Give no energy to critics.

54. Spent time in the mountains.

55. Know your top 5 values.

56. Shift from being busy to achieving results.

57. Innovate and iterate.

58. Speak less. Listen more.

59. Be the best person you know.

60. Make your life matter.

Source: http://www.robinsharma.com 

The 8 Faces of Exceptionally Creative Leaders

This ones a continuation of the previous learning from Robin Sharma... very interesting indeed...!!


If you've been following my work for a while, you know that my core belief is that the old model of leadership is dead and now, anyone in any organization on any part of the planet can show leadership. I've seen taxi drivers who display rare-air leadership along with school teachers + breakfast servers + construction workers. Work is changing. And we all can provoke impact and influence if we Lead Without a Title. But here's the point of this piece: not only do each of us have the potential to be leaders - we each have the potential to be creative. Massively.

Who sold us on the lie that only artists and poets and musicians are Creatives? When we were kids, we all expressed our Inner Rembrandt as effortlessly as we would breathe. We colored outside of the lines, ideated at the slightest chances and were essentially idea factories on two short legs. But then, as we aged, we stifled our creativity as the mortgages, deadlines and the stuff of life took over our days. Sad.

You and I do no favor to the world in withholding our creativity. So, in my sincere effort to help you work + play at your best, I invite you to consider The 8 Faces of the most creative people I've observed. These are the qualities that the brightest of the best have. And you can develop them too. Here we go:

The Madonna. The Face of Madonna will serve to remind you that nearly every great Creative was a perfectionist. Yes, I know perfectionism may not be the most healthy attribute in the world. But facts are facts and when I study the superstars of creativity, the fact is almost every one of them stood for nothing less than ideal work. A while ago I watched Madonna's documentary "I'm Going to Tell You a Secret", which deeply inspired me. At every touch point, Madonna sweat the small stuff and demanded that every element of every performance was perfect. Why work on a project if not to get it as close to perfect as possible?

The Picasso. The face of Picasso will reinforce the notion of devotion. Great creatives don't do what they do just for the applause and accolades. They do it because they love it. Picasso used to leave beautiful dinners with his friends to return to his studio to advance his craft. His art was his passion. And like every fantastically creative person, he worked with utter devotion.

The Thoreau. The face of Henry David Thoreau will remind you of the need to create space for your creative talent to flow. We live in a world where too many people have too little time away from the noise of ringing smart phones, constant email and the dumbing hum of the television. One of my all-time favorite books is "Walden" by Thoreau. He wrote it over a period living by a pond, away from the world. Living in quiet solitude with nature as his daily companion. We don't get our best ideas at work. We get them on beaches or in bathtubs. Create spaces for your your inner artist to present itself.

The Hemingway. The face of Ernest Hemingway will reinforce the idea that hugely creative people are extremely disciplined. It's pure myth that the best artists achieved what they did without structure and organization. Hemingway, the famed author, wrote at the same time every day - whether he felt inspired or de-inspired. Yes, spark a steady flow of great ideas. But great ideas that are not executed upon and converted into real results are a waste of time. The world is littered with geniuses who did zero with their big ideas.

The Branson. Richard Branson's face will remind you to have fun. Creativity often occurs in the heat of play. Branson's a billionaire. But he really seems to have fun at all he does. Look - no, hunt - for ways to make whatever it is you do fun. That will open up that part of your brain that drives your best ideas.

The Edison. The face of Edison will remind you that creative mastery is a numbers game. Yes, we all know the cliche that Thomas Edison failed 10,000 times before he got the light bulb right. But the story's worth remembering. Study any genius - in the arts or in business, and you'll discover the same thing: they succeeded because they outfailed everyone around them. Come up with a thousand ideas and one's bound to be brilliant. 

The Starck. Philippe Starck is awesome. And part of his awesomeness stems from his love of minimalism. Here's where I'm going with this one: genius resides in simplicity. The best inventions were the simplest inventions. Further, de-clutter your workspace + your home + your mind. Breathtakingly beautiful ideas can't flow when your energy's being taken up by the messes around you.

The Ford. Ok. Last one. The face of Henry Ford will remind you to trust yourself. I've made my biggest mistakes when I've listened to the chattering voices around me vs. trusted my own instincts. Self-belief is a powerful leadership quality. Nearly everyone laughed at Ford's concept for a car. His reply: "If I'd listened to the people around me, I would have built a faster horse carriage." Nice.

Keep Leading Without a Title. And Stay Awesome.

Robin

Invent Great Things Like Leonardo Da Vinci Did

I have been a fan of the works of the Great - Leonardo Da Vinci.. My wife had a post on her blog about the occasion when we all had seen an exhibition about his work.. The Seasoning. The artcile below is from one of the recent newsletters from Robin Sharma


Leonardo Da Vinci came to mind. Perhaps one of civilization's finest minds, he lived by three primary values (as you know, values are those things we most value): Vision. Optimism. Courage.

VISION. Vision is all about challenging your assumptions and playing out on the edges so you see new ways of working/creating/being that The Herd just can't see. Without vision, you're just half-alive to life. Being a victim vs. becoming a leader. And as the CEO of NIKE, Mark Parker, said: "Curiosity is life. Assumptions are death."

OPTIMISM. As I've traveled across Europe on this tour evangelizing the Lead Without a Title message and hearing all the success stories from readers of "The Leader Who Had No Title" (thanks to all of you who share your stories with me on Twitter), I've become more clear than ever before as to the power of optimism. Genius-level work doesn't happen within an environment of negativity. Every work of art was produced by someone who felt deeply inspired. And radically optimistic. So, no matter what title you may hold, may I suggest that you get paid to be optimistic. To lift people up versus tear people down. To shine a light onto other human beings. And please also remember: Leadership (and optimism) isn't just how you behave under perfect conditions. Leadership is about how you perform when everything's falling apart.

COURAGE. Well, this is the base of leadership - and crafting a precious life. Da Vinci had the courage to stand for (and advance) his convictions. From the ball bearing to the Mona Lisa to the world's first parachute, while others laughed, Da Vinci dreamed. Why? Because at some level, he believed in himself more than the doubts that those around him were trying to sell him (as I Tweeted recently: "Your doubts are nothing more than the lies your fears are trying to sell you."). And because of his courage, his ridiculously brilliant work touched - and informed - millions of lives. And isn't that what work - and leadership - is mostly all about?

7 Rules to Create a Great Business

1. Hire only "A Players" because you can't coach height.

2. Narrow your focus and devote your resources to being best in world at only one thing.

3. Train and develop your team relentlessly because the growth of your sales is a reflection of the growth of your people.

4. Take care of people and the money will take care of itself.

5. Put your most valuable resources on your most valuable opportunities.

6. Get your product right so that people are awed by it

source: Robin Sharma

Robin's 73 Best Business and Success Lessons - Part 5 (Final Part)

1.     The business (and person) who tries to be everything to everyone ends up being nothing to anyone.

2.     One of the primary tactics for enduring winning is daily learning.

3.     To have everything you want, help as many people as you can possibly find get everything they want.

4.     Understand that a problem is only a problem if you choose to view it as a problem (vs. an opportunity).

5.     Clarity precedes mastery. Craft clear and precise plans/goals/deliverables. And then block out all else.

6.     The best in business spend far more time on learning than in leisure.

7.     Lucky is where skill meets persistence.

8.     The best Leaders Without a Title use their heads and listen to their hearts.

9.     The things that are hardest to do are often the things that are the best to do.

10.   Every single person in the world could be a genius at something, if they practiced it daily for at least ten years (as confirmed by the research of Anders Ericsson and others).

11.   Daily exercise is an insurance policy against future illness. The best Leaders Without Titles are the fittest.

12.   Education is the beginning of transformation. Dedicate yourself to daily learning via books/audios/seminars and coaching.

13.   The quickest way to grow the sales of your business is to grow your people.

Robin Sharma is the bestselling author of "The Leader Who Had No Title:  A Modern Fable on Real Success in Business and Life." Success lies in a masterful consistency around a few fundamentals. It really is simple. Not easy. But simple. 

Robin's 73 Best Business and Success Lessons - Part 4

1.     The value of getting to your goals lives not in reaching the goal but what the talents/strengths/capabilities the journey reveals to you.

2.     Stand for something. Or else you'll fall for anything.

3.     Say "thank you" when you're grateful and "sorry" when you're wrong.

4.     Make the work you are doing today better than the work you did yesterday.

5.     Small daily - seemingly insignificant - improvements and innovations lead to staggering achievements over time.

6.     Peak performers replace depletion with inspiration on a daily basis.

7.     Take care of your relationships and the sales/money will take care of itself.

8.     You can't be great if you don't feel great. Make exceptional health your #1 priority.

9.     Doing the difficult things that you've never done awakens the talents you never knew you had.

10.   As we each express our natural genius, we all elevate our world.

11.   Your daily schedule reflects your deepest values.

12.   People do business with people who make them feel special.

13.   All things being equal, the primary competitive advantage of your business will be your ability to grow Leaders Without Titles faster than your industry peers.

14.   Treat people well on your way up and they'll treat you well on your way down.

15.   Success lies in a masterful consistency around a few fundamentals. It really is simple. Not easy. But simple. 

Source: Robin Sharma

Robin's 73 Best Business and Success Lessons - Part 3

1.     Who you are becoming is more important than what you are accumulating.

2.     Accept your teammates for what they are and inspire them to become all they can be.

3.     To triple the growth of your organization, triple the growth of your people.

4.     The best leaders are the most dedicated learners. Read great books daily. Investing in your self-development is the best investment you will ever make.

5.     Other people's opinions of you are none of your business.

6.     Change is hardest at the beginning, messiest in the middle and best at the end.

7.     Measure your success by your inner scorecard versus an outer one.

8.     Understand the acute difference between the cost of something and the value of something.

9.     Nothing fails like success. Because when you are at the top, it's so easy to stop doing the very things that brought you to the top.

10.   The best leaders blend courage with compassion.

11.   The less you are like others, the less others will like you.

12.   You'll never go wrong in doing what's right.

13.   Excellence in one area is the beginning of excellence in every area.

14.   The real reward for doing your best work is not the money you make but the leader you become.

15.   Passion + production = performance. 

Source: Robin Sharma

Robin's 73 Best Business and Success Lessons - Part 2

1.     The fears you run from run to you.

2.     The most dangerous place is in your safety zone.

3.     The more you go to your limits, the more your limits will expand.

4.     Every moment in front of a customer is a gorgeous opportunity to live your values.

5.     Be so good at what you do that no one else in the world can do what you do.

6.     You'll never go wrong in doing what is right.

7.     It generally takes about 10 years to become an overnight sensation.

8.     Never leave the site of a strong idea without doing something to execute around it.

9.     A strong foundation at home sets you up for a strong foundation at work.

10.   Never miss a moment to encourage someone you work with.

11.   Saying "I'll try" really means "I'm not really committed."

12.   The secret of passion is purpose.

13.   Do a few things at mastery versus many things at mediocrity.

14.   To have the rewards that very few have, do the things that very few people are willing to do.

15.   Go where no one's gone and leave a trail of excellence behind you. 


Source: Robin Sharma

Robin's 73 Best Business and Success Lessons - Part 1

1.     You can really Lead Without a Title.

2.     Knowing what to do and not doing it is the same as not knowing what to do.

3.     Give away what you most wish to receive.

4.     The antidote to stagnation is innovation.

5.     The conversations you are most resisting are the conversations you most need to be having.

6.     Leadership is no longer about position - but passion. It's no longer about image but impact. This is Leadership 2.0.

7.     The bigger the dream, the more important to the team.

8.     Visionaries see the "impossible" as the inevitable.

9.     All great thinkers are initially ridiculed - and eventually revered.

10.   The more you worry about being applauded by others and making money, the less you'll focus on doing the great work that will generate applause. And make you money.

11.   To double your net worth, double your self-worth. Because you will never exceed the height of your self-image.

12.   The more messes you allow into your life, the more messes will become a normal (and acceptable) part of your life.

13.   The secret to genius is not genetics but daily practice married with relentless perseverance.

14.   The best leaders lift people up versus tear people down.

15.   The most precious resource for businesspeople is not their time. It's their energy. Manage it well. 

Source: Robin Sharma