Leadership Solutions

Profile in Courage

There is one form of courage that's available to everyone.

It is the courage to do something poorly.

 For example, last month I attended a meeting of the Orange County Audubon chapter's photography club. This was my first meeting. And everyone was allowed to show 30 photos.

Other photographers presented stunning photos of exotic, rare birds doing amazing things, such as feeding chicks or catching prey.

As for me, I had a dozen photos of common birds doing ordinary things, such as a sparrow sitting on a branch.

I suppose you could say it took courage to show up.

But I did.

And hey, I was the only photographer who brought a photo of a sparrow.

Key Point: Doing something poorly is a necessary step toward doing something well.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
Speaker, Meeting Facilitator, and Author

714-528-1300

Would a Coot Do This?

This Coot saw someone with a cigarette.

And decided it was cool to have something hanging out of its mouth.

Before you judge that an American Coot is a dumb bird, recognize that a blade of grass won't cause cancer.

Key Point: Cancer is a waste of time.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
Nature Photographer

PS I need help. More birds lead to more photos. See: Help Birds

How to Manage Advice

Here are two steps to managing advice.

1) Collect as much as you can.

2) Then do what you want.

Why?

First, advice can be useful if it makes you think. It may contain valuable ideas.

Then, recognize that no one knows enough about your life to give accurate advice. Thus, most advice will be useless.

Consider: Accepting advice does not mean that you have to use it.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
Speaker, Meeting Facilitator, and Author

714-528-1300

Do This Now

Have you had a dental exam?

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Turkey Vulture, at the Santa Ana River, Orange, CA

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Of course, birds don't have teeth, so they don't need dental exams.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
Nature Photographer

PS I need help. More birds lead to more photos. See and share: Help Birds

 

How to Be a Coach

All good coaches use this approach:

A coach leads from behind by engaging clients in a dialogue that helps them identify valuable choices.

Thus, a coach never tells a client what to do or what not to do.

If a coach were to use such an approach, then the coach would be responsible for the client's results.

Key Point: A coach helps others discover the way to greater success.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

Speaker, Meeting Facilitator, and Author
714-528-1300

Small Recommendation

Here is an excellent book.

It's "The Power of Small."

Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval provide many valuable ideas mixed with memorable stories.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
Speaker, Meeting Facilitator, and Author

714-528-1300

Holiday Shopping Disaster

Is this you at the mall?

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Do you feel like a Rock Pigeon that scrambled into the air?

Today's Task: Take it easy when shopping. After all, we're supposed to enjoy the holidays.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
Nature Photographer

PS I need help. More birds lead to more photos. See and share: Help Birds

 

What People Want to Talk About

This week I had a dental appointment.

And the dentist asked, "How was your Thanksgiving?"

I decided to tell what happened. So, I said,

"We spent the afternoon in urgent care at our medical provider. And then the dinner that I fixed was terrible. The turkey had no flavor and my stuffing turned out to be a soggy mess."

And he said, "In the grand scheme of things, all of this is small. So how is everybody now?"

This brought my focus to the present.

"Everyone is fine," I said. "And I have good news. The Fullerton Arboretum is using six of my photos for postcards that they're selling in the Nature Center."

He responded by telling me how much he enjoys receiving the photos that I send. Then he mentioned something about his family.

And now our conversation was underway.

The point: People want good news. So your daily goal is: Make good news so that you'll have something to talk about.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
Speaker, Meeting Facilitator, and Author

714-528-1300