Only Leaders Enjoy the Drink of Ice Cold Success

 

How’s it going Ladies and Gentlemen?

Welcome back to Graceland Ontario, your one stop location for success advice from the greats. Today we’re going to expand on the snow post I made a bit back (before there’s no more snow on the ground) and give you more tips on leadership.

So, remember what I said before in my first snow post (here’s the link, if you haven’t seen it)? That when you walk down the sidewalk there are icy areas, areas where the snows been compounded to its most slippery form because everyone’s been on it, and areas that are still snowy because most people don’t give the extra effort to walk through it. The people who walk through snow are the leaders who give the added exertion and are rewarded with a clean, unique footprint (success, money, love, recognition, etc.). The others are the followers, all looking for an easy way, all not wanting to put in the work, even if it means they have to walk on ice (debt, insecurity, lack of confidence, bad health).

Well, there’s one other thing to add: when you walk down the sidewalk, you notice the snowy and icy areas all the time. It’s not a one time decision to step in the snow, it’s a continual one. You’ve gotta keep pushing yourself to take risks, keep on trying to grow if you want to be a true leader. It’s not a one nod deal.

And here’s the thing, once you’ve passed those snowy patches (the golden areas of opportunity) you have to wait for the next chance (there always is one, even if it’s not what you planned for) or turn around and go back again. But it’s a huge waste of effort walking back every time you want to step in the snow you missed − sometimes it’s not even possible (thinking of walking back up that icy hill to step in that one patch of snow while a hundred crazy kids are charging at you with toboggans? Didn’t think so…) In some cases, you’re scoring a Pyrrhic victory − the cost isn’t worth the gain.

So, pay attention to the snow, those opportunities that come your way. You’re moving past them all the time and sometimes it doesn’t make sense to go back and grab them (if you can − when you want to be class president and you’re 45, you’re in a bit of a jam). Leaders are proactively searching for opportunities, constantly looking for beautiful, fluffy snow to step in. Followers, those guys on the ice, miss them for whatever reason and then have to live wishing they could turn back.

It’s your choice who you want to be.

Talk to you next week!

Alex H.

 If you enjoyed this post, you might also like these updates:

• Graceland, Ontario: The Ides of Success
• Graceland, Ontario: Storm of the Century
• Graceland, Ontario: A Lesson from Steve Jobs
• Graceland, Ontario: Mean What You Say
• Graceland, Ontario: Elvis's Olympic Team
• Graceland, Ontario: Life's a Haunted House and We're all In It

Step in the Fresh Snow

 

How’s it going Ladies and Gentlemen?

 

Welcome back to Graceland Ontario, your one stop location for success advice from the greats. Today we’re going to talk about being a leader.

Now I don’t know how it is on your side of the world, but in Canada, where I live anyways, it’s pretty white − you know, a “Winter Wonderland”?

Anyways, one of the cool things about snow is that you can see the footprints of every person who’s stepped in it (providing the wind hasn’t blown it, it’s melted, or more snow’s fallen on top of it). For the continued quality of the footprints imprinted in it, few ground-covers can compete − I mean, grass certainly can’t, mud gets too messy and sand gets disgruntled too easily.

Well, there’s something else you can tell about snow − a lot of people walk in the same steps of those before them.

Why?

Well, my theory is it’s easier, and doesn’t get your shoes as snowed up. You see, with snow being so capable of keeping an impression it also makes it harder to make the impression − you know, you get what you step for, or something along those lines.

So sometimes there’re areas of sidewalk that turn into ice so much snow has been compounded while other areas are untouched.

Now, before you have me set as nature-obsessed, here’s my point: true leaders are the ones who step in the snowy areas. They know it might take more effort but they also know they get the benefit of seeing only their print in the snow (the more specialized your knowledge or skill is, the more people are willing to recognise and pay you). As Arnold Schwarzenegger says (in that awesome Austrian accent), “high risk, high gain”. And, as a plus, leaders avoid the ice, those areas that look well-worn and safe but hide heartbreak (a boring lifestyle, high debt, an unsatisfying relationship).

Take the jump, step in the fresh snow!

Alex H.

If you like this Graceland Ontario post, you might also like these other updates:

• Graceland, Ontario: Storm of the Century
• Graceland, Ontario: A Lesson from Steve Jobs
• Graceland, Ontario: Mean What You Say
• Graceland, Ontario: Elvis's Olympic Team
• Graceland, Ontario: Life's a Haunted House and We're all In It

Check out my latest writing project at inspirehalton.blogspot.com