The Qualities of Skillful Leadership by Jim Rohn

If you want to be a leader who attracts quality people, the key is to become a person of quality yourself.  Leadership is the ability to attract someone to the gifts, skills, and opportunities you offer as an owner, as a manager, as a parent.  I call leadership the great challenge of life.

What’s important in leadership is refining your skills.  All great leaders keep working on themselves until they become effective.  Here are some specifics:

Learn to be strong but not rude.  It is an extra step you must take to become a powerful, capable leader with a wide range of reach.  Some people mistake rudeness for strength.  It’s not even a good substitute.

Learn to be kind but not weak.  We must not mistake kindness for weakness.  Kindness isn’t weak.  Kindness is a certain type of strength.  We must be kind enough to tell somebody the truth.  We must be kind enough and considerate enough to lay it on the line.  We must be kind enough to tell it like it is and not deal in delusion.

Learn to be bold but not a bully.  It takes boldness to win the day.  To build your influence, you’ve got to walk in front of your group.  You’ve got to be willing to take the first arrow, tackle the first problem, discover the first sign of trouble.

You’ve got to learn to be humble, but not timid.  You can’t get to the high life by being timid. Some people mistake timidity for humility.  Humility is almost a God-like word.  A sense of awe.  A sense of wonder.  An awareness of the human soul and spirit.  An understanding that there is something unique about the human drama versus the rest of life.  Humility is a grasp of the distance between us and the stars, yet having the feeling that we’re part of the stars. S o humility is a virtue; but timidity is a disease.  Timidity is an affliction.  It can be cured, but it is a problem.

Be proud but not arrogant.  It takes pride to win the day.  It takes pride to build your ambition.  It takes pride in community.  It takes pride in cause, in accomplishment.  But the key to becoming a good leader is being proud without being arrogant.  In fact I believe the worst kind of arrogance is arrogance from ignorance.  It’s when you don’t know that you don’t know.  Now that kind of arrogance is intolerable.  If someone is smart and arrogant, we can tolerate that.  But if someone is ignorant and arrogant, that’s just too much to take.

Develop humor without folly.  That’s important for a leader.  In leadership, we learn that it’s okay to be witty, but not silly.  It’s okay to be fun, but not foolish.

Lastly, deal in realities.  Deal in truth.  Save yourself the agony.  Just accept life like it is.  Life is unique.  Some people call it tragic, but I’d like to think it’s unique.  The whole drama of life is unique.  It’s fascinating.  And I’ve found that the skills that work well for one leader may not work at all for another.  But the fundamental skills of leadership can be adapted to work well for just about everyone: at work, in the community, and at home.

More about Jim Rohn at http://www.jimrohn.com/

6 Job and Career Resources For Boomers

The Baby Boomer generation (or “Boomers”) accounts for about 29% of the population today or about 76 million people.  The Boomer generation is between 48 and 66 years of age.  There are many great working years remaining for Boomers and this generation has much to contribute to the nation’s job market as well as the economy.

Below are 6 great resources specifically geared for the Boomer generation:

1.   AARP

Website:  http://www.aarp.org/

The “Work & Retirement” section has information on finding work, writing winning resumes, and live online events for finding work.  It also has volunteer resources so you can expand your networking base while helping others.  The resources change regularly, so check fairly often.

2.   Boomster

Website:  http://boomster.com/

The “Learn” section has articles on networking, interviewing, starting a business, etc.  The “Discuss” section has a “Business and Careers” area with various discussions for finding work, starting a business, and some work offers, or you can start your own discussion.  There is also a “People” section where you can meet other users to increase your network.

3.   Retirement Jobs

Website:  http://www.retirementjobs.com/

This is a job search site with the focus on people aged 50 and over.  You will need to register and they offer various types of affordable memberships up to $12.95 for a 90-day membership.  They also have a “Career Advice” section that has various articles on resumes, applying to jobs, interviewing, self-employment, etc.

4.   Seniors 4 Hire

Website:  http://www.seniors4hire.org/default.asp

This is a site that states they are an “online community for those 50 and older & 
the companies that want to recruit them”.  You can join for free and create a member profile that can include your resume.  You can search for jobs, post a job that you want, access their partners in the “Resources & Articles” section, and find information on government programs for the 50 and over generation.

5.   Workforce 50

Website:  http://www.workforce50.com/

This is a site that is geared for the 50 and over generation.  Under the “Jobs” section you can search for jobs and employers can post jobs.  There is also general information for job seekers and employers.  Under the “Topics” section, you have access to information like job search prep, job search resources, marketing yourself, and the publisher’s blog.  Under the “Experts” section, you have access to information like leveraging your military background, federal job search, exploring franchising, and home-based business toolkit.  You can also register for their newsletter.

6.   Glassdoor

Website:  http://www.glassdoor.com/

OK, this site is really not geared for the Boomer generation, but it is a great resource for an inside look at jobs and companies.  Previous and current employees anonymously post their experience with working for their respective companies as well as information on the interview process.  Salary information for certain positions is also posted. You can search for certain companies and all their information is displayed for easy viewing.  I find this a great resource to gather information for the interview process or to even decide if you really want to pursue employment with the respective company.

Action vs. Self-Delusion by Jim Rohn

Knowledge fueled by emotion equals action. Action is the ingredient that ensures results. Only action can cause reaction. Further, only positive action can cause positive reaction. Action. The whole world loves to watch those who make things happen, and it rewards them for causing waves of productive enterprise.

I stress this because today I see many people who are really sold on affirmations. And yet there is a famous saying that “Faith without action serves no useful purpose.” How true! I have nothing against affirmations as a tool to create action. Repeated to reinforce a disciplined plan, affirmations can help create wonderful results.

But there is also a very thin line between faith and folly. You see, affirmations without action can be the beginnings of self-delusion. And for your well-being there is little worse than self-delusion.

The man who dreams of wealth and yet walks daily toward certain financial disaster and the woman who wishes for happiness and yet thinks thoughts and commits acts that lead her toward certain despair are both victims of the false hope which affirmations without action can manufacture. Why? Because words soothe and, like a narcotic, they lull us into a state of complacency. Remember this: To Make Progress You Must Actually Get Started!

The key is to take a step today. Whatever the project, start today. Start clearing out a drawer of your newly organized desk... today. Start setting your first goal... today. Start listening to motivational programs... today. Start a sensible weight-reduction plan... today. Start calling on one tough customer a day... today. Start putting money in your new “investment for fortune” account... today. Write a long-overdue letter... today. Anyone can! Even an uninspired person can start reading inspiring books.

Get some momentum going on your new commitment for the good life. See how many activities you can pile on your new commitment to the better life. Go all out! Break away from the downward pull of gravity. Start your thrusters going. Prove to yourself that the waiting is over and the hoping is past—that faith and action have now taken charge.

It’s a new day, a new beginning for your new life. With discipline you will be amazed at how much progress you’ll be able to make. What have you got to lose except the guilt and fear of the past?

Now, I offer you this challenge: See how many things you can start and continue in this, the first day of your new beginning.

More about Jim Rohn at http://www.jimrohn.com/

Hire a Baby Boomer – 5 Excuses Busted

The Baby Boomer generation (or “Boomers”) accounts for about 29% of the population today or about 76 million people.  For those who do not know, Boomers are those people born on or between the years 1946 and 1964.  This would make the Boomers between 48 and 66 years of age (if I did my math correctly).

The Boomers have been and still are the most affluent generation in America’s history, yet the job market (and dare I say society) wants to dismiss the more experienced segment of the population.  This generation has a wealth of information to share, is very active, is a proponent of change, and wants to continue contributing to the nation’s job market.  There is major value to companies by hiring the more experienced worker over someone who is fresh out of college or with very little experience.

Below is what I call the top 5 excuse list for dismissing the Boomer generation by employers:

Excuse #1:  Cannot “afford” to hire very experienced workers. 

Employers hire less experienced workers at a lower salary.  This lower salaried person has to be trained, mentored, and requires much oversight (at least in the beginning).  In the long run, this person has cost you more due to their lack of contribution because of all the training, mentoring, and oversight.  It costs 30% or more of the annual salary to train and mentor new, less experienced employees (which excludes the cost of lost productivity).  Hire a Boomer and minimize the cost.

Excuse #2:  “Overqualified” for the position and will only stay long enough to find another job. 

Many Boomers want to share their experiences and would love the opportunity to help others expand their careers.  They are also life long learners and feel that they can always learn more from others.  In addition, Boomers are very loyal to companies in which they work.  The average tenure of workers aged 25 – 34 is only 3.2 years and most workers 55+ stay with companies over 10 years. 

Excuse #3:  Technically ignorant. 

In fact, the Boomers are actually the generation that was part of the workforce during the dawn of the computer and Internet age.  The Boomers were the first to understand the advantages of technology and 75% of all Boomers today use the Internet for downloading movies, downloading music, financial activities, wellness research, etc.  Also, two of the biggest names associated with technology, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, are (and was) part of the Boomer generation.

Excuse #4:  Less energy and unable to handle the work.  

Most Boomers are very active, alert, and energetic.  The experience and time management skills allow for more work in less time.  Overall, Boomers are in good health and nearly 20% of all marathon runners are 50 and over. 

Excuse #5:  Unadaptable and resist change.

This is the generation that has had to adapt to many changes over the years.  Think about all the changes this country (and the world) has been thru over the past 40 years.  Boomers are more likely to ask “why” rather than their younger team members.  The good news is that they will be a catalyst for change once it is understood.  Wouldn’t you rather have someone ask to understand rather than someone that just goes with the flow, complains, and leaves because they don’t like it?  Most people will be resistant to change if they don’t understand.