Creating Your Character

Is it like an Artist Creating a Sculpture?

Jim Rohn means that and in his latest newsletter he write some about it. Here is what he said:

Could creating your character be likened to an artist creating a sculpture? In my opinion, I believe that character is not something that just happens by itself, any more than a chisel can create a work of art without the hand of an artist guiding it. In both instances, a conscious decision for a specific outcome has been made. A conscious process is at work. Character is the result of hundreds and hundreds of choices you make that gradually turn who you are, at any given moment, into who you want to be. If that decision-making process is not present, you will still be somebody. You will still be alive, but may have a personality rather than a character.

Character is not something you were born with and can’t change, like your fingerprints. In fact, because you weren’t born with it, it is something that you must take responsibility for creating. I don’t believe that adversity by itself builds character and I certainly don’t think that success erodes it. Character is built by how you respond to what happens in your life. Whether it’s winning every game or losing every game. Getting rich or dealing with hard times. You build character out of certain qualities that you must create and diligently nurture within yourself. Just like you would plant and water a seed or gather wood and build a campfire. You’ve got to look for those things in your heart and in your gut. You’ve got to chisel away in order to find them. Just like chiseling away the rock in order to create the sculpture that has previously existed only in your imagination.

But do you want to know the really amazing thing about character? If you are sincerely committed to making yourself into the person you want to be, you’ll not only create those qualities, but you’ll continually strengthen them. And you will recreate them in abundance even as you are drawing on them every day of your life. Just like the burning bush in the biblical book of Exodus, the bush burned but the flames did not consume it. Character sustains itself and nurtures itself even as it is being put to work, tested, and challenged. And once character is formed, it will serve as a solid, lasting foundation upon which to build the life you desire.

What is your opinion? How did you create your character?


Do the Work by Steven Pressfield

Michael Hyatt recommend the book Do the work, http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1936719010/fwis-20

And he says that If you are a writer—or a creative of any time—this book is must reading. It is not that different from the War of Art, but he found it more focused and helpful.
If you are having a hard time getting started on that really important project or if you are stuck, this book is for you!

I know that this is on my reading list, thank you Michael Hyatt, http://michaelhyatt.com/

20110716-012942.jpg

What can be at the leaders to-do list?

John C. Maxwell says leadership is just as much about developing your team’s talents as it is about nurturing your own leadership skills. The best-selling author of Talent Is Never Enough reminds us that growth is modeled after and expected from leaders. As a successful leader, you must do eight things.

1. Find your own personal strength zone.
A successful leader is a person who knows what they do well and does it, but they also know what their people know well and help them practice it.

2. Help others find their strength zone.
What is their special ability? You can’t make others good at something you are bad at. You can only increase a person’s giftedness by helping them answer important questions of themselves. What is their temperament? What is their passion? What choices are they making in their life? Help them with these things and there’s no limit to how much someone can improve in these areas.

3. Help them define success.
Success is hugely subjective. Knowing your purpose in life, growing to your maximum potential or sowing seeds that benefit others are all great definitions of success.

4. Help them understand how to be successful.
The secret of our success is determined by our daily agenda. Decision-making is important and the management of the decision-making is even more important. Do the right thing today to be in a good place for tomorrow.

5. Teach and practice the four pillars of success.
• Relationships
• Attitude/Tenacity
• Leadership/Influencing people
• Equipping and developing other people

6. Teach your team the 20/80 principle, or the Pareto principle.
Within this, prioritize life. What is required of me? What gives the greatest return? What give me the greatest reward? When these three line up, then life becomes wonderful.

7. Provide resources for them.
There are only three times when people change. When they’ve heard enough that they have to change; they learn enough that they want to change; or receive enough that they are able to change. Put those resources of change in their hand.

8. Require them to reproduce themselves.
They have to teach someone else what they learn. Don’t spend valuable time with people who want to consume but not share. Share the knowledge. Share the wealth.

As I can see is number 1-6 about mentoring, either yourself or other. So I can say that Maxwell have 6 very good points on the leaders to-do list.

Do you have some other things on your to-do list?

 

You have to have empathy

As a mentor you always have to be on top, and you can´t have a «bad» day. If you do, pretend you don´t. One of the best tools for a mentor is to show empathy with the mentee. It is one of the greatest gifts you can give to anyone, the gift of attention.

The more you care, the stronger you can be. Don’t operate on the heart with a hatchet. Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the mentee.

Be sensitive to the plight of others. You have to know about the tragedies as well as the triumphs, the failures as well as the success.

How do you build a bridge between age 12 and age 40? By remembering.

Some small techniques and  afterthought.

You have to have empathy…

 

Character

“Leadership is the capacity and will to rally men to a common purpose and the character which inspires confidence.”

How a leader deals with the circumstances of life tells you many things about his character.  Crisis doesn’t necessarily make character, but it certainly does reveal it. We choose our character.  In fact, we create it every time we make choices. The respect that leadership must have requires that one’s ethics be without question.  A leader not only stays above the line, between right & wrong, he stays well clear of the “gray-areas.”

What must everyone know about character?

  • Actions are the Real Indicator of Character
  • Talent is a Gift, but Character is a Choice
  • Character Brings Lasting Success with People
  • Strong Character is the Foundation on which to Build Success

 

Making Global Impact Begins With You

 

Imagine you have the ability to change the world. What would such a world look like?
Few have the ability to change the course of history, but through a combination of courageous acts, we can all influence change.
The legendary footballer Pelé of Brazil, watched his father cry as Brazil lost the World Cup to Uruguay in 1950 and told his father “Do not worry, one day I will win it.”
Pelé went on to win 3 World Cups and transformed the game of football.
Go out and through your action you will impact the whole world.

 

Gratitude: A Key to Success

What do you think about when I say gratitude?

And what about gratitude is a key for your success?

As you know I am writing an article about that for a book. And I would love to hear your insights about that. The book is all about gratitude: A key to success.

Comments please…

Personal Vision

When you are working on you personal vision, I got three important questions.

What makes you cry?

What makes you dream?

What gives you new energy?

Implement this in your personal vision and you can easier implement it in your life.

Gratitude

Working with the chapter in the book about Gratitude it´s important to remember some small things. How to build a story.

I am always trying to use this three keys:
1. A good story to get the readers interest and that they want to read more.
2. The main story
3. Summary and a wow ending

This will always make your reader happy and wanting more…

Young Enterprice Norway

This week I was a judge for Young Enterprice Norway, in Oslo. And their first contest for students and on university level.

There were 14 student companies, with names like «Babbfit» (a smart holder for kebab), «Gearlocks» (a new way of secure your ski at ski resorts) and «Innovation Corporation» (a new way of teaching methods in kindergarden and elementary school).

First there was a presentation from the stage and then all the judges went to become a supervisor for 4 companies.

The judges was to find a winner for Best Presentation and The Best Student Company i Oslo.

And in the end this were the winners:

1. Sørhus Andersen SB

winner of the Best Student in Oslo in 2010 had the absolute best business plan and displays professionalism at all levels. The business idea is certainly feasible. The company has a product range with the potential for growth jury considers that the market is willing to pay for. The company has also thought through what they want to do when they reach profitability. They produce healthy and good crackers and biscuits.

2. Lett& Mett SB

is a company that represents an alternative product in an attractive market. The company has a credible plan around the market orientation in urban areas. The company has, after the jury’s opinion the strongest team assembled in terms of expertise and associated networks. They offer a tasty diet weight loss program consisting of a subscription scheme for ready-made meals delivered home.

3. Innovation Corporation SB

is a company that showed a lot of flexibility to adapt to the individual customer. The jury sees a big growth potential and it is a unique academic professionalism of the service. They have the potential to contribute to strengthening the academic content of school activities for years to come: Innovation Corporation SB from the University of Oslo, Department of Art. Through the concept they are working to strengthen arts and crafts subject’s position in school activities by providing personalized educational courses.

In September I mentored Innovation Corporation (No. 3 in Oslo) on their business plan (But I did not judge them in the competition).

Read more her oslo.ue.no/pls/apex32/f (in Norwegian)