Personal leadership is a state of mind. It is about taking leadership of yourself, your own actions and how you interact with others in your personal and business lives.
It describes a way of thinking, being and dealing with the world that begins with what you think and feel – and not by others opinions and external events. It demands that you be fully present, aware of your habits and behaviours and how they impact on people around you.
In today’s interdependent, interrelated global community we are all connected. Technology has seen to that. The ability and willingness to get along with people of different ideas, faiths and value systems isn’t easy. Intolerance often lurks just below the surface, but like it or not we are all in this together
Personal leadership advocates, as well, your willingness to approach situations that don’t necessarily align with yours with a fresh pair of eyes, with what the Zen Buddhists call a “beginner’s mind
Want to take your personal and professional life to the next level?
Ignite your spirit and refresh your purpose. Contact me at drew@drewsimmie.com or call direct 416.450.8867. Follow me on Twitter
Something’s lost but something’s gained by living everyday. From the song, Both Sides Now, Joni Mitchell.
Did you know that Joni Mitchell was only 26 years old when she penned those words? That’s such an incredibly young age to have had all the wisdom she packed into one song.
I don’t know about you, but it took me many more years than that to learn how to live in the present.
Most of us are always living with one eye on the past – a past that’s already gone – and the other on the future – that’s not here yet.
Choosing to live in the past or in the future steals your todays and robs you of the joy that can come from living in the now.
The only important moment is the present moment. But how to live that? It takes courage, the willingness to do the inner work and humility – and it means shifting your perception of how you see things. If you have have been thinking about making some changes in how you are living, here are just five of many practices to get you started:
Live more simply. Cut back on what you don’t want and don’t really need. Live as lean as you can. Don’t let the stuff overtake you.
Stay in control of your attitude. Strive to stay positive in spite of all you observe and hear. It’s easier to give in to cynicism, but don’t. Nothing of any lasting value has ever been produced by a cynic.
Be compassionate and considerate of others. You’ll be amazed at what flows back when you do.
Make a conscious effort to fully appreciate the various moments that occur during your day. Stop and look around you at the sights and sounds, the smells, the various emotions you feel and experience.
Love your job. If you don’t or can’t, then learn to appreciate the good things about it. Focus on the positive aspects and not the negative.
You only come by this way once, (to the best of my knowledge no one has ever reported back). Your time is finite.
Are you honestly making the most of it… living every day?
If not, why not?
Want to take your personal and professional life to the next level?
Ignite your spirit and refresh your purpose. Contact me at drew@drewsimmie.com or call direct 416.450.8867. Follow me on Twitter
If you have considering moving into a new job, in a similar industry or perhaps into a brand new field, Fast Company Magazine has been running a series that is well worth your time. Some of the advice could save you a lot of time and aggravation.
Want to take your personal and professional life to the next level?
Ignite your spirit and refresh your purpose. Contact me at drew@drewsimmie.com or call direct 416.450.8867. Follow me on Twitter
If you are not in over your head, how do you know how tall you are? T. S. Eliot.
Are you challenging yourself enough? Have you had it living in a comfort zone? Are you considering walking out to the end of the limb (again)?
Before you start that new initiative, here are three things you need to nail:
Be clear about what you want.
Be clear about why you want you it.
Be clear about the value you bring.
Making a plan and showing up is a start, but it takes a lot of factors to make any venture a success, including a razor sharp focus.
Oh, did I mention a hard sense of purposefulness and a love of life?
Want to take your personal and professional life to the next level?
Ignite your spirit and refresh your purpose. Contact me at drew@drewsimmie.com or call direct 416.450.8867. Follow me on Twitter
I’ve been absolutely terrified every moment of my life – and I have never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do.Georgia O’Keefe.
No one is immune from fear. It can even be a good thing. As as long as you don’t let it immobilize you, it gets you off your butt and gets you going.
You have all the tools and talent you need.
Sometimes it just takes longer than you planned.
Keep on keeping on. Walk into your fear and wrestle it to the ground.
Want to take your personal and professional life to the next level?
Ignite your spirit and refresh your purpose. Contact me at drew@drewsimmie.com or call direct 416.450.8867. Follow me on Twitter
