In this newsletter, I look back at the origins of my book, “Tighten The Lug Nuts,” and the process I went through to document my experiences, lessons learned, and stories of an over 40-year career.
The process began, as it always does with me, with the question, “What would good look like?” This leads to my next question, “What am I trying to accomplish?” and finally, “If I succeed what value would it have?”
If nothing else, I am consistent with my approach. So I took out my notebook and began to write a series of questions I would like answered in the final product of my book.
As I sat and stared at my notebook for a few weeks, wondering what my first question would be to get me started, I wrote my foundational question that broke the logjam!
In this newsletter, we will discuss the first two foundational questions I wrote in my notebook.
The very first question in my notebook that started the process was, “Who am I writing this book for?” My answer began with:
“Leadership is something we all have concerns about. Leadership is a concept that is not reserved for or only applies to certain people in business, government, and civic organizations. The reality is that no matter our age, gender, occupation, educational level, or position in life, each of us touches and influences other lives.
Through this extension, we are all leaders to someone at some time. It can be a person under our supervision or care, a spouse we honor and live with, or a child we nurture, a student we teach, or a player we coach. It could be as simple as a fellow member of our church or religious affiliation, club, league, or association, but it is usually identified by the fact we have made a positive difference through our actions and examples.
With this sense of responsibility and being lifelong learners, we are constantly in pursuit of knowledge, whether written or experienced, of how to be a good leader and how to improve our skills. We take great pride in the books we have read and where they sit on the best-seller list. I often find that some of the best examples and learning experiences come from the stories we tell and the experiences we share.
Sometimes they come from the stories we learned as children or read to our children as parents or grandparents. Leaders must develop emotional intelligence along with their educational intelligence and business acumen. Sometimes a simple story I find can help people see thebigger picture, promote moral and ethical behavior, and just maybe, not take ourselves so seriously that we lose sight of the fact that it is not always about us.”
The second question in my notebook was, “What is my central message in the book?”
Legacy was the word that answered this question. As you grow and develop, take on new challenges, or simply move into a new phase of your life, you will be faced with complications and adversity that may set you back. Honesty, perseverance, and trustworthiness will become major factors in overcoming these obstacles and creating your personal brand and your legacy.
Along the way, you come to a decision point or stage gate. Your choice is simple but profound in each instance, but a decision must be made. Your choices are LEAD, FOLLOW, or GET OUT OF THE WAY. If you choose to lead you will need to be an honest and trusted leader to establish your vision, mission, and values, so that those in your care or supervision will trust you enough to follow.
As a lifelong learner, you are constantly forging a path to transform yourself into a high-character, high-performance leader. You will never be without challenges both in life and business. But if you are focused and ready to face these complex business challenges and personal changes with discipline, determination, honesty of purpose, and in an ethical manner you will be successful. Whether we realize it or not, we are all here to determine what our real intent is in life.
For each of us it may be different. For some a great spouse, parent, leader, and mentor; to have a legacy, to leave the place a little better than they found it. Purpose-driven people put their morals, character, and honesty first. Without purpose, we drift. With purpose, we steer.
You have a responsibility to yourself and to others to use your best judgment, weigh your options carefully, and make the right decisions—even if they’re not the most favorable or popular, even when no one is watching! When you do that, you honor yourself and your values. Wherever your path takes you, know that your trustworthiness is your highest honor. For if you are a trusted leader, others will believe in your vision, mission, and values and will trust in you enough to follow you.
That will be your legacy. As a person, your core beliefs are not what you would like them to be, but rather what lives and breathes in you as a person. The good news is that you will have many opportunities in your career and in life to demonstrate these values and beliefs, but only one chance to get it right each time.
Live your word. Leave a legacy.
In our next newsletter, we will discuss some of the additional questions in my notebook on my “Tighten The Lug Nuts” writing journey.
LOOKING TO BOOK A SPEAKER FOR YOUR NEXT EVENT?
Let’s work together. I am a practitioner as well as an educator and motivator, and an experienced senior leader and CEO with over 45 years of boots-on-the-ground experience. I led one of the largest rebranding initiatives in franchising history – The UPS Store, revolutionizing the $9 billion
retail shipping and business services market.
I believe that none of us can achieve success without some help along the way. For each of us, there is a person, a mentor, who we are grateful towards and who can help us get to where we aspire to be. Sharing stories and experiences as a speaker is a way of recognizing the value of these experiences and giving back to the next generation of leaders. It also is a way of demonstrating in words and deed the value I am placing in mentorship. As for me, I have been fortunate to have worked with and mentored by some incredibly special people, and none more incredible than Coach John Wooden.
I have broad experiences to share that can help others as they grow and take on new challenges. During my time as president of UPS Supply Chain Solutions, I integrated over 20 acquisitions that became UPS Supply Chain Solutions. I steered UPS’s entry into the health care industry and created the mantra, “It’s a patient, not a package. ®” With the ability to see a clear vision of the changing business landscape, the passion to develop strategies, tactics, and metrics to drive desired results, and the passion to develop the Best, The Brightest, Most Informed, and Best People in the industries they serve.
Please give me a call today at 610-322-0720 or email at
[email protected]
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CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE PODCAST: LEAVING A LEGACY
For more information visit our website https://www.3sixtymanagementservices.com/. My book,
Tighten The Lug Nuts, will also serve as a workbook for these important topics and discussions.
Read my latest Forbes article:
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Visit our web site, https://3sixtymanagementservices.com, as well as my
book, Tighten The Lug Nuts, for additional information.
Contact me at:
[email protected].
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Looking for quick morning leadership advice in under 5 minutes? Check out Rocky’s leadership library podcast.
Have a leadership question for Rocky? EMAIL ROCKY TODAY
For more information or to book Rocky at your next event, visit our website at https://3sixtymanagementservices.com
Our Sales Training Workshop Includes Classroom Training and Actual
On Road Training as we spend a day with each sales professional.
Remember, People don’t quit on their jobs, they quit on their bosses.
