Dan Pink’s new book, Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, has an excellent introduction in this short video–”Two questions that can change your life.”

It’s worth a look. It’s worth a thought. And it’s worth listening to the answers…

I attended a The 7 Habits for Managers: Managing Yourself, Leading Others, Unleashing Potential seminar this week, and I don’t regret a second of the time investment. It was good stuff, well presented. My recommendation is that, when you get a chance, sit in on one; it will stir up what you already know, at the least, and very likely will give you some fresh insight and ideas about leadership.

By the way, who is a manager? All of us are–we manage ourselves (and we lead others.)

One concept Covey uses is WIG, an acronym for “Wildly Important Goals.” The The 7 Habits for Managers: Managing Yourself, Leading Others, Unleashing Potential idea is this: Plan weekly and implement daily.

A helpful part of the workshop is that each participant is given a CD with pdf and ms-word forms on it. The WIG form encourages the user to write down the top three WIGs for the week, then list objectives and tasks for each. I’ve been doing that on my computer (I call them PGA’s, though–Primary God-given Ambitions), but I see the value in writing them on paper and carrying it in my pocket. Sunday being the first day of the week, I’m going to sit down with my printed out WIGs (PGA’s) and go at it.

Try it; you’ll like it.

At least, that’s the best that I can determine. I could be wrong.

The tale seems to have begun, or at least have received a big boost, from a 1986 book by the late Mark H. McCormack: What They Don’t Teach You At Harvard Business School: Notes From A Street-Smart Executive. Fast Company ran an article on the subject, in 1996. They began by speaking with Jay Rifenbary, who had cited the Yale study in his 1995 book, No Excuse! Incorporating Core Values, Accountability, and Balance into Your Life and Career. Jay’s staff couldn’t document the reference, but pointed to the numerous motivational consultants who refer to it. So the Fast Company researchers sought the council of Tony Robbins. Here’s a blip from that article:

The CDU turned next to the reigning guru of personal achievement, chisel-jawed infomercial king Anthony Robbins. There, on page 200 of the 34th printing of his best-seller, Unlimited Power, Robbins writes, “The difference in people’s abilities to fully tap their personal resources is directly affected by their goals. A study of the 1953 graduates of Yale University … ”

To find Robbins’s source, the CDU contacted Robbins Research International (RRI) in La Jolla, California — only to learn that the files concerning Unlimited Power had “met a disastrous end.” RRI referred the CDU to personal effectiveness consultant Brian Tracy, who directed the CDU to the dean of motivational speakers, Zig Ziglar.

Sure enough, in the middle of his best-selling video, Goals, Setting and Achieving Them on Schedule, the evangelical Ziglar drops to his knees and cites — you guessed it — the study of the Class of 1953. “Those 3%,” preaches Ziglar, “accomplished more than the 97% combined who had not set those goals.”

But where had Ziglar found the study? It would be hard to pin down, explained a spokesperson from Ziglar’s Dallas headquarters: “Mr. Ziglar is always reading. He reads more than two hours a day!” One possible source — “Try Tony Robbins.”

Now, look, don’t get me wrong. I don’t share the magazine’s derision of Robbins, Tracy, and Ziglar–I admire those guys, every one of them–but, you must admit; it’s a funny story. Here’s why I tell it. Here’s an important thing to remember: Don’t believe everything you hear or read–even if the source is someone you have trusted for years. They could be wrong. They could be repeating something they believe, but is absolutely untrue. Check the source, and if there is no credible source to be found; beware.

What really amazes me is how two people can witness the same event and come away with two different stories. Has that ever happened to you? What causes that? The first time it happened to me, I just figured that the other person was deluded. The more I’ve reflected on the phenomenon, though, the more I think it is this: We believe what we want to believe. In a major way, we create our own reality–and God help anyone who tries to convince us otherwise.

The bottom line for Turnaround Theory is this (straight from Brian Tracy’s book, Goals! How to Get Everything You Want–Faster Than You Ever Thought Possible

You become what you think about most of the time… successful people think and talk about what they want, most of the time. Unsuccessful people think and talk about what they don’t want, most of the time.

This isn’t about who is right or allegiance to a political party (I am registered as an Independent, and I practice as such.) It is about allowing an open forum and protecting the public’s freedom to hear all sides of an issue. Media Matters put up this article about the issue and included this remark from Amy Terkel:

President Obama held a candid, face-to-face conversation with House Republicans today at their annual retreat in Baltimore. After Obama gave his remarks, he had to answer tough questions from Republican lawmakers about health care, the budget, taxes, and other issues. Although the riveting exchange lasted over an hour, both CNN and MSNBC aired the entire event.

However, at 1:11 p.m. ET – when there was still 20 minutes left to go – Fox News decided to cut away and begin its commentary. Anchor Trace Gallagher’s immediate reaction was that Obama was being too “combative” and “lecturing” – like he was at his State of the Union address. [Think Progress, 1/29/10]

Not just any clock, though. I want one that will work on my PC and notify me hourly (with a nice gong–but, I already have the gong sound.) Not yearly, monthly or even daily–I want every hour on the hour to announce its arrival.

Why? So that I can stop, thank God for the moment, stretch a bit, walk a bit and get back to work. I want to stay in touch with my actions–to ask myself regularly whether I am doing the thing that most needs done. I want to be aware of life. And I want to be consistently thankful.

That’s all. An hourly chime. I’ve tried a bunch of them, but none have panned out thus far. Real friends, true love, an hourly wake up call? Gotta be out there, right?

The saying is that “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” I’ve searched for a mentor for years–and I’ve met some good folks in the process–but, I’ve never quite heard the bell ring…until now.

His name is Marshall Goldsmith and he normally mentors the stars–those who have hit the grand slams in the business world and are already leading the pack. I discovered him today, via an article in the Harvard Business Review, and have been looking into his teachings for several hours. He is the real thing. It wasn’t long before I began thinking, “How can I get him to mentor me?” His fee must be exorbitant. Likely, he doesn’t even have room for new one on one clients. How can I hope to get the attention of a Marshall Goldsmith?

Turns out that there is a way. He has opened up an online mentoring site for his Professional Coaching System and the cost is unbelievably reasonable. I’m not getting paid a dime to say this, and the site is not your typical red and blue squeeze page. I’m telling you because I love you and want you to reach your goals and ambitions. Watch the video. Research the man. If the bell rings for you, too, join me on the journey.

Do you ever feel like your own mind is your worst enemy? Do you ever listen to yourself and wonder where those self defeating, negative, downright mean remarks come from? Take a look at this short presentation to witness a little psychological ju-jitsu. Turn it Around!

My family has been talking about resolutions. This year, we are thinking to add some family goals to the mix, in addition to our individual resolves. All the talk, of course, prompted me to do some research, and I’ve got to tell you that the findings varied widely. For a look at the most recent Marist Poll, just Click Here. All told, it seems that many of us will set resolutions and some of us will keep them. No surprises there. The interesting point for me concerns the content of our resolutions. The big three are all about health: Lose weight, Stop smoking and Exercise. I’m no exception to that rule. My personal goals for the coming year will certainly include taking better care of my body. “Use it or lose it.” That’s my motto, concerning exercise.

Our family resolutions, though, include health (better diet and family exercise), but our big idea is to begin chunking our time together. By that, we mean to include time daily for the most important things–Bible study, Prayer, Music practice and Family Meetings. This coming year, we will try a new approach. Rather than set specific times to gather, we are going to try just making sure that those “big rocks” go in there first–in whatever order and at whatever time it works out.

Will it help? I don’t know. We’ll see. One thing I do know, though, is that those who don’t try don’t do. Our main problem is not shooting too high and failing. It is aiming too low and hitting. You get what you settle for. We’re going to stretch ourselves in 2010. We’re going to grow for it!

I stumbled onto the Zoho website while searching for a project management template. The entry level array of services is more than ample, and the cost is just right: Free. I’d tell you more about it, but I need to head back over there and get better acquainted with how to utilize the tools available. Tomorrow, I’m scheduled to show two of my co-workers how to get going with Zoho, so that we can begin using it for distance collaboration. Yes!

Here’s that link, in case you missed it: http://www.zoho.com

Turn-Around legend, Jim Rohn, passed on today. He is and will be missed by many. He was a master of the basics and an inspiration to all.

Jim’s story is a classic RoadTurn. He came from a rural town and modest means, dropped out of college to marry his sweetheart, then discovered that it’s tough to support a family on wages. Providence brought him to work under a mentor–John Earl Shoaff–and it was there that Jim learned the first secret of success: There are just a few things that can make a big difference in your life. Find those and concentrate on doing them.

Mr. Rohn went on to become one of the most celebrated professional speakers of all time and a millionaire by age 31. Following are a few quotes from Jim and from the memorial tribute on the Jim Rohn International website. May the Creator continue to bless and keep Jim Rohn and take special care of his family.

Harold Dyke, long time close friend of Jim’s for over 55 years said it best, “As Jim is ending one life he is simultaneously being birthed into a new life. One that he has talked about over the years and anticipated with great joy in his last remaining days.”

Someone once said “when you are born you enter the world crying while everyone else is rejoicing and when you die hopefully you have lived such a life that everyone will be crying while you are rejoicing”. Jim Rohn lived such a life.

Don’t just read the easy stuff. You may be entertained by it, but you will never grow from it.

Effective communication is 20% what you know and 80% how you feel about what you know.

Give whatever you are doing and whoever you are with the gift of your attention.