Keep your amateur spirit alive

Our friend Jules Ciotta sent a short essay recently.
Amateurs do what they want to do naturally, he wrote.
They aren’t overly concerned about consequences.
They throw themselves into projects and make them work.
Amateurs have no limits because they don’t know they exist.
Experts are corseted by how things are supposed to be.
As leaders, we must avoid too many rules and limitations.
We must give our amateurs the room to create new ways.
We must encourage them to be bold. To take chances.
To ask for forgiveness rather than permission.
Amateurs are the true entrepreneurs in our organizations.
As organizations mature, we must resist bureaucracy.
A friend ran a school for children with learning challenges.
She loved the kids, the school and the work.
But that changed with a new management.
Decisions were made by the bureaucrats.
She had to have approval to try anything new.
Feeling boxed in, she resigned. That was a real loss.
Management lost a gifted leader. The kids did, too.
Johnny Zinoni managed a home for alcoholics.
He often flew by the seat of his pants but he made it work.
The chairman of his board was often at odds with him.
Being deeply religious, he told me why he did what he did.
“He just doesn’t know who has me by the seat of my pants.”
If we don’t encourage risk, we won’t innovate.
What we produce will become time worn and lose value.
Fly by the seat of your pants and incite others to do it, too.
For help in flying by the seat of your pants click here.

Seven rules to live and work by

Last time we talked about the impact our words can have.
Today we’ll talk about seven simple but not easy rules of life.
They came from industrial psychologist Jules Ciotta.
1. Respect time. It tells people what you stand for.
It is hard to respect those who don’t respect your time or theirs.
2. Be passionate. Be excited about your purpose in life.
Passion helps you build a powerful brand for yourself.
3. Deliver extraordinary service. Do the job and more.
Be reliable in the service you deliver and the value you add.
4. Make a life. Put God, family and health ahead of your work.
This will make you even more effective at your job.
5. Be CEO of your life. Forget someone else signs your paycheck.
You’re really running things. Take action. Get results.
6. Credibility builds trust. True leaders are reliable.
They are not swayed by indecision or temptation.
7. Upgrade your skills. Grow in life as well as in work.
Read veraciously. It’s a sure measure of your own growth.
Thanks, Jules, for sharing those seven reminders with us.
By the way, you’re invited to our holiday drop-in.
We will be at our Lexington newspaper office Saturday 1-4 p.m.
Drop by for some Christmas cheer and a copy of my latest book.
If you need directions, call me at 803-331-6695.
For more on your direction in life, click here.