7 AAA Ways To Succeed!

[Abounding Abundant Ample Ways To Boost Your Growth!]

This may come as a surprise but there are reliable,effective and powerful ways to improve your ability to learnnew things.

If you will allow me to use leadership skills training asour example, you will see how poor learning forces us tosuffer through any one or more of the following problems:

- leadership training programs usually cost serious money -in fact, some programs are outrageously expensive

- leadership training programs last for a very short time -quite a few of them run for only one or two days

- many leadership training programs fail to give studentsways to confidently resolve problem situations or meet andovercome their daily challenges

- less than 1% of all leadership training programs combinecoaching and mentoring follow-ups with classroom lessons

- most leadership training programs like to do 'raw datadumps'- the vast majority of them do NOT give you chances to'blend' your learning experiences with supervised support orpractical feedback

In this article you will discover how to find, use and takeadvantage of every kind of performance improvement learningopportunity you encounter.

You will be able to employ your new knowledge, skills andcompetences in highly flexible, more creative and valuableways.

Although web hosting can lower your burden of website development and domain names registration but for the strong marketing communication, you will need a way to make the customers aware like through email marketing.

Power Strategy - 1 -- Be sure you get clearly defined,significant returns on your training investment!

When you spend your money on a training program, do you wantto be entertained, engaged or educated?

I don't know about your priorities but I know that when Ihand over my hard-earned money, I demand a ton of convincingthat my investment is going to give me a big pay-off.

I expect and want so much more from training than I put intoit. Of course, your training program should and needs tohave some entertaining qualities and even engaging aspectsto it.

If you want the temporary benefits of watching an actionadventure movie or taking a walk in the park then go for it.

However, if you desire to see your career or businessblossom and grow stronger, your training investment mustdeliver more than a mere 30% or 60% payback [I suggest youlook for programs that guarantee you returns of 100-300%].

Power Strategy - 2 -- Spend your money to make more money!

In the First Strategy I recommended that you to seekguaranteed returns on your investment. With that said, youmust of course realize, that you do need to actually investyour money so that you can get a return on it!

What am I saying? I am not telling you to spend all of yourmoney for leadership, creativity or other skills training. Iam advising you to make wise investments of your money. Sowhat does that mean?

Wisdom says you need to look at every training program as acontinuing investment in both your current and futureperformance. So doesn't it make sense to you that you needto pay for any training program that operates on acontinuing basis?

The price of your training program should mirror your 3expectations for the returns you will receive throughinvesting in the program:

1) The price must be reasonable for the amount of learningand growth in knowledge, know-how and competences you canexpect to achieve

2) The price should be based on your desire to pay for thoseincremental benefits in terms of the performanceimprovements and tangible results you are likely to receivefrom your training program over that period of time

3) The price has to be a realistic, accurate and measurablereflection of those resources which are actively committedto the support of your progress.

Power Strategy - 3 -- Grasp a telescopic view of yourtraining needs!

We already looked at the continuing nature of training. Doyou believe that learning is a lifelong exercise?

If so, how do you expect to learn anything of lasting valuein just 1, 2 or 3 days [in most cases less than 6 hours aday of actual training]?

For instance, many leadership training programs featureshort term exposures to the complex job of analyzing issues,evaluating potential solutions and assessing theeffectiveness of your decisions.

I wonder how you are supposed to master the diverse arts,concepts, practices, principles, laws and processes ofleadership in 18 or less hours?

In those kinds of workshops and seminars, you are told thatyou will come away from the classroom with an in-depthunderstanding of 15 or 20 topics - yeah, sure you will!

By now, it should be obvious to you that the most effectiveleadership training requires LONG-TERM continuous, devotedand caring support, frequent follow-ups and candidassessments from your training provider.

Power Strategy - 4 -- Get the most that you can out of everytraining day!

I can hear you talking to yourself - you're thinking thatyou only need to get the most out of everyday youparticipate in a training class, aren't you?

Since you have spent your money on a training class, youwould be foolish not to get the most from that investment.

However, I would like you to consider the fact that everydaythat you're alive is a day for learning, practicing, judgingand mastering new skills, knowledge and principles.

If you maintain a daily log book, a diary or journal, youshould strive to write down your learning-orientedaccomplishments.

You would use your journal to enter the principles, skills,and new knowledge [the applicable, relevant and practicalinformation you discovered - not just mere facts and figuresbut useful, valuable and profit-producing know-how].

That's why police officers and crafts persons keep theirnotebooks - it's how you too could reinforce and strengthenyour confidence, and deepen as well as broaden all yourlearning experiences.

Power Strategy - 5 -- Be open to being helped!

Many times, people in leadership training hold the mistakenbelief that only their teachers know how to help them learnleadership skills and principles.

If someone wants to weave you some holy tale of how onlyother leaders can show you the 'ropes' or that only thosebuttoned-down, up-and-coming junior executive-types can showyou how to charge into the fray and take no prisoners thenyou're in for a surprise.

Not everyone who has an elaborate title, holds some exaltedposition or who have gone before you knows how to lead orknows what they're doing in this new age of knowledge - soyou can forget all the myths and nursery stories right now!

When you break free from assumptions like those mentionedabove, you will see how people operating in various walks oflife and those working in different professions or sectorsof the economy from yours can and will add rich, colorfultextures to your tapestry of leadership.

Helpers of all sorts can contribute to your understanding oftheir cultures, operational paradigms and traditionalpractices - these people can be found all around you.

How can your peers, subordinates and other so-calledordinary people empower your leadership development?

It's your task to question them, observe their behaviors,listen to their experiences and after doing all thosethings, to learn how.

Power Strategy - 6 -- Reach out, grab a golden ring ofsupport!

In this crazy world of chaotic change, dizzying choices andthe sifting sands of normal operating conditions, we need toreach for the certainty and assuring comfort of others.

The journey towards leadership maturity may begin with asingle step but you'll need a thousand more things to carryyou along your way.

Your leadership adventure will have to be fueled bysustenance of many kinds:

- A written record of your challenges and encounters willhelp you stay focused and empowered

- Encouraging fellowship, engaging interactions and edifyingexchanges with your fellow travellers will maintain yoursanity and stability

- Confessional and consultative sessions with your trustedadvisers will strengthen your resolve and faith

- Daily inspirational readings and pep-talks will energizeyou and feed your soul

- Meditations and prayers will uplift your spirit and enableyour inner being to soar with wings of eagles

Power Strategy - 7 -- Take your acting cues from thedirector!

In essence, a coach is like the director of a motion picture- coaches prompt, instruct, direct and intensely encourageus to move towards our goals.

You have a better chance of becoming the leader you weredestined to be with a coach, counselor or mentor keepingwatch over your advancement and working alongside of you.

Of course you still need a structured course of learning andteachers who can help increase your knowledge and tutor you.

Coaches and mentors instill a sense of accountability inyou, they will keep the bar raised and stand beside you sothat you become accustomed to striving for the highestpossible performance.

In your development as a leader, coaches and mentors will beinstrumental in helping you examine yourself and assess yourperformance candidly and rigorously.

After a time, you will come to see your counselor, mentorand coach as the person who enabled you to see the truemeaning of reaching for the prize.

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Most successful people agree that these kinds of approachesto personal and professional development work preciselybecause they themselves became world-class leaders throughusing techniques, tools and resources like the ones you justread about.

Change management expert, Holger Nauheimer, explains how ourdynamically-charged, ever-shifting, global-landscape, callsfor a new spirit of development, "in which individuals, themembers of organizations, experience self-determination andpersonal growth - and participate in creating a world aroundthem to which they want to belong."

Recently reported results in the Wharton School's LeadershipDigest, of a comprehensive study of leadership failures, thefollowing recommendations were given to help promisingleaders avoid potential pitfalls: their findings suggestthree primary things learners and their trainers should do -they should,

- "Create development plans and opportunities for promisinginternal candidates;

- Reflect carefully on their own experiences and, throughoutthe course of their careers, seek out opportunities todevelop their context skills;

- Determine the level of support they'll need from theirpredecessor, and perform an intense self-assessment todetermine what other organizational support they will need"

Experienced firefighter, Lynn Biddison, says the number onepriority for new leaders is: "Establish a rigorous trainingplan for [yourself and] your people"

The last but most important "Power Strategy" I wish to sharewith you is this -

Be sure to energetically increase the richness, texture,luster, power and scope, depth, capacity, value-added,quality and competences of your skills and knowledgedevelopmental experiences on a daily basis!

Seek out and find only those training programs that willhelp you achieve the goals of these 7 Power Strategies andyou will make abounding, abundant and amply laudablecontributions to your own success, your community,organizations and our world.

Mustard Seed Investments Inc. Copyright © 2004, All rightsreserved

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Bill Thomas is author of "Your Leadership UltraNet!" - aLIFE-LONG, Affordable, Performance Enhancement Program,featuring web-based ULTRA-Comprehensive training, coachingsupport and follow-up system that's GUARANTEED to energizeyour leadership results.All-the-Tools-You-Need-to-Lead-and-Succeed!http://www.leadership-toolkit.com/more_info.html

Leadership is best defined by the quality of your thoughts, decisions and actions. It is also underpinned by the quality of the tools you use in your role. Be seen to bring true leadership to your organization and act with the authority that it brings to you.