“A man can fail many times, but he isn’t a failure until he begins to blame somebody else. ”
~ John Burroughs

We try very hard on our team to manage those above, beneath and beside us. When we fail, we will each own it (even if we are not the cause). When it goes well- the team did it. When it goes badly- the person taking the call owns it. Blaming another person never makes it better.
~ Amy

“Don’t be preoccupied with what the competition may be doing. Just like a marathon, some people start fast and fade or start slowly and pick up the pace later. Keep focused on what you’re doing, and you won’t have to worry about over- or underestimating your peers. Besides, great teammates root for their co-workers, knowing that there’s plenty of opportunity to go around if people pull together to grow the business.”
~ Marty Fukuda, entrepreneur

This is a good reminder for me. In high school and college sports, I excelled in team sports, but struggled more individually. I needed the comparison to others for motivation. As I have “matured”, I often remind myself that we are all at different points in our race.
~ Amy

“Imitation is a kind of artless flattery.”
~ Eustace Budgell Colton, 1714

“Imitation is the sincerest of flattery.”
~ Charles Caleb Colton, 1820

When I was in high school, my grandfather shared with me- “those that copy others, do so because they lack innovation or the confidence to carry it through”. I am thankful for my family whose support has always increased my confidence, and I am proud to have built Retirement Connection by focusing on innovative ideas without having to imitate the hard work of others. It was not easy to start a business in 2008 in a down economy, but now it makes it all more precious to do so with our integrity intact.
~ Amy

“Understand that you will be like those with whom you surround yourself. Your environment is stronger than you are.”
~ Chinese Proverb

What do you want? Do your choices support your wants and goals? If not-make a change today. Call a good influence and schedule time to meet. Be around those that are kinder, smarter, more patient, more flexible. Surround yourself with examples that you want to emulate.
~ Amy

“The competitor to be feared is one who never bothers about you at all, but goes on making his own business better all the time.”
~ Henry Ford

How much time do you spend fussing about competition? Any time is too much! That’s time that could be spent focusing on your mission and your benefits and your growth. Know your competition, but don’t obsess or distract yourself. They may actually be a great referral source.
~ Amy

“Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy.”
~ Norman Schwarzkopf

Strategy can be learned, or you can seek the counsel of others. Your character has been developed over years of thoughts, actions, and habits. Your character shines through when no one is looking, and when times are stressful it will be put to the test. Will yours pass the test?
~ Amy

“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.”
~ Charles Darwin

In today’s social media and web filled world, the business climate seems to change faster than ever before. It becomes increasingly important to stay abreast of emerging technology, business protocols and best practices. Be willing to learn new things, and be willing to change what you thought you already mastered.
~ Amy

“Good is the enemy of great and that is one of the key reasons why we have so little that becomes great.”
~ Jim Collins (from the book, Good to Great)

I see people and business settle for “doing a good job”, when a great job was very possible and achievable. It is hard to push forth with the extra effort when good seems to be an acceptable standard. Push yourself to find greatness. Greatness in performance, in resources, in technology, in communication, in follow through. Don’t settle on being good when great is possible.
~ Amy

“All successful men and women are big dreamers. They imagine what their future could be, ideal in every respect, and then they work every day toward their distant vision, that goal or purpose.”
~ Brian Tracy

Success is not simply given to us and will not suddenly sneak up on us. It starts out as a dream that we combine with a plan of action. If you can dream of your success, then it’s likely to happen.
(~ commentary this month from Meghan, not Amy)

I have loved this book, written by a former Disney Executive, and continue to reread it. I am learning that great leadership isn’t about mastering impossibly complex management theories. We can become better leaders by infusing quality, character, courage, enthusiasm, and integrity into our workplace and into our lives. It doesn’t happen all at once and takes a great deal of consistent effort and WORK, but gradually the Magic begins to happen.
~ Amy