Reading is key to writing, or so I believe, so 2013 started with a personal goal to read 30 books. I’ve got a few weeks left until the end of the year, and I’m on number 28. I’d like to make a habit of creating a year-end book review to point others in the direction of what reading I found most insightful and meaningful.

Even though most parents don't think that their teenaged or college aged children care at all what they think, the truth is, they internalize what you are telling them about career and college choices and often, rule out things that might be drawn to because of your words.  Even your words that may have been mentioned in passing.

The irony in servant leadership is that leaders serve others through shining their light, not extinguishing it.  And when they do, they start a fire. Your light is a blog post about this concept.”

No one can stop you from learning and practicing.

Interested in pursuing something you have an interest in? Learn about it, and then do it!

Leaders deal with problems day in and day out and better yet, we’re responsible for fixing them. The buck stops with us. But do we worry too much about problems that are just plain fancy?

If you’re like me, you may be a little bit overwhelmed by the amount of information that is out there just waiting to be absorbed.  And so much of it is free! It’s exciting to think that so much potential for learning is just a click away, but it can be daunting to think about where to start in consuming the knowledge that may be of interest to you.

Successful leaders use both sides of their brain with ease.

A key to creating career and personal success is to realize that in order to live your mission, there are many things in which you have to say “no”.

Want people to succeed long term with your organization?

How specific are your job postings?

What’s the idea have you been mulling over that you need to act on?

How many time a week do you get second or third-hand information?

The best way to keep yourself on track with goals and actually make the journey through your goals more meaningful is to have some partners in crime to keep you on track no matter how focused and motivated you are.

There is a fine line between having being able to cast a vision and lead people towards the implementation of a mission and acting like you know it all and are invincible.

A few weeks ago, I discussed the need to set a personal mission and then question yourself when it comes to living out that mission.  The Power of 3 Worksheet can help you with this.  Another component to this worksheet and living out your mission is to set goals for yourself.