The Indomitable Spirit of Leadership

The greatest test of courage on earth is to bear defeat without losing heart.   -Robert Green Ingersoll

This week, I came across this quote and it really resonates with me. As a developing leader and aspiring professional, I can not seem to remind myself enough, that growth is always an uphill battle. If something is easy, it inherently means that it is presenting no challenge to you. When you are being challenged, you are stimulating your mind or problem solving. You are testing your limits and your endurance.

I find that many people call themselves leaders, however it is rather easy to govern or lead a group when things are going well. But a truly strong leader can lead when things are at their worst.  Having the strength, endurance and humility to fail or fall short of your goals, and then to be able to pick your self back up, re-motivate yourself and your team, and push on… is a rare commodity in today’s world, and persistence is greatly overlooked. Perseverance is  something to relish when discovered in a person. In my experience, this is not something that can be easily taught, but rather an personality trait that is instilled in us at young ages based on our upbringing and values.

Being a bit of a perfectionist in certain aspects of my life, I tend to hold myself to high standards, and find myself occasionally sitting beneath the gray cloud of discouragement. I frequently remind myself that progress takes not only time and effort but a mentality of never taking no for an answer. Our goals are achievable, its just a matter of trying until you succeed and asking yourself  “Just how determined am I?

Food for Thought #4

In an article posted on hercampus.com, Allie Klein talks about the tricks to cleaning up your Facebook before applying to jobs or internships. Read some highlights from the article below.

“In a survey of 2,667 human resource workers conducted by Harris Interactive and CareerBuilder, more than half identified provocative photos as the largest contributor in the decision not to hire a potential intern or employee.”

“Consider Facebook the gossipy friend we all wish we didn’t have—anything you tell it, everyone knows.”

 

The Anatomy of the Modern Resume

The Anatomy of the Modern Resume.

 

Did you craft your resume using out-dated advice? Keeping your resume current is essential in today’s job market. Check out this article, to see how yours stacks up against the trends of today’s business world.

Food for Thought #3

“No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself, or to get all the credit for doing it.”— Andrew Carnegie

Interning on the Horizon?

If there is a possibility of an internship in your future, I recommend checking out http://www.internships.com/eyeoftheintern/ 

I stumbled upon this blog, managed by internships.com after creating my profile. Being new to the concept of internships, this is a great place to start. Comment with your internship recommendations and stories. 

Insight from Modernservantleader.com

Do You Really Know Your Stakeholders?

By Ben Leave a Comment

A stakeholder is anyone with a vested interest in your organization and leadership. Too often, leaders make decisions without considering all stakeholders. The for-profit sector focuses too much on investors. Nonprofits focus too much on their clients. Politicians often focus on their own constituents at the exclusion of others. As a leader in your organization, you should become more familiar with the term, “stakeholder” because that is who you should serve – all stakeholders.

Who are Stakeholders?

Servant leadership requires a focus on all stakeholders. Who are all your stakeholders? Identify your stakeholders from two angles: those invested in your organization and those impacted by your organization. The following stakeholder groups invest something in your organization. Their stake is determined by their sacrifice and contribution to the success or failure of the organization.

Investors: Shareholders, owners and public investors invest money. These individuals may also invest time and expertise into your work.

Employees: Employees, whether compensated or voluntary, invest time and energy in your mission. The best of these individuals also invest a lot of passion.

Partners: Suppliers,  joint ventures and contracted parties also invest something in your organization. Whether it is components of your products or services that help you succeed, partners also have a stake in the organization.

Other stakeholder groups are impacted by your organization. While these individuals may not invest directly in the mission, they are impacted by your actions and results.

Community: Your physical community is impacted by land use and the people that comprise your organization. The logical community is also impacted by association – these include members of your field and industry.

Social Cause: Whether it is a charity or investment in the environment, how you impact social causes also creates stakeholder groups.

Employee Families: Families of your employees are all impacted by your organization. These impacts include the time they give up with loved ones, the demeanor of employee when they return home and, of course, the salary and benefits.

Read the full article at:  http://modernservantleader.com/servant-leadership/do-you-really-know-your-stakeholders/

What color will you wear?

What color will you wear?

An interesting article on which colors to wear to the interview that will best communicate your personal brand.

Inspiration Mash-up Video

Need a pick-me-up? I think I have found a good one for you.