distinctive leadership | ralf schwartz

Dreams & Goals are the Devil's Work

Via thisperfectday.

Do not listen to that Mom. She is the devil's tool.

A vision, dreams and goals give you distinction, authenticity. They make you successful - as a brand, manager or corporation.

We do not need robots making dinner, we need individuals creating and innovating our world and future. Companies like Google have understood that - and offer their people 20% time to pursue their own ideas.

They pursue their vision, dreams, and goals - and the company profits extraordinarily. Think about that - while making dinner.

Have a nice weekend!

Inspirational Culture: Bosses vs. Leaders

"The boss drives people; the leader coaches them.
The boss depends on authority; the leader on good will.
The boss inspires fear; the leader inspires enthusiasm.
The boss says ‘I’; the leader says ‘we.’
The boss fixes the blame for the breakdown; the leader fixes the breakdown.
The boss says ‘go’; the leader says ‘let’s go!’" Via Scott Rafer.

Are you a boss or a leader? In every second? Even when nobody is watching?

Do you dare to transform the boss inside yourself into a leader?
Facing your fears is the first step to become a leader - a simple but quite challenging way.
Start today. Do not hesitate! There is so much to gain.

Be A Spark: Spread Your Reading

You buy books? You read them? You like them for their ideas and their challenging thoughts - and because they are challenging your actions? Seth Godin says, you should "go find someone you care about, hand them the book and insist they read it".

Why not do exactly that in your office, with your co-workers, colleagues, and bosses you care about.

They will much better understand your ideas, your thinking, your actions. They will much better understand you as a person(ality) - once they know where you are coming from. It is a good way to start talking about the really important stuff. Surprise them, amaze them.

And: They will have books to share, too, to discuss, to reflect upon. So start a movement in your department, your office's neighbourhood, your company.

(Might be that in an office environment you should not directly insist on that they read it, but present it as an invitation to become closer related in business and life.)

Here's a list of books you should read, even if I cannot hand them all to you. Not too much from Seth himself, but that does not say I do not like his writing and ideas :)

Progress depends on unreasonable people

No, we have to keep doin' it the traditional way. No, we cannot change the once successful process. We have to try harder. We have to optimize the process's efficiency. We have to become Six Sigma. Zero-tolerance.

We do not have the time to discuss the process/product itself. We have to get rid of everybody challenging our process/product. The process/product is all we have. We cannot afford to abandon it. Tradition is our god.

"Reasonable people adapt themselves to the world. Unreasonable people attempt to adapt the world to themselves. All progress, therefore, depends on unreasonable people." George Bernard Shaw

Chloe Babauta: 6 Ways to Increase Your Productivity

These 6 ways to increase your productivity are written by Chloe, 17year old daughter of Leo Babauta. The original post is titled "6 Ways For Teens to Avoid Distractions and Finish Homework".

I liked them because they are as important to every manager as they are to every teen, dad, mom, individual.

Focus is what we all need. Too many distractions give us easy excuses to run away from what has to be done in order to make a better job, a better living, a better world. Even contentedness comes from focus.

I know it is really hard sometimes, but the following small principles from Chloe will help a lot - and don't miss Chloe's full post!:

1. Turn off your wireless/Internet connection.

2. Set aside a specific time for using social networking/other recreational websites.

3. Take short breaks.

4. Do your work NOW rather than later.

5. Prioritize!

6. Spend less time reading blogs like these about how to help yourself and get right to work! NOW!

Alan Webber's Role Model Definition

"For me, a role model is someone who acts as a teacher; someone who sets an example through their behavior and values; someone who espouses a philosophy of life that merits following. In my experience it's been someone who didn't call attention to themselves; someone who wasn't out to make a name or a fortune.
...
But let's reserve the title "role model" for people who actually deserve it; people we actually know and respect; people who love us and want to nurture and grow us.

Those people aren't celebrities, people. They're your friends and family, your colleagues and collaborators."

Via Alan Webber, "What's a Role Model?" - Please read the full post at Alan's.

Don't let them Steal Your Super Powers!

Image via neilperkin.

You do not have super powers? Or you did not discover your talents till now?
No, they try to steal them. Everyday. Your bosses, co-workers, colleagues. Right?

They envy your super powers. They want to own them themselves. And put them in a layer. Hide them from the world.

Because they do not understand that these powers are needed. They do not believe in things they can't explain, they do not own - or have not invented themselves.

They should foster your talents - not steal them. They should help you to develop and grow. They should help you to outgrow yourself. For your own good, the company's good, their own good.

These super powers are known as Intellect, Intuition, and Imagination.
Known as Beginner' Mind and Childlike (yes, in a positive sense) Curiosity.
Known as Courage!

Stop making sense - and grow your super powers!

Malcolm McClaren: The Punk as Innovator

Malcolm McLaren, the master mind behind the Sex Pistols (and Adam & the Ants) died a few days ago. Tim from the Innovation Leadership Network judges him as a true innovator.

"The real innovation in punk was the creation of a platform - a generative platform:

"In my mind, a “generative” platform translates to something like this: a platform that is constantly being re-invented in surprising new ways by a diverse group of creators, where individuals, hobbyists, small startups, and amateurs compete on a level playing field with large incumbents."

What do you think? Isn't that the true meaning of innovation and an innovative culture? Isn't that what the corporate culture desperately needs to become creative and innovative? To become disruptive?

Isn't that what you as an Inspirational Leader could exactly add to your own culture? Wouldn't that be great to achieve?

Malcolm McLaren:

"In an authentic world failure is something you embrace. It’s almost a noble pursuit … I come from that world - it supported me in creating the punk aesthetic.

I try to make ideas happen - ideas that could change life."

And isn't that what we all try to make happen? All day? 24/7/365?
I try to make ideas happen - ideas that could change life.

Stop Making Sense: You Are Invincible!

Via correspondesse.

Couldn't have said it better.
This is in a nutshell how you 01 Awake! and 02 Grow!
(To 03 Inspire! please see Talent & Change Management.)

Stop Making Sense: 'Be stupid' by Diesel

"Are you stupid?

Stupid, you see, is the relentless pursuit of a regret-free life. The world is full of smart people. Ask around. There are all kinds of people doing all kinds of smart things with other smart people, each one smarter than the last. That is smart.

To be stupid is to be brave. When you risk something, that’s stupid. It’s not smart to take risks. It’s stupid. Stupid stands alone. Smart hides within the safety of huddled masses. The stupid aren’t afraid to fail. Why? Because they’re stupid.

The stupid isn’t afraid to fail. The stupid know there are worse things than failure… like not even trying.

The stupid see things for how they could be. Smart critiques. Stupid creates.

Be Stupid. Awesome Advertising Campaign by Diesel."

Via - and all the ads at - elastika!

Awake - Grow - Inspire: "Aim To Be The Leader They Will Never Forget"

Stop Making Sense - in Life and in Business:

“You may be a geek manager. You may have geek manager written all over you.

You should aim to be the geek leader they will never forget. Don’t aim to be civilized. Don’t hope that straight people will keep you on as some sort of pet. To hell with them, they put you here.

You should realize what society has made of you and take full revenge. Get weird. Get way weird. Get dangerously weird. Get sophisticatedly thoroughly weird and don’t do it half way, put every ounce of your horse power into it.

Have the artistic leadership courage to realize your significance in culture.”

Via Scott Rafer.
(All changes by me.)