Motivational icon Earl Nightingale once told the story of a top salesman named Tom who expected the newly-vacant sales manager position to be awarded to him. Confident of his upcoming promotion and pay raise, he and his wife already planned to buy a new house.
Called to the president’s office, Tom’s jaw hit the floor when told the position would go to Bill Smith. Devastated, Tom protested: “But Bill has been here only 5 years. I’ve been here 15.” It was a rude awakening. Tom had confused seniority with accomplishment.
TOM HAD FAILED TO LEARN & GROW
What he really had was 1 year of experience, repeated 15 times, and wasn’t ready for management. Bill had far outdistanced Tom in growth, training, knowledge, and ability.
This episode is repeated daily in companies the world over. Employees think they are deserving of recognition and advancement only to find out that they have not expanded themselves through books, training and new experiences. Too often it is their own fault.
Famed psychologist William James put it this way: “Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but unwilling to improve themselves. They therefore remain bound.”
What is your current station? Are you actively learning to improve? If you’re already the top leader, do you continually raise the bar on your own performance... leading by example? Or are you coasting... foot off the gas?
The world is full of lazy couch potatoes, doing little to learn more, grow bigger, enhance skills, and polish talents... yet expecting rewards they don’t deserve to magically fall in their laps. They have ‘entitlement mentality’ and it stinks.
ACTIONS FOR YOU
Why not sit down today and map out a personal development plan for yourself, with goals, tasks and timelines. Ask yourself: Who are the people I should meet – and make the calls. How do I sign up for CEP and get great motivational talks? What places should I visit? Groups I should join? (let Google be your friend)
Personal development coach Brian Tracy says: “Your weakest key skill, sets the height of your income.” If you’re not sure what yours is, ask your spouse, a close friend, or most trusted colleague who will tell you the truth.
What do you do with all this? In the words of peak performance strategist Tony Robbins: “Take massive action.” - get moving, stay moving, never rest on my laurels.
This is how high achievers leap higher, accomplish volumes, earn abundantly, and are envied by others. It’s no secret. It’s about making an aggressive plan and vaulting off the couch.
Called to the president’s office, Tom’s jaw hit the floor when told the position would go to Bill Smith. Devastated, Tom protested: “But Bill has been here only 5 years. I’ve been here 15.” It was a rude awakening. Tom had confused seniority with accomplishment.
TOM HAD FAILED TO LEARN & GROW
What he really had was 1 year of experience, repeated 15 times, and wasn’t ready for management. Bill had far outdistanced Tom in growth, training, knowledge, and ability.
This episode is repeated daily in companies the world over. Employees think they are deserving of recognition and advancement only to find out that they have not expanded themselves through books, training and new experiences. Too often it is their own fault.
Famed psychologist William James put it this way: “Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but unwilling to improve themselves. They therefore remain bound.”
What is your current station? Are you actively learning to improve? If you’re already the top leader, do you continually raise the bar on your own performance... leading by example? Or are you coasting... foot off the gas?
The world is full of lazy couch potatoes, doing little to learn more, grow bigger, enhance skills, and polish talents... yet expecting rewards they don’t deserve to magically fall in their laps. They have ‘entitlement mentality’ and it stinks.
ACTIONS FOR YOU
Why not sit down today and map out a personal development plan for yourself, with goals, tasks and timelines. Ask yourself: Who are the people I should meet – and make the calls. How do I sign up for CEP and get great motivational talks? What places should I visit? Groups I should join? (let Google be your friend)
Personal development coach Brian Tracy says: “Your weakest key skill, sets the height of your income.” If you’re not sure what yours is, ask your spouse, a close friend, or most trusted colleague who will tell you the truth.
What do you do with all this? In the words of peak performance strategist Tony Robbins: “Take massive action.” - get moving, stay moving, never rest on my laurels.
This is how high achievers leap higher, accomplish volumes, earn abundantly, and are envied by others. It’s no secret. It’s about making an aggressive plan and vaulting off the couch.