Successful leaders focus on things unsuccessful leaders do not. They are always growing, always thinking, always experimenting, always reading and always trying to get better. This is because we know what made us successful today will not keep us successful tomorrow.
Today I was reading some old articles I accumulated and wanted to pass along some leadership lessons I am currently thinking about and determining how to best apply in my life.
The following are 12 Things Successful Leaders Focus On. If applied, these will make you a better leader.
USA Today August 27, 2014
Successful Leaders Focus On Continual Improvement – “Once you stop improving something’s got to be wrong. The great thing about the Colts is the work atmosphere and high expectations and pressure from player to player, coach to player, player to coach. Everybody wants to get better, and it’s a great culture to work in.” – Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck
USA Today September 4, 2014
Successful Leaders Do Not Focus On Entitlement – “I’ve always thought the NFL doesn’t owe you anything. Nothing is given. You have to go out there and earn it.” – Peyton Manning. For more leadership insights from Manning, click 56 Leadership Lessons And Quotes From Peyton Manning At Leadercast.
USA Today October 22, 2014
Successful Leaders Focus On Simplicity And Excellence – “Ben Bradlee was the most charismatic boss I have ever worked for or, for that matter, ever seen. His guidance was so powerful because is was so simple. He was obsessed with being first and best on every story and wasn’t satisfied unless that was true of every story in the paper.” – Larry Kramer on The Washington Post executive editor Ben Bradlee
The Herd With Colin Cowherd radio show December 30th, 2014
Successful Leaders Focus On Data – “In the lead up to the draft, it becomes about statistics. It becomes about data points…There’s comfort in numbers…You gravitate to the objective stuff. That’s what rules the day when it comes to make the pick.” – Louis Riddick
USA Today May 6, 2015
Successful Leaders Focus On Staples, Not Outliers – “If you ask me if I’m ever going to platoon again, my answer is ‘No’. Last season was an absolute outlier.” – Kentucky head coach John Calipari on the substitution pattern of his team.
Successful Leaders Focus On Accomplishment – “Never in my life did I think that I would platoon but most people didn’t think we would ever win 38 straight to start the year, set a record for wins in a season and have seven players drafted. It’s amazing people could try to use that against us, but I guess you have to come up with something.” – Coach Calipari. For more from Coach Calipari, click 35 Leadership Quotes From John Calipari’s Book Players First
Successful Leaders Focus On Meeting The Needs Of Others – “It’s not always about you. It’s about other people. If something happens to me tomorrow, I know that my girls can look at me and see I’ve done something for the community and know they can do the same.” – Shaquawana Wester from Cookeville, TN, winner of the Make A Difference Day All-Star Award for organizing a coat drive which served over 1,000 needy individuals. For more on how you can impact the poor and under-resourced in your community, click How Piedmont Church Fed All 6,071 Hungry Children In Their Community For A Single Day
USA Today July 14, 2015
Successful Leaders Focus On Getting Reps – “That theory of 10,000 repetitions. I passed that a long time ago.” – Peyton Manning
Successful Leaders Do Not Focus On Yesterday’s Success – “It’s what have you done for me lately? That’s who the game’s always going to be.” – Bryce Harper
Successful Leaders Focus On Preparation – “He’s probably as well prepared as any pitcher in baseball as for knowing the hitters, evaluating their weaknesses.” – Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin on Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke
Successful Leaders Focus On The Process Needed To Become Great – And finally, another amazing insight from Louis Riddick:
If only we loved the process of trying to be great as much as greatness itself.
— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) July 11, 2015
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