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5 Books Leaders Should Read In August 2021

We all know how important reading is. It helps us take in the wisdom of those who have gone before us. It is a great way to learn quickly.

That’s why every month I share with you 5 books that will help you become a better leader.

This month is no different. I’m offering you up a smorgasbord of great leadership books.

5 Books Leaders Should Read In August 2021

1. The Soul Of A Team by Tony Dungy:

The Soul Of A Team is a fable by Tony Dungy. In this great book, Dungy helps the reader realize that not all teams are created equal. And that’s okay.

You can work on the team. You can help them become better. That’s what this book will help you uncover.  Read more...

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Motivation Vs. Discipline

Celeste Kieft, a Human Resource Manager, sent out a message to the team at Bold Furniture. The message was profound and timely. It is a message we should all take to heart.

In today’s article, I am going to paraphrase her message and encourage you to think about motivation vs. discipline.

Celeste was reminding team members to wear safety glasses or side shields. This is for the team members’ protection and a big safety concern. Yet, the team members did not see it this way.

The response Celeste heard was: “There are too many other issues to worry about something as small as side shields.”

Ouch! Can you believe that response?

While true, there are a lot of things happening in our facilities including merging two buildings, relaunching a second shift, and more, this is not the response to give someone. The response shows there’s a lack of motivation. More so, it shows a lack of discipline.  Read more...

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Quotes And Leadership Lessons From Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins

A Reel Leadership Article

Logo for Reel Leadership

If you enjoy the Reel Leadership series of blog posts, be sure to pre-order the Reel Leadership book on Indiegogo.

Snake Eyes is a reboot/refresh of the G.I. Joe movie franchise. The movie reintroduces us to one of the most intriguing characters in the G.I. Joe characters, Snake Eyes (Henry Golden). He has always been mysterious and cool. He was always one of my favorites.

Characters from the movie Snake Eyes

It was exciting to see the movie previews for the Snake Eyes movie because it meant a full movie focused on this great character. The Snake Eyes movie did not disappoint. It gave us a great origins story along with setting up the bitter rivalry between Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow/Tommy (Andrew Koji).

Snake Eyes is full of action. It also contains a lot of character development of Snake Eyes, Tommy, Akiko (Haruka Abe), Kenta (Takehiro Hira), and Scarlett (Samara Weaving). The movie perfectly sets up a sequel for Storm Shadow. It can also lead into another G.I. Joe movie.  Read more...

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Writing A Book Has Taught Me…

Writing a book is a lot harder than it seems. I know this because I’ve been writing and editing my new book, Reel Leadership, for the past couple of months. It has been toil, sweat, and tears going through the process. Today is the day I launch the pre-sale campaign on Indiegogo. For those reading this today, I ask you to help support the launch of this book by committing to buy a physical copy of Reel Leadership or one of the special perks (Click HERE to support the campaign) when the pre-launch goes lives at 5:00 PM EST tonight. If you’re a business owner and want multiple copies or to have me present, reach out to me via email (can be found on the Indiegogo campaign page) and we can make a special package just for you.

Reel Leadership book mockup cover

With all of that, I am still excited and proud of what writing a book has taught me.  Read more...

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What To Do When You Are Tired

Twenty-twenty was a trying year for many of us. Many people lost their jobs. Others, like me, lost family members. And others are still trying to figure out their lives.

Not only did 2020 try us, 2020 tired us.

I’m looking back on 2020 and seeing all of the areas that have pushed me and worn me out. Some of the ways I was worn out was:

  • Going into a government-mandated shutdown
  • Working through difficult board decisions
  • Losing my father
  • Taking a week away only to come home to a sewer backup caused by the failure of the city of Muskegon to maintain their sewer lines

I felt broken. I felt worn out. I felt tired.

I don’t think there’s been a year where I’ve ever felt this defeated. Talking to other leaders, I know I am not alone in this.  Read more...