Monthly Archives: May 2014

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Go For The Epic Fail

When’s the last time you failed big? Like epic fail?

You probably can’t remember the last time. Most likely because we tend to minimize our risk of failure. Especially big failures.

We feel big epic fails aren’t pretty. Epic fails are nasty, dirty things. But are they really?

In his book Untitled: Thoughts On The Creative Process (Great book, btw), Blaine Hogan shares this story-

I know all too well the painful reality of standing in front of something I’ve made, only to feel the sobering sting of awareness that comes from realizing the “thing” didn’t live up to the pitch.

This failure can be seen as an epic fail. We pitch, we promote, we hype. Only to see what we imagined fall flat on it’s face.

Epic. Failure. It’s all there.

And then Blaine goes on to ask this question-  Read more...

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A Leader In Disguise

In Transformers, the Autobots and Decepticons were robots. They were also in disguise.

Depending on the series, the Transformers would take on different forms. During Beast Wars, the Transformers took the shape of animals. In the movies and most of the other Transformers series, they took the form of vehicles or household items.

The cartoon was entertaining as most of the cast didn’t know there were robots in disguise going about their business right in front of them. This got me thinking. Are you a leader in disguise?

A leader in disguise

Image by e.r.w.i.n.

You may think you’re not in a position of leadership. You’re just an employee doing your job. You have no title or position of authority.

Thoughts of hopelessness and frustration may overwhelm you as you think you have no power to change the organization. You’d be wrong though. You have power. You have authority.  Read more...

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21 Leadership Lessons And Quotes From X-Men: Days Of Future Past

A Reel Leadership Article

Holy cow has this been a blockbuster year for superhero movies! Captain America: The Winter Soldier and The Amazing Spider-man 2 have already released. This past Friday was the release of the newest X-Men movie, Days Of Future Past.

X-Men: Days Of Future Past has probably been the superhero movie I’ve most anticipated. I grew up on the X-Men. I devoured any X-Men comic book I could get my hands on, even the off-shoots and mini-runs of comics. They were what I loved to immerse myself in!

So, when they announced one of the coolest comic book storylines was being released at the theater, I was ecstatic. And I knew I had to see it opening weekend. I also knew I had to look for leadership lessons in the X-Men universe.

Learn leadership lessons from X-Men: Days Of Future Past  Read more...

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Start Here: Four Ways to Increase Your Productivity

You’re dripping wet, on the phone, with your “to do” list in your hand. It is only after you hang up the phone and start to towel off that you realize that you still haven’t rinsed the shampoo out of your hair.

Consider this a wake-up call.

Are you ready for your wake up call?

Image by Karen Roe

Productivity does not mean doing a million things at once. It doesn’t mean that the job stays half done all week and it certainly requires your hair to be completely washed.

Productivity means that any given job gets done in a reasonable amount of time because you are focused and organized.

The good news is that there are many ways to increase your productivity without making your life more complicated or noisy. In fact, a few simple and daily changes can help you grow in productivity while decreasing your stress.  Read more...