Leadership: how hard are you pushing yourself?

Published: 2011-04-25 There are 10 comments ... please add yours below

You can build a great business and brand but only with courage, focus and alignment

avoiding the easeful death of becoming second-best and rutted in the status quo

Do Seth Godin and Jack LaLanne have anything in common? Let’s start with the differences. Seth’s a blogger. Jack in contrast was the godfather of fitness training in America – opening a fitness gym in Oakland, California over 70 years ago. In a recent blog, Seth listed eight things Jack did that made him successful. To my mind, Seth walks in the same shoes. As a leader, how do you rate on the eight factors? More importantly, which one or two should you tone up?

Bootstrapping yourself. Do you wait around or get stuck into things – including reshaping yourself, as Jack did physically and turning himself into a successful businessman?
Going to the edges. Jack ignored the past and created new possibilities – in his gyms and elsewhere. As a leader, what edges are you pushing – and what’s your strategy?
Starting small. Do you have the humility (and sense) to start things quietly, under your own steam? Shunning fanfare and look-at-me heroics for the hard daily delivery?
Using the (new) media. For Jack it was TV. But, today the digital revolution will be what offers the waves for you to surf. Do you have the courage to stand up?
Avoiding prime time. Jack created the first-ever TV fitness show – but in the less expensive fringe hours. As a leader, where are you breaking new ground?
Owning the rights. He kept things under his control – see items #3 and 5 above! This meant he could be true to his vision. Do you have the courage to stand alone?
Sticking with the brand. Consultants don’t care if your customers don’t like the make-over. They still get paid. Are you sure and centred enough to resist their fads and “expertise”?
Living the story. Jack exemplified what he was teaching and encouraging others to do. Would you team say you practice what you preach? Or, just preach?

As Seth points out, Jack died recently at the age of 96. By that benchmark, most of us have a few more years to sharpen our game – further changing ourselves and the world around us.

As a leader, what is the most important action you’re going to take based on the points above? If you’re willing, please share it with us below via the comments box.

That example will be a nice memorial to Jack – and to all the others like him, who’ve broken new ground and shown us how to do better.

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Dr. Timothy Pascoe AM
PhD (Cambridge), MBA (Harvard), BE & BEc (Adelaide)
Creator, V|E|C|T|O|R Leadership^®

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Comments (10)

Timothy Pascoe - date: 2011/05/05 04:15 pm

Dear Phadke,

Thank you for the generosity of your comments below. However, I feel you give more credit than is due.

I enjoy writing the weekly Potshots and am delighted when people get value from them.

Your inclusion of the animals, along with us humans, reminds me of the prayers of St Francis of Assisi!

Best wishes,

Timothy

Phadke Subodhkumar Narayan - date: 2011/05/03 07:14 pm

Namaste,

This is another wonderful & educative peace of information. The best (as always) part is the way you wrote by giving live example that happened 70 years back and how it is happening today.

Wow! I enjoyed each & every tip/trick.

Thank you so much for empowering me about this. Instantly I am sharing this knowledge with my dear ones & beloved ones in India via GBuzz, LinkedIn, Facebook & via email.

I hope each one of them enjoy this knowledge.

You are true eTeacher of this era the way Mr. Salman Khan has become for Mr. Bill Gates & his kids for algebra.

I once again thank you.

God bless you. God bless your family. God bless Australia. God bless entire planet, humankind, nature & animals too.

Sincerely I remain,

Phadke S. N.
City: Pune
State: Maharashtra
Country: India
Date: 3rd May 2011
Day: Tuesday
Time: 14:44 Hrs.

Timothy Pascoe - date: 2011/04/26 02:55 pm

Dear John,

As you say, it's about living one's truth! Key for all of us. I look back with pleasure on the times when that was the case - and with regret on the situations where I forgot that golden rule.

Many thanks,

Timothy

Timothy Pascoe - date: 2011/04/26 02:52 pm

Dear Kurt,

Delighted there were a couple of interesting insights you found. I find the same on occasions when writing the Potshots! A case of "Physician, heal thyself"!

Best,

Timothy

John Kitney - date: 2011/04/26 10:02 am

This is a great story. Starting small and not over extending - conservative start. Not getting caught up in one's own ego projections which is a sign of " following the road less travelled." Using the best technology or media available - smart move. Living one's truth by practicing what one preaches - this is a sign of true honesty and transparency. An inspiring success story, Timothy. Thanks.

Kurt Rieger - date: 2011/04/26 09:31 am

Thank you so much Dr Timothy - it explains why I was a 'lone wolf' or 'the loneliness of the long distance runner' for 35 years - the reasons 'why' are so clearly spelled out in this blog. It also explains why I resisted to embark on a PhD - Consitency and persistance are the key factors - but I still need to set up a sounding board in your previous blog
Thanks again
Knowledge comes to me when I need it - is what I learned about myself early in life.

Timothy Pascoe - date: 2011/04/26 07:48 am

Dear Steve,

Interesting! You're no doubt right: you saw the show and your conclusion is probably spot on.

Perhaps what Seth wrote in his blog is further evidence of our human tendency to look for some clever logic or particular magic behind an event or someone's success. Without direct experience of what was happening (and its context), it's easy to draw the wrong conclusion.

Best,

Timothy

Timothy Pascoe - date: 2011/04/26 07:42 am

Dear Imelda,

"The simplicity of gently pushing through ... " is a great way of putting it. Extending ourselves each day - to deliver something special and beyond what we might have achieved yesterday. It's a goal I've tried to pursue - but don't always live up to. More of the same is sometimes too seductive: quicker, easier and requires no new thinking. Overtime, however, it's the road to obsolescence.

Timothy

Steve - date: 2011/04/25 10:51 pm

I remember Jack LaLanne being on in the morning, after we'd all gone to school the only time we'd see his show is if we were home with the flu or popquizitis.

I don't believe it was a money decision so much as Jack knew his target audience. Housewives - stay-at-home moms - were much more common a generation or two ago. Jack came on after the kids were off to school ("OK, ladies, now it's time for you"). It may have been cheaper to run early in the morning but I don't believe it was the sole reason Mr. LaLanne's show ran when it did.

Imelda McGrattan - date: 2011/04/25 10:33 pm

That is an interesting read, and it is amazing the simplicity of gently pushing through barriers with consistency, dedication and devotion to achieve objectives can make big dreams come true which are beneficial to others wellbeing also .......

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Leadership: how hard are you pushing yourself?

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