Categories
Accountability blog Leadership Leadership Principles

GETTING FOOLED ONCE & THEN TWICE – A CHART

This week’s CHART focuses on GETTING FOOLED ONCE & THEN TWICE

Whether it be young age, lack of knowledge, not enough wisdom or whatever the reason may have been WE have ALL been fooled at least once in our lives. Typically, this happens when we are in childhood, when we are most naïve and vulnerable.

Being fooled by others is essential to making us the people we are today. On occasion we need to be fooled by others. You could say it is almost a rite of passage into adult life. Being fooled is part of how we as humans gain wisdom. It is also part of how we grow as human beings. It helps sharpen our senses of self-preservation and makes us more observant about everything around us. Being fooled helps to put us “on guard” for the unsuspected events in our future.

However, what is NOT a rite of passage is allowing ourselves to continually be fooled by others. It is plain and simple extrapolation: The more you continue to allow yourself to get fooled, the more your chances of getting fooled again and again increase.

Once the word gets out that you are an “easy target” because you continue to get fooled the more opportunistic individuals will not only come out of the woodwork but the more, they will try (and succeed) to fool you again.

Most times, no one knows when the next time they will be fooled will occur. However, there are tell-tale signs such as when an offer seems too good to be true or you are being offered an outrageous amount of money only after you pay a “processing fee” or better still the individual(s) that fooled you before comes back to do it again. All which you willingly allow.

Of course, if you recognize that a certain type of individual or situation is returning then understand that it is up to you to do something about it. Either stop the situation from escalating or move yourself out of that situation. Know that when you REFUSE to change the situation, you WILL end up getting fooled again. Then there is one person to blame (NOT the one that fooled you) but the blame rests 100% on YOU.

Remember to old adage, “Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me.”

Don’t get fooled again.

I am DAVID GUERRA and I said this.

Categories
Accountability blog Leadership Leadership Principles

RESPONSIBILITY & ACCOUNTABILITY & LEVELS OF SELF-RESPECT – A BELL CURVE

This week’s BELL CURVE focuses on RESPONSIBILITY & ACCOUNTABILITY & LEVELS OF SELF-RESPECT

I have said it before and I will continue to say it, in any manner possible when it comes to holding yourself ACCOUNTABLE and RESPONSIBLE.

In this case, I am addressing YOUR level of SELF-RESPECT. Just like being transparent and forthcoming, the same applies when it comes to Accountability and Responsibility. The more you accept responsibility and hold yourself accountable for the actions you took, the actions you did not take, for the things you said, and for the things you did not say the more you will start to understand yourself.

When it comes to understanding yourself, your level of SELF-RESPECT increases.
Increasing your level of SELF-RESPECT will work towards becoming a better person, a better human being.

There are far too many individuals that maintain an average level of SELF-RESPECT in that at any moment, they could raise their level. Then again, they are more apt to lower that level for any number of reasons or for no reason at all, to include not knowing any better.

Lowering that level of SELF-RESPECT is easy when people are constantly and consistently NOT held accountable for their actions (either in words or deeds or both). Yet, by raising your level of SELF-RESPECT as with anything else that makes you feel good about yourself you will work hard to stay ABOVE AVERAGE.

But, saying to others that you are ABOVE AVERAGE is truthfully, below average speak. It is in your actions and doing that speak louder than words ever will. To make the process of being ABOVE AVERAGE easier and faster to achieve, certainly helps when you are actively and undeniably holding yourself ACCOUNTABLE & accepting RESPONSIBILITY for yourself, all the time and without fail.

= = =
I am DAVID GUERRA and I said this.

Categories
Accountability blog Change Ethics Inspiration Leadership Leadership Principles Mentor Motivation positive Work Ethic

Leading From The Front

When it comes to leadership in all its varying forms and style nothing and I do mean NOTHING will beat the penultimate leadership style of LEADING FROM THE FRONT.

Up until recently, there were very few real world examples of LEADING FROM THE FRONT.

The current and most relevant example is Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Yes, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In the current situation with Russia invading Ukraine, the Zelenskyy is out there fighting to push back the invaders, he is also out there fighting on behalf of his country to more international support.

The Ukrainian President is out there, on the front lines, walking his talk. How many “leaders” do that on a daily basis. How many leaders, today, are willing to walk out there where the bullets are flying.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy is the definition of Leading From The Front. He is out there fighting for his country, his constituents, his family and for his life. He is the epitome of walking his talk. He could have opted to rule from behind a desk far from the fighting. Instead, he opts to walk out to where the bullets, mortars, missiles, and tank shells are flying.

Sure there are many politicians that “claim” they lead from the front. Without shame they claim that they are out there and “no one works harder for their constituents than they do”. Yet when the opportunity to go to the front comes, they go there in a chauffeured limo. Then the moment things look like they are going sideways these politicians duck back in, speed away. Soon they find comfort in their nice cozy, comfy office chairs as far away from the front-lines as they can get.

Then there are some political officials that will flat out ignore a direct order to go to the front-lines. When questioned about why they are not going to the front-lines, their only response is a dirty look and a “cackled” laugh. Next question, please.

So much for working hard or is it working hard at avoiding any hard work? I challenge anyone to prove me wrong or try to change my mind when it comes to those politicians.

But, this post is not only about politicians. It is also about business managers, military personnel and the countless others that want to be great leaders but do not want to put in the work. They may claim they are putting in the work but yet, they are continually found behind their desk managing by email or zoom or by text (this is the worst of all). Again, I ask how can you become great if you REFUSE to get your hands dirty.

Who does not want to be known as one of the great leaders of our time? I promise you this: The person is lying if they claim they do not want to be great.

Sure, some people may be satisfied with their life if they never are seen as great. Some may be perfectly fine if they can achieve some level of greatness. No matter if a little, some or none and sure as the sun rises, everyone wants to be great.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with being great. As many have said (including myself) time and time again, to be great you have put in great work.

WORK! W-O-R-K!

There’s that nasty four-letter word. It will never go away especially when you want to do something and be something. You have to put in the work. THERE IS NO SHORTCUT TO BEING GREAT.

However, you can move the process along by getting out there and Leading from the Front and by leading from the front means you are out there ACTIVELY participating.

You are out there NOT getting in the way. You are out there not for a photo-op but to actually do something that is helping. The following is what you can do to become a great leader:
Stand Up
Step Up
Go To The Front-lines
Dig Foxholes, Fill Sandbags, Chop Wood, Carry Water
Stay Out of The Way

That is it. It does not get any clearer and better than that. Get To Work!

Thank you for your time and consideration,
David G. Guerra, MBA