Winning

Winning

Winner never quit, quitter never win!

Luck may lead you to ruin, but it will never lead you to success!

True success comes from a deliberate attack in the status quo!

1.      The greatest addiction in the world is the human ego. This simple three letter world causes most of the world’s problems.

2.      Think more about others and they will think more about themselves. Eventually we hit the truth, and when we do, we give ourselves permission to be free to be who we are. Then we start our journey to change and to be who we were meant to be.

3.      Let others be the spotlight and they will show their humanity. It is only in our humanity that we start to find our greatness.

4.      Persistence means never ever giving up. Have you ever seen a statue of a quitter?

5.      Trying means no, doing nothing. Pay attention how often people say “I will try” and watch what happens later.

6.      Rationalizing is telling lies (rational lies) to us. Self-deception or leadership; you choose. Put positive thoughts into your inner world and your outer world will eventually appreciate it.

7.      Being committed means accepting no excuses. You can have a million excuses or a million small victories in life; but you cannot have both.

Be part of the leadership revolution by sharing these nuggets with others.

We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give. Be a giver in a world of takers.

Be blessed and be a blessing to others.

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

Trust then Verify!

Who’s your real partner?

Who do you trust when the bullets start flying? Who can you trust?

1.      Know where you are going. If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there.

2.      Build trust in your relationships. Real communication only happens when people feel safe. Performance evaluations systems used by most companies only create mistrust.

3.      Who can you trust? Do they trust you? Can you trust others? Respect everyone, trust is earned. If you are going to trust be sure to verify.

4.      Partner with our Creator. Business and God can and should go together. Our nation was built upon that partnership. Bring out the God created genius in people.

5.      Our outer self is the task oriented self. That is what the world pays attention to. That is what we normally want others to see in us. Put up a great face when in reality what really matter is what is inside of us.

6.      A lasting legacy is born from your inner self. Honor your inner self that is reflective, loving, and giving.

7.      Wake up and enjoy each day.  Have fun doing what you love, life is short and it can end at any moment!

Be part of the leadership revolution by sharing these nuggets with others.

We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give. Be a giver in a world of takers.

Be blessed and be a blessing to others.

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

Time Trap

The Clock Is Ticking

We all have heard the saying time is money. If you believe time is money, then you are likely trading one for the other. Time is a lot more valuable than money. Agree? How about this one? You cannot teach an old dog new tricks. You are not a dog, are you?

Here are today's 7 Daily Nuggets for your enrichment:

1.      The only security today is our personal commitment to daily self-improvement. The old deal, loyalty in exchange for a job, is no longer available. New deal is to control your circumstances. Get better every day in every way on how to deal with change.

2.      Life is all about what we love to do. Start keeping score in your life. You can never hit a target you don’t have. We can only master what we enjoy doing.

3.      Don’t waste your life living in the past. View all mistakes, what doesn't work, as lessons learned. Have a cause that directs you towards your future, your vision.

4.     Become a more loving and accepting human being. It will boost your self-esteem. 

5.      A clear vision is the picture of the desired outcome. It’s directionless to live without a purpose and a cause.

6.      Life is truly PRICELESS.  Reflect more, love more, and above all, leave a legacy.

7.      What is your legacy? Would the kid you were then be proud of the person you are today?

Be part of the leadership revolution by sharing these nuggets with others.

We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give. Be a giver in a world of takers.

Be blessed and be a blessing to others.

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

FREEDOM IS SACRED!

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.

1.      Freedom is sacred. Why are we just sitting by and watching our freedoms being taken away? Freedom is not free. It is worth paying the price for our freedoms. Sacrifice is the production of sacred things.

2.      Take charge of changing your life. No one will do it for you. How can we take our old selves into a bright new future? Change is a must to live the life you always wanted.

3.      Surround yourself with champions.  Find people making a difference in the life of others. Learn from them all that you can. Drop the anchors that are holding you back. Set sails and go forward, not backwards.

4.      Be consistent. Consistency is sticking to your goals and dreams no matter what conditions come your way. Never be at the mercy of your circumstances. Nothing takes place of consistency and persistence. These two things alone will create wonders in your life.

5.      It is your life. Your life is yours to design it, to build it, and to share it. Use it up for a purpose and not for pleasures.

6.      Look inside yourself and find your purpose. It is in there dormant, deep inside you, waiting for you to do something with it.

7.      Write your own obituary. Do it not to start dying, do it so you can start living. What will you be remembered by?

Be part of the leadership revolution by sharing these nuggets with others.

We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give. Be a giver in a world of takers.

Be blessed and be a blessing to others.

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

The Ripple Effect!

The Ripple Effect!

How many people live better lives because of helped them?

1.       The smallest of actions can have the greatest of effects like ripples in a pond. Are you succeeding in something that matters? Be afraid of succeeding at something that does not matter. If we are to work hard why not work at something that matters?

2.       What is the meaning behind your actions? Are you allowing yourself time to think the right thoughts before you act? Often people say they are busy, what they are really saying is that they do not have time for you. They mean you are not important to them. Effective people always find time to do the right things. They always have time for what is really important to them. Why do you think that is?

3.       Imagine buying someone life’s experience for the price of a meal? When we buy a great book we are in fact buying someone’s life experiences for a small sum. Learn from others and become fascinated with seeing people learn and grow from reading great books. What great books have you read in the last 30 days?

4.       Great books change lives. Don't just read great books, study them, write on them, and apply the principles you learn from them. Simple books are sometimes the greatest treasures. How good is it to read a 500-page books if you cannot remember what you read or cannot apply what you learned? Do the books you read feed your illusions or your realities?

5.       A great life is the sum of the little moments that occupy our memory banks forever. What memories have you collected last month? Be diligent about where your time goes. Time is not equal money. Time is much more valuable than money. Why not invest time instead of spending time?

6.       Find your blind spots and shed light on them. Dig it deep inside you. Always put people over tasks. Be the biggest encourager for the people you associate with. Be a lifter for others like an elevator going up full and comes down empty; there is enough people in this world to bring them down. What is at the center of your life? Why do you do what you do?

7.       Live a life of significance instead of just making a living. It’s easier to make money than to make a difference in the lives of others. Choose to make a difference. What are you doing with the resources and talents that have been entrusted to you?

You can be part of the leadership revolution by sharing these nuggets with others.

We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give. Be a giver in a world of takers.

Be blessed and be a blessing to others.

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

Leader or Leaderless Revolution?

Leadership Revolution Need

We have all read the old Cherokee tale called The Tale of Two Wolves. It goes like this.

One evening an old Cherokee Indian told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, ‘My son, the battle is between two ‘wolves’ inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.’ The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: ‘Which wolf wins?’ The old Cherokee simply replied, ‘The one you feed.’

I believe America’s best days are ahead because America is still good. The common man needs to feed the good wolf, stand up and lead. Here are today’s nuggets for us to think about.

1.       Did you ever think the government would end up teaching its values to our children? When parents relinquish the rights to educate their children the government will gladly step in. Now the government wants to care for our health too. We either take responsibility for ourselves or the government will gladly take over.  Freedoms are being lost daily! How do you feel about that?

2.       Has the time come for us to stand up and lead? Are you ready? If you still want to remain free the time to act is now.

3.       We are either working to achieve our dreams or somebody else’s. Most people on this earth don’t have a simple written plan for their lives; is it any wonder why life does not reward them? Which plan do you prefer?

4.       True teamwork is rarely found in organizations. In any organization, individuals not teams or committees are the ones that think, decide, act, and create the desired change. Navy seals are the ones where teamwork is still alive.

  

5.       Start changing your thinking by feeding your brain with new information. If you want things to change in your life something has to change. Most of what we have been fed is not to our best interest. Time to feed the good wolf? Are you awake yet?

6.       The new economy requires new leaders and followers living the same proven principles that build great organizations. Why are the rules for leaders and followers different in most organizations? Shouldn't the rules be the same?

7.       The era of positional leadership is gone. If you are too big to follow you are too small to lead. Are you willing to strike out and lead? If you are, then there is a great future ahead for you.

The evil wolf is disguised. Be on the watch. Don’t fall prey to the big evil wolf.

You can be part of the needed leadership revolution by sharing these nuggets with others.

We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give. Be a giver in a world of takers.

Be blessed and be a blessing to others.

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)

Two Brothers

The Story of Two Brothers

This is a true story of two brothers. The older brother did not have any formal education while younger brother had some formal education. The older brother had to assume responsibility early on and thus having a more difficult childhood. The younger brother had more freedom to venture out into the world. 

Two brothers, from the same nest, produced very different fruits, their children. As the saying goes, the fruit does not fall very far from the tree. The differences in experiences and thinking by these two brothers influenced the way they raised their children leaving a different ripple effect for generations to come. 

They choices made by each brother were very different and those choices made all the difference in the lives of their children and grandchildren. The differences became evident 50 years later when some of their children were already becoming grandparents.

Here are 7 contrasting choices made by each brother:

1.      Vision. The older brother was a visionary and made sure his children knew what vision was. The older brother’s thinking led him to move the family towards that vision he created. The younger brother was always looking for easy ways to make a living, choosing the easy path early in life and never developing his own vision and a clear vision for his children.

2.    Work. The older brother taught his children work ethic by having them work side by side. Boys learned manly things and girls learned womanly things. The children spent plenty of time with the parents while they were young. All his children started working and contributing to the family enterprise at age seven. The younger brother made sure his children spent as much time playing and having fun well into their teen years.

3.      Pray. The older brother prayed with his children asking God to give him wisdom to educate his children to go on and live a moral life. The children learned the difference between right and wrong. The younger brother did not transfer to his children the value of faith and prayers in a person’s life.

4.      Provide. The older brother provided his children with opportunity to work, to learn, and to be self-sufficient. He created them opportunities but allowed them to struggle through the early stages of life. He encouraged his children to endure and to do their best expecting better days were ahead. The younger brother did not allow his children to struggle and bailed them out when they got in trouble. The younger brother believed he had to give what his father had not given him. When his children got in trouble he would bail them out.

5.      Money. The older brother taught his children the value of money, the importance of saving the hard earned money and investing it into assets. The younger brother served as a banker for his children; money seemed to come easy so money was available. He handed out freely without them having to earn their own money.

6.      Teach. The older brother taught his children the value of character (integrity and courage), the value honoring and delivering on what one promises. He taught his children the value of being in community and the value of helping those in need. When his children got in trouble in school he made sure they paid the price at home as well. The younger brother did not choose to hold his children accountable. When his children got in trouble he would go to the teachers and principle and demand a special treatment for his children. He would bail them out of their troubles.

7.      Example. The older brother served as the example, staying in one profession and mastering the craft. His children followed the example. The younger brother changed professions several times without mastering any. His children also followed the father example.

The stories we tell ourselves matter a great deal. What we go through in life is not as important as the stories we internalize from those experiences.

You are free to share these nuggets with others. We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give. Be a giver in a world of takers.

Be blessed and be a blessing to others.

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy)