Tag Archive for: Leadership

Swagger vs Leadership

18 Oct
October 18, 2012

We tend to confuse image and substance a lot these days.  Just because someone has swagger doesn’t mean they’re a good leader.

When evaluating leadership, don’t look for polish, look for passion and purpose.

Passion and purpose are what drives real leaders that actually get things done.

Own Your Own Workflow

05 Jul
July 5, 2012

I’m learning more and more that I can’t simply copy the workflow or work patterns of other people….even highly successful people.

That sort of thing may help for a season but in the long run it’s like wearing Saul’s armor.  It will eventually hinder personal productivity in both large and small ways.

Obviously, it’s important, even imperative, to learn from others.  It is even occasionally a good idea to mimic the patterns of others for a season just to see how it works.  In the end though, you’ll need to find what works best for you.

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Shattering the Status Quo
Write Something or Do Something

My Best Friends are Failures

12 May
May 12, 2011

Perhaps it’s just me but I find it extremely difficult to develop any deep friendships with people that haven’t failed, or won’t admit that they’ve failed at some point in their lives.

When people come across as a “never failed” it makes the relationship inherently strained.  It starts to feel like a game of one-upmanship instead of a friendship.  It seems as if the never faileds are trying to be superior or, at least, trying to make others feel slightly inferior.  In that climate, genuine relationships seldom flourish.

The truth is that everyone has failed in some big or small way.  People who own their failures are infinitely more genuine, and that authenticity in a relationship is incredibly magnetic.  People desperately want to be around other people that are real.  They want to build relationships with others who admit they’ve failed and will allow them to do the same.

People who have really failed, and own it, are some of the best friends you could ever hope to have.

© Copyright - Tony McCollum