Billy Arcement, MEd.
Professional Speaker

In this issue….
 

Failure is Not An Option!

The Erosion of Corporate Leadership

Are You In Fast Company?

Reader Opinions

Tip of the Month

Contacting Billy
Subscription Information
 

Failure Is Not An Option!

I’m sure each of you has experienced some type of failure during your lifetime.  It doesn’t matter the magnitude.  That is not the issue.  My point is we have all failed at something that began with optimism and an intent to succeed.  What went wrong that caused us to fail?  Why not recall such an event in your life and give it the acid test by answering these questions: 

• How passionate were you about the project? 

• How well did you prepare yourself for the project? 
• What information, critical to the success of your venture, was missing? 
• What level of persistence did you apply to your efforts?
•  In the back of your mind, was failure an option you considered? 

When we open our mind to failure as an option, we are dramatically increasing the odds that failure will be the final result of our efforts.  When we land on the shore from our boat ride to explore undiscovered territory and leave our boat tied to the dock, we will always think that we can retrieve to the boat and safely return to our homeport.  But, when we burn the boat and that option is removed, then failing is no longer an option.  We must explore the territory, establish a base for surviving and build a successful resting place so we can start anew.  Failure is not an option we can exercise and, the net result is that we do succeed.

As you build your future, remove failing as an option.  With that level of persistence, success will happen.  It’s now not a matter of if but one of when!

The Erosion of Corporate Leadership

No need for me to go into great detail about the recent corporate scandals in Enron, Tyco, Martha Stewart, etc.  There clearly is a huge business volcanic eruption taking place.  The business “larva” is burning confidence in Corporate America and creating chaos on Wall Street.  Why is this happening?  Here are a couple of thoughts.

First, in recent years, there was a deliberate shift in emphasis within the corporate culture from employee / customer focus to shareholder focus.  When this shift occurred, the reason why a business existed changed.  Building shareholder value focused the profit incentives inward and the outward emphasis on customers and employees rapidly diminished.  This caused corporate leaders to open themselves to stock options, bonuses and high salaries.  The inward shift to personal profit took over and the desire to do this has ultimately led to the recent scandals.

Secondly, this self-serving attitude has violated the basic value upon which businesses were built—to serve others.  Yes, profit is necessary to stay in business.  But, when we stop serving others, we will ultimately lose.  It is in giving that we receive.  It is in providing outstanding customer service and in building a strong employee loyalty to the business that we receive the very benefit all businesses seek—profit! 

How profitable is your business?  More importantly, how giving is it?

¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨

Your organization or association can hear the results-oriented and inspirational messages Billy brings to every audience.  Make him the choice for your next business meeting, conference, convention, workshop or management-consulting project.  Call 225-677-9426, check his website, www.searchingforsuccess.com or email him directly at barcement@eatel.net to learn more about his services.  We’re waiting to hear from you!

¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨

Are You In Fast Company?

I recently read a great article in the June issue of Fast Company entitled, “Five Half-truths of Business.”  I’d like to share the thoughts of the authors with you.  I’ll not share the half-truths but rather the message turned into important truths appropriate to any leader within the business or educational community. 

(1)   Effective leaders possess a high degree of personal integrity.  These leaders will never, under any circumstance, waver from this position.  How much are you willing to negotiate on this point?

(2)   A business exists to serve society.  I addressed this point in the last section and would briefly note again that placing shareholder value over other stakeholders is a bad business decision.  What recent decisions has your business made for its stakeholders?

(3)   Leaders are always willing to share the glory of accomplishment.  The CEO of a company does not grow the business in a vacuum.  They need and rely upon creative and committed employees who bring innovation, passion, intellect and loyalty to the workplace.  Does your corporate leadership share the credit for success?

(4)   Leaders don’t sacrifice those who got them there.  Downsizing is everywhere!  Less is now more for corporate leaders!  Those concepts, while necessary in some environments, should not become the dominant business strategy of the day.  Yet, that is where we find ourselves.  How trustful are your employees that you care about their future and their job security?

(5)   Leaders don’t foster disparity between workers and themselves.  I don’t subscribe to the redistribution of wealth concept.  But what I do subscribe to is giving a fair wage for a fair days’ work.  We are experiencing a dramatic shift in the wealth distribution around the world.  The poor are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer.  How is your company distributing the wealth accumulation to workers?  Do the rich get richer or is equitable compensation being spread throughout the workforce?

Reader Opinions

During the second half of the year, I’m will begin developing my third book, Teaching Your Child To Succeed.  From the initial reaction to the title, I’m hoping for great things to happen with this venture.  If you have some methods that you’ve used to raise a child that you feel have contributed to the successes they’ve experienced, I’d appreciate hearing from you.  Contributions used will be acknowledged.  (I’m not looking for all the glory).

Why not take a moment a think about what worked well with your children and share those thoughts with me.  You can email or send your comments by snail mail.  Thanks in advance for your efforts.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Tip of the Month

            I’m a great believer that questions are the best method to stimulate thinking.  Here are two that I hope will do just that for you. 

(1)   If there were no constraints, what accomplishment would your pursue? 

(2)   What is stopping you from starting the accomplishment of the vision you surfaced with the first question?

Make A Difference
In Your Life

Order Billy's Book
Searching for Success

$15.00 including S&H
Call about quantity discount