Go Wild! Go GREAT! The Journey from Now to WOWTM

Blueprint for Success: Don't forget the Coffee!

         

  It was great to celebrate the publishing of my new book "Blueprint for Success" with colleagues and friends in Costa Rica this past Tuesday Night.   When "Go Wild-Survival Skills for Business and Life " was published two years ago, I was thrilled to record the audio book right here in the rainforests of Costa Rica, where, gasp, still No Starbucks can be found!  Not too worry! I consider  Costa Rica Coffee to be among the finest Coffee  in the world.  If you don't believe me, just ask Grace Mena and the International Women's Coffee Alliance.   I am now working with Grace in planning the First Internationl Women in Coffee Conference to be hosted here in Costa Rica this October!   The International Women's Coffee Alliance is exactly the type of organization that our author team speaks about in "Blueprint for Success"---combining good business with giving back to the community .  The Java Divas that makeup the group also known as "Women in Coffee"  believe their business is not only making coffee, it's about making life better for women in Coffee Producing Countries, while improving their own leadership skills.  Visit the Women's Coffee Alliance and support their incredible work at http://www.womenincoffee.org/web/homepage.asp

  Working in collaboration with a team of authors on "Blueprint for Success" including Dr. Stephen Covey and Ken Blanchard has indeed been a remarkable journey that entailed not only lots of coffee but creative input.  Thanks to my co-authors, clients and my own tribal support team who have taught me, not only what drawing a Blueprint is all about, but how you actually build your house, once you have a plan in hand.

Go Wild! Go GREAT! and Grab a Cup of Coffee! 

Order Blueprint for Success at www.gowildgogreat.com

Plan your next business meeting or convention in Costa Rica!  www.retreatscostarica.com

 

                  

YPO: Young Presidents---Not So Lonely At the Top!

"Improve Team Work and Team Think Through A Collaborative Tribal Council"

     I just returned from facilitating a 2 Day YPO Forum at a California Dude Ranch.  For those of you not familiar with the YPO, this top drawer organization, which has been around since 1950 represents a virtual "Whose Who of Business Leaders"   There's considerable political influence in the group  as well with YPO members including Former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush,  Nelson Mendela and Fidel Castro.    YPO was founded so that Top Business Leaders (CEO's, Chairmen & Managing Directors) could find wisdom through mutual support and not have to say   "man it's lonely at the top".

       The YPO Mission:  "Better Leaders Through Education and Idea Exchange".  CEO Think tanks are a concept that dates back to Native American Tribal Councils, where the Top Tribal Chiefs gathered around the fire to share best practices of hunting and fishing;  Today those discussions held in the trusted privacy of the CEO Tribal Circle are about a different, but nonetheless challenging , hunt to build a prosperous and ethical organization in a competitive marketplace.  Talk to any CEO! To be beloved and respected  by shareholders, customers and employees, not to mention your number one customer "your own family" requires a mixture of warrior instinct and an ultimate blend of Survival Skills and Emotional Intelligence. Trust me, these execs need support from their peers who know what it's like on the high wire and can share pitfalls and best practices.

         So how do you talk about such serious stuff in a 2 day retreat?  Well the format is not really that different from the Native American Pow-WOW's known as a "Quickening of the People" and the Tribal Council Rituals that are  designed to achieve mind and body connection and build trusted communication  among members.    I wasn't privy to the secret handshake but I did manage to tell the team "I was out of there" if they met at the Badda Bing Club and their Leader's name was Tony.

          There was barely time to breathe in this YPO Retreat with a packed forum agenda that included "A Rocks and Ropes Team Adventure", "A Course in Leadership and Fly Fishing--Add to Your Flybox"  and even a workshop in how the Wisdom of Wine makers can improve Corporate Communications.  During this YPO Tribal Council consisting of   Bankers, Advertising Executives, Hospitality Entrepreneurs, Manufacturing and Logistics Mavens, YPO members  embarked on a Learning Adventure as a Forum Group--understanding that in order to help each other, they needed to know each other first and what better way to do that than with the help of the Great Outdoors!

     During the two days, this YPO Forum  discovered how the 5 keys to Wilderness Survival apply to Success in Business and Life, based on  my Audio Book "Go Wild! Survival Skills for Business and Life". They  shared inside tips and best practices.... like how a CEO can conquer e.mail overload?  There were also two mornings of golf, although we didn't have time in this retreat  to delve into how golf can help improve your leadership game.  There were also critical YPO round-table meetings and an informal after-dinner dialog.

Unlike Keynote Presentations or training seminars, facilitating this type of Senior Team Retreat or Think Tank is not about the speaker message as much as it is the dynamic of building a "trusted group alliance" through structured  activities designed to improve creative thinking and communication between team members.  Careful design of the agenda and activities  to match the team's overall objectives is critical and should include pre-planned debriefing questions that prompt dialogue and practical business application. For example, these YPO Execs shared a hot business idea  while connected together as partners and high up in the air  on "high wires". HUA!  The different perspective from above the tree line.

If you're Business or Peer Team seems "stuck" or needs a "quickening" to go from Now to WOW!  you may wish to consider leaving behind the  "Bored Room" and  convening your own Tribal Pow-WOW! 2 days amidst the creative environment of mother nature with a structured retreat plan could make the difference between Now and WOW in your business.''

For Information on Hosting a Now to WOW! Pow WOW! contact Rosemary@gowildgogreat.com

www.gowildgogreat.com

For Information on the YPO Organization, visit YPO.org

   

 

         

Do you have The Passion of Don Juan?

While leading a Women's Retreat in Costa Rica last week—I had the great honor to meet a Real Don Juan!

Don Juan is an organic farmer with a passion for family, farming and the natural gifts provided by Costa Rica's rich soil. In the photo above, this Romeo of the Costa Rica Campo, demonstrated to our group, how we could easily throw out our cosmetics and use the natural resources provided by Mother Earth. We were thoroughly enchanted by this lovely man and yes, amazing leader. His lessons were not presented in a 3 piece suit with a snappy power point, but Don Juan held our group spellbound in our witness of his passion and what seemed a personal connection to each and every one of us.

His face lit up as he explained his self-sustaining family enterprise and his clear respect for living in harmony with nature. But Don Juan is more than a talker and in fact put each of us to work! "People support what they help create" and Don Juan sure Digs That! He had each of us get our hands dirty, harvesting sugar cane, yucca and even making empanadas from scratch.

Here are 5 Traits of Leadership clearly evident in our Don Juan. Have you got what it takes to be a Leader?

1. Passion:  Do you love getting out of bed in the morning to embrace your passion? When you're at work, does it feel like you're not?
2. Vision:  Do you enthusiastically have and share your dreams to anyone who will listen—painting a clear and vivid picture of what can be and will be.
3. It's All about People!  Do you put people before the paperwork, knowing that be they customer, colleague or a person on the street, the connection and potential learning between two human beings holds more value than checking email.
4. Foster Continuous Learning  Do you try and learn something new every day and encourage your team to do the same? Do you invest in your employees by providing training and encourage them to make mistakes and learn from them?
5. Positive and Persuasive Communication  Do you use positive word choice and body language that seems to radiate "I'm happy you're here, I'm excited to be here and by the way we can do it together?"
Don Juan—the heart and soul of a Leader!

Don Juan—the heart and soul of a Leader!

To learn more about Rosemary’s Go Wild Go GREAT! The Journey From Now To WOW! ™ Formulas and Retreats, visit her website -

www.gowildgogreat.com www.costaricatraining.com www.retreatscostarica.com or email her at Rosemary@gowildgogreat.com

Begin with the End in Mind in Grandeur!

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Rosemary with a Wandering Free Spirit at the Cemetery.

Well you might not be able to take it with you, but you can certainly have a prestigious address in the hereafter.  Today's journey included a stop and the current resting place of Eva Peron amidst  Argentina's most famous society names.  "El Cementerio de la Recoleta".  I say current for her mummy has been moved about during Argentina's fluctating political currents.  Can you imagine Juan, re-married receiving the delivery on his doorstep of his ex-wife's mummified remains. Interestingly, the second wife would bring Evita back home.

Amazing mausoleums and crypts, accented with significant sculptures allow you to walk through argentina's history and citizenry.  Bold, Ornate and Commanding, some featuring glass or gates with coffins clearly visible.   These days there  are signs of Argentina's recent financial perils with more than one of the crypts showing sign of disrepair as once moneyed families can not longer afford their upkeep.  Nonetheless, an awe-striking memorial to the dead by any standard.

Cats wander the cemeteries seeming to commune with the spirits of Argentina and are seemingly well cared for (by visitors or spirits, we'll leave to you).

Lesson in Leadership:

This past weekend, I was in Kansas City at the Fred Pryor/Career Track Annual Convention.  Yes, Fred Pryor is the Real Deal, in his early 70's, an inspiration to so many speakers and trainers including myself.  Amidst the wisdom that Fred shared was something that so struck me.  Fred noted that "It doesn't matter what you did yesterday...rather It matters what you do today". I couldn't agree more and notice he didn't say it's what are you going to do for me today?  Nothing worse than a leader ticking off what they did in the past, verses focusing on the current challenge.    The only add-on I would offer comes from Dr. Stephen Covey, my co-author in the upcoming Book "Blueprint for Success and Survival" who says "Begin with the end in Mind".  Dr. Covey goes on to ask the question, about what you would like written on your tombstone?  How would you like to be remembered? This weekend, ponder that question and ask yourself how will your body of work be immortalized and remembered?  By body of work I mean the influence we have on others, in improving the place and planet in which we live and work and most importantly our impact (positive or negative) on those around us.

So if you can't take it with you, leave it with others to remember you by.

Rosemary Rein is a Leadership and Motivational Speaker, currently travelling in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

www.gowildgogreat.com

         

Team Building: Creating a Circle of Trust

The Knights of the Round Table had it right!  Circles provide a form for team unity and communication that can't be beat.  During the month of August, I have been using "Raccoon Circles" in Team retreats for both Non-Profit and Corporate Clients in the United States and at our Retreat Centers in Costa Rica.   Based on the work of Dr. Tom Smith, author of the  Book of Raccoon Circles and the Challenge of North American Traditions, teams literally bond and improve their group communication skills and problem solving  via  the help of a piece of nylon rope that joins members and challenges them in a series of tasks involving both mental and physical connections. 

You might recall you had to receive an invitation into the Fockers "Circle of Trust".  We all remember how outsiders (even new son in laws) weren't invited or welcomed by Mr. Focker.....Kind of the way  new employees  sometimes feel until embraced into the organizational fold.

Throughout time, Circles have been a universal symbol associated with  Power, Unity and Community which is why they are so powerful in team building activities.   You only need to look at Nature (The moon, The Sun, even Birds make their nests in a circle).  At the conclusion of a recent team building retreat, individual members gathered outdoors on a warm summer day connected in a circle of unity.  There was one knot in the circle.  As the knot passed from one member to the other, each participant gave one word that they believe embodied the meaning of their "coalition".  Forget about hiring a consultant for the perfect vision statement or new marketing idea.  This group assembled powerful, passionate words in a circled assembly .  At the end of the retreat, one member was named the "Keeper of the Circle" until next year's gathering.  Remember, Rituals create remembrance!

Hot Tip for Team building:  Let your team provide powerful input through  "Circle of Trust" facilitation.

Rosemary conducts "Go Wild! GO GREAT!" Team Building Programs over 100 days each year in the United States, Canada and Latin America.  The programs (from 1 to 3 days in length) are designed to foster teamwork and produce tangible work products such as Annual Business and Marketing Plans

Leadership Lifts! 5 Lessons Learned on the Slopes!

When I met my husband, Barry he was a fabulous skier.  I on the other hand,  could not imagine learning a sport in which an Ambulance was waiting for me at the bottom of the mountain!  However the man of my dreams  gave me powerful motivation to learn.  "Rosemary, no problem---I'll just  vacation alone each year".  Well the thought of my husband with cute ski bunnies on Aspen slopes was enough pain for me to overcome my fear of falling and I immediately "plowed in" to doing all the right things:  First,  I bought good equipment, then of course I got the  right outfit (at least I would look the part). Finally I took lessons.   Let's just say it wasn't pretty!  Snow plowing and falling, the cute ski outfit could not disguise my overwhelming fear and panic and the clumsiness of learning my new sport.

As I remember that  first beginner's slope, I think of Everest!  Let's forget for a minute that it carried the  mild mannered name of  Buttermilk.  I recall the fear of looking down the mountain and the kids zooming by me,  whizzing by the frozen statue I had become.  "Aspen's first Snow Woman in Fuscia Ski Pants"

But more than anything I remember the lessons I  learned on the slopes that day  about leadership and indeed tacking any business or personal challenge.

You see as I stood there frozen, looking down at the mountain before me, I began to do what we all do when faced with fear, panic or things going badly.  I began blaming everything and everybody.  "The skis weren't working, the conditions had changed and of course my husband was to blame for making me do this dumb thing to begin with".  Fortunately my mate was and is a level headed New Yorker who served as a great coach that day. 

"Rosemary, follow my tracks . Your problem is your looking all the way down the mountain---Don't do that! The way you take this mountain is to simply take the very next turn in the mountain by looking across and not down...Just look at the very next turn you need to take."   As we progressed our way with every turn, he suddenly shouted as we approach the mid-way point  "Stop".  My first reaction was I can't stop but he was insistent.  "Honey, look  back up the mountain and just see how far you've come".

With one look up the mountain  my confidence soared.  You know, I can still feel the exuberance of that day in Aspen where I tackled a mountain and tackled my fears.

Here are 5 lessons in leadership I "picked up" while falling and learning to ski:   

1.  Follow the Tracks of a Good Skier!  It's much smarter to follow the tracks of those who have gone before you and those who do it well.  As a Leader, take the lead and carve the trail for your team to follow.

2.  Focus on the Very Next Turn in the Mountain!   Looking down at that mountain or project can cause overwhelming fear and panic.  Once you have settled on your destination or goal, concentrate your energy on your very next turn in the mountain.  In the military they refer to this as "Next Action thinking".  Remember , people who did in Survival Situations say "Oh No, we're all going to die".  People who very often survive, say "What's the very next thing I need to do to survive"

3. Don't forget to look back up the Mountain! Build your confidence and the confidence of your team by not only focusing on what needs to be done but looking back at your accomplishments.  They need it and you need it.  Nothing worse than the boss who only focuses on the to do list without celebration of milestones.  Celebrating accomplishments and progress builds confidence.

4. Falling is Learning:  You're not carving new territory if you're not falling on occasion. Businesses can quickly become dinosaurs if they cease to explore new frontiers.  As skiing olympian, Bonnie St. John would say "It's not who falls that matters,  it's who gets up faster"

5. Pain is Good!  Give this mantra to your team as a reminder in times of challenge or crisis that "they must be learning something"  If you think about the greatest growth that occurs in life and business , the greatest inventions in our time, it all begins with pain.  I can't say I would want to re-live all of the painful moments in my life,  but as I look at those experiences, they have made me stronger and put into perspective other challenges.   You think to yourself "I survived the big one" and a shift happens in your thinking.  What use to be a major mountain and crisis now seems like a mole hill and you tackle it One Turn at a Time.

Symbols of Leadership--Keep It Real!

               

I'm writing you as I look out my Hotel Window to our magnificent  Capital.  As often as I've been to Washington, I can still report my child-like marvel at the brilliance of seeing our illuminated Capital building and monuments.  Amidst the seeming bombardment of tragedy in the news, these bright beacons, somehow ground us through their strong architecture and remind us of the purity and courage of the American Spirit.     It's easy to get disenchanted with our political climate, but somehow I forget all of that, when I glance at our nation's capital at twilight and recapture my belief in goodness and honesty.  Indeed, every organization and institution should have their unique symbol of leadership and vision.  Walt Disney did when he told his construction crew to "Build the Castle First" "They Need to see the Castle".   Symbols generate emotional connections with us.  They inspire us and they speak to Vision.

During a time when we wonder why our elected leaders don't always speak the truth, I also shook my head as I came into the Capital, at a homeless man who held up a rather novel and honest sign to solicit contributions

"Keep It Real!  I won't lie.  I really need a Beer" 

Frankly, I  smiled a little and wondered "How's that working for you?" and Is Honesty always the best policy?     Then,  I caught a glimpse of Mrs. Clinton's New Political Button "I'm In to Win".  I liked it!  Simple,  Direct and somehow it generated an emotional response in me that  a  "Woman could Win and be President" (whether I'm a Mrs. Clinton fan or not).

Evaluate your Company's Simple Bumper Sticker Message and/or Your Symbol.  Does It create  an emotional response?  Show your message/symbol to official or unofficial  test groups and ask them  what are the first words that come to their mind when they see or hear it?  Do we see your Castle like an illuminated monument ?  Does it  give us hope when the day to day muddles us down? Oh and yes are you "Keeping it Real and Honest?

 

The Jack Bauer Guide to Leadership--10 Lessons for Leaders from “24”

I’m a confessed “24 Fanatic”. Given the choice between going out on the town and watching Chloe’s Personality Disorder - I’ll take Chloe and CTU hands down.

As the 24 seasons have unfolded I have thought more than once about the lessons that 24 has for today’s business leaders running their own CTU. (Competitive Tactical Units). 

If only every business, had a Jack Bauer they could call, to get the mission accomplished and lead field operations! 

#1: Successful Missions begin with Good Intel”. Jack never goes into a mission blind. The analysts at CTU send him the latest satellite updates and intel so he knows exactly what he’s getting into and can develop his entry strategy. If only your sales team, had that intel before talking to a prospect.

#2: Field Operations need Communication and Support from Command. Jack is never out there alone. He is backed up by a team that provides constant tactical support. Does operations support your team in the field? 

#3: To get things done—you need a direct line to the President. Jack has on more than one occasion had to call the big guy to remove a road block and so will you when things get messy! Do you have quick access to your President when and if you need it?

#4: People with Personality Disorders sometimes have the greatest talent---Put up with it. Your business may depend having the best person for the job. Chloe and Edgar won’t win you over with their communication skills, but that’s not what their there for, they are the best at what they do .

#5: Every organization needs protocols—Rules of the Road for what to do in those worst case scenarios and when to call Division. How familiar is your team with the rules that provide the playbook for problem solving.

# 6: Good Leadership entails a calm, non-emotional response to crisis. We saw it in President Palmer but in later episodes, when Air Force One went down, I didn’t feel too safe with President Keeler at the helm. Did you? Remember that when we’re angry or emotional our IQ drops a whopping 50%. Good decisions never happen at 50% brainpower.

#7: Watch out for Traitors on your own Team. They are doing the most damage to your operations. Do you have Nina or Mrs. Palmer on your team sabotaging your mission? Sometimes covert and sometimes not, these ‘inside terrorists” are diverting your resources and attention and are most likely at the root of your unit’s negativity and team morale issues. Root them out. It’s not okay to be a traitor.

#8: Sometimes Leaders just never get a life! Poor Jack. Hero yes, but we never see this guy eat let alone have any kind of life. Even Heroes are Human. Just one time, wouldn’t you love to see Jack at home with nothing to do, his shoes kicked off, eating popcorn and watching TV? It’ll never happen but make sure it happens to you.

#9: Know the Enemy: Be they Terrorists or Competitors. They’ve got plans, technology and they don’t follow rules , which make them extremely dangerous.

#10: A good agent like Jack Bauer is a problem solver with diverse competencies. He or she is loyal, confident, calm in crisis, and knows protocols. A good agent like Jack Bauer, gets dirty and sometimes does break the rules in order to accomplish the mission but they are always guided by core values and a commitment to do what’s best for the country!

So, maybe you have more in common with Jack Bauer than you thought? In which case, take 24 hours just for you and for your family. Your Country, Your Organization needs you well rested for the next mission.

 

How To Build Effective Team Work

Does your Work Team have Posted Rules of Team Behavior?  If you don’t, it could explain why your work team acts more like the crew from animal house, than your dream team pulling together and crossing the finish line to the music from Chariots of Fire.

Do you shake your head and wonder “Why can’t everyone just get along and work together?”   “Why do I feel like I’m mediating and babysitting verses facilitating a self- directed group of business professionals?”

Management is often quick to document small procedural and operational infractions of rules in their business units, while the “workplace bully” is free to roam and terrorize at large with inappropriate communication to both managers and fellow employees. The cost: much higher than any operational infraction with loss of productivity and good employees to the cancer that is “Negativity in the Workplace”

The answer may be in the Rule Book or the absence thereof.

What is critical is following what I call the CSI formula:  No, don’t bring your rotten employee in for an autopsy, though some I assure you are sucking the life out of your organization, but do follow and document the evidence of “Unacceptable Team Behavior.”  The problem encountered in business organizations however is that there is often an absence of Posted Rules of the Road for team behavior and communication.  Every work team needs those rules, even family teams.  Just imagine if for every couple, and in ever family, there were printed rules for how we manage eventual family conflict and WE FOLLOWED THEM .

I was amazed at reading the statistical percentage (in the high 90’s) of psychologists who can predict with uncanny accuracy who will be divorced and not  - based on a 15 minute observations of the couple in common dialogue.  In essence how they follow the rules of respectful communication, regardless of the issue was the determinant factor.

The following is a small excerpt of rules from various self-directed work teams--- Don’t copy them, but do use them as a springboard for the design of your own Team Rule Book. Remember, without rules; expect flagrant violations, zero enforcement and lack of team synergy.

Sample of Team Rules:

1. We are Solution Oriented, Not Problem Focused.  When identifying any problem, we always provide at least 1 solution.

2. We seek to have all of our customers and team members feel “Trusted, Important, Special and Pleased” through respectful verbal and non-verbal communication.

3.  We address any workplace conflict within 24 hours or it did not happen.

4. We look for the good in other people, recognizing if we don’t we’ll never know any good people.

5. We refrain from destructive inner-office gossip recognizing the negative impact on our team.

6. We have fun working together and celebrate our accomplishments.

7. We begin each work-day with a positive greeting, recognizing the first 15 minutes of the day often sets the team environment.