doug smith training

If someone wanted to discuss a problem with you right now, what would you say?  Some days, I just don't have room for any more problems, how about you? Some days I just want to get thru and get some work done. How about you? Some days, though, there is an opportunity to talk about what's going on and if that opportunity passes, it's gone forever. I remember a long car ride up the mountains to Breckinridge, Colorado one Valentine's Day when a problem (or hand-full of problems) unfolded a great opportunity to talk. For reasons still unknown to me, I could not talk. The words would not come. My body language didn't communicate what I was thinking and (perhaps) what I was thinking was too sad to say. I don't know. I wish that I did. What I didn't know at the time was that moment, during those steep climbs, there was an opportunity to resolve problems and that opportunity would never come again so freely, so safely, and so sincerely. It faded away. It was still a

Faked respect is worse than no respect at all. -- doug smith

There's a lot of arguing going on. Does it seem to you like it's getting worse each day? People are losing friends, people are ignoring each other, people are letting logic slip out of their heads while the emotional train takes over. It doesn't have to be that way. You have some control of whether or not (and how) you argue. The next time you are about to argue, try keeping this in mind: the impulse to argue is a signal to stay curious instead. Maybe you'll learn something. Maybe you'll teach something. There's plenty of room to interact respectfully. -- doug smith

If you had to guess, do you think that you use the word "yes" or the word "no" more often? Why does it matter? Of course we have to say no sometimes. If you chase every goal you won't achieve any of them. But I find myself saying "no" sometimes before I've even given it much thought. It's a default impulse (no!) designed to keep us safe. The problem is, it keeps us isolated, too. It keeps us stuck. Leaders who say yes more than no are easier to follow. Enthusiasm matters. Passion engages. Certainty build confidence. Try this: the next time you're give then choice between yes and no, pause. Silently count to ten. Then, consider, why not? Why not yes? Yes! -- doug smith

Winners should not forget that losers never forget. Are you meeting their needs, too? -- doug smith

You don't need permission to focus on what matters most. -- doug smith

Do you ever wear yourself out trying to help someone else solve a problem? It is so tempting to come up with solutions. Even when you're sure they will work, will they really?  I'm working on taking a pause. What is the request? What is the need? What is my role? You may not need to solve someone else's problem -- they may just need your attentive listening. -- doug smith

Develop your character and let your ego take care of itself. -- doug smith

All true leaders encounter conflict. It's what you do with it that defines your character. -- doug smith

Once you know how to achieve your goals it's just a matter of will. -- doug smith

How do you know if your goal is the right goal?  We have so many goals to choose from. Some agendas get in the way of others. Some goals might even be mutually exclusive -- you can achieve one or the other but not both. But some goals create more possibilities, not less. Some goals promote both sustainability and growth. Some goals are all win and no loss. The right goal keeps the wrong problem from harming you. Take you time in committing to a goal. And then, give it all you've got. -- doug smith