Welcome back! It's good to see you again. Please note that I am now publishing all new material at my hub site: In Context Blog

Here is a great idea from Success from the Nest:

We all carry around a YouTube library in our heads. This is a real You-Tube because it’s all about events from your life — hopes, fears, successes, failures.

By taking control of the clips in your library, you create a powerful tool.

Use the memories of past successes to fuel your future ones — and continue to add to the success media library in your head.

Now that is a real Lifehack. Use your positive memories to create a mood of optimism and enthusiasm. This is the best kind of personal affirmation, because you don’t have to overcome the feeling that you are lying to yourself. The old SNL skit where the character looks in the mirror and says, “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it, people like me!” can feel like a mockery when you are truly down.

Here is a better idea: play back the “You-tube” brain video of the last friendly gathering you attended, and you are on to something, especially if bowling was involved ( I’m just sayin’, who doesn’t have a good time at the bowling alley?).

Today’s guest post is from Mike St. Pierre, host of The Daily Saint, a productivity blog.

Nobody likes a know-it-all.  We could lump into that category those who get things done at work but steamroll their colleagues in the process.  I witnessed this (again) during last week’s episode of Design Star, the HGTV reality show where 12 “lucky contestants” design their way towards their own show.

Rob got the ax last week because he had a lousy attitude.  After insulting his team mate, he proceeded to call the judges fools and cry for all of us to see.  Poor Rob, if he had only worked a bit more on his attitude and a bit less on his fake tears.  (Rob’s exit interview)

We rarely hear about how attitude is vital to getting ahead at work but it’s worth a reminder.  Be likable.  Be honest.  Be encouraging.  It will improve the “you” that others work with and will ultimately be an asset to your productivity.

Resources for the Road
The Power of Likability
Narcissistic Leaders: the Incredible Pros, the Inevitable Cons
Fool vs. Jerk - Whom Would You Hire?

You can manage a process, you can’t manage people

A big mistake that many new managers (and some experienced ones!) make is to think that the group of people that they are now in charge of need to be managed. I’ve got news - a manager is in charge of the processes and actions that their people will be executing. A Leader is out in front, guiding their people in the right direction to accomplish the group’s goals.

In his book, The 360 Degree Leader, John Maxwell studies the importance of Leadership on the quality of management - no matter what level in the corporate hierarchy that you fill. “Lead Up Principle #4” describes just what leadership is:

• People more than Projects
• Movement more than Maintenance
• Art more than Science
• Intuition more than Formula
• Vision more than Procedure
• Risk more than Caution
• Action more than Reaction
• Relationships more than Rules
• Who you are more than what you do

As you can see from this list, leadership deals with concepts that are much more abstract than simple management. A manager uses rules, policies, and formulas to keep the “production line” moving, cranking out those widgets. These are the concrete aspects of a manager’s function, as opposed to the abstract types of thinking and behavior that create true leadership.

Leaders do what managers don’t

1. Leaders plan for the future - Also called Long-Term Thinking, a Leader needs to be able to see beyond today’s widgets. Making sure that the team is not only doing things right, but doing the right things for tomorrow and beyond is the responsibility of a Leader.
2. Leaders see the Big Picture - A team within an organization is just one part that contributes to overall success. Like a machine, every part is needed for efficient operation, and the Leader will think and act based on how their team fits within the larger context.
3. Leaders push the envelope - In the quest to find “a better way” a Leader will have the courage to color outside the lines. The rules are there for a reason, managers are told, Leaders will question the reason, “Is it still appropriate?“
4. Leaders accentuate the intangibles - Remember the list in the quote above? You can’t really plug a relationship with a team-mate into a graph to show the board of directors. Leaders will have confidence in expressing and describing the intangible factors that lead to success.
5. Leaders learn to trust their hunches - Intuition is a skill like anyother, that can be improved over time. The more you learn to focus your attention on the intangibles, such as principles rather than processes, the more perceptive your intuition will become.
6. Leaders give their power away - If you want something done right, I have always found that the best way is not to do it yourself; no, train someone how to do it - and put them in charge of it. Make them responsible and create trust. Truly empowered team members can create remarkable successes.
7. Leaders are agents of change - Managers are there to implement the changes that Leaders create. One of the basic qualities of a Leader is a desire for innovation, for making progress happen.

People can not be managed, they have hopes and dreams, they have problems at home. There is almost nothing a manager can do to make people work like machines. People prefer to be led, to have an example to work towards, an inspiration to perform. When a Leader has the skills and understanding mentioned above, they can take their team to a much higher level.

Rob at 7Breaths pointed out a new list of Personal Development blogs at Priscilla Palmer’s place, and it is a long list. Many of these blogs are new to me, and have some really great writing. I nominated two of my regular reads in the comments, The Daily Saint and Neat and Simple Living. Check it out.

Aaron Potts at Today is That Day

Adam Kayce at Monk at Work

Al at 7pproductions.com

Alan Torres at Made to Be Great

Alex Shalman at AlexShalman.com

Alexander Kjerulf at The Chief Happiness Officer

Alexys at Unraveling The Spiritual Mystique

Albert Foong at urbanmonk.net

Amy Hedin at There is no Maximum to Human Potential

Andrea J. Lee at Money, Meaning, and Beyond

Andy Wibbels at AndyWibbels.com

Anita Pathik Law at Power of four Way

Anna Farmery at The Engaging Brand

Antonio Thornton at AntonioThornton.com

Ask Lucid at Ask Lucid Spiritual Development

Belle Wong at Abundance Journal

Blogfuse at LifeDev

Brad Isaac at Achieve It

Brian Clark at Copyblogger

Brian Kim at briankim.net

Bob at everyeveryminute

Carlon Haas at Possess Less Exist More

Chris Marshall at Martial Devlopment

Christine Kane at ChristineKane.com

Clyde at Feeling Good

Conceive, Believe, Achieve at Conceive, Believe, Achieve

Craig Harper at Motivational Speaker

Curt Rosengren at Occupational Adventure

Damian Carr at Soul Terminal

Daniel Sitter at Idea Sellers

Dave Schoof at Engaging the Disquiet

Davers at Language Trainers Blog

David Allen at The David Allen Company

David Bohl at Reflections on Balance

David Rogers at How to Have Great Self Confidence

David Seah at David Seah.com

Dawud Miracle at dmiracle.com

Dean Lacono at Law of Attraction for Beginners

Debbie Call at Spirit In Gear

Debra Moorhead at Debra Moorhead.com

Des Walsh at Thinking Home Business

Dick Richards at Come Gather Round

Don Simkovich at Hey Don

Donald Latumahina at Life Optimizer

Donna Karlin at Perspectives

Dr. Charles Parker at The Core Psych Blog

Dr. Hal at Northstar Mental fitness blog

Drew Rozell at Drew Rozell.com

Edward Mills at Evolving Times

Ellen Weber at Brain Based Business

Emmanuel Lopez at The Adventures of Motivatorman

Ellesse at Goal Setting College

Elly Jolly at Jolly Life Coaching

Enoch Tan at Mind Reality

Eric Napier at Quotation Collection

Frank Kanu at Frank Uncovers Excellence in Leadership

Frank Roche at KnowHR Blog

Galba Bright at Tune Up Your EQ

Guy Kawasaki at How to Change the World

Gleb Reys at Personal Development Ideas

Grayson at Modern Worker Blog

Gretchen Rubin at Happiness Project

Gustav at Success-is-in-you.com

Gyanish at Diethack

Hilda Carroll at Living Out Loud

Henrik Edberg at The Positivity Blog

Honman at Open Your Mind to Prosperity

Inkedmn at The Cranking Widgets Blog

Itzy Sabo at Email Overloaded

Jacklyn Ker at Inspiring and Empowing Lives

Jason and Michael at Black Belt Productivity

Jason Ivers at A Miracle a Day

Jay White at dumb little man tips for life

Jean Browman at Transforming Stress Into Power and Cheerful Monk

Jeff Lilly at Druid Journal

Jeffrey Phillips at Think Faster

Jennifer at Goodness Graciousness

Jeremiah Owyang at Web Strategy by Jeremiah

Jerry Hart at Blue Print to emarketing

Jerry Lopper at Personal Growth

Jim Walton at Black In Business

Joanna Young at Coaching Wizardry

John Pratt at John Pratt International

John Place at John Place Online

John Wesley at Pick The Brain

Josh Bickford at Reach For Magnificence and Reach for Magnificence

Julia Rogers Hamrick at Julia’s Blog: Journal of the Journey Home to Eden

Julie Bonner at Declutter It

Kailani at An Island Review

Kammie Kobyleski at Passion Meets Purpose

Karen at Journey with Water Learner

Karen Lynch at Live The Power

Karen Wallace at The Clearing Space

Karl Staib at Karl Staib.com

Kevin Kinchen at Creative Power of Thought

Killeris at Attitude, The Ultimate Power

Kim and Jason at Escape Adulthood

Kim George at Doing What You Can Do

Kirsten Harrell at Ipopin

K.L. Masina at Be Conscious Now

Leah Maclean at Working Solo

Laura Young at The Dragon Slayer’s Guide to Life

Lee Nutter at bmindful

Leo Baruta at Zen Habits

Life Reflection at Universe in a Single Atom

Lisa Gates at Design Your Writing Life

Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

Lola Fayemi at Real World Spiritual and Personal Development

Lorraine Cohen at Powerfull Living

Lucid at Spiritual Suggestions

Lyman Reed at Creating a Better Life

Maddy at Illuminated Minds Want to Know

Maria Palma at The Good Life

Mark at The Naked Soul

Mark Forster at Get Everything Done

Mark McManus at Build Your Life To Order

Mark W Shead at Productivity 501

Martin Avis at Kickstart Daily

Matthew Cornell at Matt’s Idea Blog

Merlin Mann at 43 Folders

Michelle Moore at Happiness Blog

Michael Port at The Think Big Revolution

My Everyday Planner at My Everyday Planner

Nancy Tierney at Unconditional Confidence

Neil Patel at Quick Sprout

Nick Smith at Life 2.0

Nneka at Balanced Life Center

Organize-It at Organize-It

Pamala Slim at Escape From Cubicle Nation

Pamm Larry at My Spiritual Dance

Patricia Singleton at Spiritual Journey of a Lightworker

Paul at Paul’s Tips

Peter at I Will Change Your Life

Peter Aldin at Great Circle

Phil Gerbyshak at Make It Great

Priscilla Palmer at Personal Development Demands Success

Raymond Salas at Zenchill Powertools

Reg Adkins at ElementalTruths

Rick Cockrum at Shards of Consciousness

Rick Cooper at The PDA Pro

Ririan at Ririanproject

Rob at 7Breaths

Rob Cooke at Leave the Office

Robert at Compassionate Council

Robyn McMaster at Brain Based Biz

Rosa Say at Managing With Aloha Coaching

Ryan Marle at The Alpha Project

S.J. Yee at Personal Development for the Book Smart

Sam at Aquire Wisdom and Live with Passion

Scott Adams at The Dilbert Blog

Scott Bernadot at Keeping The Secret

Scott Ginsberg at Hello, My Name Is Blog

Scott H Young at Scott H Young

Self Pursuit at Self Pursuit

Shauna Arthurs at Breathing Prosperity and Follow Your Path

Shaheen Lakhan at GNIF Brain Blogger

Simone and Mandy at Outfit Inspirations

Slade Roberson at Shift Your Spirits

Sleeping Dude at How to Wake Up Early

Spike at Organize It

Stephanie and Jeffrey at Brains on Purpose

Stephen Smith at HD BizBlog

Steve Olson at Steve-Olson.com

Steve Pavlina at stevepavlina.com

Steve Roessler at All Things Workplace

Steven Aitchison at Change Your Thoughts

Surjit at Gurushabad

Susan Sabo at Productivity Cafe

Ted Demopoulos at Blogging For Business

Thom Quinn at Qlog

Tim Ferris at 4-Hour Workweek and Lifestyle Design Blog

Tom Spanton at TRCoach

Tony D Clark at Success From The Nest

Torlink at You Create Reality

Travis Wright at Cultivate Greatness

Trizoko at Trizoko.com

Trevor Gay at Simplicity is the Key

Troy Worman at Orbit Now!

Tupelo Kenyon at Tupelokenyon.com

Vickie at Contemplate This

Wan Qi at Meditation Forum Mantras

WildBill at PassionateBlogger

and these collaborated sites:

Burst Blog

Daily PlanIt

Did I Get Things Done

GTD Wannabe

Life Coaches Blog Strategies for a Greater Life

Lifehack.org