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Wednesday, July 28, 2010

"Self-esteem that is deeper than self-protection"


"Self-esteem that is deeper than self-protection"

Protecting oneself from outside forces and influences is a natural reaction. But sometimes people allow that to come at the expense of their own self-esteem. They protect themselves by going along and not standing out. This is contrary to true leadership. Leaders must be able to stand out and, by doing so, put themselves in a vulnerable position. Having the self-esteem to stick to your core convictions may leave you vulnerable, but no true leader ever succeeded under a roof of self-protection. Leaders are more of risk takers because in order to rise above you cannot settle for the status quo.

Be Nimble, and Willing to Fail

"I make mistakes faster than anybody," says Matt Sileno, founder of The Intuitive Group, Inc. a marketing company based in Vienna, VA. "I think, go, do," he continues. "While the competition is figuring out what to do, we've tried two different things and have figured out the right one."

As a leader, it's essential to me that when I make a mistake, I want it to be brought to my attention. I am comfortable admitting my mistakes.

Being myself is important

Self-esteem is critical to your career success. You need lots of it at all stages of your career - whether it's for a job search, as a new employee, working with others, or dealing with stress and deadlines. If you're like most people, you may wonder if you've got enough self-esteem to reach your career goals. Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to build and strengthen your self-worth.

1. Understand yourself

2. Improve your awareness

3. Work on your attitude

4. Believe in yourself and your potentials

5. Develop your skills

6. Set your goals

7. Begin with the end in mind

I interviewed a friend who is now an entrepreneur and used to do retail for many years. He said, "Before I started working for myself, I didn't know I had low self-esteem. I used to think I was just being negative. I was unhappy with my job but did not have the confidence to leave it. It made me aware that the way I react to situations is based on how I feel about myself."

Self esteem was once viewed as a purely psychological need, but now it’s also economic. With rapid changes occurring in the global economy, the number of choices and decisions we make on a daily basis is increasing. With that, so does the urgency and importance of self esteem. By knowing and recognizing your self-value and worth, you will become more independent to make the best possible decisions for yourself. This is exactly what is needed to succeed in this rapidly changing and competitive world of ours.

I want to make one more last important note: self esteem and ego are not the same.
Self-esteem is an internal job. It is you telling you how good you are, whilst always maintaining a firm grip on reality. Ego is telling everyone else how good you are and is often driven by fear of rejection.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

What are some good strategies for boosting employee morale?


The Intuitive Group, Inc. really believes in promoting team environments and places great emphasis on recognition.
It is more important now than ever to focus on developing a positive relationship with employees. If your company has had layoffs, furloughs, or a hiring freeze, the workers who are left are probably working harder than ever as they absorb the work that former employees did in addition to their existing jobs.

What are you doing to keep spirits up around the workplace?

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Step 3 to developing courageous leadership



"Spiritual sensitivity that is louder than popular opinion"

Many people try to check their spirituality at the door when it comes to work and leadership, when in actuality they are inseparable. Spirituality is the core of who you are. Unfortunately, many allow trends, popular opinion, or even a louder voice in the room win over what they truly know and believe in their heart. Spiritual strength is essential to establishing a firm moral foundation that cannot be blown over or toppled by the voices around them. This is so important because our words and actions reflect what’s on the inside. Our quality of leadership is built on this value system. Each of us was created with a specific purpose in mind.

Values – Yes They Still Matter

Situational ethics is now being taught in many of our public schools. One teacher, wanting to illustrate that human reasoning is many times wrong, gave the following situation to a class of high school students: "How would you advise a mother who was pregnant with her fifth child based on the following facts. Her husband had syphilis and she had tuberculosis. Their first child was born blind, the second child died. A third child was born deaf while their fourth child had tuberculosis. The mother is considering an abortion. Would you advise her to have one?" In view of these facts, most of the students agreed that the mother should have an abortion. The teacher then announced, "If you said 'yes', you would have just killed the great composer, Ludwig von Beethoven."

Spirituality plays a key role in ethical leadership. Moreover, spirituality demands that leaders cultivate and nurture a sense of self that recognizes interrelatedness of life and a sense of community.

Identity: Who you think you are? Self-awareness comes with an understanding of how you view yourself. The operative word in this question is think; that is, how do you perceive yourself.

Achievement: What have you done lately? There is a sharp distinction between what we think we achieve and what others think we achieve. If the two are not in parallel, we feel out of sync. The challenge becomes in finding meaning and satisfaction in what we do and harmonizing it with what we are challenged to do. No easy task.

Reputation: What do other people think you are? Reputation is the combination of identity and achievements as seen by others. Lucky for you if your self-image matches your public persona! But if you are like most of us, you have work to do to make certain that who you are and what you think you do matches the impact that you are having on others.

Acceptance: What can you change, and what is beyond your control? Goals are good, but they can sometimes prevent us from achieving understanding our inner selves. The challenge arises from learning what you can change (your behavior) and what you cannot change (other people). Acceptance becomes important; otherwise you will cause yourself and others around you much unhappiness.

A leader’s spiritual sensitivity can also help you instill accountability within the company culture. If you have values concerning behavior, then when someone steps out of line, you can call their attention to the inconsistency. There is clear communication that certain behavior is not tolerated. You have instilled values and you hold people accountable for living up to them. Conformity to values is critical because it becomes the platform upon which you ensure that people strive toward the vision and work at the mission; that is, people draw together.

Organizations that are successful in this regard integrate their values into performance objectives. That way employees know more than what they are supposed to do; they know how they are supposed to do it with respect for ideas, dignity for colleagues and trust in the system. And when those things are not in sync, you work to fix it.

Overall, spirituality and ethics will play an increasingly important role in the development of leadership for the future. With the increasing advancement in science, technology, and business, next generation leaders face a significant challenge to serve the interests of human development and the environment.

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About The Intuitive Group, Inc.
The Intuitive Group, Inc. is headed by Matthew Sileno and headquartered in Vienna, Virginia. The company specializes in direct marketing by bringing products and services directly to consumers. The company works with team members from day one to train them for the job and for the rest of their lives. The skills gained help team members excel in the company and in life. The Intuitive Group, Inc. is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), adhering to BBB Code of Business Practices dedicated to sound advertising, selling and customer service practices that enhance customer trust and confidence in business. For more information about The Intuitive Group, Inc. please visit http://www.theintuitivegroup-dc.com/


The Intuitive Group, Inc.
8233 Old Courthouse Rd Ste 330
Vienna, VA 22182

Tel (703) 388-2863
Fax (703) 388-2894

Monday, July 19, 2010

Step TWO to developing courageous leadership


"Vision that is clearer than my doubts"

For any leader, vision is essential. A leader must be able to see where they are now, and look ahead to where they strive to be. This is a key in having a strong, clear vision. Someone who lacks vision won’t want to take any risks because they only see the short term outcome and not the long term results 6 months, 2 years, or 5 years down the road.

Contrary to the popular belief, that “leaders are born and not made” I believe leaders are “born-again.” Being a born again leader means having your mind transformed through a paradigm shift. A paradigm shift is a 180 degree shift in your perspective. People blind since birth that are suddenly enabled to see is what a paradigm shift feels like. What it does is stretch your mind. "A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions."— Oliver Wendell Holmes

The secret to creating visionary leaders is not to tell people what great leaders do hoping they will be able to do the same. Visionary leadership results naturally from the inner workings of the mind -drives, intentions, values and beliefs- not from being told what to do. A visionary leader acts based on values and intentions that are aligned with desired outcomes and that lead to impressive results.

While any vision comes with doubt, the doubt cannot be paralyzing to achieving the vision. There will be people that “rain” on your parade, however a visionary leader understands that the hard work and sacrifice made now will pay endless dividends later.

Magic Johnson is a great example of a visionary leader. Read his story here: Turning the Magic On: How Johnson Built an Empire

Friday, July 16, 2010

Step ONE to developing courageous leadership


Join us as we cover material on 10 steps to developing courageous leadership taken from an internationally respected leadership expert, speaker, and author who has sold more than 18 million books, John Maxwell. Let's break it down, learn, and most importantly apply each step. In contrast to the saying that "leaders are born", I actually believe that "leaders are built".

"Convictions that are stronger than my fears"

A leader is one who overcomes their fears. This may be fears of stepping out, fears of trying something new, or even a fear of standing up to what you know is right. Most everyone has convictions but many are too timid to stand up when those convictions are challenged. The fears created by our own minds restrict us from living a productive life.

To succeed as a leader your convictions must overrule your fears. Someone who is a crusader exemplifies this quality. When you think of crusader, you may be thinking of The Middle Ages in Europe when religious wars or the “The Crusades” took place. In essence, being a crusader is fighting for or working towards a cause bigger than you . You are way past the point of trying to determine how to do things to find results because your "why" is so strong that your beliefs are unshakable. No fear of failure or embarassment or negativity can overcome your desire to succeed. Thus, the way a leader has far-reaching political, economic, and social impacts is by leading a crusade.

Today I challenge you to face your fears and become a crusader.

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Thursday, July 8, 2010

Make the World Your Oyster


Have a Standard of Excellence to Live By

To differentiate from the majority of people who don’t like what they do, you have to actually enjoy what you do.

Start your day by doing your job the best you can, and try to do it for a week. Then come back next week and do it all over again. The best you can, not waiting for rewards, not asking for rewards. Don’t wait for results to come, just do the job the best you can. When you get positive feedback from your customers, when you close a new deal – ask yourself: What has changed?

You will start loving your job because success will come, first in small steps, but more and more, day by day it will grow. Your customers will start seeing you as a knowledgeable person, your colleagues will see you with different eyes, and you will realize that all of that is important, but most important are feelings inside of you that start building – good feelings about yourself.

You will feel worthy, valuable to your customers, colleagues, and you will build that feeling inside of you that you are valuable part of your environment.

Your Standard of Excellence Becomes Bigger

You will start feeling that you are helping others – your colleagues to be better, your customers to find the best solution, and by helping them you are actually helping yourself to become a more valuable member of the community. In my humble experience meeting with leaders of world class prestigious and established companies, leaders, founders, and bosses of these companies were polite, approachable, friendly, and open minded.

In business, inspire others. Support others. And draw support and inspiration from others…

Make the World Your Oyster

Your self-respect that you’ve gained with that new knowledge will make the world your oyster. Don’t wait for your employer to send you to a seminar. Be proactive, for yourself and your career. It will benefit you in the long term – with your career and most importantly you will see the difference in your wallet!
As a business owner, I maintain an open mind in order to attain new information to help me grow.

In the following I’ll share with you 3 bulletproof actions I implement in my business.

1. Set strong goals
2. Hit your goals
3. Be 100% accountable to yourself and family


Overall, I have learned that talent alone never beats the combination of ambition and action!

About The Intuitive Group, Inc.
The Intuitive Group, Inc. is headed by Matthew Sileno and headquartered in Vienna, Virginia. The company specializes in direct marketing by bringing products and services directly to consumers. The company works with team members from day one to train them for the job and for the rest of their lives. The skills gained help team members excel in the company and in life. The Intuitive Group, Inc. is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), adhering to BBB Code of Business Practices dedicated to sound advertising, selling and customer service practices that enhance customer trust and confidence in business. For more information about The Intuitive Group, Inc. please visit http://www.theintuitivegroup-dc.com/


The Intuitive Group, Inc.
8233 Old Courthouse Rd Ste 330
Vienna, VA 22182

Tel (703) 388-2863
Fax (703) 388-2894

Friday, July 2, 2010

Connect The Dots


When I was young I loved connecting the dots. Remember those pictures with dots and numbers that you had to connect to complete a picture? You had to start at number one and then follow your way one by one along the numbered steps, and pretty quickly a picture would develop. In life, connecting the dots is a much bigger challenge. Now as adults we have to connect life dots such as emotion dots, relationship dots, job dots, decision dots, parenting dots, etc. I continually aim to make sense of situations and circumstances and long for a simple numbered life sheet to give me guidance and direction.

Do you ever feel that way? Do you ever wonder how to connect daily choices and behaviors to solutions? Do you struggle to understand how to connect the dots between your actions and the desired result? Between the decisions you need to make and the impacts it will have? Most of the time we are so focused on the end result and do not realize that it is the process that determines our course. Just like connecting the dots, life’s events do not just happen randomly. It is numbered just like our days are numbered. In the last blog, we were applauding Matt Sileno, the President of The Intuitive Group, Inc., for his commitment to recognition and living in the moment. It’s absolutely easy to get wrapped up in the hustle of building and managing a business, yet nonetheless Matt continuously adds value to the company culture by taking out his team for recreational activities to bond and recharge after a week of hard work.

Other times, when it’s difficult to discern what to do, sometimes you need to just sit back and have faith that things will work out in the end. Trusting your own decisions is often one of the most difficult but necessary and rewarding experiences. When we connect the dots, we are demonstrating what it takes to get to the next level, or make the next decision, or choose the next response. You have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.

Imagine what our lives, families, and communities would look like if we disciplined ourselves to purposefully connect our life dots each day. The world would see a beautiful picture!

The Intuitive Group, Inc.
8233 Old Courthouse Rd Ste 330
Vienna, VA 22182

Tel (703) 388-2863
Fax (703) 388-2894

www.theintuitivegroup-dc.com

Thursday, July 1, 2010

THE ROAD TO HAPPINESS


“The road to happiness lies in two simple principles,” said Rockefeller. “Find what interests you and that you can do well, and put your whole soul into it – every bit of energy and ambition and natural ability you have.”

So you're on your way to college. Courses, textbooks, roommates, sports, clubs, parties -- and, oh yeah, your major. Somewhere along the line, you've got to pick one. The thing is, at most colleges and universities these days, you've got so many choices.

Are you the right you?

Rockefeller gives us two basic principles to follow.

1. Do what interests you.

Don’t forget the most important resource of all: you. Think about what you're good at, what you enjoy, and what fascinates you.

You can look for a career path that seems interesting, secure, and well-paid. You can decide to go to grad school and delay having to answer the question for a few more years. Or you can rephrase the question into one that we think is more important: “What am I interested in?” No, not every interest can be turned into a job that pays the bills. But if you ask people out there in the real world whether the tougher thing is to find your passion or a job, we bet that nine out of ten will pick passion. The problem is most people don’t want to change careers or start a new business. They don’t necessarily want more money. What they want is freedom, and the things money can buy.

2. Put your whole soul into it.

In other words, as Ralph Waldo Emerson, the American philosopher clearly stated, "Put your whole soul into it. Stamp it with your own personality."

Doing something for money will lead you to a life you have no passion for. Doing something because someone else told you to will lead to the same. Most people dream of finding a way to build a better quality of life and to control their destiny. Yet, this never happens for most people. Success in anything seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go. It might take a little longer, but ultimately you'll be doing something you love, and that's what matters.


Recently, a friend shared a really interesting article with me, titled, “U.S. Is Richest Nation, But Not Happiest”.

It said that there are two major categories of happiness: overall life satisfaction; and more moment-to-moment enjoyment of life.

While overall satisfaction of life is strongly tied to income, meaning richer nations and individuals have more of this overall bliss, how much one enjoys life (by measures such as laughing and smiling) depends more on social and psychological needs being met. These include having social support and using one's abilities, as opposed to sitting at a mind-numbing job.

The United States, which had the highest gross domestic product per capita, came in at No. 16 for overall well-being and No. 26 for enjoyment, referred to as positive feelings. The No. 1 spot for overall well-being went to Denmark, and New Zealand landed the No. 1 slot for positive feelings.

"Everybody has been looking at just life satisfaction and income," said study researcher Ed Diener of the University of Illinois and the Gallup Organization. "And while it is true that getting richer will make you more satisfied with your life, it may not have the big impact we thought on enjoying life."

The positive feelings aspect of happiness could have evolutionary roots. "Whereas life satisfaction reflects whether people are obtaining their values and goals in a long-term and big picture sense, positive feelings seem to arise from momentary things that are prewired, since feeling good about the support of others and about using skills are both necessary for humans to thrive and survive," Diener told LiveScience.

Overall, as a result of following these two simple principles, it was estimated after Mr. Rockefeller retired from business that he had accumulated close to $1,500,000,000 out of the earnings of the Standard Oil trust and out of his other investments. This was probably the greatest amount of wealth that any private citizen had ever been able to accumulate by his own efforts.

The lesson? The road to happiness is doing something you are passionate about. The money will follow!

Are you ready to strike out on new paths, rather than travel the worn paths of accepted success?