If you have ever had the feeling that you did not know where to look, yet you were searching for something, then you have come to the right place. There have been a lot of times I have not known where to look. I knew that I was searching for something, just not sure what. In Leadership, we are constantly searching for ways to improve. Was that what you were looking for?

And, if you are looking for ways to improve you Leadership, there are so many people and organizations to emulate; it can be daunting even deciding what or who to study.

So let us take a minute and bring a little process into it. (Life is a process, get used to it)

Begin by deciding who in your life is A. Important to you, B. Has traits and characteristics you admire, C. Someone you would like to study. This list can be made up from anyone in any time, from the dawn of man until today.

I recommend that you make the list long at first. Put as many people as you can think of. You can trim it down later. Once this list is complete, begin to trim it down. Use a system. (Life is a system, get used to it) Try grading the list on a scale of 1-10. 10 being most admired, 1 least admired. Try to get the list down to a manageable number.

In fact, it is best to get to around 10 people. Think of it as if you were stranded on an island with 10 people from history, who would you want to be stranded with? (Note: this is not Fantasy Play Island, it is Serious Business Island)

Once you have pared down your list, identify the top 10 Characteristics of each person, if possible, you admire. If you don't have ten for everybody, it's ok. Get as many as possible.

Now, take the top ten characteristics from your complete list, and this becomes a game plan for you to start studying and applying those to your life. There is a reason to get down to the top ten. It will become clear to you in the next few paragraphs.

Write them on a 3x5 card, on your phone, in your crackberry, whatever, and start trying to bring those elements into your everyday life. (Note, check out Ben Franklin sometime)

Your list might include things like tenacity, compassion, passion, initiation, action oriented, learner, personable, can do attitude, etc.... Just by writing this list down you have effected change in your life. Think how much different it will be when you start applying those characteristics.

Try to bring in one of these elements into your day, each and every day, for 10 days. Next you will then try to bring in two elements a day, then three, and so on.

At the end of 100 days, you will have integrated the most successful characteristics of people you admire into your life. Imagine the possibilities! How much power and direction will this give you in your pursuits for 2009? (Life is the pursuit of goals, get used to it)

OK, here is a real gut check for you. On your people to admire list, are you on that list? Did you write your name down? If not, why not?

Big Success Note! ADMIRE YOURSELF 1st! Write down what you do well. It's more than you think!

Leonard Buchholz
1 Jan. 2009

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Leonard_Buchholz

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