The best leadership advice I ever received was about being resourceful - connecting resources to problems. A very wise professor once told me, "The key to success is not to know everything. The real key is being able to plug up your ignorance within 24 hours."

Initially, I responded with a chuckle since this advice came from someone who spoke 14 languages fluently, was a black belt martial artist and a racecar driver, in addition to being a college professor! However, once I let these words marinate in my mind, I appreciated how poignant and practical they were. It became a defining moment for me. I gained a quick and heightened appreciation of the value of being resourceful. In fact, my ability to quickly connect resources to problems is a key ingredient in my secret sauce.

As a result, I honed my ability to quickly access talent and information, so I could confidently address any leadership challenge. This advice was liberating in that I did not feel like I had to be the expert at everything... or anything for that matter!

It inspired me to build a strong professional network of experts and other resources. It also spurred me to learn how to ask the right questions to help identify the real problem, so I could harness the best resources for the solution. Now, in todays hyper-speed, mega-wired world, the standard for "plugging up your ignorance within 24 hours" has been cut to 12 hours!

Most types of sports equipment - a golf club, a tennis racquet, a baseball bat - have a certain spot that, if the ball hits it, will give the player the optimal result. Hitting this sweet spot yields a long drive down the fairway, a swift crosscourt return or home run swing. Every sport has a sweet spot of some type. If you have experienced it, you know when you hit the sweet spot, you barely feel it. The ball goes where you want it to go...even further and faster. Doesnt get any better than that!

When I first started my business in 1999, I knew my recipe for success was to "do who I am". In other words, I needed align my work with how I was, with my natural gifts. Just because I was a helper at heart didnt mean I needed to become a social worker, but I could simply weave my helping nature into everything I did.

I learned that living in my "sweet spot" enabled me to perform ordinary tasks in extraordinary ways. Sometimes we focus so much on trying to change ourselves we lose sight of our natural gifts - dont paint stripes on your back if you are not a zebra.

Mary's Secret Sauce for Success

1 gallon of positive affirmations
1 pound of breathing
½ pound of laughing
2 quarts of observation
1 tablespoon of listening
1 pinch of understanding and respect
4 cups of grounded education
2 teaspoon of good decision making skills
1 teaspoon of persistence
½ cup of constructed evaluation

By using daily positive affirmations , I am able to breath even in the midst of chaotic days, which I blend with ½ pound of laughing to coat frustration. I pull 2 quarts of observation into my daily surroundings and mix 1 tablespoon of listening, which leads to 1 pinch of understanding and respect of other persons opinions. While those items are daily subconsciously simmering in my mind, over the years I add 4 cups of education in the area of my physical, social, emotional and intellectual dimensions to foster my leadership and personal skills. Then I stir good decision making skills and 1 teaspoon of persistence and at the end of each day, I evaluate what I accomplished, what I did not accomplish allow it to marinate until the next day, then I start each with the same sauce.

Make my goals known to God through Prayer, Believing God has answered my prayer(goals) as soon as I pray,writing out my prayer (goals) so I can see them and Daily Mediation of my Prayer (goals) and thanking God for the victory!!! It Works everytime!! Mark 11-23:24

No matter what the day holds you jusy keep smiling. No matter how people treat you just keep smiling. Because, if you can maintain who you are you can hold on to your vision and your dreams without allowing people to alter you attitude.

Having parents that I always knew would not let me fall if I tried something and failed. It gave me security to always take risks. Second, working for a leader who knows how to bring out my strengths and play to those and work around my weaknesses.

A Passion for your assignment which produces a driven ability to achieve your goals, staying positive will aid focus and creativity and Confidence in yourself that you can do it!!

Have someone in your life who believes in you more than you believe in yourself.  I have that.  The best way to get someone like that is to BE someone like that.

Always be open to learning from others' experiences.

Be respectful.

Be a good listener.

Share your own experiences.

Be confident enough to address issues to overcome them.

Communicate with enthusiasm and goals.

Last October my mother’s health began to deteriorate. Illness was taking a toll on every aspect of her life. I recognized that mom, as I’ve always known her, was fading away. So every morning during my quiet time, I began budgeting the amount of time I would spend mourning the changes that were taking place. For several months now I have allowed myself a few minutes each day to pour out my heart in prayer and have an unashamed cry.

Then I spend a few minutes thinking of things to be thankful for, both past and present. I talk to myself about enjoying the moment I’m in rather than fretting over future events that may or may not happen. By the time I arrive at work, I am able to choose a positive attitude. I try to be alert to others who are going through hard times so I can encourage and comfort them.

2 essential skills in getting ahead and defusing political situation: timing and using humor

Involvement
Notice
Standards
Philosophy
Ican,Ican
Results
Excellence

Stay involved with people, it doesn't take long, sincerely notice what they do, especially the right, not jsut the wrong, maintain your standards everyday,share your philosophy along the way, I can, I can, if I think I can, results, ultimetly what we all live by, the search for our own inner excellence is the reason we continue to try.

I have been in the retail specialty industry for 30 years.
Each organization that I have worked with has left out one key component
that is essential in any secret sauce.
It is "Respect & Value"
Each associate in the organization appreciates being valued and respected.
The key is setting the expectations at the very beginning, but bringing into the mix the respect and value piece.
That is my receipe for success....................
People matter........

Never compromise your ethics and integrity. Exhibit managerial courage.

Cultivating my professional network is critical to the growth of my business. Every time I meet a new person, I follow up with a hand-written note card. The cards are top quality, embossed with my name. I write each card by hand, using a fountain pen. I hand write each address, and affix a stamp by hand.
Further, when any member of my network (new or existing) makes a referral, introduces me to someone new, or is my host at an event, I follow up with a similar hand-written note card.
These cards are never long. They simply contain my sincere expression of gratitude and pleasure, and willingness to assist in any way.

First, find a product or service in which you can be Proud. Then apply the word Pride as a success acronym for your approach:

P - Professionalism - Performance without excuses.
R - Reserve - Take care of mind, body and soul to have the stamina to succeed as a salesman and sales leader.
I - Individualism. Apply what you learn from others with personal style.
D - Development- Always develop your profession by studying sales/leadership skills, product and competitor knowledge
E - Ego - Believe in yourself above all else.