Posted by rdsinger in Uncategorized.
Tags: Active senior citizen, CEO, Coaching, executive coaching, Peer groups, University of California, VISTAGE
My VISTAGE colleagues know of Pat Hyndman and his long career with first TEC, and then VISTAGE. Pat is still an active VISTAGE chair at the age of 98, although he is ill at the present time. When I think of the kind of people I’d like to emulate, Pat immediately comes to mind. I hope I can be still doing VISTAGE into my 90s, like Pat.
I believe Pat’s positive attitude is what keeps him going. I spent a weekend at VISTAGE chair training about two years ago and Pat was part of our training group. Nothing Pat did over that weekend could have given away his age, including how he looked. He was totally tuned into every discussion and contributed some great ideas.
Of course, when someone has lived that long, there are many things we have yet to learn about them. One of those interesting facts that I just learned is that Pat was a key part of the group that established the University of California San Diego campus.
The link I’ve added to this blog is from the San Diego Union Tribune and is a great story about Pat, and his work to establish the University of California in San Diego. I think it will also give you some insight into the kind of man Pat is and what keeps him going. Pat is a model for us all.
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/may/25/success-stems-networks-human-not-digital-kind/
Posted by rdsinger in Uncategorized.
Tags: Celebrating accomplishments, CEO, Leadership, Self confidence
As executives, we often forget about the things we’ve accomplished over the years that helped to get us to where we are today. It’s so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day minutia of our jobs that we develop “tunnel vision” and lose sight of those important accomplishments, the experiences that gave us the tools we use daily.
In addition, if we are high achievers, we give ourselves little room for error. We “suffer” the errors much more than we celebrate the good “stuff”. We forget that failure is an opportunity to learn and grow. We “beat ourselves up”, instead of finding the lesson. Think about it, would you really be able to celebrate success if you didn’t experience any failures along the way?
So, here is my “cure” for those periodic bouts of “DOMS” (Down On Myself Syndrome): The times when you’re losing sleep over a business problem or decision, when you’re at a crossroads and not sure which path to take, when you lose an employee that you think you can’t afford to lose, when a project takes longer than expected to complete, when your competitor suddenly starts taking a bigger share of the market and your not sure why, etc.
Follow this simple “prescription” (and you won’t have to call me in the morning):
- Always keep an updated resume handy (top drawer of desk, or on your computer)
- When times get tough, take it out and send it…to yourself (or just read it)
- Realize, as you read it, that you wouldn’t hesitate to hire this person, if given the chance
- Go out and deal with whatever the issue is the way the person described in that resume would
- Celebrate your accomplishments!
Don’t ever forget who you are and what got you to where you are. Sure, you’ve had help along the way, as we all have, but that help would not have been there had you not been the person you are. So, get that resume updated and in an easily accessible place, and go celebrate yourself!
Gibsonia Gazette 