Ron Willingham is best known for helping organizations succeed with ethical, value-driven strategies. He teaches that the right mental attitude can make the difference in what you are realistically going to achieve. Knowing who you are and where you are going helps you set positive goals. Sure, it’s fine to fantasize about buying a Mercedes Benz (and even to purchase one if your budget allows for it), but do not allow yourself to to be motivated or driven by status. Status is really nothing more than buying things to impress people, that you really don’t like, with money you don’t have! Keeping up with the Joneses is a dangerous game to play. If you find yourself more concerned with status than personal values take stock of your life. Change your mindset: read or listen to some good books, listen to personal development CDs, and go to lectures. Redirect your thinking to focus on practical goals based on the reality of what is feasible in your life.

You may be young in the business and in need of a positive support system to plan exactly how you are going to reach your goals. Seek out a mentor and discover some new standards and practices. Experience in the field and right mental attitude is an excellent combination to enable you to achieve. Let’s face it, to succeed in business, you need to stay motivated and focused, right? But of course that is easier said than done. During a lecture by Stephen Covey, who preaches self-reflection as a way to discover the unlimited power of your own potential, knows that at some point, everyone is going to hit a wall. That is where a mentor can step in and help out. But, according to Covey, finding a mentor takes more thought and effort that most people realize.

A good place to start is to find someone whom you admire who shows an avid interest in you. Don’t prematurely choose your mentor. Get to know a variety of people who can potentially mentor you, which will minimize the chance in choosing someone for the wrong reasons. A magnetic personality is captivating, but too often, you can end up becoming a groupie, basking in the glow of your mentor’s superstar stature. It’s better to pick someone whose thought process and personality mesh with yours.

A mentor want you to learn and adapt his or her philosophies to become your own. A mentor should be available for advice and feedback, but not babysitting your insecurities. If you pick the right mentor, and you may have more than one, it’s usually the foundation for a life long friendship.

Searching for a Mentor? is a post from: Geoff Snyder's Leadership and Team Collaboration Blog - Freedom to Think and Dream Big

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Contrary to “popular belief”, Vicki Robin, author of Your Money or Your Life, thinks differently. To illustrate, it is common knowledge today that the social need to impress others is a simple by-product of self-esteem issues. Although demonstrating confidence is important, especially in business, you must realize that balance is vital. It is not in your best interest to brag*. No matter how great your golf game, your marathon finish time, your stock portfolio, or your individual accomplishments might be. When you focus exclusively on yourself, you systematically disengage others as well as inadvertently creating a competitive environment.

Instead, enter into conversations with worthwhile information that has little or no relevance to your personal attributes. The neutral environment will create an opportunity for each party involved to communicate something of actual value instead of perceived value and to also establish a basic commonality.

All of this leads me to a quote from the author of the aforementioned book, one that makes me smile every time I see or hear it: “Stop trying to impress other people. Other people are probably so busy trying to impress you, that they will, at best, not notice your efforts. At worst, they will resent you for one-upping them.”

*This reminds me of another book I read entitled: Brag! The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It by Peggy Klaus. A book which I will likely refer to in the near future!

Impress Yourself, Not Others is a post from: Geoff Snyder's Leadership and Team Collaboration Blog - Freedom to Think and Dream Big

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Information security policies are high-level plans that describe the goals of the procedures. Policies are not guidelines or standards, nor are they procedures or controls. Policies describe security in general terms, not specifics. They provide the blueprints for an overall security program just as a specification defines your next product. Questions always arise when people are told that procedures are not part of policies. Procedures are implementation details. A policy is a statement of the goals to be achieved by procedures. General terms are used to describe security policies so that the policy does not get in the way of the implementation. For example, if the policy specifies a single vendor’s solution for a single sign on, it will limit the company’s ability to use an upgrade or new product. Although your policy documents might require the documentation of your implementation, these implementation notes should not be part of your policy.

Although policies do not discuss how, properly defining what is being protected assures that proper control is implemented. Policies tell you what is being protected and what restrictions should be put on those controls. Although product selection and development cycles are not discussed, policies will help guide in product selection and best practices during development. Implementing these guidelines should lead to a more secure system.

When management participates in the creation of information security policies, it demonstrates that management supports the effort, lending credibility to the entire security program. Having management support is always important. Without leadership, employees will not take policies seriously. Therefore, if you do not have the support of your upper management, your program is doomed to fail before you finish writing the policy.

First you can try to reason with them. You can point out that the systems and data have real costs. You can demonstrate how an outsider or a disgruntled insider can easily access sensitive information that could damage the company’s business functions. You can show them studies, articles, even this book. But if this doesn’t convince them, you might have to wait until your first disaster.

Management might say that everybody is responsible for his or her own security. That might work in the short term, but it prevents the company from working with itself. If one department uses one standard and another department uses another standard, interoperability could be a problem. Policies ensure that the company uses the same standards in every security instance. This consistency makes it easier for the company to integrate, interact with customers, and maintain a sense of security throughout the system.

Finally, an information security policy will help avoid liability. We live in a litigious society. If you try to enforce rules that are not expressly written, you will be sued. If you fire an employee for security violations that have never been written, presented to the employee, or previously enforced, that employee also can sue your company. I know it sounds harsh, but the reality can be devastating when the subpoena arrives.

Recent Information Security Task is a post from: Geoff Snyder's Leadership and Team Collaboration Blog - Freedom to Think and Dream Big

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It’s about a graph/report that was done by the U.S. government.  I believe it was the Department Of Labor.  I know of many people in the business that show “The 45 Year Plan” to their prospects.

Today I’m going to explain it to you.  This information will blow you away!

Check this out…here’s what the report shows.  This is about your future and mine. 

Most people, about 95% of men and women in this country, work about 45 years of their lives.  Usually, this takes place between the ages of 20-65….give or take.  Most people start working after high school/college, up to the time they retire.

They spend 45 years of their lives at various jobs, or they’re self employed.  Think about that.

These people (the 95%ers) are your families… your relatives…your neighbors…and your co-workers.  I knew I HAD to change and I did!  Do you want to spend so much time working? 

40 hours per week x 50 weeks per year= 2000 hrs./year
(52 weeks in a year…I’m taking out 2 weeks for vacation)
2000 hours x 45 years= 90,000 hours

This means most of us can expect to spend roughly 90,000 hours of our lives working…can you believe that?  Most people just trade time for money…and the cost of living keeps going up 6-10% each year!

And that’s not all.  When these people retire (the 95%ers), they can expect to live on one-half to one-third of their income.  Is that depressing or what?  Don’t be one of them!  I used to be a 95%er, now I’m a 5%er.  Hopefully you’re on the same path.

If you’re not already involved, get involved in Network Marketing.  There is a 2-5 year plan to help someone become job-optional…you won’t have to ‘work’ anymore!  A 2-5 year plan to make more money than you ever have.  A 2-5 year plan to create a REAL residual income!

Remember this equation…”Money + Time= FREEDOM”!

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