Once upon hearing a person tell me that he had worked continuously for four years with no vacation, I stopped to think about how unsuccessful that person appeared to be to me. Now, I fully realize that to some people who enjoy their work, this might be a desired result – work all the time because that’s what makes you feel good.

I prefer to think of life like a musical composition. It’s full of variety – tempo changes, dynamic variations, rests, fermatas, and more.

With a variety in like the Transformational Leader is equipped to think clearly and respond to the challenges of leadership with a fresh perspective.

TIP: If you plan to create variety in your life, the change of pace with empower you for challenges ahead for your leadership. Do not lag behind the curve, be prepared to lead the charge by being rested and focused.

When it’s only you, then you can be very flexible – do what you want to do when you want to do it. (not really true, but many solo entrepreneurs experience the world this way) Once you get a team ( for this discussion, 2 or more people), then the status changes. You must then plan the scope and sequence of the work.

Many leaders of major companies treat their systems and processes like the company is small – making dramatic changes and starting the change right away – planning the day on the fly – running meetings but the seat of their pants – just making autocratic decisions and not utilizing project teams or work centers for multi-tasking and working on multiple priorities, just to name a few.

If you want a big company, then develop systems that support the opposite of the situation describe above.

Effective leadership inspires effective work from those whom you lead. The output of the team is in direct proportion to the clarity of their vision about roles, responsibilities, and functions as a team.

TIP: If you don’t like to have your time wasted, then respect the time of those whom you lead by developing systems to achieve maximum results from your great teams.

Are you the 3%? Only three percent of the population will actually follow through with an idea and implement it. Yes, that’s the sad truth. Many, many people have great ideas, if fact there is an abundance of great ideas. There are, however, very few people to see those ideas through to success.

This is the law of averages. Only 3% of the readers of this newsletter will actually implement the ideas. Why? It’s the law of averages. Throughout history this formula repeats itself.

So, the choice is yours. Do you want to be known as the person who actually succeeded? Maybe the winning idea is an idea that was given to you. The great idea does not have to be original.

Today you have many options. You have many opportunities to succeed. Have you decided to succeed? That’s the first step – deciding to succeed. The next step is deciding to be committed to the idea. Believe in the idea and have a passion for the idea. You will not succeed if you have no passion for the idea.

The first step in establishing a successful system is deciding to succeed. Next, figure out how.

TIP: First develop clarity for what you want. Next devise a pathway to success.

Thomas Edison was the most prolific inventor in history. His style of leadership was to work all the time. Edison was known for not sleeping. Yes, that’s true. He basically never slept. He would only take short naps and get right back to work.

There is a difference in being driven and being called as a leader. Edison was productive because he never gave up, in fact, he continued to work to invent the incandescent light bulb through multiple failures. On his 10,000 try he succeeded! Are you willing to work this hard to prove your idea? Edison did not recognize failure. He stated that he found 9,999 ways that did not work.

The Transformational Leader creates balance in life in order to have personal and work lives and not just a work life. It was important to Edison to realize his many brilliant ideas into working, living projects – the light bulb, the dry cell battery, electricity that could be transported over distance, and the telephone (he invented the phone, but got the the patent office after Bell – he was however the person that made the phone work in a practical manner).

Edison made a choice – be the best inventor. He was famous for that. Do you think he was happy? I wonder….

TIP: Plan to be successful in life, not just your work life.

If you lead an organization or are preparing your self to lead the organization of your dreams, then be in touch with your passion. When I question leaders about their vision and then ask them to define their passion for that vision, I often get responses describing the desired results for others. Many times it takes quite a bit of of questioning to arrive at a definition of the passion that resides in the heart of the leader. Once we arrive at that moment of clarity in the discussion, then it is possible to move forward and describe desired outcomes and know that there is a good chance of achieving those outcomes.

There are way too many leaders that feel trapped in a position for reasons other than following their passion. When I shop in a store, eat in a restaurant, or receive a service, I am impressed, feel more engaged, and am better served when I can sense the passion in the person that is providing me goods or services. I feel fully engaged with that person. How important is that? Apply that perspective to leadership. If the people you lead can sense your passion, don’t you think that they will be influenced by that passion?

TIP: The passion you share is the passion you will receive in return.

The Definitive Leader program is a 13-module, 52-week intensive program on all aspects of Transformational Leadership. With 52 downloadable lessons, 13 bonus lessons, 10 templates, and instructional teleseminars. The program is downloadable so that the leader ends up with a full notebook of leadership resources for future use. The content is delivered by weekly email linking the leader to a web page with an instructional video and PDF lesson download.