Do you think you know enough about leadership to assume the role today? My answer…”Be careful what you wish for!” The life of a leader: a day spent shaking hands, delegating difficult and time-consuming tasks, and always talking about big picture projects. Going from meeting to meeting to listen, and maybe offer a quick snapshot of what’s going on within the ivory tower. Truth or fiction? FICTION. Leadership is a complex blend of competencies and capabilities. It is not a position or a title; it is action and example. It is not just a matter of guiding others to complete a task. The foundation of leadership doesn’t necessarily include motivation or inspiration. Those traits are earned, along with respect, trust and integrity. You see, true leadership is having the confidence that when you say, “let’s go”, the team has complete buy-in and is behind you all the way. “A boss has the title. A leader has the people” — Simon Sinek The role of a leader is often a thankless, risky and lonely responsibility. You cannot lead from the crowd — you must have the boldness to act alone and make difficult decisions that will affect people. A leader must have the courage to take risks and trust and be vulnerable to go down the difficult road in an effort to achieve the greatest reward. It’s understanding that failure is part of the game, and knowing how to audit your self-awareness and move forward without fear of failing again. “The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers” — Ralph Nadar You are not born a leader. People become leaders through various processes, including teaching, learning and observation. Leaders possess a specific skill set that comes from practice, application and observation over a period of time. In other words, leadership is a process, and more importantly, a commitment. Like all processes, it is a skill that takes time to develop. Rush, and you may become an ineffective or unconfident leader. Invest in the process, believe in the system and have a genuine willingness to learn and you have the opportunity to do great things. 10 SKILLS NECESSARY TO BE A COMPETENT LEADER If you still feel confident, then the work will begin. You must be prepared as a leader to trust and serve and give those around you permission to succeed. In order for that to occur, you must be available, embrace diversity, view people in terms of their potential and challenge the unchallenged. It will be your job to raise the bar and ensure that everybody who follows understands your vision and a willingness to invest in their success. VENTURE + LEAD + PROSPER Humbled to lead, #chargeup #lessonsinleadership #leadership #lead #process #strongleader #difficulttolead #resilience #failure #success #moveforward #patience #areyouready #leadandfollow RECEIVE MY FREE WEEKLY E-BLAST, THE WIRE ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up. All rights reserved. You are free to use portions of this publication, provided the following credit is listed at the bottom: ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up, is a media-based entity that provides intriguing, innovative and distinctive content, engaging its readers with real-world challenges and solutions while embracing obstacles and the value that failure can provide. While that sounds serious, we promise you will both learn AND laugh (and sometimes cry).Contact Charge Up at victor@chargeuptoday.com or visit our website at www.chargeuptoday.com.
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✏ What Success Looks Like
We live in exciting times — the rapid advancements and the use of technology have evened the playing field for the start-up business vs. the major corporations to market their products and services. No longer are major production crews necessary for commercials, marketing or media. There’s an app for that! For the aspiring entrepreneur and ambitious leader, anything is possible in today’s world. But what does success look like — really? “PERCEPTION” OF SUCCESS: You see them walking from their mansion to their museum garage filled with exotic sports cars, or gingerly pulling up in their Bentley, flat brim cap on with the stickers still on it, at the private airfield next to their G6 for the cameras to catch them shaking the pilot’s hand and boarding their jet for the next adventure in their perfect life. They look right into the camera and tell you that just one year ago they were just like you, struggling to pay the bills and trying to find a way to capitalize on their marketing talents. Now, they are millionaires, and they want to help you achieve the American dream. Generous of them, right? Time to break the bad news, this is the “perception” part. Don’t fall victim to an over-saturated market of alluring ads all over social media where everyday people “just like you” can make millions overnight by simply following somebody’s sure-fire formula for success. Newsflash: the only ones getting rich quick are the ones selling you their books, courses and online programs. If it were that easy, it wouldn’t be a secret. But amazingly, people still go deep into their website (and eventually their wallets) to learn more. Each new web page builds your confidence until finally, you’re inspired enough to bet your savings on these snake oil salesmen. Why do they need to park four Lamborghinis in their driveway and walk past each one while talking? Why not just do the sales pitch in a studio? They are marketing directly to the millennial who wants to see the material gratification of success. They deliver reinforcement to their audience that they are just as entitled as the next guy to earn easy money, and lots of it. You want to get rich quick? Play the lottery. Even doing that, your odds are approximately 292,000,000 to 1. But hey, somebody’s got to win, right? Here’s the real winning tip: the reality of being successful lies in one secret that we all have the ability to access at absolutely no cost . . . HARD WORK There is no substitute for hard work — it is the foundation of every success story. THE “REALITY” OF SUCCESS: Unfortunately the pitch for reality isn’t as exciting as perception, unless you thrive on the challenge of success. Fortunately, the aspiring and tenured leader completely understands the rules of reality and is willing to invest themselves completely in the process as opposed to a pipe dream. That investment starts with a strong foundation of integrity and character. Those two traits alone will carry you through the challenges you face as you gain experience through hard work, sacrifice, overcoming barriers, and experiencing failures, while taking those small steps forward that are absolutely necessary on the journey toward the ultimate pinnacle – earned success. You earn your stripes along the way as a result of your courage, braveness and abundance of confidence to inspire and empower others to follow your clear vision to achievement. Success should never correlate itself with riches. True success associates itself directly with your legacy. You are the only person that can write that story, and each page should be filled with adventures, not images of possessions. Look at it this way, if these overnight success stories were true entrepreneurs, wouldn’t they be savvy investors, as well? I can’t imagine an infomercial with Warren Buffett or Elon Musk in their vintage t-shirt, jeans and sandals walking down a driveway that looks like a car dealership. IF IT SEEMS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY IS! Leadership is a privilege. Go do great things today – earn it – and go make a difference. Venture + Lead + Prosper VENTURE + LEAD + PROSPER Humbled to lead, #chargeup #lessonsinleadership #leadership #lead #process #fail #learnfromfailure #bounceback #failure #success #moveforward #patience #change #venture #lead #prosper #empower #motivate #inspire #beyou #gratitude #integrity #starttoday #humility #ambition #action #stepforward #norgerets #comfortzone #chances RECEIVE MY FREE WEEKLY E-BLAST, THE WIRE ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up. All rights reserved. You are free to use portions of this publication, provided the following credit is listed at the bottom: ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up, is a media-based entity that provides intriguing, innovative and distinctive content, engaging its readers with real-world challenges and solutions while embracing obstacles and the value that failure can provide. While that sounds serious, we promise you will both learn AND laugh (and sometimes cry).Contact Charge Up at victor@chargeuptoday.com or visit our website at www.chargeuptoday.com.
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✏ Why Be Average
When it comes to averages, I believe they should apply only to data, not to people. Far too often, mediocrity is being celebrated. Nobody wants to put in the work and exceed expectations because it involves too much time and effort. They want to know what the average is, and work from there to set a baseline. What does average mean? When evaluating “average,” it is the median value in a set of data. The middle. Ordinary. Common. In school, if your grades are average, then half the class has higher grades, and half the class has lower grades. Fast-forward to your job and look at it a little differently. When you go into your manager’s office for your annual review and your overall performance is “average”, do you think management will be motivated to consider you for growth opportunities or even a raise? “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” — Eleanor Roosevelt Let’s talk about the law of averages fallout that’s concerning: – In a recent study of 24 – 54 year-olds on the subject of donating your time or money, 61% of the participants felt that when you give something, you should receive something in return. – A recent study done via social media by the University of Colorado sampled over 10,000 people, asking them if opinions on social media influence their decision-making on relevant issues, including deduction, perception, and consequences. Instead of relying upon deductive reasoning, 43% of those questioned said that they lean toward popular opinion. It’s frustrating me that independent thought, rational decision making, proper planning, and innovative perspective are fading away. Popular opinion and instant gratification have begun to replace some within the majority who choose to never settle for capacity within their lives as they pursue a life of fulfillment. I am a firm believer that nobody tells you what your “average” needs to be — because you are capable of achieving anything you set your mind to. It is your responsibility to set goals to exceed that average. “Not settling is all about handing people back their invitations to the average life. Sorry, I’m going to have to decline.” — Myleik Teele How can you avoid the trap to be average? Here are five ways that you can take control and live the life you deserve to live: That means you need to take complete control of your life and start thinking for yourself. Don’t allow popular opinion to persuade you if your moral compass tells you otherwise. Build a mindset that becomes impermeable to outside influence, and instead creates confident, impactful reasoning that displays character and integrity. Life is too short. Make an effort to act upon the things in your life that bring you happiness and make an impact on others. Regret is an entirely controllable emotion; don’t procrastinate. Too many people live a life of regret because they were never comfortable being uncomfortable or taking chances. We all have one — what is yours? Don’t expect an invitation or instructions on this one; you have to follow your heart to discover what it is that makes you tick. Identify the thing or things that allow you to be you in such a way that everyone around you becomes a better person as a result of your attitude. Learn as much as you possibly can about what the life you want to live and invest in it. Let your passion become your purpose and the word “average” will never be used when describing you. People change, circumstances change, conditions change; and so should our perspective. At times, you may become so narrowly focused that you lose perspective. You fail to identify things right in front of you because you don’t listen to reason, have productive dialogue or are just too stubborn to change. The only constant in life is change — and with change comes perspective. Embrace it and thrive. Similar to perspective, you only grow if you are willing to invest. That means to have a thirst for knowledge and expand your views as often as possible. You have infinite resources through technology to discover answers to our questions in an instant. Learn things outside your interest. If you’re not growing, you’re dying. Successful people don’t establish a capacity; they are always looking to lead a more fulfilled life. Become consumed with the possibilities and the drive to never to give up growth. When you realize the opportunities above the line, you will become motivated by the fear of being average. Go do great things today and make a difference. VENTURE + LEAD + PROSPER Humbled to lead, #chargeup #lessonsinleadership #leadership #lead #process #patience #change #venture #lead #prosper #reflect #inspire #empower #motivate #beyou #gratitude #integrity #starttoday #humilty RECEIVE MY FREE WEEKLY E-BLAST, THE WIRE ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up. All rights reserved. You are free to use portions of this publication, provided the following credit is listed at the bottom: ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up, is a media-based entity that provides intriguing, innovative and distinctive content, engaging its readers with real-world challenges and solutions while embracing obstacles and the value that failure can provide. While that sounds serious, we promise you will both learn AND laugh (and sometimes cry).Contact Charge Up at victor@chargeuptoday.com or visit our website at www.chargeuptoday.com.
The only way we can inspire is to grow our community – would you please share this with family and friends, ask that they subscribe to Charge Up, and follow us on social media?
✏ What’s Really Important: Process vs Outcome
I remember it vividly. I was in the process of putting together our yearly business plan for my team before our National Meeting. I had invested three months of researching analytics, trends, input from my team, goals for the division and my personal experiences with what I felt would be a test of effort, perseverance, and commitment to achieve our goals. In most cases, I have about four hours to present it to the president of the division and other senior leadership. Once approved, the entire division gathers at the National Meeting shortly after, and I only have a few days to sell it to my team to gain total buy-in and commitment. However, this time there was a longer gap between the approval of the plan and the actual meeting; about a month. During that time, as I was putting my final slides together, I came to a realization that this process had become so routine and centered around only one thing – our yearly quota. Love the process and the grind as much as the results. I challenged myself to think outside the box and discover a new way to present this plan without feeling like I’m “selling it.”. I wanted to gain engagement and trust from the team for them to feel they were genuinely vested, and a part of the PROCESS as opposed to only being judged on the OUTCOME. From experience, I always felt that growth, empowerment, and confidence came from the process itself. It was all of the small wins that built the real success at the end of the year. I valued that time because it exposed my ability to handle both success and failure. It allowed me to either utilize my skills to grow or sharpen them as I became more self-aware in the process. At that point in my career, I had been in the same industry for about 15 years, and I’d always felt like that a sales quota defined me, and those I led. In my opinion, I was doing a disservice as a leader focusing on an arbitrary goal (the number) instead of the tangible qualities of my abilities, as well as those leaders within my own team. “I am a series of small victories and large defeats, and I am as amazed — Chuck Bukowksi, Poet & Novelist We are at the National Meeting, and once we broke out into our respective teams, it was time to put my experiment into action. I applied something that I’ve done for 10 years that was a result of a book that somebody gave me as a gift. It’s by Jon Gordon, and it’s called “One Word That Will Change Your Life.” It’s a simple concept, you pick one word that can guide your decisions, mindset, attitude, direction, moral compass. Here’s the thought process behind it: LESS IS BEST, SIMPLE IS POWERFUL Dim the lights, start the power point and let them see the first slide. You know, it became so routine, we were all like Pavlov’s dogs expecting the same thing – that slide to show the quota for the year. Instead, I decided to change things up from the traditional format. My first slide said: PERSPECTIVE. “The only thing you sometimes have control over is perspective. — Chris Pine The group was so confused, they kept asking me what the goal was. Even their rhetoric proved my point. They were asking what “THE” goal was – as in a singular purpose, that dang quota! I went around the table, and I asked them, “What was last year’s number?“ They all knew it because we not only achieved the goal, we exceeded it by double digits — which means they got an additional kicker on their bonus, so the answers came quickly and with smiles on their faces. I then asked them, “What example can you provide me off the top of your head – as quickly as you told me the net sales – that stood out to you about one person on the team you lead, who not only improved but developed skills that contributed to our success?” I waited a few seconds and said: “time’s up.” Of course, they complained, but my point was made. My perception was that there was more pride in the number than there was in the people who achieved it. As a leader, that’s not on them. That’s on me. My father had a saying that I tend to overuse, but it applies to so many situations. He would say, “When the son swears, slap the father.” In other words, don’t be so quick to point the finger before you look in the mirror. In this case, the burning question was “Have we lost the value and importance of the team that commits and contributes to our goals every day in the field?” THEY ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ASSET. I said, “Here is how we are going to start this meeting. You have one hour, to come up with one word that will define your goals this year that isn’t associated with the quota. One word that can provide clarity and guide your decisions, mindset, attitude, direction, moral compass.” I explained, “I take this very seriously, so don’t just throw something out there without thought because the word you choose will stick with you for the next 11 months, every day. If you give me a word that I don’t feel fits your personality or management style, we will just take more time trying to figure it out.” Now understand, I wasn’t treating them disrespectful, or as children; some of these people had been under my leadership for a long time. They knew me, and I knew them. There was a bond of trust between this particular team that made us unique. We had a mantra, “Play hard, work harder.” After an hour, I asked each of them to stand in front of the team and tell us their word, being as specific as they could. I also asked if they would provide the reasoning they choose that particular word and how they intended to be held accountable for it. What was funny was that a few of them said, “When we are done, are you going to tell us the number?” They laughed, and I did on the outside, as well, but internally, I realized that this was going to be a huge responsibility for me because I needed to change their mindset. The good news is everybody had some great words . . . PRESENT BALANCE PASSION TENACITY LOVE EMPATHETIC DRIVE CULTURE Their definitions, explanations, and application were spot on! When the exercise was complete, I asked that they get their computers out. I asked them to go to their email and open their “signatures” in Outlook. Once they did, I asked them to please put that word below your name in all caps and bold. I asked that they talk with their respective team and explain the rationale and the exercise we just completed. Share with them why you choose that word and tell them that you need their assistance to hold you accountable for it. Moving forward, I asked that every time they put an email together for distribution or were responding to another person, read it before you send it. Were they conveying the intent and meaning of your one word in that communication? I told them that when I read each of your emails, I will do so with a new perspective this year. I want to challenge you to not just write it down and talk about it. I want to see action. Even if it takes you away from the objective at hand, it doesn’t matter because we will still win in the long term. I then asked, “What do you think I mean when I say long term?” It was quiet for a second, then I heard a voice…” our quota.” She said it without any doubt in her mind. She got it! I said, “EXACTLY!” We were so focused on the GOAL that we were missing out on the excitement of the PROCESS. We became obsessed with a number instead of obsessed with our people. I told them, “I am as guilty as each of you, and I apologize for that. I haven’t been doing my job and that I would change along with them.” WE ESTABLISHED A NEW MINDSET. Somebody asked me, what’s your word? I said, AMPLIFY. I want to AMPLIFY my commitment I want to AMPLIFY my gratitude I want to AMPLIFY my empathy I want to AMPLIFY my relationships I want to AMPLIFY my health I said, “If you focus on that one word, live it every day, guide your team with passion and empowerment, you will hit the number. It will be the OUTCOME of a successful process.” What followed was the infamous slide with one number on it. I asked them if their perspective was a little bit different. They all nodded. . . . . . . So now I want to challenge you. Are you willing to approach your objectives a little differently this year, or a particular goal? Can you commit some time to find that one word that will be clear to you in guiding your decisions, mindset, attitude, direction, and moral compass? Remember: LESS IS BEST, SIMPLE IS POWERFUL Do great things today and make a difference. VENTURE + LEAD + PROSPER Humbled to lead, #chargeup #lessonsinleadership #leadership #lead #process #patience #change #venture #lead #prosper #reflect #inspire #empower #motivate #beyou #gratitude #integrity #starttoday #humilty RECEIVE MY FREE WEEKLY E-BLAST, THE WIRE ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up. All rights reserved. You are free to use portions of this publication, provided the following credit is listed at the bottom: ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up, is a media-based entity that provides intriguing, innovative and distinctive content, engaging its readers with real-world challenges and solutions while embracing obstacles and the value that failure can provide. While that sounds serious, we promise you will both learn AND laugh (and sometimes cry).Contact Charge Up at victor@chargeuptoday.com or visit our website at www.chargeuptoday.com.
as any other that I have gotten from there to here.”
You don’t have control over your situation. But you have a choice about how you view it.”
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✏ Grow Like the Bamboo
GROWTH. It is something we all strive to achieve. We look for growth in so many areas of our life: personal, spiritual, relationship, and career. I tend to be realistic when discussing growth because the speed of technology has put us in a position where we lack the skills to develop our sense of patience and no longer respect the process. We live in a society of instant gratification; however, some things can’t be rushed. Success is like Rome — it wasn’t built in a day. Nor was it ever intended to be. “Patience is not simply the ability to wait – it’s how we behave — Joyce Meyer When I talk about success, I am talking about achieving your purpose. It goes back to growth, finding your true meaning in life whether personal, spiritual, relationship or career and building it to prosper, as well as sustain adversity. Real growth will require work. It will demand the best out of you every day. You will be responsible for your own integrity, morals, values, and perseverance to establish as a foundation for a fulfilled growth to actually occur. Once this is formed, your individual character is displayed. It is done so because what we believe and is passionate about “inward” will be displayed “outward,” and that is why others can sense the type of person we are from our words and actions. There is a parable about the Chinese Bamboo Tree that explains the lessons of growth through patience, faith, and perseverance. No different than any other plant, the Chinese Bamboo Tree requires the perfect conditions: water, fertile soil, and sun. What is distinctly different, however, is after one year, there is no sprouting. The second year passes, and there is still no visible activity. The third year looks no different than the first two. The fourth year arrives, and the farmer sees nothing. One would expect despair, frustration, or anger. But to grow the Chinese Bamboo Tree, one must be patient, because it is in the fifth year that the miracle of growth begins, and in a radical way. The farmer has nurtured this plant for four years, investing time, resources, money and most of all, patience, in not rushing the outcome, but rather respecting the process. The rewards are amazing. The Chinese Bamboo Tree will grow up to 80 feet in just six weeks! Numerous culms, or small hollow shoots, will grow in an entire field. Four years of being stagnant only to flourish in the fifth year? How is that possible? We tend to judge growth by what is visible and tangible, but does all growth show outwardly? We may spend years developing a skill that is not necessarily one that is required in our current environment, but we are building ourselves up for success in the future. Think about things like integrity, character, knowledge, faith, perseverance, gratitude — all of these are traits that require the same nurturing process of the Chinese Bamboo Tree. That tree didn’t lie dormant for four years. Below the soil was an explosion of roots growing wide and deep, capable of supporting its outward growth once it sprouts. “Without patience, we will learn less in life. We will see less. We will feel less. We will hear less. Ironically, rush and more usually mean less.” — Mother Theresa The lesson lies in patience. When are you building your dreams, goals, and purpose, you must have the patience to overcome the adversity, barriers, fear, and doubt that will accompany the process. The Chinese Bamboo Tree requires a stable base of roots to sustain its height and weight; imagine if it did grow after just one year. The first strong wind of the season would destroy the entire crop. The same goes for each of us as we build our character. We can look for shortcuts and excuses to portray a person who is prepared, but unable to sustain the confidence that they start with. Or, we can trust the process, stay in the present, develop ourselves and grow through experience and lessons learned to and establish our own roots. Remember, what we establish inwardly will be exposed outwardly. If you live by the mantra, “Fake it until you make it”, I have bad news for you — you will never make it. Personal growth is not natural; it takes time, focus and a commitment to better ourselves. It is a slow process — in some cases, we won’t see the results immediately, but anything earned is worth it in the long run. If you are willing to be patient and persistent, I assure you the reward will far outweigh the investment. Too often people allow “the process” to frustrate them to the point that they want to move on to where “the grass is greener.” Whether it is a relationship, a job, a team, or school, if we don’t get what we want now, then it’s on to the next. “Patience is not passive waiting. Patience is active acceptance of the process required to attain your goals and dreams.” — Ray Davis Success is easily defined – it is a series of small steps forward. It isn’t leaps and bounds. If you are committed to this process of growth, and if you respect the investment of time and patience, you will develop leadership qualities which will be displayed and reinforced by your confidence, character, and understanding of what it takes to be successful. Growth is not associated with luck. Growth is an outcome of becoming comfortable stepping outside your comfort zone with a passion and zest to be the best you possible. Do great things today and make a difference. VENTURE + LEAD + PROSPER Humbled to lead, #chargeup #lessonsinleadership #leadership #lead #process #patience #change #venture #lead #prosper #reflect #inspire #empower #motivate #beyou #gratitude #integrity #starttoday #humility RECEIVE MY FREE WEEKLY E-BLAST, THE WIRE ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up. All rights reserved. You are free to use portions of this publication, provided the following credit is listed at the bottom: ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up, is a media-based entity that provides intriguing, innovative and distinctive content, engaging its readers with real-world challenges and solutions while embracing obstacles and the value that failure can provide. While that sounds serious, we promise you will both learn AND laugh (and sometimes cry).Contact Charge Up at victor@chargeuptoday.com or visit our website at www.chargeuptoday.com.
while we we’re waiting.”
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✏ The Prevent Mindset: Avoiding Average
For those who are football fans, you have most likely heard the term the “prevent defense”. It’s used late in the 4th quarter when a coach feels like they have a safe lead, so they adjust into a defensive formation to prevent the opposing team from scoring a field goal or touchdown by giving more space to receivers and pushing the secondary a few yards back so they don’t give up the big play. For those who may not be familiar with what I am talking about, an easy way to think about it is the defense is in a formation to “prevent” the big play from happening – which could threaten the lead, or even risk the loss. Most fans don’t necessarily agree with this approach. In fact, on numerous occasions, you will see that the offense is prepared and have worked on this “prevent” formation and it becomes a game of chess. The problem is, the defense is playing checkers. This is where the phrase “All the prevent defense does is prevent you from winning!” comes from. Any given Sunday, you may see this ploy, but I want you to think about it through a different lens. For leaders, there are times where we feel things are going according to plan, our teams are meeting expectations and there is a momentum occurring — and we don’t want to break the stride. Instead of raising the bar to see if the team can achieve a little more, we subscribe to a “prevent mindset,” which in essence is just a comfort zone. But let me challenge you . . . Which is the better time to show those your team that they are capable of achieving more than they think they can, in good times or in bad? Would you raise the bar when the team’s goals become so unattainable and their attitudes reflect discouragement, or when they are on a roll and things are falling into place as a result of the business plan, effective leadership and a synergy of accomplishment? Obviously the second choice. “Leadership is the challenge to be something more than average.” — Jim Rohn Don’t fall into the prevent mindset, if you do, you may fall into the trap of accepting the status quo. I believe the status quo is average people leading average lives with average fulfillment and average accomplishments. You are not average. You are not working to achieve average. You lead with a goal of making an impact and eliciting greatness out of others. That will not occur with a prevent mindset. Raise the bar, push those you lead to get comfortable being uncomfortable. Use their current state of success to drive them to the next level. Here are a few examples of what makes a strong leader: If you are midway through an objective, and not only do the analytics support a successful approach, but the enthusiasm and buy-in of your team reinforce it – then raise the bar. Be specific in your communication why you are doing it. Challenge your team to exceed expectations at every opportunity that presents itself. Not only will it raise the morale of the team, but the confidence it instills in the individual is priceless. There is no training that can replicate the improvements in the fundamental skill sets that happen when you turn up the speed from a comfortable pace. You do it gradually — never accelerate to a point that the distance between where they are and where you intend to take them becomes a struggle. Otherwise, you risk burnout. As a leader, you will need to have the Plan A (what you are currently a part of), a Plan B (the acceleration), and even a Plan C (the control plan to ensure you find equilibrium). It’s the leadership equivalent of always playing offense – control the ball, dictate the momentum, control the timing, and be proactive rather than reactive. These are the teams that are successful because they play with the advantage. If you are on the defensive side, you are forced to react. In some cases, there may not even be a chance for adjustment before you realize the loss. Eliminating the “prevent mindset” shows a proactive approach to success. If you train and communicate it effectively, you will in turn create better leaders. After all, that is the goal? A successful leader’s intent is to always to build more successful leaders. Don’t PREVENT it from happening! Go do great things today and make a difference. VENTURE + LEAD + PROSPER Humbled to lead, #ChargeUp #patience #prevent #success #leadership #RaiseTheBar RECEIVE MY FREE WEEKLY E-BLAST, THE WIRE ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up. All rights reserved. You are free to use portions of this publication, provided the following credit is listed at the bottom: ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up, is a media-based entity that provides intriguing, innovative and distinctive content, engaging its readers with real-world challenges and solutions while embracing obstacles and the value that failure can provide. While that sounds serious, we promise you will both learn AND laugh (and sometimes cry).Contact Charge Up at victor@chargeuptoday.com or visit our website at www.chargeuptoday.com.
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✏ Table for One
In the quest to become a successful leader, certain lessons along the way come as a surprise to some. You are confident in your education, have built skills around your strengths, have developed strong relationships with your mentors, have led by example and you have respected the process of perseverance and patience. In other words, you have earned the opportunity and privilege to lead. “Respect is earned. Honesty is appreciated. Trust is gained. Loyalty is returned.” What you can’t prepare for is how lonely leadership actually can be. In times of adversity, standing your ground for what may be perceived as unpopular opinion will define your character. It may also be intentionally lonely if you sincerely treasure the role because your goal is to always allow your team to be in the spotlight. Whether it is adversity or by plan, it can catch a new leader off guard until they experience it firsthand. It is an extremely valuable lesson, one that over time will build you and your reputation as an effective, respected, and trusted leader. Don’t let this deter you from your goals if you have a desire to lead, it will be the most rewarding experiences of your life. To be the lead in representing a culture of values and integrity with a team of eager, enthusiastic and committed people is a privilege. To witness the dynamics of a team’s chemistry work; to put a vision into reality and see those you support grow and prosper into their own is fascinating to witness. In other words, the most rewarding aspect for a leader is to develop other leaders and witness their success. This is your primary job, preparing others for success through connection, inspiration and clear and concise plan of development. What I have personally found in my own leadership journey is that sitting at a table for one is not always a bad thing. Being selfless and praising those who are committed to the big picture should become your routine. Timing is everything, knowing when to teach and when to praise is critical. Giving the proper attention to each is imperative. The bigger the team, the more effort it will require on your part to find a connection with each member of your team. Gone are the days of “cookie cutter” leadership. Effective leaders don’t cast a net — they have a personal touch for the individual, and focus on the respective development based on the respective strengths their team members hold. The behaviors you model will determine the results. In other words, it is not just your responsibility to lead effectively. It is your obligation. Go do great things today and make a difference. VENTURE + LEAD + PROSPER Humbled to lead, #chargeup #lessonsinleadership #leadership #lead #process #patience #change #venture #lead #prosper #reflect #inspire #empower #motivate #beyou #gratitude #integrity #starttoday #humilty RECEIVE MY FREE WEEKLY E-BLAST, THE WIRE ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up. All rights reserved. You are free to use portions of this publication, provided the following credit is listed at the bottom: ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up, is a media-based entity that provides intriguing, innovative and distinctive content, engaging its readers with real-world challenges and solutions while embracing obstacles and the value that failure can provide. While that sounds serious, we promise you will both learn AND laugh (and sometimes cry).Contact Charge Up at victor@chargeuptoday.com or visit our website at www.chargeuptoday.com.
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✏ Attention, Future Leaders
Have you ever caught yourself saying, “if I only knew then what I know now…”? What if you could do something about it? If you are a parent, grandparent, coach, teacher or friend and you recognize certain leadership traits in a child, you have an opportunity to do three simple things right now: ENCOURAGE, SUPPORT & TEACH All of us have the potential to lead. There is no certain age that defines when we can begin our quest to gain the skills and competencies necessary to start the journey. By reaching out to adolescents who feel the gift of leadership inside them, you have the ability to become their first mentor — because most simply don’t know how to act upon it. “Our children are only as brilliant as we allow them to be.” – Eric Micha’el Leventhal When you see the unwavering passion and belief that anything is possible from a child, and they communicate excitement and vision as they discover and learn more, be humbled and accept the responsibility to steer them in the right direction. It’s teaching them that leadership is simply when one feels compelled to achieve things by being courageous and bold. What an amazing role you can play by encouraging them to step out of their comfort zone and discover all life has to offer. Good habits formed during youth make all the difference. The world needs a new set of eyes, a big heart and an open mind filled with endless possibilities for the next generation to be the greatest that ever lived. “The youth are the hope of our future.” – Jose Rizal How can you help a child discover their potential? Go do big things today and make a difference . . . VENTURE + LEAD + PROSPER Humbled to lead, #chargeup #lessonsinleadership #leadership #lead #process #patience #change #venture #lead #prosper #reflect #inspire #empower #motivate #beyou #gratitude #integrity #starttoday #humilty RECEIVE MY FREE WEEKLY E-BLAST, THE WIRE ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up. All rights reserved. You are free to use portions of this publication, provided the following credit is listed at the bottom: ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up, is a media-based entity that provides intriguing, innovative and distinctive content, engaging its readers with real-world challenges and solutions while embracing obstacles and the value that failure can provide. While that sounds serious, we promise you will both learn AND laugh (and sometimes cry).Contact Charge Up at victor@chargeuptoday.com or visit our website at www.chargeuptoday.com.
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✏ Always Getting Ready to be Ready
To-do list – ✓ Weekly Calendar – ✓ Appointment Schedule – ✓ Goals for the week – ✓ Everything seems to be in order, and I am prepared to tackle the week ahead. I’ve put the time in to ensure I am organized and efficient. My lists are specific and ranked by priority; this is going to be a great week. Wait, let me change my To-Do List to add deadline dates. I should probably add in more time for traffic on my appointment schedule. Are five goals too many for the week? Maybe I should list three? Oh, and I’m going to add my personal commitments to my weekly calendar. SOUND FAMILIAR? “Focus on being productive instead of busy.” – Tim Ferriss Too often we focus so much on the preparation that we waste precious time that could be devoted to attacking the tasks and being productive in a much more simplified manner. In other words, getting organized has made us less productive. We are always getting ready to get ready. There are hundreds of planners on the market today that are designed and marketed to make our lives more efficient so we can accomplish more. They have an area for our projects, our goals, a quote to motivate us, habit tracking, a journal, wins for the week, lessons learned for the week, milestones, gratitude lists, and even online support! Do you really need or use those areas? Are you using the kind of planner that works for you? I SPENT THREE DAYS GETTING READY FOR THE WEEK!?! My weekly preparation begins each Sunday evening, a ritual I’ve had for years. First, I prepare my calendar for the week. I look at the meetings planned, and on a notepad, write down exactly what I need to prepare for each meeting at least a day in advance. I add any weekly reports and note any requirements that may necessitate time and outside resources from other departments. At this point, I list the items that I would like to accomplish, by priority, in a simple list. I combine my list to the notes and just like that, and I have a master project agenda. It takes about 30-45 minutes, but when I start my week on Monday, I begin with confidence and a plan. In some cases, if I require resources to aid me in preparation, I send those emails out to various departments on Sunday evening outlining my specific needs and the ideal date to receive them. However, I still see others in their “planners” constantly tweaking this and that and trying to make it something it isn’t. They don’t need the habit-tracking section, so they write notes in that area. The lessons learned for the week – not a chance: phone numbers and addresses fill that box. They spend $100 on a planner that doesn’t serve a purpose! Does your system work for you, or are you working for it? Could it be better? If so, how? You have the ability to create your own planner that fits your needs. “Don’t spend time beating on a wall, hoping to transform it into a door.” – Coco Chanel We all have our systems, don’t let the lure of a custom leather binder with the promise of helping you optimize your day and making you happier detour you from what already works. Preparation and planning should be a simple process. It should only require a pencil and paper. Once you feel comfortable with it, type it, print it and put it to use. I have a separate journal I utilize, but that is not a part of my actual project agenda each week. That journal is for me to write my thoughts, ideas for self-improvement, personal goals and ambitions as well as my gratitude list. I feel much more comfortable separating the two. My point is, don’t complicate something that is rather simple. You have the knowledge and capability to design a roadmap for your efficiencies and effectiveness. Overcomplicating it merely leads to wasting time and . . . Time is the most valuable resource you have! NOW, I’M READY! Do great things today and make a difference. VENTURE + LEAD + PROSPER Humbled to lead, #chargeup #lessonsinleadership #leadership #lead #process #patience #change #venture #lead #prosper #reflect #inspire #empower #motivate #beyou #gratitude #integrity #starttoday #humilty RECEIVE MY FREE WEEKLY E-BLAST, THE WIRE ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up. All rights reserved. You are free to use portions of this publication, provided the following credit is listed at the bottom: ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up, is a media-based entity that provides intriguing, innovative and distinctive content, engaging its readers with real-world challenges and solutions while embracing obstacles and the value that failure can provide. While that sounds serious, we promise you will both learn AND laugh (and sometimes cry).Contact Charge Up at victor@chargeuptoday.com or visit our website at www.chargeuptoday.com.
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✏ Take Action Now
Today is the day you take a step forward. No more “letting” things happen in your life . . . it’s time to take control and MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. Take control of your future and let today be the day you begin your courageous effort to lead! LIFE IS WAITING TO BEGIN! Passivity is the enemy . . . Personal change is an active process. Take the first steps now to act and be bold. Let’s get all of the excuses out there. If you need to, make a list. Write down every excuse that you can think of. We tend to always focus on why we “can’t”, so this shouldn’t be too challenging. All done? Now, it’s time to change your mindset. Ask yourself one simple question: IF NOT NOW, WHEN? Today is the day that you have the clarity and courage to listen to that inner voice that wants to break out of its shell, to change your mentality from a follower to a leader. Build the confidence to overcome that self-doubt. Develop a “no barriers” mindset and face your fears head-on. It only takes one step forward to begin. Here are the 5 things you are going to do today to prepare for action: Writing down what you are going to do versus just saying it is the game changer. The next step is put those words into actionable phrases. How are you going to reach the objectives you identify, step by step? NOTE: This can only be done once you establish your “why” and your “purpose”. Your “why” will give your life clarity and purpose — and as a result, it will shape who you are. You will clearly know what you want out of life. When you know your perspective about life, you can achieve amazing things. This will be the foundation of your growth as you climb the ladder to success. To find your why, dig deep and reach for a high level of self-awareness. What are your strengths? What can you contribute? What are your core principles that make you unique? Find a mentor! Find somebody who believes in you as much, if not more, than you do in yourself. Success cannot be obtained without the willingness of others to contribute their passion, and empower others to feel inspired and motivated to be the best they can. Where do you find a mentor? If they aren’t right in front of you, then do your research and find the person who is where you want to be. Thanks to social media, most of us have a friend, or friend of a friend, who can make the introduction and get the process started. The process is up to you. If you are willing to do the work, and have the passion to drive you, your mentor will be the difference in building yourself in an efficient and successful manner. There is a catch here. If you find that person and you get the motivation and inspiration you need, it is your responsibility to pay it forward! Now that you have an action plan and you understand and believe in your “why” and purpose statements, the next step is to set realistic goals for yourself and establish a timeframe for each. For example, based on the profession you are in, what skills do you need to sharpen to be at the top of your game? Do you understand the value proposition (what specific benefits you offer that bring value) for your product and company? Do you have a firm grip on the competitive landscape? Answer these questions and begin to establish each of your goals. Research, read, and navigate the influential thought leaders in your profession (people whose opinions are valued). Via social media, talk with your mentor(s) and/or expand your knowledge of the market.To the right of the column with your goals, put a firm deadline to hold yourself accountable on achieving each and hold to it. Don’t give up, stay the course. Make sure that your core foundation is built upon integrity, character, courage, inspiration and gratitude. If you are built in this fashion, then your actions will reflect it in everything you do. These are the traits that define the best leaders, because they consistently show others their belief in them, and in turn, empower them to succeed. Without values, your leadership will be meaningless. It will be hollow, uneventful and even worse, those whom you lead will gain nothing from you. Most important, don’t ever stop developing you. Success is a journey, not a destination. Your advancement is also a journey; there is no end. The most important investment you can make in your success is in YOU. Self-development means creating successful habits, employing patience, growing your professional circle and building your confidence every day. Inspire action by painting a vision of what success looks like to you. Let this be your alarm clock to tell you it’s time to wake up and change the world. Become a visionary and eliminate passivity as an excuse. The world is yours — make a difference! VENTURE + LEAD + PROSPER Humbled to lead, #chargeup #lessonsinleadership #leadership #lead #process #patience #change #venture #lead #prosper #reflect #inspire #empower #motivate #beyou #gratitude #integrity #starttoday #humilty RECEIVE MY FREE WEEKLY E-BLAST, THE WIRE ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up. All rights reserved. You are free to use portions of this publication, provided the following credit is listed at the bottom: ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up, is a media-based entity that provides intriguing, innovative and distinctive content, engaging its readers with real-world challenges and solutions while embracing obstacles and the value that failure can provide. While that sounds serious, we promise you will both learn AND laugh (and sometimes cry).Contact Charge Up at victor@chargeuptoday.com or visit our website at www.chargeuptoday.com.
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✏ A Little Optimism Goes a Long Way
As an author, speaker and person who consistently engages me in critical thought, Simon Sinek is one of the best in the business in teaching the concepts of leadership. This has always been one of my favorite quotes, so I have decided to use it as a springboard for the subject of optimism. “ALL GREAT LEADERS ARE OPTIMISTS. – Simon Sinek There will always be the pessimist leader, which should be balanced within leadership. In large groups, a pessimist may not be a bad role to play — I like to refer to it as the “devil’s advocate“. Every organization needs to have someone on board saying, “What if XYZ happens?” And you definitely need to have a plan in place. But after time, that personality can disrupt progress if they are not willing to adapt and learn to celebrate successes, large and small, at the right times. However, when leading a team, a pessimist has the ability to destroy the self-esteem of a great employee if given the authority to do so without a systems of checks and balances. In other words, I am directly referring to what I call the “90/10 Leader” – they dwell on the 10% of improvement needs rather than build upon the 90% of achievement and personal growth of the respective individual they manage. I believe it is important at this point to clearly define my position on “optimism” in this “90/10 Leader”, so as to not confuse the reader. I am not a fan of entitlement. I do not believe everyone deserves a trophy. I am a realist and understand that it is not the job of the leader to line the road with roses each morning as their team walks out of the house. I believe respect is earned over time through a clearly laid-out process of consistently communicated expectations. Anyone striving for success must have thick skin, humility, accountability and a willingness to be vulnerable. But I am also passionate about a single attribute that I believe every great leader should have a firm grip on as a leader: This is the foundation for the 90% in my equation. In other words, if you want to lead both effectively and efficiently, you must learn to connect with those you have the privilege to teach. That means get to know your people on an individual level and find out what drives them. Learn what their talents are and respect their boundaries. Lead with both intent and respect. You don’t have to be best friends with those under your lead — but times have changed — you do need to have a personal relationship with them to build a successful culture that is established upon a foundation of pride and accountability. Earn somebody’s trust and respect by being fair and open-minded to constructive feedback and be prepared to reap the rewards as a leader. Do it consistently and you earn the ultimate respect by being labeled as a mentor. Carry a mental black book to journal the meaningless errors in an effort to hold something over their head and you only lose ground in the effort to earn trust. For the leader too selfish to understand, allow me to use the words of the great author, L. Frank Baum, from the iconic scene from the 1939 classic, “The Wizard of Oz”, where Dorothy says… “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” In other words, your style of management is no longer effective. Times have changed, and the ability to develop a culture of trust is critical to sustain success. If you’ve become so fixated in a quest to discover – and even reach for – the minute details, that in essence have no direct correlation or impact on the outcome, and feel the need (usually as a result of being an authoritative leader) to make note of the situation and hold it close to the vest to use at a later date to remind others that they will never achieve the level of power you possess, you are a barrier not only to effective leadership, but inspiring others to grow and eventually lead. Worse, you lose talented people and your company suffers. There is a correlation between this leadership style and a fixed mindset, as well. This leader is usually less receptive to constructive feedback, does not have an open mind, prevents dialogue for the production of thinking outside the box and tends to be very set in their ways. Bottom line, without effective senior leadership guiding their team, good luck getting this gem to change. The result is great people leaving good companies that could become great companies. They have the ability to be the difference makers. They have the courage to act with pride, take an initiative and run with it, represent the company’s objectives and mission and work beyond expectation to exceed expectations. However, the fear of autonomy and retaliation prevent them from achieving even their own expectations because they are always on the defensive for the 10% to come up at any moment. Don’t ever allow your pride and ego to overshadow the accomplishment of those under your leadership. It’s not about you. A great leader understands those words and cherishes the success of others. As cliché as it sounds, it always holds true: PEOPLE DON’T LEAVE COMPANIES; THEY LEAVE BAD MANAGEMENT. Go do great things today and make a difference. VENTURE + LEAD + PROSPER Humbled to lead, #chargeup #lessonsinleadership #leadership #lead #process #patience #change #venture #lead #prosper #reflect #inspire #empower #motivate #beyou #gratitude #integrity #starttoday #humilty RECEIVE MY FREE WEEKLY E-BLAST, THE WIRE ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up. All rights reserved. You are free to use portions of this publication, provided the following credit is listed at the bottom: ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up, is a media-based entity that provides intriguing, innovative and distinctive content, engaging its readers with real-world challenges and solutions while embracing obstacles and the value that failure can provide. While that sounds serious, we promise you will both learn AND laugh (and sometimes cry).Contact Charge Up at victor@chargeuptoday.com or visit our website at www.chargeuptoday.com.
TO INSPIRE NECESSARILY REQUIRES A POSITIVE OUTLOOK.”
C-O-N-N-E-C-T-I-O-N
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✏ Be a Patient of Patience
Think about the time it takes for the sun to rise every morning. It’s not as if a switch goes off and we go from dark to light. There is a special beauty and appreciation for night approaching dawn, it is an amazing spectacle. It reminds us that time is moving forward and that change is inevitable. Did you know that It takes an average of 7-8 hours from sunrise until the sun reaches its highest point of the day? Just like the path of the sun, leadership is no different. You have to be patient, acknowledge and appreciate the rise, trust the process and not expect instant gratification. With leadership, you must set realistic and timely goals, listen, listen, listen and listen more, and never cease learning. Just like the sun will reach its peak in time, so will your efforts and experience in becoming a leader. Success is about endurance. That endurance is the inspiration to work harder each day and commit yourself to the journey. You will acquire the skill sets if you have the right mentor, put in the critical hours each day with the right attitude and mindset, learn to work with a team, and contribute and work on your own time to improve yourself and grow as a professional. You must be willing to sacrifice the short game. The road to leadership is long; what are you willing to invest if you want the outcome to be success? Do you realize how many other people want it just as much as you? Leadership is an internal quality, not an external one. You must first learn to lead from within if you have any desire to grow. Being patient will provide you the time to find your passion through the process of doing. You will invest in yourself to build the confidence necessary to have others not simply follow you, but rather to join you out of respect and trust — two traits that are earned with time and experience. The challenge will be to give without expectation. That’s where sacrifice comes in. Are you willing to give without any guarantee of success? If so, what you will find is that your persistence and courage will make an impact. Your commitment and passion will serve as your compass. Your loyalty and contribution will be rewarded. The majority of successful leaders are not able to tell you about “the moment” they became a leader, however, they will tell you about the journey and sacrifice it took to become one. That is the beauty of leadership — you must trust the process and be willing to invest day in and day out. The rewards of patience will far outweigh the time it took to get there. Enjoy the journey . . . “At the moment that everything goes dark, the sunset in front of us becomes the whole story. But if we find courage enough to wait until tomorrow morning, we will suddenly come to understand that in reality yesterday’s sunset was only half the of the story.” – Carig D. Lounsbrough VENTURE + LEAD + PROSPER Humbled to lead, #chargeup #lessonsinleadership #leadership #lead #process #patience #change #venture #lead #prosper #reflect #inspire #empower #motivate #beyou #gratitude #integrity #starttoday #humilty RECEIVE MY FREE WEEKLY E-BLAST, THE WIRE ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up. All rights reserved. You are free to use portions of this publication, provided the following credit is listed at the bottom: ©2019 Victor Pisano/Charge Up, is a media-based entity that provides intriguing, innovative and distinctive content, engaging its readers with real-world challenges and solutions while embracing obstacles and the value that failure can provide. While that sounds serious, we promise you will both learn AND laugh (and sometimes cry).Contact Charge Up at victor@chargeuptoday.com or visit our website at www.chargeuptoday.com.
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► Corporate Culture
Too many companies confuse a mission statement with company culture. True culture is planted with the seeds of values, personalities and success – and it requires patience to take root. So how do you cultivate a flourishing environment? Find out in this episode of Power Cast, Corporate Culture. Excited? Inspired? Get our motivational e-news, The Wire, delivered weekly right to your inbox! Know someone else who needs to Charge Up? We invite you to share what you’ve heard! #action #leadership #leadershiplessons #reflect #inspire #empower #payitforward #chargeup Power Cast is Charge Up’s weekly podcast, hosted by Victor Pisano. You’re invited to tune in and turn it up as Victor talks leadership, real-world style.Listen Now
✏ The Gift That Keeps on Giving
November 8, 1924 – April 30, 2017 Today is for you, Dad! Happy Birthday… For as long as I can remember, my father always enjoyed his birthday. He would talk about it weeks in advance to remind us, expressing the importance that we go all out and buy him very nice gifts and celebrate at a fancy restaurant. He said we owed him for all the birthdays he spoiled us as kids. The reality was he didn’t care about the gifts or the fancy restaurant; he was happy with anything as long as it was with family. That was kind of man my father was; family always came first. Simply put, Vic was an amazing man. He was what some would call “old-fashioned”, and was a friend to everyone he met. He believed in a handshake and a man’s word. He worked hard, earned his success and helped those in need. He was strong in his faith and knew he would celebrate the day when the Lord took him. He was brave, courageous and full of humility. If he called you friend, you could count on him. Simply put, Vic was an amazing man. There were so many lessons he taught us, but what always came first was the importance of family. I have so many distinct memories of my life spent with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. So many of those people from my childhood have passed, but the memories are so vivid. As a child, we spent every Sunday having lunch with my grandparents and the extended family would come in and out of their home as if it were an open house. There was always a table full of food, wine, beautiful stories, and laughter. When my grandparents passed away, we were fortunate that my father, uncle, and aunt, inherited their love for family by carrying on the traditions of spending every Sunday together as a family, which I now do with my own children. The saddest thing about losing my father is that he died on a Sunday. I didn’t get to sit at a table full of food, wine, beautiful stories, and smiles. That Sunday would be so different from all of the others. And though it breaks my heart that I didn’t get one last Sunday to tell him I loved him, I know that his Sunday dinner that day was the most incredible and beautiful one of all, more than he or us could ever imagine. I imagine his first Sunday in heaven was filled with family and friends from years past with tables filled with food, wine, wonderful stories, and smiles. There were hugs, kisses and more love at his dinner table than we as a family could ever provide because he was at the Lord’s table. I know he looked down on us as we mourned, but in my heart, I felt as if he was telling each one of his children…it’s your turn to carry on. He had taught us so many lessons over the years, and God had the confidence in us that we were prepared and ready to live life without him. Now that I have accepted the role of continuing the traditions that my dad, my grandparents, and generations before them had celebrated, it’s my turn to teach my own children how important family is. It’s my turn to honor him. “A father should be his son’s first hero . . .” Moving forward… Following his sudden death on April 30, 2017, it was an incredibly challenging period in my life. I knew I needed to work through the grief I was experiencing. And I know it’s precisely what he would have told me. When his birthday rolled around six months later, we decided to celebrate by having a party. He wouldn’t be there physically, but I knew his spirit would be everywhere. We asked every guest to write their favorite memory of Vic so we could read them aloud to celebrate his life. What a great party it was! Smiles everywhere, good food, good wine, love, and laughter; all those Sunday nights were. And yes, his spirit was everywhere. It was a beautiful tribute to a man who always put others before himself, and he was loved beyond measure. You could hear it in the words, voices and body language of each person who spoke. That evening, I came to the realization that each beautiful, unique and inspiring story needed to be shared. It would be my honor to carry his legacy forward and dedicate myself to become the man he was. This is how CHARGE UP came to be . . . “The gifts that keep on giving are those of his legacy.” This is the vessel to move from grief to gratitude every day, to celebrate his legacy, and most important, to pay it forward and make an impact in people’s lives the same way he did for more than 80 years. Venture, Lead, Prosper…those are his initials. If you didn’t have the privilege of knowing my father, I’d like you to learn at least one more thing about him. I can think of no better way to end this than with laughter… Vic always made family and friends laugh over the years because of a knack he had for what we called “Vic’isms,” and when corrected, he would respond, “Whatever, same thing!”. He would take a word, phrase or sentence, say it wrong, and truly make it his own. Eventually, we needed a journal to keep up, so the “Vic-tionary” was created! With that, I would like to present you some of my favorites on this special day: When he called my sister-in-law from the hospital when my wife was giving birth to our second child, Catherine, he told her, “they are going to seduce the baby!” He meant to say “induce” the baby. His response: WHATEVER, SAME THING… He once told us all that he was going to be remodeling his home and would be putting “Gerber” carpet in. He meant to say “Berber carpet.” His response: WHATEVER, SAME THING… We complimented his shirt at a family gathering, and he proudly told us that it was from “Banana Republican.” He meant to say “Banana Republic.” His response: WHATEVER, SAME THING… He was describing a scene of an accident that he passed and told us that he thought it was severe because the police officer was giving the man “UPS.” He meant to say CPR. His response: WHATEVER, SAME THING… While preparing a meal, he told us that we should be using a “SEGREGATED” knife. He meant to say “serrated.” His response: WHATEVER, SAME THING… “My father didn’t tell me how to live; he lived and I watched him do it.” I sincerely appreciate you allowing me the platform to dedicate this to my father. Charge Up, Dad! I hope you are proud; we love and miss you every day… VENTURE + LEAD + PROSPER Blessed to carry on his legacy, #ChargeUp #venture #lead #prosper #legacy #inspiration #gratitude #love #Dad #HappyBirthday RECEIVE MY FREE WEEKLY E-BLAST, THE WIRE ©2018 Victor Pisano/Charge Up. All rights reserved. You are free to use portions of this publication, provided the following credit is listed at the bottom: ©2018 Victor Pisano/Charge Up, is a media-based entity that provides intriguing, innovative and distinctive content, engaging its readers with real-world challenges and solutions while embracing obstacles and the value that failure can provide. While that sounds serious, we promise you will both learn AND laugh (and sometimes cry).Contact Charge Up at victor@chargeuptoday.com or visit our website at www.chargeuptoday.com.A tribute to my father and inspiration: Vic Pisano, Sr.
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✏ The Thrill of Victory, the Agony Between the Feet
Does the fear of failure ever stand in your way of achieving your goals? Have you learned to bounce back and persevere? If your answer is “not really,” I have a story for you… It was October 26, 1986, and over 55,000 people were packed into Shea Stadium for the 83rd World Series. The Boston Red Sox held a 3-game to 2 advantage in the best of 7 series over the New York Mets. Win this game, and the 68-year old “Curse of the Bambino” would be erased from the memory of every Sox fans in what would later rank as one of the greatest World Series of all time. After the top of the tenth inning and with over 22 million viewers tuned in, NBC had started to set up in the visiting Red Sox clubhouse to film the postgame celebration and the exchange of the Commissioner’s Trophy. The champagne was on ice, and Bob Costas was set to preside over the ceremony. After the second out in the tenth, the scoreboard operator in Shea Stadium accidentally posted “Congratulations Boston Red Sox, 1986 World Series Champions”. It was meant with a roar of boos and was immediately removed. “The game ain’t over ‘til it’s over.” With the winning run at second base, the Mets had two outs and a 3-2 count on Mookie Wilson. Wilson hit a little roller down the first base line, a routine play for any novice, much less an MLB 1st baseman — but it was anything but routine that night. It went past his glove, between his legs and faded just enough outside the baseline to bring Kevin Mitchell, the tying run at 3rd, and Ray Knight, the winning run at 2nd, in to score and in dramatic fashion, win the game for the Mets, 6-5. The New York Mets would go on to win the series after a 10-9 victory over the Red Sox in game 7 and were crowned the 1986 World Series Champions. in its wake, one name was immediately and indelibly etched in the lore of Red Sox baseball: Bill Buckner. If you’re a Red Sox fan, you’ve probably brought his name up a few times with your therapist. Buckner was the first baseman in that game. This guy didn’t ride the pine either; Buckner spent twenty-two years in the majors, had over 2,700 hits with 9,397 plate appearances, over 100 RBI’s, a .289 batting average in a span of over 3,500 career games. In 1986, he was 17 years into his career. However, all of that meant nothing. October 26, 1986, means everything. “Baseball is ninety percent mental and the other half is physical.” Let’s go back to failure. It would have been easy for Buckner to end his career following that season; he was ridiculed and the target of every sports journalist and Red Sox fan across the country during the off-season, even receiving death threats. It was more than enough to make any man crumble, even an experienced professional athlete. But amazingly enough, Buckner somehow went on to play another five successful seasons following the debacle of 1986. In an Associated Press interview in 2005, Buckner revealed his secret to moving on. “I think a lot of people would have really let it bother them,” he mused. “Or you could use it in a positive manner. I’m a positive person.” There are those who have the courage and fortitude to allow failure to serve as inspiration as opposed to being discouraged. Failure is a constant in the process of success. Failure is an opportunity to: – Commit to improvement – Evaluate and if necessary, redirect your focus – Look within and become more self-aware – Review your plan – Find motivation – Seek trusted mentorship The off-season that followed the 1986 World Series was dedicated to improvement for Buckner, despite his critics. That was not how he was going to leave the game. He took it in stride and did not allow it to become a distraction as he prepared for the following season. To this day, when Buckner is interviewed, they always ask him about that play back in October of 1986. After 30 years, one has the right to get frustrated and possibly display anger in their response. After all, there have been many mistakes in sports since his. Not Bill Buckner. He answers every question with respect, dignity and an authentic tone that continues to teach others how failure doesn’t define you — how you respond to it does. He had an amazing MLB career, and he is now a successful businessman who is very involved with his community. One can’t be an innovator without risk. How can you have an entrepreneurial spirit with doubt? Where will the breakthrough come from if you have a negative mindset? BE BOLD! BE COURAGEOUS! FAIL! GET BACK UP! SUCCEED! “You can observe a lot by watching.” Today is the day that you commit to not allow fear to detour or distract you from the greatness you can achieve. Instill a mindset of positivity, discipline, passion, and perseverance in everything you do. If it’s your passion, nothing can stand in your way. Just ask Bill Buckner. “Baseball’s what I do.” Go do great things today and make a difference. VENTURE + LEAD + PROSPER Humbled to lead, #ChargeUp #venture #lead #prosper #inspire #gratitude #action #leadership #failure #failforward #leaderwithin #courage #compassion #BeThe1 #mentor #journey #moveforward #adversity #reflect #YouAreReady RECEIVE MY FREE WEEKLY E-BLAST, THE WIRE ©2018 Victor Pisano/Charge Up. All rights reserved. You are free to use portions of this publication, provided the following credit is listed at the bottom: ©2018 Victor Pisano/Charge Up, is a media-based entity that provides intriguing, innovative and distinctive content, engaging its readers with real-world challenges and solutions while embracing obstacles and the value that failure can provide. While that sounds serious, we promise you will both learn AND laugh (and sometimes cry).Contact Charge Up at victor@chargeuptoday.com or visit our website at www.chargeuptoday.com.
– Yogi Berra
– Yogi Berra
– Yogi Berra
– Bill Buckner
The only way we can inspire is to grow our community – would you please share this with family and friends, ask that they subscribe to Charge Up, and follow us on social media?