Attention, young adults… Believe it or not, there was a time when you judged a person’s character simply by their handshake. I distinctly remember that while growing up, my father would give me lessons on the proper way to shake someone’s hand. And not just the handshake itself; he would start with how to approach a person when doing so. You walked toward them, extending your hand with a welcoming posture, a smile on your face, and you began your initial comment even before you grip their hand. He probably made me do it 20 times, and it makes me smile just thinking about it. We would practice that for years, little impromptu crash courses to make sure I never lost that skill. When I had the honor to work for him, there were countless times after a meeting when he would comment to me about the other person’s handshake. And, he would trust my opinion as well. If it was firm and they held it for a few seconds while looking you in the directly in the eyes, he believed that was a person you could trust. He said to be cautious of someone with sweaty palms, a weak grip and no eye contact; that they’re probably not to be trusted. I cherish those times now that he is gone. My father was a man of his word; if he shook your hand and said he would do something, come hell or high water, you could count on it. “A handshake is an email you send with your body.” Today, we do business across continents without even so much as a handshake, but rather a screen-to-screen discussion where we are forced to gain as much business knowledge as possible, as well as character of the person on the other end, without any in-person interaction. Sure, there are other signals that we can look for, but give me the choice between a phone call and a face-to-face meeting, and I will ALWAYS choose the latter. There is something about the human connection that strengthens the character of leadership within us all. You can never replace the personal greeting; the initial small talk which leads to future trust. The dialogue that, over time, earns you the right to negotiate, but more importantly, provides you the opportunity to sense verbal and non-verbal cues. To look a person in the eye, have disagreements, share in solutions and celebrate the success of an agreement. And how do you solidify your agreement? Through a handshake. Meeting people face-to-face is critical to be successful. Social media, emails, texts or even a WebEx should never be a replacement for the human connection. If there are costs associated with making one, that is price of doing business. If you want to distinguish yourself from your competitor, form a true, personal relationship with that client. The easiest and most successful way to earn the trust of another person is to sit across a table from them and be yourself. Don’t fake it, be authentic. Don’t pretend to know everything, be humble. And most of all, listen more than you talk. VENTURE + LEAD + PROSPER Humbled to lead, #legacy #hero #chargeup #chargeuptoday #lessonsinleadership #leadership #lead #process #strongleader #patience #leadershipjourney #resilience #failure #success #moveforward #adversity #areyouready #leadandfollow #mentorship #mentor #venture #lead #prosper #reflect #inspire #empower 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.
– Anthony Finucane
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✏ Some People Have a Problem for Every Solution
Remember when negativity was only reserved for certain math concepts or when talking about the temperatures in Alaska? How times have changed . . . People are bombarded by negativity all over social media, rather than all the good around them. As a result, they become obsessed with negativity. Instead of trying to find balance in our lives, stress and a growing sense of entitlement have given us the authority to be an “expert” on everything, and an unquenchable need to voice our positions from behind a keyboard. We have lost sight of gratitude. “Negative people need drama like oxygen. Think of it this way: our mind can only think one thought at a time, so changing the negative into a positive eliminates the negative. If we focus on the positive, we have the ability to be more creative, productive, engaging and respected. Practice this every day, and the results will be incredibly rewarding. What about negative people? You’re either a part of the problem or the solution. If all you do is complain and have a negative aura about you, eventually you will notice that the only people who listen to you anymore are those that enjoy complaining too. You have a choice, either continue complaining or show the courage to do something about it. Be the change, apply the energy you spend being negative toward something constructive. “Some People Really Suck — AVOID THEM!” Here are 5 things you can practice daily to change the negative into a positive:
Watch your thoughts, they become words. Life is too short — focus on doing the right thing and make a POSITIVE impact on somebody today! VENTURE + LEAD + PROSPER Humbled to lead, #legacy #hero #chargeup #chargeuptoday #lessonsinleadership #leadership #lead #process #strongleader #patience #leadershipjourney #resilience #failure #success #moveforward #adversity #areyouready #leadandfollow #mentorship #mentor #venture #lead #prosper #reflect #inspire #empower 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.
Stay positive; it will take their breath away.”
– MJ Korvan
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.
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?
✏ How Important Is Character?
“Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.” Whether it is a first or last impression, your character will play a vital role in your ability to lead. In building your character — guiding by your beliefs and actions — you are in essence building your legacy. Now, when conversations venture into this territory, some leaders tend to confuse character and reputation. But I am not talking about your reputation here — and this is the difference between the two: CHARACTER IS WHO YOU ARE. We have become a hyper-judgmental generation, and over-focus on what others think about us. Whether it’s because of insecurity or a lack of self-confidence, it’s something that should have no bearing whatsoever on who you are as a person, or more importantly, as a leader. If you confidently, consistently operate with integrity, trust and positive influence, then your character will speak for itself. And how others perceive you — your reputation — will be a result of other key traits associated with your character, some of which include: CONFIDENCE – Your presence will define your success. Not outwardly, but the way in which you lead your team with clear initiatives, effective communication and a shared respect. EMPATHY – By being empathetic, you are showing those around you that you understand the challenges they face. Encourage open discussion and empower others to find solutions. Your belief in your team will go a long way. GRATITUDE – Nothing beats feeling appreciated for your efforts and willingness to go outside your comfort zone for the good of the team. It is a simple gesture, and your team needs those pats on the back…it makes them want to do more. VALUES – What do you stand for? What will you not sacrifice? If they are exhibited every day, these values become a critical part of your character and your integrity. COMPOSURE – Not allowing your emotions to cloud your judgement is critical in a group. By controlling our composure, we take charge of the situation, and in turn, display why we have the ability to lead. FAILURE – Without failure, you won’t understand the joy of success. Whether it is you or your team who failed, take responsibility, find the solution and move on. Failure has led many to amazing innovation, inventions and solutions; let it serve the same purpose in you. “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. If you are to succeed as a leader, it is imperative that you are self-aware and recognize the skills that you need to develop. You must live according to your values everyday…in your personal and business life. We are all blessed with the amazing ability to control our character by simply taking a few seconds to think before we speak, react or expose our composure. These precious seconds are our life jackets — know how to use them. Regardless of age or tenure, be a leader with character. I assure you that in some way, you will make a difference and impact others in your abilities and how you carry yourself. Make a difference today. VENTURE + LEAD + PROSPER Humbled to lead, #legacy #chargeup #chargeuptoday #lessonsinleadership #leadership #lead #process #strongleader #patience #leadershipjourney #resilience #failure #success #payitforward #adversity #areyouready #leadandfollow #mentorship #mentor #venture #lead #prosper #reflect #inspire #empower #buildforsuccess 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.
– John Wooden
REPUTATION IS WHAT OTHERS THINK YOU ARE.
Only through experience of trial and suffering can
the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.”
– Helen Keller
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?