Leadership: Band of Brothers

Can we all agree on this one? Running on a treadmill during the cold, winter months is boring.

Music works. I prefer Metallica. I've tried others, but Metallica simply works best for me. Watching sports on the television works. I used to watch the Red Wings or Pistons or some random college basketball game. Note the "Used to...".

Charter, our cable and internet provider, made a total transition to HD channels. To do so, we now needed a cable box for each TV in the house. Being the tight Dutch boy that I am, I wasn't going to spend the money on another cable box (already have two in the house) for the little used, outdated TV in the room where the treadmill is located.

So, I improvised (well, I actually simply tapped into technology). I use my iPad to watch shows on Amazon Prime.

During my treadmill runs I've been watching the World War II Mini-Series, Band of Brothers. Two major immediate benefits: 1). My runs now last an hour, and 2). I'm learning about WWII and gaining an even greater appreciation for the sacrifice others made for my (our) freedom!

An unexpected learning lesson has been driving itself home as I watch each episode. That lesson: Leadership.

Leadership is earned.
Leadership is demonstrated by action
Leadership is "by example"
Leadership builds credibility
Leadership happens from the front.
Leadership carries responsibility
Leadership inspires when there is no hope
Leadership encourages
Leadership starts with caring about the person
Leadership is earned. (Yes, I repeated myself)

Click the word QUOTES to relive some great moments from the mini-series, Band of Brothers: QUOTES

Belief

I've been hanging out with Tom Asacker. Who's Tom Asacker? Yes, I said Tom Asacker. For many of you, the idea of me even having a friend might seem a little far fetched. Just kidding. I do have friends and, no, I don't have to pay them.

Tom Asacker is an author and I am hanging out with him during the 8-10 minutes that I eat my breakfast (1.5 cups of Cinnamon Rice Chex with 3/4 cup of Almond Milk, if you care). When eating breakfast at home, I tend to spend my time with authors, a couple pages at a time. In 2014, I spent a whole lot of time with Napoleon Hill. While crunching on my Rice Chex, I powered through Think and Grow Rich twice.

I'm a firm believer in books and the reading of books. They change your life, but only if you read them! It took me 16 years before I finished Think and Grow Rich. It was a gift from owner of the company I proudly work for. The owner is great man, Mr. Mike Olthoff. The company? Nichols. To understand Mike, you only need to take the few minutes to read this article. He is a testament to the power of belief and the power of reading great books.

Which brings me back to my "hanging out" with Tom Asacker. I'd like to share this little section from his book, The Business of Belief.

Believe To Achieve

In 1988, two psychologist published an article making a somewhat disturbing argument. 

The claimed that positive self-deception is a normal and beneficial part of most people's lives.

It turns out that we lie to ourselves about three things.

We view ourselves in implausibly positive ways.

We think we have far more control over our lives than we actually do.

And we believe that the future will be better that the evidence of the present can possibly justify.

These positive illusions help us feel good about ourselves and out decisions.

Just ask Spencer West.

His mind was motivated to ignore his legs.

Or more precisely his lack of legs, which were amputated below the pelvis when he was just five.

Spencer simply wanted to raise funds for a Kenyan charity.

By scaling Africa's highest mountain.

As so, after a year of training, he completed the grueling climb up Mount Kilimanjaro in seven days. 

Using only his hands.

Whether you believe you can or you believe you can't, you're probably right.

Mike Olthoff is a believer of "I can". I am a believer of "I can". I know my wife is a believer of "I can". She's done amazing things... Follow her blogs here and here.

I know that you, too, are a believer. If you say you are, you're probably right. However, have you chosen to believe "I can" or "I can't"? The choice is yours to make.

Start spending time with authors each day. It won't be long before you can state with strong conviction, "I can".