Throughout my leadership courses at OSU, I’ve had time to discuss and understand the importance of reviewing an reanalyzing what we are doing and how we do them. For any leader there is always a yearning to improve and learn more, but sometimes we overcomit or focus on the low leverage skills. But in the following video, I discuss the needs to refocus your attention on completing the high leverage tasks or skills, that can help improve many other areas of your life. Try to identify the low hanging fruits and tackle them now.

Here is the video.

LEAD 542 & other LEAD courses have definitely gotten me to constantly analyze and reanalyze how I do things and to identify areas of strength and areas that need strengthening. Prior to this class I would have thought that my networking skills were horrible, but that my friendship skills were excellent. A lot of this had to do with how I defined the two categories and how I saw networking as somebody that has to sell themselves and always goes after those whot can help them and ignores those who can’t (which I’ve experienced the receiving end of at networking events), whereas friendship was just reaching out, being yourself, connecting, and helping another person out whenever you could. As you have probably deduced, my definition for networking was very narrow and not at all what networking is (but it is a stereotype of what some are taught to do in order to network). However I realized in this class that networking is just making connections and building those connections by being yourself, reaching out, and helping others (does that sound like another definition I discussed earlier?)

So, I found out in the end that I am actually a pretty good networker, although there is still work to be done. In this class I realized there is a lot more pre-work to networking than I had ever thought, like doing some research before an event, dinner, or even BBQ. I have to think about what I can offer, possibly rekindle other connections to see if they might connect well with anybody I may meet at the event (if their career/interestss allign).

I also always heard about mentoring and was interested in it, but I never knew how to approach somebody and ask if they could be a mentor. Since it was an assignment in class, I was able to ask somebody I admire and is in another field – Foreign Service – to help mentor me. But, because of this class, asking somebody for help to help with an assignment, was very easy. I learned a LOT from my mentor and looked at my life and goals through a different lense and point of view, which I needed to take a better step forward. If I’m honest some of the advice was advice that I had gotten from my wife or others, but I had cast it asside because I saw it as criticism becuase I wasn’t ready or open to hear it. But when my mentor mentioned some of these points (albeit a little bit differently, probably with a bit more diplomacy) I thought they were fantastic ideas and lapped them up. (After realizing this I did have to laugh about it with my wife and give her credit, too).

Bottomline, this and other leadership courses helped me redefine old concepts and more importantly, help me take action on these newly defined ideas an put them into action, by getting a mentor, by connecting with 10 people that I identified in a networking activity, by leading a book group. It was not just an academic exersize in expanding my knowledge, but also, a followthrough with active steps that I took, which made the material stick and life changing.

This leadership course has taught or reminded me:

• Pomodoro Method – Helps me stay focused so that I can keep learning both for class and at work.
• Networking tricks – Do more pre-planning before any networking event; Be creative with follow-up thank you notes; help try and set up contacts with other contacts.
• Motivation – It is a skill that needs to be practiced and different people are motivated by different methods.
• Emotional Intelligence – Focus on ways to improve ot only self control, but also focus outward to improve social awarenesss and relationship management (areas I can focus on)

These were just a few of the many things I learned/relearned.

Easy answer – it’s a blessing. However, the way I used to think about networking was a necessary evil. I used to always picture networking as selling yourself and always having to gear that towards people with more power/stature. I used to picture networking as the bossy individual that moved around the room talking to people and asking what they did, and if it sounded like you couldn’t do anything for them, than they abruptly moved on – I had been on the receiving end of this interaction early in my ‘official/business’ networking career. HOWEVER, I’ve come to learn that, that is not good networking (at least for me). Networking for me is just building relationships. That is what a network is, a series of connections/relationships.

Real networking doesn’t just happen at a business event, it happens at a party, at a bar-b-que, at a grocery store, or on vacation. The trick is that you have to be open to connecting and to offering a part of yourself and be present in the moment. Much easier said than done, because I am often tired, hungry, lonely, etc., and it’s hard to be open to connecting and networking if I’m any or all of those. But, if I can recognize how I’m feeling and still be present/mindful of the situation, I can always connect with someone and I’ve often found some of the best connections that have helped at times with my career path but just as importantly the connections have helped me emotionally and personally, which have given me the confidence to improve myself and my career.

Throughout my life I have often chosen flight over fighting, inaction over inaction, and indecision over decision. Part of this was because it was easier. I also often only saw the problem that was immediately in front of me as opposed to seeing beyond the problem.

But, in the past few years, I’ve learned the value of fighting, seen the errors in inaction, and have gotten more resolve in making decisions. Much of this had to deal with looking further into the future and seeing through my actions as well as seeing through on where inaction would get me.

I’ve stopped procrastinating as much using different techniques like the pomodoro method, visualization, and writing down short and long term goals I’d like to accomplish, which get me thinking about the future and my family, which always help my motivation. I try and set some rewards to keep me looking forward, too.

My name is Andrew and this site is being started for a class, but will evolve as I learn and grow.   While it’s original intent will be personal improvement, if you’ve found yourself here, hopefully you can gleam from some of this materialand resources and learn from my mistakes.

After many years of looking outside of myself and figuring out that I have to start much closer than I thought – in the mirror.

The person in the mirror has to be motivated and has to be positive, proactive, take action, and insightful. Below are a few quotes that have helped me in the past:

“The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity.” – Amelia Earhart

“If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” – Frederick Douglass

“Take criticism seriously, but not personally. If there is truth or merit in the criticism, try to learn from it. Otherwise, let it roll right off you.” – Hillary Clinton