Who or what do you use as an accountability track to keep you in the main lane of success?
SHARE: share your tips and tricks on accountability practices, partnerships, and the like.
Tip: look at your calendar, take inventory of people, places, and things not lending to your lane of success. Then adapt, adopt, and delete people, places, and things that create momentum and synergies to your goals.
I am often asked why I do what I do. This is a valid question and one I ask myself often. From coaching, consulting, to public speaking the one thing that keeps me coming back is the “spark”. Yes, all individuals, teams, and groups have an energy all their own and I see this as a “spark”. There is a raised energy when people see or rise to the next level of success.
Think about the spark of excitement in your face when holding a sparkler; even as adults we giggle and have childlike wonder when holding a sparkler in our hand. Working with men and women; they all hold a spark of excitement when entering the next level of success!
Throughout a golfers career whether for pleasure or competition there are times the swing is not recalling. It could be from mind block, muscle memory, fatigue, and so many other factors. At times it is a bad game or bad season where the player is unable to hit the ball well. What keeps players coming back is the “spark”. What keeps players coming back is the one great shot, chip, or putt; the “spark” of confident excitement and rush of accomplishment.
Identify Your Spark
The above is a short list of questions to dive into what you love to do and why you do it. If you are finding current space and circumstances keep you from doing what you love to do; perhaps it is time to make a change. Your unique talents are what the world needs. The world is in need for you to “spark” others with what you have to offer. The “spark” is similar to a golfer, one well hit ball or “spark” builds your heart to do more of what you were built to do.
Personally, my “spark” to keep doing what I do is filled with clients accomplishments, ideas, and transition to next levels of success. My clients build solid foundations while holding childlike wonder creating their own sparkler experience. You can say I am a “spark” maker by sparking individuals, teams, and groups into new success they could not see or do before.
The spark leads to a well lived life full of joy, clarity, focus, and determined success.
Look Up & Out,
Tracy Worley
How did you do last week implementing a few words, keeping the main thing the main thing, and creating measurable goals?
Here are a few things to consider to create a circle of sustainable referral sources:
Remember, what you are passionate about is a calling. Challenge this week is to connect, add value, look for the Law of Reciprocation and give praise.
Thank you for joining me on our Summer Fire It Up Friday Series.
Look Up & Out, Tracy Worley
All success comes from an individual perspective in measurable increments. For organizations it comes from their perspective initiatives and the perspective of gain or loss.
One of the top reasons I adore about living in Montana, USA is the rugged back country is close and tangible. I find myself in a National Forest several times a week and if possible daily. No matter what trail my administrative staff and I hike; there is always an elevation gain or loss.
Administrative Staff On Trail
Success also has a measure of gain or loss dependent on your initiatives and goals. I recently read, “The only person who needs to move forward little by little is you. Engineer your own evolution” ~ E. Burger, M. Starbird.
When I read evolution my reaction was, “Yes, success is creating your own revolution from the norms of how others have accomplished success.”
As you create goals there are meaningful ways to ensure a gain:
Moving little by little is like climbing a trail. It takes step by step, bit by bit to make it to your destination and crest the top. Once you are at the crest you will see a higher peak (next goal) to strive toward. There are times you may need to lose elevation to glean new knowledge, understand the depth of measurable increments, and evaluate timing.
Refining knowledge is where most entrepreneurs and organizations lose traction. The tendency is to gobble up all information, processes, and best practices. This tendency hinders progress of little by little; often creating a stale environment of growth and innovation. To keep on track, define your objective clearly then adopt, adapt, or delete best practices and move forward.
Each goal has its own trail of learned knowledge. Success can happen time after time hiking the same trail. However, conditions can change and new knowledge is gleaned from season to season. Business perspective; who is on your team creating a stale mate, are clients engaging, is it time to adopt, adapt, or change trails to new success?
The hard truth is not one person or organization creates success on their own. There is always someone supporting them in one manner or another. There are teams who sustain forward momentum to success and community who purchases services and or products. The basic truth not often seen are those who blazed the trail ahead of us. A back country hiking trail is often not for the faint of heart. There is a lot of elevation gain, loss, gain, loss and keeps going until final destination. A back country trail is not managed and if it is there is a group of volunteers who hike in with band-saws and other gear to keep the trail clear (chain saws are not permitted due to fire danger, there are no motor vehicles allowed). From back country hiking to entrepreneurial paths cleared there is always someone who blazed the trail or idea ahead of us. It is your responsibility to create synergy and innovation from what is already forged.
“If I have seen farther than others it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants” ~ Isaac Newton. Bring someone on board to create and sustain your momentum toward your goals bit by bit. No matter what or who you bring on board it is important to be open-minded about possibilities not seen at the beginning of the trail.
Success is worth the journey bit by bit, little by little! Would love to hear about your journeys and where you have gleaned success and what your goals are today!
Look Up and Out,
Tracy Worley
Summer is here! Even though Summer Solstice has not come yet; schools are letting out, sunshine is drawing us outdoors, and attention to goals diminish.
It is normal to have a hit of nostalgia and be drawn to the warmth of the sun. What I have found with clients and myself enjoying the summer; professional goals slide off track.
Here are a few things to consider to keeping your goals on track:
Remember, what you are passionate about is a calling. Are you stepping forward in word, main thing, and measurable’s to make it happen?
Thank you for joining me on our Summer Fire It Up Friday Series.
Look Up & Out, Tracy Worley
The rest of the story, I am doing well but only because I advocated for my health and business! I continue to invest in my business. I continue to plug into my inner-circle for accountability and sustainability for a better tomorrow. I am starting 2016 with my best year ever!
I am in spunky determination for you to have the best year ever too! Do you need to invest in your success? Are you advocating for your business line and personal growth toward your best year ever?
The Right Stuff vs. The Right Spunk!
You matter, your purpose in life and business matter! You are here for a reason, I challenge you to get up and out! Make new tracks in every area of your life. I believe in you! I believe in your inner-circle just as I believe in mine!
Not sure where to start? I can help you with that!
Look UP & OUT,
Tracy Worley
The season of fall is my favorite, with the changing color, crisp morning air and the reminder everything and 
everyone must have a season of shedding the old and preparing for the new.
Everything matters if you believe in your success, future, and those around you. Simple questions to put into your morning reflection as you set your priorities and purpose:
Taking time daily lets your thought, action, and beliefs catch up to what you are asking and then question apply the, why. As leaders we tend to forget to continue to ask the WHY and keep moving.
Mark 9:23-24 “…anything is possible if a person believes….I do believe, but help me have no doubts.”
If you have a project you have launched over 3 months ago and have not taken a series “time-out” in reflection of why you started it, where is it now, does it need adjustments, does the project fit within your values and serving clients and or employees? Remember everything matters and everything is possible when you believe.
Challenge Question: Where are your doubts: Renew your day, ask, act, and believe because you matter!
Look UP & OUT!
Tracy Worley
Tracy Worley (2015) Authentic Leadership, Authentic Self
Tracy Worley (2015) Potential² Roundtables™
Tracy A. Worley (2015) GRACEbreak Radio
Most of us end up in a leadership role by being promoted or asked to take over projects at an ever growing rapid pace. Common practice is to promote those with seniority, even if the employee is given no management or leadership training.
The numbers are still staggering on how many organizations are behind in training leaders within their organizations. A research article in the Deloitte University Press* states;
“Leadership remains the No. 1 talent issue facing organizations around the world, with 86 percent of respondents in our survey rating it as “urgent” or “important.” Only 13 percent of respondents say they do an excellent job developing leaders at all levels—the largest “readiness gap” in our survey.” Deloitte University Press
If 86% of respondents admit that leadership is “urgent” or “important”, but only 13% of respondents are doing anything about it, then where is this disconnect coming from?
The reality of leadership is that most leaders did not ask to lead, and do not realize everyone is a leader in their organization regardless of whether they asked for it or not. As I work with organizations and entrepreneurs, it is clear that personal and professional development is essential and will always be the “golden key” to raising leaders.
This brings me to a recent observation while refereeing a High School Soccer game. While I was refereeing the 
sideline for a Junior Varsity game on the parent side, the home team Varsity Soccer team was causing a ruckus. Yes, this is normal behavior and usually the parents are causing the issue. Back to the team, they were yelling profanity, negative jokes about their own team members, and in general not setting a great example of respect for others.
My response was one of delicate but stern warning, “I only want to hear positive comments and cheering from this section.” The shock and awe of surprise that anyone would call them out on their bad behavior was priceless. I heard a few other comments about me throughout the game, but as usual when refereeing the parent side, most of the comments, slander, and disgust for our calls rolls off our backs.
At the end of the game, I pulled the Varsity coach aside and told him of the incident. “Coach you have a great team this year, and we are the sum of who we choose to hang out with. Your team members are leaders on the sideline, and I know you would not expect anything less of them.” The coach was appreciative, and the next week at the Varsity game the team was a little sheepish, but also seemed to understand the reality of being on a Varsity team. They are leaders. Perhaps not by choice, but now they are aware that they are leaders and people will follow.
Here are a few ideas for a Leadership Plan:
I build content and programs for organizations, and the first thing I ask for is an outline of the above. And if there is content for the programs, I ask for that as well. You see, 100% of organizations have blind spots in developing and lifting leaders in their organization. Not by neglect, but by default.
I welcome your questions on where to start or am willing to look at your current plan. Please contact us today, as we are committed to adding value to leaders–which is everyone. Reality kicks our pants! No matter what you do or where you are, people are looking to you for the next step through your actions.
Challenge Question: Where is reality kicking your leadership pants?
Look UP & OUT!
Tracy Worley
Deloitte University Press Link
Global Leadership Survey & Data Link
Tracy Worley (2015) Authentic Leadership, Authentic Self
Canwell, Dongrie, Neveras, Stockton (2014), Deloitte University Press
Monday’s are important to connect with your team to set the tone, action, and belief this week is just as important as 
last.
Connection does not take a lot of your time out of the scheme of disengaged employees as Gallup states is 70%. Below are a few ways to break the ice, connect, and let all your employees know you appreciate the value they bring to the organization.
Trust Me It Works!
These are just a few ideas of connecting and creating a culture of sustained employee engagement and loyalty. Ninety percent of people leave an organization because of people. I challenge you to be the 10% where people do not leave because of other people but because you engaged, mentored, and gave them value to find bigger and better opportunities.
Begin creating a culture of; mentoring, engaging, and adding value to groom them to leave hits most of us in the big old’ PRIDE button. Some of you are asking or stopped reading; why would I want to groom them to leave? My question is why wouldn’t you? Engaged employees who have been valued, mentored, and engaged are your biggest advocates outside of your organization.
Challenge Question: How many cubicles will you visit today?
Look UP & OUT!
Tracy Worley
What is your secret sauce to being a difference maker in your life?
The basis of leading and making a difference is all about attitude and what it can—and cannot—do for you and those around you. I have a confession to make. Early in my career and youth, I was the one where my parents and co-workers would look at me and say, “Check the attitude at the door.” I did not have a bad attitude, but a very inquisitive one, and had not yet learned how to harness my “why” questions to team build. The way I asked questions did not build collaboration but separation.
To sustain success you cannot separate self-esteem, character, or attitude. All three must be part of your reality to lead authentically and to be a difference maker.
From The Difference Maker here are some areas to consider for reflection and change toward making the difference you desire:
Creating a plan to be a difference maker in attitude and understanding reality does not substitute for choosing your attitude. In 2011 on a brief phone call, I learned I no longer was employed due to a third round of downsizing. Was this a blow? Absolutely! However, I did not let the experience keep me down. I kept a forward vision and took actions one step at a time, even if they were baby steps toward the future I desired and deserve.
Moving forward has everything to do with a positive attitude, perseverance, and not sitting in a stinky pool of pity. I kept moving forward toward the next adventure in making a difference in other people’s lives. I hope you are one of those people.
Challenge Question: What is in your calendar to ensure you are not sitting in a stinky pool of pity?
Look UP & OUT!
Tracy Worley
Are curious! Do you want to find your secret sauce of being a Difference Maker, and create original ideas through your natural gifts? New series starting in June!
5 Steps to Create The Future You Want
Top4 Is Your Core: Build Your Solid Foundation
John C. Maxwell (2006). The Difference Maker
Tracy Worley (2015) Authentic Leadership, Authentic Self
Tracy A. Worley (2015) GRACEbreak Radio