Seth Godin has also recently blogged on this, comparing “Hard Work” versus “Long Work.”

For me, the “Hard Work” is where the most value is created, but it is the hardest to get to.  Examples are:

1)  Writing original content for publications, presentations, etc.

2)  Making those scary marketing calls and visits

3)  Preparing for, practicing and scheduling major industry presentations

4)  Taking time for deep reflection, planning and  honest goal setting

I know that if I really prioritized the “Hard Work” versus the “Long Work” (examples are answering emails, phone calls, doing other busy work in the office), then I would be phenomenally more successful.   My challenge is to rise above the gravity of doing the easy, long work.

Do you have the same opportunity?  I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks!  Brett Blair – Sanford Rose Associates, Brighton - Executive Search

I recently came across this great article by Dr. Alan Zimmerman, and decided to share it with you.

It’s a fairly common practice to survey employees and survey the general population. Employees are asked what they want from their companies. And the general population is asked what they want out of life. In both cases, the vast majority says they just want to be “happy.”

Now “happy” sounds like a simple-enough demand, but in both cases, there’s a flaw in the survey question. The question tends to imply that it’s the company’s job to “make” their employees happy, and everybody has a right to expect life to “make” them happy.

Unfortunately, no company can ever do that, and neither can life itself. Happiness is not something somebody else can give you. It’s the result of the choices YOU make.

If you want to be happy, you need to make these choices.

Choice #1: Discover what interests you.

John D. Rockefeller, industrialist and philanthropist, said, “The road to happiness lies in two simple principles.” The first one, he went on to say, was to “find out what it is that interests you and that you can do well.”

And some people never take the time to figure that out. They spend their whole life whining, “I’m not sure what I like” or “I don’t know what I want to do when I grow up.” They’re the ones who finish life in a state of bitterness.

Take time to discover what interests you.

Choice #2: Pursue excellence.

You could choose to do “just enough to get by.” You could choose to do the “bare minimum.” And you could choose to do work that is “good enough.” But you’ll never find happiness in those choices.

You must choose to live with passion and work with passion. You must choose to pursue excellence. As Rockefeller said, “The road to happiness lies in two simple principles.” The first one was discovering what interests you. And once you’ve discovered that, the second principle, according to Rockefeller, is to “put your whole soul into it — every bit of energy and ambition and natural ability you have.”

Pearl S. Buck, the American author and missionary, echoed his conclusion. She wrote, “The secret of joy in work is contained in one word — excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it.”

Unfortunately, some misguided fools think happiness is found in leisure or is found in doing nothing. They’ll even say, “When I retire, I’m just going to sit back and do nothing. No more work for me.”

Years ago, Napoleon Hill, the leading researcher on success, debunked that myth. He said “Happiness is found in doing.” It is not found in layed-back laziness.

And most recently, Dr. Dan Baker spent several years poring over hundreds of studies on happiness. In his book, “What Happy People Know,” Baker concluded, “Leisure is one of those luxuries that’s best in small portions. When it’s all there is to life, it’s as boring as being locked in jail.”

Choice #3: Take pleasure in the little things.

One of the most fascinating studies done on achieving wealth without work was a study of lottery winners by Dr. Ronnie Janoff-Bulman and her colleagues. They compared 22 winners of major lotteries to 22 average people and 29 victims of sudden paralysis. The lottery winners had a temporary high but soon found themselves NO happier than the control group of average people. In fact, they even lost the joy that came from the small pleasures in life.

They also found that the paralysis victims … once they got over the shock of their illness or injury … were not as unhappy as might be expected. They had a greater capacity for enjoying the little things in life than the lottery winners. And the real shocker … the paralyzed victims were more optimistic about their future happiness than the lottery winners.

As I say in my program on “Take This Job and Love It! Managing Stress, Preventing Burnout, and Balancing Life … On and Off the Job,” count your blessings. Don’t measure wealth by the things you have, but by the things you have for which you would not take money.

That statement became especially real for me this summer. I hiked to the top of a mountain in Utah, fell off, and slid 200 yards down a glacier at lighting speed. I could have died. But the whole ordeal taught me that happiness is not always found on the mountaintops of life. Happiness is more often found in the little things of life.

Choice #4: Focus on the positive.

As Anonymous wrote, “Every life has its dark and cheerful hours. Happiness comes from choosing which to remember.”

Along similar lines, in my “Journey to the Extraordinary” program, I teach the participants how to use the “positive but” to ensure their happiness. I ask them to take a piece of paper, draw a line down the middle, write the word “Problems” across the top of the left column, and write the word “Blessings” across the top of the right column. I ask them to list all their problems, but for each problem they list they must write down a counteracting blessing.

One participant wrote this: “I lost my husband recently, BUT I still have my children. I lost a lot of money when my stocks dropped drastically, BUT I have my house which is paid for. I lost a lot of my hearing, BUT I can still see very well to read. My son moved out of town, BUT he still calls me three times every week.”

Do you see the point? She could have focused on the left-hand side of her paper. She could have focused on her problems and could have been miserable. By choosing to focus on the right-hand side of her paper, by choosing to focus on her blessings, she was intensely happy. You need to make the same choice if you want to be happy.

Choice #5: Explore the wonders around you … without neglecting the things closest to you.

It’s the lesson Paul Coelho wrote about in “Ode” magazine when he wrote “All The Marvels of the World.” He wrote about a boy who set off on a quest to discover the meaning of happiness. He trekked 40 days through a forest until he reached the mountain fortress of a wise man. When he entered the compound, he saw the wise man sitting on a throne in a great hall offering counsel to many visitors. After waiting several hours, the boy finally stood at the wise man’s feet and pronounced, “I am here to learn the secret of happiness.”

“Unfortunately,” said the wise man, “I cannot explain that to you at this moment. But do this for me: Take a tour of my palace. Do not hurry yourself.” The wise man then handed the boy a teaspoon and placed two drops of oil in it. “And take this with you, but don’t spill any of it.”

The boy obeyed and began to tour the rooms and grounds of the estate. He walked slowly and focused all his concentration on the oil in the spoon. After two hours, he returned to the grand hall.

This time the wise man approached him. “So, did you explore my library? What did you think of the tapestries hanging in the dining hall? Were the fragrances and textures of the garden to your liking? It took 10 years to complete, you know.”

The boy shook his head. He admitted that he had been so preoccupied with the spoon, he’d overlooked the palace treasures. “Then you must go off again and have a better look at all the wonderful features of my home,” said the wise man.

And so the boy did. This time he focused more of his attention on the objects in the house and less on the spoon. After many hours, he returned to the wise man and told him about the many things he’d experienced while touring the estate. But the wise man interrupted, “Where are the two drops of oil that I gave you?”

The boy looked at the empty spoon and reddened in embarrassment.

The wise man placed a firm hand on the boy’s shoulder. “You want to know the secret of happiness?”

“Yes,” said the boy.

“It is simple,” said the wise man. “Happiness is being able to explore and appreciate the many wonders of the world without forgetting or neglecting the things that are nearest to you.”

Take a moment to apply this choice to yourself. Are you noticing, enjoying and appreciating the wonders of the world around you? Or are you too busy to stop and smell the roses? And are you taking time to savor the things and people closest to you? Or do you wait until you get around to it?

Choice #6: Make somebody else happy.

You see … unhappy people focus on themselves. They think happiness is all about me, me, me … doing what I want and getting what I want. But every religion and every spiritual philosophy teaches just the opposite. You find happiness by helping somebody else find it.

As the 20th century military general Peyton Conway March put it, “There is a wonderful law of nature that the three things we crave most in life … happiness, freedom, and peace of mind … are always attained by giving them to someone else.”

You can be happy … IF you make these six choices. The results will be good for you, good for your relationships, good for your company, and good for your customers. As Google co-founder Larry Page points out, “It’s common sense: Happy people are more productive.”

One final caution: Happiness is great, but there’s nothing wrong with a little unhappiness. In a survey reported in “Business Week” magazine, survey participants rated themselves 1-10 in life satisfaction, with 10 being the most satisfied. Those giving themselves 10’s generally achieved and earned less than those who gave themselves 8’s. The researchers concluded that a little discontent can give you an edge when it comes to recognizing problems and overcoming them.

Thanks!  Brett Blair – Sanford Rose Associates, Brighton – Executive Search.  Specialists in recruiting in the automotive manufacturing world.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) March 12, 2012 — ATLANTA, March 12, 2012

SRA International, Inc., from the corporate headquarters of the worldwide Sanford Rose Associates® executive search network, announced that the following individuals are the members of its annual President’s Club: Brett Blair (Brighton, MI), Tim Tolan (Charleston, SC), Tom Thomson (Franklin, TN), Joe Burns (Philadelphia, PA), Robin Toft (San Diego, CA), Rich and Glenda Carter (San Francisco, CA), Norman Yeow and Edwin Ng (Singapore), Paul Feeny (Wanye, NJ).

The members of the President’s Club are owners/managing directors of Sanford Rose Associates® offices who achieved the prerequisite standard for revenues for the 2011 calendar year and represent the top ten percent (10%) of offices within the Sanford Rose Associates® global network of offices during that time.

In recognizing this honor, Nicholas L. Turner, Co-Senior Managing Director of SRA International, Inc., commented, “In a year when many of the headlines questioned whether or not an economic recovery was occurring and when employers would begin to hire, our President’s Club offices and their respective staffs proved that companies were indeed hiring, and these offices enjoyed a great deal of success due to their commitment to ‘finding people who make a difference®’ to fill the critical positions of their clients. On behalf of SRA International and the entire network of Sanford Rose Associates® offices in North America, Europe, and Asia, I would like to congratulate and thank this group of offices for their tremendous contributions during 2011.”

Founded in 1959, Sanford Rose Associates® currently serves its worldwide roster of client companies from 65+ offices located throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. Sanford Rose Associates® is also a member of the International Executive Search Federation (IESF), the largest retained search organization in the world, with 130 offices in 40 countries.

CONTACT:
NIcholas L. Turner
Co-Senior Managing Director, SRA International, Inc.
972.616.7851
nturner@sanfordrose.com
http://www.sanfordrose.com

I try to look at each day as a blank canvas.  In fact, I have a blank canvas hanging on the wall in my office.  People look at my blank canvas with curiosity.  They think, why in the world would he have a canvas on his wall, with nothing on it?

My answer is easy, and it is intentional.  This is my daily reminder that I have a full 24 hours to paint (metaphorically, that is) my masterpiece for the day.

Some key points:

1)  This is MY canvas.  Not yours.  Not someone else’s .  Only mine.  No one will help me.  No one can help me.  What I do with it comes from my creativity, my effort, my work, my determination, my ambition, my desire.

2)  To finish my canvas, I must paint in …completely, each of the corners.  This is my reminder to finish my work, each and every day.  A reminder not to take shortcuts, not to quit early, not to be lazy….but to DO THE WORK, each and every day, until my masterpiece is completed.

3)  This is my reminder each morning that I have a brand new masterpiece to create.  What a gift!  What a responsibility.

OK…now time for me to get on to creating my masterpiece called “today.”

Thanks! Brett Blair – Sanford Rose Associates, Brighton – Executive Search.  Specialists in the search and placement of professionals in the automotive manufacturing world.

There have been thousands of books written about this subject, over thousands of years.  In spite of technology changes, and the ever increasing speed of life…the core search for meaning and happiness that each of us carry has not changed or evolved.

I have a personal life coach, Dr. Tom Hill, who has taught me many, many things about personal development.  On the subject of balance, he suggests that we should all strive for balance in the following key areas:

1) Spiritual

2) Physical

3) Relationships

4) Emotional

5) Intellectual

6) Financial

An honest assessment of where you stand on each of these criteria, and then a focused effort to work on those areas needing the most improvement, over time, will create the opportunity for balance.

I will write much more on these subjects over time.  I look forward to an ongoing dialogue, and hope to learn much from you as well!

Thanks!  Brett Blair – Sanford Rose Associates Brighton - Executive Search

“The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.”

Michelangelo

1. Grow with discipline.
2. Balance intuition with rigor.
3. Innovate around the core.
4. Don’t embrace the status quo.
5. Find new ways to see.
6. Never expect a silver bullet.
7. Get your hands dirty.
8. Listen with empathy and overcommunicate with transparency.
9. Tell your story, refusing to let others define you.
10. Use authentic experiences to inspire.
11. Stick to your values; they are your foundation.
12. Hold people accountable but give them tools to succeed.
13. Make the tough choices; it’s how you execute that counts.
14. Be decisive in times of crisis.
15. Be nimble.
16. Find truths in crisis and lessons in mistakes.
17. Be responsible for what you see, hear and do.
18. Believe

I look forward to your comments. Thanks! Brett Blair – Sanford Rose Associates, Brighton - Executive Search. Specialists in the placement of professionals in the automotive manufacturing world.

I recently read a GREAT little book by Steven Pressfield, called “Do The Work.”  I don’t know who recommended it, but I thank whoever did.

This is a fantastic read for anyone trying to start something new in their life, and needing some encouragement to get over the many inevitable hurdles along the way.  Steven Pressfield has an amazing way of describing the mental challenges that are faced by artists, authors, and entrepreneurs.   The enemies of success, as he puts it, are:

1. Resistance (fear, self-doubt, procrastination, addiction, distraction, timidity, ego and narcissism, self-loathing and perfectionism.)

2.  Rational thought

3.  Friends and family

As an entrepreneur myself, I can personally relate to many of the challenges spelled out in this book.  I highly recommend it for anyone focused on personal growth.  I’d love to hear your thoughts if you read it.

Thanks!  Brett Blair – Sanford Rose Associates, Brighton – Executive Search.  Specialists in the search and placement of automotive professionals around the world.

For a company, a division, or a department – it is ultimately the quality of the team, the people doing the work, that will make all of the difference. This is why it is so important to be careful about who you hire, and then pay very special attention to the issues that will increase retention and performance.

For a person looking for work, the people with whom you associate during this time can make all the difference. Spend time with positive people, and people who will encourage you and help you network. Stay away from negative, doomsday prediction people who will only drag you down.

And, in general, you become the average of the five adults you spend the most time with. Consider who you want to become, and then go hang out with people who will take you there.

I look forward to your comments. Thanks! Brett Blair – Sanford Rose Associates – Brighton, Executive Search. Specialists in the search and placement of professionals in the automotive manufacturing world.

This is a great video clip, with incredible music and images.  Please take a few minutes to watch and listen, and ponder the possibilities of this new year, possibly your very best year ever!

Happy New Year! Brett Blair – Sanford Rose Associates, Brighton – Executive Search. Specialists in the search and placement of professionals in the automotive manufacturing world.