Something else I found in my stripper files....
The Seven "Powerful" Pillars of Greatness:Pillar number one: "Purpose." Great leaders and organizations have a specific, clearly stated, written purpose. One that is of a "higher nature" than just making money or getting their needs met. For example, my own business purpose is the following: "My purpose is to find out specifically, exactly what it is people want or need, help them get it quickly and elegantly (even if I can't give it to them), and have them feel good about it, my company and me!" Having a "higher purpose" keeps you focused, especially during the tough and challenging times!
Pillar number two: "Principles." Great leaders and organizations have a set of healthy principles. These principles include fundamental core values, which are well known and help create a positive culture around which that individual and institution can live and work. The principles help create the guidelines for proper "behavior" and actions, both internally and externally.
Pillar number three: "Passion." Great leaders have a healthy passion about their role, function, and most importantly, their "Higher Purpose." They are then able to both practice and communicate that purpose, as well as their passion, so that their families, friends, communities, colleagues and organizations are able to "catch the spark" and help maintain the flame and energy needed to keep the passion going.
Pillar number four: "Processes." Every great leader and organization has a "road map" for success. This road map consists of a set of processes that enable them to get to where they want to go with less effort and struggle than the masses.
The processes include benchmarks, timelines and appropriate rewards for both small and large successes built into:
A business plan. The idea, written out, with a starting point, steps to take, and the ending point. This written plan includes many of the details needed to accomplish the end result. The business plan would also cover the investment of time, energy, money and people needed to participate and play a role in the implementation of the plan.
A marketing plan. The tools and resources necessary to "get the word out" and promote the purpose, goals and desired outcomes of the individual and/or to the right people in the right places, at the right time.
A sales plan. A written, fundamental "sales interview" system, including a simple process to measure the progress, adjust the course and achieve the results effectively, efficiently and elegantly.
The fifth pillar: "People." Great leaders never do anything alone! They find, train, cultivate, nurture and grow "the right people," with "the right stuff," for "the right positions." They "attract" these people because of their Purpose, Passion, Principles and Processes! For over 30 years, I have seen organizations and institutions hire good or even great people and then lose them shortly after because of the lack of the above "Pillars." Also, you cannot recruit, hire and retain "the right people" until you have fired or removed "the wrong people" first! Remember, "The right people are your most important product!"
The sixth pillar: "Plan of Action." Great leaders and institutions have a "Plan of Action" which is the written daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual steps to be taken to move in the right direction towards the accomplishment of the goals set in the business plan created earlier. With the collaboration of the people in place to help with the plan of action, success is inevitable!
The seventh pillar: "Progress." Great leaders and institutions have the ability to track, measure, analyze and review their progress consistently, and adjust their course accordingly, when necessary. They know how to "celebrate" their progress with each other with short, intermediate, and long term rewards along the way.


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