Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States. He served from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. Lincoln successfully led the United States through its darkest hour … the American Civil War. In the end, Lincoln was able to preserve the Union and end slavery.
Prior to his election in 1860, as the first U.S. Republican president, Lincoln was a country lawyer, an Illinois state legislator, a member of the United States House of Representatives, and an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. Senate twice.
Concerning slavery, Lincoln was forthright and open in his opposition to the expansion of slavery. This attitude earned him the Republican nomination in 1860; later that year he was elected president.
During his time in office he introduced measures that resulted in the abolition of slavery, including the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 and the passing of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Just six days after a large-scale surrender of the Confederate forces (under General Robert E. Lee), Lincoln became the first American president to be assassinated.
Lincoln is considered by scholars to be one of the greatest U.S. presidents to ever take office.
7 Must-Read Life Lessons from Abraham Lincoln:
Prepare for Success
“Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four hours sharpening the axe.”
Before you can succeed, you must prepare. When Lincoln was an unknown attorney in the backwoods of Illinois he was preparing for success, when Lincoln became an Illinois State Senator, he was preparing for success, and even when he lost the election for the U.S. senate twice, he was preparing for success. What are you doing in preparation for success? Lincoln said, “I will prepare and some day my chance will come.”
Hustle
“Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.”
You can’t stroll to a goal, you must hustle; you must move quickly in order to gain the momentum necessary to break free from the gravitational pull of the commonplace. The best things in life come to those who hustle. Are you hustling?
Remember That Greatness is Possible
“That some achieve great success, is proof to all that others can achieve it as well.”
If someone else can succeed in the business that you’re in, that is proof that you can succeed as well. If someone else can become rich in the state that you’re in, that is proof that you become rich as well. You have all that the greatest of men have had: a mind, and a will. Don’t make excuses, if someone else can do it, so can you… And who knows? You may be able to do it faster and better; never underestimate you abilities.
Become Worthy of a Good Reputation
“Reputation is like fine china, once broken it's very hard to repair.”
Work to be, the way you want to be perceived. Don’t try to look good, be good. A good name is more valuable than fine gold and “choice” rubies.
Practice becoming honorable.
You can be just as honest, have just as much integrity, walk in just as much humility, and possess just as much discipline as the greatest men who have ever lived.
Make the Years Count
“And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.”
Lincoln didn’t live to a very old age, but the “life in his years” made a profound impact on the world. Are you making your years count? Are you changing the world? You’re capable of it; if you’re able to read and understand these words, then you have the ability to make a profound impact, and that’s not just meaningless rhetoric, it’s a very real reality, but will you grasp it, will you believe it and make it “your” reality.
See the Brighter Side of Things
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
If you look for something to complain about, you will certainly find it! There’s “always” an opportunity to be “offended!” Don’t take these opportunities; they “never” lead to anything positive. Learn to see the roses in life; life is filled with roses, if you’ll take the time to see them.
Constantly Improve
“The way for a young man to rise is to improve himself in every way he can…”
If you improve everyday, imagine the improvements you could make over the course of 20 years. You could become successful “in-just-about” any field in 20 years. You can make a significant impact on the world in 20 years! Remember, slow and steady wins the race; Rome was not built in a day. Work to get a little better everyday, and it time, you will accomplish your dreams.
Thank you for reading and be sure to pass this article along!
Monday, May 24, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Confessions Of A Generation Y Infiltrator
Confessions Of A Generation Y Infiltrator
by Paul Castain on May 5, 2010
I began my mission in the fall of 2006 high atop my Dale Carnegie vantage point in Hauppauge Long Island. My mission was clear, I was to facilitate a training session for a team at MTV. Being 20 years their senior, I hoped to play that off like an older, balder brother. Who knows, maybe I could be that good.
We started our session and I hit them with everything I had. Our dialogue transitioned to full blown lecture on how one properly communicates in the business world. I placed my soapbox firmly on the floor, climbed up and told them how wrong it was to rely on email so heavily and how text messages were just inexcusable.
Then it happened, a young woman of about 25, respectfully raised her hand and proposed that maybe the problem was not in their use of these venues, but in my generation’s need to try and change them. My cover was now blown and I kind of felt like the old lady in that commercial who says “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up”
I decided from that point on I would embrace more of a “Seek first to understand” mindset and had by far, one of the most awesome discussions I’ve ever had the privilege of facilitating. School was in session for Uncle Paul.
It’s now almost 4 years later and I’m proud to say that I’ve trained and spoken before hundreds of Generation Y’s and I’ve made them a continual study. Truth be told, my main function with the company I work for now is to make this group of young Jedi’s armed and dangerous.
Here’s what I learned:
1) Houston We Have A Freakin Problem: And the problem is this need to try and change them instead of working with the landscape we’ve been given. Sure I could insist that they must embrace the old ways, or I could enter their world and teach them how to work smarter within those parameters. I see others getting caught up in this endless criticism of this generation ranging from work ethic to attire and all points in between. Please understand something and know this will sound shallow. There’s no money in that discussion for you!
2) Respect By Virtue of Age or Experience . . . Think again sista! One thing dramatically different about this generation is that they don’t give automatic respect to those with the title, experience or dare I say their elders; they give it to those who are the contributors to the organization. The ones who earn it!
3) Because They Grew Up With Technology . . . they love innovation! Sales Managers: How can you leverage that? How can you include them in the process? It may also mean that at times they are going to be relying too much on the technology. It may even mean that they have more of a clue than you do with regard to technology and you (yes you) are clinging too much to the days of yesteryear. Sales Reps Selling To Generation Y: How can YOU leverage this with your clients?
4) The True Jedi’s Will Know How To Lead (and kick the proverbial arse) Across Multi Generations: Ladies and gentlemen, our work force is living longer and they are working longer (quite frankly because they have to). We’re already seeing a huge age range from early 20’s to 60+. In our lifetime, we WILL see that number go dramatically beyond 60. That creates a need. A need for people who have a clue in how to manage across multi generations. And there’s no need to wait for that, because the need already exists now.
5) When Generation Y’s Sell To The Older Folk: When selling to what experts call the “Oldeus Farteous” understand that you might get called out on your age. Whether that situation stresses you or not, you had better prepare for it. Suggestion: Understand that it’s always difficult to address age so instead, you speak about your experience. If that doesn’t work, feel free to break glass in case of emergency and use this bad boy: “Truth be told Ms Customer, is that a rep could have a kazillion years of experience and still fall short where it counts and that’s delivering results. Maybe because of your perception of my age, that gives me added incentive to prove you wrong and deliver those results for you. Either way, it’s a chance. I suspect it’s the same chance someone took on you when you first started your career”
6) When The Older Folk Sell To Generation Y: Please forgive me for stating the painfully obvious, but Generation Y’s are rapidly moving into leadership/influencing positions. Armed with that knowledge, we had better learn how they tick, how they communicate and where they like to spend their online time. We need to start showing up in places like Linkedin, Facebook and Twitter. Why? Because at a minimum, it provides you with a free “listening station” and an incredible opportunity to learn. It helps you get and keep your finger on the pulse and most of all (if you learn how to master this space) it will get you noticed!
7) Generation Y (and this isn’t a criticism) Expects Their Career To Advance Faster Than We Did. Some look at that as a lack of patience. Once again, there’s no money in that type of critique. I see it as a sense of urgency that as a sales professional, if I can help them attain that quicker, I become more valuable. I guess your million dollar question now becomes “In what ways can I help them look like rock stars so they move to that next level quicker?”
8) They Are Less Confrontational: There’s a lot that I could say to this point but will take it in a much simpler direction. We’ve all heard the old saying that “People like people like themselves” That’s our cue to embrace our inner “its all good”. Take it down a notch or three.
9) Lectures and “When I was your age” rants: Don’t go there. I’ve been that guy too many times and it just doesn’t fly.
10) They are socially conscious and “green”. To that end, you need to be prepared to be questioned by this generation on your company’s involvement or position on green initiatives.
My amazing revelation: Once I demonstrated my willingness to embrace and understand their generation, not only was I accepted, they considered me a resource to understand my generation.
And that my friends is where we really begin to progress as an organization . . . that wonderful moment when we seek to understand, celebrate and leverage our differences!
by Paul Castain on May 5, 2010
I began my mission in the fall of 2006 high atop my Dale Carnegie vantage point in Hauppauge Long Island. My mission was clear, I was to facilitate a training session for a team at MTV. Being 20 years their senior, I hoped to play that off like an older, balder brother. Who knows, maybe I could be that good.
We started our session and I hit them with everything I had. Our dialogue transitioned to full blown lecture on how one properly communicates in the business world. I placed my soapbox firmly on the floor, climbed up and told them how wrong it was to rely on email so heavily and how text messages were just inexcusable.
Then it happened, a young woman of about 25, respectfully raised her hand and proposed that maybe the problem was not in their use of these venues, but in my generation’s need to try and change them. My cover was now blown and I kind of felt like the old lady in that commercial who says “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up”
I decided from that point on I would embrace more of a “Seek first to understand” mindset and had by far, one of the most awesome discussions I’ve ever had the privilege of facilitating. School was in session for Uncle Paul.
It’s now almost 4 years later and I’m proud to say that I’ve trained and spoken before hundreds of Generation Y’s and I’ve made them a continual study. Truth be told, my main function with the company I work for now is to make this group of young Jedi’s armed and dangerous.
Here’s what I learned:
1) Houston We Have A Freakin Problem: And the problem is this need to try and change them instead of working with the landscape we’ve been given. Sure I could insist that they must embrace the old ways, or I could enter their world and teach them how to work smarter within those parameters. I see others getting caught up in this endless criticism of this generation ranging from work ethic to attire and all points in between. Please understand something and know this will sound shallow. There’s no money in that discussion for you!
2) Respect By Virtue of Age or Experience . . . Think again sista! One thing dramatically different about this generation is that they don’t give automatic respect to those with the title, experience or dare I say their elders; they give it to those who are the contributors to the organization. The ones who earn it!
3) Because They Grew Up With Technology . . . they love innovation! Sales Managers: How can you leverage that? How can you include them in the process? It may also mean that at times they are going to be relying too much on the technology. It may even mean that they have more of a clue than you do with regard to technology and you (yes you) are clinging too much to the days of yesteryear. Sales Reps Selling To Generation Y: How can YOU leverage this with your clients?
4) The True Jedi’s Will Know How To Lead (and kick the proverbial arse) Across Multi Generations: Ladies and gentlemen, our work force is living longer and they are working longer (quite frankly because they have to). We’re already seeing a huge age range from early 20’s to 60+. In our lifetime, we WILL see that number go dramatically beyond 60. That creates a need. A need for people who have a clue in how to manage across multi generations. And there’s no need to wait for that, because the need already exists now.
5) When Generation Y’s Sell To The Older Folk: When selling to what experts call the “Oldeus Farteous” understand that you might get called out on your age. Whether that situation stresses you or not, you had better prepare for it. Suggestion: Understand that it’s always difficult to address age so instead, you speak about your experience. If that doesn’t work, feel free to break glass in case of emergency and use this bad boy: “Truth be told Ms Customer, is that a rep could have a kazillion years of experience and still fall short where it counts and that’s delivering results. Maybe because of your perception of my age, that gives me added incentive to prove you wrong and deliver those results for you. Either way, it’s a chance. I suspect it’s the same chance someone took on you when you first started your career”
6) When The Older Folk Sell To Generation Y: Please forgive me for stating the painfully obvious, but Generation Y’s are rapidly moving into leadership/influencing positions. Armed with that knowledge, we had better learn how they tick, how they communicate and where they like to spend their online time. We need to start showing up in places like Linkedin, Facebook and Twitter. Why? Because at a minimum, it provides you with a free “listening station” and an incredible opportunity to learn. It helps you get and keep your finger on the pulse and most of all (if you learn how to master this space) it will get you noticed!
7) Generation Y (and this isn’t a criticism) Expects Their Career To Advance Faster Than We Did. Some look at that as a lack of patience. Once again, there’s no money in that type of critique. I see it as a sense of urgency that as a sales professional, if I can help them attain that quicker, I become more valuable. I guess your million dollar question now becomes “In what ways can I help them look like rock stars so they move to that next level quicker?”
8) They Are Less Confrontational: There’s a lot that I could say to this point but will take it in a much simpler direction. We’ve all heard the old saying that “People like people like themselves” That’s our cue to embrace our inner “its all good”. Take it down a notch or three.
9) Lectures and “When I was your age” rants: Don’t go there. I’ve been that guy too many times and it just doesn’t fly.
10) They are socially conscious and “green”. To that end, you need to be prepared to be questioned by this generation on your company’s involvement or position on green initiatives.
My amazing revelation: Once I demonstrated my willingness to embrace and understand their generation, not only was I accepted, they considered me a resource to understand my generation.
And that my friends is where we really begin to progress as an organization . . . that wonderful moment when we seek to understand, celebrate and leverage our differences!
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