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Ralph Simone
Leaders are Learners
It started with a book bag we found at Barnes & Noble that read, “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.” – Joseph Addison. We followed it with a bookmark we distributed to our LeadFORWARD clients that read, “Leaders are Readers.” We were obviously on a clear path of emphasizing the…
Have a Plan, Adapt Your Plan
I am a BIG planner – and those who know me well would suggest that’s an understatement. I place a high value on being prepared and having a plan. Yet I also recognize that while plans are good, it can be extremely dangerous to be too rigid about your plan. We should have a plan…
Work/Life Integration
Have you ever found yourself out of step with your work/life balance? The problem starts with looking at your life and your work as separate, instead of looking at your work as an expression of your life. The problem is then compounded by technology, working from home, and the general sense of urgency accompanied by…
Stick to Your Knitting
“Stick to your knitting” is a phrase from the popular 1980s business bestseller, “In Search of Excellence“ by Tom Peters and Bob Waterman. It’s been popping into my head quite a bit lately. It most often comes up when my clients are desperately trying to juggle and prioritize the mounting number of items on their…
The Joy of Missing Out
Many of you know me well enough to know I spend very little time on social media. No Facebook, Twitter, Instagram for me, let alone the more recent distractions like TikTok or Snapchat. While I still sometimes suffer from the FOMO (fear of missing out), making the conscious choice to not engage in what others…
Stop, Drop and Roll
Recently while reading, “Peak Mind,” a book focused on strengthening attention, the author shared a number of options she uses while teaching the benefits of responding versus reacting. The technique that really grabbed my attention was referred to as stop, drop, and roll. Coincidentally, this is a simple fire safety technique taught to children, emergency…
Mindfulness
The concept of mindfulness is not nearly as complicated as many of us make it out to be. I like to say that it simply means paying attention to what is in front of you in a concentrated, focused, and nonjudgmental way. Vietnamese Buddhist zen master and author Thich Nhat Hanh says that the opposite of…
12 Days of Leadership – Day 4
On the fourth day of leadership, my coach gave to me – Four Core Values On this fourth day of leadership, we share with you the gift of living fully through the four core values that mean the most to you. Be intentional about how you use your energy by making conscious choices that are…
12 Days of Leadership – Day 12
On the twelfth day of leadership, my coach gave to me – Twelve Deep Breaths For the twelfth day of leadership, we offer you breath. One of the most effective ways to reset and center yourself is by taking a deep breath. Short, shallow breathing causes cortisol to move through the body, adding to stress….
12 Days of Leadership – Day 8
On the eighth day of leadership, my coach gave to me – Eight Additional Minutes of Movement Eight more minutes of movement per day is our gift to (and ask of) you on this eighth day of leadership. Movement will keep you more alert, focused, and engaged in all you do, personally and professionally. Track…