“Knowing when to leave may be the smartest thing anyone can learn.” ~ Burt Bacharach Over the years I have had the opportunity to work with or present in front of 1000’s of leaders. On occasion, I have been asked, What makes a great leader? What are the traits of a great leader? Can…
“Without the why, the how and the what don’t matter!” ~ Dr. Nido Qubein More than 20 years ago, before anyone started talking about the importance of having a “Why,” an incredibly wise mentor of mine, Dr Nido Qubein of High Point University, told me, “Joe if you don’t have a why, the how…
Your goals should inspire you to be the best version of yourself, they change over time, so be sure they are constantly aligned with what you value and where you are in your life’s journey!” ~ Joe Contrera It’s a New Year and everyone is thinking about their New Year’s Resolutions & Goals. Health…
“At the moment of commitment the entire universe conspires to assist you.” ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe As 2024 comes to an end, I am reminded of a year that seems to have barely started, passed so soon, and is drawing to an end. It is at these times before year end when I…
“Leadership is influence.” ~ John C. Maxwell One of the biggest challenges facing a leader is the ability to step back and influence others to get results. The key is to get results without doing the work yourself or micromanaging your folks into becoming clones so they do the work the exact same way you would.…
“Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results.” ~Willie Nelson You’ve heard the saying, “garbage in…garbage out.” When it comes to your thoughts and your words, the same principle applies. What you think determines not only what you say but more importantly, what you do. You’ve probably heard these…
“We do well to unplug regularly. Quiet time restores focus and composure.” ~Daniel Goleman At certain times in the career of a leader, you may find yourself feeling exhausted, a bit lost, a little confused, or simply stressed out. With the holidays upon us, it can either be a great time to continue to…
“I think books are like people, in the sense that they’ll turn up in your life when you most need them.” ~ Emma Thompson I love that quote because I believe it is so true. As they say, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear,” and books can be great teachers in…
“The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does great things. They are the one that gets people to do the greatest things.” ~ Ronald Reagan As a leader, coach, or influencer, when you make yourself the center of attention or the focus you will more-than-likely fail more times than you win. As…
Eleanor Rigby, Waits at the window, Wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door, Who is it for? ~Lennon & McCartney Is it me, or does it feel like there is a constant bombardment of advertising and commercials, each promising you a happier, wealthier, and healthier life if you just,…