LEADERSHIP G.A.N.G. with Roberto Nerey author of An American Latino’s Story of Gangs, Prison–And Redemption

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Jeffrey Benjamin speaks with Roberto Nerey author of An American Latino’s Story of Gangs, Prison–And Redemption. In 992, Roberto was arrested and convicted of conspiracy to commit murder for his role in a drive-by shooting. He has paid his dues for his crime. He gives back to his community with his intimate knowledge of gangs and the criminal justice system. He is the executive director of G.A.N.G. which is an acronym for Guiding A New Generation that represents the interest of youth in sports and over 80,000 families searching for preventive and alternative measures to street gangs and violence.

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“Now is the time.” Martin Luther King Jr.

3 REAL LIFE HABITS FOR SUCCESS ® OVERCOMING A BAD DAY

Having a bad day is part of life. You might be a robot if you haven’t had a bad day. Everyone has a bad day, even if it is only once in a blue moon. Think about it. We all have bad days and good days. We can all use tools to overcome a bad day.

1. CONFRONT YOUR PERCEPTION. Okay, you feel overwhelmed or out of sync or unstable. You feel pessimistic or acerbic. Confront your negative attitude. Take recognition of your attitude and let yourself know that is won’t last. Be aware that it is happening and make a resolve to end it within a time frame—within the hour or by tomorrow or by next week, if need be.

2. KEEP YOUR HEAD UP. Nobody needs to know that you are having a bad day. Just because you are having a bad day does not mean that other people need have a bad day. Keep your head up and avoid allowing your negative disposition to affect others. Smile at others rather than curse them. Avoid transferring your pessimistic views onto others!

3.  REMIND YOURSELF OF GOOD DAYS. We have more good days than bad days. It is easy to feel gloomy but remember that you have experienced many good days and memories. Focus on the good days that you have had and know that another good day is as close as the next sunrise.

LEADERSHIP FUNDAMENTALS dan clark author of Forgotten Fundamentals

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Jeffrey Benjamin speaks with Dan Clark author of Forgotten Fundamentals. Dan is a primary contributing author to the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series and author of twenty of his own books, including the highly acclaimed business leadership book, “Forgotten Fundamentals,” and the inspirational “Puppies for Sale” which was made into a film at Paramount Studios starring Jack Lemmon. In 2005, Dan was inducted into the National Speakers Hall of Fame, and as a master storyteller, has been published in more than 30 million books in 30 languages worldwide!

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“Do not wait for leaders: do it alone, person to person.” Mother Teresa

3 REAL LIFE HABITS FOR SUCCESS ® ELEVATE YOUR LEADERSHIP

Leadership does not necessarily mean standing in front of people barking orders or being the one who is always in first position while charging up a hill. Leadership should run through the veins of each person within the organization, whether you are a top-ranking executive or a front line employee.

1. EFFECTIVE LEADERS DON’T DIVIDE; THEY UNITE. Creating a unified team is the job of every leader within an organization. The person who works well with others is an invaluable leader. The person who sets aside his or her own personal agenda for the greater good is priceless. Leaders are also great at uniting others because they confront and resolve divisions and conflict that inevitably crop up. Ultimately, leaders create a “can-do” encouraging spirit that uplifts others. Their words and actions strengthen cohesiveness and cooperation. Maybe that’s what Helen Keller was teaching us when she shared, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”

2. LEADERS GET THINGS DONE. Homer, the great Greek philosophical leader of ancient times, wrote: “Leadership is to be both a speaker of words and a doer of deeds.” The art of execution is perhaps the most pronounced attribute of an effective leader. A person who is driven toward results and gets things done is unequivocally in high demand. A customer service representative who fulfills the needs of a customer is practicing effective leadership. The same is true with the person who meets or exceeds a sales quota or the person who accurately ships an order to the end-user. The motto of a leader is: Let’s make it happen!

3. CONSTANTLY DEVELOP YOUR SKILLS. Leaders are not born; they are trained. Every person who is an effective leader will say that they were trained, coached or mentored. Leaders are created through cultivation. Follow Eleanor Roosevelt’s advice, “Character building begins in our infancy, and continues until death.” If you want people in your organization to be leaders you must invest in leadership development training.

“The price of greatness is responsibility.” Winston Churchill

3 REAL LIFE HABITS FOR SUCCESS ® LIVING WITH INTEGRITY

At some point in our day we will come face to face with our integrity. Integrity is the quality of being whole or undivided. Quality buildings, space rockets, boats and cars are known to have structural integrity. Great computer software programs are known to have data integrity. So, when we live a life of human integrity we create confidence, credibility, dependability and trust—not only with others but with ourselves.

1. DO THE RIGHT THING. Water runs down hill by following the path of least resistance. But when it comes to integrity doing what is easiest is not always what is right. It is easy to give half effort on a project at work but that’s not right. It is easy to do just enough to get by to make average grades at school but that’s not right. It is easy to hit a parked car in a parking lot without leaving a note but that’s not the right. Ultimately, we only cheat ourselves when we don’t do the right thing.

2. BE A PERSON OF YOUR WORD. Do what you say you are going to do. When you say one thing and do another you are not practicing integrity. When you say you are going do something and you don’t do it, does this increase or decrease the way you see yourself and how others see you? When you break your word you shatter the confidence people have in you—and you in yourself. If you’re going to say it then do it, or don’t say.

3. BE HONEST. One dominant quality of integrity is honesty. Mark Twain said, “When you tell the truth you don’t have to remember anything.” As kids we lie but hopefully as adults our lies stop. When we lie people quit believing in us and we also stop believing in ourselves.