Kevin's Remarkable Learning Blog - A weblog of Kevin's thoughts, ideas, and lessons learned regarding learning on every level. Read Kevin's Remarkable Learning blog today.

I sat down with Susan Otto, owner of Training-Modules.com, instructional designer extraordinaire, colleague and friend of mine recently (okay, we did it through email because we are both busy and live two hours apart) and asked her some questions about her experiences and advice around creating more effective meetings. Here are her thoughts on my questions . . .

What is the biggest issue with meetings today?

No one is considering the true cost. When was the last time - if ever - that you estimated the cost of a meeting. I don't mean the room, lights, food, etc. I don't even mean time spent just chatting because you were waiting to start the meeting -though that is important, too. I mean the meeting member’s salary for that time spent. If everyone in an hour-long meeting made $30.00 per hour and there were seven people present, then the cost for that hour-long meeting would be $210.00 just for the members. That doesn't include the cost of what they could have been doing with there time if they weren't "stuck" in the meeting. And, that cost gets much higher when you have executives attending the meetings.

(a note from Kevin - when you add in the cost of infrastructure and benefits, the number goes up by another 30-50%!)

What do you believe is the most important thing you can do to make a meeting more effective?

Create and provide an agenda - based on the purpose for the meeting. Any meeting items that are not pertinent to the meeting's purpose should be eliminated. And, if possible, the agenda should be distributed prior to the meeting.

What is one of the biggest mistakes people make when attending meetings?

Not being prepared. This follows what I just mentioned . . . if an agenda is distributed prior to the meeting, each member attending should know what they need to do and/or bring to make the meeting more effective. And, if you are invited to attend a meeting and you don’t have a clear idea of why you need to attend, call and find out. Then consider whether your participation at that meeting is really necessary.

What is one of the biggest mistakes people make when planning meetings?

Expecting the "usual" members to attend the meeting, which again follows what I was just alluding to. Only invite those members to attend who really need to be at a meeting. Oftentimes, people are invited to meetings whose attendance is not necessary, especially for the purpose of the meeting. Some meeting could, and should, be sub-meeting where only a few members meet to discuss and decide on issues. Written communication, following the meeting, can provide the rest of the group with what was discussed or decided.

What can I do to evaluate my meetings' effectiveness?

Ask someone to attend one of your meetings, paying attention to the interactions between team members only. Watch for who participates in the meeting, who talks to whom, etc. Oftentimes an outside resource can provide you with valuable insights into the groups’ or teams’ meeting effectiveness, especially if the team is well-established team and has been working together for a long time.

Thanks Susan!
....

Susan has created a training module that can be used in your organization to improve your meetings - and has created an eWorkbook (a tremendous value) on the same topic. I urge you to take a look at those links (as well as all of the other Modules and eWorkbooks she has available) if you would like to create more effective meetings for yourself or across your organization.

These are just two examples of Susan's excellent work - take a look to learn more, download some samples and make a purchase.

Remarkable Happiness

Posted at 9:35 AM on Wednesday, June 18, 2008

This month in the Remarkable Leadership Learning System, our members are focusing on their role as a leader in modelling and creating the attitudes that will create successful results. I'm excited to say that my Guest Conversation for our members is with Marci Shimoff of Chicken Soup for the Soul, The Secret, and most recently Happiness for No Reason (here's my recommendation of this book).

If you would like to participate in this call, learn from Marci and even ask her a question, go here to sign up for the call - it is tomorrow June 19th at 2 pm ET. If you can't join us at that time, you can still register and receive the recording and transcript of the call.

I hope you will join us!

Labels: attitude, happiness

If You Want to Be A Better Teacher. . .

Posted at 11:42 AM on Thursday, May 08, 2008

The idea for this post comes from a question Angela Maiers asked and Mike Sansome posted on as well. The added to a piece written by Carl Glickman in the book Leadership for Learning.

In this piece, he asks and if then statement - If, as a teacher . . . . then I . . .

Here are a couple of my additions . . .

If, I as a teacher . . .

- stop learning new things myself
- forget what it is like to be a classroom student
- focus on teaching rather than learning

Then I've forgotten what is most important and my growth and effectiveness as a teacher is unnecessarily stopped.

Think about these thoughts as well as Mike and Angela's . Think about the times you are in a teaching/coaching/training/facilitating/parenting role and how these thoughts apply to you.

Then add your twist as a comment - I'd love to read your IF, THEN statements as well.

Labels: teacher, teaching

Daily Learning Habits

Posted at 7:41 PM on Sunday, April 13, 2008

In my last post, I shared a powerful daily habit with you. There are lots of other daily learning habits that we can invest in. Here are two others . . .

Word of the Day

For many years I have asked people "what's the word of the day?" It has typically been a way to greet people and get people thinking. This could however be a powerful way to build your vocabulary. Think about how your vocabulary would expand if you learned just one new word a day. While there a likely many tools for doing this online, I've subscribed to A Word A Day for many years. I highly recommend it.

A Picture a Day

My intern for this coming summer, Abby Hoye was apprised of my "what's the word of the day?" question during a discussion with another person on the team. Since then she has shared a couple words of the day with me. Then, last week I received an email from her with the subject line: Kevin Eikenberry-isms. Here is part of the note:

"You have your word of the day correct? Well I have come up with a very similar, but slightly different "of the day" thing. It's a picture of the day. I take one picture every day with my cell phone to sum up my day and send it off to people."

This seems fun, creative and another possible daily learning habit. What if the picture related to a life lesson, important value, or something along those lines. The picture of the day could be connected with the word of the day (a picture that relates to your word of the day) or to the daily learning question as well. These pictures could form the basis of a great personal journal or blog.

I know there are many other daily learning habits. Consider these just a start. What are your daily learning habits?

Labels: Learning Habits

What Do You Believe?

Posted at 4:35 AM on Saturday, March 08, 2008

I woke up this morning with the words from a Brooks and Dunn song in my head. I didn't know the title, but I assumed it was "I Believe". So, a bit later to iTunes I went to spend my $.99. After doing the search, I didn't find it, but I found 150 results, including an old Don Williams song that was popular on country radio when I was in high school. Yes, I dropped $.99 on it, and did another search.

The song I had been singing in my head is simply titled Believe.

As I worked on email and cleaning my office I listened to my two new purchases. The Brooks and Dunn song has a very gospel message and sound, and the Don Williams tune is a love ballad.

Both have me thinking about believing.

The Don Williams song is a series of statements of things he doesn't believe (right is right and left wrong, that north and south can get along is one lyrical pair), then he closes with a chorus of things he does believe in (including love, babies, Mom and Dad, and eventually the person he is singing to).

All of this has me thinking about what we believe in, and how impacts us as professionals and leaders.

What are the things you believe in most deeply?

How do those beliefs impact your daily actions and behaviors?

Are you living in alignment with those beliefs? (If not, can you be surprised if there is significant stress in your life?)

Yesterday when completing a proposal, I wrote about some of our beliefs and philosophies as a company. Communicating them was important - it will help the potential Client decide if we are the right fit for them or not.

What do you believe?

And how are you putting those beliefs into action each day?

These are powerful questions for all of us.

What We Can Learn From Punxsutawney Phil on Groundhog Day

Posted at 7:52 AM on Friday, February 01, 2008

Each year Punxsutawney Phil comes up from his hole on Groundhog Day to see about the world around him and look for his shadow (or not). Media from around the world will cover this event (I haven't quite figured out why). You can learn more about this event and it's history from the official site. But this isn't exactly why I am writing on Groundhog Day Eve.

Like I said, Phil comes up out of his hole after months of hiding and hibernation to check out his world, then he retreats just as quickly as he emerged.

This reminds me of some people I know.

They get so caught up in their lives; their work, their projects, their goals, their cocoon, their hole, that they don't take time to look up and see what is going on in the world around them.

If we want to be more successful, happier, better leaders, more effective team members, more creative, or a more effective learner (need I go on?), we must do more than Phil.

First of all we need to lose the hole completely. We need to be more engaged in the world around us. Does this argue against focus or hard work? Not at all. Instead this advice encourages you to be more open to new ideas, new insights, and new observations that will make your work more relevant, more effective, more connected and quite possibly easier.

How often should we look around our world?

Well, if we have gotten rid of the hole and chosen to reside in the world (a glass house anyone?), this question is almost irrelevant; you will be looking, noticing and observing.

On this Groundhog's Day Eve, get out of your hole, look around, and resolve to learn from and with the world around you.

Note: I've written about Groundhog Day in the past and if you enjoyed this post, or like the day, you may want to check out 2005 and 2006.

Labels: Groundhog Day

A Remarkable Opportunity

Posted at 7:02 AM on Tuesday, January 29, 2008

"Deep down you know you can be remarkable. You shouldn't
settle for anything less than your best self, reaching ever
closer to your potential--whether as a leader or in any other
part of your life."

-- Kevin Eikenberry

I want you to succeed. I want you to achieve at remarkable levels - the level your potential allows. That is why I do the work I do. That is why I write this blog, and that is why I wrote Remarkable Leadership.

But one thing I know is true - that writing the words mean little if they aren't read. And they mean even less if people don't take action. So I've decided to do everything I can to urge you to read the words and take the action.

Whether you have a copy of Remarkable Leadership and are looking forward ways to help you implement what you've read, or if you want to build your leadership skills, and want ways to get started, I know I can help.

Owner of the book or not, to see how I plan to help you starting today, check out this Remarkable Choice.

Labels: Remarkable Leadership

Read and Listen

Posted at 4:01 AM on

Who Will I Serve?

Posted at 3:44 AM on Monday, January 28, 2008

This is the thirteenth post in a continuing series designed to help you create a great 2008 - using questions to reflect on last year, and project into the future. All of the questions and additional information can be found in this tool, available for you to download now.

The thirteenth question is:

Who will I serve more effectively and/or completely?

Why else are we here, in the end, but to serve others?

Whether you think about this through a business lens, thinking about customers, through a leadership lens, thinking of those you lead, through a personal lens, considering family and friends, or from any other perspective, this is a valuable question.

This is a question that can point you in the direction of greater meaning in your life.

Enough commentary (though there is much more I could say) and on with my answers.

I plan to serve:

- my wife, children and family more completely.
- my colleagues and team more intentionally.
- my Clients and Customers more effectively.
- my community and world more actively.

This isn't the place, in my case, to elaborate, but as you answer this question for yourself, you will want to think about the details. In fact, even if you are thinking about this question for the next month, quarter, or year, I encourage you to decide how you will answer the question today.

this question as much as any of them will help you be more engaged with your world. Why not start today?

After a total of 27 posts on this project, I'm not quite done. After a big day tomorrow (make sure you check out the announcement here), I'll be back later this week to wrap up this whole series and let you know what is next. Thanks for reading - whether this is the first post or you have read the full list.

Also posted in Leadership, Learning and Training

What Lasting Memories Will I Create?

Posted at 6:00 AM on Friday, January 25, 2008

This is the twelfth post in a continuing series designed to help you create a great 2008 - using questions to reflect on last year, and project into the future. All of the questions and additional information can be found in this tool, available for you to download now.

The twelfth question is:

What lasting memories will I create?

You may be thinking that this isn't an intentional question - that memories happen and while we can be grateful for them, we can't preordain or plan these memories.

I don't believe that is completely true. While I may not be able to tell you about the memories themselves ahead of time, I can determine the situations I want to be in and from which the memories will be generated.

Consider this is a question about life balance, because I'm guessing all of your answers (or even your first answers) won't be about work or just professional memories.

I plan to generate memories with my family through a family reunion, a party to celebrate my father's life, and a trip overseas, (as well as some very fun evenings of Wii Tennis).

I plan to generate memories with those I work with in our office (i.e. Remarkable House) - memories that will be meaningful both personally and for the business.

These are just a couple of my answers. I hope you consider this question and your answers carefully, as of all of projective questions, your answers to this one may be the most valuable to you five years from now.

Be intentional about creating memories, starting today.

How Will I Become Healthier This Year?

Posted at 7:24 PM on Sunday, January 20, 2008

This is the eleventh post in a continuing series designed to help you create a great 2008 - using questions to reflect on last year, and project into the future. All of the questions and additional information can be found in this tool, available for you to download now.

The eleventh question is:

How will I become healthier this year?

This is an important question for all of us. After all, without our health, the rest of the questions and their answers won't mean very much.

I will become healthier this year because I am exercising in preparation to participate in the Indy Mini Marathon in May. (Tomorrow I will finish fixing our treadmill - I'm not really interested in running or walking outdoors at 0 degrees!)

I hope you have an answer or answers to this question - you owe it to yourself and those who love you.

What Habit Will I Alter or Eliminate?

Posted at 5:55 AM on Tuesday, January 15, 2008

This is the tenth post in a continuing series designed to help you create a great 2008 - using questions to reflect on last year, and project into the future. All of the questions and additional information can be found in this tool, available for you to download now.

The tenth question is:

What habit will I alter or eliminate?

This is a close cousin to question #9, and your answer may be even more powerful.

I have several habits I'd like to alter. Here are three examples:

I'd like to refrain from turning the television on without knowing what I am going to watch.
I'd like to discipline myself spend the last half hour of every day reading something uplifting and educational.
I'd like eliminate language or comments that could be seen as hurtful or mean to others - even if they are truly meant in jest.

While I am going to work on all of them, the first one - only turning the TV on when I know what I am going to watch is going to be my focus. Studies show American adults watch an average of four hours of TV per day (see here), and while I enjoy some television I don't nearly approach that on average (though some football Saturdays, Sundays and college basketball tournament time days head that direction!), I do find times when I seem to binge, or don't turn the set off.

For me the culprit is the times I just turn it on and surf. In these cases I'm not choosing to sit and watch with part of my family, and I don't have a particular program that I want to see. The reality of these situations is that when I turn the set on in these times I am procrastinating, and therefore actively (by turning on the set) moving away from my goals.

I do enjoy TV and don't want to banish from my house (I'd even like a new one on my wall), but I don want to manage it more effectively. Altering this habit will, for me make me happier, healthier and feel better about my results every day.

What more could we ask from a habit?

Think about this question, answer it, and take action. It is one more way to make your 2008 great!

Labels: habit, questions

What New Habit Will I Create?

Posted at 2:04 PM on Sunday, January 13, 2008

This is the ninth post in a continuing series designed to help you create a great 2008 - using questions to reflect on last year, and project into the future. All of the questions and additional information can be found in this tool, available for you to download now.

The ninth question is:

What new habit will I create?

I plan to strengthen habits related to building and deepening relationships.

Included in this area are:

- sending more (and more timely) thank you notes.
- intentionally connecting more often - with colleagues, clients and other cool people.
- making time for friends, creating meaningful memories and conversations.

The key to making these happen is to take action. I have been and will be taking these actions, and along with making for more enjoyable conversations, it will also support me in reaching my other goals for the year.

Pretty good returns for some new habits.

What habits will create those kinds of returns for you? What new habit will you create?

I hope you will choose to share your answers in the comments to this post.

Labels: habit, questions

What Relationship Do You Most Want to Develop?

Posted at 4:18 AM on Saturday, January 12, 2008

This is the eighth post in a continuing series designed to help you create a great 2008 - using questions to reflect on last year, and project into the future. All of the questions and additional information can be found in this tool, available for you to download now.

The eighth question is:

What relationship(s) do I most want to develop?

While there are many relationships I want to deepen and develop, including some from my post to the last question, this question begs focus. And while I won't pick one person, I'll pick just three:

Lori - my wonderful wife
Parker - my quickly maturing 15 year old son
Kelsey - my beautiful 9 year old daughter

While there are many relationships that are important to me, none compare to these three. Whatever goals I have set, whatever plans I have made - and you have some sense of those if you have been following these posts - none of those matter if I don't have the most important people to me, ever closer to me.

More than the achievement of any other goals, accomplishing this will bring me success happiness and joy.

Several of the past projection questions have been inwardly focused. This one and some of those to come will be less so. I encourage you to consider this question, as well as the logical follow-up of "How are you going to deepen those relationship(s)?"

As with all of these questions, I welcome your comments and answers.

Labels: questions, relationships

Who Do I Want to Meet?

Posted at 7:07 AM on Thursday, January 10, 2008

This is the seventh post in a continuing series designed to help you create a great 2008 - using questions to reflect on last year, and project into the future. All of the questions and additional information can be found in this tool, available for you to download now.

The seventh question is:

Who do I want to meet?

Oooh, I love this question!

I have a long list of people that I want to meet. Some are people that I already "know" from online and phone conversations, but that I look forward to meeting. People like:

(This is a partial list!)

I also am looking forward to meeting large groups of John Deere dealers (which I will do in sessions over the next couple of weeks), many new Clients and participants, all of those who are our partners in promoting Remarkable Leadership, and many other members of the Top Sales Experts group.

I also have a long list of "famous" people I would like to meet for a variety of reasons. I wasn't going to share this list, but I decided that by sharing these names I may be improving my chances of meeting them. (Who knows, maybe they, a family member, or colleague will read this - or maybe you know these people!)

Here is part of that list:

- All of the former Presidents
- Oprah (ok, so I want be more than meet her, I want to be a guest on her show!)
- Vince Gill (and while we are at it, my wife would like to meet his wife, Amy Grant)
- Garth Brooks
- Seth Godin
- Larry King
- Warren Bennis
- Patrick Lencioni
- Tony Dungy
- Jimmy Buffett
- Warren Buffett
- Joe Vitale
- Mark Joyner
- Michael Masterson

I want to meet these people for a variety of reasons, but the one reason that is in common is to learn from them. I admire all of these people in one or more ways and I believe that in meeting them I could learn more than I could from afar.

I encourage you to ask yourself this question and think big - not only those people who you "know" you will meet (like, in my case future participants and Clients), but also build a list of those that might be a bit more of a stretch.

One of the things that answering this question (on paper) does for me is that it helps me realize that making this happen in many cases is easier than I might first think. Even in reviewing this list to write this post I am energized by the connections and network that I already have that can help make some of these meetings.

Of course, I am open to your introductions to any of these people as well!

So, again, let me ask you - who do you want to meet (this year)?

As with all of these questions, I welcome your comments and answers.

Labels: networks, questions, relationships

What Will I Learn?

Posted at 6:32 AM on Wednesday, January 09, 2008

This is the sixth post in a continuing series designed to help you create a great 2008 - using questions to reflect on last year, and project into the future. All of the questions and additional information can be found in this tool, available for you to download now.

The sixth question is:

What will I learn?

I believe this question is extremely powerful because it makes us intentional and conscious as learners. In many ways this is the necessary follow-up question to the second in this series - What are my goals?

Why?

Because when we set goals by definition identifying gaps in our knowledge.

In my experience most goals require more than just time or other resources - they also require that we learn some things! So if you have been following this thread and (hopefully) answering these questions for yourself, go back to question 2 and start there in creating your learning list for 2008.

My list for 2008 includes:

- How to use and extend Web 2.0 tools for the benefit of our clients - current and future.
- How create and tell stories more effectively.
- Write to elicit more emotion from the reader.
- implement ideas with greater speed.
- ways to collaborate more effectively.

As with many of these questions, I haven't shared my full list, but rather a sampling. If you are also interested in learning these things, or if you may be able to help me as a mentor, coach, or teacher, let me know - I am VERY open to learning these things in any way that I can!

As with all of these questions, I welcome your comments and answers.

Labels: learning, questions

How Will I Apply My Most Valuable Lessons From Last Year?

Posted at 5:21 AM on Tuesday, January 08, 2008

This is the fifth post in a continuing series designed to help you create a great 2008 - using questions to reflect on last year, and project into the future. All of the questions and additional information can be found in this tool, available for you to download now.

The fifth question is:

How will I apply my most valuable lessons of last year in the New Year?

To answer this question, you must know your most valuable lessons from last year.

Duh.

The best (and perhaps only if you haven't already thought about it) way to answer this question is by doing the reflecting questions earlier in this series. If you missed them, click the links in the paragraph above. :)

For me the way I will apply my biggest lessons will be to make decisions consistent with those lessons. For me this includes, asking for help, deciding on what is most important, planning my time more effectively and being more focused. My biggest lessons from last year require me to make different choices.

On most counts (though not all) I am doing much better than I had in the past. This shouldn't be a surprise - success is, after all a journey.

While it is a journey, it does begin with decisions - decisions that play a big role applying my lessons from last year.

As with all of these questions, I welcome your comments and answers.

Labels: learning, questions

How Will I Best Use My Skills?

Posted at 8:02 AM on Saturday, January 05, 2008

This is the third post in a continuing series designed to help you create a great 2008 - using questions to reflect on last year, and project into the future. All of the questions and additional information can be found in this tool, available for you to download now.

The third question is:

How will I best use my skills?

My answer to this one is simple. I will use my skills to serve others.

I believe this approach I allows me to not only serve others, but reach my personal and business goals, and ultimately make the world a better place.

I plan to do this by writing, speaking, listening, consulting, and training. I plan to do this by caring about the needs of others.

So, how will you best use your skills, as an individual, as a team member, as a leader (insert any other role in your life here)?

As with all of these questions, I welcome your comments and even your answers.

Labels: goals, learning, questions, skills

What Are Your Five Most Important Goals For This Year?

Posted at 4:28 AM on Friday, January 04, 2008

This is the second post in a continuing series designed to help you create a great 2008 - using questions to reflect on last year, and project into the future. All of the questions and additional information can be found in this tool, available for you to download now.

The second question is:

What are my five most important goals for this year?

While I believe it is valuable to share your most important goals with one or a few people (specifically people who will be supportive of you reaching those goals), I don't know that I want to share ALL of my most important goals with the entire world in this forum. Besides our family goal setting for the year isn't finished (we will work on that more this evening), so I couldn't present a completely prioritized list anyway.

Having said all that, I am prepared to share some of my goals here. Here are some of them:

- I will successfully complete the Indianapolis Mini Marathon in May.
- I will return to my goal weight of 178 (I wasn't very diligent in this area during the holidays).
- I will complete my next book.
- I will be a much more active blogger.
- I will learn more and be more active as a social networker.

After reading this list, I encourage you to read my last post. When you compare the lists from these two posts you will notice similarities. I hope that when you have answered these two questions you will find similarities as well. Having goals that you are genuinely excited about improves your chances for success significantly.

Note too that I have already taken daily steps towards all of these goals - and if you want to reach a goal, you need to be actively taking steps towards them.

1. I have been training for the Mini (which addresses the first two goals)
2. I have been outlining the new book over the past several weeks - and spend mental time on it last night while driving.
3. This very series of posts is a part of my strategy to be a more active blogger.
4. I've taken the plunge and joined Facebook. I'd love for you request friend ship with me if you are a member, or you could become a member, and know you'll have one friend right away!

If you haven't started your goal setting for the New Year, now is a great time. I encourage you to do all of the questions in this process as a part of that process. If you already have the goals set, great - doing the reflective questions and the rest of the projective questions will accelerate you towards success.

Labels: goals, questions, resolutions

What Excites You About The New Year?

Posted at 11:02 AM on Wednesday, January 02, 2008

This is the first post in a continuing series designed to help you create a great 2008 - using questions to reflect on last year, and project into the future. All of the questions and additional information can be found in this tool, available for you to download now.

Here then is the first of the 13 projection questions . . .

What excites me about the New Year?

The list of things that excite me about 2008 is a long one. Here are some key ones:

- I am excited by the opportunity to travel overseas with my family.
- I am excited about writing my next book.
- I am excited to learn more about social networks, and build connections with more people.
- I am excited to complete some major projects with my wife.
- I am excited to impact the lives of many people and organizations through our consulting training and speaking services.
- I am excited to help people on their paths towards becoming remarkable leaders.
- I am excited about watching my kids grow up.

Thinking about the things that excite us is a great place to start in goal and resolution setting. While we'll talk more about that tomorrow, I encourage you to start getting excited, by thinking about what excites you!

Labels: learning, questions, resolutions

Reflecting Before Creating Your Resolutions

Posted at 5:41 PM on Tuesday, January 01, 2008

At this time of the year, either just before or just after the New Year begins, many people set resolutions for the coming year. One of the reasons that many people don't succeed with the resolutions they set is that they haven't put those resolutions in context - they haven't reflected on the past to set goals that will have a better chance of success.

This is why I created the 26 Questions to Make Your 2008 Great tool.

Over the last couple of weeks, I have been answering the first thirteen reflection questions. Here is the list, and the links to those posts.

1. What did I learn this year?
2. What did I accomplish this year?
3. Which accomplishments am I proudest of?
4. Knowing what I know now, what would I have done differently?
5. What will be my greatest lasting memories of this year?
6. In what ways did I contribute?
7. What were my biggest challenges or obstacles?
8. What obstacles did I overcome?
9. Who are the most interesting people I met?
10. How have they changed my life?
11. How am I different now than I was at the start of the year?
12. What am I most grateful for?
13. What else do I want to reflect on?

Reflection is of course only half the picture. The picture of Janus, the Roman God of beginnings and endings (and the root of the name of January) at the start of this post is on purpose. We must look back to learn and set context, then when we look forward in projection, we will have much greater success.

In this spirit, I will blog for the next thirteen days on the 13 projection questions in my free tool. I invite you to join me to read and answer the questions for yourself. I hope you will comment and if you blog, pick one or more of these questions to answer on your blog as well.

The point of all of this is to help all of us create a great 2008.

Thanks for joining me on this journey.

Labels: learning, questions, reflection, resolution

What Else Do I Want to Reflect On?

Posted at 9:52 AM on Monday, December 31, 2007

This is the final question in a series of 13 designed to help you capture the best from the past year. To learn more about this project and to download a tool to help you with your process for completing this year and starting next year more successfully, check out this post.

Here's today's question:

What else do I want to reflect on?

As I have worked through the first twelve questions I have found myself continuing to reflect on things related to my father's life and death. These events will be a defining part of my 2007, and I continue to learn lessons from these events.

While the other 12 questions I have shared with you are all valuable, I don't profess that they are complete or perfect. That is the purpose of this question. Your mind and heart have likely told you what else you need to be thinking about and learning from. That has been the focus of all 13 questions - to provide you questions to aid, advance, and accelerate your learning.

Tomorrow we begin to look forward as I initiate a series on the 13 projection questions - the questions that when consiered along with the 13 reflection questions - will help you create the best possible 2008. (So I hope to see you here tomorrow - and the following 12 days.)

In the meantime, have a happy and safe New Year's Eve!

Labels: learning, questions, reflection

What Am I Most Grateful For?

Posted at 5:58 AM on

This is the twelfth in a series of 13 questions designed to help you capture the best from the past year. To learn more about this project and to download a tool to help you with your process for completing this year and starting next year more successfully, check out this post.

Here's today's question:

What am I most grateful for?

I love this question. I believe we are better people when we ask ourselves this question. So while I am suggesting that you ask yourself this question today, you can ask (and would benefit from asking) this question anytime.

The things I am most grateful for are my faith, family, and my health (and the health of all of those that I love and care for).

When you ask this question you may start with the biggest things for you, like those items I just shared, but you will also want to think about what you are grateful for in other areas of your life. Since this is a blog about learning, personal and professional development, some of the things in that area that I am thankful for include:

- those I work with
- our Customers
- those who read my writing
- our new office
- books

Ask yourself this question and begin to make a list. Keep thinking and keep writing for as long as you can. Come back to the list and re-read it in a couple of hours and add to it.

As we move into the second half of our questions in this series your answers to this (and the other questions) will be valuable to you.

Labels: gratefulness, learning, questions, reflection

How Am I Different Now?

Posted at 5:41 AM on Sunday, December 30, 2007

This is the eleventh in a series of 13 questions designed to help you capture the best from the past year. To learn more about this project and to download a tool to help you with your process for completing this year and starting next year more successfully, check out this post.

Here's today's question:

How am I different now than at the start of the year?

I recently heard one of the presidential candidates asked about why their view had changed on an issue. Their response was something like: "I don't think we want a President who never changes his mind, who doesn't listen to new arguments, who isn't open to change."

This is an incredibly valuable question, because while you have surely grown and changed in many ways over the past year, it is sometimes hard to see or notice. Asking this question is like taking a fresh look at the plant in your living room, or seeing a niece of nephew after several months and thinking - "My how they've grown!"

Just like we don't notice the changes in the plant, and yet notice changes in children when we haven't seen them in awhile, we might not take notice of the changes and growth because we live with ourselves everyday.

When I ask myself this question I notice growth in a variety of ways. I have learned much about the publishing process over the past year, I have learned more about real estate and a variety of other legal matters. These lessons make me different and more versatile in conversation and in my thinking.

On a professional level I have become more disciplined in some areas, and while there are many ways I hope to continue to improve in this area, I am pleased with my progress. Personally, I believe I am less selfish than I was this time last year (a trend I hope continues far into the future).

This question provides you a new snapshot of yourself. Remember how much you enjoyed the family photos that came in your Christmas cards this month? Taking this personal picture will be far more valuable to you in the coming months.

Take that snapshot now - as yourself - How am I different now than I was at the start of the year?

Labels: learning, personal growth, questions, reflection

How Have The People I've Met Changed My Life?

Posted at 4:57 AM on Friday, December 28, 2007

This is the tenth in a series of 13 questions designed to help you capture the best from the past year. To learn more about this project and to download a tool to help you with your process for completing this year and starting next year more successfully, check out this post.

Here's today's question:

How have those people changed my life?

Taken by itself, this is a big question! Put in the context of yesterday's question - it is a bit more manageable.

When I think of all the interesting people I've met in the past year, I can think of a variety of ways they've impacted or changed my life. This series of emails is one example.

Though I have been blogging for a long time, I learned some things in the the last month or so from some of my new friends this year. It convinced me to re-invigorate (at least in my mind) my efforts as a blogger. Several events have taken place and more are to come all designed to help this blog become a more valuable place for readers to come, read, learn and participate.

I believe this renewed focus will have a very positive impact on my business and my life, and for the advice and example of several people I am very thankful.

This is just one example of how the people I have met this year have made a difference for me. There are many other examples - and I'm sure you have many examples too. I urge you to ask yourself this question, then think about your answers. Lastly, make the time to thank those people who have made a difference for you.

Labels: learning, questions, reflection

The Most Interesting People I've Met

Posted at 3:10 PM on Thursday, December 27, 2007

This is the ninth in a series of 13 questions designed to help you capture the best from the past year. To learn more about this project and to download a tool to help you with your process for completing this year and starting next year more successfully, check out this post.

Here's today's question:

Who are the most interesting people I met?

I've been looking forward to this question! I have met LOTS of interesting people this year. Among the first that come to my mind are three people that I actually haven't met; we've only converse on the phone and through email.

These three people are all incredibly smart and nice, Jonathan Farrington, Jon Gordon, and Mike Robbins (They are great writers too!)

I also met:

A ton of great people at the 800-CEO-Read author Pow-Wow that I could put on this list. (You can read posts about that event and the folks I met here and here.)
One of my favorite bloggers, Lisa Haneberg in June at ASTD.
The team at Jossey-Bass that helped me with Remarkable Leadership.
Denis Waitley, one of my favorite authors, briefly, as well.

I could go on here, but you don't want to read that long...

Beyond all of these wonderfully talented and interesting people I also met hundreds of workshop participants, folks in organizations we consult with, and people in audiences at my keynotes.

I'm surely blessed.

One of the reasons I propose this question to you is for exactly that insight - I believe that most of us will look back on a year and identify many interesting people that we have met. Of course, the greater value to you (and them) comes as you build a relationship and go beyond just meeting someone. I could say much more about this point, but I don't want to give away too much about tomorrow's question.

Come back tomorrow for my thoughts on Question 10 - and again if you haven't yet downloaded the full tool with 26 questions to make your 2008 great, you can do that right here.

Labels: learning, questions, reflection

What Did I Overcome, And How?

Posted at 5:05 AM on Wednesday, December 26, 2007

This is the eighth in a series of 13 questions designed to help you capture the best from the past year. To learn more about this project and to download a tool to help you with your process for completing this year and starting next year more successfully, check out this post.

Here's today's question:

What obstacles did I overcome?

And a followup:

And, how did I do it?

In a way it is a good thing I skipped a day before posting this one. Why? Because this question(s) has been the hardest for me to answer so far. For some of these posts I have thought a lot about what I would include here in the blog, but there were many answers in my mind or in my journal to choose from.

The same has not been true here. I can't really identify/remember a significant obstacle in the past year (other than the one I mentioned in the post for question #7). As far as overcoming that one, that is a work in progress.

One could conclude that if a person didn't have an answer for this question that their year has been perfect - no obstacles might sound pretty good. I'm not sure that is the case, though I have certainly been blessed throughout the year. For me it is more about perspective. I don't typically think about obstacles. I try to see opportunities. I try not to look for events or situations to blame, but rather try to look at myself.

While I am not trying to hold myself up as a perfect example, I believe there is a message here. When we focus on what is our control, when we think about what we can do (notice today's followup question), we have shifted focus away from the obstacles. As we become more fully functioning as professionals, leaders and humans, we are better able to work from this perspective.

None of this negates the value in identifying obstacles that we did overcome and identifying the approaches we used. There is rich learning for us in these questions when we do encounter obstacles that must be surmounted or removed.

Labels: challenges, learning, obstacles, questions, reflection

Your Biggest Challenges or Obstacles

Posted at 5:15 AM on Monday, December 24, 2007

This is the seventh in a series of 13 questions designed to help you capture the best from the past year. To learn more about this project and to download a tool to help you with your process for completing this year and starting next year more successfully, check out this post.

Here's today's question:

What were my biggest challenges or obstacles?

The answer for me is clear - I need to get better at execution and implementation. At The Kevin Eikenberry Group we are excellent at surfacing ideas and opportunities, and while we do get a lot done, we don't do as well in this area as we could. Let me rephrase that and put the focus where it belongs. I as a leader am an obstacle in this area.

If you have been reading this series of posts you will know that this issue was the core of my answer to question #4 - Knowing What I know Now, What Would I Do Differently?

I think it is completely natural that your answers to these two questions might be related, in fact in some cases after thinking about this question, you might have other, or more complete answers to #4.

Perhaps you are thinking of an external obstacle or challenge - the loss of a job, a Customer, or perhaps a change in the economy. While these things may well be obstacles, I encourage you to think about your challenges with a personal focus. Consider what role you played in creating or sustaining this obstacle. Equally important consider what you did (or can do now) to overcome that obstacle or challenge.

That last sentence is a bit of a preview to Wednesday's question, but for now, ask yourself about your obstacles and challenges, and enjoy a very Merry Christmas!

Note - Tomorrow is Christmas Day and I won't be posting in this series. I'll be back on the 26th with the 8th question. (If you don't have the tool to help you Make 2008 Great, click here.)

Labels: challenges, learning, questions, reflection

How Did I Contribute?

Posted at 4:17 AM on Sunday, December 23, 2007

This is the sixth in a series of 13 questions designed to help you capture the best from the past year. To learn more about this project and to download a tool to help you with your process for completing this year and starting next year more successfully, check out this post.

Here's today's question:

In what ways did I contribute?

My goal with this post isn't to brag or boast about the ways that I contributed in the past year. Though you won't likely be answering this question in a public forum like I am (but if you are a blogger reading this, I'd love for you to join this series in some way!), your goal isn't to be boastful or self absorbed either.

We all can contribute in many ways - we can give of our time, talents, thoughts, and treasures - any and all of these gifts can contribute to the lives of others in meaningful ways. I encourage you to think about this question from the different areas of your life, remembering the contributions large and small that you have made over the past year.

One way that I, my family and The Kevin Eikenberry Group contributed this year was to provide 2700 "I am Remarkable!" wristbands to elementary and middle school kids in Indianapolis public schools this fall. These were distributed in backpacks for these kids by the great folks at Jireh Sports during their Back to School Blast.

It is our hope that these bands serve as a reminder, and perhaps, for some a realization, that they truly are remarkable.

Asking yourself today's question is critical to giving yourself a more balanced view of your efforts and results in the past year. Perhaps this question will be easy for you to answer, or perhaps it is among the harder ones I have posed to you so far - either way, your list is impoortnat, and the relative ease in answering might give you a sense of your focus in the past.

If you found this hard to answer, consider how to be of service in new and different ways in the coming year (or even yet today).

Today along with the core question of your contribution, consider the following corollary:

"What was the impact of my contribution?"

Your answers to these questions will help you get out of yourself and into a perspective of service. This perspective will serve you as a leader, member of any community, or in any part of your life.

Labels: contribution, learning, questions, reflection

Your Lasting Memories of the Past Year

Posted at 5:20 AM on Saturday, December 22, 2007

This is the fifth in a series of 13 questions designed to help you capture the best from the past year. To learn more about this project and to download a tool to help you with your process for completing this year and starting next year more successfully, check out this post.

What will be my greatest lasting memories of this year?

My most lasting memories of this year will be of my Dad. He passed away on May 11. He was my first teacher, the first leader I observed and experienced and my mentor. Of course he was my dad. He was also my friend.

I've already posted some of the lessons from this event, which is why I can consider this one of my greatest lasting memories of 2007.

I don't want the value of this question to be lost in my particular answer. Most everyone treasures their memories more than material things. Why else would people rush back into burning homes to get their photo albums? (I've never seen a news story with video of people risking life and limb to save their plasma TV).

The value of this question is that we should be consciously capturing and holding on to our most valuable memories. While pictures are nice, having the memories locked into our lives is more important. These can become a source of strength, confidence, learning and satisfaction throughout our lives.

Doesn't it make sense then to think about this question, to make sure that those memories are locked tight into our hearts and minds? I encourage you to ask yourself this question and think about (and write down) your answers.

You will be glad you did.

Labels: learning, memories, questions, reflection

Knowing What I Know Now, What Would I Have Done Differently This Year?

Posted at 3:51 AM on Friday, December 21, 2007

This is the fourth in a series of 13 questions designed to help you capture the best from the past year. To learn more about this project and to download a tool to help you with your process for completing this year and starting next year successfully, check out this post.

Knowing what I know now, what would I have done differently this year?

From a business perspective this one is pretty easy. I would have focused more on execution. My team and I are pretty good at coming up with new ideas and figuring out how to use and leverage those ideas. We aren't quite so good at execution.

An outsider might say that we do get a lot accomplished (and I am very proud of the progress we have made), but I know that we are leaving ideas on the table unimplemented for too long.

For any leader there is a balance required here. Any of us can execute everything on our list if we are never expanding our list of ideas, tools and techniques. At the other end of the spectrum we can all get better at prioritizing - taking the number of ideas and opportunities and prioritizing them to help us focus.

Squarely in the middle of this continuum - between small list and awesome prioritization is EXECUTE the list! I wish that I had done a better job of executing.

Notice too that I am not saying I wished I had worked more hours! My challenge, and I believe the challenge for many of us is to follow-through more effectively, and do that more productively.

As I write this, I sense that I may have more to say about it. If/when I do, I promise to let you know.

So, my question to you is, Knowing what you know now, what would you have done differently last year?

Labels: execution, learning, questions, reflection

What Accomplishment am I Proudest of?

Posted at 1:09 PM on Thursday, December 20, 2007

This is the third in a series of 13 questions designed to help you capture the best from the past year. To learn more about this project and to download a tool to help you with your process for completing this year and starting next year successfully, check out this post.

What accomplishment am I proudest of?

I am proudest of the fact that Remarkable Leadership is being read and used by people to help them improve their lives and results. I wrote the book to have an impact on the world, and to read and hear from people about how it is having that impact is extremely gratifying.

As a side note, you can see how today's question connects to yesterday's question - which was about accomplishments in general. By asking ourselves which of these accomplishments we are proudest of, it helps us look at our values and refocuses us in gratitude for the things that have happened to us in the past year.

So what about you - what accomplishment are you proudest of? (feel free to share your answers in the comments!)

Labels: accomplishments, learning, questions, reflection

Begin to Unleash Your Potential today!

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Thoughts on Effective Meetings with Susan Otto

Posted at 4:27 PM on Sunday, June 22, 2008

Remarkable Happiness

Posted at 9:35 AM on Wednesday, June 18, 2008

If You Want to Be A Better Teacher. . .

Posted at 11:42 AM on Thursday, May 08, 2008

Daily Learning Habits

Posted at 7:41 PM on Sunday, April 13, 2008

What Do You Believe?

Posted at 4:35 AM on Saturday, March 08, 2008

What We Can Learn From Punxsutawney Phil on Groundhog Day

Posted at 7:52 AM on Friday, February 01, 2008

A Remarkable Opportunity

Posted at 7:02 AM on Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Read and Listen

Posted at 4:01 AM on

Who Will I Serve?

Posted at 3:44 AM on Monday, January 28, 2008

What Lasting Memories Will I Create?

Posted at 6:00 AM on Friday, January 25, 2008

How Will I Become Healthier This Year?

Posted at 7:24 PM on Sunday, January 20, 2008

What Habit Will I Alter or Eliminate?

Posted at 5:55 AM on Tuesday, January 15, 2008

What New Habit Will I Create?

Posted at 2:04 PM on Sunday, January 13, 2008

What Relationship Do You Most Want to Develop?

Posted at 4:18 AM on Saturday, January 12, 2008

Who Do I Want to Meet?

Posted at 7:07 AM on Thursday, January 10, 2008

What Will I Learn?

Posted at 6:32 AM on Wednesday, January 09, 2008

How Will I Apply My Most Valuable Lessons From Last Year?

Posted at 5:21 AM on Tuesday, January 08, 2008

How Will I Best Use My Skills?

Posted at 8:02 AM on Saturday, January 05, 2008

What Are Your Five Most Important Goals For This Year?

Posted at 4:28 AM on Friday, January 04, 2008

What Excites You About The New Year?

Posted at 11:02 AM on Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Reflecting Before Creating Your Resolutions

Posted at 5:41 PM on Tuesday, January 01, 2008

What Else Do I Want to Reflect On?

Posted at 9:52 AM on Monday, December 31, 2007

What Am I Most Grateful For?

Posted at 5:58 AM on

How Am I Different Now?

Posted at 5:41 AM on Sunday, December 30, 2007

How Have The People I've Met Changed My Life?

Posted at 4:57 AM on Friday, December 28, 2007

The Most Interesting People I've Met

Posted at 3:10 PM on Thursday, December 27, 2007

What Did I Overcome, And How?

Posted at 5:05 AM on Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Your Biggest Challenges or Obstacles

Posted at 5:15 AM on Monday, December 24, 2007

How Did I Contribute?

Posted at 4:17 AM on Sunday, December 23, 2007

Your Lasting Memories of the Past Year

Posted at 5:20 AM on Saturday, December 22, 2007

Knowing What I Know Now, What Would I Have Done Differently This Year?

Posted at 3:51 AM on Friday, December 21, 2007

What Accomplishment am I Proudest of?

Posted at 1:09 PM on Thursday, December 20, 2007

Begin to Unleash Your Potential today!