Author: sage_admin

“Growing old is no more than a bad habit which a busy person has no time to form.” Andre Maurois
Each year as our birthday approaches, we are reminded that some decade markers are getting closer. They seem to create an emotional barrier until the big day passes and you still feel the same. This came to mind this week because I have a birthday approaching and was discussing health, fitness and life balance with a group of millennials and 30 somethings. Since I am in my late 50’s and very conscious of health and fitness, it was funny to hear some of them say, “I’ll get more balanced and concerned with health and fitness when I’m in my 50’s”.
Habits formed when you are young and able to are much easier to manage than habits formed because you are forced to. If you do form them at an early age, the second half of life can be much more enjoyable. A great example of this was when was a young man of 20 and playing professional hockey. I had the honor to play against Gordie Howe, who that year was 46. He not only played at that age, but was still a very physical specimen and a major contributor to his team. My message in writing this is that he played until he was 51 and was able to do so because of his amazing exercise regimen. I, on the other hand, was retired at 24 because I was never as disciplined as he.  Form your habits now and live a more balanced life and enjoy a more prosperous career.
Weekly Wisdom by Jerry Rollins, CEO of Sage Executive Group
 

When it came down to interviewing the finalists for a key management position at a San Diego company, Sage CEO Jerry Rollins and adviser in the hiring process discovered surprising similarities in why great candidates wanted to leave their current firm.
“They were told what to do, but had zero input into the direction of the organization,” Rollins said. “Their  job was to implement orders sent from afar.”
Top talent is looking for “organizations that are agile and nimble compared to big and stodgy,” and wants to be rewarded for top-tier performance. The finalists, while well paid  in their current jobs, had received no significant rewards for outstanding work. “Big companies are breeding mediocrity into their organizations” by not offering major incentives tied to performance, Rollins said.
The finalists had another thing in common. Everyone of them came through a personal referral, lured by the company’s reputation.  “You want to create culture of never having to look for someone to fill a position because people are lined up wanting to work for you,” Rollins said.
Sage Smart:  A blog of tips and lessons from Sage Executive Group
 

“Don’t let your ego get too close to your position, so that if your position gets shot down, your ego doesn’t go with it.” Colin Powell
This past week, I spent several days with some of the best leaders in business. They were speaking of their companies, families, dreams and personal aspirations. I observed common attributes they shared, the teams they had built, the successes achieved, their lofty goals and also what they wanted to contribute back to society. What I did not hear was a lot of self-aggrandizement about what they personally had accomplished. They talked more about the cultures they had helped create and foster. Now I don’t want you to think these folks don’t have healthy egos. They possess much self confidence, and it is based on knowing who they are and what they are capable of. They also know what they don’t know and are not afraid to surround themselves with executives who are better, smarter and faster.
Great leaders know the way, show the way, and go the way, while allowing their teams to take credit for all of the accomplishments.  I like this quote when talking about ego in leadership.
“Don’t accept your dog’s admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful.” Ann Landers
Weekly Wisdom by Jerry Rollins, CEO of Sage Executive Group
 

“It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership.” Nelson Mandela
I get to work with and have close relationships with many of the best leaders in business. I  am becoming aware that many of the most driven, highest-performing and best in class businesses are led by people who never take credit for what they accomplish. I also have observed they don’t take the time to celebrate amazing feats. All success does is make them hungrier for bigger and better mountains to climb.  Many of you who read this are probably going to send me a note saying, “were you thinking of me when you wrote this,” and my honest answer is yes, it is all of you!
As my wife has so wisely advised me through the years:  “Today, just take time to smell the roses, enjoy those little things about your life, your family, spouse, friends, job. Forget about the thorns – the pains and problems they cause you – and enjoy life.” Bernard Kelvin Clive, Your Dreams Will Not Die
Weekly Wisdom by Jerry Rollins,CEO of Sage Executive Group

“Eighty percent of success is showing up.”
Woody Allen
I am convinced that the other 20 per cent of success is showing up on time.  I think that we are experiencing  a breakdown of some basic values that is affecting businesses in a negative manner.  Being on time for meetings and appointments used to be a virtue.  Now they seem to be more like general guidelines or approximate place-holders on the calendar. Companies that have discipline, respect and great values in place believe that being on time for meetings and appointments is important. Unfortunately, many of the negative behavioral traits are being demonstrated in the C-suite and trickle down to every level.  There are a number of different reasons for this. Some people do not have the organizational skills,  others have never learned how to balance their calendars, some lack discipline,  some over commit,  and in other cases people abuse power by making people wait for them.
Now that I have had my weekly rant, maybe I have the problem of being a perfectionist and need to lighten up. Comments please!
Weekly Wisdom, Jerry Rollins, CEO of Sage Executive Group
 

Talent works, genius creates.
Robert Schumann
I read this today and recognized that I am not an innovator, not creative in any way, nor will I ever be mistaken for a genius.  I admire people and companies that are true innovators and that have a process for doing so as a part of their culture.  So after I finished beating myself up, I became cognizant that I always surrounded myself with teams that were innovative and creative.  What I brought to the game as a CEO was an ability to take complex business dreams and turn them into realities. Sometimes innovators and creative geniuses need people like me to fulfill that role.
The lesson I learned through the years was not to worry so much about my weaknesses and trying to fix them.  Instead I identified what was missing from me or my team and added people who brought those attributes to the game of business.
Weekly Wisdom from Jerry Rollins, CEO of Sage Executive Group

“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.”
Charles M. Schulz
This past week 50 years ago the Beatles played the Ed Sullivan Show and today is Valentines Day so I thought this quote was appropriate.  Enjoy your chocolate with someone special.
Weekly Wisdom from Jerry Rollins, CEO of Sage Executive Group
 

You’ve got an amazing job opportunity. But how do you find the right person for that top position?
The answer lies not in what you put on paper or on a job posting, but in the vision you create in your own mind.
The challenge was put to four  top-tier, C-level executives by Jerry Rollins, CEO of Sage Executive Group, at their peer advisory meetings this month. All four had written detailed job descriptions. The more important step was to do a visualization of the most perfect person for the job they had ever met.
Painting a mental portrait brought clarity in identifying the right persons for them to target in their business network. The next step was to reach out to those people, describe the ideal candidate as written and envisioned and ask help in finding that person. The fit was so good that some of those contacted ended up seeking the job themselves.
This was a not a head-hunting exercise, said Rollins. Rather, the task was to: “Visualize who that person is and reach out to your network with that visual and written description.”
Sage Smart:  A blog of tips and lessons from Sage Executive Group
 

“Coming in second means you are the first loser.”
This appeared on a Big Dog T-shirt I used to wear as a young man, and I lived by this code in sports and business.
What I have learned since then (after 40) is that in business you inevitably will come in second, lose a large contract,  be rejected for a promotion or be lucky enough to hear the most famous statement of all, “We love you but have decided to go in a different direction.”  How you behave when this happens often determines how you grow and become a true success in business and life. Examples of how great failures preceded amazing breakthrough success are endless.
My life lesson was displayed last weekend in one of the biggest embarrassments in Super Bowl history.  After the game, Peyton Manning, John Fox and John Elway praised their opponent and gave them credit for being better on that day. In the heat of battle and defeat, they took the high road and gained the respect of America.
I think this leadership group displayed grace and showed what winners they truly are.
My business lessons showed me that after I faced rejection and failure in my life, great rewards soon followed.
Weekly Wisdom from Jerry Rollins, CEO of Sage Executive Group
jerry.rollins@sageexecutive group.com or (858-775-6900)

What are the odds?
This weekend  a game is being played that has some of the following letters in it:
S_ _ _ _ B_ _ l.  Sorry, I can’t tell you more. The NFL trademarked the name and no one is allowed to take advantage of it in print without paying a royalty.  I figure they don’t need my money since they seem to be doing just fine.
How tough is it to make it to the “big game” as a player?

• 1,134,377 players participate in High School games each year.
• About 3 percent of them make it to the college ranks.
• There are 25,300 college players each year.
• 254 college players get drafted to the pros each year.
• 20 percent of drafted players play in the NFL for more than a year.
• The average NFL career is 3.5 years.
• There are 32 teams with 40 players each.

Two teams play in the “Big Game,” with a total of 80 players out of the millions of athletes  who spent their high school, college and professional careers trying to get there
So what is the mathematical chance of your Little Johnny making it to the  “Big Game”?  Johnny has a better chance of winning the lottery, becoming President of the United States or the CEO of Qualcomm.
In spite of these overwhelming odds, Derrick Coleman, a legally deaf player will take the field for the Seahawks this Sunday.  How do you like those odds?  He is not getting a lot of press because one of his teammates,  Richard Sherman, has been busy proclaiming how he is the best in the game and how he overcame such great odds to make it in the NFL. I like the Derrick Coleman story better. You can read more about Derrick at:
http://sports.nationalpost.com/2014/01/29/super-bowl-2014-deaf-seattle-seahawks-player-derrick-coleman-works-to-prove-doubters-wrong-serve-as-inspiration/
Weekly Wisdom by Jerry Rollins, co-founder of Sage Executive Group