Lee 's Blog

Humor with a moral

Lee Iverson (Progressive Mortgage) — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 04:39:00 -0800

A man is getting into the shower just as his wife is finishing up her shower, when the doorbell rings. The wife quickly wraps herself in a towel and runs downstairs. When she opens the door, there stands Bob, the next-door neighbor. Before she says a word, Bob says, "I'll give you $800 to drop that towel." After thinking for a moment, the woman drops her towel and stands naked in front of Bob, after a few seconds, Bob hands her $800 and leaves. The woman wraps back up in the towel and goes back upstairs. When she gets to the bathroom, her husband asks, "Who was that?" "It was Bob the next door neighbor," she replies. "Great," the husband says, "did he say anything about the $800 he owes me?" Moral of the story: If you share critical information pertaining to credit and risk with your shareholders in time, you may be in a position to prevent avoidable exposure.

Wisdom Words

Lee Iverson (Progressive Mortgage) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 04:13:59 -0800

Recently, more than 43,000 executives were asked to list the most important virtues they look for in a key staff member. Their number one answer might surprise you. They were asked, "What separates an exceptional employee from an average one?" What virtues would they seek and encourage in employees and in themselves to help their companies succeed?" The most common answer they gave was "ethics." An upright person will be blessed and surrounded with favor. In corporate boardrooms across America, there's a growing appreciation of that truth.My question for members of ARC is when you are head hunting a new employee, do you look for more than a book of business?

Wisdom Words

Lee Iverson (Progressive Mortgage) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 03:45:16 -0800

Are we becoming a society that can't commit to anything? Recent studies seem to say so. Recently, a number of sociologists have identified an alarming trend on the American cultural landscape-an inability or unwillingness to commit to anything. One researcher wrote: "In the process of defining what counts in life, many of us have decided that commitment is not in our best interests." History has clearly shown, that values like loyalty, honor and faithfulness are tightly tied to succeeding in life.

Distinguish Leadership Skills

Lee Iverson (Progressive Mortgage) — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 03:03:01 -0800

Have you ever noticed that gifted athletes rarely make good coaches? Nor will the most productive worker necessarily make the best department head. That's why it's vital to distinguish between the skill of performance and the skill of leading the performance-two entirely different skills. It's also important to determine whether a person is capable of learning leadership. The key to success is identifying those who are capable of learning leadership over time. Take time to examine some traits to help you identify the people around you who are ready to lead. "Can you recognize your potential leaders?"

Standards of Excellence

Lee Iverson (Progressive Mortgage) — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 03:45:05 -0800

The Greek philosopher Ovid said, "There is no excellency without difficulty." He was right. Following the path of least resistance always leads to mediocrity. The way to true excellence is much harder. Perhaps that's why it is so rarely traveled these days. One of the primary challenges every leader must face is the need to inspire others to excellence. Great leaders motivated others by setting the example themselves. Those who look to you for leadership will take their cues from you. My question of the day for you is, "What standards of excellence are you imparting to those around you?"

Grow in Knowledge

Lee Iverson (Progressive Mortgage) — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 03:12:38 -0800

The saying that knowledge is power is not quite true. The fact is, "utilized" knowledge is power. And whoever said, "What you don't know can't hurt you," never owned a business. Knowledge, the only instrument of production that is not subject to diminishing returns. It's the knowledge you wisely put to work that is power. My questions of the day for you are, "Have you stopped growing in knowledge? And have you been utilizing what you know?"

Time Management

Lee Iverson (Progressive Mortgage) — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 03:52:20 -0800

Time is precious. That's why one of the most crucial lessons any leader can learn is how to use time wisely. John D. Rockefeller once said, "Without the management of time, you will soon have nothing left to manage. If you visit Big Ben in London, you'll find a little poem about the preciousness of time inscribed at the base of the clock tower. It reads, "No minute lost ever comes back again. Take heed and see you do nothing in vain." Redeem the time, meaning to put it to the best use possible. My question of the day for you is, "How much of each precious day are you wasting?"

Having a Credible Plan

Lee Iverson (Progressive Mortgage) — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 01:28:48 -0800

It's a good thing to have a goal. It's an even better if you have a powerful inner drive to achieve it. But without a workable plan, your goal and passion will benefit you very little. Most people in business are so busy coping with the urgent demands of the present that they tend to let the future take care of itself. We can be so busy putting out fires that we fail to do the planning that would prevent those fires in the first place. My question of the day for you is, "Do you have a credible plan for achieving your goals?"

Seeing Opportunity in Calamity

Lee Iverson (Progressive Mortgage) — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 03:20:30 -0800

Winston Churchill once said, "An optimist sees an opportunity in every calamity. A pessimist sees a calamity in every opportunity." Which approach do you tend to take? Great leaders tend to see opportunities-even in difficult times. They have trained themselves to look at every situation and see what's possible. My question of the day for you is, what do you see?

The Power of Imagination

Lee Iverson (Progressive Mortgage) — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 04:52:50 -0800

Would you like to have the ability to perceive new business opportunities? Would you like to be able to find solutions to difficult problems no one else has even considered? Then what you need is imagination. Great leaders all had the ability to look beyond present circumstances and see the possible. In other words, they had imagination. Many others have recognized its power. Einstein once said, "To see new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle, requires creative imagination." My question of the day for you is, "What are you doing to cultivate your gift of imagination?"

Managing Your Vital Resources

Lee Iverson (Progressive Mortgage) — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 07:21:29 -0700

The terms are often used interchangeably, but there is an important difference between leadership and management. Being a good manager doesn't necessarily make you a good leader. But every good leader should be a competent manager. You may be a one-man operation, but you still must manage your time, your resources, and your relationships. Your skill at managing these three areas largely determines the level of success you will experience in this life. My question of the day for you is, "How are you managing the vital resources that have been entrusted to you?"

Winners Minute m- Understanding

Lee Iverson (Progressive Mortgage) — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 04:16:25 -0700

One of the now famous Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is "Seek first to understand, then to be understood." We're exhorted to get wisdom, and in all our getting, get understanding. Former GE chairman, Owen D. Young recognized the leadership power of understanding when he wrote: "The man who can put himself in the place of other men, who can understand the workings of their minds, need never worry about what the future has in store for him." My question of the day for you is, "Are you more interested in understanding, or in being understood?"

Winners Minute - Reputation

Lee Iverson (Progressive Mortgage) — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 03:52:02 -0700

No matter what you do for a living, you are a "brand manager." That brand is you. A good name is more desirable than great riches. Your words, your appearance and your actions all work together to form your reputation...or your name. George Washington once remarked that one of the most precious things this side of the grave is a good reputation. My question of the day for you is, "How are you managing the most important brand name in your life...your own?"

Winners Minute - Humility

Lee Iverson (Progressive Mortgage) — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 04:37:46 -0700

It's been said that the first test of a truly great man or woman is humility. The prideful and the arrogant are rarely effective leaders, and that's because very few people allow themselves to be influenced by someone who looks down on them. Being humble is a vital trait for those who would lead. Do not think more highly of ourselves than we ought. Sense shines with a double luster when it is set in humility. An able and yet humble man is a jewel worth a kingdom.

Winners minute - Beliefs

Lee Iverson (Progressive Mortgage) — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:53:41 -0700

Are you a believer? We are all born believing. A man bears beliefs as a tree bears apples. We all have beliefs. Some are ill-founded. Some are based on bad information. Nevertheless, we all have them. And those beliefs shape your life in countless ways. Our beliefs about what we are and what we can be precisely determine what we will be. Nothing impacts your quality of life as greatly as your beliefs. Are you basing your beliefs on truths, or merely on someone's opinion?

Winners Minute - Communication

Lee Iverson (Progressive Mortgage) — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 04:35:50 -0700

Your ability to communicate effectively has a big impact on every aspect of your life, but especially your effectiveness as a leader. J. Paul Getty once wrote, "There may be no single thing more important in our efforts to achieve meaningful work and fulfilling relationships than to learn to practice the art of communication keep your communication straightforward, honest and concise. He said, "When you communicate, let your yes be yes and your no be no." My question of the day for you is, "Are the people around you clear about what you expect and what they can expect from you?"

Expo in Elk River

Lee Iverson (Progressive Mortgage) — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 09:29:20 -0700

Dedicated Diva Club is sponsoring the Inaugural Womens Expo Feb. 3rd 2008 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM @ the Elk River High School. Booths are still available thru Nov. 30th. For more info go to www.dedicateddivaclub.com A group of business women I work with put this together and it should be huge.

Winners Moment - Integrity

Lee Iverson (Progressive Mortgage) — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 04:41:49 -0700

Maintaining absolute integrity is the bottom-line rule for any leader if they want their subordinates to follow them under all conditions. How do you cultivate integrity? First: Keep your word. If you say something, make certain it is the exact truth. Second: Choose the harder right over the easier wrong. When you are faced with choices of right or wrong, no matter what your boss thinks...no matter what the stockholders think...choose the right. To lead effectively, especially during difficult times, you must be known as a person of your word.

Winners Minute - Becoming a star at work

Lee Iverson (Progressive Mortgage) — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 05:19:16 -0700

There is a difference between mere "interest" and " commitment." When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when it's convenient. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses, only RESULTS. Thus far this week I've been exploring the quality of "committment." Committment has an almost supernatural ability to make things happen for you. "The moment you commit and quit holding back, all sorts of unforeseen incients, meetings, and material assistance will rise up to help you. The simple act of committment is a powerful magnet for help."