In every possible way Albus Dumbledore from the Harry Potter stories, is the epitome of a great leader. There is of course the first are foremost organization of Hogwarts school that he leads forward with great leadership but much more importantly he is the leader of the greater fight against evil. There are a long list of things that make Dumbledore a great leader. Among them are some of the manager qualities of organization, reporting, and communication. However management never was leadership and Corporations who don’t understand that fail. What we are trying to establish here is the fact that Dumbledore was a great leader and establish what key traits made him such.

In trying to establish his leadership I suggest we look at the results that come from Albus Dumbledore’s leadership in the Harry Potter books. People of course love him and trust him, and his enemies fear him. His school runs smoothly despite his occasional absence or eccentric staff appointments and decisions. He also seems to have a habit of creating other effective leaders all around him. It would seem that he is somehow connected to every important and significant witch or wizard in the country. He is even the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, member of the International Confederation of Wizards, and founder and leader of The Order of the Phoenix but take note that he turned down the position of Minister of Magic. He works only in roles that give him an advantage in his goals. To further argue that he is a great leader I would point out that even though he does make mistakes (and he admits it), his goals are accomplished in the end. The reign of Voldemort comes to an end and that age of evil falls. Harry lives.

Accepting that he is indeed a great leader let us consider what are his greatest traits at the source of that fine leadership. Some of the more immediate answers might include that he knows his own strengths and utilizes them well. Perhaps the fact that he has an eye for great talent and knows how to effectively deploy people to the greatest advantage of the group and the individuals. He also adapts well to change and tends to foresee what’s coming. While these are all qualities of a great leader, and certainly qualities that Dumbledore possess, they are not the core qualities that define him as a leader.

Consider how his world revolves around two overlying values, trust and love. Dumbledore is a man who cares about the truth and has a strange tendency to trust people. Despite this people trust him so much that as Hermoine points out, “Dumbledore trusts him and if we can’t trust Dumbledore who can we trust?” People trust him for one simple reason. They know he sincerely cares about them. They trust that he has no hidden agenda or secondary motive. This trust comes from his ability to care or to be more frank, love. He loves people and sincerely wants what’s best for them. This isn’t a fake smile and a dance but a true feeling that comes from deep down. Consider anyone who you think of as a great leader and you will agree that you trusted them and you were confident they had your best interests at heart.

Dumbledore is always trying to train more leaders and Harry Potter is our prime candidate. Dumbledore could have spent time teaching Harry Potter a variety of magic or techniques but he knows how to create a great leader. He focuses on principles and key among them are a quest for truth and the power of true love. Remember that as you interact with people around you. Do you truly care about those around you? We are no longer in a society where facades and hidden motives can stay hidden. People can sense sincerity and a lack of it. Follow both Dumbledore and Harry’s example as you strive to become a great leader.

Jacob S Paulsen

I suppose that I’m only normal if I find some of my very greatest inspiration in movies, literature, and art. Well maybe I’m a little more nuts than most because I consciously think about these things and the themes and lessons that are being taught. I suspect sometimes that I’m even finding hidden meanings where the writers had no intention of meaning anything.

I’m naturally drawn to the hero/epic tales. I like being reminded that human nature can overcome evil and become much more. Heroes come in many forms and stories teach us what heroes are really made of. Perhaps the inspiring concept is that I too can be heroic.

I love the stories. I love pondering the saga of Anakin Skywalker and how one man’s decisions can change the galaxy… twice. I love the story of a humble Harry Potter who’s love and pure determination destroyed forever the darkest wizard of all time. Or the story of Dumbledore who dedicated his entire life to bringing down Valdemort through Harry. I love the painting that sits on the wall in my bedroom, Singing Butler by Jack Vettriano. It depicts a husband and wife dancing in a rainstorm.

I suppose that more important than where one gets their inspiration, is that they get inspired at all. Inspiration is necessary to help us keep the vision when times are hard. Discipline is giving up momentary pleasures for long term joy. When life gets difficult where do you go for a boost? How do you remind yourself of the greater ideals and values in life?

I for one think we can all be heroes and we all need our inspiration. Please share with us. Leave a comment below to share with the group where you find your inspiration.

Among my greatest passions in life are smartphones and personal security. I know right; I’m geeky and paranoid. I spent my spare time in the past two weeks considering ways that a person’s cell phone can be utilized in personal security. I’m not referring to the stun gun cell phones or other fake phone weapons on the market. I’m talking about the thousands of Americans walking around with Blackberrys, iPhones, Google Phones, etc who need to eliminate risk of becoming a victim of a crime or scam. Here are my 7 most applicable (not including hand to hand cell phone combat) tips:

1. If you are lost or kidnapped: Modern smart phones come GPS enabled. For little to no cost you can download and install software onto your phone that will allow authorities or loved ones to log in to a 3^rd party website to track your phone. Most of these services also include options for backing up data from the phone, remote wiping the memory and locking the device to prevent calls. In addition to helping you track down your lost or stolen phone it could potentially help authorities track you down if you become lost or stolen and your phone is on you or your attacker. Even if your phone is not GPS enabled authorities are able to triangulate your position based on the GPRS signal from the cell phone towers. This can often pinpoint your location within a 50 ft radius. If you are in a boat that is capsizing, put your phone in a plastic bag to keep it dry, and blow air into the bag before sealing it to be sure it floats. This will help rescuers find your location in an emergency. Mobile Security Software Suggestions: (iPhone) (Android) (BlackBerry) (WindowsMobile) (Nokia Symbian)
2. In a world of viruses and hackers you may wonder where you should be keeping your most private and sensitive data. Online servers or other “password vault” services are vulnerable and your computer is just as weak to crashes as viruses and hacks. The answer is on your smart phone’s SD memory card. Cell phones are virtually impossible to hack from a remote internet connection. As long as you keep your Bluetooth turned off, or at least make your phone “Not Discoverable” you remain safe from any local hackers too. Even if you break or damage your phone, the memory card will not be damaged easily and even dropping your phone in water will not cause you to lose any data. Are you afraid you will lose your phone? No problem if you are employing one of the programs mentioned above. Just remotely backup your data and then wipe the memory device.
3. ICE: EMTs and hospital staff across the nation are being trained to look in the address book of a victim’s cell phone for an emergency contact. You are advised to create a new contact in your address book under the name of ICE which is an acronym for In Case of Emergency. This empowers emergency medical technicians to contact a loved one to ask about allergies to medicines or to simply inform them of your injury or accident.
4. Cell Phone users are less likely to be victims of random attack. Next time you find yourself in a quiet parking lot or in a dark alley just pull out your cell phone and call someone. If they don’t answer, pretend that they did and begin a fake conversation with their voice-mail. Potential attackers are likely to avoid people who are on the phone since the potential victim could easily describe the assailant or at least alert the 3^rd party to the action. What should you talk about? Your location and your surroundings. Also indicate that you are on your way to meet with someone else. Example: “Yeah I just came out of the building on the south side. Where are you meeting me? I don’t see you yet, how far away are you?
5. Ever had a phone conversation that you wish you had recorded? Use your phone. Most phones have the option to record voice notes and many smart phones have 3^rd party software that will even allow you to record phone calls. Next time you are in a debate with your boss or an argument with your ex spouse… record it. Without drawing any attention turn on the recording feature on your phone and set your phone down on a surface where the microphone will be between you and the other person. Be aware that each state has different laws that govern your right to record conversations with or without the consent of all parties.
6. Having a cell phone means having constant access to a digital camera. Use it. Next time you are involved in or witness to a traffic accident use your phone to take pictures of all the damage and the license plates of the cars involved. Other good times to take pictures include when you meet someone for the first time, when driving somewhere for the first time (landmarks), or when you rent a car or check into a hotel room (existing damages).
7. Of course a cell phone can be used to call 911 from anywhere. Any cell phone can dial 911 even without having been active on a current plan. The international universal mobile emergency number is 112. Keep your old cell phone in the trunk of your car along with a charger to use in case of an emergency when your own phone is dead or unavailable. Purchase a “crank” cell phone charger that will power your emergency phone with a little muscle work. This would be especially useful if someone threw you in your own truck and left you there. Especially seek out an emergency phone with CDMA service. CDMA technology has much wider coverage in remote areas outside of the city. The biggest CDMA wireless carriers in the US are Verizon and Sprint.

We live in an unsafe world. While many of my friends and family may think I’m paranoid, I prefer to think that I’m just more aware. I have prepared 10 basic safety tips worthy of both Tim Ferris and Jason Bourne. The first five are among the very best of the traditional safety tips you have heard in the past. The last five are equally important but perhaps a little more extreme for those of us who like being really prepared.

1. The number one greatest thing you can do to ensure your family’s security is to choose a home in a safe neighborhood in a safe community. Research indicates that there is no single greater factor to ensure your family’s protection from crime and attack. Local law enforcement agencies are a good resource along with your state government website where crime statistics are usually published for the public every quarter. Put your family’s safety ahead of your own career when finding a good home.
2. In a recent survey among USA law enforcement officials when asked “What is the single greatest thing we can do to our home to prevent home invasion and burglary” the number one answer was, “Get a dog.” The second most popular answer was to get a “Home Security Alarm” sign and install it in a prominent place. Naturally big loud dogs are best and dog barking alarms can be purchased for little to nothing. Diversion signs can also be found for sale.
3. When you go on vacation go the extra mile to get a house sitter to live in your home while you are away. If this becomes impossible put timers on your lights and TV, put a temporary hold on your mail, and ask a neighbor to park in your driveway. Keep a small collection of high quality hidden safes to use within your home an in your luggage when you travel. Disguising your valuable is the best way to keep them safe.
4. Three more solid safety tips for the exterior of your home. Get motion activated flood lights in your yard. This will not only illuminate potential predators but will also light up the yard for late night family football games. Trim bushes and hedges to be too small for someone to hide in or behind. Install dead bolts on all exterior doors and change the locks after first moving into your home.
5. In regards to your vehicle safety: Purchase an emergency glass hammer and keep it in your vehicle as an emergency exit tool. Keep your car remote in your pocket at all times and on your night stand at night. The panic button makes for an easy and loud personal alarm when needed. Keep an emergency road kit and first aid kit in the trunk of your car at all times along with basic tools.
6. Take a firearm safety tips or state certified concealed weapon class in your local area. The education is priceless and after the class you can decide if it would be wise for your family to purchase a handgun to keep in the home. Continue to train on the range and seek out as much ongoing education as possible in the way of books and other local firearm courses.
7. Seek out security software for your cell phone. Smart-phones have software available that makes tracking them down easy via GPS and built in GPRS frequencies. This will come in handy not only if you lose your phone but also if you are kidnapped or lost. Make sure that family members are familiar with how to use the software to locate your device. (iPhone) (Android) (BlackBerry) (WindowsMobile) (Nokia Symbian)
8. Purchase and memorize “The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook.” Yes, I’m serious. This book will cover all the extra important things like hot wiring a car, performing 180 degree turns in your car, taking a punch correctly, escaping wild animals, and performing emergency tracheotomies. If that weren’t enough you will also learn how to land a plane, treat a bullet wound, and survive lost in the wilderness or adrift at sea. If you want to go the extra mile buy it’s sequel, “The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Travel.”
9. Establish emergency procedures with your loved ones. In addition to standard fire escape routes and safe rooms for your home also consider the following. Decide on key rendezvous locations and assign each one a code name. Potential locations could include: relative/friend’s home, zoo, shopping mall, etc. Also establish a code name for each family member and an emergency phrase that family members can use to signal that they are under duress.
10. Keep emergency stashes of the most important essentials in key locations. Essentials may include: cash, firearm plus ammunition, photocopies of passports birth certificates and insurance policies, a prepaid cell phone w/ charger, etc. Storage locations may include: safe deposit box, buried lock box in one of your key rendezvous locations, rented storage space, etc.

Did I forget any safety tips?

Of all the things I have learned from the Harry Potter saga, this is the most powerful to me. If you were to ask yourself what was Harry Potter’s greatest strength or asset; what would you say? I would say, “his friends.”

The strength of any person can be measured by those who are loyal to him. This was well illustrated by both Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore, who had such a large number of loyal followers, we cannot begin to list all of them. I hesitate to use the word followers, lest each of us think we need to gain followers (not referring to twitter friends). What I really mean by followers, is people who would readily come to your aid; people who would willing sacrifice their own needs or possessions to grant yours. In effect, people who love you.

We see this pattern over and over as Harry’s friends including Ron, Hermoine, Neville, Luna, & Ginny willingly put their own needs behind them in an effort to help and assist Harry. This was because of both their love for Harry and for their love of Harry’s cause.

Adults were equally drawn in to him. Dumbledore, Lupin, McGonagall, Hagrid, the Weasleys, and countless others were willing to sacrifice their own lives for him and several did.

Creatures including Dobby, Creature, Buckbeak, and Hedwig were eager to defend him and his interests.

The greatest assets anyone can have in their lives are the relationships they build. If you are a religious person, you understand further that your greatest asset is your greatest relationship; the one with your divine creator.

Cherish the people around you. Give them a reason to believe in you by believing in them. Relationships go both ways. The people who have the greatest influence and power, are those who have learned to love and cherish the greatest number of people.

Jacob S Paulsen

You are probably familiar with Stephen Covey’s best seller “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.“ The principles taught in that book are powerful and true.

Today I am going to use his basic outline of habits to teach you how to be an effective recruiter in your MLM business. These simple principle based steps can take you from the bottom ranks of your company to the very top if you will study and apply them in sequential order.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective (MLM) Network Marketers

Habit 1Be Proactive: Principles of Personal Vision

1. The first step in creating a residual income is pro-activity.
2. Taking action steps to make an initial list of potential recruits and calling them to set up appointments.
3. Taking personal initiative to make sure that each member of your team is plugged into the emails, trainings, and meetings.
4. Inviting team members to local & regional events, and setting up these events if not already available to you.
5. Training each of your reps individually, or making sure they are trained.
6. Scheduling time together with each direct enrollment to hold them accountable to their goals.

Habit 2Begin with the End in Mind: Principles of Personal Leadership

1. Deciding early on what your objectives are. What do you truly wish to accomplish in your business, and what do you want your team to accomplish?
2. Creating a synergistic mission statement that reflects your goals and objectives and those of your team as a whole.
3. Beginning each event, activity, or meeting knowing what you want to get out of it, and what you wish for your team members and guests to get out of it.
4. Foreseeing possible problems with retention, discouragement, etc.
5. Taking the proper steps to prepare to be an effective teacher, leader and trainer.

Habit 3  Put First Things First: Principles of Personal Management

1. Understanding the four quadrants of effective production and knowing how to apply that to your personal & team’s activity. Focusing on Revenue Producing Activities!
2. Creating habits of time management and effective planning.
3. Reserving time for all your roles in life, so as not to neglect something.
4. Setting time aside each week for Recruiting, Retaining, and Training.

Habit 4Think Win/Win: Principles of Interpersonal Leadership

1. Commit yourself to Win/Win or no deal. Agree to enroll people who you need in your business and who need your business.
2. Look for the recruit’s win in your business opportunity. Specifically what will this mean in their life?
3. Continue to show team members the win in each part of the MLM experience.
4. Help create the win by getting the new recruits plugged into the proper system of activities.
5. Lead by example. Help each new member of your team grow by being a part of their personal production.

Habit 5Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood

1. Seek to understand the situation of each contact. Find out what they want out of the experience and what has brought them far enough to listen to you.
2. Practice active listening skills. Truly listen to your recruits and your team members to best understand their desires.
3. Continue building a relationship with your team to develop trust and credibility through listening to and understanding them.
4. Only when the rep trusts you and believe you understand them, and have their best interests in mind will they follow you.

Habit 6  Synergize Principles of Creative Communication

1. Create environments of synergy in recruiting, retaining, and training arenas.
2. Practice habits 4 & 5 in making synergistic moments happen.
3. Synergize with each rep individually and with the team as a whole.
4. Seek out potential synergistic activities, such as creating the team mission statement, local events, etc.
5. Understand the unique abilities that each of your leaders have and think of how best to utilize them.
6. Seek out the very best training in the industry and in your company from the top leaders.

Habit 7  Sharpen the Saw: Principles of Balanced Self-Renewal

1. Set aside Monthly, Weekly, and Daily planning and evaluation sessions.
2. Renew your commitments and covenants in all aspects of life through sincere evaluation.
3. Evaluate the best and less effective practices that you have been using in recruiting, retaining, and training your office.
4. Review this and other handouts and notes that will increase your effectiveness in recruiting, retaining, and training your office.

Jacob S Paulsen

DOWNLOAD THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE NETWORK MARKETERS

I know this might come as a shock but Nike was not born to give Micheal Jordan something to wear. Nike was born to fit the shoe of running legend Steve Prefontaine. Running sports have never had a large following perhaps because they just aren’t as much fun to watch or because they tend to be individual efforts instead of a team sport. What you need to know is that Steve Prefontaine was to running as Tiger Woods is to golf.  Legendary…

Steve Prefontaine wasn’t only famous because he held the National record in 7 different track events but more so because of the way he raced. He liked to give people something to watch and make a show out of it but what you have to understand the most about Steve is that he was a “front runner.” Front running is a term used to describe the foolish runner who leads the pack in a race. The lead runner takes battles up to 70% higher wind resistance than the runner who runs in his wake. Even olympic team members will take turns leading the pack while their star runner stays behind until the final moments. The thing about Steve isn’t that he ran in the front on ocassion but that he always led every single race from the start to the end.

He did it for one simple reason. He understood what running is really all about more than any other human in history. He understood that the only way to finish as a true winner is to give it everything that you got every single step of the way. He didn’t pace himself and he didn’t believe in strategy… he believed in winning out of pure guts…. and he did it almost every time.

His college track coach Bill Bowerman was the founder of Nike. He was famous for his waffle iron, home-made running shoes that he made for each of his runners. He founded Nike under the ideals that Steve Prefontaine lived. Next time you slip on your Nikes remember Steve Prefontaine and how he raced.

Jacob S. Paulsen

Action: Consider what you can do to step up to the plate. What are you afraid of and what is holding you back? What are the best people in your industry doing that you are afraid of doing?

Action: Watch the movie “Without Limits”

Steve Prefontaine Quotes:

A lot of people run a race to see who is fastest. I run to see who has the most guts, who can punish himself into exhausting pace, and then at the end, punish himself even more. – Steve Prefontaine

I run to see who has the most guts. – Steve Prefontaine

I’m going to work so that it’s a pure guts race at the end, and if it is, I am the only one who can win it. – Steve Prefontaine

Somebody may beat me, but they are going to have to bleed to do it. – Steve Prefontaine

Something inside of me just said ‘Hey, wait a minute, I want to beat him,’ and I just took off. – Steve Prefontaine

To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift. – Steve Prefontaine

What I want is to be number one. – Steve Prefontaine

You have to wonder at times what you’re doing out there. Over the years, I’ve given myself a thousand reasons to keep running, but it always comes back to where it started. It comes down to self-satisfaction and a sense of achievement. – Steve Prefontaine