Dr. Earl R. Smith II

By Dr. Earl R. Smith II

I was discussing business relationships over drinks and cigars with a couple of long time friends and associates last evening. The discussion turned to the question of ‘what makes for a good business contact?’ In a relatively short time we agreed on three characteristics that were the ‘first screen’.
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By Dr. Earl R. Smith II
DrSmith@Dr-Smith.com
www.Dr-Smith.com

There is a lot of writing being done on something called the ‘Upward Path’ or the ‘Path’.
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By Dr. Earl R. Smith II
DrSmith@Dr-Smith.com

The Elevator Speech

According to current doctrine, everybody is supposed to have an elevator speech – that monologue that you can reel off during a two or three floor ride – hopefully going up rather than down. I’ve never cottoned much to boiling down a life into three to five minutes of crisp prose – I’ve always been fascinated by the details of life and the amazing diversity that humans have become. So I admit that I hadn’t put much effort into generating one. But recently I have been asked the same question a number of times: “What exactly is it that you do?”

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By Dr. Earl R. Smith II

One of the most common challenges that my coaching clients face is coming to terms with lost opportunities and broken connections. Many times the focus of our early conversations is on the number of years or decades that have been lived and the relatively meager accumulation of experience, lasting contacts and reputation that has resulted. Again and again I have begun work with someone only to find that one of their deepest fears are that the cumulative results of their life amounts to far less than they had hoped it would.

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By Dr. Earl R. Smith II

I am a believer that when experiences come in ‘groups’ it is an indication that there is something to learn. Recently I have had such a series of encounters and they have started be thinking about the way most people engage in networking and the process of introducing people.

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By Dr. Earl R. Smith II

Ever eavesdrop on a couple of people talking? Sure, we all have. I started to do a lot of that a while back – just to see if there were patterns. I wasn’t interested so much in what was being said but how and why it was being said. What I found was fascinating. When people talk there almost always seems to be one of two broad structures to their conversation. These two patterns of ‘talk’ are quite different and seem to grow out of agreed upon assumptions about the purpose of their talking.

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By Dr. Earl R. Smith II

Take a minute and think about the present – your present - the time right now that you are living through. It is a most amazing experience – this ‘present’ that is yours and yours alone. It’s not the ‘world’s present’ or ‘humanities’ present’ but yours alone. No other person will ever have the privilege of living through it. It is truly and uniquely yours alone.

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By Dr. Earl R. Smith II

I’ve done a lot of mentoring in my life and had the benefit of being mentored by some really great human beings – people who took the time and made the efforts to help me slay my demons, learn what I didn’t know, overcome my own limitations, make the best of the opportunities that life was offering me and to be a better and more humane friend to the people I meet along the way. Because I am serious about my contributions to the lives of others, I think about what it means to be a good mentor – and what you should look for in one.

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by Earl R. Smith II, PhD

This might seem like a strange idea at first - giving yourself permission - but, once you think about it some, you will realize that it really gets to the core of how you live - and decide to live - your life. Begin with this simple idea - you are the gatekeeper of your own possibilities - you determine what is possible for you.

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by Dr. Earl R. Smith II

“It is important to act on good ideas - I have not done that consistently.”

I recently came across this in one of my old journals. I remember the feelings that were there when I wrote it. Acting on good ideas is part of personal growth - part of an effort at self-improvement. The mind comes up with these flashes of lightening but it is the body that drives them into action. So where does this leadership come from - what leadership style is needed to consistently turn good ideas into action? How do you become an advisor to yourself - and advisor who does more than urge action and regret the lack of it?

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