What happened to basic Leadership?

My best scout and I were talking about leadership and he wanted to know what makes a good leader. Since I'm old and wise (quit laughing) I came up with 10 practices that make a good leader. I've pulled many of these from different books and articles I've read over the years.


10 things that make a strong leader.




1. Lead from the front not the rear: People need to see you’re confident not arrogant.

2. Be well informed: If you don’t know what you’re talking about people will notice.

3. Surround yourself with people better than you: Listen to them, they can only make you look better.


4. Golden Rule: Treat people the way you expect to be treated.


5. Be Trustworthy: If your people don’t trust you, you’ve already lost.


6. Helpful: Don’t be afraid to roll up your sleeves and get dirty. Sometimes you have to do the grunt work.


7. The buck stops with you: If something gets screwed up admit it’s your responsibility and move on.


8. Learn from the past: Leaders who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.


9. KISS: Keep it simple stupid!


10. You’re the Leader, LEAD!: There is a big difference between managing your people and being bossy. People will respond better if they know you’re there for them.




It seems that some of the people who lead have forgotten basics of leadership.




Maybe they will read this blog...










© copyright 2020 Michael Burke







The importance of planning and setting daily goals!

Good day! I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy.

Most of us are having to stay home and work right now, so it's more important than ever to have a clear set of goals to help plan your day.

Some, have had a home office for years and have a routine to make their day productive. However, with our families at home with us, we are having to switch things up a bit.

If you don't already, I would suggest setting a long term set of goals and a daily set of goals.

Most successful people already know and understand the importance of setting goals, but I've found in the last few weeks my goals have had to change a little.

Some people call them lists, some call them daily goals but the end result is the same. The following examples are how I set up my daily tasks. While at home with my son right now, I'm teaching him to do this as well.

A.    I have a journal that I work in and at the first of the year I write down my long term goals for the year. I can go back to the front of the journal at any time and make sure my daily goals are getting me closer to my long term goals.

B.    Every night I try right down the date and my goals for the next day. I could say list, but goals mentally tells me its a challenge and not a chore. By doing it at night, it means I don't have to take time out of my morning, I can sit down and get started first thing.

C.    I try to right down at least 10 goals for my day. Don't worry if you can only think of 8, that's fine. If you have 12 that's fine. I've found for me, 10 is a manageable number. The following is a sample of a normal set of daily goals. Except the coffee, they can be done in any order.

1. Get up and have coffee. ( No goal is too small. I try to make my daily goals manageable)
2. Check and respond to e-mail
3. Network
4. Finish any work I didn't get done the day before (this is a goal that will vary from day to day)
5. Get any billable projects that need to be done today (this also will vary from day to day)
6. Get 30 min of exercise ( can be as simple as going for a walk, just something that gives you a mental break)
7. Invoicing
8. Clean office space
9. Write goals for tomorrow
10. Tell my family I love them!

These are a simple sample of daily goals I use almost every day. They change up from time to time, but they are totally customizable and when I check them off, I feel a sense of accomplishment which helps with stress.

Now, with the current situation in place I have my family at home and that creates a whole new set of challenges.

My son now has to do virtual classroom, so I have become teacher, lunch monitor and recess monitor (making sure he doesn't recess all day!). My wife is also working from home and needs the dining room as an office to do calls and virtual meetings. All of this changes my work dynamic.

My daily goals have had to adapt to the new situation. Here is how my day goes now.

1. Get up and have coffee (that will never change!)
2. Make sure my son gets to work on school and be available to answer questions or give any instruction as needed. This could take an hour and a half to two hours out of my day.
3. e-mail
4. Network
5. finish work that is undone and do any new work that needs to happen (many times individual projects will become separate goals)
6. Take at least 30 min to do something active with my son
7. Read a book
8. Update my LinkedIn page
9. Write my blog.
10. Tell my family I love them! (this will always be on my goals list)

My goals list has always been moveable and the difference now is it has to be very flexible and I need to remind myself that some of the goals just wont happen. I have to take into account the kid needing snacks and drinks (he's still figuring out he can do that on his own) and every so often I hear "MICHAEL" which always seems to require me to get up and go where ever my wife is to find out what she needs!

Even in the unusual circumstances we find ourselves in, I still manage to write down a list of goals that help make my day manageable and as profitable as it can be.

Making goals you can check, helps keep you mentally fit and helps keep better track of your day. Making your goals flexible is important  if you want to accomplish anything especially with your family at home and if you want to keep your sanity!

Stay safe and be well.
Michael Burke




© Copyright 2020 Michael Burke

When to recognize opportunity and take action

When do you know when it’s time to take a chance and take action on an opportunity? It doesn’t matter what the decision, whether it’s time to get a new car or to buy a house, or taking a new job, making a decision to take action can be tough and scary.

By nature, I’m a huge procrastinator. I always accomplish a task but its usually on my terms. I meet all my deadlines, but somehow I convince myself it was always my idea to get them done on time. So taking action isn't always my strongest area.

However the major decisions I’m my life have usually been when something has been put in my path and I decided to take advantage and take the path offered. Sometimes this can be scary, and recognizing an opportunity is tricky.

For example.

I used to be a plumber. It was a good job with a decent income and I did okay. I went to work at 7:30 am and came home at 5:00 pm. Anyone who has every been a plumber can tell you, new construction is great, service work stinks…figuratively and literally.

I had been working as a plumber for about five years when we had a really cold winter. I had to drive about 30 miles in the country to fix a water leak in the freezing cold, under a house. When I finished I was wet, cold and miserable, thinking there has to be something better. I was driving down the interstate and there was a sign for a Junior college. To this day, I don’t know what made me do it, but I took the exit and went to the college to check it out. Two weeks later I was enrolled for the next semester.

I finished college there then went on to get my 4 year degree and never had to work in the plumbing business again.

I don’t know why I pulled off the highway, but something in my brain recognized that sign as an opportunity and I took it. That decision to take action changed my life forever.

When I started Jr. college, I majored in criminal justice. I was going to be a Highway Patrolman and I thought it would be a great career for me. A friend of mine had seen me on campus sketching one day and convinced me to take an art class with her. I needed an elective so I thought wow, I should really do this! The class was commercial art and I loved it so much, I switched my major to design and found my passion in life. I’ve been a designer for over 20 years and love it as much today as the day I created my first logo.

The important thing is to learn not only to recognize an opportunity, but having the courage to take action on it.

Around 13 years ago, opportunity was, again placed into my path. The advertising agency I had worked for about 10 years was closing it’s doors. I was one of the first 7 people hired (at one time the agency has 30 employees in our office) and I was one of the last 4 people to walk out the door.

The company offered to let me purchase much of my equipment, computers, scanners, etc. for a reasonable price and I took them up on the opportunity. This small investment allowed my to go into business for myself and I’ve had my own small Advertising and Design business for over 12 years. Again, I recognized an opportunity and took action.

Now I’m not trying to impress anyone with anything I have accomplished. My business is successful but not making me rich, and I have passed on a few opportunities that could have made me money and I’ve kicked myself for not taking the right action. No one can be right every time.

You have to learn to recognize opportunities when they greet you and not be frightened to take action on them! What happens if you fail? Most time you’re no worse for wear. If I hadn’t taken the exit for the college, I would have still been a plumber, it was a good job and I would have continued to be good at it. However because I took action on many of the opportunities life placed in my path, I found my ultimate passion in life.

Don’t be afraid to take action. The decision is often hard and terrifying, but I think, if asked, most people would hate to look back and say, “If only”!

Are Ethics Still Important?

When I was a kid, my parents and grandparents took the time to teach me ethics.

They didn’t do it by sitting me down and say son, today we’re going to learn about ethics. They taught me by their actions, by what they encouraged me to read and allowed me to watch on television and movies and encouraging me to participate in organizations such as Boy Souts, 4-H and FFA.

So I grew up reading about people like King Arthur, Abraham Lincoln, and watching John Wayne, Captain Kirk and Superman.

Growing up I was also a big fan of the Lone Ranger, Hopalong Cassidy and Doc Savage. All three of these characters were slightly before my time but they all had one thing in common, the were all the “good guys” and they all had ethics. Each one had a code for how they lived and encouraged others to live by their same credo.

So I thought it would be interesting to take a look at the creeds of the Lone Ranger, Doc Savage and Hopalong Cassidy then you can decide how or if they relate to the ethics of today.

Lone Ranger Creed

“I believe.....

• That to have a friend, a man must be one.

• That all men are created equal and that everyone has within himself the power to make this a better world.

• That God put the firewood there, but that every man must gather and light it himself.

• In being prepared physically, mentally, and morally to fight when necessary for that which is right.

• That a man should make the most of what equipment he has.

• That ‘this government of the people, by the people, and for the people’ shall live always.

• That men should live by the rule of what is best for the greatest number.

• That sooner or later...somewhere... somehow...we must settle with the world and make payment for what we have taken.

• That all things change but truth, and that truth alone, lives on forever.

• In my Creator, my country, my fellow man.”

Doc Savage creed

Let me strive, every moment of my life, to make myself better and better, to the best of my ability, that all may profit by it. Let me think of the right, and lend all my assistance to those who need it, with no regard for anything but justice. Let me take what comes with a smile, without loss of courage. Let me be considerate of my country, of my fellow citizens and my associates in everything I say and do. Let me do right to all, and wrong no man.

Hopalong Cassidy

• The highest badge of honor a person can wear is honesty. Be truthful at all times.

• Your parents are the best friends you have. Listen to them and obey their instructions.

• If you want to be respected, you must respect others. Show good manners in every way.

• Only through hard work and study can you succeed. Don’t be lazy.

• Your good deeds always come to light. So don’t boast or be a show-off.

• If you waste time or money today, you will regret it tomorrow. Practice thrift in all ways.

• Many animals are good and loyal companions. Be friendly and kind to them.

• A strong, healthy body is a precious gift. Be neat and clean.

• Our country’s laws are made for your protection. Observe them carefully.

• Children in many foreign lands are less fortunate than you. Be glad and proud you are an American.

Hokey? Maybe, but I try to follow many of these rules in my everyday life, and teach them to my children and I believe it makes us better human beings. It also makes my mother very happy.

Something to think about.

©2009 Michael Burke