Steve Ballmer, CEO Microsoft, was speaking today at the Detroit Economic Club event I attended. His energy could be felt throughout the entire room. Steve speaks passionately with messages that are hard to ignore. There were three key things I noted about one of my favorite Business Leaders – Steve Ballmer:

1) He demonstrated leadership and commitment to the company by stating and referencing Microsoft’s vision at least twice during his speech and the answers to questions.
2) He named Microsoft’s values without hesitation.
3) He spoke about leadership accountability referring to how far Microsoft had come on the predictions he had made when he spoke to the same group five years earlier.

For me, being a strong advocate and coaching my client’s about vision, values and accountability, to hear such a strong business leader openly talk about these three leadership topics made my day!

Today I was notified that I am the newly elected President of the Automotive Women’s Alliance Foundation (AWAF). I  am honored to have this opportunity to lead this non profit organization which has a mission I am committed to. AWAF is a professional organization dedicated to the advancement of women in the global automotive industry.  Since  my whole career advancement has been in the  Automotive industry, I have a strong interest in promoting women in the Automotive industry especially during these tough economic times some of the major automotive companies are experiencing. I want to see women contribute and grow in their influence in this industry.

One of the greatest contributions AWAF makes every year is providing scholarships to college and professional women who are pursuing a career in an automotive related field.

As the newly elected President, I am proud to step into this leadership position. My focus will be in three areas:
1) Strategic Planning – facilitating the Board to define the top five strategic objectives and defining the major milestones, champions and action steps for accomplishment.
2) Working with the Team – supporting each Board member and Chair to ensure they know what is expected of them and that they have the proper resources to succeed.
3) Leadership Role – representing AWAF at every event and actively asking others to join us in our mission to  advance women in  the global  automotive  industry.

It was an exciting weekend. Many jump-for-joy wins and many heartbreaking defeats. Every match a winner and a loser.

James did not place at the State Wrestling Championships. He lost his first two matches which took him out of the running to place. There are 11,000 wrestlers in the State of Michigan of which 896 make it to compete at the State level. James was one of this top 8%.

Thank you to the tremendous response I had to my email and all the encouraging words you offered. I shared them with James. Amy responded to my email and asked that I share with James these words from Michael Jordan:

"I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. "
~Michael Jordan~

How many times do we forget the value of failure and all the learnings that come from failure? Do we bounce back with renewed energy and commitment?

James has set a new goal for next year to place at States and is already taking a look at the competition that would be at his weight class next year of 171 pounds.

It is quite an experience to watch someone grow and develop. It is very rewarding and contributes to why I love being a leader and am so committed to developing more leaders.

Soon I will be offering you an opportunity to listen in as I interview leaders about their leadership style and how they contribute to building leaders. Watch for more details coming in this summer!

Once again thank you for the warm words of encouragement. They were very much appreciated!

Lead passionately,
Susan

My son, James, a Junior in High School has qualified to compete in the State Wrestling Championship for his weight class at 160 pounds. We are going today to the opening ceremony which includes a Grand March of all the wrestlers from all over the State who have earned the right to compete at this prestigious event.

I am so proud of James. He had set this goal of competing at the State Wrestling Championship seven years ago when he saw a friend of ours compete at the State level. He told his Dad then at ten years old, "I’m going to States, Dad. I’m going to be here."

And here he is – going to States.

As a Mom, I am very proud! As a Leader, I am very impressed. James declared a goal and has worked very hard and diligently to achieve this milestone. I have observed the breakdowns and breakthroughs of his journey. I have seen him dig deep to be the last one to compete in the Team tournament and having to win against the opponent to have the team win and do it!

So I ask myself as a leader what can I learn from James? My observations of how he has recovered from defeat, how he works physically and mentally to step up his efforts has me looking at my own commitments. Am I committed enough to my goals? Am I working through my breakdowns? Do I have the confidence to continue on, to take it to the next level? Am I contributing to the team to make a difference?

These are powerful questions and my son is indirectly having me step up my game. So I ask you too to observe those around you and see what you can learn from others who are demonstrating leadership. You may be surprised who you may be learning from…

I will keep you posted this weekend on the events of the State Wrestling Championship and how my son is doing!

Here’s to stepping up your leadership,
Susan

You are invited to listen in on a ‘Lunch and Learn’ teleseminar show this Monday, December 18th.

I will be the guest speaker for this show hosted by Greg Williams, known as the Master Negotiator and co-founder of Your Emerging Small Business. Greg will be interviewing me on my favorite topic – Leadership specifically ‘Unleashing Your Leadership Power!’

Learn more about my invitation for you to attend this FREE teleseminar by clicking here:

http://www.leadershippowertips.com/gwcall.htm

I am honored to participate in Greg’s program and really look forward to this opportunity to reveal how to ‘Unleash Your Leadership Power’

To your success,
Susan

Taking a look back can be gratifying… Today I was sharing about the time when I first became a Vice President. I was on my way to visit a client when I received a call from my boss. He said he had good news and that I was being promoted to Vice President of the Midwest region effective immediately.
"Wow" I said and then was quiet for a few moments. One of my goals, one of my dreams had just been achieved!

I look forward to taking a look at what my accomplishments have been each quarter. Have I reached my goals, achieved any major milestones, meet any new people. I find my time spent on a reflection of the last quarter, the last year, the last five years – can be very gratifying indeed.  My leadership experiences and skills have been improved via new projects, new challenges and meeting new people.

I am reminded that Life is Very Good!

We have been talking about how to enhance your leadership, how to be more effective thereby protecting your competitive assets in your company and the marketplace. Are all of your assets protected? Both professional and personal?

Are you sure? To be confident in the professional world, you must also feel settled in your personal world. Having all your personal assets protected is also key to your success.

My friend and Wealth mentor JJ Childers has a Free Report I would like you to have. You’ll be able to claim it below…

I understand from JJ that… Asset protection planning is one of the most important things that a person can do in order to accomplish the key objectives of wealth creation, accumulation, and preservation.

Because of the importance of this topic, it is helpful to learn how to avoid some of the biggest pitfalls associated with the overall process of asset protection planning.

Yes it’s important to know what to do, but’s it’s also critical to be aware of what not to do.

I have learned a great deal from JJ through his training and
mentoring bringing peace of mind regarding my personal life, family and the assets my leadership skills have allowed me to accumulate.

The Report is called:
“THE TOP 10 MISTAKES IN ASSET PROTECTION PLANNING”

Click below to claim your free report now.
Asset Protection

With You in Mind,
Susan E West
…Empowering Passionate Leadership

Click below to claim your free report now.
Asset Protection

The response has been amazing! Thank you to all of you who responded to “What are your Leadership Goals” survey. Your insights and sharing of information was great. I am really looking forward to sharing the results with you in my upcoming Leadership Power Tips. You have given me great ideas on what I can focus on to continue to provide you with valuable information for achieving your leadership goals!

For those of you who have not taken the survey, here’s your last chance. The survey will be closed this Wednesday March 29, 2006. Please take a few moments to complete the survey found at the link below. It is made up of 8 simple questions. There is a special FREE BONUS for you upon completing this survey. Complete the survey and you will be immediately directed to the website where you will receive your FREE BONUS!

CLICK the link here:
Leadership Goals Survey > > >

Have a fabulous day!
Susan