For the background of this list – see my original post from 2-10-12.

The #7 Rap Lyric That Shaped My Leadership Style comes from 50 cent from his song “Outta Control” off his 2005 album The Massacre. This is 50’s 2nd appearance on the countdown (I’m sure he’s so excited!). There were actually two versions of this song – as it was re-released as a remix and that version was more popular. I got the lyric off the original version – because that’s how I roll. Here’s the lyric:

“Success is my drug of choice…”

We live in a society and culture fixated on gaining success, yet, most people don’t know the first thing about how to obtain success.  I think we all get our grandparents advice of “Success comes after hard work”, etc. – but no one really wants to believe that.  Being in HR for almost 20 years, people actions have led me to believe most hope to wake up and have success magically appear!

I’m one who thinks that success really isn’t that hard to obtain, but it takes two important things: Talent and Persistence.  Here’s why.  Success doesn’t happen to those you are untalented, they might get “lucky” in the short-term, but in the long-term their lack of talent will eventually show up.  Also, sometimes being talented just isn’t enough – you need to be in the right place at the right time, for your talents to be shown and recognized.  That is why persistence is a key to success.  You might have the talent and never be successful, because you weren’t persistent enough to allow your talent to become a success.

Success is my drug of choice, because I think it’s the single most factor in sustaining engagement.  Most one wants to work or play for a loser – long term.  As leaders it’s our job to help direct and create small successes for our teams.  Those small successes will lead to sustained long term successes – which leads to a very engaged team.  Easier said than done – but I do believe all leaders have the ability to create these small successes and highlight them to the organization.

For the background of this list – see my original post from 2-10-12.

Tupac Shakur kicked off our countdown at #25 and he’s back in the Top 10 with his hit song Keep Ya Head Up off his 1993 album Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.  This song is great and includes a sample from the song Zapp and Roger’s “Be Alright”, which gives it a classic R&B feel – 2Pac was great at doing this in his songs.   The Lyric:

“Forgive but don’t forget”

This is really one of the quintessential elements of leadership – being able to forgive and move on.  To often I’ve been around managers who are unwilling to forgive, or unable to move on past an issue – and ultimately it hurts how they are viewed as a leader.   Also, I see people who believe that when you forgive someone, that you should also forget what they did – that’s just naive.   Like Chris Rock said – when McDonalds hires a former crackhead, they don’t allow them by the happy meals! (well he almost said that)

The one thing in business that is a certain, is that everyone is going to make mistakes – it happens all the time.  So, as a leader, your ability to forgive and move is paramount to the success of your business.  But you must also have the ability to not forget and put yourself in the same situation over and over.  I believe in second chances – but not third and fourth chances.  Once you screw it up twice, you’ve just established a pattern – if I, as the leader, allow that to happen a third time – I’m just a bad leader.

As a leader you must also be able to move on and not hold someone’s mistake against them.  If you can’t, do them a favor and let them go – it does them no good to work under your inability to move past a mistake – you’re just holding them and your company back.  Give them a gift and let them go blossom somewhere else.  I can’t tell you how many employee calibrations I’ve been in with leadership when a manager will bring up something one of their employees did 3 years ago, but they’ve been great ever since – but they are unwilling to let it go and allow them to rise above it.  You’re not protecting the company, you’re establishing a culture where your employees understand every mistake they make will be held over their heads for eternity.

For the background of this list – see my original post from 2-10-12.

The #9 Rap Lyric that shaped my leadership style comes from the rap group Outkast, which consists of Andre’ 3000 and Big Boi, and the song “Unhappy” which is off their 2003 album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below.  The lyric:

“True happiness is not acquired and you won’t find it on sale.”

I’ve written recently about my thoughts on the idea of “doing what you’re passionate about” – which I think is mostly fools gold in terms of valuable advice.  To me, this runs right into the concept of happiness.  Happiness is a personal decision – there are great examples in our history of people making a conscience decision to be happy, under horrific circumstances (Just read Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning and his experiences in Holocaust for one example).

It is possible to decide on being happy, but it just doesn’t magically happen, and it has nothing to do with what you have, or what position you have.

I give out the following advice, every time someone comes to me and they are contemplating leaving their current position for a new position:

1. Are you happy in your current position?

2. Are you making enough money to pay your bills and save a little?

3. If yes, to questions 1 and 2 – stay where you’re at.

To often I see people chasing happiness like it’s a finish line, only to find out they still aren’t happy when they reach their end result (salary level, position level, location, etc.).   I was once in this race – so I know firsthand.  It’s like my grandparents use to say “You can’t buy happiness”, every time I wanted a new toy – thinking it would make me as happy as can be.

As a leader you need to be aware and recognize your people chasing down what they think is happiness.  You can help them learn that true happiness can be obtained, but you need to work for it.  I’ve found people are happiest when they are accomplishing things, when they are doing things for others, when those things are recognized and appreciated.  Those things have nothing to do with money or position level – they have everything to do with being about something bigger than yourself.