Read more books........................

I’ve had some amazing mentors but reading was by far the biggest supercharger for my career. Reading helped me become a better writing, talking and thinker about the markets.

-Ben Carlson, from this post

except..................................

 He eschewed the spiritual life, except as his human spirit was sustained by nature, jazz, books, wine.  A role model isn't a mentor.

-Anne Lamott, Almost Everything: Notes on Hope

If you ask the right person some really good questions............................

 ..............you are likely to get some really good answers.

A mentor.........................................

 ............................offering mentorship.

On mentoring............................

Go lead, teach, coach, and model the behaviors and actions that your customers, clients, and community desire. Make this week about working hard to become better than you were last week.

-Sean Carpenter, from here

Mentorship...................

"Slowing down to gain time. Thinking more. Getting additional options. Not worrying so much about what others think of you. Scheduling times for intense focus. Savoring the smallest moments such as stirring or sipping a cup of coffee. Reading a type of fiction you've seldom or never read before. Asking yourself what one of your heroes would tell you about your current situation. Avoiding self-sabotage. Examining how a problem might be a solution and how a solution might be a problem. Looking for opportunities instead of excuses. Noticing all that others do for you. Stop keeping score. Start saying no when you know you should. Connecting when you want to withdraw. Being indifferent to what deserves indifference. Expanding and improving the circle of your associates. Realizing that perfection is very elusive. Asking for help when you need it. Recognizing what life has been telling you is your chief role. Being open to a higher meaning."

-Michael Wade, as cut and pasted from here.  His "self-sabotage" theme obviously has resonated with me over the years.

One of my life goals......................

....................................is to be near the front of the line when his full philosophy of life is published.  Just hoping for an autographed copy.

Another one of the reasons..........................

.................why the Simple, Village Undertaker is not so simple.

Kurt's on a roll.........................

Cultural Offering ranks up there with the best the blogosphere has to offer.  Do visit often.

A man speaking truth on a regular basis......

"And the leaders were leaders except when they weren't. Which was frequently."
-Michael Wade

If you follow this blog, the chances that you are already reading the Execupundit are significantly great.  On the off chance you aren't, do.  In this wee corner of the blogosphere he is the golden mean.

Invest....................

Jim Rohn................Six Days of Labor, One Day of Rest

Top workplace trends for 2012..............

The SecondAct blog checks in with ten workplace trends for the new year.  "The old saying that the only constant is change aptly describes the American workplace in 2012."   While most of the ten trends could be a re-run from 2006-2010, number seven below caught my eye.  Truth be told, I could use some help.  Full post is here.

7. Reverse mentoring:  Along with traditional mentoring programs, some businesses are establishing reverse mentoring arrangements where younger workers do the teaching, helping older workers master software, social media and other modern workplace skills.