Aspiring is more than looking upward. Ask Tom Hanks

Be mindful to be the leader you want to become | practice | Aspiring is more than looking upward. Ask Tom Hanks Created for {EMAIL} | [{NAME}]( at [{NAME}]( [For more relevant content - Update Your Profile]( | [Web Version]( November 22, 2023 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [X]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE](  [] Leading the Way [] [Be mindful to be the leader you want to become]( [Be mindful to be the leader you want to become]( (Pixabay) Who you choose to be as a leader can impact trust and connection, writes Sherif Sakr, the CEO and co-founder of CEO-S, who offers seven ways to live more mindfully, including developing morning and evening routines, setting a time to disconnect from the job and incorporating practices such as meditation and gratitude. "Some of the richest people in the world feel poor because they don't feel grateful, and some of the poorest people feel wealthy because they are grateful for the simplest blessings in their life," writes Sakr. Full Story: [Texas CEO Magazine]( (11/21) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Be aware of the three main areas of life -- [energy, work and love]( -- by exercising, scheduling downtime during work and time for friends and family, Sakr advises. "When you're able to improve one area, you also improve the others." [] SmartBrief on Leadership [] [Aspiring is more than looking upward. Ask Tom Hanks]( [Aspiring is more than looking upward. Ask Tom Hanks]( Hanks (Cindy Ord/Getty Images) Looking toward the next achievement in business won't get you there because "[y]ou only rise as a leader by doing the job you have now, doing it well and doing it well in the context of the whole," leadership consultant Larry Robertson writes. Robertson explains why Tom Hanks failed at first during the filming of "Splash" by comparing himself to two other actors and how director Ron Howard gave him the advice he needed to succeed in his own right. Full Story: [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (11/21) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Be yourself, know what your job is and perform that job, not someone else's, to the best of your ability, Robertson writes. Keep reaching upward, but [always take direction from great leaders]( if you want the whole project -- not just your part -- to be successful. [] [Read more]( from Larry Robertson on SmartBrief on Leadership [] Smarter Communication [] [Advice from Lincoln on speaking with impact, meaning]( [Advice from Lincoln on speaking with impact, meaning]( Lincoln (Alexander Gardner/Getty Images) Unnecessary words in speeches and other communication not only bog down your message but dilute its meaning and impact, writes communication coach John Millen. Learn a "less is more" lesson from President Abraham Lincoln, who had so much of import to say in Gettysburg, Pa., in 1863 -- yet managed to cover it all, eloquently, in 273 words. Full Story: [John Millen blog]( (11/21) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: "[[S]top talking so much](" if you want to ensure a clear, strong message, Millen advises. Speak from the heart, let your words tell a story and end with a call to action. [] Smarter A.I. A weekly spotlight on how A.I. is affecting leadership [] - [AI development is at a crossroads. That calls for caution]( Chief Executive (11/20) [] - [McKinsey: How CFOs can use GenAI in the finance function]( McKinsey (11/15) [] - [Use this unconventional approach to AI to be more competitive]( Harvard Business Review (tiered subscription model) (11/17) [] In Their Own Words [] [Alaska Airlines CEO on learning people skills]( [Alaska Airlines CEO on learning people skills]( (Gerard Burkhart/AFP/Getty Images) Early in his career, Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci applied his engineering training to solve operational problems at the Seattle airport, but says he found learning to communicate effectively with people more challenging. He said he is "really aware of how I start conversations," makes sure to give our praise as well and criticism and ensures he is never the first person to speak at a meeting. Full Story: [Inc. (tiered subscription model)]( (11/20) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [Clapton's "The Fool" guitar sells for $1.27M at auction]( A 1964 Gibson SG electric guitar -- called "The Fool" -- played by iconic guitarist Eric Clapton has sold at auction for $1.27 million to the Jim Irsay Collection in Indianapolis, with a portion of the proceeds going to a mental health awareness initiative. Despite the high price tag, Kurt Cobain's Martin acoustic remains the most expensive auctioned axe, selling for $6 million in 2020. Full Story: [Barron's (tiered subscription model)]( (11/17) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] SmartBreak: Question of the Day [] The USDA estimates that Americans will eat how many turkeys on Thanksgiving Day? [Vote]( [22 million]( [Vote]( [46 million]( [Vote]( [83 million]( [Vote]( [1 billion]( [] Editor's Note [] SmartBrief will not publish Nov. 23-24 In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday in the US, SmartBrief will not publish Thursday, Nov. 23 and Friday, Nov. 24. [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] About The Editor [] Candace Chellew Candace Chellew Chellew As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving here in the US, I hope everyone takes [Sherif Sakr's advice on living more mindfully](, especially developing a gratitude practice. There's nothing more effective at putting you in the present moment than looking around and being grateful for the people, things and relationships in your life. You can't think of grievances or plans for the future when you're focused on giving thanks for what's right here. If you need a catchy earworm to help you remember to live in the moment, [listen to this Jason Mraz tune](. My favorite lyric: "Wherever I'm going, I'm already home." The present moment is always home, so why not live there more often? If this newsletter helps you, please tell your colleagues, friends or anyone who can benefit. Forward them this email, or [send this link](. What topics do you see in your daily work that I should know about? Do you have praise? Criticism? [Drop me a note](mailto:candace.chellew@futurenet.com). And don't forget to send me photos of your pets, your office and where you spend your time off. [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Sharing SmartBrief on Leadership with your network keeps the quality of content high and these newsletters free. Help Spread the Word [SHARE]( Or copy and share your personalized link: smartbrief.com/leadership/?referrerId=japnABMSAp [] [] Gratitude is a divine emotion: it fills the heart, but not to bursting; it warms it, but not to fever. [Charlotte Bronte](, writer, poet [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email](   SmartBrief publishes more than 200 free industry newsletters - [Browse our portfolio]( [Sign Up]( | [Update Profile]( | [Advertise with SmartBrief]( [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy policy]( CONTACT US: [FEEDBACK](mailto:leadership@smartbrief.com) | [ADVERTISE](mailto:lengel@smartbrief.com) [SmartBrief Future]( SmartBrief, a division of Future US LLC © Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10036