Happy 2010! As we go into the New Year I wanted to share with you one of the messages that I deliver in my keynote speeches and in my leadership trainings to schools and organizations across North America.

It is a great reminder about leading by example.

In every area of our lives, as leaders, we have the power to choose. From how we treat one another – to how we resolve a conflict – to what we allow to put into our bodies. From our goals to our dreams – to what we stand for and what we believe in. Yes, even in the relationships we get involved in.

But the greatest choice you and I have the power to make as leaders and playing big in the game of life…is leading by example.

I used to think that it’s not what you say as a leader it’s what you do. I don’t agree with that anymore. Absolutely it’s what you do as a leader no question but it’s also what you say.

Your word means everything as a leader. Someone once said that talk is cheap. Talk is not cheap. People make talk cheap.

Remember the words of Frank Outlaw. Frank Outlaw said, “Watch your thoughts, your thoughts become your words. Watch your words, your words become your actions. Watch your actions, your actions become your habits. Watch your habits, your habits become your character. Watch your character, your character becomes your destiny.”

Play big…lead by example is a post from: Copyright 2010 Ed Gerety's Dream Big Blog

Where in your life are you missing an opportunity to practice the art of kindness?

I know that it sounds like a general question but really think about the people that you interact with on a daily and weekly basis. Do you really know who they are or are they just that familiar face you always say hello to, comment about the weather with, and with whom you make a transaction.

Several years ago I discovered that in my case the latter was true. There were people in my community that I interacted with on a regular basis who I did not really know.

There was the woman who worked at our local dry cleaner. I would see her once a week and I was always nice to her but I every time I saw her it was more of a transaction than a connection. It wasn’t until a year ago that I actually took the time to even find out what her name was: Donna. From that point on I started to make a conscious effort that when I said hello to Donna and asked how are you? I really meant it and listened to her response. I still see Donna about once a week and I no longer see her as just ‘the nice person’ that I drop my clothes off to at the dry cleaner. Rather, she is a person in my community that I have a meaningful connection with.

Another example of this is the post office that I always go to in the little town of Newfields, NH. The post master there is Carol and just by taking the time to be kind to her she has become an important person in my community. I call her “Cool Car Carol” because she drives a silver mustang convertible that is always parked in the same spot and is super clean. When I see Carol I genuinely ask her how she is doing and what she has been up to. Throughout the year, especially during the holidays, I ship a large number of packages. Carol always goes the extra mile to make it an easy experience and that everything is done right.

In my keynote speeches and leadership trainings I talk about how every day we have the power to reach out and make a difference. It could be through a smile, a simple hello or a random act of kindness. I think that often times we forget that making a difference is really about recognizing that we have an opportunity to create extraordinary relationships and meaningful connections all around us whether it’s with our bank teller, dry cleaner, postal worker, or the stranger we just met. It simply starts with being kind.

The Art of Kindness is a post from: Copyright 2010 Ed Gerety's Dream Big Blog

Yesterday my new Demo Video was uploaded to my Youtube channel and also to my new video channels on Vimeo and Viddler. Take a peek at it and please let me know what you think.

My keynote speeches and leadership trainings focus on

* The power of respect, responsibility courage, and integrity
* The impact and consequences of our choices and decisions
* The issues of bullying, peer pressure, drugs, alcohol and tobacco
* Appreciation for our abilities and the people in our life, Gratitude
* The courage to believe in oneself
* The power we have to reach out and make a difference,Kindness

Up Close With Ed Gerety is a post from: Copyright 2010 Ed Gerety's Dream Big Blog

One of the inspiring things about my profession is the extraordinary people that I have the opportunity to meet around the country. This past Monday was a perfect example. I had the privilege to speak at The University of Southern California with all of the student athletes. This was my second time speaking at USC and the experience was just as phenomenal. Every person that I met in the athletic department was first class and went out of their way to make me feel welcome. The student athletes from the football team to the volleyball team were an incredible audience and very kind.

In my presentation, “Playing Big in the Game of Life” I talked with them about being a leader and making a difference in their community. I shared with them the power of living and leading your life with gratitude, respect, and the law of reciprocity. A law that reminds us to “do unto others as you would have others do unto you” and that what we give out comes back.

One of the student athletes that I met after my presentation is doing just that. His name is Greg Woodburn, and he is a distance runner on the USC Track & Field team. In November of 2006 he started a shoe donation program called “Share Our Soles” (S.O.S). The program is dedicated to collecting, and then washing and donating used (but in good condition) running shoes to underprivileged youth in distant nations and local inner-city communities. By providing these children — many of whom have never before owned a pair of shoes — with running shoes, S.O.S. aims to encourage a love for running and in turn spread its many benefits, from positive self-esteem and increased confidence to improved health and new friendships. To this date S.O.S has collected, cleaned, and distributed 3,107 pairs of running shoes.

Greg’s program is making a world of difference to deserving youth from Los Angeles to Mexico to as far away as Africa by giving them a chance to “lace ’em up, to take a step forward — and never stop running”. He is an example of one person making a difference and living an extraordinary life.

To find out more about this amazing program and how you can help visit:

http://shareoursoles.org

USC On The Run…. is a post from: Copyright 2010 Ed Gerety's Dream Big Blog

http://snipurl.com/7s4fy

Our son Ryan is turning four years old next week. It’s amazing how
quickly the four years have gone by and how our baby is now our little
boy.

This got me thinking about just how powerful the number 4 is. It
takes four years to graduate from high school and look how much
changes from when you start out as a freshman to when you become a
senior and graduate. I went to college for four years and the
friendships, experiences, and lessons learned in those 4 years
impacted my life forever.

When I look at the personal and professional goals that I set for
myself the majority of them are set in the increments of 4. What are
my goals for the next 4 weeks? What are my goals for the next 4
months? And what are my goals for the next 4 years?

How much has your life changed in 4 years? How much has it changed
over the past four seasons?

Because four is a fantastic number and to celebrate our son turning
this special number I’m making my book, “Combinations: Opening the
Door to Student Leadership” available for $4. per copy *plus shipping.

So I invite you to celebrate with us! You can order as many books as
you like. You can order 1, 4 or even 400!

It’s a great gift to give someone for the holidays or a great way to
reward your students and inspire them to keep reaching for their goals
as we go into 2009.

I will gladly sign each copy as well.

Thanks for reading. This offer will end Friday December 19th. After
that it will be gone 4-ever.

Here is where you can order your copy:

http://snipurl.com/7s4fy

Celebrate 4 With Us is a post from: Copyright 2010 Ed Gerety's Dream Big Blog