Author: John Rue

New Year is a time for resolutions.   Most are well-intentioned.   But resolve isn't enough -- like muscle fatigue,  sooner or later it hits a wall.    Generally it's after just a few days or weeks. The essence of  BUILT TO LEAD is all about WHY deep change -- i.e. lasting transformation -- depends on something more than resolve.    Something more than … Continue reading Before you RESOLVE…re-SOLVE

I don't like transitions.  Mostly they just happen before realizing it, marked by sadness.  Even though Toto calls me GuRue,  I know I'm just a student, still journeying toward a basic level of emotional intelligence in areas like this one. I'd totally forgotten the reminder that opens our September Playbook-of-Productive Action (PoP) page: "September is a month of transitions. . . With transition … Continue reading Tears, Fears. . .AND Cheers

You know him as Chet. . . I know him as Toto -- here's why Those whom we luv have nicknames.     If you know Toto well, u have one that he gave u.   B/c he understands their POWER. Of course u remember Wizard of Oz.   What u forget is that it starts with the town leader … Continue reading Toto. . .

Actually it's for your S-CORECARD -- known in bizness lingo as your 'metrics'. But if it had a sponsor, it would be Missouri -- known as the 'SHOW ME' state.    Have a fellow builder read through what you've written for your O-verarching Vision, P-urpose, and each U-nifying Strategy.    For each little phrase in your O-P-U, have them … Continue reading The S in O-P-U-S is for ‘SHOW ME’. . .

This is an AND to Chet's blog about 'nosier and noisier' and becoming more like a creative genius in the most important areas of life. . . Many of you are familiar with our 'Master in the Art of Living' quote by Chateaubriand -- this one's by by another dead French guy named Blaise Pascal. “What else … Continue reading Don’t get the 3 Opus questions backwards. . .

We believe Thoreau was right.   Most men, leaders & teams live lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with their song still inside them. Which is TRAGIC. Your song is the symphony for which you were born -- it's your great life work, your magnum OPUS.     It comes from yearnings that are hardwired deep within … Continue reading A metaphor for our Melody Line

Why I don't sing more is related to my earlier blog Half-Brained (aka why I don’t write more), and it's what Toto just wrote about. If you're not like me, read on about what I'm learning only to better understand others who are.  Writing is not ONLY the key to engaging your WHOLE brain.    It's ALSO … Continue reading Why I don’t ‘Sing, Anyway’

Sometimes part of turning 50 or whatever decade is getting a nice scrapbook of pictures and stories from family and friends. The melody line of mine was just that -- how "nice" I am.   A nice guy.   Maybe even the nicest guy they've known. Sadly, it's true.   As a boy I was groomed nice, followed by years dedicated to perfecting … Continue reading Want a nicer legacy?