Leadership Resilience Archives - Page 16 of 26 - Motivational Speeches and books by Snowden McFall

Two Things That Shorten Your Life

Stop Sitting So Much & Cut Down on TV

According to an article in US Today, if you spent less than 3 hours a day sitting, it would add 2 years to your life. And if you reduced your TV watching to less than to 2 hours a day, you could add another 1.4 years to your life. Sitting is linked to diabetes, heart disease and stroke. About half of the US reports sitting for 6 or more hours a day and 65% spend more than 2 hours a day watching TV.

New research presented at the American Institute for Cancer Research Conference reported that sedentary behavior is linked to breast and colon cancer. Being sedentary (sitting) for long periods of time without moving increases inflammation (a leading cause of disease.) The solution: set a timer for every hour. Get up, move, walk around, look at nature, drink 8 ounces of clean water and connect with another human being. It could make a huge difference to your health. ©2012 Snowden McFall All Rights Reserved. No duplication or reprinting without permission and author reference

Communication Tip for Winning Teams

Check In Weekly Face to Face

If you have employees or co-workers, one of the most important things you can do to keep your team communication on track is to check in weekly. Take a half-hour in an non-threatening, informal setting and sit down over coffee and chat. Ask how they think things are going, ask them if they have any questions, issues or concerns. Share your issues and concerns. Clear the air over any misunderstandings or communication breakdowns.

Let them know you value them and that they are important to you. Praise them for work well done and coach them on areas for improvement. People are so hungry for positive feedback.

This will go a long way towards strengthening your working relationship and keeping a positive tone at work. Regular, face to face communication is one of the simplest and most powerful expressions of executive presence.

Learning Keeps Leaders Fresh, Adaptable, and Resilient

Continuous learning is not optional for leaders, entrepreneurs, or anyone carrying sustained responsibility. The pace of change demands adaptability, and stagnation quietly erodes clarity, confidence, and effectiveness.

Leaders who stop learning often isolate themselves, relying on outdated assumptions while pressure increases. Those who stay curious, connected, and mentally flexible remain resilient even as demands grow.

Why Ongoing Learning Matters Under Pressure

Learning expands perspective. It challenges old patterns, sharpens decision-making, and prevents burnout driven by rigidity. Whether through seminars, peer conversations, coaching, or independent study, learning keeps leaders responsive rather than reactive.

Clarifying what truly matters and what no longer serves you
Strengthening decision-making through fresh frameworks
Breaking patterns that lead to overwhelm or stagnation
Reconnecting with purpose during periods of stress
Reducing isolation by staying engaged with others

Learning Is a Resilience Strategy

The most effective leaders treat learning as a form of maintenance, not remediation. It keeps thinking sharp, energy renewed, and leadership grounded during periods of uncertainty.

This principle applies far beyond entrepreneurship. Leaders across industries use continuous learning to stay clear-headed, emotionally steady, and effective under sustained pressure. These habits form the foundation of resilient leadership.

To explore how adaptability, clarity, and learning fit into a broader resilience framework, visit the Leadership Resilience Hub.

Staying fresh is not about doing more. It is about learning better.

Yoga Keeps You Young

Just 12 minutes of daily yoga for two months improved cognition among people with memory disorders in a study in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. Other stress relievers include aerobic exercise, listening to mellow music, meditating or praying, and writing in a journal.

Recent studies at the University of NC Hospitals and Duke University show yoga reduces stress and also provide significant improvements for those with illnesses such as arthritis, back pain, cancer, diabetes, epilepsy, etc. It has even been shown to help breast cancer and menopausal patients find relief from symptoms.

Yoga:

• increases flexibility through stretching
• improves posture
• massages all internal organs of body
• increases lubrication of tendons, joints, ligaments
• flushes toxins out of the body
• tones muscles
• provides a deep sense of relaxation

Try yoga in a local class or video today. You won’t believe how much better you feel.

Here’s an infographic that shows what else you can do to prevent Alzheimers.

Please include attribution to Positive Health Wellness with this graphic.

Stress Tip: Ask for What You Want

At Work, At Home, Made Your Needs Clear

So many times, we get upset because someone did not do what we wanted how we wanted it, and we did not get our needs met. The easiest way to overcome this is to be crystal clear about what you want and ask for it. Most people are grateful to have clarity and to know how to help and support you. They want to participate in your life but may not know how.

I have found at home that my wonderful husband cannot read my mind. So I ask, “The garbage is really smelly- could you please take it out now?” He responds very well to requests. (Rather than complaints- most of us are like that.)

When you are swamped at work, at the end of your rope and so stressed, you are snapping at others, ask for help. Try a request like ” This week is going to be difficult for me because I am overwhelmed with the new regulations. Could you please help me by following up on the___ project? I don’t want to slow down our progress. Thanks so much for your assistance with this.” Others will be happy to help when you clue them in.

Think Like an Entrepreneur, Even If You Are Not One

Entrepreneurial thinking is not limited to founders or business owners. It is a mindset rooted in ownership, initiative, and problem-solving, and it can dramatically improve effectiveness inside corporations, nonprofits, healthcare systems, and complex organizations.

Many professionals feel constrained by bureaucracy, layers of approval, or rigid systems. Over time, this sense of powerlessness contributes to disengagement, stress, and burnout. Yet one of the most reliable ways to regain energy and influence is to think and act like an entrepreneur within your role.

Why Entrepreneurial Thinking Reduces Stress

According to the research summarized in the book Drive, humans have a fundamental need for autonomy, mastery, and purpose. When those needs are suppressed, stress rises and motivation declines. Entrepreneurial thinking restores a sense of control and forward momentum.

Rather than waiting for permission, entrepreneurial thinkers take responsibility for challenges they can influence. They move from complaint to creation.

How to Apply Entrepreneurial Thinking at Work

Claim ownership of a problem. Choose an issue within your scope and treat it as if it were your own business challenge.
Brainstorm creatively. Step outside standard procedures and generate multiple solutions without self-censorship.
Build a clear plan. Map out a practical solution in writing, including risks, benefits, and implementation steps.
Present initiative, not complaints. Bring your proposal to leadership as a contribution, not a criticism.

Most managers respond positively to initiative, especially when it reduces friction, saves time, or improves outcomes. Even when ideas are not fully adopted, the act of taking ownership restores confidence and engagement.

Entrepreneurial Thinking Is a Resilience Skill

When leaders and professionals operate with agency instead of helplessness, stress decreases and effectiveness increases. Entrepreneurial thinking builds psychological resilience by reinforcing choice, capability, and purpose.

This mindset is one of the foundational behaviors explored in resilient leadership. To see how ownership, clarity, and adaptability fit into a broader resilience framework, visit the Leadership Resilience Hub.

You do not need a new title to think like an entrepreneur. You need a willingness to step into responsibility with clarity and intention.

A Good Customer Service Story

All it Takes is Kindness and Attention

A few weeks ago, between appointments, I ran into Dillards to return something and stopped by the Estee Lauder counter. Surprisingly, I had a delightful time. Karen greeted me warmly, inquired as to my needs and then went a step further. She got to know me. She observed I had bought some new suits, and I explained I was a professional speaker. We had a great conversation about stress, and she said, “Let me check your previous sales slip.” Seems I was entitled to a 10% discount that had not been taken by the other salesperson. She voided out everything, reentered it and saved me over $20 on a variety of purchases. She took my name and contact info for future sales, and gave me a card. It was a wonderful experience. She demonstrated a personal interest, valued me, made my shopping more positive and memorable. That’s what I call customer service. How are you doing that for your customers?

Are You Tired Because You’re Thirsty?

Water is essential to our survival. Every cell and system in your body depends on water. A 5% drop in body fluids will cause a 25% loss in energy; a 15% drop leads to death. So drinking those 8 glasses a day is vital. Equally important is the restorative power of being around water. Waterfalls and oceans are fantastic stress relievers because they have negative ions, which refresh and revitalize you. Soaking in warm water for 20 minutes relaxes you significantly, as does soaking feet and legs (up to the knee) for 30 minutes. Try it next time you are stressed; water is very healing! For a recent podcast on this, go to: http://ow.ly/1yoP2

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What to Write About In Social Media

Educate, Entertain, Add Value

People just starting in social media often ask me what they should post. Write about your expertise, what you know well and the latest trends in those areas. Share quotes, statistics, and stories. Always add value and be a source of information and help to those following you. Be a positive force. Share personally and vulnerably a bit, but don’t use social media as a sounding board when you’re upset. And don’t make trivial posts about what you ate for breakfast… unless it’s really interesting or you have a great recipe or restaurant to share. Realize that any posts on social media or the Internet may be out there forever, so never badmouth others, or put photos up on Facebook® that would embarrass you later. More employers are searching social media to learn about what their people do off-line. Be smart. Use the guideline of “How does this help, inform, educate or entertain others?” And be careful about the entertainment part!

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Do You Live In One of America’s Most Stressful Cities?

Here’s What To Do if That’s the Case

A new study ranks the most stressful cities in the US, based on divorces, commutes, unemployment rates and crime. The most stressful cities are Tampa, Las Vegas, Miami, Jacksonville, and Detroit. The least stressful are Pittsburgh, Virginia Beach, Cambridge, Mass., Nassau-Suffolk, NY, and Minneapolis-St. Paul.

So what can you do if you live in a stressful city?

Implement one of these top 5 stress relievers:

1. Get more sleep- you need at least 7 hours a night every night. Less is a carcinogen according to the WHO.

2. Go on vacation at least 2X a year without cellphone& laptops.

3. Exercise daily for at least 20 minutes. It’s a terrific stress reliever & keeps you healthy.

4. Drink lots of water throughout the day. 40% of North Americans are dehydrated.

5. Volunteer- giving back gives your perspective, changes your focus, and helps you appreciate your life.

For more tips and to read a free chapter from Stress Express: 15 Instant Stress Relieversgo here:http://firedupnow.com/graphics/StressExpressfreechapter.pdf

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To sign up for Snowden’s ezine newsletter on stress, happiness, marketing and motivation, go to: http://firedupnow.com/firedupemailregister.html