Learn to take personal accountability for everything in your life = you making shit really happen in your life.
You’re in control of 100% of your life.
Yes, there are things that happen to you that you’re not in control of…
But no matter what you always control your reaction to them, and you control your mindset.
You decide if you are going to…
Play defense (complain).
Or
Ply offense (attack)
It’s no surprise that the humans that shape or worlds play offense!
-NG
Good morning!
We all have problems, and we all need to solve them. As a matter of fact, it could be argued that the meaning of life is actually solving problems!
Read: How to Solve All Your Crummy Little Problems (and Truly Make a Difference)
I have an analogy that I use to teach active problem solving; I liken it to slaying a dragon.
Now, the important part of this analogy is the timing of WHEN you slay your dragon.
Generally, when something starts off as a problem, it’s starts off small.
It can be the check engine light in your car, an employee showing up 5 min late, your significant other not doing something you asked, or even a boss saying something that you don’t agree with.
Now here is where problems and dragons really start to resemble one another…when they’re ignored.
You let that check engine light go, or your boss does something that drives you crazy and you bottle it up…it starts to turn into REAL problem.
As it continues to go unaddressed, it gets bigger and bigger. By ignoring it, you’re actually feeding it.
Then your frustrations start feed it, and your ego continues feeding it.
Pretty soon your dragon is 30 feet tall, has 3 heads, breathes fire, and lives in a dark dirty cave.
The very thought of taking on that dragon is so threatening that you would rather talk about it with every person that you know versus deal with it.
By the time you’re FORCED to do battle, you have to wear a suit of armor, take your sword and shield, and venture into that nasty cave to take on the beast!
Instead…
If you act in the moment the problem is born, and address it (yes, with a tad bit of confrontation) the resolution of the problem will be very small.
Like slaying a dragon when it’s only 2 inches high!
You just swat it with your hand, and BOOM, it’s gone.
Heres a short 1 minute video of me teaching the concept to someone over the phone.
Slay your dragons when they are small, and you’ll free yourself up to help others slay their larger dragons!
-NG
These inspirational quotes are going to be a bit different than what you would think.
It’s not going to be a bunch of RA-RA cheerleader stuff…hell no.
These quotes focus on building relationships that will raise performance and SHOW employees that you appreciate them. Not just some words that say it.
Let’s get right to it…
These quotes are INSPIRATIONAL in that the goal is to inspire the employees to think for themselves, solve problems, and exploit opportunities!
They are not about cheering people on…
I call that kind of feedback MOTIVATIONAL because you’re trying to motivate people to try harder.
To use these inspirational quotes, you need a few things to be set up already:
Let’s take a quick look at each of these…
Why do you want inspired employees and why do you want to show them appreciation?
If the answer is…
…then we’ve got bigger issues to tackle my friend!
So, listen closely…
There is no number of inspirational quotes to fix a dysfunctional relationship with an employee.
And fixing a strained relationship is the toughest work that a leader will ever have to do!
Before venturing any further I suggest you read this post. It’s about how impactful a leader’s words can be, for the better and for the worse!
When your relationships with your employees are all healthy, they begin to resemble more of a partnership.
If that describes your connection with your team, then we’re on the right track!
Before we talk about the inspiration quotes for employee appreciation, some food for thought…
If your employees aren’t motivated, you’re going to need more than some badass quotes.
Here’s why…
Motivation = The Desire to Try
Inspiration = Feeling or Seeing the Leader’s Vision
Maybe you do the hiring, maybe you don’t…but this BONUS QUOTE cuts to the bone:
“If you want motivated people you have to find them, not motivate them.”
Let’s break that down a tad…
Face it, you just can’t motivate someone.
I know, that’s not a very popular take, but it’s true, and here’s why…
It’s the employee’s responsibility to bring the motivation to you. This would mean they are SELF-MOTIVATED.
From there you can inspire, by helping them pinpoint their dreams and goals, and then pushing them to achieve those goals by teaching, training, holding them accountable, and following up on progress.
I actually have another BONUS QUOTE that I like to use to make this point…
“I’d rather inspire my varsity team to championships than motivate my JV team to try”
If they don’t want to try, you’re going to waste your time!
That’s why I say that leaders don’t motivate, they inspire.
OK one last thing…
Before we get to the list of inspirational quotes for employee appreciation, I’ve got one last thing that I want to touch on, and that is R E S P E C T.
(high five if you spelled that out like the song)…
How Much Do Your Employees Respect You?
People work for people.
That means when someone quits, they didn’t quit the company, THEY QUIT YOU. This is true 80% of the time.
Tough to hear? Find yourself getting defensive?
Sure, there are employees that quit that weren’t a good fit and are better off leaving, but a majority of them quit the leader, not the organization
More food for thought: That’s STILL the leader’s fault for hiring the wrong person!
Check out THIS oldie but goodie (which is actually the 1st thing I ever published to the internet!) about garnering more respect from your team.
OK, OK…And now, without further adieu…
The key to performance isn’t about trying push new conversations about strategy in, but rather clearing out the clutter. -Book: 3 Laws of Performance by Steve Zaffron and Dave Logan
This is one of my favorite quotes because in business, we almost always look to ADD when we want to affect performance, yet most often we need to REMOVE so we can focus on what’s important.
There are no bad teams, only bad leaders. -Jocko Willink
This one is in here because it’s all about ownership. If you have employees that feel under appreciated, or uninspired, you need to own up to your mistakes before you can move on. This is in direct correlation with the 1st quote, as that “clutter” COULD be gossip about you!
Notice the difference between asking ‘Can I do this?’ And, ‘How am I going to do this?’ -Book: Will it Make the Boat Go Faster? By Ben Hunt-Davis and Harriet Beveridge.
In both questions there is an unsure nature of how to start, but one comes with confidence and the other communicates doubt and fear.
Many people are more comfortable with old problems than with new solutions. -Charles H. Brower
This quote is perfect for a time when a teammate is complaining about a process and not adding any value to the situation.
Tough times don’t last forever. Tough people do. – Robert H. Schuller
Great quote for showing appreciation when an employee as working super hard, or the work gets super hard. (Busy season, corporate visit, high pressure deadline, etc.)
If it’s worth doing, then it’s worth doing wrong. What holds us back is fear of failure. Just try…go…fail, and then adjust!! -Joe Calloway
Joe wrote the book Be the Best at What Matters Most and it’s a book that I suggest. This quote means that if you’re going to screw up, do it with 100% conviction. I’d rather see an employee comitted to their dream and do it wrong, than do nothing at all.
Most people have a desire to look for the exception instead of a desire to be exceptional. -John Maxwell, 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership
One of the most important leadership books ever written, and a quote that speaks volumes. Most people would rather find the excuse or reason they failed instead of working to be a success.
No matter how bad things are, you can always make them worse.
This is a funny one because it’s a positive statement said in a negative way. It’s a great reminder that things really aren’t that bad, even when they seem desperate. Stop worrying and go fix it!
If you aren’t in over your head, then how do you know how tall you are? –T. S. Eliot
The reason I LOVE this quote so much is because I’m a hustler. I like a lot on my plate and when I’m not working like a maniac, then I ask for more. You can’t grow unless you’re pushed!
Your abilities say win. What does your attitude say? -Nick Glassett (me!)
Smart, driven, and talented means nothing when the person is negative and toxic!
The essence of competitive advantage is doing different things, and doing things differently. -Book: 3 Laws of Performance by Steve Zaffron and Dave Logan
This is a great reminder that when “they” zig, you’ve got to zag! And the second quote from this book (it’s that good of a read, I suggest it to all leaders!)
Short term easy means long term difficult and short term difficult means long term easy. -Book: Take The Stairs by Rory Vaden
This is a discipline quote. Do what’s easy now, and you’re going to have to kill yourself later to catch back up. Do what’s hard now, and you’ll be ahead of schedule.
Successful people do what others don’t want to do and they in turn get extraordinary results. -Book: Take The Stairs by Rory Vaden
Another one from Rory! I call this, The Winning Formula: Do the things that cause winning. Simple, but not easy. It’s the studying, the practice, the rehearsal, and the work that causes great things to happen.
Get good at being a trouble maker and saying sorry when you really screw up. –Book: 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss
This may seem like an odd quote to tell your employees…after all, you don’t want trouble makers do you? I don’t just say yes, I say HELL YES. It’s an empowerment and a trust thing. Nothing communicates “I trust you” like this Tim Ferriss Quote.
Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is taking action in the presence of fear. – David Cunningham, Landmark Forum Leader
I heard this when I did the incredibly powerful Landmark Forum, and I use it often. Anytime there is a situation that has one of my teammates nervous, this quotes causes action to take place (especially public sharing at a meeting).
Find the sense of who you are, then it will translate into an ease and confidence in how you come off to others. -Unsure of where I got this from
I firmly believe that when you help people be themselves, and not some “improved” or different version is when you truly get inspired action!
Change what you do so you can change how you feel. -Nick Glassett (me)
When people are failing, you would thing they would change what they are doing, but they don’t. Instead they double down and try harder instead of trying something else.
So there you have it, 17 of my favorite inspirational quotes for employee appreciation.
Many of them are different than your ordinary, optimistic, cheerleader stuff.
I hope you enjoyed it, and would love if you dropped a comment with your opinion and if you used any of these 🙂
Thanks,
-NG
I’ve worked at Journeys a long time. I’ve got asked why 1000 times. I’ve had a few different answers over the years, but now when someone asks me why I love it at Journeys, the true reason comes out of my mouth naturally, effortlessly, and POWERFULLY.
My answer…
“The leadership. Yeah, I love shoes. Yeah, Journeys is pretty cool store and we play loud music, and I’m embraced for having tattoos and stuff…but it’s because of how much the people above me care about me. I’ve been through two rough patches in my career, and both times it was because I had friction with my leader. The rest of the time, I’m not just expected to do great, I’m TRUSTED to do great.”
You’re quote of the day…STAND AND FEEL YOUR WORTH
As leaders, we change lives.
Worth saying again because it’s so powerful. WE CHANGE LIVES.
Now, is the change you create POSITIVE? That’s a question you have to answer 😉
Thank you!
-NG
Lao Tzu was an ancient Chinese philosopher and writer, and has also has been referred to as Lao-Tze, and Laozi.
His given name was actually named Li Er. Laozi is a honorary title, which was romanized in many different ways leading to our name-confusion.
Either way, it’s all the same guy!
He is the author of the Tao Te Ching, the founder of philosophical Taoism….However, in the mid-twentieth century, an argument was made by scholars that the person known as Laozi is doubtful to have actually existed and that that the Tao Te Ching was “a compilation of Taoist sayings by many hands”.
Of course, many others argue the opposite, and there is actually no way to know for sure!
What we do know is, no matter what name he goes by, and whether or not he actually existed, there are some INCREDIBLE quotes that he’s credited for.
These quotes are all simple and elegant, but at the same time make you think about yourself and your own views in a very deep way.
When the best leader’s work is done the people say, ‘We did it ourselves.’ -Lao Tzu
If you do not change direction, you may end up where your are heading. -Lao Tzu
Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. -Lao Tzu
A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step. -Lao Tzu
He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough. -Lao Tzu
The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. -Lao Tzu
Great acts are made up of small deeds. -Lao Tzu
He who conquers others is strong; He who conquers himself is mighty. -Lao Tzu
The snow goose need not bathe to make itself white. Neither need you do anything but be yourself. -Lao Tzu
He who talks more is sooner exhausted. -Lao Tzu
Act without expectation. -Lao Tzu
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. -Lao Tzu
Sincere words are not fine; fine words are not sincere. -Lao Tzu
More quotes from Jocko Willink, Navy SEAL and all around badass
If you would take, you must first give, this is the beginning of intelligence. -Lao Tzu
Happiness is the absence of striving for happiness. -Lao Tzu
I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures. -Lao Tzu
A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving. -Lao Tzu
Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt. -Lao Tzu
To lead people, walk behind them. -Lao Tzu
The further one goes, the less one knows. -Lao Tzu
He who knows, does not speak. He who speaks, does not know. -Lao Tzu
When you accept yourself, the whole world accepts you. -Lao Tzu
Remind yourself daily, there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. -Lao Tzu
He, who tries to shine, dims his own light. -Lao Tzu
Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny. -Lao Tzu
13 Bad Ass Connor McGregor Quotes
-NG
Good Tuesday Morning!!
So, at the end of every interview I ask, “What questions do you have for us?”
Last week, a gentleman named Devin asked me…
“What was the thing you focused on that helped you be successful?”
Good question, right? So what was my answer?
I said…
“100 things had to happen, including hard work, dedication, LUCK, timing etc. However, I’ll break it down into the TWO things that got me here…”
“First, sales. I figured out pretty quick that better sales mean more hours, and more hours mean more opportunity. I make goals by more, I get more responsibility. So I honed my selling skills by asking for help! As I got better and better, I got promoted again and again.”
“Second was people. I focused on sales for close to three years and it got me to a certain point. But I actually remember where I was when it hit me that sales can’t get me any further, and developing people was the next piece of the puzzle that I had to get, and accomplish.”
“I put a major focus on those two things, I got A TON of help from my bosses and mentors, and with a ton of hard work and luck, here I am!”
So as you get your day started today, I invite you to learn a valuable lesson that took me three years to “get”, so you too can have the opportunity to answer that great question that Devin asked me last Friday.
The lesson: Crush all goals and develop others.
Start the lesson TODAY with the first customer you help, and the first teammate you work with.
-NG
The Law of the Lid helps others understand the value of leadership.
The lower an individuals ability to lead, the lower the lid on his potential.
The higher an individuals ability to lead, the higher the lid on his potential.
In 1930, Dick and Maurice McDonald move from New Hampshire to California in search of the American dream. Seven years later they end up opening a drive in restaurant in San Bernardino and see some serious success.
They see that times are changing, and in 1948 they streamlined the menu, and created an assembly line style kitchen they dubbed the Speedy Service System. By the mid-1950’s they are wealthy business owners.
They begin getting 300+ requests per month from other restauranteurs want to learn their systems. They decide to franchise the McDonald’s restaurant…and It was a dismal failure.
The brothers we’re great thinkers and managers, but they were not leaders.
“At the height of their success, Dick and Maurice found themselves smack-dab against the Law of the Lid.”
In 1954 the McDonald brothers partnered up a man named Ray Kroc, who ran his own company making milkshake machines.
Kroc strikes a deal with the McDonald brothers and forms McDonald’s Systems, Inc. (Later called McDonald’s Corporation).
Kroc bought the rights to McDonald’s and opened his own franchise. He used that restaurant to sell other franchises, and he began to recruit and hire the sharpest people that he could find the build McDonald’s into a nationwide entity.
In 1961, for the sum of $2.7 million, Kroc buys out the exclusive rights to McDonald’s from the brothers, and proceeded to grow it into a global entity.
In the years that the brothers attempted to franchise the restaurant, they sold the concept just fifteen times, and only ten of those buyers opened restaurants.
In four years after buying out the McDonald brothers, Ray Kroc had opened 100 restaurants. Four years after that, had opened a total of 500 McDonald’s.
On the left, you have a visual representation of someone that is dedicated to success, but not caring about, or thinking about leadership (potentially the McDonald brothers). Notice how low the level of effectiveness is!
In order to get to a 10, you would essentially have to kill yourself due to the lack of effectiveness.
Of the right, you have a visual representation of someone who is equally dedicated to success, but is a seven on leadership ability. This alone makes them 600% more effective!
This is because leadership has a multiplying effect.
Leadership ability is always the lid on personal and organizational effectiveness. If a person’s leadership ability is high, then the organization’s lid is high. But if it’s not, then the organization is limited.
That’s why, in times of trouble, organizations look for new leadership.
Getting rid of the leader isn’t the only way to improve the organization. Just as there is a lid, there is also a way to raise it. That is the subject of another Law of Leadership however (The Law of Process).
“At the height of their success, Dick and Maurice McDonald found themselves smack-dab against the Law of the Lid.”
“The higher you want to climb, the more you need leadership.”
“The greater the impact you want to make, the greater your influence needs to be.”
“Personal and organizational effectiveness is proportionate to the strength of leadership.”
-List out your major goals, then determine which ones require the participation or cooperation from other people. For those goals, leadership ability will greatly impact your results
-Ask others around you to rate your leadership ability. Speak with your boss, your spouse, two peers at work, and three subordinates about your leadership ability. Ask them to rate you on a scale of 1-10 in each of the following areas:
Average together your scores and find two important things
Next Up…The Law of Influence
John Maxwell is the undoubted leadership expert.
His timeless book, “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership” has sold over 1 million copies!
The book’s well written stories guide you through the 21 laws and teach you how to apply each to your life. Along the way, there are many memorable quotes!
Here I have assembled…
“People don’t care what you know until they know what you care.”
“You can’t move people to action unless you first move them with emotion…. The heart comes before the head.”
“Leaders Who Attract Followers . . . Need to Be Needed.
Leaders Who Develop Leaders . . . Want to Be Succeeded”
“Attitude is one of the most contagious qualities a human being possesses.”
“Anyone can steer the ship, but it takes a leader to chart the course.”
“Always touch a person’s heart before you ask him for a hand.”
“It’s not the position that makes the leader; it’s the leader that makes the position.”
Reading The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership… John Maxwell says that “The true meaning of Leadership is Influence- Nothing More. Nothing Less!”….. If you don’t have influence, you will never be able to lead others ❤️… Wow! Time to reflect! Growth Mindset! pic.twitter.com/83IkRt7Kmi
— Sherese Nix (@sherese_nix) February 11, 2018
“Leadership is influence-nothing more, nothing less.”
“What is your personal plan for growth?”
“The bottom line in leadership isn’t how far we advance ourselves but how far we advance others.”
“What you attract is not determined by what you want. It’s determined by who you are.”
Check out our Chapter Summary of The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership.
“To add growth, lead followers – To multiple, lead leaders.”
“Someday people will summarize your life in a single sentence. My advice: pick it now!”
“Improvement is impossible without change.”
“There are no Lone Range leaders. Think about it: if you’re alone, you’re not leading anybody are you?”
“Only you reach your potential as a leader do your people have a chance to read their potential.”
“Enlarging others makes you larger.”
Check out the complete 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership List.
“To push people down you have to go down with them.”
“Leaders always find a way to make things happen.”
-NG
Good morning D13!
We have come A LONG WAY this year. I’m proud of all the growth that we have had in one short quarter! We’re a whole new team from January to now, with more focus, higher performance, and MOMENTUM.
That being said, of course there is still more growth to be had. At the rate we’re going, we will be on top of the results in all categories by years end! But it’s only going to happen WHEN we have the conversations that we need to have with our teams…
Impact.
It’s really the largest part of our jobs.
When you took over your store, you had an immediate IMPACT on the numbers
It was from getting YOU on that sales floor for the first time
It was from the conversations that you had with the employees
Teaching. Coaching. Pushing.
Don’t underestimate the IMPACT that those words of yours have. You can make or break a teammates day. You can change the course of their entire life with just your words.
They look up to you, and they look to you for guidance.
Today, show the impact that you can have by getting the team fired up, and out on the sales floor doing the things they need to do!
Keep it simple, make it fun, help them be themselves 🙂
Thanks!
NG13
