Tag Archive for integrity

The Leadership Success Factors! Do You Possess it?

July 23, 2012 Achieve Success Academy No comments

imagesCAIFISII The Leadership Success Factors! Do You Possess it?The most successful people in the world get more accomplished before the average person gets out of bed. ~ John R. Salkowski

The most powerful leadership success factor of both personal development and lifelong success has to do with the “golden hour” of your day. So, what is the “golden hour” you ask? The “golden hour” is the time you spend in the morning before doing anything else which consists of flooding and feeding your mind with goal writing, reading or listening to positive, influential information. By doing this each morning, you start your day off in the right successful direction.

I once heard this saying, “You become what you think about, most of the time.” Whatever you think about most you attract into your life. You become the result of the information, associations, ideas and impressions you feed your mind, from the time you awake in the morning to the time you retire at night. However, what will have the strongest impact and influence on your mind is what you do during the “golden hour”.

Personal Development and Self-Improvement

In order to be successful, you must have good habits. Literally 95% of everything you do or say is determined by your habits, good or bad. Successful people have good habits that lead to being more productive and positive which in turn improves their overall personal development throughout their lives. People with bad habits are unsuccessful for they created bad habits that lead to under achieving, indecisiveness and ultimately failure.

The Leadership Success Factor

The #1 success factor you can develop is taking advantage of the “golden hour” each and everyday day. By doing this every day, you create good habits. Did you know that it take 21 days to make or break a habit, whether good or bad? Therefore, start your day off by feeding your mind and body with positive, productive skill sets that will ultimately lead to greater success in your life.

By implementing these habits into my life over past several years, it has created a life that I could only imagine of. Before you pass judgment on whether this will work for you, start by trying it yourself for 21 days. All I’m asking of you is to do this for 21 days and I assure you that your life will change in a more positive direction beyond your wildest dream.

Change Your Mind-Set in Just 21 Days

1. Starting tomorrow set your alarm for 2hrs before your normal wake up time. Invest the first golden hour in yourself and in your mind. Remember, your brain is a muscle. With use, it grows, without use it shrinks.

2. Before you do anything, take 30-60 minutes and read something motivational, inspirational and/or educational. Be sure that the first thing you put into your mind in the morning is positive, healthy and consistent with the kind of life you want to lead.

3. After you have completed your morning reading, take a spiral notebook and write out your top 10-15 goals in the present tense, exactly as if you have already achieved them. Write goals such as, “I earn $100,000 per year”; “I weigh 150 pounds and in the best shape of my life”; “I drive a brand new grey BMW”; “I live in a beautiful 3000 square foot home” and so on. Rewrite your list of goals every morning without referring back to the goals you wrote the day before. This is a very important success factor for you to practice in order to achieve your goals.

4. Plan every day in advance. After you have read something motivational, inspirational and/or educational, rewrite your goals, make a list of everything you have to do that day, and then organize the list by priority, value and importance.

5. Begin immediately to work on your most valuable and important task, before you do anything else. Focus single-mindedly on that one task until it is complete. When you start and finish your major task first thing in the morning during the golden hour, you will experience a surge of energy, elation and confidence that will propel you into your other tasks, and dramatically increase your overall productivity for the rest of the day.

6. Listen to educational audio programs as you drive around. Leave the radio off. Turn your vehicle into a University on wheels. Continually feed your mind with high quality mental nutrition that uplifts and inspires you to do your best. This is a great way to improve your personal development throughout your entire life.

7. Finally, develop a sense of urgency. Pick up the pace. Move quickly from one task to the other. Don’t waste time. The faster you move, the more energy you will have. The faster you move, the more you will get done, and the better you will feel. The faster you move, the more in control of your life you will feel, and the more you will like and respect yourself.

The “Golden Hour”

The golden hour is the most important time of the day. It sets the tone for the rest of your day. When you awake early and invest that time into yourself, you will be amazed at the difference in the way your feel and the results you’ll achieve. You will gradually overtime change the way you think of yourself and all that is possible for you. You will become a magnet to success and begin to see your whole world change before your eyes.

I’m John R. Salkowski, Founder of AchieveSuccessAcademy.com, Entrepreneur, Retired Cop, Survivor of PTSD stemming from a shoot and kill robbery incident, Expert on Leadership, Success, Overcoming Adversity & PTSD, Author of 3 books; Leadership in the Line of Duty: 50 Leadership Lessons for making split-second decisions from a Cop who’s been in Life & Death situations, Leadership in the Line of Duty: Success Thoughts and Quotes for Leaders and Nothing But Net: Top Secrets to increase your bottom line, Health, Wealth & Success.

Copyright © 2012. Achieve Success Academy™. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

 

A Great Leader Never, Ever Quits and Here is Why?

April 23, 2012 Achieve Success Academy One comment

Before success comes in any man’s life, he’s sure to meet with much temporary defeat and, perhaps some failures. When defeat overtakes a man, the easiest and the most logical thing to do is to quit. That’s exactly what the majority of men do~Napoleon Hill

“Leaders Never Quit”

Leaders never quit. They persist through any challenge they are faced with. Great leaders have the ability to stick with a difficult task or situation and work through it. They cope with the frustration that is brought upon by challenges.

The importance of never quitting and persisting through difficult times is one of the most important qualities a great leader must possess. They take every measure to bring their challenges to fruition. We are all faced with the naysayers who tell us to give up or forget about it and move on. This can be very demotivating. We cannot allow ourselves to be faced with people like this. These are the people that do not belong in our lives. We are better than this. We must persist and never quit.

“If you live long enough, you’ll make mistakes. But if you learn from them, you’ll be a better person. It’s how you handle adversity, not how it affects you. The main thing is never quit, never quit, never quit.” — Bill Clinton

Achieving success through leadership cannot be done overnight. It takes long hours and tons of hard work. There will undoubtedly be hurdles and obstacles that we must overcome. We, as great leaders, must hold the vision of our destination in mind and inspire others by rolling up our sleeves and continue to work on making progress. Someone must lead so why not let it be us.

Never quitting and persisting through difficult times takes a positive attitude, strong belief system and the confidence to continue our fight. Great leaders realize that without these qualities one can never be a great leader.

What separates a Great leader from others is the will to never stop persisting onward and upward. Great leaders do what the others won’t. Continuing to push and fight through the difficult times will take will power. The stronger your resolve, the more you will persist and the greater chances of your success.

“Never, never, never, never give up.” “Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never – in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense” ~Winston Churchill

Below are some of the qualities that a Great leader should never quit or stop persisting at:

Integrity is the integration of outward actions and inner values. A person of integrity is the same on the outside and on the inside. Such an individual can be trusted because he or she never veers from inner values, even when it might be expeditious to do so. A great leader must have the trust of followers and therefore must display integrity.
Honest dealings, predictable reactions, well-controlled emotions, and an absence of tantrums and harsh outbursts are all signs of integrity. A leader who is centered in integrity will be more approachable by followers.

Dedication means spending whatever time or energy is necessary to accomplish the task at hand. A leader inspires dedication by example, doing whatever it takes to complete the next step toward the vision. By setting an excellent example, leaders can show followers that there are only opportunities to achieve something great.
Magnanimity means giving credit where it is due. A magnanimous leader ensures that credit for successes is spread as widely as possible. Conversely, a good leader takes personal responsibility for failures. This sort of reverse magnanimity helps other people feel good about them and draws the team closer together. To spread the fame and take the blame is a hallmark of effective leadership.

Leaders with humility recognize that they are no better or worse than anyone else. A humble leader is not self-effacing but rather tries to elevate everyone. Leaders with humility also understand that their status does not make them a god. Mahatma Gandhi is a role model for Indian leaders, and he pursued a “follower-centric” leadership role.

Openness means being able to listen to new ideas, even if they do not conform to the usual way of thinking. Great leaders are able to suspend judgment while listening to others’ ideas, as well as accept new ways of doing things that someone else thought of. Openness builds mutual respect and trust between leaders and followers, and it also keeps the team well supplied with new ideas that can further its vision.

A great leader never, ever quits, however he or she must remain integral, dedicated, magnanimous, humble and open.

I’m John R. Salkowski, Founder of AchieveSuccessAcademy.com, Entrepreneur, Author, and Speaker on Leadership, Success and Overcoming Adversity. Retired Police Officer, Survivor of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) stemming from a shoot and kill robbery incident.

Copyright 2012. Achieve Success Academy. All Rights Reserved.

 

How Leaders Get Things Done

April 11, 2012 Achieve Success Academy 2 comments

It doesn’t matter which side of the fence you get off on sometimes. What matters most is getting off the fence. You cannot make progress without making decisions. ~Jim Rohn

Of all attributes of leadership, the one thing that leaders do more often than anything else is make decisions. Harry Truman once said, “The buck stops here.” This ultimately applies to every leader. You’re in charge, and after all is said and done, you will be judged by the decisions you make.

Analysis Paralysis

Analysis paralysis is where you can’t take any action due to over thinking about the details or over planning and is one of the best “action” killers we can possibly find. Planning definitely helps when you are starting a new project but it should not be to the extent that it overwhelms us and causes us to fail to make a decision and take action.

Vision and Goals

If art is to nourish the root of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him ~ John F. Kennedy

The best way to improve your decision making ability is to keep focused on the vision and goals that you want to accomplish. We know that things happen and plans change. Stop worrying about making perfect decisions. Stay committed to your vision and goals is the most important aspect of decision making.

Did you know that when pilots fly across the ocean, they reach something called, “the point of no return?” This is the point over the ocean where the combination of the fuel they have on board, the weather conditions, the condition of the aircraft, and other factors that play a role are such that continuing toward a destination is easier than turning back.

This same principle should apply to you when making decisions. Seize the moment. Be decisive in all you do. This is what successful leaders do. They make decisions.

During my tenure as a Police Officer, I was called upon hundreds if not thousands of times to make quick and accurate decisions. It could have been responding to a burglary in progress. Do I respond surreptitiously, potentially causing a traffic accident or do I respond with lights and sirens on risking giving myself away to the perpetrators on scene. The decision I made at the time was to use lights and siren, intermittently so I make it through traffic safely. Upon arriving on scene, do I direct Officers responding to certain locations around the perimeter of the property or do I have them take up positions at nearby intersections with hope of intercepting the perpetrators leaving the scene. The decisions I made could have potentially put Officer Safety in jeopardy. My point is, that making decisive decisions is the most important thing we do as leaders.

Making a decision and having it turn out to be the wrong one, is still better than making no decision at all.

Here are some of the top tips I have used in helping me make quick and accurate decisions:

1) Experience Counts

Experience plays a vital role in decision making. As you grow, so does your experience and knowledge. I believe life experience is the best teacher. There will be a time when you will encounter something similar or know someone that has experienced the same thing.

2) Preparation, Planning and Mentorship

Being prepared and having a plan is also vital to decision making. Ben Franklin once said, “Failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Do your homework, read and study the topic, talk with people that have been in your shoes or have made similar decisions. Seek advice from someone you trust with all your heart. If you have no one in your life that you can go to, seek out a mentor to help and guide you in the right direction. Follow your passion, vision and goals.

3) Go with Your Gut (Inner-Voice)

Use your common sense, intuition and instinct to make quick and accurate decisions. Your gut is 100% right all the time. Take it from someone that has used his gut to make life and death decisions. Your inner-voice will let you know when that something feels right or wrong. When you get that feeling, move in that direction. Do not procrastinate. Be decisive, articulate and seize the moment.

I’m John R. Salkowski, Founder of AchieveSuccessAcademy.com, Entrepreneur, Author, and Speaker on Leadership, Success and Overcoming Adversity. Retired Police Officer, Survivor of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) stemming from a shoot and kill robbery incident.

Copyright 2012. Achieve Success Academy. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

Leader’s Leave People Better Than They Found Them

March 28, 2012 Achieve Success Academy 2 comments

“Be the one who nurtures and builds. Be the one who has an understanding and a forgiving heart one who looks for the best in people. Leave people better than you found them.” ~Marvin J. Ashton

Be the One Who Inspires Others

It’s a great feeling making someone’s day. Have you ever just wanted to make someone feel good? I believe, for the most part, most people want to make other’s feel good. Making a positive impact in someone’s life inspires me beyond belief. I truly believe with all my heart and soul that I was put on this earth to make a difference in the lives of other’s.

You know the feeling you get in your gut when you love doing something so much that you would do it for free. That’s the feeling I get about leaving someone better than I found them.

So what is Inspiration?

Inspiration is about finding things that inspire us (amazing ideas, people, and nature), having that inspiration breathed into you and then taking action on it. Creating, doing, and inspiring others to ACTION.

If you’re looking for inspiration you can find it almost anywhere. The key to being inspired is to keep your eyes open. See everything around you as a possible source of inspiration. We are so busy thinking about other things that we miss out on inspiration.

You need inspiration on a regular basis as it isn’t just a one-time thing. When you practice the above method – allowing yourself to breathe in that inspiration by staying in the present and keeping your eyes open to everything – you get better at it. It becomes a skill you can use at any time, and you’ll use it often.

Here are some tips to keep you inspired:

Read daily – mix it up, from success stories, to blogs, to books and magazines of all kinds.

Go outdoors – being in nature is one of the biggest inspirations. Like seeing a rainbow after a storm, or the fiery colors of a sunset.

Get to know new people – they’ll always expose you to new ideas or interesting things, if you’re open to it.

Find time to meditate – creating time to sit and be silent can be more inspiring that you know.

Work with and spend time with inspiring people – find creative, positive, and energetic people that kick you into Action!

Break your routine – take a new route home. Go to a new coffee shop or restaurant. See things from a different perspective.

Exercise – or at least get out for a brisk walk. It helps get ideas moving around and the blood to circulate.

Inspiration isn’t a onetime thing. It’s just like bathing; you must do it every day!

Take Action!

Channel all that inspiration you get and turn it into something amazing. Take this new found inspiration to move you forward, use it, and do something to inspire others.

A Traffic Stop to Making a Difference

“The world is not interested in what we do for a living. What they are interested in is what we have to offer freely – hope strength, love and the power to make a difference!” ~Sasha Azevedo

Back in the early 2000′s, I was still patrolling the streets of Lower Merion Township. While on patrol, I was monitoring traffic at one of the busiest intersections on my beat. I was observing the flow of traffic checking vehicles for expired inspection stickers. In Pennsylvania, as in many other states, each year you have to get your vehicle inspected by a certified Inspection Station. To pass inspection, the mechanic would check your brakes; exterior lighting etc. to make sure everything was in safe working order. I noticed a black Chevrolet coupe with expired inspection stickers. The stickers expired the end of September and we were in the first week of October. Not a huge violation, but I wanted to stop the vehicle to make the driver aware.

I stopped the vehicle and approached the driver from the driver’s side door. As I approached the driver, I noticed through the driver’s side mirror that the young lady driver was crying. I reached the driver’s window and identified myself. I immediately told the young lady that she didn’t need to be upset that I was only making her aware that her inspection stickers had expired a few days.

The young lady had her driver’s license and registration card already waiting for me. I began to ask her if she was okay. The young lady told me that she was just laid off from work by her employer after almost 10yrs. She told me that she hadn’t missed a day of work in 10yrs and that she loved her job more than anything. She said that they didn’t give her a reason other than they decided to downsize. The feeimagesCAAPO6TG Leaders Leave People Better Than They Found ThemimagesCAAPO6TG1 Leaders Leave People Better Than They Found Themling of sadness along with a sick feeling in my stomach overcame me. I felt so bad for her.

Instead of discussing her minor violation, I began to ask her about her job and what she did for 10yrs. As she explained her job, you could see the joy on her face as she described it. You could just tell she loved her job. Not many people can say that.

I said, “May I ask you a question”. She said, “Of course Officer” in the politest and sweetest voice. I said, “Do you believe things happen for a reason”? She said, “I do”. I said, “You may not understand it at this very moment or even over the next few days but this was meant to be”. She said, “How do you mean Officer”? I said, “This chapter in your life was meant to be”. “The good Lord upstairs has something better in store for you”. “When one door closes, a much better door opens”. You could see her tears coming to an end. Her face began to brighten up and her smile began to shine. The young lady thanked me and told me that “I just made her day”. Before she went on her way, I told her, “To stay positive and to focus on the next door that’s about to open for her”. I felt deep down that something much better was in store for her. She thanked me again and began to drive off. I told her, “To drive safe and remember to stay focused and positive”. I stood there in the road for a few seconds, watching her drive away. I was very sad for her but I truly believe the short talk we had made a difference in her life.

So remember, true leaders leave that special someone or the person you just met, better than you found them.

I’m John R. Salkowski, Founder of AchieveSuccessAcademy.com, Retired Police Officer, Survivor of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) from a shoot and kill robbery incident, Author, Speaker on Leadership, Success and Overcoming Adversity.

Copyright 2012. Achieve Success Academy. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

Military Scrambles After Staff Sgt. Robert Bales’ Shooting

March 26, 2012 Achieve Success Academy One comment

U.S. Government Officials Scramble

Just nine days after Staff Sgt. Robert Bale’s shooting in Afghanistan, a Top-Level Pentagon Health Official orders a widespread, emergency review of the military’s use of a notorious anti-malaria drug called mefloquine.

Mefloquine, also known as Lariam, has severe psychiatric side effects. Side effects of the drug include psychotic behavior, paranoia and hallucinations. The drug has been implicated in numerous suicides and homicides, including deaths in the U.S. military. For years the military has used the weekly pill to help prevent malaria among deployed troops.

The U.S. Army nearly stopped the use of mefloquine entirely in 2009 because of the dangers, now only using it in limited circumstances, including sometimes in Afghanistan. In 2009 the Army said soldiers who have suffered a traumatic brain injury should not be given the drug.

Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, accused of murdering 17 of men, women and children suffered a traumatic brain injury in Iraq in 2010 during his third combat tour. According to statistics, repeated combat tours severely increases the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Staff Sgt. Bales’ wife, Karilyn Bales, broke her silence in an interview Sunday with NBC. “It is unbelievable to me. I have no idea what happened, but he would not — he loves children. He would not do that,” she said.

On March 20, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Jonathan Woodson ordered a new & urgent review to make sure that troops were not getting the drug inappropriately. The task order from Woodson, orders an immediate “review of mefloquine prescribing practices” to be completed by the following Monday, six days after the order was issued.

“Some deployed service members may be prescribed mefloquine for malaria prophylaxis without appropriate documentation in their medical records and without proper screening for contraindications,” the order says. It notes that this review must include troops at “deployed locations.”

The sudden violence and apparent cognitive problems related to the crime Bales is accused of mirrors other gruesome cases.

A former Army psychiatrist who was the top advocate for mental health at the Office of the Army Surgeon General recently voiced concern about Bales’ possible mefloquine exposure. “One obvious question to consider is whether he was on mefloquine (Lariam), an anti-malarial medication.” This drug is still used in Afghanistan.

“This medication has been increasingly associated with neuropsychiatric side effects, including depression, psychosis, and suicidal ideation.”

In 2004 in the United Press International stated that use of the drug by six elite Army Special Forces soldiers who took mefloquine then committed suicide. (Suicide is relatively infrequent among Special Forces soldiers).

“You’re ready to take that plunge into hurting someone or hurting and killing yourself, and it comes on unbelievably quickly,” said one Special Forces soldier diagnosed with permanent brain damage from Lariam. “It’s just a sudden thought; it’s the right thing to do. You’ll get a mental picture, and it’s in full color.”

UPI report showed how mefloquine use was a factor in half of the suicides among troops in Iraq in 2003 -– and how suicides dropped by 50 percent after the Army stopped handing out the drug.

In a case that mirrors the Bales’ case, that year the Army dropped charges against Staff Sgt. Georg-Andreas Pogany. Pogany had been the first soldier since Vietnam charged with cowardice. Like Bales, Pogany faced a possible death sentence. The Army dropped the charges after doctors determined that Pogany suffered from Lariam toxicity, which affected his behavior in Iraq.

In 2002, three elite soldiers, who took mefloquine in Afghanistan, returned to murder their wives and then commit suicide. These soldiers were described by friends, family and neighbors after taking the drug as incoherent, strange and angry.

What Does This Mean For Staff Sgt. Robert Bales

Does this mean, Bales’ charges will be dropped like that of Pogany’s? Does Bales’ suffer from a Lariam toxicity? Something affected his behavior that very day. He was pushed to a limit of no return. Was it the Four tours he served or was it the Lariam?

I certainly hope the truth comes out and this soldier gets the help he needs. Giving him the death penalty will not solve the problem. This is not the first case of homicide or suicide among our soldiers. What you read above is evidence that this is a reoccurring problem and this problem needs to be fixed.

I’m John R. Salkowski, Founder of AchieveSuccessAcademy.com, Retired Police Officer, Survivor of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) stemming from a shoot and kill Robbery incident, Author, Speaker on Leadership, Success and Overcoming Adversity.

 

What Caused Staff Sgt. Robert Bales to Commit Murder?

March 23, 2012 Achieve Success Academy 3 comments

If you watch the news, have read articles I’m sure you’re familiar with Staff Sgt. Robert Bales. Staff Sgt. Bales is being charged with 17 counts of murder, assault and a slew of other charges from what’s being called a massacre of Afghan villagers by U.S. officials.

Staggering Statistics from Studies and the Veterans Affairs

Did you know that 1 in 5 returning Afghan and Iraq war veterans suffer from PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or Major Depression according to VA (Veterans Affairs).

Nearly 20 percent of military service members who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan — 300,000 in all — report symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or major depression, yet only slightly more than half have sought treatment, according to a new RAND Corporation Study.

In addition too, researchers found about 19 percent of returning service members report that they experienced a possible traumatic brain injury while deployed, with 7 percent reporting both a probable brain injury and current PTSD or major depression.

Many service members said they do not seek treatment for psychological illnesses because they fear it will harm their careers. Being subject to ridicule. Being considered unfit for duty. But even among those who do seek help for PTSD or major depression, only about half receive treatment that researchers consider “minimally adequate” for their illnesses.

In the first analysis of its kind, researchers estimate that PTSD and depression among returning service members will cost the nation as much as $6.2 billion in the two years following deployment — an amount that includes both direct medical care and costs for lost productivity and suicide. Investing in more high-quality treatment could save close to $2 billion within two years by substantially reducing those indirect costs, according to RAND study.

Here’s another staggering statistic. Suicides among returning soldiers are up 26% according to the VA (Veterans Affairs). There are an estimated 30,000 suicides in this country alone and 20% of those suicides are committed by our veterans according to the VA.

We Have an Epidemic on our Hands

We all know that there is a major health crisis facing those men and women who have served our nation in Iraq and Afghanistan. Unless they receive appropriate and effective care for these mental health conditions, there will be long-term consequences for them and for our nation. Unfortunately, there are many barriers preventing them from getting the high-quality treatment they need.

Researchers concluded that a major national effort is needed to expand and improve the capacity of the mental health system to provide effective care to service members and veterans. The effort must include the military, veteran and civilian health care systems, and should focus on training more providers to use high-quality, evidence-based treatment methods and encouraging service members and veterans to seek needed care.

Since October 2001, about 1.6 million U.S. troops have deployed to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, with many exposed to prolonged periods of combat-related stress or traumatic events. Early evidence suggests that the psychological toll of the deployments may be disproportionately high compared with physical injuries.

The epidemic that is running wild among our returning troops is PTSD and Major Depression. More of our troops are suffering mental illnesses than physical injuries. This is not the first time you have heard one of our returning soldiers committing homicide, suicide, turning to drug & alcohol abuse, marital problems, unemployment, homelessness, committing crimes etc.

Is Staff Sgt. Robert Bales a Killer or a Victim of War?

Is Staff Sgt. Robert Bales a murderer? Is he really a cold blooded killer? Is he a true menace to society? Or is he a victim of circumstances? Did he wake up one morning and say, “I’m going on a murder spree? Who knows? Please understand something, I’m not condoning what Robert Bales did by no means, however you have to stop and think about something. There is definitely something going on with this soldier. You have just read the staggering statistics above. This is a man that has done numerous tours in Afghanistan & Iraq. To be exact, Staff Sgt. Bales served (1) tour in Afghanistan and (3) tours in Iraq. This is a man that has seen more violence, been in involved in more violence than anyone you can imagine. Yes, there are thousands of others that have been exposed to what Robert Bales has been exposed too as well. However, everyone is different, therefore what they experience and how they handle that experience is different as well.

This is a man that is a victim of our war. A victim in the sense that he suffers a major case of PTSD and/or a traumatic brain injury. He was experiencing stress beyond explanation. This is a man that was pushed to his breaking point. Yes, he turned to committing murder on innocent Afghans. People that didn’t deserve to die. But what if Bales would have taken his own life? Would he be considered a hero or another victim of circumstances? This is a man that should not have done (4) tours of war.

As a retired Police Officer and suffer of PTSD myself for shooting and killing a man in the course of a robbery & defending my own life, I can only imagine what Staff Sgt. Bales and the rest of the troops have experienced. I was second guessed, Monday morning quarterbacked, my past picked apart just as Bales’ past is being picked apart. This is unfair. Bales served his country in war not just once but four times. Enough is enough. There should be limits and guidelines on how many tours our troops serve. Where are our Commanders, our Leaders? There in the background not doing what the front-line is doing. Their not in the trenches like they are. Do they really care about them? One can only wonder what their mindset is. Understandably, the job needs to get done but it shouldn’t be at the expense of our fellow men and women. It not only affects them, it affects hundreds of thousands of others. Their families, friends, co-workers.

Staff Sgt. Robert Bales is not a killer. He is a victim of war.

I’m John R. Salkowski, Founder of AchieveSuccessAcademy.com, Retired Police Officer, Survivor of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), and Author, Speaker on Leadership, Success and Overcoming Adversity.

I can be reached via email at John@JohnSalkowski.com

Copyright 2012. Achieve Success Academy. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

 

 

The Top Skills You Must Possess for Leadership Success

March 21, 2012 Achieve Success Academy One comment

“It is a good thing for an uneducated man to read books of quotations.” – Winston Churchill

Successful leaders understand that one of most critical keys to success is possessing a positive self-image and outlook on life in general.

Feeding you mind daily with positive materials such as success quotes, leadership development training and self-development books and audio-tapes/cd’s will enable you to stay determined and focused.

Quotes have an amazing way of hitting the right nerve at the right time. They are short and pithy, making it easier for us to make our decisions of our day with more clarity and purpose.

“Affirmation without self-discipline is the beginning of delusion” ~ Jim Rohn

1) Self-Discipline~ In order to succeed in any facet of life you must possess and master the skill of self-discipline. Discipline is doing what you must do whether you feel like it or not.

“One cannot manage too may affairs: like pumpkins in the water, one pops up while you try to hold down the other”~ Chinese Proverb

2) Time-Management~ There is no such thing as multi-tasking. You simply cannot do two things at once and do them effectively. Have you ever tried to chase two rabbits at the same time? It doesn’t work. Create a list. Work on the most important task first and work your way down in order. All else should be delegated.

“Indecision Breeds Mediocrity” ~ John R. Salkowski

3) Decision-Making~ Nothing else like indecision breeds mediocrity. In order to be a successful leader you must be decisive in your decision making. You heard the saying analyses paralyses, right? Don’t over analyze. The key to a successful decision is to make sure your thought is well reasoned and thought out properly.

“Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go” ~ William Feather

4) Accountability~ Accountability plays a very important role in your leadership success. If you want to be respected and admired, you must take full accountability of not only your successes but your failures as well. This is a form of confidence and self-belief which is a major ingredient to your success.

“He can who thinks he can, he can’t who thinks he can’t” ~ Orison Swett Marden

5) A Positive Attitude is Everything~ Being positive in all you do is essential for your success. A positive attitude is entirely self-determined and can be helped by accentuating the positive in everything you do. Don’t see the problem, see the solution.

“You need a system to succeed. Talent is never enough.” ~ William Shakespeare

6) Self-Presentation~ If you truly want to be successful you must learn how to present to others. Not the way YOU want to present but the way THEY want to be presented too. The radio station you must tune into when presenting to others is “WIFM”. WIFM means “What’s In It For Me” meaning what’s in it for your prospect. If you learn how to present to others, you’re success is virtually guaranteed.

Leadership success will be yours to take if you follow and master these top skills.

I’m John R. Salkowski, Founder of AchieveSuccessAcademy.com, Retired Police Officer, Survivor of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), and Author, Speaker on Leadership, Success and Overcoming Adversity.

Copyright 2012. Achieve Success Academy. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

How Leaders Overcome Obstacles

March 19, 2012 Achieve Success Academy No comments

“Wanting something is not enough. You must hunger for it. Your motivation must be absolutely compelling in order to overcome the obstacles that will invariably come your way.” ~Les Brown, World Renowned Motivational Speaker who was born out of wedlock, delivered on a front porch of an abandoned home and put up for adoption with his twin brother.

Facing Challenges

Have you ever experienced a setback, faced adversity or a challenge that you could not overcome or at least thought you couldn’t overcome? We have all experienced that at some point in our lives.

As I look back on my life, in particular my childhood, growing up in a blue collar town of Bridgeport, Pennsylvania located 30 minutes west of Philadelphia nothing ever came easy to me.

I wasn’t the smartest, the best looking, and the most athletic kid out there. I struggled my way through or shall I say fought my way through. I was a timid kid. Always picked on by bullies. Totally opposite of who I am today.

I grew up poor. I lived in a row home with my father, mother and three sisters up until I was 10 yrs. old. My parents received food stamps and we had a welfare medical card for our health insurance. The only real vivid memory I have of my childhood was playing on the sidewalk in front of our house with my younger sister, Kelly. My sister and I were best friends growing up. We didn’t have much but we did have fun with what we had.

At the age of 10, my mother moved us in with our Aunt Jane who lived 3 blocks down the street. My mother had decided to leave my father to get away from the physical abuse and alcoholism. Needless to say, I had to grow up fast.

Growing Up Fast

“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, “I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.” . . . You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt

I lived with my Aunt Jane for 2 years before being kicked out of the house for drinking the last of the orange juice. Literally, I was kicked out of her house at the age of 10 for drinking the last of the orange juice. Her reasoning was because she had important medication that she had to take and could only take with her orange juice. My mother was at work so I had to take matters into my own hands.

I filled a trash bag full of my clothes and walked 2 miles to my friend Harry’s house. Harry lived with his mother, 2 brothers, sister, grandmother and uncle in a 3 bedroom home.

I had to negotiate with his grandmother if I could stay there for a while. I agreed to sleep on a cot in a bedroom with Harry and his two brothers. We negotiated $10 a week in rent and I had to buy my own food. Sounded good to me. What did I know being 12yrs old?

One day, I was playing football in the street out in front of Harry’s house with some friends when this rich man, who I’ll call John, driving a brand new black Lincoln Continental stopped to say hello. I knew him because my mother waited tables at his bar. Nice man. Seemed to be pretty wealthy to me. He told me to stop up and see him. He had something he wanted to talk about. I got on my bike and peddled to his home just minutes up the road.

I arrived at his home to find him and his wife sitting at their kitchen table. I sat down and they began to tell me what they were hearing about the living conditions I was experiencing. He had heard that the house was infested with mice and roaches. He then asks me, “Is this true?” I said yes but it was fine. He explained to me what diseases these rodents and insects carry. What did I know, I was 14.

He asked me if I would consider moving in with his family. I agreed immediately. Nice home, in-ground swimming pool. No brainer right? Home cooked meals instead of macaroni and cheese, canned raviolis, hotdogs, frozen pizza etc. Life was looking good.

My Life Got Easier or So I Thought

“It is not the critic who counts, nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows great enthusiasms, great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” ~Theodore Roosevelt

From the age of 14 to 18 should be the time of your life, right? School, girls, dances. For me, these 4yrs was living as a slave. Which meant missing out on my high school years? Missing out on proms, dances, school trips. Years I would never get back. I found out real fast that in order to have home cooked meals, a clean house, in-ground swimming pool, washed clothes; I had to work my ass off. I wasn’t afraid to work for my keep but it went to extremes beyond anything I could have imagined.

I worked year round for John. Not at his place of business but at his home. I did everything from cutting the grass, pulling weeds, cleaning the pool, taking out the trash, cleaning off the dinner table, running errand after errand, planting trees, building retaining walls, digging up the garden, putting up fences, washing the cars. Not just his car but his entire family and neighbors cars. I was a modern day slave.

I was an unhappy teenager. I hated those years of my life. I look back and get pissed off because I should have been doing what other teenagers were doing. Instead, I was at the mercy of another human being so I could have food and shelter. I thought, never ever again, would I ever have to depend on another human being for anything in my life time.

Even though I hated my teenage years, I truly believe that the adversity and challenges I faced sculpted me into the man I am today. The adversity I faced in my teenage years gave me the hunger and edge to want a better life, to be self-reliant, to accomplish more than the average person, to be my own boss, to be a leader.

I’m John R. Salkowski, Founder of AchieveSuccessAcademy.com, Retired Police Officer, Survivor of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), Author, Speaker on Leadership, Success and Overcoming Adversity.

I can be reached via email at John@JohnSalkowski.com.

 

Copyright 2012. Achieve Success Academy. All Rights Reserved

 

 

 

 

Are you a Leader?

March 13, 2012 Achieve Success Academy One comment

“The price of greatness is responsibility” ~Winston Churchill

Responsibility

Leadership is about embracing responsibility whether you like it or not. It’s not just about accepting responsibility when it suits you. Some of our toughest leadership challenges are right in your own backyard, your home, your communities, your schools, your institutions, and your personal life.

One of my biggest pet peeves in life is a person who suffers from a disease I call Excusitis. They have an excuse for everything. They never take ownership for anything they do or say. They always point the finger at someone else. It’s always someone else’s fault. Are you serious? How are you going to learn from your mistakes? How are you going grow as a person? How are you going to grow as a leader of your own life? Do you know anyone like this? Are you like this?

“It is my daily mood that makes the weather. I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration, I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person is humanized or de-humanized. If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming.” ~J. W. Goethe

Sizing Yourself Up

Whether you believe this or not, we are all Leaders. You lead yourself, your children, your colleagues, your friends, your relatives. In order to lead others it begins with taking a personal inventory of your own strengths and weaknesses and then assessing the opportunities and threats that are likely to present themselves.

Leading yourself begins the same way; think of it as having one promising follower who deserves your best guidance. Sit down with a piece of paper and list all the things you’re good at, including what you’re not good at.

Do you consider yourself being world-class at anything? You better! I know I do! If you don’t consider yourself world-class then you need to sit down and start a list of all things you have accomplished. You need to give yourself credit where it’s due. You don’t have to be world-class to have real accomplishments but thinking you’re world-class will make those accomplishments feel that much better.

How hard or easy you are on yourself is a reflection of how tough and compassionate you’re likely to be as a leader; both qualities can inspire trust.

Stop pointing the finger at others. Take that finger and point it at your chest. Take responsibility for the things you do or don’t do. Admitting this will be the first step in becoming a better leader as well as a better person. Look yourself in that mirror and know that you take full responsibility of everything that happens in your life. Kiss your kids goodnight knowing that you are leading them to be the best human beings they can possibly be. If you can do this, you are a Leader!

I’m John R. Salkowski, Founder of AchieveSuccessAcademy.com, Retired Police Officer, Survivor of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), and Author, Speaker on Leadership, Success and Overcoming Adversity.

I can be reached via email at John@JohnSalkowski.com

 

 

 

 

A Leader Breaks The Silence Code

March 5, 2012 Achieve Success Academy No comments

Absolute silence leads to sadness. It is the image of death~Jean Jacques Rousseau

It’s a Job, Not a Lifestyle

Leadership is the most human imperative. Without leaders how would our society exist? Leaders bring purpose, motivation, inspiration and direction to society and organizations across the globe. In this reading, I am referring to Police Officers.

I was a Police Officer from 1993-2006. During my tenure, I experienced more in my 13 years than the average person, let alone the average Police Officer would experience in a 30 year career. What do I mean by this? I was involved in more and have seen more tragedy, serious crimes/offenses than your average Police Officer. Please keep in mind, I am not referring to our Heros/Heroines that have fought for our country. I am talking about the Police Officer that patrols your streets and handles the day in, day out work that keeps your society safe. By no means am I minimizing this profession.

Whether you like and/or respect Police Officers, you have to admit that it’s a thankless job. Very seldom will you make someone’s day for the better. Very often you make someone’s day for the worse. Police Officers deal with everything from pulling a dead animal off to the side of the road to potentially having to take someone’s life. The span of responsibility is overwhelming and yes, very stressful.

Police Officers, as I would explain them are a different breed. This profession usually attracts the confident, egotistical, arrogant, cocky, macho, controlling type personality. We have all dealt with one at one point or another in our lives.

What makes someone attracted to this profession? What attracted me was being passionate about making a difference in the everyday lives of people. Serving my community to the best of my ability and making a difference. I once heard this saying, this job is like having a front row seat to the most exciting show on earth. Boy was I right and wrong at the same time.

Breaking The Silence Code

Let us be silent that we may hear the whispers of the gods~Ralph Waldo Emerson

The ultimate responsibility of a Police Officer is using deadly force against another human being. If you know a Police Officer ask them what question they have been ask the most. They will tell you, “Have you ever had to use your gun”. Hearing this makes me cringe. When I was ask that question, I cringed. No Officer ever wants to be in that position.

On January 10th, 2000, I was forced into that position. I had to use deadly force on another human being to prevent my life from being taken. I know, I had to do what I had to do to save my life. I agree 100%. However, being in that position is life altering. A position that no one every wants to be in.

The aftermath, the investigations, being Monday morning quarterbacked, being judged about your charcter, integrity, honesty, your personal life stemming all the way back to your childhood days, the decisions you made in the past, the things you have said in the past. Do you get my point? This went on for more than 5 years.

For years, I have struggled with the psychological shock, the uncertainty of operating within the “culture” and the usual burdens of struggle and conflict. I worked extremely hard to maintain my effectiveness as a compassionate and charasmatic leader but at a high personal cost. I was struggling with PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

In the early 2000′s very few knew what PTSD was. Most studies on PTSD rarely dealt with the condition among Officers due in part to a bias that do not admit its existence.

The psychological aspect of a traumatic event, the emotional devastation it leaves among anyone especially our returning troops has been slowly recognized and formalized as PTSD. However, there is little mention among Officers because of how we are trained. We are trained to never flinch or to show weaknesses. The Officer who shows a weakness will be deemed a coward or unworthy or unfit for duty. Therefore, Officers remain silent.

I spoke out! I shared how I was feeling! I shared what I was experiencing! I shared what I was going through! I could no longer hold the silence! It was like a cancer eating me from the inside out! I lived through tortune for years! I knew I was a plane spiraling out of control nose diving to earth! I had to do what was good for me!

Do what is best for you and your family. No one cares about you like you and your family. The organizations look out for their best interest. What’s good for them. Not you! Their thinking is that you can and will be replaced. They don’t care about your mental or physical well-being. You must step up and take control of your life. No one else will! Now is your time!

True Leaders do what is Right! They break the silence!

I’m John R. Salkowski, Founder of AchieveSuccessAcademy.com, Retired Police Officer, Survivor of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), Entrepreneur, Author, Speaker, Leading Authority on Leadership, Overcoming Adversity & Fear.

Copyright 2012 Achieve Success Academy All Rights Reserved

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Achieving Success: Are You A Good Human Being?

January 25, 2012 Achieve Success Academy One comment

Be a good human being, a warm-hearted affectionate person. That is my fundamental belief. Having a sense of caring, a feeling of compassion will bring happiness of peace of mind to oneself and automatically create a positive atmosphere~Dalai Lama

Are You A Good Human Being?

Can you honestly look yourself in the mirror and say, “I am a good person”. At the end of the day, month, year or even as your life comes to an end, can you honestly look back and say to yourself, “I am/was a good human being”. Have you honestly and truly done right by everyone? Have you treated everyone fairly and respectfully?

Being successful has nothing to do with being good or bad. But I truly believe in what you reap, you sow. Being a good human being to me comes down to morality and values. It has nothing to do with how much money you make, possessions you have or don’t have, the size of home you live in, the type of car you drive, the size of your bank account.

Have you ever done anyone wrong? Have you ever done something to benefit yourself when it didn’t benefit the other person? Have you, so called, stabbed someone in the back to get ahead? Have you ever bad mouthed another person to someone of higher authority to make yourself look better? Have you ever brown nosed someone to get that promotion, get that better position, get that raise? Can your true friends count on you for being there for them? Are these statements even relevant with being a good human being? I believe as long as you do all things with the highest level of integrity, you can’t wrong.

Someone’s good might not be good to another. Everyone has their own interpretation of what a good human being stands for. Would you agree that everyone is out for themselves? I would agree that they are. However, what matters is how far one takes it.

I believe we all have that 6th sense of whether we can recognize a good human being when we see one. Just because someone has a different personality than we do, doesn’t mean they are a bad person. Just because someone has a different outlook on money, politics, religion, sex, race or work ethic doesn’t necessarily mean they are bad. Would you agree?

What I have learned over the course of my life is that everyone is different and that we should not judge someone because they are different. Some are good human beings and some are bad human beings. My definition of good and bad will differ from some, however here are my opinions of what I believe makes a good human being.

What Makes A Good Human Being.

* Being honest in all you do.

* Being trustworthy in all you do.

* Being respectful to ALL.

* Lover of all people.

* Being a kind person to all walks of life including animals.

* Being compassionate towards others.

* Being empathetic with people.

* Having integrity in everything you do. Not just in public but behind closed doors as well.

* Having NO part in the 4 negative emotions: fear, anger, hatred & jealousy. Even though we all experience these emotions from time to time, they are like cancer. They will eat you from the inside out.

* Not taking advantage of someone who may know less about a certain topic or business.

* Being helpful towards ALL.

* Giving someone your undivided attention. Treat them as if they are the only ones on the planet.

* Being gentle, kind, caring toward the elderly.

* Being generous.

* Being flexible in life and business.

* Being humble. Not arrogant or cocky.

* Being confident in who you are and what you do.

* Being of solid character.

* Being non-judgemental.

* Being positive in all you do.

* Being moral in all you do.

* Have good values.

* Don’t judge another human being until you have walked in their shoes.

I’m John R. Salkowski, Founder of Achieve Success Academy, Retired Cop, Survivor of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) Leading Authority on Overcoming Fear & Adversity, Finding Your WHY Power & Achieving Greater Success. Entrepreneur, Speaker and Self-Made Man.

I can be reached via email at John@JohnSalkowski.com for questions, comments as well as speaking engagements.

 

Copyright 2012 Achieve Success Academy All Rights Reserved

 

 

 

A Must Have Value of a Successful Person

January 20, 2012 Achieve Success Academy 3 comments

Achievement of your happiness is the only moral purpose of your life, and that happiness, not pain or mindless self-indulgence, is the proof of your moral integrity, since it is the proof and the result of your loyalty to the achievement of your values.
Ayn Rand

Integrity is a value, like persistence, courage and industriousness. Even more so, it’s the value that guarantees all the other values. You’re a good person to the degree for which you live your life consistent with the highest values that you espouse. Integrity is the quality that locks in your values and causes you to live consistent with them.
Integrity is the foundation of character and character development is one of the most important activities you can engage in. Working on your character means disciplining yourself to do more and more of those things that a thoroughly honest person would do, under all circumstances.
To be impeccably honest with others, you must first be impeccably honest with yourself. You must be true to yourself. You must be true to the very best that is in you, to the very best that you know. A person who is living consistent with his or her highest values and virtues is really living a life of integrity. And when you commit to living this kind of life, you will find yourself continually raising your own standards, continually refining your definition of integrity.
You can tell how high your level of integrity is by simply looking at the things you do in your day-to-day life. You can look at your reactions and responses to the inevitable ups and downs of life. You can observe the behaviors you typically engage in and you’ll then know the person you are.
The most important rule you’ll ever learn is that your life only becomes better when you become better.
Your life should be lived from the inside out. At the very core of your personality lie your values about yourself and life in general. Your values determine the kind of person you really are. What you believe defines your character and your personality. It’s what you stand for, and what you won’t stand for. That tells you and the world what kind of person you really are.
Napoleon Hill, in his book, The Master Key to Riches, tells about how he created an imaginary board of personal advisors made up of great figures of history. He chose people like Lincoln, Jesus, and Alexander the Great. Whenever he had to make a decision, he would relax deeply and then imagine that the members of his advisory council were sitting at a large table in front of him. He would then ask them what he should do to deal effectively with a particular situation. In time, they would begin to give him answers, observations, and insights that helped him to see more clearly and act more effectively.
You can do the same thing. Select someone that you admire very much for their qualities of courage, tenacity, honesty or wisdom. Ask yourself, What would they do in my situation? You will find yourself with guidance that enables you to be the very best person that you can possible be.
Your integrity is manifested in your willingness to adhere to the values you hold most dear. It’s easy to make promises but very hard to keep them. However, if you do, every single act of integrity will make your character a little stronger. As you improve the quality and strength of your character, every other part of your life will improve as well.
Integrity has to do with your commitments to others. Always keep your word. Be a man or a woman of honor. If you say that you will do something, do it. If you make a promise, keep it. If you make a commitment, fulfill it. Be known as the kind of person that can be trusted absolutely, no matter what the circumstances.

I’m John R. Salkowski, Founder of Achieve Success Academy, Retired Cop, Survivor of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) Leading Authority on Overcoming Adversity, Finding Your WHY Power & Achieving Greater Success. Entrepreneur, Speaker and Self-Made Man.

I can be reached via email at John@AchieveSuccessAcademy.com for Speaking Engagements.

Copyright 2012 Achieve Success Academy All Rights Reserved