John | John Salkowski ~ Leadership in the Line of Duty™

Tag Archive for John

7 POWERFUL Ways That Will Transform Your Decision Making Results

May 20, 2013 AchieveSuccessAcademy.com John R Salkowski, John Salkowski, John Salkowski International No comments

Productive, action oriented, efficient people are skilled decision makers ~ John Salkowski

Being a productive, functional human being in today’s world, one must continuously make appropriate decisions in life. We all know good from bad, right from wrong and in order for something to be considered a decision, one must actualize it. Being able to actualize on something you thought of doing makes you an efficient & productive person.

Below are 7 Powerful ways that will transform your decision making results that will not only enhance the quality of your life but also allow you to take better control of your life. Being able to make better decisions provides us with the benefit of independence, helps us to accomplish more things in life which ultimately will bring more happiness and success into our lives.

1. Improve your self-confidence ~ Believing in yourself is an important aspect of making better decisions. Building your confidence is like building a muscle. You must practice making difficult decisions in order to build your self-confidence.

2. Start with the end in mind ~ What result do you want to accomplish? Start from there and work back.

3. Avoid over thinking ~ Analyze the situation, however do not allow your analyses to cause paralyses. Give yourself a certain amount of time and when that time is up, make your decision.

4. Act on your decision immediately ~ After making your decision, act on it immediately to avoid changing your mind or doubting yourself. This will strengthen your decision making muscle.

5. Do not be afraid to make split-second decisions ~ There will be times when you don’t have time to analyze a situation. Allow your life experience, knowledge and training to kick in. Making split-second decisions doesn’t mean you’re irresponsible. It means you are confident in your decision making abilities.

6. Make your own decisions ~ Avoid letting others make decisions for you as this can and will be crippling in the long run. This is a perfect way of deteriorating your decision making muscle. It’s fine if you want to take others opinions into consideration, however the ultimate decision is yours to take.

7. Stick to your decision ~ Avoid the blame game or guilt trip with yourself once you’ve made a decision. Stick to your decision and trust you made the right choice. This skill set will impact your ability to make better decisions in the future.

Decision making means, in the last analysis, the substitution of thought for brawn and muscle, of knowledge for folkways and superstition, and of cooperation for force. It means the substitution of responsibility for obedience to rank, and of authority of performance for the authority of rank. Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision ~ Peter F. Drucker

About the Author

John Salkowski is a retired Police Officer after an impressive 15 year career who is now a Highly Sought-After Leadership and Motivational Speaker and Trainer. John has wowed audiences ranging from 20-20,000 sharing his unique Leadership strategies in his signature presentation:

“Leadership in the Line of Duty™ ~ 50 Leadership Lessons for Making Split-Second Decisions from a Cop Whose Has Been in Life and Death Situations”.

John regularly speaks for a variety of leaders (ranging from entry level to experienced executives) for corporations, business groups, associations, colleges, universities, youth groups and sports organizations. Pulling from his 15 years of real world, in-the-trenches (and even life and death) Law Enforcement experiences, John now teaches leaders one of the most important key components of leadership (that is often overlooked):

“How to make Split-Second Leadership Decisions when the Direction and Success of your Organization depends on it!”

John has received numerous distinguished awards for Bravery, Merit and Unit Citations. He has also received media attention for serving as a leader within his community, including being featured in the Philadelphia Magazine as one of the area’s Top Business Leaders.

Any organization that wants to develop their people into becoming “Extraordinary Leaders” needs to hire John for a keynote and/or workshop training.

To request John speak at your next event, please email his office at info@JohnSalkowski.com

Top 5 Decisions You Must Make Right Now to Living a Good Life Before It’s Too Late

May 14, 2013 AchieveSuccessAcademy.com John R Salkowski, John Salkowski, John Salkowski International No comments

Living a good life is a decision, a process. It’s a direction not a destination ~ John Salkowski

We all go through life with the blinders on. We get up every morning to go to work, come home from work, eat, watch television, go to bed and start the process over the next morning. This process goes on & on & on for years. Before we know it, we look back and say where has all the time gone. Too often, it takes something serious to happen in our lives to stop and smell the roses. Our families, our loved ones, our health, our friends and our relationships. Too often we put the money, the house, the car, and the personal belongings ahead of what truly matters. All that stuff doesn’t matter in the end. What matters in the end is living a good life. Being present each and every moment. Not missing out on those special events such as the ball game, the rehearsal, the play, the birthday and the friendly gatherings. We must live each day with the thought at the forefront of our minding of what truly matters most.

Here are the Top 5 decisions you can make right now to improve your life immediately & live with no regrets

1. Courage: To live a life true to yourself, not the life others expected of you.

Courage is said to be the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back on it, it’s easy to see how many dreams go unfulfilled. Most people go through life not honoring or fulfilling most of their dreams. Live your life knowing that you made good choices, good use of your time with what matters most. Don’t go to your death bed with the regrets that you made poor decisions throughout your life. It’s very important to honor some of your dreams along the way. Don’t allow losing your health to be a wakeup call. It’ll be too late. Our health brings us a freedom very few realize, until they no longer have it.

2. Work: Take time for what matters most

Working hard is said to be the second most common regret of all. Don’t miss out on your children’s events or your partner’s companionship. Put work aside and forget about everything else. By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious decisions along the way, it’s possible to not need as much income that you think you do. This can and will create more space in your life. By doing this, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.

3. Express Yourself: Be you, everyone else is taking

Many people suppress their feelings in order to keep peace with others. They settle for a mediocre existence and never become who they’re truly destined and capable of becoming. Don’t allow this to create unwanted stress, health issues, bitterness and resentment in your life. We cannot and will not control the reactions of others. People will react when you change the way you are by speaking openly and honestly. In the end, it will either raise the relationship to a whole new and healthier level or it’ll release you of the unhealthy relationships from your life. Either way, you win.

4. Friendships & Loved Ones: Cherish & nourish the people that matter most in your life

Sometimes we don’t realize the full benefits of our friends, families and loved ones until its too late. We get so caught up in our own lives that we allow what truly matters most to pass us by. It’s so common for anyone with a busy lifestyle to let this happen. But when you are faced with an unknown illness or that of a loved one it’s usually too late. Is it the money or status that holds the true importance for us? Of course not, however we allow it too but don’t realize we do until it’s too late. It all comes down to the love and relationships in the end. That’s all that remains in the final weeks of our lives, the love and relationships we have for each other.

5. Be Happy & Foolish: Have fun, laugh & be stupid

We don’t realize that happiness is a decision and/or a choice we make. We often stay stuck in our old patterns and habits. The so-called “comfort” of familiarity we all know so very well. Fear of change has us pretending to others, and to ourselves, that we’re content. When deep within, we long to laugh, be silly, act stupid. Too often we don’t recognize this until it’s too late. When we’re on our deathbed, what others think of us won’t matter. So let go, be happy, be foolish and stupid long before you’re dying.

Thank you, dear God, for this good life and forgive us if we do not love it enough. Thank you for the rain and for the chance to wake up in three hours and go fishing: I thank you for that now, because I won’t feel so thankful then ~ Garrison Keillor

Life is a choice. It’s our life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, and choose honestly on how you live your life at this very moment. Live your life with no regrets.

About the Author

Leadership in the Line of Duty™
Lessons for Making Split-Second Leadership Decisions from a Cop Who Has Been in Life and Death Situations.

“How to Make Split-Second Leadership Decisions when the Direction and Success of your Organization depends on it!”

Any organization that wants to develop their people into becoming “Extraordinary Leaders” needs to hire John for a keynote and/or workshop training.
To request John speak and/or hold a workshop training at your next event, please email his office at info@JohnSalkowski.com

John Salkowski: Entrepreneur, Best Selling Author, National Speaker, Coach, Consultant & Trainer to Release New Book, “Leadership In The Line of Duty™”

April 29, 2013 AchieveSuccessAcademy.com Achieve Success Academy, John R Salkowski, John Salkowski, John Salkowski International No comments

John Salkowski, Entrepreneur, Best Selling Author, National Speaker, Coach, Consultant and Trainer to Release New Business Book, “Leadership In The Line of Duty™: 50 Leadership Lessons For Making Split-Second Decisions From a Cop Who Has Been in Life and Death Situations”.

April 29, 2013

Leadership in the Line of Duty™
50 Leadership Lessons for Making Split-Second Decisions from a Cop Who Has Been in Life and Death Situations

“How to Make Split-Second Leadership Decisions When The Direction and Success of Your Organization Depends On It!”

Any organization that wants to develop their people into becoming “Extraordinary Leaders” needs to hire John for a keynote and/or workshop training.

To request John speak at your next event, please email his office at info@JohnSalkowski.com

For more information about John Salkowski, visit http://JohnSalkowski.com

Leadership | Entrepreneurial Breakthroughs: Developing Critical Decision Making Skills

March 26, 2013 AchieveSuccessAcademy.com Achieve Success Academy, John R Salkowski, John Salkowski, John Salkowski International No comments

A real decision is measured by the fact that you’ve taken a new action. If there’s no action, you haven’t truly decided ~ Tony Robbins

Decision making is the most important essential leadership/entrepreneurial skill one must possess to achieve great success. If you can learn how to make timely and even split-second, well-considered decisions, then you can lead yourself and/or your team to well-deserved achievement. If, however, you make poor decisions, your time as a leader/entrepreneur will be brutally short.

It’s a valuable asset to be able to make fast, split-second accurate decisions. It’s sometimes called “thinking on your feet.” We make these types of decisions in our everyday lives, even if we are not aware of them. Sometimes the most important decisions need to be made quickly, and you can find yourself “frozen,” unable to find a solution. If you find yourself needing to make decisions more quickly, then you should use critical thinking skills to evaluate your options and feel confident in your decision. There are a number of steps that go into quick, split-second decision-making, and practicing them every day can help expedite everyday decision-making.

1) Identify the decision to be made: Isolate the problem so that a decision can be made. Ask for clarifications, if the decision to be made is not clear. You cannot make a quick decision if you are not familiar with the problem. Just like solving a problem in a math class, if you don’t understand an element of the criteria, you will not be able to solve it.

2) Reduce the emotion involved: Ask yourself whether the outcome of the decision impacts your life greatly. If not, removing the stress and/or frustration can help you clear your mind and make a more intelligent decision.

3) Be honest and ruthless with your choices: Cut out any options that you know you will not choose. This will help to narrow down your options. Understand that in many situations, indecision is not a choice. No decision is worse than a bad decision. There are rarely perfect decisions. Realize that each option may also have cons. The trick to quick, split-second decision making is choosing the best option with the information and criteria you have at hand.

4) Use critical thinking skills: Critical thinking is a high-order of reasoning that values observation, experience, analysis and reflection. Take a few moments to visualize the results with each option before deciding. Make a mental note of the pros and cons and choose the best option.

5) Consider your gut instincts (Intuition) if you have not reached a decision: Quick, split-second decision-making in a crisis is sometimes called “reactive” decision-making, because it is a reaction to stimulus. These decisions are often made based on your critical-thinking skills. In a study, researchers reported that people often feel regret for making quick, split-second decisions even when they were correct. They noted that making these decisions does not make them more likely to be inaccurate. Their decisions were positive but their perceptions were negative. Do you do this? Understanding it may make you happier with your decision.

6) Communicate your decision: Putting your decision into action may allow others to make their decisions. Like Tony Robbins says, the fact that you made a decision and took action is the real measure of decision making.

About the Author

John R. Salkowski is a retired Police Officer after an impressive 15 year career who is now a Highly Sought-After Leadership and Motivational Speaker and Trainer. John has wowed audiences ranging from 20-20,000 sharing his unique Leadership strategies in his signature presentation:

Leadership in the Line of Duty™
Split-Second Decision Secrets Revealed that All Top-Performers and Self-Made Millionaires Want to Know ™

“How to make Split-Second Leadership Decisions when the Direction and Success of your Organization depends on it!”

Any organization that wants to develop their people into becoming “Extraordinary Leaders” needs to hire John for a keynote and/or workshop training.

To request John speak at your next event, please email his office at John@JohnSalkowski.com

Speaking Fees starting at $7,500

Inspiring others to be Decisive and Take Action Now

February 18, 2013 AchieveSuccessAcademy.com Achieve Success Academy, John R Salkowski, John Salkowski, John Salkowski International No comments

Make a decision, be decisive and take action. Indecisiveness breeds failure. Live by choice, not by chance. Make changes, not excuses. Get motivated, not manipulated. Work to excel, not compete ~ John R. Salkowski

This is the way to inspire people to make decisions, take action and make a positive difference in their lives. This is how you can grow into the best version of YOU! Listen to your inner voice, it’s always right and be selective on who you take advice from not the jumbled opinions of everyone out there.

Here are the Top 5 ways to Inspire Others to be Decisive and Take Action Now:

1) Care about Others – People don’t care about how much you know, until they know how much you care.

2) Challenge others to do their Best – As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be.” If people know we expect great things from them, they will often go to great lengths to live up to our expectations.

3) Share Personal Experiences from your Failures to your Successes – Always be a resource to those around you. If you have access to essential information, don’t hoard it, share it openly. You have more to share than you realize. Mine the rich experiences of your life and share your wisdom from your unique point of view. Be vulnerable. Be willing to share your failures as well as your successes. Others will relate to you. They’ll understand that they’re not the only ones with challenges.

4) Express your Enthusiasm – Passion is something you must be willing to express if you want to inspire others. You will gain a lot of influence just by publicly expressing that you’re excited and passionate about a topic. Expressive passion is contagious. You’ll get people inspired by having them wonder why you love what you love so much. Most will and some won’t take the time necessary to understand what it is about the topic that moves you so much.

5) Be Authentic and True to Yourself – In this crazy world that’s trying to make you like everyone else, or as I call it “PC or Political Correctness”, find the courage to keep being your awesome self. Embrace that individual inside you that has ideas, strengths, wisdom and beauty like no one else. Be the person you know yourself to be – be the person you want to be – the best version of you – on your terms. Above all, be true to YOU, and if you cannot put your heart and soul into it, take yourself out of it. No it won’t always be easy; because when it comes to living as a compassionate, empathetic, non-judgmental human being, the only challenge greater than learning to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, is learning to walk a lifetime in your own.

About the Author

“Leadership in the Line of Duty”™
Split-Second Decision Secrets Revealed that All Top-Performers and Self-Made Millionaires Know ™

John regularly speaks for a variety of leaders (ranging from entry level to experienced executives) for corporations, business groups, associations, colleges, universities, youth groups and sports organizations. Pulling from his 15 years of real world, in-the-trenches (and even life and death) Law Enforcement situations, John now teaches leaders one of the most important key components of leadership (that is often overlooked):

“How to make Split-Second Leadership Decisions when the Direction and Success of your Organization depends on it!”

John has received numerous distinguished awards for Bravery, Merit and Unit Citations. He has also received several employee recognition awards for serving as a leader within his community, including being featured in the Philadelphia Magazine as one of the area’s Top Business Leaders.

Any organization that wants to develop their people into becoming “Extraordinary Leaders” needs to hire John for a keynote and/or workshop training.
To request John speak at your next event, please email his office at John@JohnSalkowski.com

Is Success truly found in our Struggle?

January 31, 2013 AchieveSuccessAcademy.com Achieve Success Academy No comments

Sometimes you have to get knocked down lower than you’ve ever been, to stand up taller than you than you ever were ~ unknown

Did you know that one of the most famous, well-known and respected men in American history at the age of 50 had never experienced success? In fact, what he had experienced was way too many struggles and disappointments. Here are just a few of the struggles and disappointments he had faced: Being forced out of his home along with his family at age 7, losing his mother at age 9, at the age 22 he lost a job as a store clerk and while wanting to attend law school, he was unable to because his education wasn’t adequate, losing a youthful love to an untimely death and at age 28 being rejected upon asking his next love to marry him, failing the first two attempts for Congress and upon being elected on his third attempt, losing his re-election two years later, suffering a nervous breakdown, losing a young son, and making two unsuccessful attempts at earning a seat in the US Senate.

One can only say, “Wow”. Quite a laundry list of struggle would provoke one to lose hope and even doubt his own ability. Yes, this entire list of struggle and disappointment is equated with just one person. After all of this contention, at the age of 51, Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th President of the United States, yet unfortunately, the heart-breaking moments didn’t stop there.

Why speak of such struggle? Why focus on all of the tough times? What can Lincoln’s life teach us? What lessons can each of us learn from his agonizing experiences?

Great leaders don’t just materialize as does great success, character and integrity appear out of thin air. As Lincoln’s life demonstrates, a life full of appreciation and something worth admiring occurs only after much struggle and disappointment.

True success, creating a life that achieves contentment and inspires those around you to soar as well is something that requires a person of inner strength which is fostered by persevering through challenging times. While there are many in our world who understand this, there are far too many who believe that success comes to those who put out their hand and ask politely for it, and upon being laughed at or ignored, stomp their foot and whine. But David Bly reminds us in his precise analogy, “Striving for success without hard work is like trying to harvest where you haven’t planted.”

The truth of the matter is, whining and pleading will achieve nothing of value and possibly some pity. So instead of blaming our troubles for our inability to achieve the success we had dreamt about, why not be grateful for them and turn them into something beyond our initial imaginative desires?

Why not take it on the chin? So you were rejected, so the job you’ve desired for years isn’t hiring, so your car breaks down, so you are faced with another struggle you hadn’t planned on – look deep inside yourself, find your strength, tap into it and burn the midnight oil to make a seemingly unfortunate situation into something that will leave people inspired and with you realizing the amazing strengths you may not have known you had.

Think about this for a moment, if everything in our lives ran smoothly and not one obstacle ever presented itself, would we truly ever realize our true potential? Absolutely not!

Don’t get me wrong, times of struggle and disappointment are not something I wish for nor want, however it is in those moments when you are being tested that you can either choose to fail and remain where you are, or take it for the opportunity that it is and turn into gold.

Things worth having don’t come easy, so I leave you with a quote from the very man who faced the utmost struggle: The probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just ~ Abraham Lincoln

About the Author

“Leadership in the Line of Duty”™
“Split-Second Decision Secrets Revealed that All Top-Performers and Self-Made Millionaires Know” ™

John regularly speaks for a variety of leaders (ranging from entry level to experienced executives) for corporations, business groups, associations, colleges, universities, youth groups and sports organizations. Pulling from his 15 years of real world, in-the-trenches (and even life and death) Law Enforcement situations, John now teaches leaders one of the most important key components of leadership (that is often overlooked):

“How to make Decisive Split-Second Leadership Decisions when the direction and success of your organization depends on it!”

Any organization that wants to develop their people into becoming “Extraordinary Leaders” needs to hire John for a keynote and/or workshop training.
To request John to speak at your next event, please email his office at John@JohnSalkowski.com

Top Secrets of All Top-Performers & Self-Made Millionaires

January 20, 2013 AchieveSuccessAcademy.com Achieve Success Academy No comments

Decisiveness shapes our destinies. Be quick to decide! Our successes are shaped in the moments of decision ~ John R. Salkowski

All top performers and even self-made millionaires know that making decisive, accurate, quality decisions is the key to their success. You don’t rise to the top in your field or industry if you do not like making decisions. Decision making is a skill that is learnable. Top performers and self-made millionaires rise to the top when the pressure is on them. You’ve heard the saying, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”

During my police career, I was often called to situations that required immediate decisive action. Let me give you an example. One Sunday morning as I was on patrol I came across a parked Jeep Wrangler at one of our Township Parks. The lot was posted that no car was permitted to be parked in the lot before 8am. As I began to investigate, I noticed a white male sitting in the driver’s seat wearing no shirt. The man at this catatonic stare and his hair was disheveled. As I pulled into the lot, the Jeep began to pull away quickly as if he was trying to get away from me. At this point, I had no idea what type of situation I had. Thoughts began to race through my mind. It was cold out, he had no shirt on, his appearance was dissheveled, did he just commit a crime, was his vehicle stolen, was he doing drugs, did he have someone in the car that he was holding against their will. As you can see, I had to process my thoughts to make sure I was justified in pursuing this vehicle. More thoughts continued to race through my mind. If I pursued this vehicle over something minor and he crashed into something or someone injuring himself or someone else, was my decision in pursuing this vehicle justified. I had to be decisive and accurate in my decision making.

Due to the unknown situation and the potential severity of a crime being committed, I made the decision to pursue the vehicle. With the help of other Officers, the vehicle was eventually stopped just a few short miles from the original location. It was later determined that the man was in possession of heroin and was shooting up the drug just prior to me witnessing him in the parking lot.

Below are Top Secrets of All Top-Performers and Self-Made Millionaires

Decisions. Top-performers and self-made millionaires are decisive in every area of their life. Decision + Action= Result. Becoming a top-performer and/or a self-made millionaire is a result of being a Champion decision maker that takes the action needed to achieve a huge level of success. We make decisions about our success in every area of life based on our Why not on how society labels us or what naysayers have to say about us.

Beliefs. The day that you realize that you must build your belief to change your life, you’ve made it! You may not yet be a top-performer or financially not yet a self-made millionaire, but the decision to build your belief and develop an attitude of belief-building sets you up to create top-performing capabilities or the physical wealth of millions of dollars. Have you tried to make a lot of money with no belief? Has it worked? I’m certain it hasn’t. You only become a self-made failure with no belief in yourself.

Gut Instincts. Top-performers and self-made millionaires have gut instinct. Being in business for myself for the past 6 years, I can within seconds tell you the character of someone and if I would do business with them. It takes more than education to become a top-performer and/or a self-made millionaire. Just like an animal acting on its instincts when catching its prey, you must rely on your gut instinct to successfully become a top-performer and to build a million dollar business as well as to survive in our cut throat society.

About the Author

“Leadership in the Line of Duty”™
Split-Second Decision Secrets Revealed that All Top-Performers and Self-Made Millionaires Know ™

John regularly speaks for a variety of leaders (ranging from entry level to experienced executives) for corporations, business groups, associations, colleges, universities, youth groups and sports organizations. Pulling from his 15 years of real world, in-the-trenches (and even life and death) Law Enforcement situations, John now teaches leaders one of the most important key components of leadership (that is often overlooked):

“How to make split-second leadership decisions when the direction and success of your organization depends on it!”

Any organization that wants to develop their people into becoming “Extraordinary Leaders” needs to hire John for a keynote and/or workshop training.

To request John to speak at your next event, please email his office at John@JohnSalkowski.com

The Decision Making of a Champion: Ray Lewis Decides to Retire After 17 Seasons

January 7, 2013 AchieveSuccessAcademy.com Achieve Success Academy No comments

You will NOT become what you’re destined to become until you first make the DECISION to become – John R. Salkowski

After 17 seasons, Ray Lewis with the Baltimore Ravens who has defined the team’s defensive excellence announced his decision to retire Wednesday, telling teammates that “this will be my last ride.”

What made Ray Lewis’ decision to retire so easy for him? After 17 seasons and 37 years old he still has what it takes to play the middle linebacker position like an All-Pro.

Ray Lewis told his teammates and media, “I just feel so much peace in where I am with my decision because of everything I’ve done in this league. There’s no accolade that I don’t have individually but I’ve never played the game for individual stats. I’ve only played the game to make my team be a better team.”

“Now, God is calling,” Lewis said. “God is calling in so many other areas of life and my children have made the ultimate sacrifice for their father, the ultimate for 17 years. Whether it’s jump on the plane, jump right back, go to school, and I don’t want to see them do no more. I’ve done what I wanted to do in this business and now, it’s my turn to give them back something. It’s either hold onto the game or keep playing or let my kids miss out on times we could be sharing together. I promised my son if he got a full-ride scholarship, Daddy was going to be there. I can’t miss that. I don’t know if I could sit in a meeting room and fight with that war.”

Ray Lewis describes above his “Why” on making the decision to retire. It all begins and ends with our “Why”. His decision was made from his “gut” or as some call it, his “inter-voice talking” to him. If you want to be great at whatever you do, you must first have a “Why”. His “Why” 17 seasons ago was to be the best middle linebacker to ever play the game. He played every game with heart, enthusiasm, energy, passion and the will to win.

17 seasons later his “Why” is his children. He now wants to be there for them. After all the years of their sacrifice and adversity they have been through, he’s now saying it’s his turn.

Lewis, who had been the NFL’s longest tenured defensive player with his original team, leaves the Ravens and the sport with a résumé that puts him in the conversation as one of the best middle linebackers in NFL history, and a lock for the Hall of Fame.

He was selected for 13 Pro Bowl teams, tabbed as an Associated Press All-Pro 10 times, garnered NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors twice and was named the Super Bowl XXXV MVP after the Ravens’ triumph over the New York Giants.

About the Author

“Leadership in the Line of Duty”™
Split-Second Decision Secrets Revealed that All Self-Made Millionaires Know ™

John regularly speaks for a variety of leaders (ranging from entry level to experienced executives) for corporations, business groups, associations, colleges, universities, youth groups and sports organizations. Pulling from his 15 years of real world, in-the-trenches (and even life and death) Law Enforcement situations, John now teaches leaders one of the most important key components of leadership (that is often overlooked):

“How to make split-second leadership decisions when the direction and success of your organization depends on it!”

A Personal Message from Founder John R. Salkowski

December 24, 2012 AchieveSuccessAcademy.com Achieve Success Academy 2 comments

“You will have everything in life you want, if you will just help people get what they want” – The Late Great Zig-Ziglar

This holiday season I want you all to know that I am most grateful for your love, support and friendship. Please know that I appreciate you more than you know and hope that you enjoy your holidays as we look onward and upward to a fantastic 2013 filled with unlimited possibilities.

Resolve today to making 2013 your best year ever. Start by writing down what it is you want to achieve for the New Year. Remember to include being a mentor and friend to others that need you most.

Like Mr. Zig Ziglar said so eloquently, “You will have everything in life you want, if you will just help people get what they want”.

Here are the Top Strategies to Achieve More in 2013:

1) Planning Your Future- If you don’t know where you are going then any road will get you there. Your planning must be specific and measurable. You must take time to examine the details of every aspect of your life, personal and professional, to achieve unified success and happiness.

2) Decide the Who, Not the What- Decide who you want to be, not what you want to be doing. If you know who you want to be, you can detail what to do and the resources you will need.

3) Be a Giver- Help someone else achieve the success they so desire.

4) Be Honest with Yourself- You’ll need to challenge yourself constantly to get to the truth of who we are and who we wish to be.

5) Ignore the Naysayers- Constructive criticism is okay. But outside perspective that is baseless (think dissatisfied family or friends) is destructive for achievers. Put these people in a box where they can’t distract you from your ambitions. Find people who get it, and put them in your corner. Engage them in your chosen future, and help them achieve theirs.

6) Don’t Settle for Mediocrity- You should push yourself to the limits of your potential. Too many people settle for what is easy rather than engage their energy and creativity to create something different, significant and meaningful. Resolve for the New Year to pursue the “Awesome Experience”.

Happy Holidays to All and I wish for you all to experience the success you so truly deserve in 2013.

About the Author

“Leadership in the Line of Duty”
Lessons for Making Split-Second Decisions from a Cop Who Has Been in Life and Death Situations

John regularly speaks for a variety of leaders (ranging from entry level to experienced executives) for corporations, business groups, associations, colleges, universities, youth groups and sports organizations. Pulling from his 15 years of real world, in-the-trenches (and even life and death) Law Enforcement situations, John now teaches leaders one of the most important key components of leadership (that is often overlooked):

“How to make split-second leadership decisions when the direction and success of your organization depends on it!”

Any organization that wants to develop their people into becoming “Extraordinary Leaders” needs to hire John for a keynote and/or workshop training.
To request John to speak at your next event, please email his office at John@JohnSalkowski.com

How a Leader turned Chaos into Triumph: A Penn State Story

December 10, 2012 AchieveSuccessAcademy.com Achieve Success Academy No comments

“For five years, Bills outstanding work with our quarterbacks and entire offense has led to record-setting performances. His presence and command before our team has grown into that of an inspirational leader. This is a great match between a storied program and an old-school football coach.” — BILL BELICHICK, New England Patriots coach

Who is Coach Bill O’Brien?

So, who is this guy anyway? He was born in Dorchester, MA. and raised in Andover, a Boston suburb. He played linebacker and defensive end at Brown University from 1990-92, graduating in 1992 with a double concentration in political science and organizational behavior management. He started out his coaching career at his alma mater. He worked his way through the college ranks before landing a job with the New England Patriots in 2007 under the great Bill Belichick.

During a bye week with the New England Patriots, Coach O’Brien was permitted to speak with the Jacksonville Jaguars for their head coach position. Fortunately, this never happened but instead interviewed for the head coaching position at Penn State. On January 7, 2012 O’Brien became the 15th head football coach after the firing of Joe Paterno following the largest child abuse sex scandals in all of college football history.

So, after all the scandal and bad publicity that Penn State was going through why would anyone want to be the successor to the legendary Joe Paterno as Penn State’s football coach, you might ask? Just ask Dave Joyner, Penn State’s Acting Director of Athletics.

“We have found the man to take Penn State football forward,” said Dave Joyner, Penn State Acting Director of Athletics, at O’Brien’s introduction to the Nittany Nation. “Needless to say, we have been looking for someone with some very special qualities, beginning with a heart that beats to the values and vision of Penn State University and our Penn State football legacy and tradition. That was our starting point, and Coach O’Brien exemplifies those traits that Penn Staters hold so highly. In addition to his model characteristics as a man and a teacher, he’s all about producing winners, and doing so the right way. He will embrace tradition, demand excellence and pursue Success with Honor in every phase of our program.”

Despite all the negativity Coach O’Brien was faced with from the former players and fans, he was determined to lead one of the nation’s premier college football programs with true old school style leadership.

What we can learn from Coach O’Brien. He is an old style, in your face type coach, not afraid to voice his opinion or speak his mind. People must respect this. He is extremely detailed/task oriented with a system in place for just about everything. He is a very engaging person that loves people and wants to make a difference in the lives he touches. He’s an intense man with a vision for success. He loves a challenge and will not back down. He faces every challenge head on. He’s very intelligent and knows the game like the back of his hand. He has coached every position and had some of the best mentors the games have ever produced. Lastly, his has a strong presence and command about him. When he walks into a room, he has something about him that is instantly respected and admired.

Coach O’Brien is an ordinary man that gets extraordinary results in everything he does. His goal is to rebuild the image of a program and to recreate that aura of prestige and class. With an 8-4 finish, O’Brien brought that feeling back to the campus and its iconic football team. This was the reason Coach O’Brien was named “Big Ten Coach of the Year” over the likes of Urban Meyers, Ohio State Buckeyes and Brian Kelly, Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

In his last interview, he had to say this, “It was a tough, tough year here, especially if you go back to November, but I think these kids — and again it goes back to this senior class — they’re wise beyond their years,” O’Brien said. “As time went on they realized that it’s not about bowl games, it’s about making sure that we do our part to help put an end to child abuse but at the same time go out and play as good of football as we can and like every season we wish we had some plays back and some games back, but I think at the end of the day we played pretty good football.”

About the Author

John R. Salkowski is a retired Police Officer after an impressive 15 year career who is now a Highly Sought-After Leadership and Motivational Speaker and Trainer. John can speak for crowds ranging from 20-20,000 sharing his unique leadership strategies in his signature presentation:

“Leadership in the Line of Duty”
Lessons for Making Split-Second Decisions from a Cop Who Has Been in Life and Death Situations

John regularly speaks for a variety of leaders (ranging from entry level to experienced executives) for corporations, business groups, associations, colleges, universities, youth groups and sports organizations. Pulling from his 15 years of real world, in-the-trenches (and even life and death) Law Enforcement situations, John now teaches leaders one of the most important key components of leadership (that is often overlooked):

“How to make split-second leadership decisions when the direction and success of your organization depends on it!”

Any organization that wants to develop their people into becoming “Extraordinary Leaders” needs to hire John for a keynote and/or workshop training.

To request John to speak at your next event, please email his office at John@JohnSalkowski.com

Nick Saban: What makes this Great Coach, Mentor and Leader Tick?

December 3, 2012 AchieveSuccessAcademy.com Achieve Success Academy 3 comments

“It’s not going to get fixed until everybody takes responsibility for it. Like one of those old West Virginia proverbs that I always talk about. A man benefits directly from a mistake, relative to how much it bothers him. I can tell you I didn’t sleep very much, so it bothers the hell out of me.” ~ Nick Saban

If you want to figure out what makes Nick Saban tick, start with the little things. What really separates Saban from the crowd is his organizational modus operandi. Nick Saban calls it, “The Process”. It’s an approach he implemented first in turnarounds at Michigan State and LSU and seems to have perfected “The Process” at Alabama. He has a plan for everything. He has a detailed program for his players to follow, and he’s highly regimented. Above all, Saban keeps his players and coaches focused on execution – yes, another word for process – rather than results.

Thank “The Process”, which involves an almost inhuman work ethic, relentlessness and energy level.

“You see how he works day in and day out, every day,” says strength coach Scott Cochran. “And then you see how exhausted you would be, or you are, at that time and he’s still going hard, he’s still attacking. It doesn’t matter whether he was up all night or had to take a recruiting trip and come back. He doesn’t have a tired side. He doesn’t have a down side. And I’m the strength coach, so you think I can have one? No way!”

“Nick is all about focus –on one thing,” Belichick writes of Saban. “Whether it is the next opponent, the next practice, or the next recruit, he has the ability—at any given time to devote his absolute attention and energy to solving the problem or challenge at hand before moving to the next one.”

What amazes me about Saban is the process he uses for recruiting the top blue chippers in the country. He uses a precise mathematical equation for each recruit, their position such as their height, speed, flexibility and strength. Here’s an example: His offensive lineman have to be a certain height, weight and strength to be even considered. However, what is most important is the drills he puts his recruits through. If the recruit is in a 3-point stance and his heels are not on the ground, he doesn’t recruit them. No matter how good they are, he will not recruit them because of their flexibility.

Saban is a brain surgeon in a college head coaching role. Simply brilliant!

My research of Nick Saban reveals these top qualities that make him an All-Time Great Leader on and off the field:

1) Intelligent ~ Studies and masters at becoming great.

2) Relentless ~ He never gives in or gives up.

3) Intense ~ Losing is no option

4) Demands Accountability ~ Respects only those that take responsibility for their actions.

5) Driven ~ Wants to be the greatest of all-time.

6) Focused ~ Is all about his modus operanti.

7) Disciplined ~ Gets things accomplished at whatever expense.

What really separates Saban from the crowd is his organizational modus operandi. There you have it, follow in the footsteps of this great leader and start building your leadership qualities today!

About the Author

John R. Salkowski is a retired Police Officer after an impressive 15 year career who is now a Highly Sought-After Leadership and Motivational Speaker and Trainer. John can speak for crowds ranging from 20-20,000 sharing his unique leadership strategies in his signature presentation:

“Leadership in the Line of Duty”
Lessons for Making Split-Second Decisions from a Cop Who Has Been in Life and Death Situations

John regularly speaks for a variety of leaders (ranging from entry level to experienced executives) for corporations, business groups, associations, colleges, universities, youth groups and sports organizations. Pulling from his 15 years of real world, in-the-trenches (and even life and death) Law Enforcement situations, John now teaches leaders one of the most important key components of leadership (that is often overlooked):

“How to make split-second leadership decisions when the direction and success of your organization depends on it!”

Any organization that wants to develop their people into becoming “Extraordinary Leaders” needs to hire John for a keynote and/or workshop training.

To request John to speak at your next event, please email his office at John@JohnSalkowski.com

To Make a Positive Difference it all starts with Sharing!

November 26, 2012 AchieveSuccessAcademy.com Achieve Success Academy No comments

To share your knowledge with others is the real definition of living ~ John R. Salkowski

I thought I’d share this fantastic vitamin/mineral supplement I am taking. It’s called Vemma. The results I have seen have been unbelievable. I have had acid reflux very badly for the past 6 years to where I was taking 2 Prilosec’s a day. I’ve been taking Vemma for 3 months now and I must say, I do not take Prilosec any longer. My mother’s arthritic knee use to click every time she bent it, after taking this product for 1 month, she no longer has that problem. I have my entire family including my 10 year old (who has asthma) on this product and you should too! Continue reading to see why you need to start taking this great product NOW!

The World’s Most Powerful Anti-Oxidant

Check out this website: http://www.vemma.com/science/

The “Mangosteen Fruit” is one of the main ingredients in Vemma.

Vemma ~ an acronym for Vitamins Essential Minerals Mangosteen and Aloe ~ boasts a wide range of health properties, backed by double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials conducted by Brunswick Laboratories in Norton, MA. The liquid vitamin and mineral supplement carries a high ORAC value, which stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. Ronald Prior, the scientist who helped create the ORAC test, recommends you consume at least 3,500 ORAC units daily for optimum health. Vemma contains 115,000 ORAC units.

Immune Booster

An independent, double blind placebo controlled study conducted by Brunswick Labs in Norton, Mass., showed that people drinking Vemma showed a significant improvement in immune function. An active compound in aloe, called Acemannan, is an immune stimulant.

Cancer Fighter

According to the National Cancer Institute, oxidative stress throughout your body can lead to free radical damage that causes cancer. Vemma contains 12 full spectrum vitamins, including beta carotene, vitamin C, vitamin D3, and B vitamins 1, 2, 3, 6 and 12 and enough antioxidant power to minimize oxidation in your body. Some ingredients include mangosteen, aloe vera and organic decaf green tea blend. The term full spectrum refers to providing your body with all of the essential nutrients it needs in the right amounts.

Inflammation Reducer

According to the Brunswick Labs study, and reported in the August 2009 issue of the Journal of Medicinal Food, inflammation inside your body can be very dangerous. When your blood vessels and tissues become inflamed, blood pressure rises and your risk of heart attack and disease are increased. Inflammation in your joints can also result in painful arthritis. A protein called C – reactive protein is present when inflammation is present and this particular protein is reduced with consumption of Vemma.

BioAvailability

Bioavailability refers to the rate and extent to which the active ingredient in a particular formula is absorbed into your body. Brunswick Labs conducted a 24-hour test to see how bioavailable Vemma really is. Blood samples were taken, and then people were given either a Vemma drink, or placebo. After 24 hours blood samples were taken again, and showed the high bioavailability of Vemma. Twelve full spectrum vitamins and 65 essential minerals found in Vemma were absorbed into the subjects’ bloodstreams within that 24-hour period.

Xanthones

Xanthones are a biologically active plant phenol found in highest abundance in the mangosteen fruit. Consumption of xanthone’s can help you with allergies, infections, skin problems, inflammation, cholesterol and fatigue, according to xanthonesresearch.com.

If you have any questions regarding this product, please email my office directly at John@JohnSalkowski.com. Individual results vary. You may not do as well

About the Author

“Leadership in the Line of Duty”
Lessons for Making Split-Second Decisions from a Cop Who Has Been in Life and Death Situations

Pulling from his 15 years of real world, in-the-trenches (and even life and death) Law Enforcement situations, John now teaches leaders one of the most important key components of leadership (that is often overlooked):

“How to make split-second leadership decisions when the direction and success of your organization depends on it!”

Any organization that wants to develop their people into becoming “Extraordinary Leaders” needs to hire John for a keynote and/or workshop training.

To request John to speak at your next event, please email his office at John@JohnSalkowski.com

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

April 23, 2012 AchieveSuccessAcademy.com 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.

How Leaders Get Things Done

April 11, 2012 AchieveSuccessAcademy.com 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.

Leader’s Leave People Better Than They Found Them

March 28, 2012 AchieveSuccessAcademy.com 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 fee ling 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.

Military Scrambles After Staff Sgt. Robert Bales’ Shooting

March 26, 2012 AchieveSuccessAcademy.com 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 AchieveSuccessAcademy.com 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

The Top Skills You Must Possess for Leadership Success

March 21, 2012 AchieveSuccessAcademy.com 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.

How Leaders Overcome Obstacles

March 19, 2012 AchieveSuccessAcademy.com 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.

Are you a Leader?

March 13, 2012 AchieveSuccessAcademy.com 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 can be reached via email at John@JohnSalkowski.com

A Leader Breaks The Silence Code

March 5, 2012 AchieveSuccessAcademy.com 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.

http://www.submitdomainname.com/” TARGET=”_NEW”> A Leader Breaks The Silence Code http://www.submitdomainname.com/images/submitdomainname.png” alt=”Submitdomainname.com” height=”45″ width=”175″ border=”0″ />

Leadership In The Line of “Duty”

February 27, 2012 AchieveSuccessAcademy.com Achieve Success Academy 9 comments

Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be. Ralph Waldo Emerson

D=Desire, Drive, Determination & Dedication

Desire

The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential. These are the keys that will unlock the doors to personal excellence~Confucius

Drive

We herd sheep, we drive cattle, we lead people. Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way~George S. Patton

Determination

The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand~Vince Lombardi

If you possess these 4 words, there are no limits for what you can achieve. You must believe in yourself because if you don’t no one else will.

U=Understanding Others Through Mastery of Personalities

Peace can not be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding~Albert Einstein

Understanding the personalities of those you influence is a huge component of how successful you will become. It will dramatically increase how you present and how they receive. I would suggest you study the DISC Personality chart to get a better understanding of how one’s personality works. If you master this skill, your success is virtually guaranteed.

T=Trust Your Training & Talent

Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit~Aristotle

My mother once told me that I have two ears and one mouth for a reason. She told me to listen more and talk less.

If you want to be a successful leader and/or entrepreneur it all starts by trusting your training and talent. Morale starts at the top. Allow your people to work independant without looking over their shoulders. Leaders should manage the systems they have in place, not their people.

Y=You Matter

I want you to be everything that’s you, deep at the center of your being~Confucius

The only one that will look out for you is You! No one else can be depended on for your success. My saying is this, “I’ll see you at the top or from the top”. The only one that will get you there is You. You have to commit yourself to wanting success more than you want the air you breathe. If you are not willing to sacrifice this, you will stay in the same position in the same location. Resolve today to want success more than you want the air you breathe. Your success will be virtually guaranteed if you live your life with this in mind.

I hope you enjoyed this blog on Leadership In The Line of Duty. Duty=Desire, Drive, Determination & Dedication, Understanding Others Through Mastery of Personalities, Trust Your Training & Talent and You Matter. My goal is to inspire the talent with-in you, to assist you in bringing out your WHY power, bringing you to the next level so you too can experience the success you so truly deserve.

I’m John R. Salkowski, Founder of AchieveSuccessAcademy.com, Leadership Expert, Author, Speaker, Retired Police Officer, Survivior of PTSD and Self-Made Man.

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

Top 10 Must Have Characteristics of a Great Leader

February 21, 2012 AchieveSuccessAcademy.com Achieve Success Academy One comment

A good objective of leadership is to help those who are doing poorly to do well and to help those who are doing well to do even better~Jim Rohn

Do you have what it takes to be a great leader? I bet you do. I believe everyone can attain the great qualities and characteristics needed to be an effective leader. The objective behind being a great leader is this: Helping people and/or organizations who are doing poorly to do well. Helping people and/or organization who are doing well but want to get better. The whole idea of great leadership is to get results. To bring them to a whole different level of success.

The task of leadership is not to put greatness into people, but to elicit it, for the greatness is there already~ John Buchan

Being a great leader means bringing out the best in people. Everyone wants to be the best they can be. It’s our job as leaders to do that. We need to find and focus on the strengths of people not their weaknesses.

In my previous career of Law Enforcement, I was surrounded by good and bad leaders. The good leaders focused on making people better while the bad leaders would focus on making people worse. It was astounding to me that the bad leaders would come to work everyday and do nothing but negative leadership. What do I mean by negative leadership? They would focus on the mistakes of people. Instead of making them learn from their mistakes they would punish them and never give good advice and/or training to make that person better. They would lie in wait like a lion hiding from a zebra getting ready to attack. This would happen day in and day out. Just waiting for their people to make mistakes. Being totalling reactive instead of proactive. They would focus on the negatives and not the positives in people. This type of leadership is a sinking ship. This will make any organizations morale go into a tail spin. And if you were ever part of an organization withe horrible morale, you know exactly what I mean. If you want a successful organization, no matter what industry, you need to have great leaders that focus on the strengths and not the weaknesses. To learn, grow and achieve results a great leader must focus on making their people successful by focusing on their strenghths.

Leadership: the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it~Dwight D. Eisenhower

Here are the TOP 10 Must Have Characteristics of a Great Leader:

1) Be a Role Model- You must lead by example. You should never ask someone to do something that you wouldn’t do yourself. You must be seen by your people, and the public as being an expert in your field and an expert in leadership.

2) Have a Mission-Leaders know what their mission is. They know why the organization exists. A great leader has a well thought out (often written) mission describing the purpose of the organization. That purpose need to be descriptive, clear and understandable. Every employee should be able to identify with the mission and strive to achieve it.

3) Have Vision-Where do you want your organization to go? A vision needs to be descriptive enough to encourage people to imagine it but concrete enough for followers to see it, understand it and be willing to climb onboard to fulfill it.

4) Be Goal Oriented-How is the organization going to achieve its mission and vision and how will you measure your progress? Like a vision, goals need to be operational that are specific and measurable. If your output and results can’t be readily measured, then it will be difficult to know if you have achieved your purpose.

5) Have Integrity- Do the right thing all the time. Not sometimes but all the time.

6) Be Passionate in all you do-You must love what you do. You must want success for the organization and the people more than you want the air you breathe.

7) Be Compassionate-Successful leaders are comfortable relating to other people; they easily create rapport and are more extroverted than they are introverted. These factors help leaders seem approachable, likeable, and comfortable in their position. Those qualities contribute to staff wanting to interact with their leader. They also help motivate employees to do a better job. When workers can relate to their boss, they believe that their boss is more concerned about them, with their performance, and with their output. Furthermore, they believe that they can go to their boss with problems they encounter on the job without fearing consequences for not knowing how to resolve issues.

8) Great Communicator-It does little good to have a strong mission, vision, and goals if the leader cannot easily and effectively convey his ideas inside and outside of the organization. He must regularly be in touch with key individuals, by all forms of communication. Of course, the best way to ensure other people receive and understand the message is with face-to-face interactions.

9) Be Inspiring-Employees need someone to look up to for direction, guidance, and motivation. A great leader needs to be that person. Nevertheless, there are times, when many employees need the boss to inspire them by word or action.

10) Be Ambitious-Nothing builds a picture of success more than achievement, and achievement is the number one factor that motivates just about everyone across all cultures. When employees see that their leader can lead and direct, has a clear vision and attainable goals, and actually gains results in a timely manner, then that person’s credibility increases throughout the organization. Great leaders must modestly demonstrate their skills to give their constituents valid reasons to appreciate and value their efforts.

I’m John R. Salkowski, Founder of Achieve Success Academy, Leadership Expert, Author, Speaker, Entrepreneur, Retired Police Officer and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) Survivor.

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

Achieving Success: The Top 10 Communication Skills You Must Master For Success

January 27, 2012 AchieveSuccessAcademy.com Achieve Success Academy One comment

Take advantage of every opportunity to practice your communication skills so that when important occasions arise, you will have the gift, the style, the sharpness, the clarity, and the emotions to affect other people~Jim Rohn

The Importance of Effective Communication

Communication is the most important part of our lives whether it be in business or personal. How you communicate with others will determine your success or failure. Think about this, we couldn’t accomplish very much without communicating with others.

Below, I will give you what I believe are the TOP 10 ways to Effective Communication. If you master these skills your success in all areas of your life will be virtually guaranteed. But first and most importantly, you must be adaptable to the 4 different personalities. I know we all cringe when we hear the word “Sales”. Think about this for a minute, we are all in sales in some form or fashion. Wouldn’t you agree? We are always trying to make someone do what we want them to do, right? Whether it’s asking your children to clean their rooms or asking the local coffee shop to make your coffee in a special way. They way we go about communicating what we want or don’t want will determine our success.

Personalities

We all have different personalities. Once I learned out to present to the 4 different personalities my success went through the roof and so will yours. Here they are:

1) Amiable=helpful, calm, discreet, team player, too sensitive,

2) Promoter=fun loving, charming, love people, scattered, always overbooked, speak before they think

3) Analytical=meticulous, accurate, dependable, dry humor, too critical, picky, over analyzes

4) Controller=high achiever, too bossy, natural leader, rude, blunt

When presenting to these different personalities, adapt to them. They will not adapt to you.

Top 10 Communication Skills You MUST Master

1) Be Friendly-People who communicate with a friendly tone and warm smile almost always have the edge. The reason is simple: we are subconsciously drawn to people who are friendly because they make us feel good and bring more enjoyment to our lives.

2) Think before you speak- A fanmous English Proverb is “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.” I find that many people say whatever goes through their minds without putting any thought into what they are saying. As a result they say things that end up reflecting poorly on themselves.

3) Be Clear- Most of us don’t have the time nor do we want to spend our emotional energy to figure out what someone else is trying to say. People who are indirect in their verbal communication and who tend to hint at things without saying what’s really on their mind are seldom respected. When there is something you want to say, ask yourself, “What is the clearest way I can communicate this point?”

4) Be Authentic- People are turned off by those people who feel the need to put on a show to make their point. Instead, people are attracted to someone who speaks from the heart and is genuine, transparent, and real.

5) Practice Humility-Humility is having a modest view of one’s own importance. It is one of the most attractive personality traits one can possess and is one of the most significant predictors of someone who is respected. People who speak with humility and genuine respect for others are almost always held in high regard.

6) Don’t talk too much-The more one talks the less impressive they are. Very few people like to be around someone who talks too much and dominates the conversation. We have too ears for a reason.

7) Speak with confidence-You don’t have to sacrifice self-confidence to practice humility. Confidence is a self-assurance arising from an appreciation of one’s true abilities, whereas humility is having a modest opinion of one’s own importance. Speaking with confidence includes the words you choose, the tone of your voice, your eye contact, and body language.

8) Pay attention to your body language-When you are engaged in face-to-face verbal communication, your body language can play as significant of a role in the message you communicate as the words you speak. Your body language communicates respect and interest. It puts real meaning behind your words.

9) Be concise and too the point-Very few things are more irritating to me than when someone can’t get to the point of what he or she is trying to say. Plan ahead. Constantly ask yourself, “How can I say what needs to be said using the fewest number of words possible while still being courteous and respectful?”

10) Be present-Being an attentive listener is more important in verbal communication than any words that can come out of your mouth. You must show a sincere interest in what is being said, ask good questions, listen for the message within the message, and avoid interrupting.

These skills are learnable. If you practice and master these skills your success in all areas of your life is virtually guaranteed.

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

I can be reached via email at John@JohnSalkowski.com for questions or comments. To hire John for your next speaking engagement, please send email to this address.

Achieve Success Academy Self Affirmations

November 1, 2011 AchieveSuccessAcademy.com Achieve Success Academy No comments

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUFOPsHwfFg

John Salkowski ~ Leadership in the Line of Duty™

"Split-Second Leadership Decision Breakthroughs Revealed that All Top-Performers & Self-Made Millionaires Need To Know"™

Tag Archive for John

7 POWERFUL Ways That Will Transform Your Decision Making Results

Top 5 Decisions You Must Make Right Now to Living a Good Life Before It’s Too Late

John Salkowski: Entrepreneur, Best Selling Author, National Speaker, Coach, Consultant & Trainer to Release New Book, “Leadership In The Line of Duty™”

Leadership | Entrepreneurial Breakthroughs: Developing Critical Decision Making Skills

Inspiring others to be Decisive and Take Action Now

Is Success truly found in our Struggle?

Top Secrets of All Top-Performers & Self-Made Millionaires

The Decision Making of a Champion: Ray Lewis Decides to Retire After 17 Seasons

A Personal Message from Founder John R. Salkowski

How a Leader turned Chaos into Triumph: A Penn State Story

Nick Saban: What makes this Great Coach, Mentor and Leader Tick?

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

How Leaders Get Things Done

Leader’s Leave People Better Than They Found Them

Military Scrambles After Staff Sgt. Robert Bales’ Shooting

What Caused Staff Sgt. Robert Bales to Commit Murder?

The Top Skills You Must Possess for Leadership Success

How Leaders Overcome Obstacles

Are you a Leader?

A Leader Breaks The Silence Code

Leadership In The Line of “Duty”

Top 10 Must Have Characteristics of a Great Leader

Achieving Success: The Top 10 Communication Skills You Must Master For Success

Achieve Success Academy Self Affirmations

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Archives

Categories

Meta

John Salkowski ~ Leadership in the Line of Duty™

"Split-Second Leadership Decision Breakthroughs Revealed that All Top-Performers & Self-Made Millionaires Need To Know"™

Tag Archive for John

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Archives

Categories

Meta

Follow Us!