Get up Close to the Masters

Published: Apr 29, 2005

Application

How many top business leaders in your community can you chat with on a regular basis?

There is a way you can watch how they operate, how they make decisions, how they delegate, how they use their time, how they interact with close associates and many more of their personal attributes.

You can work alongside top business leaders as well as with those people aspiring to be at the top.

Here are few of the steps to creep into the inner circles.

Make a list of leaders you want to target.
Find groups where these targets are regular participants and ones you can join.
- Some are eager to swell their ranks with any person "in business" or associated with commerce.
- For instance: Chambers of Commerce, Business Improvement Associations, Trade Associations, etc.
- Most community associations have a modest fee.
- Is membership by invitation? Check your network. Find a willing sponsor.
Join a committee where one or more of your better skills will be noticed and appreciated.
- Speak up on a committee's matters and you'll soon be on that committee.
- Focus on positioning yourself next to one of your targets.
- Perform well and you'll soon be "close" to your target or become one of the leaders.
You'll learn more by thinking "research" than with "observing." Analyze your notes.
Remember your objectives. Galvanize your ego. It's easy to become too involved in group activities.
- Use superior performance in your selected functions to gain acceptance for your refusals to become involved in non-targeted areas.

There is one clear way - the United Way.

For many years and in most communities, the United Way fund raising committees have been used to test potential leaders before they are appointed to higher positions. The Special Names Committee is often the stepping stone to the lofty Honorary Chairman's position. Don't just take my word on it - go to your local sites emanating from:

http://national.unitedway.org/myuw/

Do you recognize any of your targets?

Stories

Stories from members will add great value to these maxims.

Please post your story by emailing it to max@unclemaxsays.com.

We look forward to having many samples from many contributors.

Outcomes

Inexpensive lessons on how to act like a top leader.
Easy access to the movers and shakers.
Learning by emulation.