Chances are that you and I both know a number of successful people in the world of business. These people are different, as they seek continuous improvement in their professional lives. I can still remember the first time I met one of them, early in my business career.
His name was Bill Sweeney, and I had been hired to serve the needs of his new sales division at Hills Bros. Coffee Company. Bill had not interviewed me, and I did not directly report to him. In this case, as in many of the later positions I held, a “dotted line” had me reporting to someone outside my official department.
The first time I met him, he stood up to shake my hand. From that moment on, I knew that he was someone special, simply because that he rose from his seat to meet and greet me. To this day, I can still visualize a piece of paper that Bill hung on the wall in his office. It looked as if it had been copied hundreds of times, but the words were still prominent as if they had just been inked onto the paper. The paper had a quote on it that said, “It’s difficult to soar with the eagles when you work with a bunch of turkeys!”
Like most eagles, Bill wanted the people that worked for him to develop into eagles. He quickly evaluated whether someone was capable enough to make that transformation (he assumed you were a turkey unless he determined otherwise).
It was never a question of like or dislike, as eagles do not care about personality. Instead, they are more concerned about attitude and business growth. Eagles are on a mission and care about preparing their young (those that they mentor) to live in the world around them.
Bill had a habit, like most eagles, of doing the best with what he had, but if things didn’t develop as they needed to, he wouldn’t hesitate to make a decision about getting rid of someone. Bill mentored me, and I learned more from him than any other person I worked for.
While I did not want to grow up to be like Bill in every aspect, I did want to grow up to be like Bill in that he was very successful, knowledgeable, focused, directed, and driven. He ran a profitable business enterprise and was highly respected by peers and competitors.
Let’s change gears now, and fast-forward to present day life. Every February since 2001 I have I facilitated a two-day life and business planning retreat for members and spouses of my Renaissance Executive Forum groups.
One of the takeaways is a small card that lists the goals that the member is to accomplish during the next 12 months. They also get a small card listing the behaviors that either they want to start, stop, or continue doing.
One member had listed on her card that she wanted to continue to “Soar with Eagles” because being around that type of person was helping her to be focused, motivated and successful. I want to share some of the traits that eagles possess.
While not all of them are at the top of the organizations in which they work, you can bet that they have a path that will eventually take them there.
Not everyone is like this. In fact, most people are not. Most people are not leaders, risk takers, visionaries, and they only live for the moment.
To the contrary, the people I am writing about—the eagles—not only take risks, but they are people who are going somewhere. They are on a mission, and are unstoppable in their quest.
Eagles are not typically found in groups, as they are often loners. They often hold a view that others do not, and seek opportunity where others see risk and failure.
Eagles have an attitude and a formula that applies to their entire life. This means that they have acquired the right skills, and have built or established a philosophy that guides their thinking.
If they lack these initial foundation elements, eagles know that they must acquire them. If they stray off course, they get back on track.
Eagles have the right attitude toward family, friends, neighbors, and business associates. This is developed by having a positive, yet realistic attitude about their own abilities, talents, passions, and preferences.
By nature, eagles are positive people who see the glass half full rather than half empty. They do not wear disappointment on their shirts or their faces. They know that in order to be successful, a person must be optimistic, and that optimism is learned.
Eagles understand that if you plan your future, it is more likely to occur than if you let the tide of time take you wherever it drifts.
Eagles know how important it is to be able to express gratitude. This is not easy for most people. It is not always easy to say “thank you”, but eagles to do it much more often than others. Eagles focus on the important things. Most people wallow in the details that simply do not matter, and they never get much done as a result.
Eagles have goals that are written down, and they strive to meet them. Eagles use latitude to their advantage. There are no bounds in terms of the ability to move from where they started to where they want to be. They understand that the key to this is to set goals that move them in the direction they want to go. \
Eagles make themselves understood. They treat people kindly, respectfully, and with consideration.
I am grateful to be allowed to fly with eagles. I think that more people have the opportunity to fly with eagles than they realize. Whether it is simply a case of wearing blinders or not being aware of what an eagle looks like, the sad truth is that these limits hinder a person their entire life.
The result is that the world they live in is, well, full of turkeys.
Ken Keller
