On July 8, 2008 I attended a career seminar hosted by the Project Management Institute - Orange County Chapter. The speaker for the evening was Mr. John McKee - a Career and Life Success Coach.

Mr. McKee is well known in the community of coaching and mentoring. His presentation at the event was titled Leadership, Career and Life Success.  Mr. MckKee stressed that the leadership books that are being published today revolved around the same principles he has been teaching for the past 12 years. "Today's books adjust to the modern verbiage and trends, however the concepts have not changed." stated Mr. McKee.

At the event, Mr. McKee shared the following 12 leadership characteristics:

1. They live their lives with a thought of being "On Purpose"
2. They help others to succeed and become better individuals by:
1. Mentoring
2. Training
3. Challenging them
4. and Modeling for them.
3. The get results
1. Over coming odds, the usually beat and exceed expectations
4. They give back io the community
1. Volunteer and support non-profits
5. They excel in difficult environments and they make their own success
6. They are great listeners to everyone (e.g. customers, employees, competitors.
7. They make tough decisions
1. When action is required, its taken
2. They admin mistakes and correct them immediately.
8. They are honest and ethical
1. "what goes around comes around"
9. They understand the difference between power and force.
10. They don't need all the recognition all the time.
11. They continually upgrade their skills.
12. They have a clear actionable plan for thier life.

In addition to these characteristics, Mr. McKee pointed the difference between Success vs. being Satisfied with your life and the way to distinguish between the two is simply how you balance the following aspects of your life:

• Career
• Personal and Family
• Financial

Other Notes taken from the seminar:
 

1. Great leaders exhibit great calm. 
2. There is always more time than what it seems.
3. Focus on the reality not what you hear or they tell you.
4. Take nothing for granted.
5. The world is becoming smaller more so you can expect change more frequently.
6. Market share will spread out throughout the world so your job will most likely be taken by somebody else.