Saturday, October 6, 2012

How to Become a Rainmaker


My brothers and I told our California cousins we were rainmakers.  They believed us because every time they visited us at Thanksgiving, it rained.  My most vivid memory was the time my brothers and I dressed up as Indians and performed a rain dance around our giant eucalyptus tree in our backyard while our California cousins watched.  A massive storm hit about an hour later producing fierce winds and torrential rainfall.  The giant tree blew down, leaving a big hole in the ground.  My cousins were terrorized.  That was the last time we did a rain dance.

There is no magic needed to become a rainmaker in your family or in the workplace.  I'm fortunate to be part of a family of rainmakers who strive for excellence every day.  Here are some ideas to help you on your journey to becoming a rainmaker:
  1. Believe you can make a difference.  
  2. Learn something new every day and apply it to all areas of your life.  The best leaders are the ones who keep looking for new ways to get things done.  They pay attention to the details.
  3. Never give up.  Rainmakers are the people who solve problems when everyone else is standing around.  
  4. Be consistent.  Rainmaker status comes from getting things done every day, every time, without fail, no exception.
  5. Be available.  Rainmakers will stand firm when the storm hits.  Don't run and hide.  Be confident.  And if the tree falls in your backyard after one of your rain dances, go ask your parents for a swimming pool.
Would you like to share a story about how you became a rainmaker?  Please add your thoughts in the comments section below.

No comments: