I’ve always been attracted to medieval history – some days I think my sensibilities are closer to that period than to today – but I think the metaphor is particularly apt for business leaders.

The legend of Excalibur is an enduring legacy of the medieval stories of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.

In the most popular version, King Arthur proved his birthright as the King of England by pulling the magical sword out of a stone, or an anvil in some stories, which no other man could do. If you know the story, the critical point is that it was a result of his “understanding” rather than his “strength.

The sword was named Excalibur.

You’ll note that we have slightly altered the original spelling, in our case to invoke the name of a very special person.

Ask me about it sometime.

I started writing professionally more than 30 years ago.

My first newspaper column debuted on April 17, 1986 for a venerated newspaper, the St. Louis Globe Democrat of over 500,000 subscribers. A few decades later, I wrote more than 100 newspaper columns, Building a Business, for the North Bay Business Journal, then the San Francisco Bay area affiliate of the New York Times.

Leadership is the cornerstone of much of my writing because it’s about the essence of every organization … the people … and how to lead, inspire and organize them to maximize your business success.

Executive Performance

Over a long career, scrounging around in the trenches of entrepreneurship, I have always taken close note of executive performance.

Why things go wrong despite the best plans and intentions.

What works and what doesn’t … and I’ve written extensively during this period to try to capture the essence of the lessons I’ve learned.

There are, however, two additional components that can make or break our chances of Becoming a More Effective Leader.

Productivity

First, there is your Personal Productivity which drives our ability to create balance and harmony in our life and to focus on what’s most important to achieving our goals. It’s up to you to make a personal commitment to implement the best practices, strategies and tools to make sure you are present in the moment and doing your part to get more of the Right Things Done and Become a More Effective Leader.

Accountability

Second is Accountability. I think about it as your commitment to make sure that others are equally productive and effective. You need to be able to accept independent and unbiased feedback as well as to provide the same feedback to your team members. At the same time you need to provide them with the resources and tools to be successful as you hold them accountable for doing their part to make your teams and organization successful.

You don’t draw on the Lone Ranger.

You shouldn’t flub a question about who’s buried in Grant’s Tomb or what President is on the Lincoln Head penny.

Tomorrow never comes … but, TODAY IS HERE … and that’s where we need to focus our attention.

What I’m Sure About

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”

~ Thomas Edison

There are a lot of great executives and companies out there striving to get better, seeking excellence at every level.

If the Exkalibur Team continues to work hard to create great content that provides practical strategies, tools and tips, I can share with you the lessons I’ve learned over 35+ years and help you to avoid some of the pitfalls and trap doors I found the hard way.

As a result, you can accelerate the growth of your individual performance and lead your team to superior individual and business performance.

What I Think You’re Sure About

“Footprints on the sands of time are not made by sitting down.”

~ Anonymous

You and your team have worked hard to build a real company.

You’re a lifelong learner.

You believe that leaders read and readers lead.

You are committed to improving your effectiveness as a leader and business builder.

You believe that with hard work and dedication, you can take your business to the next level and help others realize their dreams, too.

What I’m Thinking About

“I could not live without Champagne. In victory I deserve it. In defeat I need it.”

~ Oft debated – either Churchill or Napoleon

Life is a marathon and not a sprint, and what worked yesterday may not work today.

Every day, we have to work hard to deploy the best practices and the most effective tools to manage the tsunami of information washing over the gunnels.

If you continue to apply what you’ve learned to Become a More Effective Leader, improve your productivity and create a culture of accountability in your teams and organization, you have the greatest opportunity to improve your life and build a successful business or career.

What I Think You’re Thinking About

“Only mediocrity can be trusted to be always at its best.”

~ Sir Max Beehbohm

The Future – and that you could build an even more successful company if you were able to get everyone clear about your purpose and strategy so everyone is, dare I say, singing from the same hymnal … and singing the same song.

Your ability to Become a More Effective Leader … to get more of the right things done … while serving your family and community … and embedding accountability across your team and organization … is the key to your success.