“There is no worst enemy than a good friend gone bad. They know all your deepest secrets. A good battle buddy has your six even when they know the truth about who you are. The best leaders learn quickly who they can trust and who to keep at arms length.” J Loren Norris

“Confusion can cancel a good sale, destroy a relationship, end a career and destroy a culture. I know that seems like a bold statement, but confusion is a tool used by many who know that chaos follows confusion and then anarchy follows chaos which almost always results in a form of tyranny.  Leaders should be aware and astute enough to recognize third party attempts to ask confusing questions and be ready to maintain the narrative of core values and foundational ideologies.” J Loren Norris

“I know this as a matter of reality: every action has a reaction. That goes for attitudes as well. If leaders do not draw the line and clearly monitor it, consequences will be drastic. Draw the line. Announce the consequences. Enforce the penalties. That’s one aspect of leadership many have shied away from.” J Loren Norris.

​“When the ‘cause dejour’ drives the passions of your team, the power behind your core values might be challenged. The ability to maintain the focus on the cause of your organization requires awareness, devotion and intention. Leaders must know the difference and stand their ground to direct the passions of those they lead.” J Loren Norris.

“Tantrums, hard feelings, bitterness and revenge are the markers of a sore loser. When adults act like toddlers with outburst of uncontrolled emotion, it is often a sign they never learned to lose well. Leaders who do not learn to lose well are not just people who lose, but become people who are losers by character as well. Good leaders know how important it is to lose with class and learn from it every time.” J Loren Norris

“Very f​ew things frustrate the average ’Joe Q Citizen’ like a poorly constructed customer service process. However, from the playground to the political elites, the failure to ask why this is the process, to research the origin of the problem, review the real world impact of the policy as practiced and responding judicially to issues arising from the policy and procedure is the reason for such angst and distrust. If you are a leader who oversees people in the world of customer service, law enforcement, community service or interaction, you are responsible for doing your homework.” J Loren Norris

​“Leaders must distinguish incompetence from ignorance when measuring the effectiveness of a team member. A leader must also distinguish incompetence from ill-intent when measuring team alignment. Ill-intent  has the potential to become insubordination and even sabotage.” J Loren Norris

​“The leader who does not sense the tension between their influence and their burden will often treat their leadership like a teenager with a new sports car. They will use their position, calling, opportunity to show off and risk significant damage along the way.” J Loren Norris

“A leader who is constantly having to survive the blows of life is a leader who has not identified the blind spots and weakness which give opportunity to the opponent to strike. Good leaders learn to bob and weave to avoid the blows, but the also look for team members who have strength and skills to cover their blindside and guard their weaknesses.” J Loren Norris

“Those who are determined to reshape world cultures, governments and societies do so by starting early in the life of those they wish to reshape. From K-12 to post graduate work, the student learns what is taught - and normally nothing more - the teachers’ philosophy, world view, value systems and personal preference or pet peeves become the primary shape of the young people of today. Leaders must voice, demonstrate and live their own MORAL VALUES for the young people to witness and experience.” J Loren Norris

​“The idea of “private conversations” is officially a thing of the past. The truth is, every device you have is listening in to every form and incident of communication. Some of those listening do not have your best interest at heart. Some wish to steal your financial information, some wish to gain leverage or ransom worthy business data​, some wish to gain the ability to control or influence your decisions. Leaders must know the power and necessity of confidential, face to face, human to human conversation as well as possess the moxie to employ them diligently.” J Loren Norris

“We have heard stories all of our lives which inform the way we think and feel about ourselves and others. ‘Big girls don’t cry.’ ‘Real men don’t cry.’ ‘Look how you made me feel.’ All of these comments and sentiments likely harken back to a moment in your life. The incident, the relationship, the emotional drama which surrounded the very moment are as fresh as if it happened yesterday. Leaders must be aware not only of their own stories, but of the stories of anyone on their team which influence the attitude of daily behavior.” J Loren Norris

“Focus, proper light on the subject, good perspective are issues of practice and action equally important to photographers and leaders. Too close to the subject means focusing clearly will be near impossible. The wrong angle, the wrong distance, the wrong light and the wrong focus on the subject will lead to failure for both leaders and photographers.” J Loren Norris 

“Guilt by association takes on a whole new meaning when you find yourself caught up in an activity you would have NEVER participated in if you knew in advance. In fact, if you knew what ‘they’ were up to, you would have actively resisted their efforts. As you consider this episode of Leading Leaders Podcast ask yourself: ‘Have I ever been sucked into something I would have never done?’” J Loren Norris

“This way of leading, fighting the system and generally being a responsible person in any society or culture is likely something you are already doing. If you lead, if you influence, if you bring to light the daily expectations of moral goodness, then you are already practicing #9. If you are not practicing this particular aspect of fighting the system, you are now or soon will be a failed leader.” J Loren Norris

“It’s hard enough to maintain harmony in a work environment or organization under normal circumstances. Add the challenges brought on by a global pandemic, international political unrest, globalized businesses and the pressure of political elites who have strong influence and stronger opinions and you have a recipe for hostility. Leaders must identify and accentuate the common ground, the core values, the driving principles and the shared passions of each member of the organization to drive toward progress while not allowing outside voices to control the conversation.” J Loren Norris

“WHY SHOULD I PAY FOR A COACH OR MENTOR? SHOULDN’T THEY INVEST THEIR TIME IN ME FOR FREE? ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE NOT SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS IN WHAT I NEED?” J LOREN NORRIS

“Nothing will more quickly erode the trust of the people you lead than your tolerance and ineptness to deal with ongoing injustice. Core values, clear vision, consistent communication and transparent accountability are required to maintain a just and equitable system. All of those are roles and responsibilities of true leadership.” J Loren Norris

“In a world saturated with social media, social pressure and over socialized opinions, the notion of having a civil, respectful, compassionate conversation with an absolute stranger is a long lost art. If you desire to be a mentor, leader, teacher or genuine influence, the art of meaningful conversations must be revived.” J Loren Norris

“Crafting, developing and implementing a vision for your organization is the single most overlooked but mission critical task for a leader. Without a vision, every distraction has the potential to derail your progress. With a vision, focus and function will be your secret formula.” J Loren Norris

“I was wrong. I stand corrected. I am sorry. These are hard words to say. The power of these words in the mouth of a leader are inestimable. The ability to admit wrong is second in value only to the FREEDOM TO BE WRONG. When every decision in your life is made for you, you are not free. I would prefer to STAND CORRECTED than to kneel to suppression.” J Loren Norris 

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“To be memorable leader, you must be intentional about the impressions you make on total strangers who can do nothing to improve your standing. It is altogether possible to be gone but not forgotten. It is also possible to be forgotten before you’re gone.” J Loren Norris

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“Regardless what you believe to be the truth about the “cause and solution” of global warming, or climate change, the truth remains. This has become one of the largest political hammers for power and control to generate money from thin air which has ever been produced. I am a free market capitalist, but all industries should prove to become viable, productive and profitable not politically power hungry, manipulative and tax burdensome.“ J Loren Norris 

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“Words matter. Sales pitches are slick and specifically designed to cause someone to buy in to an idea, product or service. Politicians are masters of the art of communication, rhetoric, and persuasion. Don’t let the way they sell you convince you that bad ideas are good.” J Loren Norris

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“Life is filled with distractions and objections which are incessantly straining against your success. GRIT is the only antidote to the forces fighting against you, Determination and discipline are the grit which will empower you to overcome that struggle.” J Loren Norris

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