Category Archives: Extraordinary

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Fire It Up Friday | 7

Summer 2017 Series Episode 7

Adventure Entrepreneur

Are you packed and ready?

Life is an advance and ordinary life has a way of sweeping us away into schedules where we are over-booked!

We end up over booked and in the “acquiring things” race. Do not get me wrong “things” are great, a privilege, and makes our lives more comfortable.

Adventure is:

  • Finding new ways to connect
  • Going to a new restaurant (change of environment)
  • Taking a new route to work
  • Stepping out of “normal”

Find adventure in the adventure in the messiness of your life. An example is my messiness of area’s of too organized and unorganized. There is adventure in both; choose adventure!

Find adventure in everything, everyday, making the ORDINARY an ADVENTURE!

Embrace  your own adventure, choose messy hair!

CHALLENGE: step out of your “schedule” and pack a bag to find adventure in  your daily everything’s!

Thank you for joining me on our Summer Fire It Up Friday Series.

Look Up & Out, 
Tracy Worley
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Reality of Leadership Did You Ask to Lead

Where is reality kicking your leadership pants?

Tracy Worley is America’s leading grace coach, international key-note speaker, trainer, syndicated radio host, author, and potential seeker, strategist and CEO of three values leadership based organizations. She works with business executives, entrepreneurs, and leaders world-wide to develop potential, tailor employee engagement modules, and turn up the volume on individuals and organizations potential personally and professionally.

Tracy knows firsthand about what it takes to find your potential, Individuals and organizations have individual cultures, stories, and rhythm – Tracy’s innovative style knows how to make it work. With a background in business management, business communication, project management, and life’s drama, Tracy found herself running a multi-million dollar organization at the age of 25.

Tracy knows from life experience the ups and downs of colossal failure and the elation of success beyond imagination.

But it’s exactly all these experiences that built character, knowledge, wisdom, and intuitive insight into individual and organizational potential. Tracy is highly intuitive, perceptive, and a world thinker in connecting what you cannot see. These gifts give her the ability to strategize with clarity where you are, where you want to be, and how to get there. Tracy’s expertise: training highly successful people to lead with authenticity to the desired success her client’s desire and deserve.

Reality of Leadership Tracy WorleyMost of us end up in a leadership role by being promoted or asked to take over projects at an ever growing rapid pace. Common practice is to promote those with seniority, even if the employee is given no management or leadership training.

The numbers are still staggering on how many organizations are behind in training leaders within their organizations.  A research article in the Deloitte University Press* states;

“Leadership remains the No. 1 talent issue facing organizations around the world, with 86 percent of respondents in our survey rating it as “urgent” or “important.” Only 13 percent of respondents say they do an excellent job developing leaders at all levels—the largest “readiness gap” in our survey.” Deloitte University Press

If 86% of respondents admit that leadership is “urgent” or “important”, but only 13% of respondents are doing anything about it, then where is this disconnect coming from?

The reality of leadership is that most leaders did not ask to lead, and do not realize everyone is a leader in their organization regardless of whether they asked for it or not. As I work with organizations and entrepreneurs, it is clear that personal and professional development is essential and will always be the “golden key” to raising leaders.

This brings me to a recent observation while refereeing a High School Soccer game. While I was refereeing the soccersideline for a Junior Varsity game on the parent side, the home team Varsity Soccer team was causing a ruckus. Yes, this is normal behavior and usually the parents are causing the issue. Back to the team, they were yelling profanity, negative jokes about their own team members, and in general not setting a great example of respect for others.

My response was one of delicate but stern warning, “I only want to hear positive comments and cheering from this section.” The shock and awe of surprise that anyone would call them out on their bad behavior was priceless. I heard a few other comments about me throughout the game, but as usual when refereeing the parent side, most of the comments, slander, and disgust for our calls rolls off our backs.

At the end of the game, I pulled the Varsity coach aside and told him of the incident. “Coach you have a great team this year, and we are the sum of who we choose to hang out with. Your team members are leaders on the sideline, and I know you would not expect anything less of them.” The coach was appreciative, and the next week at the Varsity game the team was a little sheepish, but also seemed to understand the reality of being on a Varsity team. They are leaders. Perhaps not by choice, but now they are aware that they are leaders and people will follow.

Here are a few ideas for a Leadership Plan:

  • Internal training program: Develop a video series or testing series to continually add value and knowledge.
  • Budget for training/education leadership programs: Reinstitute or create these programs. Many organizations cut these programs in 2008 and did not bring them back.
  • Mentorship programs: These programs are the most cost effective and added value to your organization. Current leaders are sharing, pouring, and also learning from those who they are mentoring. No longer does the organization have an intellectual property “leak” because knowledge is being shared.
  • Leadership assessments: Have you interviewed and given all of your team members a leadership assessment? Seniority should not dictate promotion; the most prepared and willing should be your next promotion.
  • Succession planning: Does your organization have a plan in place for all leadership roles?

I build content and programs for organizations, and the first thing I ask for is an outline of the above. And if there is content for the programs, I ask for that as well. You see, 100% of organizations have blind spots in developing and lifting leaders in their organization. Not by neglect, but by default.

I welcome your questions on where to start or am willing to look at your current plan. Please contact us today, as we are committed to adding value to leaders–which is everyone. Reality kicks our pants! No matter what you do or where you are, people are looking to you for the next step through your actions.

Challenge Question: Where is reality kicking your leadership pants?

Look UP & OUT!

Tracy Worley

Deloitte University Press Link

Global Leadership Survey & Data Link

 

Tracy Worley (2015) Authentic Leadership, Authentic Self

Canwell, Dongrie, Neveras, Stockton (2014), Deloitte University Press

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[Success Secret Sauce] Series 2/8: Are You Attitude or Character Driven

Tracy Worley is America’s leading grace coach, international key-note speaker, trainer, syndicated radio host, author, and potential seeker, strategist and CEO of three values leadership based organizations. She works with business executives, entrepreneurs, and leaders world-wide to develop potential, tailor employee engagement modules, and turn up the volume on individuals and organizations potential personally and professionally.

Tracy knows firsthand about what it takes to find your potential, Individuals and organizations have individual cultures, stories, and rhythm – Tracy’s innovative style knows how to make it work. With a background in business management, business communication, project management, and life’s drama, Tracy found herself running a multi-million dollar organization at the age of 25.

Tracy knows from life experience the ups and downs of colossal failure and the elation of success beyond imagination.

But it’s exactly all these experiences that built character, knowledge, wisdom, and intuitive insight into individual and organizational potential. Tracy is highly intuitive, perceptive, and a world thinker in connecting what you cannot see. These gifts give her the ability to strategize with clarity where you are, where you want to be, and how to get there. Tracy’s expertise: training highly successful people to lead with authenticity to the desired success her client’s desire and deserve.

What is your secret sauce to being a difference maker in your life?

Attitude_Sauce Tracy Worley

The basis of leading and making a difference is all about attitude and what it can—and cannot—do for you and those around you. I have a confession to make. Early in my career and youth, I was the one where my parents and co-workers would look at me and say, “Check the attitude at the door.” I did not have a bad attitude, but a very inquisitive one, and had not yet learned how to harness my “why” questions to team build. The way I asked questions did not build collaboration but separation.

To sustain success you cannot separate self-esteem, character, or attitude. All three must be part of your reality to lead authentically and to be a difference maker.

From The Difference Maker here are some areas to consider for reflection and change toward making the difference you desire:

  • Attitude cannot substitute for competence
    • Competence is what is needed to accomplish a job, but attitude completes the circle of contentment and daily joy, not only for yourself but also for those around you.
  • Attitude helps with your health (mental and physical)
    • Change if you can.
    • If you cannot change your circumstances, then change your attitude.
  • Attitude takes work.
    • Personal growth should be part of your daily and weekly calendar.
    • Don’t give up even when it feels like the easy thing to do.

Creating a plan to be a difference maker in attitude and understanding reality does not substitute for choosing your attitude. In 2011 on a brief phone call, I learned I no longer was employed due to a third round of downsizing. Was this a blow? Absolutely! However, I did not let the experience keep me down. I kept a forward vision and took actions one step at a time, even if they were baby steps toward the future I desired and deserve.

Moving forward has everything to do with a positive attitude, perseverance, and not sitting in a stinky pool of pity. I kept moving forward toward the next adventure in making a difference in other people’s lives. I hope you are one of those people.

Challenge Question: What is in your calendar to ensure you are not sitting in a stinky pool of pity?

Look UP & OUT!

Tracy Worley

Are curious! Do you want to find your secret sauce of being a Difference Maker, and create original ideas through your natural gifts? New series starting in June!

5 Steps to Create The Future You Want

Top4 Is Your Core: Build Your Solid Foundation

John C. Maxwell (2006). The Difference Maker

Tracy Worley (2015) Authentic Leadership, Authentic Self

Tracy A. Worley (2015) GRACEbreak Radio

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Are You Applying Tension To Where You Are Today And Where You Could Be Tomorrow

Tracy Worley is America’s leading grace coach, international key-note speaker, trainer, syndicated radio host, author, and potential seeker, strategist and CEO of three values leadership based organizations. She works with business executives, entrepreneurs, and leaders world-wide to develop potential, tailor employee engagement modules, and turn up the volume on individuals and organizations potential personally and professionally.

Tracy knows firsthand about what it takes to find your potential, Individuals and organizations have individual cultures, stories, and rhythm – Tracy’s innovative style knows how to make it work. With a background in business management, business communication, project management, and life’s drama, Tracy found herself running a multi-million dollar organization at the age of 25.

Tracy knows from life experience the ups and downs of colossal failure and the elation of success beyond imagination.

But it’s exactly all these experiences that built character, knowledge, wisdom, and intuitive insight into individual and organizational potential. Tracy is highly intuitive, perceptive, and a world thinker in connecting what you cannot see. These gifts give her the ability to strategize with clarity where you are, where you want to be, and how to get there. Tracy’s expertise: training highly successful people to lead with authenticity to the desired success her client’s desire and deserve.

Tension to success is not hearing, “not tonight dear I have a headache”. Tension to success is consistent applied pressure to your growth and stretching into something and someone bigger and better tomorrow.

My tension started in 2001 when I moved hundred of miles away from my hometown to take on a new job, city, friends, and to top it off the population was only several thousand. This move and new job was a huge stretch and paid off in learning and gleaning so much over-time. Eventually, I had to find new ways to stretch my growth. Truly, with  a small population to continue my growth I had to seek opportunity outside of the community. This meant online training, masterminding across the miles, and reading books from authors I admired and without knowing this stretching one of those author mentors would become a friend, mentor, and business partner; John C. Maxwell.

In 2011 when I had an opportunity to “jump” the opportunity to partner with John C. Maxwell opened and I was prepared to walk-through.

On stage with world leaders, co-collaborators, and John C. Maxwell.

On stage with world leaders, co-collaborators, and John C. Maxwell.

Tension is thinking of a rubber-band how you pull there is tension, release, and then do it over and over; after a time the rubber-band cannot go back to it’s original shape. This is what happens when you keep applied pressure/tension to your growth you are never the same again. By applying consistent pressure you will quickly and easily become the top in  your field. Why? Because few people want to be uncomfortable, learn, and stretch outside of their comfort zone.

Benefits Of Applying Tension:

  1. Few People Want to Stretch: 42% of college graduates never read a book after college, too many people are willing to sett for average.
  2. Settling for the Status Quo Ultimately Leads to Dissatisfaction: Familiar patterns are easy, take an inventory of where you are taking it easy and apply pressure.
  3. Stretching Always Starts from the Inside Out: our choices start our movement and movement creates significance. James Allen states, you cannot travel within and stand will without.”
  4. Stretching Requires Change: most people do not like change but to claim the reward of success you must be willing to do something different today to be and do different tomorrow.
  5. Stretching Sets You Apart from Others: ask yourself if “good enough is good enough”, if it is then no worries. If you are not satisfied then it is never to late to improve yourself. When you do excellence always shines through and when you get better so will  others.
  6. Stretching Becomes a Lifestyle: As I shared at the beginning I kept stretching and as I did other opportunities became available and I was ready for them. As a lifestyle stretching creates an energy of attraction where people do want what you are having.
  7. Stretching Gives You a Shot at Significance: you can continually add significance to self, others, community, and the world but it takes consistent applied tension to keep it.

Keep stretching to the end, I love Mahatma Ghandi’s statement, “the difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problems.”

I truly believe everyone can have a life of significance it just takes a bit of applied pressure to stretch into something more!

If you won’t be better tomorrow than you were today, when what do you need tomorrow for? ~ Rabbi Nachman

Apply tension to your Keep It Simple Silly Strategic plan and think about what significant action you could take if only you become what you could be. Dream  big, and set this as your lifetime goal! !  Not sure where to start , please feel free to contact me!

Want to learn more? Click Below:

Look UP & OUT!

Tracy Worley

John C. Maxwell (2012). 15 Invaluable Laws of Rubber Band, Chap10.
Tracy A. Worley (2015) GRACEbreak Radio

 

 

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Evaluated Character Is Essential To Your Leadership Success

Tracy Worley is America’s leading grace coach, international key-note speaker, trainer, syndicated radio host, author, and potential seeker, strategist and CEO of three values leadership based organizations. She works with business executives, entrepreneurs, and leaders world-wide to develop potential, tailor employee engagement modules, and turn up the volume on individuals and organizations potential personally and professionally.

Tracy knows firsthand about what it takes to find your potential, Individuals and organizations have individual cultures, stories, and rhythm – Tracy’s innovative style knows how to make it work. With a background in business management, business communication, project management, and life’s drama, Tracy found herself running a multi-million dollar organization at the age of 25.

Tracy knows from life experience the ups and downs of colossal failure and the elation of success beyond imagination.

But it’s exactly all these experiences that built character, knowledge, wisdom, and intuitive insight into individual and organizational potential. Tracy is highly intuitive, perceptive, and a world thinker in connecting what you cannot see. These gifts give her the ability to strategize with clarity where you are, where you want to be, and how to get there. Tracy’s expertise: training highly successful people to lead with authenticity to the desired success her client’s desire and deserve.

Evaluated character is your personal core of beliefs and at this core how you personally model and receive the Golden Rule; treat others they way you want to be treated.

My husband and I are not blessed to have children but we certainly love hanging out with our nieces, nephews, and all or friends little ones. Who better to model your words/actions “The Golden  Rule” than the little ones around you. They will certainly “parrot” all of the phrases and actions that perhaps you only want to be seen and said behind closed doors. You know what I am talking about and either you are giggling right now or shaking your head in remembrance of an incident at the grocery story or your little saying a four letter word or catching them having a one-on-one in-depth conversation with your pastor of a story about mommy or daddy.

My mother talks about a story when I was a toddler riding around in the grocery cart. My mom dropped a can of soup and out of my sweet little face came “oh, S_ _ T. My mother was horrified as the lady in the aisle said, ” at least she said it in context of the situation.” Oh MY! This was an opportunity for my mom to evaluate character and lead to a higher success in our home.  I know this is a simplistic story but applied to your daily interaction with your team, where should you be evaluating character to lead to success?

Ladder Tracy Worley

Character of what you say and do in humble honesty opens opportunities for you in the future. It is The Law of the Ladder, Character Growth Determines the Height of Your Personal Growth. Character is something you are today, and you have the ability to change your circumstances by achieving something inside yourself. When circumstances change within, circumstances change outside as well.

The values of character have been studied and in most nations the number one character value admired in leaders is honesty. Norman Scharzkopf states,  Ninety-nine percent of leadership failures are failures of character. Character growth is the Law of the Ladder, the higher your character the higher your growth and people willing to follow you.

Ask yourself and your team to dig deep to evaluate  character and lead to greater growth:

  1. Focus on being better on the inside than on thee outside – character matters
  2. Follow the golden rule – people matter
  3. Teach what you believe – passion matters (borrowed beliefs leave you powerless and passionless)
  4. Value humility above all virtues – perspective matters
    1. Big Picture
    2. Be Teachable
    3. Serve Others
    4. Be Grateful
  5. Finish Well – faithfulness matters

Taking evaluated experience into your character will explode your growth in opportunities you did not see before and or perhaps opportunities others did not trust you with before. This means keeping your core beliefs and integrity when it is the right thing for the right reason even when others disagree or looking to take short cuts.  Short cuts always lead to more work at the end because the solid foundation has not been built for significant success to stand on. 

Habit is the daily battleground of character. ~ Dan Coats

Climb the ladder of significance with the comfort of evaluated character. I guarantee a difference in the opportunities given to you and the strength of your team will explode!  Not sure where to start , please feel free to contact me!

Want to learn more? Click Below:

Look UP & OUT!

Tracy Worley

LilTT Tracy Worley

John C. Maxwell (2012). 15 Invaluable Laws of Ladder, Chap9.
Tracy A. Worley (2015) GRACEbreak Radio
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Allow Temporary Discomfort to Clarity

Tracy Worley is America’s leading grace coach, international key-note speaker, trainer, syndicated radio host, author, and potential seeker, strategist and CEO of three values leadership based organizations. She works with business executives, entrepreneurs, and leaders world-wide to develop potential, tailor employee engagement modules, and turn up the volume on individuals and organizations potential personally and professionally.

Tracy knows firsthand about what it takes to find your potential, Individuals and organizations have individual cultures, stories, and rhythm – Tracy’s innovative style knows how to make it work. With a background in business management, business communication, project management, and life’s drama, Tracy found herself running a multi-million dollar organization at the age of 25.

Tracy knows from life experience the ups and downs of colossal failure and the elation of success beyond imagination.

But it’s exactly all these experiences that built character, knowledge, wisdom, and intuitive insight into individual and organizational potential. Tracy is highly intuitive, perceptive, and a world thinker in connecting what you cannot see. These gifts give her the ability to strategize with clarity where you are, where you want to be, and how to get there. Tracy’s expertise: training highly successful people to lead with authenticity to the desired success her client’s desire and deserve.

We have all heard “No Pain No Gain”, this is true in any area of growth up and out of current circumstances, success, and leading others.

The pain comes from the discomfort from being outside of your comfort zone. Some discomfort comes from planned growth and other discomfort comes from bad experiences. What sets you apart from others is learning from all experiences good or bad and applying the lessons learned. John McDonnell said, “every problem introduces a person to himself.”

A  problem to me is an opportunity for growth. I also state and have my team not say “we have a problem”, I have them change the world to challenge or opportunity. Every discomfort is a temporary lesson to clarity. Life has a way of giving you more than you think you can handle from loss of a spouse, child, parents, job, divorce, natural disasters, etc…at the end of each life changing scenario you come through the back end with more clarity, purpose, and strength.

Law of Pain Tracy Worley

Discomfort in hiking 4,000 vertical we found something of significance! The payoff of the view, wildflowers, and great satisfaction of accomplishment!

I’ve never known anyone who said, “I love problems,” but I’ve known many who have admitted that their greatest gains came in the middle of their pain. ~ John C. Maxwell

My personal life of discomfort has truly shown how attitude and looking for the lessons in clarity has created a life of significance and the gift of coaching others through my own experience of divorce, loss of children, loss of a job, hiking 14K+ mountains, sky-diving, and so on. . .these few examples from my stories give courage to character. Given strength, wisdom and knowledge to take into the corporate arena with a fierce understanding the discomfort is only temporary for the team to achieve something of significance! 

Attitude is the number one trait of achieving great clarity through the Law of Pain. Virginia Satir states, Life is not the way it’s supposed to be, it is the way you cope with it is what makes the difference. Experience is the best teacher but the examination and taking lessons from each experience is key to the clarity of significance. Where there is no conversation of discomfort innovation becomes stagnant and the clear road ahead becomes foggy.

Look at current or past experiences to find creative clarity of moving forward:

  • Define the challenge or opportunity (a.k.a. problem)
  • What is the emotion involved and understand why (dig deep)
  • Articulate and outline the experience and lesson learned (like Thomas Edison stated, just one more way not to make the light bulb which took him 10,000 tries)
  • Now outline desired  change to move forward with clarity (brainstorm numerous pathways)
  • IMPLEMENT course of action from the temporary discomfort to a life of significant clarity

Discomfort, Pain, and Clarity is not something kept on your daily agenda, but I promise once you define them as outlined above the temporary discomfort will bring you to achieving something of significance! Not sure where to start , please feel free to contact me!

Want to learn more? Click Below:

Look UP & OUT!

Tracy Worley

 

John C. Maxwell (2012). 15 Invaluable Laws of Pain, Chap8.
Tracy A. Worley (2015) GRACEbreak Radio

 

 

 

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Keep It Simple Silly For Extraordinary Results

Tracy Worley is America’s leading grace coach, international key-note speaker, trainer, syndicated radio host, author, and potential seeker, strategist and CEO of three values leadership based organizations. She works with business executives, entrepreneurs, and leaders world-wide to develop potential, tailor employee engagement modules, and turn up the volume on individuals and organizations potential personally and professionally.

Tracy knows firsthand about what it takes to find your potential, Individuals and organizations have individual cultures, stories, and rhythm – Tracy’s innovative style knows how to make it work. With a background in business management, business communication, project management, and life’s drama, Tracy found herself running a multi-million dollar organization at the age of 25.

Tracy knows from life experience the ups and downs of colossal failure and the elation of success beyond imagination.

But it’s exactly all these experiences that built character, knowledge, wisdom, and intuitive insight into individual and organizational potential. Tracy is highly intuitive, perceptive, and a world thinker in connecting what you cannot see. These gifts give her the ability to strategize with clarity where you are, where you want to be, and how to get there. Tracy’s expertise: training highly successful people to lead with authenticity to the desired success her client’s desire and deserve.

We have all heard the saying “Keep It Simple”, but usually with the word STUPID at the end. When changing one word our whole world changes!

When I find myself in complex projects, situations, or conversations I say to myself or even out loud to my team. . .  “Keep it simple silly to achieve extraordinary results”.  I am not calling myself “silly” but changing the thought process that where the team or myself is stuck is because we have made the design too complicated! Saying this statement to yourself or out loud gives a cathartic release of frustration, blood pressure, and most of the time a smile which changes the room instantly!

Keep It Simple Tracy Worley

Designing systems is essential in keeping accountability and forward momentum to success. Question, have you designed a growth plan to be more tomorrow than  you are today, are you predictable in  your results? As Michael Gerber states, systems permit ordinary people to achieve extraordinary results predictably.”

If you don’t design  your own life plan,chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they may have planned for you? Not much.” ~ John Rhohn

Planning  and designing your life is finding yourself (core values),  knowing who you are (gifts, talents, strengths), and then designing a simple growth plan to obtain extraordinary results in your life. Remember, your life is not  meant to be part of an assembly line you are uniquely made to contribute the “secret sauce” only  you can offer the world.

Here are a few areas to take into account when applying design to area’s of your life (career, family, health, faith, hobby, marriage, personal growth, etc..):

  • The Big Picture: Will the system help you reach your big-picture goals?
  • Priorities: Does thee system design fit within  your values and commitments?
  • Measurement: Does tour system have a tangible way of measuring results?
  • Application: Is there a built-in system in your design to propel forward motion/action?
  • Organization: Does the system design make better use of your time, resources, and achieving higher results?
  • Consistency: Can you and will you repeat the system design on a regular basis?

The top 10% of people in their industries apply designs for growth. Designing extraordinary result systems into your life should not be complicated, and the systems themselves should not be hard to apply. In fact they should be easily repeated and followed, if you are unable to easily repeat then it is time to go back and make a few adjustments.

Challenge: look at your calendar “to do” list for the week and next coming week:

  • Is there any activity that does not fit within the big picture goals? If yes, delete or delegate.
  • Is there growth goals getting bumped due to other peoples priorities? If yes, say no.
  • Time, organization helps you from not letting one of the most valuable resources be spent without your permission: Time!
  • People, are there people you are meeting for lunch or coffee that does not set a purpose to achieving the results you desire? If so, cancel or reschedule.

Lastly, be kind to yourself. Designing your life of significance and achieving extraordinary results will not happen over night but changing course can. If you find yourself falling into old-habits just state to yourself, “keep it simple silly” and move forward without asking for permission.

I believe in you!

Look UP & OUT,

Tracy Worley

Keeping it simple  is the start to creating the success you desire and creating a dynamic team of leaders who will succeed beyond your “business-plan” expectations. Not sure where to start on designing your plan, please feel free to contact me!

Want to learn more? Click Below:

Look UP & OUT!

Tracy Worley

 

John C. Maxwell (2012). 15 Invaluable Laws of Design, Chap7.
Tracy A. Worley (2015) GRACEbreak Radio