The Servant Leader Framework Series (A Lasting Legacy)

Several previous blogs have been about building your legacy. This next series of blogs focus on what I believe to be the most rewarding ways to build a sustainable legacy that makes a difference.

Based upon my experience and the numerous leaders I know and have coached, those who truly decide to be authentic servant leaders experience all the best of life and success. Not to say there aren't challenges, setbacks and failures. Bad things do happen to good people. Yet, that's life and if you are truly committed to building a sustainable legacy, becoming a servant-minded leader, in my opinion, is the only way to make it happen.

I've recently begun polishing off a book project I began in 2008, which for a variety of reasons got delayed. Priorities changed pretty quickly when my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. Today, she is incredibly healthy and a three plus year survivor. As we got back into more normal life, in late 2011, I got busy with a couple of authors (one of which is my wife) to publish the first three books of the ZFactor series of books, which we wrote and published in ten months. Now, my five year old book project is calling loudly to be completed.

"The Servant Leader Framework" is actually the foundation for the ZFactor Coaching Methodology used in all ZFactor books. Each book focuses on a specific market niche and each author is an acclaimed industry expert. The premise is simple in the books:

1. Successful people think and act differently.
2. You are what you think. (Thought + Action = Result) Change your mindset, change your life.
3. Thinking is a skill that takes practice and coaching to reveal and release your full potential.
4. When you know who you are, where you are and what to do - you make it happen. (the books reveal a series of defining characteristics of success).
5. A xy graph is utilized as the power tool to accelerate getting focused and staying focused on the right things at the right time with the right people to achieve goals and objectives. 

ZFactor has proven to accelerate performance improvement because people quickly know what thoughts and actions to change to get the results and success they desire. This is based upon several years experience using the ZFactor Coaching Methodology with a variety of professionals, executives, managers and leaders in a various industries and roles.

The Servant Leader Framework is for those individuals in leadership roles and emerging leaders who know they are being called to make a difference and build a lasting legacy. 

Over the next few weeks, I'll be sharing parts of the upcoming book and I am always open to any and all comments.

To get the greatest benefit for the time you spend with these blogs, take a look at the xy graph below and ask yourself: Which quadrant best represents who you are as a servant leader?

Then ask yourself these questions:

• What is the defining characteristic, trait or behavior that best defines why you selected the quadrant you did?
• What is one change you can make that will move you from that quadrant to another quadrant?
• When will you make that change?

More to come...

Thanks for reading my various blogs and have a great day!

~ Alan Goldsberry, Author and CEO of ZFactor Group Publishing

I Say Merry Christmas, What Do You Say?

My amazing wife, Cindy, declared last week, she wants to be more engaging with people relative to the upcoming holiday season. Rather than just say, "Happy Holidays" she wants to be more engaging with people and get to know them better than just responding, "Happy Holidays to You."

You have to know Cindy to understand the way she thinks about other people. First, she really cares about other people and she has a quality about herself that when others are around her, they just love Cindy.

Cindy says to me, "Instead of waiting for others to say, Happy Holidays, I'm going to say - I say +Merry Christmas, what do you say?" Her reasoning is pretty simple. She wants others to know she values being a Christian and does not want to water down her belief because of some political correctness. And, most importantly she wants others to feel comfortable in expressing their personal values, as well. It's about honoring other people and the result is you get to know a little more about them.

With a little thought about this on my part - we live in a vibrant, highly mobile, multi-cultural society. If we truly want world peace for our progeny, we need to be responsible for understanding and getting to know who other people are. If I just say, "Merry Christmas" without offering the option to others to express their belief, I can sound rude and politically incorrect. That behavior does not represent the love of Christ nor does it open the door for any further engaging conversations. If I merely say, "Happy Holidays" that is not expressing who I am. This is obviously the quandary many of us have experienced in these politically correct decades, but then if you know Cindy like I know Cindy, you too will take pause and ponder upon what she says - and, consider what you will say.

So, I tried out Cindy's saying and surprisingly it opened up some interesting discussions that would have never happen if I had blindly said, "Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays." After a couple of times I began to realize that it really is about relationship and honoring the relationships we have with others, especially with those we have just met or know professionally. Yep, I now have to admit to my wife, I'm a little slow and for the first time ever - she has thought of something before me. (and if you believe that, well, I can find the perfect coach for you.)

The responses to me saying, "I say Merry Christmas, what do you say" have typically been a chuckle and then they say, "Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays" and we all go on our merry way. A couple of the responses have been a chuckle and they say, "I'm Jewish and I say Happy Hanukkah." I respond, "Happy Hanukkah." It's about honoring who people are, getting to know them a little better, and since I'm a Christian - being more like Christ.

No matter your background, religion or race, 'tis the season to take a moment and be more loving with others. As I understand it, Jesus was born into a Jewish family and a group of Magi (from Persia - some might say pre-Muslim) came to visit him and present him gifts upon his birth. And, those gifts provided safe passage for Jesus and family to escape the slaughter of the children by King Herod. I'm figuring God has a plan and, in his infinite wisdom, He is giving us time to figure it out.

Be kind and loving to others who think and act differently than you,

~ Alan Goldsberry, Author and CEO of ZFactor Group Publishing

Glowing Embers Refreshed

Updating this blog post for folks in APE: Authors, Publishers, Entrepreneurs Community. I highly recommend you check it out if you have not joined the community and you are an aspiring or accomplished author.

I have noted several postings in the community about having a book in me or I know I want to write a book, someday. Maybe this will give you a little perspective and inspiration to get 'er done.

A Glowing Ember defines people who have genuinely lived with "fire in the belly" and have sustainable success to prove it. Their stories of success inspire others yet the challenges they have overcome astound and leave you in a sense of awe and wonder for how they did it. They have lived through those times when their "fire in the belly" consumed all of them - body, mind, heart, and soul. Many have endured a crucible life event, some medical, others physical and mental. In the midst of this time of "personal quest" or "crucible" they expanded their capacity and capabilities for doing good while pursuing their dreams and passions. And now, many of these once "fire in the bellies" driven to accomplish big goals have become glowing embers covered by a fine dust of ash. Whether by their choosing or a society slowly learning to honor and respect this vast wisdom, knowledge and expertise available for achieving greatness, only imagined. Herein lays a vast untapped human and spiritual potential never seen before and ready to become a roaring fire again.

A light breeze blowing across these glowing embers can ignite forest fires of possibilities for doing good, contributing to and serving others. The release of this potential has been longed for by all of humanity and imagined as possible throughout all history. It is no longer the dreams of prophets and writings of the philosophers. These possibilities for doing good for others have become the reality within every neighborhood, workplace, place of worship,  and school across the entire planet. Many of these Glowing Embers are fully engaged in this fast paced techno-mobile world and glowing ever brighter - attracting the attention of authentic leaders. Others may need an authentic leader to recognize them and be that light breeze of encouragement to bring forth their untapped potential.

Throughout all history, Glowing Embers are the mark of an aging and maturing population. The distinction today is the vast numbers of Glowing Embers who are healthy and highly capable with the wisdom and capacity to imagine the possibilities and take the necessary actions to make it happen. They envision and embody a sense of servant-hood, mentoring, and servant-leadership. All the traits, behaviors and characteristics truly recognized as essential for creating value. They expect to continue to be actively using knowledge, skills, and expertise they have acquired over a lifetime and they are continually learning. It is who they are, where they are, what they do and have always been.

This xy graph (ZMap) presents how a Glowing Ember is positioned for mastery to mentor others and be builders of other leaders and communities as they refine their skills to now apply their highly developed capabilities and match that with an expansive capacity for managing change and dealing with the uncertainties of life and organization.


Glowing Embers have achieved success, most often unnoticed and without acknowledgement as to the impact and results they produced for their organizations. They do what they do, not driven by the need for fame and fortune, but because it is who they are. They are Value Creators. They have developed and refined essential skills and behaviors with intensity and focus on excellence. Most of all they care deeply about making a difference in every situation they find themselves. They embody the core values of the organization without compromise to their personal values and consistently exceed expectations.

Glowing Embers desire to be part of making big things happen that make a difference for others, their neighborhoods, communities, and the planet. Take a moment to consider who the Glowing Embers are near you. You may be one yourself.

This topic will be explored more deeply in upcoming blog posts and XY Glowing Embers will be recognized and acknowledged in order to more clearly distinguish who they are and what they are doing today to make a difference. If you have any suggestions or want to share your Glowing Ember story, please feel welcome to provide your comments.

Are you a Glowing Ember? Interested in discussing a collaboration with ZFactor Group Publishing to publish a book related to your area of business expertise? Click here for more info on the ZFactor Group website.

~ Alan Goldsberry, Author and CEO of ZFactor Group Publishing