Be considerate of other people's time. Make sure if you have an appointment with someone for an interview, a meeting, or just an appointment of any kind, that you show up or you let them know if you're not able to make it. Yesterday, I had an interview scheduled to interview someone and I spent 45 minutes preparing for the interview and the person never showed up and never called. It wasted my time that I could have been doing other things and been more productive. Being considerate of others is a character trait, that to me is important and a trait that I believe one should model the way for others.

When working with customers, make sure you set realistic expectations. And allow extra time for things when they are not under your direct control. Things happen, but in order to be a person of your word you need to allow extra time to make sure you can deliver on what you say you can do. This will add to your credibility and it models the way for others .

Hire people and team up with people based on their ability, not their age. I have always believed in working with a diverse team that has the best skill set, regardless of age. I am looking for quality, work ethic, adaptability, excellent customer service, a sales professional, and one's ability to go make it happen regardless of age. I have always had a mix if reps from their 20s to their 60s working on my team and have built winning teams by having a solid, top notch winning team. As my father said, "with age comes experience and wisdom." So if you want to build a winning team, look at what's in their heart, as well as what's in their head. After all, it's the right thing to do and it models the way for others.

What are you passionate about? Whatever it is you're passionate about , work in that industry. Because when it's more than just a job, when it's your passion, you enjoy what you do and you put more into it. You can feel your passion, your customers can feel your passion, and those that work with you or for you can feel your passion. Life's too short not to love what you do. After all it's a better way to do life and it models the way for others.

Allow enough time so you can be early. Being late shows that you are selfish and you are not in control. Growing up my father impressed the importance of being on time. For every minute I was late coming home I was grounded one day. If I was 30 minutes late, then I was grounded a month, a hour and a half ... well then I was grounded for the summer. Growing up I thought that my dad's punishment for being late was harsh, but as an adult I totally get why he was so strict regarding being on time. At my previous company, my manager used to say if your are on time, then you are late. Make sure you are early and not late so you can be counted on. After all it's the right thing to do and models the way for others

But he rejected the advice which the elders and given him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him.

2 Chronicles 10:8

Don't ever lie. Because if you do and others find out you're lying, then they will put it a question mark behind everything you say and do. As I learned from my mentor, if there is no trust, there is no relationship. As I tell my children do the right thing. It's that simple and it models the way for others.

Make sure that you don't overstep your boundary. In other words, if it is regarding something in your span of control, then you deal with it. But if the issue involves someone else's area or territory you need to let them deal with it. Your good intentions might just be seen as meddling into something that you should not be involved in. Take care of your business and let the right person take care of their business. It's good to take ownership and being known for making things happen, but it's bad when you step into areas where you really have no business being, as innocent as it might seem. Watch for just these times and make the right decision and model the way for others.

Make sure that you thoroughly explain and think through your coaching and feedback if you lead people. If you have good intentions, have identified one or two key areas that from your experience and knowledge will help improve an employee so they will become better than they were, but they misunderstand either your intentions or how you plan to observe or provide feedback, your day can quickly go south. Just because you see the greatest opportunity to improve that will have the biggest impact if they work on it, doesn't mean the employee does see it, wants to see it, or wants the feedback, especially if they are a top rep already. Most successful top reps have not been given a lot of honest feedback to improve and in most companies top reps are just left alone. So make sure you prepare and explain the plan to give feedback thoroughly and the why, or the reason you believe this will help them. Make sure to think through the conversation and speak from your heart as well as your head, otherwise they may question your intentions and purpose in providing them feedback. This also work with providing honest feedback to your spouse. Not everyone who says they want to make more money, is able to look at or willing to work on the last big thing that could propel their income. So be cautious and step lightly or you could damage the relationship if you don't take time to explain the why thoroughly first. Doing this will help preserve the relationship, encourage the person to be open to change, and get the outcome you envisioned in the first place. Plus, it will model the way for others.

Ask for help when you need it. Look to an expert in the field or area when you travel into an unchartered territory. Having someone with the knowledge and experience on your team or on your side may cost some money, but will save you time, reduce your stress level , and make your job easier. Getting help when you need it is actually a sign of strength and wisdom, plus it puts you on a better path towards winning versus losing. Asking for help is the right thing to do and models the way for others .