Author of the leadership and team-building book: "WORK WITH ME NOT FOR ME," and the twice weekly newsletter: “LarryonLearning's Morning Minutes.” I coach business owners and managers in how to profitably run their businesses by managing the 4 Ps: People, Processes, Products/Services, and Promotions. Using real life scenarios and step-by-step action plans, students gain the skills necessary to build strong teams and businesses. 864-630-2625
The Lesson By The Lake Morning Minute 5/1/26
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Reader What nature quietly teaches us about contribution and leadership For the video version click below The Lesson by the Lake What nature quietly teaches us about contribution and leadership This morning, while walking our schnauzer, Gigi along the lake, I noticed something that caught my attention. Four large buzzards were standing on the bank. Two of them were watching everything around them… almost as if they were standing guard. The other two were focused on something near the water. Then I saw it. A tall marsh crane walked slowly up the bank with a fish in her beak—something she had clearly worked to catch. As she moved forward, the buzzards reacted. One moved toward her. She flapped her wings to defend herself—and in the process, dropped the fish. Another bird immediately grabbed it. Within seconds, all four buzzards flew away. The crane? She went right back to the water… and started again. That moment stayed with me. Because if you look closely… you’ll see the same dynamic play out in many teams and organizations. There are:
Over time, this often reflects the 80/20 rule: A small percentage of people carrying the majority of the load. But here’s where this becomes a leadership issue. The question isn’t whether the 80/20 rule exists. It does. The question is: What are you doing about it? Are you:
Because when too few people are carrying the load…everyone feels the strain. But when more people contribute…the entire team moves forward. And one more observation from this morning: The crane didn’t complain. She went right back to work. So here are two questions to consider: 1) Which role are you playing? 2) As the leader—how are you helping more people move into the group that produces, contributes, and drives results? Because strong teams aren’t built by a few doing most of the work… They’re built when more people choose to carry the load. If you’re looking to strengthen your team, improve productivity, or establish clear standards that drive performance, I’d welcome the opportunity to work with you. Reach out to me at lab@larryonlearning.com or 864-630-2625. And remember: Information without transformation is wasted energy. That is today’s Morning Minute. (click HERE for the video version. *** Please feel free to share or use this message and/or video as a discussion starter for any sales, manager, senior leader, or organizational meeting. *** Here is a famous quote: “It’s never too late to be what you might have been” GEORGE ELLIOT What does that mean to you? Here is what it tells me: You may change directions... You may change teams... You may even change partners... But you never, ever quit! Because you only lose when you quit! Larry B *** Here are some recent Morning Minutes you may have missed with actionable ideas, useful instruction, and step-by-step methods to help you, your family, and/or your team to be more, do more, and achieve more. "That Situation Wasn't Random!" What you did, or didn't do, and how you responded created your results. Discover the choices and actions you take determine the outcome you receive. Every situation creates different courses of action. The results you get are based on your choices. So, ask yourself: What am I doing? What am I avoiding? And, how am I choosing to respond? "Standards: How Good Teams Become Great!" Great leaders don't assume standards...they teach and enforce them. Learn how an interaction between a great coach, John Wooden, and a great player, Bill Walton, describe both the importance of standards and how they are enforced. Discover the T.A.S.T.E. module for leaders that vividly the 5 standards I expect from may managers. "The Cost & Value of Integrity!" Short term gains can create long term limitations. Discover how that, when faced with a choice to either cheat on his taxes or lose his job, this author set in motion future opportunities by choosing integrity. Learn how that choosing integrity in spite of it's initial costs, increases your future options for income, improvement and opportunity. "2nd Chances: How and When to Use Them!" The right decision will impact more than just 1 person. Today's message includes 2 stories of individuals who were given second chances. They both excelled after making very bad decisions. Learn from their mistakes. And, discover how that the decisions to grant them a 2nd chance for beneficial for the person, the team, and those served by the teams. *** Follow us on social media to never miss a message: *** (published by Bonorato Creative Group, LLC; all rights reserved) |
Larry A. Bonorato
Author of the leadership and team-building book: "WORK WITH ME NOT FOR ME," and the twice weekly newsletter: “LarryonLearning's Morning Minutes.” I coach business owners and managers in how to profitably run their businesses by managing the 4 Ps: People, Processes, Products/Services, and Promotions. Using real life scenarios and step-by-step action plans, students gain the skills necessary to build strong teams and businesses. 864-630-2625
Reader: Morning Minute 4/28.26 (click below for the video version) Morning Minute 4/28/26 That One Situation Wasn’t Random What you did or didn’t do, and how you responded created your result. Think about a situation you dealt with recently… at work, at home, or with someone on your team. Something didn’t go the way you expected. Maybe someone brought you a problem that they should have been able to handle. Or maybe you were the one who passed something along… because you didn’t want to make...
Reader: Great leaders don't assume standards - they teach and enforce them Click image below for the video version: Standards – How Good Teams Become Great! In our previous Morning Minute, The Cost and Value of Integrity, we introduced the importance of standards. Today, I want to share a real-life example of how standards are taught… and enforced. John Wooden, the legendary UCLA basketball coach, was known for being brilliant in the basics—even showing players how to properly put on their...
Reader: Short term gains can create long term limitations. Prefer the video version - click below: The Cost—and Value—of Integrity Short term gains can create long term limitations. I once was asked to choose between providing for my family… and keeping my integrity. There was a season in my life when everything felt uncertain. I had a wife, two young children, and had just lost my job during a recession. An opportunity came along, and I poured myself into it—designed the restaurant, built it...