Consistency in what we do can be another subjective aspect in our lives; be consistent in bad behavior or good and see what the consequences may be. 

We will unpack being consistent and how we can work (I)individually to maintain consistency through all aspects of (I)individualism.  

Understanding what accountability is should be a mandatory lesson for everyone.

There are two types, internal (self) accountability and outsourced accountability. And the understanding of what these mean and how they can be positive - negative and neutral - is important to being an amazing (I)individual. 

It's fitting that we would be diving into one of the cornerstones of our work this week on the anniversary of 9/11 -  Individualism. 

9/11 defined for me the power of true (I)individualism, where the best individuals combined to be our best in situations all across our country.  

Understanding the power of being best-self so when combined with other best-self individuals, we create a best-self team is where we hope our work takes each (I)individual we engage with.

In this milestone episode 400 of the Daily Influence, Brian Smith dives into why the shift from "goals" to "SMART objectives" is essential for achieving meaningful progress. Explore how objectives provide clarity, accountability, and measurable success while avoiding the pitfalls of abstract goals. Discover actionable steps to create SMART objectives that resonate with the principles of Specificity, Measurability, Attainability, Relevance, and Timeliness. Join the conversation and redefine how you and your team approach success.

In Episode 399 of the Daily Influence, Brian S. Smith delves into the evolving landscape of remote and hybrid work. He explores the challenges organizations face, from siloed employees to accountability issues, and presents the S.M.A.R.T. Management framework as the solution. Discover how to balance flexibility with accountability, foster trust-driven leadership, and build meaningful team connections to create a sustainable and productive work environment. Whether you're embracing remote work or considering hybrid models, this episode provides actionable insights for success.

Empathy is the ability to recognize, categorize, and understand the emotions another person is feeling and then respond in a way that makes the experience comforting for everyone in that particular area of influence. 

Key takeaways is understanding empathy in your area of influence.  Learning how to utilize empathy as an individual and a leader. 

Learning that empathy is not acceptance but is understanding.  

Empathy can be a foundation for positive influence.

Perceptions are not always right. Your personality or behavior can betray you - good and bad.  Unfortunately, oftentimes, Perception is Reality. 

Even a person with good character can be misperceived.  A direct person can be labeled rude or inpatient and be of very high character.  A person who is friendly and amenable with everyone can be of low character. But perceptions can find us attracted to the friendly and put off by the direct. 

Your influence is part of the perception equation and why being responsible for our influence is so important for us individually.  

And never discount the power of context and the power it can have on clarity and perception.  

Your Character is the culmination of your behavior in all aspects and is generally measured by your influence on self and others.  

How we communicate and how we perceive others' communication can be influenced by our character.  

We discuss the differences between personality and character, and how  these can be confused and lead to pitfalls and/or opportunity.  

Measuring character takes time; measuring personality can be immediate. 

Honesty is a character trait that requires self-respect and respect of others. 

Your character can be called into question just by the company you keep or the profession you are in, which is not always fair. 

We can spend a lifetime building our character and destroy it in an instant with a single act.

We all have habits - good and bad.  Habits are those automatic actions we have as humans that can oftentimes define part of us.  

Creating and overcoming habits is the discussion today and we dive into the different kinds of habits and how to better understand our own habits and those of others.  

Self-awareness comes from self-exploration and self-discovery.  As we always do, we urge you during any self-reflection that if you experience anxiety or negativity, you seek support from a licensed professional or close friend/confidant to help work through the issues causing the negativity.  

The goal of becoming self-aware is understanding where you're at today in your mind and accepting that our past is there for us to learn from, not define us.  

Be nonjudgmental about your past self and allow the awareness to help you mend.  Do not allow emotions to dictate how you communicate with yourself or others. Emotional self-communication can  be destructive if negative. Be mindful and be aware of those moments, so you can move to a learning and positive mindset.