19 People Who Are Having A Way Worse Day Than You

1. Anyone that started their modeling career during a rough storm:

Via: filmdrunk.uproxx.com

2. Anyone who lost to themselves while arm wrestling:

Source: youtube.com  /  via: http://Terrorized%20Ginger

3. Anyone caught crumpin’ way too close to a treadmill:

Via: faniq.com

4. Anyone who had to do a tandem trust fall:

Via: dailypicksandflicks.com

5. Anyone that just discovered they had superpowers at the WORST POSSIBLE MOMENT:

Via: dayum-bbq-chicken

6. Anyone that has a yo-yo with a vendetta:

Via: lolfactory

7. Anyone on this boat:

Via: tigerdroppings.com

8. Anyone who got mad at a defenseless old sign:

Via: gifstumblr.com

9. Anyone who was going to jump on this trampoline after this lady:

Via: pataaenlaraja.tk

10. Anyone who doesn’t know the layout of this convenience store:

Via: forgifs.com

11. Anyone who is best friends with a juggler:

Via: forgifs.com

12. Anyone who did the cinnamon challenge:

Via: benisawesome.net

13. Anyone whose friend invented a toilet paper gun:

Via: gifmash.blogspot.com

14. Anyone who decided to start working out again today:

Via: pleated-jeans.com

15. Anyone looking to get lucky with random people on the Internet:

Via: reddit.com

16. Anyone trying to break the sound barrier today:

Via: whatshouldwecallgradschool

17. Captain America:

Via: themetapicture.com

18. Anyone whose friend wears a flat-brimmed hat:

Via: failclipz.com

19. And Lindsay Lohan:

East Valley Consulting

East Valley Consulting

East Valley Consulting

East Valley Consulting

Celebrities Real Names!!!

STAGE NAME	GIVEN NAME
50 Cent	Curtis Jackson
Abigail Van Buren (Dear Abby)	Pauline Phillips
Adam West	William West Anderson
Adele	Adele Laurie Blue Adkins
Ahmad Rashad	Bobby Moore
Al Jolson	Asa Yoelson
Alan Alda	Alphonso D’Abruzzo
Albert Brooks	Albert Einstein
Alice Cooper	Vincent Furnier
Alicia Keys	Alicia Augello Cook
Andie MacDowell	Rosalie Anderson MacDowell
Andre the Giant	André René Roussimoff
Andre Norton	Mary Alice Norton
Andrew “Dice” Clay	Andrew Silverstein
Angelina Jolie	Angelina Jolie Voight
Andy Warhol	Andrew Warhola
Angie Dickenson	Angeline Brown
Ann Landers	Esther Pauline Lederer
Anna Nicole Smith	Vickie Lynn Hogan
Anne Bancroft	Anna Maria Italiano
Antonio Banderas	Jose Antonio Dominguez Bandera
Ashton Kutcher	Christopher Ashton Kutcher
Axl Rose	William Bailey
B.B. King	Riley B. King
Babyface	Kenneth Brian Edmonds
Barbara Eden	Barbara Huffman
Barbara Hershey	Barbara Herzstine
Barbara Stanwyck	Ruby Stevens
Barry Manilow	Barry Alan Pincus
Beatrice Arthur	Bernice Frankel
Beau Bridges	Lloyd Vernet Bridges III
Bela Lugosi	Bela Ferenc Blasko
Ben Kingsley	Krishna Banji
Bernadette Peters	Bernadette Lazzaro
Bill Clinton	William Jefferson Blythe III
Billie Holiday	Eleanora Fagan
Billy Idol	William Broad
Bing Crosby	Harry Lillis Crosby
Bjork	Bjork Gudmundsdottir
Bo Derek	Mary Cathleen Collins
Bo Diddley	Elias Bates
Bob Dylan	Robert Zimmerman
Bob Hope	Leslie Townes Hope
Bobby Darin	Walden Robert Cassotto
Bono (Vox)	Paul Hewson
Boris Karloff	William Henry Pratt
(Lil) Bow Wow	Shad Gregory Moss
Boy George	George Alan O’Dowd
Bozo the Clown	Larry Harmon
Brandy	Brandy Rayana Norwood
Bret Michaels	Bret Michael Sychak
Bruce Lee	Lee Yuen Kam
Busby Berkeley	Welliam Berkeley Enos
Busta Rhymes	Trevor Smith
Buster Keaton	Joseph Frank Keaton
Carl Malden	Mladen George Sekulovich
Carrot Top	Scott Thompson
Cary Grant	Archibald Alexander Leach
Casey Kasem	Kemal Amin Kasim
Chad Everett	Raymond Crampton
Chaka Khan	Yvette Stevens
Charles Bronson	Charles Dennis Buchinski
Charlie Sheen	Carlos Irwin Estevez
Charo	María del Rosario Pilar Martínez Molina Baeza de Rasten
Cher	Cherilyn Sarkisian
Cheryl Ladd	Cheryl Stoppelmoor
Chipper Jones	Larry Wayne Jones
Christopher Walken	Ronald Walken
Chubby Checker	Ernest Evans
Chuck Norris	Carlos Ray
Ciara	Ciara Princess Harris
Claudette Colbert	Lily Chauchoin
Clay Aiken	Clayton Holmes Grissom
Coco Crisp	Covelli Loyce “Coco” Crisp
Connie Stevens	Concetta Ingolia
Conway Twitty	Harold Lloyd Jenkins
Coolio	Artis Leon Ivey Jr.
Count Basie	William Basie
Criss Angel	Christopher Nicholas Sarantakos
Crystal Gayle	Brenda Gayle Webb
Cyd Charisse	Tula Finklea
Daddy Yankee	Raymond Ayala
Dale Evans	Frances Octavia Smith
Danny DiVito	Daniel Michaeli
Danny Kaye	David Kaminsky
Danny Thomas	Muzyad Yakhoob
David Bowie	David Robert Hayward-Jones
David Copperfield	David Seth Kotkin
Dean Martin	Dino Crocetti
Debbie Reynolds	Mary Francis Reynolds
Della Reese	Delloreese Patricia Early
Demi Gene Moore	Demetria Guynes
Diane Keaton	Diane Hall
Dido	Florian Cloud De Bounevialle Armstrong
Diahann Carroll	Carol Diahann Johnson
Dinah Washington	Ruth Lee Jones
DMX	Earl Simmons
Dog the Bounty Hunter	Duane Lee Chapman
Don Johnson	Don Wayne
Donna Reed	Donna Belle Mullenger
Donna Summer	La Donna Gaines
Doris Day	Doris von Kappelhoff
Dorothy Lamour	Mary Kaumeyer
Dr. Seuss	Theodore Seuss Geisel
Eddie Albert	Edward Albert Heimberger
Edie Adams	Elizabeth Edith Enke
Edward G Robinson	Emmanuel Goldenberg
Elle MacPherson	Elenor Gow
Ellen Burstyn	Edna Gilhooley
Elton John	Reginald Kenneth Dwight
Elvira	Cassandra Peterson
Elvis Costello	Declan McManus
Erykah Badu	Erica Wright
Ethel Merman	Ethel Zimmerman
Eminem	Marshall Bruce Mathers III
Engelbert Humperdinck	Gerry Dorsey
Enya	Eithne Ni Bhraonian
Erykah Badu	Erica Wright
Esteban	Stephen Paul
Eve Arden	Eunice Quedens
Fabio	Fabio Lanzoni
Faith Hill	Audrey Faith Perry McGraw
Fanny Brice	Fanny Borach
Fatboy Slim	Quentin Norman Cook
Fergie	Stacey Ann Ferguson
Frankie Valli	Frank Castelluccio
Flavor Flav	William Johnathon Drayton Jr.
Fred Allen	John Sullivan
Fred Astaire	Frederick Austerlitz
Freddie Mercury	Farrokh Bulsara
Gene Barry	Eugene Klass
Gene Simmons	Chaim Witz
Gene Wilder	Jerome Silberman
George Burns	Nathan Birnbaum
George Michael	Georgios Panayiotou
Gisele	Gisele Caroline Bündchen
The Great Khali (WWE)	Dalip Singh Rana
Greta Garbo	Greta Gustafsson
Harry Houdini	Ehrich Weiss
Harry Morgan	Harry Bratsburg
Howard Cosell	Howard Cohen
Huey Lewis	Hugh Cregg
Hulk Hogan	Terry Gene Bollea
Ice Cube	O’Shea Jackson
Ice-T	Tracy Morrow
Irving Berlin	Israel Baline
Jack Benny	Benjamin Kubelsky
Jack Black	Thomas J. Black
Jack Lord	John Joseph Ryan
Jack Palance	Walter Palanuik
Jackie Chan	Chan Kwong-Sung
Jamie Farr	Jameel Joseph Farah
Jamie Marlon Foxx	Eric Bishop
James Garner	James Bumgarner
Jason Alexander	Jay Scott Greenspan
Jane Seymour	Joyce Frankenberg
Jayne Mansfield	Vera Jane Palmer
Jay-Z	Shawn Corey Carter
Jean Arthur	Gladys Greene
Jennifer Aniston	Jennifer Linn Anastassakis
Jerry Lewis	Joseph Levitch
Joan Crawford	Lucille Le Sueur
Joan Rivers	Joan Sandra Molinsky
Jody Foster	Alicia Christian Foster
Joey Bishop	Joseph Gottlieb
John Bon Jovi	John Francis Bongiovi
John Denver	Henry John Deutschendorf Jr.
John Wayne	Marion Morrison
Johnnie Ray	John Alvin
Johnny Bench	Johnny Lee
Johnny Rotten	John Lydon
Judy Garland	Frances Gumm
Julia Child	Julia Carolyn McWilliams
Julie Andrews	Julia Wells
June Allyson	Ella Geisman
Junior Seau	Tiaina Baul Seau, Jr.
Kaká	Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite
Kane (WWE)	Glen Jacobs
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar	Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor, Jr.
Karl Malden	Mladen Sekulovich
Kathy Lee Gifford	Kathie Epstein
Katy Perry	Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson
Kid Rock	Robert James Ritchie
Kim Cattrall	Clare Woodgate
Kirk Douglas	Issur Danielovitch
Lady Gaga	Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta
Larry the Cable Guy	Daniel Lawrence Whitney
Larry King	Larry Ziegler
Lauren Bacall	Betty Joan Perske
Lea Michele	Lea Michele Sarfati
Lee J. Cobb	Leo Jacoby
Lee Majors	Harvey Lee Yeary II
Lil Kim	Kimberly Denise Jones
Lil Romeo	Percy Romeo Miller Jr.
Lil Wayne	Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr.
Lisa Bonet	Lisa Boney
Liv Tyler	Liv Rundgren
LL Cool J	James Todd Smith III
Lord Byron	George Gordon Byron
Lou Costello	Louis Cristillo
Ludacris	Christopher Brian Bridges
Madonna	Madonna Louisse Ciccone
Maria Callas	Maria Kalogeropoulos
Marilyn Manson	Brian Warner
Marilyn Monroe	Norma Jean (Mortenson) Baker
Marc Anthony	Marco Antonio Muñiz
Mark Twain	Samuel Longhorne Clemens
Martha Stewart	Martha Kostyra
Martin Sheen	Ramon Estevez
Mario	Mario Dewar Barrett
Master P	Percy Robert Miller
Marilyn Monroe	Norma Jean Mortenson (Baker)
Martha Stewart	Martha Helen Kostyra
Mary Pickford	Gladys Smith
MC Hammer	Stanley Kirk Burrell
Meatloaf	Marvin Lee Aday
Mel Brooks	Melvin Kaminsky
Melvyn Douglas	Melvyn Hesselberg
Metta World Peace	Ron Artest
Michael Caine	Maurice Micklewhite
Michael Crawford	Michael Dumble-Smith
Michael Keaton	Michael Douglas
Michael Landon	Eugene Maurice Orowitz
Mickey Rooney	Joe Yule Jr.
Miley Cirus	Destiny Hope Cyrus
Milton Burle	Milton Burlinger
Minnie Driver	Amelia Fiona J. Driver
Morgan Fairchild	Patsy McClenny
Mr. T	Lawrence Tero
Muddy Waters	McKinley Morganfield
Muhammad Ali	Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.
Nancy O’Dell	Nancy Evelyn Humphries
Nat King Cole	Nathaniel Adams Coles
Natalie Portman	Natalie Hershlag
Nastassja Kinski	Natassja Naksyznyski
Natalie Wood	Natasha Gurdin
Nelly	Cornell Haynes, Jr.
Newt Gingrich	Newton Leroy McPherson
Nicki Minaj	Onika Tanya Maraj
Nicolas Cage	Nicholas Coppola
Nicole Ritchie	Nicole Camilla Escovedo
Nostradamus	Michel de Nostredame
Notorious B.I.G.	Christopher Wallace
Olivia Wilde	Olivia Jane Cockburn
Omar Sharif	Michael Shalhoub
Ozzie Osbourne	John Michael Osbourne
Pat Benatar	Patricia Andrejewski
Patsy Cline	Virginia Patterson Hensley
Pee Wee Herman	Paul Reubenfeld
Pelé	Edson Arantes Do Nascimento
Penn (& Teller)	Penn Fraser Jillette
Perez Hilton	Mario Armando Lavandeira, Jr
Peter Coyote	Peter Cohon
Peter Lorre	Laszio Lowenstein
Phyllis Diller	Phyllis Driver
Pink	Alecia Moore
Portia De Rossi	Amanda Lee Rogers
Prince	Prince Rogers Nelson
Puff Daddy (Diddy)	Sean John Combs
Queen Latifah	Dana Elaine Owens
Ralph Lauren	Ralph Lifshitz
Randy Travis	Randy Traywick
Raquel Welch	Raquel Tejada
Ray Charles	Ray Charles Robinson
Reese Witherspoon	Laura Jean Reese Witherspoon
Red Buttons	Aaron Chwatt
Richard Burton	Richard Jenkins
Rihanna	Robyn Rihanna Fenty
Ringo Starr	Richard Starky
Rip Torn	Elmore Rual Torn Jr.
Rita Hayworth	Margarita Cansino
Rita Moreno	Rosita Alverio
Robert Blake	Michael James Vijencio Gubitosi
Robert Conrad	Conrad Robert Falk
Robert Stack	Robert Modini
Rock Hudson	Roy Scherer Jr.
Rodney Dangerfield	Jacob Cohen
Ron Ely	Ronald Pierce
Roy Rogers	Leonard Franklin Sly
Rudolph Valentino	Rudolpho D’Antonguolla
Ruth Westheimer	Karola Ruth Siegel
Sally Field	Sally Mahoney
Sandra Dee	Alexandria Zuck
Shaggy	Orville Richard Burrell
Shakira	Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll
Shania Twain	Eileen Regina Edwards
Sheena E(aston)	Sheena Shirley Orr
Skeet Ulrich	Bryan Ray Ulrich
Shawn Michaels (WWE)	Michael Higgenbottom
Sheila E	Sheila Escovedo
Shelley Winters	Shirley Schrift
Sinbad	David Atkins
Slash (Guns ‘n Roses)	Saul Hudson
Stephanie Powers	Stefania Federkiewicz
Shirley MacLaine	Shirley Beaty
Sid Vicious	John Simon Ritchie
Slim Pickens	Louis Lindley
Snoop Dogg	Cordazer Calvin Broadus
Sophia Loren	Sophia Scicoloni
Sophie Tucker	Sophia Kalish
Stan Laurel	Arthur Jefferson
Steve-O	Stephen Gilchrist Glover
Steve Lawrence	Sidney Liebowitz
Steven Tyler	Steven Tallarico
Stevie Wonder	Steveland Judkins
Sting	Gordon Sumner
Sugar Ray Robinson	Walker Smith, Jr.
Susan Surandon	Susan Tomaling
Suzanne Somers	Suzanne Mahoney
Talia Shire	Talia Coppola
Ted Danson	Edward Bridge Danson III
Teller (Penn & …)	Raymond Joseph Teller
The Big Bopper	Jiles Perry “J.P.” Richardson
The Big Show	Paul White
The Rock	Dwayne Johnson
Tia Carre	Althea Janairo
Tiger Woods	Eldrick Woods
Tim McGraw	Samuel Timothy Smith
Tina Turner	Annie Mae Bullock
Tiny Tim	Herbert Buckingham Khaury
Tom Cruise	Thomas Mapother IV
Tom Jones	Thomas Woodward
Tony Bennett	Anthony Benedetto
Tony Curtis	Bernard Schwartz
Tony Danza	Anthony Salvatore Iadanza
Tony Randall	Leonard Rosenberg
Tori Amos	Myra Ellen Amos
Tre Cool (Green Day)	Frank Edwin Wright III
Triple H (HHH)	Paul Michael Levesque
Twiggy	Leslie Hornby
Undertaker	Mark Calloway
Usher	Usher Raymond IV
Veronica Lake	Constance Ockleman
Vic Damone	Vito Farinola
Vikki Carr	Florencia Casillas
Vin Diesel	Mark Vincent
Victor Borge	Borge Rosenbaum
W.C. Fields	William Claude Dukenfield
Walter Matthau	Walter Matuschanskayasky
Whoopie Goldberg	Caryn Johnson
Winona Ryder	Winona Laura Horowitz
Woody Allen	Allen Konigsberg
Wynonna Judd	Christina Ciminella
Yves St. Laurent	Henri Donat Mathieu
Yvonne De Carlo	Peggy Middleton

7 Reasons Why Men Make Great Entrepreneurs

It’s often frustrating for men to hear the popular sentiment thatwomen make better entrepreneurs than men. It’s not fashionable to argue, but the truth is that the number of female-owned businesses are only growing at a faster rate because there were relatively few to begin with. Male-owned businesses are still growing more quickly in absolute terms.

In any case, while it may not be the most fashionable opinion we’d like to present the opposing argument, so here are 7 reasons why men make great entrepreneurs.

1. Men are more driven to make money

Studies have shown that women tend to be motivated to start their own businesses in order to strike a better balance between work and family life. For instance, many women start businesses from home in order to take care of their children while still generating an income.

Conversely, men tend to be more motivated by financial success in their ventures. They start companies with a view to becoming financially independent and, if all goes well, obscenely wealthy. While there’s nothing wrong with either approach it seems that men have the advantage in creating thriving businesses. Male entrepreneurs are willing to work longer hours and devote more of their energy to the venture, while women tend to be satisfied with modest success.

 

2. Men more readily seek investors

Perhaps due to the inherent differences in the types of businesses (small and home-based vs. large and ambitious), men are more willing to seek investment to help grow their business. While it may be the case that the obligations to repay investments and dividends down the line become onerous, in the short term this willingness to seek out finance helps male-owned businesses thrive much sooner, while female-owned businesses can only grow at the rate at which profits can be reinvested.

 

3. Men have more experience in business

Male entrepreneurs tend to start their businesses after a lifetime of work experience, and as such can draw on that experience to help their venture succeed. Women, on the other hand, often switch focus throughout their lives to make time for a family, abandoning work for several years until their children are no longer dependent on constant care before returning to continue their career.

While it may be unfair to hold a biological necessity against them, the fact is that women on average have less business experience than men.

 

4. Men are more willing to delegate

Many women find it difficult to break from the habit of doing everything for themselves, and when it comes to handling aspects of their business they can easily spread themselves too thin.

Men are much more ready to delegate, and happy to hire employees who can manage certain tasks with greater competence and efficiency. Men are more willing to hire accountants to deal with money matters, and for the simple reason that professional money managers are better at finding tax deductions than the layman that puts male entrepreneurs in a stronger financial position.

 

5. Men tend to be risk takers

Male entrepreneurs are more prone to impulsiveness and risk taking than women. While this may be a dangerous characteristic it’s also true that risk can pay dividends in many cases. The result of this is that male-owned businesses often grow at a much faster rate than businesses run by their female counterparts.

 

6. Men can be more decisive than women

While this many not be true for all men, male entrepreneurs can be more decisive and confident than women. Arrogance may not be an attractive trait, but in the world of business a certain amount of confidence in your abilities (or even over-confidence) can bring positive results.

 

7. Men can manage money more effectively

Finally, male entrepreneurs have the (dubious) advantage of societal sexism in their favor. Men have traditionally been breadwinners in charge of the family purse, while women were reduced to homemakers. Even in this generation the cultural hangover still persists, as today’s entrepreneurs were raised with the old ways.

While this benefit will no doubt vanish as today’s youth are raised with a fairer and less confining focus on gender roles it does, at least for this generation, mean that men tend to have more experience in financial matters than women, helping them make the best decisions to grow their business.

Very Painful Tattoos!!!

Gareth Roberts

East Valley Consulting

East Valley Consulting

8 Qualities of Fearless Entrepreneurs

“In my office, the term badass is thrown around a lot,” says Dr. Shelley Provost, a partner and director of happiness of the venture incubator Lamp Post Group. “We use it to describe many things: a person’s performance or accomplishments or ability to close a sale or turn a profit, or how well they ask someone out on a date–basically their overall potential for awesomeness.”

These are the qualities that Provost says set true business badasses apart:

1. They say yes first–then figure out how to deliver.

Badasses are incredibly confident, with good reason. If a job is anywhere near their wheelhouse, they will find a way to get it done or die trying.

Why? They trust their own abilities, but they trust the people around them just as much.

If you’re a true badass, you think there’s a way to solve every problem. All you have to do is find it.

2. They think differently than everyone else.

Most business problems aren’t new. Badasses tackle old problems with a variety of creative solutions.

Instead of designing a corporate newsletter that no one will read to “improve communication,” a badass will create a holograph of the CEO that welcomes you to work and gives you the latest news. And a true badass would wear a flowing gown like the one in this video of a Kate Moss hologram.

Tell me that wouldn’t improve communication.

3. They speak up.

When badasses have a different opinion, they share it.

But they aren’t argumentative–because that would just make them asses.

4. They enthusiastically share their awesome skills.

Badasses never shy away from teaching others.

Inject energy and innovation into your teaching method, and people will flock to learn from you. High Skill + High Confidence + Sharing With Others = True Business Badass.

5. They live by their own code.

They respect authority–but not too much.

Whether their code is to be a creative force in the world, to disrupt technologies, or to challenge others to examine their lives, badasses are unwilling to compromise their principles and beliefs for the comfort or approval of others.

If you’re a true badass, you answer to a power deep within you.

6. They do what others only wish they could do.

One of my favorite quotes is, “The Wright brothers never had a pilot’s license.” Rather than look around for permission or approval, badasses are courageous. They’re initiators. They have an idea and they act.

Rather than research and dwell on and discuss a problem to death, badasses find a solution by actually doing things.

7. They never, ever, ever give up.

Malcolm Gladwell popularized the idea that it takes 10,000 hours master a complex skill.

But the real key to mastering a complex skill is grit–the ability to stick with something long enough to log those 10,000 hours.

People with grit are like antidilettantes. Rather than flit from thing to thing, gritty people pick something and stick with it. They’re tenacious, dogged, persevering, and they absolutely refuse to give up.

The grittiest people don’t just work longer and harder, although that is part of the equation. They keep a laser focus on their goal and say, “No, thanks,” to anything that gets in their way.

8. They ignore the haters.

There are many reasons to listen to the haters: to save face, to remain comfortable, to be secure, to not look like the fool.

But as Dale Carnegie, the badass of winning friends and influencing people, said, “The person who goes farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The sure-thing boat never gets far from shore.”

Haters try to talk you into–or even scare you into–sticking with the status quo.

Be a true business badass. Don’t listen.

 

Gareth Roberts

East Valley Consulting

 

12 Maverick Leadership Tips from James Bond

East Valley Consulting

Many of today’s most inspiring businesses were created by maverick leaders who colored outside of lines and thought outside of the box. Sir Richard Branson comes to mind.  Mark Cuban.Elon Musk.

Is there a school you can attend to learn and develop the skills of a maverick leader? Unfortunately, there is not. So today I’d like to take a look at forward thinking, courageous, “put a dent in the Universe” leadership by examining one of the world’s most famous mavericks—everybody’s favorite fictional spy, James Bond.

Consider the lessons we can learn from James Bond:

1. Don’t Bother Giving Motivational Speeches –You don’t always have to inspire people with flashy orations to get them to do what you want. In Thunderball and The Spy Who Loved Me, Bond demonstrated that it’s not always necessary to hone your powers of persuasion to inspire your team to go to battle, or in his case, to even put their lives on the line. Bond demonstrates that maverick leaders will often simply charge forward with enough confidence and courage that people will follow their lead. Does it work in real life? Sometimes it does. Larry Ellison of Oracle comes to mind as a leader of few words, but monumental ambitions. Jack Welch and George Soros are also examples of well-known leaders who’ve used this trait from time to time.

2. Don’t Be Afraid to Go It Alone  – There are numerous times Bond acts on his own to get a job done. One of the most intense is when he’s climbing up to a mountain fortress at the end of For Your Eyes Only. In real life? Truth be known, most every senior executive bears at least a few burdens alone, where exceptional courage is required to deal with situations that would unduly dishearten or frighten their staffs. However, this is a trait to be used in very small doses. In most cases, a monumental task is handled better with the strength of a team (the recent company buyback ofFishbowl in May of 2011 comes to mind).A great leader has the courage to lead out strongly and to absorb the strong winds of outside opinion for the team. Yet loyalty to team and company is important as well. Bond sacrifices all for his Queen and and his country. Great business leaders give all for their people and companies. Nelson Mandela maintained that none of us, acting alone, can achieve success in his famous inauguration address. He raises a great point—lone wolf behavior can easily be taken too far, with disastrous consequences—Bernie Madoff comes to mind, as doesFerdinand Marcos. Use this characteristic with care.

3. Master a Few Skills and Be Passable at Everything Else – Bond isn’t known for being a gifted musician, artist, or businessperson. He’s a master at just two things: killing and wooing. That’s it. He picks up other skills here and there, like gambling, flying airplanes, and using a variety of other vehicles, but he usually just sticks to strengths. In this respect, Bond is brilliant: Strengths-based leadership development supports this philosophy strongly. Experts Jack Zenger and Joseph Folkman, of Zenger Folkman (fellow Forbes contributors and authors) note that leaders don’t become appreciably better by honing in on their worst characteristics (unless the weakness is a fatal flaw). But if they learn to focus on their greatest strengths to make those strengths true standouts—look out. Bond is definitely onto a winning principle here. Find your own unique strengths.  Killing and wooing are great for the big screen.  So is wearing a tux 24×7.

4. Sometimes It’s Okay to Rely on the Experts – In Goldfinger, Bond is at a loss as to how to defuse a nuclear bomb that has just minutes to go (of course) before it explodes. After fretting for several seconds, he grabs a handful of wires and prepares to rip them apart in desperation. But thankfully he’s pushed aside by someone who knows what he’s doing at the last second, and that expert simply flips a switch to turn the device off. Yes, there’s a corollary here. As a leader, don’t be so narcissistic or insecure you fail to use the members of your team to guide you in the things they know best. I’m betting a few of you recognize yourselves in this principle—ever attempted to do your own IT? To issue a rash statement without consulting your team members in legal or public relations or HR? We’ve all done it. And we’re all better off when we don’t.

5. Pay Attention to Details – Bond picks up minor details from a conversation between Goldfinger and one of his henchmen, and he uses that information later to bluff his way out of the villain’s death trap. Again, a brilliant example for all. Perhaps the eavesdropping isn’t a shining example, but the ability to pay scrupulous attention to the nuances and details of a market scenario or a deal situation is one of the skills that can take leaders from good to great. Thinking out of the box—the ability to recognize the meaning in the details others miss—is one of the best qualities a tremendous leader can have.

6. Be Professional – Bond rarely lets things get personal. Well, perhaps he broke that rule in For Your Eyes Only when he kicked the villain’s car off a cliff and in Octopussy when he avenged 009. InLicense to Kill he went completely rogue to avenge his friend’s wife. But for the most part, Bond remains cool and professional, even in the most dangerous situations.What can we learn from this? Cool your emotions.  Great leaders have an impeccable balance of EQ and IQ. Executives who act or speak in the heat of the emotion are playing with less than half of the deck. They aren’t acting; they’rereacting. Many business decisions would be improved if leaders would recognize and respect this crucial fact. Being professional includes being accountable as well. A great leader accepts full accountability.  We are only defeated when we blame others and make excuses.  Great leaders never lay blame, gossip or degrade others. Bond is a true gentleman in this regard.

7. Trust Your Instincts – At the start of The Living Daylights, Bond shoots a supposed sniper’s gun rather than her head. He’s criticized by his superiors for deliberately missing, but his split-second decision eventually leads to the villain’s undoing. Good for him. Most of my own leadership comes from my instincts. I’m a strong judge of people, and thankfully, it’s an area where I very seldom make mistakes. I know there are many other leaders who exemplify this characteristic as well.

8. Learn from Mistakes – Bond rarely makes the same mistake twice. In Casino Royale, Bond makes a devastating mistake, losing all of his money in a poker game with the villain. However, when he’s given a second chance, he devises a brilliant strategy to turn the tables and win the jackpot. This is another essential leadership principle—mistakes are golden opportunities to learn. Cherish them. Use them. They are the avenue to improved learning and strength. Cherish and use the mistakes of your employees as well. Short of disastrous decisions such as brokerage mistakes and ethical breaches (which your hiring practices should nearly entirely prevent), consider their mistakes to be valuable learning experiences as well.

9. Take Advantage of the Latest Gadgets – Every Bond film since From Russia with Love has had numerous gadgets to aid Bond in his adventures. It’s fun to guess which gadgets at the start of a Bond movie will prove most useful as the plot develops, such as ejector seats, exploding key chains, etc. Does James Bond have a great occupation, or what? Yes, technology can be a wonderful thing. Smartphones. iPads. Electronic gadgets. Isn’t it great that we have a business rationale for these things?

10. Have a Plan and Execute it with Patience – Bond always approaches a situation methodically, weighing his options and looking for a way to gain the upper hand. In License to Kill, Bond crafts a plan that is almost diabolical to defeat the villain by getting him to mistrust his closest advisers and make other costly mistakes. Bond eventually brings down the villain’s entire operation from within thanks to his meticulous efforts. We could all learn from James Bond on this front. Patience is not only a virtue, it is a tremendous leadership strength. And again, note the value of attention to detail.

11. Be Ready to Improvise – In Goldeneye, Bond is surrounded by a Russian army, so he decides to escape by hijacking a tank and driving it through city streets. In Tomorrow Never Dies, he can’t stop a missile from destroying a nuclear bomb, so he quickly flies the bomb out of range of the incoming missile. What tremendous leader hasn’t had the need to improvise a solution at least once in awhile?

12. Never Give Up, Even When Things Look Hopeless – In Thunderball, Bond is trapped in a pool full of sharks, but does that stop him? No way! Granted, his incentive was incredibly high, but our fearless leader simply looks for a way out, never doubting that he’ll find it, and manages to make his way to safety again. Perhaps this is the ultimate entrepreneurial skill—the tenacity, the relentlessness and the courage to believe in a company and an idea even while the rest of the world is calling the situation a loss. Yes, there is a time to pivot, to cut your losses and to move forward—but for a true entrepreneur (and for most every successful leader) that point is much further along the realm of the seemingly impossible than any other participant or observer would have thought.

So perhaps James Bond can provide us with more than entertainment. Perhaps he brings a few successful leadership traits to the table as well. Would he make it as an entrepreneur? In many respects, I’m betting he could. Like every one of us, he is a “work in progress.” 

Gareth Roberts

East Valley Consulting