by Jimmy Collins | May 27, 2020 | Creative Followership, Followership, Leadership, Professional Development
My friend walked up and said, “Jimmy, I didn’t get anything out of that book you recommended.” “You didn’t get anything?” I asked. “That’s right … nothing!” Have you had a similar conversation? Which side of the exchange were you on? Often, people have...
by Jimmy Collins | May 20, 2020 | Creative Followership
Do you remember your first date? I do! It is no exaggeration to say it was a “memorable event.” Unlike most of my friends, I went on my first date at a rather young age. I asked a girl to go out with me when I was 9 years old. We were both in the third grade at Church...
by Jimmy Collins | May 13, 2020 | Business, Customer Service, Professional Development
I have been accused of being a perfectionist. When people call me a perfectionist, their tone of voice and facial expression give the impression that they are describing a diseased person, maybe a mentally diseased person. Have you seen this? Have you been...
by Jimmy Collins | May 6, 2020 | Creative Followership, Followership, Professional Development
Are you creative? What have you invented? If you are asked what you created or invented, how would you reply? When I received the Email, I chuckled. Even though I had been asked before, I never had a choice of two answers. The question was: “What two...
by Jimmy Collins | Apr 29, 2020 | Career, Professional Development
That popular expression of power is often used in referring to the attitude of tough bosses. Some of those bosses enjoy stating it themselves. I worked for more than one boss who liked to say, “It’s my way or the highway!” During my twenties, I worked for...
by Jimmy Collins | Apr 22, 2020 | Business
“How was your meal?” A well-intentioned assistant manager is wandering through the dining room asking that worthless question. You have been there, we all have. Every one of us has been through this irritating restaurant experience. Finally, he stops at...
by Jimmy Collins | Apr 15, 2020 | Business, Career, responsibility
This word might be the most important word in the English language.This word is an essential ingredient to assertive and responsible decision-making.Here is the word: Proper use of this word will signal to the world around you who you really are. It clearly...
by Jimmy Collins | Apr 8, 2020 | Creative Followership, Leadership
Over the years, I heard people say, “When I think of what Jesus did for me, it brings tears to my eyes.” It never affected me that way! For me, accepting Jesus was an intellectual decision. There was nothing emotional about it. I have never considered myself an...
by Jimmy Collins | Apr 1, 2020 | Creative Followership, Leadership
A young man asked, “Mr. Drucker, what is the most important decision an executive must make?”Peter Drucker replied, “The most important decisions that executives make are people decisions.” His advice resonates through my mind today as if he had just said it a minute...
by Jimmy Collins | Mar 25, 2020 | Career, Customer Service
What does it take for an employee to stand out? Many people have the false impression that if they perform at what is commonly called “110%” they will stand out and be recognized as outstanding performers. That might work if all of your coworkers are performing in the...
by Jimmy Collins | Mar 18, 2020 | Business, Creative Followership, Leadership, Management, Uncategorized
There are leaders, and there are followers; this is not a complex idea. As a matter of fact and by definition, there is no leader unless there are followers. A leader is someone who has followers. There is no need to add adjectives to leader to...
by Jimmy Collins | Mar 11, 2020 | Business, Leadership, Professional Development
As soon as she saw it, my thirteen-year-old granddaughter, McKibben said, “That sign is unnecessary.” How many of these have you seen? I have seen signs like this in many places. Most often they mark sidewalks that will never be used simply because they go...
by Jimmy Collins | Mar 4, 2020 | Business, Professional Development
Leaders have at least one thing in common. Do you know what that is? Leaders look like everyone else. They may be any age, gender or race. They may have any level of education, talents, wealth or authority. How can you separate the leader from the crowd? Leaders...
by Jimmy Collins | Feb 26, 2020 | Business, Creative Followership, Professional Development
Would you like to fire your boss? Sometimes people work for the wrong boss, year after year and complain that they are going nowhere within the organization. Why do they do it? Probably the number one reason is fear of the unknown. They are afraid to go...
by Jimmy Collins | Feb 19, 2020 | Leadership, Professional Development
I learned a principle early in life, while playing softball, that guided me when confronting the biggest challenges in my career. I discovered it is OK to ask for help. We all find ourselves in need of a little help. Some lessons come to us early in life. I...
by Jimmy Collins | Feb 12, 2020 | Followership, Professional Development
One of the most important Principles of Creative Followership is – Do What Your Boss Does Not Like to Do. There are other related Principles. Even though they are practical and effective when understood, I have found many employees are surprised when I explain...
by Jimmy Collins | Feb 5, 2020 | Business, Leadership
Measuring the wrong things? You will get the wrong results! Guaranteed! Can you recognize when someone is measuring the wrong things? Do you see the similarity of these two incidents? I had just checked into my favorite motel in Johnson City, TN, and then asked for my...
by Jimmy Collins | Jan 29, 2020 | Career, Creative Followership, Customer Service, Followership, Leadership
Truett Cathy told me what he wanted me to do, but he did not tell me how to do it. A good boss gives direction by telling workers what he wants and he leaves it up to them to figure out how to do it. He let me use my initiative and creativity to get the job...
by Jimmy Collins | Jan 22, 2020 | Creative Followership, Followership, Professional Development
While talking with the father of two teenagers, he said, ”I don’t want my kids to work part-time jobs.” He went on, “It’s too much trouble getting them back and forth to work. A job interferes with schoolwork and extracurricular activities.” Vacation trips in...
by Jimmy Collins | Jan 15, 2020 | Career, Management, Professional Development
People ask me, “How do you make good decisions?” I have learned that the issue is not about making good decisions. The issue is making your decisions good. There is no such thing as a perfect decision. You know this even though you may not have given it much thought....
by Jimmy Collins | Jan 8, 2020 | Business, Career, Creative Followership, Followership, Professional Development
We all dreamed of a good career. For many, it did not happen. What went wrong? Too many of us looked for a job when what we needed to do was to choose a good boss. Choosing a good boss is the first step to enjoying the success and satisfaction of a good career....
by Jimmy Collins | Jan 1, 2020 | Business, Creative Followership, Leadership
If you make a good decision in this area — your coworkers will notice. If you make a poor decision in this area — everybody notices. Do you know what area I’m talking about? When wise men speak are you listening? When your coworkers know, do you know? Here is...
by Jimmy Collins | Dec 25, 2019 | Encouragement, Followership
Have you set a New Year’s Resolution yet? If not, consider this… —Do you like it when someone takes the time to tell you that you did a great job? —Do you feel appreciated when someone asks your opinion on account of your knowledge and experience? . . . of course you...
by Jimmy Collins | Dec 18, 2019 | Creative Followership
Luke 2:12-20 12 “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest,And on earth peace...
by Jimmy Collins | Dec 11, 2019 | Creative Followership
Would you like to be successful? Really? Are you willing to pay the price of success? Are you sure? Go back with me to the summer of 1981. We were sliding downhill into the worst recession that I ever experienced. I’m 81 years old. Chick-fil-A was in...
by Jimmy Collins | Dec 4, 2019 | Creative Followership
Do you know the reason you were hired? I learned the answer to this question the first day of my first job. You already know the reason you wanted a job. I know the reason I wanted my first job. I needed a job, a job with a steady income. I worked...
by Jimmy Collins | Nov 27, 2019 | Business, Creative Followership, Leadership
When is it acceptable to lie? Is this a question that must be answered? Absolutely! Since it is a question that must be answered, when is it acceptable to lie? Webster says that to lie is: to make a statement that one knows is false, especially with intent to deceive....
by Jimmy Collins | Nov 20, 2019 | Encouragement, Uncategorized
PSALM 100 A PSALM FOR GIVING GRATEFUL PRAISE. 1 Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Serve the Lord with gladness;Come before Him with joyful singing. 3 Know that the Lord Himself is God;It is He who has made us,...
by Jimmy Collins | Nov 13, 2019 | Career, Creative Followership, Leadership
Have you ever planned a wonderful event that turned into a disaster? That is why you should verify. Here is my story of how I learned the hard way. How many meals have you eaten? How many do you remember? I have eaten over 87,000 meals, but I don t remember very many....
by Jimmy Collins | Nov 6, 2019 | Business, Career, Creative Followership, Leadership, Professional Development, Speaking Engagements
I heard something 61 years ago that I still remember, word for word, today. My wife, Oleta and I were on our way to Grant Field for a Georgia Tech football game. We were walking as fast as we could, trying to get to our seats before the kickoff. Because we...
by Jimmy Collins | Oct 30, 2019 | Business, Professional Development
“How do Chick-fil-A restaurants attract so many good employees?” People ask me this question all the time. Here’s what we all know: Good employees perform better for good bosses. Good employees are happy employees when they work for a good boss. Good employees...
by Jimmy Collins | Oct 23, 2019 | Creative Followership, Leadership, Professional Development, responsibility
It was an unscheduled, called, off-premises meeting of the board of trustees without the chief executive officer. Every trustee was in agreement; it was time for the CEO to retire. The CEO was one of the founders of the organization; a highly regarded non-profit...
by Jimmy Collins | Oct 16, 2019 | Creative Followership, Followership, Leadership
Defining — and especially redefining — leadership is a popular activity for people engaged in the study of organizational efficiency. Why are so many concerned about the words they use to describe leadership? Is it that difficult to define? You may be...
by Jimmy Collins | Oct 9, 2019 | Professional Development
Discouragement is a challenge for every executive. Actually, discouragement is a challenge for every one of us, no matter what our role, in our personal life, and in our professional life. As a teenager, I realized that I could face...
by Jimmy Collins | Oct 2, 2019 | Creative Followership, Encouragement, Followership, Leadership, Professional Development
For most people, dealing with personal discouragement is tough. Discouragement can drag you down quickly unless you learn to deal with it in a positive manner. At a young age, I realized that everyone I know faces some form of discouragement in life. I also noticed...
by Jimmy Collins | Sep 25, 2019 | Business, Creative Followership, Leadership, Professional Development
Are You a Follower or Worker? Which one are you? Are you a follower? Are you a worker? Do you know the difference? A worker is someone with a boss. Many people start their careers as a worker. Usually, they are not working for a boss they have chosen. They...
by Jimmy Collins | Sep 18, 2019 | Creative Followership
Nobody notices ‘perfect’ – everybody notices imperfect. Surely, you know this. I do and I don’t like it, yet I am as guilty as everyone else. When everything works like it’s supposed to, my expectations have been met, and I am satisfied. Why should I consider...
by Jimmy Collins | Sep 11, 2019 | Business, Customer Service
My coauthor, Michael Cooley and I were on our way to a speaking engagement about a five-hour drive from home, where we would be making videos for group study of the Principles of Creative Followership. Along the way, we decided to stop and eat at one of our favorite...
by Jimmy Collins | Sep 4, 2019 | Creative Followership, Leadership, Professional Development
Do people forget your name? You can do something about that. Give them something to help them remember who you are. Tell Your Own Story! Here are seven ways to tell your own story when you meet someone. 1. Tell a story to explain your name. When I met Surama...
by Jimmy Collins | Aug 28, 2019 | Chick-fil-A, Creative Followership
There is one decision to make that is the most important for all executives. It was Chick-fil-A’s annual Operators Seminar. Fred arrived for his requested private meeting with the CEO, Truett Cathy and me. Fred was a very dissatisfied Operator (franchisee). He had...
by Jimmy Collins | Aug 21, 2019 | Business
People are watching. What will they see you doing? People are listening. What will they hear you saying? Will they see you walk your talk? I like to see everything around me clean, neatly arranged, and in the proper place. That is what I have preached for years. My...
by Jimmy Collins | Aug 14, 2019 | Leadership
Too many executives enjoy their retirement celebration but don’t get out of the business. You know this is how it often happens because you have seen it. Some executives want to hang on in a consulting role. Others are still anxious to share their wisdom and advice...
by Jimmy Collins | Aug 7, 2019 | Business, Creative Followership
One of my friends saved my life. Can I prove that? No, but I believe he did. That’s enough for me. I believed I was dying, and he said I was. He was the smartest man I ever knew; I believed him. Anthony A. Malizia, Jr., MD, a nationally...
by Jimmy Collins | Jul 29, 2019 | Professional Development
When the end of the day rolls around, have you ever thought to yourself, “Where did my time go today?” If so, do you often vow to handle your time management better tomorrow? Do you commit to do a better job of planning? Most people do. Their intention is good....
by Jimmy Collins | Jul 24, 2019 | Career, Creative Followership, Followership
Do You Feel Underpaid? How many times have you felt underpaid? What did you do about it? Ask this question and most people will respond the same way. It usually sounds something like this: “I feel underpaid.” “ I am convinced my boss does not appreciate me.” “I...
by Jimmy Collins | Jul 17, 2019 | Creative Followership, Followership, Leadership
Is Creative Followership just a redefinition of lower level leadership? No! Creative Followership is a better approach to career advancement. The creative follower is seeking more responsibility and opportunities to express him or herself. The creative...
by Jimmy Collins | Jul 3, 2019 | Creative Followership, Professional Development
Why do you tell those stories of when you were young? That’s a question I enjoy answering. When I write or speak, I want to do more than reach those who read or hear my message. I want them to remember my main point or points. Audiences have little...
by Jimmy Collins | Jun 26, 2019 | Business, Creative Followership
I received this email from a reader of my book, Creative Followership. “Jimmy, there is nothing unique about your book. It is just plain old common sense.”My reply: “Yes, but how many young people know it?”His response: “Not many!” There seems...
by Jimmy Collins | Jun 19, 2019 | Creative Followership
I was looking forward to John’s sermon. John (not his real name) was a loved and respected Associate Minister at our church. He didn’t have an opportunity to preach often, but when he did, he very effectively delivered a message that was validated because he was a...
by Jimmy Collins | Jun 12, 2019 | Followership, Professional Development
I was on a mission of encouragement. Matt Wilson was discouraged. His field consultant had told me that he was very discouraged. Matt was a talented young man that had shown a lot of promise working in one of our restaurants. The franchisee he worked for had...
by Jimmy Collins | Jun 5, 2019 | Creative Followership, Followership, Professional Development
With just enough time to make it to my lunch appointment, I rushed out of the church as soon as the Sunday morning service came to an end. The preacher’s illustrations and sermon clearly communicated a good message. The music, a blend of contemporary and traditional,...
by Jimmy Collins | May 29, 2019 | Professional Development
You have been there. I have been there. We all have been there. The speaker is introduced; he tells a tired old joke, quotes several authorities, reads his notes, reads his PowerPoint slides, accepts the audience’s polite applause and sits down. His...
by Jimmy Collins | May 22, 2019 | Creative Followership
While working at Chick-fil-A, as soon as I learned that we had a problem, the first thing I did was work out a suitable solution. The second thing I did was inform my boss, Truett Cathy, of the problem and the solution that was already under way. My boss said...
by Jimmy Collins | May 15, 2019 | Creative Followership, Speaking Engagements
On a Sunday afternoon in the Autumn of 1946, following a delicious dinner of Grandma’s fried chicken, my father, my uncles, and older cousins gathered on the back porch of her old weather worn sharecropper house. Those arriving too late to get one of the rocking...
by Jimmy Collins | May 8, 2019 | Business, Creative Followership, Leadership
If you supervise a single person, you must answer this question. Are you the boss people want? Have you thought about what potential employees are looking for? Have you seriously thought about how that affects your ability to hire good employees? Surely, you recognize...
by Jimmy Collins | May 1, 2019 | Creative Followership, Encouragement
I did not like school. I liked to learn, but I did not like school. Most of the time I was bored and disinterested. My body was present in the classroom, but my mind was far away. I did like learning what I considered useful and practical. Subjects like math and...
by Jimmy Collins | Apr 24, 2019 | Business, Creative Followership
I received this email from a reader of my book, Creative Followership. “Jimmy, there is nothing unique about your book. It is just plain old common sense.”My reply: “Yes, but how many young people know it?”His response: “Not many!” There seems...
by Jimmy Collins | Apr 17, 2019 | Creative Followership, Leadership
Over the years, I heard people say, “When I think of what Jesus did for me, it brings tears to my eyes.” It never affected me that way! For me, accepting Jesus was an intellectual decision. There was nothing emotional about it. I have never considered myself an...
by Jimmy Collins | Apr 10, 2019 | Creative Followership
My daddy planted a large garden in our backyard. No, let me correct that. My daddy turned our backyard into a garden. During World War II, most of the folks in our neighborhood planted a “Victory Garden.” It was the patriotic thing to do, and for our large family, it...
by Jimmy Collins | Apr 3, 2019 | Business, Career, Chick-fil-A, Creative Followership
At daybreak on April 19, 1969, my wife, Oleta, and I boarded the Central of Georgia Railway’s deluxe passenger train, the Nancy Hanks II, from Savannah to Atlanta. We looked forward not only to the ride but the excellent food service on this train, the breakfast...
by Jimmy Collins | Mar 27, 2019 | Business, Creative Followership, Professional Development
As he voted “No,” he said emphatically: “I want you to remember that I opposed this proposal!” The only board member opposed to the proposal and the one who contributed nothing positive to the discussion prior to the vote is the one who voted no. His only objective...
by Jimmy Collins | Mar 20, 2019 | Business, Creative Followership, Leadership, Management
I am glad I did not know. I am glad no one knew. When I went to work for Truett Cathy to help him build the Chick-fil-A restaurant chain, I was the third staff employee. None of us knew. None of us had built or operated or even worked in a restaurant...
by Jimmy Collins | Mar 13, 2019 | Creative Followership
What do you do when a problem is too big? We have all faced problems that were too big and tasks that seemed impossible. In those situations, some people choose to attack directly, go straight in, give all they’ve got and hope it will be enough. Have you tried it?...
by Jimmy Collins | Mar 6, 2019 | Business, Creative Followership
Who needs a dress code? Do you need a dress code? Are dress codes necessary? Many believe workplace dress codes are not necessary and interfere with their self-expression. How about you? I felt that way in 1954, the year I graduated from high school. For me, jeans and...
by Jimmy Collins | Feb 27, 2019 | Business, Chick-fil-A, Leadership, Truett Cathy
Are You Using Your Personal Power? Are you using your personal power, or are you relying on your position power? Do you know the difference between the two types of power? Positional power is the authority you hold within the structure and hierarchy of your...
by Jimmy Collins | Feb 20, 2019 | Creative Followership
How many times have you heard the claim: “This Success Formula Really Works!” What do books of success formulas have in common? Even though presented in an endless variety of formats with unlimited styles of window dressing, they all boil down to a to-do list. ...
by Jimmy Collins | Feb 13, 2019 | Creative Followership, Professional Development
Do you want to create a good working relationship with your boss? Do you want to advance your career? I can help you. For 32 years, I worked for Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A. Many people ask, “How did you create such a good working relationship with...
by Jimmy Collins | Feb 6, 2019 | Business, Professional Development
Are you easily discouraged? How much does it take to discourage you? How do you deal with discouragement? As a youngster, I learned discouraging situations are something we all encounter; it is just part of life. I realized for some people discouragement is a terrible...
by Jimmy Collins | Jan 30, 2019 | Creative Followership, Professional Development
Did you know your career advancement is a do-it-yourself activity? Ask yourself: Is my career going where I want it to go? You can learn how to advance your career, and do-it-yourself, while on the job. Many people approach career advancement as they would a snipe...
by Jimmy Collins | Jan 23, 2019 | Creative Followership, Leadership, Management, Professional Development
“Rabbits do not make good pets!” my father said emphatically.“Daddy, please! They are so cute and cuddly–they won’t be any trouble,” I pleaded.“They are nothing but trouble; you will see and be sorry,” he said as he relented.Oh, how I wish I had listened!...
by Jimmy Collins | Jan 22, 2019 | Creative Followership
Who is your favorite role model? Why is he or she your favorite? When were you first attracted to that person? What happened that captured your attention? Do you realize how important that role model is to you? Stop and think about this … You will acquire the...
by Jimmy Collins | Jan 16, 2019 | Creative Followership, Professional Development
Most people do not like strong-willed critics who question their actions, hold them accountable, or express opposing views. That is unfortunate, because they are missing out on an opportunity for growth. That’s right! Strong-willed criticism is a wonderful opportunity...
by Jimmy Collins | Jan 4, 2019 | Business, Creative Followership, Customer Service
Customer complaints are an excellent source of feedback. Therefore, a customer complaint represents a colossal opportunity. It is a shame that the opportunity usually turns into a dismal disappointment for both parties because it does not have to be that way. Customer...
by Jimmy Collins | Dec 24, 2018 | Encouragement, Followership
Have you set a New Year’s Resolution yet? If not, consider this… —Do you like it when someone takes the time to tell you that you did a great job? —Do you feel appreciated when someone asks your opinion on account of your knowledge and experience? . . . of course you...
by Jimmy Collins | Dec 19, 2018 | Creative Followership
Luke 2:12-20 12 “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest,And on earth peace...
by Jimmy Collins | Dec 13, 2018 | Career
From my first job until I retired, I worked 53 years. My bosses ranged from horrible to great. My worst boss was a man I will call Mr. Smith. When I went to work for him, he was having an affair with the full-time checkout clerk at a small, old, run-down...
by Jimmy Collins | Dec 5, 2018 | Business, Professional Development
Can you see them? They are all around you. They are opportunities. Are you aware of how many surround you each day? Many people miss out on great opportunities because they don’t see them. I want you to know how you can improve your vision and see more clearly the...
by Jimmy Collins | Nov 28, 2018 | Creative Followership, Followership, Leadership, Management
My wife and I enjoy watching birds. As bird watchers, we look forward to the pleasure of visiting our favorite store for feeders, bird identification guides and of course, bird seed. One day I went to the store and I saw a new display of bird photographs on the wall....
by Jimmy Collins | Nov 21, 2018 | Creative Followership, Followership, Leadership
Have you noticed that there are very few books on followership? Why are there so few books on followership? What’s different about Creative Followership? The authors of the best books on followership that I have read have based their message on research or...
by Jimmy Collins | Nov 14, 2018 | Encouragement, Uncategorized
PSALM 100 A PSALM FOR GIVING GRATEFUL PRAISE. 1 Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. 3 Know that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and...
by Jimmy Collins | Nov 7, 2018 | Followership, Leadership, Professional Development
Do Not Hoard Authority A Creative Follower is constantly looking for opportunities to do what the boss does not like to do, then doing them better than they have ever been done before. By this process you add value to the boss by giving him/her more time to do what...
by Jimmy Collins | Oct 31, 2018 | Followership, Professional Development, Theme for Today
My boss said, “I don’t like problems.” When I heard him say this, I knew I needed to become a problem solver! My boss wanted to pick and choose his problems. S. Truett Cathy, the late founder and CEO of Chick-fil-A, Inc., was a great problem solver. But, he was...
by Jimmy Collins | Oct 24, 2018 | Business, Creative Followership
Yes. Do you know why? At Chick-fil-A, I constantly reminded people, “It is better to restrain mustangs than kick mules.” By “mustangs,” I mean the people who live and work on the edge of their authority and occasionally beyond. “Mules” are those who reluctantly and...
by Jimmy Collins | Oct 17, 2018 | Business, Creative Followership
Have you thought about this; what does it take to make you angry? We all have the capacity to be angry. There are times when we should be angry! When I was a boy, one of my favorite movie stars was the cowboy Wild Bill Elliott. I especially liked it when he would say...
by Jimmy Collins | Oct 10, 2018 | Creative Followership
Most of us have heard a boss say, “You do your job and let him do his.” Maybe your boss has said that to you. Territorialist bosses like to say, “You do your job and let her do hers.” Limiting the territory of their workers is one of their methods of...
by Jimmy Collins | Oct 3, 2018 | Business, Career, Creative Followership
Is it important for you to learn to spot a bad boss before you go to work for him or her? This is a serious question. Can you spot a bad boss? Have you ever considered why it is that so many people go to work for a bad boss? Recently my wife and I visited a well-known...
by Jimmy Collins | Sep 26, 2018 | Creative Followership, Customer Service, Encouragement, Prayer
Do you obey your warm-hearted impulses? We all have warm-hearted impulses. Warm-hearted impulses seem to arrive from nowhere. They are unexpected thoughts that just happen. Remember when you thought of sending someone a note, or a get-well card? Maybe you thought of...
by Jimmy Collins | Sep 19, 2018 | Business, Career, Creative Followership, Professional Development
Do you work for a bad boss? If so, I have good news. You may not like your bad boss. You may want to fire your bad boss. You may be looking to replace your bad boss with a good boss. Despite all of this, you can be learning some valuable lessons from that bad boss. It...
by Jimmy Collins | Sep 12, 2018 | Career, Creative Followership, Professional Development
Is money your primary career satisfaction measurement? When I was a young man with a growing family to support, there was no question in my mind that income growth was my primary career satisfaction measurement. Even though money was not my only career satisfaction...
by Jimmy Collins | Sep 5, 2018 | Career, Chick-fil-A, Creative Followership, Followership, Professional Development
I want to share with you the best career advice I ever received. As a youngster, I was constantly searching for career advice, tips and directions on how best to advance my career. I read books, listened to cassette tapes and attended seminars searching for the...
by Jimmy Collins | Aug 29, 2018 | Career, Creative Followership, Professional Development, responsibility
Do you know when you should say, No? Do you have the courage to say, No? During my lifetime there have been many times when I needed to say, No. These were times when it would have been easier to say, Yes. When in my early 20s, I sold restaurant equipment. I was the...
by Jimmy Collins | Aug 22, 2018 | Creative Followership, Followership, Leadership, Professional Development, Speaking Engagements
I vividly recall one afternoon when I returned to the Chick-fil-A home office after speaking at a local Kiwanis luncheon. When I saw my boss, Truett Cathy, I told him what a fine reception I had received, thinking he would be pleased by the positive emotional...
by Jimmy Collins | Aug 15, 2018 | Business, Creative Followership
Mary is a woman who changes jobs often. As a result, it is not unusual for her to have long periods of unemployment between jobs. Several months ago, she told me that she had a new job and was pleased with the work and liked her boss. She was bubbling over with...
by Jimmy Collins | Aug 8, 2018 | Business, Chick-fil-A, Customer Service, Leadership, Management
Do you want your customers to come again? I can help you! Here is an example. As the chief operating officer of Chick-fil-A, I liked to visit our restaurants — unannounced. It was easy for me to go in and order food like any other customer because very few of the...
by Jimmy Collins | Aug 1, 2018 | Chick-fil-A, Creative Followership, Followership, Leadership, Management, Professional Development
Do you know what leaders tell followers? I believe that you know the answer to both questions above, but may not be permitting it to influence your thinking. The currently popular far-reaching and all-encompassing concept of leadership causes most people to refuse to...
by Jimmy Collins | Jul 25, 2018 | Business, Career, Creative Followership, Professional Development
Do you know how to increase your income? It’s a simple process. I will explain. No matter what our age our first job is loaded with experiences we never forget. A few experiences are good, others are bad and many fade to the back of our memory. Today, I am thinking...
by Jimmy Collins | Jul 18, 2018 | Career, Creative Followership, Professional Development
Are you smarter than your boss? Do you think you are smarter than your boss? If you are convinced you are smarter than your boss, what should you do? I cannot count the number of times people have expressed their dissatisfaction with their boss and added, “I know more...
by Jimmy Collins | Jul 11, 2018 | Business, Chick-fil-A, Creative Followership, Customer Service, Leadership
Do you know why people quit a job they like? Do you know why people leave a company or organization they like? Here’s why people quit jobs or leave companies they like. I will use a real-life example to illustrate my point My wife and I were on the way to Nashville,...
by Jimmy Collins | Jul 4, 2018 | Creative Followership, Customer Service, Leadership, Management
Do you know what all Business-Builders know? Do you do what all Business-Builders do? If you knew what all Business-Builders know, would you be willing to do what all Business-Builders do? Are you willing to do something out of the ordinary to exceed...
by Jimmy Collins | May 30, 2018 | Business, Career, Creative Followership, Leadership, Professional Development
There are major differences in the pursuit of leadership roles and the practice of Creative Followership. Those pursuing the leadership roles are seeking authority; they want to be in charge. Often they aggressively seek authority, ask for authority, present their...
by Jimmy Collins | May 23, 2018 | Business, Creative Followership, Customer Service, Followership, Leadership, Professional Development
Great leaders are great because they have surrounded themselves with followers who not only get things done and get them done with excellence but also find things that need to be done and accomplish them before they are told to do so. Performing to the best of one’s...
by Jimmy Collins | May 16, 2018 | Creative Followership, Followership, Leadership, Professional Development
My friend walked up and said, “Jimmy, I didn’t get anything out of that book you recommended.” “You didn’t get anything?” I asked. “That’s right … nothing!” Have you had a similar conversation? Which side of the exchange were you on? Often, people have told me...
by Jimmy Collins | May 9, 2018 | Business, Creative Followership, Professional Development, responsibility
It did not seem like an impossible deadline … when I promised to open the restaurant at 10:00 a.m. on August 12, 1971. We had opened 10 other restaurants, all of them on time. At Chick-fil-A, we were serious about our promises. We had promised to open four new...
by Jimmy Collins | May 2, 2018 | Creative Followership
Do you remember your first date? I do! It is no exaggeration to say it was a “memorable event.” Unlike most of my friends, I went on my first date at a rather young age. I asked a girl to go out with me when I was 9 years old. We were both in the third grade at Church...
by Jimmy Collins | Jan 10, 2018 | Business, Creative Followership, Professional Development
Would you like to fire your boss? Sometimes people work for the wrong boss, year after year and complain that they are going nowhere within the organization. Why do they do it? Probably the number one reason is fear of the unknown. They are afraid to go out and look...
by Jimmy Collins | Jan 4, 2018 | Career, Management, Professional Development
People ask me, “How do you make good decisions?” I have learned that the issue is not about making good decisions. The issue is making your decisions good. There is no such thing as a perfect decision. You know this even though you may not have given it much thought....
by Jimmy Collins | Dec 27, 2017 | Encouragement, Followership
Have you set a New Year’s Resolution yet? If not, consider this… —Do you like it when someone takes the time to tell you that you did a great job? —Do you feel appreciated when someone asks your opinion on account of your knowledge and experience? . . . of...
by Jimmy Collins | Dec 13, 2017 | Business, Career, Creative Followership, Followership, Professional Development
We all dreamed of a good career. For many, it did not happen. What went wrong? Too many of us looked for a job when what we needed to do was to choose a good boss. Choosing a good boss is the first step to enjoying the success and satisfaction of a good career....
by Jimmy Collins | Nov 29, 2017 | Creative Followership
Would you like to be successful? Really? Are you willing to pay the price of success? Are you sure? Go back with me to the summer of 1981. We were sliding downhill into the worst recession that I ever experienced. I’m 81 years old. Chick-fil-A was in the midst of a...
by Jimmy Collins | Nov 16, 2017 | Creative Followership
Do you know the reason you were hired? I learned the answer to this question the first day of my first job. You already know the reason you wanted a job. I know the reason I wanted my first job. I needed a job, a job with a steady income. I worked for people in the...
by Jimmy Collins | Nov 9, 2017 | Business, Creative Followership, Leadership
When is it acceptable to lie? Is this a question that must be answered? Absolutely! Since it is a question that must be answered, when is it acceptable to lie? Webster says that to lie is: to make a statement that one knows is false, especially with intent to deceive....
by Jimmy Collins | Oct 24, 2017 | Business, Career, Creative Followership, Leadership, Professional Development, Speaking Engagements
I heard something 61 years ago that I still remember, word for word, today. My wife, Oleta and I were on our way to Grant Field for a Georgia Tech football game. We were walking as fast as we could, trying to get to our seats before the kickoff. Because we didn’t...
by Jimmy Collins | Oct 19, 2017 | Business, Professional Development
“How do Chick-fil-A restaurants attract so many good employees?” People ask me this question all the time. Here’s what we all know: Good employees perform better for good bosses. Good employees are happy employees when they work for a good boss. Good employees...
by Jimmy Collins | Sep 21, 2017 | Creative Followership, Encouragement, Followership, Leadership, Professional Development
For most people, dealing with personal discouragement is tough. Discouragement can drag you down quickly unless you learn to deal with it in a positive manner. At a young age, I realized that everyone I know faces some form of discouragement in life. I also noticed...
by Jimmy Collins | Sep 15, 2017 | Business, Creative Followership, Leadership, Professional Development
Are You a Follower or Worker? Which one are you? Are you a follower? Are you a worker? Do you know the difference? A worker is someone with a boss. Many people start their careers as a worker. Usually, they are not working for a boss they have chosen. They apply for...
by Jimmy Collins | Aug 30, 2017 | Creative Followership, Leadership
When Is a Sentence Too Long? How long are your sentences? When is a sentence too long? Here is a 146-word sentence I encountered on page 383 of Carl Sandburg’s fifth volume of his six-volume biography of Abraham Lincoln. Is this sentence too long? In various angles...
by Jimmy Collins | Aug 10, 2017 | Business
People are watching. What will they see you doing? People are listening. What will they hear you saying? Will they see you walk your talk? I like to see everything around me clean, neatly arranged, and in the proper place. That is what I have preached for years. My...
by Jimmy Collins | Aug 3, 2017 | Leadership
Too many executives enjoy their retirement celebration but don’t get out of the business. You know this is how it often happens because you have seen it. Some executives want to hang on in a consulting role. Others are still anxious to share their wisdom and advice...
by Jimmy Collins | Jul 27, 2017 | Business, Creative Followership
One of my friends saved my life. Can I prove that? No, but I believe he did. That’s enough for me. I believed I was dying, and he said I was. He was the smartest man I ever knew; I believed him. Anthony A. Malizia, Jr., MD, a nationally known Urologist, was my...
by Jimmy Collins | Jul 13, 2017 | Career, Creative Followership, Followership
Do You Feel Underpaid? How many times have you felt underpaid? What did you do about it? Ask this question and most people will respond the same way. It usually sounds something like this: “I feel underpaid.” “ I am convinced my boss does not appreciate me.” “I am...
by Jimmy Collins | Jun 29, 2017 | Creative Followership, Professional Development
In early September 1942, I prepared to enter the first grade at Church Street Elementary School. My mother made new shirts and bought me a pair of new denim overalls. Getting ready for school also required a lunch box, a raincoat, and a new pair of shoes. Mother...
by Jimmy Collins | May 10, 2017 | Professional Development
You have been there. I have been there. We all have been there. The speaker is introduced; he tells a tired old joke, quotes several authorities, reads his notes, reads his PowerPoint slides, accepts the audience’s polite applause and sits down. His problem was that...
by Jimmy Collins | May 3, 2017 | Creative Followership
While working at Chick-fil-A, as soon as I learned that we had a problem, the first thing I did was work out a suitable solution. The second thing I did was inform my boss, Truett Cathy, of the problem and the solution that was already under way. My boss said that he...
by Jimmy Collins | Apr 27, 2017 | Creative Followership, Speaking Engagements
On a Sunday afternoon in the Autumn of 1946, following a delicious dinner of Grandma’s fried chicken, my father, my uncles, and older cousins gathered on the back porch of her old weather worn sharecropper house. Those arriving too late to get one of the rocking...
by Jimmy Collins | Apr 13, 2017 | Creative Followership, Encouragement
I did not like school. I liked to learn, but I did not like school. Most of the time I was bored and disinterested. My body was present in the classroom, but my mind was far away. I did like learning what I considered useful and practical. Subjects like math and...
by Jimmy Collins | Apr 6, 2017 | Chick-fil-A, Creative Followership, Followership, Leadership, Truett Cathy
As an unpublished Author, I searched for a literary agent to help me convince a first rate publisher that I had a book potential readers would willingly purchase. Even if you have not tried it yourself, you have heard the stories of how difficult it is to find a...
by Jimmy Collins | Mar 30, 2017 | Business, Creative Followership
I received this email from a reader of my book, Creative Followership. “Jimmy, there is nothing unique about your book. It is just plain old common sense.” My reply: “Yes, but how many young people know it?” His response: “Not many!” There seems to be a prevailing...
by Jimmy Collins | Mar 23, 2017 | Creative Followership
My daddy planted a large garden in our backyard. No, let me correct that. My daddy turned our backyard into a garden. During World War II, most of the folks in our neighborhood planted a “Victory Garden.” It was the patriotic thing to do, and for our large family, it...
by Jimmy Collins | Mar 9, 2017 | Business, Creative Followership, Professional Development
As he voted “No,” he said emphatically: “I want you to remember that I opposed this proposal!” The only board member opposed to the proposal and the one who contributed nothing positive to the discussion prior to the vote is the one who voted no. His only objective...
by Jimmy Collins | Feb 23, 2017 | Creative Followership, Leadership, Management, Professional Development
“Rabbits do not make good pets!” my father said emphatically. “Daddy, please! They are so cute and cuddly–they won’t be any trouble,” I pleaded. “They are nothing but trouble; you will see and be sorry,” he said as he relented. Oh, how I wish I had listened! I...
by Jimmy Collins | Feb 16, 2017 | Creative Followership
What do you do when a problem is too big? We have all faced problems that were too big and tasks that seemed impossible. In those situations, some people choose to attack directly, go straight in, give all they’ve got and hope it will be enough. Have you tried it?...
by Jimmy Collins | Feb 7, 2017 | Creative Followership, Professional Development
Do you want to create a good working relationship with your boss? Do you want to advance your career? I can help you. For 32 years, I worked for Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A. Many people ask, “How did you create such a good working relationship with...
by Jimmy Collins | Feb 2, 2017 | Business, Creative Followership
Who needs a dress code? Do you need a dress code? Are dress codes necessary? Many believe workplace dress codes are not necessary and interfere with their self-expression. How about you? I felt that way in 1954, the year I graduated from high school. For me, jeans and...
by Jimmy Collins | Dec 9, 2016 | Business, Chick-fil-A, Leadership, Truett Cathy
Are You Using Your Personal Power? Are you using your personal power, or are you relying on your position power? Do you know the difference between the two types of power? Positional power is the authority you hold within the structure and hierarchy of your...
by Jimmy Collins | Dec 2, 2016 | Creative Followership
How many times have you heard the claim: “This Success Formula Really Works!” What do books of success formulas have in common? Even though presented in an endless variety of formats with unlimited styles of window dressing, they all boil down to a to-do...
by Jimmy Collins | Nov 28, 2016 | Business, Creative Followership
The host introduced me as the author of Creative Followership, and his first question for me was, “How is Creative Followership different from leadership?” That is a question I often hear. For some reason, many people cannot think about career relationships without...
by Jimmy Collins | Nov 4, 2016 | Career
From my first job until I retired, I worked 53 years. My bosses ranged from horrible to great. My worst boss was a man I will call Mr. Smith. When I went to work for him, he was having an affair with the full-time checkout clerk at a small, old, run-down store that...
by Jimmy Collins | Oct 27, 2016 | Business, Professional Development
Can you see them? They are all around you. They are opportunities. Are you aware of how many surround you each day? Many people miss out on great opportunities because they don’t see them. I want you to know how you can improve your vision and see more clearly the...
by Jimmy Collins | Oct 20, 2016 | Creative Followership, Followership, Leadership, Management
My wife and I enjoy watching birds. As bird watchers, we look forward to the pleasure of visiting our favorite store for feeders, bird identification guides and of course, bird seed. One day I went to the store and I saw a new display of bird photographs on the...
by Jimmy Collins | Oct 13, 2016 | Creative Followership, Followership, Leadership
Have you noticed that there are very few books on followership? Why are there so few books on followership? What’s different about Creative Followership? The authors of the best books on followership that I have read have based their message on research or...
by Jimmy Collins | Oct 6, 2016 | Followership, Professional Development
My boss said, “I don’t like problems.” When I heard him say this, I knew I needed to become a problem solver! My boss wanted to pick and choose his problems. S. Truett Cathy, the late founder and CEO of Chick-fil-A, Inc., was a great problem solver. But, he was...
by Jimmy Collins | Sep 21, 2016 | Followership, Leadership, Professional Development
Do Not Hoard Authority A Creative Follower is constantly looking for opportunities to do what the boss does not like to do, then doing them better than they have ever been done before. By this process you add value to the boss by giving him/her more time to do...
by Jimmy Collins | Aug 25, 2016 | Business, Creative Followership
Have you thought about this; what does it take to make you angry? We all have the capacity to be angry. There are times when we should be angry! When I was a boy, one of my favorite movie stars was the cowboy Wild Bill Elliott. I especially liked it when he would say...
