With all the turmoil in the world and with all of the challenges we face daily, it’s always invigorating to hear a good story.

Let me share a couple with you. I was at a conference in Los Angeles this week and learned about the Kona Kai Coffee company.

They hire and train homeless or disadvantaged youth to be baristas. How great is that ?

The Kona Kai Coffee company website states their ‘mission statement’ as … ‘provides a community that transforms lives by empowering homeless and disadvantaged individuals to achieve self-sufficiency through life skills, job training and employment in the espresso and food service industry’.

Then I read a Starbucks recent announcement about 1000 of their employees participating in the company’s tuition reimbursement program. Read it here.

Again, pretty good stuff.

My leadership tip for you this week is to have you gauge your personal investment in transforming lives within and outside of your organization.

Exceptional leaders are influential in the lives of many.

Many of my ‘non-profit’ clients and followers transform lives every day – thank you for the difference you make.

Many of my ‘for-profit’ clients and followers are also instrumental in transforming lives in their communities – thank you for the difference you make.

As leaders, let’s not forget about the importance of transforming careers and lives within your organization. How well are you doing here?

Here are 3 – critical areas you should be acting on right now:

1. Succession plans – all positions.

2. Professional growth and development plans – all positions.

3. Strengthening the weakest links – extra effort for success.

Exceptional leaders transform lives and careers … are you doing all that you can do ?