When a Team Believes: The Leadership Behind a World Championship

For years —perhaps decades— Venezuela waited for this moment.

A national team lifting the highest trophy in baseball.
A country united by a single emotion.
A long-awaited moment finally becoming reality:

World Champions.

But this victory goes far beyond sports.

It is a case study in leadership, performance, and mindset.

The defining truth

This championship was not an accident.
It was the result of believing… when others doubted.
Of enduring… when others gave up.
And of continuing… when the path was unclear.

This is not just a sports story.
It is a leadership principle.

Strategic leadership in action

Championships are not only won on the field.
They are won in decision-making.

The manager demonstrated a key capability:

• Measuring
• Calculating
• Executing

In real time, under pressure.

This is what high-performance leadership looks like:

the ability to combine intuition with discipline
and emotion with strategic clarity.

From stars to multipliers

Former superstars like Cabrera and Santana played a different role.

They became coaches.
Mentors.
Multipliers of performance.

And in doing so, they achieved something even more powerful:

impacting outcomes through others.

This is the evolution of leadership:

From individual excellence → to collective impact.

The silent performers

Every winning organization has them:

• The consistent executors
• The reliable contributors
• The ones who deliver under pressure

Without visibility. Without noise.

They are not always recognized…
but they are always essential.

Preparation as a competitive advantage

Nothing about this victory was improvised.

Behind every play, there was preparation:

• Data
• Training
• Adjustment

High performance is never built on moments.
It is built on systems.

Playing for something bigger

This team was not just playing to win.

They were playing for meaning.

For identity.
For a country.
For generations.

And when purpose is present…
performance elevates.

Execution under pressure

At the end, everything comes down to execution.

And this team delivered.

At the right moment.
With precision.
With composure.

Final reflection

This championship is a reminder:

Extraordinary results are never random.

They are the outcome of:

• Leadership
• Discipline
• Alignment
• Purpose
• And belief

From MOTITUD

When a team believes… it wins.
But when a nation believes… it transforms.

From Skills to Master Behaviors

Why sustained coherence in action matters more than ever

For decades, we used the term soft skills to describe capabilities related to communication, emotional intelligence, leadership, ethics, or teamwork. The intention was to distinguish them from technical skills, but the result was often counterproductive: it unintentionally minimized their true importance.

There is nothing “soft” about holding an ethical line under pressure.
There is nothing soft about leading with humanity in uncertainty.
There is nothing soft about regulating yourself when the environment pushes you to react.

Over time, the language began to change.

The first evolution: human skills

We started to speak about human skills. This shift was meaningful. It acknowledged that these capabilities were not secondary or optional, but essentially human, and that decision quality, leadership, and long-term performance depend on them.

This new language corrected an important semantic mistake and helped revalue dimensions that had long been overshadowed by what was technical, measurable, and immediate.

Yet even this evolution left an important gap unresolved.

The real break was not about capability, but about behavior

As contexts became more complex, volatile, and demanding, a deeper truth emerged:
the real problem was not knowing what to do.

It was being able to sustain how we act when doing so comes at a cost.

Highly capable people often collapsed under pressure.
Others, without exceptional skills or credentials, managed to remain grounded, coherent, and consistent in adverse situations.

The difference was not knowledge.
It was behavior.

This realization marked a decisive shift: from focusing on skills to observing human behaviors. It was no longer enough to develop capabilities; what mattered was what people actually did when certainty disappeared, recognition faded, or pressure increased.

But even this concept remained too broad.

Not every human behavior sustains coherence.
Not every behavior resists pressure.
Not every behavior prevents the inner fracture many people experience when acting against what they believe.

The next step: Master Behaviors

From this reflection emerges the concept of Master Behaviors.

Master Behaviors are not isolated habits or repeated techniques.
They are patterns of action that emerge when internal architecture is aligned.

They are not imposed; they consolidate.
They are not memorized; they are embodied.

A behavior becomes masterful not because it is theoretically correct, but because it can be sustained in practice — under pressure, with personal cost, and without external applause.

This concept does not describe exceptional people or moral perfection. It refers to trainable behaviors, sustained over time, integrating thinking, emotion, judgment, and action into a coherent whole.

Why this language can be widely accepted

Because it does not invalidate what came before.
Skills are still necessary.
Human capabilities remain fundamental.

Master Behaviors do not compete with them — they integrate and elevate them.

This language gains acceptance because it:

• names experiences we all recognize
• helps us think more clearly about difficult decisions
• allows us to speak about coherence without moralism
• restores responsibility without blame

When a conversation shifts from “which skills are missing” to “which behavior is being sustained,” something changes. The dialogue becomes more honest, more human, and more transformative.

The challenge of our time

We live in an era of constant pressure, ambiguity, and accelerated change. In this context, the future does not necessarily belong to those who know more, but to those who can sustain coherence in action.

That is why developing skills is no longer enough.
We must learn to cultivate Master Behaviors — behaviors that allow us to act without breaking internally.

This may well be the defining human challenge of our time.

 

Your ABC's to Be 'POSITVE' in 2017!

Dear friends,

The start of a new year is a wonderful time to review your goals and objectives and keep working on your vision.

We all have challenges; but we have to think of new ideas and new approaches to solve them and take care of the many pressing issues we have today. In some parts of the world these challenges can be harder or stronger, but they should not take us away from our goals. 

They must be seen as mere obstacles (not simple ones though) that we must get through and solve in case of problems in order to continue.

So at the start of a new year decide on your ABC's:

- Act, 

- Be Positive

- Continue

As simple as it sounds; just do it. In other words, as we said in the title of a book I co-wrote: “Dare to Succeed”. I truly believe that: “Our own positive attitude and personal motivation are the key driving forces for everything we do.”

This is why I invite YOU to start improving your attitude and learn how to be motivated and be positive; then you can do wonders in your lives and help as many people you want. 

And to do it better, start with one very simple rule: SMILE 😄

To a wonderful and successful 2017: START TODAY!

Luis Vicente

# # # BE POSITIVE, BE MOTIVATED, BE INSPIRED # # #

# # # THINK POSITIVE, AND DO IT OFTEN! # # #

FocalPoint Coaching: Training week 2015!

What will FocalPoint coaches and trainers have in common next week? We will all be dedicated to training and facilitating managerial and entrepreneurial growth throughout the world.

Yes, the week of November 16^th- 20^th will be dedicated to training business owners, entrepreneurs, executives and managers in many areas, from setting goals, to time management techniques to improving sales; also many of us will be training in personal and professional development and peak performance. This is what we - at FocalPoint Coaching -do all year round; however for the first time we are dedicating a full week to training and, more importantly, will do it all over the world.

Our goal is to help more people grow, achieve their goals faster and feel more empowered with engaged team members. This is why we are inviting as many people as possible to join us next week in the many places and cities throughout the world to grow both personally and professionally.  Now is the time to take massive action and go start unleashing your peak performance levels.

International Training Week is next week! We will also be donating 10% of proceeds to children's cancer research. This is why training is also very important to all of us as we contribute constantly to improve the lives of others as well.

We will be delivering training and coaching sessions in several cities simultaneously, like in different places in the US and Canada, and in cities as Sydney, London, Singapore and New Delhi, India. I myself will be training teams in my home city of Caracas, Venezuela on Monday and then will be flying to Nicaragua for a series of training and coaching events in Managua with Alejandro and Margarita Pasos from SuccessFactor in Nicaragua. A very interesting week indeed!

Start getting the new skills and learning you need and that will drive you forward for years to come.

If you are interested on learning more on what FocalPoint Coaching and Training can do for you and your company, please contact us at www.focalpointcoaching.com or myself at www.coachluisvgarcia.com

To Your Success!

Luis Vicente Garcia, FocalPoint Coach & Trainer.

Transition into your Q4

Every Company is entering the final quarter of the 2015 Calendar this week. Are you ready and prepared for it? Have you met your goals and objectives so far and have the energy to continue with the energy and enthusiasm these last three months?

As we enter this Q4 there are four tips I would like to suggest so that you get ready to FINISH STRONG your 2015!

1.       Review your results up to date: every business owner and manager need to understand where you are today. You have had a certain level of revenue and production; have engaged in new transactions, business relationships and made new clients; have had to pay your costs and expenses. Are you in the level or range which is acceptable to your company and industry? Do you know your metrics?

2.       Review your GOALS for Q4: now that you are here, today, you need to review your goals for Q4; do not change them, adjust them. Our goals need to remain the same. Only our strategies, actions or plans need to change and adapt. Maybe a new sales level (lower or higher); maybe a new product or service you have been working on through the year; or maybe a new marketing strategy. Develop them and see how the complement your current goals and then go and work on them;

3.       Share your stories of success. The people in your company have been working hard this year; and probably this will be the strongest quarter for your company as it is to many others throughout the world. You most probably have had very interesting stories these past nine months that are an immense source of ideas, vision, client testimonials and possibilities. Share them with your team; let them know what your clients say, what the management team is thinking; share these stories with your team members. They will get the energy to Finish Strong! 

4.       Celebrate your Success! Las weekend I had the chance to speak to a group of insurance brokers during their annual convention. One of my messages was: celebrate your successes. Usually we wait until the end of the year; or we wait until the completion of a certain level of sales or production. What if we start celebrating every significant accomplishment? What can we do to create a sense of pride in every action within our companies? This is why I suggest that you start celebrating your successes and accomplishments on a regular basis as they will make a difference in your companies.

To finish STRONG Start NOW! 

At the end it is your company, your team, your products and services, your people, your clients. Work with them, review your goals, understand the level of satisfaction and get ready to finish the final quarter of 2015 very strong!

It’s time to go Back to Work!

Well, summer is over and with autumn just approaching, we might remember the feeling of going back to the classroom. We can all recall the feelings of anticipation that come with the start of the new school year. Going back to school each fall, we experienced a change in mindset and reset our focus after the long summer days.

How can you keep this attitude working for you in your professional career?

Now is the Time to Learn Something New

The most successful individuals and entrepreneurs are constantly reading, attending seminars, engaging with mentors, and exposing themselves to new ideas and opportunities. Bolstering your knowledge in your field and improving your leadership skills can enhance your career and give you an edge. The extra contacts that continuing education provides are also beneficial in today’s competitive market.

What about Goals?

Are you 66% of the way to accomplishing the goals you set for 2015? The next 4 months are the prime time to make progress toward your year-end goals.

What is next?

Plan the last four months of the year; work on your goals; review your Team and their activities. See and visualize where you want to end the 2015 year so that you start to get ready for 2016. Have you thought of your strategic plan and the actions and steps you will have to follow in order to reach your goal?

As a FocalPoint Business Coach (powered by Brian Tracy) I do this for many clients in several countries, working hand in hand with them, guiding their teams, pushing their limits, stablishing goals and developing a coaching program that will take them to new levels of performance.

Take action!

Email us at lgarcia@focalpointcoaching.comto get your free 20-minute consultation call and see how we can help you grow and reach your goals faster.

Luis Vicente Garcia

FocalPoint Business Performance Coach

Brian Tracy International Certified Trainer

www.coachluisgarcia.com

www.luisvicentegarcia.com    

Leadership is about Emotions!

Leadership is many things: inspiration, motivation knowledge, skills, abilities and many more.

Meghan M. Biro tells us - on an article on Forbes - that leadership is also about emotions[1]. As a matter of fact, this is how Emotional Intelligence started to be analyzed. I am sure you will find this article to be very interesting.

Luis Vicente

Leadership Is About Emotion

“Make a list of the 5 leaders you most admire. They can be from business, social media, politics, technology, the sciences, any field. Now ask yourself why you admire them. The chances are high that your admiration is based on more than their accomplishments, impressive as those may be. I’ll bet that everyone on your list reaches you on an emotional level.

This ability to reach people in a way that transcends the intellectual and rational is the mark of a great leader. They all have it. They inspire us. It’s a simple as that. And when we’re inspired we tap into our best selves and deliver amazing work.

So, can this ability to touch and inspire people be learned? No and yes. The truth is that not everyone can lead, and there is no substitute for natural talent. Honestly, I’m more convinced of this now – I’m in reality about the world of work and employee engagement. But for those who fall somewhat short of being a natural born star (which is pretty much MANY of us), leadership skills can be acquired, honed and perfected. And when this happens your chances of engaging your talent increases from the time they walk into your culture.

Let’s Take A Look At Tools That Allow For Talent To Shine:

Emotional intelligence. Great leaders understand empathy, and have the ability to read people’s (sometimes unconscious, often unstated) needs and desires. This allows them to speak to these needs and, when at all possible, to fulfill them. When people feel they are understood and empathized something, they respond PERIOD and a bond is formed.

Continuous learning. Show me a know-it-all and I’ll show you someone who doesn’t have a clue about being human. Curiosity and an insatiable desire to always do better is the mark of a great leader. They are rarely satisfied with the status quo, and welcome new knowledge and fresh (even if challenging) input. It’s all about investing in yourself.

Contextualize. Great leaders respond to each challenge with a fresh eye. They know that what worked in one situation may be useless in another. Before you act, make sure you understand the specifics of the situation and tailor your actions accordingly.

Let Go. Too many people think leadership is about control. In fact, great leaders inspire and then get out of the way. They know that talented people don’t need or want hovering managers. Leadership is about influence, guidance, and support, not control. Look for ways to do your job and then get out of the way so that people can do theirs.

Honesty.  Not a week goes by that we don’t hear about a so-called leader losing credibility because he or she was dishonest. Often this is because of pressure to try and “measure up” and it’s not coming from a place of being real – often this relates to fear of not being accepted for your true self. We live in age of extraordinary transparency, which is reason enough to always be true to your core – your mission will be revealed, your motivations will show by your behaviors. But it goes way beyond this. It’s an issue that sets an example and elevates an organization. If you have a reputation for honesty, it will be a lot easier to deliver bad news and face tough challenges. Are you inspiring people from your heart? 

Kindness and respect. Nice leaders (people) don’t finish last. They finish first again and again. Ignorance and arrogance are leadership killers. They’re also a mark of insecurity. Treating everyone with a basic level respect is an absolute must trait of leadership. And kindness is the gift that keeps on giving back. Of course, there will be people who prove they don’t deserve respect and they must be dealt with. But that job will be made much easier, and will have far less impact on your organization, if you have a reputation for kindness, honesty and respect.

Collaboration. People’s jobs and careers are integral to their lives. The more your organization can make them a partner, the more they will deliver amazing results. This means, to the greatest extent possible, communicating your organization’s strategies, goals and challenges. This builds buy-in, and again is a mark of respect. People won’t be blindsided (which is a workplace culture killer) by setbacks if they’re in the loop.

Partner with your people. As I said above, people’s careers are a big part of their lives. That seems like a no-brainer, but leaders should have it front and center at all times. Find out what your employees’ career goals are and then do everything you can to help them reach them. Even if it means they will eventually leave your organization. You will gain happy, productive employees who will work with passion and commitment, and tout your company far and wide. This an opportunity to brand your greatness.

Leadership is both an art and a science. These tools are guidelines, not rigid rules. Everyone has to develop his or her own individual leadership style. Make these tools a part of your arsenal and use them well as you strive to reach people on an emotional level. Be Human. This Matters.”

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[1] http://www.forbes.com/sites/meghanbiro/2013/12/15/leadership-is-about-emotion/

Reaching 70,000 visitors on 'Motivando El Futuro'

I have been writing for years now. First on finance and franchising during the 90's to management and leadership today.

I started writing in Spanish, my native language. Over time I wrote in a second language, English, as I was invited in 202 to collaborate with a chapter for my first English book, 'Dare to Succeed', which featured Jack Canfield and many other international business leaders; and just three years later I have written for seven books and over a hundred articles that have been published in many magazines, journals and newsletters.

It just shows us that we can achieve anything we want, even in other languages or other fields. Just decide and act on it.

And I am writing about this as we are very happy, having reached the 70,000th visitor to my Spanish blog on Personal Motivation and Positive Attitude which is called 'Motivando El Futuro' (www.motivandoelfuturo.com). Please visit it and scam though it, even if you are not fluent in  Spanish. It is highly recommended.

In my 15 years as a writer I have to say you learn t enjoy the writing and the sharing of the messages. And specially when after so many years you have people commenting on a subject you touched upon some time ago. I invite you to do what you like, what you enjoy, see your passion, follow your dreams. It will be the beginning of something new and who knows, new opportunities will arise.

Thanks to the 70,000 people who have read my Motivando El Futuro Blog these past five years; I have sure enjoyed the ride.

To your success

Luis Vicente

How to Boost Your Career and Build Your Business through Public Speaking

After many years of study on different fields I see myself as having two possibilities: either learning something new or teaching something to others every single day. The best scenario? When you can do both at the same time! How do you see yourself?

Having my very own show at VoiceAmerica Business Channel (@voiceAmBusiness) has allowed me to do that, teach and learn and then learn and teach some more. Through my radio shows I have spoken about entrepreneurs and leaders, vision and goals. I have interviewed people on franchising and strategy. And today we learned a little more.

I had the pleasure of interviewing author and speaker Joan Detz (www.joandetz.com and @joandetz) and we had an amazing conversation about the importance of Public Speaking to your Business Success; and, to your personal success as well.

We all need to learn to speak better, communicate our message across, reach more people with our ideas and guide and help as many people we can.  If we can improve how we communicate through public speaking we can all do a much better and bigger job. Joan is the author of the book How to Write and Give a Speech which I do recommend to anyone, expert or amateur, who wants to learn or to improve how to speak in public; Joan teaches us many lessons and gives us many tips on how to create and deliver better speeches.

During our conversation Joan explained her ‘9-step Formula for Successful Presentation’ and you can listen to her on our show http://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/86533/how-to-boost-your-career-and-build-your-business-through-public-speaking-with-joan-detz-and-luis  

Start building your Public Speaking career and it will help you grow both personally and professionally.

Continue increasing your performace!

Luis Vicente

Entrepreneurs are today’s Adventurers!

Entrepreneurship has to be seen as a journey, as an adventure. It starts when we have that special idea to do something on our own, to create a business, or to innovate. It follows with our action plan, defining what we want to do and start working on it. We create a strategy, we get team members (friends and relatives at the beginning) and we start developing our idea. This is why for me ‘Entrepreneurship’ is a journey and this is why I see entrepreneurs as today's adventurers.

Entrepreneurship has been defined in many ways. It is the result of a person with very interesting qualities: takes action, combines resources, helps people, takes risks, organizes, discovers, and creates. An entrepreneur, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary is “a person who starts a business and is willing to risk loss in order to make money.” It then defines an entrepreneur as “one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise.” What the entrepreneur really does with the idea or the dream he or she has, is to build a business that will make them grow and be successful, in whichever way you define success.

Entrepreneurship is not easy; however there is very interesting research that points that many more Americans and people around the world are willing to start and run their own business. In a survey made last year by the University of Phoenix, it was pointed out that 63% of the people in the US between the ages of 20 and 30 want to have their own business.

A very important report, issued in May 2013 by Babson and Baruch Colleges, starts by saying that:

 “The year 2012 was marked by entrepreneurial optimism in the United States”[1]. 

This single fact ‘optimism’ points out the importance of entrepreneurship in all growing economies worldwide. With data since 1999, the Report indicated that the percentage of adults involved in startups in 2012 hit 13% – a record high since Babson began tracking entrepreneurship rates in 1999 (you can see a full article on the subject that was reported by Elaine Pofeldt on Forbes magazine here)

We see entrepreneurs in many countries. Latin America on one end is very active in this area, with Chile and Peru leading the way; and the United States ranked at the top of the innovation-driven economies during 2012 followed by Singapore. Can this trend continue? I would have to say yes, as it is the entrepreneur who energizes and grows, generating a more dynamic economy.  

Governments in many parts of the world are continuously looking to entrepreneurs (both new and well established) in order to increase employment and generate new ideas so that their economies grow and the competitiveness of states and countries increases. Our job then, whether in the public or private sector, is to foster and create an atmosphere of growth, development and innovation in which entrepreneurs can grow and prosper. We see it in the small business that opened last week five blocks from our office, or the small shop that opened up around the corner or the new restaurant a couple kids started in the nearby mall. Many articles and reports show that record number of new businesses opened up in 2013 in the UK, India and Hong Kong, for example. And furthermore, the US Small Business Administration reported that “the small business sector is growing rapidly. While corporate America has been ‘downsizing’, the rate of small business ‘start-ups’ has grown, and the rate for small business failures has declined.[2]

There are too many opportunities to succeed in business today that were not available years ago. For starters, you can create your company online; you can outsource many tasks (accounting, legal, tax) so that you can focus on developing your business; you can hire better qualified talent. But you need to get out of your comfort zone or if not your ideas and your business will not grow. You need to get started and learning along the way so that you will not fail. Long working hours will be the norm; cash flow and capital will be required; and you will need to become an expert deciphering what your client will need in this fast-paced environment. And this means that you need to get the necessary experience and guidance in order to succeed.

And entrepreneurs need to learn continuously. With the right attitude and the right mindset they can become better on their daily jobs, managing their teams and companies, and improving their results. There are many tools that will help you to manage your personal and your business performance. But there is a simple fact, that in order to use all of these tools you have to start taking action; you need to take that first step. There is a beautiful quote by Karen Lamb which says “a year from now you may wish you had started today.”  And now the question is, what are you waiting for? What is that idea that does not let you sleep at night? When are you going to start?

Entrepreneurial intentions are rising, which is an excellent sign; and opportunities are present everywhere.  New stores and companies are opened every day; some continue, some change, some close. But the entrepreneur never quits, he follows his dream until it becomes a reality and then dreams some more. This is why entrepreneurship is a journey. You start with your business idea; you present it to family and friends and then to other people who might be interested in your future products or services. You then embark on the learning journey to become an entrepreneur, and better yet, with the goal of becoming a very successful one. And you have been transformed into a never ending adventurer!

Luis Vicente Garcia is a business Consultant, FocalPoint Business Coach, a Best-selling Author and an International Speaker. He helps businesses and business owners reach higher levels of performance. You can follow Luis at @lvgarciag, visit his web site www.luisvicentegarcia.com or contact him at   coachluis@luisvicentegarcia.com 

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[1] 2012 United States Report, Global Entrepreneurship Monitor. ©2012 by Donna J. Kelley, Abdul Ali, Candida Brush, Andrew C. Corbett, Mahdi Majbouri, Edward G. Rogoff, Babson College and Baruch College

[2] http://www.sba.gov/content/small-business-trends