Faith – Page 5 – Doug Dickerson on Leadership

Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone – Stepping Into Your Destiny

Leadership is all about taking people on a journey. The challenge is that most of the time, we are asking people to follow us to places we ourselves have never been. – Andy Stanley

In our respective leadership circles we hear a lot about stepping out of our comfort zones. “It’s where the magic happens,” we are told. And yet for whatever reason we are reluctant to leave the comforts of what we know and fail to experience all that we could. Sound familiar?

Peter was such person in Scripture that a lot of us can identify with. He was one of the twelve chosen by Jesus to follow Him. That alone is an impressive resume builder. More than that, Peter was one of three (Peter, James, and John) who were really close to Jesus. That made him uniquely special. He was part of the inner circle.

For all of these impressive qualifiers there is also a side to Peter I am more prone to identify with. Peter is very much human- a hot head, one who likes to speak his mind. Jesus had a knack for choosing ordinary people. I like that because it gives me hope. They were a ragtag group of fishermen and a tax collector. A traveling band of brothers. World changers.

In Matthew 14 we read a story where Jesus had his disciples get into a boat and go before Him to the other side of the lake. While making their way to the other side a storm developed and the guys were scared. Get the visual here—they were fishermen by trade. Being in a boat with a developing storm was not new to them. It must have been bad.

In the fourth watch of the night Jesus appeared to them walking on the water. Now they are really afraid. They think they are seeing a ghost. But Jesus speaks to them and tells them not to be afraid (vs.27).

Comfort zones. Think about yours for just a moment. Have you become too comfortable? Have you become too predictable? What is the appeal that keeps you there so that you are not willing to venture out of it? Every possible concern and question Peter faces in this moment are ones you and I can identify with. Let’s explore them.

You will have doubts (vs. 28) “Lord if it is you…”

From the confines of the boat at night during a storm Peter has his doubts. That makes sense. No one is going to fault him on this one. Peter is keeping his cards close to his chest and erring on the side of caution. With his doubts firmly in place, he says to Jesus, “Lord if it is you, command me to come to you.”

As leaders we all have our doubts. What will people think? What will they say about me if I try this and fail? What if I screw things up? How will it make me look to my peers? We can massage our doubts in our comfort zones or we can set them aside and get out of the boat. Either way, we will have doubts just like Peter.

You will be challenged (vs. 29) “So He said, ‘Come’…”

For Peter this falls under the category of “be careful what you ask for”. Peter has really stepped in it this time. Jesus takes him up on his offer and commands him to come to Him. What is Peter going to do? In front of his peers Peter makes this appeal and Jesus calls his bluff. Peter has to act.

All leaders face times of testing and challenges. And when you do there comes a time for talk and there comes a time for action. For Peter, the time to act was at hand. Your comfort zone will either keep you in the boat or you can step into your destiny. It’s all up to you.

You will have fears (vs. 30) “He walked on the water…he was afraid…”

Peter takes Jesus up on His offer to step out of the boat and starts walking. Pretty impressive I must admit. I am not so sure I would have done that in the middle of a storm at night. But when he begins to walk he is distracted by the winds and waves. Ya think? As a result, Peter begins to sink.

As leaders we begin to sink when we take our eyes off the ball – the goal, dream, vision, our mission. When all we see is our fears and all we listen to are the voices telling us why it can’t be done we tend to lose our way. When we take our eyes off Jesus we do the same. I don’t fault Peter for his momentary slip. I admire him. He faced his fears and got out of the boat. What fear is keeping you in your comfort zone?

Here are a few take-aways that are important to remember as a leader:

God knows where you are

That the disciples would be in the boat and a storm would come was not lost on Jesus. He knew. And today He knows right where you are. You might be full of doubts, and fears, – even questioning your own abilities, but this is not about you. It’s about placing your hopes, dreams, and goals into more capable hands than yours and trusting Him to do with it what you can’t.

God knows your struggles

We all have struggles as leaders. We all have our imperfections. We each have our own set of doubts, fears, and questions we wrestle with. He knew about the disciples in the storm and He knows what you are up against. God wants to disrupt your comfort zone and stretch your faith as a leader.

God’s timing is perfect

The disciples had been in the boat battling the storm for a long time. You too might be facing opposition, doubts, and difficulties. You might be on the verge of giving up. Jesus didn’t come to the disciples when they wanted Him to, He came when they needed him the most. It’s when we come of the end of ourselves that God shows up and takes us places we never imagined. How different would your comfort zone look if you invited God into it?

Are you ready to step out of your comfort zone and into your destiny? Take the first step.

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Plowing Through Adversity

Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit. – Napoleon Hill

An old farmer had plowed around a large rock in one of his fields for years. He had broken several plowshares and a cultivator on it. After breaking another plowshare one fall, and remembering all the trouble the rock had caused him through the years, he finally determined to do something about it. When he put his crowbar under the rock, he was surprised to discover that it was only about six inches thick and that he could break it up easily.

As he was carting it away he had to smile, remembering all the trouble that the rock had caused him and how easy it would have been to get rid of it sooner. There is often a temptation to bypass small obstacles when we’re in a hurry to get a large problem solved. We simply don’t want to stop and take the time to deal with it now. Like the old farmer, we “plow” around it.

If you hang around in leadership long enough you will face more than your fair share of adversity. It comes with the territory. While adversity is part of leadership, so too, is our response to it.

The old farmer teaches us a few leadership principles we should consider as we face adversity. His responses are not unfamiliar. His choices are ours. When it comes to adversity here are our options.

Avoid it

I’ve yet to meet a leader who thrives on adversity. We like to think that our leadership is such that everyone likes us and no adversity will ever come our way. But that’s not the world we live in.

Year after year the old farmer plowed around the rock. It was an obstruction and he avoided it. Sound familiar? To understand the old farmer and his decision is to understand ourselves. How often as leaders do we just plow around issues because we don’t want to deal with it? We don’t want to make the hard decisions or ruffle the wrong feathers. We know we have an issue but we just side-step it.

How’s this approach working for you? Avoidance of adversity doesn’t make it go away. It makes you miserable.

Confront it

One day the old farmer had enough. The time for action was at hand. And what he discovered shocked him. The rock he plowed around for years could have easily been removed a long time ago.

I am not suggesting that every adversity you face will be as easily resolved as the one for the farmer. We know life doesn’t work that way. But until you face your adversities head-on you will never know. Often the problems we face are magnified over time and we become the victims of our own imaginations.

Allow me to encourage you to be like the old farmer. Get off your tractor, lift up the rock, and find out firsthand what you are up against. Don’t assume year after year that the adversity you are up against can’t be removed. The truth is, you will never know until confront it.

Overcome it

What is your tipping point with adversity? What will it take for you to come off the tractor like the old farmer and take a crow bar to the rock of your adversity? At what point do you make your declaration, “No more!”

That is both the challenge and the test to your leadership. It’s how it works. There are no exceptions.

How long it takes to plow through your adversity is hard to predict. Longer of course if you take no action. But adversity in leadership will always be your companion. It will always be nipping at your heels. It’s the price you pay.

In closing let me remind you that on your leadership journey you don’t walk alone. There is hope and your adversity is making you a stronger leader. Be encouraged by this Franciscan blessing:

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and turn their pain to joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in the world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.

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The Measure of Your Worth

Posted June 23, 2016
by admin

Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value. – Albert Einstein

Perhaps no composer has captured the musical heart and soul of America as did Irving Berlin. In addition to familiar favorites such as “God Bless America” and “Easter Parade,” he wrote, “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas,” which still ranks as the all-time best-selling musical score. In an interview for the San Diego Union, Don Freemand asked Berlin, “Is there any question you’ve never been asked that you would like someone to ask you?” “Well, yes, there is one,” he replied. “‘What do you think of the many songs you’ve written that didn’t become hits?’ My reply would be that I still think they are wonderful.”

When it comes to the value that is placed upon you as a leader, regardless of the industry you are in, there is a formula for calculating your worth that is possibly being overlooked.

Certain things continually show up in the rubric of work that are measurements of success that people look to in order to prescribe your worth. Fair or not, that tends to be the norm. Performance reviews center around one’s ability to stay on task, how well he/she works with others, meeting specified goals, contributions to the bottom line etc. (all of which are important and are not meant to be diminished here).

Go back to the story for a moment. While Irving Berlin was famous for the songs we all know and love, he was equally as proud of the ones that did not become hits. It serves as a great reminder for us as leaders. Do you think anyone would think less of Berlin as a gifted singer for recording songs that did not make it to the top of the charts? No.

But herein lies the dilemma. There are countless leaders the world over who daily contribute in thousands of different ways to their respective organizations who do not get the recognition, notoriety, and fame like some do. Does that make them any less a leader in their own right? Certainly not!

Allow me to give you a word of encouragement and a few simple reminders of just how valuable you are as a leader and as a person even if you feel like no one sees, no one cares, or if no one is paying attention. I’d like to frame it from an excerpt from Mother Teresa’s “Do It Anyway” poem.

“If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.”

Your worth as a leader is not based upon what other people think or say about you. Be kind and find your lane to operate in and don’t allow yourself to be defined by your critics.

“If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.”

Your worth as a leader may be underestimated by those who mistake your honesty and character for weakness. It’s not. And when others try to deceive you they will soon learn that lesson the hard way.

“What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.”

Your worth as a leader is found in the value that you add to others. It is also reflective in the value that you bring to your organization. Others may by their actions and attitudes tear down or destroy, but keep building anyway.

“If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.”

Your worth as a leader is found in your ability to lay your head down at night and be at peace with yourself, with others, and with your Creator. The serenity in your heart the happiness on your countenance may make others jealous, but your worth is not measured by their unhappiness. You have happiness in your heart for a reason. Don’t give it up.

“Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.”

Your worth as a leader is not found it what you take but in what you give. Although in the grand scheme of things it may never be deemed enough, give your best anyway. The measure of your worth and your value as a leader is not defined by where others think you’ve come up short but by what’s in your heart. Keep giving your best!

“In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”

Take this one last piece of encouragement to heart. At the end of the day this what you hang your hat on. Be encouraged. Stay strong. Keep serving. You now know who’s keeping score.

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Choose One Chair: Evolving as a Leader of Destiny

Posted May 27, 2016
by admin

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“Yesterday all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they’re here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday.”- “Yesterday”, by Paul McCartney and John Lennon

In Guidepost magazine a number of years back Luciano Pavarotti relates a story from when he was a boy and his father introduced him to the wonders of song. He recounts, “He urged me to work very hard to develop my voice. Arrigo Pola, a professional tenor in my hometown of Modena, Italy, took me as a pupil. I also enrolled in a teachers college. On graduating, I asked my father, ‘Shall I be a teacher or a singer?’ “‘Luciano,’ my father replied, ‘if you try to sit on two chairs, you will fall between them. For life, you must choose one chair.’ “I chose one. It took seven years of study and frustration before I made my first professional appearance. It took another seven to reach the Metropolitan Opera. And now I think whether it’s laying bricks, writing a book–whatever we choose–we should give ourselves to it. Commitment, that’s the key. Choose one chair.”

At some point every leader has that moment of awakening when one chair wins over another. The process of getting there will vary person to person, but that day will ultimately come.

Your growth and development as a leader is a fluid process. Foundational character principles that guide you on your journey will not change, but for the sake of future growth and development as a leader you must be open to change and new ideas.

As leaders we also know that the only constant is change. What worked for you in years past may not be sufficient today. If you are content to just “phone it in” and coast as a leader on how it was done in years gone by then you may like have lost your edge. So what is a leader to do? Here are three basic questions you need to answer. Reaching your destiny as a leader may very well depend on it.

Is yesterday’s passion enough?

Passion is the fuel of your leadership. With it the sky is the limit in terms of your potential and destiny. It’s what keeps you up late at night and gets you up early in the morning. It’s the “why” that gives your life meaning and purpose.

Yet perhaps the wear and tear of the daily grind has taken its toll on you. Perhaps your dreams haven’t been realized and you feel there is no use in going forward. Let me encourage you today to buy-in to the words of Joel Osteen when he said, “If you’re alive and breathing, you can still become everything God has created you to be.” Becoming a leader of destiny requires a new passion going forward. While the passion you started out with may have been sufficient at the time; today’s goals, dreams, and destiny will require more.

Is yesterday’s attitude adequate?

If passion is the fuel of your leadership then your attitude determines your mileage. How far you go is about possessing the right attitude. Your attitude in years gone by may have served you well up to a point, but to get to the next level you may have to step it up a notch.

Zig Ziglar said, “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine you altitude.” And that is the secret to achieving your leadership destiny. Leaders who have stood the test of time understand the importance of a positive attitude. Every leader has also dealt with the challenges-both internally and externally, of right thinking. Your attitude will cause you to reach your destiny as a leader or it will prevent it. Be sure it’s a good one.

Is yesterday’s mindset working?

One of the greatest threats to your leadership today is holding on to a “this is the way we’ve always done it” approach of years gone by. Evolving as a leader is not about disrespecting the past but has everything to do with letting it go for the sake of your future.

While values are timeless your methods must be current and relevant to today’s world. Are you still open to new ideas? Do you still have the attitude of a student who is humble enough to learn? Don’t forfeit the destiny that could be yours because of limited thinking. Stay current, be relevant, and keep growing.

When Pavarotti chose his one chair it changed the course of his life. It was that singular decision that put his destiny in motion. In like fashion you must choose your one chair and make sure that you have the right levels of passion, attitude, and mindset to take you to the top.

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Six Ways to Rise Above Your Critics

Posted May 19, 2016
by admin

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To escape criticism- do nothing, say nothing, be nothing. – Elbert Hubbard

A story is told of Winston Churchill and his extraordinary integrity in the face of opposition. During his last year in office, he attended an official ceremony. Several rows behind him two gentlemen began whispering. “That’s Winston Churchill. They say he is getting senile. They say he should step aside and leave the running of the nation to more dynamic and capable men.” When the ceremony was over, Churchill turned to the men and said, “Gentlemen, they also say he is deaf.”

Critics. Every leader has them and every leader will. How you respond to critics is an important component of your leadership development. It’s all too easy to get defensive when critics rub us the wrong way or misunderstand us. But can you appreciate a critic when he or she is right? Rising above your critics takes courage. Here are six ways to do it.

Keep a positive attitude.

Zig Ziglar said, “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” He’s right. How high and how far you go as a leader will be determined by your attitude. Nothing will give you a bad attitude any quicker than a wrong reaction to a critic. Basic things you will want to know regarding a critic are the source, the accuracy, the ramifications, and your reaction – if there even needs to be one. Regardless, stay positive and focused on the big picture.

Stay true to your values.

Don’t allow your critics to throw you off of your game. Stay grounded and connected to the values that have guided you to where you are. Values do not change but are guideposts when your circumstances do. The values and principles that brought you to where you are will keep you there so handle your critics with that in mind.

Speak no evil.

Seriously? Yes. Engaging in mud-slinging with your critics only hurts you in the long run. Unless what they have spoken or done is libelous then don’t waste your time in a verbal battle. Be content in knowing that the truth is on your side. There is no greater satisfaction than in knowing that you can look yourself in the mirror and lay your head down at night with a peace that comes from knowing you did the right thing regardless of how others behaved.

Don’t retaliate.

There will be times when you will want (and those close to you) to retaliate against critics. There is something about human nature that wants to fight back and get revenge and settle the score. I get it. But again, the end result will never be good for you. As hard as it may be there are times when you just have to let it go. Don’t worry if you lose a battle today, you are going to win the war if you keep your heart right.

Give them more ammo.

Most of the critics you will encounter are simply those who have some kind of vendetta or jealousy directed toward you. As opposed to stooping down to their level why not give them more ammo? As you do the right thing by continuing to work hard and by exhibiting good leadership, you will only become more successful. Nothing will annoy your critics more than your continued success.

Don’t lose your sense of humor.

One of the most important leadership skills you can develop is a sense of humor. Churchill exhibited it towards the men who spoke ill of him. Your critics will stir up a wide range of emotions and reactions that you will want to run with. But if you laugh – at them, and at yourself, half the battle is won.

What do you say?

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Finding the Courage to Lead

Posted April 28, 2016
by admin

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Courage means to keep working in a relationship, to continue seeking solutions to difficult problems, and to stay focused in stressful periods. – Denis Waitley

One summer morning, as the story goes, Ray Blankenship was preparing his breakfast on what he thought would be a normal morning. Except there was nothing routine or normal about the events about to unfold. On this morning, he gazed out the window, and saw a small girl being swept along in the rain-flooded drainage ditch beside his Andover, Ohio, home.

Blankenship knew that farther downstream, the ditch disappeared with a roar underneath a road and then emptied into the main culvert. Ray dashed out the door and raced along the ditch, trying to get ahead of the foundering child. Then he hurled himself into the deep, churning water. Blankenship surfaced and was able to grab the child’s arm. They tumbled end over end. Within about three feet of the yawning culvert, Ray’s free hand felt something–possibly a rock– protruding from one bank. He clung desperately, but the tremendous force of the water tried to tear him and the child away. “If I can just hang on until help comes,” he thought. He did better than that. By the time fire-department rescuers arrived, Blankenship had pulled the girl to safety. Both were treated for shock.

On April 12, 1989, Ray Blankenship was awarded the Coast Guard’s Silver Lifesaving Medal. The award is fitting, for this selfless person was at even greater risk to himself than most people knew. Ray Blankenship can’t swim.

The courage of Ray Blankenship is certainly admirable. What he did speaks volumes about the human spirit and rising to the challenges in spite of the circumstances. As a leader you may not be forced to face life-threatening situations such as Ray, but it can be challenging nonetheless.

As if you need to be reminded, I will say if for the record; not everything about leadership is glamourous. Courage is the virtue to embrace when times are tough and you need strength to lead effectively. Hang around in leadership long enough and you will soon realize that were it not for uncommon courage in difficult times, you would not be where you are today. Finding the courage to lead is imperative to your leadership. Here are five reasons why.

You need courage to voice your convictions

People tend to gravitate to leaders who project confidence. You will be hard pressed to find a leader weak on convictions and short on courage who is making a difference. Courage empowers you to step up, speak up, and lead with clarity.

You need courage to face your fears

As leaders we all face fears and times of uncertainty. It comes with the territory. But courage empowers you to see through the fear and see the rewards that await on the other side of it. Despite the fact that Ray Blankenship could not swim, he did not allow the fear of the water to stop him from saving the girls life. When you set your fears aside and lead with courage the sky is the limit as to what you can achieve.

You need courage to dream bigger dreams

Speaking of what you can achieve—what are the dreams and aspirations that motivate you? Perhaps it is to write a book, travel the world, become a noted speaker, or be an entrepreneur, etc. Too often all people see are the challenges and obstacles that stand in the way. You need courage to embrace those dreams and goals. They are not impossible, but are only possible when you summon the courage you need to take the first steps.

You need courage to ask for help

A casual study of any successful leader will turn up this common conclusion- they did not do it alone. A common mistake many novice leaders make is the belief that they can. But if you want to be successful as a leader you will need courage to recognize your own strengths and weaknesses and how to surround yourself with people who can help you in those areas.

You need courage to stand alone

John Maxwell was right when he said, “It’s lonely at the top so you’d better know why you are there.” There will be times as a leader you will have to stand alone. Not because it is your preference but because not everyone will, or can, take the journey with you. It may be because they have not bought into the vision or do not share your convictions. You will need courage to do the right thing even if it means standing alone.

Nelson Mandela said, “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” Dare to face your fears. Dare to face the headwinds of adversity. Because when you are empowered with courage, you will rise to a new level of leadership that others only dream about.

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How Anger Shapes You as a Leader

Posted April 21, 2016
by admin

We boil at different degrees. – Clint Eastwood

A story is told of the 18th-century British physician John Hunter, who was a pioneer in the field of surgery and served as surgeon to King George III, who suffered from angina. Discovering that his attacks were often brought on by anger, Hunter lamented, “My life is at the mercy of any scoundrel who chooses to put me in a passion.” These words proved prophetic, for at a meeting of the board of St. George’s Hospital in London, Hunter got into a heated argument with other board members, walked out, and dropped dead in the next room.

As a leader it is important to know how to deal with anger. Let’s face it, we’ve all had moments when our anger has got the best of us and we’ve said and down things in hindsight that we wish we hadn’t. Yet how we deal with our anger is what will distinguish us as a leader who commands respect. So here are a few helpful reminders and solutions to keep in mind before anger gets the best of you.

Not all anger is bad

The scripture says in Ephesians 4:26, “Be angry and do not sin, do not let the sun go down on your wrath.” There is a line when you get angry that you do not want to cross. It’s the point where words and actions can do irreversible harm. But anger itself is not bad. It means that you are invested, care, and are passionate about something. Understand that your emotion of anger is not bad, it all comes down to your response.

Not all pleasantness is good

As a leader you need to set the example with your attitude and actions and with the composure you present to your people. All smiles and little truth telling can be just as harmful as misguided anger. Expectations with your team need to be clear. As a leader you need to strike a balance between anger that hurts you and pleasantness that weakens you.

Anger is your stop sign before taking action

Before acting on anger that may have been building up over a span of time– stop. Important to consider here is an understanding of why you are angry, whom your anger might be geared toward, and what the proper actions should be going forward. This is where you earn your stripes as a leader and what you do in your moment of anger will be make you or break you.

It was said that when Abraham Lincoln had to write a letter to someone who had irritated him, he would often write two letters. The first letter was deliberately insulting. Then, having gotten those feelings out of his system, he would tear it up and write a second letter, this one tactful and discreet. Perhaps, like Lincoln, you need to sit down and write two letters, but never act out in anger in a way that is unbecoming to your leadership.

Anger is your catalyst for improvement

As already stated, anger is neither good nor bad, what’s critical is your response. If you channel the energy produced by anger in the right direction it can produce positive results that can be helpful. Perhaps you are angry over quarterly earnings that did not meet expectations. Channel that energy in a way that challenges your team to find new approaches or ways to improve. When you tap into that energy in a positive way it can be just the spark you need to turn things around.

Anger is your responsibility to confront

As a leader you carry a weight and responsibility that most know nothing about. All the pressures you bear have a way of adding up and weighing you down. Despite all the illusions of grandeur, leadership can be tough and can take a toll.

It is important that you take ownership of your issues with anger. Key areas that will make a world of difference (not an exhaustive list) in your leadership and keeping your anger under control is when you learn how to manage your time, learn how to delegate, take time to get away and recharge, set realistic expectations, pay attention to your diet and exercise, make yourself accountable to others, and your spiritual discipline.

Anger, like your attitude, is an emotion to be managed and channeled in the right direction. Either you will shape your anger or your anger will shape you.

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Hope For Discouraged Leaders

Posted March 10, 2016
by admin

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If you are alive and breathing, you can still become everything God has created you to be. – Joel Osteen

In 1858 the Illinois legislature- using an obscure statute- sent Stephen A. Douglas to the U.S. Senate instead of Abraham Lincoln, although Lincoln had won the popular vote. When a sympathetic friend asked Lincoln how he felt, he said, “Like the boy who stubbed his toe: I am too big to cry and too badly hurt to laugh.”

If you hang around in leadership long enough you will know what discouragement feels like. I’m not trying to depress you but simply stating the obvious. Behind the glittering image and friendly smiles are leaders who face incredible pressures and shoulder responsibilities that can be daunting. Unfortunately, many leaders feel trapped with no one to talk with or vent to due to the “glittering image” that they feel compelled to present to the public.

So let’s be honest. Times of discouragement will come. How you react to it will make all the difference going forward. As a leader, you are not immune from troubles-in fact, you may have more. So how do you keep a proper perspective and come through it on the other side a better leader? Here are three reminders that you need to consider.

You are not alone

Life happens to all of us. It’s not always pretty. As a leader you know this to be true. Disappointments come – you didn’t land that new client, a colleague betrayed you, sales are sluggish – you get the picture.

Here is what you need to know: your disappointment today is preparing you for great opportunities tomorrow. But there’s a catch. It all hinges on your attitude. While bad things can happen to good people; good people turn bad things into great opportunities.

At a young age Walt Disney easily could have been discouraged and given up. He was fired by the editor of a newspaper for “lacking ideas”. He could have taken his rejection and thrown in the towel. But if anything he used that experience to motivate him to greater things – and the rest as they say is history.

So when times of disappoint and discouragement come remember this truth – you are not alone.

You are stronger than you think

One truth I’ve learned over the years is this: you can be defined by life’s moments or you can define life’s moments. So how do you define life’s moments? You do so by choosing faith over fear, forgiveness over resentment, and by embracing God’s view of your life over man’s view. You don’t always have control over what comes your way but you can choose your path going forward.

Thomas Edison experienced one of those defining moments in his career. His lab caught fire and was destroyed. All of his work went up in flames. To add insult to injury, his building was under-insured. It was a devastating and defining moment. How would he respond?

“There is great value in disaster,” said Edison, “all our mistakes are burned up. Thank God we can start anew.” Edison did not choose the fire, but he did choose to define the moment.

Here is the truth to remember: We don’t like adversity and disappointments because we mistakenly believe that we can’t handle it. But I submit that you are stronger than you think and you can overcome any obstacle that comes your way. Are you ready to define your moment?

Your past prepares you- it does not define you

Every experience that you go through is preparation for what’s next. Along the way you have gained valuable experience. Some of it has come easy while at other times you wish you could have a do-over. It’s all part of the learning curve. I’ve been there countless times and I dare say you have as well.

But if you want to move forward as a leader you have to learn to let go of the past – especially the bad, and cut yourself some slack. What’s important is that you have learned your lessons, have peace in your heart, and are stronger as a result.

Discouragement sets in when you see yourself through the lens of a failure rather than through the lens of grace.

Here is the truth you need to remember: you are not the sum of your fears or your mistakes. Your past is your boot camp and it has prepared you for such a time as this.

Times of discouragement will come. But the good news is- it will pass. Stay strong and be encouraged. You are not alone, you are strong, and you are prepared!

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Life, Work, and Discovering Your ‘Why’: Finding Balance in an Unstable World

Posted January 21, 2016
by admin

lifework

In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years. – Abraham Lincoln

Architect Frank Lloyd Wright once told of an incident that may have seemed insignificant at the time, but had a profound influence on the rest of his life. The winter he was 9, he went walking across a snow-covered field with his reserved, no-nonsense uncle. As the two of them reached the far end of the field, his uncle stopped him. He pointed out his own tracks in the snow, straight and true as an arrow’s flight, and then young Frank’s tracks meandering all over the field.

“Notice how your tracks wander aimlessly from the fence to the cattle to the woods and back again,” his uncle said. “And see how my tracks aim directly to my goal. There is an important lesson in that.”

Years later the world-famous architect liked to tell how this experience had greatly contributed to his philosophy in life. “I determined right then,” he’d say with a twinkle in his eye, “not to miss most things in life, as my uncle had.”

Many people often miss the most important things in life because they fail at this essential skill as a leader- work/life balance. It’s a struggle for many leaders. Could it be yours?

In research conducted by EY (http://bit.ly/1QjTJZ8) it was reported that, “33% of full-time employees globally say it has gotten more difficult to manage work/family in the last five years. The most common reasons cited 49% “my salary has not increased much, but my expenses have” and 48% “my responsibilities at work have increased.” Sound familiar?

Having a good work/life balance is essential to your success. As a leader you are not immune from the challenge. In fact, it may be more problematic for you. So what is the solution? Here are a few tips to help you recapture some of that much needed balance.

Begin with your priorities

Almost every article I read on work/life balance begins with work. It goes without saying that work is important. But how would things be different for you if you looked at it from the viewpoint of a life/work balance? If the priorities of your life are not in order then how can work? Get life’s priorities in order first then you can take care of the rest.

Discover your ‘why’

I’m a firm believer that you should do what you love and love what you do. When you do, it’s not work but your passion. Understanding your ‘why’ is essential to you as a leader. John Maxwell framed it this way, “People who know their why can keep their heads while everything around them is in turmoil. And that draws others to them.” Life and work makes sense when you know why you are here.

Get flexible with schedules

Fortunately, many companies are seeing the benefit of flexible work schedules which allows for greater productivity, greater teamwork, and happier employees, etc. (http://huff.to/1SxzdV1). Creating a work/life balance does not have to be an either/or proposition where one is good and the other is not. Smart leaders can create a culture where both can thrive.

Define your borders

As a leader many things compete for your time and attention. If not careful you can get caught up in solving problems that are not yours to solve, involved in details that easily can be handled by someone else, and otherwise distracted from having the work/life balance you desire. This is an area in which you will need to stand firm. Define your borders and stick to it.

Get real about relationships

People are your greatest appreciable asset. Building strong relationships is the key to your growth as a leader and to the success of your organization. But surrounding yourself with the right people is more important than surrounding yourself with a lot of people. So here are some questions you need to answer: Are those closest to you adding value or subtracting? Do those closest to you share your vision and values and see the big picture or are they in it for themselves? Relationships are key to your work/life balance. If you are surrounded by the wrong people then it’s time to prune.

Lighten up

Ella Wheeler said, “Laugh, and the world laughs with you; weep, and you weep alone”. Creating a good work/life balance can be just one laugh away. It’s important to take your work seriously, but not yourself. Laugh. Lighten up. Learn to take things in stride. Don’t be wound up so tight that you can’t enjoy a light moment now and then.

Your work/life balance begins with these simple steps. Are you ready for some balance in your life?

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What Leaders Can Learn From Their Limitations

Posted December 3, 2015
by admin

limites

If you don’t understand your limitations you won’t achieve much in your life. – Kevin Costner

During his first year of graduate study at the University of California at Berkeley, George B. Dantzig (later known as the father of linear programming) arrived late for a statistics class. He saw two problems on the blackboard. Assuming they were homework, he copied them and a few days later turned in his solutions. One Sunday morning six weeks afterward, the professor appeared at Dantzig’s door, waving a manuscript. It turned out that the professor had merely written two examples of unsolvable problems on the blackboard. The manuscript was Dantzig’s work readied for publication.

Limitations have a way of introducing us to ourselves. For some that can be an unacceptable reality. For others it can be a challenge to accept and an opportunity to seize. It all comes down to how you look at it.

For George Dantzig, he had the benefit of being late to class and thus was not aware that the problems on the board had been deemed ‘unsolvable” and thus approached the task quite differently than his classmates.

How you look at the limitations and obstacles that you face as a leader goes a long way in determining your leadership style going forward. It not only impacts you personally as a leader but it sets the tone for those around you. So what is a proper approach to facing limitations you may have? Here are three approaches worth consideration.

Limitations allow you to focus on your strengths

As a leader you can sit around and bemoan the fact that you do not possess a certain talent or attribute that is somehow holding you back. You can use it as a crutch and allow it to be your “excuse card” for your lack of progress. Or, you can re-direct your focus and build off your strengths.

When you shift your focus off of your limitations and turn it towards your areas of strength it becomes a liberating factor in your leadership. When you can thrive in the sweet spot of your strengths it will change your outlook, it will give you confidence, and will put you and your team on the right path.

Limitations cause you to build strong teams

Understanding your limitations should be empowering for you as a leader. It’s when you realize that you do not have to possess all the answers and that your wok does not have to be unproductive that your “limitations” no longer have to define you.

A smart leader realizes that the key to building a successful team is found in its diversity. What is an area of weakness or limitation for you is a strength for someone else, and their area of weakness may be the area you excel in. The secret is to play to your strengths and build off of it. As a leader you don’t have to be great at everything-just be great at one thing and let your people do the same. When you do you will be unstoppable.

Limitations create uncommon opportunities

How different do you think your organization would function if all of your team members played exclusively to their strengths? What impact do you think it would have on morale, productivity, and your bottom line? I dare say it would be profound.

I think it’s important to have margin in our lives. That is to say we should all be striving to improve and be the very best we can be and be open to learning new things. But we have to be realistic as well. We create opportunities for success when we put the right people in the right place and play to our strengths.

When you understand your limitations then you can maximize your strengths to your advantage. You can turn ordinary opportunities turn into extra-ordinary ones not because you have limitations, but because you understood them and you surrounded yourself with the right people.

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