Good Enough

When we evaluate our growth level, we should never be satisfied.  Satisfaction is the enemy of remarkable.  Far too many leaders are satisfied.  It almost seems like there really is a “matrix” that traps people.  A matrix, if you should agree, creates a false sense of well being. 

Quality leaders are called to a higher understanding of the future and the people they lead.  They inherently distrust the tried and true.  One of the reasons for this comes from a desire to shape the future.  The majority of these leaders see the future as a better reality ahead.  The people they lead are integral to the outcome.  They KNOW that better realities only occur with others beside them.  Damn us for thinking that profit is most important.  Profit is a by-product.

When I look around the corporate landscape today, there are so many people hungering for encouragement and innovation.  Sadly, these folks have been left within a vacuum.  My mission is to reach out to you, and communicate that you’ve been designed for a remarkable story.  Don’t expect these changes to originate from the corporate halls.  It will originate from somewhere else…

Where’s the Serve in Service

My son has issues with food allergies.  Consequently, my family sometimes needs assistance from the medical community.  The day my son was having issues must have been a bad day for empathy.  The doctor’s office seemed “put out” by our concerns.  Our son’s physician is great, but his staff could use a crash course in understanding what customer (or patient) service is.  I won’t even start on the racket that is healthcare.  The doctor’s office is an object lesson in the no serve in service idea.  You’ve been there before.  Maybe it was your doctor, or maybe it was your cable company.  Either way, you’ve felt the frustration.  Some organizations don’t understand that that is no service without the serving.  It’s the eight hundred pound gorilla in the corner of the room. 

A Few Things

Do you realize that there are only a few things that we should be focusing on in this life?  I think five or less…When I talked to people these days, they seem overwhelmed and overextended.  Isn’t it ironic that life passes so quickly, and we allow those important five things to get drowned by the noise of the unimportant.  If you’re like many, you probably think you “have time.”  Reality says you don’t have a much as you think.  What would the world look like if we lived like we didn’t have time?  We’d experience more love, more sanity, more success, and more brilliant light.

Brand You

It’s pretty amazing how much an organization puts into its brand.  Think about the dollars and mental capital used to further a corporate brand.  What’s more amazing is how little we put into our own personal brand.  I’m conducting a seminar on Friday around developing a personal brand.  Here are some points we’ll be discussing:

·        Everyone has a personal brand.  No one get’s a pass on this truth

·        If anyone desires to succeed, regardless of the level, they’d better know what their brand communicates.

·        If you don’t leverage your brand, then the corporation will…at your cost.

·        The biggest mistake you can make is letting anyone else define the value of your brand.

·        The best organizations are those that embrace personal branding.

If you’re working for an organization that encourages personal branding, you’re rare and blessed.  Personal branding scares mediocre enterprises.  They find it difficult to get their mental arms around the marriage of corporate and personal brands.  Start working today on the most important brand…You.

Looking for Margin

I spent a good portion of this weekend coordinating a “ministry fair” at my place of worship.  I discovered what it feels like to work with people who know the art of encouragement.  I wasn’t the best person to lead this event, but I was “guy” anyway.  Quite frankly, details suck the life out of me.  I tend to be vision oriented…it’s the rhythm I dance to.  That said, the event went well.  Interestingly, one of my mentors (who happens to lead this group of people) seemed concerned about the amount of margin in the people.  He was speaking a common problem in our culture; over commitment.  We can all relate to that.  I believe that it was Peter Drucker who said we need to focus on a few things and stop doing the rest.  Here’s a list to give you a hand in creating more “margin:’

1.      If the event/task is not in your “strength zone,” then say no.

2.      Set aside time each week to reflect.  This should give you time to slow down and listen.

3.      There are only about five things that really matter in life.

4.      Learn the art of saying “no.”

5.      Give, (time, money, encouragement, love, hope and anything else that will help others) this will give vast amounts of energy.

Keeping The Growth Boat Afloat

Had a good conversation with an associate today.  We talked about sustaining growth in people.  That’s a subject I love to talk about.  I’ve been getting so many clues lately about my role in “helping” people.  As I’ve been living in my strength zone, people seem to be drawn to me.  Maybe they crave what, or who, lives in me.  Of course, I love to share that reality too.  I am fully alive!  I want this to be true for everyone I meet.  My mission is centered on helping you discover it as well.  Sadly, so many organizations leave the development of dreams in the dust.  They are under the spell of profits first.  Now here this; “you’ll make more profit if you develop people first.  A confounding reality for many, but true anyway.

Which Way Is Up?

I sat in a meeting today where the discussion was centered on “next steps” relating to yesterday’s event.  I’m suspicious of “events.”  They’re momentary lifts in behavior.  I think organizations like them because of the ease associated.  It’s much harder to do something daily.  Confronting our daily dysfunctions is difficult.  As various opinions were given, I just observed.  Observing is a great exercise.  So much is revealed when we slow down.  I spoke only once, but this brought a high dose of silence.  “We must exhibit, on a personal basis, the behaviors we want to see in the people we lead,” is what I proclaimed.  We have a glaring weakness in the area personal accountability.  This is more than likely the reason we put on events, rather than daily development.  As we seek greatness growth and development are the keys to being effective.  I am going to write a growth and development program for my organization.  A more detailed version of the Epic Living Influence/Strengths Program would be a great start.  What they will do with it is in question.

Listened To By Walls

I am sitting in Caribou Coffee for my normal reflective and writing time.  It’s amazing how many conversations swirl here.  I am amazed at how much people ignore the power they have within themselves.  We spend so much time on small talk.  I’m a believer in the “Kairos” type of time.  Kairos being a Greek word to describe the opportunities given to all of us over time.  As you get older (I’m closing in on forty) you realize how precious the opportunities are.

I’m planning on being complete with the book proposal by June1.  Watch for updates here, as I venture down the road of my dreams in print.  I’ll also post some things from the manuscript periodically as well.  I hope you’ll be inspired as I journey down this path.  If I can help change lives, then I will consider my endeavors a success.

Before I close, don’t forget that everyone has influence…so how are you using yours today?

What Love Can Do

Today’s entry is somewhat of a love letter to my wife.  I’ve been blessed, literally by God, to have married a beauty (inside and outside) beyond compare.  She has helped me in ways that no other human could or would.  Listening in the times of doubt, and speaking wisdom at just the right moment.  I could go on, but I don’t have an eternity to write.

For reasons that I’m still trying to comprehend, my bride has intuition that has helped me immensely when a key decision was needed.  Founding Epic Living, writing a book, and saying goodbye to some addictive organizations.  Countless times she provided needed feedback and questions.  She truly has my happiness in her center gaze.  Go find the love of your life…someone who you will fight for you until the end of time.