Category: Learning

Exposed and Transperent

"Never trust a leader who hasn't suffered."

    -John Eldredge

I've heard it many times before that who we really are is revealed in crisis.  I didn't fully own that reality until I tasted my own crises.  Taste is a humbling thing.

I'm sitting at church yesterday and we're listening to a message on marriage relationships.  And it occurred to me that my wife is probably the only human on the planet that can speak with authority on who I really am.  I did think about running out screaming a few choice words, but I refrained.

Last night I asked my wife about what she saw when I was exposed and found transparent a few years ago.  She told me she saw change.  The foundation/core was consistent with who she knew me to be.  But there was a change being formed before here eyes-with pain included. 

So why the attempt at avoiding the crises?  More than likely most have never been mentored/taught on the benefits.  Let's face it, we tend to prefer the yellow brick road.  I think the road to ruin is paved that way.  It's difficult these days to dispense words like these because there are far too many messages to the contrary.  Competing with those messages authentically can be a challenge.  I'm glad my heart is in this.

The conclusion is this; leaders are defined in the times of exposure and transparency.  This applies to all of us.

Real Change

The above speech is from 2002, but it seems to me that it is fitting on the eve of our election here in America. 

I have no idea where Bill Strickland stands on the issues or the candidates.  But his approach shows how change can be brought to people.

If you're citizen in/of America, I hope you'll vote and vote informed.

How Inspiration Works with Vision

 

I watched this video and thought of how inspiration sometimes comes. 

I told my wife that I wanted to cook her dinner at our home served on white table linen, excellent food and excellent wine.

The video is also representative of how vision connects to inspiration.  If you are inspired by someone, or something, you will be able to see it occurring.  Seeing the outcome living out is essential.

The best sight is the one that comes from your soul to your mind.

A Father’s Lesson

My wife and I were talking about family values a couple of days ago.  Don’t worry, this post has zero to do with politics.  We were discussing what’s most important to us and how it impacts the rearing of our kids.

The conversation was brought on by the reality of how busy many families are today.  Whether its kids in multiple sports, work, extended family obligations or general responsibilities.  Many people are overwhelmed, and not so sure their direction is sound.

As we spoke, it dawned on me how important my time is to my kids.  Time to look them in the eyes, time to smile at the miracle they are, and time to lead.  As tough as it is to live it out, my family is my second most important value.  Consequently, I have said no to many good things in oder to say yes to the best things.

The title of this post is very personal and worth sharing because the subject matter was double confirmed when I read this post (The Brand in the Sand) from Anna Farmery.  Anna has a wonderful blog that many of you may frequent titled The Engaging Brand.

Anna’s relationship with her father has inspired me before, but this story touched me in a way that can only be defined as profound.  You’ll understand after reading her post.  But I hope one day my son and daughter will look back and see me in the same brush strokes that Anna paints of her father.

Prepared to Lead?

Where would we be without the media (Internet, paper, your organization, your boss, etc.)?  Constant messaging about what's important-usually relating to their own selfish motivations.  Wasn't it Hearst who said his organization was in the business of selling newspapers, not reporting the news?  Regardless, you're hearing it everyday.

I mention the above to gage if any of the information we absorb is preparing us to lead.  By now, I would think we know how important leadership is.  Everyone would agree that quality leadership is vital in good times and in the crisis times.  See the U.S. Congress for a great example of how some leaders never get this. 

The problem lies in our reluctance to experience the upfront pain of growing and changing.  For some this happens immediately, for others a little after the event or show is over.

Why do we give up and give in?

Here are some reasons to consider:

  • The microwave oven.  Take your growth and heat for three minutes, on high, and voila instant change.
  • Success.  We think our success says something more than it does.
  • Busy lives.  We say yes to everything and never learn the art of saying the leader's most important word; no.
  • The media has convinced us that by becoming leadership voyeurs, we have all we need.
  • We look for leadership love in all the wrong places.

Dream, Believe

The following is a quote from a card given to me some months ago:

    "To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream.  Not only plan, but also believe."

    -Anatole France

Ready to Die, Ready to Live

In a speech yesterday I told a group of businesswomen that you're not ready to live until you're ready to die.  Easy for me to say, right?  Well…no.  Seal (see the clip above) has some poetic thoughts on the matter of dying.  But I don't want to stray to far from the meaning of this story.

It wasn't until I got serious about the things I couldn't see (love of family and love of people), that I starting confronting the urgency of this limited time offer call life.  I apply the idea to work too.

The businesswomen yesterday got my meaning.  Those truly passionate about what they do carry a sense of the ending.  People like this believe that the story titled our life has a beginning, a middle, and an end.  It clarifies and refines how we approach everything.

If we get close to this idea we might get the following:

  • No more playing around with destructive words and behaviors.
  • No need for the next generation of DVD technology.
  • Dinner with the entire family every night.
  • No more preoccupation with fame and fortune.
  • Embracng the moment with all you connect with.
  • Taking care of our bodies like the gift they are.
  • Seeing people as more valuable than material goods.
  • Taking responsibility for our lives.

The Meaning of Vision and Goals

Mountain range photo

 

Conducted a workshop this weekend for a company around vision and goals.  It was a great group to work with.  I was truly honored to leave my imprint on their management team.

I got to thinking this morning about why vision is a necessary part of goal setting.  The formula goes something like this:

Vision is the why and what, while goals are the how.

It’salso important to rememberber that vision develops over time (Thank you, Rick and Terry).  The old Polaroid camera can be a great object lesson here.

The Toll Road of Reinvention

Spoke to a friend last week who told me about a man of fifty-seven.  A typical tale for a corporate soldier in America today.  He's tired, bored and wonders where the time went.

The financial crisis happening here and around the world is taking a toll on investment accounts, retirement accounts and faith (if we still have that) in how our governments work.  But what about the man, or woman, of fifty-seven who sees only few options left (no, the answer is not held in the mind of Obama or McCain)?

I have written before about the toll that ten, twenty or thirty years of poor leadership can have on followers.  Now we're beginning to see the shift economically, which usually is the first crisis before the other shift can happen.  That shift is where people have to discover/rediscover who they really are, and it doesn't happen without a crisis.

The way up is the way down.

As a follower of Jesus Christ, I don't get as bent out of shape by crisis.  He wrote the story, I live it out.  A beautiful, tragic, happy, fluid, exciting epic with my name on it.  After forty-two years, I've seen and experienced so many crises that I now see them as part of the plot.

Regardless of your age, you will face a crossroads where reinvention beckons.  You can ignore it, but just know that more of who you are and what you do will become gray.  If you accept the reinvention invitation you might find that the next chapter is ready to be played out.