Where are all the statesMEN? What is politics teaching young Americans about honor, respect, the value of man, the list goes on and on??
I barely recall a time when being an elected official was an honorable opportunity. A man had the ability to make a positive difference. Now, the political machine takes a man and wrings every ounce of goodness out of him.
Why is it that when our three year old acts out we reprimand him, but we don't show him that we have the same expectation of our elected officials? We're teaching that disciple is temporary.
Let me say this--discipline and selflessness are required for any amount of success in any area of life.
If you want a successful marriage, you must be disciplined to love unconditionally.
If you want a successful business, you must be disciplined to select great talent, train and develop, think outside the box, etc.
If you want a successful portfolio, you must be disciplined to understand the changing markets.
If you want to be successful at knowing your Maker,......well discipline's root is disciple?
Maybe I live in a hole, but I still believe that a man can be married to the same woman forever, can be an amazing and engaged father, and can have a positive influence on every single person he comes in contact with.
There is no greater time than right now, leaders, to create more of these men!
The question is, are you disciplined and selfless enough to create them?
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Getting Better
Are you a leader? Do you see your job as developing others? Do you use words such as growth minded, invest in, develop, lead, teamwork, etc?
If you answered "YES" to the above then you should be applying these ideals daily AND you should be getting better at them daily.
I once worked with individuals and have known others who religiously taught leadership, so much so that they neglected to apply the same principles to themselves. It is an easy trap to fall into. Leaders should never talk so much that they don't walk.
In his book The 7 Levels of Change Rolf Smith writes "to get better results, you have to do things better." Oftentimes as leaders, we get so hung up on the better results that we forget to "doing" part.
Statistics show that it takes 10,000 hours of "doing" to become an expert at something. That's A LOT of hours. Think about the best professional athletes out there. What do they do after the golf round, track meet, or football game? They practice! How serious are you about practice, leader?
How does a leader practice? Reading. We all knew that was the answer, because we're really good at having the answer. What we're not all really good at is the "doing" or the action part.
If you're not reading, you're not growing. If YOU are not growing, you're definitely not growing others. When you reach the top, the leadership role---when you're the captain of your organization--you're expected to be the expert (remember---10,000 hours = expert).
Back to Smith's book. How are you doing things better? Where are you carving out time to get better at becoming a better "doer". I bet you can find 15 hours in a week to invest in becoming an expert.
The question is, are you willing to be a better leader?
If you answered "YES" to the above then you should be applying these ideals daily AND you should be getting better at them daily.
I once worked with individuals and have known others who religiously taught leadership, so much so that they neglected to apply the same principles to themselves. It is an easy trap to fall into. Leaders should never talk so much that they don't walk.
In his book The 7 Levels of Change Rolf Smith writes "to get better results, you have to do things better." Oftentimes as leaders, we get so hung up on the better results that we forget to "doing" part.
Statistics show that it takes 10,000 hours of "doing" to become an expert at something. That's A LOT of hours. Think about the best professional athletes out there. What do they do after the golf round, track meet, or football game? They practice! How serious are you about practice, leader?
How does a leader practice? Reading. We all knew that was the answer, because we're really good at having the answer. What we're not all really good at is the "doing" or the action part.
If you're not reading, you're not growing. If YOU are not growing, you're definitely not growing others. When you reach the top, the leadership role---when you're the captain of your organization--you're expected to be the expert (remember---10,000 hours = expert).
Back to Smith's book. How are you doing things better? Where are you carving out time to get better at becoming a better "doer". I bet you can find 15 hours in a week to invest in becoming an expert.
The question is, are you willing to be a better leader?
Friday, January 6, 2012
Change
Often times we hear the word change and we stall. Change strikes fear. Change causes us to question whether something was "wrong" to begin with. Why fix it if it ain't broke? Right?
Though we fear change, we are also very curious about it. The new year is always filled with grand allusions of the changes we will make in our lives. We get enthralled with the idea of changing--but we don't.
On the other hand we recognize that change is needed. Insanity has been defined as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. We believe it is insane to not change, (I need to exercise more, eat better, read more, work less, etc....or else "x" will happen....) yet are insane because we do not.
Why do we do this.... all the time?
I believe that "change" strikes fear because we think it requires some complete overhaul of who we are, though most haven't even defined that yet. So therein lies the greater issue for 2012. Who are you? What are your values?
Before you waste time chasing a new year "change", take the time to define YOU. Once you define who you are and determined your values, you will be able to set clearer--more achievable goals. For once, put the cart behind the horse, you'll have a great success rate!
When you've finally defined you by establishing the non-negotiable values that make you up--you can focus on change. Change then becomes growth, not an abandonment of your values (which is what we feared to begin with). Values are constant, the change in your life should be filtered through those values.
Be resolute to set values first in 2012, then determine what "change" needs to take place.
Though we fear change, we are also very curious about it. The new year is always filled with grand allusions of the changes we will make in our lives. We get enthralled with the idea of changing--but we don't.
On the other hand we recognize that change is needed. Insanity has been defined as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. We believe it is insane to not change, (I need to exercise more, eat better, read more, work less, etc....or else "x" will happen....) yet are insane because we do not.
Why do we do this.... all the time?
I believe that "change" strikes fear because we think it requires some complete overhaul of who we are, though most haven't even defined that yet. So therein lies the greater issue for 2012. Who are you? What are your values?
Before you waste time chasing a new year "change", take the time to define YOU. Once you define who you are and determined your values, you will be able to set clearer--more achievable goals. For once, put the cart behind the horse, you'll have a great success rate!
When you've finally defined you by establishing the non-negotiable values that make you up--you can focus on change. Change then becomes growth, not an abandonment of your values (which is what we feared to begin with). Values are constant, the change in your life should be filtered through those values.
Be resolute to set values first in 2012, then determine what "change" needs to take place.
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