Leadership

Too often we feel the pressure to get better in our weak areas rather than improve upon our strengths. While we can always grow in both areas, top performers stay in their strength zones and delegate their weaknesses. Think about it. What if Michael Phelps focused on a sport he isn’t talented in rather than swimming? Or LeBron James focusing on something other than basketball? Or Bill Gates trying to be an athlete rather than a computer developer and businessman? There are many examples around us of people who are doing great things, but what if they were focused on their weaknesses instead of their strengths? What would they have to offer the world?

If you are in a job that you’re weak in, maybe it’s time to look for new work or at least find a way to use your strengths where you are instead. If you’re not seeing the success that you desire in your life, it’s time to evaluate where you’re putting your energy – your weaknesses or your strengths?

I believe that a key problem holding many people back from success is not knowing or working in their strength zones. Don’t let that be you. Find what you are strong in and devote your energy to using those skills and growing to be even stronger. As for your weaknesses, delegate them to others. If you can’t delegate them, find ways to make adjustments so you aren’t having to focus on them.

If you want to become all you were created to be, it’s time to figure out your strengths and start living them out.

Be Intentionally Great today!

One of my mentors shared a great teaching last week that I wanted to pass on to you today. Christian Simpson of The John Maxwell Team reminded us that every meeting and activity is an opportunity for growth if we approach it the right way. How do we accomplish that? It’s a simple three-step process:

PREPARE – PARTICIPATE – REFLECT

Let’s walk through each step briefly…

PREPARE – Whatever you have on your calendar, prepare in advance by gathering your thoughts, writing down questions or notes, and thinking through the conversations or activities that you will participate in. By preparing in advance, your mind will be ready to receive information that will stick. This gives you a greater opportunity to grow.

PARTICIPATE – When you are engaged in an activity or conversation, BE FULLY PRESENT. It is very easy to be distracted in our culture today. In order to participate for maximum impact, you must intentionally engage and stay focused. This may mean you need to silence your phone (or put it away out of sight). It may mean you need to find a quiet meeting place. Whatever it takes for you to give your full attention, do it! Too many of us are physically present while being mentally and emotionally absent. One way to participate better is to take notes. Make sure to write down important information so you will not forget later.

REFLECT – After you have participated, spend time reflecting on what was said or done.

• What can you learn?
• What did you hear that you need to apply?
• What are action items that you need to address?
• Review your notes.
• Spend time thinking through the topic that was discussed.
• Review the activities that you participated in.

Whatever you did, take time to reflect so you don’t miss lessons along the way. This process requires you to be intentional. We don’t naturally do this. When we live on “auto pilot,” we miss a lot of growth opportunities. Make the decision today to implement this process into your life. We don’t become GREAT overnight. Rather, we do so through daily disciplines that compound over time. Become more disciplined and you will see yourself growing and moving toward greatness.

One way I want to help you BE INTENTIONALLY GREAT is by inviting you to a FREE weekly leadership training call. Beginning Thursday, September 22 at 8pm EST, I will be co-hosting a weekly conference call with my John Maxwell Team colleague, Mark Williams. To sign up and receive the call-in information, click HERE. We hope you’ll join us!

Be Intentionally Great today!

I recently found myself staring at multiple “to-do” lists. All the items on them were good things to do, but were they all the best things? Of course not. If you’re anything like me, your mind is always generating thoughts of what you COULD do, but when we start feeling overwhelmed, we need to step back and define what we SHOULD do.

How do you move from COULD to SHOULD?

1. Slow down and take a breath. 
2. Remember your “why.” (Are you clear on your purpose?)
3. Comb through your to-do list and see what lines up with your “why” and what is required of you right now.
4. Of the things that do, prioritize what should be done first, second, third, etc.
5. Schedule times on your calendar to work on each item. (What gets scheduled gets done!)
6. Start tackling one item at a time.

The feeling of being overwhelmed is a common problem for many of us. There never seems to be enough time in the day. However, when we begin to sift through the clutter and schedule actions to be taken, we start to gain momentum. Over time, the “compound effect” kicks in and we start to feel like we’re winning.

This week, dedicate time to sift through your clutter. One key action that might help you is to physically clean up your work space. A cluttered desk or office actually causes more problems for you than you may realize. Get organized. Be intentional about your to-do list. Schedule time to take action. And make sure to do it!

I’m confident if you take these steps you will start to gain ground in areas where you have felt like you’ve been losing. The process itself is not complicated, but it does take discipline. Make a commitment right now to choose discipline so you can live and work most effectively.

Be Intentionally Great today!

***Be looking for details of an upcoming personal growth opportunity that I’m going to be launching with a fellow John Maxwell Team coach and trainer. We will be kicking this off on Thursday, September 22nd.

Many people get overwhelmed when they think about goals or dreams. They seem intimidating or unachievable. Because of this, many people stop dreaming and setting goals altogether. Today I want to encourage you to spend some time dreaming. Get a notebook, a pen, and find a peaceful place to think about what you want to accomplish in your lifetime.

• What do you want to accomplish in your family?
• What do you want to accomplish in your work?
• What do you want to experience in your free time?
• If money were no object, what would you do with your life?

Now, write down a next step for each of your dreams. Don’t worry about the entire plan. Figure out one next step and commit to taking action. Then come up with another next step. Keep repeating this and keep moving forward. As the familiar saying goes, you can only eat an elephant one bite at a time and similarly you can only accomplish your dreams one step at a time.

I believe you have greatness within you. You were created with a significant purpose. Your personal and professional potential are great, but you have to intentionally take action to achieve all you are capable of.

What is your dream?

What’s your next step?

Ready. Set. Go!

Be Intentionally Great today!

The Scene

As I write this, I’m sitting on the 3rd story balcony of the beach house our family is living in for the week. I am reminded that life on the ground can often be short-sighted and overwhelming. I’m watching the sun go down over the Gulf of Mexico. I’m watching rows of cars pass by down the street. I’m watching joggers and bikers go up and down the bike path. I’m watching families head back home for the night after a fun day at the beach. The ocean is calming down for the night. The moon is rising and reflecting on the water. Life is good.

The Lesson

As I reflect on what I’m seeing, I realize that I don’t get up above ground level enough. I need to climb higher regularly. I need to reflect on what is going on around me consistently. Years ago I was on a youth mission trip to a Native American reservation in northern Arizona. Our team was broken up into smaller groups to climb a nearby mountain where we could see over top of the community we were serving. At the top we could see approximately 90 miles away. We could see 360 degrees. It was breathtaking. It gave us greater perspective about the community we were serving and why we were there. There was a much grander vision than we saw at the base of the mountain.

• Do you ever stop to reflect at a higher level?
• Do you rise above the daily grind to reflect on your greater life purpose?
• Do you consider why you do what you do?
• Do you think much about the mission and vision of your job, organization, or family?

Many people are afraid of heights, but let me tell you that life from the 3rd story brings a greater perspective. Maybe it’s time to face your fear of heights so you can see things more clearly. Maybe what you need most right now is a higher view of your life so you can gain greater understanding of what’s going on at ground level. Maybe a time of reflection will refuel your tank and help you achieve more personally and professionally.

If you desire to Be Intentionally Great, you must start with greater clarity. One of my mentors has taught me the following path that makes a greater difference in our lives: clarity > competence > confidence > influence > impact > income.

I believe in you. You have greatness within you. You were created with a great purpose.

Go Be Intentionally Great today!

Last night the Cleveland Cavaliers became the first NBA Champions to ever come back from being down 3 games to 1 in the NBA Finals. They were playing their talented West Coast rival, the Golden State Warriors, who set the single season record for wins this year after winning the title last year. This was a Finals series that will not soon be forgotten.

Two years ago, LeBron James returned to Cleveland after winning two titles in four years with the Miami Heat. By leaving Cleveland for Miami he became a hated man after being the beloved hometown hero of Northeast Ohio. He returned and was forgiven. He came home with a mission to give Cleveland a title after a 50+ year drought of any professional sports championships. Last night, he delivered.

What can we learn from this historic accomplishment?

I believe that DETERMINATION and PERSEVERANCE are the obvious lessons. LeBron was determined to do all that he could to deliver a title to Cleveland, but it came through an incredibly challenging journey. One year ago, the Golden State Warriors defeated Cleveland in the Finals. Two key players – Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love – were injured for the Cavs and LeBron had to depend on lesser role players. They couldn’t overcome the gap. This year they faced the same Warriors team, but were healthy and determined. Because of this, they stayed the course even when they were down 3-1 in the series. They didn’t give up on themselves and they took one game at a time.

You may not be a sports fan. I understand that. However, we are often faced with personal challenges that feel insurmountable. Many of us look at the uphill climb and decide it’s not worth the pain, sweat, and tears so we surrender to mediocrity and “stability.” I confess that I’m often tempted to do this. When the days are difficult and you don’t see progress from your effort, it’s discouraging. My encouragement to you is to STAY THE COURSE. Breakthroughs will come. The biggest breakthroughs take more time to incubate and develop. We have to become the people who are ready to receive the breakthroughs. This means we must have our character developed.

A John Maxwell Team colleague, Ivan Oberon, wrote a powerful post last week that I want to share with you. Click HERE to read his comparison of the gestation periods between dogs and elephants. I’m confident you will be blessed and challenged by reading this.

As you begin your week, let the NBA Champion Cleveland Cavaliers teach you a powerful lesson. Stay the course, persevere, and prepare daily for the breakthroughs that are coming in your life.

Be Intentionally Great today!

How many books have you read this year?

How many articles have you read to help you improve personally or professionally this year?

How much time do you spend watching TV versus reading and studying to improve your life?

Am I stepping on your toes?

So many of us want to have a better life, but how many of us are actually investing in ourselves to get what we desire? How many of us could be called continual learners?

In our Western culture, we spend so much time on formal education to graduate high school and college, but then we opt out of continuing education that will help us to keep growing for the rest of our lives. Think about it. We invest the first 18-25 years of our lives to get diplomas so we can get good jobs and be successful, but then often give up on continual growth for the next 50-70 years.

If you want to be intentionally great, you need to invest in yourself. You need to read books, articles, blogs, go to workshops, work with a mentor or coach, etc. You need to believe that you can keep learning and growing until the day you die so you can achieve greater goals and contribute to society at greater levels.

Don’t be a statistic by ignoring your personal growth. Be a continual learner and put into practice what you learn. Information is abundant in our era. You have no excuse to stagnate. Make a commitment to yourself today that you will invest in yourself, and therefore, invest in those around you as you grow. Pass along what you’re learning and watch how those around you start to grow.

Be Intentionally Great today!

I was in a conversation recently with someone who is looking for a job and wishing they had a sign from God to give them a clear understanding of their purpose so they could find a career that fits it. I believe many people would love to receive a similar sign.

If you are waiting for that sign, start moving forward. By taking action, you are moving one step closer to gaining the clarity you desire. If you want to find the perfect job or career, start experimenting in various industries or organizations. Experimentation will help you discover what you like and what you don’t. Learn from failures and set-backs along the way. They will redirect you toward your purpose.

Studies have shown for years that employees are dissatisfied and disengaged in their jobs. Lack of purpose and clarity is a big reason why. When you do not feel like you are accomplishing what you are called to do, you will lack motivation and be less engaged. You will put in your time, but will not be very effective. When you are focused on your purpose, you will work with much greater passion and enthusiasm.

As the saying goes, “it’s not easy to steer a parked car.” When you are taking action, you can make directional changes much easier. If you are in “park” and waiting for a divine sign, nothing feels like it’s working for you.

Today, if you feel stuck or frustrated with where you are in life, start moving forward by taking action in an area that you think could be good for you. As you get going, you will pick up momentum. Also, pay attention to how you can find purpose in the job or situation the you are currently in. This will help your motivation and effectiveness.

Be Intentionally Great today!

If you would like help discovering your purpose and developing a plan to move forward, please contact me to discuss how coaching can be of value to you.

The older I become, the more value I see in deeply connecting with people. Connecting matters in all aspects of our lives.

• Do you want a promotion in your job? Work on connecting with customers and your co-workers.
• Do you want to lead your team better? Work on building greater personal connections with them.
• Do you want to make more sales? Work on connecting with your current and prospective customers/clients.
• Do you want to make a greater impact as a teacher? Work on connecting with your students.
• Do you want a better relationship with your spouse and/or kids? Make deeper connections a priority.

How do you become a better connector?

• Find common ground with people.
• Put others’ needs ahead of your own interests and desires.
• Slow down and interact more intentionally with people.
• Be more concerned about the other person in your conversations – speak to people regarding what matters most to them, not what you want to communicate
• Listen twice as much as you speak
• Be curious about others – ask more questions and talk at people less

This is not an exhaustive list, but these guidelines will help you become a much better connector. John C. Maxwell wrote an incredible book called “Everyone Communicates, Few Connect.” If you or your team would be interested in a mastermind group study of this book, please contact me to set something up. You can reach me at [email protected] or 770.715.8280.

Be Intentionally Great this week and become a better connector!

Many people want to have or do more in life, but very few realize they have to become more to achieve those things.

A leader once tried to persuade an employee to be dishonest in their dealings with customers as a way to avoid answering difficult questions about why they were not receiving the service they had signed up for. The employee boldly challenged the leader that if that was the kind of environment that the leader wanted to foster then they would resign effective immediately. After some self-reflection, the leader came back to the employee and thanked them for making him think about his life. The leader said that he often told people that he was “honest to a fault”, but that maybe he wasn’t operating in an honest manner professionally. This new awareness caused the leader to reflect and grow. It is very likely that the leader will become a better version of himself and have more success in his career.

If you want more success, you need to become the person who can achieve that success. One of my favorite stories from Darren Hardy (www.darrendaily.com) is that he wrote 40 pages of notes describing the woman he wanted to marry. He was challenged by his mentor, Jim Rohn, to become the man that his dream woman would want to marry. Darren realized he had to become more in order to attract the wife that he described so vividly on paper.

What is the “more” that you want in life?

Are you becoming the person that will attract that?

I am passionate about personal growth and development. I have been mentored by a few key people who have urged me to be an avid reader so I could grow and be more successful. Most people spend too much time on social media or watching television to invest in their growth. Don’t let that be you!

What can you sacrifice for one hour each day to read or listen to personal growth books?

How can you reorder your life to become a person who values growth?

Do you really, really want what you say you want? If so, are you willing to give up some current things in your schedule to become a person who achieves greater success?

You have so much untapped potential. Don’t waste it by settling for mediocrity. Make it your goal to become better each day. Strive to be better in your faith, family, job, friendships, hobbies, etc. As you make it a priority to grow, you will begin to dream more and develop a greater vision for your life. This will spur you on to grow so you can achieve that vision.

I’m not saying that you have a bad life today. I am asking “Is this the life you want for the rest of your life?” If it is not, then it’s time to grow and become the person who can achieve your greater vision.

Be Intentionally Great today!

***I help people discover their purpose and equip them grow to the next level. If you would like to experience how personal coaching can help you move forward faster in your life, please contact me for a complimentary coaching session at [email protected]