Weekly Thought – October 25, 2016

Fred consulted with numerous major corporations and Christian organizations. He looked for patterns; ability to read people increased his effectiveness. He always said character and attitude were the hallmarks of effective leaders.

This week a team of twelve will be spending two days on the campus of Palm Beach Atlantic University. Please pray for their work, witness, and impact. They are going at their own expense receiving no remuneration because they believe in the challenge of stretching and blessing the next generation of leaders to the glory of God. Thank you for your support.

The “I Can” Leader

I was interested recently in a survey that studied the difference between successful and unsuccessful businesses. The research looked at the top executives of major organizations. The outcome was interesting but not surprising. It was about attitude. The successful leaders said: “I will.” Those with the unsuccessful operations tended to say: “I should; I want to; I ought to; I expect to.” In Texas we have a simple way of saying that… “fixin’ to.”

Nothing happens until someone says “I will.” This is the action of the decisive individual. He picks up an idea, considers the applications, and implements it. In other words, he says “I will.” By the way, “she” also does this. My daughter is always quick to remind me of my male references.

The other one may get a great idea, write it down, but then file it away for future thought. Sadly, most ideas evaporate if not kept in the active file. “Getting around to it shortly” is the death knell for many good thoughts. “Shortly” seldom comes as he sits in the same easy chair, in the same rut – the one that leads to failure.

The ability to execute is a key distinctive. Careful consideration is important, but some use analysis as an excuse for inactivity. Certainly there are those who do ready, fire, aim but way too many more do the ready, ready, ready – never even getting to aim, much less fire.

The line between success and failure is very thin. My friends in the insurance industry put it this way: “The successful agent does what the unsuccessful one won’t.” The successful one does the prospecting, makes the calls, and asks for the sale. All of us know “former” insurance agents who organized the forms, read the industry magazines, and waited for just the right time to make the calls. Did that time come? Apparently not.

Right thinking followed by right action leads to success.

This week think about: 1) Who is the strongest “I can” person in my network? 2) Who am I encouraging with my can do attitude? 3) How can I create ongoing positive activity?

Words of Wisdom: “Right thinking followed by right action leads to success.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Your bow is ready for action; you commission your arrows.” (Habakkuk 3:9 NET Bible)

Weekly Thought – October 4, 2016

Fred and Bill Glass (All-American, All-Pro from Baylor and the Cleveland Browns) met at Baylor University in the 1950s. Bill’s friendship with Fred never ended. In the last days, Bill sat at Fred’s side in the hospital. Of course, he had his notebook with him because he always took notes when sitting with Fred. Bill knew about receiving a blessing.

Leading with Meaning

When I saw the old wrangler on whose life The Horse Whisperer was based, I felt he was a kindred spirit. He used empathy rather than dominance to achieve his goals. He transformed both the role of the wrangler and the horse’s experience. It was no longer a hierarchical, tyrannical system, but one which was a team-based, mutual interest program. He no longer depended on the horse’s fear, but on its friendship. His orders became friendly suggestions that he knew would be accepted.

The famed “winningest coach,” John Wooden of UCLA basketball used his own nondictatorial system. Reportedly, he never mentioned the word “win” to any of his teams. He simply emphasized the concept of doing one’s best. This was an entirely different emphasis from the usual pre-game pep talk in locker rooms of his day.

Wooden’s philosophy excluded using dirty tricks, bending the rules, violating recruiting rules, and falsifying grades – all of which were common practices in other programs. Wooden’s teams won because he recruited great talent, helped them grow in an environment that demanded their best, and built men of honor and character.

We lead to accomplish the vision of our calling. We optimize our associates’ gifts and passions as we work to attain what we genuinely believe is the will of God – for the glory of God. We work to find the uniqueness in others and then to develop, encourage, and reward it. We work to find our own reward, desiring to hear one day: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Catching a vision and then creating an atmosphere in which talented men and women thrive is the role (and reward) of a leader. Working together in tandem, not working for a tyrant, is the sign of a healthy organization.

This week think about: 1) What do I contribute to a healthy atmosphere? 2) How well do I encourage a winning team? 3) Who models positive leadership for me?

Words of Wisdom: “We lead to accomplish the vision of our calling.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Give instruction to a wise person, and he will become wiser still; teach a righteous person and he will add to his learning.” (Proverbs 9:9 NET Bible)