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)

Weekly Thought – September 27, 2016

Fred’s desire for productivity and accomplishment was core to his personality. Being useful was lived out in his life mission: stretching others. Even in his immobility, he mentored, developed, and prodded. The methods changed, but the motivation remained the same.

Energized by Accomplishment

I have learned if I end my day feeling beat, I probably didn’t accomplish much that is worthwhile. Accomplishment gives me such joy it actually restores my energy. But activity for its own sake is draining. There must be a sense of direction and purpose.

As I have gotten older, I have found I am more selective, more thorough, more conscious of what I am trying to do. I have learned staying busy isn’t the hallmark of accomplishment – there must be production. And, leadership isn’t synonymous with activity.

The more I can delegate tasks that are not uniquely mine, the more attention I can pay to those that are. Do you ever catch yourself doing someone else’s work? Why? My friend who was head of a large, international company once told me, “I am not going to pay someone and then do their work, too.”

A leader may feel he or she doesn’t have the luxury of only doing a few things well, but the principle still applies. I have run small organizations, and I have run large corporations. I have never been short of time because I believe I know how to prioritize. I keep for myself the things that only I can do and delegate the rest. But many fall prey to the temptation to keep others dependent upon then in order to make themselves feel important.

I don’t get joy from feeling needed. I have told my family when I die; I want them to remember our love, not an unhealthy dependence. I want them each to mature to the point they don’t need me. I never want to be like the criminal who, seeing himself on the post office wall quipped, “It is so good to be wanted.”

To me, identifying and defining my uniqueness is critical for human contribution. Unless I know my gifts and skills, I cannot do what I am called to do. But when I am clear about that, I can then freely see what only I can do in almost every situation – whether it is a board activity, organization leadership, or church participation. Doing what only I can do is the proper leadership philosophy.

Many leaders tie ego to activity, forgetting that results are the measure. Opening the door in the morning and turning off the lights at night doesn’t define leadership. Clarifying the particular contribution leads to true accomplishment – and the energy of productivity.

This week think about: 1) When do I confuse active for productive? 2) What is my particular contribution? 3) What should I delegate this week?

Words of Wisdom: “Doing what only I can do is a proper leadership philosophy.”

Wisdom from the Word: “A person’s gift makes room for him, and leads him before important people.” (Proverbs 18:16 NET Bible) Fred’s life verse which he paraphrased: “Take the gift that God has given you, AND USE IT, and you will stand before great men.”

Weekly Thought – September 20, 2016

Fred spent many years in management consulting, and particularly labor negotiations. He had a fundamental principle: Follow the ego. He was not opposed to a healthy sense of self, but careful to understand what he called “Adamic sin.”

Thank you for supporting our work. Your gracious and generous help allows us to continue. We are entering a season of heavy expenses with two college events this Fall. Please pray and if possible, send a tax-deductible financial donation.

Managing the Self

I remember an embarrassing situation that occurred one night at a business meeting of high profile business executives. One man who read the business pages of the newspaper considered himself an authority on the international energy scene. He was popping off about the situation and his easy fix.

Unbeknownst to him, a man in the room just returned from chairing an international conference of major oil companies. After the first man finally completed his spouting off, the other man quietly offered his knowledgeable and experienced response which completely exposed the ignorance and foolishness of the other!

I quickly said to myself, “I hope that NEVER happens to me!” I left that meeting with strong resolve to make sure in my speaking and consulting I remember someone else in the room may always know more about a subject than I do. That meeting stays with me and serves as a monitor and governor on things I may have said.

On the other hand, speakers are too often overly impressed with dignitaries in the audience. One night I was in a church listening to a pastor. I noticed a well-known University President slip into the service. The immediate style change let me know the pastor noticed the man’s appearance as well. A sudden shift in delivery occurred. He altered his focus, as well as his message. He went from preaching to the congregation to offering an intellectual dissertation for the sole benefit of the academician. He forgot the rest of us!

Being impressed with ourselves or with the celebrity of another blocks the power of good communication. In our work and in our speech, we should always keep in mind God is listening and as the current best-selling book tells us “we have an audience of One.”

It is never far from my thinking that God is present. If He isn’t, we should dismiss early!

This week carefully consider: 1) How do I rein in my ego to serve me, not rule me? 2) What keeps my eyes on Jesus? 3) Where can I be a good audience for another?

Words of Wisdom: “It is never far from my thinking that God is present. If He isn’t, we should dismiss early!”

Wisdom from the Word: “You must not tremble in their presence, for the Lord your God, who is present among you, is a great and awesome God.” (Deuteronomy 7:21 NET Bible)