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Data AND Action
Data isn’t the problem, nor is it the solution. Instead, it serves as a starting point, a checkpoint, an indicator that should prompt deeper exploration, understanding, and action. The issue arises when we fail to identify the most pressing needs. An even greater concern is recognizing these pressing needs, but choosing not to adapt our…
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Small Problems, Big Impact
Feeling overwhelmed or losing motivation? It’s natural to want to back off or turn away from a challenge when it starts to feel heavy. In the moment, that can seem like relief, but over time, it can often make things harder. Much of our satisfaction comes from our progress, from our growth, from a job…
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Abnormal
normal: conforming to a standard; usual, typical, or expected. To be called abnormal sounds insulting. I suppose it depends upon context, but as I read the definition of normal, I’m not sure I want to be that either. Normal is not the adjective we want when we look to lead, to inspire, to grow, to…
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Living Forward, Learning Backward: A Journey to Intentional Living
Where we are right now is our reality. This reality is best understood by reflecting on the moments that have shaped who we are, where we are, and what we are doing. Without deliberate reflection, we risk becoming stuck in the moment—feeling lost or uncertain about our current position and emotions. To take control of…
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Daring Grand
Our greatest accomplishments in life often come from moments that required courage and perseverance—times when we had to face fear and embrace the risk of failure. These are the moments when we step out of our comfort zones and into a world of grand possibilities. We dare greatly, and we take that crucial first step.…
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The Odds of Success
Don’t let the 1% risk impede your chance at 99% success. The temporary fear of the rapids is so small compared to the lifelong memories, your growth and the success. Fear can be healthy. It forces focus and commitment, BUT, you should be more afraid that your fear gets in the way of your best…
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Invisible Impact
Leaders and service-oriented individuals derive a sense of self-worth from the outcomes of their efforts. Sometimes we get to see the fruits of our labor right away. Oftentimes, this isn’t the case though. The invisible impact may be delayed or just not seen. This can happen when we learn, when we touch another’s life, when…
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The Gift of Hope
If there is one thing I would wish for everyone is HOPE. With HOPE, we can see the opportunities and blessings in front of us and that lie ahead. The gift of HOPE is the greatest gift of all.
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Persistence, not Perfection
The more I experience, the more I realize that success doesn’t come from finding perfection. It comes from persistently overcoming obstacles.
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The Cage of Creative Thinking
When working through the improvement process, we can see things as they are now and then look to make subtle changes to improve. Sometimes it can be difficult to find the improvement path that leads you out of the current situation, closer to your vision. Instead, try flipping your process, block out the current status…
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Many More Hills to Climb
“After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.” –Nelson Mandela This famous quote by Nelson Mandela can evoke an image of work that is never done. To some, it signifies a daunting vision of what lies ahead, yet, to the contrary, how fortunate we are to have…
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Grand Opportunities
An Unexpected moment or situation is often said to happen “when you least expect it.” This can occur, but it may not be due to the timing of it, as the saying suggests. It may be more to the fact that you had never imagined that situation at all or dreamt that it could happen to you. …
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In Search of Giants
In a leadership capacity, be weary of comfort and contentment that lasts for too long. These feelings should be pitstops or temporary rests on your journey of improvement, but not the destination. When you are in need of inspiration and motivation yourself as a leader, find those giants around you who make you want to…
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The Long Hard Day
“Today was a long, hard day.” This response has been uttered many times, yet it can derive from two different types of day. The first form of long, hard day comes from dealing with unexpected and difficult situations; a reaction to something coming at you with ferocity. These days happen for a variety of reasons, and to even…
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Above the fray
Have you ever been in a conversation with an angry person, had a frustrating situation where everything inside you wanted to yell out and lose it or wanted to post ‘your feelings’ on social media? Well, join the club. Our emotions are easy to come by, but controlling our urges takes self-control and an understanding…
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Find the Gray
To simply see a solution as either BLACK OR WHITE may lead to more problems or division. When we take the time to see the continuum of solutions from BLACK TO WHITE, we may find the bits of gray that lead to the best solution.
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Up The Steep Path
When hiking a steep mountainside of loose rock or scree, for every step you take, you lose a half a step in backslide. It takes nearly twice the effort to get to the desired result. Scree slide can be the most frustrating experience as we walk toward our goal, and when we don’t accept it, it makes it…
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The Precise word
In a world of increasing clutter and of fast-paced stimuli, we mustn’t forget the power of simplicity, of even a single word. Our thoughts are complex and language can be equally complex, yet it can be a single word that holds so much power and drives the entire message. Simple. Bold. Precise. Why clutter up…
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Making Waves
“When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” -John Muir Our decisions and actions leave ripples that extends further than we sometimes see. It extends out in front of us, to our sides and even behind us. Never underestimate the effect of a single action…
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Darkness Holds Opportunity
There is security in being able to see what lies ahead. When presented with the unknown, fear and skepticism can override our ability to move forward. Darkness does not remove the opportunity ahead, it only hides it from view. Venturing into the unknown takes faith, confidence and an acceptance of moving out of your comfort…
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Question Everything
Our minds work in search of solutions, of answers. We process, contemplate and second-guess as we seek answers. Sometimes the way to find the best solution is through the right question. In search of answers, never forget to ask thoughtful questions. These questions may just be the answer!
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The Flow of Leadership
The practice of leadership is much like a flowing river: ever changing and always in motion. Nothing is absolute. Lead with an open mind and fresh eyes. Enjoy every moment, for each one is a new experience to soak in and learn from. Stagnant leadership is not leadership. “No man ever steps in the same…