When We Do Nothing, We Become Nothing

In any moment of decision, 

the best thing you can do is the right thing, 

the next best thing is the wrong thing, 

and the worst thing you can do is nothing. 

~Theodore Roosevelt.

"Teddy" Roosevelt was a life-long learner.  He understood that you had to get in the game to learn it.  Too many people sit on the sidelines of life, "play it safe," and do nothing.

When we do nothing, we become nothing.

Get in the game, make a decision, possibly fail....but LEARN and become a better version of you.

What decisions do you need to make?

What is the worst thing that can happen if you make the wrong decision?

How can you mitigate it?

You've heard it said, "Life happens outside your comfort zone."

It's true!!  Step outside....there's room for you here!!

YOU Matter!!

Do You Need A BE-Over?

Just as there's enough mercy for a DO-over, there's also enough grace for a BE-over. 

It is never too late to become the person you were always meant to be. 

What you do is an extension of who you are.

What do you want to do?

Who are you?

Are your actions congruent with who you want to be?

What thoughts, attitudes, and paradigms need to change?

It truly is never too late to become the person you were always meant to be.  Don't give up on YOU!

YOU Matter!!

HOW Can You?

Today, look for the possibilities instead of the impossibilities.

Give your team the benefit of the doubt.

Let your friend, family or coworker know that you believe in them.

But most important, believe that YOU can.

The potential that exists within us is limitless and largely untapped...when you think of limits, you create them.  

~Kriegel & Patler

YOU Matter!!

How's That Title Working For You?

Are you pursuing titles or growth?

Titles are neither good or bad, they are just .... titles.

What are you doing to measure up to the leader that the title represents?

When the title becomes more important than your personal and professional growth, your team will soon determine that you are a poser.  A title of "manager" doesn't make you a leader any more than standing in a garage holding a Mercedes emblem makes you a car.

Pursue titles and miss great growth opportunities.

Pursue growth and your influence will far surpass any title.

YOU Matter!!

You Can Not Excuse Your Way to Success

If you really want to do something, you'll find a way. 

If you don't, you'll find an excuse. 

~Jim Rohn

If you truly want to accomplish anything in this life, you need to understand the answers to these three questions:

WHO is responsible for your results?
WHAT is the primary cause of your results?
HOW can you change your results?

I will explore these three questions in detail in future blogposts and video blogs, but here's a summary. If you will take a moment and really explore these questions deeply, it can literally change your life. Sadly, many will just move on to something new and shiny.

WHO is responsible for your results?

You don't need to look any farther than your bathroom mirror to find the one person who is responsible for your results.  You and you alone are responsible for the results that you are getting.  You have choice in everything you do.  I know what you are thinking, "But my boss.....but my job.....but my spouse......but my _________"

Accepting responsibility for your own life and choices is the critical first step to changing course. Responsibility is one of the many leadership traits becoming harder and harder to find today.

WHAT is primary cause of your results?

Circumstances?  Environment?  Economy?  Co-workers?  Customers?  Spouse?  Friends?  Luck?

You will never find the cause of your results by looking outside yourself.  

The answer is only found inside.  

In The Strangest Secret, Earl Nightingale says, "Here's the key to success and the key to failure.  We become what we think about."

What are you thinking?  Your thinking is the primary cause of your results.
(I will stop here with this question as I do a whole workshop on this one question)

HOW can you change your results?

This is the easiest question to answer, but the most difficult to do.

When you fully understand and grasp the first two questions, then the answer to this one is obvious.  If YOU are responsible for your results and your thinking is the root cause, then changing your thinking will ultimately change your results.

You must think into your results.  
Thinking affects attitude.
Thinking and attitude, determine actions.
Actions produce results.

Oversimplified, but still very true.  I will dive deeper on these subjects in future posts.

But, if you read this far, you can do this!  Think into your results.

YOU Matter!!

Do You See Impossibilities or Opportunities?

We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations. ~Chuck Swindoll 

Average sees impossibilities.  Great sees opportunities.

Average looks for the excuse.  Great looks for the reason.

Average embraces fear of failure.  Great embraces desire to succeed.

Average is..... well, average.   Great is....GREAT.

As you face "impossible" or challenging situations, dig deep for the opportunities that are just waiting to be discovered. You've got this!!

YOU Matter!!

Are You Dreaming or Fearing?

I have had dreams and I have had nightmares, 

but I have conquered my nightmares 

because of my dreams. 

~Jonas Salk.

Are your dreams bigger than your fears?

Fears are the weeds that grow around dreams when WE stop growing.

What is ONE thing you can focus on today to stretch yourself?
- Go deeper in a conversation?
- Be mindful of your thinking and modify accordingly?
- LISTEN more actively?
- Share your idea in a meeting?
- GIVE?
- Just one thing that applies to you that will move you forward.

YOU Matter!!

RISE

When a kite flies, it rises AGAINST the wind, not with the wind.

This week may bring some strong winds in an attempt to challenge you and knock you down. Set your intention now on what you need to accomplish this week and commit to RISE when the wind blows.

You've got this!!

YOU Matter!!

Start Digging!

Dig your well before you need the water.
~Jim Dornan

What "wells" do you need to dig today?
- Cultivating relationships?
- Personal and professional growth?
- Proper choices?
- Prayer?

Reflect and make your own list before you begin your day.

Then start digging!

YOU Matter!!

Are You Motivated?

People often say that motivation doesn’t last. 

Well, neither does bathing. 

That’s why we recommend it daily. 

~Zig Ziglar 

What motivates you? 

Even more important why does that motivate you?

Worth exploring and getting intentional about it.

YOU Matter!!

Don't Quit On YOU!

Age wrinkles the body. 

Quitting wrinkles the soul. 

~General Douglas MacArthur

We must continuously evaluate and quit activities or relationships that are not conducive to our growth. 

You can CHOOSE to get up and start again.

You can CHOOSE to change direction.

You can CHOOSE to build deeper relationships.

You can CHOOSE to pray.

You can CHOOSE to grow!!

You must NEVER EVER CHOOSE TO QUIT ON YOU!!

YOU Matter!!

Are You On Fire?

It is the live coal that kindles others, not the dead.

~Orison Swett Marden

It has been said that most people die at age 25, 

but are not buried until they are 70+ years in age.

Are you alive? 

Are you a catalyst for positive growth in others?

Do you inspire others to be better?

Do you end the day exhausted, but fulfilled?

As you answer yes or no to each of these questions, then ask "Why or why not?" 

Let that answer speak to you.

YOU Matter!!

Be Interested!

You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.

~Dale Carnegie

Be INTERESTED 

rather than trying to be INTERESTING today.

How can you be interested in others? Ask questions.

Ask for opinions.

Ask about hobbies.

Ask what they are reading? 

What have you learned? 

What has been your biggest win in the past week, month?

What has been your biggest challenge?

What are a couple of things on your bucket list?

So, here's the deal. There are millions of questions that will come to mind if you are truly interested. Do NOT ask a question if you really have no interest in their answer. If you do so, you are only trying to be manipulative and a poser.

Today…..be authentically interested in others!

YOU Matter!!