In its most simple translation, leadership is influence. We earn trust and respect, and others value our words and actions. However, when we make risky choices for our benefit — as opposed to that of the greater good — we risk everything if exposed. Now don’t get me wrong; there will be those who may not be aware of what is happening, but in that case, you are being deceiving. However, it is those who have come to respect you as a person and a leader that are most affected. They know the “true you” and watch a situation unfold and see the forest through the trees.

Your integrity and character are built over years of establishing your core values and non-negotiables. Those values are a result of your upbringing, experience, wisdom, influence, mentorship and education over time. Once you understand the importance of what your desire your character to be, you create your non-negotiables — those specific value traits that under no circumstance would you be willing to jeopardize.

You may have a core value of integrity, but through experience and wisdom, you focus on the traits that make up your version of your character; those things that that make up our individual values. For example, integrity to me includes honesty and fairness. But when I put it under a microscope, I add gratitude; not allowing my ego to be the enemy, and not to deceive others. That is where I draw the line with my non-negotiables.

I was taught that our core values serve as a moral compass throughout our life. With strong core values comes a disciplined charted course of personal success. Even if we sway off a bit, our moral compass will pull us back and navigate us toward our goals and personal fulfillment. I look at a moral compass the same as a directional compass. All it takes is for the calibration to be inaccurate for you to go astray to the point that you can’t find the path you began with.

But be careful with falling into a routine and not adapting to change. Once we get comfortable on our our path, a step off course may seem acceptable. However, the more steps you take in the wrong direction, the more you lose focus on your purpose, and you risk compromising the investment you have made in becoming the best version of yourself. You may spend years building your reputation, but it takes far less time to wipe it out than it does to construct it. How strong is your mindset to recognize “the grey,” that area that you need to be most self-aware when making a decision. Are you confident enough in yourself to make the unpopular decision based on your values and non-negotiables? Do you believe in the legacy you want to leave behind? Sometimes it’s lonely standing up for what you know is right, but in the end, it is what distinguishes those who truly have the courage to lead.

Those who just accept their decisions rather than think them through may defend their actions in front of others, but question themselves alone. That is a signal that they are straying off course. That is a cue to become more self-aware and talk to your inner circle — those people who can identify blind spots in your journey and help you discover the true answer. It takes a tremendous amount of humility to be honest with ourselves. We must abandon our ego and personal gain to see the process in a clear perspective. But the reward of that process is true growth and character. To say, “I erred in judgement,” overshadows any previous action or words spoken prior. It influences those who follow your example to know that we all make bad decisions at times, but it is how quickly we can recognize the act and correct our course.

Is your moral compass aligned with the journey you have committed to, or does it need to be recalibrated? All of us need an adjustment from time to time. That’s the beauty of life — we grow one step at a time.

Go do great things today and make a difference.

Most things can be simple; however, we sometimes over-complicate them. It’s human nature to overthink situations to convince ourselves that the outcome will be perfect. The time we invest questioning every scenario when we know that our initial gut feeling is the one to go with, can be maddening. Even with things that are inevitable, we tend to waste time questioning it instead of just moving on.

What if we break it down change into its most basic form? The simplification looks like this:

Believe it or not, this can be the most challenging part of putting an action plan together to push forward and create a breakthrough. For the most part, filling in that first line regarding change is not that complicated. We know what needs to change, but what is critical here is to ensure that the specific change, in the present state we are in, is as specific as possible. Too broad and you risk not meeting your goal.

What we want to accomplish will require thought, reasoning, and reality.  Let’s break that down:

Thought: If we commit to change, we have to identify the specific change we expect to occur. This outcome becomes the piece that we are accountable and responsible for. The more time we dedicate to thinking this through, the more efficient and effective our plan of action can be.

Reasoning: With a solid desired change, dedicated thought to our plan, we begin to chart our course with an evaluation of the reasoning toward our goals. This is otherwise known as “the process”. Begin to visualize the direction required and work toward identifying the barriers you may encounter.

Reality: The desired outcome needs to be realistic, while at the same time challenging, in order to achieve growth and reach your goals. If your desired outcome is too much of a stretch goal, you are setting yourself up for failure. By creating a reality that pushes us outside our comfort zone, we appreciate the process even more so.

Too simple, won’t work, right?

Here is an example:

• What is causing me to be disorganized?
• Do I have control over it?
• What is not working?
• What could I change about myself?

We don’t need pages of notes and analytics to support our goals in every situation. By applying simplification to create a base for the decisions that you make, you will be able to allocate that time for the more critical decisions in your life which require more research and evaluation.

Go do great things today and make a difference.

“Some can, some can’t.”

— Ahmad Rashad, sportscaster, speaking to Michael Jordon before the 1997 Finals
Excerpt from Episode #9 of the ESPN Documentary, “The Last Dance”

I love my San Antonio Spurs, but watching Michael Jordan be drafted from North Carolina to the Chicago made me a Bulls fan. I was a fan of North Carolina, but then again, who wasn’t? The Tarheels played a different kind of basketball, standing out from the rest by their attention to detail and discipline, and Jordan fit that system perfectly. He was a Bull from 1984, until his last championship in 2003, and there wasn’t a better professional sports franchise to that point in time. That team escalated the NBA to new heights.

Due to the pandemic of COVID-19, a multi-part docuseries was released early by ESPN in mid-April, which soon became on the most viewed documentaries ever. It was a series about Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls during his last season called The Last Dance, which gave unprecedented access to a camera crew to follow Michael and the Bulls in what would end a dynasty for Chicago. Millions were glued to their televisions. With no sports being played, no need to switch channels to check scores of other games, MJ had an exclusive.

I want to focus on a line that Ahmad Rashad, a close friend of Jordan’s, as well as an NBA analyst, uttered prior to a finals game against the Utah Jazz. In a room with Jordan and his personal security staff, Rashad told Michael, “Some can, some can’t.”

If you were casually watching, you may have missed it. However, those four words absolutely define the epitome of Michael Jordan. He was on the “CAN” side of that quote — and not may CAN do what he did. His approach as an athlete would eclipse the way any sports psychologist could teach “mindset.” The man was in a class of his own.

To be a champion requires an incredible amount of focus and investment into your craft. Imagine playing on average, 39 minutes a game of a brutal 82 game season. Players don’t do that anymore. Maybe it’s because they’re smarter and are working toward having longer careers, but remember, Jordan played 15 seasons, with a Minor League Baseball season thrown in there as well (1993-1994).

Jordan had visualized every situation of the game, be it his position, as well as the other four on the court. Not only had prepared himself through outrageous skill training, but his mental game was levels above what would be considered a great athlete in any sport. When Ahmad Rashad said, “Some can, some can’t,” he was referring to the pressure that is attached to the finals. In other words, some can step up, and others can’t.

That was the competitive edge that Jordan had on any opponent. He didn’t need to be told to step up his game. In fact, he would find things, some not even worthy of affecting most, just to push him. For example, following a win against the Bulls, LaBradford Smith from the then Washington Bullets, walked over to Jordan and said, “good game.”  Jordan’s Bulls had just lost, and this player that nobody knew just had a career night.  Jordan took it personally, and the next night, playing those same Bullets in Chicago, Jordan lit Smith up. His motivation?  “Good game…”

At the professional level today, athletes that have tremendous skills obviously stand out. But the fact is, only the elite of the elite make those rosters. I firmly believe it is a combination of the intangibles that take an athlete from good to great, and mindset is at the top of my list. When you have the ability to become so finite in your approach, and play in the moment with a Plan A, B or C for every diagrammed play, you gain a tremendous competitive advantage. You become a player that CAN. Those that don’t have the patience, trust in the process, or will power to push themselves, become the CAN’T.

This is one of the most intriguing quotes that captured the essence and mindset of the champion Michael Jordan was:

Go do great things today and make a difference.

Not just the class of 2020, but the class act of 2020 . . .

“To be alive at all is to have scars.”

— John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent

Whenever I hear the line, “How much does a dream cost?”, it takes me back to high school English class and reading the classic, Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck. As George and Lennie pool their money to buy a ten-acre farm in California, they realize that without each other, this dream wouldn’t be possible. Steinbeck hits on themes of support, friendship as a bond, and how lucky we are as individuals to have people who believe in our dreams, because the world can be a lonely place.

Then comes the classic line, “The only story that really matters is the one about you.” This phrase sums up the importance of taking ownership of your own story. It is also about finding people to be part of your inner circle who believe in your enthusiasm and passion in making an opportunity a reality. All of us need support when we’re moving from good to great.

Each of us should always be setting specific goals to continue our growth and fulfillment. Each day, we should be striving to grow in at least one aspect of our lives. Growth is not just for the young; it is for each and every person who is willing to continue dreaming. The dilemma is that as we get older, we begin to settle into our comfort zone and either slow our pace of growth, or even worse, stand content in where we are. As the saying goes, if you’re not living, then you’re dying. If you’re living your best life, you’re dreaming, learning, and growing, and that’s great definition of fulfillment.

The truth is, setting goals can be the single most important factor in how far we will advance. It is through the process of reaching our dreams that we feel the sense of achievement, skill development, direction, and focus. Those goals need to be challenging, but realistic. Create targets along the journey to conduct self-awareness assessments where you can be vulnerable and honest with yourself.

However, we cannot accomplish our dreams alone. We need a support system for encouragement, advice, honesty, and accountability. Our inner-circle becomes our life-line. Too often, we will fill that circle with unnecessary people who provide negativity, drama, excuses and blame. The weight of their negativity becomes too much to carry. Drop the negativity. Drop the people that bring you down.

Let go of those people in your life and construct an inner circle of like-minded, ambitious people whose oxygen is chasing greatness. Those people will also become your strength when you feel weak, your thoughts when you feel trapped in a corner, and your biggest fans when it is time to celebrate an achievement. If we want to overcome challenges, we must have the courage and vulnerability to ask for help.

Let’s return to the original question posed in the title, “How much does a dream cost?”

The simple answer is that dreams don’t cost a dime, but they demand their due. Once you commit to a dream and establish your goals, the following is the price you’ll pay:

And one last thing.

AN INNER CIRCLE OF LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE

Be courageous, chase greatness in small ways every day and move closer toward your dreams.

You’re worth it.

Go do great things today and make a difference.

The odds are that an experienced leader will face a crisis at some point, especially during these times of a 24-hour news cycle and social media posts that can take an issue from a minor problem to a catastrophe in no time. Crisis management means dealing with what could become a major situation before it occurs. It requires specific skills to identify, assess, understand, and cope with a serious situation.

At that point, developing a set of procedures, roles, responsibilities and communication needs to be in motion. Indecisiveness can expose weaknesses, which is why it is so important to prepare for all scenarios. Crisis management requires a prepared team, but more importantly, a skilled leader to navigate.

Five ways to lead during a crisis:

1. Reinvent Yourself

Based on the situation, you may need to change your leadership style to adapt to the specific needs required. This calls for flexibility and being willing to make tough choices while on the clock. It also requires a sense of vulnerability and making people feel safe. For some leaders, this will mean expanding beyond your typical comfort zone.

2. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate

The most successful leaders understand how critical communication can be, especially in a time of crisis. By being transparent and truthful in your briefings, the result is earned trust and respect. Your goal is to gain a connection with those you lead and value them beyond their abilities.

3. Model the Character You Expect From Others

It’s about the three C’s – keep calm, cool, and collected. As a leader, you’re always on stage, which means that your words and body language will set the example for others to follow. Show confidence, perseverance, and patience. Also, be authentic.

4. Leverage Your Team

You have assembled a group of independent thinkers, who each bring unique talents to the table, so take advantage of the strength in numbers. This is the time to tap into your team’s creativity and innovation to make impactful decisions. Empower them to think outside the box and be unafraid to fail. Strong teams welcome the demands of a crisis and thrive in the success of the challenge.

5. Stay Educated

In times of crisis, things change by the minute. As a leader, it is your obligation to stay up-to-date by utilizing all the resources you have to ensure that the business plan you are working from is realistic in the most current environment. Be sure to monitor respected news sources and reliable contacts — don’t act as a result of speculation when you have the chance to be proactive based on the facts.

A crisis can strike at any time, which is why advanced planning is the key to successful outcomes. Don’t be unprepared or think it won’t happen to you. The benefit is once you have gone through a crisis and have documented your plan, you have a template moving forward.

Crisis does not build character — it reveals it. What will your character reveal?

Go do great things today and make a difference.

For the first time since the days that followed the horrific tragedy on September 11, 2001, I feel as if life has offered each of us a “pause” button to stop and reflect. For the past two decades, the busyness and stress of life had become routine, almost habitual. Excuses such as, “I’m too busy,” “I just can’t find the time,” “I feel like I can never catch up,” have become socially acceptable and shared by so many.

Enter COVID-19.

On a different continent and over 7,000 miles away, we learned of the coronavirus as it unfolded in China. Each passing day in January, the story became more serious.The daily influx of active cases became frightening, and the discussion became one of, “what if?” The warnings began to surface that this could become a situation that the entire world would have to deal with.

January 20, 2020. The first confirmed case of 2019-nCoV infection is announced in the United States. For weeks, many did their best to downplay the situation by comparing it to the common flu. It was based on a lack of education and facts associated with the long-term outlook for a very contagious virus that we had never seen before. For a month, people complained of the inconveniences placed upon us: events cancelled, meetings postponed, and concern for travel. Then came the closures of the schools.  Wait – wasn’t this just another version of the flu? Were we overreacting? The entire world was struggling to find answers, and then the following hit the news outlets:

On March 11, the COVID-19 outbreak was characterized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization, caused by the emergence of a new coronavirus. In the past century, there have been four pandemics caused by the emergence of novel influenza viruses, 1918’s H1N1 virus, 1957-58’s H2N2 virus, 1968’s H3B2 virus, and the 2009 H1N1pdm09 virus.

It was time to get serious and think about the ramifications. This was not going to just “go away”; we were in for a fight. At that point, businesses were put into two categories: essential and non-essential. People would be furloughed or laid off as their workplaces were ordered to close their doors, grocery stores couldn’t keep their shelves stocked, and hospitals became swamped with people who had symptoms and could no longer breathe on their own.

The pause button was pressed. The world changed.

Rather than tune into the 24/7 news cycle that causes fear, I directed my attention toward opportunity and improvement. I’d like to encourage you to take  full advantage of this “pause” to become more self-aware and reflect on where you are in your life today, as well.

During the downtime, ask yourself some questions: Are you the person you envisioned 10 years ago? What about five years ago? What about a year ago? Are your core values and non-negotiables still the same? Do you operate off a set of principles that you refuse to sacrifice? Are you generous with your time? Do you still have gratitude in your heart?

The first step in getting what you want out of life is to have the courage to get rid of what you DON’T want in your life.  Here is an exercise that can help you with self-reflection:

Get out a piece of paper and draw two lines down the paper splitting it into thirds. In the first column, write “Limitations”, in the center write “Opportunities”, and in the third column, write “Improvements”. Really take some quiet time to be vulnerable and honest with yourself as you do this exercise.

Let’s start with the obvious: Limitations. Based on the current circumstances, what things can you no longer do based on the limitations that have been placed upon you? Also list things that are barriers based on other aspects of  your life besides the pandemic.

The column of Opportunities will take time and creative thinking. For each item in the Limitations list, take the time to discover where you might find an opportunity (or that silver lining) now that your life on pause. Are you a non-essential business? Are you working from home or passing the time until you can work again? If you have customers or clients, find opportunities to stay top-of-mind with them. Send personal letters of thanks for their past support, encouragement, or creative ideas to help them keep their business afloat despite the pandemic.

You can review your business plan, mission statement, vision, and goals to make the tough changes and adjustments now so you have a clear look at the rest of the year. What things have you put off? That stack of personal development books you’ve been meaning to read? What are things you can do right now to have an edge against your competitors when life “gets back to normal” — whatever that might look like?

In the third column, “Improvements”. Use positivity to ask yourself what has gotten better or easier recently? How can you cultivate more of that and make it part of your routine? Maybe you have discovered balance, or what makes you happy, a new hobby, or maybe you’ve been recharged with creativity and ideas to come back stronger than ever. You can also use this area to gather your thoughts on how to handle a crisis moving forward.

Above all else, please don’t isolate yourself and allow the voices of negativity and panic to take over. You may have zero control over many limitations in your life right now, but you do have control over how you react to the limitations. Be vigilant, be responsible, focus on being a part of the solution and not the problem. There are always people who have it worse than you, so discover gratitude and help others during this time of stress and uncertainty. Look within and recognize those around you who need you. Make that your priority for now: finding peace in the chaos, whether it’s in your job, your home, your family, or your friends. Reach out and connect.

While you’re at it, make a list of all the things you took for granted before the pandemic. Later, you can pull it out and your heart should be flooded with gratitude for all those little things you couldn’t do or have. Life is too short; make the most of it while you’re here. Don’t waste this opportunity — hopefully we won’t have another one like it for a very long time.

Go do great things today and make a difference.

Note:  Following the completion of this blog, the NCAA suspended all spring sports as a result of the global pandemic, COVID-19. Be sure to read the end of this post and see how true champions lead in adversity.  

“THE BAMA WAY”

That moment is here,

The time is now,

We must pay for it with blood and tears

And the sweat from our brow,

But we don’t complain, we just lift and we flow,

It’s the price of winning and we will leave no doubt.

I will give my team the best of me,

Making sure that a strong man is standing next to me,

Tradition says that greatness is our destiny,

But it takes hard work to rebuild a legacy.

We never worry about tomorrow

We just focus on today,

Making progress is part of the process

For our better play.

Our pursuit started at the boots and now we regroup

As one team, one school, a family with one dream.

To climb to the top and three to remain by doing things the ‘Bama way!

— Written by former Alabama football captain, Todd Bates, to inspire the football team

In 2010, when both of my daughters were just discovering their passion for softball, we were asked to join some friends on a visit to the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.Not only did we get to watch some softball, but we also attended a reunion of the gymnastics team that our friend competed with when they won the National Championship in 1988. It was an incredible weekend of touring the campus, stadiums, watching softball and attending my first gymnastics meet with 14,000 of my closest friends. After that trip, the University of Alabama became one of my favorite places to attend sporting events.

From softball to football, gymnastics to baseball, basketball to soccer, as long as they weren’t playing against Texas A&M (Class of ’91), I would root for the Crimson Tide. In the past 10 years, I have been so blessed to cross paths with some amazing people who have become dear friends over the years. One in particular, head softball coach Patrick Murphy — who is not only a friend, but a trusted mentor.

In the world of college softball, Alabama is a powerhouse under the leadership of Coach Murphy. A 2012 National Championship, twelve Women’s College World Series berths, five SEC regular season titles, six SEC Tournament titles and 21-straight NCAA Tournament bids are only a few of the team honors that Murphy has brought to Tuscaloosa during his tenure. Since the inception of Charge Up, I have had the honor and privilege to speak to Murph’s softball team more than once.

It’s easy to understand why I consider Murph a mentor. I am able to observe his demeanor, both on and off the field, and witness his ability to connect with his student-athletes. When I am around him, all I want to do is listen and learn.

Murph has an incredible gift of earning trust, being authentic, and getting to know you as a person. It also says a lot about this man’s character when the past players continue coming back for alumni weekends. The bonds came from the family atmosphere that Murph creates.

Players still talk about a concept introduced at the beginning of a season years ago that ended up becoming a buzz word all over sports. The theme that year was “Mudita”. Mudita is a Buddhist worst that translates to “a pure joy unadulterated by self-interest”. It is the pleasure that comes from delighting in other people’s well-being. When we are happy for the joy other beings feel, it is called mudita. (The opposite word is invidia, which translates to “envy.”)

At a conference I recently spoke at with Coach Murphy, the example he provided painted the perfect picture. He said that, “If a fan were to walk into Rhoads Stadium late, and a homerun was just hit, as they watched the celebration at home plate, they wouldn’t know who hit the home run. It’s a shared joy in accomplishment and success.”

What started as a theme for a season has become the foundation of a culture for this program. Its legacy has been built on the collective success, not just the All-Americans and other award winners. Every player has a role, and knows she is a crucial piece to the unique success that each team has —which is why Murph numbers his teams. e was an assistant for the first two years of his tenure, and a head coach for the past twenty-two, but this year’s team is simply referred to as “Team 24”. It is a way to respect the personality and authenticity of a team. When reminiscing, you will hear people talk about “Team 19,” or “Team 5,” and if you are a true fan of the crimson and white, you will know exactly what they are talking about.

It’s easy to get lost in the simplicity of Mudita. The first time I heard about it, I thought, “How can it be that difficult to implement in sports, families, or even as a leader at work?” Over the years, I have had the privilege to observe the growth and attention to detail that Murph applies to ensure each team stays the course and makes the message a way of life. In other words, celebrating the success of those around you becomes a habit. For Alabama, it is the difference between being a good team, and a great team.

If you push Murph to give you more details about it, he will just smile in his usual manner, turn his head, adjust his hat. And without you even realizing it, he will change the subject.

You see, some things are only talked about with family.

Note:  Following the completion of this blog, the NCAA suspended all spring sports as a result of the global pandemic, COVID-19. The softball season for the Tide officially ended on Thursday, March 12^th. Coaches, players and staff were devastated by the event because it came with no warning; most learned the news through social media. 

At that time, it meant that seniors had played their last game without ever knowing it. It was a whirlwind of events and emotions for all NCAA spring sports across the nation. After the initial shock set in, and these programs were able to meet and discuss the events, most everyone were able to understand the bigger picture and focus on what needed to be done in a timely manner — in an effort to contribute toward an initiative to slow the spread of the virus.

How did Coach Murphy handle it? He talked about having a growth mindset and understanding that things happen beyond our control every day. It’s how we handle them that define our character and integrity. He also reminded them of the family they were a part of.  f mudita meant to share in the celebration of one’s success, it also meant to share in the sadness and disappointment of one’s adversity. And with that, the team parted ways knowing that there is nothing better than having the support and love of family. 

Roll Tide, and Roll Team #24.

Why do we insist on making life so difficult? We waste so much time regretting yesterday and worrying about tomorrow that we fail to live in the moment. We complain about what we don’t have, we compare ourselves to others, and we regret not taking action when we should have. All of these are controllable actions — and you either need to act upon them or let them go. Start approaching life with the mindset of, “make the best of the present moment.”

BE. HERE. NOW.

Time is the most precious gift we are given, yet we make conscious choices every day to focus on what “could be” as opposed to “what is.” None of us know when that last grain of sand will fall to the bottom of the hourglass. Being present consists of an uninhibited focus on what we have in the here and now, and it also creates an emotion that is the foundation to living a fulfilled life:

GRATITUDE

Experiencing sincere gratitude “in the moment” will alter your attitude toward positivity, not only in the “now,” but for the future. It is a shift of mindset that allows you to be selfless, humble and authentic. You begin to connect with people better. Your approach toward adversity doesn’t begin with the thought of, “why did this happen?” but rather, “how can I fix it?” The more you do this, the more you will develop a clear lens of perspective that you may have lacked. All of this is made possible through gratitude.

IMAGINE TAKING THIS APPROACH AS A LEADER

Effective leaders don’t take a minute for granted because they operate off the basis that the only control they have lies within the current circumstances. Of course, they visualize about the future and reflect about the past, but they know the present is critical. What are the strengths of the team? Where does the competitive edge lie? What will innovation require? Where can the breakthroughs begin? What will success look like?

One way to start living in the moment is to become more self-aware. Have a clear perception of who you are – your strengths, weaknesses, values, emotions, etc. Self-awareness also requires you to understand others without judgement, in the moment. If you can create a habit that focuses on an honest assessment of where you are in life, you begin to take stock in what really is important. Do this long enough and the value of the present becomes second nature.

Another way is to never stop building upon your integrity. When you have a solid foundation of morals and principles, you are keener to your behaviors. In other words, you recognize that every day is a new day, filled with possibilities to make an impact and be a positive force.

Control the controllables, and if you are carrying the burden of trying to control things that are outside of your control, let them go. It isn’t easy, in fact, it will require tremendous discipline and selflessness to achieve it. However, the rewards far outweigh the efforts. Don’t waste your whole life waiting to start living the life you were meant to live. Change your thought process to start living in the moment.

Not tomorrow.  Not yesterday.  Just today.

Go do great things today and make a difference.

Remember when patience was a virtue? 

Patience is no longer a behavior showing high moral standards, but rather, it has become a struggle to instill this lost trait into people who want it all — and want it now. In an age of instant gratification, people are falling prey to snake oil salesman promising them overnight success.

The self-improvement industry is now a $10 billion niche. Through audiobooks, infomercials, self-improvement books, self-improvement apps, personal coaching, motivational speakers, and certification courses, Americans are looking for the opportunity to grow their skills and improve their advantage. If this continues, this new generation of leaders will be more prepared than ever to make an impact.

However, all it takes is a few minutes scrolling through social media to see that a minority have chosen to exploit people. Witness the “get rich quick” videos that promote a 24-7-365 lifestyle that results in Lamborghinis, private jets and mansions with ocean views. All you need to do is enroll in their program, sign all the legal paperwork, and trust the young entrepreneur with the $20,000 watch, big smile and testimonials from all his friends who are in their 20’s and have gained membership into the top 1% of richest people in America.

The path of patience, however, is a result of a few critical ingredients: experience, wisdom, and failure. The stepping stones to success lie within the adversity we face. To fail is to learn. Innovation and breakthrough include trial and error — and that journey requires time and patience. The gifts that come out of that investment are wisdom and experience.

When you have the opportunity to grow and see the results of each step you take toward your goals, you learn to appreciate planning and patience.

Life happens in the small moments.

Learning to live in the moment and not be so obsessed with outcomes is key to fulfillment. It’s about trusting the process. It’s been said numerous times — nobody gets dropped off at the top of the mountain; they have to make the journey step by step. Discover the joy in the actual journey. Embrace every emotion along the way because you will face adversity, criticism, negativity, and setbacks. But you will also experience the highest of highs with your accomplishments and those who believe in you.

Being a true Texan, let me provide you the best example of the rewards of patience. Would you put a brisket in the microwave, or choose to put it on a smoker for 5-6 hours? I’ve cooked enough briskets in my lifetime to tell you there is nothing better than the wait, knowing that the effort you’re investing will be worth every minute when you pull that brisket off the pit.

The challenges of impatience have been around forever. When you commit to hard work and perseverance, patience will pay off, and you will live a more fulfilled life based on high moral excellence. If shortcuts worked, everyone would take them.

Stay patient, stay positive and work hard.

Go do great things today and make a difference.

To lead the way, you have to set the example. An effective leader is a trusted leader. It is a person who values the importance of transparency and is willing to make the investment in treating others with respect and trust. Honesty is the core of leadership — and without that integrity, you will not last long. What used to be a valued characteristic is now something that leaders struggle with.

How did this epidemic sneak up on us?

It happened because of the tremendous pressure we continue to put on leaders to accomplish their objectives, at any or all costs. The burdens are felt at every level of management, and as the saying goes, “shit rolls downhill.” We work incredibly hard to be innovative in creating a vision and mission that gains buy-in from the employees. However, increasing revenue and productivity goals are not enough. We now live in an era of establishing stretch goals to meet the expectations of shareholders, only to have to make adjustments mid-year when we don’t trend toward those promises.

Now, we are forced to work harder with less. Budgets are cut, hiring freezes are enacted, and quotas are increased. The target is now drilled in and expected to be achieved at all costs. It’s those three words that can change the core of an effective leader into becoming one who is now concerned about the security of their own job.

At. All. Costs.

In a survey of over 100,000 people, Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner, authors of the book, The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations, found that the most valued leadership quality by far is honesty, at 89%. You can risk losing everything simply by sacrificing your integrity to achieve your individual goals.

You cannot expect loyalty when you don’t provide honesty.

However, place value in your honesty as a leader, and you have the tremendous opportunity to gain a workforce who becomes more satisfied in their job, less likely to complain, and willing to go above and beyond to exceed expectations based on the pride they take in their role. All it requires is a deliberate attempt to be transparent, even if it means you have to share the good, the bad and the ugly. If those you lead understand the playing field and the adversity they can anticipate, nobody is caught off guard when times get tough.

The ability for a leader to be trustworthy can be inspiring. If the goal of a leader is to create more leaders, take ownership in setting the example of reinforcing the core characteristics that make a successful leader: trust, integrity, empathy and connection. You have the power to contribute to the movement of change simply by being you. Will you be tested? Absolutely. Every day. But when you aren’t a sellout, integrity becomes a habit.

It all starts with being honest with yourself. Being self-aware and not willing to jeopardize your core values for anything or anybody. It is having a set of non-negotiables when it comes to your character that are not up for discussion. Honesty with ourselves and with others is the keystone to living a fulfilled life.

Your example will always define your leadership.

Go do great things today and make a difference!

Wouldn’t life be more comfortable if we could carry our moral compass with us to check from time to time?  Better yet, why not a “moral compass app” on our phones that could provide us with instant feedback about our decisions, thoughts, path, effort, relationships, and self-awareness.

Imagine how much better the world would be if we were held accountable for our actions.

When I define what a moral compass is, I use a simple description: Knowing the difference between what is right and wrong — and acting accordingly. Some say we aren’t born with a “moral compass”; that it develops over time through experience, observation, people, influencers, success, failure, but most of all, through discovery.

The more years invested, the higher the wisdom, or so one would hope. As parents, we must build, grow, and maintain the moral compass of our children. As educators, coaches, counselors, pastors, family, and friends, we also have the opportunity to solidify one’s moral compass.

It truly takes a village.

Here is the thing though, as we mature, the first part of the definition becomes easier to understand – “knowing the difference between right and wrong.” Our minds can process things at an incredibly fast rate; we know the situation that is right in front of us. However, it’s that second part about “acting accordingly” that becomes a challenge.

Once you process the difference between right and wrong, you may only have a few seconds to react, and if you don’t have a strong foundation to make the right choice, your moral compass will sway off center and you will not act accordingly.

When I talk to groups about making choices, I often relate our moral compass to a compass used on a ship. For that captain, the safety of everyone on that vessel relies upon their expertise and navigation. I relate to the late 1800s when ships would make the trans-Atlantic journey from Europe to the United States. On these steam ships, it could take anywhere from 7-14 days to make a 3,700-mile trip.

If that ship was off by just a single degree, that is the equivalent of 65 nautical miles. Imagine if one degree turned to two, three, four, or even five degrees off course. That’s over 300 miles off course and could mean death for the entire crew. Once you went adrift, there was no technology to locate you. That compass quite literally was life and death.

Let’s go back to our moral compass. Let’s say you make a wrong decision.  Maybe it sways your compass one degree off your path. You make a second faulty decision and add a degree. Another poor choice, another degree. They don’t go away; they add up and can veer you entirely off your course. Remember, even a one-degree shift can make a dramatic difference.

Your moral compass should be something that you can always rely on, but it requires attention. Each day, you invest in its strength, reliability, speed, and impulse through your actions and choices. You must protect your moral compass with everything you have. That moral compass becomes the business card you leave behind because it defines the things that really matter about you: your integrity, character, trust, dignity, respect, empathy, love, gratitude and selflessness. These are the characteristics you want to exude.

Pretty powerful, right?  It absolutely is.

Sometimes, listening to our moral compass means making unpopular decisions that requires a tremendous amount of courage and may result in disagreements.  However, you have to stand your ground and not allow other opinions to determine the direction of your moral compass, nor jeopardize your foundation.  There is a saying that you are the product of the five people you spend the most time with.  You may need to examine that inner circle from time to time because bad company can ruin good morals.

Stay north, be true to your path, and let your sails take you places you never imagined.

Go do great things today and make a difference.

“Millennials don’t just want to read the news anymore. They want to know what they can do about it.

— Ian Somerhalder

We hope you enjoy this guest blog post from our leadership apprentice, Jayden Mount

As of 2018, Millennials are poised to pass Baby Boomers as the largest living generation in the world, and already make up more than 70% of the workplace. Millennials are a generation that has been called lazy, raised with technology that uses social media as a platform for instant gratification, both positively or negatively. And their decisions, opinions, and lifestyles are influencing an entire generation.

With Millennials, the leadership mindset is changing for the better, and they define authentic leadership with these six characteristics:

1. Strategic Thinkers – These types of leaders think critically; they tend to be analytical by seeing the bigger picture and trusting the process.
2. Inspirational – This leader motivates their team through positive influence and a trusting environment. They can shift the mindset regardless of conditions.
3. Interpersonally Skilled – Leaders like this is highly effective at communication, and they know how to create confidence and pride within their team.
4. Visionary – Visionary leaders teach their team how to set realistic goals and reach them — they are especially adept at knowing when to change the path to successfully guide and lead. They also have the skill to visualize and communicate that vision to their team, which is critical to their success.
5. Decisive – Big decisions are sometimes risky but this leader knows how to boost their team in the right way. Through experience, they know what it takes to be successful and they don’t allow the fear of accountability to impede their process.
6. Passionate – Passionate leaders are always there at the right time, pushing their team to the next level, excited with the process, and take pride in guiding their team in the right direction.

Millennials will succeed because of their determination to change the world. Some label them as passive, but Millennials tend to refer to it as grit. It’s that ability to persevere and take on challenges that may seem outside of the box to generations that preceded them. But that is the trait that makes this generation of  innovators motivated to create breakthroughs.

Ironically, those that tend to judge the behaviors of Millennials most are those who raised them. There’s an old saying, “When the son swears, slap the father.” But this generation grew up in a much different environment than any other generation, and their behavior reflects that. What some may see as challenges, they see as opportunities. They ask questions because they want to learn. They seek improvement, and strive to be the best they can. They take pride in commitment and instead of asking “why”, they ask, “why not?”

This is thinking outside of the box, and that tends to scare the status quo. Millennials believe they should seek improvement and avoid the mindset of “this is how it’s always been done”. It’s that creativity and passion that drive this generation to believe they really can make an impact in the world.

Although ambiguous for some to understand, social media has become a voice to connect and understand the world. What some call instant gratification, Millennials think of as immediate feedback. Social media is the new form of communication, and they are the most experienced at using it — but like most things, there are pros and cons associated with it. Their challenge will be to continue learning how to be more constructive, as opposed to destructive in their attempt to communicate.

How many of you have difficulty sleeping because as you lie in bed, it seems that every single thought of what needs to be done tomorrow enters your brain, and you become fixated on it? For most of us, including myself, it has become a routine – and it needs to be broken.

We work all day, spending more time at the office than with our family in most cases. Once home, we convince ourselves that we have balance in our lives by spending time with our families and friends, but the reality is that as long as we have our mobile phone with us, we can never be truly focused enough on one thing to make an impact. The phone is our “Swiss Army Knife”; it can do anything at any time to get us out of a bind.

If you think you have a lot on your mind, though, imagine how much was weighing on the shoulders of one of the eight Founding Fathers who helped draft the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, Benjamin Franklin. Instead of dwelling on what he didn’t do, he had a ritual of concluding each evening with a simple question . . .

I believe there is one type of leadership that encompasses the qualities and traits that serve as the foundation of any effective and efficient leader. Remember, to lead is to influence, create impact, and serve others. It’s not necessarily a singular focus on profitability while ignoring the efforts of those on the front line. I am not a Pollyanna — profitability is vital to the very existence of any business — but have we lost touch with what this generation of aspiring leaders need most?

Connection

The only way to meet that need and be successful in their growth comes from one leadership style.

Servant Leadership

Wait!? Is it really that simple? For close to 250 years, this has been an option to people, but instead, we consciously choose to focus on the projects we didn’t complete, the phone calls we didn’t return, the meetings that had no closure, or the misinterpreted comments we can’t let go of from a co-worker. People have become millionaires selling us journals, project agendas, and success manuals on how to structure our days efficiently and effectively, when all this time, we should have been listening to good old Ben!

You need to have the mindset that every day is an opportunity to start over, start strong, and start fresh. Each morning the sun rises, and you are blessed to live another day. You can make a positive impact through influence, innovation, and breakthroughs. But it takes a routine of seeing your path clearly, and that includes recognizing the good with the bad.

Personally, I have a gratitude list. Some nights it’s on paper, other nights I write notes on my phone, or if I am in bed, I may have to chicken scratch on random note paper. My goal is to identify five things that I am most grateful for that day. The trick is, they can’t be obvious ones, like a roof over my head, the health of my family, or the opportunity to provide. They also can’t be the same every day. I force myself to think much deeper and identify not only the gratitude that others have given to me but things that I have consciously done to influence the lives of others.

I was taught early on that gratitude is outward. In other words, don’t look for things to come your way to be grateful. Instead, be proactive, and work toward making an impact on others for positive change. What people don’t understand is it’s so simple to be kind . . . holding a door for someone, looking a person in the eyes when they speak to you and listening to them instead of just hearing them. Or using phrases like, “please”, “thank you”, “yes sir”, “no ma’am”, acknowledging the success of others before yourself, bringing positive energy into a room, writing a note to somebody who may be having a rough patch in life, or picking up the phone and surprising a friend or family member you haven’t talked to in a while with a call.

If you are looking for a simple, straightforward routine that will make you much more productive and happy the following day, this is an easy routine to get you started. The secret?  Let your own voice be louder than the one in your head and take inventory of what positive impact you made that day. It doesn’t matter if it affected one or many; the little things add up to make extraordinary changes in our lives.

Go do great things today and make a difference.