There are trials that we get through and then there are times that we flat out fail.
Some of the failures are of our own doing and some are out of our control and just happen.
No matter what circumstances cause you to fail it is always an opportunity to grow, to change and to become better because of it.
If we are able to do that then is it really failure? No. We can, check that, WE WILL be better because of it and as we look back we can be thankful for it.
“Failure is never fatal. But failure to change can and might be.” –John Wooden
Don’t fear failure. It never has to define you. How you use it and grow from it is what will define you.
As we grow and become better we will be thankful as well.
Thanksgiving week. A week to take some time to reflect and rejoice in all that you have and all that you have experienced.
Let’s also take some time together to look briefly at some things in our leadership and personal journey that can all be used to help us grow and become better.
Today, be thankful for the trials. They are never fun to go through and deal with but trials are a part of life and can be used to make us stronger, wiser, and better.
I also believe that the trials we go through, as a leader and as a person, are preparing us to help someone else through the same thing down the road. The trials that we go through can all be used for good if we will let them.
Learn from your trials and then be alert to the opportunities where your experiences can be used to help someone else through the trials they are going through.
Good times and bad times…All meant for your good and to be used to help someone else.
Benjamin Disraeli served as the Prime Minister of Great Britain and is credited with the quote “Never complain, never explain.” Who really wants to follow that advice? Step right up. But here’s why it makes sense.
Never Complain – the burden of leadership can be heavy. Decisions, people, change and demands can bear down on us.
What good does complaining do about it? Some may say that it just feels good, but does it help to solve the problem? No, it does not. Complaining just delays the fact that we need to work on solutions.
Never Explain – Should you be open to discussion? Yes. What this means is that there is no time or place for making excuses for your decisions.
Take responsibility for your decisions, don’t offer constant excuses. Oftentimes, silence is golden.
As a leader you have enough to do. Don’t compound your problems by complaining and over explaining.
Caution: Long Post Alert. But the story has to be told too.
This story starts a week ago at a funeral. As I walked into the church my best friend from high school walked in right behind me. He was a year older than I was and his wife is in the same class as my wife Deb.
How good of a friend? We even had t-shirts made for our singing duo as Flash and The Kid. We joked that those t-shirts would not fit us now.
Anyway, I had not seen him for quite some time so after hugs and some conversation we went on our way into the funeral and through the rest of the day.
How many times do you say “we need to get together” or “let’s stay in touch?”. I’ve said it plenty but have been more determined to follow through lately.
Later in the week we had an opportunity to get tickets to a Saturday show at a music venue in my hometown, which is two hours away. We took advantage of the tickets and invited my old friend and his wife to join us.
In addition, the venue is owned by a former classmate of mine who is doing great things revitalizing the downtown of my hometown. I got to see him, get the grand tour, and also got to visit with another classmate who had lost his wife, who was also a classmate, to cancer recently. We had a terrific night.
There were many reasons why we shouldn’t have have done that on Saturday night.
*It would be a late night. *We could try to schedule something else more convenient. *I will miss the end of the Hawkeye game. *We needed to get up early for church on Sunday. *We had another concert (Joe Bonamassa) to go to on Sunday night. *It would just be easier to stay home.
There were less reasons to go but they were the most important.
**People and the opportunity for a moment, which turn into multiple moments.**
How many times do you think about the many reasons why you shouldn’t, instead of the one or two reasons why you should?
The opportunity for moments come and go and once they are gone they will not return. I want to encourage you to step into your moments. Take advantage of them.
Don’t let the “should not” keep you from the “should.” Your opportunity should take precedence over other reasons or excuses. I certainly did not regret saying “we should.”
Made For This Moment 