Follow Your Path

Today I turn 60.  Hard to believe actually but here we are.  As my friend Chuck Offenburger says “every birthday is good news” and I believe that too.  I am grateful.

As I reflected a bit on my journey and the path I took to get to 60 I thought of just a few things I’ve learned.

1.  Family and friends make the day’s better.  Treasure them all.  They are gifts.
2. Moments matter.
3. Laugh.  Love.  Live.
4. Lead yourself.
5. Offer grace more than judgement.
6. Keep trying to be better every day.
7. You don’t fail, you learn.
8. Practice patience.
9. Be humble.
10. Live each day with gratitude.

The path I took to 60 isn’t for everybody and that’s alright.  We all have our own path and we need to embrace it and use it to help others.

Our experiences allow us to help others who may experience some of the same things we have experienced so the path you have been on has been for a reason and not by accident. 

Follow your path.  Use your path.

I’m cheering for you.

#leadership #motivation #coaching
#bebetter #beblessed

Deal Hope

Everyone needs some hope.  Everyone you see, meet, and know.

So what is hope? Hope can be defined as “a feeling that something good will happen or be true.”

As a leader one of the biggest things you can offer and give to those around you is hope. 

How do you connect with people so they believe in you and the hope that you can offer?

1. Believe in who you are and the gifts that you have.
2. Be honest and sincere.
3. Get to know people. Listen.
4. Live what you say.
5. Adjust to what people may need.
6. We over me.
7. Believe in them.  Tell them and then believe some more.
8. Offer a calm and positive direction.

Doing the best that you can with these eight things consistently doesn’t guarantee anything but it does give you a chance.

A chance to offer hope to those that may be willing to let you lead them.

All you want is a chance.

All they need is some hope.
You can offer them that.

I’m cheering for you.

#leadership #motivation #coaching
#bebetter #beblessed

Influence vs Impact


What is the difference between influence and impact? 

We have influence when we have rules, expectations, and things that control people’s behavior. 

Those can be good and can have value to help people do what’s right, but it may not have a lasting value. 

Coaches have rules in hopes of keeping athletes from getting into trouble. 

I had expectations for coaches that I think were good for their programs and will also benefit the students they were working with.

Expectations aren’t bad, can be positive for people, but I don’t think they have any lasting value.  Just a way to do something and control a situation. 

Impact is bringing a lasting effect on a person or situation. 

Think about the people in your life that have had a lasting impact on what you do for a living, what you believe in, how you treat people, and live your life. 

Some had that impact a long time ago, while others may be in your life at this very moment.

The list can change, but we all know who those people are.  Their impact supersedes influence and goes beyond enforcing a few rules. It changes who we are.

Two thoughts:

1) I shudder to think of the number of times I’ve missed an opportunity to impact a person’s life. 

I have gotten too caught up in producing the things that influence people and have not focused enough on people and serving them.  Serving is how we Impact.

2) Impact is risky and can be disappointing. 

When we offer ourselves up to people and invest in their lives, we can also set ourselves up to be turned away.

If we’re being honest, we sometimes size someone up and think about if they are worthy of our effort.  That’s selfish and not what we should be about if we want to have a true servant’s heart and be a servant leader.

Investment and Impact equals leadership that lasts and multiplies. Take the risk with that kind of leadership and chase it.

I’m cheering for you.

#leadership #motivation #coaching
#bebetter #beblessed