Be Who You Are

You are special.
You are unique.
You have been given a set of skills and talents that no one else has been given. 

Your talents and the circle of influence that you have with your family, friends and at your work put you in a place no one else is in and no one else can influence.

Too many people try to be like someone they know, someone they admire or someone who has what they think they want.  Learning from people is one thing but trying to be just like them is something to avoid.

You will be happiest and richly blessed when you discover and be who you truly are.  People will then come to know, respect and depend on you for who you are.

This will lead you to being in a place that is a good fit for you and your talents.  Finding that fit may take some time but it will happen if you continue to stay true to who you are.  Be patient on your journey.  It will be worth it.

I’m cheering for you.

#leadership #motivation #coaching
#bebetter #beblessed

Do The Small Things

If you’ve listened to our Beyond the Bench podcast you know I have a thing for putting carts away. Some would say bordering on obsession.

I’ve scolded people from Hawaii, Arizona, California as well as my fellow Iowans. I have not discriminated. (The photos in this graphic are from spring break 2022 in Arizona).

We have had fun with it but I feel it brings up a valid thought for today. It’s a small thing to do, takes a little extra time, but the small things are the things that many people overlook or find unimportant.

If we are going to be a servant leader then we are servant leaders in every situation, in every area of life. We don’t get to decide where or who we serve.

We need to serve in every moment and with every person. It means helping those who can never help us and that might be helping the employee who’s job it is to gather carts so we have them for our next shopping excursion.

Do the small things. Put your cart away. Chances are you may find an extra one to put away too. Whether a cart or something else do the little things that others won’t. They matter and make a difference.

I’m cheering for you.

#leadership #motivation #coaching
#bebetter #beblessed

People Can’t Break You If They Don’t Make You

There are a lot of angry people in the world and some days it seems like they all live and work around me. 

The good news is that they don’t.  Too often we let people get inside of our head or play with our emotions and they have no right to either one.

Some people are better at ignoring the pests that buzz around in my head than I am.  I know that everyone cannot be pleased but I’m lying if I say it doesn’t bother me sometimes.

So how do I combat it? 

1.  I eventually realize that the person who is angry will eventually be angry and talk bad about somebody else very soon.  It’s usually their nature, almost a hobby for them.

2.  I realized that their opinion of me doesn’t make me and in the long run the truth will win.  It always does.

3.  They are not a majority.  They are loud and the loudest one in the room is usually the weakest one in the room.

At the end of the day the people throwing stones don’t get to break you because they had no hand in making you who you are. 

Keep your head up and lean on those who truly support you.  They are likely waiting to lift you up.

I’m cheering for you.

#leadership #motivation #coaching
#bebetter #beblessed

What Do You Do With Your Opportunities?


Taking time to show appreciation, say a kind word or right a brief note can have a lasting impact. 

Too often we discredit a simple gesture thinking that it lacks the flair or the ability to be quoted on social media when something simple may be the most impactful and long lasting.

Several years ago I listened to Iowa State Athletic Director Jamie Pollard share the story of a life changing health scare he had and how it helped to change his perspective on life. It was very real and showed the kind of man and leader that he is.

Later that day I decided to send him an email thanking him for speaking to our group and sharing his story. He’s a busy man leading a Power 5 University and likely wouldn’t see it or would just skim through it and move on to something much more important.  How wrong I was.

A few days later he sent me a hand written note and a leadership book that he had read in the mail.  The leader with 1,000 things to do took time to say Thank You and encourage someone he had never met or would even recognize passing on the street.

I keep that note as a bookmark in every book that I am reading to help remind me of two things.

1) It is impactful to take time to encourage someone with a kind word or gesture, even if you may never cross paths.

2) Words, rather spoken or written, can have an impact long after they are shared.

Use your words wisely and as a way to build others up. They are more powerful than we may ever know.

I’m cheering for you.

#leadership #motivation #coaching
#bebetter #beblessed