On Thursday, June 2, 2022 a terrible tragedy happened at Cornerstone Church in Ames, IA.  Two young ladies going to a college gathering that evening were murdered in the church parking lot.  The shooter then took his own life.  

On Sunday, June 5 Lead Pastor Mark Vance had the task of sharing and preaching to a  grieving church body.  I know his strength came from God as he shared authentically from his heart and what had been laid upon his heart. 

At the end of the morning message he said you are going to find “leaders (here) who are limping.”  A very authentic, real and true statement. 

There are times in our leadership journey when we are going to limp.  It will be cloudy, there will be no well defined path and the destination will seem a long ways away or even seem non existent. 

Lead even when you are limping.  Show up, give all of the strength that you can muster and continue to be real and authentic. 

Lean on those that you can who will help to hold you up while you are limping but keep leading and moving forward. 

We don’t have our best every day but we can always give the best that we have that day…even if we are limping. 

I’m cheering for you.

#leadership #motivation #coaching
#bebetter #beblessed

Treat people based on their potential, not on their performance.

This is a hard one. 

How we see people often determines our attitude toward them which has a direct influence on how we treat them.

People can frustrate the heck out of us. 
People are not perfect. 
People make mistakes. 

People can also bring out the best in us.
People can also do more than we can imagine.
People also have tremendous potential.

See people for what they have the potential to become because we are all in the process of becoming.  Becoming better every day.

You.
Me.
Everybody.

See people with a “10” on their forehead and then help them reach it.

I’m cheering for you.

#leadership #motivation #coaching
#bebetter #beblessed

What dreams are you chasing? 
Do they look menacing and intimidating as you look at them? 

They should and I hope they do otherwise they are not big enough.

We tend to make our dreams big but then at the first sign of conflict or struggle begin to scale them back and settle back into a comfortable reality.

Don’t do it! 
Chase your dreams.
Pursue your dreams.

Look your dreams square in the eyes and go to work moment by moment to make them a reality.

The purpose of life is not to arrive safely at the end of your journey.  If you just look for the safe path you will be turning your back on dreams that are bigger than you are and you will settle for the status quo.

So hear you are with a decision to make. Pursue and chase your dreams or turn and run away.  If you run away you will be running away the rest of your life.

It’s time to pursue.

I’m cheering for you.

#leadership #motivation #coaching #dreams #bebetter #beblessed

Hall of Fame football coach Bill Parcells offers some great advice in six words.  Here’s how I would translate it into what I see going on around me.

BE RESPONSIBLE – Take responsibility for what you do.  Don’t throw the blame toward someone else.  If you did it own it.  Handle it and move forward but you have to take responsibility for it first.

DON’T ACT ENTITLED – You’re not above anyone else.  Instead of saying “that’s not my job” how about you pitch in and help.  Help make someone else’s load lighter.

If we all took a little time to serve the world we live and work in it would be in a much better place as would the people in it. 

DO WHAT OTHERS WON’T  (see above) –
Authentic leadership isn’t about a title and expecting others to carry all of the load. 

Too many won’t step out and do the little things that true servant leadership requires.  People claim to be or want to be a leader but they miss one of the most important things that they should do. 

That thing is doing what a majority of people won’t do.  Truly serve others.

Let’s be better.  Let’s be a blessing to those around us.  Not for attention, fame or glory but because it is the right thing to do. 

The right thing to do is always the right thing to do.

If you must pick just one thing to do then do the right thing. 

I’m cheering for you.

#leadership #motivation #coaching
#bebetter #beblessed

Thank You is not adequate but sometimes that is all that I can offer.  A heartfelt Thank You.

Today I say Thank You to all those who served and protected my freedom.  Some I  know, the majority I do not. 

I will never know how you felt…but I am thankful for your strength.

I will never know all that you gave…but I am thankful for your courage.

I will never know how your family felt… but I am thankful for their perseverance.

I will never know what you how you feel every day…but I am thankful for your service.

I will never know…but I am thankful. 

Thank You from the bottom of my heart.

May you and yours be blessed.

#memorialday2022