By Kudzai Kutukwa
Why am i here? Whats my assignment on earth? Why was i born? What is my calling in life? Since time immemorial these questions have plagued the human mind. Mankind has always grappled with these questions in search of significance and relevance. It is the answers to these questions that will lead us to discover the most important thing in our lives: purpose.
Purpose can be defined as a reason for being, object, aim or intention. As highlighted above it is the "Why" I am fully convinced that every person was created to fulfill a specific purpose on this planet. There are certain people we need to touch, certain places we need to visit and certain tasks we need to accomplish. Your birth was not an accident or coincidence no matter the circumstances that may surround it. It is also no act of fate that you were born in this time in history. You could have been born during the dark ages or stone age. You could have been born next year or in the next millenium, it was all possible. You were born in this age, in your family, in your nation, with your skin colour to fill a void that no one else can fill and that no one else can ever fill! You are a unique human being with a unique combination of talents,passions and abilities that noone has before you has had and that noone else after you will have. Only YOU will have them!!
Everything that has been created serves a particular purpose. Take a look around you: the chair you are sitting on, your desk. your computer, everything is serving a particular purpose. What purpose are you serving? Living a purpose-less life is one of life's most grandest tragedies which can only be equalled by having the wrong purpose! It is akin to using a hammer for screwing or a screwdriver for hammering! It may keep you busy for a while but you will not make any significant progress because you will be using the right tool for the wrong job. As foolish as that may seem that is how millions of people around the world are living their lives, they were designed to be screwdrivers but they are trying to do a hammer's job! Life without purpose is filled with frustration, misery and plenty of regrets. Is this the kind of life you want?
Have you discovered your purpose yet? If not do not despair, grab a pen and your journal and answer the following questions as honestly as you can. 1) If money were no object and if success was guaranteed, what would you do with your life? what would you accomplish of eternal significance? what would you establish or build? The answer to the above question needs careful thought and soul searching on a much deeper level. Write down your answer in your journal. 2) What are you passionate about? What gives you the greatest joy and a sense of fulfillment when you do it? 3) What do you really hate? you may be shocked by this question but what you hate reveals what you were created to correct. 4) What are your natural talents, gifts and abilities? As you write down your responses and study them, you will begin to notice common traits, thus getting you on the road to discovering your God-ordained purpose.
Dr Myles Munroe once stated that, " The greatest tragedy in life is not death, but life without a reason. It is dangerous to be alive and not know why you were given life. One of the most frustrating experiences is to have time but not know why." I couldn't agree more
Monday, March 23, 2009
The Secret of Your Subconscious
by Brian Tracy
One Thought at a Time
The incredible thing about your subconscious mind is that it cannot tell the difference between something that you vividly imagine—such as a goal, a hope or a dream—and a real experience. For example, if you go to an automobile dealership and take your dream car for a drive, and, as you drive along, you imagine you already own that car, and you create the feeling of enjoyment that would accompany your being the proud possessor of that beautiful machine, your subconscious mind simply accepts that the car belongs to you. It doesn´t argue; it doesn´t complain; it doesn´t try to change your instructions. It simply tries to make your instructions a reality.
Visualize What You Really Want
Think of your subconscious mind as a photo lab and your conscious mind as a camera, or a photographer. Your conscious mind takes pictures of what you want and passes the film to the photo lab, your subconscious mind. Your subconscious mind then develops the pictures and passes them back up to your reality. The photo lab doesn´t argue with you over the content of the film that you sent to it. It simply develops the photographs exactly as you saw them through the lens of your mind´s eye.
Design Your Dream Home
Does visualization work? Well, here´s an exercise that has worked for me and might work for you.
Everyone I know wants to have his “dream home.’ The first problem with obtaining a dream home is that most people have never even sat down to think about what it would look like.
Many years ago, when my wife, Barbara, and I were going through financial difficulties, we began putting together a composite of our dream home. We subscribed to magazines full of beautiful pictures and descriptions of lovely homes for sale. We cut out pictures and descriptions that were consistent with what we were looking for. We discussed our dream home at great length. We went to open houses in the best neighborhoods in the city. We looked at beautiful, expensive homes and at the details and furnishings in them. We read Architectural Digest and House Beautiful. We eventually came up with a mutually agreed on composite of what our dream home would look like.
Take Action on Your Dreams
Within a year after beginning this exercise, we moved from a rented home to a beautiful home that we had purchased. It wasn´t quite what we had in mind, but we both recognized at the time that it was merely a stepping-stone to what we really wanted. A year later, after looking at 150 houses in different cities, we walked into a home that was for sale, took one look around and, without speaking, both knew that we had found it. This was the home that we had been looking for.
Be Prepared to Pay the Price
It cost twice as much as we ever had imagined paying for a house, and it required a good deal of renovation to make it conform to the mental pictures we had developed. Nonetheless, we bought it, renovated it, repainted it, furnished it and landscaped the grounds exactly as we had imagined. And it all began to come together after we had carefully crafted a clear mental picture of what it would look like when it was done.
Be Clear About What You Want
What is your mental picture of your dream house or dream car, or dream vacation or relationship? When you are clear, your subconscious will bring it into your life.
Action Exercises
Here are three things you can do immediately to put these ideas into action:
First, begin today to design your dream house. Be crystal clear about every detail and keep feeding the picture into your subconscious mind every day until it becomes a reality.
Second, refuse to imagine or visualize a problem or situation that you don´t want to come true. Your subconscious mind develops whatever pictures you supply it - so be careful.
Third, cut out pictures of things you want in your life and look at these pictures carefully, taking in every detail. You´ll be amazed at what starts to happen.
-- Brian Tracy
Reproduced with permission from the Ron White Ezine. To subscribe to Ron White's Ezine, go to http://www.MemoryInAMonth.com Copyright 2009 All rights reserved worldwide.The Formula for Failure and Success
by Jim Rohn
Failure is not a single, cataclysmic event. We do not fail overnight. Failure is the inevitable result of an accumulation of poor thinking and poor choices. To put it more simply, failure is nothing more than a few errors in judgment repeated every day.
Now why would someone make an error in judgment and then be so foolish as to repeat it every day? The answer is because he or she does not think that it matters.
On their own, our daily acts do not seem that important. A minor oversight, a poor decision, or a wasted hour generally doesn't result in an instant and measurable impact. More often than not, we escape from any immediate consequences of our deeds.
If we have not bothered to read a single book in the past ninety days, this lack of discipline does not seem to have any immediate impact on our lives. And since nothing drastic happened to us after the first ninety days, we repeat this error in judgment for another ninety days, and on and on it goes. Why? Because it doesn't seem to matter. And herein lies the great danger. Far worse than not reading the books is not even realizing that it matters!
Those who eat too many of the wrong foods are contributing to a future health problem, but the joy of the moment overshadows the consequence of the future. It does not seem to matter. Those who smoke too much or drink too much go on making these poor choices year after year after year... because it doesn't seem to matter. But the pain and regret of these errors in judgment have only been delayed for a future time. Consequences are seldom instant; instead, they accumulate until the inevitable day of reckoning finally arrives and the price must be paid for our poor choices - choices that didn't seem to matter.
Failure's most dangerous attribute is its subtlety. In the short term those little errors don't seem to make any difference. We do not seem to be failing. In fact, sometimes these accumulated errors in judgment occur throughout a period of great joy and prosperity in our lives. Since nothing terrible happens to us, since there are no instant consequences to capture our attention, we simply drift from one day to the next, repeating the errors, thinking the wrong thoughts, listening to the wrong voices and making the wrong choices. The sky did not fall in on us yesterday; therefore the act was probably harmless. Since it seemed to have no measurable consequence, it is probably safe to repeat.
But we must become better educated than that!
If at the end of the day when we made our first error in judgment the sky had fallen in on us, we undoubtedly would have taken immediate steps to ensure that the act would never be repeated again. Like the child who places his hand on a hot burner despite his parents' warnings, we would have had an instantaneous experience accompanying our error in judgment.
Unfortunately, failure does not shout out its warnings as our parents once did. This is why it is imperative to refine our philosophy in order to be able to make better choices. With a powerful, personal philosophy guiding our every step, we become more aware of our errors in judgment and more aware that each error really does matter.
Now here is the great news. Just like the formula for failure, the formula for success is easy to follow: It's a few simple disciplines practiced every day.
Now here is an interesting question worth pondering: How can we change the errors in the formula for failure into the disciplines required in the formula for success? The answer is by making the future an important part of our current philosophy.
Both success and failure involve future consequences, namely the inevitable rewards or unavoidable regrets resulting from past activities. If this is true, why don't more people take time to ponder the future? The answer is simple: They are so caught up in the current moment that it doesn't seem to matter. The problems and the rewards of today are so absorbing to some human beings that they never pause long enough to think about tomorrow.
But what if we did develop a new discipline to take just a few minutes every day to look a little further down the road? We would then be able to foresee the impending consequences of our current conduct. Armed with that valuable information, we would be able to take the necessary action to change our errors into new success-oriented disciplines. In other words, by disciplining ourselves to see the future in advance, we would be able to change our thinking, amend our errors and develop new habits to replace the old.
One of the exciting things about the formula for success - a few simple disciplines practiced every day - is that the results are almost immediate. As we voluntarily change daily errors into daily disciplines, we experience positive results in a very short period of time. When we change our diet, our health improves noticeably in just a few weeks. When we start exercising, we feel a new vitality almost immediately. When we begin reading, we experience a growing awareness and a new level of self-confidence. Whatever new discipline we begin to practice daily will produce exciting results that will drive us to become even better at developing new disciplines.
The real magic of new disciplines is that they will cause us to amend our thinking. If we were to start today to read the books, keep a journal, attend the classes, listen more and observe more, then today would be the first day of a new life leading to a better future. If we were to start today to try harder, and in every way make a conscious and consistent effort to change subtle and deadly errors into constructive and rewarding disciplines, we would never again settle for a life of existence – not once we have tasted the fruits of a life of substance!
Reproduced with permission from Jim Rohn's Weekly E-zine. To subscribe, go to www.JimRohn.com All contents Copyright ©
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Leadership Lessons from the Life of Saint Patrick
Lost in the midst of shamrocks, green-clad partygoers, and leprechauns there is a story of a tremendous leader - Saint Patrick. That we celebrate a holiday bearing his name 1,500 years after his death attests to the greatness of Ireland's patron saint. Saint Patrick's life teaches valuable lessons about the power of forgiveness.
THE LIFE OF SAINT PATRICK: A STORY OF FORGIVENESS
Born to a wealthy British-Roman family, Patrick was kidnapped by a band of Irish marauders as a teenager. The raiders carried him off to Ireland where they pressed him into servitude, tending their flocks and fields. Isolated and alone, Patrick clung to his faith to endure the cruelty of his masters.
After six years in captivity, Patrick summoned the courage to risk escape. He ran away from his captors, surviving a 200-mile trek across Ireland to the sea. Upon arrival to the coast, he talked his way onto a shipping vessel bound for his homeland.
Lesson #1 - Don't harbor grudges
After being enslaved in Ireland, you would think Patrick would have embittered at the Irish for stealing six years of his life. However, he dedicated the next 15 years to studying theology in preparation for a return trip to Ireland as a missionary. Despite being kidnapped and cruelly mistreated, Patrick chose forgiveness and showed compassion to his former captors.
Lesson #2 - Go the extra mile to make amends
Patrick was not exactly a welcome visitor back in Ireland-especially when he began teaching a religion that ran contrary to the beliefs held by druid priests. However, Patrick won favor by returning to his former master and paying the full ransom price of a slave as "compensation" for his escape. This generous gesture astounded the Irish and appeased them, giving Patrick a platform to share his religious views.
It seems as if Patrick should have demanded an apology from his prior masters rather than paying them for having been a runaway slave. However, his goal wasn't to make accusations, but rather, by extending forgiveness, to acquire influence with the Irish.
Lesson #3 - When reconciling a relationship, speak the other person's language
During his six years of force labor in Ireland, Patrick gained a working knowledge of the Celtic language. When he returned as a priest, he could speak directly to the Irish in their native tongue. Furthermore, Patrick understood the religious sensibilities of druidism from his time in captivity. Accordingly, he was able to communicate the message of the Christian faith in images that made sense to the Irish.
As legend has it, Patrick created the Celtic cross in an effort to connect the significance of Christ's death on the cross with the Irish people's veneration for the sun. Another popular legend holds that he used the shamrock, another natural symbol, to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity. Whatever the case, Patrick's ability to deliver his message in ways the Irish could understand had a profound impact. Within a century, the entire nation of Ireland had converted to the religious faith of one of its former slaves.
Summary
Regardless of a person's religious beliefs, there's no denying Saint Patrick's enormous influence as a leader. By harnessing the power of forgiveness, the one-time slave persuaded his former captors, and their entire nation, to adopt his Christian faith. By studying the life of Saint Patrick, we find lessons about forgiveness that can be applied to our own lives and leadership relationsThis article is used by permission from Dr. John C. Maxwell's free monthly e-newsletter 'Leadership Wired' available at www.injoy.com.
First Things First- getting started on the road to a better life...
By Larry Favalora
Well, in my opinion at least...there are a lot of directions to go here. I am not even sure, as I write this, that most will agree with me here, but...Since there are many differing opinions, let's just think this through... What do we need to have most of all to get started on this road to "total-life profitablilty". Now let me clear up that I am not speaking on wealth or cash necessarily, although our time and creativity has a serious value to it- It is what we do that creates assumed value in society (and in the wallet). But let's move ahead. You need to do work through the quest and soul-searching I am calling in my new book "Finding Your Groove". You need to find your groove- who am I, what am I supposed to do? Basic questions, right? But because of our busy lives most will die never finding their groove. Most of us are overwhelmed with life and "making a living". We are too busy to stop and think.. but that is WRONG. Most kids want to run past there youth where foundational ideas like "purpose", "responsibility", and a Biblical world view used to be stressed and head right into 'adulthood". If you want to have kids right away (or at least want to have sex which, duh, can and usually does lead to having kids) then you never find your groove because now you have to just "feed the family" and you miss the foundational building process. "Traditional" home-life is rare- and if you are a parent today, that is your greatest battle, but KEEP IT UP, and if your home is a mess, then stop and get things straightened out. Because if you don't put the brakes on your life and your family it now has to be built with additional stresses and pressures. Some of you adults reading this were just never exposed to the process of discovering who you were created to be- that's OK too. We will cover it all. Just chill out! (and my kids think sometimes I am not cool... whatever! LOL)
Some of you are where I just described. That's OK. It will be tougher, more challenging and will take a bit longer, but we, together, will get there. I have attached a diagram we created and trademarked for my new book, but it shows what we will be discussing over the next few weeks together... Your "groove" is another way of saying your purpose, passion or, as some call it, "your calling". I typically shy away from religious terms because most people have funky ideas such as callings are only for Pastors and Priest. How rediculous. I have faught YEARS of that mindset from religious people and even some in my own family. No doubt I, like many of you, am a called Man (or woman) of God as a businessperson! My "domain" is in the marketplace. Through my seminars and speaking engagements, I reach and speak to more people each year about the Kingdom of God (not "churchy" or stale religious stuff) than most " pastors or priests" do in an entire lifetime. I am talking about teaching people how to create a life that has REAL purpose, joy and fulfillment. Plus, a life God can bless and refers to in His Word as "profitable" Are you excited yet? You should be- because if you desire to be "profitable" I dare to say you are already!
Next week we will talk about the first of four areas that make up your "groove" based on my chart. That is YOUR PASSION- so get ready!!! Be meditiating on YOUR PASSION in your quiet time and we'll have a great time getting to the place where you know why you're here. Choices then come much easier and life becomes a bit more clear. It is JUST WHAT YOU WERE LOOKING FOR. I promise. You are all loved and celebrated- Freedom is within reach!! Please comment and add feedback. it helps for others to see your questions, opinions and personal experiences containing both your personal challenges and success. Thanks. The "Profit".
Well, in my opinion at least...there are a lot of directions to go here. I am not even sure, as I write this, that most will agree with me here, but...Since there are many differing opinions, let's just think this through... What do we need to have most of all to get started on this road to "total-life profitablilty". Now let me clear up that I am not speaking on wealth or cash necessarily, although our time and creativity has a serious value to it- It is what we do that creates assumed value in society (and in the wallet). But let's move ahead. You need to do work through the quest and soul-searching I am calling in my new book "Finding Your Groove". You need to find your groove- who am I, what am I supposed to do? Basic questions, right? But because of our busy lives most will die never finding their groove. Most of us are overwhelmed with life and "making a living". We are too busy to stop and think.. but that is WRONG. Most kids want to run past there youth where foundational ideas like "purpose", "responsibility", and a Biblical world view used to be stressed and head right into 'adulthood". If you want to have kids right away (or at least want to have sex which, duh, can and usually does lead to having kids) then you never find your groove because now you have to just "feed the family" and you miss the foundational building process. "Traditional" home-life is rare- and if you are a parent today, that is your greatest battle, but KEEP IT UP, and if your home is a mess, then stop and get things straightened out. Because if you don't put the brakes on your life and your family it now has to be built with additional stresses and pressures. Some of you adults reading this were just never exposed to the process of discovering who you were created to be- that's OK too. We will cover it all. Just chill out! (and my kids think sometimes I am not cool... whatever! LOL)Some of you are where I just described. That's OK. It will be tougher, more challenging and will take a bit longer, but we, together, will get there. I have attached a diagram we created and trademarked for my new book, but it shows what we will be discussing over the next few weeks together... Your "groove" is another way of saying your purpose, passion or, as some call it, "your calling". I typically shy away from religious terms because most people have funky ideas such as callings are only for Pastors and Priest. How rediculous. I have faught YEARS of that mindset from religious people and even some in my own family. No doubt I, like many of you, am a called Man (or woman) of God as a businessperson! My "domain" is in the marketplace. Through my seminars and speaking engagements, I reach and speak to more people each year about the Kingdom of God (not "churchy" or stale religious stuff) than most " pastors or priests" do in an entire lifetime. I am talking about teaching people how to create a life that has REAL purpose, joy and fulfillment. Plus, a life God can bless and refers to in His Word as "profitable" Are you excited yet? You should be- because if you desire to be "profitable" I dare to say you are already!
Next week we will talk about the first of four areas that make up your "groove" based on my chart. That is YOUR PASSION- so get ready!!! Be meditiating on YOUR PASSION in your quiet time and we'll have a great time getting to the place where you know why you're here. Choices then come much easier and life becomes a bit more clear. It is JUST WHAT YOU WERE LOOKING FOR. I promise. You are all loved and celebrated- Freedom is within reach!! Please comment and add feedback. it helps for others to see your questions, opinions and personal experiences containing both your personal challenges and success. Thanks. The "Profit".
Recognizing Your Passion
By Larry Favalora
Passion- a pretty powerful word in its' own right। It has several meanings and uses. Some we are going to address and others we will leave for Dr. Ruth! :) The passion we are going to deal with here for a few moments is what few people really ever wind up tapping into. Most people today aren't driven by "passion". Let me explain. Most people's dreams and visions for there lives get burried and pushed aside by the cares of this life and the disheartening realities of survival. The dream seems to be "unrealistic" and farfetched.
LIE #1. Your passions are not G-d's plan. That is not true. You have been given the mind of Christ! The same Father who thought up DNA, and a worm hiding for a while and emerging a colorful and graceful butterfly, who made a baby helpless so as to connect that child in an intimate way for the rest of its' life with its' parents, also put the ability in you to see things that aren't as if they were, because they WILL! The main purpose for your brain is NOT memorization- although it is faster than any computer chip for recalling in vivid detail, but your brain's real skill that set's you apart from any creature or machine is the ability to create, to visualize, to imagine! THAT is how we were "created in His likeness". Don't fall for the lie that your deep-down pictures of your future and the drive (passion) to get you there aren't from Him! You really need to stop- assess where you are going. What choices can you make today that will get you moving in a direction you want to eventually be going? Well, change isn't going to come immediately but you have to force yourself to be disciplined enough to make choices, to make those choices starting today that will effect your future and the future of many, many others!
Let me share a few simple concepts you are familiar with to make my point. Savings- how many of you are disciplined savers?? (I hear crickets!!!) But start today saving something each time you receive income and in a few years you will see how compound interest and small consistant savings will make a difference! You wouldn't argue with that, right? EXAMPLE #2- you want a college degree- you have ALWAYS wanted to get your degree. You children are now in school and you feel like that was just a pipe dream!! That will NEVER happen for me-my time has come and gone. BULL!! TOTAL BALONEY- How do you do it then? You start with one class on line, then another and then another. START today. Don't let life, people's opinions, misconceptions, society, poor thinking habits, bad mental programing, fear and anxiety steal your passion.
Commit today to reawaken your passion to do something, be something and accomplish something. G-d is the author of grand plans, miraculous events when no other path is possible, moves obsticles, changes hearts, and is the fulfillment of all you hope for because it is in Him that we live, move and have our being. I am standing with you today and committing to seeing you reach down into your heart and re-awaken those dreams- passions- and see them through to completion. It is the first key to FINDING YOUR GROOVE!!!
Passion- a pretty powerful word in its' own right। It has several meanings and uses. Some we are going to address and others we will leave for Dr. Ruth! :) The passion we are going to deal with here for a few moments is what few people really ever wind up tapping into. Most people today aren't driven by "passion". Let me explain. Most people's dreams and visions for there lives get burried and pushed aside by the cares of this life and the disheartening realities of survival. The dream seems to be "unrealistic" and farfetched.
LIE #1. Your passions are not G-d's plan. That is not true. You have been given the mind of Christ! The same Father who thought up DNA, and a worm hiding for a while and emerging a colorful and graceful butterfly, who made a baby helpless so as to connect that child in an intimate way for the rest of its' life with its' parents, also put the ability in you to see things that aren't as if they were, because they WILL! The main purpose for your brain is NOT memorization- although it is faster than any computer chip for recalling in vivid detail, but your brain's real skill that set's you apart from any creature or machine is the ability to create, to visualize, to imagine! THAT is how we were "created in His likeness". Don't fall for the lie that your deep-down pictures of your future and the drive (passion) to get you there aren't from Him! You really need to stop- assess where you are going. What choices can you make today that will get you moving in a direction you want to eventually be going? Well, change isn't going to come immediately but you have to force yourself to be disciplined enough to make choices, to make those choices starting today that will effect your future and the future of many, many others!
Let me share a few simple concepts you are familiar with to make my point. Savings- how many of you are disciplined savers?? (I hear crickets!!!) But start today saving something each time you receive income and in a few years you will see how compound interest and small consistant savings will make a difference! You wouldn't argue with that, right? EXAMPLE #2- you want a college degree- you have ALWAYS wanted to get your degree. You children are now in school and you feel like that was just a pipe dream!! That will NEVER happen for me-my time has come and gone. BULL!! TOTAL BALONEY- How do you do it then? You start with one class on line, then another and then another. START today. Don't let life, people's opinions, misconceptions, society, poor thinking habits, bad mental programing, fear and anxiety steal your passion.
Commit today to reawaken your passion to do something, be something and accomplish something. G-d is the author of grand plans, miraculous events when no other path is possible, moves obsticles, changes hearts, and is the fulfillment of all you hope for because it is in Him that we live, move and have our being. I am standing with you today and committing to seeing you reach down into your heart and re-awaken those dreams- passions- and see them through to completion. It is the first key to FINDING YOUR GROOVE!!!
The High Road Principle
By Dr. John C. माक्सवेल
"It's nothing personal; it's just business," is a commonly heard phrase in the workplace. However, I tend to disagree with anyone who tries to impersonalize business. At its heart, commerce is a human enterprise, founded upon relationships between people.
Most of us spend a majority of our waking hours in our business or at work, and our vocations endow our lives with meaning or purpose. When we devote ourselves to profession, we're giving a piece of who we are to our work. In that sense, business is deeply personal.
In the workplace, as in the rest of life, relationships get messy. Sooner or later, we will be mistreated. A boss will unjustly fault our performance, a partner will fail to honor an agreement, or a co-worker will cut us down in a meeting. Since business is personal, those instances hurt us, and unless dealt with correctly, they can derail us. As a leader, we have to commit to taking the high road when others, intentionally or unintentionally, wrong us.
Four Tips For Travelling the High Road
1) It's Not What Happens to You, but in You That Really Matters
During the Civil War, Confederate General W.H.C. Whiting envied rival general Robert E. Lee. Consequently, Whiting spread vicious rumors about Lee in an attempt to smear his character. Lee had the opportunity to get even, though. Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy, was considering Whiting for a promotion, and he consulted Lee's opinion of the general. Without hesitation, Lee endorsed and commended Whiting. The officers who witnessed the exchange were astonished. Afterward, one of them asked Lee if he had forgotten all of the slander Whiting had spread about him.
"I understand that the President wanted to know my opinion of Whiting, responded Lee, not his opinion of me." Lee did what high road travelers do. He refused to be dragged into a game of bickering and petty jealousies by treating another person with respect, even when that respect seemed unwarranted.
2) High Roaders See Their Own Need for Grace, Therefore They Extend It to Others
Let's face it; we all screw up from time to time. Each of us has quirks that we know can be annoying, and bad moments when we're not so pleasant to be around.
People who take the high road recognize their humanness, know that they need to be extended grace, and accordingly are more likely to extend it to others.
3) High Roaders Are Not Victims; They Choose to Serve Others
People who take the high road don't do so because it's the only available option. They don't do it by accident either: the high road goes uphill and takes more effort to travel. Instead, high roaders choose their path as a conscious act of service to others. By taking the high road, they drain animosity and bitterness out of relationships, serving to keep them open and productive.
Interestingly, in serving others, higher roaders benefit themselves, too. As the author of Proverbs wrote, "It is a man's glory to overlook an offense." When we maturely respond to a slight by showing forgiveness, we display admirable character that elevates us in the eyes of others.
4) High Roaders Set High Standards for Themselves Than Others Would
Abandoned as an infant, author James Michener never knew his biological parents. Fortunately, he was taken in and raised by a widow, and he adopted her surname. However, each time James published a book, he received nasty notes from one member of the Michener clan. The relative chastised James for taking on the Michener name, which this person felt the novelist had no right to use.
Despite being berated, Michener did agree with one statement his relative had made, "Who do you think you are, trying to be better than you are?" As James Michener professed, "I've spent my life trying to be better than I was, and I am a brother to all who share the same aspiration."
When we conduct ourselves according to the highest standard, we are less likely to become defensive and take the low road when others attack us. Once you've done all that you can, then you can let the noise of detractors roll off your back like rain.
Summary
In leadership, as in life, others will behave unkindly toward you। When ill-treated, don't retreat into a defensive mode or strike back in anger. Instead, take the high road and discover how rising above offenses frees you from petty arguments and adds to your reputation.
This article is used by permission from Dr. John C. Maxwell's free monthly e-newsletter 'Leadership Wired' available at www.injoy.com.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Perspective
Distraught over massive financial losses incurred during the past year, Adolf Merckle scrawled a suicide note to his family and wandered out the door into a dark, wintry night. He made his way for the railway where he stood by the tracks and waited in the cold. Spotting the headlight of an oncoming railcar, he threw himself under the train and took leave of this world.
As tragic as the suicide was, it would not have received worldwide press apart from one shocking fact: Adolf Merckle was valued at 9.2 billion dollars, ranking 94th on Forbes 2008 list of the world’s richest persons.
It can be hard to fathom the extent of Mr. Merckle’s wealth, a billion dollars being such a staggering sum. Think of it this way, 9,000 people could each win a million dollars in the lottery, pool their money together, and still have less money than Mr. Merckle was worth. Or, the entire nation of Haiti (8.5 million people) could work for two and a half years without accumulating income equal to Mr. Merckle’s portfolio.
A family statement, issued after Mr. Merckle’s untimely death, read as follows: "The desperate situation of his companies, caused by the financial crisis, the uncertainties of the last few weeks and his powerlessness to act, broke the passionate family entrepreneur and he took his own life." Surely Mr. Merckle’s financial missteps and poor investment decisions must have been painful to stomach. Watching his business empire suffer had to have been difficult for a man of his status. Even so, Mr. Merckle had billions of dollars to his name. It’s astonishing to consider the monumental loss of perspective that led the German billionaire to take his own life.
As evidenced by the tragic case of Adolf Merckle, even the most prosperous individual is not immune to a descent into despair. With corporations cutting payrolls and the stock market on the downswing, many leaders face worrisome bottom lines, dwindling investment portfolios, or even unemployment. Many find themselves in the fight of their lives, struggling daily to gain a healthy perspective.
Two Pointers to Keep Perspective When Problems Persist
1) Gratitude
Leaders enter dangerous territory when they neglect to be grateful for what they have, and instead begin to fear losing what they’ve accumulated. The blessings of life surround everyone, but the person is rare who allows its simple benefits of life to fill his or her soul. Yet, the choice presents itself to anyone: accentuate the positives or dwell on the negatives.
Choosing to be grateful earns the greatest return in times of trouble. It’s virtually impossible to be overtaken by worry when a person has a heart of gratitude. For this reason, it pays to log a gratitude journal - each day, list three things in life for which you’re thankful. Don’t just jot them down; roll them over in your mind. Let them sink into your spirit. Chances are, the exercise will dramatically improve your perspective.
2) Selective Hearing
For leaders, denial isn’t an option. Bad news is preferable to no news in that information conveys important knowledge about the current reality. The wise stay apprised of the economic outlook and make decisions based upon incoming data. At times those decisions can be painful such as instituting a spending freeze or terminating the employment of a devoted worker. Nonetheless, leaders shoulder the load and do what must be done to move forward.
While leaders refuse to put their heads in the sand, they do have the wherewithal to unplug from negativity. At a certain point, a glut of the same dreary news damages the psyche. Leaders confront reality, but they stop short of wallowing in worry and despondence. They avoid doomsdayers and naysayers, preferring to fill their minds with hope and opportunity.
The Final Words:
Press On
Hiking up a mountain summit for sunrise can seem unreasonably hard in the beginning. The steep trail causes your legs to quiver, the altitude shortens your breath, and rocks and snares threaten to trip your step. For a time, you may be tempted to quit. However, if you persevere to the top, you’re greeted with the grandeur of the golden sky, and rewarded with a breathtaking perspective on the beauty of nature.
Like a mountaineer, you may be enduring a rocky, uphill stretch. If so, keep fighting to gain perspective. Hard work and persistence seldom go unrewarded, and they often carry you to a glorious destination.
This article is used by permission from Dr. John C. Maxwell's free monthly e-newsletter 'Leadership Wired' available at www.injoy.com.
Distraught over massive financial losses incurred during the past year, Adolf Merckle scrawled a suicide note to his family and wandered out the door into a dark, wintry night. He made his way for the railway where he stood by the tracks and waited in the cold. Spotting the headlight of an oncoming railcar, he threw himself under the train and took leave of this world.
As tragic as the suicide was, it would not have received worldwide press apart from one shocking fact: Adolf Merckle was valued at 9.2 billion dollars, ranking 94th on Forbes 2008 list of the world’s richest persons.
It can be hard to fathom the extent of Mr. Merckle’s wealth, a billion dollars being such a staggering sum. Think of it this way, 9,000 people could each win a million dollars in the lottery, pool their money together, and still have less money than Mr. Merckle was worth. Or, the entire nation of Haiti (8.5 million people) could work for two and a half years without accumulating income equal to Mr. Merckle’s portfolio.
A family statement, issued after Mr. Merckle’s untimely death, read as follows: "The desperate situation of his companies, caused by the financial crisis, the uncertainties of the last few weeks and his powerlessness to act, broke the passionate family entrepreneur and he took his own life." Surely Mr. Merckle’s financial missteps and poor investment decisions must have been painful to stomach. Watching his business empire suffer had to have been difficult for a man of his status. Even so, Mr. Merckle had billions of dollars to his name. It’s astonishing to consider the monumental loss of perspective that led the German billionaire to take his own life.
As evidenced by the tragic case of Adolf Merckle, even the most prosperous individual is not immune to a descent into despair. With corporations cutting payrolls and the stock market on the downswing, many leaders face worrisome bottom lines, dwindling investment portfolios, or even unemployment. Many find themselves in the fight of their lives, struggling daily to gain a healthy perspective.
Two Pointers to Keep Perspective When Problems Persist
1) Gratitude
Leaders enter dangerous territory when they neglect to be grateful for what they have, and instead begin to fear losing what they’ve accumulated. The blessings of life surround everyone, but the person is rare who allows its simple benefits of life to fill his or her soul. Yet, the choice presents itself to anyone: accentuate the positives or dwell on the negatives.
Choosing to be grateful earns the greatest return in times of trouble. It’s virtually impossible to be overtaken by worry when a person has a heart of gratitude. For this reason, it pays to log a gratitude journal - each day, list three things in life for which you’re thankful. Don’t just jot them down; roll them over in your mind. Let them sink into your spirit. Chances are, the exercise will dramatically improve your perspective.
2) Selective Hearing
For leaders, denial isn’t an option. Bad news is preferable to no news in that information conveys important knowledge about the current reality. The wise stay apprised of the economic outlook and make decisions based upon incoming data. At times those decisions can be painful such as instituting a spending freeze or terminating the employment of a devoted worker. Nonetheless, leaders shoulder the load and do what must be done to move forward.
While leaders refuse to put their heads in the sand, they do have the wherewithal to unplug from negativity. At a certain point, a glut of the same dreary news damages the psyche. Leaders confront reality, but they stop short of wallowing in worry and despondence. They avoid doomsdayers and naysayers, preferring to fill their minds with hope and opportunity.
The Final Words:
Press On
Hiking up a mountain summit for sunrise can seem unreasonably hard in the beginning. The steep trail causes your legs to quiver, the altitude shortens your breath, and rocks and snares threaten to trip your step. For a time, you may be tempted to quit. However, if you persevere to the top, you’re greeted with the grandeur of the golden sky, and rewarded with a breathtaking perspective on the beauty of nature.
Like a mountaineer, you may be enduring a rocky, uphill stretch. If so, keep fighting to gain perspective. Hard work and persistence seldom go unrewarded, and they often carry you to a glorious destination.
This article is used by permission from Dr. John C. Maxwell's free monthly e-newsletter 'Leadership Wired' available at www.injoy.com.
It's the Network
There's no denying that we've fallen into precarious economic times। The United States shed 2।6 million jobs in 2008। More of the same continued in January 2009, a month during which corporations announced 65,000 layoffs in a single day.
No matter how penniless you feel right now, there's one investment you can't afford to overlook। At a time when no one's buying, there's something you must build. In a world where budgets are tight, you can't skimp on this line item. What is it, you ask?
As the Verizon slogan says, "It's the network."
In his book, Never Eat Alone, Keith Ferrazzi wrote about the safety net provided by a robust network of social connections.
"Experience will not save you in hard times, nor will hard work or talent. If you need a job, money, advice, help, hope, or a means to make a sale, there's only one surefire, fail-safe place to find them - within your extended circle of friends and associates."
We would do well to worry less about empty pocketbooks and more about empty rolodexes. When threatened by scarcity, it's natural to zero in on money management, but we should be equally concentrated on managing connections within our network.
Unfortunately, the word "networking" often conjures up negative stereotypes. We've been fed misconceptions about networking, and these false impressions make it hard for us to see the true value of our relationships. Let's debunk the popular myths of networking one by one.
COMMON NETWORKING MYTHS
Myth #1: Networking is for self-promoting schmoozers।
Networking isn't solely the realm of desperate job seekers or overeager socializers। Nor do you have to hand out business cards like candy in order to network. Networking simply involves making mutual connections, and everyone benefits by forming them. By tapping into our connections, we can share ideas, pass along opportunities, and benefit from one another's expertise.
Myth #2: Network is only for salespeople or outgoing personalities।
You may not be a salesperson and you may not be outgoing, but you can't deny that business, at its core, is founded upon relationships। Regardless of your position or personality, you'd be wise to intentionalize your social interactions. If you neglect your network, you'll be isolated when your life hits a rough patch. Conversely, if you cultivate your network, you'll be buoyed by support whenever hard times come your way.
Myth #3: Networking, by nature, is uncomfortable, forced, and contrived.
We tend to imagine networking as speed dating awkwardly applied to the professional level। Nothing could be more inaccurate. The best networkers authentically share themselves (their talents, knowledge, resources) to benefit others. This can happen casually and genuinely, both at work and in informal atmospheres.
THE FINAL WORD
The economic slump reminds us of the transient nature of our jobs and our wealth, and makes us appreciate the relationships we have। In hard times, we can't afford to retreat into a shell; we have to reach out more than ever to lift each other up. Although the concept of networking has been tainted by misconceptions, wise leaders know to prioritize relationships, recognizing them as the surest sources of prosperity and stability.
This article is used by permission from Dr. John C. Maxwell's free monthly e-newsletter 'Leadership Wired' available at www.injoy.com.
There's no denying that we've fallen into precarious economic times। The United States shed 2।6 million jobs in 2008। More of the same continued in January 2009, a month during which corporations announced 65,000 layoffs in a single day.
No matter how penniless you feel right now, there's one investment you can't afford to overlook। At a time when no one's buying, there's something you must build. In a world where budgets are tight, you can't skimp on this line item. What is it, you ask?
As the Verizon slogan says, "It's the network."
In his book, Never Eat Alone, Keith Ferrazzi wrote about the safety net provided by a robust network of social connections.
"Experience will not save you in hard times, nor will hard work or talent. If you need a job, money, advice, help, hope, or a means to make a sale, there's only one surefire, fail-safe place to find them - within your extended circle of friends and associates."
We would do well to worry less about empty pocketbooks and more about empty rolodexes. When threatened by scarcity, it's natural to zero in on money management, but we should be equally concentrated on managing connections within our network.
Unfortunately, the word "networking" often conjures up negative stereotypes. We've been fed misconceptions about networking, and these false impressions make it hard for us to see the true value of our relationships. Let's debunk the popular myths of networking one by one.
COMMON NETWORKING MYTHS
Myth #1: Networking is for self-promoting schmoozers।
Networking isn't solely the realm of desperate job seekers or overeager socializers। Nor do you have to hand out business cards like candy in order to network. Networking simply involves making mutual connections, and everyone benefits by forming them. By tapping into our connections, we can share ideas, pass along opportunities, and benefit from one another's expertise.
Myth #2: Network is only for salespeople or outgoing personalities।
You may not be a salesperson and you may not be outgoing, but you can't deny that business, at its core, is founded upon relationships। Regardless of your position or personality, you'd be wise to intentionalize your social interactions. If you neglect your network, you'll be isolated when your life hits a rough patch. Conversely, if you cultivate your network, you'll be buoyed by support whenever hard times come your way.
Myth #3: Networking, by nature, is uncomfortable, forced, and contrived.
We tend to imagine networking as speed dating awkwardly applied to the professional level। Nothing could be more inaccurate. The best networkers authentically share themselves (their talents, knowledge, resources) to benefit others. This can happen casually and genuinely, both at work and in informal atmospheres.
THE FINAL WORD
The economic slump reminds us of the transient nature of our jobs and our wealth, and makes us appreciate the relationships we have। In hard times, we can't afford to retreat into a shell; we have to reach out more than ever to lift each other up. Although the concept of networking has been tainted by misconceptions, wise leaders know to prioritize relationships, recognizing them as the surest sources of prosperity and stability.
This article is used by permission from Dr. John C. Maxwell's free monthly e-newsletter 'Leadership Wired' available at www.injoy.com.
From Slot Machine to Stock Market: Investment Strategies for Relationships
In the early years of my career, I did not have a correct view of life। I approached life as if it were a slot machine। I wanted to put as little as possible into it, and I always hoped to hit the jackpot। I'm embarrassed to say that I often had a similar approach in my interaction with people. I was more focused on what people could do for me than what I could do for them. As a result, I would try to make relational "withdrawals" without ever having made any deposits. Needless to say, I was not very successful.
As I matured, I begin to place a higher value on people. As I made this transition, I noticed a fascinating development: the more I gave to relationships, the more I seemed to gain from relationships. In my book, Winning With People, I named this phenomenon The Boomerang Principle. What you put into relationships has a way of coming back to you.
During my time in leadership, I've noticed that people fall into three broad categories with regards to how they view relationships.
1) Takers
Takers receive and never give। They are the people in life who have a me-first mentality। They try to extract as much as they can from the relationships in their lives, and they rarely, if ever, consider giving back।
2) Traders
Traders receive and then give. Traders will only send you a Christmas card, if you've mailed one to them. They picture relationships as an equation in need of balance. If someone helps them, they feel a debt of gratitude. If they aid another person, they expect a favor in return.
3) Investors
Investors give and then receive. These are the people who give purely for the joy of giving. They add value to others, not as part of a cold calculation, but as a habit. Although doing so may not earn them an instant return, in the long run they reap the gratitude and goodwill of those they have helped.
Investment Strategies for Relationships
Instead of viewing relationships as a slot machine, picture them like the stock market. To get rich, make regular deposits in people over an extended period of time. At first, you may feel like the value of what you're putting in isn't worth the investment. However, like the stock market, in the long run, you'll reap dividends and earn rewards.
1) Think "Others First"
Human nature tends to focus us on personal needs, but investing in relationships requires us to prioritize others. Instead of self-advancement, think others-enhancement. Like a responsible investor, resist the temptation to "time" the relational market, using someone only for short-term gain. That's a strategy doomed to fail. On the contrary, make a habit of adding value in relationships and trust that the long-term results will be in your favor.
2) Focus on the Investment, Not the Return
If you've ever purchased stocks personally, then you know the agony of watching the vicissitudes of the market. Like a roller coaster, your portfolio climbs up one day only to lurch down the next day. Instead of agonizing over returns, a shrewd investor focuses on making the investment. The same principle holds true in relationships. Don't expect specific and immediate benefit from your relational inputs. Through time, you'll be taken care of as long as you're willing to invest.
3) Make Educated Investments
Not all investments yield the same interest, and not all relationships produce the same reward. As a leader, make investing in others a general principle, but be deliberate about putting energy into low-risk, high-reward relationships. Seek out talented people with teachable dispositions, and offer your relational capital to those who will make the most of it.
4) Initiate the investment
A stockbroker won't hack into your bank account and invest money on your behalf। You have to be willing to take the first step. Don't be stingy with your relational investments, giving only to those who've first given to you. Rather, take responsibility for setting the tone of adding value in your relationships.
This article is used by permission from Dr. John C. Maxwell's free monthly e-newsletter 'Leadership Wired' available at www.injoy.com.
In the early years of my career, I did not have a correct view of life। I approached life as if it were a slot machine। I wanted to put as little as possible into it, and I always hoped to hit the jackpot। I'm embarrassed to say that I often had a similar approach in my interaction with people. I was more focused on what people could do for me than what I could do for them. As a result, I would try to make relational "withdrawals" without ever having made any deposits. Needless to say, I was not very successful.
As I matured, I begin to place a higher value on people. As I made this transition, I noticed a fascinating development: the more I gave to relationships, the more I seemed to gain from relationships. In my book, Winning With People, I named this phenomenon The Boomerang Principle. What you put into relationships has a way of coming back to you.
During my time in leadership, I've noticed that people fall into three broad categories with regards to how they view relationships.
1) Takers
Takers receive and never give। They are the people in life who have a me-first mentality। They try to extract as much as they can from the relationships in their lives, and they rarely, if ever, consider giving back।
2) Traders
Traders receive and then give. Traders will only send you a Christmas card, if you've mailed one to them. They picture relationships as an equation in need of balance. If someone helps them, they feel a debt of gratitude. If they aid another person, they expect a favor in return.
3) Investors
Investors give and then receive. These are the people who give purely for the joy of giving. They add value to others, not as part of a cold calculation, but as a habit. Although doing so may not earn them an instant return, in the long run they reap the gratitude and goodwill of those they have helped.
Investment Strategies for Relationships
Instead of viewing relationships as a slot machine, picture them like the stock market. To get rich, make regular deposits in people over an extended period of time. At first, you may feel like the value of what you're putting in isn't worth the investment. However, like the stock market, in the long run, you'll reap dividends and earn rewards.
1) Think "Others First"
Human nature tends to focus us on personal needs, but investing in relationships requires us to prioritize others. Instead of self-advancement, think others-enhancement. Like a responsible investor, resist the temptation to "time" the relational market, using someone only for short-term gain. That's a strategy doomed to fail. On the contrary, make a habit of adding value in relationships and trust that the long-term results will be in your favor.
2) Focus on the Investment, Not the Return
If you've ever purchased stocks personally, then you know the agony of watching the vicissitudes of the market. Like a roller coaster, your portfolio climbs up one day only to lurch down the next day. Instead of agonizing over returns, a shrewd investor focuses on making the investment. The same principle holds true in relationships. Don't expect specific and immediate benefit from your relational inputs. Through time, you'll be taken care of as long as you're willing to invest.
3) Make Educated Investments
Not all investments yield the same interest, and not all relationships produce the same reward. As a leader, make investing in others a general principle, but be deliberate about putting energy into low-risk, high-reward relationships. Seek out talented people with teachable dispositions, and offer your relational capital to those who will make the most of it.
4) Initiate the investment
A stockbroker won't hack into your bank account and invest money on your behalf। You have to be willing to take the first step. Don't be stingy with your relational investments, giving only to those who've first given to you. Rather, take responsibility for setting the tone of adding value in your relationships.
This article is used by permission from Dr. John C. Maxwell's free monthly e-newsletter 'Leadership Wired' available at www.injoy.com.
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