Simple answer.  START WRITING.

I spend a lot of time thinking about what I write.  I blog multiple times every week, create content on a regular basis, and am already working on my next book project. You might find this hard to believe, but do you know that until I actually start writing, nothing gets written?  I can spend all day thinking about it, I might even have a pretty good idea on what to write.  But until I start pounding the keyboard, nothing gets done.

You have to Start before you can Finish!

I think there are a lot of similarities between this thought on writing and just about anything else you might want to achieve.  We have to START.  At some point in time, we need to decide that we are done getting ready and just go for it.

There are also similarities on what happens after you start.  I have found that in writing, it is only after you start writing the words that the story really starts to come to life.  One thought leads to another and “whaddayaknow” a few months later you have a book.

It’s no different in anything else.  You want to lose 30 pounds?  Well, you have to lose one before you can lose the other twenty-nine.  You want to make a million dollars? You have to make one before you make the other … you get the picture!

The Power of Knowledge comes through Action.

The point is, you have to START.  If you are reading this, I will make the assumption that you are fairly well educated and have acquired a significant amount of knowledge over the years.  But what are you doing with that knowledge?  I used to think knowledge was power.  NOT!  The power of knowledge does not come from simply possessing it, you must act upon it.

This gap between what we know and what we do is the gap that will lead us not only to success, but to significance.  Everyday should be a day of closing that gap.  But it takes action.  Yoda said it best; “There is no try, there is only do and do not.” [Tweet This]  So which is it going to be?

In order to close the gap we need to “DO.”  The way we do anything is to START.  I have found that it is much easier to start something small as compared to something big.  It much less intimidating and much easier to achieve.  I have seen so many people take on large tasks and fail because they did not identify the small steps along the way.

Every Great Accomplishment has been Achieved One Step at a Time.

Writing is a great example.  The idea of writing a book may seem too much for you to ever accomplish.  But how about a chapter, better yet a paragraph and if you still think it’s too much, just write out a sentence.  To my knowledge, there are no books out there that were not written “one letter” at a time.

Today’s Challenge:  Choose something in your life that you want to do but have been putting off because “it’s just to big” and break it down into small steps and START. That is how you will close the gap between what you know and what you do.

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Barry Smith  5/23/14   photo by author   © Building What Matters 2014

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Sinek, the author of Start With Why, provides a deep look into what creates the most effective teams and more importantly, what keeps them working together, even during the most difficult of times.

This is one of those books that will take you a little bit longer to read because so many thoughts require you to take another look, just to make sure you understood the power behind them.  A phenomenal effort by Sinek, Leaders Eat Last not only looks at the dynamic of the team but of the individuals that make up that team.

What really sets this book apart is Sinek’s unique look at why some people make good leaders and others don’t and the “why” behind the results they get.  In this post, the first of four, I will attempt to capture the basic thoughts of the eight parts of the book.

PART 1:  OUR NEED TO FEEL SAFE

PROTECTION FROM ABOVE – Sinek starts out the book telling the story of pilot Johnny Bravo and about his courageous actions from the battlefield.  When asked why he risked his own life to protect the lives of his fellow soldiers, he simply responded “Because they would have done it for me.”  Are you willing to do for others what you would expect them to do for you?

EMPLOYEES ARE PEOPLE TOO – The second chapter is built around this great thought from Sinek: “The leaders of great organizations do not see people as a commodity to be managed to help grow the money.  They see the money as the commodity to be managed to help grow the people.”  Imagine that … focusing on people before profits. Isn’t that interesting?

BELONGING – Sinek introduces the concept of a “Circle Of Safety.”  We all want to belong to something and when a culture is created that not only provides the opportunity to be part of it, but also provides security and stability, then engagement, fulfillment and productivity go up as well.

YEAH, BUT … – This is a great chapter.  Sinek explores the idea that it is not extra work and long hours that stress people out, but rather the loss of control.  When we are able to control our environment, we are much more inclined to remain engaged and loyal to our team.

PART 2:  POWERFUL FORCES

WHEN ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH – If you are reading this, you probably already have more than enough.  In other words, your basic needs have been met and you are living more abundantly than most of the people on this planet.  Sinek begins to take a look at the physiological reasons that influence our thoughts and actions.

E.D.S.O. – Chapter 6 provides a clear picture of the four primary chemical incentives in our bodies and what happens when these chemicals are released.

• Endorphins – This chemical masks physical pain.  This is what makes you feel good after strenuous physical activity.
• Dopamine – This is the chemical that makes us feel satisfied, a sense of achievement or accomplishment.
• Sarotonin – This chemical provides a feeling of pride, respect or value.  This builds our self-esteem.
• Oxytocin – This is what enables us to form friendships, feel love, and build deep trust.

Sinek does a masterful job describing how all of these play into our role as a leader.

THE BIG C – No, not that one.  Cortisol is responsible for the stress and anxiety that we feel when something goes bump in the night.  It is our bodies way of telling us that something is not right.  The problem is that although it is a defense mechanism, it also puts strain on our body.  Using it to our advantage is the challenge.

WHY WE HAVE LEADERS – In order to function as a productive team, organization, or community, someone has to make the first move.  Someone has to lead.  Someone has to set a course in a new direction or we will simply exist where we are.  Someone has to make the first sacrifice so others can follow.

I know we are early in the year, but I have a pretty strong feeling that Leaders Eat Last will be one of my top books for 2014.  I actually had to good fortune to meet Simon Sinek earlier this week and hear him speak from the stage.

I can tell you this much, Sinek is the real deal.  In a crowded hotel lobby, he gave me his undivided attention and made me feel like the only one in the room.  He practices what he preaches and is consistent with his message.

Pulling from his highly viewed TEDTalk video, “People don’t buy into what you do, they buy into why you do it,”  (Tweet This / Post to LinkedIn) Leaders Eat Last will fill you in on the “why” that leaders use to lead.

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Barry Smith  3/6/14   photo courtesy of amazon   © Building What Matters 2014

The post Leaders Eat Last – Part 1; The Forces That Keep Us Safe appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

I have to admit that, compared to the rest of the world, I have had it pretty easy during my 48+ years on this planet.  I have always had my needs met and have had more than my share of wants.  I used to take this for granted but after spending a week in Guatemala last June, I realized how blessed I have been.

As much as I appreciate my good fortune, my reflection on my life has helped me to understand that I allowed that blessing to be a crutch at the same time.  I never really felt a sense of urgency growing up.  I never got into that mental or emotional state of despair that some would consider a place of urgency.

Because of that, I have struggled to apply a sense of urgency to really, much of anything in my life.  Don’t get me wrong, I have faced deadlines and situations where the pressure was on, but I always saw a path to the end.  I never realized how this was setting me up for failure.   Maybe failure is the wrong word here, but I have gone through most of my life assuming that things will simply work out and they usually did.

“We are more ready to try the untried when what we do is inconsequential.” – Eric Hoffer  (Tweet This / Post to LinkedIn)

The real impact in this is that complacency and mediocrity, the status quo, became an acceptable outcome for me.  If you know me, you know that I have always had a strong work ethic and have accomplished quite a bit in my lifetime.  That being said, the idea of “Proactive Urgency” that Keiper describes in great detail was never part of my game plan and I realize now how much more I could have accomplished.  Never too late to learn, right!

In this, the first of three posts, I want to offer up Keiper’s thought provoking take on the idea of Proactive Urgency.  Keiper ends each of the 17 chapters with an “Urgency Rule” and I want to highlight a few to set the frame for the rest of the book.

Urgency Rule #1 – Proactive urgency is purposeful, insistent, committed action pursued with a passionate edge.  It is an activist choice to access your deepest personal power for the creation of almost immediate transformation.

What would be on your list of items that you are purposeful in, insistent upon and committed to?  All I can say is I need a bigger list!

Urgency Rule #4 – The world has changed.  Our long-trusted external support systems are weakening.  Self-reliance in thought and action is critical for reaching your most important objectives.

Based on current statistics, the things that we could once depend on – work, family, education and religion are becoming diluted in today’s cyber-world.  Unfortunately, our ability to find strength in those items is becoming more difficult.  These were once the foundation of our existence and now they have become, for many, simply things that fit in when we have time.

Urgency Rule #6 – Choosing to act with on-demand urgency yields continuous, incremental advantages.  Think of pro-urgency as your edge in a competition – your life where winning by fractions always matters.

It’s true, the difference between winning and losing or success and failure in often found in the minor details.  The smallest of details do matter.  Just ask an Olympic swimmer or downhill racer.  A sense of urgency might just give you the advantage that makes the difference.

The question: Who do you know that displays this “Proactive Urgency” in their life that has resulted in success?

The challenge:  Go talk to them and find out how they use it and how you can apply the same principles in your life.

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Join me on the STOP CHALLENGE CHOOSE 12 week health transformation

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Barry Smith  2/5/14   photo courtesy of amazon   © Building What Matters 2014

The post The Power Of Urgency – Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late! appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

I have spent much of the past two or three years studying what separates those who succeed from those that don’t.  I have come to the conclusion that it comes down to not what they are trying to do, but why they are trying to doing it.

Back to my opening statement.  For me, that lingering item has been my health.  I have never been able to figure it out.  My wife Michelle sets a great example for me.  She eats good, sleeps 8+ hours a night and runs five days a week.  Beyond that, I want to be in good health.  Even though I am 48, I feel like I am younger than that but at the same time, feel time catching up – if you know what I mean!

A couple of friends of mine, Chemae and Eric, are Take Shape For Life coaches and after years of listening to stories about success they have been having with their clients, I decided to put some of the health principles that they teach to the test.

About six months ago, I started eating smaller meals and cut way back on sugar and carbs.  Boom!  Instant results.  By early November I had hit my first benchmark.  I had dropped twenty pounds and thought I had this health thing all figured out.  After all, I am a professional coach.  Should be easy, right?  Maybe not.

A month later and no more progress.  So I did what I should have done to begin with. Reached back to Eric and Chemae and said “Help!”  Three words made a huge difference.  Here they are and why they are so important.

STOP

When things are not going the way you want.  When you just aren’t getting the results you are looking for – STOP!  I didn’t say quit, I said stop.  I know you have heard the saying “If you keep doing what you’ve been doing, you’ll keep getting what you’ve been getting.”  So if this is the case – stop and take a minute to figure out why things are not working out.  How do you do this?  Simple …

CHALLENGE

If you are not getting the results you were looking for, challenge the thought process that you have been using to get them.  Challenge your why.  Most of all, challenge what you know about what you want and why you want it.  (Tweet This / Share on Facebook / Post to LinkedIn) Knowledge is power and sometimes even when our why is the right one – we don’t understand it enough to make it strong enough to provide the strength to succeed.  OK, then what?

CHOOSE

Now you are a little bit smarter.  Now choose a new path.  The destination might still be the same but now you can make the needed course corrections and get back after it. Life is about choices and usually, the better informed we are, the better choices we make.  Clarity also makes the decision making process much easier.  Eliminate the things that didn’t or won’t work and then you have less to choose from.

So does this work?  Well, one week into following the Take Shape For Life program and I was down 5 more pounds and getting more sleep.  In reality, the process impressed me so much that it struck me that this would be a great addition to be able to provide the same support and resources to my own clients.  Most of them have health related issues on their list anyway so why not add a plan that actually works into the services I provide.

So I have added health coach to my resume.  I joined the Take Shape For Life team earlier this month and am looking forward to sharing a path to Optimal Health with my network of clients and colleagues.  If you are interested in finding out more about the TSFL program I would encourage to visit my TSFL page by clicking here and contact me if you think it makes sense for you and I will help you get started.

There is also a great opportunity that you can sign up for through March 1st.  If you are interested in finding your own path to Optimal Health, join along with thousands of others and sign up for the STOP CHALLENGE CHOOSE (sound familiar) 12 Week Health Transformation.  No cost.  No strings.  Simply an email a day full of great content and tools that can really make a difference for you in your journey to getting healthier.

Just click here and you will be redirected to the Stop Challenge Choose webpage. Click on the I Know / Have a Coach button and put in my name “Barry Smith” and that’s it. Starting on the next Monday, you will receive a daily email full of great value related to improving your health.  If you have any questions along the way, just let me know.

A question today that you may have never asked yourself before – What does Optimal Health look like to you?

You might have already guessed my challenge – Sign up for the STOP CHALLENGE CHOOSE 12 Week Health Transformation and find out what Optimal Health might look like for you. 

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Barry Smith    1/27/14   photo by author   © Building What Matters 2014

The post Change Your Outcome When You Stop, Challenge and Choose appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

If you are still on track with your goals – good on you.  That being said, it takes about 30 days to start a new habit or become consistent in the transformation you are seeking.  It will probably get a little tougher before it get’s easier.

I don’t want to jinx the future, but I believe this post will help you through the tough times as you take on these new challenges.  One of my mentors taught me that failure won’t ruin you, it will reveal you.  What does that mean?  What I believe it means is that as you begin to slip from your commitment to heading to the gym, writing 500 words a day or whatever else it might be, challenge yourself to understand what is being revealed in that failure.

Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Learn!

Remember what John Maxwell says; “Sometimes you win and sometimes you learn.” You see, failure won’t ruin you.  You have attempted many goals in the past and like all of us, have failed almost as many times.  That doesn’t have to be the end.  But here is the deal – you won’t achieve every goal you set out to.  Sorry – simply speaking the truth here.  I am more concerned with why we fail.  More specifically – what is revealed in the process.

It has been said that; “When you have a strong enough WHY, the how will take care of itself.”  (Tweet This / Share on Facebook / Post to LinkedIn)

So put your why to the test.  When you fall short you have two choices.  You can look at it as failure or you can see what is revealed during the process.

Plan Your Work And Work Your Plan!

Maybe your why is strong enough, but you have failed to set yourself up for success and left out a key ingredient to success.  Maybe the environment you are in is not conducive to your success.  Achieving goals is much more than simply the desire to change or start something new.  You need a game plan – and one that will work.

I think the biggest reason people don’t achieve their goals is because they don’t put enough thought into the way to achieve the goal.  They simply write down on a piece of paper what they want to achieve, tape it to the refrigerator and hope that looking at it a few times a day will give them the motivation they need to achieve it.

The Fifteen Minute Miracle

I know many of you are killing it so far.  On track and feeling strong.  Some of you may be struggling or have already given up on one or more of the goals you set for 2014. There is nothing wrong with the idea of “don’t fix it if it’s not broke” but if there is an opportunity to get better, why not consider it?  Don’t give up!  There is still time to get back on track – maybe all you need is a little more clarity and a slight course correction.

15 Minute Miracle

I lead a group of new members to the John Maxwell Team through a 90 Day Success Roadmap and one of the resources we use is called the 15 Minute Miracle.  This very simple and highly powerful tool almost guarantees success – if you use it right – and will make you much more productive immediately.

All you have to do is break down your day into 15 minute increments.  What?  That’s it?  Yes!  I know what you’re thinking … it can’t be that easy.  Well it’s not – it’s not because you have to actually do it and do it consistently. Give it a shot and tell me I’m wrong.

A simple but very important question for you today.  Have you created the right plan to achieve your goals?  Remember – set yourself up for success!  When you face failure, ask yourself what is being revealed – what has contributed to the failure and how can I change it.
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Barry Smith    1/13/14   photo by author   © Building What Matters 2014

The post Failure Won’t Ruin You, It Will Reveal You! appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

I have had my share of challenges just like everyone else, but for the most part, things have worked out for me and I never had to discipline myself to achieve some major goal or overcome a significant challenge.  To be honest, I think this has hurt me more than help me.  I think a lot can be learned from being disciplined to do something consistently and once completed, I think it empowers you to achieve even more.

The last few years I have had high expectations of myself and have set many goals. Many I achieved and some I did not.  Why did I fail in some areas?  I think I can point to one common theme – Discipline.

Now I’m a pretty smart guy (most of the time) and it didn’t take me too long to realize that if I am going to accomplish the goals I set for myself, I need discipline.  So I did the smart thing – I asked for some help.  I now have a few people holding me accountable to be disciplined.  End of story – mission accomplished – right?

Well sort of.  This is where I think I have been messed up in my thinking.  I know other people that are disciplined.  They run so many miles a week.  They go to the gym so many days a week and so on.  We all know these people.  They seem to accomplish whatever they set out to do.  What makes the difference?  How come they get it done consistently?

Well here is what I think.  They get it done consistently because they START consistently.  Starting is the key to finishing.  Here are some helpful ways to get you started.

STORY – If you are attempting to be disciplined, there is a story behind why you are doing it.  What is your story?  Are you clear on the reasons you are attempting to start, stop, do more or do less of something?  A strong story will provide the strength to succeed.

TELL SOMEONE – I mentioned it earlier, have someone hold you accountable.  Make sure they know exactly what it is that you are trying to accomplish.  No one can do as much by themselves as they can with the help of others.

ACTION – Actually doing the work is what will accomplish the goal.  Starting is the first step to finishing and starting takes action.  Wanting to do something is great, but that intention, by itself will accomplish nothing.

RISK – Let’s spin it a little bit.  We usually look at doing something new based on what it will add to our lives.  How often do you evaluate the risk of not doing something?  Sometimes the real risk is in deciding to do nothing at all.

TIME MANAGEMENT – What is the best way to start something?  Get it on your calendar.  This has been the best tool I have found to help me reach my goals.  My calendar does half the work for me.

So back to the question posed in the title of this post.  Is discipline the hard part or the easy part?  In my opinion, it is the hard part.  Doing the work is really pretty easy once you start.  When was the last time you gt in your car to go to the gym and turned around half way to go back home?  When was the last time you went for a walk and turned around at the end of your driveway?

A month from now, everyone will be talking about New Year’s Resolutions.  My challenge for you today – START NOW!  Unless of course, you can tell me why January 1st is a better day than today to start doing something you need to do now.

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Barry Smith   12/2/13   photo by author   © Building What Matters 2013

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Have you ever wondered how many people actually base their decisions at election time on the platform of the candidate they vote for or simply to change who will be in office?  I have.  No political statement here, I think this way of thinking impacts both parties.

Here is the problem.  These vote are not voting for something, they are actually voting against something.  That something is the way things have been.  Doing this is no more productive than rolling the dice.  50/50 chance right?  So is a fifty percent chance good enough for you?  I am sure most would answer am emphatic “NO!”

Let’s take a look at this from the personal perspective.  How intentional are you about making changes in your life?  I was working with a client recently who has a difficult challenge ahead of him.  We sat down and went through the entire situation and game planned it out step by step, IN WRITING.

By the end of the session, the client had the clarity and self-confidence to tackle the challenge head on.  This is what happens when there is intentionality added to the equation.

So let’s revisit something that I have talked about before when it come to change.  When you plan to change something, it usually helps to have goals to do so.  These goals should be SMART goals.  Some of you already know about SMART goals so for you this is simply a reminder to make them SMART.  If you don’t know about them, your are about to receive the golden ticket to success.

SPECIFIC

Make your goals specific.  When you are very clear on what it is you are trying to change, you will have a much better chance to succeed.  Be as specific as you can eve if it adds sub-goals to reach the desired outcome.

MEASURABLE

Make your goals measurable.  If you can clearly identify whether or not you are accomplishing what you set out to do, you won’t get results you are looking for.

ATTAINABLE

Make sure that your desired change is realistic.  If you plan it out step by step, you should be able to identify whether or not you can actually achieve it.  The more you break it down, the easier it becomes to see if each step is doable or not.

RELEVANT

So often we simply desire change for the sake of change.  Your goals should be relevant to achieving your purpose of following your passion.  If the goal is not, you may want to questions why you are seeking it.

TIME BOUND

Set a specific date or time period to the change you are looking for.  This not only creates accountability to the process but also allows you to measure progress along the way.

I think everyone is looking for some type of change in their life.  So a simple question for you today friends:

“Are you tired of the results you’ve been getting?  If you are, maybe it’s time to change what you’ve been doing.  And if you are going to change, be SMART about it!”

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Barry Smith    7/5/13   photo by amazon   © Building What Matters 2013

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The 5 Pillars is a project that I have been working on for almost two years and am looking forward to officially launching “The 5 Pillars of Influential Leadership” Coaching program on May 23th.

Why the 5 Pillars?  I have spent more than 30 years in the business world and although it has been primarily in the Construction world, the 5 Pillars philosophy works across all industries.  In fact, while developing this program I realized that it can have a significant impact on your personal life as well.

I will break down each Pillar into three sections, personal, business and community. Any growth or improvement needs to start within, with the end goal of influencing the community you live in.  In this post we will take a look at PERSONAL GROWTH.

Our personal growth journey is highly dependent on two things; Intentionality and Accountability.  Deciding to do something accomplishes little.  You have to do it.  In more cases than not, you need to be held accountable to achieve your goals.  Let’s take a look at some of the areas we need to be growing in daily.

CHARACTER

It has been said that the true test of character is how you act when nobody else is looking.  I think there is much truth to that statement, however, the real truth is that people are looking. What do you think people see when they are looking at you?

ATTITUDE

Most of us have a tendency to blame something or someone when something goes wrong. This is usually reflected in our attitude.  The simple fact is that we are the only one that can determine our attitude.  Simply put, it is a choice.  Only we can decide how our attitude will be and the thing often overlooked is how contagious that attitude can be.

PERSONAL GROWTH

We all know the things that we need to do, but how many of them are we actually doing? Personal growth is what takes us to the next level.  Determine where you want to go and you will know how you need to grow.

SACRIFICE

One of my mentors once told me that to say yes to one thing is saying no to another.  I never really looked at it that way but it’s true and sometimes saying no means that you have to sacrifice something.  What is one thing in your life right now, that you could sacrifice, to make room for something else more important?

PERSEVERANCE

We have all heard the phrase “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”  As related to that statement, how tough are you?  Winston Churchill said; “Never, never, never give up.”  Sounds like pretty good advice to me.  You really have to ask yourself the question; “How bad do I really want it.”

DISCIPLINE

Jim Rohn said; “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.”  When you think about it, he is spot on.  To set a goal is one thing, to accomplish it, is entirely another.  New Year’s resolution anyone!  Have someone hold you accountable and you will be amazed at how much better you get regarding discipline.

INTEGRITY

What things prompt you to compromise your integrity?  We all have a certain value system that when asked a question, the answer is obvious, yet when actually tempted, the answer becomes much more clouded.  What things do you do in your life that demonstrate you are a person of integrity?  Maybe this is a difficult question to answer.

SELF-CONFIDENCE

Self-confidence may be the most important piece in your personal journey of growth.  I think the most important thing we can do to grow is to believe in ourselves.  You can have the same impact on others by believing in them as well.  Henry Ford said; “If you think you can or you think you can’t you are probably right.”  Do you agree with Mr. Ford?

SELF-CONTROL

Self-control is the ability to choose the right thing over the wrong thing.  Maybe it’s the food you eat, the words you say or the behavior you exhibit.  The ability to control your actions comes from the ability to make a decision.  Putting thought into the “why” behind that decision will always push you in the right direction.

The 5 Pillars coaching program will take each topic to a much deeper level.  We will explore open ended questions and how they are directly impacting your life and more specifically in this segment, will allow you to evaluate and understand how you alone are the only one who can craft your personal growth journey.

In the mean time, start asking the type of questions that will result in better answers. When you ask “How can I”  you get an answer that will move the needle.  “How can I be held accountable to accomplish the things I know I need to do?”  Answer that question, act on it, and you will succeed.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER FOR THE MAY 23RD CALL

RELATED:

• Click here to see Part 1 of The 5 Pillars Of Influential Leadership
• Click here to see Part 2 of The 5 Pillars Of Influential Leadership
• Click here to see Part 3 of The 5 Pillars Of Influential Leadership
• Click here to see Part 4 of The 5 Pillars Of Influential Leadership
• Click here to see Part 5 of The 5 Pillars Of Influential Leadership
• Click here to see Part 6 of The 5 Pillars Of Influential Leadership
• Click here to see Part 7 of The 5 Pillars Of Influential Leadership
• For more on The 5 Pillars of Influential Leadership and to view my video click here
• To view my guest post in the 2013 International Leadership Blogathon click here

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Barry Smith    5/23/13   photo by author   © Building What Matters 2013

The post The 5 Pillars Of Influential Leadership – Part 8: My Growth Plan! appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

Living a fulfilled, meaningful life requires growth.  One of my focus points as a coach, trainer, speaker and author is growth.  Whenever I address the subject of growth, I always bring up the two components required for growth.  Intentionality and Accountability.

The first two Pillars of my 5 Pillars of Influential Leadership are Awareness and Environment.  Both of these are critical to our growth.  Once we realize where we are and where we want to be and how that journey will be impacted by the environment we find ourselves in, we are ready to grow.

But as I said, growth only comes through Intentionality and Accountability.  Certainly there are many other factors that will determine how you grow and the rate in which you do it, but the first step is always intentionality.

Every time I use the word “try” when speaking with one of my coaches or mentors, I hear the silence on the other end of line.  I love this quote from one of the greatest visionaries in history, Yoda.  “Do or do not, there is no try.”  Trying get’s you to the line of intention, but accomplishes nothing.  Like Yoda said, “do or do not.”
We have to have the try to get headed in the right direction, but growth comes from actually doing it.  Doing it comes through accountability.

Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement and success have no meaning.”  –  Benjamin Franklin

It doesn’t matter how you define success, you have to be a life long learner to continue to achieve that success.  When you stop growing, you put a cap on your potential and I believe that when you stop moving forward you are moving backward.

Growing means stretching outside of your comfort zone.  It means doing things you have not done before.  It means facing the failure of not succeeding the first time you attempt something new.  Many people have a tendency to quit when the going get’s tough.

PERSONAL GROWTH requires SACRIFICE, SELF-CONTROL, DISCIPLINE and PERSEVERANCE.  Your ATTITUDE is really a reflection of your CHARACTER.

Your INTEGRITY will create CONSISTENCY and CREDIBILITY.  Understanding your PRIORITIES will allow you to maximize your PERFORMANCE.

COMMITMENT to EDUCATION will help you overcome ADVERSITY and positve ACTION will help build SELF-CONFIDENCE and EMPOWER you in the FULFILLMENT of your GOALS.

If you want to do more, achieve more and become more, you need to grow more.  So my question today is simple, “How far are you willing to grow?”

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On May 23rd, at 8:00 pm ET, I will be hosting a free call introducing “The 5 Pillars Of Influential Leadership” Coaching Program.

This will be a content filled call that will not only teach you about influential leadership but also about leading an intentional and successful life.  The words in capitals above are topics within Pillar #3 – GROWTH.

This is the third of five posts related to the 5 Pillars that will go out prior to the call on the 23rd.

For more information and to register for the free call CLICK HERE.

To see the first video on Pillar #1 – AWARENESS click here

To see the second video on Pillar #2 – ENVIRONMENT click here

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Barry Smith    5/17/13   photo by author   © Building What Matters 2013

The post GROWTH: You Will Only Go As Far As You Are Willing To GROW appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

Honestly, I dream of the day when I am not stressed out about something.  I am not sure that day will ever come, but if it does, I know that I will have to deal with a little more stress before it does.

Is going through stress the only way to eliminate stress?  Sometimes I wonder!  I know there are people that are out there as they say “carefree and fancy free.”  I am not sure I know what that means and that’s probably because I don’t fall into that category.

OK, maybe I should write something productive instead of stating the obvious.  Here goes.  There are many different kinds of stress that we all deal with.  I think the short term solution is to manage stress.  You can’t make it all go away today and you definitely can’t control all the variables that lead up to it.  Here are some of the types of stress that I have first-hand knowledge of:

PHYSICAL STRESS

There are many different reasons we suffer from physical stress.  Your job may require you to exert a tremendous amount of energy or you may simply be on a rigorous workout program.  Both can create physical stress but both for good reasons.  On the other hand, maybe you are suffering from physical stress due to lack of exercise or poor eating habits and find even the most basic activities challenging.

MENTAL STRESS

Have you ever heard someone say that their brain hurts?  I have used the phrase to describe how I feel after a full day in front of the computer. My brain doesn’t really hurt, but I feel like it should after how much I just used it.  Let’s face it, when we are up against a challenge that requires extreme focus, it is going to create mental stress.

EMOTIONAL STRESS

This is probably the big one.  Our emotions are probably the most difficult thing for us to manage.  Even the slightest of things can set us off.  Often times, these are minor things that trigger something bigger and then the blow up.  It all comes down to whatever thing is stressing us out turning us into a ticking time bomb.

I have not really stated anything above that you didn’t already know, so what’s the point.  The point is that all of these types of stress can be reduced if we choose to. Huh?  I said choose to.

Yesterday I made bad choices.  My list that I wanted done by mid-afternoon didn’t even start until mid-afternoon.  My wife asked me to make her a Blueberry-smoothie and as I proudly prepared to pour the masterpiece into a cup for her, the bottom fell out and I ended up with an 18″ wide frozen blueberry pancake spread across the counter (I should have taken a picture of that, but I was too frustrated to even think of the photo-op.)  Most everything else went wrong yesterday and my stress level and attitude reflected it.

What happened yesterday?  I let things get to me.  That’s usually when things go bad. How do we avoid letting things get to us?  That’s the million dollar question and a topic for another day.  But this I know … when we let circumstances control our actions our actions will result in our circumstances.

Here’s a thought … Next time things are getting to you (and they will) – consider this question, “what would be the best possible outcome right now?”  I would suggest that merely asking the question will reduce your level of stress!  And you might just get a really good answer.

Have a great day!  It’s the only one you have until tomorrow!

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Don’t miss a single post in this series from Building What Matters by subscribing at the top left of this page.

For more information on my next Deeper Path Cohort click here

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Barry Smith www.buildingwhatmatters.com 4/14/13 photo by author

The post Has Being “Stressed Out” Become the Norm? appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.