Four sections, seventeen chapters, and almost 40,000 words.  The thought of writing a book never would have even entered my mind three years ago. And now I have done it.  I typed the last word, hit save and just looked at the screen.  What now?

Since I started blogging almost two years ago, I have looked at many more of my experiences as not just something that happened, but something to write about.  If you think about it, there is really something to be learned in almost everything that happens to us.

I spent a good part of today reflecting on my journey through this book project.  There are many different challenges I faced.  I went back and forth on the things that many authors probably do. Things like what chapter to put where and what quotes to insert for emphasis and character.  You know, author stuff.

But as I put word count and punctuation to rest for a while, I discovered that there are much bigger lessons that I learned.

It’s not over until it’s over, and it will never be over.

I felt a multitude of emotions as I looked at the screen, which for the first time in weeks, did not have a word document icon appearing in the task bar.  I felt excited that it was done.  I felt anxious because there is still quite a bit to do before it actually hits a bookshelf.  Finish the cover art, editing, interior layout and so on.  The words are written, but the project is far from over.

The thought that came next was actually quite inspirational.  This book, due to the isbn number it has been assigned, will be forever.  Well, as long as they keep track of that stuff I guess.  But that will probably be quite a while.

Our decisions and actions don’t only determine our future.

But the thing that struck me is that the content will be able to add value indefinitely. This magnified the fact that lots of things we do will last forever.  The decisions we make and the actions we take all frame what comes next.  Every single thing, even down to the smallest detail, will set a unique trajectory for our future.

Let me give you an example.  Suppose you go to the store and the checkout clerk is clearly having a bad day.  You could return the attitude or you could value the person instead of the action and show them some random act of kindness, thank them and go on your way.

Random acts of kindness really do matter!

Now that experience might be done for you, but you have no idea what a difference it might have made for them.  It might have changed the direction of their entire day, including what happens when they get home with their spouse and kids.

You don’t have to think too hard to realize my new book, Leadership by Invitation, is about leadership.  One of the most popular quotes by my mentor John Maxwell is, “Leadership is Influence, Nothing More and Nothing Less.”  (Tweet This / Post on LinkedIn)

In the book, I make a very clear case that everyone is a leader.  After all, we all influence others in some way or another, don’t we?  My point is this.  The things you do matter.  They all matter.  The thing we overlook all too often is how much they can continue to matter, even after we think we are done.  Your influence matters.  Make it count!

The Question:  How much do you think about the collateral impact of your actions?

The Challenge:  Do something today for someone that won’t matter at all to you after your done, but will make a big difference for them.
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Click here to get a copy of my Kindle Book “The Manifesto Of An Influential Leader”

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Barry Smith  2/14/14   image by Kendra Lynn Cagle   © Building What Matters 2014

The post Done Isn’t Done; Sometimes It’s Just The Beginning appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

This month we are masterminding through The Men Who Built America, a DVD produced by the History Channel along with Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill to compliment the mini-series built around some of the great early leaders and entrepreneurs that help build the United States into a world power at the end of the 19th Century.

If you don’t know the back story on how these two connect together, Napoleon Hill was commissioned by Andrew Carnegie to study the most successful people and find out what resulted in their success.  The men who built America were among many of the 20,000+ that Hill interviewed over the twenty year period it took him to write the book.

This month we are going take a look at Andrew Carnegie, Thomas Edison, JP Morgan and Henry Ford.  In this, the first of four posts, we will take a look at Andrew Carnegie.

Carnegie is most recognized for the steel empire he built that would later become the U.S. Steel Company after being sold to J.P. Morgan in 1901 for the equivalent of 13.5 Billion Dollars in today’s economy.  But there is much more to Carnegie’s story.

So what was it that took a boy born into poverty in the Country of Scotland to become one of the wealthiest men in the America?  Lets take a look at three of the things that Napoleon Hill discovered:

Rags To Riches

DESIRE

“Every act you have ever performed since the day you were born was performed because you wanted something.” – Andrew Carnegie

Carnegie spent his early years in business watching men like Vanderbilt, Rockefeller and Thomas Scott.  He watched them build their empires and when his opportunity came, he knew exactly what he wanted and that desire never left. From one venture to the next his desire empowered him to find a way to achieve it.

Is It Time To Get A Bigger Box?

IMAGINATION

“Think of yourself as on the threshold of unparalleled success. A whole, clear, glorious life lies before you. Achieve! Achieve!” – Andrew Carnegie

One of the events showcased in the mini-series is when Thomas Scott, Carnegie’s mentor and boss,  asked Carnegie to build and oversee the design and construction of a bridge across the Mississippi River.  Scott suggested a man who according to Scott, “could do anything”, to design it.  As it turned out, the designer said it was impossible.  Carnegie responded with a emphatic “Nothing is Impossible.”  From there he imagined the construction of the bridge using steel and thus began the legacy of Carnegie Steel.

Just When You Think You’ve Had Enough …

PERSISTENCE

“People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents.” – Andrew Carnegie

All these men, including Carnegie, defined the spirit on entrepreneurship.  I won’t suggest that they came up with entirely new ideas (except for possibly Edison) but they figured out entirely new ways to use what was already there, how to use it more efficiently, or how to produce it quicker and cheaper.  None of these advances came with failure.  10,000 tries at the light bulb ring any bells for you?  But all these men, especially Carnegie refused to quit.  They persisted until they succeeded.

Most equate the success of these men to industry and the technological advances of their time.  I believe what really made them more successful than anyone else of their time was their entrepreneurial spirit.  They were visionaries.  They saw what other didn’t and did what others couldn’t and achieved the impossible.  (Tweet This / Share on Facebook / Post to LinkedIn)

This will be a great mastermind study.  None of these men were angels, but one thing about them – they never let anyone else limit what they could do.

So I have a question for you to ponder today.  What limits are holding you back for doing what you want to do and becoming who you want to be?

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Barry Smith  1/8/14   photo courtesy of Amazon   © Building What Matters 2014

The post The Men Who Built America – Andrew Carnegie appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

For more than two years Scott Fay has been my coach, mentor, and most importantly, my friend. When I was trying to separate who I was from what I did, and come up with a plan for the rest of my life, Scott believed in me and pushed me in the right direction.

Yes, this is another book that focuses a lot on leadership, but Scott provides 7 steps, built around the idea of Design, Build & Maintain, that will guide you along a path to success and significance in whatever lane you are travelling.

PHASE 1: DESIGN YOUR LEADERSHIP ENVIRONMENT

STEP 1 – Discover Your Sweet Spot – Design with the End in Mind

That design, when done correctly, will land in your Sweet Spot.  Scott breaks down your sweet spot like this; “The convergence of three things: Purpose, Passion, and Plan.”

• Purpose is who you are designed to be.
• Passion is what you love to do.
• Plan is the strategic convergence of being and doing.

STEP 2 – Sweat the Small Stuff – The Devils are in the Design

This is a great step.  Scott describes the importance of ALL the details, especially the small ones because they really represent the minor adjustments that can make a major difference.  Scott gives us the infamous five that seem to show up the most often.

1. Poor Drainage
2. Context Confusion
3. High Traffic
4. Aesthetic Misfit
5. Short-Sighted Plan

PHASE 2: BUILD YOUR LEADERSHIP ENVIRONMENT

STEP 3 – Tear Out, Then Build Up

He provides a great three step process to eradicate these weeds, or “excuses,” that are in the way of construction.  This is crucial.  If the weeds are not removed during the build phase to allow the new “roots” to take hold, you will will be focusing on pulling weeds the rest of your life.

1. Identify your weeds.
2. Own your weeds.
3. Eradicate the weeds.

STEP 4 – Build Midcourse Corrections

Scott gives us four things to consider regarding course corrections:

1. Intersect the issue.
2. Correct the problem.
3. Protect the goal.
4. Reflect the outcome.

PHASE 3: MAINTAIN YOUR LEADERSHIP ENVIRONMENT

STEP 5 – PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT: Poor Maintenance Costs You More In The Long Run

To maintain the success, or significance, that we have achieved will not sustain itself unless we commit to continual growth.  Scott suggests asking questions to keep us on top of our game.  Here are his Elite 8:

1. What do I do best?
2. How can I do it better?
3. Who can I best serve doing it?
4. Of the things I currently do, what should I do more?
5. Of the things I currently do, what should I do less?
6. Of the things I currently do, what should I stop?
7. What should I start doing?
8. What am I missing?

STEP 6 – MAINTAIN THE MAIN THING: Keep Your Vision within Sight at All Times

Scott describes the importance of vision and how, unless we keep it on the forefront, it will soon be lost.  Here are his “Five Lenses of Maintaining Vision”:

1. Define The Vision 
2. Develop the Vision 
3. Drill the Vision
4. Distinguish the Vision 
5. Demonstrate the Vision 

STEP 7 – GIVE WHAT YOU CAN’T KEEP: Legacies are Maintained by Investing in Others

Investing in others and believing in them is the way we can leave our fingerprint on generations to come. We can’t take anything with us, but we can clearly leave something behind. (Tweet This / Share on Facebook / Post to LinkedIn)

I have reviewed numerous books and many have had a specific topic or targeted audience. Discover Your Sweet Spot is for everyone.  We all have a Sweet Spot, but very few are living in it.

Today’s challenge: Click Here and join us on a call that will help you on your way to living in your Sweet Spot

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Barry Smith    1/6/14   photo courtesy of Scott M Fay   © Building What Matters 2014

The post Isn’t It About Time You Start Living In Your Sweet Spot? appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

I grew up thinking that being a character was a bad thing … a trouble maker, an instigator, basically one who thrives on creating chaos.  It was not until later in life that I understood what character is all about.

You have probably heard the expression; “true character is how you act when nobody is looking.”  That may be true but what about when they are looking?  I won’t dispute the merit in that statement and I believe that it is probably true.  But I think the more important point is that who we are when nobody is looking shapes who we are when we are being watched.

I look back at my life and could easily site several times when acting as a character I was clearly acting without character.  Fortunately, I can say that those experiences have given me a good understanding of the difference between the two.

So how important is character?  Well, let me tell you what I think.  Character trumps just about every other personality trait we can have.  Why?  Because everything else flows through this idea.  People of poor character are seldom trusted or respected.  People of poor character are not committed or dependable.  People of poor character may equally demonstrate values in ethics or morals.

Simply put, if you lack character, you will lack the skills needed to be a leader.  Now maybe you are thinking “so what, I am not, nor do I want to be a leader anyway.”  Well let me share a little insight with you.  John Maxwell says that “Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less.”  He also says that “Everything rises and falls on leadership.”

You may or may not agree with those statements, but let me ask you a question.  Do you ever try and influence others to agree with you?  Have you ever tried to persuade someone to believe what you believe?  Thought so!

Here is my point.  Character represents who you are.  It doesn’t matter what you do, your ability to influence others is going to boil down to their perception of your character.

So how do you demonstrate strong character?  Simple – start by doing the right thing.  If you want to have more influence and heaven forbid, be an influential leader, you need to do more than just the right thing, you need to do the things that you don’t have to do.

Look around and see who you believe is an influential leader.  My bet says they are doing things that they don’t have to do.  Non-profit work.  Community involvement.  Donating time to help those lacking the knowledge or resources to do something on their own.  The list goes on.

No, you don’t have to do these things but guess what?  People of high character, no matter where you are, will be doing things they don’t have to do.

So let me ask you a question; “If asked, would someone who knows you refer to you as a character or a person of character?”  They don’t have to be mutually exclusive but they better be individually identifiable!

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SAVE THE DATE:  On October 10th, John will be doing a WEBCAST to teach from his new book and introduce the Maxwell Leadership Assessment.  CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE WEBCAST

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Barry Smith    10/7/13   photo by author   © Building What Matters 2013

The post Being A Character Does Not Mean You Have Character appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

Although the official release of Scott’s first book, Discover Your Sweet Spot – The 7 Steps to Create a Life of Success and Significance, is not scheduled until the first of the year, I have had the opportunity to be included in a group to receive an early release of the book.

Yes, this is another book that focuses a lot on leadership, but Scott provides 7 steps that will guide you along a path to success and significance in whatever lane you are travelling.

Scott is the Vice President of the John Maxwell Team and one of the team mentors.  A very successful businessman in the Landscaping business, Scott parallels the ideas of DESIGN, BUILD and MAINTAIN into whatever environment we find ourselves.

This will be the first of three posts taking us through the 7 steps that will teach us how to Design, Build and Maintain a life of success and significance.

PHASE 1: DESIGN YOUR LEADERSHIP ENVIRONMENT

STEP 1 – Discover Your Sweet Spot – Design with the End in Mind

For the last 30 years I have spent countless hours reviewing construction drawings.  Without fail, the better the design, the better the project and more importantly, the fewer problems along the way.

It has been right in front of me most of my life and I never got it, not until Scott showed me how just as a good design can produce a great project, it can produce the same in your life or leadership ability as well.

That design, when done correctly, will land in your Sweet Spot.  Scott breaks down your sweet spot like this; “The convergence of three things: Purpose, Passion, and Plan.”

• Purpose is who you are designed to be.
• Passion is what you love to do.
• Plan is the strategic convergence of being and doing.

As Scott puts it; “Living and working from our Sweet Spot results from intentional design, not accidental disorder.”  I love that!  Are you living by design or disorder?

STEP 2 – Sweat the Small Stuff – The Devils are in the Design

This is a great step.  Scott describes the importance of ALL the details, especially the small ones because they really represent the minor adjustments that can make a major difference.

These “Design Devils” come in many different forms and again pulling from his years in the landscape business Scott gives us the infamous five that seem to show up the most often.

POOR DRAINAGE – The people that we bring into our personal or professional life need to be intentional and not accidental.  The people you surround yourself with are going to create the environment in which you wish to grow.  this will determine the flow of your life.  How conducive is your environment to success?

CONTEXT CONFUSION – When you add something to your life, a relationship, a new toy, a bigger house and so on, have you really considered how critical it is to your plan or purpose?  It’s kind of like the shiny squirrel syndrome – we get attracted to something because it looks good, but in reality it may not serve our overall design.

HIGH TRAFFIC – There are clearly areas of our life that receive more traffic than others such as our health.  Face it, everything we do consumes our energy.  If the design does not allow us to refuel, eventually we will run out and … well, you fill in the blank.

AESTHETIC MISFIT – Teamwork makes the dream work, right?  We have got to surround ourselves with those that as Scott puts it; “believe like we believe, but who think different thoughts.”  If you don’t have a shared value system and seek the same desired outcome, it simply won’t work.

SHORT-SIGHTED PLAN – We have to design with the end in mind.  Being short-sighted will result in one of two things:

1. We assume something will stay the same when, really, it’s designed to change.  Or
2. We assume something will change when, really, it’s designed to stay the same.

I have reviewed numerous books and many have had a specific topic or targeted audience.  Discover Your Sweet Spot is for everyone.  We all have a Sweet Spot, but very few are living in it.  If you want to get there, do yourself a favor and pre-order this book.

In the mean time, I leave you with these three questions from John Maxwell referenced by Scott in the book:

• What is required of me?
• What yields the highest return?
• What creates the greatest reward?

When you discover the same answer to all three of these questions, you have Discovered Your Sweet Spot!

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Barry Smith    9/11/13   photo courtesy of Scott M Fay   © Building What Matters 2013

The post Discover Your Sweet Spot – Part 1: Creating The Design appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

The 5 Pillars is a project that I have been working on for almost two years and had a great time with the official launch of “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 COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP.

Here we are, the final Pillar – Leadership.  For 15 weeks we have been discussing the skills and values that help form an influential leader.  In this final post of the series, we will look at what influential leaders do to add value to their communities.

ABUNDANCE

Any business plan should be built around success and abundance.  Don’t build a model that will simply meet your personal goals but factor into the budget an amount designated to go back into your community.

I heard a great quote from John Maxwell this week.  “Success is not defined by what you do, but what what you do that you don’t have to do.”  That’s a powerful statement.  What are you doing right now that you don”t have to do, that will add value to the community you are in?

PRIDE

There are two distinctly different types of pride and I will address what I consider the positive side of pride in this thought.  Taking pride in what you do will result in a product the represents who you are.  We have all heard the saying “if something’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right.”  Are you taking the time to do things right?

I remember telling my boys to take pride in the work they were doing, no matter what it was. People appreciate a job well done and the amount of pride that is reflected in your work will be a direct reflection on the way you do just about everything.  I love the quote; “The way you do something is the way you do everything.”  Think about that one!

STRATEGY

Being strategic only works when the plan is well thought out and the purpose is clear.  Your strategy in business or life, should include ways to give back to your community and those around you.

I know, “things happen” right?  Well they do but when you have a specific strategy on making things happen, it is much more likely that the things you want to happen, will happen.

TRUST

Trust is one of the words I have used twice within this series.  Why?  Because it’s that important.  “Trust, not money, is the real currency in life and business.”  David Horsager makes this statement in The Trust Edge and he is right.  People do business with those they they know, like and (you guessed it) trust.

Being trusted within your community brings trust to everyone you are connected to.  Don’t ever underestimate the power of trust when it comes to your brand or the brand of your business.

GENEROSITY

Influential leaders commit time, money and other resources to the communities that they live in.  Success in life is build around relationships and without them, personal or business, you will struggle to survive.

If you look at anyone or any business that is well respected in the community, you will find a history of giving back.  Make a difference in someone else’s life and you will see a difference in your own.

LEGACY

Legacy is the other word I have used twice in this series.  I have intentionally selected this to be the final key concept related to influential leadership.  Leaving a legacy is not about what you did, it is about what you did for others.

As I have stated before, the reason I changed careers in my forties was because I wanted to create a legacy that would leave an impact long after I am gone.  My dream and desire is to develop leaders that will develop leaders that will develop leaders.

Understanding and implementing The 5 Pillars Of Influential Leadership will do just that. Wishing you all the best and leave you with the encouragement to be Intentional about your next move in becoming and influential leader.

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 your role in growing your business.

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.  “What can I do today to increase my ability to be an influential leader in my community?”  Answer that question, act on it, and you will succeed.

RELATED:

• Click here to see Part 1
• Click here to see Part 2
• Click here to see Part 3
• Click here to see Part 4
• Click here to see Part 5
• Click here to see Part 6
• Click here to see Part 7
• Click here to see Part 8
• Click here to see Part 9
• Click here to see Part 10
• Click here to see Part 11
• Click here to see Part 12
• Click here to see Part 13
• Click here to see Part 14
• Click here to see Part 15
• 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    8/15/13   photo by author   © Building What Matters 2013
//

The post The 5 Pillars Of Influential Leadership – Part 16: Their Leadership appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

The 5 Pillars is a project that I have been working on for almost two years and had a great time with the official launch of “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 LEADERSHIP.

Here we are, the final Pillar – Leadership.  For 13 weeks we have been discussing the skills and values that help form an influential leader.  For the final three weeks, we will look at what influential leaders do, and how they do it.

MENTORING

You won’t find an influential leader out there that does not have a mentor.  None of us are the best we can be in everything we do.  Influential leaders recognize that there are others that can, and are willing to help them take it to the next level.

DEVELOP OTHERS

Influential leaders are committed to helping others along the way.  There is no greater gift than to believe in someone and help them reach their potential and achieve their dreams.  Who can you help develop with the skills you have?

SERVANT LEADERS

Influential leaders are servant leaders.  They give with no expectation of anything in return. Although the initial return on this investment of time and resources is not always seen right away, it becomes very evident over time.

SELF-LEADERSHIP

John Maxwell has said that the hardest person to lead is yourself.  I think he is right. Influential leaders are continually working to improve their own skills and are committed to personal growth.

WISDOM

The only way wisdom is gained is through experience.  Influential leaders spend time reflecting on the events in their lives and the lessons that can be learned.  They are open to sharing both their successes and failures with the intent of helping others learn as well.

COURAGE

Influential leaders have the courage to make the difficult decisions required to change the things that need changing.  You can’t please all of the people all of the time and clear vision on mission and purpose empowers the leader to take others in the direction that they need to go.

INFLUENCE

Every decision you make will influence an outcome.  Influential leaders understand that their actions will impact those around them.  They make their decisions based on what is best for the entire team or organization.  As Maxwell says; “Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less.”

TRUST

David Horsager, in “The Trust Edge” says that trust is the real currency in business and life, not money.  Your success is based on people that know, like and trust you.  Building a relationship based on trust will lead to success, but remember, broken trust can take a lifetime to repair.  Do you have that much time?

LEGACY

One of the biggest reasons I made a career change was because I wanted to leave a legacy that mattered.  I could take you on a drive through the Portland area and show you numerous projects that I have been involved with over the last 30 years.  None of them can tell you anything about who I am.  The people that I have influenced as a coach, speaker, trainer and author can tell you how I made a difference in their lives.  That is a legacy worth living.

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 your role in growing your business.

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.  “What can I do today to increase my ability to be an influential leader?”  Answer that question, act on it, and you will succeed.

RELATED:

• Click here to see Part 1
• Click here to see Part 2
• Click here to see Part 3
• Click here to see Part 4
• Click here to see Part 5
• Click here to see Part 6
• Click here to see Part 7
• Click here to see Part 8
• Click here to see Part 9
• Click here to see Part 10
• Click here to see Part 11
• Click here to see Part 12
• Click here to see Part 13
• 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    8/1/13   photo by author   © Building What Matters 2013

The post The 5 Pillars Of Influential Leadership – Part 14: My Leadership appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

One of the things I like most about traveling is seeing how people live differently in different parts of the country.  If you asked a foreigner to explain the American culture, you would probably get a wide variety of answers but they would all be fairly similar in concept.

I believe this is very far from the truth.  I think no matter where you travel in the United States, you see vastly different cultures.  Every area has it’s own unique characteristics that set it apart from the rest of the Country.

Today we traveled from Boise, Idaho down through Salt Lake City, Utah and settled in for the night at a campground on the west side of Wyoming.

Most of you are probably aware that the state of Utah has a large Mormon population and as today was Sunday, we noticed very little traffic outside of the interstate.  I know there are places in the midwest that share similar policy about shutting down on Sunday in reverence of their religious beliefs.

This is just an example of how one area lives out their unique culture and how that way of living shapes it’s residents for the future.

So is this a good thing or a bad thing?  I am sure that you have heard the expression “small town mentality” to describe those that pretty much accept the way things are and don’t have a big vision for any change in the future.

I believe to a certain extent, we are all small town thinkers.  We all have been preconditioned to believe that things are the way we have experienced them.

I don’t think our past needs to predict our future.  In fact, I am of the belief that we can create our own future, no matter what culture we have grown up in.

My son Spencer is going to be a junior at Boise State University this fall and last night we discussed his future and what that might look like.  No, he has not totally identified his future path but he has a pretty good idea and he knows what he is passionate about.  I think that is a pretty good start for a 20 year old.

The thing is “he get’s it.”  Spencer understands that he can create his future and that the only thing that can really get in his way is himself.  The culture he was brought up in may have molded and shaped who he is, but the final sculpting will be by his own hands.

Two thoughts today:  If you think that the culture you grew up in or have been in living in for a while will produce your identity, you are wrong.  You and you alone, will be the author of your story and tomorrow hasn’t been written yet.  What will be written is up to you.

My other thought is for you dad’s out there.  When your kids take off for college or simply move out of the house, you lose the opportunity to have a lot of face to face conversations with them.  Cherish every opportunity you have and be intentional about keeping the lines of communication open with your children.  Remember, it doesn’t matter how old they are, you’re still their parent.
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Barry Smith    7/8/13   photo by author   © Building What Matters 2013

The post Who Are You? – Overcoming The Culture Conflict appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

Loyalty is a pretty powerful word when you think about it.  When I think of being loyal, it is more than simply being committed.  Loyalty represents total buy-in.  It doesn’t matter if it’s a cause, a person, or an organization, loyalty is a product of trust.

I remember back when I opened my first IRA and had the ability to choose where I could put my money.  My father had been a stock broker for a short while and I will never forget the advice that he gave me regarding investing.  You need to know the numbers but invest in the people leading the organization.

Good leader – good investment.  I think this is true most of the time.  I don’t follow the market much anymore but as someone in the leadership field, I often read about what business leaders are doing and how they impact their tribe.

What I find interesting are the articles I read about employee retention and turnover as related to the success of the company and the leadership in place.

What I have observed is that people are more loyal to the people they are working for than the dollar amount on their paycheck.  A down year with strong leadership does not necessarily create a mass exodus.  On the other hand, when a strong and trusted leader departs the organization, even though times may be good, there is a tendency for the main players to depart as well.

We know that a dog is man’s best friend.  Why is that?  I think it is because the dog could care less about the bottom line, where we live, what kind of car we drive or where the decimal point is on our paycheck.  The dog is not attached to any of that.  He simply trusts his master and knows that he cares about him.

So, does loyalty last forever?  It depends.  I would suggest that loyalty to a school, business or cause will only last as long as loyalty to those in charge exists.

I know my loyalty to men such as Joe Paterno (Penn State), Jim Tressel (Ohio State) and Sean Payton (New Orleans Saints) dropped after their integrity was called into question.  I would have considered myself a loyal fan and follower of these men prior to their poor choices becoming public.  Their books still sit on my bookshelf but I honestly don’t know how soon I will feel inclined to open them up again.

My point is this – The only way loyalty lasts forever is if the integrity behind the cause, person or organization remains intact.  As I said before, loyalty is the product of trust.  So I guess as long as there is trust, there can be loyalty.  Broken trust eliminates that loyalty.

So the next time you make the statement that you are loyal to something or someone, think about what it is about that thing or person that makes you loyal.

Loyalty is a bond that can provide both motivation and satisfaction.  But remember, it will only be as strong as the people behind it.  Be careful who you invest in and how much you depend on them, and more importantly, start with yourself.

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Barry Smith    6/21/13   photo by author   © Building What Matters 2013

The post Does Loyalty Last Forever? appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

When I last left you, we had finished up our training and were headed to an indoor arena to celebrate what had just taken place.  When I walked into the arena, I was amazed to see thousands of people already inside. Two marching bands played at the bottom of the stands as we walked into the arena to take our seats front stage.

Several spoke but it was John Maxwell and Manuel Espina (President of Guatemala Prospera) that were the focus.  Recognition and appreciation were conveyed and the team was honored by being invited to the stage to receive a standing ovation from the attendees.

John told the Guatemalan audience that their Country was chosen to be the first to experience this transformation not only because they wanted and needed it, but because they were ready for it.  I wounder who else is ready.

From there, we traveled to Antigua for a private celebration that included our team along with our translators.  It was very rewarding to me personally that our translators were included in this as they were so much a part of the success and experience of the week.

The venue for this final chapter “in Country” was incredible.  Convento Santa Clara, a five hundred year old structure in the heart of Antigua, was something I have never experienced before.  This was my first time out of North America and it was probably twice as old as anything I had seen before.

The events of the evening included an amazing meal, music, more acknowledgement of the efforts that went into the events of the week and a slideshow that once again brought everyone to tears.  So much happened this week and it will no doubt be weeks, or months before it all sinks in.

Chances are very good that we will return to Guatemala but as the night came to a close, we all understood that there were some goodbyes that would be forever.  That being said, the people we met and the Country of Guatemala will be in hearts forever.

I received an email from Anai, my translator for the first two days, on Sunday wishing me a Happy Father’s Day.  A week ago, I didn’t even know she existed and now, she will be a part of my thoughts every time I look back on the incredible change that took place in my life this week.  Anai is just one of many that impacted me this week and helped me to realize how much more I have to give.

That giving starts today.  My family, my friends and my colleagues will all notice a difference.  John Maxwell once told us “You cannot give what you do not have.”  This week I realized that “you don’t know how much you have until you start to give.”

I am back home now and find it hard to focus at times as even the smallest of things take me right back to Guatemala.  My life changed this week along with thousands in Guatemala.  What we did this week was significant and I am grateful for everyone that made this possible and experienced it with me.

“Feliz Nuevo Dia” or Happy New Day, was an expression that was used often last week. A new day it is, and with that I wish you all happiness and gratitude for being part of this journey with me.

• Click here to read Day 1
• Click here to read Day 2
• Click here to read Day 3
• Click here to read Day 4
• Click here to read Day 5
• Click here to read Day 6
• Click here to read Day 7

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Barry Smith    6/18/13   photo by author  © Building What Matters 2013

The post Guatemala – Let The Future Begin! appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.