If you want some “no-nonsense, get results” strategies for reaching new levels of achievement, you will find it in ASCEND.  But it’s not the book that inspired this post, it was something Ed said on the call.

Ed made the statement that “Sometimes Plan B needs to be Plan Better.” [Tweet This]

I don’t think Ed even realized the genius in the statement when he made it, but genius it is.  That comment changed my entire thought process on the idea of a “backup plan.”  You see, that’s what I’ve always thought a Plan B was – the option when the desired one doesn’t work.  Not any more!

If you have been settling for Plan B, Knock it off!

Maybe you are a lot smarter than me and have already figured this out, but for me, Plan B has always been the backup plan just in case Plan A didn’t work out.  Right?  Look, being smarter than me is not any kind of earth shattering accomplishment but changing your perspective on this just might be.  If you have conceded that Plan B is always less desirable than Plan A,  Knock it off!

What if we looked at Plan A failing not as a failure, but as an opportunity to learn and seize the opportunity to make Plan B – Plan Better.  What if Plan Better doesn’t work? Well, you can call it whatever you want, but by learning lessons instead of conceding defeat, we can continue a path towards success.

Start learning lessons instead of conceding defeat!

Full transparency here, I just came into this awareness less than a week ago and although I have not had a chance to put it to the test yet, I do have some big “Plan A” activities that will be put to the test this week and this I know – if I have to go to the backup plan, it will be Plan Better.

I think our culture has conditioned us to believe that acceptance of thinking that our results are “good enough”, “better than than they use to be”, or “at least different than they were before” are reasonable outcomes.  Nonsense!

Start setting yourself up for success!

The whole idea of setting goals and stretching outside our comfort zone are to produce what we have not achieved before.  Why do we settle for less than we desired?  Why is better OK when best is what we are shooting for?  Why do words live “CAN’T”, “NEVER”, and “ALMOST” remain in our daily vocabulary?

I think it’s because we have lowered our standards.  And by doing so, we have lowered our own self-image.  Ed and the other Maxwell mentors all adhere to the belief that we will never out perform our own self-image.

When Plan A doesn’t work, we immediately jump to the next best choice instead of creating a BETTER one.  Peter Drucker had some thoughts on this when he said:

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” [Tweet This]

TODAY’S QUESTION:  Are you following a downward progression in your decision making process that will ultimately net you less of a result than you originally desired?

TODAY’S CHALLENGE:  Learn from the Plan A’s that didn’t work out and set yourself up for success by making Plan B – Plan Better!

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Stephanie works as a Food and Beverage Supervisor at the World Marriott in Orlando, Florida.  Hmm?  22 years old and a food and beverage supervisor already.  Isn’t that interesting!

Through a connection with one of the chef’s at the World Marriott, we were able to set up a private catered dinner for myself and the event coordinator of the John Maxwell Team.  The John Maxwell Team holds two large events there every year and we were excited at the opportunity to get a look “backstage” with food services.

The service we have received during our visits to the World Marriott has been nothing short of phenomenal, and after our peek at what goes on behind the scenes, it’s easy to understand why.  I won’t pretend to understand what it takes to run a kitchen of this size, but what we saw appeared to be a well-oiled machine, running full throttle, and without a miss.

A big part of the experience was our private server, Stephanie.  Just like with Ben in Las Vegas, I was intrigued by her attitude, professionalism, and self-confidence.  All characteristics I only occasionally see in adults twice her age.  A few of her comments really made me think …

“If you want another course, we will throw it in.”

Logic would suggest that the objective was to take care of a significant client, but the delivery was sincere.  Right from the beginning Stephanie made us feel like the only people in the building.

This was something I have never experienced before.  A specially constructed room built in the middle of the kitchen so we could see everything going on around us but from within an environment built exclusively for a fine dining experience.  I think it’s fair to say that Stephanie really wanted us to enjoy the experience and her commitment to making that so, was authentic and intentional.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!”

Just as in everything we do, things don’t always go as planned.  Upon a minor mishap, exclusive to our private venue, Stephanie immediately apologized, owned it and, most importantly diffused a situation that could have disrupted the entire evening.

In our opinion, it was no big deal, but it certainly could have changed the emotional state and attitude of any person providing service.  I find it interesting how difficult it is sometimes to own our actions and simply say “I’m sorry.”

“I can talk through a brick wall.” (Tweet This)

What a great statement.  My takeaway from this comment … how long could you speak “intelligently” about your profession?  How about in a random conversation with clients or colleagues?  Stephanie spent the entire time in the room with us that night and we spent a lot of time talking about all sorts of topics.  I don’t remember any that went beyond her ability to add value to the conversation.

I am still amazed at the competence and confidence of someone her age and her ability to control the atmosphere of the room.  I suppose you could say that education had it’s benefits.

“I don’t think I have ever said no.”

This was my favorite.  We had been giving her a hard because everything was so amazing and it sort of became a challenge to see if they could actually deliver on “anything” we wanted.  So naturally, a person of my intellect, came up with a great challenge.  “Fresh chocolate chip cookies and vanilla gelato.”  No way they could bust that out.  Wrong!  “No” was not an option.

As I custom desert request arrive, I asked her what they do when they get a request for something they can’t make happen.  Her response, “I don’t think I have ever said no.”  I guess that pretty much sums up the evening!

Do You Want To Be The Best?

It will be a meal I never forget, but something tells me that Stephanie does the same for other people everyday.  I will not soon forget the attitude and effort that went into that dining experience and the real point of the story is that if you want to be the best, you need to act like it – and not just when you have to, but when you don’t.  That’s what will set you apart from the rest.

Like Ben, Stephanie has big aspirations for her career.  She eventually would like to end up in the California wine valley as a wine sommelier.  I know she will make it and she just might be the youngest female to ever become one.  I won’t be betting against her anytime soon.

THE QUESTION:  Are you serving people in a way that represents your best?

THE CHALLENGE:  Do something today that will take your quality of service to the next level.

Read part one by clicking here

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Barry Smith  3/17/14   photo courtesy of amazon   © Building What Matters 2014

The post Raising The Bar For Generation Y- Part 2 appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

“The graveyard is the richest place on earth, because it is here that you will find all the hopes and dreams that were never fulfilled, the books that were never written, the songs that were never sung, the inventions that were never shared, the cures that were never discovered, all because someone was too afraid to take that first step, keep with the problem, or determined to carry out their dream.”  

So how about it?  If the bell rang for you tomorrow, what would you take with you? Seriously – does this hit home for you at all? Back in February of 2012, I was at a John Maxwell event and John introduced his father Melvin to the stage and said this; “I want to introduce you to the most important man to me here on earth, some time ago my father decided he was going to live until he died.”

I’m Gonna Live Until I Die

Well at 80+ years of age, Melvin Maxwell showed us what it meant to live as he ignited the crowd of over 500 with the energy and enthusiasm rarely displayed by men half his age.  That experience challenged me to take a hard look at what I was doing in my own life.

I can honestly say that at the time, I was not living, I was merely existing.  Can anyone relate to that?  I changed a lot of things in my life after that day.  I was determined that I would live until I died.  I was no longer going to let life happen to me, I was going to start to happen to life.

I made the decision to start chasing after my dreams.  To believe that I could accomplish things that I had never done before – many that I had not even thought about trying.  A new identity built around who I was instead of what I did.  A new job that got me up in the morning instead of keeping me up at night.  I was achieving my dreams!

Defining Moment In A Foreign Country

Last June, I was part of a team that impacted the Country of Guatemala.  I found out what it’s like to feel like you’ve never felt before, doing something you’ve never done before, in a place you’ve never been before, with people you’ve never met before. The three greatest defining moments in my life were the day I said “I do” and the two times I heard “It’s a boy.”  The fourth came in Guatemala City on June 15th, 2013, when I discovered my purpose and clarified my mission to leave nothing behind.

I have an author page on Amazon and later this spring I will publish my first book.  I collaborate everyday with like-minded leaders all over the world.  I am making a difference in the lives of others that want to achieve the same thing.  This is the 250th blog post by someone who barely made it out of English class.

Getting Outside My Comfort Zone

I don’t say any of these things to impress you.  Trust me, I had many people pushing and pulling me along the way.  I do say them to impress upon you that there is no reason you can’t do the same.  I would not been able to achieve any of these things if I was not willing to stretch outside my comfort zone and do what I never thought possible, heck, I didn’t even think about them period!

So that is my challenge for you today.  Start removing the limits you have put on yourself.  Start believing that the impossible is possible and that the only thing holding you back is the fear of taking that first step – just like Les said.

Whoever said “You can’t take it with you” was wrong. (Tweet This / Share on Facebook / Post to LinkedIn)

There are all kinds of things you can take with you – the question is WILL YOU?

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If that’s not enough, check out this thought provoking video ==>

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Barry Smith    1/17/14   photo by author   © Building What Matters 2014

The post The Wealthiest Place on Earth – The Graveyard 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 second of four posts, we will take a look at Thomas Edison.

Edison, the holder of 1,093 U.S. patents, is most recognized as the inventor of the light bulb.  Also credited for the phonograph and motion-picture camera, Edison was much more than an inventor.  His inventions set the world on the pathway to modern electricity and global communications.

So how did a man with only three months of formal education and whose hearing was impaired at an early age become “one of the men who built America?”

You Don’t Need Ears To Hear!

THOUGHTS ARE THINGS

“The value of an idea lies in the using of it.” – Thomas Edison

What if Edison never imagined his thoughts and ideas as things.  Ideas are great, but as Hill shows in the story of how Edwin C. Barnes partnered with Edison, you have to treat them as such.  An idea will not become reality until it is brought to life by the hand of the one who conceived it.  How many ideas do you have that never come to life?  Have you considered the power you hold within you to manifest your thoughts into reality?  Here lies the great opportunity to ask; How can I?”

So what if nobody ever did it before!

FAITH

“Be courageous.  I have seen many depressions in business.  Always America has emerged from these stronger and more prosperous.  Be brave as your fathers before you.  Have faith!  Go forward!” – Thomas Edison

Hill provides a very interesting definition of faith.  “A state of mind which may be induced, or created, by affirmation or repeated instructions to the subconscious mind, through the principle of autosuggestion.”  Edison simply refused to believe that something could not be done.  He had the faith that with enough perseverance and effort, anything could be accomplished – even when “common sense” might suggest otherwise.

Mach 3 with your hair on fire!

THE BRAIN

“It is astonishing what an effort it seems to be for many people to put their brains definitely and systematically to work.” – Thomas Edison

The brain continues to be one of the most studied and least understood parts of the human body.  But even in Hill’s time, it was accepted that the brain was a powerful machine that could actually create it’s own energy.  Edison was continually pushing his thinking to new levels.  He constantly tapped his own awareness of what he knew and filled in the blanks with what he pulled from others.  Viewed as a curse by many, part of Edison’s genius is that his mind never quit working.  Turning though into action, over and over, produced more inventions than anyone else in history.

Most equate the success of these men to industry and the technological advances of their time.  I think the simple truth is that these men just thought better than everyone else.  Edison makes a simple but powerful statement when he said; “Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits.”  (Tweet This / Share on Facebook / Post to LinkedIn)  The men who build America were always hustling – at least mentally.

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.

Your brain is constantly producing new thoughts.  So I have a few question for you to ponder today.  What are you doing with your ideas?  How many times do you thing the words “that’s never been done before” described something that had just been done?

• Click here to read the first post on Andrew Carnegie

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Barry Smith  1/15/14   photo courtesy of Amazon   © Building What Matters 2014

The post The Men Who Built America – Thomas Edison appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

One of my favorite is “The Santa Clause” starring Tim Allen.  There is a scene in the movie where Allen is at the North Pole and tells one of the elves; “I see it, but I don’t believe it.”  She replies; “You’re missing the point, seeing isn’t believing, believing is seeing.”

I have seen so many blogs written about goal setting and New Year’s resolutions.  Hey, nothing wrong with that and most of them if applied and followed will no doubt, net positive results.  I want to put a little different spin on it.

I think that most people fail at reaching their goals because they need to see them to believe them.  What is we believed they would come true before even beginning that “Day 1” activity.  I don’t know if this is true or not but I have heard one of my mentors refer to January 10th as National Quit Day.  The average day that most people quit their New Year’s Resolutions.

For the sake of this post, I will assume this is true.  Why do most people quit less than two weeks into what they saw as their goal for the new year?  Simple, if you buy what I am selling – they have not seen any change and therefore don’t believe it will come true.  End of story!

I am taking a little different approach this year.  I have my goals and a plan to achieve them, but I have simply accepted the fact that they will happen.  This may sound a little far fetched and that’s OK.  My mentor John Maxwell, once told me that; “What other people are saying about you is none of your business.”  Good advice as far as I am concerned.

So I am sure you would like to know how this works.  Well, here is my take.  I have been working hard on building my business for over two years and I am seeing the results of doing the things that required believing before seeing.  I am not going to pretend that my own self-limiting beliefs have not taken me to some lows along the way, but I do believe.

I know that there will always be bad with the good, but accepting that allows me to move past the challenges knowing that they will always exist.  Believing that good will happen and then watching it happen reinforces my belief that this will be my best year ever.

If you think about it, there are many things in life that really require believing before seeing.  Things like love, joy, peace and happiness.  Really, put this to the test – if you get up in the morning believing that you are going to have a great day, you will.  If you wait to see something good happen before you put a smile on your face … well, good luck with that!

“If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right.” – Henry Ford (Tweet This / Share on Facebook)

My hope for you today, and really the rest of this year, is that you can find some truth in the idea that believing is seeing.  So a simple question for you to ponder today; “What do you believe will happen this year?”  

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Barry Smith  1/2/14   photo by author   © Building What Matters 2014

The post Believing Is Seeing – What Do You Believe 2014 Holds For You? appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

Self-confidence is one of those funny things.  You don’t really understand it until you get it.  No, not “get it” like understand it, I mean get it like “get it.”  Self-confidence is a process and a difficult one at that.  Our culture does several things to keep you from getting it as well as giving it to you under false assumptions.  Let me explain.

First, the world we live in teaches that failure is bad and that the more you fail, the worse off you get.  If you have been reading any of my posts lately, you know that failure is actually a means to success.  From failure we not only learn the wrong way to do things, but we also learn that doing things wrong is ok because we can learn from those “failures” and build our confidence from the lessons learned.

Second, our society has gone overboard to make sure that everyone feels good.  Somehow by rewarding people, especially children, for everything they do will somehow build up their self-esteem and self-confidence.  Well I suppose it will short term, but what happens when they get into the real world where simply “participating” get’s you just about nothing?

You can choose to agree or disagree with my comments in the previous two paragraphs but the bottom line is that “authentic” self-confidence is the only thing that will provide lasting results.  So let’s take a look at the idea of self-confidence.

WHY DO I NEED SELF-CONFIDENCE?

Self-confidence is the tool that allows you to be you.  Not just you, but the best you that you can be.  We all have beliefs and those beliefs make up who we are.  The problem is that when we don’t have the confidence to “walk our talk” it results in a less authentic model of who we are. Maybe even someone we are not.

WHERE DO I GET SELF-CONFIDENCE?

You build self-confidence by doing the right things at the right times no matter what other people will think.  If this is a new concept for you, it won’t be easy at the beginning.  But continue and people will recognize you as a trusted, respected individual.  Even if they don’t agree with you, they will appreciate the fact that you actually believe in something and are willing to stand behind it.

WHAT DO I DO WITH SELF-CONFIDENCE?

Do you consider what other people will think of you when you speak or act in a certain way? Or are you so totally convicted by what you believe in that you will do what you do and say what you say regardless of what other people think.  Now I am not saying don’t be respectful or courteous, just be solid in who you are.  That is what self-confidence does for you.  As my mentor John Maxwell has taught us; “you cannot give what you do not have.”

Go back to the title of this post.  What would you try if you had the confidence to do it?  I know there is at least one thing.  Did you know that most people have more regrets for things they wanted to do and didn’t than things they did do and wish they hadn’t? [Tweet This]

Simple challenge for you today folks.  Make a list of the things you want to do but have not had the self-confidence to do, pick one, and GO DO IT!

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Barry Smith   12/9/13   photo by author   © Building What Matters 2013

The post If I Had The Self-Confidence To Do It, I Would _____________! appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

Kaye and Giulioni are the first authors that I have seen write completely from the “coaching” perspective.  The coaching philosophy I believe in suggests that results are brought about by answering the curious question.  This book is full of questions, and excellent questions at that.

Kaye and Giulioni do an outstanding job of mixing quotes, questions and action items to provide a must read for any leader or manager.  Below is a quick summary of the nine chapters that paint a beautiful picture of what your employees are really thinking.

1.  Develop Me or I’m History

Whether they have the awareness or not, employees want to know what is next, more specifically, what is next for them.  The simple fact is that without a way to grow, they will be unable to grow.  Remaining in the same place, doing the same thing, with the same skills is not sustainable.

2.  Can We Talk?

How often do you check in with your employees?  No, I am not talking about saying hello and goodbye at either end of each day, I am talking about really checking in.  How are they doing?  What is going well?  What needs improvement?  Taking the time to sit down with the people that are generating your income tells them they are important and they are valued and that you care about their future.

3.  Let Hindsight Light the Way

Looking back and evaluating what worked and what didn’t allows your employees to gain the clarity and focus needed to move forward in a positive way.  This type of analysis allows them to use the past to build their future and remember, help them grow or watch them go!

4.  Feed Me

I love this one.  Employees want feedback.  Why? Because it tells them if they are meeting up to expectations.  I don’t know how many times I have heard “If only someone would have told me where I was falling short, then I could have done something about it.”

5.  What’s Happening?

There is nothing more frustrating than feeling left in the dark.  As an owner or employer, you don’t have to tell them everything, but how about enough to keep them engaged.  Enough to keep them interested.  Do they even know what they are working towards.  Give them some ownership and watch them take a little more pride in what they produce.

6.  If Not Up … Then What?

It used to be that everyone thought the road to success was a vertical climb.  Not so much anymore.  Employees are more willing, in fact I believe more wanting, of a balanced career. One that gives them time for their family and personal interests.  If more pay comes with more time commitment and stress, you might rethink the job description.

7.  Same Seat, New View

If someone has mastered their role, you don’t have to send them up the ladder.  They may already be in their sweet spot.  But don’t assume this will last forever.  Allow them to be creative in their role.  Give them more responsibility to use their gifts and talents.  This will keep their job fresh and interesting.

8.  Advancing Action

This is a big one.  As the “boss,” your responsibility is to give the employee a way to grow.  It will be their responsibility to do something about it, but you need to create the opportunity. Set a clear course for them moving forward and watch them navigate it successfully.

9.  Grow with the Flow

Keep growth in the forefront.  Providing a plan and then following up six months later is simply rolling the dice.  Keep in constant contact, even if for only a few minutes.  This is a way to keep everything in check and provide an opportunity to change course if needed.

As the authors put it; “Grow for it!”  Simply put, career development in important. Continual communication and opportunities will result in continual growth and continual success.

A couple of questions for you today.  “Have you achieved everything you want for yourself and those working for you?  Maybe the more important question is; “What are you doing about it?”

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Click here to get a copy of my Kindle Book “The Manifesto Of An Influential Leader”

Click here to listen to the encore presentation as John Maxwell shares how to “Influence through Connecting”

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Barry Smith   11/14/13   photo courtesy of Amazon   © Building What Matters 2013

The post Help Them Grow, Or Watch Them Go – What People Really Want appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

The reason I don’t care for the word magic is because to some, it represents some type of special power to make things disappear or transform from one thing to another.  In reality, magic is the perfection of one of the oldest professions on the planet.  Slight of hand, misdirection and so on.  Few talents impress me more than a magician who has mastered their craft.

I now have a new appreciation for the word.  I recently read “Real Magic – Breaking Through the Illusion of Success” by Nana Danso.  Danso, as a magician and motivational speaker,  spins a whole new perspective on magic, and this magic has nothing to do with tricks or illusions.  This magic is real.

The keys to Danso’s Magic Formula are simple and if followed, will help you to break through the Illusion of Success.  Here are the five keys to living a MAGIC life.

MOTIVATION

We all perform better when we are motivated but motivation is a short term condition.  There has to be a driving force behind that motivation, something that drives you, something simply described as your “why.”  As Les Brown says; “You’ve got to be hungry!”  Your why will provide the motivation to continue to achieve over the long run.  Your why connects you to your purpose and your purpose is what you have been created to fulfill.

ASPIRATIONS

Can you answer the questions; What do you want?  or What do you aspire to do or be?  What are your goals?  As a coach, it amazes me how many people lack clarity on what they really want.  I think this is the reason that so many people feel “stuck.”  Danso provides a great question in this chapter.  Do you know what the richest place in the world is?  Answer – the graveyard.  Why?  Because this is where are the unfulfilled goals, dream and songs that never happened have been laid to rest.

GIFTS

Danso makes a great observation here.  He suggests that if three people tell you that you are good at something, that you have a gift.  It is an indication that there is really something there.  I can totally relate to this.  I never pictured myself as a writer, but when several people took notice of the message in my words, I realized that just maybe there was something there.  Now, several thousands words leave my keyboard each week.

INSPIRATION

I could not agree with the author more when he makes the following statement; “The most rewarding part of life is helping others achieve their goals.  This begins with believing in people.”  Danso is right.  When you believe is someone and let them know that you do, not only do you inspire them, but you empower them to do and be more.

CONFIDENCE

Danso points out that when we expect a positive outcome then the outcome will be positive. This only comes when we have the self-confidence to move out of our comfort zone and go places we have not been before.  It is really that simple – confidence is the catalyst to achievement.  When we believe in ourselves, we can accomplish whatever we set our intentions on accomplishing.

Danso sums it up well with this statement; “Creating magic requires deliberate practice, effort, and dedication, but most importantly, it requires that you believe in yourself.”

A couple of questions for you today:  Is your life full of tricks and illusions?  Do other people see something that is not real when they look at you?  If you want to put some magic back in your life, check out Real Magic and find out how to break through the illusions holding you back.

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Click here to listen to the encore presentation as John Maxwell shares how to “Influence through Connecting”

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Barry Smith    10/31/13   photo courtesy of Amazon   © Building What Matters 2013

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If you have read any of Miller’s recent work, you know that he has a unique way of building a story around the premise of the book and in effect, brings the lessons and the story itself to life.  The Heart of Leadership is a follow up, at least as the story goes, to “Great Leaders Grow” (read my review of Great Leaders Grow).

Blake, who got off to a great start as a young leader now finds himself stuck.  Stuck in his job and stuck as a leader.  He turns back to his mentor Debbie, who had previously been mentored by Blake’s father before he passed away.

Debbie introduces Blake to 5 professionals that take Blake on a journey to find what he has been missing to take his leadership to the next level.  He has been missing The HEART of Leadership.

So let’s take a look at just what it is that makes up The Heart of Leadership.

HUNGER FOR WISDOM

Leaders recognize that if they want to be effective over the long haul, they need to be life long learners.  They need to commit to not only increasing their knowledge but their relational skills as well.  Be self confident and consistent in your beliefs and values but always be open to input, new ideas and the views and opinions of others.  We can always learn, even in our failures and difficult times.

EXPECT THE BEST

Miller states it very well; “To expect the best is an attitude, a belief, a choice, a lifestyle and a trait that virtually every successful leader possesses.  We believe the best about others and about ourselves.”  What a powerful statement.  Expecting the best is about attitude and as we all know, attitudes are contagious.  Leadership character is about having a positive attitude and creating a culture that expects and produces the best.

ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY

There may be no greater leadership character trait than owning your actions, and not only your actions, but the actions of the entire team.  John Maxwell says that “everything rises and falls on leadership.”  Miller makes it clear that accepting responsibility, for both the good and the bad, needs to fall on the leader.  Along with that, praise needs to be shared whenever possible.  Leaders with heart give the credit to others and find their success in the success of their team.

RESPOND WITH COURAGE

Miller pulls a quote from Dr. Henry Cloud; “Leaders get what they create and what they allow.”  [Tweet This] It takes courage to create.  Often times, leaders are faced with making difficult decisions.  Responding with courage, and doing it consistently, will shape your leadership character and help to build trust.  Courage is a product of confidence and confidence comes from believing in yourself.

THINK OTHERS FIRST

Leaders need followers and a leader’s responsibility is to turn those followers into other leaders.  This only happens when the leader focuses on the success of those he is leading. Miller puts it like this; “It’s about who is responsible for what, and how can I, as the leader, help people to be successful?”  Miller makes a valuable point that if we are to become servant leaders, we need to spend time with other servant leaders and learn how they think and understand the real reasons why they do what they do.

I think the biggest takeaway for me from this fine work was the example of an iceberg that Miller uses to describe leadership.  The 10 percent above water represents your leadership skills – What you know.  The 90 percent underwater represents your character – Who you are.  We often judge people for what they know but the true heart of leadership comes from your character – this is the heart of leadership.

I love this quote from the author; “It is ultimately leadership character that determines our opportunity for influence and impact.“  So today I have a challenging question for you:  What is included in the 90 percent of your iceberg?

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Barry Smith    10/24/13   photo courtesy of Amazon   © Building What Matters 2013

The post It Is Character That Defines “The Heart Of Leadership” appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

As he described the results we get when choosing one over the other, I found myself wondering how often I choose to wait for the door to open instead of using the “action” option and reach down, turn the handle and open the door.

It’s sort of funny – walking through doors – when you know what’s on the other side, you throw that thing open and walk right in.  But what happens when you don’t know what’s on the other side?  If you can muster up enough courage to open the door, you turn the handle slowly so you don’t draw attention to yourself and open the door trying to get a quick peak, just in case you’re not supposed to be in there.

Why shouldn’t you be on there?  There must have been some reason you wanted to open the door.  I think the reason we hesitate to open the door is that we are simply unsure of what’s on the other side.  It’s not something we are familiar with.  It’s outside of our comfort zone.

So let’s look at the options.  Well, I guess there are only two – open it or don’t.  How much of our lives are spent “not opening doors?”  If we desire to grow, we need to open doors.  We need to be willing to do what we have not done before.  We need to be willing to go places we have not been before.

I love it when John Maxwell tells the story of the man who said to him; “I want to do what you do.”  In classic “John Maxwell” form, he responds; “But are you willing to do what I’ve done?”  I love that!  Growth, in any area, is a journey.  That journey is going to require opening doors – lots of doors.

Here’s the deal.  You have got to take action.  If you spend your life waiting for doors to open for you, I hope there is a comfortable chair in the waiting room.  I look back at my life and can only imagine what was behind the doors I never opened.  But hey, no looking back – right!

Now I embrace the idea of opening doors, especially the ones that I have no idea what’s behind them.  Why?  For one reason, because I know there is much more to life that I ever imagined and I know, from lessons learned, that no one else is going to open them for me.

Now I must clarify – I believe there is a time when someone will open a door for you. But that only comes when they know that you would be willing to open it yourself.  We can’t make it in life by ourselves.  We need people to open doors for us.  But if you are not willing to walk through, you might as well stay in the comfy chair.

Here’s the point.  Don’t let your default be inaction.  Make your default doing that thing you haven’t done before or going to that place you’ve never been before.  That is where growth happens.  Not sitting in the chair.

My challenge to you today is to identify just one door that you have been afraid to open … and OPEN IT!  You won’t know what’s on the other side until you do.

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Barry Smith    10/21/13   photo by author   © Building What Matters 2013

The post Eliminating The Default Response To Personal Growth appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.