A Hundred Minus One Day

One of my favorite quotes comes from Winnie the Pooh. Years ago, one of my girls gave it to me in a note. My girl is not so little anymore, but the quote still resonates.

In Pooh’s own words, “If you live to be a hundred, I hope I live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live a day without you.”

Do you have someone you feel that way about? I hope so.

The truth is, the most important relationships you have are the ones you have at home.

Pooh also once said, “Promise me you’ll never forget me because if I thought you would I’d never leave.”

The words of the little bear might appear soft at first glance, but at the end of your days they will determine the quality of your life.

Focus on your family. You will never reach your full leadership potential in public if you are unable to love in private.

i2i,

Randy

What is your favorite thing about family time?

 

 

 

Never Compare Your Inside With Somebody Else’s Outside

Recently I read a the following: “Never compare your inside with somebody else’s outside.” If you are a leader, those are great words to embrace.

One Sunday, I had a speaking engagement in northeast Georgia. Driving back toward home, I decided to stop for some lunch at the Mall of Georgia, just north of Atlanta. As I walked into the food court, I saw an amazing example of someone who is refusing to compare their inside with somebody else’s outside.

The restaurants in the food court were buzzing. All but one, that is. There sitting in darkness was Chick-fil-A. For those of you unfamiliar with Chick-fil-A, they have made a commitment to be closed on Sundays. It is a value of the company, and they have remained true to it.

While others rake in Sunday profits, the employees of Chick-fil-A enjoy one day each week to rest and recharge. Why? Because someone in leadership at Chick-fil-A once made a fundamental decision that their values would be more important than their profits.

Too often I see leaders who do just the opposite. They act more like followers than they do leaders. It is a copycat, go with the flow, fit the mold, kind of world these days.

We look at others on the outside and make decisions, compromising our inside. We strive to be like the trendy, latest and greatest, leaders out there who seemingly have it all together. This mindset erodes our integrity and causes us to lose our way.

Don’t get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with learning from others who are successful and profitable. However, at the end of the day, there is only one you and you need to be it.

There is greatness in your life. Great ideas, great skills, and the potential for great impact.

I dare you to unleash who you are in your sphere of influence. Determine your values and stay true to them

no matter what everyone else around you is doing - even if you feel like you are living in the dark. Chick-Fil-A does and so can you.

Your uniqueness is needed, and it will make a statement to those who are watching.

“Never compare your inside to somebody else’s outside!”

i2i,

Randy

Who do you know that is value driven and successful?

Comments?


Know Anyone Who is Stuck?

This week, I have been overwhelmed with the excitement surrounding our new book, FINDING YOUR WAY.

It seems that everyone I talk to has a story of someone who is drifting through life, longing to make a difference, but feeling stuck. FINDING YOUR WAY is designed to help such a person.

As I move forward with the i2i blog, I promise not to become a commercial for FYW. I will simply put a link for it on the side of the i2i pages, and provide you

an occasional update.

If you want to know more, you can visit the site to get info on how FINDING YOUR WAY can benefit you and your community. From hosting a FYW Workshop, to providing resources for the next generation of leaders, there are countless ways you can leverage the FYW Process to benefit those you have the opportunity to influence.

Just as many of you have done for i2i, I hope you will help spread the word for findingyourway.us. FYW is also now on twitter @fywus where we will be posting thoughts on self-leadership, and vocational alignment. We would love for you to join the FYW conversation through your tweets.

We chose findingyourway.US for our domain name for a reason. Namely, we wanted our project to be about a community. Not an organization (.org) or a commerce (.com) site, but a group of “us” working together to foster environments of encouragement and trust for people to be themselves.

Again, I appreciate all of you who have purchased a copy of the book this week. I am convinced that your investment will lead to integrity & influence in the lives of those you care about, which is what being an i2i leader is all about.

“Beware! Once you start reading this book you won’t be able to put it down. I finished in one sitting – so clear your calendar. When it comes to discovering your purpose, Dan and Randy nail it! Finding Your Way is a powerful resource that is a MUST read.”

- Dan Britton – Executive Vice Pres, Fellowship of Christian Athletes

If you still need to pick up your copy of FINDING YOUR WAY, you can do so by clicking here.

Have a blessed weekend and keep being who you were created to be!

i2i,

Randy

Comments?

 

 

Stop Trying to be Miguel Cabrera

Wednesday night, history was made when Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers became the first Triple Crown winner since Carl Yastrzemski achieved the feat in 1967. The MLB Triple Crown is awarded to any player who leads his league in home runs, RBIs, and batting average.
There is a reason it hasn’t happened in 45 years. It is literally impossible to accomplish. At least it was until two days ago. While there have been players that have led the league in a couple of categories, few have even sniffed the Triple Crown. Why? Because nobody can do it all.
When it comes to your leadership venue, the best piece of advice I could give you is to stop trying to be Miguel Cabrera. Your team does not need you to be great at everything. They do, however, need you to be great at what you were born to do great. In other words, play to your strengths and surround yourself with great people to cover your weaknesses.
Trying to be a superstar in all areas will only lead to frustration, and ultimately failure. Playing to your strengths, on the other hand, will make you feel strong. That’s why they’re called strengths. Discovering the places where your talents lie will also bring great fulfillment to you as a leader.
It takes all kinds of people to build a great team. Some of you are great with numbers, while others can barely count. Lots of you have monster people skills,

while others find relationships very challenging. There are technology geeks, and then there are those of us that take a year to figure out how to put a subscription tab on their blog. Thanks for the help Becky!
Whether you are a communicator or a strategist, a number cruncher or a motivating manager, matters very little. What matters is that you be you.
Let’s face it, if they were giving out a Triple Crown for leadership none of us would win it. The good news is, there are no leadership Triple Crowns. There is just an area of strength that each of us possesses. It is unique, very special, and meant to be discovered.
While I am in awe of Cabrera, I feel no need to be something I am not. In fact, the more things I try to be great at, the less I am great at my area of strength. I believe the word for that is mediocre, and the last time I checked there are no awards for being average.
Even Mr. Triple Crown himself would tell you the reason he has hit the ball so well this season, is because he has made contact on the sweet spot of his bat. If you want to increase your contact and raise the level of your effectiveness, discover the sweet spot of your life and start swinging.
In the meantime, stop trying to be Miguel Cabrera.
i2i,
Randy
Is there an area of strength in your life that you have been neglecting?
Comments?
 
 
 

Intentional Integrity

Dwight D. Eisenhower once said, “The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office.”

Classrooms, churches, and families could also be added to the former president’s list.  There is no walk of life where integrity isn’t the supreme quality of a leader.

When surveyed, 95% of employees listed integrity as the number one thing they want to be present in their boss.  Integrity is vital.

When it comes to your own integrity, where does it rank on your list of priorities this week?

Most of us never consider what we will do to intentionally maintain, or grow, our integrity.  This seems foolish if, “without it, no real success is possible.”

Why not set aside some time this week and work on your integrity?  Why?  Because failing the integrity test means failing as a leader.

i2i,

Randy

What are some specific ways a leader can work on his or her integrity?

 

 

repost from 9.27.10

The Tree Matters more than the Shadow

Abraham Lincoln understood the importance of a good name. He said it like this . . .

“Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.”

When people look at you, what shadow do they see? The answer depends on your tree. The root determines the fruit.

Who you are on the inside will eventually be revealed.

If you want to make a difference this week and leverage your influence, make integrity your focus.

Remember, the tree matters more than the shadow.

i2i,

Randy

What is one practical thing a leader can do to strengthen his character?

 

 

How am I Doing?

Hardly a day goes by without someone asking me, “How are you doing?” But rarely does anyone walk up and say, “How am I doing?”

Former Governor of New York, Ed Koch, was notorious for asking his supporters, “How am I Doing?” As a result, most people loved him.

If you are looking for a way to take your leadership to the next level, make the question, “How am I doing?” a part of your arsenal.

The key is to foster an environment where people are willing to tell you the truth.

A couple of days ago I wrote about the importance of being a truth-teller, and having a willingness to start with yourself.

If you really want to know, all you have to do is ask . . . “How am I doing?”

i2i,

Randy

Application: Find one person today and ask them the question, “How am I doing?”

Comments?


 

Where Did all the Truth-tellers Go?

Where did all the truth-tellers go? When I was growing up, no one had a problem telling me what they thought - about anything.

Times have changed. Most leaders are too insecure to have open conversations about the brutal facts.

English novelist, Virginia Woolf (1882-1941) once said, "If you don't tell the truth about yourself you cannot tell it about other people."  

If you find yourself having a hard time being honest with others, it could be you are lying to yourself about one or two areas in your own life.

Leaders who pursue integrity and truth start with the man in the mirror. 

Einstein was famous for saying, “Once we accept our limits, we go beyond them.

There is no area where this is more true . . . than the truth.

If you want to be a truth-teller, you might want to start with Y-O-U.

i2i,

Randy

Is there an area in your life where you need to be honest with yourself?

Comments? 

 

 

Big Mo

Momentum is defined as, “the driving force gained by the development of a process or course of action.”

How would you like to be the kind of leader whose results are described as a driving force?

In baseball, momentum is said to be only as good as your next day’s starting pitcher. In football, Big Mo comes with a turnover or a big play. Businesses look for momentum based on the economic climate. Churches, schools, and fitness centers have certain times of the year where Mo shows up.

Want in on a little secret? Momentum is not that random. It is more available than you might think.

In his book, Good to Great, Jim Collins likens momentum to a “Flywheel.” He says it like this: “In building greatness, there is no single defining action, no grand program, no one killer innovation, no solitary lucky break, no miracle moment. Rather, the process resembles relentlessly pushing a giant heavy flywheel in one direction, turn upon turn, building momentum until a point of breakthrough, and beyond.”

Did you get that? The power of a flywheel comes more from consistency than it does from a single spectacular act.

That means if you want to see your influence go to “driving force” levels you must stay the course.

Consistency without becoming bored can be a challenge. It is only possible if you connect your action back to your mission and your passion.

Greatness is not about a miracle idea or a special time of the year. It is about consistent integrity.

Be true to your mission. Be disciplined in your habits. Be consistent in the way you act.

Do these 3 over time and Big Mo might make you a driving force too!

i2i,

Randy

Where are you seeing momentum these days?

 

 

repost from 1.13.11

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