Were you the kid that always asked why?  

Even though I would like to say I was it wouldn't be true.  I use to always think why but in my family the answer was usually "Because I said so".  Because of that many times as a young man, I just accepted what I was told and pressed on.  In some ways, it helped me but it others it made me settle.  I learned to follow the herd and get along.  It made life easier but it didn't make me happier.  I didn't know how to think critically.  

That is until I met a man by the name of John Gunther.  John Gunther was a Technical Sergeant in the United States Air Force.  He was extremely knowledgeable and sharp.  He was a leader and a learner....and he asked lots of questions.  He never pretended to know everything and he didn't always go with the flow.  I was fascinated and started watching him.  During Commander's calls and town hall meetings, he would ask questions and get great answers.  No one laughed at him or ever told him (that I know of) "because I said so".  It was amazing, because of what I saw in him I took a chance and asked a question when he was speaking to our squad.  Sergeant Gunther, this may be a dumb question but.....I don't remember the question anymore but I remember he stopped me and said there is no such thing as a dumb question.  What made it even more special was he said, "thank you, that is a great question" I bet everyone wanted to know the answer to that.  He put me on a pedestal and made me feel 10 feet tall.  I will never forget that feeling.  Since then I ask the question that comes to mind.  It has served me well and made me a better leader.  

All these years later I find myself reading a wonderful book.  Good Leaders ask Great Questions. This is one of my favorite John Maxwell Books. It takes me all the way back to 1985 when I was a young NCO in Minot North Dakota learning valuable life lessons from an awesome leader and mentor.  

What questions do you have that you are afraid to ask?  What do you want to know?  Whatever it is there are no dumb questions.  Good Leaders Ask Great Questions and Good Leaders take the time to lift up young leaders and point them in the right direction.  

Thank you, Chief Master Sergeant, (Ret) John Gunther.  I am still living the lessons you taught me long ago.  I only hope I can be the leader you are someday.  

Leadership...The Superbowl of Life

Tom Brady won his fifth ring in overtime last night in a Super Bowl for the ages. 

It was a long slog that seemed destined for an unexciting blowout with only a quarter to go. These are the times that we feel that we are destined to lose or fail.  These are the times when we have a decision to make.  Which direction am I leading?  One of the seldom considered maxims in life is that leadership is what you do to or for others.  But the first person we must lead is ourselves.  Then we can lead the people around us.  No matter what you feel about Mr. Tom Brady, he is a leader that first leads himself.  With that leadership, we saw a serious change in the outcome of that great event.  A few remarkable plays, a ton of excitement, and 31 unanswered points later, the first Super Bowl to go to overtime, ended with a Patriots win.

Sometimes, life feels the same way -- a long, long march down the field of work, school, relationships with family and friends, followed by an extraordinary series of exciting developments at the end.  

What does this mean for you?  Well it means that this is a good time to remind you that this is your season for winning.  It is not too late for you, lead yourself and others will follow.  Learning to become a good leader can change a no win situation into your own Super Bowl celebration.

Good luck with making this year your championship season.  Keep your eyes open for an announcement in the next couple of weeks.  We are planning a training workshop that well expand your ability to win this year and all the years to come.  Go ahead champion…….

I’m rooting for you!

Your Attitude Is A Choice

They made me mad!  It wasn't my fault?  If I had that (Job, House, Car, Career, Girlfriend.....).  How many times have you heard this?  More importantly, how many times have you said these words?  I have found that blaming others and your circumstances is a sure way to fail.  It is true that negative things happen to us.  It is also true that life is hard sometimes.  I have learned that if we let our circumstance define us we give away our power to make a difference in our lives.  

It's been said that our attitude determines our altitude.  Let's think big and dream big.  Let's make a decision that no matter what we will overcome and we will get there.  As John Maxwell says, The greatest day in your life and mine is when we take total responsibility for our attitudes. That's the day we truly grow up. 

Equipping

What is equipping?  

It’s providing an environment for other people that can help them grow. In order to provide an equipping environment to yourself and to people around you, it is important to develop a skill set essential to help people grow their abilities. equipping can be in any form, you can enable people to move towards professional growth, by teaching them the skills you have and they don’t, or you can enable them in personal life by encouraging them to do what they have always dreamt of, and sometimes all you need to do is just listen to what they are sharing and give them advice accordingly. Equipping yourself and others with skills that can help you all grow is also an essential to building personal and professional relationships. As John Maxwell is fond of saying, success is a journey, not a destination and it is a road full of bumps, potholes ups, and downs. In order to get through this journey, and help others get through this journey, constant growth is essential.  Many of us can become derailed by the environment and struggle with what we mostly believe are external factors.  As leaders, our job is to so help each other succeed in this journey by positively enabling each other as we share this path.  It not only helps others succeed but it will also provide you with satisfaction and growth that you need. 

Stand by for a great opportunity coming soon that will Equip you for the upcoming year and beyond.  2017 is going to be a very good year.

"ACTION

 

Google the word "action" and one definition you will find is, "the fact or process of doing something, typically to achieve an aim." You will also find, "a thing done; an act.". The first definition denotes movement and the second completion. 

 

So how do we ensure something gets completed?  By being in motion.  You've heard the saying, "A body at rest stays at rest, and a body in motion stays in motion."  Making a conscious decision to rest is helpful for our bodies, souls, and minds.  However, continuous idle inactivity causes frustration it leaves us stuck. Purposeful activity leading toward a specific goal brings about satisfaction and progress.  No matter how slow, progress is rewarding. 

 

Tiny steps are better than no steps.  Today, take one tiny step to start your forward motion."