The Other Side

 

When there is a competition, you may choose a side.  This is common for sporting events.  It is also true for pageants, cooking contests, talent shows, and other occasions when you express a preference for one person or thing over another.  While your favorite may be near and dear to your heart, there is probably someone that feels that same way about the other side.  Consider that there are three sides that contribute to how you view a scenario.  Are you inside, outside, or beside of it?

When you are inside of a situation, you can impact the outcome in multiple ways.  You are a participant.  The things that you do can make a difference.  Act with the intent to sponsor solutions, not promote problems. 

One of the advantages of being on the outside of a situation is that you have objectivity.  You will notice things that may be missed by those that are in the middle of what is happening.  Wisdom may be gained through observation.

Motivation can be found beside discouragement.  Peace may be located beside conflict.  If you look to the left or right of any position, you might see the opposite expression.

Leave a comment and share how you will use each side this week. 

Lead The Follower

You often hear the phrase "follow the leader".  It means that there is someone setting the tone, or direction, to help someone else reach a destination.  If you are the follower, you pay attention to the person in front and make decisions based on the pattern (example) that they set for you.  Your job is to follow.  But if that phrase is turned around, how do you lead the follower?  Leadership is a quality that can be displayed in a variety of ways.  Some leaders are vocal, while others don't say much but let their actions speak for them.  Remember, you may be leading without knowing it.  There could be someone watching you and listening to you because they believe your path can get them where they want to go.  The following four general leadership principles are simple, but effective.

• Language - Good leaders speak to your confidence, not at your uncertainty.  They recognize the impact of their words and the significance of their silence.    
• Endurance -  In order to lead, you must be able to withstand distractions and disappointments.  Things will not always go your way.  At those times, others watch how you respond to adversity and pressure.  A leader's composure can influence a follower's focus on the finish line.
• Assembly - When you buy certain products, the instructions may say that some assembly is required. This also applies to the job of a leader.  Part of leadership involves connecting others to the right people and processes to help them in their pursuit of success.
• Depth - Leaders recognize that situations are multi-dimensional so there is often no easy answer to dilemmas.  As they ask questions and peel away the layers to get to the root cause of a problem, they demonstrate the wisdom of methodical decision making.

Leave a comment and share which leadership quality you will focus on this week.

Make or Break

The phrase "make or break" is often used to indicate the potential for the success of something.  However, when used in the proper context, both words can be used to inspire you.  The quotes below are examples of how you can make the right decisions to inspire you and break the boundaries or patterns that might prevent you from reaching your desired goal.

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
Winston Churchill

     If one dream should fall and break into a thousand pieces, never be afraid to pick one of those pieces up and begin again.
Flavia Wheedn

Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.
Abraham Lincoln

Good habits, once established are just as hard to break as are bad habits.

Robert Puller      If you can't make it good, at least make it look good. Bill Gates You cannot be wimpy out there on the dream seeking trail.  Dare to break through barriers, to find your own path. Les Brown  <><> Make every thought, every fact, that comes into your mind pay you a profit. Make it work and produce for you. Think of things not as they are but as they might be. Don't merely dream - but create! Robert Collier What you really want for yourself is always trying to break through, just as a cooling breeze flows through an open window on a hot day. Your part is to open the windows of your mind. Vernon Howard Leave a comment and share which quote you will use for inspiration this week.

Be Encouraged

The 3 "b"s of your heart can remind you that there is a chance for you to do and get better.  Your heart beats, breaks, and burns.  Be encouraged when you experience each "b".  There is a message associated with each one that can help you.

Your heartbeat is the indication that life goes on after victory and defeat.  No matter how happy you are when things go your way, you cannot celebrate too long.  Take some time to enjoy the win, but continue to work toward maintaining your current level and moving on to the next one.  Look at defeat as a pause, not a stop.  When you don't get what you want, acknowledge the disappointment and decide what's next for you.  

Heartbreak happens to everyone at some point.  It is a natural result of caring about people and things.  When your heart breaks, there are ways to repair it.  Helping others often makes you feel better because your focus is outward on what you can do rather than inward on what you don't have.   Hearts are also mended when they are exposed to new ideas and possibilities.  Stimulating your mind also recharges your heart.

Heartburn causes you discomfort, but you can prevent it or treat it.  Identify the foods that cause it and don't eat them.  That is discipline.  It will benefit you in all areas of life.  When you know what/who is not good or does not work for you, do your best to avoid it.  On those occasions when you do come in contact with harmful things or people, limit your exposure and neutralize the effects as soon as possible.  For physical heartburn, the treatment probably involves antacids.  For emotional heartburn (people irritating you), meditation, positive reading material, or a spa day might make you feel better.  Remember, discomfort is a temporary state.  Your comfort is restored when you discontinue the cause of the problem. 

Be encouraged and leave a comment to share which "b" (heartbeat, heartbreak, or heartburn) you will concentrate on this week.

Happy New Year

It is that time of year to celebrate the ending of one chapter and the beginning of another one.  Where do you want to go in 2012?  What do you want to do?  Seize the opportunity of a fresh start with a plan of action that you can follow.  Use your calendar to help you. When someone tells you Happy New Year, consider the three definitions for a year:  12 months, 52 weeks, and 365 days. Set monthly, weekly, and daily goals that you can reasonably pursue.


12 Months - You probably have bills that you pay monthly.  Think of your goals as bills that need you to pay attention to them.  Just as you spend money each month for your necessities, spend time studying, practicing, and doing things to make your dream a reality.

52 Weeks - There are responsibilities, or duties, that must be handled on a weekly basis.  Gas, groceries, and laundry are just a few of the things that you may take care of each week.   Likewise,  you need to fuel, feed, and clean your strengths and weaknesses.  Always be ready to demonstrate what you do well, but allocate time to work on the areas that need improvement.

365 or 366 Days - 2012 will be a leap year so you will actually have 366 days to work toward the things that will play a part in your success.  Think of the extra day as being symbolic of extra effort.  What can you accomplish if you get up 15 minutes earlier or stay up 15 minutes later each day?  Assign a motto, or theme, to each day to help you focus on specific objectives.  For example, you might have Merger Mondays when you dedicate time to networking and forming new alliances or strengthening existing ones.   Another theme might be Teaching Tuesdays when you make it a point to share something that you have learned with someone else.   Select a topic for each day that will allow you to develop and grow.

Leave a comment and share some of the monthly, weekly, and daily tasks that you will focus on in 2012.