Word Power!

 

Word Power!

The spoken word is so much more powerful than we know. Words can both hurt and heal. They can destroy but also build up. What we say can educate or simply berate. Words can sting but they can also soothe. We can use our words to encourage or deflate. Our words can make someone’s day or…

The problem is that we are often too quick to spout something without thinking of its impact. As the saying goes, we speak before we think. This often results in our words coming out on the negative side of the above options. That means we can leave a trail of anger, disappointment, and hurt feelings around us.

Consider the power of your words. Choose them carefully. More to the point, consciously choose to be positive with what you say.

Change

One of my favorite sayings about change is…

“The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.”

Over the years the MMM has frequently discussed change, the need for it, and our human reluctance to it. 

This phrase is really meant to encourage change in an environment where people have gotten stuck in a rut. Change happens. The fact is nothing changes if nothing changes.  Our challenge is to be pro-active and positive about change. Don't let your rut turn into a grave. Be prepared for change!

9/11

 

Twenty-one years ago, yesterday, our country was changed forever.  Those old enough, will remember exactly where they were that morning.  The attack, now known simply by the date of its occurrence, was nothing like this country had ever seen before, and hopefully never will again.  The images were, and still are, horrifying and unforgettable.  We were unified as a country, and we rallied together in the subsequent days, weeks, and months.  Unfortunately, that unity has faded away, but that is a story for a different day. 

 

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to visit the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York City.  It is a fascinating collection of stories and memorabilia located at the base of the Twin Towers.  I found it to be incredibly well done, powerful, but somber and reverent.  My granddaughter, who was not even born at the time of the attacks, was riveted.  She came home with a true feel, and true feel for that tragedy that she will never get from a textbook.  I encourage you to visit there if you have the chance.

 

Don’t ever forget!

Gratitude

Happy Thanksgiving week!  It is the time we designate each year to give thanks, to be grateful for all that we have.  Shouldn’t we be doing that all the time?  I had a conversation just last week with some friends about the things we take for granted, food and shelter, hot running water, a coat to wear when it cools down.  If you are reading this, you are likely blessed well beyond most people on this planet.  Be thankful for that!  Be thankful for that all year long!

These days there seems to be a lot written about gratitude, and the role that it plays in a positive outlook and happiness.  Expressing your thanks can really improve your overall sense of well-being.  Studies show that grateful people are more agreeable, more open, and less neurotic.  There are many ways to remind ourselves of our blessings and encourage gratitude.  I know people who maintain a gratitude journal.  Another friend recently reached a milestone birthday and created a list equal to his age of things he is thankful for.  Don’t take your blessings for granted, Willie Nelson doesn’t.

"When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around."

-       Willie Nelson

 Be intentional about your gratitude.  You will feel better, I promise.  

Work like you're showing off!

 

“Vision without execution is a hallucination.” - Joe Calloway, Author and Performance Consultant. 

 

This quote comes from something Calloway wrote entitled, "Work like you're showing off!"  What a simple but profound statement about execution.  He goes on to say that an employer will trade ten "idea guys" for one person who can get things done.  You have all heard the statement, "Ideas are a dime a dozen."  Generally, leaders do not want to hear what you are going to do, plan to do, or think you will do.  They want to know what you have done, have completed, and implemented.  As leaders, the challenge is to channel ideas into action.  Encourage and direct people to implement ideas and reach completion.  There is nothing wrong with great ideas.  The world is full of them, and we need the people who come up with them.  The real test of any good idea can only come once it is executed.

Friends

Last week we talked about the importance of friends.  We need support and advice from friends.  The best of friends also challenge us.  Truly great friends will encourage us to change course.  They point out our poor decisions.  They care about us becoming better versions of ourselves.  Do you have friends who will be honest with you?  When you veer off course will they tell you?  We want and need friendships like this. 

 

Are you this type of a friend?  Like we said last week, friendship is a two-way street.  That means we have a responsibility to be honest with friends.  We owe it to them to openly communicate and encourage them to grow.  Certainly, they need our support.  Sometimes that support needs to take the form of a challenging conversation.

 

Have great friends and a be a great friend…    

How do you treat others?

What do you think about when you hear that question?  There are basic considerations like opening doors for others and letting people go first in line.  There are also daily pleasantries like saying “how are you” and “thank you”.  In my mind there is one true measure of how we treat people that ranks above all others; the way we speak to someone.  What we say, and often more importantly, how we say it, is the key to how we treat people.  Our words are powerful.  Our tone can be harmful.  Our decision to talk or listen sends a message. 

Never underestimate the power of the spoken work.  Unfortunately, that spoken word is easy to use in anger and retaliation. It is the first thing we use without thinking when responding to someone.  It can be made hurtful by the words we choose and the tone with which they are said.  However, the spoken word can also be used to lift someone up, to show true love and support, to encourage and to teach.  It can communicate our deepest feelings and share our most private thoughts.  The power is ours.  We make the choice about exactly how to use the power of a spoken word.  How we talk to people is the true barometer of how we treat them. 

So, when you open your mouth today think about how you really treat others?

Lead Yourself First

How well do you lead yourself?  Recently we talked about how leadership starts at home, and it does.  Beyond that however, it truly starts with leading oneself.  It is very difficult to truly lead at home, in the community or at work without first leading yourself.  I find this to be challenging personally.  I encourage and often portray discipline, yet I am not very disciplined myself.  Many of my greatest leadership failures have been related to leading myself and my family.  For some reason it seems okay to let ourselves down but not others.  Truly great leadership does begin at home.  It begins at home with oneself.  When was your last conversation with yourself about you leading you?

Go make it a great week.  Start by leading yourself first!

The Spoken Word…

The spoken word is more powerful than we know.  Words can both hurt and heal.  They can destroy, but also build up.  What we simply verbalize can educate or berate.  Words can sting, but they also have the power to soothe.  We can use our words to encourage or to deflate.  Our words can make someone’s day or…

The problem is that we are often too quick to spout something off without thinking of its impact.  As the saying goes we speak before we think.  This often results in our words coming out on the negative side of all of the above options.  That means we leave a trail of anger, disappointment, and hurt feelings around us. 

Consider the power of your words.  Choose them carefully.  More to the point, today consciously choose to be positive with what you say.  

Have a blessed week…

Consider your impact…

We all impact the lives of those around us.  It is inevitable, as is the way that people impact our lives each and every day.  The challenge is to impact people positively.  The greater challenge is to proactively impact people positively.  Never underestimate the impact you have on others just during normal daily encounters.  Try to consciously have a positive impact during those encounters.  We all have gifts.  We should strive to use those gifts in order to beneficially impact those around us.  Consider all of the uplifting ways you might be able to impact people during your day.

• Encourage
• Support
• Console
• Be an example
• Share
• Pray for
• Advise
• Teach
• Listen

Consider your impact on those around you, and do so positively.  What will your impact be today?

Leaders

There are leaders and there are those who lead.  Leaders generally have titles, positions of authority or a formal role of leadership, but influence is not guaranteed simple due to a title or position.  Those who lead are different, they inspire us.  They are influencers. Those who lead strike a unique cord with people that encourages followers.  We follow them because we want to, not because we have to.  We follow them because of how they make us feel about where we are going and what we are accomplishing.  Those who lead motivate and encourage us.  Certainly, leaders with titles and positions can be those who lead, but it is not because of the title.  What kind of a leader are you?

Aim Lower?

Tough circumstances often call for smaller, less lofty goals.  A lot has been made of setting stretch goals both personally and in business.  The theory being that they encourage over-achievement and far reaching success.  In good times, with momentum and confidence that may be true.  In more challenging times when we feel overwhelmed such lofty goals just add to that feeling.  The thing is that the dread is often worse than the dreaded.  We can dread a goal or task so much because of its perceived enormity that we never get started.  The size of the goal can actually cause paralysis and no action is taken at all.  Smaller, manageable, less daunting goals can be confidence builders.  They can be the antidote for the paralysis.  This is certainly true in these difficult times.  Hard times are for maintaining, rebuilding and retrenching.  Stretch goals are not appropriate in these times and can actually prove demoralizing.  It may sound strange to say but…  Pick one thing and aim lower this week.

Happy President’s Day!

Failure

Don’t fear failure!  We have all seen the stories of successful people and how many times they failed before getting where they are today.  Failure is a part of the growth process.  It is necessary and normal.  In fact it should almost be encouraged.  But it is not only important to personal growth, it is key to innovation.  If we are not failing occasionally we are probably not trying enough new things!  Progress and change require experimentation and experimenting involves failures.  Consider this…

“If you prohibit failure you kill innovation”

-     Dan Pallotta 

Don’t fear failure.  More importantly, don’t prohibit failure!