Leadership:

 Momentum Breaker – Dishonesty / Momentum Maker – Character

Character is the sum of a lifetime of everyday choices.  It cannot be built overnight.  Years of proper choices create character.  However, it can be destroyed in a minute, by dishonesty.  We make choices every day which either build or destroy our character.  Many of you have heard me say before…  “Do the right thing, even when nobody is looking!”  It is a matter of integrity and it builds character.  A trustworthy leader has a much easier time generating momentum than a leader with a reputation of being manipulative and deceitful.  Great leaders know how to build positive momentum.

As we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day today, give some thought to Dr. King’s quote:

 “The time is always right to do what is right.”                                                                            – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Momentum Breaker – Dishonesty Momentum Maker – Character

Character is the sum-total of a lifetime of everyday choices.  It cannot be built overnight.  It can, however, be destroyed in a minute by dishonesty.  We make choices each and every day which either build or destroy our character.  Many of you have heard me say before…  “Do the right thing, even when nobody is looking!”  It is a matter of integrity and it builds character.  A trustworthy leader has a much easier time generating momentum than a leader with a reputation of being manipulative and deceitful.  Great leaders know how to be a momentum maker not a momentum breaker.

A portion of this MMM was taken from an article by Dr. John C. Maxwell.  

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!

Energy Leaks

Have you ever heard of something called an energy leak?  It is a feeling, behavior or attitude that drains you of energy.  Energy leaks are wasteful. They drain people of positive energy and momentum for no good reason.  Some examples of potential energy leaks...

·         Jealousy

·         Judging others

·         Holding grudges

·         Petty bickering

·         The blame game

There are many, maybe hundreds, more.  Everybody has energy leaks.  Yours may be different from those listed but we all have them.  The interesting thing is that we are generally pretty aware of them.  For some reason we think these thoughts and feelings might make us feel better.  Or we think that we cannot change them.  Maybe we even derive some misplaced satisfaction from them. 

The truth is… energy spent on these feelings and behaviors is a waste.  It produces no positive outcome and sucks the energy right out of you.  Use your energy on positive thoughts, feeling and behaviors and stop wasting time on energy leaks!

Leadership

Momentum Breaker – Dishonesty / Momentum Maker – Character

Character is the sum total of a lifetime of everyday choices.  It cannot be built overnight.  Years of proper choices create Character.  It can, however, be destroyed, in a minute, by dishonesty.  We make choices each and every day which either build or destroy our character.  Many of you have heard me say before…  “Do the right thing, even when nobody is looking!”  It is a matter of integrity and it builds character.  A trustworthy leader has a much easier time generating momentum than a leader with a reputation of being manipulative and deceitful.  Great leaders know how to build positive momentum.