“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things                  that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.” ~ Mark Twain

The language of leadership

I have often heard language creates culture. Do you believe this is true? If so, look around in your areas of leadership. Is the culture a reflection that you like seeing?

In the greatest book ever authored on leadership it says, “As a face is reflected in the water, so the heart reflects the real person.” Culture is the heart of our leadership. Culture reflects the heart and language of the leader. It goes on to say in this same chapter; “know the state of your flocks...

I always wanted to be “the” leader. I wanted to be the one in charge. I worked hard to get in the position of leadership. I was always going to out hustle everyone else, even to the risk of injury because I wanted to lead by example.

On the sports field, I was not the biggest or strongest, but I was often the loudest; especially when it came to losing versus winning. I would often let others know how important I was to the win and how important they were to the loss.

I’m not proud of some of my actions or behaviors from those days. I can say I have made some apologies along the way. What I have come to learn is leadership is a profession- not a position, a title or anything else.

When I was in the U.S. Army and promoted...

            “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are
                    challenged to change ourselves.” - Viktor E Frankl

I wish I could tell you how many times I have heard a leader tell me they just need more help. This is probably one of the number one thing I hear from leaders. So, I have heard it more than I can count.

Delegate…what?

When I was first leading, I learned the term delegation. And I thought yeah that is what I need to learn. I need to learn to give others some of my work so I can get more done. I would give it to them, but I would not give them the authority to make it their own.

I want to share with you...

In my home, there was a lack of leadership; or least what I would describe today as effective leadership. My parents and their relationship was quite dysfunctional and filled with violence and abuse toward one another and the kids they were charged with leading.

Looking back on mine and my sibling’s childhood today has made me realize just how blessed I was to learn some of the lessons from my parents and to have some good grandparents and particularly my grandmother. I called her Mamaw.

My grandmother had grown up during the depression and was forced to drop out of school in the 8^th grade to help take care of her family. This was a responsibility in those days that we often do not see or appreciate today. Mamaw was a strong...

Do you make commitments and then break them? Maybe you said yes. But I don't think you do break commitments. No, what you break is an agreement.

Agreements are those things you say you want to do or should do. You know we make them all the time. I agree we should connect and have dinner, but then you never do. You see, you made an agreement, but not a commitment. 

A commitment should be treated as a binding contract with yourself. However, many of us break our commitments because we aren't really fully committed, we simply agree it is something we should do. We make agreements  to people, banks, work, pets, ourselves.

A commitment is something that you have no doubts about. Something you give 100% of your whole self to....

Do you struggle with communicating effectively? Communication is a key part of success at work or in other parts of your life. Top leaders have practiced and mastered the skills that enable them to communicate so well. Luckily, you too can learn these same skills!

 Follow these strategies to practice essential communication skills: 

1. Learn to listen. Top leaders know that listening is a crucial part of communication. Learn to love listening and engage in the stories of others. 

• Try to really pay attention during a conversation instead of being distracted by your phone or other device. Have one conversation at a time to give each person your full attention.  

• Practice retelling the person’s story in your...

When most of us hear the word leadership, we usually think of political officials, CEOs, military commanders, or even athletes. While it's true that you need good leadership skills to excel at these occupations, leadership is a valuable skill that everyone from any vocation or background can use for their benefit and the benefit of others.

 Effective leadership doesn't come naturally for most of us. Luckily, there are several methods that you can use to build and refine your leadership skills.

Discover the leader in you! Try these techniques to boost your leadership skills: 

1. Strive for excellence. Part of being a successful leader is your ability to set the bar for others. You can be a good role model by constantly seeking...

5 Steps to Clarity: The Master Key to Success

We all dream of more success. Not one leader I spend time with lacks the desire for more success in some area of their leadership and goal achievement. The desire for success is wired into us like a beacon calling out or name. I guess that is what makes us a leader. This desire to make things better and achieve more for ourselves and our companies.

So, why are we so discontent? Why do we lack the success we are seeking? Why are we always seeking “our” more?

A few years ago, Diana Nyad completed a swim from Cuba to Florida. I am sure you heard a little about the story. If not, here is a link to the story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9J48SoMV7E

This accomplishment took Diana...

In the dictionary, comfort is defined as a sense of physical or psychological ease and a lack of hardship while uncomfortable are people lacking in comfort.  I disagree!  I am hung up in the word “lacking”.  I think people who are comfortable are lacking.  Let me explain. 

When you go along in life and stay within the lines, always on the safe side of the street, not taking risks and staying under the radar, you think you are comfortable.  You don’t ruffle feathers, you don’t cause problems, you avoid drama… Ha!

That is not the life I want to live. Not that I desire to ruffle feathers and be that obnoxious guy no one wants around. Far from it.  I want to be the person that...

 3 Keys to Creating 2020 Vision

 Setting goals is one thing. Attaining them is a different story. And vision is a defining factor.

There is a principle: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Vision is so important; it can actually be life-sustaining.  How can you have this kind of life-sustaining vision?

 Here are three keys:

 Have a CLEAR Vision

Having only a vague idea of where you want to go is like taking off in heavy fog in an unfamiliar area. The trip will take longer, add unnecessary risk, and cost more. It can be a dangerous thing to wander through life with no clear vision. Zig Ziglar cautioned against being a “wandering generality”.

 I was traveling once on a...