Leaders

Leaders Lead
Leaders listen
Leaders lead by example
We all look for direction and affirmation and we need it from our leaders and bosses.
Following someone that we know are liars or immoral will only lead us down that same path and do not trick yourself into thinking that is their problem and you are better then them because if you follow that type of philosophy you are stained also.
What to do ?
Always try to speak truth to power and choose your moments and watch your back, always have a plan B for yourself and work hard to stay true to your goals and never try to obtain your goals by walking on top of someone else or allowing others to be walked on.
We are all leaders , we must take control of our own moral compass and lead ourselves onto the path of true freedom within.

The Google Machine

Do you have a Google machine?
Can you access the worldwide web ?
Facts are stubborn things, facts do matter so do the research.
Research does not just mean turning on your favorite channel or gathering at the coffee shop to talk about what you just saw on your favorite channel, it means looking into it yourself.
We have more knowledge at the touch of our fingers now then anytime in history yet we still allow ourselves to be pulled by the nose by these snake salesmen.
People, politicians, leaders, bosses anyone that results to fear to get you to follow them do so because they do not have the truth on their side, if they did they would merely hold up the truth and allow you to decide for yourself on your position.
If you don’t have a Google machine, know your neighbors door and borrow one.

It does not get easy

It does not get easy ...

Life is not easy and it does not get easy, is it not about easy it is all about the journey and learning.

Exercising, business, relationships - the older you get or the more you do something the illusion is that it will become easy... not.

I have been exercising and lifting weights since I was a teenager and I am near 62 now and I try to exercise every day and every day I need to drag my backside out of bed and to the gym, it does not get easy but once I am done for the day I do feel better.

In the work place it seems as if they names and people and even responsibilities may change but the characters remain the same, you have those that will honestly work with you and hold honest conversations and others that will simply have their own agenda and pull in the other direction... it does not get easier.

As a leader or boss you try to hire and train a team of people around you that work hard and have each other’s backs, at least you should, but you will always have obstacles and it just does not get easy.

This is not to be pessimistic, it is just my life lessons. I have come to understand that people and circumstances will just not always fall in line or be the way I want just because I think it is right.

So you need to understand all of this and work each day to do the best you can and to not get down on yourself or others, remember it is about the journey and about learning.

It does not get easy but I thank God for every day and the opportunities and the people around me, I am learning every day.

Till it happens to you

Till it happens to you ... how could you possibly know...
Childhood abuse
Alcoholism
Fired
Bulling
Loved one murdered
Your child going into surgery at two months old
Cancer
Diabetes
Alzheimer’s
Dementia
Do not judge
Everybody is going through something or has suffered along the way.
Instead of judging try listening, try comforting.
We all have a story that forms us - but it does need to define us.
Till it happens to you...

Live to fight another day

You do not have to win every argument...
Live to fight another day.
Sometimes it may be best to keep quiet and approach it the next day , sleep on it, think about it.
Do not just react , sometimes when you give it time the anger disappears and it can see clearer or maybe you realize that it will not really change things over all.
Choose your battles.
Most of all hold your tongue because once you say things they are hard to take back.
And if you take a day or two you may even see more validity in their argument and find neutral ground- that is where you should always strive to be.
Live to fight another day ... you may not need to fight at all.

Breathe

Take a deep breath in .... now a deep exhale.
No matter what is troubling you I promise you in the big scheme of things it is minor.
We make our own stress and in the interim we enslave ourselves.
Break the chains- you have the key all along.
Breathe
Stop worrying about that power grab, that promotion, that pat on the head by your boss- who cares?
Yes, we all need a job to pay the bills - yes, it is good for the soul to always do your best in your workplace but do not do so in a way that you lose yourself.
You should work hard because more then likely others depend on you doing your piece or you doing your job and if you fail, they fail or their job is harder so always be respective of others around you.
Respect for others and your job does not mean stepping on others or living every day stressed or worried.
By wanting and having less you will need less to survive and you will be free to enjoy the day and your life.
Take a deep breathe.... now take a deep exhale.
Breathe

Leadership

Leading is pointing and demanding results...
Not...
Leading is observing and putting the best people around you and giving them the space and the latitude to produce the results expected from the team.
Do not be so insecure as to want to the kind of leader or boss that people fear or have to defer to before decisions are made, hire smart people then respect their opinions.
Too many bosses or leaders or people with titles think they know it all or put forth the philosophy that it is their way or the highway, those businesses are sure to fail and so will that leader or boss.
You should want the people around you to succeed, you should remain the conversations and the meetings but choose when to interject or to talk.
The best leaders allow others to take the reigns and push credit away from themselves and to the team.
Leading is learning.

Q O L

When you look at your work and your job and your pay do not forget about Q O L ...
Quality Of Life
If you are making decisions on your work based solely on what you get paid, you don’t get it.
How much are you away from your family ?
What is your travel time ?
Do you believe in your company and their goals and philosophies?
Are you respected?
Do you have a voice?
Are you comfortable with how your bosses and people in leadership roles treat others?
All of those questions add up to YOUR Q O L ... your Quality Of Life
You have only ONE Life - You have a choice in how you spend it.
Your happiness is more then how much money you make and how much stuff you have.

Agendas

Everyone has their own agenda.
The business world is understanding everyone has their own agenda and knowing how to work within those agendas.
Business owners have their responsibility and their agenda, under them every boss and employee has their role and individually everyone has their own goals. You need to understand that with that thought everyone will slant their version of the truth their way to accomplish their goals, it is your challenge to look within and around each version of the truth. Look with eyes wide open, do not always accept the world as it appears or is told to you, look for yourself and ask questions.
Timing is everything and the ability to act accordingly, it is imperative to work within the system so lashing out does not help or yelling, being tough does not mean pushing your opinions on others.
When you take the time to understand why the people around you may be pushing their agenda it may also help you understand how to work within that agenda or at least help you to stay more in control of your own agenda.
Don’t get mad at them- try to understand them and most important do not allow them to take your power and control your day-  stay positive.

Believe

I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I’m not enough
Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up
Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low?
Remind me once again just who I am, because I need to know 

You say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
You say I am held when I am falling short
When I don’t belong, oh You say that I am Yours
And I believe (I), oh I believe (I)
What You say of me (I)
I believe

The only thing that matters now is everything You think of me
In You I find my worth, in You I find my identity, 

Taking all I have and now I'm laying it at Your feet
You have every failure God, and You'll have every victory, 

Oh I believe , yes I believe 
What You say of me 
Oh I believe 

Song and lyrics by Lauren Daigle 

https://youtu.be/sIaT8Jl2zpI 

Look up

Look up
It was 6:00 AM and I was driving on the highway to work, as usual I was in the high speed lane and there was a pick up truck in front of me not wanting to move over so I could pass him and I was getting angry. At the same time I looked up and noticed the skyline, the sun was just rising and the sky was beautiful and I began to relax.
Look up
Appreciate
Every day we get carried away with the negative in front of us when we should look up, look around and be thankful for the day , for the opportunities and the positive.
You need to be a realist and you should go through life with eyes wide open and that does mean that there is negative, their are bad things that happen and people that are only after what they want and will roll over whoever they want to achieve their own objectives or simply be in your way BUT through out all that you are HERE - you are ALIVE and there is beauty all around you.
Look up
Look around
Appreciate
Do not let the negativity swallow you, be a realist, be in the moment and remember that big thing in front of you getting angry is very small in the long run.
Look up

Listen

The most important attribute for a Leader is to Listen.

Gather a good team , good people that want to work and make positive change and then be sure to listen to them.  You should always ask questions and be in “the pit “ so you can observe everyone.
If you are the boss or leader and you have an office and you go in and shut the door everyday how in the world can you listen and observe ? I don’t care how much experience you have or how much you think you know but you should always be wanting to learn and by working “ with” your group you not only possibly hear their suggestions you will get a spark yourself on what to improve.

You should fester teamwork everyday and teamwork starts at the top , work hard and have the right amount of work and laughter. When you can have your group respect you , work hard and give you suggestions on how to do things better and still poke for at themselves and laugh you are beginning to have a real team.

Achieving a better product and a better method to achieve that product or goal it is always a work in progress. You may need to shift your personal to what they may be better at so in order to do that you need to actually listen and watch them and if they cannot fit into your team philosophy you may need to ultimately replace them.

It is like a rowing team , everyone must be in unison and rowing in the same direction to win.

Foster teamwork- reward teamwork- Be a part of the Team - Observe - Listen