May
26
2010
New Audio Version of this Article! ==> Faith You Deserve
Regardless of the name or choice of the higher power in which you have placed your faith upon, there is one commonality that exists across all of our acceptances. It is the power in knowing that our faith encourages our best efforts to be expressed within our lives through our daily actions and beliefs.
Though faith offers simplicity in its acceptance, it can be complicated in its measurement of commitment. Faith does not accept partial commitment in its expectations. It requires a monogamous relationship between you and it’s expectations for it to service your life with its most powerful resources.
Faith will continuously extend its hand out to you regardless of your level of commitment. Though it demands your best effort, your diluted effort will not weaken its extension of commitment to improving your life. Faith is a wonderful resource to your life. It can bring out the best in your performance through your belief in its powerful connection to your higher power.
What is it about faith that improves your life?
- Faith offers direction to those who are lost in the depths of their accepted shortcomings.
- Faith is the first to open the new doors of opportunities within your life.
- Faith brings confidence to the surface of your mind when doubt is dominating your thoughts.
- Faith releases the manifested power that influences restraint to take a back seat to your beliefs.
- Faith is a friendly resource that encourages new ideas to rise in their discovery and shine in their performance.
- Faith offers strength to the accepted and questions for the curious.
- Faith is a humble resource with a powerful message for those that doubt its ability to empower their lives. It is the message of hope. Within hope all is possible.
So remember, you hold the key to the door that opens to your faith. It is up to you to utilize this key effectively and graciously within your life. I believe that your higher power will never regret the introduction or an in increase in your faith. That is why my faith in God will always empower me to continue to share messages such as this one.
Therefore embrace your faith and have fun with it, because you deserve it. There’s no limit to where your faith can take you or you can take your faith.
If faith is a resource of your life, please share your thoughts within your reply…..
May
12
2010
New Audio Version of this Article! ==>
Parenthood – Encouraging and Teaching Our Children
Parenthood in itself is a challenging opportunity that can either bring out the best or worst of a person’s personality, feelings and actions. It can encourage both truth and falsity in the minds of those that hold parenthood to be a defining element of their existence. As parents we encourage our children to seek new challenges, embrace new ideas and to not settle for the status quo.
In many instances we encourage our children to accept and practice those actions and beliefs that we hold dearly and discourage those actions and beliefs that we have found to be unacceptable. In most cases no one has to tell us that we are to be responsible or held accountable for the raising of our children. It is an assumption that is accepted by parents as being a part of the commitment called parenthood.
Even in its simplest form parenthood can be a challenge. Just when you believe that you have done a great job of nurturing and guiding your children in the way that you know best, parenthood teaches you a new lesson. Not all of parenthood’s lessons are welcomed, but they are all delivered. Whether we want them or not.
I believe that no two journey’s of parenthood are exactly the same. There are many elements of our lives that bring the challenges and joys of parenthood to the surface of our actions. But parenthood in itself has its own way and approach in showing both our strengths and weaknesses relating those beliefs and actions that we have committed ourselves to practicing.
Thinking about the children
Our children will always remain in the forefront of our thoughts and actions. But even in our most well intentioned efforts, we are never fully equipped with all of the knowledge and wisdom needed to meet every challenge that life presents us in parenthood.
We make decisions that offer protection and guidance to our children when dealing with the challenges that life will present. We encourage our children to think independently while caring for others in a way that they would expect to be cared for themselves. We teach them that life may not always be fair, but it is just and often predictable for those that commit themselves to learning from the lessons that life will teach them.
Within the lessons of life, we find growth in our experiences and wisdom in our actions.
There is no question in our minds that our children are worth all that we learn and all that we teach.
There is no question in our minds that our children will be prepared to meet life’s greatest challenges.
There is no question in our minds that our children will serve our communities and countries armed with knowledge and wisdom that life will appreciate.
Therefore, there should be no question in our childrens minds as to whether our intentions as their parents are filled with anything but love, affection and commitment to developing their productive lives.
If you are a person that feels strongly about the commitment of parenthood, please share your thoughts and ideas within your reply…..
May
1
2010
New Audio Version of this Article! ==>
Understanding and Overcoming the Fear in Starting Over
There are no secret formulas that can bring ease to the mind of someone that is considering the opportunity of starting over. I use the word opportunity because that is exactly what is offered in the process of doing something new, with something old. Though, to many people it may often feel discouraging and relentless, it can also feel empowering and restoring if its true perspectives or alternatives are allowed to penetrate through the conditions of a person’s past experience.
In many cases starting over imposes stifling conditions of fear that can overwhelm the minds and life conditions of even the most rational thinking people in our lives.
Though this fear possesses no power of its own, it is recognizably known to be a consumer of:
- our expression of dignity
- our respect for our ability
- our will to persevere
- our hope for opportunity
- our energy to do more
- our belief in prosperity
- our enthusiasm for life to produce growth and development
But even in its most active state of stifling your mind and your life, it remains vulnerable. It cannot operate without your consent. You are the master and granter of its power. Circumstance may present itself as being a controlling factor in the accumulation of power that the fear in starting over presents, but as I have stated in the past, “Circumstance is a Liar”. Old conditions or circumstances do not represent the opportunities in the new conditions that you are willing to present into your life.
When you engage in the acceptance that challenge is an opportunity to do things better, you strengthen the purpose in your opportunity and weaken the given power in the fear of starting over. “Challenge” (chal·lenge: An act or statement of defiance; a call to confrontation) is the most appropriate word that I can personally consider when encountering fear that is related to starting over.
Sharing My Experience
I can remember when I was faced with the most challenging consideration of starting over in my life. It was several years ago when I was being downsized from what I considered to be the job of my dreams. I had relocated my family nearly 1,200 miles from our home in Virginia to Minnesota. The company had invested a substantial amount of money for my family and I to relocate to Minnesota. Then 9/11 took place and the technology industry went south. Companies were downsizing for survival,special funded projects were being eliminated and lifestyles were being destroyed. The company that I worked for had merged with another company in Iowa and 96% of my entire team was being downsized so that our workload could be moved to a more cost effective location in Iowa.
Circumstance was doing its job. For a short period of time in my life, I was convinced that all that I had worked for in my life had come to an end. For nearly eleven months I was unemployed. The bills were piling up and technology jobs were nowhere to be found.
It was the first time in my life that I had felt beaten and lost. I became so scared for my family’s future, that I became angry. It was not the anger of fear that had taken residence in my mind. It was the anger of loosing control of my family’s life that ignited something new in the circumstance of something old.
The more that I considered the fact that I was not alone in this array of misfortune, the angrier I became. There were hundreds of thousands of families that were being influenced by circumstance in the same way. Many of you were amongst those struggling families. The conditions and circumstances of that misfortune was most likely, not do to your own actions. But the appearance in your circumstance was so convincing that it became an accepted reality. Circumstance was operating at its best and welcoming us all to its pity party. Life had changed and starting over became very familiar to an astounding amount of families.
Fighting Back
I like many family members made the decision to fight back. My friends and I had began to not only sharing concerns, but also share strategies to overcome our circumstances. It was as though our community of friends had been reborn with new purposes. Circumstance was in for a fight and my family was not gonna lose.
While fear tried its best to dominate my family’s thinking, we fought back with positive affirmations, actions and influences. Like many people, we had decided that we were stronger than the circumstance that had been placed before us.
Life changed, when we changed our thinking and executed positive actions. That is when starting over became an opportunity to do something new, with something old. Very similar to many of you that were faced with similar conditions, life became fun again and our true reality took its course within our lives.
Ralph Waldo Emerson was once quoted as saying, “A man is what he thinks about all day long”. I’ve heard and have created many positive quotes that can alter the stages of our lives, but this quotes is special. It holds true to how we can empower ourselves through any challenge that is placed before us.
Therefore, if you are being faced with the fear of starting over. It is important that you take an inventory of you and your family’s mindset and actions. In achieving this awareness you will then be able to implement the changes needed to regain focus and power within your life.
Together we can help each of us overcome this stifling element within our lives….
If starting over has ever been a challenge for you and or your family, please share your experiences and or remedies in your reply….
All of us would like to know….
Related Quote:
The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind.
~ William James
April
24
2010
New Audio Version of this Article! ==> Fear and Failure Can Be Overtaken
Failure can be an overwhelming concept and experience for many people. It is in failure that we are often tested by our deepest fears. The instance of failure holds no bearing on who we are as an individual, but it does hold bearing on who become as a result of our reaction to the failure at hand. Its primary intention within your life is to induce fear and restraint. Fear has always been in close relations with failure. It is in fear that failure gains its most contributive amount of strength.
Fear stifles the actions and controls the mind of even the most confident and accomplished individuals. It is a magnet of negative thought for those who choose not to embrace the awareness of fears intention within their lives. It is important that we remember, that fear does not possess an intention of achievement. It embraces and encourages its opportunity of magnifying your failures. It realizes that you are vulnerable without your belief and confidence. Though fear may appear to be alone in its contribution to your emotions, it operates in coalition with the most destructive elements that may ever contribute to your psyche.
A few of these destructive elements are:
- deception
- restraint
- corruption
- prohibition
- selfishness
- ignorance
- and impatience
Fear and failure are not in a contest with each other for 1st place. They do not care about which of them induced the other. They only want to work the power in their destructive belief within the purpose of your life. But within their destructive efforts they become so focused on your destruction that they become vulnerable to one of the most powerful elements of your life. This is the element of faith. Faith indicates to fear and failure that you are not going to quit and that you are using failure as a lesson and fear as a motivator to improve the conditions of your life.
The challenge that faith offers fear and failure is always unexpected by these destructive elements. Because of their past successes they can easily become two of the most arrogant elements of your life. This arrogance feeds into their own blind destruction. Before they have even realized that they have been overtaken, the new journey of your life has began and you are back in control. Within this control you develop new positive elements to contribute into your life
How do you feel about the overtaking of fear and failure within your life?
I’d like to know….
April
18
2010
New Audio Version of this Article! ==> The Opportunity to Get Life Right
“I love you baby, with all of my heart. Always be yourself. Never let anyone change you. You are a beautiful person. You have made me so proud”, are a few of the words that any of us would love to hear from those that we love. Well these were the words spoken to me by my loving grandmother, Elouise Mosley, only a few days before she departed the loving lives of her family and friends to rest by the side of our loving God.
Many of us spend the most precious seconds of our lives reaching for what we have proclaimed to be achievement. When our true achievements often extend beyond the measures of what society has determined to exist in the purchasing or renting our first home, buying a new car, having a great job, maintaining loving relationships, establishing precious friendships and designing an overall quality driven lifestyle. These are only a few of the achievements that we have deemed important within our lives. This list can go forever. It is important that we respect achievement as being an opportunity to not only receive its rewards and gifts , but to also share those same rewards and gifts with others.
We are often given opportunity after opportunity to get life right. To be the champions that we were created to be. To walk with the giants of life regardless of our physical realities or financial benevolence. To smell the flowers of life as though their existence was about to end. To embrace the strength that hope continuously offers us through our belief in its power or maybe even to encourage good will amongst all those that cross the paths of our lives.
This may sound like a tall order to a short order cook, but I can personally tell you that from my own experience, it is attainable. My grandmother lived this life. She walked tall amongst the giants. She held her head high in the presence of challenge and grieving loss. Money, wisdom and materialistic gain held many purposes in her life, but their primary purpose was influenced in the actions of sharing. She believed that nothing held purpose if it could not or would not be shared. People need more than food and water to survive in this world is what she has said to me in the past.
I am convinced that God did not break the mold when he created my grandmother. I believe that you are experiencing the sharing of this article because you are ether a contributor to this wonderful benefit in life or you were influenced by someone who loved you enough to introduce this benefit into your life. Maybe it was your mother, your father, your brother, your sister or your friend. Whom ever it was, they gave you a gift that your life ’s achievements will forever appreciate. Life quickly passes through us, around us, with us and for us. It is in our rewards and gifts back to life that repeatedly welcomes opportunity into our lives and the lives of others.
I am sure that you can agree that it is a wonderful experience to receive through the act of giving. Therefore I ask of you to not sacrifice the value of your rewards and gifts, to not deny their presence within your life and to not feel shameful of your achievements. But to embrace the power that exists in your achievements, when giving and sharing is in the forefront of your mind and actions.
How do you feel about your opportunities in life?
I’d like to know…
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April
13
2010
New Audio Version of this Article! ==>
Five Important Traits of a Successful Person
Success is registered by each of us in many different ways. Even in its diverse results, the approach to success is anchored with a few similarities. These similarities are what I like to call “Success Traits”. The success traits of the most memorable and recognizable people in the world are not traits filled with secrecy or impossibility. They are traits that are basic in practice, yet bold in their needs for commitment.
To many people, commitment instills fear relating the unpredictable results and length of time it may take to reach a goal attained through practicing success traits. Fear should never hinder anyone from practicing those traits that encourage success. Success traits are traits that instill power, not fear and weakness.
The 5 important traits of a successful person are:
Will
In will, you find the strength and reason to continue even when opportunities are few, competition is high and belief in your ability is challenged. Will is an empowering contribution to any goal that you set within your life. You control your will, not circumstance.
Integrity
Failure does not exist within the definition of integrity. It is in integrity that we encourage and receive the respect of those that matter most throughout the development of our goals. Respect is never given to those that influence bad behavior or habits that are laced with discouraging actions, that lack in integrity. The most diminishing factor relating the lack of integrity, is its ability to not motivate even the most committed people to practice those traits of success that will influence their lives. Integrity is always your friend. It’s always available and always on time when you commit to its practice or deliverance.
Purpose
An important element in reaching any goal is attaining direction. Purpose influences direction in such an amazing way that it appears to open doors that seem to be impossible to open, clear paths that are consistently cluttered with negative beliefs and find solutions when circumstance is attempting to convince you that it is the most powerful condition of your life.
Humility
It brings the best of your talents to the surface of your performances. Humility has no idea of how little you know or how many times have failed. It only knows that you are willing to do what it takes to improve not only your life, but the lives of others. Through exercising humility you engage the trust of others and welcome sincerity into your life.
Resilience
Life can be tough and full of pleasure in one moment. Resilience opens your mind to alternatives and new experiences. Even during the most darkened stages of the path toward your life’s greatest accomplishments, resilience continues to offer its greatest contributions. The contributions of lesson, patience, knowledge and wisdom are the best friends of resilience. They are friends that never close their doors to new relationships. Successful people appreciate these relationships.
Each of these traits are empowering gifts that life offers to us all. Many of us extend our arms to embrace traits that we have identified to be successful for others, while hoping for our own success via the accepted traits of others. Keep in mind that these are only 5 of the important traits of a successful person. Many other positive driven traits can also service success within your life. I believe that a trait is an element of your life that should empower you with gifts that welcome the empowerment of others. Therefore I find it to be extremely important that we select traits with the same enthusiasm and apprehension that we select our mates. Success always appreciates your efforts when you show it consideration and respect.
How do you feel about the traits of a successful person?
I’d like to know…..
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Great News……..The Positive Share Newsletter is now available on our website. Enjoy a free copy of the Positive Share Personal & Accountability Development Series’s eBook “Father Not Present” when you sign up for our free newsletter. Please see the banner on the right to receive your free ebook. If the banner does not appear you may visit our website at www.positiveshare.com to receive your free ebook.
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April
12
2010
I am saddened to read an article that CNN published concerning the tragic response of the US Family that returned their adopted child to his native country in Russia as though he is a misbehaved puppy that was purchased at a neighborhood pet store. Artyem, a 7 year old Russian boy was recently adopted by The Hansen family. At the time of the adoption, I am sure that the intentions of the family were high in enthusiasm and expectation of what the future would hold for the new addition to their family.
These feelings are not foreign to any family that has embraced the idea of a new family member, the expectations are typically grand. These expectations are not anchored in the maternal delivery of these children, but anchored in the maternal acceptance of these children becoming a part of a greater life for everyone. There are hundreds of thousands of children delivered maternally and adopted throughout United States every year. Children have always been a blessing to the culture and liveliness of our communities and families.
I have never met the perfect child, nor have I met the perfect family. Children grow into their understandings and expectations. They are not born with the cognitive dissonance to make decisions that would meet adult expectations. Furthermore, newborns start from zero and adopted 7 year old childrem start from the experiences of their past 7 years. In many cases adoptive children have encountered more tragedy within their early lives than the adults that are adopting them.
As a parent, I am saddened to even think that a child would be treated as though they are a return to sender item, like a piece of bad mail. The hardship faced by any orphaned child should never be prejudged or assumed as being minimal. It is an open heart that adopts these children and it should be an open mind that cares for them.
While I am sympathetic toward the concern and safety of any family, I am extremely protective of the welfare and developing minds of children. I do not believe that any child would want to hold hatred or threat toward the delivery of love unless the circumstances of their lives have convinced them that love is unattainable or would bring about more hardship.
As I have stated in my past articles, circumstance is a liar. The adults that choose to adopt the children of this world should strive to prove this to be true. The hearts and lives of adopted children depend upon their success in this proven fact just as much as they do. I would like to commend young Artyem for getting on the plane, landing in Russia and finding the proper authorities to assist him. This had to have been one of the most frightening and rejecting events of his life. In comparison of measure between life experience, age, knowledge, wisdom and hope, there are adults that have crumbled from less rejection, a few of them placed him on that very plane.
Keep your head up Artyem. Love does exist in this world…
How do you feel about what happened to 7 year old Artyem or the importance of love and realistic expectation within an adoption?
I’d like to know…
April
10
2010
New Audio Version of this Article! ==>
Discovering Focus Through Challenging Questions
Focus is never lost. It only goes undiscovered by many of us, because we have not exercised the elements that focus recognizes for it to be discovered. There are many questions that we fail to ask ourselves when we are seeking the discovery of focus within our lives. Within these questions we unlock the elements that focus needs to activate its place and purpose within those goals that we have chosen to accomplish.
Many people are challenged or uncomfortable with asking the questions required by focus because of focus’s requirement of honesty in their answers and commitments to either changing or continuing the actions they have chosen to execute whether failure or progress is presently in existence. Since focus is always ready to go and contribute greatly into our lives, it will never have a problem with asking us to give more, be more or do more.
But it does have a problem with us not answering such questions as:
- Am I willing to commit to my goals even in the presence of challenge and my own doubt?
- Will I allow others to deter my actions because of their disbelief in my abilities?
- Have I prepared myself for the success, delay or failure of my goals?
- How will I measure my success?
- What does success look like?
- What will I focus on throughout the journey of my goals?
- Do the opinions of others matter more than my belief in myself?
- Who is in charge and responsible for my destiny?
- Who will be the supportive people that I will need throughout the development of my goals?
- Do I need to cleanse my life of any toxic people that will disrupt my development?
- Can I reach my goals alone?
- Is there any value in sharing my goals with someone else?
- Why is this goal so important to me?
- What will focus and commitment do for me?
- Am I the right person, with the proper talents to reach these goals?
- What have I done in the past that demonstrates my opportunities of success in reaching my goals?
- Is this goal worth what I am willing to commit for its success?
These are only a few of those important questions that we should ask ourselves when entering a goal and preparing for focus to perform at its best. In answering these few questions we feed focus with the fuel it needs to exercise its ability to work greatly and powerfully within our lives.
It is important that we remember that focus is a friend to those that welcome its power and control within the purposes of their goals and a foe to those that squander their efforts with indecisive and uncommitted actions that minimize their accomplishments. Even people with the least of talent and the shallow of wisdom can benefit from the rewards of focus if their purpose is driven and designed by the right answers to the right questions.
How do feel about discovering and feeding focus within your life?
I’d like to know….
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Great News……..The Positive Share Newsletter is now available on our website. Enjoy a free copy of the Positive Share Personal & Accountability Development Series’s eBook “Father Not Present” when you sign up for our free newsletter. Please see the banner on the right to receive your free ebook. If the banner does not appear you may visit our website at www.positiveshare.com to receive your free ebook.
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April
7
2010
New Audio Version of this Article! ==>
The Power in Influencing Acceptances Within Your Life
We are many things to many people, but those things are ultimately encouraged through the actions that we voluntarily introduce or the actions that we introduce as a result of someone else’s actions. Regardless of the forms, reasons, interpretations or acceptances of the introduction of our actions, we are held accountable for the us that we introduce into the world.
It is true that we cannot control the thoughts and acceptances of another person relating ourselves. But in not having this control, we are still not rendered powerless of our influence in the process others take to determine who they believe us to be and who we want them to believe we are. This process always requires input. It is our choices in what we contribute to this process that offers our input of influence.
As we mature in this world our identities are being molded daily through the acceptances and interpretations of ourselves and others. We find many vehicles of comfort to influence our identities.
It is not foreign to find ourselves in the comfort of:
- the sounds of music
- the lessons of literature
- the sharing in friendships
- the care in relationships
- the belief in spirituality
- the love of family
- and the habitual devices that bring us relief
The vehicles used to assist us in achieving the us that we want to be, is no where near as important as our acceptances of who believe that we become through these vehicles.
I have personally found clarity and understanding in music, family, literature and spirituality to reach my own acceptances of who I am. I have trained myself to engage emotion through music, love through family, wisdom through literature and peace through spirituality. There is no special sequence required to reach my acceptance in who I am or who I want to introduce to the world. It is merely a matter of choosing my vehicles of comfort and accepting how these vehicles service, are to be utilized and accepted in my life.
The most important point for you to remember is that taking control of influencing acceptances within your life do not make you special. But it does make you powerful when it comes to influencing who you are and who you want the world to believe you have become or will become some day.
How do you feel about the acceptances of who you are or will become some day?
I’d like to know…
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Great News……..The Positive Share Newsletter is now available on our website. Enjoy a free copy of the Positive Share Personal & Accountability Development Series’s eBook “Father Not Present” when you sign up for our free newsletter. Please see the banner on the right to receive your free ebook. If the banner does not appear you may visit our website at www.positiveshare.com to receive your free ebook.
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April
5
2010
New Audio Version of this Article! ==> Leadership Aspirations
Leadership continues to be a prominent aspiration of many people. The lack of skill or experience does not discourage those that have strong aspirations of engaging themselves into a leadership role. The challenge in this aspiration is that not everyone is willing to commit the time needed to produce the long lasting fruits of quality driven leadership.
Many people aspire to become leaders because of their dreams of increasing their salary or the opportunities of power. While each of these aspired acquisitions are benevolent in their appearance. Neither of these acquisitions are inexpensive in their expectations.
As an appointed leader you can expect that:
- More money is given with the intent of increasing your responsibilities.
- More power is given with these same responsibilities embodied with the personal wants and needs of the staff to be lead.
Often leadership is mistaken with the actions of managing. Managing is a reactive approach to reaching a productive and agreeable performance out of your team. Leading is a proactive approach to maximizing the performance of your team to match the expectations of present and future productivity.
Each of these approaches serve their own purpose, in their own time.
In Leadership:
- Leaders discover and engage the hidden and existing potentials of their teams. This discovery increases the value of each team member, while offering opportunities of growth through an increase in knowledge, wisdom and understanding of his teams purpose and abilities. The development of new leaders and ideas are often prevalent in this environment. The clarity encouraged through the actions of leadership offer these teams new approaches to meeting new challenges.
In Managing:
- Results are short lived and attentive to the existing challenges of the day. But do not service the growth and opportunity of new challenges in the teams future. Work gets managed, but a teams potential does not grow. The skills of the managed team are limited to the experiences presented in the managed decisions. New leaders are not often developed in this environment. What you will often find being developed are carbon copies of the existing managers limitations.
While it always has been and always will be an individuals choice in how his team is developed and nurtured. It is still a choice that will require judgment, consideration, effort, understanding and will to service a teams purpose, properly.
How do you feel about the aspirations of leadership?
I’d like to know…
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Great News……..The Positive Share Newsletter is now available on our website. Enjoy a free copy of the Positive Share Personal & Accountability Development Series’s eBook “Father Not Present” when you sign up for our free newsletter. Please see the banner on the right to receive your free ebook. If the banner does not appear you may visit our website at www.positiveshare.com to receive your free ebook.
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March
30
2010
New Audio Version of this Article! ==>
Expect From a Leader – What You are Willing to Give to a Leader
Is it fair to expect from a leader, what you are not willing to give to a leader? While the expectations of leadership continue to grow, it would be an act of avoidance for each of us not to take the time to answer this question honestly. Mentally, conceptually and morally we have all created our own definitions and acceptances of what we expect from our leaders. This expectation is not limited to those in our political or workplace leadership roles. It expands to our family and spiritual leaders as well.
Expectations have become both a formal and casual way of life for all of us. An expectation is a great tool in establishing standards in delivery and receipt. But when you don’t show care in the establishment of an expectation, you can easily jeopardize the acceptance in the validity or the buy in of the receiving party.
Many people expect more from their leaders than they expect from themselves. It is common for any of us to have expectations of:
- Knowledge
- Experience
- Morality
- Motivation
- Understanding
- Will
- Commitment
- Respect
- Patience
- Wisdom
- Organization
- Honesty
- Appreciation
- Gratitude
This list can go on for ever.
Rightfully so, expectation should exist. But this expectation should not be one sided. Expectation does not recognize a title or pay grade. It identifies itself as a shared responsibility between leaders and their teams. It requires care on both the delivery and the receiving end of its application. When care is not applied to the application of expectation, the results are limited to what many people would consider to be wishful thinking. This is a result of not receiving the buy-in of the receiving party.
Buy-in is not a complicated task to achieve. Taking the time to learn how the expectation will negatively effect and or benefit the receiving party will demonstrate to the receiving party that you are being considerate of their situation within the expectation. The size of your consideration will not always matter. It is the demonstration of consideration that will be appreciated in most cases.
Not taking the application of expectation seriously is a loss to both the leader and the team members. Often, expectations set the bar for achievement. Therefore be careful and considerate of what you expect of your leaders, someday they may expect the same of you.
How do you feel about expectations relating leadership?
I’d like to know…..
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Great News……..The Positive Share Newsletter is now available on our website. Enjoy a free copy of the Positive Share Personal & Accountability Development Series’s eBook “Father Not Present” when you sign up for our free newsletter. Please see the banner on the right to receive your free ebook. If the banner does not appear you may visit our website at www.positiveshare.com to receive your free ebook.
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March
25
2010
Audio Version ==>
Top 10 Leadrship-Unfortunate Workplace Mistakes Pt 1
Top 10 Leadrship-Unfortunate Workplace Mistakes Pt 2
1. Leaders that share the workplace of their staff, but they position themselves as untouchables.
Unfortunately, the untouchable leader is far from being a myth. This leader believes that he is so far above the law of the workplace, that he actually convinces himself that it is in the best interest of the team that he is treated like royalty or the secret service. This leader is struggling to hold on to the primitive leadership belief system that respect is gained through having a big desk, a high title, a bigger salary and their own office. Though he has been promoted to a leadership role, he ends up getting cheated by his own ego, lack of appreciation and personal ignorance. The leader should consider reading as many self-help and leadership books that he can find. In these books He will learn that his greatest assets are outside of his office door, not at his desk.
2. Leaders that create an environment laced with fear.
This leaders puts Napolean Bonaparte to shame. He is usually struggling with his own incompetence or lack of confidence in himself. He believes that strength and respect are accrued through ignorance and the degrading of others. He questions his own ability, therefore he threatens the ability of anyone that appears to be stronger in the performance of any given task that he would appear to be weak in his own performance. If he does not believe that a task is possible, he usually does not believe that you are capable. This leader should consider finding a new job, because he has only reached this point in his career because of his experiences of what he considers to be success in his career through instilling fear in others. It would take a major personality overhaul or life changing event to get this leader back on track. In all true reality this leader is the weakest of all leaders. His consideration or interpretation of power is so far off of the spectrum of human appreciation that he should be ashamed of himself. There are many careers that this leader could have chosen that would have an appreciation of his aggressive approach to dealing with others. He could have been a wrestler, boxer or maybe even a bull fighter. Leadership is not the best place for this type of an attitude.
3. Leaders that believe that they are the smartest bears in the forest.
I actually enjoy watching this leader. He offers a very entertaining performance. Most of the time he only sees success in the familiar. His familiar is defined within his own measure of success. He often puts his foot in his mouth or stumps his toe when speaking his mind. This leader’s team is cursed with what I would like to call “Stumpy Growth”. Stumpy Growth is when the team does not grow in its ability or experience because the leader will not encourage growth beyond his own personal ability to grow. He typically believes that he is being smart by attempting to hire people that he believes is not smarter than him. Life usually offers this leader its own entertainment, by placing the most challenging and needy people amongst the members of this leader’s team. As you can see, Karma has a way of catching up with all of us.
4. Leaders that don’t practice what they preach.
This leader does not understand one of the most basic principles of leadership. The do as I say, not as I do principle, does not work in the workplaces of today. Today employees are smarter and more observant than ever before. They watch the actions of their leaders very closely. These employees are looking for actions performed by their leaders that influence them to initiate signs of buy-in. Most employees want and expect to be lead. But they don’t expect to be lead off of a bridge by a liar. I believe that there is still hope for this leader. His best opportunity of changing himself or developing his team, exists in his ability to be honest with himself. Once he acknowledges that his performance is not only hindering his team, but also himself. He will usually make a positive change toward success. This change takes place because this leader is so filled with ego that the idea of his own actions restricting himself from growth is unacceptable. In this case his ego could actually have become his blessing. It may be true that a tiger does not change his stripes, but a liar can change his actions, if his awareness is anchored with new purpose.
5. Leaders that think that leadership is an arrival point, not a committing point.
Promotions are great motivators that encourage many of us to work hard, while staying focused on its attainable possibilities. Many leaders set a goal to become the one in charge, rather than one who leads others and themselves to greatness. The “Arriving Leader” focuses more on his present achievement, rather his legacy as a great leader. He tends to lead by reaction, rather than direction and creation. This leader has created his own glass ceiling. He is more of a threat to himself than he is to his peers. Competition is not even in the vocabulary of this leader’s career. He is just taking up space and occupying time. You’ll always find this leader at his favorite office spot, the water cooler. He wants to be seen by those that have not arrived. What he does not realize is that it does not matter most in where you arrive, it matters most in what you do, when you arrive.
6. Leaders that fail to grow within the cultural changes and needs of the workplace.
Society often leaves this leader behind when it comes to technology and creative approaches to problem resolution. This leader is stuck in the successes of his past. He does not realize that the success bus will leave without him. He thinks that his old tires, with little tread will still make it through the cold winter storms of the modern day workplace. This leader’s career is frozen and skating on thin ice. His team’s needs will outgrow his potential to lead them. Retraining should become this leader’s favorite word in the vocabulary of his leadership.
7. Leaders that demand respect instead of earning respect.
This leader needs to receive a quick lesson on how respect is a given that is earned, not a given that is taken. He spends too much time thinking about how respect should be placed at his feet because of his title. When in reality he should be focused on the respectful gain accomplished through leading by example. Until this leader realizes that his cry for respect is landing him in the midst of his team’s silent ears, his crying will only get louder. But the louder he gets, the less his team will listen. In order for this leader’s team to grow and prosper in the workplace, it is extremely important for this leader to change his focus from receiving respect to achieving performance. In achieving performance he will achieve respect.
8. Leaders that reward bad behavior because of its good results.
This leader is a walking and talking joke. He feeds off of animosity and controversy. He finds a friendly link between himself and the bad attitude of those team members that act badly in the workplace. He is so intrigued by the bad behavior of people, that he eventually becomes blind to seeing the good performances others. This leader is suffering from an extreme case of confused self esteem. He tends to identify with those bad traits that remind him of himself or those traits that he hopes to someday absorb. This is a leadership train wreck waiting to happen.
9. Leaders that fail to acknowledge extraordinary growth in their team in a public forum.
It is a great misfortune when this leader does not acknowledge the extraordinary growth in the members of his team. His team is obviously growing and developing under the performance of his leadership. Great performance is a result of great commitment. Teams don’t usually commit in their performance if they believe that their leader is unappreciative of their efforts. This leader should be proud of his team and their performance. Very similar to the “Speaker of the House” in the House of Representatives, this leader should become the loudest voice in his workplace when it comes to praising his team. Though less performing teams may sometimes not have an appreciation of his praise. His team will definitely appreciate his demonstration of pride in their performance. The team’s performance is already a demonstration of his ability to lead a successful team. Public praise will only enhance their performance.
10. Leaders that forget about their own journey, and in this forgetting they are influenced by lies.
The leader that chooses to forget about what it took to get to where he is in his career, is doomed to repeat the failures of his past. This may appear to be a bit cliché, but it is truth in its purest form. He is not only cheating himself of the values resident in the lessons of his past, but also cheating his team of those lessons. In most cases, this leader is attempting to hide from the bad history or least expected results of his past performances. What the leader does not realize is that in the hiding, he is diminishing the power that exists in the history of his past. History does not run from the mind of its participant, it only blinds the participant’s mind from seeing the truth, when the participant attempts to run from it. Therefore this leader has only convinced himself that anything that he does that is different from what he has done in the past, is an improvement in his present performance. In this convincing, history is not fooled, it knows it own truth. There is no truth or honor in cheating yourself of the history of your life. Whether this leader wants to accept it or not, he has experienced achievement in his career because of the lessons learned in the history of his past.
March
20
2010
New Audio Version of this Article! ==> Discover the Ragpicker in You
In a recent article that I have written, I embraced the cliché “When the student is ready, the teacher will come”. Unknowingly, the timing of writing this article could not have been more supportive of the journey that I am presently traveling throughout these wonderful days of my life. I have embraced the wisdom of many authors throughout my seeking of awareness in the potential that I can respectfully bring to life and that life can in return bring to me.
I have discovered the importance of both shared wisdom and harbored wisdom, while cherishing the application of both discoveries. I have shared lessons in which I have both knowingly and willingly consumed through a conglomerate of thoughts that my mind has inherited from a mass amount of authors along with those challenging life lessons that I have personally experienced or have watched others endure.
In my recent search for wisdom I embraced lessons from a book that has held residence in my library for several years. It is the wonderful lessons delivered in the book “The Greatest Miracle in the World”, by Og Mandino. In this book I saw mirrored lessons of my own life experiences, aspirations and journeys. Similar to Og Mandino, I enjoy the blessings that awareness of one’s capabilities and opportunities can bring to your life and the lives of others if you are open to the lessons you encounter within your personal journey.
While experiencing this great literature I could envision myself through the enthusiastic learning of Og Mandino and the sharing of lessons of Simon Potter, the Ragpicker. It was as though I could personally step into both characters. What a great feeling it is when an author is talented enough to engage your mind and life experiences into the lessons of his writings.
In each of these characters you will find limitless gifts of grace, enthusiasm, knowledge, wisdom, charisma, respect, consideration, will and love for themselves and their fellow man. I have personally discovered that as far as I can remember, I have embraced the actions and heart of a Ragpicker. I believe that in experiencing this book, many of you will also embrace this wonderful acceptance for yourselves.
If you are a person who seeks to better understand where and how the greatest miracles in your world are created, this book is for you. Og Mandino does a great job of bringing the simplicity of your miracles to the surface of your life. I highly recommend this book to you all. It’s a great piece of literature.
Would you like to experience the lessons of “The Greatest Miracle in the World”?
I’d like to know….
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Great News……..The Positive Share Newsletter is now available on our website. Enjoy a free copy of the Positive Share Personal & Accountability Development Series’s eBook “Father Not Present” when you sign up for our free newsletter. Please see the banner on the right to receive your free ebook. If the banner does not appear you may visit our website at www.positiveshare.com to receive your free ebook.
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March
15
2010
New Audio Version of this Article! ==>
All of Us Know, That We Are Better than Who We Are
In our existence, time is of the essence, but it holds little power when compared to the essence of our actions performed in time. While the 24 hour measure of time exists in each of our lives, our existence within its minutes or seconds is not promised. The utilization of what time we do have available, holds great bearing in what we produce and contribute throughout our lives. All of us know, that we are better than who we are, because our greatest works, exists in our greatest efforts.
When those efforts are not applied, we are often settled in those results.
But it is important to remember, that even in the minimal measures of our efforts, we will find a better us. Though it may not always be the better us that we are seeking. It may be the best better us achievable through the amount of measurable effort, we have supplied within our lives. On many occasions, that in which we seek requires more than a minimal effort. Yet, even in its smallest measure, it is still a measurement of success. I say this because success is measured by the initiator and the recipient. Often, they are the same person.
The better us cannot avoid showing up in the results of our best efforts. It has consistently been demonstrated by many of the worlds most accomplished people. While many people are challenged with physical, emotional and spiritual challenges. I believe that we are taught through history that even the greatest of challenges can be overcome through doing our best.
People like:
- Ludwig Van Beethoven who overcame the challenge of deafness to compose some of the greatest music ever heard.
- Theodore Roosevelt’s achievement in becoming President of the United States though he was challenged with the ailment of polio.
- Abraham Lincoln’s achievement in becoming one of history’s greatest leaders though he was challenged with an emotional mood disorder.
- John F. Kennedy rewarded the world with some of the greatest speeches ever heard, though his physical ailment of asthma challenged his breathing.
- Albert Einstein, shared the ideas and discoveries of one of the greatest minds of all history. His challenge of asperger syndrome did not restrict his efforts of sharing those ideas that have effected our lives forever.
You see, when we look deep within ourselves to overcome whatever hurdle that has been placed before us as a challenge in our lives, we will find that the better us, is waiting to step forward. We only have to take action in opening the door to allow its entrance.
How do you feel about the achievements of the better you?
I’d like to know….
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Great News……..The Positive Share Newsletter is now available on our website. Enjoy a free copy of the Positive Share Personal & Accountability Development Series’s eBook “Father Not Present” when you sign up for our free newsletter. Please see the banner on the right to receive your free ebook. If the banner does not appear you may visit our website at www.positiveshare.com to receive your free ebook.
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March
13
2010
New Audio Version of this Article! ==>
Will Power Does Not Last, Anchors Do
While the encouragement of will power within your life does offer opportunity and success to those actions and commitments that you have deemed to be important. Will power does not last. It is without a doubt that in it’s own rank, will power serves a great purpose in your life. Yet, it cannot encourage consistency in your performance when it is the strongest application contributing to your goal.
Will power alone may encourage belief, enthusiasm, possibility and a stronger want for achievement. What is does not do is provide the support needed to perform at your best consistently toward a given goal. It is the power offered in anchoring your goal emotionally that establishes a purpose that is most useful to your ambitions of achievement. This emotional link is what I will refer to as your anchor within this article.
Anchors have never been, nor ever will be simple to identify or establish. Yet, they are simple to maintain. Often, anchors are created or founded in the heart of those that understand its purpose. In this understanding, you will find a commitment that is strongly tied to the anchor via emotion or past experiences. The success in reaching your goal is not restricted to you establishing one anchor for one goal. The amount of anchors to be established is up to you.
In many instances, an anchor has history with the establisher. This history does not have to be long termed, it just has to be emotionally attached to the anchors establisher. Since emotion is such a familiar contribution of our personalities, its simplicity is encouraged by its never ending supply.
It does not take a miracle to establish an anchor.
It does not take ambition to establish an anchor.
What it takes is for you to open your mind, and your heart to seeking why this goal is so important to you. When this importance has been established, grab hold of your anchors. Your goals will appreciate your actions.
How do you feel about establishing anchors in your life?
I’d like to know….
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Great News……..The Positive Share Newsletter is now available on our website. Enjoy a free copy of the Positive Share Personal & Accountability Development Series’s eBook “Father Not Present” when you sign up for our free newsletter. Please see the banner on the right to receive your free ebook. If the banner does not appear you may visit our website at www.positiveshare.com to receive your free ebook.
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