It's Tuesday at 2:00pm! (PST Time: I live and work from Southern California)
LEADERSHIP QUOTES
I'm going to spend a few weeks looking at some great quotes. Over the past few weeks we've looked at quotes from Genghis Khan, Eleanor Roosevelt, Ghandi, Steve Jobs, Avot de Rabbi Natan and Abraham Maslow. You can read these posts HERE.
The format for this season is the following:
#1) LEADERSHIP QUOTE: I'm going to share a quote with you. I'd like to encourage you to think about it, respond to it, process it. You can stop here, or go to Section 2.
#2) A LITTLE BIT DEEPER: I'm going to share a couple of thoughts that come to my mind when I think about the quote. Just a short reaction from me. You can stop here, or go to Section 3.
#3) DEEPER STILL: I'm going to share something I've found from someone else: A quote, some tips, a challenge, a thought....
#4) RUSS' LIST: I'll continue to share some links, ideas, books or products that I think some of you might benefit from.
Russ
LEADERSHIP QUOTE:
"You can learn great things from your mistakes when you aren't busy denying them." Stephen R. Covey
What does this stir up? Either write me HERE or comment at the end of the blog post HERE.
A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:
Covey wrote The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People many years ago, and the 7 Habits have helped leaders around the world to think differently, me included.
This quote is so classic Covey because he challenges us to learn from all that is within us, and to use that to help shape a better future.
I've made some mistakes in my life. I know some of you are really surprised by this, while most of you can attest or tell great stories of my failures in leadership, however, I have learned over the years to do 3 things, once I realize I've made a mistake:
#1) Own It: I admit it to myself and to others
#2) Study It: I look at it from all angles
#3) Learn From It: I learn from it so I don't repeat it
This doesn't always keep me from making the same mistake twice, but this simple process helps me turn the corner and helps me avoid being stuck in a cycle of paralysis.
What do you do when you realize you've made a mistake? Do you try to figure out who to blame it on? Do you deflect? Do you deny? Or... do you own it?
DEEPER STILL:
John Maxwell, in his book, Failing Forward says:
"Fail early, fail often, but always fail forward."
He talks about the momentum we can find from failure, from our mistakes.
I remember a classic failure moment I had early in my career when I sent personal letters to 400 other professionals inviting them to join me in forming a network. I had envisioned a great return, and was surprised when I didn't get any response.
Instead of sending out another 400 letters (this was before the internet was around), I looked at "WHY" those 400 people didn't respond to my invitation and the answer was simple: I didn't know any of them personally, and they didn't know me.
For the next 30 plus years, I've been a part of establishing deep communities that are built on solid relationships and mutual trust. I learned the importance of this from that first failure in building a new community.
Don't ignore your mistakes or your failures, but learn from them and turn those lessons into lasting impact in your life and in the lives of others.
Things I'm Reading, Listening To and Watching This Week:
Great tunes this week in my office with Toto on Apple Essentials. The song Africa just sticks with you all day!
Stephen R. Covey wrote a book called The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People in 1989. Truly a transformative book that impacted me greatly!
John Mawells book, Failing Forward.
My Communities: I thought I'd share a couple of the "communities" I'm a part of today: First: Leader Mundial is a Global Coaching Community for non-profit leaders and business leaders to gather for Training, Resourcing, Coaching & Community. Second: The Barnabas Group Orange County connects Marketplace Leaders with Ministry Opportunities. Third: Foothills Church RSM. Our church has become a great source of community and connection! I'd be happy to answer any of your questions about connecting in any of these Communities in my life!
CHOMPS Jalepeño Beef Stick. I pick one of these up when I browse Trader Joes, but you can get them online too... Pretty good snack!