It's Tuesday at 2:00pm! (PST Time: I live and work from Southern California)
LEADERSHIP QUOTES
We're exploring some great quotes that will help us in our lives and leadership. If you'd like to share your favorite with me, please post on the comments section of the Blog. You can read these past 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:
"Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe." Abraham Lincoln
What does this stir up? Either write me HERE or comment at the end of the blog post HERE.
A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:
Abraham Lincoln is credited with this great quote, but there are questions as to if and when he actually said it. We're going to look at these words and talk about what they mean to us today.
The thing we should be challenged with from this quote is our need to PREPARE.
Many times we think that the act of DOING is the most important part, so we cut out the PREPARING.
This quote is a great reminder that the best way to DO is to PREPARE TO DO First.
Unfortunately, I have tried to cut down a tree with a dull machete. It's incredible work, and eventually I was able to just beat the tree and the stump into submission, but it was a lot of work. I then sharpened the blade, and was amazed at the ease and speed at which the next tree fell. That was a great lesson.
What jumps out to you from these words? Do they convict you, remind you, or challenge you in your commitment to good preparation?
DEEPER STILL:
Stephen R. Covey actually titles one of his 7 Habits, "Sharpening the Saw" from his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
"Sharpen the Saw means preserving and enhancing the greatest
asset you have - YOU." Stephen R. Covey
Covey would go on to define 4 areas each of us need to "sharpen our saw":
•PHYSICAL: Beneficial eating, exercising and resting
•SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL: Making social and meaningful connections with others.
•MENTAL: Learning, reading, writing and teaching.
•SPIRITUAL: Spending time in nature, meditation, music, art, prayer or service.
We all know the importance of this, but if you're like me, you are running a race, and you're drawing down your reserves of energy, passion and enthusiasm. If you don't restore these things on a regular basis, you're basically trying to cut down a tree with an ax that has not been taken care of and sharpened.
What can you do TODAY to sharpen your saw? Which one of these four areas is the most critical today in your life: Physical, Social/Emotional, Mental, Spiritual? What can you do TODAY to bring renewal? You should do that....
Things I'm Reading, Listening To and Watching This Week:
Stephen R. Covey's book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
Andrea Bocelli has a great playlist on Apple Music Essentials. Great music by one of the greats. I especially enjoyed his work with Ed Sheeran on Amo Soltante Te.
One of my favorite books on personal energy is from Tom Rath: Eat, Move, Sleep. Great tips to address these areas of your life.
If you're in Orange County, come and join Gina and I atFoothills Church RSM (Orange County, California) for an evening with Hope International, learning about the work they do with savings groups around the globe. Register Here. Tuesday Evening, October 26th
I picked up a copy of RealLeaders Magazine on a recent trip through the airport. I found some great articles in the magazine, and I've been exploring their webpage a little bit. real-leaders.com