It's Tuesday at 2:00pm! (PST Time: I live and work from Southern California)
In this New Year I'm going to continue to explore some leadership quotes that might challenge us, inspire us or remind us of different aspects of the leadership journey. This is part of my personal journey to keep growing, learning and being stretched! Join me each Tuesday at 2:00pm (PST). It will take you just a few minutes to read through the 2 sections of this post, but don't miss the final section where I share some of the things I'm reading, listening to and enjoying this week.
I also invite you to share your favorite quote with a short description of "why it's your favorite". Simply send it to me HERE and I'll post it in an upcoming Tuesday at 2:00pm.
You can find past posts on my website HERE.
Enjoy!
LEADERSHIP QUOTE:
“What you see and what you hear depends a great deal on where you are standing. It also depends on what sort of person you are.” C.S. Lewis
What does this stir up? Either write me HERE or comment at the end of the blog post HERE.
A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:
While there are hundreds of powerful quotes from C.S. Lewis, I wanted to share one more today with you. This quote comes from his book, The Magician's Nephew and it sparks some thinking on the theme of "PERSPECTIVE".
Perspective can be defined as "a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view."
Perspective is important because when we take the time to consider it, it helps us understand a situations from someones different view and experiences. It gives us greater empathy and also reduces conflict.
Before you respond or react, do you consider a different "perspective" or "point of view"? When you do, does it change your response?
DEEPER STILL:
Recently I was in a CEO group doing some issue processing and we were charged with defending a different perspective then our own.
For me, I find that it's easy for me to give quick answers, opinions and direction from a perspective that I am comfortable with. In fact sometimes, I don't even have to think about it.
In this exercise, I couldn't respond quickly because I needed to learn more about the position because it was completely foreign to me. This forced me to slow down, to listen, and to think "outside my box" and at the end of the conversation, I had actually changed my opinion to a degree, simply based on the new information I had heard.
This is a simple illustration, but it supports Lewis' quote above where I think it's reminding us that perspective belongs to everyone, no matter where it's coming from.
I need to be reminded of that. It makes me a better leader, a more empathetic leader and I can learn some things along the way!
Instead of speaking out quickly, pause, listen, try to gain some perspective and then see where you land. You'll be surprised at your growth.
Things I'm Reading, Listening To and Watching This Week:
I just finished listening to Bono's book on Audible: Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story. Pretty interesting perspective on his life and impact.
I attended my first Convene Group this past week and am blessed by a great group of business leaders that will journey and process with me. If you haven't heard of Convene, check them out.
If you need some help managing cash flow, I encourage you to check out the Every Dollar App from Dave Ramsey. It's really easy to use and helps you get control of your finances.
I'll continue to endorse this book by John Eldredge called "Resilient" as I work through it again and use the Pause App for a deeper dive into resilience with some daily practices.
Gina and I enjoyed the 3rd season of Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan Series. A little complicated but a great spy thrilled!
FEATURED GUEST QUOTE: From Jerry in Atlanta
"Sell what you've got." Eli Kurtz
From Jerry...This phrase reminds me that often we already possess the resources needed to meet a need or solve a problem. Sometimes it’s easier to put off taking action, if I “need” to look for resources. Many times, God has already provided the resources to carry out the mission He has given us. His solution may be different than what I envisioned.