LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"To add growth, lead followers - to multiply, lead leaders." John C. Maxwell

What does this stir up? Either write me HERE or comment at the end of the blog post HERE.

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

I just spent a week in a room full of leaders from different parts of the world. We held our 2021 Leader Mundial Leadership Summit, and when I saw this quote from Maxwell, it really resonated with me.

I used to value growth. Sometimes that was measured through attendance or participation, sometimes it was just dynamic growth and maturity, and sometimes it was short-lived with no real lasting results.

When I shifted my leadership focus to identifying leaders that wanted to multiply, wanted to lead, wanted to grow and leverage everything, I was able to see and experience the power of multiplication.

This is difficult though, because often we need to validate our work by having large numbers that are attending our seminars or taking our courses or reading our books.

The reality is that when we invest in the RIGHT leaders, our influence grows and is multiplied. Impact is difficult to measure because it's so explosive and so expansive.

I believe we should do both, and different strategies call for a different focus.

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Scale creates distance." Simon Sinek

What does this stir up? Either write me HERE or comment at the end of the blog post HERE.

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

This is another quote I've had a hard time chasing down, but heard 2 people refer to Simon Sinek as saying this, and its stirred up some thoughts in my mind and heart.

Many times, we glamorize growth as being a sign of success. Bigger is always better. A larger organization must mean that we're making a larger impact.

The truth of Sinek's quote is this: When you grow, it creates distance.

What started as a passion and purpose in your heart grows into something that takes you further and further away from that passion and purpose.

I remember experiencing this with the success of a growing organization. While I liked leading a larger team to larger impact and results, I began to forget what it was that I was most passionate about, and I longed to get back to using my skills, my strengths and my giftedness. This eventually let me to making a change and actually leaving that position even though I was the founder and the originator of the vision.

Are you experiencing "distance" that is caused by your success? Have you been able to shift your mindset around your role and what is needed to continue to scale?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"A genius does many things, but only one at a time." Matthew McConaughey, Greenlights

What does this stir up? Either write me HERE or comment at the end of the blog post HERE.

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

I listened to this book from Matthew McConaughey, and he said this short line. I stopped where I was walking, wrote it down, then continued on my walk. I went back to try to find it, and couldn't find it. I then searched for it online, and couldn't find it.

Maybe this line was just for me today. Maybe it's for you.

So many times, I do a lot of things at the same time, thinking that I'm really skilled and gifted. I can keep the plates all spinning with very little breakage, and I amaze myself with my multi-tasking ability.

The reality is that in my attempt to keep the plates spinning, I'm not doing anything really well. Instead, I'm doing everything with mediocrity.

When did our ability to be good at multi-tasking become a skill that we all aspire to?

Watch this "Plate Spinning Fail". Do you relate to this? I relate more to this image of plate-spinning.

How is your "plate-spinning" going? Are you losing sight of what's most important? Is there "breakage" happening?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Time You Enjoy Wasting Is Not Wasted Time." John Lennon... and Others

What does this stir up? Either write me HERE or comment at the end of the blog post HERE.

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

I saw this quote and I stopped to think about it, then I did some research and found that there are a number of people that are attributed to this quote including Bertrand Russell, T.S. Elliot and Kierkegaard. Lennon just repeated it, and I'll repeat it as well.

Look at the simple words of this quote:

"Time You Enjoy Wasting..."

It's easy to think about all the time I waste. I spend time doing things I don't need to do, and sometimes I feel guilty about this and sometimes I just move on.

This thought is more about being INTENTIONAL. When I waste some of my time, and I enjoy that, it's no longer wasted time.

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm." Publilius Syrus

What does this stir up? Either write me HERE or comment at the end of the blog post HERE.

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

This quote is simply a statement of the obvious.

Often, when things are going well, we're not truly tested, and many times this means that we're not ready for the tests when they come.

Recently, my wife and I were on a sail boat in the Pacific Ocean. The captain of the boat got us out of the harbor, navigated with the wind into the right direction, then he handed the steering to me.

For about 5 minutes we just sailed, it was beautiful.

Then, the winds changed, and in an instant we were off course, heading away from the wind, and the captain jumped in and made the corrections.

While the wind was blowing in the right direction, I was the greatest sailor on the planet! Then things changed quickly.

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"When you shut down vulnerability you shut down opportunity." Brené Brown

What does this stir up? Either write me HERE or comment at the end of the blog post HERE.

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

I was reading an article from Brené Brown, and this quote jumped off the page. It caused me to reflect a little bit and to think about my story.

I remember days in my past where I thought that leadership was about power and having it all together. For years I worked hard at trying to prove and convince people that I had it all under control, and I had it all together.

Eventually, when I didn't have it all under control and when I didn't have it all together, I learned a couple of important lessons:

• People still looked at me for leadership

• People came closer, and they offered support and help

• People felt they could trust me more

I don't know about you, but I wish I had learned the lesson of vulnerability much earlier in my career.

Success isn't about being perfect, it's about being real.

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"If you could get all the people in an organization rowing in the same direction, you could dominate any industry, in any market, against any competition, at any time." Patrick Lencioni

I read this quote today after watching a couple of rowing events in the Olympics in Tokyo. I was amazed at the speed, timing, and teamwork that was demonstrated by these paddlers in a variety of events, and his quote just jumped out at me.

I've done some rowing, and I've learned that sometimes it's easier to just row by myself than to try to coordinate with someone else. However, by myself, I can only go as far as I can push myself. When I work with other people, and we are working well together, we can do so much more!

Don't take the easy route. Getting my team and organization moving together in the same direction is worth the work it takes.

What does this stir up? Either write me HERE or comment at the end of the blog post HERE.

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"If you can't state your position in eight words, you don't have a position." Seth Godin

I like reading Seth Godin's blog because he has the ability to say really good things in very few words.

When I saw the quote above from him, it caused me to stop and think.

How many times, instead of sharing a clear mission, vision, or position, I instead go to a "menu" of things I do, things I care about, and stories that back that up. I try to talk my way into and out of a simple question:

What is your Mission?

Can I say it in 8 words?

Tesla says it in 8 words: "To accelerate the worlds transition to sustainable energy."

Starbucks takes a few more words: "To inspire and nurture the human spirit - one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time."

Google says: "To organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful."

Apple says it like this: "To bringing the best user experience to its customers through its innovative hardware, software, and services."

Coca-Cola: "To Refresh the world. Make a difference."

What does this stir up? Either write me HERE or comment at the end of the blog post HERE.