LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it's worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains." Steve Jobs

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

Continuing the conversation around simplicity, Steve Jobs makes the above statement and it's so true.

Simplifying things is difficult!

Example: Prepare for a 20 minute presentation and a 5 minute presentation. Which one is more difficult? When you have to limit your words, you are forced to choose the RIGHT words.

I think this is why we make things so complicated... it's easier!

Jobs proved that simplicity around technology created not only a great product, but a brand that would last. He was so focused on being simple that he drove people crazy with his demands and his pursuit of the right

features on his products that would keep it simple, but make it highly functional.

We can learn a lot from that pursuit, and when I say "WE", I mean ME.

I don't pursue simplicity because I don't have the margin in my life to focus on it and keep it simple and effective. I tend to just throw myself into everything, keeping things moving, which often is much more complex. What keeps you from the pursuit of simplicity?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Simplicity boils down to two steps: Identify the essential, eliminate the rest." Leo Babauta

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

I want to spend the next 2 weeks looking at quotes about SIMPLICITY. The reason? I tend to make things way to complicated.

This quote from Leo Babauta is the simplest way to define what simplicity is all about? How's that for a sentence....

Step One: Identify the Essential: What is critical to my purpose, my plan, my passion, my pursuit? What HAS to get done, and there's no way around it?

Step Two: Obviously, there are a bunch of things that aren't essential, but for some reason, I keep doing them.

I think the problem is that we have a hard time defining what is essential and core to our purpose.

Here's an easy way to determine what you should and shouldn't do: Make a long-list (a list of everything you think you need to do). Write it on a white board or on a piece of paper. Now, start crossing out things that you don't think are critical to your plan. Sometimes, just seeing it written down helps put it in perspective and helps you determine if it's essential or not. Try it, it actually works!

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"If you can't fly, then run.

If you can't run, then walk.

If you can't walk, then crawl,

but by all means, keep moving."

Martin Luther King Jr.

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

I shared with you my desire to dive into these 3 words more intentionally this year:

PURPOSE - PACE - PRODUCTIVITY

The quote from Martin Luther King Jr. speaks to this directly with the challenge and the motivation to keep moving.

I've found that FEAR PARALYZES ME.

When I'm uncertain, when I'm concerned, when I don't know instinctively what to do, I freeze. Usually I don't freeze for long, but sometimes it's takes a little while for the plan, the clarity and the WIN (What's Important Now) to kick in.

I know people who freeze for long periods of time because they're afraid to make the wrong move.

The quote is a reminder to simply keep moving. Sometimes it means you have to slow down to a crawl, but don't stop, don't freeze, don't become paralyzed.

What causes you to STOP? What gets you STUCK? What do you do when you're not sure what direction to move in?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Our grand business undoubtedly is, not to see what lies dimly at a distance, but to do what lies clearly at hand." Thomas Carlyle

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

I was doing a LifePlan this past week with a young leader, and we get to a point in the 2-day conversation where we look at the 20 charts that are filled with her life all over the walls of my office, and I ask the question: "What's Important Now?"

We've already talked about her vision for 10 years from now. We've already talked about her dreams and opportunities, but I believe the most important part of the engagement is this moment when we define 7 - 10 action steps and we chart them, we break them down, we evaluate them, and then we schedule them.

She walks away with clarity knowing that if she works towards these 9 things over the next 3 months, it's going to move her closer to her dream and her vision. These are her WINS (What's Important Now) and they will bring clarity!

The words of this Scottish Philosopher are great words for us today. Carlyle knows the importance of focusing on the WINS in front of us.

It's January 11th, and you might be overwhelmed by all that you are hoping to accomplish this first month of the year, and you've already experienced failure, frustration and fatigue. STOP! Focus on the WINS.

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Be strong. Take courage. Don't be intimidated. Don't give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He's right there with you. He won't let you down; he won't leave you."

Deuteronomy 31:6 MSG

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

On January 1st, I was on a walk and these words just began swimming around in my head....

"Be strong and courageous; Be strong and courageous"

I've been thinking about them for a few days and when I looked up a passage in the Bible that talks about this, it's the story of Moses giving this message from God to Joshua. Joshua would need all the strength and courage needed to lead the Israelites across the River Jordan to the promised land.

But these words are for me as well.... and for you.

It's 2022. It's a New Year. New challenges, new opportunities, new fears, new hurdles, new stories. It's all new.

But, if you're like me, you're questioning the road ahead, you're wondering what will it be like, you're concerned things will be the same, you're tired of the constant changes and challenges, and you just want to know how to plan!

Here's my plan: Be strong. Be courageous. Don't be intimidated. Why? Because MY God is with me. He won't leave me and he won't let me down.

I don't know what you're facing this year, but this message is for you.

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Differences are not intended to separate, to alienate. We are different precisely in order to realize our need of one another." Bishop Desmond Tutu

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

Desmond Tutu passed away this past week in South Africa. He stood up for human rights and worked as an anti-apartheid activist in South Africa for years, and as I was reading a little bit about his life, the above quote stood out to me.

Tutu worked tirelessly to bring people together, and to help those who were marginalized and unseen, to be seen.

He also said this: "If you want peace, you don't talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies."

His message was consistent, and he made a difference.

How do you respond when you read his quote on differences? Do you connect with that? How do you bridge relationship with people that are completely different than you, but bring value and significance to the conversation?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master." Luke 2 (msg)

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

These words are so powerful.... "Don't be afraid."

The message was a great message, filled with hope and promise.

The shepherds were excited to see this for themselves, so they left, "running" to find Jesus.

But when the angel appeared to them, their initial response was fear. They were actually terrified of the angel, maybe the bright light, maybe being surprised.

While the shepherds first response was fear, how do you think you would have responded? Would you have made the shift from "fear" to "joy" as quickly as they did, or would you have responded with doubt and questioning?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

“Passions are developed, not just discovered." Adam Grant

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

I spent some time this past week working through my goals and plans for the coming year, and spent some time looking deeply into the mirror at some of the things that motivate me to do the things that I do.

I think I would call these things PASSIONS.

When I do a LifePlan with a client, I define passions as "the things I delight in doing".

These words from Adam Grant hit me last week as I looked at some of the things "I delight in doing" that need to continue to be developed. My passions aren't stagnant, but they are things that I need to continue to grow, and one of the goals of my time away was to structure time in my schedule to spend more time in these areas.

Angela Duckworth, author of the book: Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance says:

"It takes time and experience and encouragement to be able to say, one day, 'I have a calling'.... Have patience. As long as you're moving in the right direction, you're on your way." She's talking about passion.

Answer this question: What do you delight in doing? How can you grow and develop those things in your life? How can you spend more time in those areas instead of the things that drain you? It starts with defining what these things are.