Weekly Inspiration: Insight from one of my favorite blog writers ~ Steve Roberts @ coolmindwardheart (click)
· In the latest New Yorker magazine, there’s a cartoon that unintentionally reveals the secret of life. It’s a father caveman talking to his son saying: “When I was your age, things were exactly the way they are now.” The humor, of course, is based on the common perception that 10,000 years ago or more, things moved at a much slower clip than they do today. Any grownup in our world saying nothing has changed in his or her lifetime is likely to be viewed as a bit slow, to put it kindly. Call me molasses. For you see, I don’t think things have changed one iota since the dawn of time. I’d say the caption on that cartoon needs one more sentence. Then it would read:
“When I was your age, things were exactly the way they are now. A world of schmoes figuring out how to love.
· Given that as a theme, every once in awhile you get to see your life purpose right smack dab in front of you. It happened this week with someone who “graduated” from the XLR8 YOU!!! Leadership Excellence Process. His top passion is to be spiritually connected to God and nature with a marker not to be afraid to love. Here is what he wrote – It’s OK to love.
This experience has opened up the door to my heart. I have rediscovered myself - spiritually and physically. For the first time in a long time, I am comfortable just being me. During this process, I discovered that I’m not a bad guy. I am worth making time for. I am worth taking care of. This time and attention has ultimately helped me understand and love others at a whole new level. The more I care for and help others, the more I am rewarded. This realization has made me a better father, husband and leader. None of this progress would have been possible if I had not first focused on reconnecting with myself.
XLR8 YOU!!! – An invitation to our vision:
For all of us to awaken to the magnificence of our limitless possibilities.
As I’ve come to realize in my coaching practice, I am a “heart” guy. It is the heart that bridges the body – mind connection to the spirit. Transformation from a manager to a leader begins with the heart.
For those who have worked with us, you know we are big fans of Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner. We have used The Leadership Challenge (click) – all four editions, as the basic text for the XLR8 YOU!!! Leadership Excellence process. It describes the necessary leadership competencies we all need to practice and master in the context of a basic change process. In 2006, they wrote A Leader's Legacy (click) which we began to give as a “graduation” gift at the end of the 18 – 24 month process.
Lastly, they wrote the third book in their trilogy The Truth About Leadership (click) in August 2010. It is actually a pre-quill, and I believe it should be required reading for anyone aspiring to be a leader. Stephen Covey has been credited with saying: “start with the end in mind” as it relates to writing your mission statement. I believe the same is true here – this is where we need to be headed in our leadership journey.
It just so happens that there are 10 truths and truth #10 is “Leadership is an Affair of the Heart”. With all due respect, I would have made it the #1 truth. As they write, “Love is the Soul of Leadership” and as our client above discovered, it starts with YOU!!! Loving YOU!!!
As a fellow schmoe, it takes a lifetime to figure out and practice.
