The journey of personal growth and leadership through the decades I left off last week with the big idea that perhaps the most difficult person to lead is yourself. It seems every season of life requires the right mindset and a new toolbox. When you’re young, single, and overflowing with energy, it’s about laying a foundation. It’s about learning. In Your Thirties When you’re in your thirties, your strengths are becoming more noticeable. Your blind spots too. If you’re driven, you get promoted and receive more responsibility. That’s when you realize things are not as easy as you thought them to be. You were probably promoted because you demonstrated some of your innate skills, they came naturally. Gifts from God. But they only take you so far because God designed life as a partnership. Now it’s time to grow up. To humble yourself. You’re not as smart as you thought

As a young man, I knew nothing about leadership. Even though I found myself in leadership roles since childhood (chosen to give speeches, captain of teams, etc.), I didn’t know anything about it. If I happened to lead, it was by accident. Maybe it was intuitive or maybe I was modeling what effort looks like. I’ve always been competitive and strategic; therefore, winning simply felt right. Whatever it was, leading was certainly not conscious, informed, or intentional. I did not know that leadership starts with consciously evaluating and leading me. I didn’t know it was about serving others. And I did not realize how complex I was – how complex people are. I did not realize that I WOULD BE THE MOST DIFFICULT PERSON to lead. I did not realize that we all have an inner person. Dare I say, inner persons? In some ways, I was mature beyond my

Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father. Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers. Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters. – The Apostle Paul If you read and if you listen closely to the voices around you, truth and goodness cut through all the noise. You can hear hundreds of ideas expressed within an hour of one day but when you hear something good and something right, it rings like a bell. That’s exactly my experience when I read the quote above.  I recognize business excellence when I see it. It’s difficult to miss because most experiences are average or below average. The business, ministry, or person who delivers excellence does not need to be concerned about competition. There

“Amateurs focus on outcomes. Professionals focus on process.” – Dr. Eric Potterat  We all have goals. We may or may not write them down but we think about them. Let’s be real. Most of our goals are really more like wishes. We wish we were healthier. We wish we had more money. Or we wish we loved what we do. We wish our relationships were stronger. We wish we earned this degree or received that promotion. They are wishes because we don’t do anything about them. How do you transform a wish into a goal and a goal into an accomplishment? The answer is not glamorous. Nor is it flashy. It’s about reflection, honesty, and integrity. It’s about planning. It is about discipline. It’s about resiliency. It’s about mental toughness.  TEN REASONS WHY WE QUIT We quit because we never considered what accomplishing the goal might require We quit because we

I can do all this through Him who gives me strength – The Apostle Paul My sister is an amazing woman. She is also a psychiatric nurse practitioner. Her life’s journey would inspire even those without a detectable pulse but I’ll save that story for another time. I asked her why the phrase “Mental Illness” is now commonplace. It seems to me that it is on the rise or we are simply more aware. Perhaps both could be true? Mental Illness: A lack of mental resilience? She paused and pensively confessed that she had been thinking a lot about that question. And then she spilled the beans. “Do you think it’s because we just are not as tough as those who have gone before us?”  Drop the mic. Think about it. We have more luxuries than ever Our rights are violated if we can’t share in someone else’s success (whatever

Erin Porteous is the CEO of The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver. I have enjoyed working with her over the past few years. She is a down-to-earth person who strives to provide excellent leadership to her amazing organization. I asked her to share her closely held or core leadership values. The lenses she looks through evaluating her leadership as well as shaping the culture of her team and organization. I believe her work is worth the read. Four Values: Hard work, Humility, Humor and Honesty  As leaders, we all have core values that we live by. Intentional leaders align both personal and professional values to make a succinct focus for anchoring priorities and ensuring consistency across all facets of their lives. The highest caliber of leaders consistently demonstrate a commitment to values even when no one is around. This is called integrity. The interesting part is these micro-actions

So.. what does it mean to elevate your leadership and how is it done? Elevate: To elevate your leadership is to increase your ability to drive results. It is to create a higher vantage point and therefore to see the most strategic and tactical moves toward winning. Winning is about accomplishing your chief aim – your one major goal. Kids learn how to dribble a soccer ball or basketball as they look down and concentrate on the task. Elevated players are able to dribble the ball with their head up and therefore see the field or the court and make the plays that improve the team’s ability to score and win. In other words, any activity that requires you to look down or away from the field of play for any significant period of time is the wrong activity for an effective executive. How?: Carve out one hour of time

Drink water from your own well – share your love only with your wife. Why spill the water of your springs in the streets, having sex with just anyone? Proverbs 5:15-16, NLT Leading something other than your home has a way of drawing your affections from your marriage into other places. Call it stress, growing apart, temptation, or whatever you like. But here’s the truth, many leaders, if they are not careful, will find themselves looking for love in all the wrong places. Sex outside of marriage is one of many drugs leaders use to satisfy carnal thirst and emotional voids. When we are unaware of our need for emotional and intimate connection, our eyes, ears, and affections are easily led down a temporary but euphoric pathway, leading only to slaughter. How can you protect your marriage from the demands placed on you in your leadership role? Let me suggest

A good leader motivates, doesn’t mislead, doesn’t exploit. Proverbs 16:10 explained You’re a leader and you are preparing a presentation to your team, investors, and stakeholders. Oh, and you only have an hour to prepare! I assume you are knowledgeable about the facts of your situation and you know the direction you want to go. Now, you have to organize your thoughts and present them in a positive and convincing manner. Here’s how. Preparing your Presentation Effectively in 3 steps Start with revealing WHAT IS. WHAT IS describes the good, bad, and ugly of the current situation. If you can spell this out in an honest and objective way, you will establish some credibility and others will see you have both feet planted on the ground of reality. This first part does not need to be long but it needs to be clear and to the point. Example: We have

…he offers his friendship to the godly. Proverbs 3:32, NLT I don’t hear the word godly used much anymore. I wonder if it’s because it is a religious word. The word itself assumes there is a God but it is spelled with a lowercase g for a reason. To live in a godly way is admirable but it still falls short of who God is. So what does it mean to be godly and why can’t we use the word in everyday speech without worry of offending someone or having Human Resources notified? Think about it. Wouldn’t you want your boss to be more godly? He or she would be consistent, forgiving, and super smart. Scripture teaches that we are all created as God’s image bearers. I think that means there is evidence in every person that someone or something exists within us that has the ability and desire to

“My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬ I now consider some of my childhood experiences with those in authority over me to be quite funny. I think of Mrs. Body, my fourth-grade teacher. She grabbed me by the ear and led me to the principal’s office while I bled from the side of my head. A couple of friends and I were late to class because we enjoyed a little too much recess. As we ran toward class to beat the final bell, a swinging gate collided with my right temple, and down I went. The next thing I remember was Mrs. Body picking me up by my ear and dragging me away. A year later, while playing football at recess,

Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine. Proverbs 3:9-10, NLT My family has a competitive personality. We love games and contests. One of our family slogans goes like this: If you’re not first, you’re last. It’s also the name of our football fantasy league. There’s nothing like the first place! We appreciate your effort, and we applaud achievements. Isn’t this the essence of what the ancients are trying to convey in the above proverb? If there is a God who is responsible for giving you life, why wouldn’t you want to offer him your best? Your best efforts, your best designs, your best creations, and the best of everything. Why wouldn’t you want to steward your life toward the highest good? Faith-Based Excellence: Honoring God in

Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation. – Proverbs 3:3-4, NLT Marriage, family, friends, neighbors, team members, and partnerships have written, implied, or assumed allegiances. As citizens, we actively pledge loyalty to our country. As Christians, we commit to follow the way of Christ. We offer loyalty and kindness as the glue that keeps us together. It builds trust, confidence, and productivity. Loyalty is not always easy but it is a virtue admired by heaven and earth. How to Become a Loyal Person and Build Loyalty in Relationships Think Relationship, not Transaction. Relationships require work and patience. Transactions give something in exchange for something else. Relationships require dialogue, clarifications, and room for imperfect people and disagreements. They require forgiveness.

Wise choices will watch over you. Proverbs 2:11, NLT If you like sports, you hear it all the time. “We are going to approach this season one game at a time.” If you listen to the coaches, it’s all about becoming excellent in the basics – blocking and tackling. Practice the fundamentals of the game. One pitch at a time. If you play golf, it’s the same thing. One shot at a time. These are common in sports phraseology. They seem simple and obvious but those who do them best usually experience a high level of success. How do these phrases apply to your life? How do they apply to your work? Your leadership? And why are they considered wise? Making Wiser Choices Slow Down. We make better decisions when we slow life down. Do you have a morning routine or do you stay up too late and rush out

Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life. Proverbs 1:19, NLT I know people who are really good at making money, I know generous people, I know frugal people. I know greedy people and I bet you do too. Making money is a skill. In some cases, it seems to be a talent. Generosity is the same. Some have developed it through discipline and principle. Some have a gift of giving. Frugality is sometimes wise and sometimes foolish. Many spend too much and some miss out on profit because of it. Greed on the other hand is something completely different. Greed is the source of excessive debt. We want more than we can afford and the thirst just cannot be quenched. Greed hordes money and resources even when releasing it can help so many people. It loves praise but lacks the ability