As the swimmers came down the stretch for the last 25 meters, photographer David Ramos captured an iconic photo. In it, you see le Clos looking to his left, watching Phelps as he is pulling away. And Phelps? He’s staring directly at his target: the wall. (copied from The Pursuit of Excellence by Ryan Hawk, page 36) What you may have forgotten about the story above is that le Clos had beaten Phelps in the previous Olympics. Phelps admitted his preparation wasn’t his best for those games. Lesson learned. I have one goal every day, one goal every week, one goal every month, and one every year. I always have ONLY ONE GOAL. What do you often hear from others when you ask “How are you doing?” Without a doubt, I almost always hear the word BUSY. I don’t hide my frustration very well when I hear this from those I

Looking to make positive changes in your personal and professional life? It’s time to invest in yourself and your business by adopting new strategies for change. By lifting your head from the day-to-day grind and gaining perspective, you can evaluate your habits and goals, simplify your life, and improve your well-being. Try block scheduling, journaling, decluttering, practicing spirituality, serving others, reading, and listening to inspiring content like “The Today Counts Show” podcast. Ready for a change? Read on to learn more. Strategies for change: Invest time in yourself and your business LOOK UP. My mission is to inspire you to work ON your life and ON your business. I know you work hard IN them but you will do better if you invest time working ON them. Working ON is different from working IN. To do this, you must lift your head so-to-speak. When you are working hard, your head is down. Your vision

Life has a peculiar way of presenting us with challenges that push us to our limits. In the midst of darkness, however, there are stories that shine like beacons of hope, reminding us of the incredible power of choosing happiness during difficult times. In this blog, Jim shares quite a personal inspiring story. So prepare yourself for an extraordinary account of a baby’s resilience over adversity, and discover how choosing happiness can become a powerful shield against life’s toughest trials. “Blessed [Happy] are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Jesus of Nazareth This morning, I was updated on the condition of my grand nephew, Leif, a newborn laying in a Seattle hospital. The situation is more than desperate as he has been removed from the heart transplant list. He has an infection, a growth. His chest cavity is open and his heart is connected to a machine. But

In a world often consumed by self-interest and personal gain, it is refreshing to discover the timeless wisdom that lies within ancient texts. James 4:6 serves as a poignant reminder of the power and significance of serving with humility and courage. These virtues, when embraced, have the potential to bring about profound transformations in our lives as individuals and as leaders. In this blog, we will delve into the depths of what it truly means to serve with humility and courage. “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” James 4:6 God is in charge. You are not. For some, that’s a tough pill to swallow. While for others, it becomes an excuse. It’s a tough pill to swallow for those who are self-sufficient problem solvers. I like self-sufficient problem solvers until they make it clear by their words and behaviors that they don’t need anyone and they

As we navigate through the challenges of working in the marketplace, it’s important to take a moment to reflect on our actions and behaviors. That’s why this week’s Monday Moment is a friendly warning not only to those working in the marketplace but to all of us. Whether you’re a leader or a team member, this message applies to each and every one of us. To avoid being short-sighted in our decision-making, let’s explore the dangers of taking advantage of others in lopsided markets and the importance of being aware of our inner pride, greed, and selfishness. A friendly warning to those working in the marketplace Be cautious about taking advantage of others in lopsided markets. It’s important to be aware of our inner pride, greed, and selfishness and avoid being short-sighted. The stock market is weird. Additionally, the real estate market is crazy, the job market is hot and

In our fast-paced and demanding world, making good decisions is crucial if you want to keep up. As a busy individual, you’re constantly bombarded with countless decisions that impact different areas of your life. From work to family and finances, it can be challenging to juggle everything and make the best use of your time and resources. However, the decisions you make today can significantly impact your tomorrow. Therefore, it’s essential to carefully consider your choices and their potential consequences. In this article, we’ll explore the importance of making good decisions, the impact they have on your time, and provide five examples of better questions to ask yourself when making decisions. As a busy individual, you are constantly faced with decisions that impact different aspects of your life. From providing guidance to your team to supporting your family, managing finances, planning for the future, and keeping in touch with friends

Let’s explore the importance of taking care of our conscience, the consequences of neglecting it, and the steps we can take to strengthen it, so that we can live more fulfilling lives and make morally sound decisions. We live in a world of mistakes and offenses, the creator has implanted a redeeming quality inside us, which we call Conscience. However, some people are destroying their conscience. But how do they do it? Silence They Silence it. They ignore the conviction, push it aside, and make no corrections. When individuals want to avoid confronting their conscience, they may choose to silence it by ignoring its convictions and pushing it aside without making any corrections. Corrupt Additionally, they corrupt their conscience by changing the rules. They redefine what is known as right and wrong for their benefit as an offender. They Sear it. The seared conscience is like a hot iron that flattens or cuts off

In this article, we will delve into practical ways of creating a healthy soul and why it is essential for effective leadership. By intentionally shaping your soul through margin and mapping, you can make better decisions and lead successfully. Therefore, let’s explore how to get your soul in shape for leadership and become a better leader. Last Monday, we delved into the inner workings of the soul, and it was truly fascinating. When we have a better understanding of how our soul functions, we can transform the way we process information, make decisions, and act with boldness and confidence. Soul health is vitally important for all of us By being consciously aware of your emotions, rationale, and behaviors, you will be better equipped to lead yourself and others effectively. Furthermore, soul health is crucial for all individuals, and it can be achieved through intentionality, which we will refer to as

Are you ready to take your self-leadership to the next level? Let’s explore how understanding your soul can lead to better self-leadership. By gaining a deeper understanding of your soul, you can tap into your command-control center and make more effective decisions. So, if you want to learn how to become a better self-leader, join us as we delve into the components of the soul – emotions, intellect, and will – and how they work together to help you engage with the world around you. With that said, let’s dive in and explore better self-leadership through understanding your soul. If you want to practice better self-leadership, learn about your soul. Understanding YOUR SOUL IS NOT your ghost. Your soul serves as your command-control center and understanding it is crucial for successfully navigating life and leadership. The more you understand your soul, the better equipped you will be to make effective

Honor in relationships involves respecting, defending, and valuing others publicly and privately, even when we become familiar with their weaknesses. By upholding the flow of honor and respect, we can create cultures of character that promote healthier relationships and lead to success in various aspects of life. So, let’s dive deeper into the importance of honor in relationships and how we can practice it in our daily interactions. It’s interesting how easy it is to become a judge of others’ behaviors while being a defense attorney of our own. A friend recently shared the following concept with me and I thought it might be of help to our Lead Today Community: Created by John Morgan As you can see, the image illustrates the decline of a relationship. It starts with Honor. We smile, respect, defend, and we do it all publicly and privately.  Honor declines when we allow ourselves to

It’s important to understand the origin and significance of the popular phrase, “The early bird catches the worm.” A metaphor for success has been around for centuries and has used this phrase. Now, we will explore the importance of tackling the hard things first and how it can impact your life positively. Join us as we delve deeper into the world of achievers and learn how to catch that worm. As the sun has yet to rise at 6 AM on this chilly winter morning in Colorado, a few of us have already gathered to start our day. Some are savoring the warmth of their coffee while others are seeking refuge in a cozy corner of the hotel restaurant. Despite the early hour, there are those who have already immersed themselves in a good book, while others are diligently working on their laptops. They call us early birds. They call

Navigating tough seasons at work can be challenging; however, it’s essential to stay resilient and maintain a positive attitude. Whether it’s dealing with a difficult boss, navigating through an unjust situation, or facing other obstacles, there are ways to rise above the challenges and emerge stronger. In this article, we’ll explore practical steps and strategies to help you navigate tough seasons at work, stay focused, and achieve your goals. So, let’s dive in! Tyler is a husband, father, and technology professional, he called me as he sometimes does, upset and maybe even miserable, to describe his situation with a boss who might qualify as one of the world’s worst. Among other things, he demeans his employees in public. Despite working for a cutting-edge company with over 1000 employees, his pay is 30-40% below market. Knowing Tyler has always been known as a hard-working achiever, he asked me what he should

First and foremost, let’s discuss the importance of filling up your leadership tank with the right fuel. As a leader, you can’t give your best if you’re running on empty. It’s essential to take care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally to be able to positively impact those around you. In this post, we’ll explore practical ways to fill up with good fuel and the small habits that can make significant changes in your leadership journey. So, let’s dive in and learn how to fill up your leadership tank! No matter who you are and what you do, you need to FILL UP. When a leader gets better, everyone benefits! You can’t get better if you’re not filling up with good stuff! Pay attention to what’s filling you! Water is good in many contexts but not in your car’s fuel tank! What are you allowing in your tank that doesn’t serve you?

Leadership is not only about achieving goals and solving problems; rather, it involves blessing others. In fact, leaders who positively impact the lives of those around them, whether through personal growth, professional development, or meeting their needs, demonstrate true leadership. Therefore, in this blog, we’ll delve into how leaders can make a difference by blessing others through their life and work. So, come along with us in discovering the transformative power of leadership that inspires and enriches the lives of others. Leaders’ Calling: Radiating God’s Power to Bless Others Leaders have a calling to bless others through their life and work. They are not only problem solvers but also people developers and providers. Secondly, they are not gods but radiate the power and intention of God by aligning their motives, skills, and courage to bless others. The Power of Inspiration and the Impact of Skilled Leaders I’m amazed by the

When it comes to achieving success in any organization, having a clear strategy is crucial. However, many leaders focus on the “how” rather than the “who.” By asking “who not how,” leaders can identify the skilled and aligned individuals needed to bring their vision to life. This approach involves investing in people rather than just tasks, and it can lead to exponential growth and increased capacity. In this article, we’ll explore the power of the “who not how” principle and how it can transform your organization’s approach to success. Almost all organizational leaders recognize the importance of strategy. You have a vision but how are you going to achieve it? The answer you think is found in your strategy. It’s the HOW question. However, most often, the HOW question is more effective when you transform it into a WHO question. When you start with the HOW before the WHO, you