3 ways to keep your leadership passion kindled

3 ways to keep your leadership passion kindled

Leader, did you get out of bed this morning feeling ready and excited for the day?

Without much thought, you could probably give me dozens of reasons to stay in bed…

  • People are draining

  • There's too much on my plate

  • I'd rather not sit through that meeting again

  • There is a difficult conversation that needs to happen

  • I'm just tired

  • Nobody sees how late I've been working

  • My comforter is too comforting

Can you relate?

It's so easy to get off track, discouraged, and even drained in leadership – because leadership is hard work. Hard work is a given. But leadership isn't just about hard work. It is about making real, lasting, transformative change in the world. 

3 Reasons to define your WHY

3 Reasons to define your WHY

Do you know your WHY? What is the unique purpose of your life?

John Maxwell once said, "When you find your why, you find your way." 

It's true – and you've heard me quote this before. 

Yet, finding your why can be challenging. And when things get complicated, sometimes people quit trying to figure them out. 

What are you really saying? 👀

What are you really saying? 👀

The other day I heard that old country song with the lyrics, “You say it best when you say nothing at all.”

 

Remember that one? 

 

It’s genuinely a sappy love song – but there’s a lot of truth to its statement. 

 

Have you ever stopped to consider what you are saying – without saying anything at all? 

 

Namely, what are your posture, mannerisms, countenance, and actions communicating to those around you? 

The greatest day in history

The greatest day in history

Today, I wanted to break from my usual routine of sending you helpful hints along your leadership journey and send you a pertinent message to your more significant journey -- the journey of life.


And as a head's up, I am writing to you on a very personal level today. I am talking about something very near and dear to my heart -- my faith. I respect wherever you may be on the faith continuum (and even if you're not on it at all), but today I want to share a core part of what makes me, me. 

 

I don't know your upbringing, and I don't pretend to know how easy or difficult your life was through your formative years.

How to find motivation, when you're feeling unmotivated. 🚶

How to find motivation, when you're feeling unmotivated. 🚶

What happens when you need to be motivated but can't find the power to get up and get going? 

 

What happens when it's just a struggle to find the want to be motivated? 

 

Some of us find this especially true when it comes to personal growth. 

 

We all have seasons where we are more or less motivated to take the action we need to take. 

Discover your "Why" by completing these 7 statements

Discover your "Why" by completing these 7 statements

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you didn’t know what to do next? 

  • Maybe you were presented with an opportunity – but didn’t know if it was right for you.

  • Maybe you lost something valuable and didn’t know how (or if it were possible) to get it back.

  • Perhaps you feel stuck in a neverending cycle of frustration or defeat.

The feelings of confusion or frustration generated by these situations can be paralyzing – and they can get you stuck.  

And stuck stinks. 

However, getting stuck is not the end of the story.

My top 10 reading list for 2023

My top 10 reading list for 2023

There are so many incredible books to read! 


It is astounding to walk into a bookstore and see the walls full of every type of genre, both current and classic. The availability of literature is incomparable to any other time in human history.


Consider the advantages our generation has: 

  • Our libraries are full. 

  • The internet is at our fingertips. 

  • Books are available to read on our electronic devices (nooks, kindles, Ipads).

  • Services like Blinkist will condense entire books into 15-minute chunks.

  • You can even have a manuscript read to you through sites like Audible – sometimes even by the author who penned the words! 


It’s a little overwhelming to think about all the great books out there – and the ways to consume them. 


That’s why I created a book list -- to be intentional about growing in certain areas.

Help! I want my team to trust one another, but I don’t know where to start? 😳

Help! I want my team to trust one another, but I don’t know where to start? 😳

Have you ever been a part of a team that lacked trust or failed to connect?  

 

For various reasons, some teams never connect and develop the trust necessary to build a positive and engaging work environment. 

 

However, some teams are fortunate enough to develop trust -- and the benefits of being on a trusting and connected team are tremendous. 

The key to high performance (and less stress) 🔑

The key to high performance (and less stress) 🔑

Do you remember a time when you walked through a really difficult situation? 

 

Can you recall what helped to make it better? Or rather, WHO helped to make it better?

 

If you’ve been alive for any length of time, you understand the importance of building relationships and having friends. Our need for interconnectedness is no secret. 

 

Part of why I love the work of psychologist and author Dr. Henry Cloud is that he combines the latest in brain research with his work in psychology. And the newest brain research confirms that we require connections with other human beings to function correctly. Said in another way, to function optimally, we need people to connect with.  

Instead of telling people what you do, try this...

Instead of telling people what you do, try this...

How do you answer the question, "So, what do you do for a living?"


I can't tell you how many times I've felt like a deer caught in the headlights with that question. But, I always knew that simply telling people what I "did" wasn't enough.


I used to tell people, "I'm a coach." because that's what I do. That's my title. But more often than not, I'd be asked, "What sport? Or "What team do you coach?" as a follow-up. And then, after seeing their confused head tilt, I'd explain that I'm a leadership coach and describe what I do.

You’ve just been invited to a networking event, now what? 😧

You’ve just been invited to a networking event, now what? 😧

Imagine you were just invited to a networking event – are you prepared for it?

 

I'm not talking about having crisp new QR business cards or perfectly shined shoes to walk in with. 

 

I'm talking about being prepared to make a great first impression. First impressions matter, and probably more than you think.

Why goal setting isn't enough ☑

Why goal setting isn't enough ☑

Imagine with me…

 

It's the end of the year, and you just placed a checkmark next to your final goal. 

 

Your numbers look great, you're down to your ideal weight, you've finished the project, graduated, or maybe you finally got that promotion you've been aiming for.  

 

Whatever the goal, you achieved it. 

 

Now tell me, how do you feel?  

This Is YOUR Season. 👋

This Is YOUR Season. 👋

Winter is fading, and spring is fast approaching. It’s almost time to swap the snow blowers for lawn mowers – and snow shovels for garden shovels. I love this time of year. 

 

Observing the change in seasons reminds me of how growth happens – through the function of seasons.

 

In winter, you plan. 

In spring, you plant. 

In summer, you cultivate. 

And in fall, you harvest.

 

You can’t reap a harvest without properly leveraging the seasons that come before. 

Give Your Goals a Fighting Chance 👊

Give Your Goals a Fighting Chance 👊

Do you always achieve your goals?

 

Is it challenging to keep your momentum going when trying to get to the next level?

 

Chances are, if you've ever set a goal or tried to develop a new habit, you've experienced the frustration of slow progress or even failure.

 

Why?

The Power of Cascading Appreciation ⛲

The Power of Cascading Appreciation ⛲

Often, a good quote will arrive at the perfect moment. 

 

Just when you need them, they tend to come to mind!

 

Let me explain...

 

I've lived long enough to hear my fair share of difficult stories. Colleagues, friends, and family members I'm close with have all walked through challenging situations that attack the positive perspective they desire to keep. 

One Way to Eliminate Your Blindspots 🙈

One Way to Eliminate Your Blindspots 🙈

Have you ever heard the saying, “You don’t know what you don’t know?” 

 

It’s true -- especially when it comes to our blind spots.  

 

Often you’re completely unaware of traits, tendencies, or attributes that impact you and those around you until they’re discovered or revealed. 

How to Become a Leader Who Lasts

How to Become a Leader Who Lasts

Generally speaking, how do you feel at the end of the day? 

Do you feel overwhelmed and overworked – overcommitted and overtired? 

Do the pressures of work, family, friendships, and commitments leave you drained? Are you completely exhausted?

If that sounds like you, let me ask a follow-up question: "How good are you at creating margins?"