August 2009

It could just be a vision thing, or I suppose… you could call it a lack of vision thing.

But it seems that quite often, we see… or don’t see… whatever it is that we expect to see. In other words, our expectations color our perceptions… and then our actions.

And yes, of course, you guessed it… they also influence our inaction.

I’ve been thinking about several conversations that I’ve had recently with business leaders on the subject of change. Specifically, what visions do they see… and what expectations do they have… when they think about change.

Interestingly, most responses weren’t positive.

It appears that even these highly successful and powerful leaders can fall into the trap of guarding the status quo.

Of course, this is certainly understandable… since in many cases they were instrumental in helping to create it.

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So, what is it about change that makes it so unpopular in so many circles?

Change often takes us to a place that is new… a place to which we’ve never been. And in so doing, it brings with it the unknown… specifically, the FEAR of the unknown.

Now, in case your mom never told you… I will. Stay away from four letter words… especially this one… F-E-A-R.

I have a friend who says that, given the choice, many people will choose UNHAPPINESS over UNCERTAINTY.

Yes, the FEAR of the unknown can be a powerful force… the operating words being “can be”.

However, it need not be… neither in our personal life… nor in our professional life.

Some stories… next time.

Questions:

What do you believe is the difference between people who FEAR change… and those who embrace it?

What is your point of view?

What positive or negative experiences have colored your expectations?

Photo Credit:

AngelsWings

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If we understand “leadership” to be the act of influencing the actions, behaviors, or outcomes of people and their circumstances… then we could agree that leaders exist at one level or another throughout society.

To be sure, within about 45 seconds, you or I could easily identify the “leaders” at any event… whether it be an after-hours business function, a gathering in your local church fellowship hall, or a group of school children on the playground.

Spotting people of influence is simple.

You see, leaders always attract the attention of other people, and their thoughts, feelings, and actions carry added weight… increasing the likelihood that the others will think, feel, and act in a similar fashion.

Now please understand… the fact that someone possesses the ability to influence… and the desire to lead… DOES NOT make them a good leader.

Certainly, history is replete with examples of leaders who were INCREDIBLY EFFECTIVE at leading their followers into VERY NEGATIVE circumstances and behaviors.

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So, back to the question I received earlier this week: “Do you believe that while a person is homeless, jobless, living on the streets; he/she is also capable of being an effective and positive leader?”

Several points must be made.

The first is the distinction that exists between what is possible… and what is likely. I certainly believe that “all things are possible”. On the other hand, I DO NOT believe… that all things are probable.

Next, one of the tests of good leadership is the measure of how many people are better off because of the relationship. However, a BETTER test is how many followers are making the transition to leadership roles themselves.

Good leaders MUST move up. Those who are not willing to grow, cannot pull others up with them.

Further, true leaders set examples that elevate and inspire their followers to improve and achieve. Remaining homeless and jobless in America is not a leadership quality… it is a threat to the physical, financial, spiritual, and emotional lives of those who have entrusted their care into the hands of the leader.

Remember, the question specifically asked about being both an “effective AND positive” leader.

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A few final thoughts on this question… tomorrow.

Takeaways:

Leaders influence others.

That influence is not necessarily positive.

All things are possible… not all things are likely.

Leaders improve circumstances… and bring others with them.

The real role of leadership is to raise up more leaders… not attract more followers.

Photo Credit:

Hamed Saber

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I once read a study that claimed that in the course of every human life there are two or three absolute game-changing… life-altering moments that could radically and positively transform that person’s existence from the ordinary… to the extraordinary.

In every life? Yeah… pretty much.

Somewhere, somehow, people have figured out how to take the right population sample and the right questions and come up with these survey results that, remarkably enough, seem to stand on their own.

These are very different from the admittedly informal (and sometimes bias) surveys that I conduct from time to time… you know, where I ask the next five people I see the same question and then extrapolate the results over the entire population…

But I digress.

So back to this study. It doesn’t matter, they said… your race, creed, or economic strata. Nor does it matter if you drive a Porsche or a Plymouth, or live in the suburbs, the inner city, or the plains of the Serengeti… during the span of years, several crossroads will be reached… and the right decision could change everything.

Opportunity.

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It is interesting to note that there was one main common denominator in every situation. At the crossroad… in the middle of the opportunity, there was… another human being.

Imagine that.

People… involved with other people… creating opportunity. You see, it is impossible for us to grow without opening the door for others to grow also. In fact, I can trace every good thing that has happened to me… every grand and glorious opportunity… to my interaction with other people.

A parent… a teacher… a mentor or preacher. A friend or neighbor, my wife or daughter.

Even total strangers.

I’ve had bosses who taught me… authors who inspired me… coaches who drove me beyond anything I thought I could ever accomplish. And the desire and ability and passion that was sown into me by others showed up… at each crossroad.

“Now wait a minute, Steve… your describing many crossroads… many opportunities… and the survey spoke of only two or three game-changers in a lifetime.”

I know, I know. I didn’t say I agreed with all their conclusions… because I don’t. In fact, I actually believe that opportunity is waiting around virtually every corner.

Every corner? Yeah… pretty much.

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One final piece.

The study concluded that when arriving at the crossroad… at the critical moment of opportunity… over half didn’t recognize that that’s where they were. They stood face-to-face with their future, and could not see the possibilities that were in front of them.

But here is what’s REALLY sad.

Of the remainder… of those who recognized the opportunity… most were too afraid to proceed. The solution to their problem… the answer to their prayer… was knocking at the door, and fear kept them from answering.

And that leaves me wondering…

Questions:

Who has come into your life recently, and what are the chances they are part of the answer you are seeking?

How many opportunities have gone to someone else… simply because you didn’t take the time to speak with someone who was put in your path?

What happened the last time you were at a life-changing crossroad? Would you be in a better or worse place had you taken the other path?

What is the number one change you would like to make in your life right now?

Do you know who could help you? Are you prepared? Scared?

What opportunities are you creating for others right now?

Can they see them?

I look forward to speaking with you.

Photo Credit:

AndYaDontStop

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“Hey Pete, I’ve got a couple business ideas I’d like to run past you… when can we talk?”

The year was 1986, and I was in the final planning stages of launching a company that would soon come to dominate the staffing landscape in this area for much of the next twenty years.

Of course, no one knew that then… the only thing I was sure of was that I had belief in our team, and what we were about to do.

And Pete? Well… I had two items on the agenda when I met with him.

First, I felt he had excellent people skills and thought he’d make a great addition. The question was whether he could envision leaving the security of the job environment to lay it all on the line in a business of his own.

He couldn’t.

So I brought up point number two. I needed to raise about a quarter of a million dollars, but at twenty-six years old, my only assets were my strong will and a handful of great ideas… oh yeah, and a 1976 Ford F100 pickup that looked like it had hit a couple of trees… because it had.

Ahhh, the memories… but I digress.

One thing was certain… because I was in no position to dictate terms, I was willing to allow people to invest at whatever level they were comfortable.

I was also, for that matter, willing to pay whatever interest rate I needed to pay… and if Pete wasn’t interested in coming to work on the project, I thought, maybe he was interested in investing.

He wasn’t… no one was.

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Well… almost no one.

The first $10,000 was the most difficult… but there is always money available to back good works. Then came a boost to $70,000 and then $170,000 more. All on a signature… and my promise to repay.

And repay we did.

In fact, we paid it down early… in effect giving a premium on various portions of the money borrowed. Yes, it was a good investment for those who saw the opportunity… but what about those who only saw the risk?

Well, interestingly enough… many of them found a way to stay in the information loop. I guess they were always wondering what would have happened if they had gone ahead with it.

Especially Pete… and thirty-three months later as we paid off the remaining debt, he found out.

At that time, he made the comment that if I ever ran into another business opportunity that he could be part of… he’d REALLY appreciate it if I’d tell him about it. I said I would.

And ten years later, I did…

Photo Credit:

Chi King

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