Tuesday at 2:00pm with Russ

It's Tuesday at 2:00pm! (PST Time: I live and work from Southern California)

Greetings to you!

Each week I send out a short leadership blog that's called "Tuesday at 2:00pm". The purpose of this is simply to provide a brief thought on leadership that you can read and think about in just a few minutes. I send it out every week at 2:00pm (PST) and encourage you to make an appointment with yourself to pause and think about the thing I'm writing about.

Russ...

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done." Lucille Ball

What does this stir up? Either write me HERE or comment at the end of the blog post HERE.

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

It's August and this month I'm going to dive into the topic of REGRET. I don't know what the word REGRET triggers in you, but I want to drag you along with me this month by looking at some quotes on regret, sharing some resources, and just thinking about what that means in our lives.

Remember, you can always go back to see past posts and more positive themes that we've addressed on the website HERE.

But journey with me....

I listen to a lot of podcasts, and especially enjoy business stories. 2 of my favorite podcasts are How I Built This with Guy Raz, and the second is The Best Idea Yet by Nick and Jack. Both podcasts tell the stories behind the business, one in an interview format and the other simply digging in for the "untold" story.

I don't know why I enjoy listening to these so much, but I know that it inspires me, encourages me, gives me ideas and keeps my brain working! Sometimes I marvel at a story and the good luck that came with it as well as the hard work and persistence, but every once in a while, a little "regret" slips in.

As I hear these stories of business challenge and success, I find myself wondering, "what if I had kept working on that idea that I had"? Would I be living a different life today?

Let's see...

  • There was the scrap paper sales on the Y in Ecuador, back before people were selling stuff on the street.

  • There was the scarf importing business in college that had potential to put a scarf on the neck of every man, woman and child on planet earth, or at least those that went to the Sunday Swap Meet in Azusa.

  • There was the lawn business, mowing lawns in the desert of homes that were up for sale.

  • There was the coffee business, on multiple fronts, that had so much potential.

I could probably keep going, but I've been an aspiring entrepreneur since my first job mowing lawns in my neighborhood, probably at 9 years of age.

It would be easy to spend time thinking, "What if?"

  • What if I had stuck with that idea?

  • What if I had purchased that stock then?

  • What if I had not settled and worked harder?

  • What if I had gone to a different school?

The "what ifs" will keep coming.

It's easy to get caught in this spiral and spend a lot of time and energy thinking about what might have happened had we done something different.

The quote above talks about that...

I don't regret any of my great "business ideas" because at the time in my life, they served a purpose in my growth and development, and I also don't regret walking away from a couple of these ideas that had potential.

What about you? What do you spend time thinking about or wondering about.... "if only I would have...."

DEEPER STILL:

Mark Twain shares a really important quote (bonus quote today!)

"The two most important days in your life are the day you

are born and the day you find out why."

Here's my thought today...

I don't have regrets for things I haven't done because I believe I'm doing exactly what God created me to do.

I've lived a journey that has led me from one place to another place, from one thing to another thing, all with the purpose of CONVERGENCE.

I've seen how God has weaved together aspects of my story to position me to be in exactly the right place.

This doesn't mean that my story is perfect, it simply means that I trust in the ONE who is leading me, and I've seen His faithfulness, protection, direction and provision over and over again.

I was made for more than selling paper on the side of a street in Ecuador, and once I realized that God has a plan and purpose for me, it didn't matter where He took me, what He gave me to do or who He wanted me to be. I trust HIM.

Years ago, before becoming a LifePlan Facilitator & Coach, I had to go through the process. As I went through the 2-day journey, I was reminded that God has had his hand on me my entire life, moving me, pushing me, molding me, and putting me exactly where He wants me, not necessarily where I want to always be.

I don't have regret. I continue to live a full life, and am amazed that today God has me living in Southern California, stewarding a group of business leaders who want to impact the Kingdom (Barnabas) while also creating Coaching Communities (Leader Mundial) around the world.

I can get lost in the "what if" questions... Or,

I can celebrate in the "look what God has done and continues to do"...

Do you believe you're exactly where God wants you? Why or why not? If not, what are you going to do about that?

 

Things I'm Reading, Listening To and Watching This Week:

Source: www.leadermundial.org