LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"The future influences the present just as much as the past." Friedrich Nietzsche

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

We've spent a few weeks talking about PERSPECTIVE and VISION.

I heard someone reference this quote in a podcast, so I hunted it down and I've been thinking about it over the past few days.

One comment I found on the quote shares that Nietzsche believed that people become frantic or delusional in their attempts to live in both the future and in the past, so his challenge was to live in the NOW.

I don't know what his true thoughts were, but I can share mine:

It's really important to understand where we have come from and to be able to answer the question, "How did I get here?". We learn so much from our past and it tells a story that is laced with both success and failure. We learn, grow and adapt along the way.

While our past is important, so is our future. Our vision of where we want to go, who we want to be, how we want to impact the world, all play a role in how we live life today.

We need to live with the future in mind and that helps us to find clarity for today.

The first question I'm interested in learning from people is the one above, "How did you get here?" I want to know their story and I want to know about the things that shaped them.

The second question I ask is simply, "What's important now?" and you can't answer that question unless you are able to create a vision of where you want to go.

What does this quote cause you to think about?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"A desk is a dangerous place from which to view the world." John Le Carre

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

We've been talking about PERSPECTIVE for the past few weeks, and I found this quote, and then I "experienced" this quote.

Over the past few years, my position has changed from my primary work taking place all over the globe to functioning from my home office, pivoting in response to changes in travel, technology and the pandemic.

I've enjoyed some of the advantages of not living on the road, but I realize that my perspective has changed as I stare at my computer screen more than I used to, and I'm not breathing the air with the leaders I have the privilege to coach and encourage.

For the past 5 days, Gina and I "got out" and enjoyed a change of scenery. Fresh air, good friends, a strong breeze, water, new food and experiences, and some good fun.

This morning I'm filled up, re-energized, optimistic and ready for today.

Perspective.

I saw this quote a couple of weeks ago, but didn't really think about it until today.

While I will still use my desk and computer for my work, I realize the importance of seeing and experiencing the world in creative ways whenever that is possible.

When was the last time you got out? How did that make your feel? Did it change your perspective?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Perspective is everything when you are experiencing the challenges of life." Joni Eareckson Tada

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

I mentioned PERSPECTIVE last week and talked about how it can lock you in or free you up.

This quote from Joni is a great follow-up. She shares about the accident that paralyzed her and how she was so tired of laying in bed that she was miserable, in fact, she just wanted to die. But, when the time came for her to sit up in a wheelchair, she was so thankful to be sitting. Her entire perspective changed and she found a reason to live, and realized that from the wheelchair, she could still have an impact.

If you're like me, when I'm facing something challenging, I allow it to completely paralyze me. It's all I can see, and I'm not able to step back and find a new perspective. I'm too close to it, I'm in it, I'm focused on it.

When I'm able to take a deep breath, step back from whatever situation I'm facing, I'm able to see things differently... this is called PERSPECTIVE, it's the way I'm looking at a given situation or circumstance.

Joni sat up from her life-changing accident, and found a new passion, a new purpose, and has spent the past decades impacting peoples lives because she turned a challenge into an opportunity.

Are you stuck in a tough situation? Are you frozen because you don't know what to do? Take a step back, and look at where you're at and find a new perspective. Things will begin to clear up and you may find some new hope.

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Your perspective will either be your prison or passport." Steven Furtick

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

We've been camped on vision for a while, and I want make a turn to this idea of perspective, and Steven Furticks quote launches that.

Perspective can be simply defined as your point of view; the way you look at something.

Furticks quotes gives us 2 sides of perspective:

We're either TRAPPED by our perspective, and we feel there is no hope or purpose, and we're paralyzed.

Or, we're FREE by our perspective, and everything opens up: Our mind, heart and soul. We see the world in a new way and broaden our view.

That's the power of perspective and many times we lean automatically into feeling trapped, and we miss the freedom that comes from looking at things a little differently.

How will you choose to view your circumstances? As a PRISON or as a PASSPORT? What's keeping you from freedom?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Our vision is only actionable if we share it. Without sharing, it's just a figment of our imagination." Simon Sinek

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

We've been talking about VISION and I was reminded today how important it is to share that vision with others, and not simply keep it to yourself.

Sineks quote above states it rather clearly that if a vision isn't shared, then it's not real.

Ken Blanchard would say, "The greatest leaders mobilize others by coalescing people around a shared vision." So you wander what "coalesce" means? It means to "come together to form one mass or whole"

Warren G. Bennis would say, "In order to serve its purpose, a vision has to be a shared vision."

The quote I relate to the most is from Andy Hargreaves when he says:

"Too often, shared visions really mean, 'I have a vision; you share it!'"

Are you guilty of that? I know I am.

Vision might begin in your heart, but as it grows, you must invite people into that vision, to be a part of it, to own it with you. When was the last time you shared your vision?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"A goal that is not written down is not a goal, it's only a dream." Unknown

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

I came across this statement the other day, and as I did some research, I've found that many people have said this over time: Fitzhugh Dodson, Brian Tracy & Michael Hyatt, just to name a few.

In researching where this came from, I was amazed by the number of people who talked about the simple act of "writing your goal down". Until you do that...

• It's not a goal

• It's not real

• It's a "wish"

• It's only a dream

The first step to moving towards that picture you see in the future is to write down some goals to get you there.

WRITE THEM DOWN.

Mark Pettit shares in an article I'll reference below, 5 reasons why writing down your goals is important:

1) It helps you get clear on what you want

2) It helps you stay motivated

3) It helps narrow your focus

4) It gives you realistic time frames to work towards

5) It allows you to celebrate progress

Do you write your goals down? Why do you or why don't you? Where do you write them down?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion." Jack Welch

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

We've been talking about VISION for a couple of weeks, and when I saw this quote from Jack Welch, the former Chairman and CEO of General Electric, there were some words that just jumped out at me.

Read the quote again... Do you see the words?

He's talking about what leaders must do when it comes to vision:

• CREATE a Vision

What do you see that nobody else sees? Where do you want to go?

• ARTICULATE the Vision

Explain it so that other people can understand it and get a grasp of it.

• PASSIONATELY OWN the Vision

You don't pass vision off, but you own it, it's yours.

• RELENTLESSLY DRIVE IT TO COMPLETION

Achieve it, pursue it, move towards it... RELENTLESSLY.

Powerful words when it comes to vision.

What do these words mean to you when it comes to the vision you have for your business? Your organization? Your family? Your life? This is what it takes to get from HERE to where you want to be!

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision" Helen Keller

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

Last week I shared a Steve Jobs quote on VISION and the power of vision, and I received some interesting notes about the importance of always working to SEE where we're going and to anticipate what is coming.

I read this quote from Hellen Keller, and was reminded of how easy it is to get busy focusing on TODAY and forget to think about TOMORROW.

We're busy, there's pressure, there's a never-ending to-do-list, and in some cases, we're just trying to survive.

Hellen Keller was blind, but she didn't let that keep her from great accomplishments. She was not only blind, but she was deaf as well. READ THIS LIST of her accomplishments and then tell me why you're not able to do something?

The challenge of every leader is to not only focus on what you're doing today, but to determine where you're heading, to define your vision for tomorrow.

I asked this question last week, but I'll ask again: Where are you heading? Personally? Work? Community? Family? Take some time to envision what that vision looks like.