How to Find Your True Grit

Have you ever started something and not quite finish it?  Have you ever struggled to stay focused on a single task or goal?  What keeps a person focused and committed in the face of adversity? 

In the movie True Grit Maddie, a young teenage girl, sets out to avenge her father's death.   The murderer, Tom Chaney, has vanished and "no one could be bothered to care."    We are initially led to believe Maddie is searching for a person to find Chaney and bringing him to justice.  In actuality she is looking for a person who will match her passion and commitment.  Ultimately, she finds Marshall Cogburn.  But, he is not going for her, he's joining her!   Why is Maddie so driven?   Justice for her father.  So, beyond just being a great movie, is there anything we can apply to our own lives  for our own lives?  

Two words.  Vision and Purpose.  Maddie constantly imagined bringing Chaney to justice and kept that purpose constantly in front of her.  

In his work "Man's Search for Meaning," Victor Frankl unpacks the idea of perseverance by recounting his experience of surviving Auschwitz.  Frankl suggests that humanity's deepest desire is to find meaning and, if we find it, we can survive anything.  He goes on to propose we find meaning through three basic avenues: work, love, and suffering.  

The purpose of this series has been to explore the intersection of Talents, Awareness and Grit.  As I reflect on these intersections, I'm drawn to the idea that we must identify and attach our lives to a purpose beyond ourselves; that the work we do is making a difference, that our loved ones need us, and the challenges we face offer a greater meaning to our lives.  In all of our diversity and differences, we all search for good work.  We each have a deep need to love and be loved.  We all experience pain.   

When we are cognizant of the opportunities and needs around us we become aware.  When we articulate how we have been gifted to best respond to those opportunities and needs, we are able to engage our talents.  When we connect those opportunities and talents to a larger purpose and meaning, our ability to persevere will increase exponentially.  

Here are a few next steps to make these ideas come to life!

In Your Personal Life: 

1. Identify one area of your work that makes a difference in world.  Write it on a 3x5 Card and put it somewhere you can see it throughout the day.
2. Write a letter, email, or text to someone you love.  Tell them at least one thing you are grateful for.  
3. Identify an area of suffering in your life?  How has it changed you?  How could you grow from this experience?    

In Your Organization: 

1. Identify at least one way your organization is improving the lives of people.
2. Find a clear way to communicate this impact to your team and invite them to celebrate!

Success: Three Questions to Know Your Talents

Often times your success hinges on the ability to correctly perceive opportunities, understand your core talents, and persevere in the face of adversity.    We'll be exploring these intersections in the coming weeks.  Here are our working definitions and previous post.    

Awareness: The ability to perceive your surroundings correctly.

Talents: A skill set you've been given and hone over years of practice. 

Grit: Your resolve and strength of character to persevere in the face of resistance.

As you become aware of opportunities, you must then ask, "Is this opportunity for me?  Is this my work to do?"  One of the key components to answering these questions is clarity on your unique talents.  This allows you to identify your unique areas of contribution.  In addition, when talents go unused they stagnate and wither.  So, in order to live with focus rather than frenzy and keep your talents alive and active, you must clearly articulate what you do well.  

Here are two sets of questions that will help move you toward a greater understanding of your core talents.  

In Your Personal Life: 

1. Thinking back through your life story, what are three responsibilities and successes you have had that stand out?
2. What is something you absolutely love to do?
3. When your friends describe you, what are some of the key words they use?

What trends or patterns begin to emerge?  Are there any overlapping concepts or ideas that could be written as actions or skills?  

In Your Organization: 

1. How is your organization known?  In every field there are core competencies.  Beyond these, what abilities make your team stand out? 
2. Where has your team seen success? How can you focus on these and leverage them to a greater degree? 
3. Who on your team, if given the chance, do you believe could rise to a new level of contribution?  Identify a specific responsibility and offer them the opportunity to grow?  

You'll Want to Thank Someone For This

We never travel alone.  No matter our talent or skill, we have never done it on our own.  We never travel alone.  

As you start this new year, take a moment to express gratitude for the people in your life.    Take some time to think through the seasons of this past year and, as they come to mind, write out the names of people who have journeyed with you. .   

• What was a difficulty you faced this year?  Who was there for you?  
• What were the unexpected moments from this past year?  Were there any relationships that sprung from these moments?    
• What were opportunities or successes you had this past year?  Who were the people connected to these opportunities or successes?  

Now, choose at least one of these people and say "thank you."  Here are three ways to do so: 

1. Write that person an email.  Tell them what they mean to you and why.  
2. Write a letter...on an actual piece of paper and send it through the mail.
3. Schedule a cup of coffee or invite them for a meal.  Be sure at some point during the conversation to thank them for what they mean to you.

We never travel alone and I'm thankful.  

PS. Listen to this song by Andrew Peterson while you're walk through these questions.  It will absolutely help...and it's amazing.  

Three Steps to Improve Your Awareness and Grow in Wisdom

The Cliffs of Kerry, Ireland

Alertness - The Ability to perceive your surroundings correctly. 

This past May my family climbed a hill.  As we approached the top, a strong wind began to blow.  The closer we came, the stronger it blew.  At the crest the green grass gave way sheer cliffs and granite rock.  The ground gave way to seagulls gliding beneath our feet.  My breath was taken.  My chest expanded.  The vast Atlantic stretched out to the horizon and the island fell into the ocean.  Standing on the precipice, the rugged beauty was overwhelming.   In an instant I became uniquely aware of my place on the Irish Isle, located in the harsh North Atlantic Ocean.   

We all have moments of orientation; insights that call us to new perspectives and understandings.  The question is, "Are you listening?"   Are you paying attention to your circumstances close enough to frame reality correctly?   Without an awareness of both your internal and external worlds, you will be driven by unconscious desires and outside forces you don't understand.  You will miss opportunities for growth.    Here are a few practical steps to increase your alertness and your ability to respond with wisdom.

In your personal life: 

1. Pay attention to what you are thinking or feeling when you wake up.  Don't immediately begin your day.  Your mind is most rested in the morning.  Sit with your thoughts and see where they lead.  What do you learn?
2. Set aside a time each day when your phone is off and your body is still.
3. Take two minutes daily and write down your thoughts.  It doesn't have to be Shakespeare!  You'll be amazed at what you learn. 

In Your Organization:

1. At your next team gathering ask, "What are the trends and patterns we see around us?"  
2. What opportunities are presented by these trends?
3. Write out 3-5 ways your team can respond?

The world is speaking.  Are you listening? 

P.S. Tom Paterson used to say, "Opportunity Whispers."   I love that quote.

Your Pathway To An Amazing 2018

We know that half-hearted efforts and hoping for the best will not give a pathway forward in life.  So what will?  LifePlan.  

LifePlanning is designed to help you discover your unique purpose and vision,  then practically apply these discoveries to all areas of your life.  Over the course of two days, an amazing mosaic of your life is created.  After the experience you will walk away with clarity, hope and focus.   There's an incredible return on the investment of your time, effort, and resources.  In fact: 

• If the only thing you got from a LifePlan was a clear vision for the next five to ten years of your life, it would be worth it. 
• If the only thing you got from a LifePlan were the tools you need to guide your everyday life decisions, it would be worth it. 
• If the only thing you got from a LifePlan was a clear way to care for yourself physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually, it would be worth it.  

But, you don't get just one, you get all of these!  And, that's just the beginning! 

Now ask yourself, what happens in your life if you don't do anything differently?  What happens if you keep doing exactly what you're doing now?  Will you will gain more clarity or live with more hope and purpose?  

Listen to what people have to say about LifePlanning: 

“LifePlanning was a time of focused reflection on my life and calling in light of God’s goodness and wider story. It helped me effectively steward my time, talent, and relationships. I walked away with a clear sense of direction, purpose, and peace”

— Ben

“I went through LifePlan during a time when there had been a lot of changes in my life, and I came out with a much clearer understanding of how to utilize my strengths in my current life situation and how to find balance in my life. ”

— Baxter

Will you be a person who lives with clarity, engagement, and purpose in 2018?  

You're standing at a crossroads.  January is coming.   I'm able to guide two LifePlans at the beginning of the year and would love for you to be one them.  Will you join me on the LifePlan journey?  

The pathway forward is simple: 

1. Contact me at brian@m5planning.com
2. Put the dates on your calendar
3. Create your LifePlan

This is going to be amazing!

The Most Common Mistake In Your Life

If you've ever found  yourself wondering, "Why am I in this job?" or "What's next?", then you're not alone.  Here's why: most people lack the specific clarity needed to live powerful, intentional lives.  As a result, they spend their lives reacting to circumstances and opportunities rather than living towards a clear purpose and goal.  In fact, in the face of uncertainty, the default setting is to allow other people or circumstances to determine their future.  

To keep this from happening most people read the first chapter of a book on "decision making" and believe they've addressed the problem.  Others simply busy themselves with the "urgent" tasks of life, hoping things will work out in the end.  But, these strategies are fundamentally flawed.  At best, the world is indifferent to your success and thriving.  At worst, it's actively seeking to hold you back.  Half-hearted efforts and hoping for the best just won't work.

The truth is that if you don't do anything this pattern will lead you further and further from the place you want to be.  You can't leave your life decisions up to other people and circumstances.  But, living differently than most people does not just happen.  It takes intention and design.

• Imagine starting next year with a clear vision of what you were created to do.
• Imagine having energizing, affirming conversations while discovering your unique contributions and potential for life.
• Imagine a retreat, a gift of time that allows you to press pause on the rush of daily life and breathe.
• Imagine you are equipped to love your family well, engage your work with enthusiasm, and live your your life with hope and clarity. 

Imagine...

Shhh...It's A Secret Invitation

Imagine yourself two months from today.  The Thanksgiving turkey is long gone, the presents have all been open, and Ryan Seacrest has announced the New Year.  You wake up after a long night of rest, walk into a quiet kitchen, fix a cup of coffee, and look out over your frost covered backyard.  Take a moment and imagine what that morning will feel like.  

Will you be excited?  Worried?  Anticipating? Ambivalent?  

Now the more important question.  What do you want that morning to feel like? 

Over the next few days, you will be invited into two specific ways to prepare for that cold, frost-covered morning two months from now.  The invitation will take you down a path towards thriving and an incredible 2018.  Of course, you are always free to stay exactly where you are, but I promise there are good things waiting on the other side.  

Are you ready?  

Bring in Your People...Throw a Party

It is not good for the man to be alone. Genesis 2:18

I like to picture Jesus in a tuxedo T-shirt because it says I want to be formal, but I'm here to party.  -Cal Naughton, Jr., Talladega Nights

Last one. Step Six! 

• Step 1:  Start with your Why
• Step 2: Gain Clarity  
• Step 3: Create a pathway
• Step 4: Build a Habit
• Step 5:  Face the Brutal Facts
• Step 6: Bring in Others for Accountability and Celebration

Everything we've worked through up to this point is built on one key secret.  You can't do it on your own.   

Everything in you is saying, "No way, I've got this.  I don't want to bother people.  I'll just keep trying."  But, the truth is you were not created to have success or experience failure on your own.  You need other people to encourage, to challenge, and share the load.  What would it look like to intentionally invite a team of people into your life to help create momentum towards the goals you've set out?  Then, as you find success, to celebrate and encourage you along the way.  

Consider which of the following types of people would be fill the greatest need in your life moving forward.

The Expert or Guide: This person has deep knowledge and experience in an area you would like to grow.  Think Mr. Miyagi, Yoda or Captain Sully.  Ideally, you'd love to find a Level 5 Leader, but at minimum, you are looking for a person who is a bit further down the road and is able to tell you what may be around the next corner or two.    

The Encourager:  This person is on your team no matter what.  They bring you up emotionally and spiritually.  They have a high emotional intelligence and often intuit the needs of others.  They are excited when you succeed and help you through the tough times.   After a conversation with this person you feel good about yourself, like the sun is brighter and your steps are lighter.  

The Challenger: This person is not satisfied with the status quo and does the work necessary to change it.  They are known for their hustle and getting the job done.  In conversation they often push back on your ideas.   They're inquisitive and are known for living on the intense end of life's spectrum.  When a Challenger comes to terms with the anger or fear that often propels their actions, they can be amazing advocates for good in your life and the world.  Think MLK & Mother Theresa.

The Visionary or Strategist: This person looks at life with a sense of anticipation and excitement.  They see potential around every corner, are creative thinkers and often times will connect new solutions to existing problems.  A visionary lives on the mountain top and is looking down the ridge-line to see what's coming next.  

The Tactician:  These are the nuts and bolts people.  They naturally see the immediate challenges and are good at problem solving the issues at hand.  These people love jigsaw puzzles, keep lists and probably have multiple meat thermometers to ensure the chicken is cooked properly.   

Write down your responses to who could fill these roles for you.

In the area I need to grow, I admire __________________________ for what they have accomplished and believe I could learn a great deal from their experience. 

_______________________________ has always been kind to me.  I just feel better after we spend time together. 

If I invited _______________________________ to help me, I'm sure they would push me to improve.  It may not be easy, but in the end I know it would be for my good.

_______________________________ always has such great ideas!  I would love it if they could help me think through potential options. 

_______________________________ is organized and I've seen them stay committed to a task or problem.  They can definitely help me put order to my ideas.

I will contact at least two of these people by this date: _______________________.     

Let's party!

Face the Brutal Facts

Okay Friends, Step Five!  If you haven't already, be sure to read the previous entries.  Here's where we stand.

• Step 1:  Start with your Why
• Step 2: Gain Clarity  
• Step 3: Create a pathway
• Step 4: Build a Habit
• Step 5:  Face the Brutal Facts
• Step 6: Bring in others for accountability and celebration

Step 5: Face the Brutal Facts

Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho is a relentless, tension-filled ball of uncertainty and confusion.  No one, including the audience, knows exactly what is happening until the very end.  For some reason, I agreed to watch the movie for the first time with my son and on Sunday night, with a pillow firmly grasped, I took the journey Hitchcock created nearly 60 years ago.  

In the movie's climatic scene, The Truth About Mother, Lila Crane walks down a staircase and into a sparse, dusty fruit cellar.  Realizing that Lila is alone in his house, Norman Bates frantically makes his way up the steep hill to attack her.  As Lila descends into the cellar, my son and I cry out, "No!  What are you doing!  Don't go down there! Get out!"  Lila enters the room and finds Norman's mother sitting in a chair facing the wall.  Tension fills our TV room.  Lila calls out, "Mrs. Bates?"  She reaches forward and taps mother's shoulder.  In that moment all of our questions and suspicions are answered.  It wasn't pretty, but Norman Bates was immediately and definitively brought into a clear light.  

This is what it means to Face the Brutal Facts.  You've got to descend the staircase, grab the old woman and spin her around.  Everything in you may be screaming, "No!  What are you doing?! Get out!"  But, until you know the truth, you'll just be stuck in a world of fear or uncertainty.  Truth, even when it's hard, offers you clarity and the pathway forward.  

Take 2 minutes and sit quietly.  After those minutes have passed, write out your most honest and truthful responses to these questions: 

• When it comes to healthy habits and patterns in my life, the truth is I ____________________.
• This past week the forward progress I've made towards my goal is: _____________________.
• The reason I feel __________________ is _____________________.
• If I continue on this path for the next 5 years I will ________________________.

PS.  If you were like me and have never seen Psycho DO NOT watch the scene linked above.  Instead, grab a pillow, a younger child, a bowl of popcorn, turn off the lights, rent the movie and start it from the very beginning.  Sixty years on, it's still an amazing movie.  

Building a Habit

The purpose of this series is to help you to gain clarity and forward momentum towards a goal in your life, rather than staying stuck in the world of imagined ideas and good intentions.  Here's where we stand. 

• Step 1:  Start with your Why
• Step 2: Gain Clarity  
• Step 3: Create a pathway
• Step 4: Build a Habit
• Step 5:  Face the Brutal Facts
• Step 6: Bring in others for accountability and celebration

Step 4: Build a Habit

Driverless cars are going to be amazing.  Imagine summoning a car from your phone.  A pilotless vehicle arrives, you step in and the journey begins.  Along the way you are able to have focused conversation with friends or intently work on a project.  As you exit, the car automatically closes the door and silently drives away.  You've safely arrived at your destination, but didn't need to think about how you got there.  Sign me up!  

Habits function in much the same way.  You know where you need to go.  You've identified the pathway.  Now, you need to summon a driverless car to take you there.  That's what habits do.  They dramatically reduce the cognitive and emotional load of making decisions and creating action.  There's tons of science and behavioral studies to back this up.  

Truthfully, we build habits all the time.  The question is whether our habits are helping or hurting us.   Here are three simple, but transformative steps you can take to intentionally create a purposeful habit. Pen! Paper! Let's give it a go!

1) Identify a cue: What will trigger this habit?  Imagine kicking a small pebble holding a huge bolder bolder in place.  Kicking the pebble is the cue.  Once the cue occurs, the process begins to move with its own inertia. 

2) Create the response: Write down one thing that, if done on a regular basis, would move you closer to your goal.  Think in terms of small, incremental steps.  You will be astonished at what can be accomplished by "putting something on the table everyday."  To quote Bill Gates,  “Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years.”

3) The Reward: How will you reward yourself for accomplishing the response?  It doesn't have to be a huge deal, but it should be something you really enjoy!

After you've written out your responses to these three prompts, commit to trying to build the habit for two weeks.  I'm willing to bet you'll be glad you did!

Okay, I've got to go.  My car just arrived.

Create Your Pathway

It's been a long time since my last post.  My sincerest apologies.  To make sure everyone is up to speed, here's where we stand.  The purpose of this series is for you to gain forward momentum towards a goal in your life, rather than staying stuck in the world of imagined ideas and good intentions.  Over the next several days we are walking through six steps that WILL create positive change in your life.  So far, we've covered the first two.  If you need a refresher, go back and read the first two post. 

• Step 1:  Start with your Why
• Step 2: Gain Clarity  
• Step 3: Create a pathway
• Step 4: Build a Habit
• Step 5:  Face the Brutal Facts
• Step 6: Bring in others for accountability and celebration

Steps 3: Create a Pathway

When the Glinda the Good Witch tells Dorothy to go to Oz, she doesn't tell her, "Just wander through forrest towards the green glow and flying monkeys."  She tells her, "Follow..."  I don't even need to write rest of the phrase.  Dorothy faces huge obstacles throughout her journey, but is able to reach Oz because she had a clear, unambiguous path to follow.  We all agree it works in the movies, but then fail to set those same clear pathways  to reach our actual goals and destinations.  It's much easier to say, "Don't worry, I see the faint green on the horizon.  If I get lost, I'll just ask a monkey for directions." 

Think back to the original goal you set for yourself.  Embedded within the "Deep How" are immediate steps you need to take.  Like individual bricks, these steps link together to form patterns of action, the way you should go.  

To clarify your pathway write your responses to these questions. 

• What are the patterns of action you notice in order to reach your goal?  
• Finish the phrase, "In order to reach my goal I always need to  __________________."
• What are the challenges you will face both internally and externally in making progress?
• What steps can you take to mitigate against these challenges?  

Finally, for those who love closure..."the yellow brick road."  

One Rule that Must Not Be Broken

I have a rule.  Well, it's more of an observed intuition that turns out to be supported by science!  "If you really want to get something done, don't talk about it to tons of people, but try and keep it to yourself."  For years I've known this to be true of myself, but have never understood the underlying reasons why.  I've even said to friends, "I've got this great idea, but I'm not going to jinx it by saying it out loud." Here's why.  The brain is a super powered, creative, imaginative beast.  In fact, it's so good at simulating an anticipated future that when you imagine a goal coming to fruition it can actually feel like you've already reached it.  In other words, the imagined future can easily replace our present reality.  We get the positive feelings and all the associated dopamine of achievement, while in reality nothing actually changes!  

Does this mean that you are doomed to a life of imagined possibilities rather than changed present realities?  No.  Over the next several weeks we will cover five steps that will help you focus the beast and move from imagined possibilities to present realities.  They are: 1) Gain Absolute Clarity.  2) Create a clear pathway 3) Build a habit 4) Face the Brutal Facts 5) Bring a friend or team onboard for celebration and accountability.  

We'll cover each of these steps in the coming weeks, but for now take a moment and write down one goal or hope you imagine happening, but have had difficulty achieving.  My hope is that together we can make forward progress and see change for the good in each our lives.   

I'd love to hear what you are thinking.  So, shoot me an email at brian@m5planning.com or mention your thoughts in the comments section above.   

Gain Absolute Clarity

Simply stated, cognitive load is a principle that describes the amount of energy your brain exerts during a given task.  The more familiar you are with the task, the lower the cognitive load and vice versa.  For example, a college professor teaching calculus for the 20th time has a low cognitive load.  However, the poor souls taking the class for the first time who have never cracked a calculus book are experiencing a high cognitive load.  

It's easy for a decision or goal to become overwhelming.  Without clarity and achievable steps, we become stuck, frustrated and eventually give up.  The cognitive load is too high and we begin to believe a specific goal is no longer achievable.   In order to lower the load and build forward momentum you need to gain clarity.  In order to gain clarity you need to understand your "how."   

There are two types of "hows," the "lateral" and the "deep how." A "lateral how" offers the first step towards a goal.  "How are you going to pass calculus?"  "By studying regularly."  But, the "Deep How" drills down into any answer, consecutively asking "how" until identifying a step that can be taking today or tomorrow. "Tonight from 7:00-8:00 I will review chapter one."  The first is ambiguous with a low probability of implementation.  The second is crystal clear and has a high probability of completion.

Thinking back to the previous two post regarding your "Why" and "What," use the "Deep How" to drill down into your answers.  Don't stop asking "how" until you find something you can do today or tomorrow. 

PS. Aren't you glad you don't have calculus homework? 

An Amazing Prayer

Thomas Merton

A good friend and mentor once said to me, "A Christian wakes up every morning and listens for the leadership of the Holy Spirit to gain an understanding of that day's work."  I completey agree, but have found it difficult to live into that reality from day to day.  

Each week my hope is to encourage you to live your life with just a bit more intention and purpose, to gain an understanding of who you are and what you are called to do each day.  The world needs each of us to do so.  But, if we hold on too tightly to the belief that we alone are responsible for living this calling the task becomes overwhelming and, I believe, can't be done.  We must live with open hands, trusting that The Lord sees us and is guiding our steps. 

I invite you to start your day with this amazing prayer by Thomas Merton, written from the position of an intentional, but surrendered life.

The Merton Prayer

My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.

And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road,

though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though
I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. 

-Amen

Build a "Not-To-Do" List

(If you haven't read last week's post, take a moment to do so.  It's important for the following.)

The Pareto Principle states that 20% of our efforts produce 80% of our results.  In other words, the majority of what you spend your time doing is not giving you the results you desire.   This can be true in both our personal and professional lives.  John Maxwell says, "You cannot overestimate the unimportance of practically everything."   But, we all can get stuck in patterns and habits that aren't best for our lives and work.  We just keep making those buggy whips.

On most days you probably try to get a sense of what needs to be accomplished for that day.  It may be an intuition or mental framework, while for others it's an actual to-do list.  But, there's another list that may be even more important to make; a "not-to-do" list.  Take a moment and respond to these questions and begin to build your "Not-to-do" list!

Based on the insight of your "why," what are the ways you spend your time and energy that are not giving you the results you would like?  

What do you need to stop doing?  

Name the first step to make that change?  

Find Your "Why"

Near the turn of the twentieth century The Central Leather Company was the 17th largest company in the United States.   Today, the company is gone.  Why?  It didn't anticipate the implications of the Ford Automobile.  The Central Leather Company made buggy whips and saddles.

It's easy to become focused on the "what" and the "how."  But, unless you understand the "why" you will lose the ability to adapt.  If The Central Leather Company would have framed their business as, "We help transport people because humans thrive when we connect" rather than, "We make buggy whips and saddles" they may have been able to navigate the dramatic changes of the early twentieth century.

The same can be true for each of us as well.  What is the deeper "why" of your daily life?  Why are you a student?  Why do you work at your job? Why are you in ministry?  Why are are you a father or mother?

Take a moment and think through an important area of your life.  The following prompts are designed to help you find your "Why" rather than the "What" and the "How."  Once you have clarity you'll be more equipped to navigate the future with grace and hope.  Respond to the following prompts.

An important area of my life is:

It's important because:

Now take this answer and drill down by asking yourself "why" at least three times to each consecutive answer.   Once you get to the deeper layers you're starting to uncover the deeper "why" of your actions.  What do you learn?

The Insurgency

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

In America we hold these words with an almost religious reverence.  They declare to the world that America is independent and its people free to determine their own fate.   They hang on our second grade classroom walls. They're enshrined in our nation's capital under bullet-proof glass.  They inspire us beyond ourselves and call us to be more than we have been.   But make no mistake, these thirty-five words set the world on fire and the men who wrote them were insurrectionist.  

The founding fathers had a vision and a mission to create a nation unlike anything the world had known.  Their words were powerful.  Their declaration bold.  Their cause was anything but sure and the forces massed against them were immense.  But, the small band of men and women who joined Adams, Franklin, and Jefferson changed the world. 

But their example does not need to stay in the history books.  If you listen closely, their voices will continue to inspire you to rise up against forces amassed against you and declare that you are free, that you will thrive...that you are an insurrectionist.  Take a moment to join the Founding Fathers and declare your independence!

What are the forces arrayed against you personally?  Against your family?  Your work?

What bold words inspire you to live for the good of others and beyond yourself, they call you to be more than you have been? Take minute to write out a vision for each of these areas.  

What is one step you can take to move towards this vision? 

The Well Carved Way

Several months ago I visited St. Gilgen Church in Austria. It's a small pilgrimage church with beautiful architecture and a truly stunning alter. But, what struck me were the fingernail marks and well worn floorboards.  As I walked down the simple church isle my steps were guided less by my own desire and more by the groove carved in the wooden floor under my feet. As I sat down in a pew near the front of the church I read the name "Theresie  Weinbeiher 1877."  The rail was worn and pitted from thousands of faithful hands.  

There were a just few other people in the chapel with me, but I had a strong sense that we were not alone.  The voices, hopes, and prayers of generations before still seemed to resonate around the stone walls.  In that moment I was struck by the reality that we all stand on the shoulders of those who have come before us.  It was a realization that caused me to pause and give thanks. 

What are the channels that were carved for you?  How has your path been guided by others?    What are the names and dates of the people who have come before you?  Take the next five minutes to write a note, an email or send a text of gratitude and appreciation to a person in your life that has helped prepare your way.  

Humility - The Way to the Top

There's a great paradox in leadership; it takes incredible drive and personal ambition to reach the highest levels of influence and authority, but when we pair that drive with self-promotion and ego our lasting impact will be short-lived.  In the opening chapter of his book "Good to Great" Jim Collins describes a rare, but powerful leadership trait known as a Level 5 leader.  

"Level 5 leaders are a study in duality: modest and willful, humble and fearless.  To quickly grasp this concept, think of United States President Abraham Lincoln (one of the few Level 5 presidents in the United States history), who never let his ego get in the way of his primary ambition for the larger cause of an enduring great nation.  Yet those who mistook Mr. Lincoln's personal modesty, shy nature, and awkward manner as signs of weakness found themselves terribly mistaken, to the scale of 250,000 Confederate and 360,000 Union lives, including Lincoln's own." (22)

I believe we all want to leave a legacy, to have our own efforts outlast us.  But, that desire is easily sabotaged by our cultural insistence of self-promotion.  In order to know how to respond we need heroes, people who have given us their stories as a model for our own lives.  

Who in your life has modeled the life of a Level 5 Leader?  What is a concrete step you can take to be more like that person?

For anyone interested in learning more, I would like to recommend two videos. The first is a talk that was given by David Brooks called, "Humility in the Time of Me."  It's nineteen minutes of absolute gold.  The second is an interview with Cardinal Luis Tagel of the Philippines.  I believe he is an excellent example of a Collin's Level 5 Leader. I found his talk profoundly inspiring.  

David Brooks:  http://qideas.org/videos/humility-in-the-time-of-me/ 

Cardinal Luis Tagel:  http://alpha.org/lc/talks/ 

True Friendship = A Sack of Salt

Aristotle said, "To be a friend to someone you must eat a sack of salt together."  He didn't mean you literally eat a sack of salt and then magically become friends.  The phrase paints an image of time spent together over many meals...a pinch of salt here, a pinch of salt there.  In that time you will experience difficulty, happiness, sadness and laughter; the birth of children and the passing of loved ones.  With each pinch of salt you add a story to the friendship and slowly a new history is formed.  From a shared history comes loyalty, wisdom, sacrifice and growth.  But, this doesn't happen quickly or easily.  It takes time and intention.  

Our culture resists "sack of salt" relationships.  The resistance is in the air we breathe.  The drive to produce and busy ourselves surrounds us on all sides.  Between work, kids and the never ending list of tasks, nurturing long-lasting friendships can easily fall off of our radar.  But, we must resist.  We must pause.  We must initiate. 

Take the next fifteen seconds to close your eyes and think through your relationships.  Who is someone in your life who is a "sack of salt" friend?  What would it take to reach out and share a meal together?  

A pinch of salt here, a pinch of salt there...