| First off, if you are reading this right now, thank you!
Thank you for those who have sent me encouraging notes after reading an email and thank you for those who have sent emails pointing out a discrepancy or error or disagreement.
I started writing this weekly email for myself. The quote “if you want to be a better thinker, write”, prompted me to start writing.
Most of the time, I am working things out in my own head, which gets put down on ‘paper’ then sent out the 600+ subscribers. So thank you for reading…if you think someone would benefit from this weekly email, please pass along.
Year in review: 11 things 2021 taught me or reiterated to me. (plus one bonus thought)
Here is my year in review…or maybe better titled “What 2021 taught or was reiterated to me!”
+ I suck at social media. I am radically inconsistent on Twitter and non-existent on Instagram and Facebook. I kept hearing that I needed to be on all three social networks. I bought into the strategy that you have to have a big presence on social media to grow a consulting business. For some that might be the case. For me, I have decided that the best thing I can do is to add massive value to those I work with. So I roll with only Twitter for now. My plan is to…never mind. I don’t really have big picture (or macro) plans. *See next item below
+ Having a 3 to 5 year plan or vision (macro) seems like such a great idea. But in reality it can cause frustration or missed opportunities. If I would have had a 3-5 year plan, I would have never anticipated getting into the corporate world coaching business leaders. It wouldn’t have been on my radar. But now, here we are, I am starting to work with two business, coaching their leadership teams. I wonder, what will happen in 7-9 months that I have no vision for right now?
+ Having a game plan for doing the highest value activities this week (micro) is really important to me. If I focus on stacking good day on top of another good day and so on…I will set myself up to be my best. My growth and improvement compounds with these daily activities. That, more than a 3-5 year plan is most important to me. Figure out what it takes to be elite in your profession, then daily do the things that will lead to being elite. Again, compound growth is real and it makes a huge difference.
+ We think we are ready sooner than we really are. In the coaching profession, we often think we are ready to be a head coach, or top assistant before we are really ready to be a head coach or top assistant. We get impatient and fail to do the things that will get us ready because we get distracted by the frustration of not getting a certain job. Same for me with Kingdom Coaching. I have thought multiple times that God is slower than he needs to be. And yet, EVERY TIME I look back and reflect, I see that his timing has been perfect in my life.
+ When we fail to have hard conversations the moment we see they are needed, the problem/issue will only grow. The conversation two months later is much harder than it would have been two months earlier. Deal with the tension now, in a direct and gentle way, and you will save yourself pain and dysfunction down the road.
+ Who you spend your time with shapes how you think. How you think shapes how you act. Hang with people that sharpen you and help you be the best version of yourself.
+ Joy and happiness doesn’t have to be a future thing. Be present in the now…you can have joy and happiness now. If it is always a future thing…it will never come.
+ Trust is huge. Maybe the most important element in leading a team/program/organization. We win and build trust in different ways. Know how you personally win trust.
+ The best leaders are authentically themselves. They don’t try to be someone they are not. Know yourself then be your best self.
+ Mayou Angelo said “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Do people feel better or worse about themselves after spending time with you?
+ There are two types of energy: catabolic and anabolic. Catabolic tears down, drains, and destructs. Anabolic builds up and promotes. Too much time is wasted on being ‘high energy’. No one cares if you coach or lead with your hair on fire. If that’s you, do it. But if it is not your personality…stop trying to be the picture of ‘high energy’. Not enough time is spent talking about bringing energy that builds up and promotes (anabolic) Some people’s energy drains the room (catabolic) and some people’s energy propels the room (anabolic).
I’m a work in progress (and one more thing)
I wish I could say that as these things became more and more apparent to me that I nailed them all. But I obviously didn’t. I am a work in progress. I pray that in December 2022, if I am still able, to be writing to you about my growth and continued maturity.
On that note, one last thing to leave you with:
+ You can’t give away what you don’t first possess. If you want to develop your people in health, if you want your people sharpened, if you want those you lead to continually grow and get better, if you want your people to be self-aware, teachable, present, committed, and empathetic…you must first pursue those things. Not perfect, just pursuing.
Happy New Year!!!! |
