Over the past few days my partners at SOS Leadership, Amber Fogarty and Bill Moyer wrote about gratitude to appropriately lead up to Thanksgiving, which is not a holiday as you now know, but a way of life! When we discussed doing this I thought Amber and I should write the first two and Bill (our dad) should close out the series. He is certainly the expert on this subject and many others. But they decided to let me go last.
As I have been reflecting on all the gifts I have been given and all of the things and people I have in my life that I am thankful for, I realize that I am the perfect person to close out this series. You got all the meat and good ideas in the other two blogs, but this one is simply about me and why I am thankful.
Last year at this time, I was pretty successful for only being 23 years old. I had a great family. I had a great business. I was the author of a book. I was in Grad School. And I had a lot of other things going for me. But I was still a bit unhappy. Holidays always seemed to put me in a bad mood. But now things have completely changed.
I still have all of the things I mentioned. I have grown as a person. I have made new friends. But my life is different because I am now truly thankful. This year God blessed me by allowing me to meet the girl of my dreams. After years of searching and trying too hard, I finally let go and let God take over and He came through! I am truly thankful for everything I have, but I finally understand just what that means, thanks to my now fiancée, Ashley.
I thank God everyday for sending Ashley to me. But I also thank Him for my close friends and my family, especially my partners (my sister Amber and my dad, Bill). We are all lucky to work together and more importantly to be with the women and man (in Amber's case) of our dreams.
In the last blog my dad compared Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day. I certainly see the comparison. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Let's be thankful for everything we have. But let's also make tomorrow about the ones we love. There can never be enough days for them. Be sure and pull that special someone close to you and tell them you love them. Tell them you are thankful for all they do for you. Tell them that you are the luckiest person in the world, for no reason other than having them in your life! Now that is a great Thanksgiving!
Be sure to tune into the "It's Your Call" Radio Show this Friday, November 26th at 9:00 am Central. This month's show is all about gratitude, and it features nationally known speaker and author, Thom Singer. Tune into Relevant Radio 970 AM or listen online by clicking here this Friday at 9:00 AM Central! You can listen to previous "It's Your Call" episodes by clicking here.
Thanksgiving is not a holiday; It’s a way of life! - Blog 2 of 3
This week we will set aside a day for Thanksgiving. It is a day for all of us to focus on all of the many blessings in our lives and share that gratitude with those we love. Thanksgiving reminds me in many ways of another special day, Valentine’s Day.
Valentine’s Day is a day to share your love with that someone special in your life. I have always had a problem with that day. What about the other 364 days of the year? Shouldn’t everyday be Valentine’s Day? By the same token, why a single day of “Thanksgiving?” We have so much to be thankful for in our lives. How can we cram it all into a single day? We are always so busy in our lives, looking for quick fixes, fad diets, and "one minute managers," so it makes sense that we try to show our love and gratitude in just one day.
Thanksgiving is a way of life. The holidays are always a time of busyness and sometimes depression. An attitude of gratitude is the best anecdote for that. Here are some ways to develop an attitude of gratitude and to change your life and perhaps someone else’s life as well:
- Slow down. Find some quiet time every day to thank God for your blessings.
- Take five minutes every day to write a personal note or letter to someone to whom you owe a debt of gratitude. Be specific!
- Read the Bible everyday and other books that focus on gratitude and thanksgiving.
- Pray before meals, in the morning, and before bed with your spouse and your kids giving thanks for the precious gift that they are.
- Write a letter to the editor at your newspaper telling a story of thanks for something good. We have enough bad news.
Make a choice to live a life of thanksgiving and gratitude. One of my favorite quotes is: “If the only prayer you prayed in your whole life was ‘Thank You,' that would be sufficient.” Give thanks today and everyday!
Be sure to tune into our monthly radio show on Relevant Radio 970AM in Austin, TX on Friday, November 25th at 9AM! Listen online at www.relevantradio970.com. This month's show focuses on gratitude.
With a Grateful Heart, Give Thanks - Blog 1 of 3
Thanksgiving is just a few days away. In the midst of the holiday frenzy, we often sweat the small stuff. We worry about whether or not the bathrooms are clean enough or our pie is going to be edible. We stress about having our in-laws in town, and we make detailed plans for Black Friday shopping. We tell our kids to mind their manners, and we make sure there are batteries in the camera so we can take plenty of pictures of the festivities.
But when do we give thanks? Is this a fleeting moment when you go around the dinner table and say something quickly so everyone can get on with eating their meal? Do you take time to reflect in the midst of cooking, cleaning, and football watching to really think about all that’s good in your life? Do you pick up the phone to call family members and friends, not out of obligation, but because you genuinely want to express your gratitude for the difference they’ve made in your life? Do you post your gratitude publicly on Facebook and Twitter but forget to convey it one-on-one with those who matter most to you?
Thanksgiving is, more than anything else, about giving thanks. It’s not about food or football. It’s about being with those we love and being deeply grateful for each and every blessing in our lives.
John F. Kennedy once said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” As you give thanks this week, remember that your words are important, but your actions speak louder. Don’t just utter your gratitude with your lips; live your gratitude by focusing on what matters most.
Be sure to tune into the "It's Your Call" Radio Show this Friday, November 26th at 9:00 am Central. This month's show is all about gratitude, and it features nationally known speaker and author, Thom Singer. Tune into Relevant Radio 970 AM or listen online by clicking here this Friday at 9:00 AM Central! You can listen to previous "It's Your Call" episodes by clicking here.
Reignite Your Dream Machine
On November 1st, SOS Leadership hosted an event called "Reignite Your Dream Machine." The purpose of this event was to get folks fired up about life and get them to start dreaming again! Speakers Bill Moyer and Thom Singer reminded us of the importance of being able to dream.
Do you still remember what you dreamed about as a kid? What did you want to be when you grew up? Did you have imaginary friends? Most of us are really active dreamers with amazing imaginations when we're kids, but as we get older, we slowly lose our ability to dream. Perhaps reality gets in the way. Maybe we fail a few times and decide that dreaming results in failure, so what's the point? Or maybe others steal your dreams.
As a kid, did you ever find a dirty old stick in the yard? To you, it wasn't a dirty old stick at all. It was a ninja sword or a magician's wand! And what do most grownups say when they see a kid playing with a dirty old stick? "Put that down! It's dirty!"
Our dreams for the future can be like dirty old sticks. When we're young and hopeful, we can imagine ourselves fulfilling even our most far-fetched dreams. Where others see a dirty old stick, we see a sword or magic wand. As we lose our imaginations or let others make decisions for us, we throw down our dreams. The sword becomes a dirty old stick again, and we no longer see the possibilities; we only allow ourselves to see reality.
Dreams are prerequisites to goals. In the SOS Leadership Protecting Goals Program, we're reminded that, "In order for anything to be physically accomplished, it must first be mentally accomplished." If you can't dream it, you can't achieve it.
What are your dreams today? Start working on your Dream List, a list of things you've always wanted to do, places you've always wanted to go, people you've always wanted to meet. Nothing is off limits. Reignite your dream machine! Imagine a new you, and then make it happen!
If SOS Leadership can help you on your journey, don't hesitate to reach out to us.
The Leadership Pill
In 2003, Ken Blanchard and Marc Muchnick published a book called The Leadership Pill: The Missing Ingredient in Motivating People Today. The books cover says, "Learn the Prescription for Effective Leadership." When I first heard about this book, the title gave me a good laugh because it made me think about how often folks want a quick and easy way to get what they want in life. A pill? Yup, that'll solve my problems. Write me a prescription.
In our fast-paced, quick fix culture, the idea of investing our time, energy, and money in ourselves is often low on our priority lists. But it shouldn't be. When you look at the biggest obstacle in achieving your goals, it's almost always the person looking back at you in the mirror.
When you're on an airplane, what does the flight attendant always say during the instructions? If there's a loss in cabin pressure, whose mask are you supposed to put on first? Yours or your child's? YOURS, right? Why? By putting your own mask on first, you’ll be alive to help your child, your friend, or your neighbor! Effective leaders work on themselves first and their people second.
Now don't get me wrong. Being a servant leader is important. One of my favorite affirmations is "To serve is to lead. To lead is to serve." In order to serve and lead to the best of our ability, we must first take care of ourselves.
What I love about The Leadership Pill is that the authors summarize how to be an effective leader in just 113 entertaining pages! They remind us that "Leadership is not something you do to people; it's something you do with them."
Of course, we all know that there's no pill out there to make us better leaders. It's a lifelong process that requires a continued commitment to our personal development and a belief that there's always more to learn.
As 2010 comes to an end, think about what you've accomplished this year. Spend some time reflecting on these questions:
In our fast-paced, quick fix culture, the idea of investing our time, energy, and money in ourselves is often low on our priority lists. But it shouldn't be. When you look at the biggest obstacle in achieving your goals, it's almost always the person looking back at you in the mirror.
When you're on an airplane, what does the flight attendant always say during the instructions? If there's a loss in cabin pressure, whose mask are you supposed to put on first? Yours or your child's? YOURS, right? Why? By putting your own mask on first, you’ll be alive to help your child, your friend, or your neighbor! Effective leaders work on themselves first and their people second.
Now don't get me wrong. Being a servant leader is important. One of my favorite affirmations is "To serve is to lead. To lead is to serve." In order to serve and lead to the best of our ability, we must first take care of ourselves.
What I love about The Leadership Pill is that the authors summarize how to be an effective leader in just 113 entertaining pages! They remind us that "Leadership is not something you do to people; it's something you do with them."
Of course, we all know that there's no pill out there to make us better leaders. It's a lifelong process that requires a continued commitment to our personal development and a belief that there's always more to learn.
As 2010 comes to an end, think about what you've accomplished this year. Spend some time reflecting on these questions:
- Was 2010 my best year ever? Why or why not?
- If this wasn't my best year, what can I do in the last 7 weeks of this year to finish the year on the right note and ensure that 2011 will be AWESOME?
Become the Best Version of Yourself!
This is the time of year when people begin to think of changes they want to make for next year. Maybe this year has not been good, so you think a change in year is all you need. The reality is that you need more than a new year; you need a new you!
Paul J. Meyer said, “If you are not making the progress you would like to make and are capable of making, it is simply because your goals are not clearly defined.” Most problems that we have are because of goals, either lack of goals or lack of achievement of them. Perhaps you don’t have any goals. Or maybe you have not written them down. If you do not have written goals, then you do not have goals. Writing crystallizes thought, which motivates action. Action is usually important when trying to achieve a goal.
If you are struggling with your goals or just need some direction, SOS Leadership’s Protecting Goals showcase might be just what you need. This five-week course teaches you the fundamentals of goal achievement in easy-to-understand, bite-sized segments that will help you figure out where you want to go and how you will get there. Along the way, you will learn how to:
- Develop an Achievement Perspective
- Create a Top Ten List
- Assess the cost of your goals
- Create an Achievement Plan
The next Protecting Goals showcase begins November 16th (7:30AM-9AM). The cost of the showcase is $995. Register by calling 512-992-2985 or email info@sosleadership.com.
Determining what your goals are and developing a plan for achieving them is vital for your success. Maybe you understand goal setting, but just cannot seem to find the time to accomplish your goals. Time is one of the main obstacles to most people’s goals.
Many people believe they are poor managers of their time, but in fact they are unable to manage themselves. They lack the focus needed to accomplish their goals in the time they have. The key word there is focus. If you struggle with finding the time to accomplish your goals or you lack focus, SOS Leadership’s Protecting Time program will be able to help. Time management is a myth. This five-week program focuses on how to manage yourself, not time! With this program, you will learn how to:
- Understand the value of your time
- Work smarter and more efficiently
- Avoid time-wasters
- Protect your energy
The next Protecting Time showcase begins November 17th (11AM-12:30PM). The cost of the showcase is $995. Register by calling 512-992-2985 or email info@sosleadership.com.
Leaders Making a Difference: Gus Garcia Park
The Gus Garcia Park located in Austin, Texas was facing grim circumstances in 2007 when it lost city funding to be built. By taking information from the community, a group of five young architectural professionals were determined to provide support to this regional park and formed an organization called the "Friends of Gus Garcia Park". Through months of meetings with Windsor Hills Neighborhood Association, Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD), the park was on its way to major improvements.
These leaders creatively formed a competition for architects around the state to submit ideas for a new master plan for the park. Quickly thereafter, young professionals from across the state, including students from five of the seven architecture schools in Texas, began tackling this project head on; two of these schools made the park the focus of their studio project which is the final application of their knowledge gained throughout the course. The proposals were examined by the public and recognized by Mayor Gus Garcia at an event that celebrated the creative work from all of the competition entries.
The competition was such a success that it was used as a case study for a seminar during the 2007 Texas Society of Architects convention in Austin, Texas. The panel discussion, which included former Austin Mayor Gus Garcia, Dean Fritz Steiner from the UT School of Architecture, and the competition organizers, challenged architects to apply their creative problem solving skills through community activism as a means to enact positive change within their communities.
The Friends of Gus Garcia Park raised nearly $4,000 for the competition, with over $2,000 being donated directly to the park. Through the dedication and commitment of the Friends of Gus Garcia Park, and the responsiveness of the City of Austin to this cause, the park was recently granted a $500,000 grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, with a matching $500,000 from the Austin City Council. Although not yet completed, the plans generated from the competition and the $1,000,000 in funding will soon make Gus Garcia park a cherished destination for the community.
Although competition is sometimes associated with a ruthless approach, this friendly state-wide competition definitely gave the local community a sense of hope. Paul Bielamowicz and his fellow architects were dedicated to finding a solution and utilized multiple organizations to help them achieve success. Through the collaboration of these leaders, the project was granted funding, and the park will be become an even greater asset for the local neighboring community to enjoy. More information on the project can be found here.
The leaders who were successful at making the improved Gus Garcia Park become a reality, saw that it was their opportunity to make a difference. We are all granted with extraordinary talents and creative powers. As Helen Keller once stated, "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." Where can you utilize your strengths to make a difference in your life or the community by analyzing problems to create positive, creative solutions? Which organizations can you collaborate with in order to make a difference today?
