Leading with Purpose. Leading on Purpose.

I recently presented a workshop at a leadership conference to a group of St. Edward's University college students. I entitled the workshop, "Leading with Purpose. Leading on Purpose."

As I prepared for this presentation, I reflected on the value of knowing your purpose in life and on the importance of recognizing that leadership is a choice. Thus, we cannot lead with purpose until we know our life's purpose, and we must make a conscious choice to lead. Choosing to be a leader isn't a choice we make just once in our lives; it's a choice we must make daily.

• Will I be a leader who makes a difference today? Or will I be a follower who blames the leader when things don't go the way I hoped they would?
• Will I see someone in need and help them or will I look the other way?
• Will I encourage someone today and motivate them to achieve their full potential? Or will I point out all of his shortcomings?
  
• Will I offer my forgiveness to that person who has hurt me? Or will I continue to carry around the burden of anger?
  
• Will I offer a hand up to someone's who feels down and out? Or will I kick her while she's down?
  

The St. Edward's University mission statement encourages students to “understand themselves, clarify their personal values and recognize their responsibility to the world community.” This is only possible when you have identified your purpose in life. Do you know who you are called to be? Do you understand yourself? Have you taken the time to clarify your values? Do you recognize your responsibility in making this world a better place? Are you making choices about your future based on your life purpose?

John Wooden once said, "You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you." I personally have embraced this quote as part of my life's purpose. What is your life's purpose? Are you a leader? Will you consciously choose to lead today?

I challenge you to lead with purpose and to CHOOSE to lead on purpose. Make it a great day!

Seeking and Finding Clarity

Did you ever have an experience where a particular word kept coming up in your life? I pay attention when this happens because I know that means there's a message I'm supposed to be getting.

The word CLARITY has appeared repeatedly in my life over the past 6 months or so. I've heard a number of speakers who've talked about clarity, and I've experienced that word over and over again in our Protecting Goals Program. In fact, one of the most powerful parts of that program reminds me: "As you begin your drive to achieve, the greatest challenge that lies before you is not hard work, money, or time. The greatest challenge is clarity."

Most of us blame time (and sometimes money) when we're not achieving what we want to achieve in our lives. How often do we really ask ourselves whether or not our life's purpose and our goals are clear? Do you have clarity in your life? Do you know who you are? Do you know what you stand for? Do you know where you're going? Do you know what goals you want to achieve this year?

I've thought a lot about this recurring theme in my life and am realizing how important clarity is. I see this time and time again with our coaching clients and those who participate in our Protecting Goals Showcase. Most of the people who work with SOS Leadership are seeking clarity. When they clarify their purpose in life and the goals they want to achieve, they begin making the progress they want to make and are capable of making.

Finding clarity in our lives means finding answers to life's big questions:

• Who am I?
• What gifts and talents do I have to offer to the world?
  
• What am I here for? What is my purpose in life?
• What matters most in my life?
• How can I make a difference?
• What goals have I clearly defined? How am I making progress toward my goals?

Finding clarity is not easy. In fact, I find it to be one of life's ongoing challenges because as our circumstances change, so do our priorities...and thus, our once clearly defined goals become blurry.

One lesson I have learned and I know to be true, you cannot find clarity in your life unless you actively seek it. And when you find clarity, you must continue to define your reality and strive to achieve your goals. You do not seek clarity and find it just once in your life. It is a continuous exploration that will challenge you to think deeply about who you are and what matters most to you.

Keep asking yourself the tough questions, and challenge yourself to continue seeking clarity. Clarity, like many things in our life, is a journey, not a once-and-for-all destination.

Recognition follows great leaders

A couple weeks ago in Austin (where I live), the 2011 Austin Under 40 Awards took place. This is always an exciting time. The Austin Under 40 Awards are put on by the Young Men's Business League (YMBL) and the Young Women's Alliance (YWA). The purpose of the awards are to recognize emerging Austin leaders who excel in their profession and in their service to the community.

SOS Leadership was lucky enough to have three clients (two current and one past) nominated for one of these prestigious awards. We also had two other friends of our organization who were nominated. Two of our three clients nominated, won the award! We would like to congratulate the nominated and especially, Jason Qunell and Ben De Leon for winning in their respective categories. (See Photo of Winners Here)

Bill & Billy Moyer accepting the Chairman's Award
of Excellence from the Belton Chamber.

These awards got me thinking about recognition. Some people hate recognition and others crave it. And then there are those people in between. I am one of those people who enjoys recognition. My personality profile could prove that! My father and I, along with our company, were recently recognized by the Belton Chamber of Commerce for our dedication and service to their mission back in January. We have worked with the chamber and in Belton for many years. My father and I both like recognition and we enjoyed getting the award. We also enjoyed being on the cover of their magazine. It is not a bad thing if you enjoy recognition. A lot of people might disagree, but it really is a fact. The only issue is when you only do things in order to get recognized. Your purpose must be simply to serve.

When you answer the call to leadership, you will one day be recognized for it whether you like it or not. It will probably be sooner rather than later. It might not be a big award, like the Austin Under 40 Awards, but it will still be recognition.

When you step up as a leader, you must prepare to be recognized for it! That is one of the prices of leadership. Be prepared to pay it! If perhaps the recognition you get is an award, why not humbly and graciously accept it? And maybe even put on a smile while doing so. Leaders smile from time to time! But that is another blog. Stayed tuned as next week I will blog about some of the negative attention and recognition you might get as a leader.

Salute to Entrepreneurs

The RISE Conference took place in Austin this week. RISE, which stands for Relationship & Information Series for Entrepreneurs, is an “un-conference” for entrepreneurs by entrepreneurs. I had the opportunity to present to a great group of entrepreneurs on Tuesday and attended several really fantastic sessions. I love to learn! If there’s one thing I think separates achievers from dreamers, it is the desire and commitment to learn.

Yesterday I attended the Women Entrepreneur Panel, hosted by Austin Woman Magazine. There was a rock star panel of powerful, successful entrepreneurs, hosted by the fabulous Keri Bellacosa of MyFoxAustin. It was an inspiring session, packed with good advice, war stories, and a lot of laughs.

Here’s the best advice for entrepreneurs I received from yesterday’s session:

• As an entrepreneur, do something that scares you every day. Be a risk taker, and accept risk as part of opportunity.
• Being an entrepreneur is an adventure in personal growth. You have the option to choose your own adventure!
• There’s no substitute for hard work. Being an entrepreneur means choosing which 80 hours a week you work!
• Entrepreneurs must be able to look around the corner, to sense what’s going to happen before it does.
• The clients that pay you the least are often the most work!
• As an entrepreneur, you must have an “ambidextrous brain.” You need to recognize that successful entrepreneurship requires your whole brain.
• Hire to your weaknesses not your strengths.
• Being an entrepreneur allows you to carve out the really important time you want to spend with your kids. You can choose to be there for everything that matters – no missing plays, recitals, or sporting events.
• Being an entrepreneur gives you the flexibility to make the life choices you want to make!

Entrepreneurs, we salute you! Keep working hard and living the dream!

Alan Graham – A Leader That Makes a Difference

In 2006, my brother invited me to hear Alan Graham speak at St. Edward’s University. I had just moved back to Austin after spending a year as a full-time volunteer at Andre House of Arizona, a house of hospitality for the homeless in downtown Phoenix. My time there had profoundly changed my life and ignited my passion for serving men, women, and children who are experiencing the horrors of poverty and homelessness. As I listened to Alan Graham speak so passionately about our homeless brothers and sisters and the organization he founded, Mobile Loaves and Fishes, I instantly felt connected to him and knew that we shared a deep passion.

Over the last five years, I’ve gotten to know Alan and can say without question that he is a leader that makes a difference! He’s made a difference in my life and in the lives of so many others. Alan is the epitome of a servant leader. He lives to serve. Alan’s life is a labor of love. He’s committed himself to answering God’s call every day by loving people that most in our society find un-loveable. There is no denying his passion and commitment to our brothers and sisters who suffer through life without a home and often without hope.

The mission of Mobile Loaves and Fishes is “to provide uncompromising love and hospitality to our brothers and sisters in need. We do this by empowering a league of volunteers in providing food, clothing, and promoting dignity to our homeless brothers and sisters in need. We accomplish this mission through the creation of relationships that cultivate a community life of stability and purpose.”

Last week Alan spent a few hours with me to share his Community First! Initiative. Mobile Loaves and Fishes purchases gently used recreational vehicles and lifts chronically homeless people up off of the streets, empowering them to heal from the ravages of living on the streets and rediscover purpose in their lives. One person at a time. More than 40 people lifted off the streets thus far. And counting. It’s a unique model, one that is working but still has met its share of opposition, primarily from those who don’t fully understand the complexities of chronic homelessness. You can learn more by watching this powerful video. The ultimate vision is to create a village where our neighbors can live in community with supportive services to empower them as they gain stability. I look forward to seeing the Community First! Village come to fruition…it will be a community that makes a profound difference in the Austin community!

Alan Graham.
True Servant Leader. Follower of Christ. Lover of People.
The Real Deal, Man.

Be sure to read the Mobile Loaves and Fishes Magazine, 12 Baskets, which shares powerful stories about our neighbors who are experiencing homelessness. You can learn about volunteering with Mobile Loaves and Fishes here. And, last but certainly not least, you can support this awesome organization by clicking here.

Leaders Making a Difference: Concordia University Texas

One of the purposes of this blog is to highlight great leaders. A couple years ago I met a great leader in Don Christian, who was and still is the Dean of the School of Business at Concordia University in Austin, Texas. Don introduced me to Concordia, a university that I had heard of, but didn't know much about.

I have learned a lot more about Concordia over they past two years and I can tell you that the university is a hidden gem in Austin, in Texas, and in the country. But I promise, this hidden gem won't be hidden much longer. Concordia is re-inventing the university experience in my opinion. I now serve on an advisory board of emerging leaders who advise the university on how to best serve the students, staff, faculty, and the community. I have never seen a university that values the opinions and advice of others as much as Concordia does. They are open to any idea, as long as it fits with their mission.

Their mission is what drew me to them and what I think separates them from almost every university. Their mission is to develop Christian Leaders. Is there a better mission than that? Isn't that what we all are called to do? A truly effective leader develops other leaders. That's what Concordia is doing. They are developing Christian Leaders that we can trust. Christian Leaders that will serve the community with integrity. But really what is a Christian Leader?

I think some people fail to understand Christian Leadership. The cornerstones of Christian Leadership are simple.

• Service - We are all called to serve. That is what leadership is!
• Humility - A Christian Leader is humble. They serve, but don't boast about it.
• Gratitude - We should all be thankful for the gifts we have been given, and we should show our gratitude daily!
• Stewardship - We must use the gifts we have been given to serve God and our community.
• Accountability - Without this the other cornerstones do not exist. This leads to personal responsibility.

Concordia University does an amazing job of humbly serving, being thankful stewards, and most importantly holding the staff, faculty, and students accountable. Their mission is to develop Christian Leaders and that is not just a sign on a wall. It is a way of life. Every person I have encountered from Concordia has greatly embodied the mission.

If you have not heard about Concordia, I urge you to learn about them. They have great programs for students and for adult learners. Their new MBA program is spectacular. I am thankful to be a part of Concordia University as an advisory board member. My mission in life aligns perfectly with theirs. I am confident that Concordia will keep living their mission and very soon they will be known for that. The lessons that they teach will live forever. In this lifetime and the next.