My Greatest Leadership Role = Parent

What do you consider to be the most important leadership role you play? For me, without question my greatest leadership role is being a parent. I strive to be a leader in all aspects of my life, and I try to lead by example. I fully acknowledge that I am a work in progress and that I have leadership failures on a daily basis. As I grow as a leader, I learn something new everyday and continuously recommit myself to being a leader who makes a difference.

When it comes to being a parent, I know that the stakes are high. I believe that my kids deserve the best, and I want to be the best version of myself for them.

Take a moment to ponder this statement: People become like their leader.

Depending on where you are in your life, this statement can bring a smile to your face or a panic-stricken look of horror.

Who do you lead? When you think about the leadership roles you play, do your actions align with your values? Are you a person of your word? Do you do what you say you will do?

If you're a parent, repeat after me: Kids become like their leader. My kids are becoming like me.

Like it or not, it's true. Hopefully, as you read this, you feel a sense of peace about your kids following in your footsteps, repeating your words, and living a life that mirrors yours. If you're like me, however, you may be tearing up thinking about all of the times when you haven't been a leader worth following.

In the last few days, I've seen my fair share of temper tantrums. With a 4 year old and 1 year old, hardly a day goes by without a serious meltdown. My patience is tested on a daily basis, and I've been known to be more than a bit impatient. I cringe when I think about some of the things I've said (or yelled) in the midst of the drama...God help me if my kids really do become like me! One of the most valuable parenting lessons I've learned is the importance of admitting when I'm wrong and saying I'm sorry. How can I expect my kids to practice this if I haven't shown them?

The truth is we can't (and won't) get it right 100% of the time. I remember my Mom repeating these words to me often when I was a kid, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." So I keep trying to be a leader worth following. My kids deserve it.

I firmly believe that leaders are made, not born. Luckily, leadership - like parenting - is a lifelong journey.

"Don't worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you." ~Robert Fulghum

Whose goals are you working on?

At SOS Leadership, we often remind coaching clients of this simple idea:

You are always working on goals. It's your choice whether they are your goals or someone else's.

Whose goals are you working on right now?

How can you achieve goals you haven't defined? Perhaps you'll be lucky and good things will keep happening to you. Maybe you're one of those fortunate people who gets everything you want in life without really trying. If that's the case in your life, by all means, stop reading.

Highly successful people don't rely on luck. They don't leave things to chance. They plan to achieve. And they make it happen.

When you have clarity about your goals and a clear motivation to achieve them, you can and WILL achieve.

If you don't have clearly defined goals today, take an honest look at how you're spending your time. You are working on goals on a daily basis; there's no doubt. You're getting things done. You're checking things off your to do list. But whose goals are you working on? Your boss's goals? Your coworker's goals? Your significant other's goals?

What are YOUR goals? What do you want for yourself? What future will you create? Stop spending all of your time helping other people achieve what they want in life and wishing things would start happening for you. Only YOU can take the first step toward achieving what matters most in your life. Will you take that step today?

You can take the first step in gaining clarity about your goals by working with a coach. Contact us today to get started OR sign up for our 5-week Protecting Goals Showcase, an awesome group coaching experience facilitated by a coach. When you complete the Showcase, you'll know what your goals are and have a plan to achieve them. SOS Leadership kicks off the Protecting Goals Showcase in Austin, TX on Tuesday, July 12th. Learn more & register by clicking here.

Time: The Great Equalizer

We all have the same 168 hours per week. We remind folks often that time is the great equalizer. In our Protecting Goals: The Science of Personal Achievement Program, we're reminded that "Time is the only achievement resource that is not renewable...You cannot create more time and time cannot be hoarded like silver or gold. All you can do with time is spend it."

Have you ever met a highly productive person and thought to yourself, "She must have more hours in the day than I do." Take it from me, she doesn't. She's dealing with the same 24 hours each day that you have. Apparently, she's just making better use of those hours than you are.

Stop wishing you were more like her and start becoming more like her. You CAN! Start by reading this blog post called the Time Management Myth.

The reason most people waste a lot of time and are frustrated by their abysmal productivity is that they lack clarity about their life's purpose and goals. Seeking and finding clarity is a prerequisite to effectively managing yourself so that you can make time work for you! After all, how can make progress in your life without knowing where you're headed?

Achievement is never an accident. It's the result of planning and preparation. What separates the achievers from those who watch in awe is clarity of purpose and a clear plan for accomplishing what matters most. When was the last time you "made time" to plan for your success?

It's Monday, and you have the whole week ahead of you. Take some time today to reflect on what you plan to accomplish this week.

Now...go make it happen!

Change is Not Your Enemy

Robert Kennedy once said, "Progress is a nice word. But change is its motivator and change has its enemies."

Think about that quote for a moment and ask yourself this question:

Am I making the progress I am capable of making or is my inability to change holding me back?

Change is difficult. Many of us avoid change at all costs. The unknown is scary, and we fear what we do not know. But does this fear paralyze you? Does it keep you from moving forward with your life, from taking the next step toward your future, from achieving the goals that matter most to you? Stop letting your fear of change overpower you. Take charge of your life today, and you WILL make progress.

Change is not your enemy. It is a friend ready to welcome you with open arms. Embrace it.

What changes would you LIKE to make in your life? And what changes do you NEED to make? Envision your future in exquisite detail so that you know exactly what you’re working toward. Don’t allow yourself to be stagnant for another day. Life is short, and you deserve all the best that it has to offer! Now go make it happen.