Weekly Motivational Minute: "Stewardship"

Every week, an SOS Leadership partner or friend shares a motivational minute about a different leadership topic. This week, Billy Moyer talks about "Stewardship."

Women Who Lead: Meet the SOS Gr8 Women Leaders

Welcome to the second post in the Women Who Lead: Meet the SOS Gr8 Women Leaders series. If you missed our first post, click here to read it. Today's post comes from Jennifer Pandya, Statewide Coordinator for Advise TX College Advising Corps, who shares her experience with the SOS Gr8 Women Leaders Program.

In our global society and fast paced world, where we [women] struggle daily with competing priorities and very often are working on someone else’s priorities, it can be difficult to dedicate time and energy to develop our own leadership skills, discover what our personal goals and priorities are, or even identify the steps needed to achieve those goals. The very thought of committing ourselves to this inner discovery can seem quite selfish – at least it was for me.

When anyone would ask me (including my husband) what I liked to do or what interests I have, I would very easily rattle off a myriad of things I would like “to do.” I would say things like gardening, sewing, antiquing, cooking, hiking, camping, writing, etc. If someone probed a little harder (like my wonderful husband), they would soon find out the truth. I could easily chat away about what I wanted to do; however, I never seemed to actually get around to doing any of these activities. I always had an excuse to put the brakes on projects or opportunities to dedicate myself to developing my leadership and personal skills. I always felt that I didn’t have time because of this or that. The truth of the matter was that I wasn’t making time for me and my growth.

In the spring of 2012, I said ‘YES’ to myself and accepted an invitation to the SOS Gr8 Women Leaders Program, a leadership program designed by SOS Leadership that is solely focused on women and the unique leadership roles we play within our dynamic and multi-faceted lives. This program has helped me peel back the layers of my life, conduct an inner inventory audit of the priorities that I am currently working on, and identify whose priorities they really are.

Taking the time to develop my priorities and identify how I can fit those priorities into my daily life has been transformational. This process has been eye opening, intricate, and even a bit challenging at times, but through this process I have acquired the tools I need to be engaged in the planning of my own future, not waiting for the future to happen – hoping that all those things that I wanted to do will just happen. Because of the SOS Gr8 Women Leaders Program, I have greater clarity, purpose, and commitment to how I will direct my daily life to achieve those professional and personal goals I have set for myself – do you?

I full heartedly recommend that you say YES to yourself this year and join the SOS Gr8 Women Leaders Program.

~ Jennifer Pandya
Statewide Coordinator, Advise TX College Advising Corps

Today's post is the second in a six-week series about the SOS Gr8 Women Leaders Program. This series includes testimonials from some of the incredible women who are participating in the SOS Gr8 Women Leaders Program. Come back each Tuesday to learn more about how SOS Leadership is empowering and equipping women to make a difference! 

If you're interested in learning more about the SOS Gr8 Women Leaders Program, check out this video and email Amber Fogarty today!

Has your engine stalled?

We are almost a month into 2013. Now is a good time to check in to see how you are doing on this year's goals. What progress have you made? Have you had any successes thus far? What challenges have you faced? Do you even remember what goals you set? Think about the answers to those questions as you reflect on this question: Has your engine stalled?

It is about this time every year that we begin to forget about the goals we set only a month or so earlier. We forget for a lot of reasons. Perhaps we tried something new and it didn't work the first time. Or maybe we shared our goals with someone who responded with negativity. Maybe they were a "Yeabut." There are many reasons why our engines stall this time of year, but it is important that we are able to push forward and not give up.

Those stalled engines need a jump. How do we get that jump? Well, think about if your car battery dies, how do you get it going again? More often than not, you get a jump from someone else. Jumper cables have two ends. One that gets attached to your car and one to someone else's. Your engine is stalled right now for a lot of different reasons, but the solution to your problem is that you need help! You cannot do it alone!

The main reason why people do not accomplish their goals is that they quit too soon. They fail to ask for help from other people. It is important to remember that other people are both the obstacle and the solution to every goal you will ever set. I will say it again: You cannot do it alone! If you think you can, than you have already failed. Arrogance is a brick wall to success. Arrogant people try to go through the brick wall, while patient and humble people ask for help and realize they simply must climb over.

If your engine has stalled and you are not where you need to be on your 2013 goals, then ask for help. Maybe one of your friends can help. Maybe someone from your past or a person in your family. It may take more than one person to help you accomplish the goal. Who will hold you accountable? Perhaps you need a coach to guide you through the process. When you ask for help on your goals, it is like applying jumper cables to your engine and soon enough you will be running again.

But remember, it was all that running that made you stall in the first place. Slow down, think, and relax. Make sure you are working on the goals that are important to you. Make sure you have a clear purpose and then make sure you continue to Go For It!

My Top 6 Productivity & Accountability Apps

There's an app for that. 

It literally seems like there's an app for everything. People ask me all the time about the time management and productivity apps I like best. I've tried out a LOT and have narrowed it down to a few that I use consistently that help me to be productive, spend my time more efficiently, and stay accountable to the goals that matter most to me.

My Top 6 Productivity & Accountability Apps

• Remember the Milk has been around for ages, and I used it even before I had a smartphone when it was just a web based tool. RTM helps me to keep track of all of my to list items for work and my volunteer commitments. You can have multiple lists, so that you can organize your various tasks in a way that makes sense to you. One thing I really love is the ability to view your Incomplete list, as well as your Completed list. This really helps, especially when completing weekly reports for work.

• Cozi Family Organizer is an awesome app for sharing to do lists, grocery lists, and calendars with family members. It was voted #1 App for Moms by Moms, but is an app that is ideal for anyone who wants to stay on the same page with a family member or significant other. I use the grocery list the most, adding items as we run out. Because my husband also has the app, he can even add items to the grocery list as I'm driving to the store (and vice versa). I also use the To Do List functionality to manage all of the tasks for the kids and things around the house that need to get done. My husband and I each have a list; we have a shared to do list; and we even a home improvement list where we keep track of various home projects we'd like to tackle. Lastly, the calendar is helpful because you can sync other calendars, such as Outlook and Google, and keep everything in one place.

• Mint helps me to keep my finances organized and is vital if you want to stick to a budget. I see this as an extremely important accountability app because it helps you to always have a visual of what you're spending. One of the best features is the ability to set a budget; Mint even emails you when you go over budget for the month. Mint helps with seeing trends in your spending and can keep you focused on the financial goals you've set for yourself.

• 30/30 is great because it times the tasks you're working on, which can be helpful with maintaining focus for a specified timeframe. Have you ever set aside a certain amount of time to work on a project and then worked on 4 other simultaneously? Inevitably, this approach slows you down on ALL of your projects. 30/30 helps me to focus on the task at hand until my time is up - less attempting to "multi-task," which is really just a fancy word for procrastinating. 30/30 lets you set up a list of various tasks, each with a designated amount of time to complete them. Start the clock, and when it runs out, it will tell you to move onto the next thing. Brilliant!

• Google Drive (formerly Google Docs) is absolutely essential to my productivity and goal achievement in a number of ways. Most importantly, I keep my list of Top 10 Goals, as well as my Dream List (a.k.a. Bucket List), saved in Google Drive so that I can see them daily, whether from my iPhone, iPad, or computer. "Google Drive lets you store and access your files anywhere -- on the web, on your hard drive, or on the go." I get so much more done because of Google Drive because I can work from anywhere and share my work with multiple collaborators. 

• MapMyFitness is the best app I've found for keeping track of my workouts. The fact that it's a local, Austin-based company sweetens the deal! MapMyFitness was an integral part of training for my first triathlon, a 65 mile bike ride, and a 10 mile run, all in the last two years. This app has helped to keep me on track, and it even sends what I like to call "slacker emails" if I haven't logged a workout in awhile. There's a whole suite of apps to choose from depending on how you like to exercise: MayMyRun, MapMyRide, MapMyTri, etc.

So that's my list of top productivity and accountability apps. What apps do you use? Share in the comments section and tell us how you keep yourself focused on your goals. 

If you'd like other ideas about apps that help with being more productive and accountable, here are a few articles and blogs about this topic for you to check out:

• Huffington Post: The Best Organizing Apps For Your Smartphone: Streamline Your To-Do List
• Paste Magazine: 10 Great Productivity Apps for iPhone and Android
• Business Insider: Best Productivity Apps of 2012
• Lifehacker: Five Best To-Do List Managers

Leadership Lessons From FRIENDS - I'm Going to Yemen!

Today's Leadership Lessons From FRIENDS blog features partner Amber Fogarty, who has seen every episode of friends at least five times and is amazed by the number of leadership lessons in the long-standing series. 

In The One with All the Rugby, Chandler invents a story about his company transferring him to Yemen. Although Janice believes him, he's not home free yet...she won't leave his side until he's on the plane and taking off. So what does Chandler do? He buys an expensive plane ticket and gets on a flight to Yemen. Why? Because he doesn't want to have a difficult conversation. He doesn't want to tell Janice the truth. 

What does this have to do with leadership? Leaders have the tough conversations. Being a leader takes courage, and they tap into this courage when a difficult message needs to be communicated. They take the time to learn about and understand the other person's communication style, so that they can be most effective in their communication interactions. Leaders consider the other person's feelings and do their best to communicate directly, yet gently, when they know that the person will have a hard time accepting the news. 

"The art of communication is the language of leadership."

~ James Humes

I strongly believe that communication is one of the greatest leadership challenges. It's especially difficult because each of us has our own unique communication style. We tend to communicate from that style, which doesn't always work out the way we hope it will. First and foremost, the best leaders invest time and energy in understanding themselves. The call to leadership also involves learning about the communication styles of others, especially those you care about and interact with most. 

Think about a time when you struggled to have a tough conversation. What was holding you back? How could you have handled the situation in a way that exhibited strong leadership?

Are you answering the call to leadership as a strong communicator or are you having a lot of "I'm going to Yemen" moments? 

This is our final blog in our “Leadership Lessons from FRIENDS” blog series! To view all of the blogs from the Leadership Lessons from FRIENDS series, click here!

Calling All Women Who Lead!!!

If you're a woman who leads, we want to know you! Why? Because we created the SOS Gr8 Women Leaders Program for you! 

Learn more about this powerful leadership development experience by watching this short video:

The SOS Gr8 Women Leaders Program is a year-long program designed for professional women who are committed to leadership growth and goal achievement. This elite group of like-minded women gathers monthly for a facilitated, interactive workshop that focuses on leadership development, learning, and accountability. Each leader also has the opportunity to participate in monthly one-on-one coaching that is unique to her individual leadership style and goals. The SOS Gr8 Women Leaders Program provides a unique small group setting where women can brainstorm solutions to the challenges they are facing, while motivating themselves and each other to reach their full potential. You will have a strong support system and much-needed accountability as you work toward the goals that matter most to you.

Are you in? Contact Amber Fogarty to set up a time to chat about your participation in this program.

Today's post is the first in a six-week series about the SOS Gr8 Women Leaders Program. This series will include testimonials from some of the incredible women who are participating in the SOS Gr8 Women Leaders Program. Come back each Tuesday to learn more about how SOS Leadership is empowering and equipping women to make a difference!

Are You on the Interstate or the Access Road?

Every time the SOS Gr8 Women Leaders group comes together, incredible things happen. Thought-provoking conversations are the norm. This blog was inspired by a recent discussion with the SOS Gr8 Women, where one of the participants shared this frustration:

"Sometimes I feel like I'm on the Interstate and everyone else in my life is on the access road."

Have you ever felt that way? In the work that we do with driven leaders, we encounter this challenge often. Leaders are ALWAYS learning and constantly seeking opportunities to grow. Everyone else...notsomuch!

So when you're in a high-growth mode, sometimes it feels like you're either:

• Leaving people you care about behind, OR
• Slowing down and waiting for them to catch up.

Either way it can be <bang your head against the wall> frustrating! I think the key here is communication. Are you sharing your goals openly with those you interact with on a daily basis? Are you helping them understand what you hope to achieve? Are you asking for their support along the way?

Now let's be honest, not everyone is going to be on the Interstate with us. Some people live on the access road, and that's okay. In fact, we often need them in our lives to slow us down and remind us of what matters most. When you look at the people you surround yourself with, is there a good mix of Interstate folks and access road folks? Do you need more of one and less of the other? Food for thought...

So I ask you, how do you handle this leadership challenge? I look forward to your comments.

Leadership Lessons From FRIENDS - The One with the Prom Video

Today's Leadership Lessons From FRIENDS blog features guest writer Christie Montoya. Christie is the Customer Experience Manager at GAP. She is also a part of the SOS Leadership Gr8 Women Leaders Program. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her 2 year old son, and loving husband. 

When you think about leaders, how would you define them?  Is a leader always someone who is very well known and has many known accomplishments or contributions to their community?  If you ask me, the answer is no.  A leader is someone who takes the time to make a difference in someone else’s life, no matter how big or small the gesture or whether or not it brings them fame. 

Friends has been one of my favorite TV series for years.  Anyone that knows me knows that.  I own every single season and watch episodes when I can.  Over the years, as I have grown up, I have a different perspective watching these episodes as I did in college when I started watching the series from episode 1.  I used to see the show as just funny, but now, I can see that there are many life lessons to be learned from the show, believe it or not.

In the episode, The One with the Prom Video, we learn about how an unknown act means so much even years after it actually happened.  Monica and Rachel were getting ready for their prom.  They were very excited, and Monica’s dad just happened to capture this on video.  Monica’s date showed up, however, Rachel’s date did not.  She was very, very upset, as most high school girls would be if their prom date did not show.  Monica’s parents urged her brother, Ross, to take Rachel to the prom.  Ross has always had a crush on Rachel, so even though he acts like he doesn’t want to do that, he gets ready, and we all know that he is very excited.  As he is coming down the stairs in his dad’s tux, Rachel’s date has arrived.  You can see how crushed Ross is by the look on his face.

Ross never told anyone he did that.  No one knew until the night several years later when he and his friends were all together watching the prom video.  After seeing that, Rachel and Monica both said, “I can’t believe you did that.”  Even years later, his unknown act made a huge impact on Rachel and influenced the relationship between Ross and Rachel.

We all know someone who makes a difference in our lives without demanding attention for it.  We all had a teacher who has inspired us to pursue a dream, try something new, or just become better at something we were struggling with.  We all also have friends and relatives who would do anything for us without asking for anything in return.  Have you told them thank you lately?  And have you thought about what little things that you can do to make a difference in their lives?  A leader does not have to be a very famous doctor, political figure, writer, speaker or a CEO.  A leader is someone who seizes any opportunity to make even the smallest difference in the life of someone else.  We can all be leaders, but we just have to take a few minutes out of our day to answer this question: What can I do to make a difference in someone’s day today?

Please check back with us in two weeks as our “Leadership Lessons from FRIENDS” blog series continues! To view all of the blogs from the Leadership Lessons from FRIENDS series, click here!

Weekly Motivational Minute: "The Time Management Myth"

Every week, an SOS Leadership partner or friend shares a motivational minute about a different leadership topic. This week, Amber Fogarty talks about "The Time Management Myth."

Choosing Hope in 2013

It's day 8 of 2013, and we're all getting back into the swing of things after the holidays. Back to work, back to school, back to the routine...and I've seen many people post status updates and tweets about getting "back to the grind." Every time I see those words, I cringe.

Is your life really a grind? If so, that is most definitely a choice you're making. The attitude you have about your life and its direction is yours to decide. If your life felt like a grind in 2012, there's a new year in front of you, and you can choose to start the year with a fresh perspective and a belief that your life is amazing.

I know that, for some, this is much easier said than done. As an advocate for those experiencing poverty and homelessness, I have witnessed the enormity of human need and the lack of hope that can be part of the human condition. Interestingly, though, many of our neighbors who are experiencing homelessness have more hope and a better attitude than those of us who have far more than we need. Why is that?

I strongly believe that we always have a choice. We can choose hope. We can choose optimism. We can choose to believe in ourselves. Granted, these choices are often incredibly difficult. At times we are faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles and pain that we wouldn't wish on anyone. But even in those times, there is hope. But only if we choose to see it, to feel it, to experience it.

My plan for 2013 is to choose hope. I am optimistic about this year and its possibilities. In the same moment, there is also fear. In much of the reading I've done about leadership, there's often an underlying theme that fear doesn't have a place in our lives if we want to lead. I reject that idea completely. We all have fears. When I heard Dr. Brene Brown speak recently, this quote resonated with me, and I repeat it often to myself, "We can be afraid and brave in the exact same moment. It's where courage comes from."

In the year to come, I accept that that I will be afraid and brave, and I will choose to be courageous. I will be happy and healthy. I will lead, while striving to empower other leaders. I will choose hope.

So what do you choose for 2013? Share your thoughts with me in the comments section.

I Am A Leader: Thoughts on Leadership from Alan Graham

Welcome to the I Am A Leader blog series, featuring leaders who make a difference. Today's guest blogger is Alan Graham. Alan is the president and founding member of Mobile Loaves & Fishes. He is married (since 1984) to his wife Tricia and they have four children; Decker, Taylor, Marlee & Keaton and a niece, Samantha, that they have raised. Alan formerly was in the real estate development, investment, management & brokerage business in Austin, Texas having founded Trilogy Development, Inc. and co-founded The Lynxs Group, developers of on-airport air cargo facilities. It has been through the love for Jesus Christ that Alan is called to serve in this ministry, enabling others to serve their brothers & sisters in need. 

Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around His waist. John 13:5

This is the ultimate example of leadership; to serve others.  It is that simple and really not that complicated.  Gird yourself with the tools you need and go down on your knees and begin serving.  The next thing you know you will have a whole bunch of followers.  So what are the tools we need?

This is different for everyone but what is clear is that all of us have been given many gifts by the Creator to be used for Kingdom purposes.  For me I have gifts in areas of communication, promotion, organization (not in the minute details!), motivation, and compassion.  These are the skills I use every day in my work with Mobile Loaves & Fishes.  You may have gifts in teaching, preaching, cooking, creating music and art, software development, negotiating, and labor.  All you need to do is understand what those gifts are, what you love to do and begin to use those for His glory.  Most of us know pretty early on what those unique gifts are but what is difficult is how we use those gifts to serve others.

In Genesis 2:15, “Then the Lord took the man and settled him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and care for it”.  It is through this sentence that we can understand God’s purpose for each of us.  First He wants us to be settled, to be at peace and in a place of community.  Then he wants us using our gifts both purposely and relationally.  He wants us cultivating.  For some it is literally in the garden for others it is in areas using the gifts we have been blessed with.  When we are settled and cultivating purposely we can now move into the place where we can “care for it”.  The “it” is the Garden of Eden.  So the only way we can serve Him is to serve “it” and that includes man whom He placed in the Garden of Eden.  So if we serve Him we can only do that by serving others and it is only in that service to others that we can ever call ourselves leaders.

For me personally my most important roles are as husband and father and my leadership role with Mobile Loaves & Fishes.  I am also very involved in the Scouting community and enjoy very much being able to help move young boys into becoming young men.

As far back as I can remember I believe I have always been identified as a leader.  Of course, there were times when I was leading in purposes unrelated to Kingdom work.  Just about everything I have been involved with I have risen in my leadership role.  For some reason I like it there.  I would love to say that it is always with humility but I think that may not always be the case.  I love the art of leadership though and have spent a lot of time studying great leaders.  I continue that to this day.  Currently, I have spent a lot of time learning from John Maxwell a noted author and presenter on leadership.

As I reflect back on my life I can clearly see how everything has pointed me towards my role here at Mobile Loaves & Fishes.  This is the place where I have been able to hone and continue to hone my leadership skills.  To be able to lay out a vision, to be a part of charting the course for that vision and to surround one with brilliant people who believe in the vision is something beyond joyful.  Ultimately though, the greatest leaders are those who prepare and lift up others to take their place.  I pray that part of my legacy will be to empower others to lead; particularly to lead me and that I have the courage to step aside to be lead.

A special thank you to Alan Graham for sharing his insights about leadership with us today! Please share this blog post via Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Let's continue the conversation on Twitter using the #iamaLEADER hash tag! You can connect with SOS Leadership on Twitter here and Alan Graham here.

Check out all of the I Am A Leader blogs here!

Ashley Moyer's Leadership Journey – The Concordia MBA (Part 5)

Today, Ashley Moyer shares her thoughts about what her journey has been like on her path to receive her Concordia MBA. Ashley is the Director of Institutional Advancement at San Juan Diego Catholic High School. San Juan Diego is "The School That Works!" Learn more at http://www.sjdchs.org/

Two semesters down, four to go. April 2014. Graduation. Every Thursday night I spend four hours moving closer to that goal. But as I really think about it, that isn’t my goal. My motivation to work on my MBA came from my desire to be a leader that makes a difference. The Concordia MBA truly does that. Aside from typical business courses in Accounting, Marketing and Economics, I’ve also completed courses in Critical Thinking and Leadership of Self. Next week I begin Ethics. I am not just gaining skills in this program, I am also discovering who I am as a leader.

I first completed the application to Concordia as a 24 year old that was getting married in three months; getting through the application process was a challenge for me. I doubted my ability to succeed in the Concordia MBA program. Would I even get in? What would I do with an MBA? Would I be able to keep up with the workload? I was afraid of failure.

As a child I was shy around “grown-ups.” I was always well behaved, but never spoke a word. Now at 25 years old, sometimes I still see myself as that little girl that must be respectful of adults. I pay bills, have a rewarding career, and an excellent husband. It dawned on me, “I am a grown-up.” I am just as valuable in the classroom as my classmates with 20 years work experience. This realization was ultimately a gain of confidence, which has also translated into my professional life too.

As I was exploring new career opportunities, I again struggled with the application process. I often applied to jobs thinking that I was not a strong candidate. And when I found myself accepting a position that I originally thought I had no shot at, a little bit more of that shy little girl image was shed.

I am one-third of the way through the MBA program, but I have already gained so much. The Concordia MBA has given me the confidence to no longer be that shy little girl. It hasn’t been an easy road, but I look forward to whatever challenges come my way. I look at this program as one step in my goal of constantly working to become a leader that makes a difference. 

To read all of The Concordia MBA Leadership Journey Blog's - click here!