Provide Security

Wow!  Provide Security.  I commited to four post this month and we are in week three and I've only completed one post.  I'm behind the gun, however, don't fret I will deliver as promised.  Thanks for checking back.   T

This post is all about understanding that people are never more insecure than when they become obsessed with their fears at the expense of their dreams.  People who focus on their fears don't grow.  They become paralyzed and can't move.  Leaders are in a position to provide followers with an environment of security in which they can grow.  I've heard this echoed several times.  I read about it in "Courageous Leadership" by Bill Hybels great book if you haven't read it.  It changed my life when I read it.

 I seem to always get stuck with leaders that do not know how to create such an environment for me to grow within in my primary employment or even spiritual life.  I was just out there like a weed and just growing.  Heat and sun burning my skin and the rain almost chocking me out.  One thing about that kind of growth is you learn survival and it comes from the school of hard knocks. 

Early in my career I did have some guidance, although it was not extended.  I marvel at the people who grew up in a nutured environment with guidance and direction along every step.  It seems they would get further along.  Not sure how they feel about the guidance they recieved.  But it seems it would have been a good pairing to have someone as a mentor. 

At this point in the game, I'm grateful for three new voices in my life right now.  And these voices are constant and extremely nuturing, two are very upclose and one from somewhat of a distance.  Needless to say, it doesn't matter to me when I haven't had any.  I can truly appreciate the guidance and support that I'm getting now.  Up close or from a distance.  I'm holding onto their every word.  It has been good for me. 

Great leaders make their followers feel bigger than they are.  Soon the followers begin to think, act, and produce bigger than they are.  Finally, they become what they they think they are.  Henry Ford once said, "one of the great discoveries a man makes, one of his great surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn't do."  A nuruturing leader proives the secruity a potential leadear needs to make that discovery..... 

Until next week, don't miss an opportunity. 

First Quarter of 2013 has ended

The first quarter of 2013 has come and gone like a March wind.  It breezed in here and who was ready for the first quarter to begin.  I certainly wasn't, however, ready or not it was on.   I have to say I came out of the shoot by setting goals mid January professionally and personally.  These goals were complete with timelines and strategies for attaining my goal.

I thought that I had clearly defined the goal, a timeline and the steps necessary for achieving each goal.  I expressed my goals in terms of specific events or behaviors ( For example, "my goal is to actively return to college in a degree program.") that was just an example.  

As I reflect and review the achievings of the first quarter were many, however, none of them quite what I had prepared or planned out to do.  The bottom line with the goals that I set I allowed life to get in the way and I got off track.  I've reviewed each goal and decided whether or not it is worth my time to continue with working to achieve it in the 2nd quarter or do I need to scrap it all the way. 

I will just tell you that one of my goals is to complete 4 posts to each of my blogs for the month and that is just one post a week.  I've set the theme for the month as renewal and I'm on my way.  I'll be stopping at a local coffee house a couple of times a week to work on each post.  I'm excited about it and I'm going to achieve this goal for April and expect to work it right through to June.   Second Quarter and it is on...... Stay tuned for next weeks post.  It will be all about Spring renewal.  Until then always be prepared to seize the moment. 

Diane