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. 

Take the leap

Honestly, I can not believe the 12 months of 2012 passed so quickly.  Boy, what a ride of the unknown it was for me.  It seems it was just January and I was considering a transformative change in my life when it came to where I worshiped and served.  I had struggled with the decision to begin using my gifts and talents at another ministry in addition to the one I've been attending for the last decade. I had been pondering this decision for years. Yes, years and it came to the point where I decided now is the time to do it.  Why wait until you are 90 years old to run a marathon.  There are just some things that you ponder in your heart and they are not for the eyes or mouth of others.  I pondered this decision for days, weeks, months and years.  So when I made the decision it was one that came with a lot of prayer and thought.

Every situation spoke to me about what are you waiting for, it is time to actualize what you have been thinking and talking about.  Either do it or stop thinking about it.  I could not continue on the path I was on because I was miserable.  It was what TD Jakes call silent frustration.  It was a decision that was necessary for my spiritual survival, however, an extremely difficult one to make. As I made the decision, there were those welcoming me on the other side of the change and as well those naysayers standing behind and snearing.  Those that I never thought were against me were against me. And secretly desired to see me fail.  The silence was deafening.  Still I pressed on....   

I made the leap in January 2012 to try something different.  I decided that if I was going to die a silent death that  I might as well die going after something worthwhile.  This decision had been one that was a long time coming.  As much to my surprise, when I made the leap I made a perfect landing.  It was unreal and I was received with arms of love and acceptance.  I came up with many reasons why it was successful which I will give in another post in latter this month. 

The way I began to know the voice of God more was in sacrificing everything I knew and loved up to his request and then waiting on him to show up.  You know what he showed up for me.  In this decision, I walked alone and it was difficult.  To be honest, I prayed with every step and I had to hold my cards close to my chest and just trusted that I had heard his voice.  I just knew that God had something more for me to learn and I had to listen to his voice.  In listening to his voice, I learned an enormous amount of information about myself and as well those around me.  One thing that I did learn was that the more you listen to the quiet small voice within the louder it gets.  When you ignore it and you ask for guidance the next time you ask the voice is quiet.  Almost nonexistant.   Why ask for advice and when you receive it you don’t take it. 

I would tell anyone it is soo worth listening to that inner voice because it is what will guide you when all else fails.  It will never leave you alone.  I’m grateful that I listened and I’ve been rewarded time and time over in 2012.  I’ve accomplished things in this leap that I could not have imagined.  Even in my leap, I expected doom and gloom.  Although, I attempted to have a positive outlook it was difficult because it was the unknown.  I am now learning more expect the good with anything because it has just as much the propensity to turn out good rather than bad.  The universal law of attraction comes into play. You attract what you expect.  So expect the best and deal with the bad when it it happens.  Keep a positive outlook regardless.  

 I actually thought I was being disobedient by wanting something more than I had, however, I found it that was not the case I was actually being obedient in listening to God.  Of course many other people didn’t agree and still don’t, however, I now know that it was a path that I had to take to understand and know more the voice of God. 

The one thing that I would say that I conquered in 2012 was fear of the unknown and I am still amazed at what I am encountering.   And because I didn’t let fear stop me I gained a greater understanding of how to make good decisions and better ones for me persnally.  If your decisions are made based in fear they will become bad decisions, however, if your decisions are made based in conquering fear they have a good chance of being good decisions.  Everything you learn from the decision will be par for the course.  Life is a class and you only learn by doing.  

To realistically take the leap, I had to think back to when I made the decision to move across the nation from the north to the south.  The decision to come to Tennessee was not the accepted or approved decision and many people in my life said “no” you shouldn’t do it.  But I look back at that decision and realized how I didn’t let fear of the unknown stop me from making the move.  And because I didn’t let fear stop me I landed well.  Take the leap!  It is worth it.

Why independent voter matter little in Tennessee

 I read an article in the NashvilleCity Paper.Com by Steven Hale which I think is worth a read to by anyone that is in Tennessee could be an independent voter.  After reading it, I'm STILL on my way to the polls to early vote and I'm voting early.   The article is on page 28.  Take a look at it you get the chance. nashvillecitypaper.com

Fourth Quarter

It is really intriguing how another individual's frame of reference can change your mind; or even make you think about something differently about something you've embraced.  I just read a colleugues blog on what the fourth quarter means through their lense.  I have for the last two years embraced "it's fourth quarter finish strong". 

In my eyes which meant to re-evaluate where I am with any goals and decide whether to scale back or move forward, readjust my plan to have some level of success on December 31.   The blog that I read said the point of any fourth quarter is to make your point.   That is in goal setting, basket ball or whatever.  It's fourth quarter; do it or forget it.  Cause you know what the time is up!   Interesting point of view. 

Take for instance most sales representatives; the fourth quarter is where a major push is given.  Finish strong and do whatever it takes to finish strong.   Most sales people try to do a lot during the fourth quarter;  because in essence we know our times up.  It's harvest time and sales are ripe for the picking or we hope.  If we have slacked, now is a good time to give it all you got! I usually finish strong on the things that I've been working on and the momentum usually starts at the end of the second quarter for me.   If it starts in the second quarter I can anticipate it as a finish strong in the fourth quarter.   My fourth quarter is usually slow and that is because what I've started in second quarter finishes in the early part of the fourth quarter.  Then I'm left with what do I need to do now....  I guess I've made my point early on.   Going forward I think I'll plan more goals that begin in the 2nd quarter that can expand through the fourth quarter.  All a matter of planning.  If you fail to plan then you plan to fail.  And I don't plan to fail.