In 2024 Will You Take a Musk Approach To Your New Year Resolutions?

Yes, it’s that time of year again when gym membership reaches the highest enrollment level of the year, where patches are placed on arms to stop smokers from lightning up and new spread sheets are established to finally conquer our household budgets.

According to Psychology Today in 2021 2 in 5 Americans made resolutions but much less than half even kept track of their progress or have a means of holding themselves -accountable.

Unless you’re just a total dead beat, you do think about how to make improvements in your life in some way. That’s a good thing! However just like some businesses with whom I work, their efforts are futile because the goals, drives or approaches are disjointed, confusing and over time, discouraging for themselves and others.

So, is there a better way? I think so and it has two primary focus.

1) looking back

2) determine the purpose for improvement going forward.

> First look back ….before making a declaration of the new you or turning over a new leaf.

In this first step analyze the cause.

Elon Musk is without question a “case study” in many areas of life and business. Walter Isaacson who wrote the biography on Musk recounted in an interview that every year around Christmas time when Elon’s and his brother’s families get together, they have a time to talk about their “regrets” of the past year. What were those actions, decisions, or words which they might plead for a “do-over”?

Paul Bear Brayant once said, “you can learn more from wining, but you’d be wise to study the causes for loss, you can learn a lot there too.” (paraphrased)

So, in 2023 what were the trigger(s) that caused the habit of over-eating?

What were the circumstances that drove you to use the credit cards to excess and acquire suffering debt?

Did you neglect proper marketing research before launching that new product line?

You get my drift, looking back for a better future is more than just saying “I need to do better”.

>Second Looking Forward.. What it the Purpose for change?

For many (individuals and organizations), change is “more of the same, just better”. But change requires thinking and behaving differently. Real change sometimes requires radical discipline. A never-ending pursuit to achieve the desired improvement.

In his mid-forties, Bob Buford, author of the book “Half-Time” determined that he wanted his life, business, and relationships to count for more than money, stuff, and the routine.

It’s reported that Buford said, “I wanted to go from success to significance, from making money to making a difference.”

With that he imagined what he wanted to be in his industry, what he wanted to be to his family, to his employees, to his community and to his God. After establishing the Purpose, he then began the strategy to make that happen in each area of his life.

During my mid-forties, I honestly and humbly evaluated my life and began to seek purpose for it.

As I’ve said during many of my lectures to business leaders and students “I don’t believe God put you on this earth to suck up air for 80 years and then die. You have a purpose, and your job is to seek it out”

As I flew across the Atlantic heading home from a business assignment I wrote (on an airplane napkin(s), a “Purpose Statement” for my life, for my business, and for my marriage.

Each statement was followed by key points of intentionality and strategies. As life circumstances developed, some strategies required adjustments or elimination, but the “Core” for each has never changed.

So, in 2024 I will look back and determine in what area’s I regret. But I will not dwell on it nor beat myself up.

Like the Apostle Paul said in part “Forgetting what’s behind…I Press On for the prize set before me…”

Then I’ll establish new or different strategies that will get me back in line with my Purpose.

I’m not the brightest guy but I know too many people who “sleepwalk” through life.

I don’t want to be one of those guys.

All of this can only be done with God’s help as I strive to

“Finish Well”

Happy New Year!

What does an International Management Consultant and a Stable Hand have in common?

 

         

Since my home and office are located in the Ozark mountains, I spend a lot of time living in my head. Surround by God’s creation and beauty, the seclusion and solitude afford me the opportunities for reflection on a lot of things. The follow is just one example i.e., thinking about the role of work, and what it means to be an employee.

Having served (and presently serving) in both occupations, I’ve had an opportunity to consider the question posted above at an up-close and personal level.

> At a very fundamental level it’s to provide a needed service.

> To exchange effort and or knowledge for agreed upon compensation.

> To meet the customer(s) requirement or expectation

> To use God given gifts and abilities, mental or physical the best of our ability to accomplish those goals.

> Work done well brings a sense of personal accomplishment as we put our God-given talents and abilities to use. When our work helps others, it becomes a way to serve them.

                                               Additionally, for me…

> As a follower of Jesus Christ, to be “salt and light” wherever I’m planted

> To be a good example to my grandkids and/or others who may be watching

As a leader, both at home and in the workplace, I believe it critical to go back and cover the basics and remind ourselves and others the purpose, motivation, and the necessity of WORK.

Why? Because we live in a world where the value of work has diminished, especially in the U.S. and other developed countries. For so many in the workforce today it’s about “me” and what “I’ can get. Seems as though we now live in a world of a “you owe me “mentality, that capitalism is evil, and the government should do more to make my life easier.

For me, I intend to live out my “purpose statements” for life and work which you can read at many places in this blog site as I stive to "Finish Well." 

In the meantime, enjoy your work today. We are blessed to have another day, so make the most of it!

3mo • Edited Since I live alone in the Ozark mountains, I spend a lot of time living in my head. Surround by God’s creation and beauty, the seclusion and solitude afford me the opportunities for reflection on a lot of things.The following is just one of them i.e., thinking about the role of work, and what it means to be an employeeHaving served (and presently serving) in both occupations, I’ve had an opportunity to consider the question posted above at an up-close and personal level.

Prisoners, Visitors and Learners

 

For the past 4- and one-half weeks I’ve been on a world tour, teaching and lecturing at business forums, universities, and high schools to literally hundreds of people of different ages, cultures, and interests.

I can’t think of a more rewarding endeavor than to capture the imagination and attention of an audience and to have a positive impact on the lives of people. What a thrill it is to see in the “faces” of those in front of me and to receive their feedback through non-verbal communication the affirmation that “they get it” and are intrigued, encouraged, inspired to take (at some level) action or behavior change.

At the same time, I can’t imagine anything more frustrating, discouraging, or disappointing than to witness a level of apathy that some in the audience bring with them into the lecture venue. Given my same level of effort and commitment to deliver, the reception by some boarders at best a sense of disinterest and at worst contempt.

In the past I’ve labeled audience members into three categories.

A.    Prisoners …. Those attendees who were forced to attend e.g. students by their teachers or parents, employees by their employer or boss etc. They will put in “their time” of incarceration in the auditorium but,” just try and teach me something. It will not happen because I’m an unwilling prisoner.”

B.    Visitors – This group is generally kind, fun and willing to “be present”. After all, “what else have I got to do and I’ll have the opportunity to hangout with others.” Not much intentionality to think or behave differently, but a willingness to go along to get along.

C.    Learners – These are the ones who enter the environment with the expectation to learn something and at least consider the topic worth the exchange of their personal time in attendance. They enter the room with a sense of willingness to discover and grow personally or professionally.

This past several weeks has reminded me that I can’t reach them all and that the different levels of response by participants may or may not be personal, cultural bias, behavioral tendencies, or any number of reasons that have nothing to do with me.

 An honest subjective evaluation on my part of the total audiences I’ve been privileged to address would break down in 10% prisoners, 40% visitors and 50% learners. My hope is I moved some from the visitor’s column to learners.

For those who have the awesome responsibility to teach, preach, lecture, here are a few reminders to share with you as I remind myself each time I stand before a group.

1.    It’s MY responsibility to capture the audience. It is their time they’re granting to me and I should honor that by establishing the “So what?” Why should I (as an attendee) care about the subject matter.” My job is not to entertain. For some that might be the motive or task, but not for me. My job is to provide some relevance to the lives of people.

2.    Just regurgitating information is not only boring, at its core useless. The brain gathers information and then senses, imagines, feels, thinks, and then behaves. It’s the behaving part that we as instructors must guide our audiences to answer the question “Now What?”  Practical application will cause people to say, “that was worthwhile because I have an idea how to proceed with this knowledge.
”

3.    As a follower of “The Way”, I am reminded that

 “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ” Colossians 3:23-24

 

I’m most grateful for the opportunity to do what I do..Seeing the positive reactions of many is rewarding and humbling, but more importantly I’m dedicated to an audience “of one” as I strive to..

Finish Well 

                          “If you want to change the world, you should teach.”

That was the advice Trey Gowdy (former US Congressman) gave to young men and women seeking his opinion concerning their political careers.

As I pondered his reasoning behind the statement, my mind went immediately to the miracle of teachers and teaching.

Tonight, as I write this, my brother who has his doctorate in Cultural Anthropology, is teaching in India. He has touched the lives of thousands of people around the world.

Although my professional label is consultant, next week I begin a

2-month trek of lecturing and teaching to businesses students and at business forums in Asia and Eastern Europe. It’s a task I’ve carried out for over 30 years and I’m still “jazzed” at the prospect of doing it again.

What is amazing is that my brother Richard and I finished at the bottom of our high school graduating class in a small rural southern town in the U.S. . The miracle is that God had a plan for our lives, which became the most unexpected calling either of us could imagine.

We teach different things, but our motive is much the same, to have a positive impact on the lives of those God puts in our pathway. To equip people to become successful on the life path they are on. To impart knowledge and provide empirical evidence through our own experiences.

Will we change the world?

Probably not, but we might have an influence on someone who will.

What a mind-blowing prospect that is!!

My thoughts then went to others I know who teach for the right reasons.

Keith and his wife in NYC.

RL who is not teacher in the traditional sense, but because of his financial resources is able to facilitate a process that allows others to do so, and though he has more money than most of the rest of us, he still takes the time to regularly and intentionally visit 1st graders in a poor public school system to teach the basics of Character Counts concepts.

John who has a specific niche in the Muslim world teaching on a unique platform.

Eric who is a young up and comer in the teaching and guiding profession in business settings.

Tim my pastor who is a gifted teacher and expositor of the Word.

One of my favorites is Aaron who teaches farmers in West Africa in a completely unique way to grow crops in that arid region of the world. More importantly he walks with them in this new process while pouring himself into their lives for their personal and professional growth and development.

And then of course it’s the mom and dads who are daily guiding their children personally and intentionally, refusing to hand their kids over to the woke agenda and social media influencers.

I talk a lot about effective leadership. So, do you want to be an effective leader who can change the world?

Be a teacher.

Lead someone.

Be an influencer.

Teach and intentionally mentor someone.

Can you think of greater thing than to have someone say of you once you’ve passed from this world,

“He/She, taught me, mentored me and it impacted my life.”

That my leadership friends is the way to…

Finish Well!

 

Leadership - Courage = “Position Holders”

I’ve spent a lifetime working with or for so called “leaders”. I’ve read many, many books about leadership. I’ve attended and conducted leadership conferences and seminars. Again, this year I will travel to several countries discussing leadership issues.

 However, I’ve discovered that people confuse “Position Holders” with   true leadership.

Too often is the case that those holding positions of authority e.g., politicians, company CEO’s, corporate executives, religious officials, mom, and dad etc. lack a key ingredient to qualify as a leader. They are missing Courage!

Maybe we should have Courageship seminars!

Courage (also called bravery or valor) is the choice and willingness to confront agony, pain, danger uncertainty or intimidation.

Moral courage is the ability to act rightly in the face of popular opposition, shame, scandal discouragement, or personal loss.

Let me give you an example from British history to the differences of position holders and leaders. Consider two Prime Ministers of the UK…

 Neville Chamberlin known for his “foreign policy of appeasement” and Margret Thatcher, a self-described “conviction politician”, disliked by many she was dubbed the “Iron Lady” because she stood against conventual cultural thinking.

People may disagree about a lot of things in 2023, but one thing everyone seems to agree on is “the world is broken” its a mess and things are getting worse, not better. 

Every day we are seeing it first-hand There is a constant and pervasive cultural construct that has invaded the thinking, policies and actions in our world promulgated by news and social media.

 If a person stands firm and will not affirm much of what is deemed acceptable in our society (especially in the realm of human sexuality) then they are considered as out-of- touch, ignorant, old fashioned or bigots. 

This is not new stuff…..

“ The Russian Bolsheviks have discovered that truth does not matter so long as there is reiteration. They have no difficulty whatever in countering a fact by a lie which, if repeated often enough and loudly enough, becomes accepted by the people.”

Winston Churchill

 From the halls of congress, the executive offices of organizations, class rooms of our schools to the living rooms of our homes there are “appeasers “who are going along to get along afraid of criticism from the mob of woke culture. But remember,

 “Any dead fish can swim downstream”

 As a Christian, I will neither affirm nor hate those who have an opposing view.

 However, I will stand firm and with God's help show courage as I pray for and encourage position holders to become genuine leaders through “Courageship”

 Finish Well as you Press on....

Bill