The Necessity For Vision

Every leader needs vision!  Vision is the ability to see clearly the direction that one needs to go and the things that one wants to achieve.  Vision is what gives us motivation, invigoration, and perserverance in pursuing our dreams.  As Dr. Albert Schweitzer was getting up in years, someone once asked him, “How goes it?”  Dr. Schweitzer replied, “My sight grows dim, but my vision is clearer than ever!”  A person once said to Helen Keller, “What would be worse than being blind?”  Ms. Keller replied, “It would be infinitely worse to have perfect eyesight and no vision.”

Vision enables us to live life with passion and confidence.  Vision is what gives us clarity in our actions, and purpose to our lives.  I hope that you’ll take time to write out your vision for your life, your career, and your future.  Be sure to clearly articulate what you want to achieve, and the steps that you will take in order to be successful.  I  believe you will find this to be extremely energizing for your life and your future!

THANK YOU, President Bush!

I’m sure that the headline to this blog today will really upset some people.  If so, so be it.  I know there are many “Bush haters” who cheered when his office expired and he left Washington.  I know there are many who disapproved of his policies, his leadership, and his handling of crises while in office.  There were many Republicans who strongly voiced their concerns over where our country was heading, and some even distanced themselves from the President as a kind of “rebuke” towards him.  I would have to admit that even I was disappointed at how things turned out during the final months of his administration.  But I never lost my respect for him or his love for our country.

We all know what it is like to pursue a course of action only to have it take us where we would have never guessed it was going.  We all know what it is like to make important decisions with all the information we have at hand, only to find that the decision was inadequate in bringing a solution to a problem we could not have imagined was as complex as it was.  We all know what it is like to “go against the tide” of popular opinion and take risks where others would not have ventured.  We all know what it is like to fall on our faces, even when we have done our best!  We will never please everyone, and especially those who just “do not like us” at all.

I’m not saying any of this to justify, or rationalize, anything President George Bush could have done better.  We all are constantly doing the best that we can, with the resources that we have, and the wisdom that we collect from others.  Sometimes we fall short.  We need to “man up” to those times, learn from them, and move on.  I think there were times when President Bush found it difficult to admit his “humanness” in handling certain situations, but history & God will be his final judge.  

Despite the animosity, the opposition, and the hatred expressed towards our former President (on a daily basis), I want to write a letter of THANKS!  Maybe for some, America being kept safe for 7 years was no big deal.  I think it was a big deal!  It was a HUGE deal!  While greedy men lined their pockets with millions of dollars from hard-working people in our country, our President remained vigilant in his watch in keeping our country safe.  Maybe in years to come we’ll realize what an extraordinary accomplishment that was!

I want to THANK YOU, President Bush for your service to our country!  I want to THANK YOU, President Bush for keeping our country safe!  I want to THANK YOU, President Bush for your integrity while in office.  I want to THANK YOU, President Bush for the compassionate concern you showed to so many neglected peoples around the world.  I want to THANK YOU, President Bush for not being ashamed of your faith while in office and continually seeking the prayers of the country.

Now that you are no longer President, I pray that in the coming years you will enter into the most fulfilling time of your life!

The “If Only…” Syndrome

I’ve known people whose personal and professional lives got stuck in a rut!  Rather than moving ahead and achieving the dreams that their hearts were set upon, they found their futures being sabatoged by the “if only…” syndrome.  We’ve all struggled with it from time to time.  You know, what I’m talking about!  The “if only….” syndrome goes like this–”If only I had gotten that job…”; “If only my parents had raised me differently…”; ”If only I had gotten some good breaks…”; “If only I had gotten the chance to go to college….”; “If only I had met the right person to spend my life with…”; “If only my boss paid more attention to my abilities…”; “If only I lived in a different neighborhood….”.  We could go on and on!

Have you ever struggled with the “If only…” syndrome?  If you had to fill in the blanks, what would they be for you?  We will be forever spinning the wheels of our lives, going nowhere, if we allow this “if only…” syndrome to be a part of our thinking and speech all the time!  We do not have to live with a ”victim” mentality–we can live with a “victors” mentality!  If I go through life blaming others, or pointing a finger at others, because of hardships or disappointments that I have faced, I’ll never take personal responsibility for my life.  

It’s true that I may have had some tough breaks…it may be that others have hurt me….it may be that things haven’t gone my way…but I can also believe and trust that better times are ahead.  When I take responsibility for my life, my actions, and my decisions then I will apply myself to diligence and hard work.  I can learn from life how to be more patient with others, and see the obstacles and challenges in front of me as “opportunities” waiting to work for my good!   In the 23rd Psalm, the writer says, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…”.   Those are confident words spoken by someone who had learned to put all of life’s situations into God’s hands!  King David, who wrote the 23rd Psalm, had learned through the tough times of life that God had his BEST in mind! 

I’m thankful for those words today!  And I’m thankful that God understands the cries of my heart when I struggle with the issues of life and still loves me!  I, too, rejoice that God always has my BEST in mind!

Stay Calm

This afternoon the Arizona Cardinals played the Philadelphia Eagles in the National Football League’s championship game.  Prior to the game, one of the sports analysts interviewed Kurt Warner who quarterbacked for the Arizona Cardinals.  Warner was asked, “What does your team need to do today to beat the Eagles?”  Warner was quick to respond, “Stay calm!  If we are to win this game we must stay calm despite the pressures we’re put under and keep focused on our game plan.”  Those were great words!  Those wise words, and that confident spirit, did help Warner and the Cardinal team ultimately defeat the Eagles in the championship team.

When pressures come our way in life, it’s important that we keep those same words in our mind–”stay calm!”  Many people can testify that when times got tough, and immense pressures came their way, they “lost their cool” and in haste made bad decisions and went in directions that they did not plan to go.  I know it is very difficult to remain “cool” when the heat is turned up, the pressures of life are pressing you down, deadlines are facing you square on, and you’re scared out of your wits.    But, it’s in those times that we must practice “staying cool” and letting wisdom and our better judgment prevail.

If you want to be a good leader, and see your organization grow, you must learn to “stay calm” when the pressures come and trust that your instincts, your experience, and your leadership skills will help you make wise decisions and steer you in the right direction.  Psalm 46 is an inspiring Psalm to read and meditate on.  The Psalmist describes situations that are chaotic, and in an upheaval, and in the midst of those situations God says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”  In other words, “stay calm” and trust in God’s strength and wisdom to guide your steps.  God loves you, He cares deeply about you, and wants you to trust Him completely.  In life’s pressures, His peace will keep our hearts strong and steady. 

Are you facing immense struggles today?  Are life’s pressures crushing you?  Do you feel your anxiety level rising?  As best as you can, put it all in God’s hands and let Him give you His strength.  With His peace in our hearts, we can “stay calm” and make the right decisions!

Sow Good Things!

The Bible tells us in Galatians 6:7, “…whatever a man sows, that will he also reap.”   This is a law of nature.  Whatever you sow, you’ll reap in return.  If you sow hatred, discord, meanness, and vulgarity, that same spirit will come back to you.  If you are pessimistic, critical, synical, and sour, that’s the kind of attitude that you will be sowing around you.  We cannot deceive ourselves into thinking that our attitudes, relationships, actions, and habits do not have consequences to them.  Many are never able to move ahead in their careers, or advance in their organization, or become persons of influence and achievement because their lives do nothing except sow briars and thorns.

If you sow love, you’ll find love in return.  If you sow forgiveness, you’ll find forgiveness.  If you sow positive relationships with others, and affirm others, you will be building a wide circle of friends.  If you sow faith, you’ll find a harvest of faith returning to you.  If you sow peace, you’ll become a peacemaker.  “…whatever a man sows, that will he also reap.”  What are you sowing with your life?  What influence are you bearing with your gifts and talents?  How are you handling your adversitites and disappointments?

You cannot treat others disrespectfully, and expect good things to come your way.  Sow what is good!  Sow those things that build up!  Sow those things that affirm others and brings dignity to people’s lives.  Sow faith!  Sow kindness!  Sow compassion!  Sow love!  Sow joy!  Live your life so that others are enriched by it!

As you think of the new year that lies before you, determine that you will resist the temptation to sow negative, ugly things that will diminish you as a person, and bring hurt to others around you.  Instead, determine that you will sow good things in your life that will strengthen your inner powers, and uplift and bless those around you!

Happy New Year!

I’m a couple of days late with my New Year’s greeting, but I’ve been out of town and am just getting back to my computer.  A new year brings new beginnings, new opportunities, and new challenges.  Let’s determine that we will diligently and courageously pursue the best for our lives in 2009.  Don’t let setbacks, or disappointments, steal away your joy.  Stay passionate about the things that God has put on your heart to do!  Trust God for the power to fulfill your destiny.  Pray that your life will be a blessing to others, and that you can use life’s opportunities to add value to other people’s lives.  The best is in front of you!  Stay in faith.  Keep believing.  Give your life away to others.