“It was the biggest call of my career,” an emotional Jim Joyce told reporters, “and I kicked it. I just cost that kid a perfect game.” - Jim Joyce, MLB Umpire
Life is full of imperfection and there is no replay. What makes for great people and great leadership is how you respond to the imperfections in life. It’s what happens next that defines you and your character.
Sports talk radio was alive last Thursday morning calling for the activation of ‘instant replay’ for close calls in situations such as the one that occurred on Wednesday where veteran Umpire Jim Joyce cost Armando Callaraga a perfect game with his errant call at the end of the game. [video] Major League Baseball kept the game intact, blown call and all… kinda like the real life situations we all live and lead in.
However, what is most astounding to me is not the call and the ensuing argument over the need for instant replace, but rather HOW Jim Joyce, Armando Gallaraga and also Jim Leland (the Tiger’s manager) handled the situation. Check out the audio of their reactions and a summary of the situation adeptly handled by Colin Cowherd.
What are you great at? What are you known for? Why is your company successful?
Keep doing it.
When Fonzie jumped
over a shark, he coined a term that we still use today: Jumping the shark. It refers to the point where a TV show goes off its designed path in order to reenergize the series.
A current TV Show that has come under fire for “jumping the shark” is
American Idol. They have stopped doing the things that made the show unique and relevant.
Leaders need to understand what makes them unique and relevant and they need to stay true to their goals and priorities. There is no need to try to reinvent yourself or your company when when you are on top.
Don’t jump the shark in your leadership!
The power of paper, pause, prayer and a simple process can give you clear direction for your day. These simple things done in 15 minutes or less can revolutionize your productivity, energy and outlook.
1st, get a sheet of paper.
Divide the paper into 2 columns
Left half = list the things that are stressing you out; your right now life challenges & problems.
Right side = list out items that you need to get done; personal, work, spiritual, for others
Bounce back and forth between the 2 sides.
Check your email for work (work only!) that needs to get on your list.
[pause... right now!]
- pray (if you do that).
- slow your mind.
- process what is truly important for today.
Take a 2nd sheet of paper.
Make an ACTION LIST for TODAY only from your first list.
# the items in priority order.
Don’t exceed putting 2 really big things on your list.
Start at the top and just get going on them NOW!
Rinse & repeat for tomorrow.
Try this for 5 days.
Stay focused when you work — don’t do things that aren’t on the list.
HOLD email and calls for your last hour of the day UNLESS they are related to the list.
You can live your life so sheltered that when you’re old and gray, all that you can claim is to have lived long enough to have become old. That’s not my way. - Ed Viesturs; 1st American to climb all 14 of the world’s tallest peaks.
Ed spent 8 years in college and then a few more in practice to be an established veterinarian. He jumped ship to pursue his love for high altitude summit climbing and eventually became the first American to summit the world’s 14 highest mountain peaks all without the aid of bottled oxygen. Many of us have found ourselves wondering if we could leave our current place behind in an effort to chase our dream. You can! You are capable of the same creative processes and leadership required to pursue your dreams and your purpose. But, you will have to leave other things behind.
Without intention I finished “Flag’s of Our Fathers” by James Bradley today on Memorial Day. The WWII battle fought for the critical island of Iwo Jima cost the lives of 6,821 U.S. soldiers with a total of 26,038 casualties incurred in a single battle that lasted over a month with non-stop fighting.
I lose perspective at times of sacrifice, commitment, labor, valor, friendship and service. Blessings to every one who serves and protects our great nation, our liberties and peace.
When we encounter change or challenge in our everyday life, it can be so easy to refer to the past and use it as the primary tool for decision making. But is it always the best tool?
We use tradition as our guide. “It worked then, why shouldn’t it work now?” “We always do things this way.” “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” We use tradition as a source of pride. “like those before us who began this great movement/business/organization/family/church…” “… the RICH traditions of our past…”
BUT, we also use tradition as a crutch. “I know it’s an antiquated system, but we don’t have time to reinvent the wheel, just keep doing what you’re doing.” Instead of making decisions based on tradition, why not make them on intention? our intentions grow and change with the current needs of whatever movement we’re a part of. every day has an intention, a goal, a step towards the grander intention or goal. traditions are the oposite. they stay put. they are the result of achieving an old goal. although this is something worth celebrating and considering when encountering the future, it isn’t necessarily the best decision making tool, and yet it seems to be used in a disproportionate way.
When we come to the point of making a decision, our mindset shouldn’t be “what has worked in the past?” but “what will propel us into the future?” or “What will help us best fulfill our intentions/goals?”
[guest blog: Jason Shafer]
People are bound to say crap about you… that is the nature of people and also the nature of leadership.
You need to figure out when to let the crap stick or when to wipe it off.
Identify the 2-5 leadership voices that count the most to you and your development. Let them speak into difficult problems, even if you don’t always agree with what you hear. Be willing to give them a full account of your hardest scenarios. Likewise give them full access to the scenarios if needed or when you can. Count on these people to ask you hard questions and challenge your growth. Listen to them and let their guidance shape your life.
Honor, or at least respect, people who have an issue and come to you in person and are willing to speak frankly. Those rare, but open discourses can typically result in good to fair resolutions if you are willing to listen and be open to growing. Learn to slough off and ignore the rest.
As for the people who have the crap to say….
Ignore spineless, behind-your-back conversations. Don’t worry about half-told truths. Delete the all-too-easily volleyed emails, text messages and twitter updates. (You know that person wouldn’t say directly to you what they have written with their new found technology enhanced courage.) Your leadership and your character will always prove itself out in the end.
Life is far too easily consumed with dissections of emotionally charged situations, frustrations, disappointments and disagreements. Do your best as you make your leadership calls. Trust your experience. Admit and learn from your short comings. Keep moving on.
Some quick basics on building a kick-ass volunteer leadership team.
Never go alone. Get people engaged in your initiative from the very beginning. If you can’t take people with you early on when your passion is white hot, then it won’t get any easier for you later.
Get people in on the ground floor. Some people are more inclined to serve with you because you aren’t thoe big and established ‘old dog’. Use this to your strength.
Share your vision of the glorious future. Make it straight forward and easy to understand. Practice this every time you meet with someone. if you don’t have it down to 2-3 quick & easy to understand sentences.
Grow Up! The best leaders will come around young leaders when they see your desire to grow up and do something of import. You don’t have to wear a suit and tie to accomplish this, but you must be ready to work hard. Have fun, but prepare yourself to grow and demonstrate this with how you carry yourself.
Don’t put off inviting in BIGGER minds. Find people that will challenge you. BE SURE to listen to them when they speak. This stop investing if you demonstrate that you aren’t listening.
Keep close a tight group of trusted people. Choose carefully 3-5 rock solid leaders you can depend on in hard times & for key decisions.
Don’t just invite friends, but choose leaders. Diverse strengths and insights won’t come without some effort on your part to seek them out. Just because people are easy to hang with doesn’t mean they will be the best leaders for your project.
Engage your key people regularly. This doesn’t have to translate into more meetings though. Invite them into your processing, your planning, your strategy. Quick phones calls and emails will do the trick.
—> If they aren’t invested, they aren’t invested with their time, money and mental energy that will help your project or organization move towards accomplishing your dreams.
Getting ready to launch your own non-profit?
Have a unique focus or problem to tackle - If you aren’t going to be original or if you aren’t going to strive to be the best in your area of focus then go work with the ones who are. There is a TON of redundancy in the non-profit, social good space already. Yes, I am speaking to the ministries too.
Demonstrate & prove your concept - Seek early wins, even if they are small ones. start with your free time. Jump in with your money and energies first. Know what you are talking about from an experiential perspective. Draw from your in the trenches experience to cast a grander vision.
Develop a thorough but basic plan – You don’t need 10 pages to make your point, but you do need a few. Websites are nice, but be sure that you can easily share your plan & strategy with others. Avoid writing a novel but be sure to outline the “who, what, where, why, how, when, and how much” for all who are interested. Be specific and brief.
Recruit leaders - Every non-profit seeks volunteers, but what you really need early on is leaders. Leverage your personal relationships, contacts and networks. Seek leaders by having leadership opportunities for them to tackle with you. Don’t ask leaders for basic things… they want to jump in on real issues you with you.
Communicate a crystal clear mission – Don’t give vague concepts and flowery anecdotes; tell us what is going to change because you are in existence. Be bold. Be brave. Be simple if necessary. Help all of us to “get it”. And it quickly. Without flinch
