If I were left alone in your office, what might you catch me doing when you returned? In the spirit of full disclosure, I have wandering eyes. I like to see how people organize their lives, what tools they use, what they’re reading. I’m always searching for better solutions. However, upon your return, you’d likely find me perusing your bookshelf. That’s assuming you still read printed, hardcopy books.
I sat down at my desk this morning, like many other days. Next I opened up my email, just to make sure there wasn’t anything urgent. A colleague popped into my office with an issue. After nearly an hour of triage, I finally started getting to the priorities on my to-do list. I sipped my coffee and stared at the clock for a moment. Then, the light bulb came on in my head. I’ve slipped back into old habits.
Maybe your days start like mine did. Or, maybe you’re better trained in the art of productivity practices espoused by the likes of David Allen, Stephen Covey or the latest from Lifehacker.com. Sometimes, we unintentionally let things slip and don’t even realize it. For example, have you been working out as regularly as you’ve intended? Frightening isn’t it.
Your sweet spot is “where your greatest strength and your greatest passion intersect,” according to Ken Coleman, host of the EntreLeadership Podcast and author of One Question. I love the depiction Ken paints of finding our sweet spots in life – the elusive grail so many of us long for.
When we aren’t operating from our sweet spots, we can end up frustrated and miserable. We’re frustrated when our enthusiasm doesn’t match our abilities. It’s like when I first learned to play tennis. I was awful because I didn’t have the skills to be good at it.
“The dictionary is the only place that success comes before work,” said famed football coach Vince Lombardi. “Hard work is the price we must pay for success. I think you can accomplish anything if you’re willing to pay the price.” I talk with a lot of people who want to achieve more, be better leaders and perform at a higher level. However, wanting to be better and more successful doesn’t make it happen. The question we must answer is, are we willing to pay the price?
Confidence is essential for becoming and remaining a high performer. You have to believe in yourself and your abilities, as well as in your team. Often our approach to maintaining confidence is to focus on all the things we do right, recalling our successes and building ourselves up. With such a focus, is there a danger that confidence will turn to overconfidence? How do we keep from crossing the line?
In their 2011 annual Stress in America Survey, the American Psychological Association (APA) reported that American’s main obstacle to their ability to make healthy lifestyle choices and positive change in their lives is a lack of willpower. Often linked with self-control or discipline, the APA defines willpower as “the ability to resist short-term temptations in order to meet long-term goals.” In our culture of microwaves, fast food and next day shipping, it’s no surprise that many see willpower as a challenge. With the Center for Disease Control and Prevention classifying 1/3 of U.S. adults as obese, I think it is clear that we’re suffering from a willpower epidemic.
Fall is setting in here in Middle Tennessee, and leaves have started changing. This is one of my favorite times of year to hike. My wife and I were out for a hike not long ago, and along the trail we spotted a pair of squirrels chasing each other from tree to tree. They’d run up and around one tree like a corkscrew, spiral back down and leap to another. Watching them play together was a joy. It reminded me how easy it can be to forget to play.
I love this adage I’ve heard Michael Hyatt use several times, “Thoughts untangle themselves through lips and pencil tips.” Untangling our thoughts is a crucial skill for all leaders. Essentially, it is our thoughts that shape our words and actions – our leadership. They are the roots from which we provide vision, encouragement, direction and influence. One of the best ways for leaders to untangle their thoughts is through journaling.
“I don’t think anyone aims to be typical, really. Most people even vow to themselves some time in high school or college not to be typical,” writes Bob Goff in Loves Does. The truth is, despite their vows, many people find themselves living typical lives because doing so doesn’t take intentionality. If you’re looking for something more; if you’re daring to excel, to make a difference in the world, and truly thrive – read on.
A good friend of mine is searching for her passion. She’s already accomplished a good deal in her life and has many interests. How could it be that she hasn’t found, or somehow lost, her passion? Many of us find ourselves in the same boat, searching for something more, something deeper, something with meaning to pour ourselves into. Some people don’t like their jobs. Others are in a season of transition in life.
When it comes to searching for our passions, where do we look? What are we looking for? Sometimes we feel like we’re playing the kids’ game Hot and Cold. How do we escape the game and know when we’re moving in the right directions? Allow me to share some of what I’ve learned about this journey with you.
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