GiANT Perspectives

Airplane Thought: Fields of Clouds

2009-11-20T12:32:53+00:00

Watching the fields of clouds from my airplane seat causes me to dream big. The horizon is huge. Dream big and fly. The sky is the limit.

]]>

Unintentional Living

2009-11-17T13:51:53+00:00

Can you imagine a world where people were unintentional with their lives? A world where you didn’t aspire to grow or learn or dream? Can you imagine living in a place where your time was dictated by television schedules and your dreams were inspired by ads showing a fake world of fantasy?

Yes, I actually can.

It sounds ludicrous, but it is true - we are trained to live uninspired, unintentional lives dictated by messages to become some person around an infinity we may aspire to.

This world creates unintended outcomes because there is not intentional living.

Don’t believe me? Here is an example. What is the outcome of receiving random messages to eat certain “fun” foods like sodas, desserts, juices, candy, etc.? The answer: diabetes. The unintentional over-consumption of sugars produces large amounts of diabetes in our country. Whereas an intentional plan to eat in moderation dramatically lowers the chances of the disease.

Case after case and story after story reveal unintended consequences and the pain that go with them.

Maybe unintentional living is actually intentional when you stop to think about it. People have a tendency to replace pain with medication, boredom with activity and distress with distraction. Maybe we intend to live unintentional after all.

King Solomon told us to look at ants to get a proper perspective of life. Now that sounds funny, doesn’t it? And yet, he was the wisest man to have lived. The ant works with other ants and toward a goal of provision for the colony. I don’t recall ever seeing fat ants.

It is time to reverse unintentional living. It is time to stop and think about the outcomes of living unintentionally. The outcomes are uninspired lives, useless affairs, poorly raised children, untrained employees, and boring companies.

When you live intentionally, you will lead intentionally. You will begin leading your employees correctly and your family with excitement. The outcomes will show up in your organization’s fruitfulness and in your family dynamics.

Some of us need wake up calls. A reprimand from our doctor or dentist to change our ways. Perhaps in a small way this blog will do that. Maybe, just maybe, you will stop and ponder over the holidays as to ways you can live intentionally towards a purpose that is bigger than a television series.

To live intentionally is to lead intentionally. It is the best way to lead and the best way to live.

Comment on this Article...]]>

Airplane Thought: Wonder

2009-11-13T13:31:41+00:00

All of these adults on this plane seem to have lost it. They have lost their wonder. Spreadsheets rule their screens. Pop magazines are as prolific as junk food at a movie. Wonder - where has it gone?

]]>

This One’s for Andy… and Anyone Else Needing to Persevere

2009-11-11T12:28:18+00:00

Andy is an amazing man living in New York City. He is a talented actor who cares for people greatly. He is also a great family man living in a world where marriage and fatherhood are not the norm.

There is only one problem. Andy is trying to make it in a difficult city in a tough industry in a low economy. Notice the phrase above - he is trying to make it. In the midst of expensive leases, soaring costs of living, and all the pressures and demands of being a good father, Andy is trying to make it.

There are millions of people in our country who are trying to make it and there are millions of people who have given up. The ones that have given up are those who have “given into the inevitable.” The cost of giving up is enormous.

For instance, when a man gives up on his dream, he affects more than just himself. He impacts his family and possibly a generation. Millions of people are giving up today and choosing “safe” lines of work if they can find them at all. The decisions to give in to relative safety causes dreams to dissipate and talents to disappear for as long as they live.

Please note that sometimes dreamers need to be realistic, especially if they are “pipe dreamers.” Now listen to this, this is really important:

Dreamers will only be failures if they failed to fully give their dream a chance.

Dreamers will succeed if they tried with all their might to launch the dream they have been given in their hearts.

Never give up if your dream is real. You may need to wait until a different time period, but you need never to give up.

Andy, this one is for you. Don’t give up. Yes, you may need to work three part-time jobs, but each of those jobs will teach you what you need to know, now and in the future. Never give up, Andy. Fight for it. Get a group around you to pray for you and uplift you daily. Never give up, Andy.

This is for Andy and all the other Andy’s out there. Encourage the good guys to stay the course and finish the race.

Comment on this Article...]]>

3 Minute Monday: Vision Test

2009-11-09T10:50:45+00:00

Good Monday morning. I hope your weekend was restful. It’s time to get going this week. Let’s start with this 3 minute exercise. It is meant to help you one way or another. Here it goes.

Write down your vision for your organization, your department, your team, or yourself - whichever is most applicable. Do not look at your wall plaque or a note you have written down in your organizer. If you can’t simply write it down then there is work to be done. If you can nail it down in 3 minutes and others respond to it, great. Now, time yourself for three minutes. Ready, set, go:

My vision: __________________

How did you do?

It is not like I don’t trust you, but I am going to need you to show someone else and ask them to grade you. If they offer advice, listen. Make the changes and keep working to make it powerful, inspiring, simple and real. Then practice saying it every morning for ten days straight.

Where there is no vision the people perish!

Comment on this Article...]]>

When Death is a Good Thing

2009-11-06T12:18:12+00:00

You may be confused, I realize that. Yesterday, I implored you to be Careful Not to Die. Today, I am communicating that death is good. I am not talking about physical death here, but rather the death of certain patterns and tendencies within leaders.

Here are some examples of when death is good:

It is good when a leader gets past their own ego.
When a leader dies to their own greed, that is a great thing.
The death of a conquering leadership style is great for a leader and their followers.
It is a good thing when a leader’s insecurities die in the confidence of their character.
When a leader gives up trying to be something they are not. That is when death is a good thing.

I guess I am saying there is a good death and, quite possibly, a bad death. It takes discernment to know the difference.

It is a good thing to die to yourself so that real life can flourish and others can be empowered through your leadership. That is a good thing - something to want for yourself and others.

Live Full and Free!

Comment on this Article...]]>

Careful Not to Die

2009-11-05T12:56:28+00:00

Most of us are on the edge of death every day. No, we don’t see it, but you might possibly agree with me. It is a subtle death, the death of the soul. It seems to start in the little things, and while our hearts may continue to beat, our souls become dead inside of us. Careful not to die. This subtle death normally starts in three areas:

1. The Cares of this World - The bills, responsibilities, and general day-to-day living can enter in and choke the life right out of you if you are not careful. Careful not to die here.

2. The Delight in Riches - “Keeping up the Jones’” is deadly. The relentless focus on wealth will replace good intentions with ugliness like greed or, worse yet, apathy. Careful here.

3. The Desire for Other Things - I find that “other” things are just as addictive as negative vices. The issue is that “ok” things steal the spot of great things in your life. Careful.

Are you alive. Do you need to be revived?

I am being reminded of this personally. A leader asks themselves the hard questions and the heart questions.

“The cares of this world, the delight in riches and the desire for other things will enter in and choke the word and prove you unfruitful.” Jesus said this. (Mark 4:19)

Careful not to die.

Comment on this Article...]]>

Video Perspective: "End of the Year Planning"

2009-11-04T13:38:43+00:00

"End of the Year Planning"

]]>

Knowing You

2009-11-03T11:57:34+00:00

Do you know yourself? I mean do you know your tendencies and your patterns? Do you know how you learn and how your mind thinks?

It’s called self-awareness and it is a valuable asset to know yourself well, to understand how you lead and where you might fail as a leader. Do you know yourself? Here are a few questions to help you find out…

How do you learn?

Learn by reading?
Learn by talking out loud?
Learn by listening?
Learn by watching someone else?

How do you make strategic decisions?

Do you need time alone?
Do you desire advice and counsel?
Do you need large amounts of data?
Do you simply fire and then aim?

You get the drift, right? As a society we have so many different personality tests to help us know ourselves. We have books and studies that diagnose our neurotic tendencies. We have so much available. So why do so many of us fall apart? Why is it that leaders break from the inside out?

I think I know why. We don’t understand ourselves as deeply as we could. I am speaking from experience. The more I work to become a better leader the more problem areas arise. The more time I spend with my performance coach the more I see patterns that need some work.

Let me be even more real. I think of myself as a good communicator. It is when I desire to go deeper that problems arise. I have a pattern of not understanding the stages of others and, thus, over-communicating or under-communicating in specific limited situations. It has been bugging me. Yet, because I am figuring myself out with a desire to continue to improve, I am now at a place where I can work on my communication even stronger.

Do you know yourself? Do you know your patterns?

How do you lead when you get angry?
What do you naturally do when someone antagonizes you?
How do you communicate with someone you feel is a competitor?
How do you treat your family when you are tired?

These are the real issues. Leadership means that you are willing to go deeper to know yourself so that you can be the best you can be for others.

Know yourself for others’ sake.

Comment on this Article...]]>

Airplane Thought: Before the Sun

2009-11-02T11:29:05+00:00

Peace is found in the morning hour. It hovers around the steam of a fresh brewed cup of coffee. Peace is real and it sits here with me as I hold my morning devotion as a man trying to lead well with all of my might for all those around me. I love the moments before the sun has found its setting place.

]]>