GiANT Perspectives

3 Minute Monday: Certainty

2010-11-01T11:17:51+00:00

Dealing with uncertainty is a great thing. Everyone wants clarity. Over the course of a year business plans and personal goals tend to get a bit fuzzy.

November tends to be the budget and planning season for most leaders as they prepare for a new year, both professionally and personally. Therefore, for today’s 3 Minute Monday, take 3 minutes to write down every item in your business and personal world that seems to be a bit uncertain.

Once you have completed your list, make plans to address each uncertainty. This process will give you and those you lead both perspective and hope.
Examples may be clarity of direction, plans of what you won’t do and will do, or simply addressing policy issues or hiring.

Growth happens when there is certainty in direction. There is no better example of this than in the lack of growth in the American economy today. Because of the lack of certainty on taxation, health care, business regulation, and the general direction of our country, entrepreneurs are timid about investment and hiring. Certainty is what every organization needs. Take 3 minutes to help yours today.

Think, Plan, Communicate, Execute.

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Doing Right Well

2010-09-16T00:07:27+00:00

I am privileged to get time with amazing leaders. Sonny Newton is one of those to me. His wisdom and demeanor make him an invaluable influence into my life. Sonny spent over 30 years serving Truett Cathy within Chick-fil-A.

Recently, we went over a simple, but powerful, concept. It is one that I had heard before, but in the context of today, it is even more powerful.

Do Things Well
Do the Right Things
Do the Right Things Well for the Right Reasons

Ask yourself the following questions:

Am I doing things as well as I can? Can I do better on the items that are before me?
Am I doing the right things? Of all of my list of items are my priorities accurate with the needs in my life?
Am I doing these things for the right reasons? Are my motives correct for the items in my life?

Thank you, Sonny, for giving me sage advice and great insights!

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How to Overcome Inhibition

2010-09-08T11:46:43+00:00

Friends, I have a confession to make. At times I am inhibited to act on the dreams and visions that I have for a greater future.

Inhibition is a dangerous concept. To be inhibited is to be limited and limited is never a way to live or lead.

Inhibition is different than prohibition. Being prohibited is to not be allowed to do something. Inhibition is to not allow yourself to do something. Prohibition is from an outside force. Inhibition is limitation from the inside.

That is my confession. I have limited myself and my thinking at times over the past few years. A recession could be viewed as a prohibition, if I was desperate to act like a victim, but I am not. I would make the case that most people act like they have been prohibited from doing things and, thus, tend to blame others for not doing what is before them. The victim mentality is a slippery slope.

I am admitting that I have limited myself through my own inhibitions. Have you ever been at the top of a black diamond on a ski slope and told yourself that you can’t do it. Instead you slide over to the blue slopes for a normal experience?

I have told myself that I can’t do certain things because of what a certain few people might think. That is ludicrous. The mission and message inside me is much bigger than the impression of a few people. Furthermore, I am gaining confidence in who I am and what I am best at so I shouldn’t limit myself because of what I know I am not good at.

Ok, I feel better. I just confessed limitations. Your turn. Are you inhibited? Are you limiting yourself today?

I will assume the answer is yes so let’s move on to the next exercise.

What are your current limitations? (Money, opportunity, skills, etc.)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Ask yourself which of these are inhibitions or prohibitions. Then ask yourself what the cost is for allowing these inhibitions to be in your life. Usually, it is in opportunity cost, meaning that because your are self-limiting you are costing yourself time, freedom or money.

I recently talked to a man who desperately wanted to start his own business, but he was afraid of losing the benefits his current company offered. That is an inhibition, not a prohibition. He was self-limiting because of $1000 per month.

What is your plan to unshackle yourself from your own limits? Are you inhibiting yourself from your desired goals? If you are, then you are a victim to yourself. The fear in you is keeping you from the best in you.

Don’t opt out to your own fears. Confess them and move on. I just did.

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Subtle Defeat

2010-09-01T11:18:46+00:00

In my dealings with executives all over this country I find a commonality that needs to get exposed. I am not referring to alcoholic abuse or power plays, which certainly are common. Rather, I want to highlight the dulling of senses and the searing of consciences.

In most meetings with successful executives I hear angst and discontentment because they do not like who they have become. This usually doesn’t come out in the initial meeting, but, rather, in the depths of real relationships. As we spend more and more time together, these feelings of disappointment are revealed.

After analyzing these feelings I have concluded that most of these individuals have been subtly defeated by three things:

The cares of the world
The delight in riches
The desire for other things

It has caused these men to become unfruitful over time, and has seared their consciences from once clear truths. They then begin to focus on things that are not, ultimately, important, but, rather, things that are important to the upkeep of their “successful” lifestyles.

The cares of the world include an overwhelming concern for the urgency of their businesses or estates. They become consumed by tasks and management of the things they have accumulated. These “things” begin to consume the life that is in them and their heads get turned from important things to necessary things.

The delight in riches is one of the most dangerous. Seemingly everyday we hear stories of men who have come into wealth only to change who they are because of the status and power that comes with money.

Finally, the desire for other things comes when money or privilege allows them to do things that were once not possible. Art, adventure sports, and travel begin to take on more importance than ever before. Their conversations change and so do their priorities.

Thus, the headaches associated with managing their affairs, combined with the pleasures of wealth and the diversions of pleasure, captivate these men and create a lifestyle that must be maintained. Though there are temporary comforts in this type of lifestyle, it, ultimately, doesn’t meet the deep inner needs of the leader. The success they have felt doesn’t seem successful over time because it is inherently not significant to anyone for posterity.

Truth, then, begins to fade as a lit candle slowing dying. The truth they once knew and coveted begins to dim, and their life mission begins to look fuzzy. In gaining so much they have gained so little. The things they once coveted have created a subtle defeat to substance and a discontentment in the soul.

To live is to be. To be is to understand the greater things of life. These subtle killers are surmountable with an intentional desire to change and a group of helpers around you. To be significant and memorable for others is to be an influence for others’ benefit over your own. It is a new type of lifestyle that can be learned.

Choosing to live is a great choice. It takes a life of subtle defeat and turns it into a life of intentional living.

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3 Minute Monday: Untie Limitations

2010-08-30T11:30:11+00:00

Happy Monday!

In every person and in every organization there are problems and weaknesses that persist. Over time these negatives become limitations. Some of these limitations are shackled on us due to never addressing the problems. Sometimes, however, these limitations are simply tied on to us by others or ourselves. It is much easier to untie things rather than cut through metal chains.

Take 3 minutes and think about the limitations or problems in your world today. They can be large or small. They could be anything from a constant headache to a poor relationship with a colleague. List as many limitations as you can in 3 minutes. Then go back through and write “chain” for large or “string” for small. Once you have done this, make an action plan to untie the small limitations this week. Get them taken care of in 5 days.

I think you will find that by working on this process over time the chains will become strings as well. Untying is always easier than cutting.

Make it happen this week!

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Historical Perspective

2010-08-12T16:53:54+00:00

Perspective is a gift. We can learn so much in our current leadership positions from others’ perspectives, or from contextual history. With that I ask three simple questions for your perspective gain:

1. What historical leader to you appreciate the most?
2. What do you admire about this person?
3. How did their living help your current life?

Go for it. Share away.

As for me, I appreciate Winston Churchill because of his tenacity and perseverance, not only through World War II, but through his entire life. His life helps me put my issues into perspective and gives me tenacity and focused attitude to get things done, even when I don’t want to. I love how he handled crisis.

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Relearning Lessons

2010-08-11T16:51:28+00:00

Here are some recent lessons I have learned (or re-learned)...

1. On Partnerships - When building partnerships, never make a bold statement. Rather, ask a strategic question. For instance, instead of saying, “What is your budget for…”, as instead, “How does your budget process work?”

2. On Negative Thoughts - The key to kicking out negative thoughts is rejoicing and gratitude. Spend time praising and being thankful. Whenever a negative attitude begins, attack it vigorously with gratefulness and joy.

3. When walking in an airport or public place smile strategically. When you are courteous you change the game.

4. Pray about everything at all times. Make it a way of life. A conversation with God is better than a conversation with our own futile thoughts alone.

5. Go to bed at 9 pm regularly. I hate going to sleep because I feel like I am missing out on something or there is something more to learn. Yet, I love the feeling in the morning when I have devoted a little bit more time to sleep.

Have a great day!

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3 Minute Monday: Enthusiasm Wins!

2010-08-09T10:48:28+00:00

Today is go time.

Take 3 minutes to come up with your personal plan to be more enthusiastic today than you normally are.

At the end of the day reflect back on how that changed your day. Were you more happy today? Were others more happy? Did the day feel more alive to you than normal? Or did people think you were simply a crazy loon?

“Enthusiasm wins,” as my friend Chris Carneal likes to say.

So, get fired up today and try to add a bit more pep in your step and some more joy in your voice.

Make it a great day!

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Reflections From Time at Ford HQ

2010-08-05T16:49:48+00:00

I recently had the opportunity to spend some time at Ford headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan. What I found was refreshing and indicative of the fruits of a focused commitment to change. Here are a few perspectives:

1. Alan Mullaly, the new CEO, set a tone of empowerment around the quest for innovation and improvement.

2. The people used the financial crisis and the view of their competitor as fuel for doing business the right way versus settling for a bailout.

3. Ford is actually working toward best practices versus simply acting awake but not truly being it.

4. They are offering new products to fit the new market with new innovations.

In my time there I was able to view the innovation initiatives through their Team Detroit group, which is a conglomerate of marketing and advertising companies working to serve Ford. There is a commitment here that is refreshing as you can’t tell that they are not employees of Ford (they are actually partners).

I was also able to meet with the leader of consumer engagement and came away refreshed at the desire to innovate the car buying experience for all of us.

Rarely do we get to be in a headquarters of one of the largest companies in the world. Most of the times that I have experienced this with others have not produced the same level of confidence and respect that I received from Ford. In the past, I viewed Ford as an average company. Today, they are changing my perception quickly. Now they need to change my buying habits. We personally don’t own a Ford, but I think they are closer than ever before to that changing.

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Transition, Control, Trust

2010-06-30T16:15:28+00:00

In the past two days I have talked with several people who have mentioned they are in a transition - either because of a job loss, job change, or personal change.

When they asked me about where I was, I tended to say the same thing - “I feel like we are in a transition season,” I said. Then it hit me - we all are, everyday.

Think about it. We are in constant transition as humans. From our kids outgrowing their clothes to the seasonal change in our atmosphere. Our world and ‘worlds’ are constantly changing.

As a person who likes change, I tend not to get too worked up about it… as long as I am in control! Take away my control, or perceived control, and that is when it feels like a “transition” season. Every person that said they were in “transition” had something taken from them and they felt out of control.

So, let me summarize. As long as I am in control I like change and can put up with transitions. As long as I am not in control the transition season feels heavy and hard.

Who is with me?

The issue is really control, and when things feel out of control that’s when it gets scary - unless, someone we trust is in control.

Does that make sense? What if things feel out of control at your work, but you suddenly realized someone you really trust is in control of decisions; don’t you seem to feel better?

Some of you may say, “Yeah, easy for you to say. No one I trust is in control of the changes in my life.”

So now we get to the real issue. Transitions are control issues. Control issues are trust issues. Who then do we really trust?

As leaders we must trust. The worst dominators in the world had the most harmful trust issues. As for me, I have my family, my partners, my friends, and employees I trust. Yet, deep inside me, I have chosen to put my trust in my Maker. When all else fails I know I at least have one source who I trust is in control, and that makes all the difference.

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