Friday 28 December 2012

I need to tell you that true bloggers usually take some time to ponder as to what they want to blog about. So after careful consideration on this matter I am choosing to write about not only a “well earned rest” but also the “Focus” of what is to come. To many of us that implies the annual New Year’s Resolution list but remember that I clearly implied focus.

This is not something that is new. In fact, for those that study the Bible, this is clearly explained in Leviticus. Jubilee was something that called for people to stop their usual labor, alter their usual routines and change their normal existence. So I think the key here is to stop the “usual/normal”. I have always been taught that the highest form of insanity is to keep doing what you are doing BUT expect a different outcome. It is our most common and usual practice at the end of each and EVERY year to come up with a new list of resolutions that we intend on accomplishing with the birth of the New Year. I pause to take a page out of my mentor Dr. John C. Maxwell, who by the way is the World’s #1 guru when it comes to leadership. He actually takes a week at the end of the year to pause and reflect on what he did or did not do during the preceding year. How in the heck can you focus on what is to come when you have not focused on what was to come?

Clearly we have choices as to continuing to keep on making lists and letting them fall by the wayside or rather treating the upcoming year with a more focused and balanced sense of urgency. There is enough insanity out there that you should not need to add to it.

So as you are enjoying this Holiday Week leading up to New Years, I challenge you to approach 2013 with a sense of “Jubilee”. I include some steps as you should always be looking to sharpen your saw every chance you get:

1. Take the time you need to get some rest…both mental and physical

2. Take some time to have redemption of home. Home is where your heart is.

3. Take the opportunity to reflect so that you can move forward.

4. This is the time and place for your ax sharpening. Read positive, Watch positive and by all means BE positive.

5. Relationships are your priority over anything materialistic.

6. Last but not least…Focus and re-focus…focus and re-focus…..

In closing, ONLY YOU can make the true difference in what you do and what YOU accomplish. Make this coming year 2013 the best you have experienced yet! Be the Leader that you are meant to be. Peace and God Bless. BB

And please don’t forget that I look forward to hearing back from you. Your comments are always welcome and I challenge you to tell me what YOUR Jubilee year is going to look like….   Enjoy this film as you Focus and Re Focus

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Do you understand the value of Servant Leadership or are you afraid of it?

It has become my daily habit to pick up my copy of the Maxwell Leadership Bible (as noted previously, John has gone thru and broken it down from a Leader / Leadership perspective) and randomly without looking pick a spot to open up to.

Upon opening up today, I came across a section on David in I Samuel 30 17-20 that talks on what is probably my most favorite topic and subject. That on Servanthood or Servant Leadership.

Servant Leadership can be so misunderstood at times and yet when the full aspect and impact of what servant leadership stands for is encountered it can be so fulfilling. What do I mean by this? Well to some, Servant Leadership by its very name can give the impression that it is about be a slave to someone. To some people, I have noted that Servant Leadership can be insulting but it is alright for the other person to serve you. Servant Leadership should be mutual to all parties.

David’s leadership was first and foremost about serving his team and not about his own fame or that of his conquests. It was about relationships and partnerships. After a particular battle, a great deal of plunder was acquired. It appears that prior to this battle a number of his soldiers were worn out from previous campaigns and were left in the rear to deal with bringing up supplies etc. What would have been obvious and is more the norm in today’s world, would be for the soldiers who actually fought the battle to say that the plunder belonged to just them. But because of David’s leadership and the principles of servant leadership, he was able to clearly show all involved that ALL members of the team deserved to share in the spoils as well as the joy of the victories.

So let me sum this up in a few steps but before I do let me say that be it politics, elections, or the running of companies, Servant Leadership can and will bring about many successes and feelings of satisfaction in a Job Well Done and relationships that will last.

David’s Servant Leadership

1. helped others see the contribution of everyone’s gift (everyone brings value to the total Team event.
2. Allowing everyone to celebrate the victory and share in its spoils clearly showed the true Big Picture that it is not just about one person.
3. The promotion of the goodwill of Servant Leadership is contagious and becomes a win-win for all.
4. When a leader serves today, it pays big dividends tomorrow in future relationships
5. Servant Leadership if properly developed can be totally instrumental and mutually beneficial on a nationwide basis.

Peace. BB