Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
What Dr. MLK Means to Me
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that ALL men are created equal.
The declaration of independence states that if people are being ruled or governed by someone and that someone is not operating in the best interest of the people, the people have a right to fight against that government.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. did just that. He fought against a government that insisted that minorities in this country were not equal. As a result, tomorrow, for the first time in history, a Black man will take the oath of office as President of the United States.
What Martin Luther King, Jr. means to me is the right to equality, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. What he also means to me is a responsibility to stand for that right. Even if it’s not realized in our lifetime, we are obligated to pave the way for our children and their children.
It wasn’t too long ago that White people were complaining about the minorities taking all their jobs. Now the minorities are complaining about foreigners coming over and taking all their jobs.
What is that??? It can’t all be someone else’s fault or responsibility.
At some point, we each have to make a stand for what we believe is right, just as Dr. King did.
We have to stand for equality – equality in our education. The nation opened up the opportunity for charter schools to come in and do a better job than our public schools. What did we do? We settled for what the public schools offered because it took too much effort to support and send our kids to charter schools.
We have to stand for liberty – liberty in our daily activities. We have the freedom to do and become whatever we believe we were created to do or be. What do we choose? We choose to be average. Every day we see reports of job losses and high unemployment rates. This is not the image of liberty the founding fathers had in mind.
Happiness. That means something different for everyone. Yet, how many of us actually pursue legitimate happiness? Some try to find it in drugs, sex, alcohol. How happy can it be if it comes at someone else’s expense? That happiness must come from the inside. It comes from worthwhile endeavors that pave the way for future generations.
Dr. King had a dream that all men in this country would be equal, truly equal, as our Declaration of Independence states. It is our responsibility to keep that dream alive by pursuing equality, liberty, and happiness so our children can have something to look forward to. It’s is not solely Barack Obama’s responsibility. The responsibility falls on all of us.
The declaration of independence states that if people are being ruled or governed by someone and that someone is not operating in the best interest of the people, the people have a right to fight against that government.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. did just that. He fought against a government that insisted that minorities in this country were not equal. As a result, tomorrow, for the first time in history, a Black man will take the oath of office as President of the United States.
What Martin Luther King, Jr. means to me is the right to equality, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. What he also means to me is a responsibility to stand for that right. Even if it’s not realized in our lifetime, we are obligated to pave the way for our children and their children.
It wasn’t too long ago that White people were complaining about the minorities taking all their jobs. Now the minorities are complaining about foreigners coming over and taking all their jobs.
What is that??? It can’t all be someone else’s fault or responsibility.
At some point, we each have to make a stand for what we believe is right, just as Dr. King did.
We have to stand for equality – equality in our education. The nation opened up the opportunity for charter schools to come in and do a better job than our public schools. What did we do? We settled for what the public schools offered because it took too much effort to support and send our kids to charter schools.
We have to stand for liberty – liberty in our daily activities. We have the freedom to do and become whatever we believe we were created to do or be. What do we choose? We choose to be average. Every day we see reports of job losses and high unemployment rates. This is not the image of liberty the founding fathers had in mind.
Happiness. That means something different for everyone. Yet, how many of us actually pursue legitimate happiness? Some try to find it in drugs, sex, alcohol. How happy can it be if it comes at someone else’s expense? That happiness must come from the inside. It comes from worthwhile endeavors that pave the way for future generations.
Dr. King had a dream that all men in this country would be equal, truly equal, as our Declaration of Independence states. It is our responsibility to keep that dream alive by pursuing equality, liberty, and happiness so our children can have something to look forward to. It’s is not solely Barack Obama’s responsibility. The responsibility falls on all of us.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Leaders Are Visionary
What do you see? That is a powerful question in terms of planning and development. The key to accomplishing anything worthwhile is vision, being able to see what you are pursuing before you actually get it. R. Kelly says in his song I Believe I Can Fly, “If I can see it, then I can do it.” The reality is that you are only limited by what you can see.
Leaders are visionary. They have the ability to see into the future. They see before others see. I know that may sound kind of fishy, but look at it this way. Great leaders are those who created fantastic images in their minds of the future they wanted to achieve. They captured their images and transformed them into statements of vision and cast those vision statements to their teams. Their teams then had a clear understanding of the direction in which the leader wanted to progress and effectively moved in that direction.
My company is currently a small company, but the vision is magnificent. If my laders can see the picture, it encompasses many departments and many hundreds of people fulfilling the roles. My leaders have to ask themselves this question, "What future do I see?" That has to be the driving question for planning their daily activities, and the answer has to move us toward that magnificent vision. They have to be able to see themselves within the big picture and create a vision of their own from that perspective. Great leaders truly are visionary.
Leaders are visionary. They have the ability to see into the future. They see before others see. I know that may sound kind of fishy, but look at it this way. Great leaders are those who created fantastic images in their minds of the future they wanted to achieve. They captured their images and transformed them into statements of vision and cast those vision statements to their teams. Their teams then had a clear understanding of the direction in which the leader wanted to progress and effectively moved in that direction.
My company is currently a small company, but the vision is magnificent. If my laders can see the picture, it encompasses many departments and many hundreds of people fulfilling the roles. My leaders have to ask themselves this question, "What future do I see?" That has to be the driving question for planning their daily activities, and the answer has to move us toward that magnificent vision. They have to be able to see themselves within the big picture and create a vision of their own from that perspective. Great leaders truly are visionary.
The Nurturing Leader
Some of the steps involved in growing living things include tilling the ground, planting the seeds, watering it, and providing the proper lighting. A key step in the process, however, is nurture. Dictionary.com uses powerful words like feed and protect, support and encourage, and train and educate to describe the word nurture.
According to John Maxwell, everything rises and falls on the leader. Ultimately, the leader is responsible for everything that happens. When people don’t grow, it falls on the leader. I want the developing leaders in my company to focus on learning the skills necessary to help people who report to them grow. Their job is to nurture their people (feed, protect, support, encourage, train, and educate) so they can grow to fulfill their employment responsibilities.
I know, they’re thinking, “But, I don’t currently have anyone to lead!” That’s right, and if they don’t learn these valuable leadership tools, they won’t ever have anyone to lead. The whole point of the focus on leadership is to grow the company, and with that growth comes people they will need to lead. I am relying on them to become the top level leader they need to become to help our company reach our awesome vision.
According to John Maxwell, everything rises and falls on the leader. Ultimately, the leader is responsible for everything that happens. When people don’t grow, it falls on the leader. I want the developing leaders in my company to focus on learning the skills necessary to help people who report to them grow. Their job is to nurture their people (feed, protect, support, encourage, train, and educate) so they can grow to fulfill their employment responsibilities.
I know, they’re thinking, “But, I don’t currently have anyone to lead!” That’s right, and if they don’t learn these valuable leadership tools, they won’t ever have anyone to lead. The whole point of the focus on leadership is to grow the company, and with that growth comes people they will need to lead. I am relying on them to become the top level leader they need to become to help our company reach our awesome vision.
Leadership Best Practices
As a leader who is developing a diverse team of leaders, I often find it challenging to know exactly what to say or do to keep the team motivated and on target. We have a compelling vision of growth and leadership in the home health industry, and my job is to ensure my team is up to the task. With that in mind, I spend countless hours scouring whatever information I can find that will help me grow as a leader.
Everyone needs to work on growth. No one has arrived. In order for me to have the company I envision, I have to remember this important principle. Anything that does not grow is dead or dying. I don’t want to die. Therefore, I use whatever personal time, energy, and money I need to use to become the leader my company needs to get us to the vision I see. If I can’t do that, I need to consider moving on to something else.
You are leaders in your company (regardless of your role), and you should have the same passion for personal growth and development. In order to ensure you are leading effectively, you need to ensure your leadership information is current. Spend time reading leadership materials by current industry leaders. The key is to be consistent in your pursuit of excellence. Never stop learning.
Everyone needs to work on growth. No one has arrived. In order for me to have the company I envision, I have to remember this important principle. Anything that does not grow is dead or dying. I don’t want to die. Therefore, I use whatever personal time, energy, and money I need to use to become the leader my company needs to get us to the vision I see. If I can’t do that, I need to consider moving on to something else.
You are leaders in your company (regardless of your role), and you should have the same passion for personal growth and development. In order to ensure you are leading effectively, you need to ensure your leadership information is current. Spend time reading leadership materials by current industry leaders. The key is to be consistent in your pursuit of excellence. Never stop learning.
Friday, January 2, 2009
What if...?
Malachi begins with God reminding Israel that they were his chosen people. He reminded them that he loved Jacob and hated Esau, and no matter what Esau did, his mind would not be changed about them. Jacob didn't have to do anything to earn God's love because God had already chosen to love him.
I ask this question. Is it possible humans do too much, trying to earn God's love and favor? We grovel, bowing and scraping and begging for God to forgive us and love us. We do extra good works. We cry as we pray and make sad or mournful faces.
But, what if...?
What if it were a lot simpler than that? What if it doesn't take all that to get God to love us? What if...?
In thinking back to when there were just the Creator and his human, I thought about the fact that Adam didn't have to bow or scrape or beg for God's favor and love. They just walked together and talked "in the cool of the day." They enjoyed each other's company, and it was effortless for man to know God's love.
The bowing and scraping and begging came after the fall, when man lost connection with God. Man created the begging and pleading for love and favor. It didn't come from God. How many of the traditions we observe were originated by man in an attempt to earn God's love and favor?
What if God's love is readily available, and all we have to do is allow it? What if there really wasn't anything we could physically do to get God to love and favor us and that love was already given? Have we humans made it harder than it has to be?
I ask this question. Is it possible humans do too much, trying to earn God's love and favor? We grovel, bowing and scraping and begging for God to forgive us and love us. We do extra good works. We cry as we pray and make sad or mournful faces.
But, what if...?
What if it were a lot simpler than that? What if it doesn't take all that to get God to love us? What if...?
In thinking back to when there were just the Creator and his human, I thought about the fact that Adam didn't have to bow or scrape or beg for God's favor and love. They just walked together and talked "in the cool of the day." They enjoyed each other's company, and it was effortless for man to know God's love.
The bowing and scraping and begging came after the fall, when man lost connection with God. Man created the begging and pleading for love and favor. It didn't come from God. How many of the traditions we observe were originated by man in an attempt to earn God's love and favor?
What if God's love is readily available, and all we have to do is allow it? What if there really wasn't anything we could physically do to get God to love and favor us and that love was already given? Have we humans made it harder than it has to be?
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