Potency

“Always leave a place better than the way you found it.” I can hear my mom repeating this to me when I was growing up and even into adulthood. This was a small principle mentioned that helped me consider cleanliness and order. It was drilled in me so much that even to this day, if I travel to a hotel or an Airbnb where housekeeping is available, I still make an effort to tidy up and make the room presentable for housekeeping to do their job.

I have continued growing in this principle of leaving a place better than the way I found it with other areas of my life including my career, ministry, and other non-profit responsibilities. Principles can be manifold. What’s one of the lessons? Stewardship. Walking in stewardship causes us to manage resources well around us. The biggest takeaway for me has been that we carry potency. Think about the similarity of potency to potential. There is something so powerful, so unique, so lasting about us, where we can’t help leaving an imprint.

Like the fragrant smell of a beautiful ointment, perfume, or cologne, we can overwhelmingly impact an environment or with subtle notes leave hints. I think it is up to us and also reflective on what we bring that determines how we leave an environment better.

Brilliant ones, you and I are brilliant lights and uniquely potent. Release your potency and together, let’s continue making the world a better place.

Be Ye Also Ready

Brilliant ones!!! Unexpected things are on the horizon. I believe this strongly!! What will it take?

Readiness.  It is a concept that we know about but maybe it is not at the forefront of our thoughts. Readiness plays an important part in our next.  Readiness is having an expectation that something will happen and being prepared for it. Have you heard the saying be ye also ready?  It comes from a scripture where Jesus encouraged His disciples to prepare and reiterated that He might appear in an hour that was least expected.  Isn’t that typically how opportunities, blessings, and breakthroughs work? They appear when least expected.  Most of us have small hints or inclinations about things we should work on or prepare.  We either pay little attention to the hints or want to hurry up and get the preparation over.  Brilliant ones, we are in a strong season of preparedness.  What are you getting ready for?  I know what I am getting ready for and it takes a couple of things.   Readiness takes a plan or a blueprint.  Readiness takes practice. Readiness takes time.  Readiness takes focus.  Readiness may require feedback.  The list may swell or lessen. Whatever it takes, let’s BE READY and when opportunity comes we will step forward with full confidence.

Give Me Eyes to See

One of the unique gifts I have that manifested as a young child is a good sense of direction.  My mom, who I believe is a little directionally challenged in driving, would sit me in the passenger seat of her car and rely on me to give her directions around town.  Though I was not the driver, I had the ability to recognize landmarks, turns, streets, and signs and I would literally say “you need to turn there.”  She didn’t mind it at all.  I became her riding buddy.  Even though I was not the dominant person driving the vehicle, without my eyes and vision, we would not have made it to our destination.   Leading brilliantly is correlated.  Leadership requires that someone can see and give direction. The person who sees may not be the dominant person. The dominant person may need an ear to hear.  I am not being rude with my statement, but there is a cliché that says “the blind can’t lead the blind.” Who is it that has a unique ability to see? I am not referring to just natural sight but inspirational sight.  Who is it that has the fortitude to recognize what is going on and give direction? Where do you turn? What do you do?  Who can see the potential that lies in people, opportunities, or even resources?  Shining lights are one thing, but if you can’t SEE the light, what good is it?   

There is a new possibility that is right before you. There is a new perspective that is waiting for you but only if you could actually see it or maybe it is for someone else to see it.  As you are approaching whatever task or circumstance that is set before you, simply utter “give me eyes to see”.  The unique thing about this is that the direction may come to you directly or to the eyes of the person sitting in your figurative passenger’s seat.  Whether it is your eyes or their eyes, you can’t get to your destination without good direction.

Words

There are intricate units of language that fill our days. These units fit together like a puzzle and frame our communication and also our world. What are these units? They are known as words.  Words are not just vehicles of communication, but vehicles for brilliance.  How do words impact our leadership and our ability to be brilliant?  Words have ‘weight’ to attract darkness or light. There is a psalm that states, “your word is a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path”.  This psalm indicates that word or words can be infused with light and also have the ability to produce light and clarity specifically for direction and what’s up ahead.  Considering this, when was the last time that you observed words spoken or even words around you?  These words can apply to several areas of your life: your health, personality, leadership, company, and friendships to name a few.  The list goes on and on. Speak them. Write them. Define them. Hang them up around you. Surround yourself with words. Meditate on words. Why? Because words frame you. Words equal brilliance.

A Beehive Called Mediocrity

I recently encountered a beehive called mediocrity.  When you think of a beehive, you are presented two opportunities: one for sweetness and honey or another can be a painful attack. As a leader, you realize quickly that a decision must be made.  Do you become the ‘influencer/troubler’ (the person who stirs the beehive and leads the hive to new actions, beliefs, and ways of doing) or do you hear the collective cries that state “we’ve always done it this way” or " let us be”?  Will the outcome of your leadership produce honey like that which is found in the choicest of hives or leave a sharp bitter pain because of numerous stings? 

I am reminded of a wise teacher who spoke of entering a city.  He noted that he could not accomplish the work he was gifted to accomplish amongst the people because of unbelief and familiarity. Unbelief and familiarity become the pillars of mediocrity.  The teacher offered much to the people but the people settled for comfort.  They rejected his wise teachings and became a source of resistance to his leadership.  In turn, the teacher noted that he couldn’t accomplish work in that city. He quickly exited and pursued other opportunities.

As leaders we must discern whether our leadership in an opportunity or atmosphere has the potential for sweet honey and victory or bitterness and tragedy. There are risks at every corner and challenges in leadership.  No work of leadership is 100% victory at every moment but eventually there should be evidence that your presence as a leader creates beautiful synergies and impacts for positive outcomes.  Your leadership should be value add.  Are you connected with those who believe in you, your abilities, and what you stand for? If not, will your attempt of leadership bring disruption that stirs a hive to attack?  What will become of your attempts?

Some atmospheres will never change or accept what you bring. Some atmospheres are not hungry enough to step out of what has become a comfortable norm.   Take some time this week to assess whether you are connecting with people and atmospheres that receive your brilliance or attack your brilliance.  At some point you must be willing to shake the dust from your feet and move forward to the place where your gifts, leadership, and excellence are received and flourish the most. Take time today to consider if your gifts are tied because of mediocrity. What good is brilliant light if it is smothered by a pseudo darkness known as mediocrity.

Like a B.O.S.S.- Build on Something Solid

We are in the age of the “BOSS”.  Many are using the term to describe a person who not only leads people or has people reporting to them, but also to describe a person demonstrating the ability to make great strides in entrepreneurship.  I believe individuals have the opportunity to be a “BOSS” in any aspect of life.  The key to this is: Build on Something Solid.  Solid foundations enable us to be wise builders.  What do I mean when I say have a solid foundation?  There was a story given by a wise teacher who instructed his followers that if they heeded his words and put his words to practice, they would be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Afterwards the rain came, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house but the house did not fall because it had its foundation on the rock.  The teacher understood that he offered principles that were sound and were sturdy and if his followers adhered to his principles, they would be able to face obstacles but not fail.

In the excitement of our times, most of us desire greatness and some level of accomplishment with the work of our hands. This is possible but how many stop to consider the foundation first? Have you assessed what values, beliefs, habits, and processes you adhere to that will allow you to be successful? Have you assessed if there are areas that need strengthening? Are you aware of the time commitment necessary to have a solid foundation?  Most foundations must be allowed to ‘settle’. 

Considering these questions, my thought today is if you desire to be a “BOSS”, then Build on Something Solid.

Seek a solid spiritual foundation. Seek a solid foundation in knowledge and wisdom that is enhanced by curiosity. Seek a solid foundation in technical expertise and agility. Seek a solid business plan with a solid product or service.  Seek a solid foundation with great processes.  Seek a solid value system. Seek solid communication.  All of these produce for a great foundation and will undergird whatever you seek to accomplish.  Then as you move forward, when the unexpected trials and storms approach, whatever has been built can be sustained because in the end, you know the foundation is sure.  Brilliant ones, let’s go build, but build on something solid!

The Art of Treating People Well

“Love your neighbor as you love yourself”. This is a command and principle I have heard over and over again since I was a little girl and I have even repeated the saying.  You can repeat a principle verbally without really understanding how to execute the principle in day to day interactions.  Earlier this week as I was sitting at my desk, a thought came to mind about this principle and soon thereafter a phrase came to mind: the art of treating people well.  As I look back through my formal education, spiritual upbringing, and even professional development, I noted that there was NEVER a class or course offered or an extended emphasis on how to treat people.  I believe our society equates this as a principle that should be taught in the child rearing years. 

Most service oriented businesses are employing some type of training around this topic.  The sheer nature of customer interfacing and the desire to deliver exceptional service has economic implications. People like great service and will pay for great service. But how many individuals have the desire to become artful masters at treating people well just because?  How many have embraced this as a way of leading in life? As I further contemplated this topic I looked to those who I admire who in my opinion were/are great leaders (Jesus, Mother Teresa, Oprah, and a list of others) and found that one of the common things they were exceptional at was treating people well. I could give countless examples.  Be it through their service, philanthropy, or teachings, at the root of it is love and a desire to treat others exceptionally regardless of whether they deserve it.  As we aspire to lead brilliantly, let us not forget the strength and brilliance of serving, loving, generously giving, forgiving, and impacting others because we simply treat them the way we would treat ourselves.

iLead....

I like leading. I really do.  I recently gained an understanding that leadership is a value within my internal value system. It is an intricate part of who I am. I realized that I could stop apologizing for this trait. I have dissected this reality wanting to understand what was the driver behind my desire to lead.    “Oh you must be type A” or “wow, you are assertive” some might say.  Leadership can be associated with these sayings. Leadership can be associated with power and control. Some like to lead because it allows them to be out front. These are relevant factors related to leadership but I realized that power and control were not motivating factors for me.  As I began to look introspectively, I asked questions and finally came up with an answer as to what really drives my desire to lead.  Dictionary.com defines “lead” as to go before or with to show the way; conduct or escort.  I like the word escort.  An escort is a person who typically accompanies another on a journey with the desire to get the individual to a destination safely, informed, and empowered.   There is also typically a desire to show honor when you escort a person. This is what motivates me.  I love clarity and those who provide it. I love the feeling of being placed on a correct path towards a destination or having undergirded someone else on their path in excellence.    How are you escorting the world around you?  Do you realize that this is leadership? Do you realize that you can escort others in just about anything: in the workplace, at home, or in your community? Lead with knowledge related to your hobbies. Lead with your style and fashion. Lead with your beliefs. I am purposing to lead (escort) in this season. Thus iLead……. will you lead?