Imperfection

We're all there.... Got some foibles, some warts, some shortcomings, and deficiencies. Not a person on the planet is exempt.

The downstream problems that spring from our imperfections are magnified on the strength of the following:

• We're not aware of our imperfections.
• We don't care about our imperfections.
• We do little or nothing to improve ourselves out of those imperfections.

Never in the history of mankind has it been easier to...

• LEARN about ourselves, especially about our imperfections (and their antecendents)
• CONNECT with others who deal with the same, or have the expertise to help us
• BETTER ourselves, thus our relationships, thus our world

Being aware of our own imperfections is a great starting point for accepting them in others. 

We can start today. Right now, in fact. 

AskingPower

Ask for what????

Ask others...

• For their help.
• How to get better.
• To share their insight.
• What they love to do.
• To lend their talent and skills.
• To join in noble and worthy pursuits.

Be prepared to be amazed at what happens when we simply ask (rather than force).

PressureValves

The leaders I've loved working for most over the last 50 years had remarkable pressure valves to "mediate" their frustrations. And, of course, they had frustrations, by the case load.

Here are some of the things they would do in dealing with those frustrations and pain points:

• Without raising their voice, throwing things, or making threats, they let us know, very directly and succinctly, what the frustration causer was.
• They addressed the issue ONLY with the people that needed to know about it, not in blast emails or memos to the whole organization.
• They alerted us to the frustration inducer early, rather than letting a small problem turn into a bigger one.
• Unless it was an issue of urgent safety concern, they managed to infuse a bit of levity into addressing the issue (by use of humor, or story, or analogy). 
• NEVER was belittling, attacking, or demeaning others a part of their remedial effort.
• They framed the problem in terms of "business," not making it a personal issue.
• Hard conversations were always had professionally, with empathy and kindness.

Did those wise folks get frustrated? Of course, almost daily. Did they allow their frustration to become a distraction or causer of more frustration? Nope. They effectively channeled their frustration in ways that resulted in better outcomes for all. 

I am eternally thankful for those powerful and thoughtful mentors. I'm pretty sure I was the cause of some of that frustration. 

LensLeverage

There is strong evidence that we create our own realities. Think not? See Mind to Matter or Switch on Your Brain. 

The way we choose to view problems, barriers, and challenges has everything to do with the speed and efficacy of the solutions we craft (IF we craft them). 

It all starts with us envisioning a better version/solution/outcome, then taking meaningful steps (even if small ones) toward that vision.

Whiny bags, victims, blame throwers, and nervous nellies are not very good at that.

We get to choose....................

          the future we desire, 

                    the lens we view it through, and 

                              the folks we want to get there with.

Now is an excellent time to start.

Impact-vs-Intention

A line in the Travis Tritt song "Best of Intentions" (2000) goes thus, "But I've had the best of intentions from the start."

Almost all of us do. Almost all of us have.

The gap between what we intend and what we do boils down to the degree of commitment and investment we make. Both imply follow through.

Intention is little more than mirage. IMPACT, on the other hand, requires us to show up, to do the work, to invest the sweat equity.

We can move past intentions today....................if we choose to. It's a process, not an event.

ForgeAhead

How do we know when to keep pressing? Misgivings, second thoughts, ambiguity often get in the way. They cause us to tap the brakes and get a little wobbly. 

Here are some good barometers to use:

Forge Ahead when...

• It serves others in a meaningful way.
• It makes good sense morally and ethically.
• We've already pushed away from the shore.
• We've thought it through and planned carefully.
• Conditions have not changed significantly.
• It's something we're passionate about.
• It aligns squarely with our purpose.
• The finish line is in sight.

To quote the late British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher: "Don't go wobbly on us."

Impression>>Influence

 Others draw impressions about us by observing...

• How we spend our time.
• How we look/dress.
• How we speak.
• What we buy.
• Our behavior.
• What we read.
• What we listen to.
• Our professionalism.
• How we interact with others.

Others are INFLUENCED by us based mostly on...

• How we make them feel.........seen, heard, valued, cared for, loved.

All are choices we make. 

Good ones can be made each day.

Consumptribution

With each day and with each breath we are given a choice: We can be a contributor or we can be a consumer. Most of the time, we make the choice with little or no thought.

What's the difference between Contributor and Consumer?

Contributors are mostly outward looking, focused on serving, loving, giving, participating.

Consumers are mostly inward focused, seeking more; more money, more recognition, more comfort, more status, more privilege, more....................than others.

Here comes the sun again, a fresh day dawns. We get to choose anew. 

Contributor? or Consumer?

TeamStifling

Few things are more energizing than working on a high-performing team.

Few things are more DE-energizing than working on a team that has one or more members that seem bent on stifling the collective effort.

Some common team stifler archetypes:

• Petulant Patty - those who close down personally and place barriers when they don't get their way.
• Genius George - those who think and behave as if they are always the smartest person in the room.
• Wobbly Wanda - those that fold like a wet sock when the going gets a little tough.
• Aimless Andy - those who can never seem to buy in........to anything.

The quicker our team can be rid of the stiflers, the quicker we can start achieving our goals.