Saturday, March 5, 2011

The right attitude comes first..

In the book of Numbers, 13:30-31, The Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it." But the men who had gone up with him said, "we are not able to go up against the pwople, for hey are stronger that we are."

How are we there be such differing opinions on the same topic? Because there was a difference in attitude. Attitude makes all the difference. The development of a positive attitude is the first conscious step toward becoming an effective leader. Successful leadership cannot be constructed without this crucial build block. Check out the following attitde axioms suggested by the words and actions of Josh and Caleb:
1. Our attitude determines our approach to life.
2. Our attitude determines our relationships with people.
3. Our attitude is often the only differnece between success and failure.
4. Our attitude at the beginning of a task will affect its outcome more than anything else
5. Our attitude can turn problems into blessings.
and lastly
6. Our attitude is not automatically good just because we belong to God.

The question that comes to mind is .. How would you improve your attitude?

Thursday, March 3, 2011

If you fall, Get back up..

Judges 3:7-9 "So the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God .... Therefore the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel and He sold them into the hand of Cushan-Rishathaim King of Mesopotamia, and the children of Israel served Cushan-Rishathaim eight years. When the children of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the children of Israel, who delivered them".

I think this is a great message tonight. However it does follow the passing passages that I have recently shared. Going back to the term "Courage", and what Mark Cuban said .. "It doesn't matter how many times you fail. It doesn't matter how many times you almost get it right. No one is going to know or care about your failures, and neither should you. All you have to do is learn from them and those around you because... All that matters in business is that you get it right once. Then everyone can tell you how lucky you are."

Austin O'Malley said, "The fact that you have been knocked down is interesting, but the length of time you remain down is important". In life, you will have problems. Are you going to give up and stay down, wallowing in your defeat, or are you going to get back on your feet as quickly as you can? When you fall, make the best of it and get back on your feet. learn what you can from your mistake, and then get back in the game. View your errors the way Henry Ford did his. He said, "Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently".

--Your road map for Success

How can your get back on your feet from a fall?

Quotes..

I have chosen to share a few quotes with you for various reasons. One, simply they are inspirational and mind boggling to myself that wish to share. Please do not read further than the post, for what is read is what was said. Please take these quotes with a grain of salt, and enjoy.

"There was never any fear for me, no fear of failure. If I miss a shot, so what?"
- Michael Jordan
*Staying the course! Getting back on the horse, after you have been bucked and kicked in the teeth!! NO FEAR!

"A lot of people are afraid to tell the truth, to say no. That's where toughness comes into play. Toughness is not being a bully. It's having backbone."
- Robert Kiyosaki
*I like this previous one, for within itself, it says courage.

"Never give in.. never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force.. never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy."
- Winston Churchill
*Be strong and very courageous! Stay the course!

"It doesn't matter how many times you fail. It doesn't matter how many times you almost get it right. No one is going to know or care about your failures, and neither should you. All you have to do is learn from them and those around you because... All that matters in business is that you get it right once. Then everyone can tell you how lucky you are."
- Mark Cuban
*His life is about courage. What is yours about?

You gotta have heart..

I listen to Kutless' song "Strong Tower" while sending you this message. The following message is the devotional from Wednesday, March 2nd.

"And now I am going to Jerusalem, drawn there irresistibly by the holy spirit, not knowing what awaits me, (23) except that the Holy Spirit has told me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus-the work of telling others the Good News about God's wonderful kindness and love! Acts 20:22-24

Who you are precedes what you do. As Paul spoke to the Ephesians, he described the ingredients of an effective leader. Paul made tough calls, yet shed tears in front of people. One thing is sure: (Attitude reflects leadership) Leadership begins with the heart. Paul had a heart that was ...

Consistent-he lived steady while moving among them.
Contrite-he acted humbly and willingly showed his weakness.
Courageous-he didnt shrink from doing the right thing.
Convictional-he communicated his convictions boldly.
Committed-he left for Jerusalem, willing to die for Jesus.
Captivated-he showed that a surrendered man doesn't have to survive.

How do you begin your leadership with your heart?
--> by having an attitude for seeking God in all you do!

Stay the course..

Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. Be strong and very courageous. Obey all the laws Moses gave you. Do not turn away from them and you will be successful in everything you do. Joshua 1:7

==> Before I plagiarize the book, I want to say thank you for those who read this and follow. You are the ones who inspire me to continue and stay the course. This message stands out to me for several reasons. Obviously the title means more than just to stay the course. What does that mean to stay the course? To me, it means to keep on. Setting a goal, to achieve a small victory, in the pursuit of a dream. I pray that my dream is the one that God also has for me. I talk to him regularly, and this is what he leads me to share; "Stay the course"! Simply said.

To be intentional means working with purpose making every action count. Successful leaders are intentional. They know what they're doing and why they're doing it. To become more intentional, do the following:

1. Have a purpose worth living for: Willis R. Whitney, the first director of General Electric's research laboratory, observed, "Some men have thousands of reasons why they cannot do what they want to, when all they need is one reason why the can".
2. Know your strengths and weaknesses: Playing to your strengths rekindles your passions and renews your energy.
3. Prioritize your responsibilities: Once you know the "WHY" of your life, it becomes much easier to figure out the "WHAT" and "WHEN".
4. Learn to say no: You can not accomplish much without focus. If you try to do every good thing that comes your way, you won't excel at what you were made to do.
5. Commit yourself to long-term achievement: Most victories in life are achieved through small incremental wins sustained over time.
(Brought to you by - The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player)

How intentional are you in your daily actions?

Joshua 1:9-8 (yes that is backwards) says "I command you - be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go! Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then you will succeed!"

my previous post..

I aploigize for mistyping straight out of the book of Deuteronomy. haha. silly me.

In the book of Deuteronomy 31-7-8 Moses says to Joshua "Be strong and courageous! You will lead these people into the land that the lord swore to give their ancestors. You are the one who will deliver it to them as their inheritance. (8)Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord is the one who goes before you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor forsake you".

Keep reading and stay tuned!

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

A Leaders Courage..

Deuteronomy 31:7-8 says, " Then Moses called for Joshua, and as all Isreal watched he said to him. "Be strong and couragous! For you will lead these people into the land that the Lord swore to give their ancestors. You are the one who will deliver it to discourage, for the Lord is the one who goes before you. He will be with you, he will neither fail you nor forsake you."

So Ive been reading this book by John Maxwell, called "A Leaders Heart", it is a year long devotional. Todays message goes with a Leaders courage. As in the verse above, The Lord will never leave us or forsake us. How does that make you couragous? Does hearing that add that extra shot of caffine to your coffee or extra boost of sugar in your soda? "For we can do all things through christ who gives us strength" Philippians 4:13.

Whenever you see significan progress in an organization, its because the leader made courageous decisions. However, a leadership position doesnt give a person courage, but courage can give them a leadership position. As you approach the tought decisions that will challenge you, recognize these truths about courage.

1. Courage begins with an inward battle. Courage isnt an absence of fear. It is doing what you are afraid to do.
2. Courage is making things right, not just smoothing them over. Martin Luther King Jr. said, " The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
3. Courage in a leader inspires commitment from followers. Courage is contagious," says evangelist Billy Graham." when a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened." Courage by a leader inspires.
4. Your life expands in proportion to your courage. Roman historian Tacitus said, "The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise." But courage opens doors, and thats one of its most worderful benefits.

How have you shown courage lately?