If You Try

If You Try

Monday, April 28, 2014

Keep Creating


We all hit a wall from time to time when we are creating. Yet, we cannot let this deter us from continuing to create in some form and fashion. Sometimes we have to get creative in order to create! What I mean is that we have to find outlets when others seem to be closed off or unavailable. I read an inspiring article on the founder of Barnes and Nobles, Leonard Riggio. He said now he tends to focus on small aspects of the company that most would ignore because he is a creative soul and likes to create. Our mental capacities will continue to expand as we work the muscles of imagination and struggle to produce what's currently intangible. No matter what platform it's on, wether it is seen or not, sold or given away, continue to create and good things will happen.

Saturday, April 26, 2014

A Chief Attribute of Good Leadership


I am convinced that in order to be a good leader, the more selfless the person in that role must become. Often when we think of being selfless, we may picture someone in rags and begging for alms. I want to demolish that view. A selfless person is someone who has matured to the point where they are more eager to improve the lives of those around them than solely their own. They have grown to a place where they are able to balance their own wants and needs without sacrificing the welfare of those that follow. One of two things has probably occured in such a leader's life in order for this state of being to happen. They have been so humbled by the life that they have an accurate perspective on what is really important. The other event(s) that may have happened is they have been so blessed and their self esteem so satisfied that they realize the importance of pouring into other people now (since this need has been met in themselves for so long). Every leader's journey is different, but the hallmark of a leader's character is the ability to lose themselves for the good of those that follow. And generally the leader is wise enough to have built a great team of core people around him or her that will make sure the leader's needs and wants are fulfilled as well.

Monday, April 14, 2014

Just a Little Further


When you feel like quitting, simply don't. Rather begin to approach your journey in bite size pieces. Retructure your thinking so that you value even the smallest victories. Perhaps you made one additional phone call or responded to an email. Maybe you read one extra line in a book or did one extra household chore. Whatever it is, it is progress and brings you one step closer to your destination. There will be moments where we feel like we can fly and others where we feel as though we don't even have the will to crawl. That's when we have to tell ourselves "just a little further." Make the extra push, then make another, and another. Soon enough the momentum will come.

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Bounce Back


The quality of resilience is a must for anyone seeking significance. The crashing waves of life will always beat against us this side of eternity. We have to develop a resistance against this undesirable fact. Bouncing back from a huge letdown is difficult at first, but the more we are able to learn, adjust, and adapt, the stronger we become. Just think of yourself as one of those old school rubber balls. Even though you hit the ground from time to time, you will always bounce back. Make that a lifestyle mantra.

Thursday, April 3, 2014

It Comes at a Cost


There will always be a cost associated with doing something of excellence and worth. We have to determine beforehand if we are willing to pay the cost, no matter how great, when pursuing what God has shown us. Or we must decide that we can live without what we envision. The parent who decides to raise their kids the right way must pay the cost of time, energy, and their own personal interests. The college student who will be the first in the family to graduate (should they finish) must be willing to pay the high fee of a limited social life, unwanted discipline, and intense focus. The entry level worker who wants to become a manager of a division must pay the price of working harder and longer than most of her peers. Think of what you want to do and who you want to become and determine if the cost is something you can pay. If not, don't go down that path. Greatness doesn't come cheap.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Carve Out Your Own Niche


The things that make us unique are the very things that create our platforms in life. Your personal experiences, personality, inclinations, and background are what set you apart. Don't bury that! Find a way to refine them, but never let go your differential combination. Take who you are and learn how to form it into some sort of specialization that will be useful to others. You will never be fulfilled if you try to be someone you are not. However it takes courage to be who God made you to be and it is a lifetime of discovery.