What's Your Desire?

What is your desire?  Your desired occupation?  Your desired relationship status?  Your desired weight?  Your desired living conditions?  Your desired self-improvements?  

The reality is this...we will continue to live the same, communicate the same, argue the same, serve the same, relate the same, weigh the same, and be the same UNTIL our desire to CHANGE becomes greater than our desire to stay the same.

The question becomes:  How bad do you want it?  How bad do you want to change?  

It's easy to complain.  It's easy to talk about CHANGE...but to truly see change our desire must be greater than our desire to remain the same.

#desiregreatness

www.reachoutandimpactalife.com

Superbowl Blackout had an IMPACT...

Prior to the black out in yesterday's Superbowl game, the Ravens had a 28-6 lead over the Niners.  Not only did they have a comfortable lead, they also had all the momentum   They had just opened up the second half of play with a 108 yard touchdown return.  Momentum was indeed on their side.

Then the lights in the Super Dome went out!  This power surge definitely made a huge IMPACT on the game.  Following the blackout, the Niners rallied back and came without 5 yards of winning the game.  Momentum had shifted in the favor of the Niners.

The blackout CHANGED the game.  It changed the momentum.  It changed the flow.  It changed the mind-set.  It changed the environment.

As I think about LEADERSHIP, I find myself asking the question, "What kind of IMPACT am I making?"  Does my leadership change the momentum?  Does my leadership change the flow?  Does my leadership change the mind-set?  Does my leadership change the environment?

Leadership is about creating positive change!  It's about challenging ourselves and others to be better and do better.  As leaders in our schools, in our homes, at our workplaces, its up to us to MAKE AN IMPACT, to make a difference, to create positive change.  (Change of attitude, momentum, mind-set, behavior, etc...)

Reflect on this:  What kind of IMPACT are you making?

Shine Bright like a Diamond!

In the picture above TWO diamonds are shown.  The one on the left is a diamond in its natural state, an uncut diamond.  The second one on the right is a cut, clean, and polished diamond.

We've all heard the phrase "DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH"!  Someone or something that has hidden exceptional characteristics or future potential, but currently lacks the final touches that would make them truly stand out from the crowd.

What's so interesting about diamonds is the fact that on the surface diamonds are quite ordinary at first glance.  The beauty of a diamond is only realized through the cutting and polishing PROCESS.

I believe we all desire to SHINE BRIGHT LIKE A DIAMOND...but we fear the process.  We want the comfort of a polished diamond, but are we willing to be CUT.  

Deep down in all of us is EXCEPTIONAL potential.  The potential to impact a life, to make a difference, to be better, to do more, to create change, to improve relationships, to become healthier, etc...however in order for us to shine bright we must be willing to go through the PROCESS.

We are natural diamonds in their original state, are we willing to go through the PROCESS of being changed?  

Your desire to change must be greater than your desire to stay the same!

DRIP DRIP DRIP...

What's your dream?  What's your passion?  What's your hope and desire?  Often times we want our dreams, passion, and desires to be like water gushing out of the faucet.  We want our relationships to be immediately better.  We want our waist line to be immediately smaller.  We want our dreams to immediately turn into reality.

However, life doesn't really work that way.  There are a few examples of immediate water gushing out of the faucet.  For a small percentage of people things do happen over night.  

But for the large majority of people, success comes over an extended period of time.  For most people, its more of a process that I'd like to call the DRIPPING FAUCET effect.  

A dripping faucet may not seem like much, but over time it can produce a lot of water.  As we chase our dreams, strive to reach out goals, and follow after our desires, we need to realize that life is more like a dripping faucet.  It's going to take time!  It might seem small and insignificant, but over time our consistency WILL PAY OFF.  

There will be days that we have an urge to turn off the faucet on our dreams.  We will become frustrated, annoyed, and irritated that things are taking to long.  Resist the urge!  Let the faucet of your dreams continue to DRIP, DRIP, and DRIP.

Eventually, your dreams will become reality...drip by drip.

(This blog was inspired by Seth Godin)

Showing Up to the Dance

I want you to think back to every Junior High / Middle School dance that you can remember. (I know...awkward already just thinking about it.)

How many of you are like me...you attended every dance, but never actually danced? You did all the pre-dance preparations. Deodorant check! Fresh outfit check! Hair looking good check! Breath smellin good check! Parents dropping you off in the parking lot as far from the dance entrance as possible check! You were set...ready to dance the night away.

Despite all your effort and preparation, once you actually entered the cafeteria (aka Da Club) you did everything EXCEPT DANCE. Instead, you stood on the wall watching the few brave souls dancing. On occasion you actually made fun of those dancing, even though there was no way you were going to get out there on the dance floor.

How many of us live our life much like this scenario? We prepare, prepare, and prepare...but we NEVER actually dance. We are more than willing to attend the dance (life), but we are not willing to get of the wall.

Once we show up at the dance we have a choice to make: are we going to stand against the wall watching others bust a move or are we going to get out there on the dance floor ourselves!

Despite being comfortable against the wall, LIFE (the dance) is much more exciting when we take risk. When we break out of our comfort-zones. When we do more than we ever thought we could possibly do.

What is keeping you ON THE WALL? What is holding you back?

L.E.A.P. of the Wall:

1. Let go of your fears
2. Exceed your own expectations
3. Accept challenges and set-backs
4. Participate fully

Bust a Move!

Bigger is Not Always Better

It's funny how as kids we tend to think that the BIGGER the present the BETTER it must be. This morning I was reminded of this as I watched my three kids open their gifts. Each of them naturally gravitated toward the BIGGER gifts.

However, as adults we know that BIGGER presents are not always BETTER. In fact, often is the case that smaller presents end up being AMAZING!

What about when it comes to leadership and life? I think sometimes we get overwhelmed with BIG projects, or ideas, or tasks. We think that the only way to make of impact or difference is by doing something BIG!

I would argue that leaders should be engaged in BIG events, but not at the expense of doing the small things. Small things can have just as much impact if not more than big things. It's usually the small things that make others feel appreciated, valued, noticed, and important.

Make someone else feel BIG but doing something small!

Read more at: www.reachoutandimpactalife.com

Don't Throw the RED FLAG!

"Yeah, I know the rules," Schwartz said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.  "You can't challenge a turnover or a scoring play and I overreacted.  I was so mad that they didn't call him down 'cause he was obviously down on the field.  I had the flag out of my pocket before he even scored the touchdown.  That's all my fault.  I overreacted in that situation and I cost us a touchdown and ultimately the game."

By throwing the challenge flag, Schwartz guaranteed that the play wouldn’t be reviewed which let an obviously blown call by the officials stand. It’s a bad rule, but, as Schwartz said, it is one the coach knew and one he has to keep in mind during the heat of the action. It’s not hard to draw a line from that lack of discipline to the lack of discipline his team has shown on the field far too often in the last few years.

As I watched this unfold yesterday and read this today, there are several leadership lessons to be gleaned from this situation.  I have divided them up into positive and negative leadership lessons:

POSITIVE:

• The coach (leader) took full responsibility for his actions.  He did go out and blame his assistance coaches, players, or referees.  He owned up to his mistake.  GREAT LEADERS TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS.

NEGATIVE:

• Leaders (coach) can’t afford to lose their “cool”.  When leaders lose their cool then end of making vital mistakes.  In this situation the coach cost his team a victory.
• Leaders (coach) can’t overact in a time of crises or difficulties.  When leaders overact it creates a chain reaction.  In this situation the coach again allowed his emotions to get the best of him and ultimately cost the entire team.
• Leaders (coach) must be disciplined.  When leaders show a lack of discipline it affects everyone else in the organization / team. 
• Leaders (coach) must understand that they represent something far greater than themselves.  So when leaders act selfishly it has a negative effect on the entire organization / team.  Leaders must be able to handle difficult situation in a professional manner, ensuring that they have the best interest of everyone in mind.  Selfish decisions are costly!

WEB: www.reachoutandimpactalife.com

FB:  www.facebook.com/stephenamundson7

Make Every Second Count for Something

The University of Oregon currently averages 52 points per game. You may like another college football team or may careless about college football all together. However, the reality is their offense is explosive and it scores an extreme amount of points.

This past weekend I noticed something that more than likely contributes to their high scoring offense. When most teams simply "take a knee" and let time expire before the end of each quarter or before halftime...the Oregon Ducks continue to play. There might only be a few seconds left before halftime and the Oregon Ducks are still going full steam ahead. They don't stop until TIME EXPIRES. They don't rest. They don't shut it down. They don't quit. They don't give up. Instead, they play every second of every quarter and MAKE EVERY SECOND COUNT for something.

Leaders do you see the connection? There are times in our lives when we take a "play off". When we just let the clock run out, instead of maximizing our opportunity to MAKE EVERY SECOND COUNT. I challenge you in life and in leadership to never give up, never give in, never miss out on an opportunity to make a difference.

web:  www.reachoutandimpactalife.com

fb: www.facebook.com/stephenamundson7 

Interested vs. Committed

The amazing story of Charles Blondin, a famous French tightrope walker, is a wonderful illustration of the difference between someone being interested vs. being committed.

Blondin's greatest fame came on September 14, 1860, when he became the first person to cross a tightrope stretched 11,000 feet (over a quarter of a mile) across the mighty Niagara Falls. People from both Canada and America came from miles away to see this great feat.

He walked across, 160 feet above the falls, several times... each time with a different daring feat - once in a sack, on stilts, on a bicycle, in the dark, and blindfolded. One time he even carried a stove and cooked an omelet in the middle of the rope!

A large crowd gathered and the buzz of excitement ran along both sides of the river bank. The crowd “Oohed and Aahed!” as Blondin carefully walked across - one dangerous step after another - pushing a wheelbarrow holding a sack of potatoes.

Then at one point, he addressed his audience: "Do you believe I can carry a person across in this wheelbarrow?"

The crowd enthusiastically yelled, "Yes! You are the greatest tightrope walker in the world. We believe!"

"Okay," said Blondin, "Who wants to get into the wheelbarrow."

As far as the Blondin story goes, no one did at the time!

----

The people were interested. They enjoyed watching from the sidelines. They enjoyed watching Blondin take all the risk. They enjoyed staying within their comfort-zone.

However, the people in the audience, were NOT committed.

There is a HUGE difference between being interested and committed.

Are you interested in whatever it is your involved in or are you committed?

web:  www.reachoutandimpactalife.com

fb: www.facebook.com/stephenamundson7 

Home-Court Advantage

Teams throughout history post a better home record than away record.  It is very apparent that teams just simply perform better when they play at home as opposed to on the road.  There could be several factors that attribute to the home teams success. Here are THREE that instantly come to mind:

BELIEVE

When you play at home you have the support of the crowd on your side.  You have people in the seats that believe in you and desire to see you succeed.

ENCOURAGEMENT

When you play at home you have the encouragement of the crowd.  When you do something great your fans cheer uncontrollably.  Even when you miss a play, strikeout, or shoot an air-ball...for the most part you still have people encouraging you to do better next time.

COMFORT

When you play at home you are comfortable.  You are familiar with your surroundings.  You have you very own "sweet spot" that enables you to be successful.

Everyday people enter your organization, business, church or school!  As leaders it is our responsibility to make these people feel like they are "playing at home".  Every person we encounter throughout the day should feel comfortable, encouraged, and walk away knowing someone believes in them.

The key to making people feel like they have "home-court advantage" is through POSITIVE COMMUNICATION.  Through our verbal and non-verbal communication we are either building others up or tearing them down.  

What are you communicating with the people you come in contact with on a daily basis?

Learn more at:  www.reachoutandimpactalife.com