If you could lead in the most ideal way -what would your leadership look like? What would you see as the “ultimate success” of what you're leading? I am afraid that most who desire to lead, are often throwing darts at a target in the dark, hoping to achieve the goal of hitting the target. Some don’t even have a target and just throw darts in the air. People who are less successful than others can most likely trace their less than outstanding results to a lack of purpose or a lack of desire. But more often, it is because there is no real defined goal and the end picture is not even a little bit in focus. They would probably sheepishly admit “I don’t even know what success would look like." These leaders often say things like, “we need more money.” The fact is, if you find a dime in the street you are a success because now you have found more money. You often hear we need more workers, the fields are white unto harvest. Then the Lord send us workers, only to see them achieve their goal by choosing only people that agree with them and are less capable themselves. The challenge some leaders have is they love comfort and hate a challenge, therefore there is no reason to get better. They want better boards, better finances they want better results, but are they willing to surround themselves with those who may be mavericks, and even disagreeable in order to work at new levels of “exceptionalism?" A true leader stirs it up and knows how to listen, learn and do what has not been done before. I had the blessing of having some wonderful mentors, one of them was always attempting to stir things up. He repeatedly said, “Bill, whenever things slow in your business -hold a meeting! And remember, you are always one recruit away from an explosion. There is power in the one.” If you are having lack of success or limited success you may want to weigh in on these questions!
1. What is your vision? What is truly important to you? Where do you see yourself today and 5 years from now? What does success look like to you?
2. How consistent is your effort?
3. How open are you to learning new things? 4. How willing are you to take viable criticism and look to others and their capabilities, even if it is a bit uncomfortable?
5. How willing are you to go the extra mile?
6. Do you value time? Are things urgent or not?
7. How are your faith muscles?
8. What are your deepest core values? Do they lead you to the creator and all knowing God and everywhere Father? Do you truly recognize the power of God’s Spirit within you?
Scripture says, “A doubled minded man is unstable in all His ways” James 1:8
My friend Jorge Pelayo,a very successful entrepreneur says,” two of the most important words in our vocabulary are look and forward. When you put them together it will be the foundation for success." LOOK FORWARD! So many people can’t see what can be because they are overwhelmed by the minutia of what is, they can’t see what can be. They struggle because of self imposed limitations rather than understand the God they serve. Take action and make a move, or you will maintain much of nothing or have to start over again. There is a natural consequence for status Quo; it never maintains such, it is affected by the law of attrition and reversals. Look ahead from the ordinary to the extraordinary.