As you look at this photo, what do you see?  You may have responded something like this:  blue sky, golf course, ball on the green, trees, flagstick, clouds, etc.  There really is not a right or wrong answer here BUT take a look at where the ball is located.  It is close to the flag, and that's good, but you do not know several things:  (1) how many strokes it took to get there; (2) how many are considered "par" for that hole; and (3) what happens after this picture was taken.  All of these descriptions are wonderful set-ups for accountability - the real kind of accountability that we need in our daily lives.  The term and process called "accountability" is often viewed with disdain; however, that should not be the case.  We need to learn to do accountability correctly to maximize relationships and results.

Have you taken the time to sit down and write out your core responses to any and every situation?  If you have not, then you should certainly do so.  In living, just as in leading, we must have things settled in our minds in order to practice them.  Without firm commitment to our convictions, then we will fall into making choices out of convenience.  By continuing, you will see the things established in my heart and mind - a little something called the S.M.I.L.E. Rule.

A long-forgotten blog resurfaced in a strange turn of events, and this entry is just as applicable today as it was a decade ago when it was written...

It has been quite some time since I have shared my thoughts about my devotional readings. No, I have not been unfaithful in reading God's Word; however, I will concede that I do not spend enough time in studying His thoughts. It is amazing how that we, as Christians, stand upon His Word for our eternal destiny; yet, we are so quick to read a chapter and declare our relationship fine. Instead, we must get alone, dig, study, and apply everything that we read. Sometimes, we must read quite a bit in order to discover what God has for us in that setting. Anyway, I needed to remind myself of that fact before moving onward; so please excuse that digression.

If you happen to have XM Radio and listen to Prime Country, then you will have heard the Patty Loveless song "Hurt Me Bad (in a Real Good Way)."  She has an amazing voice that pierces the heart in so many of her songs.  If you have never heard it, well, just click on the song title above.

What does this have to do with leadership?  Everything!  The song speaks to perspective about "good" and "bad" events that happen.  I'm going to share a real world example for you to help you understand the role of leadership in balancing progress and perspective.

Proverbs 16:3 - "Commit your works unto the Lord and your thoughts will be established"

I was introduced to this verse thanks to my high school soccer coach.  Before EVERY game, he would quote this to us and remind us to make sure that we had the right mindset before stepping onto the field.  It took several years for me to unpack the true meaning, but what an influence he had on me by infusing truth from God's Word into our lives.

When you are asked about examples of godly leaders, what names come to mind?  Moses?  Certainly!  Joshua?  Yes!  The apostle Paul?  Without a doubt!  If I told you that Joseph was the most overlooked and godly leader of Scripture, would that grab your attention?  Of course it would!  I admit that claim is bold but step back and think about it for just a minute.  God chose Joseph, of all the men on earth, for a simple but significant purpose - to serve as the earthly father for Jesus with the responsibility to lovingly lead the One who would bring salvation to humanity.  That's a man demanding our attention and study!

Personal branding?  The presentation request just made me cringe.  As an avowed introvert, I am uncomfortable sharing who I am or my detailed thoughts with people I do not know.  Nevertheless, I got to work and discovered that the thought process was enjoyable for me.  It forced me to stop and think and organize, which is something I love to do.  In short, it was a defining moment for me as I pulled together "the 4 Ps of personal branding," so I hope you find them helpful. 

​No person or leader wakes up and decides that they want to be a failure.  Everyone - and I do mean everyone - wants to be a success.  The problem, however, resides in that the definition of success is as different as the people pursuing it.  Some common definitions of success include fame, fortune, position, power, and possessions.  Is that all that there is for leaders?  The answer is no but it will require some explanation.

​Go ahead! I know you are skeptical, so just say it: “It’s impossible for 10 minutes in one day to change your life and your leadership. Impossible!” Just keep reading….

We are all busy.

We all want things to get better.

Where we differ, however, is that some people create the time in their day for improvement.