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George Washington On Stepping Down

Leadership

September 19, 1796:

Friends and Fellow Citizens:

The period for a new election of a citizen to administer the executive government of the United States being not far distant, and the time actually arrived when your thoughts must be employed in designating the person who is to be clothed with that important trust, it appears to me proper, especially as it may conduce to a more distinct expression of the public voice, that I should now apprise you of the resolution I have formed, to decline being considered among the number of those out of whom a choice is to be made…

So begins George Washington’s “farewell address” to the new Republic. He goes on to urge Americans to avoid “excessive political party spirit” and “geographical distinctions.” Thank goodness we have mastered these since President Washington left office…

Seriously, on this President’s Day I am contemplating the humility of George Washington. Some historians have argued that he could have been King. Perhaps, perhaps not.

What is worth noting, what is even worth celebrating, however, is that George Washington DID step down.

This remarkable occurrence led to John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and on and on and on. (If you haven’t read a good book about these two you are simply missing out!)

The lesson for us:

To be someone worth following, you need to remember that you are not invincible. At some point down the road, someone will replace you. So, set them up for success. And always remember that If George Washington was replaceable, so are you!

Thank God for a Republic that models self-restraint.

May our organizations do the same.

Special note to Subscribers: Later this week I am going to send out a post on health (personal and organizational). It is a simple post with one key action. In other words, do this – the key action – so that you can do that – lead – well! I’ll post Wednesday or Thursday. If you haven’t already subscribed, please do. My goal is to have more communication with people that actually read the blog to understand what is helpful, and what it is not. The goal is for this blog to be helpful, obviously.

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singular black chess piece apart from collection of red chess pieces

Playing the Background

Leadership

I recently promoted someone on our team to becoming the new Vice President of Sales. What this means for me personally is that I am no longer going to be as active in the day-to-day activities of the sales team. Because of this new reality, here are three shareable leadership ideas – as it relates to passing on leadership to others – that I have been contemplating lately.

First, “the job of leadership is to awaken the possibility in others,” says Benjamin Zander, the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra. In the vernacular of B.I.B., to be someone worth following you have to be someone that allows others to lead. The sign of a good Dictator is the lack of upward mobility and social unrest. The sign of a good leader, however, is a thriving team after the new person takes charge. Things should get better, not worse, for possibility has been awoken.

Secondly, as John the Baptist said about Jesus, “He must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30). In other words, egotism must be set aside. This is infuriatingly difficult for type A, self-starting, entrepreneurially-minded leaders. But to be someone worth following you need to become less so others can become more. The irony here is that we celebrate and applaud when Steve Jobs comes back to save Apple (1996), and when Howard Schultz comes back to save Starbucks in 2008– praise the Lord, we had our first kid in 2011. Did you know that Starbucks stock was trading at $19.12 at Will’s birth and now trades over $90 per share? Coincidence, I don’t think so! — But wouldn’t those stories have been even cooler if someone else on their teams had stepped up? Someone they had groomed? Obviously, Apple has more than survived Steve’s untimely passing, but aren’t they largely still selling updated versions of the products he, and others, created?

Finally, the name of this post comes from a song on my 2020 Spotify playlist (Background, by Lecrae). Admittedly, I am not a huge rap/hip hop fan —an admission that probably does not surprises my audience, I know. But Lecrae’s lyrics always challenge me to walk more closely with my Savior. So, while I will quote some lyrics to close this post on leadership, keep in mind that the context Lecrae is referring to while reading them (his relationship to God). In my life, these words have dual meaning:

Selected lyrics (click here for all)

I could play the background…

‘Cause I know sometimes I get in the way.

So won’t you take the lead, lead, lead?

Its evident that you run the show, so let me back down

You take the leading role, and I’ll play the background

I don’t need my name in lights, (Aye) I don’t need a staring role

Why gain the whole wide world, if I’m just going lose my soul.

Praying the whole world would start embracing stage freight

So let me fall back, stop giving my suggestions

‘Cause when I follow my obsessions, I end up confessing

That’s I’m not that impressive, matter of fact

I’m who I are, a trail of stardust leading to the superstar…

Playing the Background Read More »

scrabble pieces spelling choose your words

A Leader’s Words

Leadership

The day after noticing that one of our plants had too many parts on the floor, and mentioning that observation to our plant managers, I saw an entirely changed environment. The plants were organized, the parts were contained, and things were back to normal.

One plant in particular had made significant progress. So, I decided to write them a private note explaining how much their effort meant to me. I also explained why the parts on the floor were so bothersome to me; that while it may sound incredibly crazy to others, but to me I saw some of person x’s healthcare on the floor, person y’s bonus, and all of our ability to invest in future machines, infrastructure, and everything else, on the floor. It simply is more than a plastic part, and even if was just that, that would be enough because plastic waste is a serious issue this day and age (I am not being glib, it REALLY is an important issue). I ended the email telling this team how amazing they are for taking just quick action.

I did not think much of the email after I hit send, until the Plant Manager pulled me aside the following morning. “Your email changed the entire tone of the plant this morning. Three people came up to me and asked if I saw Alex’s email.”

I know this puts me in a positive light, but that is not my intent. My intent is to share the realization that my words, a leader’s words, whether written or spoken, are dissected, internalized, and digested by everyone they impact. This means that as leaders we cannot be callous. Further, we cannot just point out what is wrong. We have to look for, and talk about, what is going right. This is so basic, easy to understand, and yet, hard to do because the subconscious works against us sharing something that feels like juvenile behavior affirmation (“good job class!”). Yet, what others hear is validation for their work, and even therapy for their soul, because they know what they are doing is having an impact.

This is also why adults can remember the exact hurtful words said to them decades ago, and also have affection for grade school teachers whose names they may not even remember.

Words simply matter that much.

Use them wisely.

A Leader’s Words Read More »

writing memorial to kobe bryant

Special Post – Thoughts on Kobe, Grief, and Hope

Special Post

Sometime during the spring of 1993 my dad took our French exchange student, the French exchange student’s girlfriend, and myself to a Bulls vs. Pistons game at the old Chicago Stadium. After a memorable three-hour dive downtown —thirty of which the two love birds “made out” in my dad’s back seat (priceless memory), we witnessed MJ take over the fourth quarter of a game against his nemesis, lead the Bulls back into the game, and eventually win it in Overtime. The day ended with my dad handing our exchange student a signed picture of MJ with a personal note written to him in French from Michael (Thanks to Randy Lemcke and Johnny “Red” Kerr).

That was a DAY!

Fast forward to April 2008 at the Staples Center. The Lakers had traded for Pau Gasol and were relevant for the first time since the Shaq/Kobe breakup. I was sitting in the nose-bleed section with Sarah after convincing her that I needed to see Kobe play at the Staples Center. We were in LA on our “Spring Break” (I was actually trying to be a teacher at that point, and she already was!). The Lakers played the first three quarters like the Bulls had back in ‘93, and then it happened. Kobe channeled his inner MJ, took the game over, and willed the Lakers to victory. It was tenacious, or as the kids say these days, “savage,” and in a sports sense it was even “cold blooded.” Walking back to the Biltmore Hotel I told Sarah that we had just seen the closest resemblance to Michael Jordan as we will ever see (My wife is a saint for dealing with my sports fandom, she could care less about the NBA!).

I was fortunate to see Kobe Bryant play basketball several times in person — that being the only time in Los Angeles however — each time being an absolute treat. So, when I heard the news Sunday afternoon I was shocked, sad, and mournful. To be clear, I wasn’t the biggest Kobe Bryant fan in the world. I don’t own any merchandise, shoes, or even have any pictures of him hanging up. I just respected the absolute competitor he was. His example was, and still is, inspiring. And I do not use that word lightly as I can count on ONE hand the number of athletes that have inspired me when seeing them in person (MJ, Tiger, Kobe. In that order).

That’s the background of this post. Now some brief commentary…

Ever since Sunday afternoon there has been a pit in my stomach. While countless unknown people die each day from both preventable, and not preventable, things, there is something unique that happens when a well-known person dies suddenly. In a way, the shared grieving experience brings people together, which is always a weird occurrence in these divided times that we live in.

Kobe Bryant was a husband, father, and forty-one years old. While his life was vastly different than mine, he was, to a certain extent, part of my “sports life” for nearly a quarter-century. He had staying power, and most-likely would have been part of the sports’ narrative for decades to come.

What makes his death hard to accept is that he did not die alone. The unrealized potential of ALL the lives in the helicopter is probably what is both most staggering, and sad. In fact, when I have thought this week about the youngest passengers, including Kobe’s daughter, my lip has quivered and I have had to think about something else.

It is just really sad.

Life is this way.

As I have already mentioned, there are people that lose their lives every single day from preventable, even human, mistakes. There are also terrible injustices that still persist in the broken world we live in.

All this is true, yet when someone like Kobe Bryant dies suddenly, we are all reminded that death does not discriminate, and cares little for what your plans are.

I think that is one of the main reasons this stings for many, me included.

There are, however, other reasons I mourn…

Husbands are not supposed to be torn-away from their wives. Yes, there is a lot to the story of that marriage, the one between Kobe and his wife, but why in the name of human decency dissect it now? Kobe’s life was full of ups, downs, and even horrific mistakes.

You know what?

So, is mine.

Dads should also not be torn away from kids. Kids should not lose their life before it begins. Helicopters with seemingly no mechanic problems should fly without crashing…

Yet, sometimes the world does not work the way it was intended to.

Scratch that, most times the world does not work the way it was intended to.

Jesus said that there would be immense trouble in this world. And you know what?

There is.

The public nature of his tragedy does make it unique because most of the wrongs of the world go unnoticed in our busy lives. This is both sad, and practical. Sad because the world is, at least for now, really messed up. And practical because we have to live life.

Occasionally, however, something like this slows us down for a moment.

Here are some questions to consider this week:

Maybe we should allow the event to speak to us?

Maybe we should take stock of our own lives?

What needs attention?

Or, who needs attention?

Last Saturday Kobe Bryant flew to and from his daughter’s basketball game. While I don’t know for certain, I would imagine some of the same passengers were in the helicopter Saturday that would tragically be in it on Sunday.

Everything worked flawlessly Saturday.

Then Sunday happened.

We just don’t know when our Sunday will come.

Neither did they.

I know. This is hard stuff.

And it stinks.

But I have to remind myself that Sunday will someday happen for me too.

I cringe when Christians offer cheap “niceties” in these kinds of situations, so I am not intending to do so and apologize if anything I have written so far does come across that way.

Instead, I am just going to be blunt on my position and encourage you to seek your own.

Jesus plainly said life would be hard. He died because of it, so why do we expect safety? In fact, there are thousands of His followers being persecuted as I write these words.

There is a price to be paid, that is for sure.

My life, on the other hand, is mostly easy street.

At least presently.

Yet, the day will still come.

Cancer, helicopter crash, old-age, it does not matter.

The day will come.

My hope is in the one that conquered death. So, as I process this senseless tragedy, I look to Him, and follow his advice to mourn with those who mourn.

I know this might sound weird because I never met Kobe, or any of the other passengers on that helicopter, but I do mourn for them.

God speed to them all.

Good-bye “Mamba.”

The next time someone tries to convince me that something cannot be done, I will think of you and work harder.

I may fail, but like you did…

I am going to take the shot while I still can.

Special Post – Thoughts on Kobe, Grief, and Hope Read More »

alex hoffer

3 “Pivots” for 2020

Personal Growth, Special Post

Pivot (v): To turn. Synonyms are “depend, hinge, turn, swivel.”

This is not a post about resolutions.

Rather, it is a post about becoming the kind of person I want to become. I am sharing how I am pivoting to encourage you to do likewise. The reason for the pivot is simple: Starting with the end in mind —where I want to be by year’s end—I need to make some slight adjustments to my routine.

Remember, you have to be intentional to live life well.

Notice that these are pivots, or turns, from what I am already doing. For some, something more than a “pivot” might be necessary (like ending an unhealthy habits like smoking). To be clear, wholesale changes is an entirely different post from this one.

I share the below with a challenge: What changes do you need to make this year to end up where you want to be on December 31, 2020?

Here are mine:

My Theme for 2020: Ruthlessly eliminate hurry. I want to arrive at year’s end with a less-rushed spirit. While that sounds idealistic, I have discovered that hurrying is elevating my stress and anxiety levels. Further, I am NOT someone worth following when I am in a rush. In fact, I can be cold, disengaged, and even moody – just ask Sarah. So, my goal with what follows to eliminate hurry.

Pivot 1: Read slower.

I have averaged 30 plus books the last few years. So, I am setting out to read slower. Here is my reading plan – yes, I need a plan!

5 X 5 Plan (Max 25 books)

5 – History books (*I am focusing on Winston Churchill for at least 2 of these books).

5 – Leadership / Business books

5 – Faith based books

5 – 5 start previous reads (any category)

5 – 5 FUN reads. (Any category, focus is delight!).

Life is too short to read books just to read books. I have also discovered that I have a desire to read books so that I feel better about myself (I crave the “I accomplished” something feeling that finishing a book gives). In other words, I am insecure about my self-worth and knowledge. So, I am challenging myself to slow down this year.

Who am I trying to impress anyway?

Pivot 2: Spiritual Renewal pivot(s).

Okay, there are two here.

First, I am adopting the “Bible in One Year” app created by Nicky Gumbell (Alpha). I read the Bible 312 plus days in 2019, so this is a small pivot (312 to 365). I am doing it because I want more of God’s word in my life in a year of transition, political noise, and countless distractions.

Second, I am stealing an idea from a buddy (Thank You Alex Judd!) and focusing on one idea from the book of Proverbs as a “true north.” Given the change in my role at work, my theme will be:

“Trust in the Lord” (Proverbs 3:5-6). Each month I am also memorizing one Bible verse that reminds me to trust in the Lord (starting with Jeremiah 17:7-8).

This may sound like a lot, but for me it is not a huge change from last year.

Pivot 3: I have created a “Rule of Life” that I will review weekly (in addition to my goals / KRA / planner).

I already do a weekly review in my Full Focus Planner, but was inspired after Sarah sent me a blog post written by Val Marie Paper to create a Rule of Life. In the blog post she shares her creation of a “Rule of Life.” This is basically a one-page sheet breaking out activities that she wants to do DAILY, WEEKLY, QUARTERLY, and YEARLY. You can see an example of hers, or I will send subscribers to BIB mine as a document to work off of (just send me an email). The goal is not to copy Val’s or mine, but to be intentional about your own life, and the kind of person you are becoming. (Note: Author and Pastor Peter Scazzero originally came up with the “Rule of Life.” His book, The Emotionally Healthy Leader, was the most challenging book I read in 2019).

Notice that all three of these pivots aim to help me slow down and spend more time doing things that matter long term.

The question is what pivots do you need to make in order to get you on track to becoming the type of person you want to become by year’s end?

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bald in business symbol

What I learned from Solitude Yesterday (Subscribers Post)

Special Post

In the cue of upcoming posts, I write about a few changes that I am making in 2020. One of the changes is adopting a “Rule of Life,” which I explain in more detail then. For now, think of it is a list of self-guidelines for your daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly activities that you want to prioritize. It isn’t intended to be “legalistic,” but rather “instructive” as to how you spend your time.

In my “monthly” bucket, I have challenged myself to take one extended time (4 hours is the target) away from the office for the purpose of solitude. There are many reasons for solitude, but that is a different post. For now, here are some learnings from yesterday’s time in quiet thinking about life, business, family, and so much more.

(I captured all of this in my Full Focus Planner notebook. I am sharing everything but a business idea that I thought of).

Random tidbits:

What does winning at 100 look like?

This thought came to me about an hour in.

  1. Health
  2. A Happy Marriage
  3. Evidence I have lived for Jesus and not myself
  4. Evidence our kids follow Jesus

Then I put my pen down.

A thought struck that I wrote down next:

I am chasing a lot of the wrong stuff.

Earlier in my time I did an “insecurity check for 1/22/20.”

What do I feel insecure about?

  1. My blog and writing
  2. Leadership
  3. Contribution at work
  4. In general, what people think of me.
  5. My golf game (compared to my dad)
  6. Drawing (this I captured later when I tried drawing what was out my window. Gee, I sound like a weirdo – again, insecure! – I was motivated by the Planner’s space for “sketching”).

I stopped listing at this point because it was getting painful! =)

I am focusing on a Proverb for 2020 (“Trust in the Lord”) and will share more about that in the upcoming post “3 Small Pivots for 2020” that I am either posting 1/27 or 2/3). Given that context, this thought struck me about 90 minutes in….

Rest is a complete TRUST in God’s faithfulness.

It was at this point in solitude where I realized how unimportant I was to the work we do. Things keep running without me checking my email for a few hours, or doing anything productive – as the world defines “productive” (sorry Dad, thank God you don’t read these – LOL).

And this is FREEING on two levels. One, we have a great team! Two, it is not all up to me…

Later, another thought struck me as I sat quietly:

The longer in solitude I spend, the more intense joy returns like a long-lost friend.

Weirdo again.

Insecure again.

But, getting past the rush and noise is so…

Refreshing.

I highly recommend it, which is why I am sharing this post to subscribers today. I am not posting anywhere else.

Don’t buy the lie that you don’t have the time.

You have the time.

Prioritize it. Even, if it is for just 30 minutes.

I will be at it again sometime in February.

(Postscript: By 11 a.m. I was at work, didn’t miss anything, and stayed there till 5:15 PM. With a “full” tank I was HIGHLY productive yesterday. I’m sure my Executive Coach would be shocked by that admission…(Sarcasm!))

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man reading expert secrets book

Want a promotion?

Personal Growth

One of our team members was recently promoted to a leadership role. In a meeting explaining the role he was going to take on he said, “I like doing all the crap that nobody likes to do. That’s why I have always had a job.”

Want a promotion?

Do the work no one else wants to do.

Do it well.

Repeat.

It is that simple.

Want a promotion? Read More »

daily planner

Gamifying Time Management

Leadership, Personal Growth

One of my weaknesses is being too task-oriented. So, given the recent challenge of my Executive Coach, I have created a game in my planned around one-on-one meetings.

Using my planner of choice, I record in real-time how I am spending my time. Remedial tasks, like email, get a simple dash (-) by them. These tasks are necessary, but I use a task to denote that they are neutral, neither good or bad. I label them as neutral because there are better ways to achieve what these tasks do. Still, not doing them would also be a mistake because they need to be done.

Here is where the game begins. To earn a (+), a one-on-one human interaction must occur. This can range from a one-on-one phone call or skype, to a personal meeting, or even a group meeting.

The latter might surprise, but think about it, meetings are where leaders actually lead! So instead of dreading the next meeting, maybe you should record it with a (+) in your planner?

The rationale behind the (+) activities is that leadership is about being someone worth following. My argument is that you cannot do this behind the screen, or only doing other simple, yet often necessary, tasks, like budgeting and planning. Thus, gamifying time management has helped me shift towards scheduling more (+) events in my day. I have been spending more time in one-on-one meetings than I used to, and that has led to some creative conversations with direct reports that, quite frankly, were unanticipated.

Further, the (+) mindset has helped me when other team-members have dropped in to my office unannounced to talk about an issue. I used to find such occurrences somewhat annoying because I am so tasked-oriented (this annoyance would also make me feel guilty for feeling guilty in the first place because I know such occurrences are part of leadership). Now, however, I am thankful for the interruption because such occurrence is another (+) in the notebook. Score!

You may be wondering how you win this game? The simple answer is that it is an infinite game that cannot be won. But, and this is key, the game gifts you the ability to look at your day in hindsight with the knowledge that you spent it well.

Isn’t that what we are all after in the end?

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nine one hundred dollar bills fanned out

Deal or No Deal?

Personal Growth

My Executive Coach recently presented me with a business opportunity:

He said:

“You have $2,000.

I have $50.00.

Do you want to trade?”

Of course I don’t, I replied.

“Then stop spending so much time on email, and other $50 tasks. You are a leader, and should be spending your time doing $2,000 tasks.”

Message received.

To be someone worth following, you must get from behind the computer, or cell-phone, and into the trenches.

One-on-one human relationships are still the currency of leadership.

Spend your time, therefore, wisely.

Don’t miss the next post where I share how I have made a game out of time-management. Discover how to win at time management (and stop feeling guilty).

Deal or No Deal? Read More »

welcome on bulletin board

3 Focus Areas of Mental Health For 2020

Personal Growth

Defined broadly, health encompasses the body, the mind, the soul, and even the emotions. To be someone worth following, you need to maintain quality overall health. This means all of the above.

While I have definitive strategies around what I do to keep the body, the soul, and even the emotions, healthy; today’s post is about the mind. People generally gravitate to people that are upbeat, active, positive, and encouraging. On the other hand, people tend to shy away from those who are self-absorbed, in denial, and angry. So in today’s post, I want to highlight three areas that impact the mind’s health:

Anxiety

Community

Sleep

The first area of focus, anxiety, is cancerous to your psyche. Everyone I know knows this, yet the ironic thing about anxiety is that telling yourself to be less anxious is the easiest easy way to become more anxious. So, what do you do?

I have discovered that writing things down reduces anxiety. Because of this, I use Michael Hyatt’s Full Focus Planner, and the Apple Notes app on my phone. I then write everything that comes to mind down. It sounds too simple, and it is really is. The mere act of writing things down gets things off the mind on the (or a) to-do list. While writing everything down definitely helps, however, it does not resolve anxiety entirely.

I am also an unashamed pray-er. I’ll even pray for you if you send me a message, and that isn’t a token gesture. I write the prayer requests down as well (both mine and yours!) and spend time praying over them each morning and evening. To do this, I use a simple acronym “CHAT” where I confess, honor God with attributes, ask – this is where the list comes handy – and give thanks for what has occurred. This process reduces anxiety by helping me get outside myself and my own needs. This is still true, even though I am spending a portion of my time praying for me because even then I am asking for help. Even if you dismiss prayer’s supernatural component, I challenge you to practice some version of the acronym above that forces you to get outside of self.

Second, the next thing I do to counter anxiety is actually the second area of focus for mental health — yes, these three are interconnected. Moving from isolation to community is vital in a day and age where isolation is more prevalent than it ever has been. While technology, and the advancement of social networks, allow us to be connected 24/7 from anywhere on the globe, the connectedness has come at cost. Can you honestly say that you feel healthier —less anxious —on days when you spend more time on devices? Worse, technology has in large part fooled us into thinking that it can replace the one-on-one human elements of community. If it did, would we be so addicted to it, and would we work so hard to gather “likes?” My belief, and the research of Cal Newport and others have led me to this belief, is that sitting in front of someone and sharing our life is not only necessary for us to thrive, it also has a profound impact on our anxiety and mental health. In short, we need human interaction. And the beautiful thing about this reality is that it is something we can control. For anyone can meet with a friend twice per month over coffee. It just takes a little intentionality.

Intentionality is also needed for the third area of focus, sleep. This post is already longer than usual, so I cannot give sleep the time it deserves. Notice the irony in that statement. If you are like me, your excuses for not getting enough sleep probably sound something like that! They do for me. So, here is the unfortunate truth about lacking sleep: it will profoundly impact your desire to meet with others, your anxiety, your spiritual health, your physical health, your emotions, and even your mental health. It simply impacts everything. So, what if you rearranged your life so that you slept 7 hours per night in 2020? What impact would that have on your overall health? Believe it or not, this is one of my goals because I believe it will pay huge dividends in my life.

If you are still with me, one last word of caution. If anything I have written above makes you feel guilty about past behavior (I should be getting more sleep, I should be prioritizing relationships more, etc.) stop that voice immediately. The point of this post is to make changes in these areas to improve your mental health.

People like us reflect.

People like us change.

That’s how we become worth following in 2020.

Expect short posts of encouragements — and an occasional longer one like today — throughout 2020. If that sounds like something that will help you improve in 2020, please subscribe so I can send encouragement directly into your inbox.

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