To Serve well

Serving with Excellence for a Life of Excellence

Serve Well

Accelerating growth: The value of strong teachers & mentors

This is a topic I could stay on forever. There are so many great aspects of GROWTH that it could genuinely fill our days.

The good news is that we no longer have the one-room schoolhouse with a small selection of books and references. We literally have more information to consume than we ever could ever reasonably take in.

On Tuesday, I framed up the idea of just getting started on growth. We did this through a conversation on development silly, “stupid” mini-habits. To me, the next part of this discussion is surrounding yourself with wise counsel. As in teachers, mentors, coaches, etc. So to summarize:

  1. Set a Goal
  2. Break that down into small steps so it’s doable and you set yourself up for success.
  3. Seek out the right people to help you WIN!

This may be the most important part because we were designed to be in community. We simply cannot go as far on our own. It took me a long time to realize this in the health/fitness world. I have had a trainer (shout out to the most amazing, encouraging and smart trainer there is)  for almost three years. I am highly disciplined with most things when I put my mind to it (i.e. making a decision), but I just won’t push myself during a workout without someone guiding me. It’s partly because I don’t understand the process of building and maintaining muscle, but it’s also that I just don’t like to be in pain. I’m sure many of you get it.

That’s just one pretty straightforward example. Since I was young, the teachers and coaches were the people who helped me GROW. They are so critical to all areas of our development. I would submit that they still are, but it may look a little different.

Who do you seek out for growth? If you want to be the best in your industry, have you sought out the best to help you? In my assessment, good teachers, coaches, mentors do the following:

  • Champion your success;
  • clear the path if needed (open doors to both knowledge and people that can help you); and
  • yes, hold you accountable to goal achievement.

I also think it’s pretty important that you hold the same value system and enjoy each other’s company. (It’s always best if you have fun in the process.)

Today and this weekend it would be great if you gave some real thought to this. What area(s) in your life are you trying to grow in? (Spiritual, financial, relational, career, physical, etc.) Do you have good teachers or mentors to help you? If not, develop a strategy to seek it out!

Feel free to reach out to me if you’d like to talk further on the subject. It’s a hot topic for me personally!

Today I will do one push up.

(Photo creds: Canva)

Our own personal growth happens over time, whether or not we’re aware of it. Growth can be real growth, as in getting stronger. But it can also be more meaningful or purposeful.

We can stunt our growth with our habits we’re unwilling to confront head on. One of my habits is hitting the snooze button daily, and oftentimes more than once. I recently decided it was time to stop the silliness and get the heck up. It’s still January – and anything could change – but for now, I am putting in place a firm call to action to get up at the sound of the first alarm.

We all know that growth is achieved by making consistent healthy decisions over time… an apple a day-type thinking. In his book, “Mini Habits,” Sam Davis lays out that the foundation in establishing habits. He explains that we should put in place “stupid-small” steps to help us move toward success. (Hence, the example in the title of this blog.) It gives you the notion that you are creating steps that set you up for “too small to fail.” In other words, you’re set up to succeed. Even if your goal is to do 25 push ups a day. By the end of the day, you’re not going to let the hurdle of doing one stop you from achieving your goal. (Thank you Levi Lusko for the example.) Here are some others:

Goal: To eat more greens each day.

Stupid Small Step: To eat one piece of lettuce a day.

Goal: To walk two miles, or 30 minutes, every day.

Stupid Small Step: To walk to the end of the driveway and back each day.

Goal: To develop a habit of sending three thank you notes out each week.

Stupid Small Step: To send one thank you text in a week.

I think you get the concept here. Small steps repeated over time equal new habits that create GROWTH. If you stay focused, they will produce MASSIVE GROWTH! I like that idea a lot!

Where do you need to start today?

Rules for excellence…

If you don’t know the leadership guru of all gurus, Tom Peters, look him up. He is well into his 70s and still pushing out amazing content. I love that.

He’s most famous for co-authoring ‘In Search of Excellence,’ but his credits go far beyond that classic. I have found his book ‘The little BIG things, is probably the best I’ve read in years. In it, he outlines 163 ways to pursue excellence and most of them are brilliant. (I’m sure all are to some.) The quotes in the attached image come from this read. He wisely credits other great thinkers, including the everyday types, like lessons from the local barista.

I knew for sure when I read #62 (above) on his list that I had to share it with you.

If I were Rosesblatt (author of “Rules for Aging”), I would say that these are great suggestions for all of us. Wisely seeking good counsel and, for that matter, a wide array of viewpoints, is always something that can help us improve. I believe this is true whether you’re dealing with basic home matters, finances or, of course, fulfilling your purpose in work/school/where ever God planted you. LOVE IT.

Is there an issue right now where you could use some counsel? Someone to listen and give you a perspective? We should all seek that out this week. (Make a note now to do it… that’s what I have to do!)

The second suggestion on thanking others early and often – and even profusely – was the point of Tuesday’s “Spread Joy” blog. We cannot underestimate the power of encouraging one another.

WE MUST MAKE THIS A PRIORITY if we want to SERVE WELL!

Happy New Year to the BEST! I am so thankful for my readers!

I thought today for “Simple Thoughts Sunday” it would be good to share a practice that I feel is very helpful in processing your year. Tsh Oxenreider, author and founder of The Art of Simple crafted 20 questions that will help you think through the nitty gritty of the past year.

The process should help you set your focus and intentions on what you hope to achieve during this next trip around the sun. Here you go…

What was the single best thing that happened this year?

What was the single most challenging thing that happened?

What was an unexpected joy this past year?

What was an unexpected obstacle?

Pick three words to describe this past year.

Pick three words your partner, best friends or family, would use to describe your year- don’t ask them; guess based on how you think they see you.

Pick three words for them based on their year, again, without asking.

What were the best books books you read this year?

Who were your most valuable relationships with?

What was your biggest personal challenge from January-December?

In what ways did you grow emotionally?

In what ways did you grow spiritually?

In what ways did you grow physically?

In what ways did you grow in your relationships with others?

What was the most enjoyable part of your work, both professionally and at home?

What was the most challenging part of the same?

What was your single biggest time waster?

What was the best way you used your time?

What was the biggest thing you learned?

Create a phrase or statement that describes this past year for you.

(By the way, this is really hard for me this year… It’s been a “gritty” year and sometimes it seems like I haven’t made a lot of progress. I’m praying God reveals more to me over the next few days because one thing I have learned, is that progress isn’t always apparent at first!)

I hope you have a wonderful celebration today. I am excited to see what 2018 brings and believe fully that God will show up BIG in every single detail.

Real love is lived out

(Image from post via 11/2015)

I guess I’ve been doing this over two years now since this popped up on my Facebook timeline and I loved the image. (My website has changed since then, but I’m reusing and recycling anyway.) Maybe we could even call this upcycling, which is the trendy term for the “creative reuse” of something.

I don’t know about you but my heart is always warmed when I see someone open a door for someone, walk somebody across the street, bring a neighbor’s trash can up the driveway (or any other means by which we see a person go out of their way to help another person). I love the people that say yes when the grocery store clerk asks if they’d like to donate $5 to Harvesters or some other good cause.

As you go through your week, look around and I promise you’ll find someone that could use a helpful hand. There is a lot of need in every circle of the world. It may be as simple as a smile or compliment.

By the way, you DO LOOK GOOD TODAY! Just sayin’!

Simple Thoughts Sunday: God says GO

(quote from @SamuelRodriguez via Instagram)

How many times have you had something difficult to overcome and you kept going to God in prayer? Frustrated that it seemed like nothing was happening, and doubting your own faith.

In my life I have definitely seen that there are plenty of times that I was supposed to CLIMB over it, through it, and sometimes with blood, sweat and tears involved. (Lots of tears and not a lot of blood, thank God.) Lots of conversations and heartache, and yet we must CLIMB.

It is in those experiences that I believe we grow and learn the most about ourselves and how to endure so that we can truly become who we are supposed to be to serve the VERY BEST. As you are planning your week, give some thought to anything that you have been hoping that God would take away. Perhaps your direction is to move through it.

Have the very best week! Less than a handful left in this crazy year!

Happy Thanksgiving!

(Photo Creds: Canva)

I captured this comment and wish I’d created it. It’s true, I am thankful for all of it. I hope that your day is spent with love regardless of “it all.” The days aren’t always easy, but love carries us all through and at the end of the year we can reflect on how we grew along the way!

Make this weekend count. Give lots of hug… extend amazing generosity and LOVE BIG anyway you can! I’m truly grateful for each of you and praying great favor over your lives as I write this.

Simple Thoughts Sunday: A week of serving well

I am so THANKFUL it’s THANKSGIVING WEEK!

I have to admit, it feels too early this year. But nevertheless, I’m ready to hug some folks!

I don’t know about you but Thanksgiving has to be one of the best creations ever. If you give it some thought, it’s not only about being thankful and spending time with those we love, but it is rooted in SERVICE. Service and honor to those we love. Generations have been built on those gatherings where true service and love were the main ingredients, strengthening our families and communities. What could be better?

As I read Rick Warren’s quote above, I think about how we can use a season like this to truly serve well. To not only serve our families and friends but to look out and consider those who may not have been served in anyway this year. I think of patients that I have met who looked forward to their doctor appointments because it was the only time during the year they felt cared for.

We must remember that for some, we are their only smile, their only human interaction with kindness. What a great opportunity we have. Service is as simple as a smile and the great news is that whatever our situation, we have all been given the gift of service.

Have such an amazing week.

 

 

 

BETTER

I am always fascinated by what makes a place “all of the rage.”

You know, those cult-like places where folks like us stand in line for hours waiting for our share of their awesomeness. In KC, there are several of these, but my favorite stand out right now is an ice cream place called BettyRaes.

(Photo creds: Canva)

It is SO HOT that Trip Advisor named it a top 50 “ice cream shops worth traveling for.” And it’s only a few years old, if that. Believe me, folks do travel for it and most days the line is out the door. But why? (Other than the s’mores sundae with coffee ice cream — pretty much is the best thing I’ve ever had…)

My perspective: It’s better. As in truly better.

It has created a unique offering via it’s menu. The service is better. The shop is community focused.

As Seth Godin, the famous marketer, would say: it’s achieved the notion of BETTER.

As we think through how we serve better, let’s think about what else we can do better. Be kinder, more focused on those around us, more open minded, more giving, more courteous drivers, more patient (that one resonates with me!), etc…

If you are in business — profit or non-profit — how can we be deemed “worthy” of a line out our door? We start by looking in the mirror and identifying areas where we can be better, and then we dive deep to get to worthy… and ideally, sustainable.

Your ideas are welcome!

(Here’s a song to get you in the mood and the mindset!)

Simple Thoughts Sunday: It’s a wonderful world!

It’s Sunday and I can’t wait for you to see this video! My sister sent it to my yesterday and I’m so happy she’s letting me share it with you all here! This little gal sings one of my favorite songs in an incredible way. Along with that, it happens to be a pretty great Sunday insight for us all… It is a WONDERFUL WORLD! We have to keep that thought front and center. As you go into the week, find beauty in every moment… I believe it literally surrounds us if we are willing to stop and soak it in.

Now, watch this crazy-fun video from this beauty of a young soul! Pass this one on, because this world for sure needs more of this type of inspiration.