Character Creates Opportunity® – The Silent Temptation: May 28, 2015

Our world is full of temptations.  The temptations of fame, fortune, and friends with benefits are all around us.  In addition, there is a world of temptations to relieve the pain of physical ailments, the emotional trauma of relationship struggles, and the anxiety developed out of today’s hyper-stressed environment to have it all.

Many of these temptations and the individuals who get overwhelmed by them are well documented in the media or in kitchen table conversations in our homes.

However, the most damaging temptation is the one we keep to ourselves.  The silent temptation that is the genesis of so much heartache, pain, and personal struggle is the temptation to compare ourselves to others.  In our own silent world of comparing ourselves to others, we lose our own identity.  Over time, we struggle to find direction and we often miss our true purpose and passion to reach our full potential.

As we continue on our journey to build and strengthen our character, it is important that we address what can be called the greatest temptation we will face, the silent temptation to compare ourselves to others.

Despite how many billions of people inhabit the earth, there is none like you or me.  Whether we believe in the scientific rationale, a faith in an all-mighty God, or both, there is no denying the fact that we are uniquely created.  There are no two people in this world that are the same.

It is not just physical differences, but our experiences and how we see the world as a result of those experiences, which makes us unique as individuals.  A practical example is to look at individuals growing up in the same household who experienced many of the same things.  There is often some major differences in the points of view between the first born, a middle child, and the youngest.

There is no value in making a judgment of better or worse about these experiences and points of view.  There is tremendous value in acknowledging and valuing our own individual differences and the differences of those around us.

When we give in to the silent temptation of comparing ourselves to others, we begin to diminish the strength of our uniqueness.

  • When we silently judge our self-worth based on a relative scale of those around us, we diminish the strength of our uniqueness.
  • When we silently rate our home-life based on what we see in the homes of others, we diminish the strength our unique family environment.
  • When we silently assess our career based on others, we diminish the strength our unique learning journey.

Our greatest risk in this world is that we fall short of our potential.  Becoming overwhelmed with the temptation to compare ourselves to others is the gateway to a life that falls short of our potential.Jon walking off football field

When we give in to the silent temptation to compare ourselves to others, we chase a moving target as opposed to remaining fixed on reaching our own unique potential.  We would be much more effective in setting a bar high based on our own individual goals and then working hard to achieve our full potential.

As we continue to exercise the discipline to “be me and not you,” we build and strengthen our character and Character Creates Opportunity® for us to reach our full potential.

Character Creates Opportunity® – The Fortune: May 21, 2015

There is truth in the old adage, “the fortune is in the follow up.”

It does not matter whether we are talking about closing a sale, strengthening an important relationship, sticking with an exercise routine, or building a strong community, it is in the follow up where we find the fortune.

We have probably all had the experience of a rush of motivation and positive energy after a great initial encounter:

  • A great first meeting with a potential new client
  • A motivating speech by a political figure or business leader
  • A weekend retreat focused on strengthening a close relationship
  • An “altar call” moment in our faith journey
  • An infomercial product we purchased for healthy eating and exercise

The reality is that when that initial motivation fades, instead of reaping a fortune in the follow up, we go bankrupt due to lack of follow up.

As we continue to build and strengthen our character, the principle of remaining committed in the follow up will create opportunity for us to reach our full potential.character-creates-opportunity-2014-250-by-250px

If we all do an honest self-assessment across important endeavors in our lives, I am sure we can find a few teachable moments where we failed to build a fortune due to lack of follow-up.  I can recall failing to follow up on a few specific customer commitments and areas of service outside the home.  In addition, the real painful shortfalls are those that have occurred closer to home.  Perhaps some of you can also relate to a few times where you missed the fortune because of a lack of follow up.

Here are just a few thoughts on building a fortune:

  1. Accept the reality that having a meaningful impact on any endeavor in life is contained in the follow up, not in the start.
  2. Any follow up is better than no follow up. Taking smaller steps at a slower pace will still produce a meaningful impact.
  3. Unfortunately, we will all still have a few experiences in the future where we will miss out on a fortune due to lack of follow up. We should not be dismayed.  We should acknowledge the shortfall and just keep climbing back in the ring to try again.
  4. Given the reality of #3 above, we should demonstrate some mercy on those closest to us when they fail to follow up as I am sure we would appreciate the same treatment when we inevitably fall short sometime down the road.

When we consistently follow up after a motivating initial encounter, we will build and strengthen our character and Character Creates Opportunity® to build a fortune in our relationships, our businesses, and our communities.

Character Creates Opportunity® – Three Elements: May 14, 2015

Our world continues to grow in complexity, intensity and uncertainty.  Often times, the challenges before us seem increasingly more difficult to address whether it is building a competitive edge in a global marketplace, maintaining peace and security in our communities, or getting the time and attention to guide and support those individuals we care about most.

Despite the growing complexity in our world, there have been three elements to building a strong foundation that have endured the test of time to help us more effectively address the challenges we face in our world.  As we continue on our journey to build and strengthen our character, we can have a positive impact on all three elements.

The three elements to build a strong foundation to more effectively address the challenges in our world are the following:

Family

There has been a tremendous amount of research done on the perils that result with the break-up of the family unit.  ThankfulnessFamilies may come in a few different flavors in our world today, but the basic principles of having a “home” where people feel love, support, safety, and commitment is an incredibly solid foundation of which positive impact can occur in our world, no matter what the challenges we face.

As we continue to guide our thoughts, decisions, and actions in the “home” by principles like commitment, loyalty, and grace, we build and strengthen our character and our character creates opportunity to strengthen our family to more effectively address the challenges we face in our world.

Education

Applying effort to continue to learn and grow in school, the workplace, the home, and our community is critical to effectively addressing the growing complexity in our world.  Education does not end with graduation day.  In many times, our real education is just beginning.  When we refuse to learn and grow with comments like, “that is just the way I am,” we set ourselves up to have limited positive impact on those around us.

As we continue to guide our thoughts, decisions, and actions by principles like understanding, humility, and respect, we build and strengthen our character and our character creates opportunity to stay educated and more effectively address the challenges we face in our world.

Economic Opportunity

There is tremendous honor by fulfilling our duty to get out of bed and go to work.  That “work” may have us remain in the home, travel to an office, defend our freedom, dig a ditch, or aid the hurting.  Regardless of the type of work, work builds and strengthens our character.

There are times in the economic cycle of free markets and in certain communities, where there seems to be limited economic opportunity.  However, even in the darkest times, we should be reminded of the reality that Thomas Edison shared a long time ago, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”

As we continue to guide our thoughts, decisions, and actions by principles like perseverance, sacrifice, and hope, we build and strengthen our character and our character creates opportunity for us to work to the best of our abilities and more effectively address the challenges we face in our world.

There is limited value in hoping for a more simple and predictable world.  A more productive use of our time and effort should be towards building a solid foundation to address the realities of our world today.

As we focus effort on the three elements of family, education, and economic opportunity, we will help to build and strengthen our character and Character Creates Opportunity® for us to build a strong foundation to more effectively address the complexity of our world today.

Character Creates Opportunity® – The Role We Play: May 7, 2015

Throughout history, our time and attention are drawn towards those who are out in front making the headlines, giving the speeches, and closing the big deal.  Many times, those exalted as innovators, brilliant, effective leaders, or the ones making things happen, are often seen as being larger than life compared to the rest of us.

Most of us are not in the spotlight, on the stage, being interviewed by the reporter, or standing in the ribbon cutting line.

As we continue on our journey to build and strengthen our character, today’s note is about the important role most of us play, the role of assisting others to reach their full potential.

The history books may leave the “assistants” out of the biographies.  However, the reality is that the lives of those who have public impact are most often filled with others assisting them in their efforts.

We all know well the inventions and legacy of Thomas Edison.  However, we probably don’t know William Hammer who was Edison’s chief engineer responsible for most of the work at the Edison Lamp Company or Frank Sprague who was the mathematician behind critical steps in the electric lighting system.  These assistants helped Edison reach his full potential.

We can probably name the head coach of our favorite football team, but I bet we struggle to name the offensive line coach who is often responsible for building the group of linemen who clear the path for the running back to get on the cover of a sports magazine.

Behind every well performing executive or leader in business, there is always an assistant who makes sure things get done.  Behind every customer facing role in an organization, there is usually a team of assistants making sure expectations are met.  They most often do not take the stage at the million dollar round table banquet, but without them, top performance is not possible.

Truth be told, our most underappreciated examples of honorable, quiet assistants occur with those closest to us in our homes and extended family.  It is these assistants that form the backbone of health and safety in our communities and our nation.  The service of one spouse to another, of a parent to a child, siblings to each other, and the service of children reversing roles to assist elderly parents.Pic#5 Father Instructing Son

If it weren’t for the honorable and principled assistants, we would all be in a difficult position.  The history books may leave them out, but they are a critical element to purpose and accomplishment.

An important reality to accept, sooner rather than later, is that a passionate, purposeful life is not about personal achievement, rather it is about helping others reach their full potential.

Our efforts to faithfully play our role, which most likely will not make the headlines, will help to build and strengthen our character and Character Creates Opportunity® for us to assist others in helping them reach their full potential.