IDENTIFY COURSES OF ACTION LIKELY TO FAIL IF YOU WISH TO SUCCEED

The world has become a place in which change is the only constant. If we stand firm without seeking to improve ourselves or increase our contributions, we may find ourselves “on the outside looking in” rather than “living where we wish to be.” Many seek work that will provide them the sense of security offered by a solid job YET such an aspiration CAN become a prison from which one cannot escape if your peace comes at the price of an opportunity to grow and contribute. We seek the comfort of a stable relationship YET can experience stagnation unless we consciously and intentionally seek new things to experience together. Society no longer allows people to do only what has been assigned or is expected if one hopes to taste success, fulfillment, recognition, or growth. Looking back (instead of ahead), remaining content with the present (rather than building upon the present as a step into the future) or doing only what has always worked in the past (as opposed to seeking what might work better) are signs that one may have become detoured by or stagnant in life. Looking beyond what is obvious towards what could potentially be…living life as we wish it to be rather than being content to live within the boundaries of what we have…are signs that one is seeking to fulfill his or her potential.

There are several pitfalls that limit potential – that minimize one’s ability to bring dreams to fruition and hopes to reality. Recognizing these traps can help avoid being locked within a self-imposed prison that may ultimately become an inescapable reality. To avoid entrapment and ensure the potential of success, one must recognize several precursors of failure:

• Do not confuse being efficient with being effective or keeping busy with being productive. An e-mail may be efficient, but a conversation could more effectively resolve issues without extended “replies and clarifications.” Leaving a note to tell someone where you have gone might be efficient but calling to give a personal explanation could be much more enlightening. A person may appear busy but unless a concrete objective is accomplished exhibiting a sense of urgency linked to the completion of a stated goal, the activity is no more meaningful than dust in the wind. Effective people make sure that every investment of time and/or energy has a direct and measurable impact, minimizing the need to repeat or clarify later.
• NEVER believe you are irreplaceable. When someone feels they could NEVER be replaced because nobody else could EVER fill the void should they leave, that person has probably limited what he or she could ever accomplish because if nobody else can do what you do, then you will never have time to expand beyond your assigned tasks. Individuals who believe they are “critical’ within a limited and specialized role (whether it be a personal or a professional role) typically reinforce stagnation (in in themselves) and/or accept mediocrity (in others). It is difficult to grow or be important to anyone else when one becomes self-absorbed and self-satisfied in him or her self.
• Do not fool yourself into thinking you know all the answers. One must always be open to new ideas, techniques, and ways of doing things in order to grow. Innovation and resolution-based problem solving comes from applying new ways of doing things to accomplish existing tasks.  One can truly contribute ONLY after identifying the limitations of current systems, policies and procedures, asking questions as to how they might be improved then moving forward towards the adoption of more effective resolutions.  People who know all the questions are often more valuable than those who feel they know all the answers.
• NEVER forget (or refuse) to give credit to others. People recognizing and acknowledging the ideas and actions of those who make things happen will win loyalty, be recognized as leaders, and become vital contributors to the activities around them. When one assigns the responsibility AND holds others accountable for results – providing the opportunity to learn from and rectify mistakes should they occur – leadership is clearly established. Think about how much one could accomplish in life if it did not matter who received credit for doing things.

A delicate blend of “me first” and “I am right behind you” is needed to create credibility and gain the confidence of others. A person is measured more by actions than by words…one can say all they want but only what is seen is often remembered. When considering a change in course or direction in life, take time to plan where you are going, think about what must be done to get there, then monitor progress (and adapt as needed) along the way. Learning from the failure of others is often easier but acknowledging and moving forward from our own shortcomings is somehow much more effective. One succeeds by identifying and nurturing “the possible” in life rather than accepting and hiding within “the probable” AND by avoiding some of life’s self-imposed distractions.

BEGINNINGS AND ENDS…STRANGE BUT ESSENTIAL PARTNERS IN LIFE

...A river's beginning...

Why is it that people think starting over means repeating everything they originally did, expecting different results than those that initiated the “re-do,” AND seem to think nothing of the time that it takes to do something twice rather than the time it should have taken to do it right the first time? Rather than focusing upon what DOES NOT (or did not) work, might it not be more practical to focus on WHAT COULD WORK THAT HAS NOT YET BEEN ATTEMPTED OR CONSIDERED when starting over after an original effort either failed or produced less than acceptable results? Such a new beginning – the fresh start from which any journey should originate – might help to change the world rather than simply altering one’s perspective. It is amazing how few people understand that every end necessarily initiates a new beginning (as life moves on and adapting to where it goes requires us to move from where we were to where we are going) BUT new beginnings may continue throughout life (with different outcomes being realized from building upon and expanding each beginning) without ever acknowledging or accepting a definitive or obvious end in the growth process.

Thinking about all that has been done in the past (then filtering those actions through the lens of practicality, considering how different experiences might be applied to resolve a non-related issue and moving cautiously forward without anticipating nor fearing failure) tends to create an environment that welcomes new beginnings. Before we can “undo” what has been “done” or alter a result, however, we must: 

·         Recognize why we do not like where we are (even if we have not yet figured out what we must do differently to change where we ended up)

·         Identify what (specifically) was done in the past that brought us to where we find ourselves

·         Be willing to take action that will change or alter (rather than perpetuate) a situation

·         Act (or intentionally and knowingly choose not to act) to initiate movement

·         Monitor all initiated processes without interfering with progress

·         Be willing to change your minds if/when a situation or condition changes

·         Communicate all new realities and continually build upon them rather than accepting them as the only possible resolution or “new normal” 

“Ends” can often come prematurely if a “new beginning” is not given enough time to be realized OR if it is given partial effort (or commitment) resulting in failure (self-fulfilling prophecy). Think about how invested you were in implementing “what needed to be done” when you began a “journey” that did not culminate in a successful result. Did you “own” what you were doing or expecting or were you simply following someone else’s orders to avoid claiming responsibility for results? If you began your journey at the request of (or as directed by) another, doing as you were told using the tools, concepts, and pre-conceived beliefs someone else provided without risking anything of your own, did you ever consider where YOU wanted to go and how you might be able to get there – to a path upon which nobody may have ever wandered? When one is truly comfortable with how things are (or they have shelter beneath the wings of another who is assuming all the risks even if that person may receive all the rewards) there is no amount of discussion, collusion or convincing that will force them to invest their own energy to create a new path, process or set of results. If, however, one wishes to do MORE than has been done in the past – to “double the harvest” rather than reaping the minimum from what was sowed – then things must be done differently if one is hoping to realize new or unanticipated results.

In order to arrive at an answer in which you can believe and feel comfortable, you must identify every opportunity – every new path upon which you can walk – then move forward from where you are to where you might want to be…recognize that one cannot move forward when firmly and comfortably planted in the ground upon which they stand. You must also see that there are many paths leading from where you are to where you may wish to be…and that each destination we may reach is truly just the beginning of another journey not yet revealed rather than an end in and of itself that will stand forever against the test of time. 

...a River's End...can YOU see the difference...or is it but an ongoing adventure?

There may be many new beginnings during the accomplishment of a single objective – new starts from which opportunity blossoms – often many more than the destinations we seek (or reach) in our daily lives as each “end” is truly but a new beginning (there are very few “finalities” in life – death and taxes being two).  Each day dawns with a new beginning before concluding with the resting point of evening that allows us to prepare for another fresh start. Unless we choose to orchestrate the activities of our lives as they have always been conducted – expecting to receive only that which has always been provided – everything we do begins at a place we must ultimately leave.  We must start at the beginning of a song rather than its crescendo if we hope to move towards an end (which is often not determined until it has been achieved). 

Those who truly accomplish much in life tend to invoke a process of think, consider, apply and act more frequently than those that succumb to the “good enough as it is” or “why fix it unless it is broken” attitude. They see life as a series of new beginnings rather than of pre-determined and unavoidable ends – of fresh starts rather than foregone conclusions. While accomplishing a lot, they feel much has yet to be accomplished, finding joy in the ongoing process of discovery rather than satisfaction only in the results their discoveries may bring. While each of us should acknowledge that the “ends” often serve as resting points from which we can recharge, refocus, and redirect our efforts before seeking new destinations, we should also recognize them as fresh starts…partners within a process that lives upon the circumference of a circle having no beginning nor end but rather only ongoing completeness. 

DO YOU SPEND TIME FOOLISHLY OR INVEST IT WISELY?

Time is seemingly in abundance when we have nothing to do – yet it eludes us when we are so busy that we might prefer it to stand still. Some attempt to work through one project at a time – from start to finish – then move on to another. Others work on multiple tasks by attacking different priorities – setting aside one project in favor of another prior to its completion – until all work is eventually completed (hopefully in a timely manner). Still others tend to operate by “putting out fires.” They work on one thing UNTIL something more important comes along, at which point everything is dropped to resolve the immediate crisis before returning to what they were doing. Regardless of the kind of work style exhibited, too many individuals worry more about when they will finish the race than they do about finding pleasure along the way – or even recognizing the satisfaction of simply moving relentlessly forward until they are able to cross the finish line. Many worry about things outside their control – spending precious hours documenting or validating why something cannot be easily accomplished because someone else has authority or control – rather than acting upon things over which they do have influence. Others feel they never have the enough time to finish what must be done so they dare not “stop to smell the roses” along the way. These individuals often find themselves slaves to the very clock they so desperately seek to master – struggling to complete anything on time because they worry more about being able to appropriately resolve an issue than simply moving forward TOWARDS resolution…focusing ONLY on the results of their actions with no consideration for the stones that might be turned or the progress that might be made while moving towards resolution.

Far too many people complain about the lemons in their lives – the disturbances, distractions, annoyances, and disruptions – than they do celebrating the opportunity to make (and enjoy) lemonade. They dwell upon the fact that others possess the attributes they would prefer to exhibit rather than embracing and exhibiting their individual gifts and abilities. Rather than finding satisfaction in all they have accomplished (or even are simply on the road to resolution), they see only what has not been finished because they “ran out of time” or how much better a job they could have done “if only” more time (expertise, attention, finances) had been given. These people would say, “I did not do anything I wanted to this summer (vacation, holiday, time of rest),” complaining that the season passed them by rather than recognizing how much may truly have been discovered, enjoyed, conquered, or accomplished. They would prefer to think about what was not done than what they did – often refusing to acknowledge how they may have impacted another as they dwell upon their own life, their dreams, or their ever-changing (and never satisfied) expectations – actively seeking to “fix” everything around them than they are to simply enjoying the ride as they move towards a destination.

Everyone can lose themselves in thoughts about what COULD HAVE BEEN. It is easy to dwell on lost opportunity – to excuse a lack of execution by saying that the time for action has passed or the contribution that personal action may have made is not worth the effort expended. It is harder to anticipate WHAT MAY YET BE – to seek issues not yet identified and commit to their being accomplished – and to accept each minor accomplishment as but a step on the road towards the completion of a major life event rather than seeing it as something less than complete. Whenever one becomes lost in time, chasing maddeningly after the tip of a second hand as it races around the clock remind yourself that life is not measured by the time it takes to accomplish our objectives but by the impact we are able to make upon the lives of those around us – in the time we are given.

Summer is not over yet EVEN THOUGH many have already taken vacation and “settled” into a life of “what is” rather than one of “what could be next.” We often find ourselves buried by what must be finished before something new can begin rather than truly celebrating all we have done while seeking closure to the opportunities still available. We could gain much more at times by thinking about alternatives – exploring areas not previously identified or taking paths not yet traveled – than by dwelling upon how we might be able to live comfortably within our normal routine to accomplish our assigned objectives leveraging known, tested, and tried methods. Whenever we seek what has not yet been done rather than focusing upon what we have already accomplished, we will discover ways never before considered in which we can contribute to the fulfillment of our lives AND the lives of those around us.

Explore solutions to unresolved issues rather than making excuses for unintended omissions. Immerse yourself in the beauty of all that is around you – finding solace in the cry of a gull or joy in the laughter of a child…peace in the quiet of a forest or power in the crashing of the sea upon a shore – as you seek to recharge and refresh during the times that present themselves between finishing one chapter prior to beginning another. Find comfort within the hectic world around you by taking your life back from the clock as it ticks relentlessly on and focusing your energies upon what might yet be rather than investing them only in what has already been accomplished. Time should never become the only measurement of how long it takes to fulfill your destiny – it should become the measure upon which your identity, success and accomplishments can be monitored as you move relentlessly towards bringing to fruition the reality of your thoughts and the enormity or your accomplishments.

MAKING GOOD DECISIONS (WITHIN CHANGING ENVIRONMENTS) IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS

One of the most important things that a Leader does is to make decisions. As much as we try to research and analyze the paths we travel, a good leader typically makes many decisions based on “what feels right” rather than some recipe of right and wrong choices, decisions, or alternative courses of action. A high percentage of the “judgment calls” that great leaders make turn out to be successful decisions while poor leaders tend to make decisions that end up providing different results than anticipated. Compounding their poor choices, rather than accepting their shortcomings and learning from them they often shift the blame for failure to those they lead. How do good leaders “win more often than they lose” and how can their judgment be transferred to others? THIS is the essence of leadership – whether at work, in relationships or throughout life in general – one must not only know what to do and when to do it but also how to transfer knowledge, abilities and actions (along with accountabilities) to others. Great Leaders must exercise good judgment when deciding when to hold to responsibilities AS WELL AS when to let go of them (then get out of the way so that people can grow). They must be able to recognize when the tide is rising (so they can adjust to it) and when it is falling (so they do not get stranded in the quagmire of indecision).

Leaders typically have a variety of experiences to draw upon when making decisions. Rarely will a great leader step into a position of authority without having first experienced many different roles, responsibilities, successes, and failures. Visualizing how one situation applies to another – dealing with the practical application of what has worked in the past and how it might “fit” into different situations – becomes the aptitude of a great leader. Good leaders may study and learn the theoretical (or previously proven) way to do things but they must make the transition from what SHOULD work to what DOES work if they hope to truly lead others. Great leaders not only apply their knowledge, they also expose others within their organization to new and different situations (and appropriate levels of responsibility), often allowing them to grow by failing (as long as it does not negatively and irreparably impact “innocents” or the organization), so that they, too, can develop a variety of experiences from which future independent decisions will be based.

Rather than brilliantly anticipating a solution before a problem arises so that negative disruption is minimized, great decisions are almost never made without careful analysis of conditions and the intentional utilization of “cause/effect” processes – a result of reacting to what has occurred within an environment that we are not used to by applying the experience we have gained elsewhere. While working to harness electricity, Edison stated that he had never failed but rather discovered a thousand solutions that did not work on his way to discovering the one that would. Leaders do not have all the answers but when moving forward it should be with confidence (having alternatives and options in mind) so that others will follow with faith rather than hold back due to fully justified trepidation.

Good leaders make decisions then move on to other challenges – rarely looking back, always looking forward. Great leaders make decisions and monitor how they play out while moving on to other opportunities – NEVER losing sight of their objective nor abandoning the process (EVEN IF others feel that a situation has been resolved). They recognize that today’s destination is but a launching point for tomorrow’s opportunities rather than the conclusion of a path that allows them to rest in their sense of accomplishment. They are willing to change their mind as factors and conditions change, recognizing that such mid-decision shifts can be (when properly explained and communicated) an indication of strength, intelligence, and good judgment rather than a show of weakness, indecision, or lack of knowledge. While good decision-making begins with the realization that a need for change exists, it cannot produce positive results until a problem has been identified then reasonable solutions are considered, tested, implemented, monitored, measured, and allowed to produce results.

While some decisions must necessarily be made quickly, no decision should be made without thought, the development of alternative courses of action and the application of good judgment. Great leaders make decisions by combining their practical experience with a well-developed knowledge of the situation, organization, problem, issue, or people involved while considering the context within which a decision must be made (urgency, importance, impact). They understand that three factors - people, environment, and urgency – influence any decision so others must be engaged in the decision-making process and allowed to understand not only “what” actions should be taken but also “why.” Sharing thought processes to develop both “wins” and “losses” on the road to success will build the experience-base of others allowing them to make better judgment calls in the future. 

Compound your impact exponentially by helping others grow – by engaging their minds (hopes and dreams) as fully as you engage your own then allowing them to act (as you monitor results and get out of the way of their progress). Great leaders think, consider, decide then intentionally act (while providing those around them with an opportunity to grow by allowing them to expand their own experiences) so that the organization, relationship, or situation will continue to thrive and grow. Unless (and until) you prepare others to do what you typically are expected to do you will never achieve more than you have accomplished nor realize anything that has not already been experienced by someone else.

ARE YOU A PATH MAKER OR A PATH TAKER?

Have you ever met someone who sets a course in life based on how many others are doing the same thing? Rather than identifying problems, investigating root causes, and intentionally setting into motion the actions that would resolve issues in an individual and/or unique way, the path of least resistance is chosen – the one that seems most accepted by others – as these individuals travel upon roads that are well traveled, making “safe” (commonly acceptable) instead of “right” (based on fact rather than the opinion of others) decisions. Though more difficult to find, perhaps it might be better to align with individuals who seem to consistently and continuously “take the high road” in the way things are done and choose the path less traveled (rather than the easiest or most proven) when making decisions – for knowing (and associating with) such people strengthens one’s character which will inevitably lead to success.

Far too many people diminish their potential by following the crowd (doing what is considered by many to be “right and prudent”) rather than following their own beliefs. They seek popularity (or at least acceptance) rather than standing strong on their own values, judgments, and decisions (facing push back or negative opinions). They choose to blend into the majority – accepting the accolades and support that doing what has always been done brings – rather than taking criticism that standing alone often brings. They accept that things are as they should be rather than seeking what they might be if established systems and familiar processes were to be challenged. The “throng” tends to validate itself by thinking, “We are no different than anyone else – the same as all others with whom we associate so how can that be wrong?” rather than believing, “We are all unique individuals whose potential is limited only by our individual actions and behaviors.” The attacks our society mounts against individuals seeking to make a difference through non-conventional methods, actions that have not been validated, or untested thoughts and processes are often enough to discourage all but the brave from forging their own path. By homogenizing our unique characteristics into a single melting pot that can be universally accepted by all, “the many” seek to stifle the ability of all but a rare and outspoken few to make a difference in the world.  Allowing this to happen – either explicitly through participation or implicitly through acceptance – diminishes one’s ability to think, act and contribute in a meaningful way – particularly in any way that might be different than what has always been done in search of results that have never before been accomplished. When we seek the acceptance of others rather than identifying and enjoying the rewards of individual accomplishment, we often find that making others happy may not provide fulfillment.  While there are two ways to approach every opportunity, one tends to foster what is (and what some hope will always be) while the other tends to give us a glimpse into what could be (if only we allow ourselves to leave the beaten path to explore those less travelled). 

Following the crowd is easy. Anyone can do what others expect, go where others are going, act as others act and find a sense of community by blending in with those sharing a common trail or seeking a shared destination. Travelling familiar roads and doing things the way they have always been done can take the bumps and turns out of our journey BUT when we do things as they have always been done, we can expect nothing more in terms of results than has already been accomplished. When we move forward looking in the rearview mirror, focusing upon where we have been and what we have done, we cannot truly see where we are going or what might be accomplished. While teaching my grandkids to waterski I find myself telling them to “look ahead to where they are going rather than watching to see where they have been” if they wish to ski without falling – an axiom that should apply to all we say and do in life but is often abandoned when we settle for the acceptance and validation of others. Only when we accept that much can come from seeking a different reality than that chosen by the crowd will we realize loss can become gain, failure can breed success, and the decision to stop can be either a conclusion (accepting that what is will always be) OR a new beginning (failure is a detour rather than a dead end on the road to success). 

Too many leaders seek acceptance from those they lead rather than striving to earn their respect. Too many parents seek to be friends with their children (and their acquaintances) rather than establishing themselves as role models.  Too many teachers want to be “liked” by their students rather than viewed as being “tough but fair.”  Too many politicians make decisions based on polls that measure what the majority think they should do rather than doing what might negatively impact the majority IF a decision or course of action might be best for the values (and sustainability) of our nation. When forging a path using our personal strengths, values, and character, we tend to lean towards greatness in all that we say, do and accomplish. Alternatively, when we try to make ourselves look better by pulling others down – making ourselves look good by tarnishing another’s reputation or diminishing their abilities – we often find ourselves travelling upon roads fraught with hazards, potholes, barricades, and dead ends. There are two ways to look at every tunnel…to see a river flowing beneath a bridge…to see a path leading up a mountainside. We can see only from where we have come or potentially to where we wish to go but rarely can we see both directions at the same time – rarely can we hope to find what lies ahead by focusing upon what has been overcome behind. 

What kind of transformations might take place in your life (and the lives of others) if more decisions were made (and courses of action taken) driven by “What if…” and “Rather than…” thinking instead of than thoughts of “What is…” and “What is safe?” What might YOU be able to accomplish – what potential might you be able to realize – were you to “march to your own drummer” and forge your own path rather than listening to (and following) the music made by others? You will know (and be able to realize) your true potential ONLY should you choose to accept the risk and opportunity that individuality brings – leaving behind the comfort, support and (often) false security that being “one of the crowd” provides. Only those choosing to be path makers rather than path takers can truly rise to the top.