Being Grateful for the Right Things.
Thanksgiving is a busy time. It seems we
are more preoccupied with preparing for the holiday than actually celebrating
it! Seriously, who really wants to be traveling, cooking, and tolerating that
crazy uncle at the first break you probably got since summer?! It’s a shame
really, because when we do get a moment to reflect about what we are grateful
for, it’s usually about the wrong things . . . possessions, vacations,
promotions, etc. Now don’t get me wrong, I like nice things, have been able to
go to some wonderful places, and recently received a promotion at my “day job”,
but all that pales in comparisons to the things that really matter.
I encourage to create your own list, but
here is mine:
People –
The greatest blessings I have are the
people around me. My wife, family (crazy uncle included!), my friends, my
staff, my students, and the people I get to serve through Out Loud Strategies.
They challenge me, encourage me, and support me. In short, they make me better!
Gifts Given and Given Away –
My abilities and talents are my true
gifts, though I really still like the satellite radio my wife gave me one year!
Seriously, my ability to communicate, connect, organize, and pour my life into
others gives me the greatest joy because they enable me to lift up and help
others.
Challenges –
This may seem strange but I am grateful
for the challenges I have experienced. Granted, I wasn’t too crazy about them
at the time, but challenges taught me my greatest lessons. They gave me
confidence and increased my ability to persevere when the next challenge arose.
Finally, they taught me I could be more and do more than I realized (I probably
surprised a few others too!).
Things Undone –
For me, without a new hill to climb, a
new goal to reach, a new vision to fulfill, life would get boring. The feeling
that I have not reached my destination motivates and compels me to keep
pushing, keep learning and continue growing. People often make fun of the stack
of books I have in my office that are unread. That’s OK, because I will get to
them and when I do, new possibilities will open up. As leaders, we will never
be complete, but I am fine with this since means we will always be trying to
improve.
I do
hope that you have a safe and fulfilling Thanksgiving Holiday. I do encourage
you to create your own list and share it with me if you get a chance. As
always, if I can help you Get Better, Be Ready and LEAD OUT LOUD, I would love
to hear from you. Also, as a bonus, if you go to my Out Loud Strategies website
(www.outloudinc.com) and enter your contact information, I will
send you a FREE guide to establishing a mentoring initiative program in your
organization!
Yours
in Leadership,
Bill
Faulkner
Co-Founder
– Out Loud Strategies
Independent
Coach, Speaker, and Trainer with the John Maxwell Team TM
No comments:
Post a Comment