MAY 28, 2021
In the early 90s, Tom Morris, author of “If Aristotle Ran General Motors,” (which I read after listening to Steve Scheels, CEO of Scheels Sporting Goods, at a Lincoln Chamber meeting six years ago) noticed that all of the best selling advice books and popular talks of the time, were about personal and organizational success through goal setting and attainment. Nobody was talking about relationship building. In my 50 years of business (WOW, where did the time go?) I have enjoyed building strong relationships, leveraging initiatives and my energies, to a higher and broader level of achievement by striving to make it more about the people and less about the money. (Our people are our greatest asset) Yes, each business needs product quality and process efficiency. But not many people talk about the “SPIRIT” of the people who do the work to improve their “Organizational Health.” (The Soldiers) Employee engagement has become a higher need in strong organizations which, as many will suggest, lead to higher productivity and happier employees.
All of this breaks down into understanding and inspiring others to become “EXCITED” about anything they are doing. I am a pretty excitable guy (in a positive manner) and many of my friends and family know how to “Push my Buttons.” Through years of practice, they understand what Grandpa’s “truths” and “Non-truths” are to me. While I have my own “STRONG” beliefs (my Agreements and my truths), I realize that I may not see things the same way as others. That doesn’t make me right or wrong. It is just how I perceive things based on the agreements I grew up with early in life. Therefore, it is up to me to be curious (rather than cynical) as to why someone thinks and acts the way they do. (Remember; seek to understand rather than judge) This is merely our own individual truths playing out. You see, each one of us make a whole bunch of agreements early in life with the attention we give to certain parts of our lives. Some of us, who were fortunate to grow up in a loving and caring family, had role models (Mentors) to either show us the way (resulting in our own dreams) or turn us inward into a life of self-doubt and low self-esteem. Which one are you living today? Are you fully alive by living your dreams or have you surrendered to the ways of the world? (Which reminds me of the old Doris Day song; “Que Sera Sera”) Start today by getting excited about YOU.
As kids, we had to “pay attention” or there would be consequences. (Many kids today don’t have those role models or anyone to hold them accountable.) The adults around us hooked our attention and put things into our minds with repetition. (Some may call it “brainwashing”) But this is how we learned our ABC’s and our numbers. By using our attention, we learned a whole reality (our own dreams) of how to; Behave (or not) in society, What to believe (or not), what is acceptable (or not), what is good (or what is bad), what is beautiful (or what is ugly), what is right (or what is wrong).
If you want to find out YOUR truth in life, use a little context to go back and see the good things and good relationships that happened in your life as a child rather than spending time thinking about all of the negative things. Many of us carry the bad things with us our entire lives which end up killing our souls or driving us to unhealthy addictions. You are special and you deserve to know and practice YOUR own truth in life. It may be hard to do but look back and FORGIVE yourself if you did something you regret today. (God will forgive you if you ask) Also, forgive others as they may still be “Alive and Well” in your head. WOW! Living a nightmare over and over every day can use a lot of energy and “take a toll on the soul.” FREE your mind of the negative and concentrate on the positive. Then just take the next positive step to transform yourself into something beautiful by understanding YOUR truth. But remember; be genuine about it. Be yourself and not someone you THINK you should be.
It is time to “TAKE OFF YOUR MASK” and be the REAL you! Full of Wisdom, Self-Mastery, Courage and Love.
Elevator Guy
Quote for the Day: The fact that a great many people believe something, is no guarantee of its truth.” Somerset Maugham (Find YOUR own truth and don’t go along with the crowd)