The Office

Happy Friday Friends!

I hope & trust this post finds you all having a great day as a glorious, soggy, new day begins to dawn on the Texas Gulf Coast! Additionally, I sincerely hope you have all had a great week! :)

As the Haslam family continues to transition to our new home in Alabama, this week I started cleaning out my office at work. Now, if you have ever been to my office you know it looks like either 1) a stack of post-it notes exploded or, 2) I failed in my attempt to wallpaper my office with post-it notes! :) Any time I come across a scripture, saying, thought or idea that is meaningful to me I write it down and put it up so I will see it regularly! This means I have a whole lot of post-it notes! :)

This morning I simply want to remind all of us of something and then share several of the things I had written down. 

As for the reminder...
The things we continually pour into our lives will determine our thoughts, they will affect the condition of our hearts, they will influence the words we speak and the actions we take. What we surround ourselves with is not a matter to be taken lightly and yet, most of us do not give much thought to what we allow into our hearts, minds & spirits - consciously & subconsciously. Let's be master gardeners of what we allow in! As Ken Whitten once said, "What's in the well always comes up in the bucket." If we are feeding negativity, fear, worry, despair, hopelessness, etc. to our souls, this is what will come out in our thoughts, words and actions. The good news is if we feed our souls faith, hope, positivity, etc., this is what will come out! A simple choice - the choice of what we will allow to fill our hearts, minds, souls & spirits - that has eternal implications! :) Please choose wisely Sweet Friends! 

As for some of the scriptures & sayings I had written down...
Now, before I start, let me tell you, while I am pretty relentless in writing these things down, I am not so good about always writing down who said it. Please just know that these are things other people said. The other thing I would say is this; just like me, you have the choice as to what you will do with what you learn. If I read it, think that it is really good but take no action based upon it, I have not really learned anything. It is only what we actually choose to act upon that will truly make a difference in the lives we live. :) So, here goes...

I would be remiss if I did not start with this one! It has carried me through so many days! 
"Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God. 
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." - Isaiah 41:10

1. Never ask someone else to do something you are unwilling to do. Leaders go first. If you want someone to do something a good rule of thumb is to show them how by going first.
2. As a leader it's your job to protect, inspire, sacrifice for, and love the people you lead. Nobody is above any of those qualities.
3. Sometimes you have to let people know you're human. If you make a mistake own it. We need to strip down (figuratively) and let people know we make mistakes and we are normal people.
4. Leaders have scares on their chest not their back. If there is a problem you're there to help with a solution. You don't run away from the messy stuff and leave it to fall on others.

"Power = The capacity to influence and inspire" :) (yes, I put a smiley face on the note!)

"Anger does not change your circumstances...it only changes you!" :) (Here too!)

"God's timing is perfect."

"Success is the sum of small efforts - repeated day in and day out."

"When you praise another person you take your eyes off of yourself and put them on another person."

"God declares I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a future filled with hope." - Jeremiah 29:11

"I can do all this through Him who gives me strength." - Philippians 4:13

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." - Hebrews 12:1

When someone criticizes you, do the following:
Ask, "Does this make sense? Is it valid"
Yes = How can I change & improve?
No = Learn to ignore it.

"It's impossible," said pride.
"It's risky," said experience.
"It's pointless," said reason.
"Give it a try," whispered the heart.

"Focus on solutions, not problems."

"Remember, there is always another perspective!" :) (Yep, again!)

"But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength." - 2 Timothy 4:17

"So be content with who you are, and don't put on airs. God's strong hand is on you; he'll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; He is most careful with you.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." - 1 Peter 5:6-7

"Your certainty, belief & faith must be greater than all the doubt."

Stand Strong
Believe in Yourself
Chase Those Dreams

"He must become greater. I must become less." - John 3:30

"Two kinds of winning:
- Some can only win when others lose
- Others seek to win by helping others succeed
- One of these approaches scales far better than the other"

"Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with grace, so that you may know how to answer everyone." - Colossians 4:6

"Do not worry about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-8

"But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary." - Isaiah 40:31

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." - Deuteronomy 31:8

"This is a wonderful day. I have never seen this one before." - Maya Angelou

"Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest you." - Mother Teresa

"The only comparison that matters is the comparison with who you are, who you were, and who you could become."

"Life is not about avoiding death; it's about choosing to really live."

"Whatever we focus on grows."

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." - Romans 12:12

"There's something in you that the world needs!"

"Pray. Wait. Trust."

"Leadership isn't about getting your own way. It's about helping others find theirs."

"If you want people to do something, you've got to help them understand why they're doing it and how it will benefit them."

6 Ways To Be More Content:
1. Set your priorities
2. Stop comparing
3. Pray for change
4. Count your blessings
5. Live passionately
6. Find positive friends

"Peace is not the absence of trouble. Peace is knowing that God is right there with you in the midst of the storm."

"Don't Make Assumptions!" :) (Yep!)

"The world needs leaders...YOU are one!"

Six Keys To Leading Positive Change:
1. Show up - If you don't show up, nothing happens
2. Speak up - Use the power of voice
3. Look up - Some nobler purpose
4. Team up - Everything goes better with partners
5. Never give up
     * Cantors Law - Everything looks like a failure in the middle
     * If you give up, by definition, it is a failure
6. Lift others up

Careless or Clueless?
- Careless you clean up
- Clueless you educate

"To love another person is to see the face of God"

"Wherever you should stand, be the soul of that place."

Three Lessons in Leadership:
1. Great leaders own up to their mistakes.
2. Great leaders choose humility.
3. Great leaders have faith.
* A lot has changed since Biblical times, human nature has not

"Remember which way you face..."

"A coach cannot force a player to be better. The player must choose it. Being successful is an opportunity, not an obligation." - Gary Curneen

"Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trust in you." - Psalm 84:12

"A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." - Jackie Robinson

"Doing the best you are capable of doing is victory in itself, and less than that is defeat." - John Wooden

"We must determine our own finish line and never stop short of it. Put your faith and finish in God, not in people."

"Who are we, if not measured by our impact on others? That's who we are! We're not who we say we are, we're not who we want to be - we are the sum of the influence and impact that we have, in our lives, on others." - Neil deGrasse Tyson

The Cowboy Code
1. Live each day with courage
2. Take pride in your work
3. Always finish what you start
4. Do what has to be done
5. Be tough, but fair
6. When you make a promise, keep it
7. Talk less and say more
8. Remember that some things aren't for sale
9. Know where to draw the line

"You may not be able to change your fate, but you can certainly make decisions that can change how you experience that fate."

Please Friends, intentionally choose what you will surround yourselves with every day and what you will allow to speak to your heart, mind & spirit!

Please don't hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.

Have a great day, a wonderful weekend and please cherish your precious families!

Kev