I am excited to be starting a new, eight-part series called The Difference-Maker Leader. We'll be looking at what that means, why it's important to your success, and how you can achieve it...how YOU can be a difference-maker leader.

The first trait of being an effective Difference-Maker Leader is:

Know Your True North
~true north
NOUN
north according to the earth's axis, not magnetic north.

Magnetic north is based on outside influences, but True North is indisputable. In life, we have direction, goals, drive, and we set off with the end in sight (true north), but along the way, circumstances, pressures, people, and other outside influences nudge us off course as if they have a magnetic pull on us. So we adapt and make concessions and sacrifices. The struggle was never in the destination--we knew exactly where we were headed--the struggle, however was in the path we took to get there.

So consider these thoughts as you set your True North.

Know who you are.
What is most important to you? Are you driven by outside achievement or internal reward? What values or ideals are you committed to, no matter what? 

For example, in a political race, there are certain issues that rise above the others as deal breakers for me. I can like a candidate, I can appreciate his work ethic, his goals for his position, even his track record, but if we don't see eye-to-eye on those main issues, I can't give him my vote. Those things identify my political True North and it's important I follow that path. If I followed the crowd and allowed my ideals to be minimized and voted according to popularity, that would mean I was following magnetic north and, in the end, I would have forsaken my own values.

Know where you are.
Setting boundaries will keep you focused and on course. Boundaries should be physical, emotional, and spiritual...all with the intent to protect your vision from outside distraction. Boundaries are difficult to set but even harder to maintain. People and circumstances will always find your weak spots and the temptation to lower your guard will weaken your resolve if you're not solid.

Prepare yourself by re-examining your boundaries on a daily or weekly basis. Knowing your boundaries in life helps determine what you are willing take on or take in. Your boundaries become the guardrails in life. They feed off of who you are and provide the needed protection from internal and external forces. 

Know how you are.
Do you tend to poll your friends before you make a decision? Or maybe you're the type of person who acts first and picks up the pieces later. What about when it comes to stress? Do you withdraw from activity to find rest or do you push through?

It's important to identify your tendencies so you can make sure they line up with your values. For example, if you say that spending time with your spouse is something you highly value, but then you always choose to work late when the opportunity presents itself, your tendency is overshadowing your value and you'll soon be nudged off your True North.

Know what you are.
Frequently, we spend energy focusing on our weaknesses, at times, even obsessed with what we cannot do well. Research from Gallup suggests when we focus on our strengths we improve not only our engagement but our effectiveness as well. According to the data when we build upon on our strength we learn more.

Knowing what your strength is and leaning into that helps drive you toward the results you desire to achieve. What you are is more about your gifts and talents than your weaknesses. Knowing this not only sets you apart but also moves you ahead in life.

Know why you are.
The concept of knowing why you are here is not a new idea. The research only validates what each of us know or want to know intrinsically, why are we here. To know and understand not only that we are here on purpose but to know our purpose is a game changer in life.

In Victor Frankel’s masterful work, Man’s Search For Meaning, he explores our hardwired need to have meaning in life. Knowing this meaning can be the difference between life and an abundant life or in the most extreme conditions, as Mr Frankel experienced in Nazi Germany’s concentration camps during WWII, having meaning can be the difference between life and death.

To have an accurate bead on your True North it becomes imperative to understand your purpose in life. Coupled with knowing who you are, what you are, where you are, and how you are rounds out what it looks like to be a Difference-Maker Leader focused on True North.

Check you personal internal compass and set a course for True North…ONWARD!

It is mid year and time to check our progress in the key areas of our life. Most of us probably committed to some lifestyle changes or new habits back in January. But, if statistics hold true, 25% of us abandoned our resolutions long ago. 

Don’t be discouraged if you find yourself in the 25% group; you're not alone. To borrow a line from the great philosopher Ron Burgundy, “100% of the time it happens 25% of the time.” This is a great time to make a course correction and find your way back to the goals you set. For the 75% that are still hanging in there with your vision, good for you! Now is a perfect time to check on progress and make any mid-year adjustments to continue improvement and maintain resolve.

Gallup’s research reveals five areas of well-being; Career, Physical, Financial, Social, and Community. Most of us are strong in certain areas and weaker in others. For example, you might be a visionary with a soaring career who has trouble committing to healthy eating and exercise habits. Or, on the flip side, you might be a gym rat and social butterfly who can't balance your checkbook. 

I have found myself leaning into one area more than others and at times completely ignoring the other areas. Once I discovered the delicate balance between each of the elements, and how they are interconnected, I began to focus on all five as a whole. But trust me, it's not easy to arrive at that place. It takes an intentional, strategized approach in order to achieve the kind of balance it requires to be healthy in the five main areas of well-being.

The importance of clarity
The importance of clarity has three basic tenets. To create clarity you must first define exactly what it is you want to achieve and measure it. Clarity is not: "I want to be a powerful businessman" or "I want to be wealthy." Clarity is: "I want to achieve a promotion to a management position at my company within the next 12 months" or "I want to diverse my investments and put my money to better use in the next 90 days by..." Those goals are clearly identified and measured. Finally, to improve your clarity, you must clearly track your progress. 

The importance of purpose
Purpose is simply knowing why you're chasing what you're chasing, or why you want what you want. The success of your personal endeavors will rise and fall on the compelling why behind the what. When we avoid this question, we leave the door open for excuses. We become susceptible to our circumstances when the why is unclear. Why do you put the time in to the things you focus on? Why do you want that promotion? Why do you think you need to take a vacation? Maybe you spend time exercising because you're worried about heart disease that runs in your family. Maybe you want the promotion because you want to help your kids get through college. Maybe you think a vacation is necessary because you've been working too much and your marriage is suffering. The purpose, YOUR purpose, is what drives you to reach when it becomes difficult. Without a clearly defined purpose, it's too easy to give up.

The importance of small bites
Small bites is about keeping it simple. To often we bite off more than we can chew at one time. Small bites is the notion of taking the challenge, no matter how sizable, and breaking it down to a bite-sized portion. It is important to create small bites when facing large challenges. For example, if my end goal was to become the Vice President of my company, but I was currently an entry-level receptionist, a small bite would be to focus on what I needed to do to achieve the next level promotion rather than weigh myself down with the stress of focusing only on that major goal. That narrower focus will help create applicable and practical action steps.

The importance of personal choice
Personal choice is the most important aspect of achievement. You have the option to move or stay, work or play, laugh or cry. You can be the victim or the victor in your circumstances. You can let things happen and bulldoze you, or you can use events and hardships as springboards for growth. You have the choice to hold yourself accountable to the goals you set and the plans you made. Ultimately, it's on you. No one can do it for you.

The choice is yours.

Each of these areas of importance builds upon each other to bring you to a positive result...to help you hit your target. If you’ve ever shot a bow, you know the number one rule is to keep your eye on the bull’s-eye. You have to identify your target and then never get distracted from focusing on that goal as you aim. So, identify what’s in the center of your target. What’s your bull’s-eye? Then lock onto that goal with laser-focused clarity, know your purpose, take small bites, and hold yourself accountable.

ONWARD!