Blog Posts

Love Well.

11/15/2014

It's the final post in the Difference Maker series that began HERE! It goes right along with some of the life lessons I have explored in my writing here on this blog and in my book The Difference Maker.

Speak Life. Live Truth. Love Well.

We had a great time looking at what it means to Speak Life to yourself and others. We learned how to harness the power of our words to speak light and life and joy into the lives of others. Next we explored the concept of how to Live Truth. It's one thing to know what's right and valuable, it's another thing to live it. We looked into issues like hypocrisy, cause-and-effect, and our higher calling.

Now this post will tackle the most important topic of learning to Love Well. When I think of the phrase: Love well, certain words pop into my mind.

In my opinion, one cannot Love Well without first learning to speak life and live truth. Those two qualities are the embodiment of the pursuit to Love Well. True love of others, of life, and of self cannot exist without life and truth. Within those three categories of love, there are some specific ways to do it well:

Love of others.
1. Selflessness. This is the most important characteristic in loving others. Putting other people's needs above your own is the proof of selflessness.
2. Empathy. Laugh when they laugh; Cry when they cry. Empathy is a physiological response to the joy and pain of others.
3. Grace. Grace is a powerful tool because it frees you from the burden of anger and expectations. It allows you to love freely.

Love of life.
1. Abandon. Let go of constraints. Throw your head back and letting the sun warm your cheeks. Feel the wind at your back as you race ahead, not knowing what's at the next turn, but eager to find out. Release.
2. Experiences. Chase new things and enjoy the mysteries of life for yourself. Try new things, taste new foods. Expand your horizons.
3. Gratitude. In all things, be thankful. We are not guaranteed another moment on this earth, so make each one count and let thankfulness fill your soul.

Love of self.
1. Physical health. Taking care of your physical body is the most basic manner of loving yourself. Eat right; move your body; raise your heart rate. And even in this rat race society, make it a priority to get enough sleep.
2. Strong faith. Statistics show that people with firm beliefs are generally more confident and at peace. Pursue truth and hold tightly to it.
3. Authenticity. If you LOVE yourself, you're not afraid to BE yourself. Live transparently and let people in.

My call to action for you is to take some time this week to mediate on the words: Speak Life. Live Truth. Love Well. Ask yourself what it will take to achieve those goals as you move about life in the coming weeks and months. Let go of your fear. Embrace life. And move...

Onward!

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Live Truth.

10/21/2014

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Well, here we are on week two of our Difference Maker series. Last week we looked at how to make a difference in our own lives and in the lives of others by learning to Speak Life.

This week we're going to talk about what it means to Live Truth.

Live truth. It's one thing to know what's right and valuable, it's another thing to live it. This is especially true in a society that increasingly purports the notion that all truth is relative. Better stated, there is no truth and nothing is right or wrong. In fact, this philosophy claims that any belief system that teaches absolute right and wrong or clearly defined values is wrong. Wait! That means something can be wrong? See the flaw in that logic?

So how do we identify the right choices and the right path for our lives...our truth? And is that truth universal, or is it subjective?

I'm pretty sure we'd all agree that stealing is wrong. But what if it's stealing from the rich to feed the poor? I think we'd all agree that lying is wrong. But what if it's a lie that saves a life or protects the innocent?

The absolute truth is that we can "what if" ourselves into a corner and obliterate all sense of truth and morality. We can justify actions based on whatever sense of justice or entitlement helps us sleep easy at night. And we can watch our society continue on a downward spiral right along with our excuses.

There is a cost to living in truth. It's not easy. And it often requires the sacrifice of an achievement or material gain. The one thing it will never cost is self-respect. The reward for living in truth transcends any price you might be called to pay.

But, here's what I think. I think that living your truth IS an individual thing. We're all on a journey, and we're at different stages of that journey at all times. We must make choices and mistakes based on the information we have at the moment and the best intentions we can find in our heart.

I find truth in my faith. As a Christian I am comforted in knowing there is truth that is reliable and redeeming. My faith reinforces my understanding that I am anything but perfect. Yes, I stumble, fall, and then stumble again. I am far from perfect, and yet find myself on this journey of life with so many others just like me. My faith doesn't make that imperfection okay; it just fills in the holes and makes me whole. That's my absolute truth. It's the one thing I am sure of when nothing else seems for sure.

The compass point of truth is an unchanging direction. A fixed point by which to navigate through the midst of a storms of life. I believe to live truth is not only to find life, but to find life in its full abundance no matter what storms rage all around. Life is truth; truth is sure.

And possessing life and truth cannot be contained. When you have hold of it, you can't help but live it out loud.

“It is not courage that makes us speak the truth, but it is a hunger for truth that makes us courageous”
― Agona Apell, The Success Genome Unravelled: Turning Men from Rot to Rock

Is truth a confusing concept? Is it hard to know what to do when many choices seem right? When faced with decisions on how to act or what to say, you can filter your responses through the following questions:

Is the step I'm about to take rooted in selflessness and love?
Am I aware of or seeking a higher purpose for my next move?
Do I have to overlook the nagging of my conscience in order to move forward?

To live truth is to live life on purpose with such authenticity and vulnerability that each and every day is a transformational experience. It is knowing that even in the mist of the storms of life there is still hope, joy, and love.

So I encourage each of you, Live Truth each day as we move...

Onward!

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Speak life.

10/14/2014

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We're moving on into our series that begins with my look at the phrase Speak Life.

Speak life. I believe there is power in words, and we can harness that power through the things we say to people to either speak light, joy, and success into their lives, or to speak darkness and defeat. When I think of the meaning of the word life, I think of birth and growth and health. There's a sense of vibrancy and invigoration when you envision something moving forward. Energy.

In order to understand how to speak life, let's first look at the opposite. The opposite of growth and energy is stagnation and death. Negativity erodes and rots as it chokes out the breath of success. It can be expressed in many ways. Body language, facial expressions, inattention, disinterest, etc. But words hold the ultimate power. You'll never, You can't. Move over. You're worthless. I hate you. The expectation in those words is failure, and, really, the best way to assure someone's failure is to expect it from them.

Life invigorates. It energizes. It expects success. When you speak the words of life into someone's situation, it infuses a sense of positivity that is life changing. Great job. Good work. I trust you. You can handle this. In your hands, it'll be awesome. You rock. You're worthwhile. I value you. What a contrast to the other examples above.

Think back over your own life, how many wonderful things do you remember hearing people say about you and to you? It's hard to remember those things, yet I'll bet there are a few zingers of negativity that dot the landscape of your history. A few hurtful phrases swung at you by hurting people. Those things you can recall on a moment's notice. But it's much easier to believe the negative things about ourselves. It feels more natural to most of us.

But we do have a responsibility, not only to speak life, but also to receive it. If we can control our minds to reject the lies of death that speak failure over us, and embrace the words of hope and promise and success, we will not only walk through each day more confidently but we will see more success in our lives overall. That's true in business and in all of life. That makes sense, but sounds a lot easier than it actually is. Trust me; I know.

Here's what you need to do: When someone speaks negativity into your life, measure it against these three questions:

How much of what this person is saying is rooted in their own pain or fear?
How can I reshape those words to offer myself something constructive that can help me grow?
What is the truth about myself?

If it's not constructive, when it's rooted in someone else's struggles, and when it's not your truth (and it seldom is) then discard it like the rubbish it is. Refresh your thinking by spending time with a mentor or pouring yourself into someone you're mentoring. That's where the life is.

You can't control what others say or do. But you can control the words and story that comes out of your mouth, and how you receive words into your life.

Toby Mac: Speak Life

What are some ways you can Speak Life to those around you this week? Consider the people you come in contact with each day. Your coworkers, friends, family...those are a given, but what about the UPS guy, the clerk at the grocery store, and even the unhelpful support person on the other end of the phone line? Life feeds on itself and reproduces at warp speed. So give the gift of life through your words and watch how your own life changes in response.

And I'll leave you with this little reminder from our friend Toby Mac: Speak Life Video by Toby Mac

ONWARD!

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Speak Life. Live Truth. Love Well.

10/1/2014

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A motto has been developing in my mind lately. It goes right along with some of the life lessons I have explored in my writing here on this blog and in my book The Difference Maker, that phrase is:

Speak Life. Live Truth. Love Well.

Over the next couple of weeks, I'm going to break down what those components mean to me, and what I believe they can mean to you.

Speak life. I believe there is power in words and we can harness that power through the things we say to people to either speak light and life and joy into their lives, or to speak darkness and defeat. How can we speak life? What kinds of words do we use? What if criticism is necessary? Does the hearer have any responsibility? Do we need to shield ourselves from the damaging effects of words? We will answer those questions and more as we dig into this topic next week.

Live truth. It's one thing to know what's right and valuable, it's another thing to live it. How do we identify the right choices and the right path for our lives? And then once we do, how do we ensure we stay on that path even when times get tough? Are we walking the path of the truth we speak? We'll look into issues like hypocrisy, cause-and-effect, and our higher calling in two weeks.

Love well. Family and friends are a gift. Reciprocated love is vital to successful a joyful living. What does it mean to love well? What is true sacrificial love? Is it possible to love another human being unconditionally? Are we to "love" people from all categories of our relationships? How can we love the unlovable? This is a big topic and will wrap up our series in three weeks with this one.

I hope you'll stick around for this series starting next week. Don't miss out on new giveaways with each post. And why wait? Here's the first:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Blind Spots

8/21/2014

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Blind Spot: "Being blinded or uninformed about a matter in life; to be in the dark"
Scotoma, from the Greek word for darkness.

Everyone has blind spots in life. And they can strike in any direction. Looking back to the past, our blind spots can be due to an inability to take responsibility for mistakes we've made or pain we've caused. Without acknowledging those truths, it's nearly impossible to fully learn what we need to from our pasts.

Blind spots can also come up alongside us. When we can't see the help available to us by those people or circumstances that exist in the present, either out of pride or insecurity, we are unable to draw others in and function through effective teamwork. Other blind spots at our sides can be caused by workplace competition, family struggles, financial hardships, and more. Anything that limits or eliminates forward motion can be considered a blind spot because it keeps us from seeing progress.

But it's the blind spots in front of us that can cause the most trouble. Fear is the biggest hurdle we have to overcome when looking into the future. The fear of missing an opportunity, of making a big mistake, of being wrong--when faced with those things, it's often easiest and safest to do nothing.

“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing.
The worst thing you can do is nothing."
Theodore Roosevelt

But blind means, well, blind. If you can't see it, how do you know it's there?
It's true that a blind spot isn't first identified until it causes a problem. When looking in a side-view mirror, you may not know you have a problem until there's an accident or until another vehicle shows up out of nowhere. But once it's identified as a trouble spot, then you make the necessary adjustments to avoid any mishaps it might cause.

The same thing is true in life. Once you explore your past, present, and future, and identify the areas that have and will cause you the most trouble, you can make the adjustments you need to make to overcome those weakness.

For example, if you know that insecurity is something that chases you, you can fix it. Maybe you do something that makes you feel confident before entering a job interview. Or maybe you talk with someone about the crippling doubts you have about yourself. Or maybe you move forward in faith anyway because you've decided not to let something like that hold you back.

Here are four tips that will help you move beyond the limitations caused by blind spots in your life:

Identifiy Known Blind Spots
Everyone has blind spots. Do you know what your blind spots are? Often, it requires a trusted friend, professional counselor, or member of your personal Board of Directors to help you discover areas in your life that you may not be able to clearly see. (I've written more about this in a previous post, Connecting the Dots, 1.13.14 and in my book, The Difference Maker) NOTE: It helps to understand that a blind spot is only a weakness if it is unknown. Knowing your blind spot is a strengh.

Be on Guard
Having experienced driving for the first time years ago and more recently through the eyes of my kids, I can speak from firsthand experiences...accidents happen QUICKLY. It is vital that we constantly check known blind spots. The moment you stop checking...BANG!

Check What You Know
Being uninformed about any subject creates a lack of confidence, which leads to major blind spots. In an age of complete information saturation it is possible to become knowledge lazy when it comes to important information in your life. Relying on internet headlines for knowledge can create challenges. Do you really know what you know or only what you've been told? If you truly know, then a deep conviction leads to confidence...which produces courage. It is from this courage that your ability to become truly vulnerable comes from.

Embrace vulnerability
Being connected in a meaningful way requires vulnerability. As I type that word I know people are tensing up inside. The word itself has some baggage attached to the meaning. Many hear the word and translate it as weakness. What I have said on this topic before is this, " Courage is not the lack of fear but our ability to face our fear with vulnerability." Being vulnerable is all about Courage! It manifest itself through our ability to share our story with others in an effort to help them with their blind spots. Vulnerablity is also the confidence to deal with what I know head on without excuses. Often we replace being vulnerable with the blaming of someone or some thing. The act of vulnerability begins with a personal choice to rise above your circumstance. To do that may require the help of others, personal or professional. I have said many times, "Two are better than one because there is a good return on their investment. Should one stumble the other is there to pick them up."

The idea here is simple, minimizing the impact of being blind sided increases our effectivness in all areas of life. If we strive to live a purpose driven life then anything we do to maximize that purpose is beneficial.

Onward!

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The Drama Triangle

8/1/2014

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High School. The very thought of the words still strike fear in the hearts of many. The years we spend in this high-octane, drama-filled environment leave few without some type of emotion scarring.

What is interesting about our high school years is how much of the drama permeates so many areas of our life as we grow older. From the home to the workplace, the drama of our earlier years follow us throughout life. And how we dealt with drama way back then, is definitely an indicator of how we'll handle it now.

Dr Steven Karpman created a model to help explain the drama that we encounter in our life. It is often referred to as the Karpman Triangle but most know the model as the Drama Triangle. Understanding the workings of this model helps us deal with dysfunctional dynamics.

It is important to note that when the drama triangle is complete, all three sides present and engaged, the drama will always be active. It is only when you break the triangle you break free of the grips of the dysfunctional situation.

First, we must cast the roles in our dramatic plays. When drama occurs, quickly identify the three main actors.

The Victim or Martyr
The Persecutor or Offender
The Rescuer or Enabler

For any dramatic play to continue all three actors must stay fully engaged in the drama or it will disintegrate. To see what I mean, think back over the most dramatic time in your recent history. Let's say, for example, there was a blow-up at work and someone got blamed for a mistake that was really someone else's fault.

Who was the victim? The person who got blamed.
Who was the persecutor? The person who let the victim take the fall.
Who was the rescuer? Anyone who is defending the truth.

To break free of the triangle you must first understand what role you may be playing in the drama. This takes honest self-exploration and a willingness to be wrong if that's the truth.

Once you've honestly identified the part you're playing in the drama, Accountability is the key word. If I am going to use this word it must be defined correctly. Personal friends and Authors Tom Smith and Rogers Connors nailed the definition in their ground breaking book on accountability almost 25 years ago. In The Oz Principle, Getting Results Through Individual and Organizational Accountability, they define accountability as follows:

"A personal choice to rise above your circumstances and demonstrate the ownership necessary for deliver desired results."

Notice the key words? At the end of the day breaking free begins with a personal choice. Your choice is simple, you can be a victim or a victor...you always have a choice.

Here are some simple thoughts to consider:

When the Victim take accountability to look for options of a way out.
When the Persecutor take accountability to negotiate a way to a win-win conclusion.
When the Rescuer take accountability for motivation.

Life will always present some kind of drama. You are either in it or watching it unfold. Get to close and it is easy to get sucked in. Arming yourself with self-awareness of how the drama triangle finds it's energy to continue gives you the power to not only defuse but to avoid the drama all together.

Oh what I would have given to understand this simple model in High School! Since there is no going back then look ahead and keep moving...

ONWARD!

photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net, by scottchan

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Lessons from the Trail

7/23/2014

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Recently I've spent a great deal of time riding on one particular trail in Dallas. The Katy Trail is an old railroad line that the city converted into a run/bike trail...Genius!

The more time I spend riding this 3.5 mile trail that runs along the boundary of what is known as Uptown in downtown Dallas and Turtle Creek/Highland Park, I have encountered all types of people. The trail is like a beautiful cross-section of all things Dallas.

There are, however, 3 basic types of pedestrians (peds) that bikers come across as we share this public space.

The Casual Walker (Medium to High risk)
This person is out for a purposeful walk along the path. Typically, using the ped-only portion of the trail, they press on, focused on an unseen finish line. Frequently they make predictable left turns at defined markers along the trail. Given their deliberate pace, when they make an unexpected course change it can be dangerous.

The Super Casual Walker is a sub group to the above. This person almost always has something attached. Often it is a pet on a leash, a drink (coffee mostly), a cell phone to their ear or in texting mode, a baby stroller, or the most unpredictable of all...a young child. The Super Casual Walker ranks at the highest end of the scale of scary! At any given time, with little to no warning these peds will make sudden unpredictable, and often catastrophic decisions to turn right into traffic.

The Purposeful Runner (Low to Medium risk)
The runner is a bit more predictable to follow and pass. Given their purposeful stride and position on the trail (running to the far right side) they are experienced in trail etiquette and are on a mission. Sudden stops or turns are infrequent and easier to spot given their speed. Seeing a runner slow his/her stride is a easy giveaway of a possible course change. Rarely does this elite group run with headphones as they are focused on the surroundings. Their overall appearance says, "I have been here before, and I know what I am doing". Additionally, you see them more than once and usually during off-peak hours.

The Trail Rookie (High to Extremely High risk)
At first they blend into the crowd. They dress the part (most of the times) of other runners blending into the background of landscape. This group is the most dangerous group of all. Normally, you can hear their music in their ear buds from 20 feet away. They have an awkward cadence with a drifting stride that takes them from side to side on the trail. While to some degree they look the part of the Purposeful Runner, they are far from any set mission other than not collapsing from a cramp or heart attack. This is the group that shows up in long gym shorts with a well slept in concert tee-shirt and shoes more designed for the super casual walker. The probability of this ped changing direction is very high...approach with great caution.

As a fellow occupant of the trail I have encountered each of these individuals on each ride. Over the miles I have discovered some important lessons for life on the trail.

Lesson 1
Look where you will be, not where you are.
The ever-changing scenery of the trail is inspiring as it is in all of life. But we need to look ahead rather than spending all our time making observations about conditions in the moment. While there is a need to be present in the current conditions of life, it helps to understand the appropriate time to look up and when to look down. It has to do with speed.

The faster you are traveling, the further out you must be looking. Being in the moment is for those times when your speed is at a slow to full stop. At that moment you should take in all that is around you. Noticing every detail of life. Drink in the moment as if where a possible last opportunity for such an experience. But when your speed picks up, your eyes should be trained far ahead on the course.

Lesson 2
Prioritize the disrupters.
When looking ahead your first priority is the greatest disrupter. The peds with the biggest potential risk to you should be identified early. These are normally the rookies and sometimes the super casual walkers (especially the groups of two or more).

Who are those people or organizations most likely to do something unpredictable like turn in front of you or stop in your path, creating a epic collision in your career, your family, or your personal pursuits?

Lesson 3
When in a crowd speed is important.
Some of my fellow bike riders believe in the philosophy that more speed is the answer for most obstacles. To this is say, Ouch! While the theory of getting out of the way holds some water, the one-size-fits-all approach to riding the trail only ends in skinned knees or worse. And the larger the crowd, the greater the risk.

Life is no different. It is okay to slow down your plans in life if when the crowd builds and you have identified high risk disrupters in your path. The bigger the crowd the more possible distrupters there are to watch. The risks grow and appropriate speed becomes critical for safe passage.

What I have learned, the hard way, is that our need for acceleration is most often linked to pride. Our internal voice has convinced us that slowing down is a sign of weakness and failure. All the while setting us up for potential risk in life. Appropriate speed given the future conditions and the disrupter priority will provide the quickest route to success.

This simple lesson applies to your career, your relationships, your finances, and your health just to mention a few. Where in life have you gone to fast in a crowd and paid the price?

Life on the Trail
I have encountered the Casual Walkers, Purposeful Runners, and Trail Rookies all throughout my life. Truth be told, I have been each of these people at some point in time. We each must be aware of the role we play on the trail of life.

There are certainly times, as we grow and take on new challenges, we find ourselves moving at an even quicker pace on the trail of life...the proverbial bike. It is at those times, when life seems to be moving with an ever increasing speed such as in a promotion in your career, a marriage, becoming a parent, or starting a new business.

It is during these times the pace of the trail picks up from your fastest pace ever as a purposeful runner to a level that is scary at times. During these times remember the three simple lessons from the Katy Trail and you will always find yourself moving...

ONWARD!

photos courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net, by Vlado

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The Power of Vulnerability

7/12/2014

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Vulnerability is often equated with being weak. In fact, Webster's Dictionary defines it as,"Being open to attack. Capable of being physically or emotionally wounded."

But a great leader knows that there's unmitigated power in vulnerability. But how can one be powerful yet open to attack? Can a person be vulnerable yet NOT seen as weak? Does vulnerability guarantee success?

"A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd." James Crook

Leading an orchestra requires singular focus and unwavering confidence, a true test of vulnerability. In front of the conductor wait those who have pledged cooperation with his leadership; behind him are those who wait for the result.

The conductor must call upon those who long for his leadership and elicit their very best performance, while drowning out the cheers and jeers of the crowd as he creates the magic he hears in his head. He doesn't seek the applause of the crowd; he strives toward excellence. That is his goal. Unleashing the enormous creativity of those he leads is the single mission of the conductor.

Vulnerability unlocks the true potential of our creativity in life. Consider others who have journeyed this road of vulnerability and unleashed their own creativity:

~ Henry Ford failed and went broke five times before he succeeded.

~ R. H. Macy failed seven times before his store in New York City caught on.

~ Fred Smith, the founder of Federal Express, received a "C" on his college paper detailing his idea for a reliable overnight delivery service. His professor at Yale told him, "Well, Fred, the concept is interesting and well formed, but in order to earn better than a "C" grade, your ideas also have to be feasible."

Vulnerability in leadership means going against the crowd at times. And when the crowd only sees the failures, true leaders have to be able to visualize the success that lies around the next corner and then be confident enough to go out alone in search of it.

"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot ... and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. That is why I succeed." ~ Michael Jordan

Courage is not the lack of fear but our ability to face our fear with vulnerability. It takes intense courage to follow your instincts, unsure of the outcome, in the face of criticism. That is the marriage of strength and vulnerability.

I'll leave you with this final story. When Indra Nooyi was assigned the role of CEO of Pepsi, she made a very vulnerable move. She hopped a plane and went after the person who had been her biggest competitor for that very CEO job. In other words, she chased down the guy who lost the job! She believed that the company would be better with him on board. In doing that, she displayed incredible leadership, humility, and courage. Vulnerability.

How have you stepped out in vulnerability and taken a risk? I'd love to hear your stories.

Onward!

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Loyalty is Job One

6/28/2014

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Capitan keeps watch over handler's grave. Reported by Yahoo.

As reported by Yahoo, his dedicated German shepherd, Capitan, disappeared after his owner, Miguel Guzman, died in 2006. A week later, the Guzman family found the dog at Miguel's grave in central Argentina where he has remained for most of the years since his owner's death.

Loyalty.

This beautiful picture of the kind of loyalty that extends beyond the grave represents more than deep, profound love. It's a duty that knows no limits. Even death didn't free this amazing creature from the bonds of loyalty.

Loyalty to family. For most of us, this does, and should, come first. Many self-help gurus say that loyalty to self comes first, but later in this post you'll see why I disagree. Loyalty to family means our loved ones get the the best of us. They get their needs met and more. They are defended, protected, and upheld through whatever trials come and they will come.

Your loyalty affords your family the freedom to trust that you're on their side and will never forsake them for anyone or anything. This extends from keeping your word in all things, to maintaining marital fidelity, to exercising discretion when sharing details about your spouse or kids, to providing ample time for each family member, and more.

Loyalty to coworkers. What does loyalty to a coworker really look like? The Gallup organization has done some amazing research on the topic of well being. They found that a person's well being improves if they have a best friend at work. Considering how many hours we spend in the workplace, it makes perfect sense that we would be better off if we had that one person we knew would could count on. And while not everyone can be a "best friend" we should be in the habit of treating all others the way we would treat our best friend.

Loyalty to coworkers = BFF behavior. Like this:

Extend trust first
Communicate openly and candidly
Offer a servant's heart
Love others as you love yourself

Loyalty to employer. There is a shift happening in the business landscape currently that is encouraging to watch. Organizations are finding their soul. Or, maybe a better way of saying that is they are finding their purpose.

Many forward-thinking organizations are discovering there is more to life than the bottom line. The realization of a larger purpose has spurred a great awaking within the corporate culture to look at our people, planet, and products through a new lens. A lens that brings the needs of the world around us into a bright, crisp, high-definition focus.

By allowing this higher-purpose idea to drive an organization's heartbeat, overwhelming employer loyalty has manifested itself. Should you desire to create this type of loyalty within your organization consider these key insights from Whole Foods founder, John MacKey, from the book he co-wrote, Conscience Capitalism:

Have a higher purpose
Integrate your key stakeholders
Have conscience leadership
Create and maintain a conscience culture

When an organization does not demonstrate this type of purpose-driven soul, then you have only two choices.You can become a victim or a victor of your circumstance. Choosing to be loyal to your employer begins with being loyal to co-workers. From there doing the right thing for the right reason at the right time consistently will begin to unlock the purpose-driven parts of any organizations DNA. It begins with you!

Loyalty to self. I put this last because I truly believe that being loyal to family, coworkers, and employers as I've described above creates such a sense of well-being that it ultimately is being loyal to yourself. In other words, I feel the best about myself when I'm doing right by my family. I feel proud of myself when I'm treating others as I would want to be treated and offering my best work. And when I allow my passion for doing what is right because it is the right thing to do take over then I am being loyal to myself. The power that exists inside me to be a true difference maker is intense and begins with the simple idea of loyalty!

What does your loyalty look like?

Let's seek new ways to live and thrive in loyalty so we can uncover the very best in ourselves and others.

Onward!

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A True Difference Maker

6/8/2014

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There are some stories in life that need to be told and re-told for generations to come. The story of Courtney Schutze and her 4500 mile ride to Alaska to bring Hope, Knowledge, and Charity to the fight with cancer is one of those stories.

She rides for many reasons. Climbing onto her bike to begin her journey, gazing at the Austin skyline one last time, Courtney is flooded with emotions. Her mission is clear. The Texas 4000 Rockies Route team will bring Hope to those fully engaged in the battle with cancer. Along the way they will also bring life saving Knowledge to groups gathered in towns of all sizes to hear their story. Most importantly they bring much needed Charity to the ongoing fight to eliminate this multi-headed disease.

For Courtney, it is much more personal. Having lost her father to Multiple Myeloma in 2013 she rides with a passion that burns from a deep place that many of us will never experience. With each peddle stroke she draws strength from the ever-present memory of her father's last words of encouragement to her.

"I ride for every person who has lost a loved one to cancer, who has lost the fight themselves, or who is currently fighting. Mostly though, I ride in memory and honor of Dad. Though he lost his battle, I will continue to fight this war for him and with him. I will be meeting him on the road to Alaska and we will finish what we started together." Courtney Schutze

You can not help but look at the life of this young lady, her determination, her spirit and her smile and see the influence of her family, beginning with her father. In Courtney's own words Tom Schutze is a true difference maker! His mark left firmly upon our city, state, and now across 4500 miles and beyond in his daughter. The next generation of Difference Maker's is upon us, and I for one am not only encouraged but very hopeful for the lives she will yet influence.

Ride strong Courtney, for with every mile you and the team go we draw that much closer to winning the fight!

As with all Difference Maker's there is only one direction from here....

ONWARD!!

Learn more about Courtney and the Texas 4000 Riders.
In the month of June all profits from sales of The Difference Maker will go to support Courtney and the Texas 4000 Riders.

To get a copy of my book go to Amazon.com

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Tony Bridwell is a Partner and Practice Leader for Partners In Leadership with nearly three decades of executive leadership experience. Most recently serving as the Chief People Officer of Brinker International, Tony is a highly recognized thought leader, speaker, and coach in corporate culture, L&D, and human resources, being named 2015 HR Executive of the Year and also receiving the 2015 Strategic Leadership Award .

A native Oklahoman, Tony, who has three grown children, now resides in Dallas, Texas with his wife, Dee. In addition to being a husband and father, Tony is an active member of his church, where he serves as a Deacon and leadership mentor.

Tony is the author of two books:
The Difference Maker: A Simple Fable About Making A Difference In The Life Of Others (August 2013)
The Kingmaker: A Leadership Story of Integrity and Purpose (June 2016)

Love Well.

Live Truth.

Speak life.

Speak Life. Live Truth. Love Well.

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A True Difference Maker

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