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Personal Development What if you woke up tomorrow and went to work not just to pay the bills, but to make a difference? What if you decided right now to start doing something that gives your life meaning? You know, I can't guarantee the outcome, because there are too many variables to the equation of life. But, I can guarantee these two things: (1) if you keep using "what if" to your disadvantage, you'll keep getting regrets; (2) if you start using "what if" in your favor, you'll start collecting dreams. The magic of "what if" is that it can be a catalyst to a hopeful future, or it can be the hindrance to a life well lived. We all hold the same capacity to consider what our lives would look like on the upside of that common question. We each have a choice in how we piece together every question we ask ourselves that follow the precursor of those two little words. My suggestion for you is to begin using "what if" more optimistically. What if you wrote the song... What if you took the class... What if you moved to the city... What if you joined the church... What if you proposed to the girl... What if you made the call... What if you applied for the job... What if you went on the mission trip... What if you started the business... What if you read the book... What if you adopted the child... What if you made the apology... What if you tried out for the play... What if you believed in yourself... What if you traveled the world... What if you got uncomfortable... What if you learned a new language... What if you did something you've never done before... What if you had childlike faith... What if you became a multi-millionaire... What if you asked for help... What if your wildest dreams did come true... What if you surprised yourself with what you could actually do... What if it did work out... One small tweak in what you place after "what if" could be the change that sends your live to a new level. I'm not saying I'm right, but what if I were? Love you guys. Let's grow. JT  My lovely wife, Jaala, answered a big "what if" question in her life. The answer to that question has pushed her to live a life on purpose and for a purpose much greater than herself. It's one of the many reasons why I adore her as much as I do.
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Leadership When I stepped outside of the proverbial mental cubicle (of going through the motions) that I found myself in during my mid 20s, I began to see that I not only desired a more fruitful, meaningful life... but I also desired that very thing for so many people around me. Maybe you've found yourself in that frustrating position? Wanting to grab someone you care about so much by the shoulders and shake them out of the stupor you feel they're trapped in. What seems to be so difficult is communicating your vision to them in an empathetic and compassionate yet exhorting and challenging way. The one thing you're not told when you decide to become a leader (and accept the responsibility to develop yourself and serve others) is how to handle the burning desire you will develop for wanting to see others change their lives by way of changing their thinking. It's a genuine desire to see the people you know begin to grow. It's like you've discovered this gift that you want to give away, but the people around you just won't accept it. And if you don't develop yourself, you will wrestle with one of the most common pitfalls of leadership: the continual effort to change everybody, to fix everyone's problems, to try and "save the day," so to speak. As a leader, you will always see people as who they can become. And it is likely that you will always want more for someone else than what they want for themselves. But, instead of wearing yourself out--trying to be everything to everybody--you have to learn how to add value and keep moving. This doesn't mean you run off and leave everyone in the dust. It means you learn how to be intentional with your time, talent, treasure, and touch. Trust that the seeds you plant will be watered by someone else, and that God will take care of the increase. You're not the only person God will use to help someone else develop and grow. If you want to be an effective leader, recognize this issue, and own it. Make the necessary adjustments in your approach with others so you can avoid the burnout that many people in your position experience. Additionally, practice humility by remembering that you didn't always know what you now know. There was a time when you were also blinded by the fog. Keep adding value using the influence you have and the platform you've been given, and focus on being the change you want others to see versus trying to change others into what you want them to be. Love you guys. Let's grow. JT  Jason Keltner and I had to learn this leadership lesson the hard way. Jason once said, "Most people have been going down the road to nowhere because they've been told that it's safe there." |
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