Standing In The Way

Have you ever had an opportunity that felt like it was standing in the way of something better?

People tell you to go for it. You get support and reinforcement. It seems like something you could do extremely well...and yet, some small voice tells you there's something bigger, something better you should be chasing. Anything else feels like a distraction, like something standing in the way.

Chase the dream.

Follow the vision.

Live authentically for what you truly want.

Do you doubt that this works? Try living without it (I know, if you're like me, you already have.) What's that like?

I recently chased a non-dream dream job thinking that it would solve lots of problems. Mainly, people said it would be a perfect fit for me, that I WAS the job. Maybe. But something deep inside me said, that's a distraction. That's a passion, but more of a mistress than a partner/wife. It's not the heart of the heart of me.

That must have showed somehow, because I didn't land the job. Qualified candidates don't always get the job. But I didn't cry. I felt a bit of anger and disappointment at not "winning" but I also felt a huge twinge of relief. It wan't meant to be because it wasn't meant as me.

I'm here to help as many people as possible at improving performance, solving problems, and achieving your goals. I know how to do that very well and have a blast doing it. But I do it my way, by customizing the moment to wrap around your issues and deliver what we both need right now.

That's not a big program. That's not a template for everyone. That's not a one-size-fits all solution. Do you wear your neighbor's shoes? Why would you walk your neighbor's path?

Maybe I'm nuts. Maybe I'm self-absorbed. But I think I'll continue to chase the dream, follow the vision, and live authentically for what I truly want. To make a massive difference helping you and others improving performance, solving problems, and achieving your goals.

How about you?

-- Douglas Brent Smith
Front Range Leadership, LLC

Comments

Now Means Now

How do you feel when someone says that they will do something right away, and then they don't? When I say "now!" I mean immediately, and without over-thinking. never under estimate the temptation to overthink (I think I just did!) When is now? How about now? -- Doug smith Looking for leadership training? That's what I do: doug smith training

Personally

Improving performance does require us to take our work seriously. But it does not require us to take ourselves too seriously. Taking things personally is a waste of self-esteem. -- doug smith

Get Going!

What goal are you working on? Maybe you don't spend every minute of every day working on your goals. I certainly don't. But when I do work on my goals they propel me forward. They get me going. Find your favorite goal. Work on it. Even if you start with the smallest task. Put one task after the other like little steps leading to a lofty elevation. Goals get us going. Because standing still goes nowhere. -- Doug Smith

Life Never Stops Teaching

Which learning curve are you climbing? The lessons keep coming. When we keep growing, our energy sparks with new creativity, new courage, new compassion, and new clarity. When we keep growing, life's adventure brings more smiles than troubles. High performance leaders make it a point to keep learning. That means taking on the tough assignments. That means listening to the needs of your team and building on their ideas. That means constantly debriefing, decoding, and deciding. There's a lesson in all of this somewhere. Centered leaders find the lesson and grow. Life never stops teaching. What have you learned today? -- Doug Smith

More Than Convenience

This is probably get some disagreement. We've come to rely so much on one particular trait of business, probably even more than price. Convenience. We make so many decisions based on how EASY a transaction is. It's so much EASIER than ever before and we've all been spoiled by click-and-ship that anything with any friction whatsoever gets passed over. That's an understandable decision, but not always the best one. Convenience is great, but no substitute for quality. Hamburgers are convenient but wouldn't you rather eat a steak? (please excuse me my vegetarian and vegan friends.) Social media is convenient but how about the depth and richness of a long face to face conversation with a dear friend? I advocate that we consider other measures in our important decisions. Measures other than convenience: Quality Durability Care Beauty Drama What would you add to the list? Convenience is a poor measure of quality. Let's consider everything else that makes business -- a...

Promise and then Deliver

Be careful what you promise to gain a new customer. They are only new for a day. After that, expectations continue even if you forget your promise. Be careful what you promise. Do you have what you need to give your customers what they want? Because probably, what they want, is what you've promised. -- doug smith

Start With Decisions

Do you share leadership? The most powerful teams share leadership responsibilities AND attitude. When you develop a team where people feel empowered to take charge, take responsibility, and take ownership you then no longer need to do all the difficult work. Delegation becomes easier. Collaboration feels more natural. Start with decisions. It's fast and easy as a leader to make all of the big decisions, but when you include your team in the conversations it takes to gain mutually shared understandings and collaborative decisions, you no longer have to "sell" your decisions --- people simply know what you as a team have decided and act accordingly. No passive aggressive resistance, no passengers on your team "bus" -- just fully engaged team members. Start with collaborative decisions. The rest will be much easier. -- Doug Smith

Focus on Process

Fix the situation and let people be who they are. As much as you might want to change them, that's not your business. They are doing what they think is right, even if it is horribly wrong. Turn around the situation and watch them rotate, too. -- doug smith

Communicate!

A lack of communication is often interpreted as a lack of care. -- Doug Smith

Don't Jump!

I do it. You've probably done it, too. It gets us into trouble misinterpreting and reaching false conclusions. Slow down. Ease up from that jump. Stop that jump to conclusions and you'll avoid many big falls. -- doug smith

High Performance Leadership

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