High Performance Leadership

Do you ever get discouraged? It's not a weakness, but it is a roadblock. Even when we don't choose to get discouraged, once that feeling is there it can stand in our way. We missed. We made a mistake. We failed. Crap happens. What I've learned (and keep relearning) is to dust myself up, jump back up and find something compelling to get encouraged about. Sometimes picking the positive path really is empowering. Getting discouraged isn't going to get you what you want.  Remaining unhappy won't achieve your goals. Let's move forward. I've had some really big disappointment in my personal life this year and yet as I see sparks of sunlight at the end of a rather dark tunnel I know that I've kept moving through the encouragement of friends. When I am not able to encourage myself, I am not without help - friends will encourage me. Do you have friends who encourage you? Are you encouraging your friends? We're all in this together, my friends....

What do you have planned for today? Will you be solving a problem? Will you be working to achieve one of your major goals? Let this be the encouragement you need to get moving. Go for it! You've never been more alive than you are right now! Take charge and do something important! Won't that feel great? -- Douglas Brent Smith

Do you ever find it tough to be the positive voice of encouragement? When things get especially tough it can be tempting to fall down in the driving encouragement area. As leaders, we can even drift into a sameness invoked pessimism when challenges derail our plans or delay our goals. But we can do better. The more difficult the situation, the more encouraging a leader must be. It's important. It's vital. It's instrumental to our success. Centered leaders are constantly encouraging -- even when, especially when, that is hard. The more difficult the situation, the more encouraging a leader must be. Who are your team could use some encouragement today? How will you provide it? -- Douglas Brent Smith