A New Lesson in an Old Story

We learned this lesson in grade school. Slow and steady wins the race. The hare, a warning against procrastination and arrogance. The tortoise, a calling toward diligence and focus.  There is more to the story. Suppose the hare was able to run fast enough and hard enough in the final moments of the race to tie with the tortoise.  The question is:

Which was better able to enjoy the journey to their destination?

Too often we push ourselves beyond our limits as we rush to get to the finish line. We so thoroughly exhaust ourselves along the way that we are unable to enjoy our victory lap.  If we could learn to pace ourselves we could break the cycle of rush, recuperate, rush, recuperate. We waste a lot of energy, a lot of time, and decrease the efficiency and quality of our lives.

What areas in your life are you missing out on because you haven’t given yourself enough time to enjoy the journey?  Whether you want enjoy the sunset years of your professional career or simply enjoy the sunset each day, it’s time to transform your racing into pacing.

Feel Out Your Employees

"I've learned that people will forget what you said,

people will forget what you did,

but people will never forget how you made them feel." -Maya Angelou

Your employees are the most important element of your business.

How is your leadership making them feel?

Are they aware that they are appreciated? Do they know that you are invested in their growth? Do they feel like they are part of a team?

Or…do they feel replaceable?

These questions matter more than ever.

Long gone are the days when people entered the workforce with plans of remaining loyal to one employer for their entire career.

High turnover is a real issue that plagues most workplaces.

It can be a  huge drain on the budget and the culture of your company.

That being said, worrying only about the bottom line, is a thin line to walk.

Your employees don't just show up for a paycheck.

They crave to be valued…to be an integral part of a community.

Above and beyond their salaries, you need to pay them authentic attention if you want to keep them engaged and motivated.

What is one way you can pay attention to your employees today?

Uncomfortable in Your Leadership Role?

"It's hard to lead a cavalry charge if you think you look funny on a horse." - Adlai E. Stevenson II

The best leaders are not the people seeking to grow their power; they are the people seeking to empower growth.

Those who possess this quality often attract unexpected leadership opportunities into their lives...

despite their belief that they would “look funny on a horse”.

It’s okay if ‘leading’ is a role that doesn't come naturally to you.

You might be expecting me to launch into a “fake it ‘til you make it” speech.

Instead, my call to action is to just be yourself.

When you are leading a cavalry charge – a really big and important charge,  your best ally is you.

Your authenticity.

Your belief in the mission.

Stop putting so much stock in what other people think.

So what if you look funny on a horse?!

The best way to become a better rider is to saddle up and enjoy the ride!