The LeaderInternational Leadership Development Institute Blog

This week I’m hitting the same wall as everyone else trying to make a change in my own life by managing daily decisions. It is the same reason why health club managers can predict with nearly 100% certainty that their workout rooms will return to scant levels by February 1. The biggest test of commitment is the discipline to continue in the face of challenge. You see, I got a sinus infection this week that sapped my energy and drained my thinking. And the good habit that I’ve been working so hard to develop: more faithfully communicating, was challenged as I struggled to put together a coherent sentence, let alone a blog that made sense or a letter that had correct grammar. So, this week’s topics are just as relevant for me, the blogger, as for anyone else reading and trying to apply these to their lives. And the famous words, “doctor heal thyself”, have a great double entendre this week!

Decision #5: Thinking

Have you ever met someone who thinks so different from you that you wonder what planet they grew up on? I have and this person is one of Steve’s and my closest friends. Why do we get along so well? Because we can each see things the other cannot. Maxwell defines 12 different types of thinking in his book “Thinking for a Change.” You probably only do 3-4 of them moderately well. Understanding which you do well, and which you do not, could be the key to unlocking potential and to understanding relationships or people. Surrounding yourself with people who think differently than you can be incredibly rewarding. And challenging yourself to think daily, even in types of thinking that you’re not good at, will also bring great reward. I am good at strategic thinking, possibility thinking and reflective thinking. I am not good at creative thinking, focused thinking or shared thinking. I need others for those.

Decision #6: Commitment

“Success is generally due to holding on and failure to let go.” – Maltbie Babcock. Commitment begins with a decision, is tested over time through failure, disappointment and abandonment, and refined through a daily decision to not give up. I have an old medical professor who says, “Christian shoddy is still shoddy. Slapping a fish on something is no excuse for lack of excellence.” Commitment must include a dedication to excellence (not perfection) and improvement.

Decision #7: Finances

A survey conducted by Consumer Credit Counseling Service found that employees experiencing financial difficulty spent 13% of their day dealing with money matters on the job. That is more than an hour a day. Use this as a litmus test for yourself. If you are dealing with personal finances during your work day for more than even 25-30 minutes, you need some help. Listen to Dave Ramsey, do Financial Peace, get a financial counselor and make a plan. Set a budget for your household or business and stick to it. Evaluate where you are weekly or daily if you have to and measure progress. Find someone to be accountable to, but don’t give up. Finances are critical today for several reasons: (1) money won’t make you happy but managing it poorly can sure bring unhappiness, (2) debt will make you unhappy (“if your outgo exceeds your intake then your upkeep will be your downfall” – Maxwell), and (3) having a little excess cash around gives you options – spend, give or invest – and options are good.

Decision #8: Faith

Sceptics, settle down and keep reading. Everyone has faith in something. Some restaurants take more faith to eat in than others, for example. It is simply a question of where we place our faith and how we live that faith out day to day. Phillip Yancy says: “Faith is trusting in advance what will only make sense in reverse.” True leadership starts with the heart – and that means character. Character is built by what you believe in. If you believe the world will end tomorrow, you’ll make decisions about every area of your life differently than if you think that the world will come to an end sometime after you or your children are gone. For instance, you might choose to recycle that water bottle, or better yet, use filtered water in a reusable bottle. So, see, faith does matter to all other areas. Explore where you put your faith and use that thinking discipline to examine how that’s working out in your life. For me, I am a Christian and that is a decision that has to be managed every day of my life – especially getting up to read the Bible in the early morning hours before children wake up.

I hope you have enjoyed this. Please feel free to post thoughts or comments. And if you have any input into how to manage these areas of life, please comment!